Too Soon To Start Thinking About 2020? No, it's 2020!

Zarathud · Post by **Zarathud** » Tue Mar 17, 2020 4:18 pm

I am off to vent my frustration by voting in the Illinois primary.

After the debacle today about extending the date for tax payment, not filing, by 90 days, I need so badly to vote against Trump for my sanity. This administration is wholly incompetent, and their inability to consider requiring tax filings as a potential disease vector is criminally stupid. Not to mention mean, racist and corrupt.

I don't want a revolution, I want responsible adults like Biden in charge again. Bernie may be old, but he's still not a responsible adult.

malchior · Post by **malchior** » Tue Mar 17, 2020 4:49 pm

Zarathud wrote: Tue Mar 17, 2020 4:18 pmI don't want a revolution, I want responsible adults like Biden in charge again. Bernie may be old, but he's still not a responsible adult.

The problem is Bernie. I just saw a special report on it. Essentially this was going to be a rough segment of the calendar for Bernie. Postponing any primary gives Bernie more time before having to concede. And he is doing the devil's work by exploiting this to say he's still viable in the race. It is what is driving the DNC to embrace madness and try to get people out to vote. They want to end the primary season.

Post by **ImLawBoy** » Tue Mar 17, 2020 4:59 pm

Zarathud wrote: Tue Mar 17, 2020 4:18 pm I am off to vent my frustration by voting in the Illinois primary.

Dropped my ballot in the mail this morning - no interactions in the proximity of other humans required!

Kurth · Post by **Kurth** » Wed Mar 18, 2020 1:05 am

malchior wrote: Tue Mar 17, 2020 4:49 pm
Zarathud wrote: Tue Mar 17, 2020 4:18 pmI don't want a revolution, I want responsible adults like Biden in charge again. Bernie may be old, but he's still not a responsible adult.
The problem is Bernie. I just saw a special report on it. Essentially this was going to be a rough segment of the calendar for Bernie. Postponing any primary gives Bernie more time before having to concede. And he is doing the devil's work by exploiting this to say he's still viable in the race. It is what is driving the DNC to embrace madness and try to get people out to vote. They want to end the primary season.

I’ve gone from being fixated on this to barely paying attention, but didn’t the results today finish Bernie off? He’s done for all practical purposes, no?

malchior · Post by **malchior** » Wed Mar 18, 2020 3:56 am

Kurth wrote: Wed Mar 18, 2020 1:05 am
malchior wrote: Tue Mar 17, 2020 4:49 pm
Zarathud wrote: Tue Mar 17, 2020 4:18 pmI don't want a revolution, I want responsible adults like Biden in charge again. Bernie may be old, but he's still not a responsible adult.
The problem is Bernie. I just saw a special report on it. Essentially this was going to be a rough segment of the calendar for Bernie. Postponing any primary gives Bernie more time before having to concede. And he is doing the devil's work by exploiting this to say he's still viable in the race. It is what is driving the DNC to embrace madness and try to get people out to vote. They want to end the primary season.
I’ve gone from being fixated on this to barely paying attention, but didn’t the results today finish Bernie off? He’s done for all practical purposes, no?

He was practical done after Super Tuesday. However the argument im hearing is his surrogates are playing a game where they say he should remain in because of all the change happening. Especially the chance that primaries may push back months. That is why the DNC proposed to 'punish' primaries that move far back etc.

They encouraged people to vote yesterday. They are trying to get Bernie to see reason. There are growing calls for him to drop but his camp is digging in. It's madness but guess people have to die voting for Biden to get the message to land.

Defiant · Post by **Defiant** » Wed Mar 18, 2020 10:34 am

Bernie Sanders will assess his presidential campaign after the Vermont senator's poor showing in Tuesday's Democratic primaries, his campaign manager announced Wednesday.

"The next primary contest is at least three weeks away. Sen. Sanders is going to be having conversations with supporters to assess his campaign," Sanders campaign manager Faiz Shakir said in a statement Wednesday morning.

https://www.cnn.com/2020/03/18/politics ... index.html

pr0ner · Post by **pr0ner** » Wed Mar 18, 2020 10:45 am

The latest Bernie fundraising email still is touting the line that he's won the battle of ideas but is losing the battle of electability to Biden.

