The Hill reports that eleven more Republican senators have signed on to challenging the Electoral College Results. That makes a dozen, with Josh Hawley.
Eleven Senate Republicans on Saturday announced that they will object to the Electoral College results Wednesday, when Congress convenes in a joint session to formally count the vote.
GOP Sens. Ted Cruz (Texas), Ron Johnson (Wis.), James Lankford (Okla.), Steve Daines (Mont.), John Kennedy (La.), Marsha Blackburn (Tenn.) and Mike Braun (Ind.) and Sens.-elect Cynthia Lummis (Wyo.), Roger Marshall (Kan.), Bill Hagerty (Tenn.) and Tommy Tuberville (Ala.) said in a joint statement that they will object to the election results until there is a 10-day audit.
“Congress should immediately appoint an Electoral Commission, with full investigatory and fact-finding authority, to conduct an emergency 10-day audit of the election returns in the disputed states,” they said. “Once completed, individual states would evaluate the Commission’s findings and could convene a special legislative session to certify a change in their vote, if needed.
“Accordingly, we intend to vote on Jan. 6 to reject the electors from disputed states as not ‘regularly given’ and ‘lawfully certified’ (the statutory requisite), unless and until that emergency 10-day audit is completed,” they added.
That list of rogue senators could grow. We haven’t heard from Rand Paul yet.
Here are the rules (according to the Electoral Count Act of 1887) for the Joint Session to count Electoral College votes, as compiled by the Congressional Research Service. My inexpert reading of the rules is that overturning a state’s election results requires a majority vote in both houses of Congress, which isn’t going to happen. So I’m not too worried.
However, the Dirty Dozen might possibly use the 1887 rules to cause the Joint Session to drag on for a while, possibly days. The rules appear to say that for every individual objection to a state’s vote the Joint Session must break up and debate for two hours, then vote on that objection. The Joint Session could agree to consider objections to more than one state at once, as was done in 1873, but if they don’t, certifying the EC votes will take a while.
There is also precedent for objecting to Electors individually, not just a state’s entire slate of Electors. And which states are they calling “disputed states”? I assume they’re talking about Arizona, Georgia, Nevada, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin. But they might decide to challenge every state Biden won. Like I said, this could go on for days.
Mitch McConnell must be about to blow a fuse. Well, we can hope.
There are also rules for what happens if two lists of Electors show up from the same state, which also could happen. After wading through considerable verbiage I came to understand that the law says a list of Electors certified by the state’s governor takes precedence over a List of Random Bozos Who Were Pissed About the Election. But it’s not impossible seditious elements in Congress would use the anticipated “alternate” Electors to slow down the procedures further.
And it’s possible Mike Pence will throw a wrench in the works, even though he asked a judge to pitch Louie Gohmert’s suit against him.
The suit, which was brought late last year by US Rep. Louie Gohmert (R-TX) and a slate of would-be Republican electors in Arizona, asked the US District Court for eastern Texas to grant Vice President Mike Pence the “exclusive authority and sole discretion under the Twelfth Amendment to determine which slates of electors for a State, or neither, may be counted.”
A federal judge in Texas dismissed the suit yesterday. The Vice President has no constitutional authority to choose the next President.
Trump has been promoting mass protests in Washington, DC, on January 6, and there’s a strong likelihood that will get nasty. I would prefer lefties stay out of it so that any violence won’t be blamed on them. And Daily Beast reports that Trump is telling people he plans to continue to file court challenges to the election even after the January 6 Joint Session certifies the win.
Two people familiar with the matter say that in recent days, Trump has told advisers and close associates that he wants to keep fighting in court past Jan. 6 if members of Congress, as expected, end up certifying the electoral college results.
“The way he sees it is: Why should I ever let this go?… How would that benefit me?” said one of the sources, who’s spoken to Trump at length about the post-election activities to nullify his Democratic opponent’s decisive victory.
Jim VandeHei and Mike Allen write at Axios:
President Trump is torching his own party and its leaders on his way out of power — and tossing gas on the fire with a public call for mass protest next week and a vote to overturn his defeat.
Why it matters: Trump is demanding Republicans fully and unequivocally embrace him — or face his wrath. This is self-inflicted, self-focused — and dangerous for a Republican Party clinging to waning Washington power.
I liked this part:
He’s trying to burn down the party’s chances in Tuesday’s Georgia runoffs, raising doubts for Republican voters by tweeting yesterday that the state’s elections are “both illegal and invalid, and that would include the two current Senatorial Elections.”
Yeah, keep that up, Trumpie. VandeHei and Allen continue that Trump is trying to burn down Georgia Gov. Kemp, Mitch McConnell, several other Republicans and the Republican party in general. By the time this is over the Republican establishment may want to see Trump in jail even more than Democrats do.
