McConnell Makes It Official for the GOP While Trump Continues to Run The Grift
[guest post by Dana]
Mitch McConnell confirmed to the deplorable Trump-supporting-GOP-suck-ups in Congress that it’s official:
“The electoral college has spoken,” he said from the Senate floor in the US Capitol, adding, “Today I want to congratulate President-elect Joe Biden.”
McConnell…made the remark after talking about the Donald Trump presidency in the past tense, touting his administration’s accomplishments, including the country’s “economic prosperity,” “foreign policy,” judicial appointments, and “bold regulatory changes” in a floor speech.
Unsurprisingly, President Trump continues to have trouble admitting his election loss:
Sources who’ve spoken to Trump in the past few days said he’s reluctant to talk much about a 2024 run.
That’s because “it’s an acknowledgment of the end,” said one source who spoke to Trump at length in recent days. “He’ll say, ‘Yeah, I’ll probably do it. I may do it.'”
Another source said that Trump seems depressed at the realization that his backers have given up on 2020: “He’s saying, ‘We won these states, we won those states,'” and adding that what he took away from conversations with his pollster John McLaughlin was that if he could get as many votes as he did, he also must have won.
The closest Trump has come privately to admitting where this is heading, the source added, is to say, “If we don’t win, I don’t say lose. I say ‘I don’t win.'”
But that’s OK because he’s still raking in the big bucks. A constant stream of text message, email, and phone pleas for money to help Republicans win the crucial Georgia run-off election continue at a brisk pace. However, money coming in is mostly going to Trump himself, not to the Georgia campaigns:
President Donald Trump couldn’t make it any clearer: He needs his supporters to fork over cash for the all-important Georgia Senate runoff elections.
“We MUST defend Georgia from the Dems!” he wrote in one recent text message. “I need YOU to secure a WIN in Georgia,” he said in another. “Help us WIN both Senate races in Georgia & STOP Socialist Dems,” he pleaded a few days later.
There’s just one hitch: Trump’s new political machine is pocketing most of the dough — and the campaigns of the Georgia senators competing in the Jan. 5 races aren’t getting a cent.
Trump’s aggressive fundraising blitz appears to be devoted to helping the party defend Georgia’s two Senate seats and, with them, the Senate majority. But the fine print shows that most of the proceeds are going toward Trump’s newly launched PAC, which he plans to use to fund his future political activities. Only a fraction is going to the Republican National Committee, which is investing $20 million into the runoffs.
A stampede of political figures from both parties are emailing their donors with links to donate directly to the Georgia candidates, but the president is not among them.
And what is the worry at this point? Apparently, that Trump will continue to Trump:
The predicament has intensified broader concerns within the GOP that Trump will use his post-presidency to advance his own interests at the expense of the party.
Oh, come on GOP! This is basic Trump 101. Of course he’s going to do anything to advance his post-presidency interests. And if that means leaving you in the dust, he won’t think twice about it. And you know that. We’ve all had to live with the results of your handiwork for nearly four years, there are no surprises with Trump. Why not just say it out loud: You are concerned about keeping the gravy train running in your direction.
There’s something rather amusing about the party who gave us Trump now worried that they won’t be the priority of Trump.
Here’s a look at the clever strategery of Trump aides which ensures that outcomes are maximized to benefit the President:
Trump advisers are deeply protective of the president’s coveted donor list, which is easily the biggest in Republican politics, and they say they have adopted an across-the-board policy of not allowing others to use it. The advisers reason that using the list for candidates other than the president could dilute the list’s power. And they also contend that contributors have finite resources and that they needed the funds for Trump’s reelection campaign…Trump advisers say it shouldn’t be surprising they’re using the runoffs to raise money, given that the president has frequently capitalized on headline-generating events to fill his coffers.
Anyway, you get the picture. And while this is a viable concern, it’s almost quaint when you consider that we’re talking about a self-centered, egotistical president who can’t accept defeat and sees small donors as little more than a means to an end:
But Georgia Republicans are concerned that small donors may be deceived by Trump’s fundraising appeals. Givers who don’t read the fine print closely enough may think their dollars are going directly to Loeffler and Perdue when in fact it’s going to Trump.
“Money is speech, and if it can get to the right place it should be used. But if it’s going to [Trump’s] leadership PAC and not being spent on the behalf of David Perdue and Kelly Loeffler I think that’s problematic,” said Martha Zoller, the chair of Georgia United Victory, a conservative super PAC that is planning to spend $6 million during the runoff.
Trump will be fine post-presidency. Bigly. He will continue to have a loud voice in the GOP, he will have cash on hand, and best of all, he will be able to promote…himself. As for the GOP, well, given their expressed priorities, I don’t expect much of anything to change. So, if you like your party, you can keep your party.
–Dana
Good morning.
Dana (cc9481) — 12/15/2020 @ 9:38 amI am mildly surprised Trump is not campaigning around the Jan. 6 Congressional review of the Electoral vote. That’s a whole 20 more days of grifting.
