crooksandliars--2020-11-03--After The Trump Presidency, Trump Will Continue To Be Ridiculous And Appalling

If Donald Trump loses the election , this is certainly plausible : Imagine that on January 21st Kayleigh McEnany begins broadcasting regular press briefings from the Trump Hotel a few blocks down Pennsylvania Avenue from the White House ; picture the 45th president hosting congressional leaders in a replica Oval Office reconstructed inside his hotel to plot GOP strategy and rail against the injustices done his supporters , using Twitter to stoke ongoing protests and MAGA-nation resistance across the country and touring to show up at boat parades and host his signature rallies .
What if Trump wakes up each @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Biden domestic policy at home and foreign policy overseas ?
This scenario comes from a Politico Magazine piece by Garrett Graff that tries to imagine a Trump post-presidency , and it 's more or less what I expect Trump to do , except for the replica Oval Office .
( He 'll set himself up in a replica office that does n't look anything like the Oval , and he 'll claim that it 's much more impressive .
I do n't know how many members of Congress will actually show up , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be in regular attendance . )
But the next part of Graff imagined future seems much less plausible : [ Trump ] could go as far as even appointing his own “ shadow cabinet , ” fundraising off his aggrieved fan base as they underwrite his most loyal aides like Mike Pompeo and Mike Pence , who would also be out of office alongside Trump and casting about for how to chart their own political future .
They could hold their own political meetings , press conferences and appear every night on Fox @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In everything he 's attempted throughout his life , Trump has needed the assistance of subordinates who ( unlike him ) know what they 're doing -- imagine how hapless his efforts to steal the election would be without the evil expertise of Bill Barr , Louis DeJoy , and a slew of voting-rights-averse Federalist Society judges -- but he 's oblivious to this fact and continues to think of himself as a solo act .
His fans feel the same way about him .
Not only wo n't he have a shadow @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , I assume he 'll never speak to Pence or Pompeo after he leaves office , or speak to any other aide who was n't with him back in 2015 and 2016 .
But I recommend the Graff piece because it runs through the many creative ways Trump can continue to be corrupt and degenerate as an ex-president .
An example : Intelligence professionals can envision , for instance , Trump standing on the world stage alongside his favorite global strongmen—say Turkey ’ s Recep Tayyip Erdoğan , Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ President Nicolás Maduro—bragging about his new joint development deals and the world leaders willing to host him even as they reject entreaties from President Biden .
Think “ Trump Tower Damascus will be a new start for my peace-loving friend Bashar al-Assad.
” Or even imagine Trump , Rodman-style , turning up courtside at North Korean basketball games with his buddy Kim Jong Un in Pyongyang , just as Joe Biden turns up the pressure on the Hermit Kingdom ’ s nuclear program .
Graff also believes Trump could have a presidential library @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : Trump could easily reimagine the very essence of such an endeavor , turning his presidential library into a for-profit arm of the Trump Organization that becomes a mecca for his devoted MAGA fans the country ( and world ) over—a “ Trumpland ” Florida tourist attraction to rival Disney , SeaWorld or Universal Studios , complete with regular guest appearances from his family members , live broadcasts from Trump ’ s own media endeavors and no shortage of Trump-branded merchandise .
It ’ s not hard to imagine , at least in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ millions—a potentially rich branding exercise .
In a country where there are `` Trump stores '' in many states , I have no doubt that the ex-president could attract many white heartland visitors to a venue like this .
But is Trump capable of getting something like this built ?
I could imagine plans so grandiose that the damn thing never gets built at all , just the way many of Trump 's most excessive dream projects have n't been built .
It would be hilarious if the guy much of America believes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the first modern president who could n't get his presidential library constructed .
But I think that could happen .
Posted with permission from No More Mr. Nice Blog

