WHAT SHOULD CONGRESS DO WHEN REPUBS IN THEIR RANKS WANT A COUP?

 Hey! As I mentioned in the last post, we're a week away from the electoral votes being counted in a joint session of the U.S. Congress. With that the 2020 Presidential election will be finalized and the final few weeks of the Mad Fuhrer of Mar-A-Lago's reign will begin. Normally a routing procedure most don't think about, this year has made this omnipresent in our minds over an election we're hoping to finally finish and move on from.  However, a few days before that the next session of Congress begins as all members of the House of Representatives and the Senate begins their new session. While this may seem unrelated most election cycles we're in a time where there's more linking them than one would think.

On December 10, 2020 126 Repub members of the U.S. House of Representatives filed a brief backing a lawsuit from Texas asking the Supreme Court of the US to overturn the 2020 Presidential election results in a handful of states where Joe Biden won the electoral vote, claiming there was some sort of fraud. Thankfully SCOTUS threw the case out (on the grounds that Texas had a "lack of standing:" and "has not demonstrated a judicially cognizable interest in the manner in which another State conducts its elections." refused to hear it on December 11 but, by filing that brief, the Repubs have shown that, after four years of telling those on the other side that they "lost the election" in 2016 and should "get over it," some in the GOP were willing to do what they could to overturn a major election if they didn't get their way. 

Keep in mind this lawsuit was filed after the electoral votes reached the December 8 "safe harbor" status and days before the states certified their votes showing former vice president Joe Biden won more than the 270 electoral votes to win the Presidential election (he actually won 306). One would think this would be enough and things would get back to normal. However this continued as Rep. Louie Gohmert (R, TX) and a handful of would be electors filed a lawsuit against co-electoral vote inner Mikey and the electoral college in hopes of overturning the election.  In addition several Repub congresspeople and Sen. Joshy (a.k.a.: MO junior senator Josh Hawley) has said they were going to contest the electoral count on the 6th. 

In other words the Repubs are still trying to use a mix of legal action and Congressional shenanigans as a way to try and overturn an election so they can win. When reports of some in their rank wanting the military to seize voting machines or asking the Mad Fuhrer to use the insurrection act and suspend the constitution as his term nears it s end and it's apparent tbat they may actually want to get rid of our democracy or constitutional republic or whatever you wish to call it via a coup and make the Mad Fuhrer of Mar-A-Lago the supreme leader.

Which leads to one question - WHAT SHOULD CONGRESS DO WHEN REPUBS IN THEIR RANKS APPARENTLY WANT A COUP?

The best thing that they should do is what Sen. Bill Pascrell (D, NJ) said in response and use the 14th Amendment forbidding members of Congress from engage in rebellion against the U.S. and refuse to seat them. However, while I know this would send a strong message I'm also aware that the establishment Democrats are most likely not going to do this out of some twisted idea of unity that seems to have the Dems doing all the work while Repubs continue to act in bad faith. However, if they do nothing it will continue to normalize said behavior form the Repubs, who will continue to break rules and twist the game to their advantage while refusing to let the country move forward. 

So, not seating them is most likely a non starter. I wish it wasn't but it probably won't happen. Still there has to be a way to hold these assholes accountable for trying to force an election result that the majority of the population doesn't want. Yes, ten or so of them aren't serving in the next session of Congress but what should be done with the wastes of sperm and eggs that are coming back. While I don't have the concrete answer there is one simple step.

TAKE AWAY THEIR COMMITTEE PLACEMENTS AND REMOVE THEM FROM ANYWHERE THEY COULD HAVE SOMETHING NEAR REAL POWER IN THE HOUSE AND THE SENATE.

Yes, it will be controversial. However, it is a way to send a clear message that may be very doable and limit the amount of whining that the Repubs will do about how they're persecuted and limit the complaints from the mainstream media that the Democrats aren't being civil. Also it would state that those who try and pull shit like this again will be moved to the back burner as soon as possible and kept there while those in the House and the Senate who want to get things done can actually do the work and try and make things better. 

It won't be easy. It will cause some drama in the media but it's an easy step and pushing these asshats, especially those who have been in office for a while, to the back burner would send a strong message and show the Democrats are capable of fighting a good fight. 

I'm not sure this will even happen.;I do hope that the House and the Senate make those trying to do a political coup responsible for their treacherous bullshit.