Victor (a225f9) — 12/15/2020 @ 9:58 amIt wouldn’t surprise me one bit if he had one last move to make. Unfortunately that last move would be an ATTEMPT to declare martial law on the 20th of January 2021. He would say there was a coup in progress using the so called election fraud as an excuse. Hope I’m wrong BUT……..
Knickerbocker Slobberknocker (27d313) — 12/15/2020 @ 9:59 amIt’s awesome that Trump is continuing to rip off his supporters. I hope it gets covered in the media because that will encourage morons to give Trump more money and encourage the less stupid among them to argue.
Time123 (441f53) — 12/15/2020 @ 10:15 amOn the other hand, it occurs to me that as a smart and lazy grifter, Trump realizes it is easier to profit from the already existing excitement over the Georgia race, than focus solely on the harder work of getting his fans to deeply care about his improbable hopes of having Congress somehow just vote to keep him president.
Which he can always do as a side hustle anyway.
It’s interesting to see this leech pose an on going intelligence test to Republicans – their intelligence can be reasonably measured by noting at what point they suddenly realize the stupidity of continuing to send money to a corrupt, narcissistic billionaire (purportedly).
Victor (a225f9) — 12/15/2020 @ 10:23 amThere’s no honor among thieves.
Dave (1bb933) — 12/15/2020 @ 10:37 amWe would have been better of with Jeb! in 2016.
Kevin M (ab1c11) — 12/15/2020 @ 10:38 amRemember when Trump was the incorruptible billionaire who doesn’t want your money?
lurker (d8c5bc) — 12/15/2020 @ 10:53 amSo what do Republicans here do? Do you stick with the party despite knowing the influence of Trump will be ongoing, or do you walk? It’s a difficult decision, and much has to be weighed before making it. This especially given various state rules regarding which elections/candidates one can actually vote in if not registered with a specific party.
Dana (cc9481) — 12/15/2020 @ 10:55 am@9
As a right-leaner/conservative, there’s are no real viable “home” other than the Republican party. Unless, you believe the Democratic party is your new home and can pull off a Manchin.
What do you do? Be actively engaged at the grassroot levels of the party. Convince your peers to nominate non-MAGA right-leaners/conservatives during the primaries.
whembly (c30c83) — 12/15/2020 @ 11:02 am“So what do Republicans here do? Do you stick with the party despite knowing the influence of Trump will be ongoing, or do you walk? It’s a difficult decision, and much has to be weighed before making it.”
__
Whatever most Republicans do, I’m pretty sure it won’t be riots, fires, looting and demanding that stories casting a negative light on their candidates be ignored/smothered.
Those tactics are for the party that just convinced conservatives who hate Trump to hand over the Executive branch.
harkin (8fadc8) — 12/15/2020 @ 11:03 am_
Do you stick with the party despite knowing the influence of Trump will be ongoing, or do you walk? It’s a difficult decision, and much has to be weighed before making it.
I’m sorry, Dana, I’ve said this before. Those penny-ante grifters, to them the GOP is the bus that takes them to the public trough. If it’ll get them there again, they’ll take it again. No matter what shape it’s in, and no matter what orange lout is sprawled with his feet up on the reserved seats.
nk (1d9030) — 12/15/2020 @ 11:08 amIf it isn’t the GOP running a grift it’s running hypocrisy.
For a party that has been preaching against judicial overstep for years they then run this Texas cockamamie suit with the Supreme Court.
Texas sues on the premise other states didn’t run their election properly yet TEXAS HAD ONLY ONE DROP BOX per county.
One of the basic beliefs of Conservatism is that Governments #1 job is to protect it’s citizens. Yet Trump and the GOP ignored the pandemic threat.
Trump supporters demand facts during the election but completely ignore them during the impeachment.
Knickerbocker Slobberknocker (27d313) — 12/15/2020 @ 11:10 amThat’s the 67 million vote claim?
Meanwhile, in Michigan, the speaker of the state House (Lee Chatfield) has kicked a member off all of his committees for saying there might be violence at the meeting of the Electors, or maybe for other comments.
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/12/14/us/michigan-republican-leaders-affirm-states-electoral-votes-and-reprimand-lawmaker-who-suggested-there-might-be-violence.html
also, Michigan related, an outgoing Michigan Congressman has sent a note to House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy that’s he leaving the Republican party.
Sammy Finkelman (26a080) — 12/15/2020 @ 11:23 amEvan McMullin surveys the wreckage of the GOP in an op-Ed today:
Should NeverTrump Conservatives Form A New Party?
Impossible to disagree.
He continues:
After expounding some forward-looking principles for ethical conservatism, he closes with an interesting twist:
The somewhat unexpected idea is that perhaps the “new” party might be a group of people subscribing to a clearly defined set of principles within one or both existing parties, and also running as independents.
McMullin has always struck me as a good guy, but he hasn’t proved that he has what it takes to lead a national political movement with wide appeal.
Dave (1bb933) — 12/15/2020 @ 11:28 amMy policy preferences most closely align with the GOP’s stated position. But their lack of integrity as a party makes it impossible to support them as a group. I could get my head around specific candidates but that’s about it.
