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Trump is Gone: The Time Has Come Today

The time has come to leave Donald Trump behind. He's toast. The fat lady sang. The Supreme Court is not coming to his rescue. He's lived high on our dime (and the dime of the Secret Service covering his and his kids' international and domestic travel) long enough.)

As soon as the media stops covering Donald Trump, which it will shortly, he'll be on his way to somewhere like Abu Dhabi faster than the speeding bullet trains in Asia can get him there. (He can't possibly be dumb enough to think he's safe from arrest at Mar-a-Lago and he would never be able to adapt to a non-opulent lifestyle or a place where English isn't widely spoken). So why is he hanging on to his desk in the oval office so tightly? What is he afraid of? My theory is five-fold: [More....]

  • (1) He's afraid Deutsche Bank will call or sell his loans on the Trump hotels in Florida, Wasington, DC and Chicago and thinks he can ward them off while still in the White House
    Deutsche Bank has about $340 million in loans outstanding to the Trump Organization, the president’s umbrella group that is currently overseen by his two sons, according to filings made by Trump to the U.S. Office of Government Ethics in July and a senior source within the bank. The three loans, which are against Trump properties and start coming due in two years, are current on payments and personally guaranteed by the president, according to two bank officials.

    In meetings in recent months, a Deutsche Bank management committee that oversees reputational and other risks for the lender in the Americas region has discussed ways in which it could rid the bank of these last vestiges of the relationship, two of the three bank officials said. The bank has over the years lent Trump more than $2 billion, one of the officials said.

    More on Trump and Deutsche Bank at the NY Times here in 2019. Deutsche Bank has not been without its own problems.

  • (2) His "immunity" from prosecution (which is only a DOJ policy, not the law) will end on January 21, 2021, and he is facing criminal investigations of his finances in both state and federal court in New York. He has no ability to pardon himself in a state case
  • (3) he will have to face civil suits such as the defamation case brought by E. Jean Carroll who claims he raped her in a dressing room at Bergforf Goodman's in New York in the 1980's
  • (4) He thinks if he goes out as a loser, as opposed to a "fighter" and someone who was "robbed", his brand will suffer and his licensing deals (in which he sells his name to be used on hotels and golf courses rather than building anything himself) will tank, and
  • (5) His only viable path to make money going foward is to create a radical right TV network filled with fake news to compete with Fox, but Jared has been too busy bringing peace to the middle east and handling Trump's COVID response to close the deal.

So with Trump irrelevant, the time has come to hold Joe Biden's feet to the fire and make sure he doesn't bail on the progressives, African Americans, Latinos, seniors and youth who voted for him over Trump.

The Biden-Harris transition team is already making appointments. Progressives need to watch their every move, because Joe Biden is not one of us and never has been. He's certainly preferable to Donald Trump, but we need to watch his back on criminal justice issues, especially the war on drugs; on raising global tensions in the middle east and Africa (i.e., getting us into another war); health care for all Americans and climate change.

Can we all just be honest about one thing? This election was not a referendum supporting Joe Biden. It was a rejection of Donald Trump, his family and everything they stand for. Donald Trump may have disgusted suburban women, and everyone with a brain knows his failure to adopt a national policy on Covid-19 resulted in unnecessary deaths, but it was progressives like AOC 's endorsement, Stacey Abrams' organizing skills, Black Lives Matter protests and Latino voter registration drives (that have been building for the last decade, not just in Florida but in Texas, Arizona, Colorado, and Nevada) that brought it home for him and Kamala.

Today is the time to shift our focus to ensuring Team Biden-Harris appoints fair, unbiased and competent jurists to the bench; expands every Americans' right to universal health care; decriminalizes simple possession and use of all drugs, not just pot; ends the use of the federal death penalty and draconian mandatory minimum sentences which are arbitrarily imposed and disproportionately affect people of color.

So, I'm sorry Joe and Kamala, but you will get no honeymoon here. We trusted you with our votes, and now you must earn it. The devil with a desk in the oval office will soon be leaving, tail between his legs, but that old adage that the devil you know is better than the one you don't is simply not true.

We can be happy that now we have principled leaders, two honest hard-working and experienced individuals who profess to care about "the soul of the nation" (an ambiguous phrase if ever there was one) to lead us on the long path to restoring America's standing in the world and eliminate our internal divisiveness, but that is a task I imagine will take at least a generation.

As for the unity shtick, forget it. I hated when Obama used the phrase ("We are not blue states or red states but the United States") and I hated it more every time Biden used it this week (without attribution of course). The reality is we live in a two party nation and there are principled reasons to judge Republicans harshly. Our disagreements shouldn't lead to physical violence, or police brutality. But it would be foolish to regard Republicans as our friends. They are not. We need be vigilant and ensure that Biden doesn't align with the former Bush neo-cons in the Lincoln Project believing he owes them something. He owes them nothing. We owe them nothing. They didn't win the election for Biden or defeat Trump. We, the people, won it for Biden and Harris, by getting off our as*es and organizing and getting out the vote because another four years of Donald Trump in charge of anything but his cell phone was unacceptable.

Also unimportant: whether young progressives and Bernie Sanders call themselves "Democratic Socialists" vs. Social Democrats. Some argue they are different in that Democratic Socialists want more, but I think that's hair-splitting and they are birds of the same feather, that exist on the same continuum, with one just wanting more government involvement than the other. (Denmark, Norway and Sweden, are social democracies).

The current crop of young progressives are not trying to end capitalism. They are not trying to transfer title to your house to the community. They want the government to provide basic human services like quality health care, including mental health services, to all of us; ensure our senior citizens are financially provided and fund home health care, assisted living centers, and nursing homes; ensure all Americans have sufficient nutritious food so no one goes hungry; provide early childhood education so that every child has an equal chance to succeed; provide for clean, safe housing at an affordable price, no one is left to live in a car or tent on the street or shelter for the homeless; ensure the financially less advantaged among us have access to the same universities that the wealthy attend (not just free access to community colleges)and for those who don't want further academics, access to affordable or free technical or vocational training, including the performance arts. And, of course, take on the obligation to address climate change and eliminate student debt.

Social Democracy is not about who owns the means of production (which is the distinction between capitalism, socialism and communism) -- it's about ensuring the state provides for its citizens' basic needs. The bigger question is who is going to pay for these needs? Increased taxation of the rich? That's is one way that seems to meet with approval, but not the only way.

If I had the answer to that question, I'd have run for office or become an economist long ago. This is why in a democracy we elect smart people to lead us and figure it out. Biden and Harris are up to the task if they will just take it on. In the meantime, while it would help if Bernie and AOC reverted to calling themselves "Social Democrats" instead of "Democratic Socialists", if only because the word "socialist" seems to scare even smart Democrats who should know better, in current parlance, I think it's a distinction without a difference. For the same reason we don't refer to people as "illegal" but as "undocumented persons" (no human being is illegal), our fellow progressives would do every one a good turn if they would revert to using the term "Social Democrat" instead of "Democratic Socialist". (I get that there is an organized political party named "Democratic Socialists" in the U.S. but not a currently functional and operational party named "Social Democrats" (just a website that says hopefully it will revive itself, but still....the word socialist makes too many people nervous, while the label "social democrat" doesn't conjure up the same fear.

We, the people, have the ability to make this election a new dawn. The time has come today. Let's push Congress, the Senate and our state houses left on legislation and show the nation and the world what a huge improvement it will be when we stop funding the building of new prisons, border fences and tanks and weaponry that may destroy life on this planet and start funding the most basic needs of every American and the towns and cities they live in.

< Winners Biden and Harris Speaks to the Nation | The Cost of Donald Trump's Failure to Lead (to Him and Us) >
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  • Display: Sort:
    Taxes (5.00 / 2) (#4)
    by MO Blue on Mon Nov 09, 2020 at 05:32:11 AM EST
    The people of Arizona just passed a proposition to increase taxes on high earners. It passed 52% to 48%.

    enact a 3.50% income tax, in addition to the existing income tax (4.50% in 2020), on income above $250,000 (single filing) or $500,000 (joint filing) and

    * distribute the revenue from the 3.50% income tax to teacher and classroom support staff salaries, teacher mentoring and retention programs, career and technical education programs, and the Arizona Teachers Academy.

    Source

    At best Arizona is a purple state and yet, they were willing to increase taxes on high earners. Food for thought for the Congresscritters.

    Great post, Jeralyn (5.00 / 5) (#5)
    by MO Blue on Mon Nov 09, 2020 at 06:31:07 AM EST
    Your much needed explanation of Democratic Socialism (or if you prefer Social Democrat), their objectives and their contributions is spot on.

    About the only thing I would change somewhat, is that I would prefer the public inter party squabbles to quit until after the Senate runoff elections in Georgia. I not sure whether or not moderate and conservative Dems running around with their hair on fire, screaming "Socialism is bad" are doing it because they are scared of it or because they want to stamp out the chance that Democratic Socialism will gain traction. The moderate/conservative Dems know the difference between Democratic Socialism and the socialism practiced in some Central American countries so you have to wonder why they constantly continue to use the false  label. Reinforcing the Republicans' mantra only helps defeat Democrat candidates.

    I agree with most of this (5.00 / 1) (#8)
    by CaptHowdy on Mon Nov 09, 2020 at 10:10:36 AM EST
    and I absolutely agree it all needs to stop until after the GA senate runnoffs.

    We could talk all day about what is true and what isn't an who is or isn't a socialist but the fact is, facts don't matter much with these people and the truth is republicans are better at messaging and always have been.  And the socialism meme hurt congressional democrats.  So did the defund the police meme.

    I heard this a lot.  Locally.    There is a reason people like Nancy and Clyburn who know how to win we're begging people to stop talking about it.

    My advise would be if you want to keep the house majority past 22 would be to listen to them.

    Parent

    IMO (5.00 / 1) (#10)
    by FlJoe on Mon Nov 09, 2020 at 10:34:15 AM EST
    all democrats need to stfu, roll up their sleeves and go to work. This backbiting BS that the Democrats always seem to engage in is the main reason we never hold on to gains we made.

    The Republicans are always relentless in their lockstep messaging and like it or not it is extremely effective.

    Parent

    I agree (5.00 / 1) (#14)
    by Ga6thDem on Mon Nov 09, 2020 at 10:42:06 AM EST
    that the messaging needs some desperate improvement. Find 4 bullet points and run on those. One that is effective is preexisting conditions. Also here in GA the senate candidates should basically say AOC represents her district and that is all. She along with Ilhan and Tlaib need to be rolled under the bus. I don't know why Pressley gets included in their nonsense because I see nothing from her that is anything like the other 3.

    Parent
    The only (5.00 / 1) (#16)
    by CST on Mon Nov 09, 2020 at 10:44:49 AM EST
    Muslim women ever to be elected to congress should not be rolled under the bus for your convenience.

    Parent
    Their (none / 0) (#17)
    by Ga6thDem on Mon Nov 09, 2020 at 10:58:36 AM EST
    messaging needs to get better then. If you can't criticize Israel's policies without using anti-Semitic tropes it's like using watermelon to criticize Obama. Both are ridiculous.

    Parent
    Islamaphobia is cool though (5.00 / 1) (#22)
    by CST on Mon Nov 09, 2020 at 11:32:24 AM EST
    Which is what throwing the only visible Muslims in congress under the bus is.