A COUP FOR THE NEW YEAR? THE MAD FUHRER OF MAR-A-LAGO AND HIS REPUB MINIONS STRIKE AGAIN

 Hey! so we';re about to enter 2021, which would be a typical changing of the year if it weren't for an election. Even for an election season this has been far from typical as machinations are afoot to try and force a change in the 2020 election result, eithe rby court decree or in the halls of Congress.

Yes, in the nearly two months since election day the Mad Fuhrer of Mar-A-Lago still has refused to concede the election and admit that former Vice President Joe Biden will get his job at noon on January 20, 2021. From trying to pressure legislators in states where Biden won to numerous court battles on both the state and federal level the Mad Fuhrer's minions are doing their damnedest to try and keep their power and, in same ver extreme cases, further play footsie with a weird turn of christian theocratic fascism that seems to hold democracy in contempt.  

So far it's been at best an extremely uphill battle as states, after facing some pressure, certified their electoral college votes in mid December and sent them to Washington, DC for the Senate to certify on January 6 (about a week from today).  In normal times this will be a mere formality as the loser of the lection would've conceded long ago and the transition ould be well underway.  However, since the last four years under the Mad Fuhrer of Mar-A-Lago haven;t been typical we probably shouldn't expect this last step to be quiet and/or non eventful.  

Already there are signs that a number of Repubs in the House of Representative plan to challenge the results and the electors' votes on the 6th. Several Senators have also implied that they may do so as well. The purpose of this is a way to force co-electoral vote winner Miikey to overturn the certification of the states that chose Biden and hand the election to electoral vote winner Donny , despite losing the popular vote by 10 million and the legal challenges in these states have almost always lost (there was one win in Pennsylvania and even that was unlikely to change the election result). Add to that a conservative legal group called the Thomas More Society joining with some of Donny's minions to sue co-electoral vote winner Mikey and the electoral college over this and things are truly reaching a level of the absurd.,  

As I said so far the legal challenges have been shot down almost instantly. I expect it's unlikely the Supreme Court will take up the latest filing from the Mad Fuhrer's legal team claiming alternate electors were officially chosen (in fact, when some people have claimed to be alternate electors they weren't officially chosen. In addition, some states were required to go with the popular vote winner and would be unable to do so). Like the previous filing with SCOTUS I have a feeling that this newest one will be refused more out of politicall savvy on the part of the new right wing justices Donny appointed rather than any integrity. Or, to quote Scott Soriano of Soriano's Comment, "They wouldn't willing fuck themselves."

This leaves us with the Congressional count on the 6th and the possibility of Repubs in either houses challening electors or the result. Odds are it's going to happen. However, so far it would have to be agreed on by both the House and the Senate to be taken seriously. Even though the Senat eis ontrolled (for now) by Repubs, the House is still controlled by Democrats and it's unlikely (though there may be conservative Dem who might try) they'd choose to overturn the will of the people. 

I left out the option of the military coup which may still have some very slight possibility as the Mad Fuhrer called for the military to seize voting machines just before Christmas. While his firing civilian leaders at the Pentagon is alarming and can be seen as planning for a coup, this step would've have to have been taken weeks ago. Also, there are reports that some in the Pentagon are meeting in secret for contingencies in case of violence in January over the election. Whether that's in case there's a call for a coup or to have to remove Donny from office come inauguration day is uncertain. However, military leaders have said they won't interfere in elections in this country. So, I won't say we shouldn't be worried but a close friend of mine who's a military history buff thought it was unlikely citing the military's dislike for the Mad Fuhrer among other things. 

So where does that leave us? We have one more step before the 2020 election is officially over. Odds are good that Biden will be declared the winner (Senate Majority leader Addison the Turtle has reportedly warned Senators against acting otherwise) though it's prudent to be aware and prepared for anything at this point.

In a truly just world those Repub Congresspersons who signed onto support that last SCOTUS request to overturn the election wouldn't be seated on ground that they supported a coup of sorts against a leader who, while not their guy, was democratically elected. Sadly, establishment Democrats in the House have probably been warned in advance against doing so by wealthy donors who care more about their tax cuts than you or I. Still, there needs to be some accountability for those who already tried to overturn this election as well as those who might try on the 6th. 

The last thing this country needs is a coup for the New Year>

THE MAD FUHRER OF MAR-A-LAGO'S ROAD TO ELECTION LOSS CERTIFICATION

 Hey! Sorry for not being on the blog more but a combination of a lot of hours at the paying job and family situations have kept me from doing this as often as I'd like. Also, when every day brings a new twist or turn it can be hard to keep up.  

