[Genuine Realist]

I am glad that some people are recognizing that there are people in positions of power who are trying to orchestrate a coup. When I suggested on this board that there was a non-zero probability chance of a coup post-election a few months ago, people were quick to attack me for it. I'd like to think that opinions have shifted since then. Coups benefit from people denying that coups are possible.

It's amazing how Covid-19 has brought out the best and worst in people in so many ways.

Given the intrusiveness of the SIP regimen into the patterns of everyday life, as they existed not so long ago, controversy, debate, and criticism was inevitable. Given the numbers involved, some hysterics are bound to be heard. Hostility to authority is part of the DNA in this society - and the possibility of bureaucratic overkill is obvious with regulations as comprehensive as these are. Bueaucratic overkill has undoubtedly occurred. I'm thinking particularly of school closings.

Given the oddities of the election due to covid, legal challenges to the election by the losers were inevitable - and healthy. What they have demonstrated emphatically is exact opposite of what they hoped to show, that is, the integrity of the election. Trump's legal team, apparently recruited from the Buddy Teevens law school, is now 0-21. 

All this is a long way from a coup. The worst I could wish you is that you live through a real one.  What Trump is doing is far more cynical. He's fully aware he lost, and ultimately will (grudgingly) accept . He's feeding the conspiracist fantasies of his core followers, which is despicable. Those of us who reserved some hyperbole in condemnation of Trump are rather glad we did so, as he really deserves it now.

[Genuine Realist]

I am glad that some people are recognizing that there are people in positions of power who are trying to orchestrate a coup. When I suggested on this board that there was a non-zero probability chance of a coup post-election a few months ago, people were quick to attack me for it. I'd like to think that opinions have shifted since then. Coups benefit from people denying that coups are possible.

It's amazing how Covid-19 has brought out the best and worst in people in so many ways.

Given the intrusiveness of the SIP regimen into the patterns of everyday life, as they existed not so long ago, controversy, debate, and criticism was inevitable. Given the numbers involved, some hysterics are bound to be heard. Hostility to authority is part of the DNA in this society - and the possibility of bureaucratic overkill is obvious with regulations as comprehensive as these are. Bueaucratic overkill has undoubtedly occurred. I'm thinking particularly of school closings.

Given the oddities of the election due to covid, legal challenges to the election by the losers were inevitable - and healthy. What they have demonstrated emphatically is exact opposite of what they hoped to show, that is, the integrity of the election. Trump's legal team, apparently recruited from the Buddy Teevens law school, is now 0-21. 

All this is a long way from a coup. The worst I could wish you is that you live through a real one.  What Trump is doing is far more cynical. He's fully aware he lost, and ultimately will (grudgingly) accept . He's feeding the conspiracist fantasies of his core followers, which is despicable. Those of us who reserved some hyperbole in condemnation of Trump are rather glad we did so, as he really deserves it now.