What if the orange menace loses but refuses to concede?

[bluescribbler]

Here's a nightmare scenario:

https://washingtonmonthly.com/magazine/april-may-june-2019/how-trump-could-lose-the-election-and-remain-president/?fbclid=IwAR1cEYrrlWDWr4q4Cdhs6agYk86gI5LVZJIDqe_hMW8gLYQiuyEGu_-5ucs#.XlxJIG-ngdk.facebook

"At the end of his congressional testimony in February, Michael Cohen, Donald Trump’s former fixer, floated a nightmarish possibility.
“Given my experience working for Mr. Trump,” Cohen said, “I fear that if he loses in 2020, that there will never be a peaceful transition of power.”
Cohen’s comments may seem hyperbolic, but they are worth taking seriously. In the aftermath of 2018, Trump told reporters, “Republicans don’t win, and that’s because of potentially illegal votes.” In a 2016 presidential debate, Trump refused to say whether he would accept defeat. “I’ll keep you in suspense,” he declared. Since that election, Trump has routinely said that his popular vote defeat was the product of “millions and millions” of illegal ballots. Now, facing potential legal jeopardy from ongoing investigations into hush-money payments and any number of apparent financial crimes, he might reasonably conclude that staying in office is the only way to avoid being indicted."

More at the link

[hlthe2b]

1. As long as EC meets and certifies the election, Trump does not have to concede

nor attend the inaugural. Oncenew President inaugurated, SS will escort his orange ass out.

[elleng]

26. Yes

[lagomorph777]

31. Exactly. The Constitution says nothing about concession.

[Bettie]

43. Will they certify the election

with lawsuits contesting the result pending?

[hlthe2b]

44. They are constitutionally required to do so as long as there are at least 270 EC votes.

the wheels are fully in motion. Even if an objection was raised to one or more EC votes, both houses of Congress would have to consider the motion. The amount of firestorm coming from the states and opposing party to any attempt to void one or more EC votes would be intense. I don't see that working. It never has. But, all the more reason to increase our numbers in the House and take the Senate.

[Bettie]

45. Have we ever had a transition where there were lawsuits pending

as to whether the election was even valid? I think Trump will claim fraud (if he loses) and, ultimately, I don't think the SCOTUS will deny him what he wants.

[hlthe2b]

47. The Democratic Black Caucus raised objections when SCOTUS ruled on Bush* v Gore.

They were quickly dismissed.

If you are suggesting a suit to bring an injunction against the EC meeting, that has never happened and even with this crooked SCOTUS, that is not going to happen. Bush* v Gore was an overreach, IMO and most others, but not on this level. To directly intervene in an ongoing Constitutionally-directed process clearly delineated for the EC and Congress is never going to fly. Even the most corrupt of conservative SCOTUS know that and I have full faith (despite all else that gives me pause) that Roberts would never allow even consideration. To do so is to shred the constitution and could not be defended. It would essentially be a coup d'é·tat of our entire system of government.

[Bettie]

48. They've been working on shredding the Constitution for several years

I don't believe in anything anymore though.

The coup is nearly done. The SCOTUS is more likely than not to seal the deal for their Orange Overlord.

[hlthe2b]

49. If you are that defeatist then there really is nothing left. If you stay in the US truly believing

that as you claim, then what the hell is wrong with you?

Depressing world-ending case scenarios and Armageddon are apparently not just a trade of our opponents.

You asked a question. I tried hard to give you honest answers. Apparently, all you wanted to do is say, but, but, but the world is ending. Ok. So be it. Enjoy your misery and despair.

[Totally Tunsie]

58. I just pray the "escort" will be televised.

In a way, I almost hope it happens, just for the giggles!

[Proud Liberal Dem]

60. Exactly

Him refusing to leave office would be unprecedented but it's not like he can just stay there without anybody doing anything about it. His authority as President ends on the day of the next President's inauguration. And *who* is going to back him up if he refuses to leave, anyway?

[apcalc]

2. He will be escorted out.

[Yavin4]

9. And toss his shit out on Penn. Avenue n/t

[2naSalit]

39. And melanoma

can't have one of sofas to land on either, same goes for the czarina.

Better yet, I would love to see them all greeted by the FBI with handcuffs.

[area51]

19. +1 n/t

[matt819]

20. I agree with that view

Assuming that it’s a democratic landslide and/or a very clear electoral college vote. If it’s close, then I can see the scenarios described.

My concern in this event is a call to arms. Trumps cultists will believe anything he says and I’m sure there’s a very large number who would take seriously a call to arms. To attack Democrats, to kill the legitimate winner. To take to the streets in New York, California, etc. I would also throw out the thought that he would try to get the military involved.

