2020 US Presidential Election

[najaB]

There was also a now deleted one, something about him being the only cast member to try and incite a riot against the government as well as get banned from social media. Or something along those lines.

Ah, okay.

 

[Bald Rick]

Okay, read the whole thing. Is the relevant part that Trump forced his way into the film, or that he sold the hotel at a loss? Or something else?

Dammit, it must have changed! It was like this only half an hour ago...

 

[nlogax]

[Citation needed].

There's room for a little cynicism in the light of what happened to Trump and his cronies on social media this week. Biden is expected to shake things up and moral stances aside what FB and Twitter did won't harm their cause from Jan 20th. The following was published before all this happened.

https://hbr.org/2020/12/what-will-tech-regulation-look-like-in-the-biden-era

To be sure, the people running these tech companies likely never intended for their platforms to be used in this manner. But given their current business models, there seems to be little chance that these problems will be solved without outside intervention. As such, Congress and the White House are likely to focus on reforming certain key elements of these companies’ business practices that engender this problematic activity, with policies aimed at:

• Protecting consumer privacy to by limiting the uninhibited collection and use of personal data for behavioral profiling
• Requiring algorithmic transparency to reveal how and why social media posts and ads target different individuals
• Leveraging antitrust policies to realign platforms’ growth incentives, limiting the potential for anticompetitive conduct that keeps would-be rivals from entering the market
• Ensuring platforms are held liable when they facilitate the spread of (or fail to effectively moderate) harmful content — without infringing on companies’ and users’ freedom of expression.

 

[najaB]

There's room for a little cynicism in the light of what happened to Trump and his cronies on social media this week. Biden is expected to shake things up and moral stances aside what FB and Twitter did won't harm their cause from Jan 20th

What's suggested is far from a crackdown. In fact, it's pretty much what people have been calling for in this thread.

 

[swt_passenger]

I saw the other day that the firm who make many of the election voting machines is sueing one of Trumps high profile lawyers who was allegedly repeating any old rubbish about voting fraud. IIRC Trump had distanced himself from her eventually. Do some of them just get carried away with it all, and think they’re above normal standards?

 

[najaB]

Do some of them just get carried away with it all, and think they’re above normal standards?

In a word, yes.

 

[birchesgreen]

I saw the other day that the firm who make many of the election voting machines is sueing one of Trumps high profile lawyers who was allegedly repeating any old rubbish about voting fraud. IIRC Trump had distanced himself from her eventually. Do some of them just get carried away with it all, and think they’re above normal standards?

Sidney Powell, so off the wall even Trump dumped her. That is quite something.

 

[61653 HTAFC]

There's room for a little cynicism in the light of what happened to Trump and his cronies on social media this week. Biden is expected to shake things up and moral stances aside what FB and Twitter did won't harm their cause from Jan 20th. The following was published before all this happened.

https://hbr.org/2020/12/what-will-tech-regulation-look-like-in-the-biden-era

That final bullet point might well be well-intentioned, but it's a tricky manoeuvre to pull off!

 

[nlogax]

That final bullet point might well be well-intentioned, but it's a tricky manoeuvre to pull off!

Yep. Words are easy, actions..not so much. The ultimate in tightrope walking.

 

[daodao]

The behaviour of the Dems in Congress in seeking to impeach Trump when he has only 10 more days as POTUS is unwise, unnecessary and vindictive. They have only just scraped over the line in electoral terms and antagonising a substantial proportion of the electorate is hardly the way to heal wounds. It would be advisable if they turned the other cheek, let Trump just slip away and don't hound him now or when he has left office. If they pursue the GOP too vigorously, prominent Dems are at risk of assassination.

 

[birchesgreen]

Or you can let him get away with it. A successful impeachment means he can't stand for office again (to be honest quite a few in the GOP will be secretly pleased about that!)

 

[Domh245]

Or you can let him get away with it. A successful impeachment means he can't stand for office again (to be honest quite a few in the GOP will be secretly pleased about that!)

It also removes his entitlement to the presidential pension, security detail, and travel allowance amongst other perks. It also sends the message that you cannot get away with that sort of thing, regardless of when it might occur

 

[RichT54]

The behaviour of the Dems in Congress in seeking to impeach Trump when he has only 10 more days as POTUS is unwise, unnecessary and vindictive. They have only just scraped over the line in electoral terms and antagonising a substantial proportion of the electorate is hardly the way to heal wounds. It would be advisable if they turned the other cheek, let Trump just slip away and don't hound him now or when he has left office. If they pursue the GOP too vigorously, prominent Dems are at risk of assassination.

