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Edited by Mrph1 on Nov 30th 2023 at 11:03:59 AM

speedyboris Since: Feb, 2010
#343476: Dec 14th 2020 at 1:39:26 PM

The Michigan Capitol is closed. Arizona electors meeting at an undisclosed location. A secret entrance in Wisconsin to keep electors safe. Today's usually rote Electoral College vote is anything but.
Jeepers. Who's going to want to be electors in the future if threats of death is what awaits them?

Edited by speedyboris on Dec 14th 2020 at 1:40:02 AM

CharlesPhipps Since: Jan, 2001
#343477: Dec 14th 2020 at 1:39:37 PM

https://www.computerweekly.com/news/252489133/Julian-Assange-held-back-15000-documents-to-prevent-harm-to-US-government

In any case, the Guardian was actually allied with Assange in this because, again, real journalism was being done at the time.

I say this as someone who, again, hates what Assange became.

Author of The Rules of Supervillainy, Cthulhu Armageddon, and United States of Monsters.
Parable Since: Aug, 2009
#343478: Dec 14th 2020 at 1:44:19 PM

Probably worth noting that those election cases that have gone to the Wisconsin Supreme Court have all been decided by 4-3 majorities. Remember that the Wisconsin Supreme Court had an election last spring right as the pandemic was raging and the Republicans refused to delay or give the election officials more time to prepare safety measures. Democrats looked under every sofa cushion for voters and despite the concerns about catching Covid, enough people turned out to elect a Democrat to the court. A bunch of people got sick, but that one justice is keeping Trump's coup attempts in Wisconsin at least from going anywhere.

speedyboris Since: Feb, 2010
#343479: Dec 14th 2020 at 1:50:15 PM

Another jumps ship: Paul Mitchell leaves the GOP in response to many members of the party trying to overturn the election.

Dear Chairwoman Mc Daniel and Leader Mc Carthy:

The weeks since the 2020 General Election have been traumatic for many in our nation, both voters and those of us who took an oath to serve this nation.

As you well know, my voting record in Congress over the past two terms has been in line with President Trump and the administration’s policies more than 95 percent of the time. Further, I voted for President Trump in the 2020 General Election despite some reservations about four more years under his leadership. I felt that many policies achieved during the Trump administration had been positive for our nation, whereas the policies espoused by the Democratic Party were too radical and did not reflect my principles.

I have also worked hard to support each of you and your efforts. Ronna, you may recall that I spoke with you several times as you considered undertaking the role of RNC Chair. It was my strong belief that you could help lead our party and support its core principles, and I encouraged you to undertake the position. Kevin, I worked diligently with you as part of the Republican Leadership Team for both the 115th and 116th Congresses. I fervently whipped votes for our policies during both terms on some tough issues.

As an active supporter of the national GOP, the state GOP, the NRCC and individual candidates, I raised almost $800k in just 2 1/2 years for the NRCC to support Republican candidates supported by leadership. I have contributed personal funds, not simply PAC funds, to innumerable candidates at the Federal and state levels.

I agree that there have been some disconcerting aspects to this election. With more than 155 million people voting, both administrative errors and even some fraudulent voting likely occurred. Steps must be taken, by each state, to audit election results, validate ballots and process and report findings to ensure that every legal vote counts. Michigan clearly needs to do that, not just Wayne County. However, the president and his legal team have failed to provide substantive evidence of fraud or administrative failure on a scale large enough to impact the outcome of the election.

Ronna, you know Michigan politics well. President Trump did not lose Michigan because of Wayne County, but rather he lost because of dwindling support in areas including Kent and Oakland County, both previous Republican strongholds. In the 2020 election, President Trump lost Michigan by 154,000 votes, compared to 2016 when his margin of victory was slightly more than 10,700 votes.

I have stated publicly numerous times that when entering the political arena, a person must be willing to accept winning and losing with grace and maturity. Having personally experienced both winning and losing, the latter can be brutal.

Any candidate, including the president, is entitled to request recounts and pursue legal challenges they believe are appropriate if they possess evidence of wrongdoing. President Trump has undertaken or supported both of these options. Recounts have failed to significantly alter the vote outcome in any state and dozens of court cases have been summarily dismissed in both state and Federal courts across our nation.

