US Election Week 2020

[alfred russel]

Seeing things like that just reinforces my belief that had the election been closer, there would be a definitive attempt to change the outcome by legal shenanigans at all levels.  Look at how much support there is for overturning an election that wasn't close at all, based on narratives that don't stand up to even a second of scrutiny.  I think a lot of Republicans who haven't joined that movement have abstained only because the hurdle to overturn the results is too high.

There is a massive rubicon that has never been crossed: ignoring that one candidate got more counted votes. Filing and supporting really dumb lawsuits isn't the same thing.

Do you remember back before the election we were debating whether mail in ballots received after election day (but mailed before) should be counted? This is exactly why I don't think that should be allowed. Get the ballots to people with plenty of time, let them verify the ballots were received prior to election day, and a way to remedy (on or before election day) if not.

But imagine this all came down to Pennsylvania and it was Florida 2000 type of close. There are likely thousands of absentee ballots that never got cast for whatever reason: there is just so much opportunity to try to submit late ballots and argue the date of the postmark (or absence of postmark), discover lost ballots in the mail room, etc. One side would be deeply aggrieved and probably never accept the result. If all the ballots are in an amorphous blob of "absentee ballots" received on or before election day, once they are counted there isn't a whole lot the losing party can really argue other than "voter intent" on specific ballots.

[grumbler]

If you are going to disenfranchise every voter who votes by election day but whose ballot isn't received by election day, then you need some system other than the US mail to allow people to cast ballots other than in the polling places.  The US mail isn't under the control of the voter, and no one should be disenfranchised because the USPS deliberately or incompetently fails to deliver posted ballots.

I'd have no problem with a rule that says that ballots have to be postmarked before election day, but even if that rule were in place, we'd still see vote-counting days after the election.

[alfred russel]

If you are going to disenfranchise every voter who votes by election day but whose ballot isn't received by election day, then you need some system other than the US mail to allow people to cast ballots other than in the polling places.  The US mail isn't under the control of the voter, and no one should be disenfranchised because the USPS deliberately or incompetently fails to deliver posted ballots.

I'd have no problem with a rule that says that ballots have to be postmarked before election day, but even if that rule were in place, we'd still see vote-counting days after the election.

Some states (I think Vermont for example) have rules requiring the return of ballots by election day, and it works. In any event every state disenfranchises mail in voters that the USPS deliberately or incompetently failed by some date.

We now have the ability to check whether the election office has received the ballot before the election. The voter already has to vote and then get their vote received by their precinct by certain dates. No reason these dates have to be different.

[Darth Wagtaros]

Seeing things like that just reinforces my belief that had the election been closer, there would be a definitive attempt to change the outcome by legal shenanigans at all levels.  Look at how much support there is for overturning an election that wasn't close at all, based on narratives that don't stand up to even a second of scrutiny.  I think a lot of Republicans who haven't joined that movement have abstained only because the hurdle to overturn the results is too high.

GIve it time.  Screaming that only a traitor would question the narrative will burn down resistance.

[The Minsky Moment]

It's interesting that the 2020 GOP is so intent on denying the voting rights of US military serving overseas (who always have submitted mail ballots received after election day) . . .

There have been many silly lawsuits brought this election season but the Texas case is something else.  It is not limited to asking for recounts, or verifications, or observer rights, or even  exclusion of a category of "tainted" ballots.  It is demanding that entire states be completely disenfranchised and be barred from appointing Electors.  short of physical invasion or embargo, there is no more aggressive and hostile act that one state can take towards a sister American state.  It is beyond the pale, and revolting hypocrisy coming from a state like Texas, historically so vocal in trumpeting its own sovereign attributes.  The fact that over 100 legislators have signed onto this offensive piece of legal excrement is a disturbing sign.

[The Minsky Moment]

Seeing things like that just reinforces my belief that had the election been closer, there would be a definitive attempt to change the outcome by legal shenanigans at all levels.  Look at how much support there is for overturning an election that wasn't close at all, based on narratives that don't stand up to even a second of scrutiny.  I think a lot of Republicans who haven't joined that movement have abstained only because the hurdle to overturn the results is too high.

GIve it time.  Screaming that only a traitor would question the narrative will burn down resistance.

The narrative is the treachery.  You can always tell what Trump is up to by the words he uses to accuse others.

[Darth Wagtaros]

Money well spent according to Moscow.

[DGuller]

The narrative is the treachery.  You can always tell what Trump is up to by the words he uses to accuse others.

Interestingly enough, that rule also works well on Russia.

[alfred russel]

It's interesting that the 2020 GOP is so intent on denying the voting rights of US military serving overseas (who always have submitted mail ballots received after election day) . . .

Is anyone in the GOP proposing this? It wouldn't be to their (expected) advantage so I wouldn't think they would do so.

[Habbaku]

The "sates" [sic] of New Nevada and New California will show us the way!

https://twitter.com/steve_vladeck/status/1337443032636010508

[grumbler]

The "sates" [sic] of New Nevada and New California will show us the way!

https://twitter.com/steve_vladeck/status/1337443032636010508

The state of "Lousiana" is already involved (though I suspect that this is simply because the AG of Louisiana is too moronic to properly spell his own state's name).

[Syt]

[Razgovory]

I don't know what is going on anymore.

[Darth Wagtaros]

I don't know what is going on anymore.

Amoral opportunists are pissing on the country so that they can get a few crumbs from Trump. 

[Razgovory]

This just in:  Narnia has just joined the Texas lawsuit.