Will Trump See Covid-19 as an Opportunity?

[theprestige]

Aren't you the one who should prove your claim that nothing happens?!

At least it's a testable claim, unlike plague311's claim that something or nothing will happen.

 

[johnny karate]

I'm betting the Democrats will see an opportunity for martial law and mass quarantine before the president does.

Based on what?

 

[dann]

I'm betting the Democrats will see an opportunity for martial law and mass quarantine before the president does. If this thing goes full Outbreak on us, they'll be cursing Trump in the streets* for not taking more drastic steps sooner to curb the spread.

---
*"Which is different from today how?"

Well, this seems pretty drastic:
Trump defends huge cuts to the CDC’s budget by saying the government can hire more doctors ‘when we need them’ during crises (Business Insider, Feb. 27, 2020)

 

[plague311]

Maybe it was a little too rosy but in my opinion better than causing a panic.

Perhaps one could just be honest, and paint a true\clear picture of what is happening, and the steps to avoid making it worse? I don't know, I'm a sucker for the truth I guess.

 

[plague311]

At least it's a testable claim, unlike plague311's claim that something or nothing will happen.

Which, of course, isn't even in the ballpark of what I said. I said I haven't made a claim that Trump will or will not battle removal. I have merely said that if he did, it wouldn't be surprising to me or atypical for Trump.

I even said that specifically. Why do you feel the need to strawman my argument?

 

[johnny karate]

Aside from the fawning over how great our reaction has been so far I didn't find it that bad. Things aren't that bad as of now, it may get worse, maybe even much worse and we should be prepared. Businesses and schools should look at their disaster preparedness plans.
They will spend as much as is necessary.
Maybe it was a little too rosy but in my opinion better than causing a panic.

The Trump administration has been cutting funding to the very agency responsible for handling these types of outbreaks. And now he's going on television and assuring everyone that the problem will just go away.

I'm not sure anyone is calling for an all-out panic, but concern that this administration isn't prepared to handle this situation effectively is certainly warranted.

Do you disagree?

 

[Ziggurat]

Which, of course, isn't even in the ballpark of what I said. I said I haven't made a claim that Trump will or will not battle removal.

That's his point. If you had made such a claim, it would be testable.

 

[Trebuchet]

Trump won't need the virus to try to remain in office if defeated. He'll just claim massive fraud and use the courts. Probably starting well before the election.

 

[theprestige]

Which, of course, isn't even in the ballpark of what I said. I said I haven't made a claim that Trump will or will not battle removal. I have merely said that if he did, it wouldn't be surprising to me or atypical for Trump.

I think it would be extremely atypical for Trump to battle removal. More typical would be for him to bluster a lot, comply with removal, and then spin the whole thing somehow as "winning" in his post-fact world.

I even said that specifically. Why do you feel the need to strawman my argument?

My apologies. I thought it was a fair assessment of your position. To be clear: You're *not* predicting that Trump will battle removal. Is that correct?

 

[plague311]

That's his point. If you had made such a claim, it would be testable.

I didn't know that was a requirement or even relevant, but ok. Who cares?

Here are 7 internet points. I expect you guys to share them.

 

[theprestige]

Trump won't need the virus to try to remain in office if defeated. He'll just claim massive fraud and use the courts. Probably starting well before the election.

Is that your prediction?

 

[plague311]

I think it would be extremely atypical for Trump to battle removal. More typical would be for him to bluster a lot, comply with removal, and then spin the whole thing somehow as "winning" in his post-fact world.

Great, we have different opinions. Now what?

My apologies. I thought it was a fair assessment of your position. To be clear: You're *not* predicting that Trump will battle removal. Is that correct?

I'm not making a prediction and have never claimed to at all.

Again, and if I can phrase this more clearly please let me know. I am not saying Trump will battle removal at all.

I'm saying if he gets voted out, and he does battle removal it will be both not shocking to me, and not atypical of Trump. That's it. I don't know what he'll do because he's a ******* moron. He might **** do literally anything.

 

[Ziggurat]

Trump won't need the virus to try to remain in office if defeated. He'll just claim massive fraud and use the courts.

He might use the courts like Gore did. Every candidate in an election has that right.

 

[The Great Zaganza]

Is that your prediction?

It is my prediction that Trump will not concede a lost election but will instead seek to litigate it in order to question the outcome and delay his removal.

 

[Ziggurat]

It is my prediction that Trump will not concede a lost election but will instead seek to litigate it

Gore did that.

in order to question the outcome

Dems have been doing that for over 3 years now.

and delay his removal.