Time123 (52fb0e) — 12/15/2020 @ 11:39 amMcMullin has always struck me as a good guy, but he hasn’t proved that he has what it takes to lead a national political movement with wide appeal.
Or even to understand how the dynamics play out. For example, what would he change from the 2015 party? Or does he expect that alignment still resonates?
Kevin M (ab1c11) — 12/15/2020 @ 11:42 amI could get my head around specific candidates but that’s about it.
The problem is that politics is a team sport. The best path is for the GOP to ditch Trump. He may, in his continuing behavior, make that necessary for their political survival. And one thing I am sure of, “continued political survival” is one principle they will not ignore.
Kevin M (ab1c11) — 12/15/2020 @ 11:45 amEven in acknowledging that Biden is president-elect, Mitch took the slippery route by saying “the Electoral College has spoken”, as if this non-college were some disembodied entity in the political ether that tapped its metaphorical sword on Biden’s shoulders and benighted him as the next president, when the reality is that The People have spoken, awarding Biden both a popular and constitutional majority. McConnell’s comment isn’t false, just slippery and a little misleading.
Paul Montagu (77c694) — 12/15/2020 @ 11:45 amHe addressed that at some length in the op-Ed.
Dave (1bb933) — 12/15/2020 @ 12:00 pmMayor Pete is Transportation Secretary.
Dave (1bb933) — 12/15/2020 @ 12:12 pmMore “Mitchief”-vows to stay into the holidays until Covid package is done. Send us our $1200 checks, Turtleman.
https://www.usnews.com/news/best-countries/quality-of-life-rankings
Gee, America ain’t that ‘great’ after all.
“The “Keep America Great” website might sound like something that belongs to President Trump, but the site says it was paid for by Biden for President.” – source, CBS News
Once a plagiarist; always a plagiarist, Big Guy.
“Hey, Joe, whaddya know, you just inherited a vaudeville show.”
DCSCA (f4c5e5) — 12/15/2020 @ 12:13 pmMcConnell’s comment isn’t false, just slippery and a little misleading.
The only vote that has effect is the EC vote. Everything else is extra-constitutional. Just ask Andy Jackson who finished first in both EV and popular vote in 1824 — by a lot — and still lost.
Kevin M (ab1c11) — 12/15/2020 @ 12:19 pmArizona judge scraps election fraud lawsuit in which plaintiff was not a registered voter
A Pinal County Superior Court judge on Tuesday jettisoned a lawsuit claiming widespread election fraud in Arizona, saying the plaintiff had no standing to challenge the state’s election results because she was not registered to vote.
……
U.S. District Court Judge Diane Humetewa tossed the federal lawsuit on Dec. 8, after finding it “sorely wanting of relevant or reliable evidence.” (Former Gilbert Public Schools Board President Staci) Burk was given an opportunity on Monday to argue why her case shouldn’t be dismissed as well.
Ahead of the hearing, an attorney for (Secretary of State Katie) Hobbs submitted a signed declaration from the state’s elections director stating Burk was not a registered voter for at least 10 years, indicating she did not have the legal authority to contest a state election. Burk countered with a claim that state law requires those contesting elections only be eligible to register to vote.
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 12/15/2020 @ 12:22 pm…….
“She therefore does not qualify to contest the election under (state law) because she was not an ‘elector’ of the state and county in which she resides,” (Judge Kevin) White wrote. “She lacks standing to challenge an election in which she did not vote and could not vote.”
…….
I guess Burke skipped civics class.
Couldn’t have happened to a nicer party.
Dustin (4237e0) — 12/15/2020 @ 12:26 pm“We defeated and removed immoral and dishonorable Republicans like Roy Moore, Dana Rohrabacher, Steve King and Martha McSally.”
I get the first 3, but including McSally in that list is a huge surprise. Evan can GFH until he makes it clear what the F he’s talking about.
As for the rest of it, it really sounds like the status quo ante, hidden behind a bunch of mealy-mouthed platitudes.
Kevin M (ab1c11) — 12/15/2020 @ 12:31 pmRight, as a party they’re not going to do that. So I can’t support the party. If there’s a candidate that isn’t corrupt and cowardly I’d like to support them. But I’ve moved from my default being to vote GOP unless there’s a reason otherwise to not vote GOP unless theirs a reason to do so.
1. They’re corrupt and cowardly.
2. They’ve shown little progress on the issues I care about.
Combined I see no reason to vote them, and good reason to vote against many of them. But not all, Gov Kemp from GA has shown some integrity for instance. I don’t live in GA so it’s probably academic but it’s an example.
Time123 (52fb0e) — 12/15/2020 @ 12:31 pmYou need a new bit. The plagiarist schtick is played out.
