Trump Proposes Delaying Election

[Nithavela]

“It should happen lawfully,” Pompeo said–the end of his thoughts on the matter.

He obviously means "We're still searching for the presidential emergency power that lets us get away with this."

I can't fault them, considering the number.

 

[Nithavela]

Well the problem is very large for Trump's Yesmen.
This is probably the first they have ever heard of this. The thought popped into Trump's head, he publicly blurted it out, rather than putting together a team to assess the idea before then presenting to the public.

Pompeo is then in a bind. He has not had any time to consider the merits or obstacles, and yet publicaly he is questioned as to his position on this. Being a yesman he does not want to say "No" to any of Trump's ideas (not in the public realm). So then it becomes some awkward moments in front of the public and media for him.

Better an awkward moment in front of the media than out of a job tomorrow.

 

[ZNP]

Better an awkward moment in front of the media than out of a job tomorrow.

We've had unelected presidents before, and we've had coup's before. Should have been better prepared.

 

[Nithavela]

We've had unelected presidents before, and we've had coup's before. Should have been better prepared.

Well, you know. Hindsight is 20/20.

Turns out that now even the staunches trump supporters are realising that all the democrats and "leftists" shouting at the top of their lungs about Trump have been right. But now it's too late. All checks and balances have been removed, all expertise has been replaced by yes-men and all avenues of removal have been destroyed.

Trump will postpone the election, find a way to stay in office and maybe you'll get Jared Kushner as President in 2028, if you're lucky. Good night, everybody.

 

[wing2000]

Well the problem is very large for Trump's Yesmen.
This is probably the first they have ever heard of this. The thought popped into Trump's head, he publicly blurted it out, rather than putting together a team to assess the idea before then presenting to the public.

Pompeo is then in a bind. He has not had any time to consider the merits or obstacles, and yet publicaly he is questioned as to his position on this. Being a yesman he does not want to say "No" to any of Trump's ideas (not in the public realm). So then it becomes some awkward moments in front of the public and media for him.

...any American who is faithful to the Constitution could easily answer this question:

“Can a president delay the November presidential election, Mr. Secretary?” Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.) asked during a Senate hearing.

“Senator, I’m not going to enter a legal judgment on that on the fly this morning,” Pompeo replied.

...but yea, Pompeo is the ultimate Yesman.

 

[stevil]

Better an awkward moment in front of the media than out of a job tomorrow.

This isn't always true.
If a person needs a positive reputation towards their long term career and in order to remain with a positive reputation they need to run the risk of losing their immediate job then that might be the best option.

Trump certainly has destroyed lots of people's careers and reputations.

 

[stevil]

...any American who is faithful to the Constitution could easily answer this question:

Trump and this administration have certainly tested the constitution on many occasions.

Some people have learned:
The sitting president cannot be indicted.
It might not be fair for an official prosecutor to even accuse the sitting president of a crime given he has no legal means of challenging an accusation.
The president and white house can stop people from complying with congressional subpoenas
A Senate Trial can be held even without witnesses or evidence. The senate can block the house representatives from calling witnesses and from presenting documents or evidence in a senate trial.
The president and white house can retaliate against testifying witnesses by demoting them and firing them.
The president can publicly and openly threaten members of trial jury
The president can publicly and openly threaten witnesses while they testify to congress.
The president can publicly and openly try to out anonymous whistle blowers without repercussions to the president.
The president can fire any and all attorneys or inspector generals or FBI directors who are involved in investigating him or his friends or accomplices.
The president can commute sentences of people who recently protected the president from investigations
It is highly unlikely that any impeachment will result in the removal of a sitting president
The attorney general can withdraw charges against the president's friend/accomplice even if that person pled guilty.

 

[Oompa Loompa]

Trump calls for delay to 2020 US election

https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1288818160389558273

He actually did it... Seems like every time one of my reactionary, lefty friends gets worked up about some thing they predict he'll do, I always think to myself, "Come on, that's not going to happen." And then it does.

