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Edited by Mrph1 on Nov 30th 2023 at 11:03:59 AM

TitanJump Since: Sep, 2013 Relationship Status: Singularity
#334076: Oct 17th 2020 at 12:57:25 AM

My two cents about this.

Q: Treat it and all the other conspiracy nonsense like it was the nuclear reactor in Chernobyl. Identify it, isolate it, and bury it under tons of restrictive code so it can't spread its hazardous radiation all across the web.

If its cultists starts up a fuzz, ask them "And how exactly is anything on Q benefiting you at all?" and watch them self-destruct once they realize that "no, they don't, at all." from realizing the answer.

...

Polls: Who gives a nickle about the polls!?

All that matters is to actually vote, vote, vote, vote-vote-vote-and VOTE in such overwhelming numbers that the GOP and Trump can't decide it in the courtroom to begin with.

The GOP and Trump are at war with democracy and america, so the only real way to beat them, is by utilizing that system and vote to the point they'll drown in the blue wave if they try and fight it instead.

...

(Just getting so tired of the MAGA-death cult after having to put up with four years worth of their nonsense...)

Edited by TitanJump on Oct 17th 2020 at 9:57:46 PM

Silasw A procrastination in of itself from a handcart heading to Hell Since: Mar, 2011 Relationship Status: And they all lived happily ever after <3
A procrastination in of itself
#334077: Oct 17th 2020 at 2:44:02 AM

But I cannot overstate the degree of fear I'm experiencing every moment of the day. I literally can barely function.

This thread is not equipped to address that level of fear and anxiety, you should contact a relevant medical professional and seek their assistance.

I fully believe Trump will leave the USA if he loses because he's terrified of indictment.

I foresee a beautiful home for him in Trump Tower, Moscow.

How do you see him doing this? Trump is not allowed to drive and be cannot fly a plane, how do you expect him to leave the country to Russia? With the help of his secret service detail? By giving them the slip? By resigning and having Pence help him flee?

"And the Bunny nails it!" ~ Gabrael "If the UN can get through a day without everyone strangling everyone else so can we." ~ Cyran
Ayasugi Since: Oct, 2010
#334078: Oct 17th 2020 at 2:54:08 AM

Leave the country for a "diplomatic visit" during his lame duck period and just never come back.

minseok42 A Self-inflicted Disaster from A Six-Tatami Room (4 Score & 7 Years Ago) Relationship Status: Wishfully thinking
A Self-inflicted Disaster
#334079: Oct 17th 2020 at 3:01:07 AM

[up][up]Can the Secret Service stop Trump from leaving the country after his term is over? Otherwise, it is going to be a race against the clock with law enforcement trying to go through the procedure to stop criminal suspects from fleeing ASAP, with Trump rushing to catch the first flight leaving IAD after noon of January 20, 2021

"Enshittification truly is how platforms die"-Cory Doctorow
Silasw A procrastination in of itself from a handcart heading to Hell Since: Mar, 2011 Relationship Status: And they all lived happily ever after <3
A procrastination in of itself
#334080: Oct 17th 2020 at 3:05:08 AM

Except he wouldn't travel by himself for such a visit, he’d have a huge number of secret service agents following at all times. Agents who are perfectly capable of picking him up and carrying him first to a car and then onto a plane. Hell I wouldn’t put it past the State Department to just play bureaucratic games to keep him in country after the election just incase.

The president is under 24 hour guard by guards sworn to the constitution above him, to defect he has to either convince them to help him, give them the slip or find someone willing and able to commit violence against them to enable him to get away.

Can the Secret Service stop Trump from leaving the country after his term is over?

Secret Service protection is for life, as are things like the ban on him driving on public roads (the secret service will drive him). So physically there will be people around him capable of stopping him fleeing. What they’re legally allowed to do is debatable, as I believe they can do pretty much anything for a president’s safety, including dragging him somewhere he doesn’t want to be. If they’d be willing to argue that it’s unsafe for him to flee the country, I’d say that would have solid ground to it.

Edited by Silasw on Oct 17th 2020 at 10:08:42 AM

"And the Bunny nails it!" ~ Gabrael "If the UN can get through a day without everyone strangling everyone else so can we." ~ Cyran
M84 Oh, bother. from Our little blue planet Since: Jun, 2010 Relationship Status: Chocolate!
Oh, bother.
#334081: Oct 17th 2020 at 3:10:43 AM

They'd be justified in keeping him away from Russia for his own safety. If he tried to flee to Moscow, he'd probably end up getting polonium in his Diet Coke.