Any litigation is likely to be settled quickly, for precisely this reason. Do you believe that if Trump loses such litigation, he will not abide by that loss? Or are we into conspiracy land where the SC is going to try to hand Trump an undeserved win because they're in cahoots with him?

 

[The Great Zaganza]

Gore did that.



Dems have been doing that for over 3 years now.



Any litigation is likely to be settled quickly, for precisely this reason. Do you believe that if Trump loses such litigation, he will not abide by that loss? Or are we into conspiracy land where the SC is going to try to hand Trump an undeserved win because they're in cahoots with him?

you got all of that wrong.

Congratulations!

 

[Donal]

The part where Trump goes full retard.

We passed that exit 30-some years ago.

Do you think he could succeed in what would amount to a coup? No, he couldn't.

Succeed? not likely. But this is the kind of thing where just saying out loud will have repercussions. He's already "joked" about it.

Do you think he doesn't know he couldn't succeed? Of course he knows.

Does he though? Really? Are we sure? Also, he may think he can't pull it off, but what if he sees even catastrophic failure as preferable than just accepting loss?

Do you think he doesn't know that he would pay a price for trying and failing? Again, of course he knows.

And what would that price be? Susan Collins being concerned?

So even with the worst reading of Trump's motives, why would he do something so obviously self-destructive?

As has been stated before, he's a narcissistic moron. And no, saying "he keeps winning" without actually demonstrating his intentional success does not refute that in the face of...everything he says or does.

 

[theprestige]

It is my prediction that Trump will not concede a lost election but will instead seek to litigate it in order to question the outcome and delay his removal.

Sweet. I'll see you in January 2025, if not sooner.

 

[plague311]

Trump blames Dems for the stock market crash instead of the virus:

“I think the financial markets are very upset when they look at the Democrat candidates standing on that stage, making fools out of themselves, and they say, ‘If we ever have a president like this,’” Trump said, referring to the most recent Democratic presidential debate held in South Carolina. “When they look at the statements made by the people standing behind those podiums, I think that has a huge effect.”

Nevermind that the debates hadn't happened yet. As for Trump, he's saying it's not that bad and the only reason it's being made out to be a big deal is to hurt him in the election:

During his news conference on Wednesday, Trump praised the work of the CDC, but also said he agrees with conspiracy theories pushed by Rush Limbaugh and others who say the outbreak being weaponized against him.

“I agree with it,” Trump said, alluding to Limbaugh’s comments. “And I’d like it to stop.”

I submit this as more evidence that Trump is a mother ******* moron.

 

[newyorkguy]

First, just the fact that we're discussing Trump refusing to concede is very revealing. Everyone from Nancy Pelosi to Michael Cohen have suggested it is a realistic possibility.

This is the scenario Washington Monthly thinks is the most dangerous (and likeliest if it happens):

It is Wednesday morning, November 4, 2020. At 7:15 a.m., after a stressful night of watching the returns trickle in, the Associated Press projects that the Democratic presidential candidate will win Pennsylvania, and, with it, the presidency. Sure enough, it’s a narrow victory—279 electoral votes to 258. When all is said and done, the Democrat wins Wisconsin, Michigan, and Pennsylvania by only about 77,000 votes combined, the same amount Trump won those states by in 2016.

Donald Trump, who spent the past five months warning about fraud, has been eerily silent for most of the night. But as soon as the Democrat takes the stage to give her victory speech, he unleashes a barrage of tweets claiming that over 100,000 illegal immigrants voted in Michigan and that Philadelphia kept its polls open for hours later than allowed. “Without PHONY voters, I really won!” he tweets. “This is FRAUD!” Needless to say, the president does not call to congratulate his opponent. At an afternoon press conference, Trump’s press secretary announces he will not concede. Link

Even news media in other countries are aware of this:

It is a sentiment shared by the likes of House speaker Nancy Pelosi, who told The New York Times last [June] that she is preparing for just that situation...Independent UK

Democratic candidate Pete Buttigieg has been asked about it several times but usually jokes about it.

At a town hall in Reno, Nev., a voter asked the former South Bend, Ind., mayor what he would do if he were president-elect and Trump called the vote a “hoax,” refusing to concede. “I mean, if he won’t leave, I guess if he’s willing to do chores we could work something out,” he said. Link

I don't think we really have any idea what Trump might do -- that was the takeaway I got from the UK Independent article -- and I don't think we'll know until we get there what might happen. And make no mistake. The same people who are dismissing the notion, including in this forum, will be the same people passionately defending Trump if he refuses to concede.