Paranoid, perhaps. More than a little far fetched. But haven’t these last three years been more than a little far fetched? All of that said, I don’t think we as a nation are prepared to counter this kind of behavior. Indeed, I think many law enforcement, at all levels, would stand behind him.

[GoneOffShore]

30. Come on. They'll attack on their mobility scooters?

And although law enforcement in some places has been infiltrated, it's not enough.

[matt819]

40. As I said. . .

I know it sounds nuts. However. . .

Remember the news a few months ago about sheriffs not abiding by laws requiring the confiscation of weapons from people deemed too nuts to have weapons. It doesn't take "all" of law enforcement. Just a bunch to create chaos. That's been one goals of the past three years. Create chaos. They've succeeded. They being Putin and his assets in the USG. And even if law enforcement isn't active in creating the kind of chaos I'm envisioning, I wonder whether they would take action against people with whom they share common objectives.

As for mobility scooters. . . sure many of his supporters are old folks who are terrified of change and would like things returned to the good old days, except for the 90% marginal tax rate, which made the good old days good. However, the white supremacists who marched in Charlottesville were not aged. Sure, we mocked their tiki torches, but, again, it doesn't take but a relatively small number to create chaos. Shootings, bombings scattered throughout the country. Bikers for trump, white nationalists.

Prominent republicans have repeatedly demonstrated that they lack the balls to speak out against trump. What makes us think they would do so even in the face of violence and chaos? Hell, they'll be working with him to contest the election results and have probably begun to lay the groundwork now.

Trump has held roughly 80 Nuremberg-style rallies. That's a lot of cultists filled with hatred and fear.

[GoneOffShore]

42. I'm a lot more optimistic than you are.

[Celerity]

46. ...

[GoneOffShore]

53. Ewwwww - What's seen can't be unseen!

I somehow think that the recoil would tip that guy over backwards.
The bullets go straight up, and fall straight down.

[mitch96]

27. By whom? Secret Service? nt

[lagomorph777]

32. Of course; they report to the President, not the Pretender.

[mitch96]

37. I hope they are loyal to the newly elected prez not the liar in chief......... nt

[matt819]

41. Me too

But hope is not necessarily confidence.

I'm not disparaging the military or even the military leadership. But I just don't have the confidence I should have that they will in fact protect and defend the Constitution and serve the office, not the office holder.

[Wounded Bear]

3. One step at a time...

If we have to drag him out, I'm OK with that.

[TheCowsCameHome]

4. I would enjoy watching him being bodily removed

From #1600.

Preferably in a strait jacket and chains.

[Cirque du So-What]

15. Like Hannibal Lecter

when he's taken for a stroll.

[trueblue2007]

23. Donald Hannibal Lecter Trump .....

[USALiberal]

5. He has no powers, secret service removes him. Nt

[Aaron Pereira]

6. This is not hyperbolic at all. This fits his pattern and he will refuse to concede.

He's going to say there was vote fraud in Ohio/Michigan/Florida or whichever state suits his purpose and then call on state legislators to send their own electoral college slate.

We need to get ready for it now.

[dmr]

16. This what I expect. Though he will not have any official powers, he will

raise a big stink, and put many people in danger.

It will be interesting to see how his sycophants react. What will the Republican Congress do? Will they continue to rally behind him, causing more chaos with their masses.

Trump most certainly will divide this country further. Many in his base are just itching to fight. These people are so brainwashed into believing that Democrats are evil, and unpatriotic. They will try to save this nation ... but in actuality they'd be saving our country right into fascism.

I pray we win the Presidency, take back the Senate, and keep the House.

The thing is, whatever scenario plays out, there are some very powerful and monied people who want to continue to destroy the America we love. Destroy everything we've worked hard for prior to Reagan.

So my question is, will Trump receive the continued help in sowing evil discontent? He sure does enjoy it.

[RhodeIslandOne]

28. He's already set us back decades.

The damage will not be fixed by the next administration.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

35. He doesn't have to concede. On 01/20/21 at 12:00 noon he becomes a private citizen,

and if he's still trying to occupy the White House he's trespassing on government property and he can be removed, just like anybody else who doesn't belong there.

[Cosmocat]

50. And who here really wants to bank on any R in power NOT backing his play ...

nm

[Jersey Devil]

7. Someone will be hired to put his personal belongings at the curb on Pennsylvania Avenue

An eviction notice will not be needed.

[lagomorph777]

33. No need to hire someone.

I'll volunteer.

Some scratches and dents may occur.
I'm not responsible for any fire damage or urine stains.