Okay, maybe not. Putin's probably not stupid enough to try to poison an ex-POTUS while he's in Russia. Though maybe an over-eager subordinate trying to suck up to Putin might be stupid enough.

Edited by M84 on Oct 17th 2020 at 6:11:49 PM

Disgusted, but not surprised
nrjxll Since: Nov, 2010 Relationship Status: Not war
#334082: Oct 17th 2020 at 3:49:00 AM

This thread is not equipped to address that level of fear and anxiety, you should contact a relevant medical professional and seek their assistance.

Just for the record: I'm well-aware of this. It's not a plausible option right now, but I get that that's not a reason to try and dictate conversational tones to this thread.

M84 Oh, bother. from Our little blue planet Since: Jun, 2010 Relationship Status: Chocolate!
Oh, bother.
#334083: Oct 17th 2020 at 4:09:23 AM

[up]The problem is that even though you claim you're aware of it, you keep doing it anyway.

Disgusted, but not surprised
FergardStratoavis Lizard Metabolism from Ye Olde Worlde (Less Newbie) Relationship Status: Cast away
Lizard Metabolism
#334084: Oct 17th 2020 at 4:12:44 AM

To reply to the post from a few pages back, I wouldn't worry about Poland at least not recognizing Biden as a new President. Pretty sure the whole country's been pro-American regardless of who's in charge ever since we cast aside the communist yoke.

We've had equally cordial relationships with Bush and Obama administrations just fine (from what I myself can remember), so I don't expect that trend to change - if only because the current gov still makes a token effort to appear reasonable, for what little it's worth.

How do lizards fly?
nrjxll Since: Nov, 2010 Relationship Status: Not war
#334085: Oct 17th 2020 at 4:14:05 AM

[up][up]Like I said, I'm not going to post anything else (that isn't a reply to a direct response) - I just wanted to make sure that I'm not coming across as totally dismissive or ignorant about therapists first, because while this is easily the worst, it's not remotely my first experience with anxiety problems, and they have been important.

Edited by nrjxll on Oct 17th 2020 at 6:15:59 AM

PushoverMediaCritic I'm sorry Tien, but I must go all out. from the Italy of America (4 Score & 7 Years Ago) Relationship Status: watch?v=dQw4w9WgXcQ
I'm sorry Tien, but I must go all out.
#334086: Oct 17th 2020 at 5:35:48 AM

Question: Historically, what is the widest margin a running incumbent President has lost by? I know there's always a chance Biden will win this, and winning this by a landslide is a long shot, but it would also be really funny for Trump to set a new record of losing the hardest out of anyone, ever, in his re-election bid.

Silasw A procrastination in of itself from a handcart heading to Hell Since: Mar, 2011 Relationship Status: And they all lived happily ever after <3
A procrastination in of itself
#334087: Oct 17th 2020 at 5:40:37 AM

Margin in electoral votes or popular vote? Carter defeated Ford (the incumbent) by 2 points in the popular vote and by 57 votes in the electoral college, Reagan defeated Carter (the incumbent) by 9 points in the popular vote but by 440 votes in the electoral college. Similarly Bill Clinton defeated George H W Bush by 6 points in the popular vote but by 202 votes in the electoral college. Hoover lost to FDR by about 17 points in the popular vote and by 413 votes in the electoral college.

Edited by Silasw on Oct 17th 2020 at 12:48:13 PM

"And the Bunny nails it!" ~ Gabrael "If the UN can get through a day without everyone strangling everyone else so can we." ~ Cyran
DeMarquis Who Am I? from Hell, USA Since: Feb, 2010 Relationship Status: Buried in snow, waiting for spring
Who Am I?
#334088: Oct 17th 2020 at 6:53:46 AM

Pretty sure that people are allowed to refuse Secret Service protection after they leave office. There are no charges pending against him serious enough to restrict his travel privileges, so if he wants to run to Russia, they're welcome to him. New York can just seize his assets, if the charges there stick. Trump can spend the rest of his life playing checkers with Snowden.

"We learn from history that we do not learn from history."
Redmess Redmess from Netherlands Since: Feb, 2014
Redmess
#334089: Oct 17th 2020 at 6:58:52 AM

The funny thing about secret service protection is, Bill Clinton changed the Former Presidents Act to limit secret service protection to only 10 years for ex-presidents. But it was changed back to full life protection, by none other than Obama.

Now that's irony, Trump benefiting from Obama's policy change. He sure won't complain about that one.

As for Trump leaving the country, I'm not so sure the secret service would be able to stop him from travelling to other countries, since Trump would still be a free citizen. The only real way to stop him, I think, would be to either arrest him, or officially forbid him from leaving the country. Also, don't underestimate his connections to cronies who could facilitate such an escape.