    They were expressing legitimate criticisms of Israel  poorly. What's your excuse? We all know the "anti-semetic tropes" are not the real reason that so many people hate and are afraid of them. That's not why you want them under the bus so let's not pretend like this is some kind of moral stand.

    Parent

    Again (none / 0) (#26)
    by Ga6thDem on Mon Nov 09, 2020 at 12:59:35 PM EST
    it's the messaging. John Ossoff is Jewish and they basically were implying he can't be elected because his loyalty is to money and Israel not the US. Ironically it is the same thing conservatives throw at them saying that they shouldn't be elected because of their religion.

    Pat Buchanan says a lot of the same things and I don't think anyone accuses him of being a Muslim.

    Parent

    No they weren't (none / 0) (#29)
    by CST on Mon Nov 09, 2020 at 01:23:16 PM EST
    Implying that even in the slightest.

    You could have said Bernie Sanders but you didn't because that would have clearly exposed the lie for what it is.

    Parent

    Now (5.00 / 3) (#20)
    by FlJoe on Mon Nov 09, 2020 at 11:14:02 AM EST
    they should just quietly do their jobs and start passing progressive legislation(that of course will never pass the Senate).  I agree the messaging sucks so they should let the policy speak for itself.
    Democrats on the whole need to rip a page from Frank Luntz and use language to our advantage.

    Thus the "Green new deal" should be called "America first, jobs, energy and infrastructure act", or some like that. Jingoistic for sure but not scary to the uninformed.

    The left does not need to dog whistle itself, rather it needs to "calm" the great clueless masses. I think the progressive base is smart enough to see that the contents of the package is way more important than the packaging. The right on the other hand has been extremely successful in putting fancy sellable labels on their crap.

    Parent

    Yes. (none / 0) (#28)
    by Ga6thDem on Mon Nov 09, 2020 at 01:12:33 PM EST
    I agree. We need actions not more words.

    Parent
    "Rolled under the bus." (5.00 / 6) (#55)
    by caseyOR on Mon Nov 09, 2020 at 08:50:45 PM EST
    What the hell? Those three women worked their butts off to elect Biden. They all are popular, effective representatives of their districts. And they bring a much needed counter balance to the Democrats tendency to ignore the issues of progressives once the election is over.

    There are several "moderate" Democrats who drive me to the brink with their mealy-mouthed lectures about what we cannot do because it will scare the so-called moderates who will then be forced to vote Republican. And, yet, I would never suggest they be rolled under  the bus, or in any other way ostracized by their Democratic colleagues.

     

    Parent

    Republicans want to win elections. (5.00 / 2) (#87)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Wed Nov 11, 2020 at 01:06:53 AM EST
    Democrats want to win arguments. And the Democrats will always get into trouble whenever the two concepts become mutually exclusive in the ongoing public debate, because many voters simply don't do nuance.

    Parent
    People used to say the same thing (5.00 / 1) (#15)
    by CST on Mon Nov 09, 2020 at 10:42:31 AM EST
    About Dems and gay marriage.

    Maybe they were right then too, but how else do you proppse to shift the Overton wondow if you're always too afraid of your own shadow to push left?

    Parent

    Demilitarize (none / 0) (#18)
    by Ga6thDem on Mon Nov 09, 2020 at 11:00:48 AM EST
    the police would convey the same goals and you'd even get libertarians on board with that meme. It's about building coalitions to accomplish a goal.  

    Parent
    No it wouldn't (5.00 / 1) (#19)
    by CST on Mon Nov 09, 2020 at 11:11:10 AM EST
    Because that's not even close to the only change that needs to happen.

    The budget, size, and power/rights of police departments also need to be dramatically reduced along with an increase in accountability.  Demilitarize doesn't even come close.

    Parent

    Then (none / 0) (#27)
    by Ga6thDem on Mon Nov 09, 2020 at 01:05:18 PM EST
    use restructure not defund. This is not rocket science.

    Parent
    Defund (none / 0) (#30)
    by CST on Mon Nov 09, 2020 at 01:26:55 PM EST
    Is more of a threat to police departments.

    As it's intended to be.

    That way when we are done compromising we are at full restructure not window dressing.

    Parent

    Now you (none / 0) (#32)
    by Ga6thDem on Mon Nov 09, 2020 at 01:35:37 PM EST
    sound like you are really wanting police departments eliminated.

    It's also crappy messaging that people think is going to create chaos where not only will police get away with murder but so will everybody else.

    Parent

    Yeah (none / 0) (#13)
    by Ga6thDem on Mon Nov 09, 2020 at 10:38:45 AM EST
    I did too. I can't tell you how many people I had to explain what defund the police really meant. It's a terrible meme and again if you're explaining you're losing. The messaging on all this completely sucks.

    Parent
    President Biden (5.00 / 2) (#23)
    by KeysDan on Mon Nov 09, 2020 at 12:14:01 PM EST
    announced his Corona virus task force to forge a blueprint for fighting the pandemic. The task force is co-chaired and membered with distinguished medical scientists.

    Included on the task force is Dr. Rick Bright, immunologist and virologist, who was head of the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority before he was demoted for being a whistleblower and resisting political pressure to promote hydroxychloroquine.

    Missing from the task force are any son-in-laws or daughters.

    The sad (none / 0) (#31)
    by Ga6thDem on Mon Nov 09, 2020 at 01:33:35 PM EST
    thing is I find this almost incredible after 4 years of Trump when it should be just considered just normal, routine and responsible.

    Parent
    Utah's Republican (5.00 / 1) (#34)
    by KeysDan on Mon Nov 09, 2020 at 02:17:03 PM EST
    Governor, Gary Herbert, declared a state of emergency and ordered a statewide mask mandate in an attempt to stem the state's surge of Covid-19 infections.

    Last June the governor granted approval of masks in Salt Lake County, after due consideration.  At that time, his position was it was a local matter, since locals know best.

    Maybe, a change in national attitudes. In any event, a good move by the Governor, but no cookie for him.

    I can't believe (5.00 / 1) (#37)
    by Ga6thDem on Mon Nov 09, 2020 at 02:35:40 PM EST
    these two clowns I have as senators. Both of them are asking the GOP SOS to resign over "illegal votes". There is no such thing and these GOP clowns are the ones that wrote the ridiculous voting laws.

    Yes, both Republican (5.00 / 2) (#41)
    by KeysDan on Mon Nov 09, 2020 at 02:58:16 PM EST
    senators, Perdue and Loeffler, are calling on the Republican Secretary of State to resign because of failing to "deliver honest and transparent elections."

    No evidence or even reasons other than the statement above.  Maybe, Perdue and Loeffler personally observed dead people voting. And, the Sec of State was holding them up with a board in the back of their shrouds.

    Looks like their run-off strategy is to share space with Trump's pathology. This election, Trump voters included, demonstrated the need for greater commitment and funding for mental health.

     Ossoff has called for three debates with Perdue. Fat chance--Perdue fled, not to be seen thereafter, following Jon's pummeling in their first debate.

    Loeffler and Perdue are saying Georgia is so corrupt, I want out.  Send us to Washington.

     These rich senators want six more years to grift.

    Parent

    Looks like the house district next to yours (7th) (none / 0) (#40)
    by vml68 on Mon Nov 09, 2020 at 02:57:55 PM EST
    flipped from red to blue.
    GA kicking FL's @ss this election.

    Parent
    Yeah (none / 0) (#49)
    by Ga6thDem on Mon Nov 09, 2020 at 04:04:25 PM EST
    and LOL the GOP wants to run Stacey Abrams out of GA on a rail.

    I'm no longer in the 6th. They redistricted me to the 11th and my rep is Barry "Trump is Jesus" Loudermilk.

    Parent

    Thank you for your well thought-out post, (5.00 / 4) (#51)
    by desertswine on Mon Nov 09, 2020 at 05:59:00 PM EST
    Jeralyn.

    Looks like Xavier Becerra (5.00 / 1) (#53)
    by MKS on Mon Nov 09, 2020 at 06:20:17 PM EST
    could be the new Head of Homeland Security.  He would reportedly make a priority of finding the parents of the kids who were separated at the border.

    Becerra has been a member of Congress, the Chair of the Democratic Caucus, and is now California AG, succeeding Kamala Harris.

    Becerra is super smart and never makes an unforced error.  He is also the natural successor to Kamala Harris's Senate seat if he wants it.

    I would like to see him as head of Homeland Security.

    My first choice for Senate seat. But, (none / 0) (#54)
    by oculus on Mon Nov 09, 2020 at 08:12:45 PM EST
     I like your thought too.  Might be a more active role for him.

    Parent
    In the 1960s, Marta Gonzalez was a prima ballerina with the New York City Ballet. 50 years later in her native Spain, she was suffering from the debilitating effects of Alzheimer's disease. But when she heard Tchaikovsky's "Swan Lake," it all came back to her and from her wheelchair, she clearly hit all her marks.

    Even in the throes of a corrosive physio-cognitive affliction such as Alzheimer's, music has the capacity to reach deep down inside all of us and touch the soul of our core being. And if music and the performing arts somehow have the capacity to hold or even restore memory, even if momentary, how wonderful is that?

    Aloha.

    When my Dad (none / 0) (#99)
    by MKS on Wed Nov 11, 2020 at 09:43:53 AM EST
    was in the Memory Wing of his Assisted Living facility, they played a lot of music.  For this group, that meant a lot of Dean Martin and Perry Como...

    And they did a lot of sing alongs. Corny but the residents seem to have fun....A method to the madness.

    Parent

    As the names of contenders (5.00 / 1) (#114)
    by KeysDan on Wed Nov 11, 2020 at 04:39:02 PM EST
    for Cabinet posts in a Biden Administration are publicly discussed (e.g., Doug Jones, Susan Rice, Pete Buttigieg, Jay Inslee, Randi Weingarten, Keisha Bottoms, Vivek Murthy, Sally Yates, Ron Klain) with a backdrop of the Trump and Republican efforts for a coup, my thoughts turn to that horrible time of world history---the early 1930s.

    To some degree, that is where we could be. I invoke these thoughts of fascists without minimizing or trivializing the horrors of the holocaust. But just imagine if Hitler lost an election (which would not happen) to a decent and sane person.

    Americans have an opportunity that the Jewish citizens of Germany never had. An opportunity to reject a path to destroy democracy and its people along with it. The American opportunity is more than they ever got.  

    The forces of destruction will still be there after Trump leaves the stage---an apt description of his failed presidency. But, we now have a chance to correct The Great American Mistake.

     Democrats will have to go it alone for a while through demonstrations of good governance and programs that help all Americans.  This will require keeping the energy up, registering voters and voting. America needs some time to overcome the effluent that has washed over the nation these past four years.

    Don't tell Cheeto (5.00 / 2) (#118)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Nov 11, 2020 at 05:58:52 PM EST
    I've been talking to Trumpers (5.00 / 3) (#128)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Nov 11, 2020 at 07:09:48 PM EST
    The last few days.  I always have a single question,  if he tries to use the military to take over the country will you still support him.

    A few conversations have ended badly at that point because a shocking number say yes.  Others won't say yes but it's clear enough they would.