In about a day and a half (Monday December 14, 2020) the final step of the 2020 Presidential election will take place when the electors chosen by each state will cast their votes in the election as part of the electoral college (something we've learned way more than we ever wanted to know about in the past two election cycles). While this comes with little fanfare most election years as usually the person who lost the election has conceded and it's merely a formality. However, with the Mad Fuhrer of Mar-A-Lago refusing to concede (and taking forever before allowing the GSA to allow President elect Joe Biden's team to start the transition tasks) and many many lawsuits whose persistence is only matched by their lack of making a clear case of election fraud and it's clear that there might be a chance for fireworks on this front as well, 

Mainly this exists on two fronts. The first is the concept of a faithless elector who may change their mind as cast an electoral vote for the Mad Fuhrer in a state that Biden won. Theoretically if enough faithless electors do so than there could be some shenanigans. The problem here is that the votes are cast into envelopes that Congress won't read until January 6. In addition, while there were some faithless electors in 2016 on both sides the Supreme Court is allowing states greater leverage in requiring electors to cast the assigned votes. 

Then there's the pressure on Repub state legislators in states where Biden won (particularly in Michigan, Pennsylvania, Georgia, Wisconsin, and Arizona) to replace the assigned elector with an alternate hat would choose the Mad Fuhrer of Mar-A-Lago over the assigned electoral vote for Biden. Normally this wouldn't even be thought of but since the Mad Fuhrer and his minions have proven themselves to be poor losers this time around it is something that needs to be taken into account more than a generally faithless elector.  

Should these be a concern? Maybe - but there are deadlines passed and measures in place that will likely prevent this from becoming too big of a deal. 

Several of the states being targeted by Repubs for choosing Biden over Donny (Wisconsin, Michigan, and Nevada) require their electors by law to vote for the person who won the electoral votes for the state, While this doesn't prevent a faithless elector said person would be charged with a misdemeanor and pay a $1,000.00 fine as a result. Add to this, for example, that if a Repub state legislator in a state like Pennsylvania that has a Democrat governor chose to appoint their own electors the governor would simply overrule them and use the electors appointed to vote that way the state voted - and while it's still possible, it doesn't appear likely (though, as we've learned from this year, never say absolutely never on that front). More important in how this election and the electoral vote will occur is what occurred on December 8th 2020.

On December 8th the electoral votes reached safe harbor status - the time when all the state level election challenges (such as recounts and audits) are supposed to be completed, including any state level lawsuits. At this point the states should have certified all their votes and that Congress shall be compelled to accept their results. In other words, once all the votes are certified and safe harbor is reached then, while the faithless elector remains a possible issue [and somewhat expected] Congress has to accept who won which state's electoral votes. At that time, with the exception of a state level lawsuit in Wisconsin and Hawaii not finishing certification, Joe Biden had already reached ov er the 270 electoral votes needed to win the Presidential election. 

In most cases this would've likely been a done deal but the Mad Fuhrer's reusing to concede meant him and his minions and fans would continue with ridiculous lawsuits including two with the U.S. Supreme COurt. The first asked that the court overturn the electoral win for Biden in Pennsylvania. This was followed by a lawsuit from TX Atty General Paxton to challenge election laws in Pennsylvania, Georgia, Michigan, and Wisconsin claiming the changes in rules to make voting easier allowed for voter fraud that was indetectable. SCOTUS refused to hear either case.  

And with that the 2020 election is closer to being done. The one obstacle left is on January 6,2021 when Congress will have a reading of the electoral votes where Repubs in either the Senate or House may challenge some of the electoral votes for Biden. While these challenges are likely to happen (and the Repubs will make a big show out of it) the face that Democrats control the House of Rep[resentatives means that it's unlikely, barring any unforeseen event, for the election result to be overturned at that level, especially given safe harbor nailing down the electors and their votes.

And with that the election will be over. Once again many of us will wish to scrap the electoral college and go with the popular vote (if we did that already this would've been over a long time ago). And many will move on tired from politics but while the office holder will most likely change the damage the Mad Fuhrer of Mar-A-Lago has done to the Repub party will continue for a long time to come.

ELECTION WITHDRAWAL: THE MAD FUHRER OF MAR-A-LAGO'S MINIONS REFUSING TO CONCEDE ALONG WITH WAY TOO MANY LAWSUITS TRYING TO STOP THE ELECTION

 So there was an election in the U.S. nine days ago.  It seems like it's still going on but it was on Tuesday November 3, 2020 that election season (which began with the end of primary season in late August and really kicked off when the states that allowed early voting getting their requests and sending out ballots)went from the big day to its wrap up phase.  
 

