If you haven’t gone to WaPo to hear highlights of yesterday’s unhinged call from Trump to Brad Raffensperger, the Georgia secretary of state, here it is. Trump tries to bully Raffensperger into changing the election result. You can hear the entire call at WaPo, and there’s also a transcript.
Here’s just a sample of Trump talking:
Now the problem is they need more time for the big numbers. But they’re very substantial numbers. But I think you’re going to fine that they — by the way, a little information, I think you’re going to find that they are shredding ballots because they have to get rid of the ballots because the ballots are unsigned. The ballots are corrupt, and they’re brand new and they don’t have a seal and there’s the whole thing with the ballots. But the ballots are corrupt.
And you are going to find that they are — which is totally illegal, it is more illegal for you than it is for them because, you know what they did and you’re not reporting it. That’s a criminal, that’s a criminal offense. And you can’t let that happen. That’s a big risk to you and to Ryan, your lawyer. And that’s a big risk.
But they are shredding ballots, in my opinion, based on what I’ve heard. And they are removing machinery and they’re moving it as fast as they can, both of which are criminal finds. And you can’t let it happen and you are letting it happen. You know, I mean, I’m notifying you that you’re letting it happen. So look. All I want to do is this. I just want to find 11,780 votes, which is one more than we have because we won the state.
And flipping the state is a great testament to our country because, you know, this is — it’s a testament that they can admit to a mistake or whatever you want to call it. If it was a mistake, I don’t know. A lot of people think it wasn’t a mistake. It was much more criminal than that. But it’s a big problem in Georgia and it’s not a problem that’s going away. I mean, you know, it’s not a problem.
Trump and some people with Trump did nearly all of the talking. Occasionally Raffensperger and his office’s general counsel got a word in edgewise, like “that’s not true” or “your data is wrong.”
Anyway — yes, there may be criminal activity going on. This is from Politico:
President Donald Trump’s effort to pressure Georgia officials to “find” enough votes to overturn President-elect Joe Biden’s victory could run afoul of federal and state criminal statutes, according to legal experts and lawmakers, who expressed alarm at Trump’s effort to subvert democracy with less than three week left in his term. …
… Legal experts say the combination of Trump’s request to “find” a specific number of votes — just enough to put him ahead of Biden — and his veiled reference to criminal liability for Raffensperger and his aides could violate federal and state statutes aimed at guarding against the solicitation of election fraud. The potential violations of state law are particularly notable, given that they would fall outside the reach of a potential pardon by Trump or his successor. On Capitol Hill, some Republicans expressed alarm about the call, while Democrats indicated that they viewed it as a potential criminal offense.
Just keep digging, Donald. Oh, and Trump’s sub-brilliant trade adviser Peter Navarro was on Fox News babbling that the inauguration could be postponed while the election is further investigated.
Other stuff to read:
Dan Lamothe, Washington Post, The time to question election results has passed, all living former defense secretaries say
New York Times Editorial Board, The Wreckage Betsy DeVos Leaves Behind
Let's take a stroll down memory lane, Bill Clinton met with the A/G under Obama at the Phoenix Airport. The DOJ was investigating HRC for the use of a private server and the improper storage of State Department records and Emails.
I agreed with Republicans that the meeting stunk to hell and back. I don't know that Bill tried to influence the investigation but the former president and the A/G knew better than to meet. To mute demands for her resignation, Lynch recused herself and handed the matter to FBI director Comey. (And the way Comey handled the matter probably cost HRC the election. Way to go, Bill. It was more disastrous than all the illicit BJ's. you've ever gotten.)
But here's the point. A politician HAS to steer clear of an investigation or election ih which he has a personal stake. Trump didn't just have a coincidental meeting that involved a person with influence in the election. Trump called for the explicit purpose of demanding a reversal of the election results based on Trump's allegations which no court has sustained. The bastard named how many votes he wanted changed. He threatened the Georgia official with criminal charges.
"shall have Power to grant Reprieves and Pardons for Offenses against the United States, except in Cases of impeachment." That's from the Constitution. The House should immediately move to bring impeachment charges against Trump because it would 'freeze' prohibit the power of anyone to pardon Trump for any crimes specified in the impeachment. The House won't, but they should.
All of this from Donut* J. tRUMP for GA's 16 EC votes?!?
A-HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!
Even "Math for Dummies" can't help a feckin' eedjit who can't figure out that taking 16 votes from Biden's 306 doesn't leave less than 270 – the total Ol' Joe needed to win. It would leave Biden with 290. And 290 is still 20 more than Biden needed for the win.