Totally disagree.

He deliberately roused a mob with lies and smears and sent them to riot and storm Congress.

Five people died.

This was an attack on democracy and he caused it to happen.

He should most definitely be held accountable.

 

[Typhoon]

Mike Pence is to attend the inauguration https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2020-election/pence-attend-biden-inauguration-n1253645

This is good news, he must be made welcome but not over welcome. I have suggested previously that all previous Presidents be invited (so George W. Bush as well). The incoming administration must not make this out to be Democrat v Republication but sane Americans v Trump and his gooNoids.

(I do mean 'gooNoid' and not any similar word)

 

[nlogax]

This is good news, he must be made welcome but not over welcome. I have suggested previously that all previous Presidents be invited (so George W. Bush as well). The incoming administration must not make this out to be Democrat v Republication but sane Americans v Trump and his gooNoids.

I'd be glad just to see a sincere handshake between Biden and Pence. Any vestiges of bipartisanship and respect should be salvaged.

 

[daodao]

He deliberately roused a mob with lies and smears and sent them to riot and storm Congress.

Five people died.

This was an attack on democracy and he caused it to happen.

I do not disagree, but WASPS sting and one needs to be wary of them.

 

[ainsworth74]

I have suggested previously that all previous Presidents be invited (so George W. Bush as well).

I might be missing a trick but don't they normally turn up anyway (though I agree with the general thrust of your point!)? (edit: see later post)

I do not disagree, but WASPS sting and one needs to be wary of them.

I'm not sure trying to appease them is quite the right approach though.

 

[ainsworth74]

I have suggested previously that all previous Presidents be invited (so George W. Bush as well).

Ah yes just having a poke around Wikipedia and at Obama's first inauguration you had outgoing President George W. Bush, outgoing Vice President Dick Cheney, former presidents Jimmy Carter, George H.W. Bush, and Bill Clinton, and former vice presidents Walter Mondale, Dan Quayle, and Al Gore, along with their respective wives including Hillary Clinton attending as a former first lady. For Trump you had outgoing President Barack Obama, outgoing Vice President Joe Biden, former presidents Jimmy Carter, Bill Clinton, and George W. Bush, and former vice presidents Dan Quayle and Dick Cheney, along with their respective wives, attended the inauguration (again including Hillary as a former First Lady which, now I think about it, means she's had to attend the inauguration of her electoral opponent twice now!).

And indeed there's an article from CNN a couple of days ago confirming that Obama, Bush and Clinton will all be in attendance at the inauguration.

Washington (CNN) Former Presidents Barack Obama and Bill Clinton will attend President-elect Joe Biden's inauguration, officials say, joining former President George W. Bush, who also plans to be in Washington for the official transfer of power.

Obama and Clinton will join Bush at Biden's inauguration

Former Presidents Barack Obama and Bill Clinton will attend President-elect Joe Biden's inauguration, officials say, joining former President George W. Bush, who also plans to be in Washington for the official transfer of power.

edition.cnn.com

 

[61653 HTAFC]

The behaviour of the Dems in Congress in seeking to impeach Trump when he has only 10 more days as POTUS is unwise, unnecessary and vindictive. They have only just scraped over the line in electoral terms and antagonising a substantial proportion of the electorate is hardly the way to heal wounds. It would be advisable if they turned the other cheek, let Trump just slip away and don't hound him now or when he has left office. If they pursue the GOP too vigorously, prominent Dems are at risk of assassination.

If that's where the US has got to, the coup was a success and they may as well ask Liz (Windsor) if she fancies taking back control.

 

[ComUtoR]

Proud Boy leader Nicholas Ochs has been charged with "misdemeanor unlawful entry of restricted buildings or grounds."

Sounds like a smack on the wrist for "domestic terrorists" or "insurectionists"

 

[berneyarms]

Mike Pence is to attend the inauguration https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2020-election/pence-attend-biden-inauguration-n1253645

This is good news, he must be made welcome but not over welcome. I have suggested previously that all previous Presidents be invited (so George W. Bush as well). The incoming administration must not make this out to be Democrat v Republication but sane Americans v Trump and his gooNoids.

(I do mean 'gooNoid' and not any similar word)

All former presidents are invited as a matter of course.
George W. Bush will be attending.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 10 Jan 2021 ==

The behaviour of the Dems in Congress in seeking to impeach Trump when he has only 10 more days as POTUS is unwise, unnecessary and vindictive. They have only just scraped over the line in electoral terms and antagonising a substantial proportion of the electorate is hardly the way to heal wounds. It would be advisable if they turned the other cheek, let Trump just slip away and don't hound him now or when he has left office. If they pursue the GOP too vigorously, prominent Dems are at risk of assassination.

