271 upvotes, 29 direct replies (showing 25)
It doesn’t work like that. On January 20th, if he refuses to leave the White House, secret service will wake him up, put him in cuffs and escort him out of the White House while President Pelosi is being sworn in. Trump and the republicans can’t change that. They barely have a majority in the senate and can’t touch the house. He will be removed if he tries to invalidate the election. I have 100% faith in that.
We should be more worried about the Supreme Court than anything else here. They have precedence from 2000 already for getting involved in an election when they shouldn’t have. I could see that happening again for Trump to get results accepted for him to be the winner if there are the shenanigans we all expect.
Comment by [deleted] at 16/08/2020 at 13:22 UTC*
227 upvotes, 7 direct replies
[deleted]
Comment by StHenri1970 at 16/08/2020 at 12:37 UTC
198 upvotes, 5 direct replies
I know this is how it should play out on Jan 20th.. but they way things are going I'm not 100% sure it will be that a way.
Comment by jumpingfromship2ship at 16/08/2020 at 12:57 UTC
31 upvotes, 2 direct replies
It actually won’t be Pelosi. She too will have not been able to be re-elected. So then it would go to President Pro-tem of the Senate. Which normally would be Sen. Chuck Grassley (R). But, if 1/3 of the Senators are also not able to be elected, the Democrats now have a majority. So, in the event the election is not held, the next in line of succession will be Senator Patrick Leahy.
Comment by MisallocatedRacism at 16/08/2020 at 14:14 UTC
11 upvotes, 0 direct replies
"But the piece of paper says he cant do it" is a perpetual failed response for the past 4 years.
Your confidence that the system will all of a sudden kick in to protect us is misguided.
He wont leave. He will push it to the courts.
One box at a time, and reddit screeching isnt one of those boxes.
Comment by MayIServeYouWell at 16/08/2020 at 15:15 UTC
3 upvotes, 0 direct replies
The rule of law is not automatic. It ultimately requires everyone agree to established norms. Trump has been chipping away at that all he can. If Trump claims he’s president, and nobody forcibly removes him, then he’s president... I don’t think this is likely to happen, but the chances of it are greater now than they’ve been in a long time.
Comment by SellaraAB at 16/08/2020 at 15:57 UTC
3 upvotes, 0 direct replies
You are very confident about the outcome of a wildly volatile and unprecedented situation. I’m not so sure it’ll be that nice and tidy.
Comment by arimetz at 16/08/2020 at 19:54 UTC
3 upvotes, 1 direct replies
This comment could age so poorly.
"Hitler can't build an army, it's against the treaty of Versailles which Germany signed!"
Comment by iltopop at 16/08/2020 at 14:23 UTC
8 upvotes, 1 direct replies
It doesn’t work like that. On January 20th, if he refuses to leave the White House, secret service will wake him up, put him in cuffs and escort him out of the White House while President Pelosi is being sworn in.
Just like he's in prison right now for obstruction of justice, right.
Comment by elmoo2210 at 16/08/2020 at 15:18 UTC
2 upvotes, 0 direct replies
Lol. So many things he has done didn’t “work like that.” Yet he still did them and so far has faced no repercussions. I admire your optimism. I had been losing mine for the last four years and after watching the impeachment trial I lost any that was remaining.
Comment by Cory123125 at 16/08/2020 at 17:16 UTC
2 upvotes, 1 direct replies
And congress will vote for his impeachment if he breaks laws.
See how previous established checks and balances didnt work in this partisan system where republicans specifically are too corrupt to call out their own?
Comment by Clevererer at 16/08/2020 at 17:48 UTC
2 upvotes, 0 direct replies
It doesn’t work like that. On January 20th, if he refuses to leave the White House, secret service will wake him up, put him in cuffs and escort him out of the White House while President Pelosi is being sworn in. Trump and the republicans can’t change that. They barely have a majority in the senate and can’t touch the house. He will be removed if he tries to invalidate the election. I have 100% faith in that.
In your world, what would happen if he ignores lawfully issued subpoenas? Or ignores the emoluments clause in the Constitution?
Comment by [deleted] at 16/08/2020 at 18:02 UTC
2 upvotes, 0 direct replies
Secret service, local and federal police are full of sympathetic right wing goons. Military will decide it’s not their job to take part in such things and most of the rank and file are sympathetic goons.
Try again. There’s no people to actually enforce anything against Trump because they are all on his side.
This is what happens when you make white trash the cornerstone of US society. The chickens are coming home to roost.