Time123 (52fb0e) — 12/15/2020 @ 12:32 pmJanine de Greef, Belgian who helped smuggle downed Allied airmen to safety, dies at 95
Janine de Greef was a 14-year Belgian schoolgirl when the Nazis invaded her country in May 1940. With her youth proving an effective cover, she became at 16 a member of the Belgian resistance, helping smuggle hundreds of downed Allied airmen, mostly British but including 108 Americans, south through Nazi-occupied France to neutral Spain.
The de Greef family — her father, mother and elder brother — were credited with saving more than 320 of the 800 or so Allied airmen who survived being shot down over Belgium.
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 12/15/2020 @ 12:35 pm…..
….. She was believed to be among the last surviving members of the “Comet Line,” the clandestine Belgian resistance network founded in 1941 by 24-year-old Belgian nurse Andrée “Dédée” de Jongh, to spirit allied airmen through Nazi lines to safety in Spain and eventually to Britain.
…..
Ms. de Greef received the British King’s Medal for Courage in the Cause of Freedom, an award to non-British nationals, the U.S. Medal of Freedom as well as Belgian and French awards for her resistance work. Her citation for the King’s Medal read: “In all her work for the Allied cause, Mademoiselle Janine de Greef proved herself to be a most courageous, loyal and patriotic helper.”
……
McConnell issues warning:
Dana (cc9481) — 12/15/2020 @ 12:35 pmLets look at this through open eyes and a clear head. The GOP stands for “Gutless On Principle” IF ANY THIRD PARTY was formed we would soon find the same Republican leeches that attached themselves to the Tea Party and then to Trump when it appeared he was riding the rollercoaster of popularity. These unscrupulous politicians and right wing media shills raised enormous amounts of money through supposedly “Tea Party PAC’s” which very little went to help elect Tea Party Conservatives. Their objective wasn’t advancing conservatism but running scams to acquiring huge amounts of monetary gains, notoriety through association to the Tea Party movement to help their re-election and media hacks pandering to stay relevant to their listeners. Doubt me? Simply look how Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio ignored insults to their families and sucked up to Trump. Doubt me? Look at how Rush Limbaugh, Ben Shapiro and a hundred other right wing media abandoned limited government conservatism and sucked up to Trump.
I left the Republican party when Trump was nominated in 2016 and I won’t forget the people who went with the flow prostituting themselves and their principles all in order to stay relevant. The failure of Conservatism is due to their philosophical neglect not any faults in Conservatism. LET’s NOT LET IT HAPPEN AGAIN !
Knickerbocker Slobberknocker (27d313) — 12/15/2020 @ 12:37 pmAfter Biden is sworn in on Jan 20 I wonder how Trump critics will repurpose their two minutes each day.
beer ‘n pretzels (042d67) — 12/15/2020 @ 12:39 pmWe would have been better of with Jeb! in 2016.
Sure, if you wanted three John Roberts clones on the high court.
Make that two clones. Jeb! would’ve balked on a RBG replacement, just to be nice.
beer ‘n pretzels (042d67) — 12/15/2020 @ 12:42 pmThat would put the GOP in a tough spot. Vote not to accept the EC results and confirm you’re corrupt. Or turn against Trump and get hammered in the primary. Both have downside and it doesn’t matter because the house is controlled by the Dems. Would be interesting how it went though.
I hope it doesn’t happen. Even a few votes is another blow against our democracy and the constitution.
Time123 (441f53) — 12/15/2020 @ 12:43 pm@33, but he wouldn’t be actively trying to destroy public faith in our democracy. I know you don’t seem to care much about that but some of us still feel patriotism.
Time123 (441f53) — 12/15/2020 @ 12:44 pmbeer ‘n pretzels (042d67) — 12/15/2020 @ 12:39 pm
Well, for awhile at least, Trump will continue to supply material.
Or tere are oter subjects or the
Sammy Finkelman (26a080) — 12/15/2020 @ 12:52 pmbeer ‘n pretzels (042d67) — 12/15/2020 @ 12:39 pm
Well, for awhile at least, Trump will continue to supply material.
Ad then there’s the question of how could you get an honest, healthy political party in the United States.
Sammy Finkelman (26a080) — 12/15/2020 @ 12:53 pmAfter Jan 20th, it’ll be why the GOP Senate isn’t moving fast enough to confirm Biden’s cabinet officials.
Instead of Orange Man Bad… it’ll be Grand Old Party Bad.
whembly (28d712) — 12/15/2020 @ 12:54 pm@35: And Xi smiled.
Xi got what he wanted from this election and from DontCallItWuhanFlu. It all turned out so well. But patriotism….
beer ‘n pretzels (042d67) — 12/15/2020 @ 12:55 pm34. Time123 (441f53) — 12/15/2020 @ 12:43 pm
There’s probably some route to re-election. A closed primary is a problem but then they can run third party.
Any pro-Trump person who wins a Republican primary against an incumbent will lose badly in the general election, the way like Roy Moore did.
Did you know that Trump is currently running ads somewhere about the supposedly stolen election?