    Liberals spend so much time worrying about Trump but it's his fans they should be worried about.

    Now, most of these people are nothing but a major source of natural gas.  But even if they would not get off their sofa to help they would cheer a coup on.  We need to remember that.

    It's clear enough what republicans are ham handedly trying to do.  They say they just want to humor Trump until he accepts losing.  But you have to wonder if they really expect him to ever accept it.  Has he ever, like ever, accepted an inconvenient truth?  

    Clearly they just want to try to keep the lid on until after the runoff elections.  But Trump is not on that page. Barry McCaffrery, not a guy given to hyperbole, said what he was doing in the Pentagon is "alarming".   I really think Trump will jump the shark.

    I don't think it will work.  Neither does McCaffery.  But it will be a freaky and perilous time.   I think republicans will regret going down this road.  


    One mistake they keep making (5.00 / 1) (#137)
    by Chuck0 on Wed Nov 11, 2020 at 07:30:03 PM EST
    is that Democrats don't own guns. They may be in for a fmgrand reckoning.

    Parent
    They should read more (5.00 / 3) (#138)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Nov 11, 2020 at 07:33:19 PM EST
    Minorities, gays and even liberals (5.00 / 2) (#145)
    by MO Blue on Wed Nov 11, 2020 at 08:06:31 PM EST
    have been part of our military for quite a while. Somehow, they don't seem to think about that.

    Also, Trump has lost quite a bit of support in our active military. I know of a couple of career officers, who are right wing in most things, who are strongly against Trump assault on the rule of law and the norms or our democracy. They take seriously their oaths to support and defend our Constitution against all enemies, foreign and domestic.

    Parent

    I believe (5.00 / 2) (#158)
    by Ga6thDem on Thu Nov 12, 2020 at 05:41:47 AM EST
    Biden won the military vote here in GA. For the reasons you state and the fact that most of these military personnel have spent time overseas and see that the rest of the world laughs at Trump.

    Parent
    Speaker Pelosi (5.00 / 2) (#150)
    by KeysDan on Wed Nov 11, 2020 at 08:50:18 PM EST
    Should explore ways and means to defund the Executive Branch.  Reduced or restricted funding will hurt many federal employees and agencies, but this appears to be a coup in progress.  The Biden Administration can work to make amends later.

     The idea of humoring Trump does not seem plausible--Trump has failed at everything his whole life so being a loser Is second nature to him.  

    The country has underestimated Trump before, and by saying he is not accepting the election results infers that he is not leaving.  A Trump delusion to be seen as such except for the Republican leadership complicity.

    Parent

    I agree that this appears to be (none / 0) (#155)
    by desertswine on Wed Nov 11, 2020 at 11:18:04 PM EST
    an attempted coup.  I hope that the Democrats are lining up their military assets.  Trump has more than 2 months to work his machinations.  Of course, everything he does is legal, right?  I believe steps should be taken against him now before he can move this thing further along.

    Parent
    Yes, (none / 0) (#134)
    by Ga6thDem on Wed Nov 11, 2020 at 07:17:38 PM EST
    it is serious. Nobody trusts the GOP to the right thing. They've had 4 years and haven't so there is a good reason to doubt whatever the GOP says they are doing.

    The good news is how many troops would actually participate in a military coup of the country? A lot of stuff at the pentagon withers on down the line.

    They definitely deserve to lose the senate over this.

    Parent

    Was going to add (none / 0) (#136)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Nov 11, 2020 at 07:21:29 PM EST
    I think Trump will do this because the only people he is talking with are his social media buddies who tell him to go for it.

    I think it's possible he actually thinks he can do it.  If he talked to the same people I mentioned above he would believe he can do whatever he wants.

    He can't.  We need to remember that.

    Parent

    Karl Rove - WSJ (none / 0) (#139)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Nov 11, 2020 at 07:45:26 PM EST
    The reich-wing is offering (5.00 / 1) (#157)
    by jondee on Thu Nov 12, 2020 at 02:17:07 AM EST
    enough 'whistleblower' money now that people will come forward and admit to killing Epstein and JFK and kidnapping the Lindbergh baby.

    The only (5.00 / 1) (#161)
    by Ga6thDem on Thu Nov 12, 2020 at 05:57:27 AM EST
    good thing I see in that is the scammers are being scammed.

    Parent
    Just watched Raphael Warnock (5.00 / 1) (#164)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Nov 12, 2020 at 09:28:11 AM EST
    on MJ.  He is a very impressive guy.  This guy has a bright future in politics.

    Ossoff is not a bad candidate, even a pretty good one IMO, but I think it's Warnock GA voters are going to come out for.  

    And I agree that who ever wins, R or D, will win both.

    It does not hurt (none / 0) (#165)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Nov 12, 2020 at 09:33:08 AM EST
    that he is running against Fascist Barbie.

    Something about her is pure motivation for progressives.  Even more than Perdue.  Especially progressives of color I think.

    Parent

    I have told (none / 0) (#178)
    by Ga6thDem on Thu Nov 12, 2020 at 01:34:53 PM EST
    people that Warnock has run a much better campaign than Ossoff and been laughed at.

    Parent
    Unexplained Wealth (5.00 / 1) (#193)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Nov 12, 2020 at 06:21:08 PM EST
    I needed that (5.00 / 1) (#195)
    by Jack E Lope on Thu Nov 12, 2020 at 07:33:50 PM EST
    I was feeling blue until I read that the Scottish Greens can't turn a blind eye to the red flags that surround the activities of the Orange President.


    Parent
    It's all there in black and white ... (5.00 / 1) (#197)
    by Peter G on Thu Nov 12, 2020 at 10:29:42 PM EST
    The most colorful comment of the season.

    Parent
    Happy Birthday, Keysdan! (5.00 / 1) (#199)
    by vml68 on Thu Nov 12, 2020 at 10:55:06 PM EST
    I hope you got a chance to celebrate today with your nearest and dearest.


    Obama is going to Georgia (3.00 / 1) (#120)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Nov 11, 2020 at 06:47:53 PM EST
    I hope he gets a nice condo in ATL and lives in GA for the next 10 weeks.  There is simply no other person better suited to both rally the troops and to explain to them what's at stake.

    He should mention in every speech Mitch pledged to make him a one term president.

    Actually (none / 0) (#122)
    by Ga6thDem on Wed Nov 11, 2020 at 06:49:11 PM EST
    Obama hasn't helped here. He tends to make Republicans win when he comes. I really wish he would sit this one out.

    Parent
    People off color won your state (none / 0) (#124)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Nov 11, 2020 at 06:54:46 PM EST
    If we win those races it will be people of color who do it.

    Parent
    Um (5.00 / 1) (#125)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Nov 11, 2020 at 06:55:18 PM EST
    OF color.  Possibly a few off color in new as well.

    Parent
    Correct (none / 0) (#127)
    by Ga6thDem on Wed Nov 11, 2020 at 07:06:27 PM EST
    but it also took 30% of the white vote to get to 49%. So it's a balance. Remember Obama never did very well in the collar counties around Atlanta and that is where the win is gonna have to come from.

    Parent
    Only 30% of white people (5.00 / 3) (#131)
    by MO Blue on Wed Nov 11, 2020 at 07:14:10 PM EST
    Voted for Biden in GA. People of color did the work to register more people, energize them to vote and then make sure that they voted early or turned out on Election Day. Stacy Abrams and her colleagues worked tirelessly for the last two years and it was through their efforts that the Biden will probably win GA.

    I have read that many people suggest that Jamie Harrison should become the head of the DNC. Personally, I think Abrams would be well qualified for that position.

    Parent

    And those 30 (none / 0) (#132)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Nov 11, 2020 at 07:15:50 PM EST
    Will again I expect

    Parent
    I hope so (none / 0) (#148)
    by MO Blue on Wed Nov 11, 2020 at 08:28:55 PM EST
    Abrams and all the other activist groups need to not only get out the people who voted in Nov they need to register more new voters and increase the people voting in January. Not a small task.

    There was much talk about people splitting their votes. Personally, I would like to know how many people voted for Biden but did not vote down ticket. I am of the belief that the Dems don't always do a good job getting people to vote down ticket.

    Parent

    That's certainly what Republican strategists (none / 0) (#151)
    by Peter G on Wed Nov 11, 2020 at 09:01:32 PM EST
    believe about Democratic voters. That's why they made it a condition of the deal to get no-excuse absentee (mail-in) voting in PA last year that the bullet-vote button (one push to vote for all candidates of a certain party) be removed from PA ballots. As a result, the Rs lost the Presidential and state AG race this year but won the State Treasurer and State Auditor General races, which we had won in state-wide votes four years ago.

    Parent
    Missouri Republicans (none / 0) (#153)
    by MO Blue on Wed Nov 11, 2020 at 09:45:39 PM EST
    Eliminated straight-party voting in 2006 which helped elect a lot more Republicans.

    Parent
    Abrams (none / 0) (#135)
    by Ga6thDem on Wed Nov 11, 2020 at 07:19:52 PM EST
    would be good for DNC head probably with a couple of other names. Stacey's passion seems to be for voting rights and I'm wondering if she might end up in the Civil Rights division of the DOJ.

    Parent
    I Hope the Dems Plug the Big Issues (none / 0) (#126)
    by RickyJim on Wed Nov 11, 2020 at 07:05:58 PM EST
    Without winning both runoffs, the following probably won't happen:
    • Ending the Senate filibuster
    • Statehood for D.C. and Puerto RIco
    • Public healthcare option
    • New taxes on the ultra wealthy
    • Cutting the defense budget

    How do these issues play in Georgia?


    Parent
    Every one seems to think (5.00 / 1) (#130)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Nov 11, 2020 at 07:11:58 PM EST
    It will be both or neither.  Because it's entirely about turnout.

    My money is on both.

    And then Stacy Abrams should be given absolutely and job she wants.

    Parent

    Those things will be a lift (5.00 / 3) (#140)
    by MO Blue on Wed Nov 11, 2020 at 07:56:37 PM EST
    even if both GA candidates win. Manchin was on TV clearly stating that he was a definite NO vote on ending the filibuster, and against statehood for D.C. and Puerto Rico.

    The moderate Dems in the House and the Senate have voted at least twice in 2020 against cutting the Defense Budget.

    Raising taxes...maybe.

    Republicans in the Senate are against providing adequate funds to help people and small businesses survive during this pandemic. Senate Republicans are against providing the states help to compensate for the budget shortfalls caused by reduced revenue and additional pandemic expenditures. The candidates need to list all the state services (police, firemen, schools, road repair, aid to new mothers, food and housing) that will have to be reduced or eliminated without help to balance their budget.

    I think I read that 2 of Georgia's rural hospitals have closed. Fixing healthcare so that rural hospitals won't be closed, provide the ability to establish community health centers in underserved areas, lower costs and negotiate drug prices are good selling points. Empathize that while Democrats have proposals to increase SS benefits, Trump and  the Republicans have proposed legislation that drains the SS Trust Fund so that benefits would be reduced in the next couple of years.

    Parent

    Don't forget (5.00 / 3) (#141)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Nov 11, 2020 at 08:01:07 PM EST
    We are blessed to have two of the scummiest republicans around.  And two pretty good democrats.