Similarly, I don't know if they could force him to go back to the US once in another country.

They are protectors, not jailers. And presumably Trump could simply dismiss them if he wishes to.

Optimism is a duty.
DrunkenNordmann from Exile Since: May, 2015
#334090: Oct 17th 2020 at 7:21:48 AM

[up] Of course that only applies if Russia - or any other country - actually wants him.

Putin might as well just not give a shit about him after he served his purpose and other countries could either refuse him entry entirely or extradite him back to the US if he's charged with anything.

Welcome to Estalia, gentlemen.
3of4 Just a harmless giant from a foreign land. from Five Seconds in the Future. Since: Jan, 2010 Relationship Status: GAR for Archer
Just a harmless giant from a foreign land.
#334091: Oct 17th 2020 at 7:22:00 AM

Couldn't they just adjust that law with a special "And fuck your protection if you got impeached" provision <.<?

"You can reply to this Message!"
minseok42 A Self-inflicted Disaster from A Six-Tatami Room (4 Score & 7 Years Ago) Relationship Status: Wishfully thinking
A Self-inflicted Disaster
#334092: Oct 17th 2020 at 7:26:27 AM

[up]Well, someone might try to kidnap a former president to get access to national secrets.

"Enshittification truly is how platforms die"-Cory Doctorow
thok That's Dr. Title, thank you! (4 Score & 7 Years Ago) Relationship Status: Non-Canon
That's Dr. Title, thank you!
#334093: Oct 17th 2020 at 7:26:33 AM

[up][up] Only if you want Clinton to also lose his protection (or to add another reason for opposing parties to pursue impeachment).

Given Trump's health, he likely won't have Secret Service protection for that long after leaving office.

Edited by thok on Oct 17th 2020 at 7:26:43 AM

3of4 Just a harmless giant from a foreign land. from Five Seconds in the Future. Since: Jan, 2010 Relationship Status: GAR for Archer
Just a harmless giant from a foreign land.
#334094: Oct 17th 2020 at 7:35:22 AM

Oh right.

[up][up]It'd be easier to pay Trump for them.

"You can reply to this Message!"
Redmess Redmess from Netherlands Since: Feb, 2014
Redmess
#334095: Oct 17th 2020 at 7:42:59 AM

He would probably still be welcomed in Saudi Arabia or Brazil. Especially if they can paint it as having a "president in exile".

Optimism is a duty.
HailMuffins Since: May, 2016 Relationship Status: Shipping fictional characters
#334096: Oct 17th 2020 at 8:22:20 AM

...oh shit!

Hopes he goes straight to Saudi Arabia, we can't deal with two nutcases in here.

Silasw A procrastination in of itself from a handcart heading to Hell Since: Mar, 2011 Relationship Status: And they all lived happily ever after <3
A procrastination in of itself
#334097: Oct 17th 2020 at 8:22:41 AM

The Saudis wouldn’t welcome him, they want a continuous relationship with the US. Setting up Trump as a president in exile is a good way to get the US to cut off arms sales and withdraw all US troops from the country, possibly even start giving arms to Yemeni groups fighting the Saudis.

That could well be the biggest blocker, while Russia is strong enough to not fear a US retaliation for helping Trump flee, that doesn’t apply to most other countries. The EU could simply refuse to allow any plane with Trump onboard to cross European airspace.

That would limit Trump’s escape routes significantly, I’m not sure if he actually understands geography well enough to find the border between the US and Russia and cross there.

"And the Bunny nails it!" ~ Gabrael "If the UN can get through a day without everyone strangling everyone else so can we." ~ Cyran
Fighteer Lost in Space from The Time Vortex (Time Abyss) Relationship Status: TV Tropes ruined my love life
Lost in Space
#334098: Oct 17th 2020 at 8:27:04 AM

Remember: Trump is a coward. I think it's still more likely that he'll attempt to trade a resignation for a pardon, although if he loses the election, Pence being President for two months isn't exactly a juicy treat to dangle.

"It's Occam's Shuriken! If the answer is elusive, never rule out ninjas!"
CharlesPhipps Since: Jan, 2001
#334099: Oct 17th 2020 at 8:29:43 AM

I don't think Trump will go for President in Exile. He'll say he won the election but not attempt to act like he's President, which is an important distinction. More, "I was robbed!"

Author of The Rules of Supervillainy, Cthulhu Armageddon, and United States of Monsters.
Redmess Redmess from Netherlands Since: Feb, 2014
Redmess
#334100: Oct 17th 2020 at 8:30:31 AM

... You do realize he doesn't have to fly there himself, right? grin

Optimism is a duty.

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