As the nation went to sleep that night it appeared that the Mad Fuhrer of Mar-A-Lago might win re-election by a mandate as much of the heartland went for Repubs. However, several key swing states that had to count mail in vote last said it would take time and by Wednesday night it appeared that predictions of a red mirage were, in fact, correct. AS the election became the map show many Americans were waiting hours upon upon as the electoral map seemed to br frozen until at 10:24 am Eastern time it was announced that former vice President Joe Biden and his running mate Sen. Kamala Harris had won Pennsylvania, thus gathering the 270 (or283 if you went by the sites that called Arizona several days earlier, mainly Associated Press) electoral college votes needed to become President elect.  
For many average Americans this was a sigh of relief as, if someone's not all that interested in politics, this means they can move on to life, work, the Holiday season, etc. However, after returning from the golf course The Mad Fuhrer has bunkered down and...refused to concede.Instead electoral vote inner Donny's minions decided to hold press conferences and file lawsuits claiming voter fraud is causing this election as mail in votes coming from areas that leaned towards Democrats changed the race.  So far all of the cases have been thrown out of court because they either have covered things that have already been fixed or were so full of errors that one has to wonder why they're wasting money on this shit.  
 

In the meantime the Mad Fuhrer of Mar-A-Lago has ordered those in his minions who can help with the transition not to work with Biden's transition team, including refusing to sign the paperwork to allow him funding as well as security briefings. In addition government agencies have been ordered to come up with a new budget under the guise of nothing happening. Biden also hasn't been given access to message from world leaders that are at the State Dept. Normally the transition is semi smooth at the least but it appears the Mad Fuhrer's minions are giving orders to make things as difficult as possible.
However, as the final votes get counted the Mad Fuhrer of Mar-A-Lago has lost the 2020 presidential election in terms of both electoral college votes and the popular vote. Many of the lawsuits are over amounts that appear to be a fraction of the late coming votes and, even if they were thrown out in court, would be very very unlikely to overturn Biden's victory.  
 

So why is this going down now? Part of it is the the Mad Fuhrer of Mar-A-Lago is acting exactly as expected given his refusal to say he'd accept the election results and have a peaceful transfer of power. Some people are even suggesting that his minions are trying to instigate a coup so he can remain in power with the help of his toadies in the Repub party, who seem hell-bent on using him to stay in power (especially in light of both Senate seats being up for grabs in Georgia and heading towards a runoff in early January 2021) rather than sitting him down and telling him to concede and be graceful in moving forward.
 

Then there's the Georgia Senate races, both of which have been forced into runoff elections. Both Democrats and Repubs are aware that whomever wins this will likely control the Senate. Thus, while Dems are energized to donate and campaign for Warnock and Ossoff, Repubs are being scared into line in order to try and make sure they don't lose their grip on what had long been a reliably Repub state.
As I said earlier so far the court cases filed by the Mad Fuhrer's minions have been failures as judges either rule against them or throw them out of court outright due to the cases being based on conjecture rather than actual instances or facts. Still, there’s a possibility that this could change down the road,. While such an action may be unlikely to succeed given the current vote counts (the Mad Fuhrer's minions have already called off the Nevada vote count) the Repub enablers desire to keep power at any cost means we, unfortunately, have to at least consider this possibility.
 

At this point, some are still seeing someone around Donny as a political master playing 5-dimensional chess. However, unlike Bush v Gore in 2000 the legal team pushing to either stop the count or count the votes are often relying on hearsay and claims that were thrown out of court in earlier attempts. Also, plans to have Repub legislators in states like PA or WI call their own electors to vote for the Mad Fuhrer are unlikely to succeed given they have Democratic governors who'll quash that.
 

Which leaves us at this point with the Mad Fuhrer staying barricaded in the White House while his minions try and enact his trumper tantrum in an attempt to steal an election that he pretty much solidly lost (and not just because of the strangeness in the theories that the Democrats rigged it against Donny but somehow didn't make the legislative branch a Dem supermajority). What happens now is still up in the air but it is something we need to be on guard about and ready to do everything in our legal power to stop if the asshole tried to have a coup to stay in power.  Hopefully it won't get to that point. However his refusing to go away with some dignity does have aftereffects in his fan base who still think it was rigged and, contrary to any calls to reconcile, will prefer to act like they did in the Obama years rather than work together.
 

Either way, barring something truly over the top going down (something to still consider given the Mad Fuhrer fired four top officials at the pentagon and will likely replace then with people who are even more yes men than Espey et al) it's likely that even if all else fails [including Repub Senators refusing to count the electoral votes] on January 20 2021 the Mad Fuhrer of Mar-A-Lago and co electoral vote winner Mikey won't be in power anymore which would likely make the House Majority leader acting president.  
 

