A thoughtful article, however frightening: What if Donald Trump loses 2020 but tries to fight loss?

[hlthe2b]

One edit, this is NOT an article that assumes once a new President is sworn in that Trump has any ability to avoid being taken out (even physicially if necessary). WE ALL KNOW THIS TO BE THE CASE. If you read the article it is discussing how to counter some novel tactics Trump has already signaled he'd be capable of undertaking to challenge election results and to dramatically delay certification of election. Please read and don't assume it is just another discussion of the "obvious"

What if Donald Trump loses in 2020 but won’t leave the Oval Office peacefully? There’s real reason to worry. I offer via @CNNOpinion four things we can do NOW to get ahead of this threat to our democracy:

Link to tweet

What if Trump refuses to accept defeat in 2020?
First is the justifiably much-maligned Electoral College. As we were reminded in 2016, elections are not determined by popular vote but by the votes of each state's and the District of Columbia's electors, who are generally chosen by the political parties at state conventions or through a vote of the party's central committee. For the sake of the rule of law and peaceful transfer of power, both parties should require anyone seeking to be one of the college's electors to pledge that they will not withhold, delay or alter their vote based on the claims or protestations of any candidate, including President Trump.

Second is Congress. It's the outgoing Congress that, in January 2021, will meet in joint session to receive the Electoral College's handiwork and count the electoral votes. Thereafter, the President of the Senate will formally announce the election's result. Unlike the electors, who haven't been selected as of this writing, we already know who will be serving in Congress that day (with the exception of any resignations, deaths or other unusual occurrences). These senators and representatives should make a joint pledge not to delay or alter counting of the votes based on any candidate's objections. Moreover, they should pledge to hold public hearings with intelligence community leaders should those officials or any candidate suggest that vote counts were influenced by foreign election interference or for any other reason. That unvarnished testimony by intelligence professionals could debunk any claims by Trump (or any other candidate) that the final vote count shouldn't be honored.

Third, 39 of America's 50 state governors will not be up for reelection in 2020. They represent continuity in critical positions of leadership, and some command respect across party lines. Those 39 should band together now to make clear that they will serve, at least informally, as bastions of our democracy should a peaceful transfer of power look threatened by any candidate's response to the election. Especially because most, if not all, are sure to support one candidate or the other, they hold great power to urge respect for the election's results, regardless of who wins. Think here of the example set by former Gov. Mike Huckabee of Arkansas after the December 2017 special election for a Senate seat in Alabama. When Republican candidate Roy Moore initially appeared intent on baselessly contesting the election results, Huckabee, a Republican stalwart, issued a sharply worded rebuke to Moore. Moore soon acknowledged defeat.

Go to the link for the fourth identified bulwark/source of "protection"
https://www.cnn.com/2019/02/23/opinions/trump-contest-2020-election-loss-geltzer/index.html

[Grasswire2]

1. As soon as the new president is sworn in, Donald CEASES to be POTUS.

Meaning, he can be physically escorted out. He'll just be a private citizen at that moment.

[hlthe2b]

2. Read the article. We all know this, but it describes tactics Trump could take to delay or even avoid

official certification of the election (and how we can avoid this). Thus, your points don't come into play

[lunatica]

3. The movers will get his and Melania's stuff out on Inauguration day

They’ll also move the President’s stuff in at the same time. Just the way it’s always done.

[hlthe2b]

6. Again, the article discusses countering tactics Trump could take to avoid certification of election.

We all know once the new President is sworn in, Trump will be taken out. This is quite different. PLEASE read the article.

[lunatica]

9. Oh OK! If you insist

[former9thward]

4. There were articles like this from the Left in 2007-08 about Bush.

There were articles like this from the Right in 2016 about Obama. Trump will leave at the end of his expired term whenever that may be.

[hlthe2b]

5. The article discusses tactics Trump could take to avoid EC certification. Some of this is quite new

[dalton99a]

7. I wouldn't put anything past him.

We've seen it time and time again

[smirkymonkey]

8. I can think of a few ideas.

But I would be banned if I mentioned them.

[RKP5637]

10. Arrest him for trespassing! Lock him up! n/t

[treestar]

11. dotard has shown every likelihood of breaking with any respectful tradition

McConnell too.

It looks like the Turtle could not stop certifying of the vote. But there appear to be no time constraints other than honor. So they could hold off on certifying the results. So could red governors. And does the Constitution provide for that scenario would be the issue. Who is designated to tend to the office while there is a dispute - nothing says it is the outgoing POTUS. Dotard's term expires regardless.

It is the procedural holes that honor has filled before. The Rs will now take advantage of them if they can.

[Downtown Hound]

12. LOL. We go in there and drag his ass out by any means necessary.

Problem solved. I would pay to watch that too. Way better than Netflix.