    Both republicans got popped for insider trading while trying to profit off the pandemic.  That's a good place to start.

    Parent

    Truly (none / 0) (#144)
    by Ga6thDem on Wed Nov 11, 2020 at 08:06:06 PM EST
    and one thing the D candidates are missing out on is David Perdue sends the same form letter answer to you no matter the question. He won't meet with constituents unless they come to Washington DC. I have no idea about Loeffler on this. I never bothered to ever write her

    Parent
    You would (none / 0) (#142)
    by Ga6thDem on Wed Nov 11, 2020 at 08:01:45 PM EST
    think the rural hospital situation would be an issue. The rural hospitals closed years ago. Putnam in Albany was so stretched during the pandemic that they had to use a nearby hotel. However we have had this issue come up and really either nobody cares about the hospitals closing or they are okay with it. Whether a pandemic is going to make a difference I have no idea.

    Parent
    Maybe they need to give (5.00 / 2) (#147)
    by MO Blue on Wed Nov 11, 2020 at 08:18:09 PM EST
    the hospital closing a more personal face. Dems don't always do a good job telling personal stories and emphasizing this could be you.

    Reduction of needed services without federal budget help should be of interest. The Republicans will be the ones to "defund the police," fire departments, teachers and schools and make millions more people in GA become food and housing insecure since they would rather fill the coffers of billionaires than help ordinary people.

    Parent

    Being a rural voter (5.00 / 1) (#149)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Nov 11, 2020 at 08:35:07 PM EST
    I think the reason rural hospitals are not the issue we would expect is because their failure effects rural voters.  Voters who are Trumpers by huge margins.

    Republicans most impressive trick for decades, at least to me, is getting people to enthusiastically vote against their own interest.

    Parent

    I'm sure your right (none / 0) (#152)
    by MO Blue on Wed Nov 11, 2020 at 09:39:46 PM EST
    I just don't understand it. We have a similar problem here in Missouri. Having access to a hospital seems like something that would be important to everyone. In an emergency, not having a hospital close by could be the different between life and death to you or someone you love.

    Seems like you could peel off a couple of rural votes, here and there, from people who have been adversely affected by this. But I guess not.

    My daughter just sent me new information about our hospital systems here in St. Louis and St. Louis County. All of our major hospital systems have just now been placed on red alert crisis mode. Too many staff members are sick and too many patients are coming in needing help. Our hospitals are filling up from rural Missouri where they don't have any beds and most follow Trump's mandate not to wear a mask. (Steam is coming out of my ears, I'm so angry) Republicans refused to expand Medicaid and our rural hospitals could not survive financially. Missouri is now a bright red state because our rural voters just love Trump and all Republicans.

    While still electing Republicans, voters did vote to expand Medicaid this year. I guess that is something.


    Parent

    Here (5.00 / 1) (#160)
    by Ga6thDem on Thu Nov 12, 2020 at 05:56:03 AM EST
    at least they don't have healthcare at all. There are no doctors in a lot of GA counties. Personally I think this could be alleviated with allowing nurse practitioners more freedom.

    For a while back in the 90's I worked in the office of rural health at a medical school. What is going on is doctors do not want to go to these rural areas because there is not enough money to be made but they don't want to free up the laws so that nurse practitioners can service these areas. So the AMA has a stranglehold on the legislature and here we are with 1/3 to 1/2 of the state with no medical care. So no access to healthcare is the norm for these people. They use old practices of herbal medicine to try to take care of their families.

    Parent

    Evidently laws on NPs vary by state (5.00 / 1) (#162)
    by MO Blue on Thu Nov 12, 2020 at 08:18:55 AM EST
    Looks like Georgia's are pretty restrictive but could be changed by state government.

    Nurse practitioners practicing in Georgia must work under physician supervision. NPs and their physician supervisors must work together under a "nurse protocol". ... In Georgia, the delegating physician is held legally responsible for all medical acts performed by the NP.

    In April 2018, Governor Ralph Northam signed House Bill 793, which will allow Virginia Nurse Practitioners (NPs) with the equivalent of five years of full-time practice with a collaborating physician to be certified to practice independently.Jun 18, 2018

    Missouri laws tend to be somewhere in between.

    Nurse practitioners practicing in Missouri must work under a collaborative practice agreement with a physician. ... The collaborating physician must be available to the nurse practitioner at all times. If the collaborating physician is unavailable, a designated substitute must be named and available for consultation.Sep 16, 2013

    NPs here can write prescriptions. As a long time cancer survivor, my annual cancer checkup has been done by a NP. My first time visit with an ENT was handled by an ENT.

    With televisits with doctors becoming more acceptable during the pandemic, a window of opportunity exists to tie a NP with an online collaborating physician to expand the NPs ability to provide healthcare. Something that could be proposed to lawmakers.

    Parent

    Nurse practitioners, (5.00 / 1) (#182)
    by Zorba on Thu Nov 12, 2020 at 02:08:02 PM EST
    And physicians assistants,  would certainly help a lot if they were allowed more leeway to practice independently.  

    Parent
    While much of rural America is white (none / 0) (#154)
    by MO Blue on Wed Nov 11, 2020 at 10:16:03 PM EST
    research shows that a percentage are people of color.

    Too many people often equate the identity of rural America as white America. This is simply not an accurate depiction: 15 percent of rural Americans are people of color.

    I'm not sure how good Dems are in engaging this population (probably not great) but I would think that access to decent healthcare would be important to them.

    Parent

    Warnock (none / 0) (#159)
    by Ga6thDem on Thu Nov 12, 2020 at 05:51:31 AM EST
    ran ads with a doctor talking about how hospital closings had affected N. GA. I guess we shall see if that turns out any votes in January.

    Parent
    There is Always the Chance (none / 0) (#143)
    by RickyJim on Wed Nov 11, 2020 at 08:05:29 PM EST
    that Collins, Murkowski and Romney could bolt to the side of the Democrats for some of those items, especially if Trump is not around to attack them.

    Parent
    Yes (5.00 / 1) (#146)
    by Ga6thDem on Wed Nov 11, 2020 at 08:06:48 PM EST
    but depending on Susan Collins has proven to be a fool's errand.

    Parent
    Ain't that (none / 0) (#183)
    by Zorba on Thu Nov 12, 2020 at 02:09:56 PM EST
    The truth.  She's very good at furrowing her brow and expressing concern, though.  I'll give her that.  

    Parent
    Manchin (none / 0) (#181)
    by Zorba on Thu Nov 12, 2020 at 02:04:15 PM EST
    Is a DINO. I don't know why he doesn't switch parties.

    Parent
    Maybe he gets more joy (5.00 / 1) (#185)
    by MO Blue on Thu Nov 12, 2020 at 02:34:56 PM EST
    out of "fcking" up every decent Democratic proposal and owning the libs with his sanctimonious pronouncements.

    His only contribution to the party is that he could determine who is the majority leader of the Senate. Although at times, I wonder if the harm he does is worth it.

    Parent

    Lets be grateful he doesn't (5.00 / 1) (#186)
    by CST on Thu Nov 12, 2020 at 03:14:55 PM EST
    As far as I see it he is one less vote for Mitch McConnell as majority leader and if that's his only use to Dems it is better than nothing, which is the alternative from W.V. right now.

    Parent
    Well, I saw (none / 0) (#129)
    by Ga6thDem on Wed Nov 11, 2020 at 07:10:33 PM EST
    a short interview of Ossoff and the filibuster is up in the air. I think that depends on how McConnell acts if we take the senate. Yes, for both statehood for DC and Puerto Rico if that is what they want. He just said he did not support MFA nothing further was asked regarding healthcare. Taxes did not come up and cutting the military budget is not popular here because we have a couple of large army bases and a large air force base.

    Parent
    yes. (none / 0) (#1)
    by leap on Mon Nov 09, 2020 at 12:15:26 AM EST
    Thank you, Jeralyn. You wrote most everything I feel.

    Glad I'm not Joe (none / 0) (#2)
    by SomewhatChunky on Mon Nov 09, 2020 at 12:36:28 AM EST
    Spent 90 minutes reading some of the thousands of comments in the NY Times on the various articles centered around what the new Biden administration should do.

    Suffice it to say there is a wide range of opinions between the moderate and progressive wings of the party about what Biden "should do."  The different opinions don't seem easy to resolve.    The Georgia Senate runoffs may well determine what he "can do."

    Plus he has to deal with the virus - that's the one thing that's affecting my life the most right now.  Far more than any policy ever has in my adult life.  I've been a good boy, but the thought of perhaps another year hanging out mostly at home alone is ... bleak.   Given what's happening around the world, I'm not sure policy alone solves that one.

    Don't see much of a honeymoon for the new administration.   Good luck!

    Perhaps if Republicans (none / 0) (#3)
    by jmacWA on Mon Nov 09, 2020 at 05:01:20 AM EST
    had not spent the last 40+ years demonizing Democrats and succeeding in poisoning our educational system,  people, even 'smart Democrats' would not be afraid of the term socialist.  

    I get that a certain portion of Democrats (primarily Hispanics from Cuba, and Latin America) are very anti Communist.  But Socialism is not Communism, Communism is one form of Socialism.  As Jerayln points out, there are other Socialist countries 'Denmark, Norway and Sweden' in this category, and you don't find too many of their people jumping up and down complaining about use of the therm Socialist.  Communism was simply a form of Socialism that was/is tried, and was proven to be untenable.

    The reality is we live in a two party nation and there are principled reasons to judge Republicans harshly.

    Exactly, and all one needs to do to understand why NOW is the time to judge Republicans harshly is to study how congress acted, before Newt, and after Newt.  Regan started it all with his 11th Commandment, but Newt made it concrete.  Today, there are NO honorable Elected/Selected Republicans, if their were they would not vote as a monolith (with a few fig leaves allowed) against every Democratic initiative.  If you are a currently Elected/Selected Republican you have to go... you had your chances to repudiate this, and, sadly, decided to let it slide.

    How to fund it all?

    IMO Increased taxation of the rich?  From today's levels is fine, I would have NO issue reverting the Tax rates to where they were with the only tenable president during my lifetime: Eisenhower.  I was WAY too young to care about any of this, so I am sure Ike had his faults too, but the progressive income tax is an item that needs to come back, maybe not to Ike levels, but certainly to where it was Pre-Regan.  There is a significant portion of our society (both Democrat and Republican) who have this notion that paying any taxes is evil.  Sadly, this has been going on for so long, I am not sure there is a way to do this without hearing all kinds of screaming, and this screaming will mostly come from the people who would benefit the most from this a better progressive income tax system.  

    I am sure there are other mechanisms that could be used to fund this all, but until we have a system where people pay their 'fair share' we won't know if more funding is necessary. BTW my definition of 'fair share' is calculated by percentage, not dollar amount.

    Stopping here because this is likely more words than I have posted in 20+ years of reading this blog.


    The thing (none / 0) (#6)
    by Ga6thDem on Mon Nov 09, 2020 at 09:26:49 AM EST
    is Sweden isn't a socialist country. What it is is a capitalist country with a social safety net. These politicians in Europe don't even call themselves socialists. Bernie called Denmark a socialist country and the PM there told him to shut up that they are a capitalist country.