Comment by DefinitelyNotAliens at 16/08/2020 at 18:56 UTC
2 upvotes, 0 direct replies
If we get senators/ House seats figured out, yes. Pelosi would assume as Speaker of the House because she won't get kicked out of that job. If then entire Federal election is out and not working then all of the House is up on Jan 3rd and the on Jan 20th it's left to remaining Senators not in an election year. Copy and paste of earlier comment:
The entire House is up for relection every two years. It'd go to the Sentate, but not anyone up for reelection, meaning non-election year Senators. John McCain died and his seat is being filled, Isakson-R retired due to health reasons and his seat has an election, three Republican Senators are not seeking re-election and 23 have their seats up for grab.
For Democrats, one is not seeking re-election and 12 seats are up for reelection.
There will be 28 Republican Senators, 32 Democratic and 2 Independents that caucus Dem remaining. Sentate and House terms run Jan 3-Jan 3. If they don't get re-elected then they're out of office until an election can be held or finalized. So on Jan 20th when the presidential term ends the entire House would be out and only those Senators remain. No interims.
While Chuck Grassley is not up for reelection the Senate would reconvene to elect a new President Pro Tempore who would assume the position of President on the 20th as the most senior elected official.
Thus, it could fall to a higher ranking non-election year Dem Senator if we just nuke our federal elections process with this shit. We call out other countries and accuse of being dictators for trying to rig or cancel elections and he's admitting to it in advance.
I really hope a non-biased Justice Department takes a look at his presidency. Fair, open and honest review because from my spot all this crap looks like rigging elections.
Comment by [deleted] at 16/08/2020 at 15:42 UTC
2 upvotes, 1 direct replies
It DOES work like that. Have you paid no attention to the last 4 years? There is no rule he won’t ignore and flagrantly break. His supporters don’t care, and include a lot of powerful people in corporate America, the military, etc. He’s not going anywhere. And that’s assuming you somehow manage not to vote him in (which I expect the racist heart of America will absolutely do). Get ready for another 4, 8, who knows how long.
Comment by justa_normal_human at 16/08/2020 at 14:09 UTC
1 upvotes, 0 direct replies
Haha. You still think our laws and institutions are going to get us out of this?
Comment by Purplociraptor at 16/08/2020 at 14:09 UTC
1 upvotes, 0 direct replies
I like how in your scenario he slept past noon on inauguration day, because he fucking would.
Comment by Gewuerzmeister at 16/08/2020 at 14:37 UTC
1 upvotes, 0 direct replies
Pelosi’s term is also over this election, I believe Schumer would be president in this hypothetical scenario.
Comment by ctrembs03 at 16/08/2020 at 14:39 UTC
1 upvotes, 0 direct replies
I wish I had your optimism. I'm starting to fear a violent coup if he loses by vote.
Comment by motioncuty at 16/08/2020 at 14:56 UTC
1 upvotes, 1 direct replies
Pelosi wouldnt be in congress though, she would have to win her election that didnt take place. The entire house wouldnt be elected.
Comment by DionFW at 16/08/2020 at 15:04 UTC
1 upvotes, 0 direct replies
He's.... He's going to lock himself in the bunker, isn't he ?
Comment by RancidLemons at 16/08/2020 at 15:23 UTC
1 upvotes, 0 direct replies
I swear I'm not a complete dumbass, but I've seen this "president Pelosi" thing a few times - why would she be sworn in as president?
Comment by Crossx1x at 16/08/2020 at 16:39 UTC
1 upvotes, 0 direct replies
You do realize the president can fire and appoint new head of secret service? Just like how he got a new USPS leader who is doing his bidding? He literally replaced many people with trump loyalists. Americans act like they never learned how dictatorships come to being. NEWSFLASH; dictatorships have been popping up ALL OVER the world recently. Democracy is dying.
Comment by krucz36 at 16/08/2020 at 17:25 UTC
1 upvotes, 0 direct replies
I'm genuinely wondering why you think the secret service would do anything at all. It doesn't appear that we live in a time where laws, custom, precedent mean anything anymore.
Comment by fredandlunchbox at 16/08/2020 at 17:32 UTC
1 upvotes, 0 direct replies
Roberts wants nothing to do with the politics of Donald Trump. Bush v Gore was specifically a narrow ruling, not intended to establish precedent.
Comment by [deleted] at 16/08/2020 at 14:18 UTC
1 upvotes, 2 direct replies
[deleted]