The question isn't, "What was he thinkin'?!?"
It's, "Is he even capable of thinkin'?!?"
I think I may have underestimated tRUMP's stupidity.
But his power to destroy is unquestionable!
And that destructive power is unequaled in American history!!!
* 😉
Never thought of that Gulag. That Georgia by itself wouldn't matter. I think he's playing for every bit he can chisel off for himself, and the only way is to go at it state by state.
"We intend to vote on January 6 to reject the electors from disputed states as not ‘regularly given’ and ‘lawfully certified,'" the senators said. "Unless and until that emergency 10-day audit is completed."
WTF does this suggest? The 12 Senators might accept the electors AFTER the audit. And the 12 Senators will negotiate to install Trump's auditors. (A word that showed up often in Trump's call.) So the nature of the scheme is exposed – delay the process until four days before the inauguration. You will read the same word from different factions, in the Trump call and in Teddy's argument for the delay. The word – "compromise." (I'm not sure what the terms of the compromise might be from Trump's side, but I don't think it includes Trump leaving the WH before he dies of old age.)
Thank God there was a recording (wondering how that happened), and that Raffensperger is an honorable man. And the whole world gets to hear it.
I’ve charged extortion in mob cases with similar language.
it is more illegal for you than it is for them
Duh?
Illegal, immoral, unethical, undemocratic, loathsome, embarrassing both nationally and internationally and just plain wrong. Moreover it is an attempt to wrongfully manipulate an election, to fix it or rig it. It is a blatant attempt to do what he is accusing others of doing to him. It is an attempt to create an unfair environment where the vote of some people is wrongly disenfranchised.
NPR reported estimates of 800 million being spent in Georgia, I would guess most utterly wasted. This does not account for volunteer time and energy expended. I bet the poor people of Georgia are exasperated and know less honest information about the candidates then when it started. Their will be big rallies tonight, to influence those few who have not fixed their choice months ago or already voted. Trump is already prepping to contest the legitimacy of that election if it does not turn out his way. This time he is demanding that Georgia officials count the votes his way, with the results he has preordained. We have clear taped evidence he conspires to fix elections. This is all just totally abhorrent and intolerable.
It kind of gives new meaning to Trump's saying…"I alone can fix it."
Yes, it is illegal.
52 U.S.C. § 20511
DT is going to need some money. I think he’s adding chapters to a book he intends to write. It’ll fly off the shelves and he’ll be all over television hyping it. Any suggestions for a title? Buckle up folks. We have another couple of weeks to go.
How about the Art of Making License Plates
I wondered how many times he had already called the ga sec of st. Them they report 18 tries. Personally i don't think it was attempts. I think the guy finally had enough called his lawyer and taped it. Now trump is publicly tweeting threats to senators not on board. How many calls to the joont chiefs demanding they do something and that's why 10 secretaries of defense have come and said dont drag the military into it. How much of these calls have neen made? Is that why ted cruz and co. Have gone along?
What do you wanna bet?
Sorry about spelling
The seditious caucus needs and deserves professional ethics action, as asserted in a fine opinion piece in the Washington Post. I will let Jenifer Ruben's words speak for themselves:
Let the ethics hearing begin. It is time to clean up the profession of this oh so dirty dozen. Remember the old adage. A single rotten apple will spoil the whole bushel. It seems your apples have been left unattended for some time and the rot is spreading like a virus.
Opinion | Senate Republicans planning an electoral college coup shouldn’t be allowed to hold office – The Washington Post
Sorry about the rerun, this was the intended post.
The seditious caucus needs and deserves professional ethics action, as asserted in a fine opinion piece in the Washington Post. I will let Jennifer Rubin's words speak for themselves:
Let the ethics hearing begin. It is time to clean up the profession of this oh so dirty dozen. Remember the old adage. A single rotten apple will spoil the whole bushel. It seems your apples have been left unattended for some time and the rot is spreading like a virus.
Opinion | Senate Republicans planning an electoral college coup shouldn’t be allowed to hold office – The Washington Post
Thx for links to WaPo. Posted them in FB, with appropriate (caustic) commentary.
I never even try to listen to Trump, so I just read the transcript. But even then, I wound up face-palming painfully, halfway through the 1st paragraph (Trump's first "proof" that he actually "won" was the size of his… rallies).
Here's to a new Year, a new start!