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Mike (My Pillow) Lindell & A Plot For US Martial Law?

ramonmercado

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(This thread was spun off from the US Capitol Invasion thread.)

Another coup attempt being plotted?

... Since Trump lost the 2020 presidential election, Lindell has been a fervent champion of the utterly baseless claim that the election was somehow stolen from Trump.

Lindell has repeatedly appeared on far-right “news” programs to insist that he has evidence that Trump actually won the election, a claim for which no credible evidence has ever emerged. As recently as Thursday, he posted on his Facebook page a claim that Trump would be president for “4 more years.”

On Friday, he may again have had the chance to see that desk. At about 3 p.m., he was escorted into the West Wing. The subject of his visit? If notes Lindell was holding while he waited to enter were any indication, he wanted to discuss his thoughts on how Trump might finagle those “4 more years” Lindell had promised his Facebook followers.

The Washington Post’s Jabin Botsford captured an image of the notes Lindell was carrying with him as he went to meet with Trump. Only half of the page can be seen, but even that tells a lot.

Here’s our best attempt to capture what’s written on the page.

… BE TAKEN IMMEDIATELY TO SAVE THE
...THE CONSTITUTION
...Colon NOW as Acting National Security
...him with getting the evidence of ALL the
...in the election and all information regarding
...using people he knows who already have security
...done massive research on these issues
...at Fort Mead [sic]. He is an attorney with cyber-
...expertise and is up to speed on election issues.
...Insurrection Act now as a result of the assault on the
...martial law if necessary upon the first hint of any
[STRIKETHROUGH]
...Sidney Powell, Bill Olsen, Kurt Olsen,
...DOD. Move Kash Patel to CIA Acting.
...on Foreign Interference in the election. Trigger
...powers. Make clear this is China/Iran
...also used domestic actors. Instruct Frank
...evidence on...the more broad
...likely amount...
...line...evidence
At the bottom, the text is obscured by Lindell’s coffee cup.
But you get the gist: The CEO of MyPillow has a strategy for shuffling around administration staffers to gather up the evidence of electoral fraud he thinks exists — and to use military resources in an effort to keep Trump in power, or, as he apparently puts it, to protect the Constitution. ...

https://www.washingtonpost.com/poli...y-has-some-ideas-about-declaring-martial-law/
 
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NOTES to orient those not already familiar with Lindell and this incident ...

Michael (Mike) Lindell is a businessman best known as the TV salesman for his 'My Pillow' product(s). He's also an outspoken evangelical Christian and a staunch supporter of Donald Trump.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mike_Lindell

Here are some additional references on the most recent incident ...

https://www.cnn.com/2021/01/15/politics/cia-kash-patel-mypillow-notes-lindell-trump/index.html
https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2021/1/16/22234546/my-pillow-guy-notes-martial-law
 
Bloody hell! This couldn't get any weirder if aliens really did land on the White House lawn.

All I can say is that if the 'Trumpista' version of Che Guevara is an evangelical blanket salesman, then I hope he has a comprehensive returns and refund policy.
 
A plan for martial law developed by a pillow magnate? Do his pillows come with microchips to broadcast to the sleeper subconsciously? That sounds like something Superman would stop. And not just any Superman, but the Silver Age goofy plots Superman where the cover says "Introducing.... Mr. Pillow!".
 
Shit guys. No joke. This is really fucking serious. I've just found Lindell's training video.

Undeniable evidence of Russian interference in the US election:

 
I think it is rational that Trump will be considering holding onto power or recapturing it by a variety of means.
 
I think it is rational that Trump will be considering holding onto power or recapturing it by a variety of means.
It is rational, if you consider that Trump may genuinely believe that he lost because of cheating.
It is interesting to note that nobody who should take the accusation seriously is taking it seriously. They could put this to rest either way by conducting a proper investigation. The angry mob might also go away.
 
The angry mob might also go away.
I hear some reports that there are over 20,000 troops assembled in and around Washington DC, which is considered to be more than all the residual US forces still in Iraq and Afganistan, combined: to see that happening, in our lifetimes, is horrifying.

But: it now seems we can all say that about too many things.
 
Even if they did conduct a proper investigation I'm not sure all Trumps supporters would believe in the outcome, they'd say it was fixed.

A lot of them are well and truly in that great Egyptian river... de nile!
 
I hear some reports that there are over 20,000 troops assembled in and around Washington DC, which is considered to be more than all the residual US forces still in Iraq and Afganistan, combined: to see that happening, in our lifetimes, is horrifying.

But: it now seems we can all say that about too many things.
I do think that is an over-reaction. But I guess someone is expecting a civil war to erupt.
 
Even if they did conduct a proper investigation I'm not sure all Trumps supporters would believe in the outcome, they'd say it was fixed.