    Yes, people don't even know the meaning of socialism and that goes for both young and old. Elderly people think it means the old Soviet Union and young people think it means Europe. Overall the term has a negative connotation for different reasons to different people.

    Parent

    You are doing a great job (none / 0) (#7)
    by MO Blue on Mon Nov 09, 2020 at 09:44:04 AM EST
    of promoting Republican attacks against Democrats. You know full well that none of the politicians who vote with the Democratic Party and self identify as Democratic Socialist are socialist. Your complete devotion to using a false descriptor is harmful to your argument as well as completely harmful to electing Democratic Senators in GA and meeting the objectives of the Democratic Party.

    Parent
    Speaking for myself, at least (5.00 / 2) (#9)
    by Peter G on Mon Nov 09, 2020 at 10:28:31 AM EST
    I wish MO Blue and GA6Dem would just stop this endless and repetitive (blog-clogging) back and forth. Not that it's up to me, but it seems like each of you has expressed yourself quite clearly and made your points. Enough for now, ok?

    Parent
    What (none / 0) (#11)
    by Ga6thDem on Mon Nov 09, 2020 at 10:36:31 AM EST
    I am doing is trying to make people realize that talking about socialism is doing nothing but helping the GOP. Like Howdy explains above facts are not gonna penetrate. The people who know how to win are saying it is a problem and they would appear to have the data to back it up.

    I'm talking about how voters do not know the difference and if you're explaining you're losing.

    Parent

    Ok, then. I give up. (none / 0) (#24)
    by Peter G on Mon Nov 09, 2020 at 12:23:03 PM EST
    You just did it again. Why do you think those of us who read these comments do not understand them the first (or fourth) time you say something, and need them to be repeated and "explained" over and over? Please do not answer that last question; it was purely rhetorical.

    Parent
    If we're delicately circumspect (none / 0) (#35)
    by jondee on Mon Nov 09, 2020 at 02:28:38 PM EST
    and bipartisan enough with our messaging, can we still talk about the industrial proletariat seizing control of the means of production, surgically excising every treacherous bourgeois counter-revolutionary, and with alacrity dispatching every banker with the entrails of every priest?

    Or would right now be a bad time?

    Parent

    To borrow a phrase from President-elect Biden, (none / 0) (#38)
    by vml68 on Mon Nov 09, 2020 at 02:46:33 PM EST
    "Come on, man!".
    Don't throw fuel on the fire.
    PeterG has a point. There is a point where we go from discussing different viewpoints to just talking past each other. We just end up repeating ourselves. Nothing productive comes from that.

    Parent
    Sorry (5.00 / 2) (#39)
    by jondee on Mon Nov 09, 2020 at 02:50:43 PM EST
    a feeble attempt at humor.

    It doesn't always translate well into print.

    Parent

    I have off-the-rails (none / 0) (#42)
    by jondee on Mon Nov 09, 2020 at 03:03:44 PM EST
    conspiracy goofs in my family that I have to deal with on a regular basis and it's starting to wear on me somewhat. My only surefire outlet lately is the ridiculous and the surreal.

    Parent
    Fortunately, the only Tr*mpers I deal with on (none / 0) (#48)
    by vml68 on Mon Nov 09, 2020 at 03:21:06 PM EST
    a regular basis are my next door neighbors. They really are a wonderful old couple.

    Just yesterday, she gave me two beautiful face masks that she had sewn for me. We always end up chatting for a long time and eventually the conversation always ends up with some crackpot thing she has heard on Faux news. While I used to gently correct her, I have given up and now just change the subject asap. Yesterday, for some reason the subject of the forest fires in CA came up and she started on "forest management and cleaning", it took every ounce of my will power to let that one go.

    I am convinced that without Faux News, we could win them over to our side.

    Parent

    I (none / 0) (#43)
    by FlJoe on Mon Nov 09, 2020 at 03:03:55 PM EST
    think we can all agree that "viva la revolution" would be a bad campaign slogan.

    Parent
    I'm still think a country (none / 0) (#45)
    by jondee on Mon Nov 09, 2020 at 03:14:22 PM EST
    version of Arise Ye Workers From Your Slumbers might go over..

    Say, by Dolly Parton or Reba..

    With fiddles and weepy steel guitars. No?

    Parent

    Btw, I owe you an apology from a long ago (none / 0) (#44)
    by vml68 on Mon Nov 09, 2020 at 03:05:06 PM EST
    discussion about how "great" America is.
    More than 70 million people came out to vote for the Rusty faced evil clown even though he showed us exactly who he is.
    You were right, I was wrong. America (Americans) not so great, afterall.

    Parent
    Some are 'n some ain't (none / 0) (#46)
    by jondee on Mon Nov 09, 2020 at 03:16:02 PM EST
    same as it ever was..same as it ever was..

    Parent
    Is this a open thread? (none / 0) (#12)
    by CaptHowdy on Mon Nov 09, 2020 at 10:36:40 AM EST
    Delete me if not.

    Stop the presses, there is a regional Covid related septic tank shortage.  I kid you not.  The guy said he couldn't find one so I started calling around.  Apparently every septic guy for miles is waiting on "the shipment".  ETA unknown.

    I'm imagining some pud with a cart full of septic tanks like we saw toilet paper.  Didn't understand that either but they seem related to me.

    Fortunately mine seems to be working.  At least for now


    I haven't heard the word "pud" (5.00 / 1) (#21)
    by sarcastic unnamed one on Mon Nov 09, 2020 at 11:28:55 AM EST
    since HS. Made me lol.

    Parent
    I had the same problem (none / 0) (#25)
    by Chuck0 on Mon Nov 09, 2020 at 12:59:30 PM EST
    trying to buy a refrigerator earlier this year. No one could deliver anything I ordered in a timely manner. They would schedule a delivery, then call and re-schedule. Then cancel that one and reschedule. After two months of being jerked around, we rented from from Rent-a-Center. After Home Depot rescheduling again, I said to hell with with it and cancelled the order. I went down to Rent-A-Center, struck a deal and just bought that one. It wasn't exactly what we wanted, but it WAS the right color. Actually got a pretty good deal.

    Parent
    Took me forever to get a refrigerator too (none / 0) (#33)
    by CST on Mon Nov 09, 2020 at 01:36:31 PM EST
    Also our plumber said he was slammed.

    I think a lot of people are at home more and putting more wear and tear on their homes, plus noticing all the little things that may have been brushed off previously but are really annoying to spend all day with.

    Parent

    Must be a NE thing because (none / 0) (#36)
    by vml68 on Mon Nov 09, 2020 at 02:33:45 PM EST
    I had quite the opposite experience.
    Ordered a refrigerator and a TV while we were in lockdown. Both stores were available to deliver pretty much any day and time of my choosing. Everytime they called to confirm the day before delivery, I would change the date because I really did not want strangers in my house. This went on for a few months. I finally had them deliver the items in August.
    My Tr*mper neighbors (whom I really like!) also ordered a TV and had no issues with delivery.
    Neighbors on the other side had a new septic system installed.

    Parent
    Our washing machine died two months ago. (none / 0) (#88)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Wed Nov 11, 2020 at 01:18:02 AM EST
    We went to Sears to buy a new one, and the wait time was - get this - a minimum of ten weeks for delivery. So we went to a local place called Ross's Appliances, which sells totally refurbished appliances with a two-year warranty. It was delivered and installed the next afternoon, at less than half the price of a new one. It's a Kenmore, and it runs like a champ.

    I'll be damned if we're going to the laundromat for ten weeks.

    Parent

    You still have a Sears? (none / 0) (#103)
    by desertswine on Wed Nov 11, 2020 at 10:54:28 AM EST
    They have their own store in the Prince Kuhio Plaza. But they won't for very long if the best they can promise is 10 weeks for delivery. The few times I've bought major appliances, I've waited a day or two at most for delivery and hookup.

    I suppose it's all COVID-related. That damned virus has affected far more than our physical health. And for a place as dependent upon trans-ocean and inter-island shipping as we are, it's posed a real challenge and has resulted in no small measure of inconvenience and frustration. I still can't find a bottle of isopropyl rubbing alcohol anywhere.

    Aloha.

    Parent

    I had to wait 5 weeks.. (none / 0) (#52)
    by desertswine on Mon Nov 09, 2020 at 06:11:00 PM EST
    for window blinds.  They blamed it on the covid.

    Parent
    Occam's razor suggests (none / 0) (#47)
    by Peter G on Mon Nov 09, 2020 at 03:18:36 PM EST
    that when searching for an explanation of Tr*mpish behavior, hypothesizing the grift is a pretty good place to start, especially if it coincides with self-delusion and self-importance. As in this case: raising "tens of millions" for bogus challenges.

    Yes, it is the grift. (none / 0) (#50)
    by Ga6thDem on Mon Nov 09, 2020 at 04:05:39 PM EST
    It is always the grift. It's the only thing that Trump excels at.

    Parent
    Trump skrewed himself (none / 0) (#56)
    by CaptHowdy on Tue Nov 10, 2020 at 07:27:02 AM EST
    by attacking the use of mail ballots.  He thought he was being clever and he shot himself in both feet.

    This stuff about a stolen election strikes me as another chance for Trump to shoot off whatever's left of his feet.

    It might make sense if there was even the smallest chance of reversing the outcome.  There is not.  There is no disagreement on this point.  He lost.

    By going all out to discredit the election process I don't see how this encourages or persuades Trump supporters to continue participating in them.

    If they are convinced they won the election, many are convinced, and we the deep state are allowed to steal it, we absolutely are going to "steal" it, what about that makes them want to vote again?

    Granted there are many dangers of doing this.  In making half the country believe the election was stolen.  But the fact is Biden is president elect.  There will be more elections starting in a few weeks in GA.

    Making half the country believe voting doesn't matter seems like a bad idea.

    We all expected Tr*mp to behave this way. (5.00 / 2) (#57)
    by vml68 on Tue Nov 10, 2020 at 08:05:15 AM EST
    But, the fact that most of the GOP are going along with his delusions is what I find frightening.

    On a lighthearted note...My new favorite song
    Bye Bye Donny

    Parent

    Make (5.00 / 1) (#58)
    by FlJoe on Tue Nov 10, 2020 at 08:05:55 AM EST
    no mistake, this is a naked power grab. They couldn't legitimately win nor steal it, so now they will disregard it.

    tRump and his enablers have been crafting the fable of an illegitimate election for months and they are not backing down now.

    The prospects of a peaceful transfer are in serious doubt, even if the top Repugs eventually fold there will be tens of millions of Americans who will never accept the result.

    Parent

    Years (none / 0) (#59)
    by CaptHowdy on Tue Nov 10, 2020 at 09:56:15 AM EST
    I think they have been planning it for years.

    And it is a power grab.  But it's like a Homer Simpson power grab.  It's laughable.  It's not going to work.  They say the idea is to humor Trump long enough that he doesn't completely blow any chance of winning those 2 senate seats and then they will cut him lose.

    They all know, even Ted and Lindsey, this is pointless.

    It's is horrific they seem to be thinking in terms of continuing Trumpism by making them believe the election was stolen.   And that has all kind of bad possible outcomes.  

    But in the end Biden will be president.  And there really is not a lot they can do about it.

    And I agree with the growing consensus which is f'ck meeting a racist fascist idiot Trump supporter half way.

