What I'm Really Afraid Of

[Fuzzy Necromancer]

If he tries to coup and keep power after impeachment and conviction, Mattis will say "No, Donald, you're not President anymore", and remove him at bayonet-point.

Then Mattis will immediately resign and request to be tried for launching a coup, will be given a fair and speedy trial, convicted after confessing openly under oath to having ordered the military to remove Trump after his conviction and legal removal from office, and will be sentenced to time served.

Making Mattis SecDef was the best (for the country) and worst (for himself) mistake Trump ever made.

I envy your confidence.

[LittleRaven]

Says you.

There are many things in this world you should fear, Fuzzy. Trump somehow managing to hold onto power after being legally impeached is not one of them.

Leaders who plan on keeping power once the people tire of them follow very predictable patterns because they have to. They cozy up to internal security forces. They butter up the military and especially the officer corps. They purge the judiciary of any political enemies. The engage in ruinously expensive but temporarily popular wars and public works in order to drive up their approval ratings.

Trump hasn't done any of these things, in fact, he's generally done the exact opposite. The FBI and CIA LOATHE Trump, and I doubt he's all that much more popular within the officer corp. Even if Trump truly, honestly wanted to make some kind of play for everlasting power....he just doesn't have the support.

[TGLS]

A President gets removed when he loses political support.

You know, I think that's what's potentially the most scary proposition I've read in this thread. If impeachment is a political process, what's stopping a party that controls the Senate (with a supermajority) and the House from just purging the judiciary and the executive? The separation of powers goes completely down the tubes, and congressional supremacy is de facto declared.

[LittleRaven]

If impeachment is a political process, what's stopping a party that controls the Senate (with a supermajority) and the House from just purging the judiciary and the executive?

The voters. Congress has the power under the Constitution to do exactly what you describe, but the idea is that the situation would never arise, because if Senators and Representatives have enough confidence that the voters will back their play, the question will be moot, because the people will already have voted in a sympathetic President. And there would be no NEED to purge the judiciary, because if you have THAT much public support, you can simply write the laws to say whatever you want, leaving judges no room for creative interpretations.

[Admiral X]

It's funny how Trump is simultaneously a buffoon incapable of understanding such simple things as understanding time zones and also an evil genius who is playing 4th dimensional press while he makes secret evil plans to become dictator for life.

[Worffan101]

It's funny how Trump is simultaneously a buffoon incapable of understanding such simple things as understanding time zones and also an evil genius who is playing 4th dimensional press while he makes secret evil plans to become dictator for life.

Nah, only paranoid people think he's a genius.

The man lost money on a fucking casino. FOUR. TIMES. I'm frankly surprised that he can breathe without fatally injuring himself.

[Fuzzy Necromancer]

If impeachment is a political process, what's stopping a party that controls the Senate (with a supermajority) and the House from just purging the judiciary and the executive?

The voters. Congress has the power under the Constitution to do exactly what you describe, but the idea is that the situation would never arise, because if Senators and Representatives have enough confidence that the voters will back their play, the question will be moot, because the people will already have voted in a sympathetic President. And there would be no NEED to purge the judiciary, because if you have THAT much public support, you can simply write the laws to say whatever you want, leaving judges no room for creative interpretations.

Well, thanks to Gerrymandering, voter ID laws, and voter roll purges, congress gets to choose its voters to a large degree rather than the other way around. =/

[Fuzzy Necromancer]

Admiral X, the only people who think he's a deep genius are his apologists.

I'm concerned not because I think he's good at things, but because an entire political party has realized that this bumptious idiot is the way to get what they want and are willing to deconstruct any checks and balances to achieve that, and the remaining ones he somehow seems to walk straight through obliviously like some legal Koolaid Man.

[Deledrius]

what's stopping a party that controls the Senate (with a supermajority) and the House from just purging the judiciary and the executive?

Respect for the processes and institutions of our government.

[Karha of Honor]

Admiral X, the only people who think he's a deep genius are his apologists.

I'm concerned not because I think he's good at things, but because an entire political party has realized that this bumptious idiot is the way to get what they want and are willing to deconstruct any checks and balances to achieve that, and the remaining ones he somehow seems to walk straight through obliviously like some legal Koolaid Man.

And what will the Democrats do?

They handed the keys to academia and the most hardcore activists, chased out the blue dog democrats and will try to dominate right wingers in every aspect of their lives.