Joe Biden previously said that once Trump is gone the "fever will break" and republicans will be sane again, willing to work with him. On Christmas day, speaking of "leverage" he'll have in negotiating with republicans, he said this:
“My leverage is, every senior Republican knows I’ve never once, ever, misled them,” Biden said on a telephone call Wednesday with several columnists, according to The New York Times. “I’ll never publicly embarrass them.”
https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/531661-biden-on-working-with-senate-republicans-ill-never-publicly-embarrass-them
I don't know what cloud Biden is floating on but when 11 senators are, at this stage, trying to do everything they can to undermine your presidency before you take office, to please Trump who, at least in their minds, is going to be around for a while, his having never misled anybody is irrelevant.
Whoo boy!
Precisely. These GOPers care about three things — power, the money they're getting from the oligarchs who own them, and keeping their cushy governmental jobs that keep the unaccountable cash flowing.
Did I mention power?
This is NEVER going to be over. EVER. Not until there's a 100% GOP federal government and they have every state house. And they'll get it too, because the feckless Democrats refuse to wake up and see what's really happening.
Agreed, however, regarding this:
Not until there's a 100% GOP federal government and they have every state house.
It won't be over even then because the GOP has worked for decades to construct the anti government (read: the parts that don't fit their enrich the wealthy agenda) narrative started by Reagan. They "oppose" government even as they've been in control of it, so they came up with "deep state" as a way to justify their continuing to lead the country down a path of destruction of democracy and descent into fascism.
There's a bigger problem though, that "we" are allowing to become structural. By abdicating definition of their policies to right wing spin, believing that its so crazy its not worth speaking out consistently against, or running and hiding from their popular policies to kowtow to right leaning voters who have swallowed the koolaid and will never vote to support them, the democrats aid in not only the normalization of the GOP definition of them, but additionally the total delegitimization of the democratic party, that to be a democrat is somehow alien or anti-American. This is in part why for the last four years it seemed the only voices that mattered were the "real Americans" sitting in rural, small town diners. It helps support the crazy, like saying the 74 million votes Trump received somehow matter more than the 80 million Biden received in winning.
What the democrats need to understand is this: pushing back forcefully and effectively (read: just tell the damned truth in no uncertain terms; make it plain!) against the radical GOP is a must, not just for the survival of the party, but if democracy itself is going to survive. What scares me most is not just this, but the fact that the ONLY institution we have that is by design supposed to be a firewall against the destruction of democracy and the furthering of fascism, is feckless, weak and ineffective.
"I would prefer lefties stay out of it so that any violence won’t be blamed on them."
A lot of the Trumpsters who show up in DC will be legitimately protesting. Some Trumpsters are going to start the revolution if the election is not overturned. There are less than two weeks from the certification to the inauguration. The KKK, the Proud Boys, the Nazis, and the militias see this as a do-or-die moment. Their objective will be to frighten enough Democrats in the US House to support a majority in the Senate who will throw out the Electoral College vote. The amount of terror they have to strike into the hearts of dozens of Republicans in the Senate and even more Democrats in the House can't happen through peaceful demonstration. They're gonna commit murder and claim self-defense. As Maha points out, without the pretense that they were attacked by BLM and Antifa, there's no excuse for Trump to declare martial law.
Aside from the sound strategy, there's a second consideration. I don't want martyrs to the cause of Democracy. It does and will happen, but in the two weeks between the certification of the EC vote and Biden's confirmation, we don't have to provide the mob with victims. Think it through. Without human targets, the mob will turn its rage on Black churches (a previous target) and government buildings, which the police will protect. Trumpsters will not be able to claim they were attacked by a steeple or the cornerstone of a courthouse.
If blood is shed, it will be cop's blood. I don't celebrate that but protecting us from the mob is what they are paid to do. If cops are injured, they stand a better chance of survival in riot gear than a Democrat in a BLM T-shirt. The truly racist foundation of the Trumpsters will be exposed. The fraud of the Trumpster's 'support' of the police will be laid bare. Trumpsterrs made nice with the cops because they expected the police to let Proud Boys riot and commit terrorism. The cops won't do it – IMO, especially the DC police, won't do it.
If it starts in DC on the 6th, that cops are taken to the hospital as victims of Proud Boys, there will be a major re-alignment of police attitudes. BLM protesters may not like cops but they haven't shot any, either. Police won't be supporters of de-funding but cops are going to become vocal about restricting weapons in protests and especially weapons in government buildings.
Al this can happen without progressive activists being shot or hung by lunatics. Even if 75% of Republicans are out of touch with reality, Independent voters can be turned away from the dark side when confronted with clear evidence of a violent coup attempt. Make the picture clear – Proud Boys attacking cops with no BLM and no 'Antifa' in the picture AT ALL. Stay home.
Enjoy the "happy" part of this new year right now – before the poo-poo starts to hit the rapidly oscillating blades next week.
I agree that the Fascist forces of darkness will attack. And I also think their strikes will start around the 6th.
But how? And where?
Imo: If they had any brains at all, this Wednesday, at a previously chosen time, they'd do a terror blitzkrieg in every stat and in every town they can. They don't have to be big attacks with masses of casualties – just big enough to get a lot of attention. Catch the Fed's by surprise.