    They lost.  They will get over it.  We did..

    Parent

    Humoring (none / 0) (#60)
    by CaptHowdy on Tue Nov 10, 2020 at 10:10:52 AM EST
    "Only a smattering of Republican senators have acknowledged Biden's victory, and there has been little coaxing on the part of senior GOP lawmakers to help Trump come to terms with his loss. Some said there is value in ensuring the integrity of this year's results, while others described a chaotic and scattershot operation that they hoped would eventually push Trump to cooperate in a peaceful transfer of power."

    Said one senior Republican official: "What is the downside for humoring him for this little bit of time? No one seriously thinks the results will change. He went golfing this weekend. It's not like he's plotting how to prevent Joe Biden from taking power on 20 January. He's tweeting about filing some lawsuits, those lawsuits will fail, then he'll tweet some more about how the election was stolen, and then he'll leave."

    link

    They don't mention GA.  But EVERYTHING is now about GA.

    Parent

    Covert Congratulations (none / 0) (#66)
    by jmacWA on Tue Nov 10, 2020 at 11:20:18 AM EST
    According to TPM they are doing so covertly through Coons.  Every single congrat should be publicized to piss off Trump.

    Parent
    Republicans just humoring (none / 0) (#68)
    by CST on Tue Nov 10, 2020 at 11:40:44 AM EST
    An attempted coup.

    Such interesting times we live in.

    Parent

    I (none / 0) (#69)
    by FlJoe on Tue Nov 10, 2020 at 12:48:53 PM EST
    don't know about you but this scares the hell out of me
    During a press conference at the State Department, Pompeo was asked whether any efforts are underway to engage with President-elect Joe Biden's transition team.

    "There will be a smooth transition to a second Trump administration," Pompeo said with a smile.



    Parent
    I think that just what it was intended to do (5.00 / 1) (#70)
    by CaptHowdy on Tue Nov 10, 2020 at 12:55:47 PM EST
    It was horrible but add it to the list.

    It scares me but not really about events right now.

    He's a toady.  I think we need to stop talking about it.  That should be his last televised presser except on FOX.

    We are participants in a stupid reality show.   This is the finale

    We don't have to watch any more.

    Parent

    Pompeo (none / 0) (#71)
    by FlJoe on Tue Nov 10, 2020 at 01:31:29 PM EST
    is probably the of the bunch and he knows it, if I had to choose one of them as leader of an authoritarian coup, it would be him

    He is a toady only as far as it keeps him in tRump's good graces but I would wager he privately despises the fool.

    They keep signaling us that they will not willingly give up power, I expect that from the true toadies such as Barr, but when it comes from a powerfully ambitious, intelligent and powerful man  it goes way beyond "humoring the toddler".

    *

    *

    e--

    Parent

    Yes, it is (none / 0) (#75)
    by KeysDan on Tue Nov 10, 2020 at 03:03:44 PM EST
    scary.  It may just be a game such as mollifying Trump, a fund-raising scam, or firing up the GA base for the senate run-off.  Or, all the above.  The Georgia senate run-off is certainly at the top, even the Supreme Court reactionaries seem to have signaled  that they are doing their part on the hot- button Ossoff/Warnock Obamacare campaign issue,  

    However, the real danger is that so many Trump voters are not in on the game.  They believe what is being said about dead people voting and it being unlawful to count mail-in ballots.  For them, the election was stolen from God's chosen one.  

    Not unlike the guy who got in his truck, drove 300 miles to save the children  by shooting up the DC pizza parlor, there are many more out there eager to defend the President-reject.  And, for the Evangelicals, such as Pompeo, they may see this as the End Times.

    Parent

    Trump is demanding (none / 0) (#78)
    by MO Blue on Tue Nov 10, 2020 at 03:35:00 PM EST
    A recount by hand, not machine, of every ballot in Georgia. Do you know if Georgia has to comply with that demand.

    Seems kind of extreme to be an actual requirement.

    Parent

    Do not know. (none / 0) (#79)
    by KeysDan on Tue Nov 10, 2020 at 04:13:42 PM EST
    but it seems like a variance to hand-count from machine-count  would be extreme and costly.  Trump is threatening a lawsuit if the Secretary of State does not comply.  Sounds like a ploy to delay.

    Parent
    The only thing that anyone can "demand" (none / 0) (#80)
    by Peter G on Tue Nov 10, 2020 at 04:45:12 PM EST
    in any of these lawsuits is strict compliance with whatever the statutes of that state say is required. The judges do not have discretion to design anything else that they might think would be more fair or suitable under the circumstances. In fact, that is the heart of the Republicans' position in their Supreme Court appeal from the decision of the PA Supreme Court that allowed mail-in votes to be counted if received by Friday 11/6 as long as they were not postmarked after Tuesday.

    Parent
    Georgia will hand count (5.00 / 1) (#96)
    by MO Blue on Wed Nov 11, 2020 at 09:32:15 AM EST
    over 5 million ballots prior to certification.

    This was just announced on TV.

    Parent

    I do not understand how a recount (none / 0) (#107)
    by Peter G on Wed Nov 11, 2020 at 02:45:50 PM EST
    of 2 million ballots by hand would be more likely to be accurate than the initial count by scanner and computer tabulation. If I understand correctly how Georgia is proceeding.

    Parent
    I doubt that Trump and (5.00 / 1) (#108)
    by MO Blue on Wed Nov 11, 2020 at 02:57:55 PM EST
    his sycophants are really concerned with accuracy. IMO they are making things as difficult as they can in order delay certification as long as possible and to promote the idea that the fraudulent activity is so severe that these extreme processes are needed.

    Parent
    That or (none / 0) (#115)
    by Ga6thDem on Wed Nov 11, 2020 at 04:52:02 PM EST
    they are such chickens that the terroristic threats from the Magats are working.

    Parent
    and computers sometimes glitch.

    I would not be surprised if there was a difference between the human-count and the computer-count.

    However, it won't be at all significant and the human-count will likely either be wrong or more wrong that the computer-count...

    Parent

    EXACTLY (5.00 / 1) (#112)
    by jmacWA on Wed Nov 11, 2020 at 03:27:17 PM EST
    However, it won't be at all significant and the human-count will likely either be wrong or more wrong that the computer-count

    And I certainly hope there are going to be some parameters in place to look for drastic differences in not just counts per Nominee, but also total ballots.  This entire process is just too open to the kind of ratfcukery the GOP is famous for.

    Parent

    I don't think (none / 0) (#82)
    by Ga6thDem on Tue Nov 10, 2020 at 05:16:18 PM EST
    GA has to comply and frankly all the mail in ballots have to be counted by hand anyway I think. We do have verified voting so there are paper records of computer tallies. I would think the counties double checked the numbers before sending them to the SOS but I could be mistaken on that.

    Parent
    Do you know who makes the decision? (none / 0) (#83)
    by CST on Tue Nov 10, 2020 at 05:31:09 PM EST
    If it's the governor or the SOS?

    Kemp might just agree to it anyway.

    Parent

    I believe it (none / 0) (#84)
    by Ga6thDem on Tue Nov 10, 2020 at 05:50:48 PM EST
    is the SOS. Kemp I'm not sure can do anything about all this. With the whole world looking at GA these days and they KNOW Biden is going to be taking office I honestly don't think they are going to pull anything unless they want to spend time in prison with Trump. They are reasonably certain that Biden would send investigators.

    Parent
    Typical scenario in these cases, in the last week (none / 0) (#85)
    by Peter G on Tue Nov 10, 2020 at 06:37:40 PM EST
    is for them to make an unreasonable demand to the state's Secretary of State, and then sue him/her in both state and federal court when s/he doesn't comply. No part of which is appropriate or sincere.

    Parent
    More (none / 0) (#113)
    by FlJoe on Wed Nov 11, 2020 at 03:45:30 PM EST
    scary stuff
    Fox News senior White House correspondent John Roberts now says he's "not sure" who will be the next president even though his network has called the race for President-elect Joe Biden.

    Roberts told Fox News host Bill Hemmer that he expects Republican legislators to have a "hard time" allowing electors to cast their votes for Biden when the Electoral College officially chooses the next president on December 14.

    The lawsuits and "investigations" are meant to go nowhere and do nothing but set up the kill shot
    "One thing is that if they do manage to prolong this process, we start to get into December," Roberts asserted. "There comes a time when these electors have to be seated to vote on who will become president of the United States. And I'm told that the anger out there in these red states is so deep and so palpable, the GOP legislators may have a difficult time seating Biden electors when it comes down to putting in place that process for the vote on December 14th."
    I'm terrified that it may work.

    Parent
    There is a 2020 Supreme Court ruling, (5.00 / 1) (#117)
    by MO Blue on Wed Nov 11, 2020 at 05:24:53 PM EST
    Chiafalo v. Washington, which might apply.

    States can require Electoral College voters to back the victor of their state's popular vote, the Supreme Court ruled unanimously

    Virtually every state -- besides Maine and Nebraska -- allocates all of its Electoral College representation to electors who have committed to vote for the winner of the state popular vote. And most states, including Washington and Colorado, have laws that require electors to vote for their pledged candidate.

    source

    Since I'm not a lawyer, I'm not sure exactly how this applies to the current situation. If this goes through the legal process, will this throw the election to the House which could give Trump the presidency. Too many things to worry about and I put nothing pass Trump and the Republicans.

    Parent

    Neal Katyal Instagram on the issue (5.00 / 1) (#172)
    by MO Blue on Thu Nov 12, 2020 at 12:16:17 PM EST
    A deep dive into the Trumpist theory that state legislatures like Pennsylvania's can just throw out last week's election and appoint electors themselves. It's baloney, to use the technical legal term.

    I like Neal's opinion better and hope it holds up.

     The possible catch...if previous SCOTUS rulings were overturned.

    Supreme Court Justices Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh recently embraced a legal theory that, in Gorsuch's words, "state legislatures -- not federal judges, not state judges, not state governors, not other state officials -- bear primary responsibility for setting election rules."


    Parent
    It may be (none / 0) (#176)
    by KeysDan on Thu Nov 12, 2020 at 01:01:20 PM EST
    cracking.   Several Republican leaders are calling for Trump to allow  Biden to have intelligence briefings (e,g,. Grassley, Lindseybelle, Langford, DeWine).  A small nod toward transition for these toadies,

    Parent
    I just hope that they stop (5.00 / 4) (#177)
    by MO Blue on Thu Nov 12, 2020 at 01:27:15 PM EST
    this insanity soon. It is dangerous. There are too many Trump fanatics out there more than willing to perpetrate violence on their fellow citizens.

    Parent
    Vox article in-depth look at (none / 0) (#171)
    by MO Blue on Thu Nov 12, 2020 at 11:59:05 AM EST
    Trump's attempt to overturn the election result is ramping up. Here's what comes next.

    Watch the state certifications, the state legislatures, and the courts.

    It's scary how fragile our hold on democracy really is.

    Parent

    And the people bowed and prayed (5.00 / 1) (#156)
    by jondee on Thu Nov 12, 2020 at 12:27:00 AM EST
    to the orange God they'd made..

    The narrative is already making the rounds and picking up steam in the usual quarters that whatever the un-hinged right does can't be a coup, because the Democrats have already launched a dastardly un-American coup,through a fiendishly ingenious program of voter fraud..