It is unacceptable for political candidates to treat our election system as though we are a third- world nation and incite distrust of something so basic as the sanctity of our vote. Further, it is unacceptable for the president to attack the Supreme Court of the United States because its judges, both liberal and conservative, did not rule with his side or that “the Court failed him.” It was our Founding Fathers’ objective to insulate the Supreme Court from such blatant political motivations.

If Republican leaders collectively sit back and tolerate unfounded conspiracy theories and “stop the steal” rallies without speaking out for our electoral process, which the Department of Homeland Security said was “the most secure in American history,” our nation will be damaged. I have spoken out clearly and forcefully in opposition to these messages. However, with the leadership of the Republican Party and our Republican Conference in the House actively participating in at least some of those efforts, I fear long-term harm to our democracy.

The stability and strength of our democracy has been an ongoing concern for me. I expressed strong concerns about the president’s response to Charlottesville, the anti-immigrant “send them back” rhetoric, and even the racist comments of my own colleagues in the House.

I believe that raw political considerations, not constitutional or voting integrity concerns, motivate many in party leadership to support the “stop the steal” efforts, which is extremely disappointing to me. As elected members of Congress, we take an oath to “support and defend the Constitution of the United States,” not to preserve and protect the political interests of any individual, be it the president or anyone else, to the detriment of our cherished nation. As a result, I am writing to advise you both that I am withdrawing from my engagement and association with the Republican Party at both the national and state level. I will support, contribute to, and fundraise for individual candidates who reflect the principles I hold dear. Further, by copy of this letter I am also advising Ms. Laura Cox, Chair of the Michigan GOP of this decision.

I am also requesting that the Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives change my party affiliation to Independent for the remainder of my term in office. While admittedly symbolic, we all know that symbols matter.

Silasw A procrastination in of itself from A handcart to hell (4 Score & 7 Years Ago) Relationship Status: And they all lived happily ever after <3
A procrastination in of itself
#343480: Dec 14th 2020 at 1:59:58 PM

Manning was horrified by the information she saw about US abuses of power and the culture of violence.

I don’t know the details on the alleged coverup of the gunship event (which rather than a targeted murder of journalists was a horrific case of blue-on-blue which should never have been allowed to happen), but I feel like a culture of violence is something one should expect from the US Army.

And the US State Department determined absolutely no one was killed or endangered because of the improperly redacted (as in any redaction) done of names.

Sure but Assange had no way of knowing that that would be the outcome, he showed a casual disregard for life because what he cared about has never been life, it’s always been his own ego.

As for Assange holding back documents, I’d like a source that isn’t Assange’s lawyer, that’s not exactly a source without a bias.

In any case, the Guardian was actually allied with Assange in this because, again, real journalism was being done at the time.

That doesn’t make Assange a good person. Journalists often have to work with despicable people so as to get access to information that is in the public interest.

“And the Bunny nails it!” ~ Gabrael “If the UN can get through a day without everyone strangling everyone else so can we.” ~ Cyran
Reflextion from a post-sanity world (Time Abyss) Relationship Status: What's love got to do with it?
#343481: Dec 14th 2020 at 2:18:07 PM

[up][up] So basically another Republican who was happy to stand up and be counted among the Party of Trump until Trump lost, and is now putting on the whole song-and-dance about how he's One Of The Good Ones.

Someone did tell me life was going to be this way.
SeptimusHeap from Switzerland (Edited uphill both ways) Relationship Status: Mu
#343482: Dec 14th 2020 at 2:34:59 PM

Looks Biden just won the EC vote.

"For a successful technology, reality must take precedence over public relations, for Nature cannot be fooled." - Richard Feynman
Forenperser Foreign Troper from Germany Since: Mar, 2012
Foreign Troper
#343483: Dec 14th 2020 at 2:40:07 PM

Well, these 4 Hawaiian's TOTALLY could vote for Trump! Don't you dare call this prematurely!

;)

Edited by Forenperser on Dec 14th 2020 at 11:40:23 AM

Certified: 48.0% West Asian, 6.5% South Asian, 15.8% North/West European, 15.7% English, 7.4% Balkan, 6.6% Scandinavian
AnoBakaDesu Since: Oct, 2013 Relationship Status: What is this thing you call love?
#343484: Dec 14th 2020 at 2:48:42 PM

CNN now airing news that William Barr is resigning.