But even smarter, and a bigger surprise, would be start those attacks this Tuesday, January 5th: GA's Election Day II. When the Fed's and states are worrying about the 6th, hit 'em hard and quick on the 5th, before they're prepared! And again, in as many places as possible at an arranged time frame.
But like I said, doing something that coordinated and impactful would take brains. And organizational skills. And thankfully, those skills are not high on the list of our Reich-Wingers core competencies.
As for the "Seditious Dozen" RepubliKKKLAN Senators, here's what I'd do: Have them all sit-down on their fat wallets in their chamber. And I'd remind them of their oath to the Constitution. The loyalty they swear to is uphold that document and its principles, not swear allegiance to one man. And remind them that 81+ million multi-cultural voters is larger than 74+ million precious whining White snowflakes.
And I'd remind them that if they somehow DID manage to pull-off this coup, 81+million people will never allow them a split-second's peace for the rest of their miserable, seditious lives. They'll be hunted by someone – maybe many someones – every second, waiting for a moment when you're distracted.
The penalty for sedition is death, By hanging, if I remember correctly.
But that's if what's left of the government handles their executions. If a mob catches them, hanging might seem like a much, much more merciful way to die than what a mob can imagine.
I've been against capital punishment my entire life. If it does come to executing these clowns – which is NOT going to happen – it'd be glib to get off a quick funny line. I may be an Atheist, but I feel there's a spirit, a soul, for lack of a better word. I'd have to do some spirit searching.
For six states, add New Mexico.
"We haven't jheard from Rand Paul yet"
Not that we've been listening to Rand Paul in any case..
It occurred to me that if many of the violent groups have been infiltrated, there's a problem with making arrests before the 20th. Remember that the plot to capture the governor of MI was foiled because multiple FBI informants blew the whistle. If the FBI thwarts attacks in DC this week and arrests the kingpins, Trump has two weeks to pardon them. So will law enforcement allow plots to go further and even be executed, allowing shootings and vandalism to begin, in the hope Trump won't intervene where actual insurrection has occurred? If you arrest before the crime, Trump can claim he's avoiding a miscarriage of justice because in Trumpworld, their free speech rights were curtailed. Arrest the guy with the gun that fired the shot that hit a cop, the defense becomes more difficult.
There's the outside chance that cops will let plans go forward, guns and bombs be imported to the capitol. Then the feds slaughter the perps in an ambush like Bonnie and Clyde.
If that happens, e.g. the Proud Boys and other Trump brown get violent and Trump pardons them, does that open up Trump for prosecution as a coconspirator after he leaves office, seeing how he has been actively and openly encouraging them to be violent?
New information has come to light, and we have news reports and a tape of a phone call between Donald Trump and Georgia elected officials in which Trump is jawboning the elected official to find votes. Votes which would turn the election toward him. Trump even played the Republican card, now the one and only Republican commandment. Thou shall find or create evidence the party (now the party of Trump) wants. Even if that requires you commit fraudulent behavior with regard to an election.
It is like a defendant at a trial and brazenly winking and handing out Benjamins to the jurors in plain view of all. Trump is still trying to stage a coup, tamper with an election, and engage in flagrantly corrupt actions and establish his commandment on at least ‘his’ portion of the Republican party.
Not only that but in Trump's Republican Party, or portion thereof, all members of this party are required to be complicit in any corrupt or criminal Trump action. This is beyond outrageous and totally intolerable.
Well trump just threw the bomb into the dumpster
We now have the mob boss demanding 11780 votes. On the recorded call
Can we please outlaw the republican party and someone please tell Biden that the senate is broken . biden has been gone 12 years. He cannot be reasonable with unreasoning people.
This is getting creepy. I hope a Warthog or 2 are standing by.
Yup, Donut* J. tRUMP screwed up again!
And got caught!! AGAIN!!!!!
Donut knew his tiny thumbs wouldn't move the Georgia voting scale far enough in his favor, so he decided to plant both cheeks of his massive kiester on the scale instead, called the GA AG, Raffy, and basically threatened him – on tape. ON TAPE!!!!!
WHAT A FECKN' EEDJIT!!!!!!!!!!!
"The Round Mound of Loud Vexatious Sound" wanted Raffy to "find" 11,780 votes to put in his column. And Voila!
Voila, he'd win, right?!? Whaaaaa?
Nope, you dope! Even if Raffy were stupid enough to do it, Einstein, that's 16 electoral votes from GA. Biden would STILL have over 270 votes. And he would STILL WIN, YOU FECKIN' LOOOOOOOOOOOSER!
LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOSER!!
LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOSER!!!
LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOSER!!!!
LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOSER!!!!!
* 😉
Somebody is getting desperate. TeeHee! I have to work extra hard these days not to have evil thoughts. Thank goodness I have several spirit guides and a guardian angel to remind me.
Happy New Year everyone!
11,780 votes? That's a weirdly specific number.