I am not sure he can do that.

 

[Caliban]

Trump calls for delay to 2020 US election

https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1288818160389558273

He actually did it... Seems like every time one of my reactionary, lefty friends gets worked up about some thing they predict he'll do, I always think to myself, "Come on, that's not going to happen." And then it does.

After Trump loses the election, just watch all the Republicans claiming they never "really" supported Trump. We will remember.

 

[ZNP]

Trump and this administration have certainly tested the constitution on many occasions.

Some people have learned:
The sitting president cannot be indicted.
It might not be fair for an official prosecutor to even accuse the sitting president of a crime given he has no legal means of challenging an accusation.
The president and white house can stop people from complying with congressional subpoenas
A Senate Trial can be held even without witnesses or evidence. The senate can block the house representatives from calling witnesses and from presenting documents or evidence in a senate trial.
The president and white house can retaliate against testifying witnesses by demoting them and firing them.
The president can publicly and openly threaten members of trial jury
The president can publicly and openly threaten witnesses while they testify to congress.
The president can publicly and openly try to out anonymous whistle blowers without repercussions to the president.
The president can fire any and all attorneys or inspector generals or FBI directors who are involved in investigating him or his friends or accomplices.
The president can commute sentences of people who recently protected the president from investigations
It is highly unlikely that any impeachment will result in the removal of a sitting president
The attorney general can withdraw charges against the president's friend/accomplice even if that person pled guilty.

So then he can cancel the election

 

[stevil]

So then he can cancel the election

I have no idea.

 

[ZNP]

I have no idea.

I'm not saying it's legal or constitutional, I'm saying if they can't stop him he can do it.

 

[iluvatar5150]

I am not sure he can do that.

I'm pretty confident he can't. The fact that he's even tossing it out there is ridiculous.

 

[childeye 2]

I'm pretty confident he can't. The fact that he's even tossing it out there is ridiculous.

He's got away with what's ridiculous many times already. One wonders how?

 

[iluvatar5150]

It might be a minute. Steven Calabresi from the federalist is saying he needs to be impeached over this. Heads are either exploding or they are coming up with reasons why he is no longer a conservative.

Ya almost had me going there for a second. Calabresi was a founder of The Federalist Society, which is not the same thing as The Federalist.

 

[jayem]

I'm not saying it's legal or constitutional, I'm saying if they can't stop him he can do it.

Of course he can be stopped. He can issue an executive order to delay the election. But it would be illegal. Only Congress has the authority to set the time for an election. Any such order coming from him can—and should be ignored. Even in the military, no one is obligated to obey an illegal order.

This is clearly a sign of desperation by a President who knows he is losing badly, and is scared out of his wits. The man is grasping at straws.

 

[ZNP]

Of course he can be stopped. He can issue an executive order to delay the election. But it would be illegal. Only Congress has the authority to set the time for an election. Any such order coming from him can—and should be ignored. Even in the military, no one is obligated to obey an illegal order.

This is clearly a sign of desperation by a President who knows he is losing badly, and is scared out of his wits. The man is grasping at straws.

Oh, so then they will impeach him.

 

[variant]

So then he can cancel the election

He can certainly try. Crossing the Rubicon has been historically bad for ones health though.

 

[ViaCrucis]

Here we go. One step away from a fascist dictatorship.

I think we crossed that threshold when the gestapo was sent into Portland. This is more par for the course at this point.

-CryptoLutheran

 

[jayem]

Oh, so then they will impeach him.

I'm not an expert on federal law. But knowingly issuing an illegal executive order, might be a criminal violation. If so, that would be grounds for impeachment by the House. And an action that blatant might even get a 2/3 vote in the Senate to remove him from office.

But even if he wasn't impeached, how would he enforce an order to delay the election? The President doesn't have that authority. Such an order isn't legal. Neither the military, nor the National Guard, nor any federal government agency, nor any state election official, nor any local police department is obligated to obey it. They would all have to stand down. An illegal order is unenforceable. It's effectively null and void.