2020 General Presidential Election Thread

[frank ryan]

Looks like the strategy is going to be to tamper with the electors. NS already referenced it. It's positively grotesque.

As the results grew more perilous for Trump, his Republican allies started to discuss even more far-flung scenarios, like pushing state legislators to circumvent the official vote count and simply appoint electors who would support Trump.

But such a move wouldn’t stop a governor or secretary of state from appointing a separate set of electors for the state to certify the result for Biden. Additionally, election lawyers said, state legislatures could only step in if there is not a finalized count by Dec. 8, the deadline to certify what will be sent to Congress. Essentially, it’s a far-fetched option.

Still, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) didn’t rule it out on a recent Fox News appearance. “Everything should be the table,” he said.

Republicans pushing this strategy have focused on Pennsylvania. Not only is the race close in the state, it also has a Republican legislature and Democratic governor, giving some Trump allies hope that Trump-supporting state lawmakers could go around the Democratic governor.

Yet Pennsylvania Senate Majority Leader Jake Corman has already shot down the idea. And the state’s attorney general, a Democrat, has also ruled it out.

“There is no legal mechanism for the general assembly to act alone and appoint electors. None,” said Jacklin Rhoads, a spokeswoman for Democratic Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro.

Three other battleground states have the same setup of a Republican legislature and Democratic governor: North Carolina, Michigan and Wisconsin. At least one legislator in one of those states has been contacted on behalf of the campaign, said a Republican familiar with the discussions.

If Congress is presented with two sets of electors, it would be forced to decide which to choose. And if the two chambers of Congress are divided — likely because they are controlled by different parties, as they are now — it’s unclear what would happen, according to experts.

“We may well see the state legislatures get involved,” said Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) on Fox News. “We’ve seen the state courts, we may see the federal courts, we may ultimately see the U.S. Supreme Court.”

https://www.politico.com/news/2020/1...ections-434947

[Jeff Lebowski]

Looks like the strategy is going to be to tamper with the electors. NS already referenced it. It's positively grotesque.

https://www.politico.com/news/2020/1...ections-434947

Relax, Frank. None of these far-fetched scenarios are going to pan out. The rule of law will prevail.

[All-American]

Relax, Frank. None of these far-fetched scenarios are going to pan out. The rule of law will prevail.

Won’t happen this time anyway. But we should make a mental note next time there is a constitutional convention, because this seems like an awfully big loophole to just leave sitting there waiting for someone just unethical enough to exploit it.

[PaloAltoCougar]

Trying to think of things I might miss about a Trump presidency, the only thing I can come up with is how much I enjoyed him reading a speech or press briefing--obviously for the first time as he rarely prep'd for anything--and then reacting to it while trying not to sound surprised. "That's so true," while nodding his head, "A lot of people didn't know that," and then looking up to see if everyone else is as surprised as he was, or simply repeating some statement of fact as he was mulling it over in his mind.... Okay, I guess I'm not going to miss him at all.

[Commando]

Trying to think of things I might miss about a Trump presidency, the only thing I can come up with is how much I enjoyed him reading a speech or press briefing--obviously for the first time as he rarely prep'd for anything--and then reacting to it while trying not to sound surprised. "That's so true," while nodding his head, "A lot of people didn't know that," and then looking up to see if everyone else is as surprised as he was, or simply repeating some statement of fact as he was mulling it over in his mind.... Okay, I guess I'm not going to miss him at all.

Yeah I would definitely buy a few tickets if he was stationed at a dunking booth at some carnival, to say the least...

[frank ryan]

Won’t happen this time anyway. But we should make a mental note next time there is a constitutional convention, because this seems like an awfully big loophole to just leave sitting there waiting for someone just unethical enough to exploit it.

I remember this idea was floated, albeit less seriously, by pundits when Hillary lost. That loophole needs to change for sure.

[Harry Tic]

Trying to think of things I might miss about a Trump presidency, the only thing I can come up with is how much I enjoyed him reading a speech or press briefing--obviously for the first time as he rarely prep'd for anything--and then reacting to it while trying not to sound surprised. "That's so true," while nodding his head, "A lot of people didn't know that," and then looking up to see if everyone else is as surprised as he was, or simply repeating some statement of fact as he was mulling it over in his mind.... Okay, I guess I'm not going to miss him at all.

One of my favorite examples of this--easily forgotten--was the time he was speaking of illegal border crossings and, reading from prepared remarks, said "without borders, we have the reign of chaos, crime, cartels, and believe it or not, coyotes." It was pretty clear that he was not aware that human traffickers were called coyotes.

Of course, I'll also miss his references to the Air Force arsenal of spy planes that he seemed to believe were literally invisible. Good times.

[dabrockster]

Trying to think of things I might miss about a Trump presidency, the only thing I can come up with is how much I enjoyed him reading a speech or press briefing--obviously for the first time as he rarely prep'd for anything--and then reacting to it while trying not to sound surprised. "That's so true," while nodding his head, "A lot of people didn't know that," and then looking up to see if everyone else is as surprised as he was, or simply repeating some statement of fact as he was mulling it over in his mind.... Okay, I guess I'm not going to miss him at all.

I guess I won’t miss anything because I never really listened to anything he said. Not a single SOTU or presser. The first time I listened was the debates.


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[Jeff Lebowski]

I guess I won’t miss anything because I never really listened to anything he said. Not a single SOTU or presser. The first time I listened was the debates.


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Your willful ignorance is impressive!

[Commando]

Wow imagine falling on Trump's side of the looking glass right about now...

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[PaloAltoCougar]

Where do I tune into a Kenneth Copeland/Paula White-Cain revival?

Meanwhile, here's further proof that Trump will go down in history as one-of-a-kind.

[SeattleUte]

Trying to think of things I might miss about a Trump presidency, the only thing I can come up with is how much I enjoyed him reading a speech or press briefing--obviously for the first time as he rarely prep'd for anything--and then reacting to it while trying not to sound surprised. "That's so true," while nodding his head, "A lot of people didn't know that," and then looking up to see if everyone else is as surprised as he was, or simply repeating some statement of fact as he was mulling it over in his mind.... Okay, I guess I'm not going to miss him at all.

He was our funniest president. Kind of a stand up comedian in his own right. Now that he’s gone, what will be do for laughs? There’s no more humor.

[SeattleUte]

It's a very good essay, as one can always expect from Sullivan. I'm cautiously hopeful Biden can help bridge the obvious divide. But I'd like to discuss with Sullivan his definition of Trumpism. I have a narrower view of what that means; it's limited to things like disrespect for institutions, including media (enemy of the people!), isolationism, etc.

That makes you part of the problem, the coastal elite! Lawyer, check! Makes money off of tech, check! Lives in Palo Alto, check!

[dabrockster]

Your willful ignorance is impressive!

Voted for Kasich last time and Jo Jorgensen this time as I could not vote for either of them.. Yes, Willful ignorance indeed..

I avoid this as much as much as I can. I am just hopeful we can see healing all around.


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[PaloAltoCougar]

That makes you part of the problem, the coastal elite! Lawyer, check! Makes money off of tech, check! Lives in Palo Alto, check!

I no longer work nor live in Palo Alto. My office, that I visit weekly, is surrounded by Google in Mountain View, and I live in Pleasanton, where Biden only ran up a 2:1 margin. I am a man of the people!