Defiant · Post by **Defiant** » Wed Mar 18, 2020 10:53 am

LawBeefaroni · Post by **LawBeefaroni** » Wed Mar 18, 2020 11:59 am

Looks like Sanders has officially suspended his campaign.

El Guapo · Post by **El Guapo** » Wed Mar 18, 2020 12:09 pm

LawBeefaroni wrote: Wed Mar 18, 2020 11:59 am Looks like Sanders has officially suspended his campaign.

https://twitter.com/NateSilver538/statu ... 5745091591

malchior · Post by **malchior** » Wed Mar 18, 2020 1:03 pm

Everyone with common sense is trying to push him to drop out. He can't win. Do people really have to brave sickness to tell him that?

pr0ner · Post by **pr0ner** » Wed Mar 18, 2020 1:26 pm

It is interesting watching some Bernie supporters freak out about Trump's recent virus response (with the bailouts and the checks and the populism) and thinking it's going to hand this year's election to Trump and why is the Democratic party making the mistake of making Biden and not Bernie the nominee and ouch.

malchior · Post by **malchior** » Wed Mar 18, 2020 1:37 pm

pr0ner wrote: Wed Mar 18, 2020 1:26 pm It is interesting watching some Bernie supporters freak out about Trump's recent virus response (with the bailouts and the checks and the populism) and thinking it's going to hand this year's election to Trump and why is the Democratic party making the mistake of making Biden and not Bernie the nominee and ouch.

They are a cult of personality too. They'll gyrate in any way to see him as the savior for their 'movement'. It isn't driven by reality. Especially since this chaos is only increasing. Predicting anything is essentially impossible.

Blackhawk · Post by **Blackhawk** » Wed Mar 18, 2020 3:06 pm

So, question from the politically naive: If Sanders does drop out, do the primaries continue, or is a winner simply declared to let people stay home?

malchior · Post by **malchior** » Wed Mar 18, 2020 3:08 pm

Blackhawk wrote: Wed Mar 18, 2020 3:06 pm So, question from the politically naive: If Sanders does drop out, do the primaries continue, or is a winner simply declared to let people stay home?

I think they declare it done or push them way back. At some point there will need to be a decision about how to hold the convention. If this is still going they can't even do that. The GOP primaries should end now. What's the point? Will any of that happen? Who knows. Anything is possible.

El Guapo · Post by **El Guapo** » Wed Mar 18, 2020 3:34 pm

malchior wrote: Wed Mar 18, 2020 3:08 pm
Blackhawk wrote: Wed Mar 18, 2020 3:06 pm So, question from the politically naive: If Sanders does drop out, do the primaries continue, or is a winner simply declared to let people stay home?
I think they declare it done or push them way back. At some point there will need to be a decision about how to hold the convention. If this is still going they can't even do that. The GOP primaries should end now. What's the point? Will any of that happen? Who knows. Anything is possible.

But if I'm the DNC, I worry that if we just cancel the primaries, that Sanders' folks will cast this as some pro-Biden conspiracy. You have to figure that they'd spend some time negotiating with Sanders, as having him on board would make a big difference. And conversely, if Sanders himself would denounce canceling the rest of the primaries, then that would become a bigger problem.

Other main option is working with remaining states on having mail in ballots / absentee ballots generally available.

Defiant · Post by **Defiant** » Wed Mar 18, 2020 3:36 pm

Blackhawk wrote: Wed Mar 18, 2020 3:06 pm So, question from the politically naive: If Sanders does drop out, do the primaries continue, or is a winner simply declared to let people stay home?

The primaries would continue (especially since there are primaries for other offices), but presumably, it would make it easier to push them back. Or if they didn't, turnout would be much lower without the top of the ballot being as important. (which would hopefully mean less spread of coronavirus)

Post by **ImLawBoy** » Wed Mar 18, 2020 3:36 pm

The primaries are still needed for the non-presidential races - House, Senate, local races, etc.

Blackhawk · Post by **Blackhawk** » Wed Mar 18, 2020 3:42 pm

ImLawBoy wrote: Wed Mar 18, 2020 3:36 pm The primaries are still needed for the non-presidential races - House, Senate, local races, etc.