Since the election was only nine days ago it's beyond conjecture to say it'll get to that point (and it shouldn't). If we do get to that scenario are Repubs sure they want a President Pelosi?

ELECTION SEASON AND VOTING ....

 I've been meaning to talk about the upcoming election for a couple of weeks but have been drawing a blank.  Every time I start it seems a lot of what I want to say has been better said by other people. However, I also know that it's a topic I have to bring up since it affects pretty much everyone, either here in the U.S. or beyond its borders.  

First, if you haven't already voted I encourage you to do so. I know that for a number of readers the choice isn't all that inspiring and it may take time to wait in line just to cast your ballot even if you  have the option of voting early. However, given the Mad Fuhrer of Mar-A-Lago and his minions have given numerous hints that they either don't plan to recognize the result if they lose or don't plan to commit to a peaceful transition of power, it appears one of the main ways to fight many shenanigans from electoral vote winner Donny and company from trying to once again steal the election and get another term (one that seems to have ambiguous endings given the Mad Fuhrer's urging his fans to chant 12 more years at his COVID superspreader rallies) is for people to either vote early by mail or vote in person early (if you live in a place where that's possible). If all else isn't possible there's gong to the polls on election day and casting your vote. 

With that out of the way I just want to say a few things.  Much of this has been said before but I want to get this out in the open.  

First, DO NOT BE TEMPTED OR LULLED INTO COMPLACENCY BY THE POLLS.

 I know the polls seem to consistently show Biden in the lead over the Mad Fuhrer but we need to point out that four years ago people Hillary Clinton was favored to win over Donny and we know how that turned out. Reportedly the polling companies under-counted  the "white uneducated voter" demographic (sometimes also known as the "non college educated white "voter).  While the polling firms claim to have fixed that problem, those on the Democratic side of politics shouldn't take that for granted. The reports I've heard that some activists (and even some campaigns) are running like they're several points behind in the polls until November 3rd  even if they are in fact ahead in the polls in one reaction.  While that is a logical response (ans as one person I know working on campaigns told me - the only poll that matters is on election day). This is a logical response and probably good strategy but even with that one must remember that these are not normal times.

Which leads to complacency vis a vis Biden's lead in the polls. This means there's a possibility that some people will look at the polls and, thinking it's a done deal, decide not to vote. Maybe it's because they're dissatisfied with the choices or maybe it's because they think their vote won't matter. While I hate to say this, people need to get that thought out of their heads. Thinking like that four years ago was one of multiple things creating the election results.  While this may be less of a problem this time around it's important to keep that tendency to be complacent out of our minds and exercise one's right to vote.

Also, EARLY VOTING APPEARS GOOD BUT TIME WILL TELL WHAT COMES FROM IT

One of the big news stories of this election cycle as we head towards election day is the huige amount of early voting in states that allow it. Part of it is form people concerned about the riswk of the current coronavirus pandemic (which is still a thing and we could face another wave) and want to be safe. Others are voting early to try and avoid any issues regarding possible voter intimidation.  The media has pointed out that the numbers who have received early or absentee ballot are tending to lean towards Democrats. However, while that and the mass numbers voting can be seen as a good sign we must be careful. It's somewhat likely that a good chunk of those early voters might be hella enthusiastic about the Mad Fuhrer of Mar-A-Lago and want him re-elected. If the polls regarding early voting turnout and in which places are correct it's might not be all that likely but it's still something we have to take into consideration as election day nears.

POST FINAL DEBATE 

The last debate happened a few nights back. While some in the media are trying to keep that the Mad Fuhrer of Mar-A-Lago stayed calm and reasoned compared to his shit show at the first debate and the town hall that substituted for the second debate because Donny refused to have the plexiglass as protection, most people watching saw him revert to his talking points from the rallies he's spreading COVID at rather than speak to the nation as Biden did. In the next day or two we'll see whether Biden won the debate or not (though, to be honest, all Biden had to do was not throw up on himself  to keep momentum going). Odds are the debate didn't change most people's minds as the MAGAssholes are still ride or die behind Donny and Biden's supporters are going to stick with him.

