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Trump Derangement Syndrome addicts screaming "COUP!!!!1!" are the mirror image of #MAGA-ts who think Trump will somehow still be president on January 21, 2021. (debunking thread)
https://twitter.com/IAmSophiaNelson/status/1326227502197510145
https://twitter.com/IAmSophiaNelson/status/1326227502197510145
Unfounded fears of a coup got amplified by @TheAtlantic which ran a conspiracy theory piece months ago about how GOP legislatures would override the popular vote and pick electors directly. This isn't feasible for a bunch of reasons. https://twitter.com/pplswar/status/1324517037041979393
Biden is at 290 electoral votes, so to get him under 270 would require Pennsylvania and/or some other combo of states to flip back. Problem: PA GOP leaders in the legislature say they're not going to do this. https://pittsburgh.cbslocal.com/2020/11/09/pa-electoral-college-popular-vote/
Conspiracists also point to the GSA blocking transition funds being released. That's not a coup, that's a #MAGAcope. Legally GSA might be able to hold out until electors meet and certify the 2020 results in December. https://twitter.com/GlennKesslerWP/status/1325610462445260801
Turnover at the DoD (Trump fired Esper) is not evidence of a coming coup. Generals are not about to follow a new nobody off a cliff for a guy they hate and undermines them constantly who just lost an election by millions of votes.
https://twitter.com/KFILE/status/1326223963777687552
https://twitter.com/KFILE/status/1326223963777687552
As of August 2020, Trump's favorability among military officers was at 35%, meaning 65% don't like and/or hate Trump. The higher you go up in rank, the more anti-Trump sentiment there is. https://www.militarytimes.com/news/pentagon-congress/2020/08/31/as-trumps-popularity-slips-in-latest-military-times-poll-more-troops-say-theyll-vote-for-biden/
Is Bob Barr doing a coup via DOJ? Also no. This is the guy who didn't shutdown the Mueller investigation (despite having the power) and he's done these bogus 'inquiries' before ("Obamagate").
Nothing happened.
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/oct/14/william-barr-investigation-obama-officials-russia
https://twitter.com/CNN/status/1325982528432386048
Nothing happened.
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/oct/14/william-barr-investigation-obama-officials-russia
https://twitter.com/CNN/status/1325982528432386048
If a coup to keep Trump in power after Jan. 20, 2021 is underway, why would the FAA create a no-fly zone over Biden's house? Why is the Secret Service beefing up Biden's security detail? Both agencies are executive branch.
https://www.cnn.com/politics/live-news/trump-biden-election-results-11-06-20/h_8cd2333f39a78ee9080a753e0433035a
https://twitter.com/petemuntean/status/1326180354236014592
https://www.cnn.com/politics/live-news/trump-biden-election-results-11-06-20/h_8cd2333f39a78ee9080a753e0433035a
https://twitter.com/petemuntean/status/1326180354236014592
People citing the 2000 recount don't seem to understand what happened and why. Bush's brother was the gov. and the GOP controlled the legislature. Invalidating the popular vote was plan B if they couldn't stop the recount (they succeeded via SCOTUS). https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2000-nov-28-mn-58208-story.html
Bush wanted to stop recounts because he was ahead. Trump called for stopping the vote counts where he was/is behind. 
How does anybody think he's even capable of executing a coup? He can't even spell. https://theweek.com/speedreads/948202/james-baker-who-led-bushs-2000-recount-fight-says-trump-should-let-votes-counted
How does anybody think he's even capable of executing a coup? He can't even spell. https://theweek.com/speedreads/948202/james-baker-who-led-bushs-2000-recount-fight-says-trump-should-let-votes-counted
From an institutional POV, the reality-based worst case scenario is GSA never recognizes Biden's victory, no transition funds, and Biden's team lands in USG on January 20, 2021 without wheels (so to speak). Dangerous and risky but not fatal for democracy. https://twitter.com/rgoodlaw/status/1326170736994766852
But democracy isn't just about institutions, it's also about norms and legitimacy. The real damage is in Trump is de-legitimizing Biden's victory, but lots of people viewed Bush and Trump as illegitimate president too (the whole "not my pres." thing). https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2020-election/hillary-clinton-says-biden-should-not-concede-2020-election-under-n1238156
In 2004, John Kerry narrowly lost the election because of Ohio and because exit polls showed that he "should have" won, all kinds of conspiracy theorists like Greg Palast put in overtime finding ways to "prove" that Kerry won. https://www.gregpalast.com/kerry-won-ohio-rn-just-count-the-ballots-at-the-back-of-the-bus/
Trump's presidency has been a severe stress test of 
American democracy and its system of checks and balances. IMO the biggest holes in the system that got exposed: successfully obstructing the Mueller investigation; impeachment; the emoluments clause. https://www.acslaw.org/expertforum/profiting-off-the-presidency-trumps-violations-of-the-emoluments-clauses/
American democracy and its system of checks and balances. IMO the biggest holes in the system that got exposed: successfully obstructing the Mueller investigation; impeachment; the emoluments clause. https://www.acslaw.org/expertforum/profiting-off-the-presidency-trumps-violations-of-the-emoluments-clauses/
Because of the checks and balances built into the American system, legally doing a coup is pretty hard if not impossible. You'd need a lot of unanimity inside at least 1 political party, the military, a bunch of USG agencies, and big chunks of the media. https://talkingpointsmemo.com/cafe/legislative-appointment-electors-unlawful-wont-even-work-trump
The unanimity of will and purpose required to pull off a coup in the U.S. is sorely lacking. Fox called the election for Biden; the GOP of PA and GA are saying Biden won fair and square; D.C. GOP isn't backing Trump's wild BS claims either. https://twitter.com/SamAdamsTPP/status/1325997650739679237
If Bob Barr was doing a coup, he'd indict and arrest Hunter and Joe Biden. Doesn't make any sense to allow a guy to run around proclaiming himself the rightfully elected president. Ditto GOP and Democratic officials who don't cooperate on elector-rigging. https://apnews.com/article/a721e893eac0eb3b36787d8a9eb5df9e
If Trump was doing a coup, he'd be purging the military of generals and officers who oppose him since most of them are against him (see earlier poll in thread). That isn't happening. https://www.al-monitor.com/pulse/originals/2018/05/turkey-military-purges-career-officer-pilot.html
If Trump was doing a coup, he wouldn't be allowing peaceful protests criticizing him to go unmolested. He'd order federal law enforcement and troops to put them down using lethal force. Probably have to arrest Democratic mayors and governors too.
If Trump was doing a coup, he'd be sending troops to shut down MSNBC, New York Times, and other media outlets that criticize his administration. At a minimum he'd get the FCC to yank their licenses. Is that happening? Nope. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-venezuela-rctv/venezuela-tv-station-says-troops-seized-equipment-idUSN2723008820070527
Going to end the coup-leader Trump thread with this from @SovietSergey. Hopefully I won't have to do any more debunking of this absurd idea and can just leave it here:
