Jan 18, 2022·edited Jan 18, 2022Liked by Greg Olear
Your comments about 2016 this morning got me thinking. One of the burning questions is why formerly normal Republicans almost all have gotten behind, or at least won't speak out against, the Big Lie. Is it possible that it's because (a) they know the 2016 result likely was phony, courtesy of Vlad the Impotent, and (b) they know he can turn the election in their favor again (2020 didn't work for whatever reason, perhaps the margin was too big), and (c) they want to prevent Democrats from claiming that a future election was rigged or stolen, so they're making this ridiculous case about 2020 so they can throw the Democrats' words back at them, and claim in the future that any such argument is similarly ridiculous? Has anyone considered this? I don't recall seeing anyone float or test the idea.
Yes, Trump screaming about the election being rigged (and Bernie doing the same thing about the 2016 primaries) means that, if we really do find evidence of malfeasance, it will be impossible to sell. Whoever owns these GOP politicians doesn't care about democracy. It's a disgrace.
I was all over the place saying this about 2020, too. McConnell won in KY after a 19% approval rating, Collins in Maine, Graham in SC -- Trump had made the whole idea of claiming legitimately that an election was rigged, completely off the table for any Democrat after the "Stop the Steal" roadshow.
Everything Trump and the Trumpublicans say as a complaint about Democrats is (a) something Republicans are doing, (b) something they have done, or (c) something they plan on doing in the near future.
Changing the Electoral College is a baby step toward confronting politically institutionalized hypocrisy. It might not be the the first step, but it’s a necessary one. Ironically, an amendment to change it probably has a greater chance of success than the Equal Rights Amendment, but that’s not saying much. Fearful, sexually-insecure white bullies will continue to overlord politics, commerce, and women until their hearts change.
I don't think it will ever happen, but that doesn't mean we should accept it as it is. Make the racist GOP explain why they allow this racist vestige to endure.
The National Popular Vote Interstate Compact has the potential to neuter the Electoral College without an amendment. It's within reach already. But should it become activated (by being passed by sufficient states), expect a full-court (pun intended) press, rapidly elevated to the Justice Jokers, calling it "unconstitutional." See:
Without the Electoral College and the ratfucked Senate, we would not even HAVE a United States of America. Giving extra power to the tiny, unpopulated states was a scam the founding fathers used to get them aboard the revolution train, and into a new country. We can totally blame the ratfucking, founding fathers who did NOT care about democracy, for not having one, ever.
AND, it is also why we will NEVER have a Democracy. The criminally corrupt, Russian-backed GOP will never allow it, and if we get close, they will start a civil war and burn America to the ground.
According to the professor I quoted, the notion of the EC being about the small states doesn't actually hold. He says it's more racism/white supremacy than anything else.
I also contend that the extreme vitriol being leveled towards the President and Vice President even at the personal level is due to the fact the media (also the Right, goes without saying and some segments on the Left) hate the Democratic Party because Black people wield a tremendous amount of power and influence and therefore they feel white people like them are not "centered". I've noticed when the media talk about the "voters who matter" they're talking about white voters (remember how Bernie was going to run away with the nomination in 2020). Plus Joe Biden served as VIP under a Black man, he chose a Black woman to be his running mate and has been clear on his positions about voting rights, inclusion, etc. They're angry but they don't want to insult Black people directly so they displace their anger by dumping it on President Biden and Vice President Harris. I've never seen anything like these full frontal non stop attack that are cruel and insensitive and I've been following politics since I was in the 5th grade.
On a side note, the media's indifference to the riot that stopped the recount and the subsequent Supreme Court decision terrified me in 2000. I was still shocked at that point by the media's shoulder shrugging over Rethuglican perfidy (silly me). I still think Kerry might have won Ohio in 2004. But we at least have 2 well documented cases (2000 and 2016) of thuggery and foreign interference that resulted in the will of the voters being overruled. Media still yawning and shrugging but that's "same as it ever was".
The intent of my screed is to state my agreement with the professor's conclusions about why we still have the Electoral College.
I agree. It’s like the journalists are receiving training on what not to say or express WE, The People’s feelings. I want them to press our elected leaders why they skate on not calling the seditionists out by name. Today, on C-Span, Tammy Baldwin, not the greatest orator, called out Trump by name. I want her and every Dem to call out the “esteemed colleagues” by their actual names!
Well said, and I would be depressed except for one thought that buoys me. The word "no" sometimes has a backfiring effect, especially when it is accompanied with taking something away. I think of what's probably going to happen when the Stench Bench foolishly kills Roe v Wade. I think of what's probably going to happen when the Senate foolishly kills the voting rights bill. I think what's probably going to happen when crooked state legislatures (like mine) foolishly overturn elections. There are many more of US than of those handfuls of old, scared white and for the most part - men - MANY MORE OF US. And we do not like the word "no." And we do not like our rights taken away from us.
As Ruth said at the end of our discussion, the BLM protests were the largest ever in history, and that happened not long ago. We DO have the ability to affect real change. There IS a line that they can cross. And they are VERY close to it.
I like your style too Ellen! One of the things that buoys me is that the Mainstream Media pundit class is usually wrong about everything so their prognostications about Doomed Dems perpetually in Disarray should not be taken as Truth.
I was going to post a link to a story I saw on Monday in the Washington Post to show that even what is considered "leftish" media is on the bandwagon of bashing Biden and bashing Dems. When I went over to WaPo to get the link, I found out that it's really not necessary to link to the story I saw as there are now several as we're at the first-year anniversary of Biden's presidency:
"Biden wants to brag, but most Americans think his first year was a disaster"
Jennifer Rubin: Biden needs a reset. Here’s how he can do it.
Paul Waldman: Stop blaming the left for Biden’s problems
"We need to hear Biden’s Year 2 covid-19 strategy"
"The ironic legacy of Biden’s first year: A strengthening Republican Party"
JFC! Thankfully, the comments for most of these articles take the authors to task for their bullshitty opinions. I'm not wearing rose-colored glasses about the Biden/Harris administration, but I think what they've managed to accomplish in the face of STRONG opposition in their first year, is pretty remarkable. The media is chasing after their clicks and ad money, nothing more.
Your comments about 2016 this morning got me thinking. One of the burning questions is why formerly normal Republicans almost all have gotten behind, or at least won't speak out against, the Big Lie. Is it possible that it's because (a) they know the 2016 result likely was phony, courtesy of Vlad the Impotent, and (b) they know he can turn the election in their favor again (2020 didn't work for whatever reason, perhaps the margin was too big), and (c) they want to prevent Democrats from claiming that a future election was rigged or stolen, so they're making this ridiculous case about 2020 so they can throw the Democrats' words back at them, and claim in the future that any such argument is similarly ridiculous? Has anyone considered this? I don't recall seeing anyone float or test the idea.
Yes, Trump screaming about the election being rigged (and Bernie doing the same thing about the 2016 primaries) means that, if we really do find evidence of malfeasance, it will be impossible to sell. Whoever owns these GOP politicians doesn't care about democracy. It's a disgrace.
I was all over the place saying this about 2020, too. McConnell won in KY after a 19% approval rating, Collins in Maine, Graham in SC -- Trump had made the whole idea of claiming legitimately that an election was rigged, completely off the table for any Democrat after the "Stop the Steal" roadshow.
Everyone trump pardoned is a traitor. Everything he projected he is doing. Let it all spectacularly backfire and blow up in their faces - soon.
Everything Trump and the Trumpublicans say as a complaint about Democrats is (a) something Republicans are doing, (b) something they have done, or (c) something they plan on doing in the near future.
Dr Goebbels playbook
Yes, yes, and amen.
Yep.
Yup.
I concur
Changing the Electoral College is a baby step toward confronting politically institutionalized hypocrisy. It might not be the the first step, but it’s a necessary one. Ironically, an amendment to change it probably has a greater chance of success than the Equal Rights Amendment, but that’s not saying much. Fearful, sexually-insecure white bullies will continue to overlord politics, commerce, and women until their hearts change.
Good luck with that.
I don't think it will ever happen, but that doesn't mean we should accept it as it is. Make the racist GOP explain why they allow this racist vestige to endure.
And say it out loud, in that manner! No more stepping on eggshells with these abhorrent people. Let’s make them feel very uncomfortable.
Hopeful that the arrests of the Oath Keepers will lead to Roger Stone getting pulled in soon
That photo of him screams "Pucker for sale".
Un pinché puto
Un payaso besando
The National Popular Vote Interstate Compact has the potential to neuter the Electoral College without an amendment. It's within reach already. But should it become activated (by being passed by sufficient states), expect a full-court (pun intended) press, rapidly elevated to the Justice Jokers, calling it "unconstitutional." See:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Popular_Vote_Interstate_Compact
The criminally corrupt, Russian-backed GOP will never allow it, and if we get close, they will start a civil war and burn America to the ground.
The first part of your sentence is certainly true. Not sure about the second, and hope it doesn't get that far.
I've seen that. It's a genius workaround, but yes, they will push back against it.
Thanks for the link. Educated me. Neutering the Electoral College would be pleasurable.
Thank You, Greg. Just as I feared.
Without the Electoral College and the ratfucked Senate, we would not even HAVE a United States of America. Giving extra power to the tiny, unpopulated states was a scam the founding fathers used to get them aboard the revolution train, and into a new country. We can totally blame the ratfucking, founding fathers who did NOT care about democracy, for not having one, ever.
AND, it is also why we will NEVER have a Democracy. The criminally corrupt, Russian-backed GOP will never allow it, and if we get close, they will start a civil war and burn America to the ground.
According to the professor I quoted, the notion of the EC being about the small states doesn't actually hold. He says it's more racism/white supremacy than anything else.
Shocked, I tell you.
I also contend that the extreme vitriol being leveled towards the President and Vice President even at the personal level is due to the fact the media (also the Right, goes without saying and some segments on the Left) hate the Democratic Party because Black people wield a tremendous amount of power and influence and therefore they feel white people like them are not "centered". I've noticed when the media talk about the "voters who matter" they're talking about white voters (remember how Bernie was going to run away with the nomination in 2020). Plus Joe Biden served as VIP under a Black man, he chose a Black woman to be his running mate and has been clear on his positions about voting rights, inclusion, etc. They're angry but they don't want to insult Black people directly so they displace their anger by dumping it on President Biden and Vice President Harris. I've never seen anything like these full frontal non stop attack that are cruel and insensitive and I've been following politics since I was in the 5th grade.
On a side note, the media's indifference to the riot that stopped the recount and the subsequent Supreme Court decision terrified me in 2000. I was still shocked at that point by the media's shoulder shrugging over Rethuglican perfidy (silly me). I still think Kerry might have won Ohio in 2004. But we at least have 2 well documented cases (2000 and 2016) of thuggery and foreign interference that resulted in the will of the voters being overruled. Media still yawning and shrugging but that's "same as it ever was".
The intent of my screed is to state my agreement with the professor's conclusions about why we still have the Electoral College.
I agree. It’s like the journalists are receiving training on what not to say or express WE, The People’s feelings. I want them to press our elected leaders why they skate on not calling the seditionists out by name. Today, on C-Span, Tammy Baldwin, not the greatest orator, called out Trump by name. I want her and every Dem to call out the “esteemed colleagues” by their actual names!
Yes!
Well said, and I would be depressed except for one thought that buoys me. The word "no" sometimes has a backfiring effect, especially when it is accompanied with taking something away. I think of what's probably going to happen when the Stench Bench foolishly kills Roe v Wade. I think of what's probably going to happen when the Senate foolishly kills the voting rights bill. I think what's probably going to happen when crooked state legislatures (like mine) foolishly overturn elections. There are many more of US than of those handfuls of old, scared white and for the most part - men - MANY MORE OF US. And we do not like the word "no." And we do not like our rights taken away from us.
I like your style Ellen.
As Ruth said at the end of our discussion, the BLM protests were the largest ever in history, and that happened not long ago. We DO have the ability to affect real change. There IS a line that they can cross. And they are VERY close to it.
I like your style too Ellen! One of the things that buoys me is that the Mainstream Media pundit class is usually wrong about everything so their prognostications about Doomed Dems perpetually in Disarray should not be taken as Truth.
Never mind the nattering nabobs but keep fighting 4 Truth, Justice, & Equality b4 Law
Yes!
I was going to post a link to a story I saw on Monday in the Washington Post to show that even what is considered "leftish" media is on the bandwagon of bashing Biden and bashing Dems. When I went over to WaPo to get the link, I found out that it's really not necessary to link to the story I saw as there are now several as we're at the first-year anniversary of Biden's presidency:
"Biden wants to brag, but most Americans think his first year was a disaster"
Jennifer Rubin: Biden needs a reset. Here’s how he can do it.
Paul Waldman: Stop blaming the left for Biden’s problems
"We need to hear Biden’s Year 2 covid-19 strategy"
"The ironic legacy of Biden’s first year: A strengthening Republican Party"
JFC! Thankfully, the comments for most of these articles take the authors to task for their bullshitty opinions. I'm not wearing rose-colored glasses about the Biden/Harris administration, but I think what they've managed to accomplish in the face of STRONG opposition in their first year, is pretty remarkable. The media is chasing after their clicks and ad money, nothing more.
👍🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼
I agree.