"They played us like a DAMN FIDDLE!" — Kazuhira Miller, Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain
AlleyOop Since: Oct, 2010
#343485: Dec 14th 2020 at 2:52:11 PM

That happened a little earlier than I was expecting, considering it's literally the day of electoral college voting.

Silasw A procrastination in of itself from A handcart to hell (4 Score & 7 Years Ago) Relationship Status: And they all lived happily ever after <3
A procrastination in of itself
#343487: Dec 14th 2020 at 2:56:13 PM

It’s the hour of Biden officially having 270 electoral votes cast for him, it’s either a reaction to that or it’s meant to look like a reaction to that.

“And the Bunny nails it!” ~ Gabrael “If the UN can get through a day without everyone strangling everyone else so can we.” ~ Cyran
Ramidel Since: Jan, 2001
#343488: Dec 14th 2020 at 2:56:53 PM

So basically another Republican who was happy to stand up and be counted among the Party of Trump until Trump lost, and is now putting on the whole song-and-dance about how he's One Of The Good Ones.

As a retiring politician, I think he's finally decided to stop giving any fucks.

clemont107 Mega Togekiss?! from Land of Missed Opportunities (Experienced, Not Yet Jaded) Relationship Status: YOU'RE TEARING ME APART LISA
Mega Togekiss?!
#343489: Dec 14th 2020 at 3:19:06 PM

[up]x3 I'm pretty sure T*** will fire him before then.

"Wow, no Mega Togekiss in Legends Z-A. Or any non-Froslass new Sinnoh Mega Evolutions. Round of applause, everybody." - Dawn
Silasw A procrastination in of itself from A handcart to hell (4 Score & 7 Years Ago) Relationship Status: And they all lived happily ever after <3
A procrastination in of itself
#343490: Dec 14th 2020 at 3:24:35 PM

Trump’s the ones who announced this.

“And the Bunny nails it!” ~ Gabrael “If the UN can get through a day without everyone strangling everyone else so can we.” ~ Cyran
Memers Since: Aug, 2013
#343491: Dec 14th 2020 at 3:36:59 PM

His Fixer failed so he fired him.

Imca (Veteran)
#343492: Dec 14th 2020 at 4:43:52 PM

Biden has interrupted national TV to do an anouncment.

So far the highlights are dunking on Trump.

Harris and I got 306 electoral votes, which happenes to be the exact same number the the president won in 2016, which acording to him was a landslide victory. But his own standard if it was then, it is now

And also calling all the senetors who signed onto the texas lawsuit as explicitly "Extremists who refuse to accept the word of law and the constitution"

Edited by Imca on Dec 14th 2020 at 4:44:24 AM

jjjj2 from Arrakis Since: Jul, 2015
#343493: Dec 14th 2020 at 4:45:33 PM

Apparently more republicans are recognizing that Biden won. Lindsey Graham apparently just said yeah when asked if Biden was president-elect and Rob Portman has released a statement saying Biden is the president-elect.

Edited by jjjj2 on Dec 14th 2020 at 7:48:35 AM

You can only write so much in your forum signature. It's not fair that I want to write a piece of writing yet it will cut me off in the mid
RainingMetal (Handed A Sword) Relationship Status: THIS CONCEPT OF 'WUV' CONFUSES AND INFURIATES US!
#343494: Dec 14th 2020 at 4:56:08 PM

Wonder if we'll get Graham to tell Trump to go to hell again. Probably not.

ASAB: All Sponsors Are Bad.
djkates (Oldest One in the Book)
#343495: Dec 14th 2020 at 4:58:12 PM

Seems the Republican would-have-been electors in the battleground states are trying to send in their votes as "alternate electors". And of course, some Trump supporters seem to think these alternate electoral votes might actually be counted, or that this will somehow trigger the "contested election" procedure. Realistically, there is no reason to believe this stunt will get them anywhere, as there is federal law specifically favoring the slates of electors that were appointed by the appropriate state's governor for cases like this.

