Election integrity and the transfer of power

[malchior]

Apparently AOC wants to blacklist Trump's cronies. In general I am opposed to blacklists. But I would make an exception for these racist, grifter, lawless scumbags.

She is making a lot of noise this weekend and I think there are threads in her messaging that make some sense. This one is not one of them. Treating the GOP like Baathists is probably a bridge too far and likely unconstitutional. What we need to do is document what these grifters did in office, prosecute any crimes found, and hope any of that matters to future voters.

I wish she would STFU and give Biden/Harris a little time and space to get their legs under them before she starts trying to push her agenda. Her talking points are not at all helpful right now.

Agreed. What I think she is doing is defending progressivism because people are taking a very premature only the center can win message from the election when the reality is it is much more complicated. She actually had some insightful points about how the Democratic party's long-time inability to communicate is a huge weak spot. It is something they've needed to fix for a long-time. However, it appears to not be the problem where they need their message to work the most *right now* which is in GA. They've got one of their best strategists working it at the moment.

My issue is more with timing and what looks to me to be a lack of sufficient wisdom to know that sometimes, the less said the better. She doesn’t need to come out swinging in response to John Kasich and the like. She should chill and bide her time. Progressives will have - and deserve - an opportunity to push their agenda. But that time isn’t now.

Totally agree. She's young yet, gets a lot of exposure which tempts her probably...and as far as I can tell doesn't have a mentor to guide her on this journey.

[malchior]

Well, Sec of Defense Esper has been fired. Such a needless complication of the transition. They need to invoke the 25th

My worry is less with the smoothness of the transition and more with whether this reflects Trump trying to find someone who will order the military to help him stay in power. Which I don't think he would succeed at, but which would be super alarming.

From the stories I read Trump has been mad at Esper for not deploying troops in the summer riots/protests. He had a grudge and it carried into the current situation. We all know he never owns anything so he is blaming Esper for the situation. Word is that he is going to go after Wray too. And that was because he never found anything to hang on Hunter Biden. Which is discomfiting but also could just be rage which oddly is comforting since it is unfocused. In any case, I won't believe we aren't in danger until January 21st.

[Octavious]

I 100% think we're in serious danger. He's followers are heavily armed and 100% willing to fight for him. And he's not going to tell them to back down. Why would he? They just haven't done anything yet because they believe they will somehow overturn it in court with no evidence.

[$iljanus]

Well, Sec of Defense Esper has been fired. Such a needless complication of the transition. They need to invoke the 25th

My worry is less with the smoothness of the transition and more with whether this reflects Trump trying to find someone who will order the military to help him stay in power. Which I don't think he would succeed at, but which would be super alarming.

An "unnamed senior Republican official" said he wasn't surprised and it's now a matter of who will be next. Not only Wray but CIA Director Haspel is said to be on his list.

If he is henchman shopping I think the Joint Chiefs along with every other military soldier sworn to uphold lawful orders will resist a crackdown on the people. In the meantime, needless chaos is being sowed by this small petty man. Fuck him and his supporters for shitting on our country.

Fourtunately, Biden is familiar with the workings of the White House and has been through a transition so he knows what needs to be done.

Still it's like if we sold our house and for shits and giggles decided to let some termites loose in the attic before turning it over.

[ImLawBoy]

If the Senate is split 50-50, does the VP cast the deciding vote on the majority leader?

Each party picks their own leader. It's not a Senate-wide vote.

[Jaymann]

If the Senate is split 50-50, does the VP cast the deciding vote on the majority leader?

Each party picks their own leader. It's not a Senate-wide vote.

So there would be no "majority" leader. Would this curtail Moscow Mitch in any meaningful way?

[ImLawBoy]

I don't know the details, but there's some info here about what would happen with a 50/50 split.

[Ralph-Wiggum]

Just in case you needed your stress level about the transition of power higher, here's a quote today from the just fired Secretary of Defense:

https://twitter.com/DavidLarter/status/ ... 70977?s=20

[Jaymann]

Who will Trump appoint as Sec. of Defense?

Don Jr.?
Ivanka?
Alex Jones?
Paula White?

[Octavious]

He has done batshit crazy thing after batshit crazy thing. If he really thinks/knows he's fucked when he's out of office he will try anything. We just need to hope the rest of the people tell him to f off. Considering the amount of support he's getting I'm not exactly feeling super confident about anything.

[Ralph-Wiggum]

In more coup related stories:

https://twitter.com/jonlemire/status/13 ... 55914?s=21

[Smoove_B]

I guess McConnell told him as long as he keeps it "low key" and makes it look like he's doing something (to keep Trump happy) it'll be enough to energize the base when in reality actually accomplishing nothing.

[hepcat]

We have to hope that the rank and file of the DOJ have enough integrity that they’ll do the right thing.

[Jaymann]

One wonders what would constitute this investigation. You could interview thousands of poll workers and watch thousands of hours of CCTV. My guess is none of the above.

[Jaymann]

Also, once again I say if you try to start nullifying ballots, there are down ballot candidates and initiatives that will join in the "hell no" chorus.

[Smoove_B]

Also, once again I say if you try to start nullifying ballots, there are down ballot candidates and initiatives that will join in the "hell no" chorus.

No, no. Remember - state and local elections were valid. It's only the Presidential election that was filled with illegal votes.

https://twitter.com/ChadPergram/status/ ... 0542133249

McConnell to hold photo op with newly elected GOP senators at 4 pm et today

[Jaymann]

So the Republicans are prepared to argue in court, that Democratic agents used white out to steal victory from Trump, but allowed Republican Senators to win. Seems legit.