    In other words, according to the topsy-turvy, cuckoo clock unreason of these people, preventing Biden from being seated would be nothing but a noble act of patriotism in defense of this country's time-honored traditions and values..

    Parent

    From what (none / 0) (#116)
    by Ga6thDem on Wed Nov 11, 2020 at 04:59:46 PM EST
    I'm reading and one of our legal experts can tell me if I'm wrong but as I understand it if a legislature overturns the will of the people then they are in violation of the law. Now we know law breaking doesn't stop the GOP but Nancy Pelosi is the one that would be meeting out the punishment to them.

    Parent
    Down here (none / 0) (#73)
    by Ga6thDem on Tue Nov 10, 2020 at 02:05:21 PM EST
    in GA it is believed by political observers that the whole fraud thing is about keeping Trumpers motivated to show up in January for the election.

    Parent
    Because humoring a toddler everytime they (none / 0) (#61)
    by vml68 on Tue Nov 10, 2020 at 10:24:46 AM EST
    throw a tantrum always works out so well :-/

    Supreme Court (none / 0) (#62)
    by MO Blue on Tue Nov 10, 2020 at 10:56:55 AM EST
    Reporter on MSNBC who was observing the Supreme Court oral arguments on eliminating ACA is of the opinion that there will not be 5 votes to strike it down.

    Sorry, I can't remember his name.

    Pete Williams (none / 0) (#63)
    by CaptHowdy on Tue Nov 10, 2020 at 11:02:31 AM EST
    Thanks (none / 0) (#65)
    by MO Blue on Tue Nov 10, 2020 at 11:06:31 AM EST
    Drew a complete blank even though I've seen him numerous times on MSNBC

    Parent
    Here is a link (none / 0) (#64)
    by MO Blue on Tue Nov 10, 2020 at 11:04:58 AM EST
    `The ACA is safe': Justice Kavanaugh stuns legal experts by suggesting he will save Obamacare

    Hopefully, this stands with Roberts and Kavanaugh voting with the liberal justices. Will be interesting to see how Barrett comes down on this.

    Parent

    Wow (none / 0) (#72)
    by Ga6thDem on Tue Nov 10, 2020 at 01:59:00 PM EST
    that certainly is surprising. I wonder if they are having second thoughts about what they have wrought on this country.

    Parent
    Or, (none / 0) (#74)
    by KeysDan on Tue Nov 10, 2020 at 02:26:27 PM EST
    what might be wrought on the Court.   Texas is an easy one; keep the reactionary powder dry for the more critical, lower profile cases--voting rights, corporate/social,and religious liberty.  

    Parent
    I for one (5.00 / 1) (#76)
    by MO Blue on Tue Nov 10, 2020 at 03:31:13 PM EST
    Vote for window #2.

    keep the reactionary powder dry for the more critical, lower profile cases--voting rights, corporate/social,and religious liberty.  

    Still this is better than the alternative.

    Parent

    Maybe the idea of ... (none / 0) (#89)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Wed Nov 11, 2020 at 01:28:26 AM EST
    ... stripping millions of people of their health care coverage in the middle of an escalating mass-casualty pandemic was simply a bridge too far for them.

    Parent
    I listened in (while multitasking, admittedly) (none / 0) (#67)
    by Peter G on Tue Nov 10, 2020 at 11:21:27 AM EST
    and I totally agree. Texas may not get more than three votes, if that. It could even be unanimous to uphold the ACA, even with the zero-tax "mandate." Even Barrett and Alito had tough questions for the challengers.

    Parent
    A little perspective from a Republican (none / 0) (#77)
    by coast on Tue Nov 10, 2020 at 03:32:38 PM EST
    First, congratulations on the win! It was a very different election given the times, but to have a record turnout speaks volumes about the attitude that I believe is rising across the nation...my vote matters.  That is a good thing.

    Secondly, while I know that any challenge to the counts is not going to change anything, the fact that we live in a place where a challenge can be brought and processed is also a good thing.  I also think that, given the growth in the number of mail-in ballots this election, that its good that the states are being challenged on their processes for these ballots.  Main-in voting is just going to grow moving forward, and it should.  It allows more people participate which should be the goal.

    Finally, don't give credence to things like what Pompeo are saying or anything about transitioning.  Trump simply doesn't like to lose, but he will leave....he may take the silver, but he'll leave.  There is no support for any other option.

    Again, congrats on the win.  Let the hammering begin. :)

    Thanks for the "congrats", but ... (5.00 / 2) (#190)
    by Yman on Thu Nov 12, 2020 at 04:31:39 PM EST
    ... this "humoring" of Trump is not harmless.  His constant attacks on absentee ballots and his baseless claims of fraud would be harmless, but his base actually believes this garbage. They undermine the very concept of our democracy - free and fair elections.  They also feed and encourage a base that pushes conspiracy theories that are incredibly damaging and dangerous.

    Parent
    Man (none / 0) (#81)
    by Ga6thDem on Tue Nov 10, 2020 at 04:56:19 PM EST
    it is ugly here in GA. The GOP is not taking the state going blue well. The knives are out for the SOS but honestly after embarrassing the state is 2 subsequent elections I'm sure some of the CEOs of coke and Delta jerked him up by the nape of his neck and told him if he couldn't run an election that didn't look like a 3rd world country they were going to back removing him from office.

    The Trumpers are threatening to run Stacey Abrams out of Georgia on a rail and have gone full blown Neo-confederate more so believe it or not. I hope Stacey has security.

    I would guess the knives are out for Brian Kemp too since he thought Kelly Loeffler would be a good pick for a senate seat. We really lucked out that Perdue is also in the runoff since before he was flying under the radar and now he has been forced to embrace Trump or electorally die.

    What a mess. I'm not sure how Trump's so called strategy is actually going to work to keep Loeffler and Perdue in the senate. It's like the Loeffler Collins fight has now embraced the entire GA GOP.

    The gross orange one (5.00 / 3) (#86)
    by MO Blue on Tue Nov 10, 2020 at 06:40:26 PM EST
    Has put so many people at risk of serious injury or death and continues to do so daily.

    The so call "Law and Order" President is completely lawless and someone needs to stop him right now. Any deaths will be on his head and on the heads of all of his Republican enablers.

    Parent

    The GOP (5.00 / 3) (#91)
    by Ga6thDem on Wed Nov 11, 2020 at 04:33:02 AM EST
    is not going to stop him unfortunately. Our GOP reps here in GA have sent out a memo that the election was fraudulent. It has apparently not dawned on them that they are saying they are fraudulently elected.

    Parent
    Context (none / 0) (#92)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Nov 11, 2020 at 06:56:08 AM EST
    and reality check

    US election results - Donald Trump considering 2024 presidential run as 80 per cent of Americans think Joe Biden won

    The Reuters/Ipsos national opinion survey, which ran from Saturday afternoon to Tuesday, found that 79 per cent of American adults believe Mr Biden won the White House. Another 13 per cent said the election has not yet been decided, while only 3 per cent said Mr Trump won.

    I guess we know what Trumps floor is.  3%.  Or 26% if you're generous.

    AXIOS (none / 0) (#93)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Nov 11, 2020 at 07:05:08 AM EST
    The Electoral College play

    As the weaknesses of President Trump's legal cases to overturn Joe Biden's win become clearer, Republicans are talking more about the Electoral College -- hinting at an extreme last-chance way for Trump to cling to power.

    What we're watching: In this long-shot scenario, Trump and his team could try to block secretaries of state in contested states from certifying results. That could allow legislatures in those states to try to appoint new electors who favor Trump over Biden.

    But, but, but: Even if the GOP was able to get injunctions, it would be an arduous legal process before legislatures could take the matter into their own hands.

    "How many compliant judges are going to throw themselves on the ground in front of that train?" the lawyer said. "And how many legislatures are going to go along with it?" Instead, he said, Trump may try to "scare the living bejeezus out of everyone to gain leverage and then cut a deal for him and his family."

    Keep in mind this is all theater.  If they cut him loose it's easy to see him sabotaging the GA run offs just out of spite.   The republicans buttered their bread.  Now they have to lay in it.

    No argument (5.00 / 1) (#94)
    by jmacWA on Wed Nov 11, 2020 at 07:24:15 AM EST
    with what you are saying... BUT we should be all over those Elected/Selected members of the GOP who refuse to admit Biden is the duly elected President (elect).  Again, IMO, the Media is showing it's allegiance to the GOP by not shouting this from the rooftops.

    Parent
    The media I'm seeing (5.00 / 1) (#95)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Nov 11, 2020 at 07:46:34 AM EST
    Kind of is.  Shouting it from the rooftops.  

    I'm actually pretty impressed with the way "the media" has handled this so far.

    As far as accepting him, they never accepted Obama as the duly elected president and some will never accept any democrat.  F them.  Their acceptance is not required.

    Parent

    I had a phone conversation (5.00 / 5) (#97)
    by Chuck0 on Wed Nov 11, 2020 at 09:40:25 AM EST
    with my Republican state senator. He assured that the PA legislature would not under any circumstances attempt to thwart the vote or the will of the people in the Commonwealth.

    I had written him an email alluding to showing up in Harrisburg with pitchforks and torches if they attempted such a move. He personally called me to tell me that would not happen.

    I took him at his word.

    Parent

    My Senator (5.00 / 2) (#101)
    by MO Blue on Wed Nov 11, 2020 at 10:29:48 AM EST
    Roy Blunt, who evidently feels covering his sorry a$$ is more important than safeguarding our democracy is on record

    Ignoring all evidence to the contrary, U.S. Sen. Roy Blunt told reporters today that Donald Trump "may not have been defeated" in the presidential election.

    Sent him an email of how embarrassed I was of having a Senator willing to turn our country into a banana republic by enabling a petty despot. Doubt he will care since he has no integrity but at least I expressed my opinion.

    Parent

    Missouri's Jr. Senator, (none / 0) (#102)
    by MO Blue on Wed Nov 11, 2020 at 10:54:13 AM EST
    If possible, has even less integrity.
    Missouri's junior senator Josh Hawley has already introduced legislation to support the wholly unsupported idea Biden's election victory is in question
    .

    RFT

    Parent

    The Tr*mp campaign lawsuit in PA (5.00 / 3) (#98)
    by Peter G on Wed Nov 11, 2020 at 09:42:02 AM EST
    specifically asks, as relief, that the judge issue an injunction to bar the Secretary of the Commonwealth from certifying the results. The judge has set a hearing for tomorrow afternoon. So far, there is no indication that the plaintiffs have any evidence at all to support their wild allegations of a massive fraud. Somehow, in their theory, some 45,000 extra votes were cast or counted improperly for Biden, without affecting the other results, in which Republicans carried a majority of our state Legislature and two out of three state-wide offices. They cannot even explain how this would be possible, much less show some basis for thinking that it happened.

    Parent
    That's exactly the question (none / 0) (#100)
    by Chuck0 on Wed Nov 11, 2020 at 10:00:14 AM EST
    I've been asking Peter. If there was such massive fraud, why didn't they do a better job of it? Why didn't Dems win more legislative seats. Why didn't they cheat for DePasquale and get rid of Perry (Perry won) in the PA 10th?