As for the undecideds the question is how many are still actually undecided/ Some may have decided and not told anyone. Other may lie come election time. A few are leaning Biden but the Mad Fuhrer's minions hope whatever last ditch dirt they try to throw can lure the ones who react from emotion rather than reason. However, we;re currently at the week from the actual election day mark and the Mad Fuhrer's minions attacking Hunter Biden or rumors of deals Biden supposed had with China (after news was revealed that electoral vote winner Donny had a private Chinese bank account and paid more in taxes to China than to this country) reeks of desperation. 

Does that mean the polls will be right? Time will tell but early voting has been extremely high and if reports of high mail in voting and early voting coming from registered Democrats and Democratic party strongholds prove correct than the Mad Fuhrer of Mar-A-Lago will have to not only keep his base (mainly white supremacists and white conservative christians [calling them evangelicals leaves out not just the differences between Black and Latinx evangelicals (who leaned Democrats more than not) and white evangelicals (who love Donny) as well as leaving out white fundamentalist christians and charismatics (both of whom differ subtly but have distinct differences for those in the know) but also gain strides in moderates and win over some liberal voters. Constantly speaking to the Mad Fuhrer of Mar-A-Lago's base instead of reaching out doesn't help Donny.  

We're a week before election day and it's still hard to tell what will happen. The polls could be very right but it's safe that people working on Democratic campaigns are operating as if they're behind in the polls instead of ahead in many of them. As voter suppression efforts get cranked to full in an attempt to scare those who'll vote against the Mad Fuhrer away from the polls the long lines for early voting can be a double edged sword. If these were normal times it'd be easier to say who might be a winner early on but these are not normal times and, with people still remembering 2016, things are up in the air and odds are good the winner won't be called on election night. 

We'll see what happens in early November.

THE DEATH OF RBG, RIGHTS IN THE CROSSHAIRS, AND A FEW THOUGHTS ON THER STRUGGLE AHEAD

 Last night I came home from a rough night at the paying job and, after cleaning up, looked on a certain social media site that doesn't need my help for publicity to learn about the passing of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg from pancreatic cancer at the age of 87. While we all knew she was struggling healthwise (that form of cancer is notorious for killing most of the people diagnosed with it) it still came as a shock for multiple reasons from timing (just a little over  a month before the 2020 Presidential election) to what's on the line (the new appointee from the Mad Fuhrer of Mar-A-Lago could, if approved push back nearly 100 years of progress for women and various marginalized peoples as well as on various environmental and other issues).  In fact Ginsburg herself had reportedly stated to her granddaughter a few days before her death that she didn't want her replacement chosen under the current President.  The fact she apparently had to say that even on her last day is saddening enough but what';s at stake ranging form the reprodutvie rights of those people who can get pregnant to LGBTQIA rights. We also know that the new choice, if forced through,k could give the Mad Fuhrer license to turn this country full on to a authoritarian extreme right wing state more in line with apartheid era South Africa or Brazil under Bulsonaro than even what this country was like 20 years ago.

Now most of us know what's at stake here so I'll leave other people who have more details to share of that tell them. However, before I suggest or support any next steps I feel I have ot discuss a few things briefly. Yes, I'm aware that I'm not alone in saying these things but they need to be said.
First, Ruth Bader Ginsburg should have never been positioned as the one person who's passing could endanger the rights of millions of people. That it ended up that way due to several stolen elections (2000 and 2016) as well as an increasing lust for power from the Repubs (to the point where when Barack Obama nominated Merrick Garland in 2016 Repubs denied Garland a hearing claiming it was against the rules for the President to nominate someone in an election year (though Addison the Turtle relishes the though of pushing through a justice for his side now). A system is broken when too much power is in the hands of too few people. And anyone who has actually laid attention can attest to - the system has been broken for a long long time.

In addition, Obama's mistake in not, when the Repubs refused to give Garland a hearing, putting Garland in as a recess appointment was a misfire. Granted conventional wisdom thought that Hillary Clinton would win the 2016 election and this wouldn't be an issue. However, we got electoral vote winner Donny which lead to SCOTUS justices like Neil Gorsuch and Bretty Brett Kavanaugh. Garland's nomination itself was an attempt to triangulate with a candidate both Dems and Repubs said was worthy to be a justice. However, when Obama tried this he learned yet again that even when he tried to satisfy the Repubs theGOP moved the goalposts and continued their quest to do everything possible to make sure he got as little as possible done (and why suggestions that if Biden wins the Repubs will suddenly come to their senses and work with them is naive at best).