Thanks. See how much I know about politics? This is why I try to listen more than I talk in here.

malchior · Post by **malchior** » Wed Mar 18, 2020 3:44 pm

El Guapo wrote: Wed Mar 18, 2020 3:34 pm
malchior wrote: Wed Mar 18, 2020 3:08 pm
Blackhawk wrote: Wed Mar 18, 2020 3:06 pm So, question from the politically naive: If Sanders does drop out, do the primaries continue, or is a winner simply declared to let people stay home?
I think they declare it done or push them way back. At some point there will need to be a decision about how to hold the convention. If this is still going they can't even do that. The GOP primaries should end now. What's the point? Will any of that happen? Who knows. Anything is possible.
But if I'm the DNC, I worry that if we just cancel the primaries, that Sanders' folks will cast this as some pro-Biden conspiracy. You have to figure that they'd spend some time negotiating with Sanders, as having him on board would make a big difference. And conversely, if Sanders himself would denounce canceling the rest of the primaries, then that would become a bigger problem.

Other main option is working with remaining states on having mail in ballots / absentee ballots generally available.

Yeah - any options have to be on the table. They likely have to push what they can back or go to mail. That said, I would question the wisdom of continuing to cater to vocal minorities of idiots. Further I'll point out they DO NOT VOTE. We have to get real about what is actually important at this point.

Holman · Post by **Holman** » Wed Mar 18, 2020 4:18 pm

ImLawBoy wrote: Wed Mar 18, 2020 3:36 pm The primaries are still needed for the non-presidential races - House, Senate, local races, etc.

Plus the Biden team has an interest in getting as many delegates as possible (which is easy to do when you're the only active campaign). He needs to ride into the convention able to win a decisive majority on the first ballot without even a hint of superdelegate engagement.

malchior · Post by **malchior** » Wed Mar 18, 2020 5:16 pm

Holman wrote: Wed Mar 18, 2020 4:18 pm
ImLawBoy wrote: Wed Mar 18, 2020 3:36 pm The primaries are still needed for the non-presidential races - House, Senate, local races, etc.
Plus the Biden team has an interest in getting as many delegates as possible (which is easy to do when you're the only active campaign). He needs to ride into the convention able to win a decisive majority on the first ballot without even a hint of superdelegate engagement.

I agree with the CW <right now> but this is potentially going to be quite unimportant shortly.

Defiant · Post by **Defiant** » Thu Mar 19, 2020 11:10 am

Tulsi Gabbard suspends presidential campaign, endorses Biden

I know Vice President Biden and his wife and am grateful to have called his son Beau, who also served in the National Guard, a friend. Although I may not agree with the vice president on every issue, I know that he has a good heart and is motivated by his love for our country and the American people," she said in a campaign email.

El Guapo · Post by **El Guapo** » Thu Mar 19, 2020 12:15 pm

Defiant wrote: Thu Mar 19, 2020 11:10 am Tulsi Gabbard suspends presidential campaign, endorses Biden

I know Vice President Biden and his wife and am grateful to have called his son Beau, who also served in the National Guard, a friend. Although I may not agree with the vice president on every issue, I know that he has a good heart and is motivated by his love for our country and the American people," she said in a campaign email.

Kind of shocked that she endorsed Biden. Also suggests that she's not planning a spoiler run, which is good.

Daehawk · Post by **Daehawk** » Thu Mar 19, 2020 12:59 pm

Im not sure her support is good or bad.

Jaymann · Post by **Jaymann** » Thu Mar 19, 2020 1:16 pm

Apparently even the Russians are ready for a regime change.

El Guapo · Post by **El Guapo** » Thu Mar 19, 2020 1:19 pm

Daehawk wrote: Thu Mar 19, 2020 12:59 pm Im not sure her support is good or bad.

It doesn't matter too much. The important thing is that it looks like she's not going to run a third party campaign, which could have swung the election by swinging a small number of significant votes in key states. The endorsement doesn't hurt, though - I imagine it will make it marginally easier for voters on the looney left fringe to do the right thing and vote for Biden in November.