Sammy Finkelman (26a080) — 12/15/2020 @ 12:58 pm@ beer and pretzels
“After Biden is sworn in on Jan 20 I wonder how Trump critics will repurpose their two minutes each day”
Saying prayers thanking the Lord we have an adult running the country for a change
I test positive for SCHADENFREUDE
Knickerbocker Slobberknocker (27d313) — 12/15/2020 @ 1:05 pmIf the Senate engages in pointless obstruction of reasonably well qualified appointees that would in fact be a Bad Thing. At least if a functioning government is still considered a value.
Most of the liberals and progressives I hang out with do in fact consider the GOP to be bad, mostly because of its actions and attitudes over the last 30-40 years. Just as we consider Trump to be Bad because of his words and actions. I am not clear why this preemptively disqualifies the criticisms.
It is peculiar to me that conservatives appear to imagine liberals opposed Trump purely because of some unreasoning visceral reactions, or because we instinctively and always hate ugly fat white men with bad tans and skin tones, as opposed to, you know, we thought he did bad things, after rationally evaluating his words and actions. But I suppose it’s always easier to imagine your ideological opponents as fools.
Victor (a225f9) — 12/15/2020 @ 1:14 pm@42 Victor
I know what you mean. According to Trump supporter logic us Never Trumpers don’t want to give up all those invitations to those Washington cocktail parties. I check my mailbox every day and have yet to receive one.
Knickerbocker Slobberknocker (27d313) — 12/15/2020 @ 1:20 pmEven a few votes is another blow against our democracy and the constitution.
However, it is entirely consistent with Federal law.
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 12/15/2020 @ 1:25 pm@42 Victor, it doesn’t matter if the Senate engages in pointless obstruction or not. The media will always blame the GOP first, whether they deserve it or not.
whembly (28d712) — 12/15/2020 @ 1:25 pmA lot of why our government works has nothing to do with law. It’s lawful and evil to pretend that an election you don’t like is illegitimate and vote in the candidate you prefer. Get both the house and the senate and refuse to vote in someone from the other party. Lots of countries do it that way.
Time123 (52fb0e) — 12/15/2020 @ 1:38 pmYou really do care about Trump more then the US don’t you?
Time123 (52fb0e) — 12/15/2020 @ 1:39 pmYou really do care about Trump more then the US don’t you?
I guess this is what your last refuge looks like.
beer ‘n pretzels (042d67) — 12/15/2020 @ 1:45 pm@46-
If a Senator wishes to join a House member in challenging a state’s electoral votes, I have no problem with that, given the House will reject the challenge. It will show, however, the deprivation of the Republican party as a governing party, to which no one will take seriously for years.
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 12/15/2020 @ 1:46 pm‘Joe Biden is the President-Elect’: Newsmax Says It Will Now Accept Trump’s Defeat
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 12/15/2020 @ 2:14 pm……
When you’ve lost Newsmax…..
@30 (Dana)
Meanwhile, per The Hill: Georgia GOP senators dig in on refusal to recognize Biden win
Purple Martin (bce78a) — 12/15/2020 @ 2:20 pmGeorgia GOP senators dig in
Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) said on the Sean Hannity radio show (in passing in connection with speaking about China and Hunter Biden) that Joe Biden was someone who wants to be president, adding she still has hope.
Sammy Finkelman (26a080) — 12/15/2020 @ 3:11 pmBut I’ve moved from my default being to vote GOP unless there’s a reason otherwise to not vote GOP unless theirs a reason to do so.
Voting for a Democrat just because they don’t support Trump is pretty much an abdication.
Kevin M (ab1c11) — 12/15/2020 @ 3:22 pmOr turn against Trump and get hammered in the primary.
By and large, Trump’s minions haven’t the numbers to affect who wins the primary. What they are expert at, though, is voting for the Democrat in the general election, just to show the GOP who’s boss.
Kevin M (ab1c11) — 12/15/2020 @ 3:26 pmWhen you’ve lost Newsmax…..
There’s still Ein Amerika Network.
Kevin M (ab1c11) — 12/15/2020 @ 3:29 pmMaybe he can change the bit to the Party of Science, with their chief scientist and president-elect, being dead wrong about the timing of the vaccine. Trump was right, Biden was wrong.
Hoi Polloi (139bf6) — 12/15/2020 @ 3:30 pmLuckily for all concerned, the problem going forward is not “supporting Trump” but “opposing radical Democrats.”
Kevin M (ab1c11) — 12/15/2020 @ 3:52 pmKevin, you seem to be saying I’m doing something wrong by not supporting a party that’s shown itself to be corrupt as an organization, and uninterested or unable to accomplish things I value.
Time123 (154eb3) — 12/15/2020 @ 3:57 pmJust saw 57, I’m not planning to vote for radical democrats either.
Time123 (154eb3) — 12/15/2020 @ 3:59 pmI will consider Democrats that aren’t radical.
Time123 (154eb3) — 12/15/2020 @ 3:59 pmTrue, but those same radical Democrats, with help from the media, will try to keep the story about Trump. Even when Trump is long gone.
Hoi Polloi (139bf6) — 12/15/2020 @ 4:08 pmThe plagiarist schtick is played out.