If Donald Trump loses the election, this is certainly plausible:
Imagine that on January 21st Kayleigh McEnany begins broadcasting regular press briefings from the Trump Hotel a few blocks down Pennsylvania Avenue from the White House; picture the 45th president hosting congressional leaders in a replica Oval Office reconstructed inside his hotel to plot GOP strategy and rail against the injustices done his supporters, using Twitter to stoke ongoing protests and MAGA-nation resistance across the country and touring to show up at boat parades and host his signature rallies. What if Trump wakes up each day attempting to explicitly—not just passively—undermine a Biden domestic policy at home and foreign policy overseas?
This scenario comes from a Politico Magazine piece by Garrett Graff that tries to imagine a Trump post-presidency, and it's more or less what I expect Trump to do, except for the replica Oval Office. (He'll set himself up in a replica office that doesn't look anything like the Oval, and he'll claim that it's much more impressive. I don't know how many members of Congress will actually show up, but I'm sure Matt Gaetz will be in regular attendance.)
But the next part of Graff imagined future seems much less plausible:
[Trump] could go as far as even appointing his own “shadow cabinet,” fundraising off his aggrieved fan base as they underwrite his most loyal aides like Mike Pompeo and Mike Pence, who would also be out of office alongside Trump and casting about for how to chart their own political future. They could hold their own political meetings, press conferences and appear every night on Fox to stir the national political pot.
Share the spotlight? Trump? Is Graff joking?
In everything he's attempted throughout his life, Trump has needed the assistance of subordinates who (unlike him) know what they're doing -- imagine how hapless his efforts to steal the election would be without the evil expertise of Bill Barr, Louis DeJoy, and a slew of voting-rights-averse Federalist Society judges -- but he's oblivious to this fact and continues to think of himself as a solo act. His fans feel the same way about him. Not only won't he have a shadow cabinet in his self-styled government in exile, I assume he'll never speak to Pence or Pompeo after he leaves office, or speak to any other aide who wasn't with him back in 2015 and 2016.
But I recommend the Graff piece because it runs through the many creative ways Trump can continue to be corrupt and degenerate as an ex-president. An example:
Intelligence professionals can envision, for instance, Trump standing on the world stage alongside his favorite global strongmen—say Turkey’s Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte, Hungary’s Viktor Orban or Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro—bragging about his new joint development deals and the world leaders willing to host him even as they reject entreaties from President Biden. Think “Trump Tower Damascus will be a new start for my peace-loving friend Bashar al-Assad.” Or even imagine Trump, Rodman-style, turning up courtside at North Korean basketball games with his buddy Kim Jong Un in Pyongyang, just as Joe Biden turns up the pressure on the Hermit Kingdom’s nuclear program.
Sounds plausible.
Graff also believes Trump could have a presidential library that's more like a theme park:
Trump could easily reimagine the very essence of such an endeavor, turning his presidential library into a for-profit arm of the Trump Organization that becomes a mecca for his devoted MAGA fans the country (and world) over—a “Trumpland” Florida tourist attraction to rival Disney, SeaWorld or Universal Studios, complete with regular guest appearances from his family members, live broadcasts from Trump’s own media endeavors and no shortage of Trump-branded merchandise. It’s not hard to imagine, at least in near-term years, attendance in the low millions—a potentially rich branding exercise.
In a country where there are "Trump stores" in many states, I have no doubt that the ex-president could attract many white heartland visitors to a venue like this.
But is Trump capable of getting something like this built? I could imagine plans so grandiose that the damn thing never gets built at all, just the way many of Trump's most excessive dream projects haven't been built. It would be hilarious if the guy much of America believes is the world's greatest builder became the first modern president who couldn't get his presidential library constructed. But I think that could happen.
Posted with permission from No More Mr. Nice Blog


crooksandliars--2020-11-03--Election Eve Rallies: Joe Biden, Kamala Harris, John Legend And Lady Gaga

It 's GO TIME .
Watch the final pre-Election Day drive-in rally after a day of barnstorming Pennsylvania .
Kamala @ @ @ @ @ live in Philadelphia with John Legend and Joe and Jill Biden will be in Pittsburgh @ @ @ @ @ you have n't already voted , make a plan to vote tomorrow and DO IT @ @ @ @ @ , get others to the polls tomorrow .
UPDATE : Here are Kamala 's full @ @ @ @ @ .