It is not a case of pursing the GOP, but rather Trump. There is quite a difference between the two.

Dialling down the rhetoric and calming the situation somewhat will be Biden's objective I would suggest.

 

[Typhoon]

Ah yes just having a poke around Wikipedia and at Obama's first inauguration you had outgoing President George W. Bush, outgoing Vice President Dick Cheney, former presidents Jimmy Carter, George H.W. Bush, and Bill Clinton, and former vice presidents Walter Mondale, Dan Quayle, and Al Gore, along with their respective wives including Hillary Clinton attending as a former first lady. For Trump you had outgoing President Barack Obama, outgoing Vice President Joe Biden, former presidents Jimmy Carter, Bill Clinton, and George W. Bush, and former vice presidents Dan Quayle and Dick Cheney, along with their respective wives, attended the inauguration (again including Hillary as a former First Lady which, now I think about it, means she's had to attend the inauguration of her electoral opponent twice now!).

And indeed there's an article from CNN a couple of days ago confirming that Obama, Bush and Clinton will all be in attendance at the inauguration.

Obama and Clinton will join Bush at Biden's inauguration

Former Presidents Barack Obama and Bill Clinton will attend President-elect Joe Biden's inauguration, officials say, joining former President George W. Bush, who also plans to be in Washington for the official transfer of power.

edition.cnn.com

Excellent. I suppose I should have a) researched more and b) written 'issued a strong invite'. Make it clear that that the establishment are backing the process, the trouble is that I have been struggling to find Republicans besides Bush so it is important he attend. Neither Cheney nor Quayle are exactly statesmen of standing. There really needs to be an indication of approval for the process across the board and, thanks to certain Representatives who objected to the certification of the election, they are still potential grounds for confusion. The long that lingers, the more grounds for unrest. I think Biden has got a job and a half, I just hope he is up to it. And c) researched more.

 

[najaB]

It would be advisable if they turned the other cheek, let Trump just slip away and don't hound him now or when he has left office.

Thus proving that actions have no consequences. That just emboldens people to go further. Do you know why the storming of the Capitol happened now, rather than during past periods of political turmoil? It wasn't because people were angry with the political class - that has been so for generations. I'd say that the American public were much more divided and the temperature was much higher during the Vietnam War period.

It happened now because they thought they could get away with it, they had no fear that their actions would result in punishment. How else can you explain rioters taking selfies and posting them publicly?

If they aren't going to take some action against Trump then they might as well not bother prosecuting anyone involved in the seditious riot or the murder of the Capitol policeman either.

If they pursue the GOP too vigorously, prominent Dems are at risk of assassination.

"Nice democracy you've got here. It would be a shame if something happened to the leadership..."

To steal a saying: Those who would sacrifice justice in the name of safety deserve neither.

 

[edwin_m]

I read somewhere Bush and Clinton will be attending. The only other living ex-President is Jimmy Carter, well into his 90s and probably not recommended to stand outside on a January day in the middle of a pandemic. He has declined the invite but sent his good wishes.

 

[Wilts Wanderer]

To be honest I’m surprised Trump and a select group of GOP senators aren’t talking about holding their own ‘alternative’ inauguration event.

 

[Cowley]

To be honest I’m surprised Trump and a select group of GOP senators aren’t talking about holding their own ‘alternative’ inauguration event.

Yes! It would involve a throne, a military uniform with lots of medals and some big rockets on the back of trucks.
He’d love that.

 

[RichT54]

To be honest I’m surprised Trump and a select group of GOP senators aren’t talking about holding their own ‘alternative’ inauguration event.

They could hold it in the car park of a landscaping business situated between a crematorium and an adult book store on the outskirts of the city!

 

[SuspectUsual]

Yes! It would involve a throne, a military uniform with lots of medals and some big rockets on the back of trucks.
He’d love that.

Yeah, but do you think the Proud Boys and assorted other acolytes are capable of formation goosestepping?

 

[Cowley]

Yeah, but do you think the Proud Boys and assorted other acolytes are capable of formation goosestepping?

They don’t really look like they would be.

 

[najaB]

They don’t really look like they would be.

If they played YMCA they might be able to keep time: for a bunch of neo-nazis they seem to love that song (maybe a little too much...).