You haven’t heard the words of the plagiarist-elect’s inaugural speech yet.
But then, it’s just likely you have. 😉
DCSCA (f4c5e5) — 12/15/2020 @ 4:10 pm@62, okay. That was funny.
Time123 (154eb3) — 12/15/2020 @ 4:13 pm@61 The radical Dems and Trump have the same goal there. Now that I think about it I’ll bet the finance department’s of the news shows are on board as well.
Time123 (154eb3) — 12/15/2020 @ 4:17 pmBiden has plagiarized Obama’s administration.
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 12/15/2020 @ 4:23 pmShould NeverTrump Conservatives Form A New Party?
LOL The Buckley’d McMullin is irrelevant.
But ‘Ah, Wilderness!’… do please spend a few decades trying. Or accept the party change of character, warm to the bottom of the deck and go w/t flow as ‘Rockefeller Republicans’ did, suffering fools for years.
“When you’re slapped, you’ll take it and like it.” – Sam Spade [Humphrey Bogart] ‘The Maltese Falcon’ 1941
DCSCA (f4c5e5) — 12/15/2020 @ 4:25 pmDeVos urges career staff to ‘be the resistance’ as Biden takes over
Rip Murdock (d2a2a8) — 12/15/2020 @ 4:28 pmPlagiarist-elect JoeyBee’s strictly a half century, swamp-monstered, split the difference creature. Expect burial in Scranton and his half-term presidential library stuck into an old Wilmington post office.
Or vice-versa.
DCSCA (f4c5e5) — 12/15/2020 @ 4:44 pm@67
Good.
whembly (c30c83) — 12/15/2020 @ 4:51 pmhttps://abc13.com/mark-anthony-aguirre-former-houston-police-department-captain-arrested-aggravated-assault-liberty-center/8802235/
Davethulhu (431e91) — 12/15/2020 @ 5:25 pmGood for them in post #70, if they were women of the same background, they’d have come to gunplay arguing about some detail in the Selena Netflix series.
Hey DC, how’s this for an omen:
https://m.huffpost.com/us/entry/us_5fd8dc9fc5b689a6230e41d2
urbanleftbehind (c9c614) — 12/15/2020 @ 5:32 pmDevos has a point, honestly. If you’re in a looming federal agency, consider if its work causes more problems than it solves and put the ground level customer (the students here) first, and resist power that gets in the way. I think the department of education burecracy should think that way.
Dustin (4237e0) — 12/15/2020 @ 5:35 pm“ If you’re in a looming federal agency, consider if its work causes more problems than it solves and put the ground level customer (the students here) first, and resist power that gets in the way. I think the department of education burecracy should think that way.”
_
Yeah I’m sure the Biden administration will get right on that.
Organizations that frown on due process and free speech are not going to be real swift at putting students first. ‘Power that gets in the way’ to them is a feature, not a bug.
Devos is a band-aid on a leg just cut off above the knee.
harkin (75fedf) — 12/15/2020 @ 6:52 pm_
70. Gotta change the lyrics to that song:
nk (1d9030) — 12/15/2020 @ 7:01 pmImagine if folks actually believed that power for its own sake and disrupting due process were actually really serious problems worth fighting against. Why they would have voted for Trump.
Dustin (4237e0) — 12/15/2020 @ 7:20 pmIt’s interesting how a lot of my e-mail solicitations from the Trump campaign has shifted from “Stop the Steal” to the 2 Senate runoff elections. Now having heard how practically all of the money the Trump campaign is soliciting on behalf of Loeffler and Purdue, are all going to Trump’s PAC, I’m suspicious that even money contributed directly to the Loeffler and Purdue campaigns will end up in Trump’s PAC. I haven’t contributed to the RNC for years, for obvious reasons, and only made contributions to candidates I supported. While I want Loeffler and Purdue to win, Trump is probably exacting a high price in $$$ from them in exchange for his nominal support. Given how manifestly unethical he is, I wouldn’t be surprised if that was the case.
HCI (92ea66) — 12/15/2020 @ 8:28 pmI suspect he’s slamming her (highly) situational ethics.
In 2016, McSally was extremely critical of Donald Trump, refusing to endorse him and calling his boasts of sexual assault “disgusting” and “unacceptable”. (In 2019, McSally said she had been raped by a superior officer while serving in the Air Force)
But when she ran for Senate in 2018, she morphed into full MAGA and called herself a big fan of Donald Trump. In the primary, both she and Kelli Ward proclaimed disinterest in Trump’s character, and McSally attacked the media’s “obsession” with it.
She defended Trump during his impeachment trial, praised his response to COVID-19, and said that Democratic-voting cities and states should not get relief funding.
She was all over the place on DACA, criticizing Obama initially, but then speaking out against deporting the Dreamers, and then scrubbing a video in which she praised DACA from her website after she jumped on the Trump Train.
She is something of a dinosaur on gay rights, too, and would allow employment discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation.
