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1960 > Kennedy eventually was declared the winner in the Hawaii recount by 115 votes, but the two sets of certifications were waiting when the joint session of

by proc0 2y ago

1960 > Kennedy eventually was declared the winner in the Hawaii recount by 115 votes, but the two sets of certifications were waiting when the joint session of Congress convened. Democrats, including Rep. Daniel K. Inouye, were ready to lodge an objection if the GOP slate was counted, but the presiding officer — the Senate president, who also is the vice president: i.e., Nixon — pushed the issue aside. 2000 > Nixon wasn’t the first vice president who had to preside over the opening of electoral votes that declared his opponent the winner, and he wasn’t the last. The most recent was Al Gore, who had conceded the 2000 election after the Supreme Court stopped a recount in Florida, effectively handing the state’s electoral votes, and the presidency, to George W. Bush. I think those were the precedents that were used in 2020. There are definitely good reasons to think they are not good parallels to 2020, however the context of this entire conversation is how Trump incited an insurrection, which I think is overblown given that he was exploring his legal paths available like a few other instances in the past. Let's say he's still wrong, but it wasn't a "threat to democracy". https://rollcall.com/2020/10/26/we-the-people-what-happens-when-a-state-cant-decide-on-its-electors/ https://rollcall.com/2020/10/26/we-the-people-what-happens-w...

Timon3 2y ago
> There are definitely good reasons to think they are not good parallels to 2020, however the context of this entire conversation is how Trump incited an insurrection, which I think is overblown given that he was exploring his legal paths available like a few other instances in the past. Let's say he's still wrong, but it wasn't a "threat to democracy". What is a bigger threat to democracy than a sitting president overturning an election and staying in power? Again, you're acting like it's totally normal for a president to abuse loopholes for this purpose. It's literally the end of democracy, because the government is no longer democratically elected. I don't understand why you keep arguing against that point. A democracy only stays a democracy when election results are followed. Trump tried to stay in power even though he lost. Had he succeeded, democracy would have ended. You were incredibly close to that happening. It was only individuals, possibly only one, that kept your democracy alive - all else had failed.
- proc0 2y ago
  > Again, you're acting like it's totally normal for a president to abuse loopholes for this purpose. Not totally normal... just not an insurrection. Again, it's not that it was a great honorable thing to do, just that calling it an overthrow of the entire government is hyperbolic and has been pushed as a narrative for political purposes. You cannot take over by coercing politicians with a protest or a riot, you need at least part of the military on your side to enforce it as well. > Trump tried to stay in power even though he lost. Yes, this has happened before, Kennedy, Bush, and I'm sure a few others. The difference is literally who this person is. It's a bias against this specific person that used to be in entertainment business, appeared in movies and was a normal celebrity UNTIL he decided to run for office... if this guy is such a giant threat to democracy why are politicians like Obama, Biden etc., showing their concern after his attempted murder? Does Obama not understand he will end the country? You have to see the hyperbolic narrative when the same people who pushed this narrative are also now very concerned that people are acting on it. They don't believe that, they do not think Trump will really take over, they just say that to rally their base and win elections. Otherwise the same court ruling that expanded the powers of the president can be used by Biden to end this threat... why isn't Biden acting on it?
  - Timon3 2y ago
    > Not totally normal... just not an insurrection. Again, it's not that it was a great honorable thing to do, just that calling it an overthrow of the entire government is hyperbolic and has been pushed as a narrative for political purposes. You cannot take over by coercing politicians with a protest or a riot, you need at least part of the military on your side to enforce it as well. Why? Say Pence saw a legitimate danger to his own life or his family, and he counted fake electors. What stops Trump from becoming president? The constitution doesn't specify that this would be illegitimate. The only option left is the supreme court he stacked. And say you're right - why did Trump even try convincing Pence until the last minute? Why did he paint that huge target on his pack while supporters were building gallows and shouting "Hang Mike Pence"? Why did he attempt all of this, when it could never have worked?
    - 2y ago

by proc0 2y ago

Timon3 2y ago

> There are definitely good reasons to think they are not good parallels to 2020, however the context of this entire conversation is how Trump incited an insurrection, which I think is overblown given that he was exploring his legal paths available like a few other instances in the past. Let's say he's still wrong, but it wasn't a "threat to democracy". What is a bigger threat to democracy than a sitting president overturning an election and staying in power? Again, you're acting like it's totally normal for a president to abuse loopholes for this purpose. It's literally the end of democracy, because the government is no longer democratically elected. I don't understand why you keep arguing against that point. A democracy only stays a democracy when election results are followed. Trump tried to stay in power even though he lost. Had he succeeded, democracy would have ended. You were incredibly close to that happening. It was only individuals, possibly only one, that kept your democracy alive - all else had failed.

proc0 2y ago
> Again, you're acting like it's totally normal for a president to abuse loopholes for this purpose. Not totally normal... just not an insurrection. Again, it's not that it was a great honorable thing to do, just that calling it an overthrow of the entire government is hyperbolic and has been pushed as a narrative for political purposes. You cannot take over by coercing politicians with a protest or a riot, you need at least part of the military on your side to enforce it as well. > Trump tried to stay in power even though he lost. Yes, this has happened before, Kennedy, Bush, and I'm sure a few others. The difference is literally who this person is. It's a bias against this specific person that used to be in entertainment business, appeared in movies and was a normal celebrity UNTIL he decided to run for office... if this guy is such a giant threat to democracy why are politicians like Obama, Biden etc., showing their concern after his attempted murder? Does Obama not understand he will end the country? You have to see the hyperbolic narrative when the same people who pushed this narrative are also now very concerned that people are acting on it. They don't believe that, they do not think Trump will really take over, they just say that to rally their base and win elections. Otherwise the same court ruling that expanded the powers of the president can be used by Biden to end this threat... why isn't Biden acting on it?
- Timon3 2y ago
  > Not totally normal... just not an insurrection. Again, it's not that it was a great honorable thing to do, just that calling it an overthrow of the entire government is hyperbolic and has been pushed as a narrative for political purposes. You cannot take over by coercing politicians with a protest or a riot, you need at least part of the military on your side to enforce it as well. Why? Say Pence saw a legitimate danger to his own life or his family, and he counted fake electors. What stops Trump from becoming president? The constitution doesn't specify that this would be illegitimate. The only option left is the supreme court he stacked. And say you're right - why did Trump even try convincing Pence until the last minute? Why did he paint that huge target on his pack while supporters were building gallows and shouting "Hang Mike Pence"? Why did he attempt all of this, when it could never have worked?
  - 2y ago