An AP article on the stunt: https://apnews.com/article/election-2020-joe-biden-donald-trump-elections-electoral-college-ab4452c5e54dc55b5e45bbe737ae66ee

Edited by djkates on Dec 14th 2020 at 7:02:29 AM

clemont107 Mega Togekiss?! from Land of Missed Opportunities (Experienced, Not Yet Jaded) Relationship Status: YOU'RE TEARING ME APART LISA
Mega Togekiss?!
#343496: Dec 14th 2020 at 5:00:20 PM

[up]x3 They're just trying to appease people they know will get mad if they refuse to acknowledge Biden. They don't want to put their own safety at risk. If their safety and security was guaranteed they would absolutely refuse to recognize Biden.

"Wow, no Mega Togekiss in Legends Z-A. Or any non-Froslass new Sinnoh Mega Evolutions. Round of applause, everybody." - Dawn
jjjj2 from Arrakis Since: Jul, 2015
#343497: Dec 14th 2020 at 5:02:00 PM

Wait doesn't this put them in more danger? As much as don't like 'moderate' republicans, they generally aren't as seditious and prone to violence as Trump supporters. In fact they're far far less prone to such things.

Edited by jjjj2 on Dec 14th 2020 at 8:02:31 AM

You can only write so much in your forum signature. It's not fair that I want to write a piece of writing yet it will cut me off in the mid
Blueace Surrounded by weirdoes from The End Of the World Since: Dec, 2010 Relationship Status: Chocolate!
Surrounded by weirdoes
#343498: Dec 14th 2020 at 5:02:21 PM

[up][up][up] What did you expect? Their base left reality behind a long time ago.

Edited by Blueace on Dec 14th 2020 at 10:02:34 AM

Wake me up at your own risk.
sgamer82 Since: Jan, 2001
#343499: Dec 14th 2020 at 5:20:34 PM

Today's WTF Just Happened Today:

https://whatthefuckjusthappenedtoday.com/2020/12/14/day-1425/

     Day 1425: "Congratulations USA!" 
1/ The Electoral College affirmed Joe Biden as the 46th president of the United States after the Supreme Court rejected a lawsuit by Texas seeking to throw out the election results in Georgia, Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin that Trump lost in November. All 538 electors cast their votes for president based on the election results that were recently certified by all 50 states and Washington, D.C. The president-elect is expected to speak in prime time after surpassing 270 electoral votes needed to win. On Friday, the Supreme Court issued a short, unsigned order that said Texas had “not demonstrated a judicially cognizable interest in the manner in which another state conducts its elections.” It dismissed all pending motions about the case. All six battleground states – Michigan, Arizona, Georgia, Nevada, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin – that Trump contested cast their votes for Biden. (Politico / Bloomberg / NBC News / CNBC / Wall Street Journal / New York Times / CNN / Washington Post / Politico / NPR / Bloomberg) https://www.npr.org/2020/12/11/945617913/supreme-court-shuts-door-on-trump-election-prospects

Trump-Biden Transition Live Blogs: New York Times / Washington Post / CNN / ABC News

2/ The United States administered the first shots of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine to health care workers as the U.S. topped 300,000 total deaths since the pandemic began. On Friday, the FDA authorized the vaccine from Pfizer for emergency use in the United States for people age 16 and older. An initial shipment of about 2.9 million doses of the vaccine will be sent to 636 locations by the end of this week. Federal officials expect 20 million people to get the first of two required doses by the end of the month and have 100 million people in total immunized by the end of March. Trump, meanwhile, tweeted: “First Vaccine Administered. Congratulations USA! Congratulations WORLD!” (New York Times / Washignton Post / Wall Street Journal / NBC News / CNBC / New York Times / NBC News / Washington Post)

😷 Dept. of “We Have It Totally Under Control.” Global: Total confirmed cases: ~72,665,000; deaths: ~1,619,000

U.S.: Total confirmed cases: ~16,421,000; deaths: ~301,000

Source: Johns Hopkins University

Live Blogs: New York Times / Washington Post / The Guardian / Wall Street Journal / CNN / CNBC / NBC News / ABC News

Moderna plans to ship just under 6 million doses of its COVID-19 vaccine once the FDA issues an approval for emergency use. Approval could come as early as Friday. (CNBC)

https://www.cnbc.com/2020/12/14/covid-vaccine-us-plans-to-ship-6-million-moderna-doses-once-fda-gives-ok.html

💡 How Pfizer Delivered a Covid Vaccine in Record Time. (Wall Street Journal)

https://www.wsj.com/articles/how-pfizer-delivered-a-covid-vaccine-in-record-time-crazy-deadlines-a-pushy-ceo-11607740483

