2020 Election Results Part 7: Biden Starts Working While Trump Tries To Blow Up The World

[Xan]

I wonder if Pompeo is doing the other trips to cover for mostly needing to visit places like Turkey.  Turkey acknowledged Biden's win and is peeved with Pompeo for snubbing them before.  I wonder if he's going to try to lean on leaders in Georgia and Israel?

..................

Trump will continue to deny the election results as long as he can make money by doing so.  He's trying to get his news channel off the ground and would like to at least be a kingmaker for the Republicans.  He's drunk on his own perceived power and he loves those adoring (and stupid) crowds.  I don't see him ever throwing in the towel.  He'll just eventually slink away -- whining the entire time about how unfair the liberals are.

.................

As far as possible voting equipment hacks -- I've only heard that there was a possibility that small, select groups of votes were switched in strategic areas in 2016.  This made it harder to track.  I honestly feel that the reason Trump was so horrified at the mail in votes was because those were all on paper and there wasn't a good way to change them.  After all, the Repubs in charge were able to get lots of voting machines put in with no paper trails.  I'll say that again -- many systems have no paper trails.  That should horrify everyone.  And there's no reason for it except for people hoping their vote thefts won't be discovered.

...............

My own rule of thumb is to say that any Republicans who are still loudly beating the drum for Trump at this point must have skeletons in their closets.  And Putin knows where all the skeletons are.  Graham has big secrets and so does Nunes.  Apparently, so does Cornyn.  McConnell -- yep.  There are a few who are scared of their voters but the ones yelling the loudest don't want their dirty laundry aired.  Sometimes it's money and sometimes sex.  Sometimes both.

 

[fraurosena]

Show of hands, who is surprised?

What? No one?

 

[Penny]

I am ready for this circus to end. I just hope that when Biden is in the White House, Trump goes to jail and cannot run in 2024

[Maggie Mae]

4 hours ago, kpmom said:

At least some GOP Senators are showing some slight signs of sanity.  Lankford of Oklahoma says he will step in if the Trump admin. continues to withhold intel. from Biden.

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/elections/2020/11/12/gop-sen-lankford-says-biden-should-start-receiving-intel-briefings/6262263002/

He talks about it at 1:40 here https://www.c-span.org/video/?478043-101/senator-lankford-joe-biden-receive-intelligence-briefings 

He's Chair of the Subcommittee on Regulatory Affairs and Federal Management, and Chair of the Senate Ethics Committee. So he has some clout and power but I'm not sure what he could or really wants to do. 

[GreyhoundFan]

1 hour ago, HerNameIsBuffy said:

Whoever is the most grown up of his kids need to step up and check on Daddy because he's not okay.

That would be Barron.

[HerNameIsBuffy]

12 minutes ago, Penny said:

I am ready for this circus to end. I just hope that when Biden is in the White House, Trump goes to jail and cannot run in 2024

Sadly one can run for president from jail.  
 

just like one can get elected president even if they couldn’t pass a basic low level security clearance.

[GreyhoundFan]

[Ozlsn]

43 minutes ago, Xan said:

My own rule of thumb is to say that any Republicans who are still loudly beating the drum for Trump at this point must have skeletons in their closets.  And Putin knows where all the skeletons are.  Graham has big secrets and so does Nunes.  Apparently, so does Cornyn.  McConnell -- yep.  There are a few who are scared of their voters but the ones yelling the loudest don't want their dirty laundry aired.  Sometimes it's money and sometimes sex.  Sometimes both.

Please God let McConnell's be money. I do not want any mental images that I cannot erase. 

[onekidanddone]

3 hours ago, fraurosena said:

And now we know for certain that the repugs tampered with voting machines...

 

Sure Jan. 

[Ozlsn]

12 minutes ago, HerNameIsBuffy said:

Sadly one can run for president from jail.  
 

just like one can get elected president even if they couldn’t pass a basic low level security clearance.

So literally the only exclusion criteria are not being native born and being under 35?? I know the founding fathers didn't have security clearances, but they had jails for crying out loud. I guess it's kind of like warning labels - until someone does it it doesn't occur to anyone that you might need it. I am kind of surprised the Sec Check didn't come in in the Cold War though.

[onekidanddone]

20 minutes ago, GreyhoundFan said:

That would be Barron.

Somehow I feel Barron is all outa fucks to give when it comes to his dad. 
Speaking of Barron, is he going to stay in Washington to finish out the school year?

[GreyhoundFan]

18 minutes ago, Ozlsn said:

So literally the only exclusion criteria are not being native born and being under 35?? I know the founding fathers didn't have security clearances, but they had jails for crying out loud. I guess it's kind of like warning labels - until someone does it it doesn't occur to anyone that you might need it. I am kind of surprised the Sec Check didn't come in in the Cold War though.

From the Library of Congress:

Quote

Legal requirements for presidential candidates have remained the same since the year Washington accepted the presidency. As directed by the Constitution, a presidential candidate must be a natural born citizen of the United States, a resident for 14 years, and 35 years of age or older. These requirements do not prohibit women or minority candidates from running.

 

[Ozlsn]

I find it utterly bizarre that you can't vote if you're convicted of certain level offences but you can totally run for office. Also I had missed the 14 years bit completely. 

I do feel that if a security check requirement is introduced there needs to be a completely independent body doing the checks - otherwise it's another tool to exclude people while not appearing to do so.

Also going back to McConnell for a second - I don't think it's either sex or money. I think it's power, and possibly ideology. Not all Soviet agents were blackmailed or wanted money, quite a few were either converts or willing to work with someone to further their own ideological goals. And some of course just liked the thrill.

 

[Maggie Mae]

20 minutes ago, Ozlsn said:

So literally the only exclusion criteria are not being native born and being under 35?? I know the founding fathers didn't have security clearances, but they had jails for crying out loud. I guess it's kind of like warning labels - until someone does it it doesn't occur to anyone that you might need it. I am kind of surprised the Sec Check didn't come in in the Cold War though.

The founders  were rather obsessed with the idea of "foreigners" being involved in Government.  You'll notice that they exempted themselves from the "natural born" (which was never defined) requirement, as well. Because, well,  many of them weren't even born in the general vicinity of North America. 

They also thought, wrongly, that after George Washington left politics, no one else would gather the necessary electoral college votes, and it would go to the House of Representatives. That only happened once or twice, I believe. 

We are largely reactionary - they added the bill of rights two years later, after the states were like "Ugh, you guys forgot individual rights." The role of the Senate Majority Leader and Minority Leaders is not in the Constitution. 

[fraurosena]

2 minutes ago, Ozlsn said:

Also going back to McConnell for a second - I don't think it's either sex or money.

Hmmm. His net worth is now 22.5 million... on a Senator's income (193.000 a year as majority leader). Roughly, and without any spending at all (zero, zip, zilch) he would have accumulated about 6 million in the 36 years he's been in office. 

Of course it's always possible he invested extremely wisely or got lucky... but I dunno. 

What I do believe is that he is unbelievably corrupt. And it's probable that it's his corruption he's being blackmailed with. Even if he didn't accept actual money, it's also possible he granted favours in return for non-monetary renumeration too.

[HerNameIsBuffy]

22 minutes ago, Ozlsn said:

I find it utterly bizarre that you can't vote if you're convicted of certain level offences but you can totally run for office. Also I had missed the 14 years bit completely. 

I do feel that if a security check requirement is introduced there needs to be a completely independent body doing the checks - otherwise it's another tool to exclude people while not appearing to do so.

Also going back to McConnell for a second - I don't think it's either sex or money. I think it's power, and possibly ideology. Not all Soviet agents were blackmailed or wanted money, quite a few were either converts or willing to work with someone to further their own ideological goals. And some of course just liked the thrill.

 

It's money with McConnell.  There was a lot of Russian money pouring into KY if IIRC not long ago.  I'll google specifics when I can.

He's drunk on power for sure, and that's a huge part of it...but I do think he has dirty money secrets to protect.

 

Here is one

Quote

The report, from Tucker Doherty and Tanya Snyder, notes that Chao has overseen the allocation of nearly $80 million in federal grants to Kentucky during her time as transportation secretary, designating a special intermediary to help the state navigate this funding process, a resource that few states have. It raises questions about whether Chao — who oversees funding for everything from highway construction to port development at the Department of Transportation — was treating Kentucky differently due to her relationship with McConnell.

Her relationship is that she is his wife.

https://www.vox.com/2019/6/11/18659681/elaine-chao-mitch-mcconnell-transportation-secretary-trump-pruitt-zinke-price

Russian company under sanctions from US gov with ties to Putin invests millions in Kentucky.

https://time.com/5651345/rusal-investment-braidy-kentucky/

 

Edited November 12, 2020 by HerNameIsBuffy

[libgirl2]

A friend of mine, who is Russian, had posted this the other day and it gave me a really good laugh

 

1917: Bolsheviks rush the Winter Palace and effectively overthrow Tsarist autocracy.

2020: Rudy Guilliani has a press conference between a dildo shop and crematorium in a pathetic attempt to ignite coup d'etat. 

2 hours ago, Xan said:

..................

Trump will continue to deny the election results as long as he can make money by doing so.  He's trying to get his news channel off the ground and would like to at least be a kingmaker for the Republicans.  

.................

 

This is what my husband keeps saying. 

[HerNameIsBuffy]

23 minutes ago, libgirl2 said:

A friend of mine, who is Russian, had posted this the other day and it gave me a really good laugh

 

1917: Bolsheviks rush the Winter Palace and effectively overthrow Tsarist autocracy.

2020: Rudy Guilliani has a press conference between a dildo shop and crematorium in a pathetic attempt to ignite coup d'etat. 

This is what my husband keeps saying. 

I keep seeing all this stuff about a news channel and it was talked about even before 2016 as why he wanted to run, but not win.  

I have no idea who would give him money for this, as his loans to the tune of $1.1 billion are going to be called soon.  Also, if I had debt I couldn't pay looming large, AND I was dealing with my lawyers for all the criminal charges that are about to hit me from NY I wouldn't have either the focus or energy to change my socks much less start a new enterprise.

I am, however, enjoying the heck out of reading people posting that Tucker, Laura, and Hannity had better go to Trump's network or OAN or newmax (?) and they know they will because they are true patriots and it's not about the fame or money for them.  Sure it isn't.

ETA some on reddit think he won't need money and will just be invited to slap his name on Breitbart or Newsmax.  Slapping his gaudy name on crappy stuff is his MO.

Edited November 12, 2020 by HerNameIsBuffy

[Marmion]

3 hours ago, HerNameIsBuffy said:

Sadly one can run for president from jail.  
 

just like one can get elected president even if they couldn’t pass a basic low level security clearance.

For example , this person , Eugene Debs , the Socialist candidate , did so .   

https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/622489/eugene-debs-socialist-who-ran-for-president-from-prison   That's how I know of this tidbit .  Now whether of not the Republicans would renominate him or not is another matter .   Perhaps Trump would run for reelection as the standard bearer of his own party , one that's more explicitly along similar lines to the French National Rally  .  {  https://time.com/5170730/marion-marechal-le-pen-cpac/  ,  

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Rally  } 

[Cartmann99]

6 hours ago, Ozlsn said:

Not all Soviet agents were blackmailed or wanted money, quite a few were either converts or willing to work with someone to further their own ideological goals.

I read that too fast and thought it said goats. I wondered for a moment if that was a popular expression in Australia, and then I reread the sentence.

[mamallama]

Dammit now I want an ideological goat.  

[thoughtful]

14 minutes ago, mamallama said:

Dammit now I want an ideological goat.  

I believe this goat is prepared to tell you his philosophy of life:

Spoiler

 

[onekidanddone]

15 minutes ago, mamallama said:

Dammit now I want an ideological goat.  

Goat? Someone said goat? There is a place down the road which has curry goat on the menu. Now I want some

[SassyPants]

6 hours ago, HerNameIsBuffy said:

I keep seeing all this stuff about a news channel and it was talked about even before 2016 as why he wanted to run, but not win.  

I have no idea who would give him money for this, as his loans to the tune of $1.1 billion are going to be called soon.  Also, if I had debt I couldn't pay looming large, AND I was dealing with my lawyers for all the criminal charges that are about to hit me from NY I wouldn't have either the focus or energy to change my socks much less start a new enterprise.

I am, however, enjoying the heck out of reading people posting that Tucker, Laura, and Hannity had better go to Trump's network or OAN or newmax (?) and they know they will because they are true patriots and it's not about the fame or money for them.  Sure it isn't.

ETA some on reddit think he won't need money and will just be invited to slap his name on Breitbart or Newsmax.  Slapping his gaudy name on crappy stuff is his MO.

Who will give him money...Well, not long ago a bank wrote off 290, 000,000 dollars of Trump’s debt and per the industry experts interviewed for the article, this happens fairly readily. It s called the bank “taking a hair cut.” 
 

It just pisses me off that hard working people are rarely given these kind of breaks and certainly not over and over and over. Running up big debts and walking away from the payments is Trump’s MO. Most of us would be in jail if we pulled this crap, not the WH. Why would anyone given him a nickel?

[Ozlsn]

24 minutes ago, SassyPants said:

Running up big debts and walking away from the payments is Trump’s MO.

Yeah - owe $2000 or even $200,000 and they'll chase you into the grave. $200 million? Eh, too hard to get back, we'll take 10 cents in the dollar and write it off.

I guess the "moral" of the story is if you're drowning in debt borrow more until you're too big to fail.