It's GO TIME. Watch the final pre-Election Day drive-in rally after a day of barnstorming Pennsylvania. Kamala Harris and Doug Emhoff are live in Philadelphia with John Legend and Joe and Jill Biden will be in Pittsburgh with Lady Gaga.
If you haven't already voted, make a plan to vote tomorrow and DO IT. If you have voted, get others to the polls tomorrow.
UPDATE: Here are Kamala's full remarks as prepared for delivery.


crooksandliars--2020-11-05--Lou Dobbs Suggests A Mob Should 'Surround' Philadelphia Vote Counters

Birther conspiracist Lou Dobbs has been a dangerous , racist figure for a long time , but even for him , this is over the top .
He 's painting my hometown as a `` cesspool '' electorally ?
( As the nuns used to say , `` when you point the finger at someone else , there are four pointing back at you . ''
) And let 's talk about his guest Eric Eggers .
You remember the Government Accountability Institute , right ?
That 's the fake think tank , funded by the Mercer family , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` Clinton Cash '' author Peter Schweizer for the express purpose of giving right-wing propaganda a paper-thin veneer of credibility to launch their bullsh*t into the mainstream media .
Eggers works as a `` researcher '' for Schweizer .
LOU DOBBS ( HOST ) : Give us a sense of just how widespread , if you would quickly , how widespread is fraud in this country , across this country in elections ?
ERIC EGGERS ( GUEST ) : Well , what I think we 're all realizing , unfortunately in real time @ @ @ @ @ @ @ n't even have to be that widespread to literally swing a presidential election given the margins that we 're seeing in such important swing states throughout the country , 10 -- 10,000 votes or fewer can have a dramatic impact .
And unfortunately , that 's exactly what we 're seeing in Pennsylvania right now .
Sadly , we should n't really be surprised , right ?
I mean , we should all want every legal vote to count and only legal votes to count , but Pennsylvania 's track record is the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ looks like a cesspool electorally .
Why in the world would n't the Republicans surround that thing and , if you will , you know , at least apply a little -- what would you call it -- some sort of scent ?
A lot of observation and -- and a real rigorous , demanding presence in those counting rooms and the -- the polls themselves ?
EGGERS : Well , you 're exactly right , Lou .
And I 'm not a lawyer , so I ca n't speak to what the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
But anybody that 's been paying attention to election integrity issues in Philadelphia and Pennsylvania generally knows that there 's been problems .
`` Demanding presence . ''
You know , a mob , preferably with guns .
These people are a blight on the land .
And if your boys try to make a move on Philly , well , it wo n't be pretty .
Just ask Santa Claus .

Birther conspiracist Lou Dobbs has been a dangerous, racist figure for a long time, but even for him, this is over the top. He's painting my hometown as a "cesspool" electorally? (As the nuns used to say, "when you point the finger at someone else, there are four pointing back at you.")
And let's talk about his guest Eric Eggers. You remember the Government Accountability Institute, right? That's the fake think tank, funded by the Mercer family, and founded by whack job Steve Bannon and "Clinton Cash" author Peter Schweizer for the express purpose of giving right-wing propaganda a paper-thin veneer of credibility to launch their bullsh*t into the mainstream media. Eggers works as a "researcher" for Schweizer.
Via Media Matters:
LOU DOBBS (HOST): Give us a sense of just how widespread, if you would quickly, how widespread is fraud in this country, across this country in elections? ERIC EGGERS (GUEST): Well, what I think we're all realizing, unfortunately in real time, Lou, is that fraud doesn't even have to be that widespread to literally swing a presidential election given the margins that we're seeing in such important swing states throughout the country, 10 --10,000 votes or fewer can have a dramatic impact. And unfortunately, that's exactly what we're seeing in Pennsylvania right now. Sadly, we shouldn't really be surprised, right? I mean, we should all want every legal vote to count and only legal votes to count, but Pennsylvania's track record is the opposite of that. DOBBS: Philadelphia looks like a cesspool electorally. Why in the world wouldn't the Republicans surround that thing and, if you will, you know, at least apply a little -- what would you call it -- some sort of scent? A lot of observation and -- and a real rigorous, demanding presence in those counting rooms and the -- the polls themselves? EGGERS: Well, you're exactly right, Lou. And I'm not a lawyer, so I can't speak to what the legal strategy was going into the election. But anybody that's been paying attention to election integrity issues in Philadelphia and Pennsylvania generally knows that there's been problems.
"Demanding presence." You know, a mob, preferably with guns. These people are a blight on the land.
And if your boys try to make a move on Philly, well, it won't be pretty. Just ask Santa Claus.
via GIPHY