Smoove_B · Post by **Smoove_B** » Thu Mar 19, 2020 3:44 pm

NJ changing elections via executive order:

The Order specifically requires the following, effective immediately:

Candidates filing petitions for the March 30th deadline shall be able to submit their petitions online, in addition to in person, and the Secretary of State shall create an online form that allows voters to submit their signatures on petitions electronically.
The March 21, 2020 special election in Fire District 1 for the Township of Old Bridge and the March 31, 2020 special elections in the Township of West Amwell and Atlantic City shall be postponed until May 12, 2020, to be held concurrently with the municipal non-partisan elections currently scheduled for that date.
The school board elections scheduled for April 21, 2020 shall also be postponed until May 12, 2020, to be held concurrently with the municipal non-partisan elections currently scheduled for that date.
All elections scheduled for May 12, 2020, both before and after this Order takes effect, shall be conducted solely via vote-by-mail ballots.

pr0ner · Post by **pr0ner** » Thu Mar 19, 2020 3:53 pm

Trump tells governors to find their own supplies. Charlie Baker tries, says he can't because the feds are winning the bids.

https://www.twitter.com/kathrynw5/statu ... 9127779330

Smoove_B · Post by **Smoove_B** » Thu Mar 19, 2020 3:54 pm

JFC, I can't take it.

Holman · Post by **Holman** » Thu Mar 19, 2020 5:32 pm

pr0ner wrote: Thu Mar 19, 2020 3:53 pm Trump tells governors to find their own supplies. Charlie Baker tries, says he can't because the feds are winning the bids.

Think about the incredible inefficiency this creates.

Rather than Washington coordinating and distributing needed medical equipment for the public good, you have 50 states competing for equipment and even information in what instantly becomes a highly charged seller's market.

States' Rights FTW, I guess.

Unagi · Post by **Unagi** » Thu Mar 19, 2020 7:53 pm

“we got ours” at its best

Defiant · Post by **Defiant** » Thu Mar 19, 2020 9:42 pm

Aides to Bernie Sanders and Joe Biden are trading ideas on coronavirus responses as Sanders signals he'll drop out

malchior · Post by **malchior** » Fri Mar 20, 2020 8:13 am

This is how the GOP responds to a crisis. They try to seize more power. However, the Democratic governor is almost sure to veto it. Still, they aren't even afraid to look villainous. It is all anti-virtue signaling to their base.

Edit: Nope simple majorities in each chamber to override. He'll veto and they'll override. #DEMOCRACY

https://twitter.com/AriBerman/status/12 ... 0523100161

Outrageous news from Mitch McConnell’s home state: instead of passing emergency vote by mail law, Kentucky GOP legislature just rushed through new voter ID law at time when DMVs are closed & voters can’t get ID needed to vote.

El Guapo · Post by **El Guapo** » Fri Mar 20, 2020 9:21 am

What's the point of having veto authority if it just needs a majority to override?

Unagi · Post by **Unagi** » Fri Mar 20, 2020 11:13 am

Yeah , seriously.
That deserves an answer.

Max Peck · Post by **Max Peck** » Fri Mar 20, 2020 11:21 am

Has an override always required a simple majority in Kentucky, or is this one of the cases where changes were made by the majority party after the opposing party won the governorship, in order to sideline the governor?

Post by **ImLawBoy** » Fri Mar 20, 2020 11:38 am

El Guapo wrote: Fri Mar 20, 2020 9:21 am What's the point of having veto authority if it just needs a majority to override?

I seem to recall discussing this at the time, but this is why the D governorship was essentially worthless in the first place - the governor in KY has very little power.

malchior · Post by **malchior** » Fri Mar 20, 2020 12:15 pm

El Guapo wrote: Fri Mar 20, 2020 9:21 am What's the point of having veto authority if it just needs a majority to override?

I read that myself and threw up my hands. It isn't like Kentucky was founded last week. They must have changed their constitution at some point because most state's are bicameral and built upon the old federal traditions.

Defiant · Post by **Defiant** » Fri Mar 20, 2020 1:56 pm

I guess we all have our own ways of dealing with the pressures of today.

— People on the Upper West Side sang from their windows to lighten the mood, much like Italian residents in quarantine did.

— A Brooklyn man allegedly hit a neighbor with his car for failing at social distancing.

https://www.politico.com/newsletters/ne ... ome-488642