💡 How Science Beat the Virus. (The Atlantic)

https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2021/01/science-covid-19-manhattan-project/617262/

3/ Trump delayed a plan for senior White House staff members to receive the coronavirus vaccine early. In a tweet, Trump said he asked White House staffers to receive the coronavirus vaccine “somewhat later in the program, unless specifically necessary” after it was reported that the administration was planning to rapidly distribute the vaccine to staffers despite the first doses generally being reserved for health care workers. It’s not clear how many doses were allocated for the White House since many staff members had already tested positive for the virus and recovered. (New York Times / Bloomberg / The Guardian / CNN / Washington Post)

https://www.cnn.com/2020/12/13/politics/white-house-coronavirus-vaccine/

4/ Russian government hackers breached the Treasury, Commerce, and Homeland Security departments as part of a months-long global espionage campaign. While the full scope and significance of the breaches remain unclear, the hack, which may have begun as early as spring, led to an emergency National Security Council meeting at the White House on Saturday. The hackers, known as APT 29 or Cozy Bear, are part of Russia’s foreign intelligence service, SVR, which also hacked the State Department and the White House email servers during the Obama administration. Last month, Trump fired the director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, Chris Krebs, after Krebs vouched for the integrity of the presidential election and disputed Trump’s claims of widespread electoral fraud. (Reuters / Washington Post / New York Times / CNN / Wall Street Journal / Politico / Associated Press / NBC News / Washington Post)

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-cyber-amazon-com-exclsuive-idUSKBN28N0PG

5/ Attorney General William Barr resigned and will leave “just before Christmas,” Trump announced via tweet. Trump said he and Barr had a “very nice meeting” and that their “relationship has been a very good one.” In a meeting last week, however, Trump raised the idea of firing Attorney General William Barr, reportedly “furious” that Barr had kept a federal investigation into Hunter Biden’s taxes from becoming public before the November election. Trump also told Fox News this weekend that Barr “should have stepped up” on the matter. Trump was also reportedly upset that Barr was considering resigning before January 20. Deputy Attorney General Jeff Rosen will become Acting Attorney General. (CNN / New York Times / NPR / Washington Post / NBC News / Associated Press)

https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-donald-trump-william-barr-elections-463cb19223f025345195d9d4f1666f3a

SATURDAY: Trump attacked Barr on Twitter for not violating Justice Department policy to publicly reveal an investigation into Hunter Biden during the election. Trump retweeted a post that said Barr “should be fired by the end of business today” if he had worked to keep a criminal investigation of Biden’s son Hunter Biden secret during the election, following a report in the Wall Street Journal. Trump also called Barr “A big disappointment!” (New York Times / CNBC)

https://www.cnbc.com/2020/12/12/trump-blasts-barr-over-hunter-biden-probe-condemns-supreme-court.html

The Justice Department subpoenaed Hunter Biden, seeking documents and information related to more than two dozen entities, including Ukraine gas company Burisma. Meanwhile, Biden’s former business partner sent him an email in 2017 saying he did not disclose on his tax returns $400,000 in income from Burisma, where he sat on the board. Federal authorities are also actively investigating Hunter’s business dealings in foreign countries, principally China. (Associated Press / NBC News / CNN)

https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-politics-business-ukraine-subpoenas-b5245760245d5dee3e011f0df5e1868e

Trump and senior White House officials have discussed the possibility of appointing a special counsel to investigate Hunter Biden. Under Justice Department regulations, the appointment of a special counsel would have to be made by the attorney general. (Wall Street Journal)

https://www.wsj.com/articles/trump-pursues-appointing-special-counsel-to-probe-election-hunter-biden-11607744814

clemont107 Mega Togekiss?! from Land of Missed Opportunities (Experienced, Not Yet Jaded) Relationship Status: YOU'RE TEARING ME APART LISA
Mega Togekiss?!
#343500: Dec 14th 2020 at 5:24:12 PM

[up]Upset that Barr's resigning early but wanting to fire him anyway? That's pretty hypocritical if you ask me.

"Wow, no Mega Togekiss in Legends Z-A. Or any non-Froslass new Sinnoh Mega Evolutions. Round of applause, everybody." - Dawn

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