A lot of them are well and truly in that great Egyptian river... de nile!
Yep, probably right about that.
 
But I guess someone is expecting a civil war to erupt.

From what I've been watching, especially from Trumps supporters, many believe there should be a civil war. They've bought into the 'end-of-days' /Trump is the anointed saviour/God is on our side stuff big time. Maybe the storming of the Capitol has let off enough steam and it will start to fragment and fizzle out.

Or maybe not.
 
Just to be clear, the "Insurrection Act," which has occasionally been invoked since 1807, the latest I think in the 1970's, does not have any language relating to holding up changes in elected political positions. Mostly it has to do with assisting states.
 
How will his followers cope when Trump doesn't do an address to the world some time before Biden's inauguration on Wednesday?
Supposedly all the worlds leaders and other high profile figures who aren't with Trump will be arrested as part of some satanic, child eating, paedo cabal, and we (the world) will be horrified but Trump will have saved the day and the world will welcome its new leader Trump with open arms. Yeah, it really is that batshit mental.
 
I hear some reports that there are over 20,000 troops assembled in and around Washington DC, which is considered to be more than all the residual US forces still in Iraq and Afganistan, combined: to see that happening, in our lifetimes, is horrifying.

But: it now seems we can all say that about too many things.
I believe these are National Guard troops. A large number is usually called up when a large crowd is expected ,like for inaugurations. Typically they do things like control traffic. NY is sending the number it usually sends. The story said they were not armed but arms were close by if needed.
 
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It is rational, if you consider that Trump may genuinely believe that he lost because of cheating.
It is interesting to note that nobody who should take the accusation seriously is taking it seriously. They could put this to rest either way by conducting a proper investigation. The angry mob might also go away.
There was an investigation by the Dept. of Justice under Barr (reports to the Pres.) They couldn't gather enough hard information to conclude that there was anything to investigate.
 
Just to be clear, the "Insurrection Act," which has occasionally been invoked since 1807, the latest I think in the 1970's, does not have any language relating to holding up changes in elected political positions. Mostly it has to do with assisting states.

The relevant wording is:

...That in all cases of insurrection, or obstruction to the laws, either of the United States, or of any individual state or territory, where it is lawful for the President of the United States to call forth the militia for the purpose of suppressing such insurrection, or of causing the laws to be duly executed etc...

The act is a federal law the wording of which is obviously aimed at both federal and state levels. The processes of democracy are written in law, therefore specific reference to holding up the transference of power are unnecessary; the wording clearly refers to 'the laws', not a particular selection of those laws.

For those who don't trust Wiki, there's a pdf of the original act here.

For Trump to invoke the act he would need to 'observe all the prerequisites of the law'. Any legitimacy for this qualification seems a singular unlikelihood, given that the subject of any invocation of the act by him on this matter has itself been deemed legitimate and lawful - even, it appears now, by a majority of those lawmakers who nominally support him.
 
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There was an investigation by the Dept. of Justice under Barr (reports to the Pres.) They couldn't gather enough hard information to conclude that there was anything to investigate.
Yes, but was that a proper investigation? A detailed investigation might still be underway if they'd decided to do that.
It seems like it was more a case of a bunch of judges voting against further action because they couldn't be bothered. That's the way it looks to outside eyes. I'm not personally saying I think Trump has a valid case, I'm not a Trump fan - just trying to be objective.
 
...It seems like it was more a case of a bunch of judges voting against further action because they couldn't be bothered. That's the way it looks to outside eyes. I'm not personally saying I think Trump has a valid case, I'm not a Trump fan - just trying to be objective.

There appear to have been scores of independent appeals and investigations - I'd be intrigued to see what the evidence is that judges, including some of Trump's own appointees, 'couldn't be bothered'.
 
There appear to have been scores of independent appeals and investigations - I'd be intrigued to see what the evidence is that judges, including some of Trump's own appointees, 'couldn't be bothered'.
Well, there is that rather interesting video footage that shows poll counters telling everybody that the count was finished, then pulling out some boxes that were concealed earlier in the day. I never heard what they made of that. That's certainly 'interesting' I'd say. That seems to have been brushed aside, as far as I can tell.
 
I believe these are National Guard troops.
But....these are then military assets of states within the US outwith the District of Columbia? You confirm this by saying that the State of
NY is sending the number it usually sends

But surely (as I understood it): state assets required for Federal service are requested by the President of the United States under a formal process, and are approved (or not) by individual State governors?

So are we saying that the current incumbant President has asked for these (notionally-objective out-of-state) volunteer troops to be present? Or at the very least, rubber-stamped an approval for them to be present?