    The GOP had a pretty darn good showing in the Susquehanna Valley. I would have thought any fraud would have extended all the way around for Dems.

    The GOP arguments are ludicrous.


    Parent

    Yes, ChuckO. Particularly since (none / 0) (#106)
    by Peter G on Wed Nov 11, 2020 at 02:39:28 PM EST
    the second or third most important thing on the ballot this fall (after the Presidency and perhaps control of the Senate) was control of State legislatures, which will create the legislative and Congressional district lines this year, based on the 2020 Census results, that will control (unless overturned in court as impermissible gerrymanders, which is very hard) for the next ten years.

    Parent
    I misunderstood the schedule for the PA case (none / 0) (#123)
    by Peter G on Wed Nov 11, 2020 at 06:50:29 PM EST
    Motions are due tomorrow (Thursday). Argument on the motions will be next Tuesday. If the case survives the motions to dismiss, then the hearing/trial will held be a week from Thursday.

    Parent
    I would love to know what Tr*mp has on (none / 0) (#104)
    by vml68 on Wed Nov 11, 2020 at 12:20:23 PM EST
    Lindsey Graham.
    A few days ago he said he would donate $500,000 to Tr*mp's Legal Defense Fund.
    I figured he must be flush with cash from all the donations that came in last minute for his Senate run.
    But, here he is begging for money again.
    Laura Ingraham Tells Lindsey Graham to Stop Acting `Like a Used Car Salesman'

    I have a couple (5.00 / 2) (#110)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Nov 11, 2020 at 03:17:32 PM EST
    of ideas.

    Parent
    I bet you do (5.00 / 2) (#111)
    by MO Blue on Wed Nov 11, 2020 at 03:25:15 PM EST
    🤫 LOL


    Parent
    Lindsay (none / 0) (#105)
    by Ga6thDem on Wed Nov 11, 2020 at 01:52:24 PM EST
    crawling around begging is the most pathetic thing I think I have seen.

    Parent
    Watching THE UNDOING? (none / 0) (#119)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Nov 11, 2020 at 06:24:13 PM EST
    It's ok.  Not being the biggest fane of either of the headliners.

    But I LOVE where they live.

    and it's for sale.  In real life.

    Only 30 million.

    Not a fan of the colors (none / 0) (#121)
    by Ga6thDem on Wed Nov 11, 2020 at 06:47:58 PM EST
    used but the outside is gorgeous. I would love to see what the kitchen looks like. Probably not modernized since there are no pictures.

    Parent
    Those are (none / 0) (#133)
    by CaptHowdy on Wed Nov 11, 2020 at 07:17:16 PM EST
    Realtor colors.

    Parent
    I thought the fact (5.00 / 1) (#163)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Nov 12, 2020 at 08:22:33 AM EST
    All the books in the library are beige was an LOL.

    Parent
    Anyone here get a letter from the IRS (none / 0) (#166)
    by vml68 on Thu Nov 12, 2020 at 09:38:50 AM EST
    asking you to call and verify your identity due to Identity Theft?
    I did and when I call the number I get a message that says due to high call volume they cannot take the call and then the line disconnects. We have 30 days to respond. It's been about a week since the letter was sent.
    Keep trying to get through or is there something else that can be done?

    Sounds like phishng to me (5.00 / 1) (#167)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Nov 12, 2020 at 09:43:25 AM EST
    Having dealt with the IRS quite a bit in the last few years I don't think they are going to go after you for something like that.

    They told me once, don't believe a phone call.  We don't do phone calls.  This was quite a while ago.  Years.  The phishing people have probably figured this out.

    I would write them a nice letter and include a copy.
    That will protect you and might be bad for the others.

    Parent

    No, not phishing. I checked, it is an official (none / 0) (#168)
    by vml68 on Thu Nov 12, 2020 at 09:57:40 AM EST
    IRS letter.

    Parent
    There are services (none / 0) (#169)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Nov 12, 2020 at 10:40:10 AM EST
    that can tell you this, right.  Isn't that what LifeLock does?

    Might be worth it.

    Parent

    Have not really paid attention to any (none / 0) (#170)
    by vml68 on Thu Nov 12, 2020 at 11:52:41 AM EST
    of those services. I will look into it.
    I have decided that if I cannot get through by mid next week, I will make an appt at the local IRS office and see if I can get this sorted out.

    In the meantime, listening to Walter Martin - Quarantine Boogie (Loco) and going out to clean up my yard. We were forecast to get half an inch of rain from Hurricane/Tropical Storm Eta yesterday. The forecast was a bit off. Got a little over 7 inches of rain! Rain, along with the wind gusts caused a couple of small trees to topple and yard is littered with broken branches.

    Parent

    I have raked blowed and burned (5.00 / 2) (#173)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Nov 12, 2020 at 12:49:04 PM EST
    an unbelievable amount of leaves in the last week.  I swear there was more than last year.  

    And that considering I can just blow them out of my yard in every direction because all lots around me are empty.
    I still burned a pile as big as my house.

    But I love trees, so, whatever.

    Parent

    Come on up here, Howdy (5.00 / 1) (#184)
    by Zorba on Thu Nov 12, 2020 at 02:14:31 PM EST
    We have 40+ acres of trees.

    Parent
    It's a shame (5.00 / 2) (#187)
    by jmacWA on Thu Nov 12, 2020 at 03:18:34 PM EST
    you left California... they could use your raking ability... In fact it seems to me that there have been more severe fires since you left :)

    Parent
    Yikes... (5.00 / 1) (#189)
    by fishcamp on Thu Nov 12, 2020 at 04:02:16 PM EST
    Hang on auntie v.

    Parent
    Didn't you get a lot of rain at your location? (none / 0) (#198)
    by vml68 on Thu Nov 12, 2020 at 10:42:51 PM EST
    I thought the 7 inches we got here was a lot of rain but then I read that Pembroke Pines got almost 18 inches!
    So much for this being the dry season :-)

    Parent
    Here is a IRS link (5.00 / 1) (#180)
    by MO Blue on Thu Nov 12, 2020 at 02:03:38 PM EST
    describing the various letters they send out.. not sure if there is anything that will help you or not.

    IRS

    Parent

    Thanks, MO Blue. I had already visited that (5.00 / 1) (#196)
    by vml68 on Thu Nov 12, 2020 at 10:27:59 PM EST
    website to make sure that the letter was legitimate.
    I got a 4883C letter which states that I cannot use the online IDVerify. I have to phone them to verify.
    My concern was the fact that I have tried the phone number over and over again. Different days, different times. No luck getting through. The letter says I only have 30 days to respond and they have not given any other alternative ways to contact them to get this issue resolved. With Thanksgiving coming up, I only have a limited number of working days left. Not sure what I am supposed to do, if they are too busy to take my call.

    Parent
    I understand (none / 0) (#179)
    by Ga6thDem on Thu Nov 12, 2020 at 01:36:22 PM EST
    the scammers are now sending out letters too since everybody has caught onto the email phone call scam. If it has a number on the bottom or the top from what I have read, you will have to call the IRS and see if it is legit.

    Parent
    No letter, but ... (none / 0) (#201)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Fri Nov 13, 2020 at 12:42:49 AM EST
    ... we finally received our 2019 refund checks, nine months after we filed our returns.

    Parent
    I have noticed this (none / 0) (#174)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Nov 12, 2020 at 12:52:34 PM EST
    recently when you walk in unannounced it is no longer FOX running in the BG it's NEWSMAX.

    "President Trump's fans who don't think Fox News is right-wing enough have another option on cable and satellite: Newsmax TV," CNN reports.

    "And something dramatic has happened in the past week: A big audience has sought out Newsmax TV for the first time."

    "On Newsmax, voter fraud innuendo is everywhere. Conspiracy theory chatter is constant. And perhaps most importantly, Joe Biden is not the president-elect. The channel is tapping into a real vein of rage on the right. And Trump is encouraging it by retweeting Twitter users who are trashing Fox and promoting Newsmax."



    I love this (none / 0) (#175)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Nov 12, 2020 at 12:57:30 PM EST
    I hope he does.  Really.  But I mostly love that he is saying this.  And will keep saying it even tho I don't believe he will.   For many reasons.  But imagine how much this will screw up the plans of Pence and Cotton and every other jackal in the pack.

    "I'm just going to run in 2024. I'm just going to run again."

    -- President Trump, quoted by the Washington Post

    this is also good in that he understands he lost.  On some level at least.

    Of snow chickens and snowflakes (none / 0) (#188)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Nov 12, 2020 at 03:57:24 PM EST
    Grief, anger, disbelief: Trump voters face Biden's victory

    ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) -- When Joan Martin heard that Joe Biden had been declared the winner of the presidential election, the retired nurse and avowed supporter of President Donald Trump was deeply unsettled. To steel herself, she thought about how her household weathered Hurricane Katrina when it battered her hometown of Picayune, Mississippi, in 2005.

    As the storm blew toward the town, Martin rushed out into her yard to carry her 85 show chickens to safety. Outside, howling winds lashed her family's barn, lifting the edges of the roof off its moorings.

    "The next day they (the chickens) were very concerned about the changes in the yard -- we had trees down," said Martin, 79. "They were very eyes-wide. But within two days, they said, `Oh, yeah, we can deal with this,' and they did. So I have to follow their lead."

    chickens are kind of naturally "eyes wide"

    Those people (5.00 / 1) (#191)
    by Ga6thDem on Thu Nov 12, 2020 at 06:14:44 PM EST
    are messed up. The only one that seemed to have a clue was the 29 year old. She apparently resides outside of the conservative propaganda bubble.

    Again, here we are interviewing Trump supporters even though Trump lost just like we spent 4 years interviewing Trump supporters because he won. Nobody ever interviewed Hillary voters that I recall in 2016 and now nobody is interviewing Biden voters either.

    It sounds also like those people are going to basically drop out of politics and voting.

    Parent

    That's actually funny (none / 0) (#192)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Nov 12, 2020 at 06:18:11 PM EST
    because moments ago I read this on Trumps Twitter


    GregGutfeld
    @greggutfeld
    ·
    Nov 8
    this brilliant point underlies the driving force of this election, and why so many are so suspicious.
    Quote Tweet

    Mollie
    @MZHemingway
     · Nov 8
    Among the millions of examples of media bias, I'm struck right now by how coverage post-2016 focused relentlessly for years on Clinton supporters and their emotional trauma and Resistance efforts ... compared to second-class and disdainful treatment of 71 MILLION Trump voters.



    Parent
    This reminds me (none / 0) (#194)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Nov 12, 2020 at 07:12:23 PM EST
    of the story of the boy who caught "wet handed" say, ok, what if i just do it till I need glasses?

    "Cracks are growing in the GOP defense of President Donald Trump's long-shot effort to overturn the 2020 election outcome, with many top Republicans contending that Joe Biden should immediately get national security briefings, some calling for the official transition process to begin and others are acknowledging that Trump stands little chance at reversing results clearly showing he lost," CNN reports.

    "Republicans say they are willing to give Trump a chance to make his case in court. But they fully recognize that Trump is losing by margins in key battleground states that make his chances of success in his legal cases extremely grim at best. Many have grown unnerved at his purge of top national security officials. And others are making clear that Trump should concede the race once it's evident that he's lost his court challenges."