It seemed to me that he was calling for renouncing bigotry and scientific denialism. It seems clear to me that respect for the rule of law, and for the truth, are the non-negotiable first steps, without which it will be impossible to expunge the Trump cult.
Dave (1bb933) — 12/16/2020 @ 12:39 amIt only took five years. He normalized name-calling, racial disharmony, abusing the powers of government and the delegitimizing of elections. The last one being the most dangerous.
Another four years and he would have finished the job. As we know, no elections are legitimate if he doesn’t win them. He was, in effect, creating a monarchy with five heirs to the throne. And the idea is not dead. Yet.
noel (9fead1) — 12/16/2020 @ 6:07 ami like that, mr. noel
no elections are legitimate if mr. trump doesn’t win them
mr. trump is the measure of all things, of the things that are that they are, and of the things that are not that they are not
that’s why i love him so much
nk (1d9030) — 12/16/2020 @ 6:21 amHow can an American President abolish elections? Get real, right?? Well, he nearly did. A majority of house members supported this. A majority of Republican attorneys general did too. Three of the seven justices in Wisconsin Supreme Court.
The Senate was weak but appears to have held. The US Supreme Court was strong but Trump could have eventually convinced his legions to ignore them. He threatens governors and state election officials. He was appointing sycophants throughout the Pentagon. His folks talked of “partial martial law” as well.
After just five years of this man.
noel (9fead1) — 12/16/2020 @ 6:27 amKevin, Your comment made me think. Some of this is relative. My policy preferences and priorities will differ from yours. Some of it is reaching different conclusions from the same facts. I think what Trump and the GOP are doing is much worse for our country then the the Antifa Riots. But YMMV.
But here’s how I see it from Left to Right.
Far left: Actually communists, Antifa, the squad, Bernie
left: Warren, BLM
Center left: Biden, Buttigieg, Manchin.
Center: No one. You gotta pick a side
Center Right: Collins,
Right: McConnel, Ernst,
Far Right: Proud Boys, Cruz, Crenshaw, the TX GOP legislature.
What i see right now is that the far right has most of the power in the GOP, and is also completely devoid of anything that looks like integrity or principle. They advance baseless conspiracy theories and justify corrupt acts as just retribution for things that didn’t happen or are exaggerated. I see them passionately lying about the 2020 election and trying to convince the world that the results were determined by fraud and are therefore illegitimate. It’s going beyond rhetoric and to the point where Texas tried to get the results of 4 other states thrown out. Now the GOP is fielding alternate electors to further push the lie. No one with credibility with the base is pushing back. No one is leading. When solid conservatives like Barr or Kemp speak up they’re accused of being in on it. There are plenty of other examples of corruption but this is the most topical.
The Right has no desire to push back against the far right in any way and let’s them set the agenda and call most of the shots.
The Center Right is mostly silent. There are isolated conservatives (Romney, Amash, Mcwhatever) who are speaking out, but they’re individuals, not part of any organized coalition.
Given this demonstration that the GOP isn’t going to stand up for something I value deeply, our constitutional system of government, when it doesn’t benefit their immediate goals I can’t support them as a group.
You bring up voting against the dems. There’s a lot of merit in that. But here’s how I see it.
The Far Left is vocal and wields more cultural power then the far right, but has little institutional power. AOC is the most popular on twitter, but she hasn’t managed to put together a large enough coalition to start driving the agenda. I wouldn’t vote for a candidate that would increase her coalition.
During the primary the candidates on the left dropped out of the race at a critical time to help support Biden. Essentially the cut Bernie off at the knees and supported the center left.
The center left has been clear that the violent acts of the far left aren’t acceptable and drawing a clear distinction between them and legitimate protests. Biden has mostly been making center left appointments for his cabinet. Some are better then others, but i haven’t seen any unqualified ideologs or champions of outlandish economic plans. So far i can grudgingly
supportnot oppose.Sorry for the unasked for book. Interested in how you see it.
Time123 (441f53) — 12/16/2020 @ 7:05 am75.
The very idea is ridiculous. Having 750,000 fraudulent ballots would only be part of a scheme.
Every ballot would need to be linked to a precinct, and there need t be many different styles. The total number of ballots cast, in person or by mail, could not exceed the number of registered voters. Every ballot, although you don’t know which is which below the precinct level, must be tied to the name of a registered voter. The total number of ballots must equal the number of voters who signed in, either at a polling place or by mail. Every signature must at least not grossly deviate from the signature on file. The same name cannot be used twice, and so, unless you know the voter whose name is to be forged is deceased, has moved away or is otherwise inactive cannot be prepared in advance of when the polls close on Election Night.
What McConnell has to say is not just Presdent Trump has had his day in court, but that he has no case.
Otherwise the Trump base (maybe up to 15% of the electorate) will think either that:
1) All those Republicans who don’t object are cowardly or corrupt.
2) Everybody who didn;t uphold Trump’s claims is cowardly or corrupt.
