All purpose news and politics thread part VI: This Is Not The Time For Posing

[BeastieRunner]

Another reminder this administration would be far scarier if it was competent. Can you imagine if Trump played these underhanded tricks quietly instead of screaming them at the top of his lungs?

Which is why I would rather have Trump over Pence.

His use of lawfare and corporate despotism in his home state had me wishing for a lackluster Trump presidency while we wait out a strong 8 year term from the Dems (at the time I wanted a Duckworth / Harris ticket ... I am kind of getting that).

Sadly, we have 45 being a wanna-be Pol Pot and I am now 50/50 on the idea.

New Yorker wrote one of the better pieces on Trump over Pence back in 2017 I think?
https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2...resident-pence

[ChangingStation]

Another reminder this administration would be far scarier if it was competent. Can you imagine if Trump played these underhanded tricks quietly instead of screaming them at the top of his lungs?

On the other hand, the GOP would have a harder time riling up their base if he wasn't constantly screaming. So, it goes both ways.

[WestPhillyPunisher]

Which is why I would rather have Trump over Pence.

His use of lawfare and corporate despotism in his home state had me wishing for a lackluster Trump presidency while we wait out a strong 8 year term from the Dems (at the time I wanted a Duckworth / Harris ticket ... I am kind of getting that).

Sadly, we have 45 being a wanna-be Pol Pot and I am now 50/50 on the idea.

New Yorker wrote one of the better pieces on Trump over Pence back in 2017 I think?
https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2...resident-pence

As I’ve maintained, IMO the only reason Trump wasn’t impeached and we don’t have a President Pence today was because the GOP knew that if they lost Trump, they’d lose his fanatical base who’s more loyal to him than they are the party. Pence is just as dangerous as everyone else in that administration, but he’s too quiet and low key and doesn’t move the needle not even a little bit with the Trumpanzees who are more interested in sizzle than steak.

[Bruce Wayne]

Another reminder this administration would be far scarier if it was competent. Can you imagine if Trump played these underhanded tricks quietly instead of screaming them at the top of his lungs?

If he had handled covid properly, he could have easily taken advantage of it as a vehicle to propagate his anti-immigration and xenophobic views.

[PaulBullion]

Texas Supreme Court rejects the GOP's attempt to toss votes.

They also delayed the appeal to the SCOTUS, citing lack of discovery time since the votes haven't been counted yet.

TXSC also pointed out that by the time the discovery is completed, the vote will be finalized since no digressions were noted in the filing.

https://www.texastribune.org/2020/11...harris-county/
https://www.click2houston.com/news/l...-county-votes/
https://www.cnn.com/2020/11/01/polit...ing/index.html

If Team Trump sues Texas for votes, it will be hard pressed because of Double Jeopardy. Those votes should be safe. They'll have to find a new group to sue against.

I think they played their hand too early.

Self-own #4 of their election plans.

The federal court also rejected their attempt:

U.S. District Judge Andrew Hanen, a W. Bush appointee, has ruled Republicans lack standing to challenge 127k drive-thru votes cast in Harris County

[The Cool Thatguy]

If he had handled covid properly, he could have easily taken advantage of it as a vehicle to propagate his anti-immigration and xenophobic views.

Sadly, yea. Another bullet dodged

[WestPhillyPunisher]

If he had handled covid properly, he could have easily taken advantage of it as a vehicle to propagate his anti-immigration and xenophobic views.

More importantly, if he had taken the virus seriously, there would’ve been thousands fewer deaths and the economy wouldn’t be in the shitter.

[Joker]

As I’ve maintained, IMO the only reason Trump wasn’t impeached and we don’t have a President Pence today was because the GOP knew that if they lost Trump, they’d lose his fanatical base who’s more loyal to him than they are the party. Pence is just as dangerous as everyone else in that administration, but he’s too quiet and low key and doesn’t move the needle not even a little bit with the Trumpanzees who are more interested in sizzle than steak.

Trump was in fact impeached.

[ChangingStation]

The federal court also rejected their attempt:

U.S. District Judge Andrew Hanen, a W. Bush appointee, has ruled Republicans lack standing to challenge 127k drive-thru votes cast in Harris County

I'm honestly surprised. Relieved but surprised.

[Robotman]

I so hate the electoral college. All these great stories of huge voter turnout means nothing unless it’s happening in a swing state. Even then, if the mass turnout is actually from Trump supporters in those states the angry racist minority will once again rule the majority.

Whatever. I’m just trying not to have a panic attack.

I'm honestly surprised. Relieved but surprised.

Same here. Hanen has a rep for being a far right zealot. I figured he would relish the opportunity to suppress that many votes. I guess the claim was even too ridiculous and unlawful even for him.

[ChangingStation]

I so hate the electoral college. All these great stories of huge voter turnout means nothing unless it’s happening in a swing state. Even then, if the mass turnout is actually from Trump supporters in those states the angry racist minority will once again rule the majority.

Whatever. I’m just trying not to have a panic attack.



Same here. Hanen has a rep for being a far right zealot. I figured he would relish the opportunity to suppress that many votes. I guess the claim was even too ridiculous and unlawful even for him.

Either that or he pragmatically decided that being dragged into this mess was the last thing he needed.

[BeastieRunner]

The federal court also rejected their attempt:

U.S. District Judge Andrew Hanen, a W. Bush appointee, has ruled Republicans lack standing to challenge 127k drive-thru votes cast in Harris County

I'm honestly surprised. Relieved but surprised.

2 of those courts are listed in the top 5 for conservative lean, too.

Tells you how bad their case was.

Trump was in fact impeached.

Impeached and removed is what people wanted.

I don't think people understand that there are degrees; impeachment, censure, and removal.

Trump was impeached. Clinton was impeached and censured. Nixon was impeached and resigned due to the trial looking like removed was going to be the #1 option.

[Ragged Maw]

The Electoral College is a weird institution that at least has a somewhat understandable argument for continuing to exist - the popular vote supposedly being too centered on the west and east edges of the country to elect people who understand the issues facing midwestern and other states in between those two edges. Though, given the some of the more “unsavory” results of clinging to this way of determining elections, while we may not necessarily have to make the popular vote the be-all end-all, I think the College is showing its age, and so a new kind of system might need to be considered. If for nothing else than to lower the odds of us finding ourselves in this bad of a plague-ridden clusterfuck again.

[ChangingStation]

The Electoral College is a weird institution that at least has a somewhat understandable argument for continuing to exist - the popular vote supposedly being too centered on the west and east edges of the country to elect people who understand the issues facing midwestern and other states in between those two edges. Though, given the some of the more “unsavory” results of clinging to this way of determining elections, while we may not necessarily have to make the popular vote the be-all end-all, I think the College is showing its age, and so a new kind of system might need to be considered. If for nothing else than to lower the odds of us finding ourselves in this bad of a plague-ridden clusterfuck again.

Like grouping several states together so that the minority vote (As in political party) in each state has a bigger influence?

[Robotman]

The Electoral College is a weird institution that at least has a somewhat understandable argument for continuing to exist - the popular vote supposedly being too centered on the west and east edges of the country to elect people who understand the issues facing midwestern and other states in between those two edges. Though, given the some of the more “unsavory” results of clinging to this way of determining elections, while we may not necessarily have to make the popular vote the be-all end-all, I think the College is showing its age, and so a new kind of system might need to be considered. If for nothing else than to lower the odds of us finding ourselves in this bad of a plague-ridden clusterfuck again.

Right now it’s mostly people on the left who want to get rid of the EC, as it will keep the right wing minority in power. But if Texas ever become a true Blue State, we’re going to see a lot more conservatives join the bandwagon.