My theory: Trump, Rudy et al are too stupid to realize they were trying to carry out a coup.

They’re all just a bunch of dumb ass idiots. Treating our national election like they would treat a grade school popularity vote. They’re not only criminals, they’re too stupid to grasp the magnitude of their crime.

We know their followers are, but the main characters trying to carry out this coup I don’t believe have the mental capacity to fully grasp it. I also think Putin understood that.

He’s not only dumb, he’s stubborn dumb. Just like his followers.

Trump knew damned well what his was doing.  His mistake was his staff allowing a documentary filmmaker in The White House while he planned to steal the election.

British Documentary Filmmaker in White House

DWags wrote:They’re all just a bunch of dumb ass idiots. Treating our national election like they would treat a grade school popularity vote.   They’re not only criminals, they’re too stupid to grasp the magnitude of their crime.  

We know their followers are, but the main characters trying to carry out this coup I don’t believe have the mental capacity to fully grasp it.  I also think Putin understood that.  

Well, America is a stupid country.. which would explain this and 35% of the electorate.

I dont think Trump set out in early November, to plot a coup. Mostly because he didn't think that would be necessary, as he had the courts, he had Republican legislatures in most of the swing states, Republican governors in a couple of them, etc.

But as the days passed, and more and more legal challenges fell by the wayside, his desperation led him down the path of what could only be a coup. He was told that things he was doing was illegal and didn't care. It's like how he did business. Do whatever it takes (including, lie, cheat, steal, intimidate, and litigate) in order to win. Maybe he didn't think of it as a "coup" with that word, but he knew that he was attempting to use illegal means to overturn the results of a free and fair election.

GRR Spartan wrote:Trump knew damned well what his was doing.  His mistake was his staff allowing a documentary filmmaker in The White House while he planned to steal the election.

British Documentary Filmmaker in White House

I mean, that depends on if he was stupid enough to discuss his illegal plans in front of the cameras. Yes, it probably caught a lit of the things that we already know about. But the content of this remains to be seen.

MiamiSpartan wrote:I dont think Trump set out in early November, to plot a coup.  Mostly because he didn't think that would be necessary, as he had the courts, he had Republican legislatures in most of the swing states, Republican governors in a couple of them, etc.

But as the days passed, and more and more legal challenges fell by the wayside, his desperation led him down the path of what could only be a coup.  He was told that things he was doing was illegal and didn't care.  It's like how he did business.  Do whatever it takes (including, lie, cheat, steal, intimidate, and litigate) in order to win.  Maybe he didn't think of it as a "coup" with that word, but he knew that he was attempting to use illegal means to overturn the results of a free and fair election.  

between me and you, I think you're giving him way too much credit.

Of course,  I'm just an idiot who can barely program the coffee maker... so....

I think he was listening to folks from Mio, the knuckle-scrapin' christians,  the anti-American right, those with no regard for the Constitution,  etc.

They used him for 4+ years. He was their useful idiot. He gives them tax breaks and hate-filled christian misogynistic judges and they'll keep using him.. giving him little girls, bibles, money, saying nice things to their accomplices in the mainstream media. He was easily bought and too stupid to even know.

Robert J Sakimano wrote:

MiamiSpartan wrote:I dont think Trump set out in early November, to plot a coup.  Mostly because he didn't think that would be necessary, as he had the courts, he had Republican legislatures in most of the swing states, Republican governors in a couple of them, etc.

But as the days passed, and more and more legal challenges fell by the wayside, his desperation led him down the path of what could only be a coup.  He was told that things he was doing was illegal and didn't care.  It's like how he did business.  Do whatever it takes (including, lie, cheat, steal, intimidate, and litigate) in order to win.  Maybe he didn't think of it as a "coup" with that word, but he knew that he was attempting to use illegal means to overturn the results of a free and fair election.  

between me and you, I think you're giving him way too much credit.

Of course,  I'm just an idiot who can barely program the coffee maker... so....

I think he was listening to folks from Mio, the knuckle-scrapin' christians,  the anti-American right, those with no regard for the Constitution,  etc.

They used him for 4+ years. He was their useful idiot. He gives them tax breaks and hate-filled christian misogynistic judges and they'll keep using him.. giving him little girls, bibles, money, saying nice things to their accomplices in the mainstream media. He was easily bought and too stupid to even know.

I'm certainly not saying he's the mastermind. Though with as bad of a job as they did with everything (from a 1-60something record in court cases, to the Four Seasons Landscaping press conference, to blaming election fraud on long-since deceased dictator), a case could certainly be made that it was the work of a buffoon.

But he knew what he wanted (to remain president, by any means necessary). When he was told what he was doing was wrong, illegal, or wouldn't work, he'd stop listening to those people, and bring in people who told him what he wanted to hear. To whatever extent others were using him, he was a witting participant.

Again, I think Trump knew he was trying to overturn an election, I just don’t think him or his gang or their idiot followers understand the gravity of what they were doing/are doing. Not just for the 2020 election but for the future of our democracy. They cant see the Forrest because of the trees.

DWags wrote:Again, I think Trump knew he was trying to overturn an election, I just don’t think him or his gang or their idiot followers understand the gravity of what they were doing/are doing. Not just for the 2020 election but for the future of our democracy. They cant see the Forrest because of the trees.

Oh I think he can see the forrest through the trees. He just doesn't GAF.

In a democracy, the people get the leaders they deserve.

America is a stupid country.

Trapper Gus wrote:

MiamiSpartan wrote:I dont think Trump set out in early November, to plot a coup. Mostly because he didn't think that would be necessary, as he had the courts, he had Republican legislatures in most of the swing states, Republican governors in a couple of them, etc.

But as the days passed, and more and more legal challenges fell by the wayside, his desperation led him down the path of what could only be a coup. He was told that things he was doing was illegal and didn't care. It's like how he did business. Do whatever it takes (including, lie, cheat, steal, intimidate, and litigate) in order to win. Maybe he didn't think of it as a "coup" with that word, but he knew that he was attempting to use illegal means to overturn the results of a free and fair election.

Any normal person would have known he had lost on the night of the election.

Enough of the experts had told him that at that time.

He is a person who believes he can change reality by will, most people would call that insane.

He tried to do that, and he has no limits, so he has kept denying reality right up to today.

He also, with the one real skill he has, salesmanship, convinces others to break the law in pursuit of his fantasies.

What he does not have is a rock solid commitment to what The United States of America means.

He is a Hitler youth, literally, based on his family history, who believes that might or power is the only reality.

His love affairs with Putin and Kim Jong Un and any other petty dictator he could suck up to confirm that.