Meanwhile both Senate Majority Leader Addison the Turtle and the Mad Fuhrer of Mar-A-Lago seem hell-bent on pushing through a candidate with a little over a moth before the election and, if electoral vote winner Donny loses (and more importantly, if the asshiole concedes in the aftermath) a lame duck session. While some have suggested that there are a few Repubs that might not vote for a new justice in these circumstances we have to remember that Repubs in government often voice mild concerns but tend to vote in goosestep with the Mad Fuhrer of Mar-A-Lago so we should be skeptical of this.
So what should be done. In the bigger picture - VOTE!!!! Yeah, I know it's not a great choice and there's enough misinformation designed to try and keep people home and away from the polls (or mailing in their vote, depending on location et al) but it's a step that has to be taken. While I won't outright tell you whom to vote for I do agree with Beau of the Fifth Column that Biden represents breathing room in the path of trying to change the way things are now. Yes, we'll have to protest him as well but the breathing room is necessary after the overwhelming shit sandwich that the Mad Fuhrer of Mar-A-Lago has made the last four years.

Also, I know some people are going in for vote shaming and I understand that. However, it might not be the best way to get potential allies to your side on an electoral basis down the road. In addition I've heard anecdote that some people on the far left are nto voting or claiming that four more years of Donny will disgust people enough to choose a truly progressive candidate. However, Donny's had one term and the DNC still found a way to make the majority in its ranks vote for Biden (even if some will do so than throw up as soon as they find a nearby trash can) - so that isn't an accurate path either.

It's going to take the diversity of tactics or, to paraphrase Jello Biafra, rebellion both in the voting booth and on the streets. Yes, voting is an important step but, unlike what those in power tell you, it's not the only thing that can be done. People are going to have to do everything from contacting their elected officials to voice that a new justice appointment shouldn't happen until after the election to even taking up the First Amendment right to protest (i.e.: what is meant by people have to petition their government for a redress of grievances). Yes, this means Repubs but also pressuring the Democratic party establishment who seems more interested in making money than in creating solid substantial policy (the latter of which ould offend wealthy donors).  

As I said earlier these are merely a few brief thoughts, many in line with what other people are saying but is my take on them. While people may be in mourning last night and today the fight got a lot more real and has to be taken up tomorrow. We have less than 45 days until election day and shit got a lot more scary - and a lot more real.

2020 POST CONVENTION PRE ELECTION THOUGHTS

 As I type this the RNC convention has been over for a couple of days and, with that (and the 2020 DNC convention happening a week earlier) formalizes the race we already know with a renominated The Mad Fuhrer of Mar-A-Lago (a/k/a: electoral vote winner Donny on the Repub side) facing former Vice President Joe Biden (for the Democrats) in the 2020 Presidential election this November.  In the wake of this we've all seen more than our fair share of emotions related to this from frustration over what Biden and the establishment Dems represent to the fake populism of the Repubs (despite it being easy to disprove) as well as varying degrees of enthusiasm while unrest rose once again in an American city (this time in Kenosha, WI following the shooting of Jacob Blake by a police officer and the protests that predictably erupted in the aftermath). However, that frustration has lingered on multiple levels in our society for a while and while it's still difficult to predict what will happen in November I do feel compelled to comment on some of the scnenrio we find ourselves in as we head towards another election that many will be sick of weeks before it actually happens.After watching clips from teh conventions (I work nights currently at the paying job) as well as reading various news sites and seeing what's going on these are my thoughts regarding the upcoming election. First let's get to the unavoidable fact that faces everyone who votes in the upcoming election:
 

THE MAD FUHRER OF MAR-A-LAGO HAS TO GO!!!!!
 

This is the first thing we must consider.  While I won't badger people who are considering third party who are either expats or living in places so midnight blue it's just a couple shade variations from the cover of Black in Black (or Metallica's self-titled album (a/k/a: the black album) or the soundtrack to This is Spinal Tap, to name a couple for reference), I do need to point out that Biden (while very very far from perfect) will be less horrible than electoral vote winner Donny. Those disaffected voters in swing states should take that into account when making their choice. Also, electroal vote winner Donny's flirting with authoritarianism, if nto outright fascism, has been well documented over hsi terms ranging from the attempted Muslim bans to the decision to separate famil,ies seeking asylum at the border to his implying that neo-nazis were "very fine people: after the United the Right rally in Charlottesville, VA in 2017. Add to this reports from former minions of the Mad Fuhrer that he plans to be unleashed to do whatever he wants if re-elected and it's clear that we are at a very dangerous place in this country and leaving him in charge could cause everlasting harm.  