3) Election law is badly written and allows a party to get away with cheating, and must be changed. And theirrepresentatives must at least try.
number f in person ballots is recorded almost as soon as the polls close
Sammy Finkelman (26a080) — 12/16/2020 @ 7:22 amRush Limbaugh back and discussing the Electoral Count Act, and a scenario. This assumes that Mike Pence would rule in favor of the Republicans. He also has the Senate split 42-48 when actually it would be 51-48 (Georgia election results not certified, and Loeffler but not Purdue still in office)
The House votes to overrule the objection – the Senate – well, Lisa Murkowski, Susan Collins, Ben Sasse and Mitt Romney have said that Biden is elected. But even suppose the Senate agrees with the objections, the tie breaker is whatever Electors have been certified by the Governor of the state.
If a Senator objects, and there are four possible objections, debate can last a maximum of 2×4=8 hours, which even in the Senate is not many days.
But what if the Senate doesn’t finish its debate? There can be more than four objections. Suppose someone, Ted Cruz maybe, objects to each and every electoral vote?
If the Senate cannot decide by Jan 18 say:
Then maybe they pick a vice president (for this to happen you’d need to keep everyone below 270 but give them some)
If the House also votes they vote by state and Trump would win. But Democrats by majority vote can prevent such a vote from taking place.
So at noon January 20 the presidency is vacant, the Supreme Court refuses to rule, Donald Trump is tweeting that he is rightfully elected president (based on a majority of the agreed on elecoral votes?) Democrats say the president is either Biden or (acting president) Pelosi and Republicans saying (many happily) that it is Mike Pence.
Needless to say there are some holes in this scenario, even theoretically.
Sammy Finkelman (ab7073) — 12/16/2020 @ 9:43 amIf Biden makes this censorious a$$clown Attorney General, as is reported he may, I’m going to be peeved.
lurker (d8c5bc) — 12/16/2020 @ 10:30 am85. No he’s not going to nominate Andrew Cuomo! THe only reason to bring in someone else’s name is that he checks of Andrew Cuomo’s name is that he would check off some boxes and Andrew Cuomo doesn’t check ff any boxws excet Italian-American or important and popular Democratic figure (and with Joe Biden it’s more satisfying factions than wokeism – he took care of the LGTBQ matter and the RIVAL CANDIDATE matter by nominating Pete Buttigieg as Secretary of Transportation – he had rejected Elizabeth Warren as Secretary of the Treasury AND Bernie Sanders as Secretary of Labor.)
With Biden all that counts is giving somebody some job, not any particular job, so if he wanted to appoint Andrew Cuomo to something it could be anything. Whether Cuomo would take it is another story. Rudy Giuliani also didn;t want anythin less than Attorney General.
It’ll probably either be outgoing Alabama Senator Doug Jones or Judge Merrick Garland. That might force the Senate to confirm Merrick Garland for something. If he nominates Merrick Garland it means he’s given up hope of packing the court and Garland would take it only on the understanding that he’s be Biden’s first nominee for a Supreme Court vacancy. Probably with the idea of him replacing Breyer. That might get through a Republican Senate if any nominee could.
Now there is a separate category of the top four Cabinet posts, State, Defense, Treasury and Attorney General and but if he wanted to go in the direction of filing boxes, the Attorney General would have to be an Hispanic female, since he’s got 2 males and one female so far and the minority maybe missing most is Hispanic.. But he’s got a Hispanic (male – Alejandro Mayorkas) as Homeland Security, and Homeland Security is almost as important as these top four. And he balanced the announcement of Alejandro Mayorkas also with that of a woman (Avril D. Haines) to be Director of National Intelligence.
All of his appointment are more or less moderates.
So for Attorney General Merrick Garland maybe but only after the Democrats lose at least one Georgia Senate race on January 5, since he’ll want to be sure there’s no immediate Supreme Court pick coming up in the first half year.
Sammy Finkelman (ab7073) — 12/17/2020 @ 12:43 pmhe steal hoax goes on (by the way Roger Stone was prepared to argue this in 2016)
Peter Navarro has put together a 35 page report, to be released today, that collects together all the allegations that have been made in th lawsuits and affidavits and declarations and testimony in state hearings.
Moranda Devine, of the New York Post thinks some of the material is far fetched and questionable (it includes the voting machine allegations) but in some places, related to ballot harvesting and impersonating absentee voters, there may be some substance to it.
The family of a Georgia man in a nursing home discovered that a mail-in ballot had been requested and submitted in his name without his consent.
The parents of a girl with Downs Syndrome in Pennsylvania discovered that a mail in ballot had been requested and submitted without her knowledge or consent.
I suppose there’s the issue of getting help from strangers in filling out ballots.
There are some other issues. The number of people in Wisconsin deemed “indefinitely confined” and thus exempt from Wisconsin’s ID requirements almost tripled from 2019 to 2200. Yet, they say, some of these same people attended weddings or went on vacation or rode on bikes. (how did the people accusing them know who they were if ID was the issue? Maybe there was some other reason for them being labeled indefinitely confined?)
Sammy Finkelman (ab7073) — 12/17/2020 @ 12:59 pm