[katmondoo]

51. That is the way to go, put it all out on the sidewalk rain or shine.

[bluestarone]

8. My question is what if he loses BUT contests (results) different states?

Like what happened in Florida with (Gore, Bush)! Barr could get involved, then what?

[apcalc]

11. He will be escorted out. When the matter is settled, he will be allowed

Back in, if it works in his favor.

[bluestarone]

13. I think it could be tied up in the courts

Maybe that's their plan? I don't know. I really believe they are planning something!

[The Genealogist]

10. Concession is a nicety

It plays no official role. On inauguration day, the new president would be sworn in and Donald Trump a private citizen again. I am sure he'd go totally off the rails with behavior that would embarrass a two year old in need of a nap, but tough toenails when the day comes for him to go.

[misanthrope]

24. Which begs the question

If the EC declares the Democratic Party candidate the winner, does Trump skip the inaugural and bolt from the country to avoid pending legal charges? Like all bullies, he's essentially a coward.

[Kaleva]

12. No defeated incumbent is required to concede before leaving office.

[Newest Reality]

14. Our system...

Our system depends on and prides itself on the peaceful transfer of power.

If Trump does not respect that, (I find little to nothing that he respects in general) then he would be demonstrating even more of his dictatorial intentions rather than fulfilling his Presidential honor, (yeah, right, Trump, honor, hahaha) and duties.

If he does resist that peaceful transfer when the time comes, he does so as an enemy of democracy itself and the United States of America, and I don't care how anybody wants to try to spin a demagogue's abuse of our system of government. It don't fly at all, ever.

[marble falls]

17. Fuck the 'what ifs' and lets just vote Democrats in every single office there is.

[getagrip_already]

18. short answer: ask president pelosi.....

If for some reason there is no winner certified, the presidents (and vice presidents) term in office will expire on Jan 20th (I think that's the dat).

At that point, the next in line constitutionally is the speaker of the house. The CJ-SCOTUS would have no choice but to swear her in.

[lame54]

21. A box a string and a large order of chicken nuggets...

Placed right outside the Whitehouse

[Ms. Toad]

22. Concession (or not) had zero legal impact. n/t

[RhodeIslandOne]

25. Bullshit

I want to see him try.

I want to see how that ends.

It won't end well for shitler.

[SiliconValley_Dem]

29. Mad Dog Mattis will personally escort him out at gun point

But yeah. I have thought for some time now (past couple of years) that Trumo has developed a Jim Jones /David Koresh vibe.

[Cartoonist]

34. That would be a bonus.

It would forever brand both Trump and the GOP as anti-American.

[unblock]

36. the new president will be the president no matter where they are

the president is not whoever happens to barricade themselves in the oval office.

if there's a real question here, it's "what if donnie loses the election but even after january 20, the federal bureaucracy insists on listening to donnie instead of the new president".

i really don't see that happening, but if it did, we'd basically have a civil war if the coup attempt wasn't put down quickly.

[DFW]

38. Ah, oui, Monsieur Marchais

Georges Marchais, the late head of the PCF (French Communist Party), a millionaire who lived in luxury, by the way, was once asked: in case he and his party ever won the presidency of France, would they cede power if the people voted them out afterward?

His answer was, "Why would they ever want to vote us out?"

Marchais was a Stalinist, and our Republicans' affinity for Stalin seems quite intact.

[Magoo48]

52. If recent history is any indicator, nothing will happen.

[Blue_Tires]

54. Why would I worry about something that isn't going to happen?

[Dan]

55. Laughing....real simple - ask the NY state AG to take control of the prisoner.

[LiberalFighter]

56. Biden has a plan for that.

[WyattKansas]

57. When they forcibly remove him...

First, make sure he gets:
1) A fresh hair cut... Head shave to remove the flat beehive swirl to make sure he hasn't hidden anything up there.
2) Give him a fresh shower before removal... With a pressure washer or fire hose to remove his spray tan.
3) And to make sure that he doesn't try to slip anything in his pockets before leaving... Escort him out in only his adult diapers.

It would be nice too if the current Senate Republicans were forced to line up on each side of the gate (on the outside) for them to see him off.

[KWR65]

59. On jan 20th the elected president will be sworn in and evict Donald Trump..

at gun point.

[Brainfodder]

61. We're gonna need the YUGE BESTEST MOST BEAUTIFUL AND PERFECT pitchfork?

Maybe even a hoist?

In reality more likely:
One threat one tackle one straight jacket one shame walk later, THE END?

[LanternWaste]

62. He'll stamp his feet, hold his breath, throw a tantrum...

and then a week later, lecture to his idiot base from an undisclosed gilded cage with his daughter sitting on his lap how unfair the world is to him.