This is an extremely-important point: because, if they were 20,000 active-duty members of the regular armed forces, that would've sent a very-different message. The presence of that quantity of part-time citizen soldiers from a number of different states across the whole Union must be symbolic: and potentially more than just symbolic.
 
But....these are then military assets of states within the US outwith the District of Columbia? You confirm this by saying that the State of

But surely (as I understood it): state assets required for Federal service are requested by the President of the United States under a formal process, and are approved (or not) by individual State governors?

So are we saying that the current incumbant President has asked for these (notionally-objective out-of-state) volunteer troops to be present? Or at the very least, rubber-stamped an approval for them to be present?

This is an extremely-important point: because, if they were 20,000 active-duty members of the regular armed forces, that would've sent a very-different message. The presence of that quantity of part-time citizen soldiers from a number of different states across the whole Union must be symbolic: and potentially more than just symbolic.
The Pres of the US does not authorize calling up the national guard, which is the citizen force not the armed forces. They are under the authority of the governor of the state. They are called up all the time by governors. for disasters and some regular duties and the armed forces know nothing about it . I expect the people running security for the event sent out a memo requesting the normal number. They have now upped the request to 25,000. Several governors have said they can't spare the extras, so no, this is one of those states rights things. Of course, someone in DC is responsible for this security and that person is probably a federal employee and there's a committee of DC, the Secret Service, plus. But no indication that Trump tried to affect it.

Later edit: I am describing National Guard service in the US only. Units are also subject to callup by the armed forces for service outside of the US, at which time they are under the jurisdiction of the armed forces, and members deserve our thanks for their service there as well. I'm not sure about governors refusing to send national guard to help the army overseas - that would be quite a scandal if they could.
 
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I feel so sorry for the Secret Service these last 4 years, and it doesn't stop here.
 
Yes, but was that a proper investigation? A detailed investigation might still be underway if they'd decided to do that.
It seems like it was more a case of a bunch of judges voting against further action because they couldn't be bothered. That's the way it looks to outside eyes. I'm not personally saying I think Trump has a valid case, I'm not a Trump fan - just trying to be objective.
If the Justice Dept under Barr of all people said that there was not sufficient evidence then there probably isn't. There have been investigations by local board of elections - like the woman who said she saw counters throwing away boxes of opened ballots. Turned out she say them throwing away the outer envelopes of mail-ins. No judge across the country has seen anything to rule in favor on. I'd like to know if there is any evidence at all, but I want evidence, not ranting.
 
The relevant wording is:



The act is a federal law the wording of which is obviously aimed at both federal and state levels. The processes of democracy are written in law, therefore specific reference to holding up the transference of power are unnecessary; the wording clearly refers to 'the laws', not a particular selection of those laws.

For those who don't trust Wiki, there's a pdf of the original act here.

For Trump to invoke the act he would need to 'observe all the prerequisites of the law'. Any legitimacy for this qualification seems a singular unlikelihood, given that the subject of any invocation of the act by him on this matter has itself been deemed legitimate and lawful - even, it appears now, by a majority of those lawmakers who nominally support him.
Those "laws to be duly executed" have to be federal laws because it's a federal statute. Election laws are at the state level. At least since the (R) Senate recently refused to extend the federal voting rights laws. I don't know if there would have been any ammunition there, but chickens coming home to roost.
 
Oh for fuck's sake, they counted the ballots in Georgia six times or something. There were ten times that many lawsuits brought by Trump and his lackeys, all of which were thrown out of court or otherwise dismissed for lack of evidence. Barr was Trump's appointee, and said there was no significant fraud in the election. It's like Obama's birth certificate. The reality is plainly obvious, and the only "protests" are lies and delusions. I'm sick to death of people believing idiotic bullshit.
 
Some lawsuits are still ongoing, this wiki page looks like it covers it well enough. To be honest I haven't read it, just looked at the nicely coloured tables.
 
I don't blame anyone in other countries for not paying attention to our current shitshow. The bottom line is that the outcome of the election is not in question. No sane, honest person claims otherwise. Which of course isn't saying much. The cowardly and frankly transparent stunts perpetrated by some members of Congress only underscore just how sick our system is. Many politicians are doing anything they can think of to curry favor with the bottom feeders Trump had brought into the process. The sort of people who participated in the riot in the Capitol. There are many disturbing things coming to light. I look for many arrests for Federal crimes to come along soon.

The lunacy of the idea that the election was stolen from Trump is exemplified in his irrational obsession with Georgia. Even if he could have somehow changed the outcome there, it would not have had any effect on the election. Now Georgia has been a reliably Republican state for decades. Accusing the Republican governor and Republican election officials of somehow rigging the election so Biden won is beyond ludicrous. Then, calling them up to demand they change the outcome somehow (a Federal crime to even attempt it) is a Federal crime itself. Believe it or not, it gets stupider.
 
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