[Zaxxon]

In more coup related stories:

https://twitter.com/jonlemire/status/13 ... 55914?s=21

Brilliant. Since there are no 'substantial allegations,' this must mean it's all lip service to make Trump happy?

[Victoria Raverna]

Also, once again I say if you try to start nullifying ballots, there are down ballot candidates and initiatives that will join in the "hell no" chorus.

No, no. Remember - state and local elections were valid. It's only the Presidential election that was filled with illegal votes.

https://twitter.com/ChadPergram/status/ ... 0542133249

McConnell to hold photo op with newly elected GOP senators at 4 pm et today

We had that several years ago in Indonesia. The loser's party opposed the result for the presidential election but accepted the result for the local and representatives elections.

[El Guapo]

https://twitter.com/nytmike/status/1325988482897113088

[Ralph-Wiggum]

[Jaymann]

Who is Barr going to appoint to head the investigation, Tucker Carlson?

[El Guapo]

Who is Barr going to appoint to head the investigation, Tucker Carlson?

Devin Nunes?

[malchior]

https://twitter.com/nytmike/status/1325988482897113088

Welp. Barr is playing some double game where he counsels calm but essentially sanctions activity well outside the normal policy...for reasons that contradict what he says to his officials. I can only imagine Pilger resigned because he either was cut out of the decision loop or was overridden.

[stessier]

Ooops (this happened in my county).

Polling place change reminders delivered to voters after the election

GREENVILLE, S.C. —
Voters across the Upstate received notice that their polling place was in a new location days after ballots were cast in South Carolina.

A viewer sent a picture of the postcard to WYFF News 4 Investigates, saying it arrived Saturday.

Greenville County Election Director Conway Belangia said 24,000 voters in the county were supposed to be notified of the changes.

Belangia said the state had the information on which precincts had different locations four weeks in advance.

Officials from the State Election Commission say the reason the postcards were not delivered ahead of Election Day cannot be confirmed, but officials with the United States Postal Service say the mail was mislabeled.

In emails shared by the SEC, a USPS official told election officials the mailing was entered into the system on Oct. 28 as first-class mail and should have been delivered no later than Oct. 31.

The email said it is possible the postcards were mixed in with standard mail.

“The issue will be thoroughly investigated and hopefully we can make the necessary adjustments to avoid this in the future,” the USPS official wrote to state election officials.

A bit more at the link.

[Smoove_B]

(bullhorn) WTF!!!

an announcement from Pompeo:

“There will be a smooth transition to a second Trump administration,” Pompeo told a State Department news conference.

“We’re going to count all the votes ... The world should have every confidence that the transition necessary to make sure that the State Department is ... successful today and successful when the president who’s in office on January 20, a minute afternoon, will also be successful.”

[Octavious]

Ya it's kind of hard to not feel like we're about to just drive off a cliff at this point. Honestly they pull this off and the country is done. I can't believe they have so many people that would be willing to trash the entire fucking history of this country for Donald Trump.

[Smoove_B]

They've never been more politically powerful than they are right now and 70+ million Americans gave them the thumbs up.

[Jaymann]

Consider the source. And he forgot the "legal" qualifier. Putin approves this message.

[Skinypupy]

(bullhorn) WTF!!!

an announcement from Pompeo:

“There will be a smooth transition to a second Trump administration,” Pompeo told a State Department news conference.

“We’re going to count all the votes ... The world should have every confidence that the transition necessary to make sure that the State Department is ... successful today and successful when the president who’s in office on January 20, a minute afternoon, will also be successful.”

When you watch the full clip, it feels like he was making more of an (incredibly ill-advised) joke.

One that he shouldn't be making at all, given the current situation, but I'm not sure it's quite as serious as everyone's making it out to be.

https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1326230270421426183

[Zaxxon]

I had the same read of the video--he's making a terribly bad joke.

Which calls into question his suitability for his current position given that complete lack of ability to read the room. But I guess we knew that.

[malchior]

I had the same read of the video--he's making a terribly bad joke.

Yeah it might have been a joke but he also evaded the entire question. He sort of implied by his answer that we have to wait for the vote to be certified maybe or maybe the EC to meet. All not generally the norm for transitions and put national security at risk.

[Smoove_B]

Interesting - the initial reporting is a different take than the video.

But yeah, this is really a great time to be joking around because that's definitely the mood right now. Read the goddamn room Pompeo!

[Archinerd]

It's funny, because last night I watched Trump's monologue on SNL from 5 years ago.
He said a lot of "jokes" while he was there, all of them true.

I refuse to give this adminstration the benefit of the doubt.

[Holman]

"The executions of Democrat traitors will begin in five minutes.
I kid, I kid!
Geez, sense of humor much??
But seriously please line up at the guillotine."

[malchior]

https://twitter.com/atrupar/status/1326258472783147010

[malchior]

This is insanity. There is no reason for them to be chopping off heads anywhere much less the DoD in the middle of a transition.

https://twitter.com/jaketapper/status/1 ... 4998779907

[LawBeefaroni]

This is insanity. There is no reason for them to be chopping off heads anywhere much less the DoD in the middle of a transition.

https://twitter.com/jaketapper/status/1 ... 4998779907

A portion of the blame for 9/11 was attributed to the delayed transition from Clinton to Bush (Florida recount), particularly intelligence and DoD.


Russia, China, NK, and whoever else are loving it.

[El Guapo]

There is a reason, though.

[malchior]

There is a reason, though.

True - should have said good reason. Installing loyalists at the Pentagon just days after you lost the election has zero non-authoritarian overtones without exigent reasons (illness/death/etc.)