Before anyone accuses me of being a Biden apologist I wish to make it clear that he's far from my first choice. However, in a country that where the electoral college chooses the actual President and an election structure that almost makes third party candidacies impossible to run (and often ridiculed when they kind of make headway) he's what we have against the Mad Fuhrer. To the extent possible, the best electoral choices for progressives will likely be downballot races if possible. We're in the crosshairs where parallels to Nazi Germany are getting closer (though still slightly out of reach) but other achievable authoritarian regimes such as apartheid era South Africa style regimes are in reach if Donny is allowed to keep power. 

I know that not everyone who hates electoral vote winner Donny will go Riden with Biden. Third party candidates (as well as write in candidates) have long been around and will continue tinto future elections. However, before making that choice I do urge people realize the cost our country will face if the Mad Fuhrer of Mar-A-Lago gets to keep this job (as well as his grift on claiming not to take a salary but making money off the Secret Service et al). What is obvious from the last four years is this - The Mad Fuhrer of Mar-A-Lago should've never been elected, should've never been in office, and HE HAS TO BE VOTED THE FUCK OUT - PREFERABLY IN A LANDSLIDE!!!!

THE DEMOCRATS ARE PLAYING A DANGEROUS GAME BY AIMING FOR NEVER DONNY REPUBS OVER THEIR BASE...

The Repubs caving into the demands of the Mad fuhrer of Mar-A-Lago is terrifying on some level but it is alos expected by this point as even many of those who were against him in the 2016 election have fallen in line, most apt on keeping their jobs and power than on doing anything that would actually help the American people.  What;s more alarming is the path the Democratic Party chose - rather than go more progressive by choosing a candidate more in line with not just what its base wants (according to how issues poll) but with issues popular with many on both sides of the aisle in the rank and file, they chose a middle of the road platform that wouldn't aliente the Never Donny Repub.

The so-called Never Donny Repub, noted for media stances in opposition tio the Mad Fuhrer have a habitate mostly on cable news shows but the rare Repub politician who voices mild criticism tends to be upheld in these circles as a brave hero standing for the American people. The problem is these same politicans who occasionally criticized Donny voted with what he wanted most of the time. However, in an ear of Repub politics where 100% obedience to electoral vote winner Donny isn't nearly enough many of them either retired or lost their seats in the 2018 midterms. They still weren't as willing to go all the way after the Mad Fuhrer (possibly seeing state governor's races in the future and assuming they'd need Donny's help). While a number of former elected officials and former Repub minions from both the current and previous administrations are backing BIden, having seen what the Mad Fuhrer of Mar-A-Lago has brought to the U.S. in his first term, this strategy has its obstacles.
First, while there may be a lot of never Donny Repubs in the media there aren't many amongst the rank and file. To be fair this strategy was beginning implementation earlier this year as the Mad Fuhrer's reaction to the coronavirus tended to cause more problems than solutions, angvering a lot of people. However, as the conventions wrap up the race appears to tighten in swing states, giving whatg earlier appeared to be a somewhat certain loss a tighter bump (some of it post convention as expected, some of it due to the amorphic apolitical part of the center that doesn't keep up on the news and is likely to believe talking points).

This, when added to the DNC's unfortunate path of trying to push porgressives out of the spotlight in order to appease suburbanites who may be disillusioned with Donny in hopes to get their vote rather than encourage possible new voters amongst their base makes for a dangerous strategy that, while it might be successful at the top of the ticket (and - WE NEED TO GET THE MAD FUHRER OF MAR-A-LAGO OUT OF THE WHITE HOUSE) could backfire on down ballot races (state represenatives, Senate, House on the Federal level, etc) and could force people who might be willing to vote for Democrats into nihilism and not voting altogether.

While in the past a narrow victory may have been a strategy that could work to a poinbt, these aren't normal times. As such, previous talk of how we need a landslide should be more than rhetoric. Right now it appears it might backfire.  

Why a part of me hopes what the DNC is trying to do gets Donny out of office, I am worried about how it could backfire - and how establishment Dems will blame everyone but themselves if it does.  
 

ANY PREDICTIONS?

Hard to tell right now? Biden is holding on narrowly (within 10 points) overall in the polls but Clinton had a similar situation in 2016. Regardless, things are different in 2020 as we have four years of the Mad Fuher of Mar-A-Lago's record to judge from as well as a pandemic response that's made things worse in take into account.  Still, the fact that a lot of people working on the ground for the Democrats are taking the approach that they have to act as if they;'re 5 to 10 points behind until election day makes things seem like something might have been learned since last year.  I hope they have - since there's enough stress and fear in the world without foru more fucking years of The Mad Fuhrer of Mar-A-Lago.