crooksandliars--2020-11-05--Kudlow Accuses Host Of ‘Nitpicking’ For Noting Trump Wants To Stop Vote Count

On CNBC 's Squawk on the Street Wednesday morning , Larry Kudlow crowed about how well Trump and the Republicans have done so far in the election results .
FABER : Larry , you are absolutely correct .
No blue wave , that is one thing I think we can all agree is apparent right now .
I should add though when it comes to the battleground states if these counting were to stop right now , your candidate would lose .
Biden would get to 270 , he would win the presidency .
And I wonder if that prospect @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do you see the next two months like for you , for the administration , as it potentially exits ?
What is it you 'd like to accomplish ?
KUDLOW : Well , okay , just on that first point , David .
Look , this is not unusual .
Counting is not going to stop .
It 's going to go through as long as they ’ re legal ballots , it 's fine .
We do this every four years… FABER : No , absolutely .
It ’ s the president @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the counting .
We all agree .
KUDLOW : No , actually .
Look , I do n't want to waste your time with that .
FABER : He just tweeted that .
KUDLOW : You 're a bit nitpicking here , David .
Let me just say , the president was concerned that it looked like nothing was happening .
It looked like , in fact , there was no counting going on it 's just like the election night frame just stopped so he was very annoyed , we 'll work @ @ @ @ @ @ @ things will , you know , be much more copacetic .

On CNBC's Squawk on the Street Wednesday morning, Larry Kudlow crowed about how well Trump and the Republicans have done so far in the election results.
Then Faber burst the bubble.
FABER: Larry, you are absolutely correct. No blue wave, that is one thing I think we can all agree is apparent right now. I should add though when it comes to the battleground states if these counting were to stop right now, your candidate would lose. Biden would get to 270, he would win the presidency. And I wonder if that prospect actually does come to fruition, what do you see the next two months like for you, for the administration, as it potentially exits? What is it you'd like to accomplish?
KUDLOW: Well, okay, just on that first point, David. Look, this is not unusual. Counting is not going to stop. It's going to go through as long as they’re legal ballots, it's fine. We do this every four years…
FABER: No, absolutely. It’s the president who seems to want to say stop the counting. We all agree.
KUDLOW: No, actually. Look, I don't want to waste your time with that.
FABER: He just tweeted that.
KUDLOW: You're a bit nitpicking here, David. Let me just say, the president was concerned that it looked like nothing was happening. It looked like, in fact, there was no counting going on it's just like the election night frame just stopped so he was very annoyed, we'll work through that today, and I think things will, you know, be much more copacetic.


crooksandliars--2020-11-05--Nevada Trump Supporter Grabs Mic, Shouts About 'Biden Crime Family' During Presser

A very well dressed man , in his fanciest white tank top with the words `` BBQ Beer Freedom '' , interrupted a press conference being held in Nevada by election officials to discuss the progress on tabulating the ballots from Tuesday 's election .
The man interrupted the Registrar of Voters , Joe Gloria , who was answering questions regarding how many questions were left to be counted in their county .
The uninvited guest approached the podium , calm and composed , asked to talk to the public and share his eloquent thoughts on the process and where @ @ @ @ @ @ @ like a lunatic , repeating over and over again : “ The Biden crime family stole the election !
The media ’ s covering it up !
We want our freedom for the world , ” he frantically added .
“ Give us our freedom , Joe Biden !
” Nevada is one of a handful of states that are still working on counting ballots , numbers that have gone up substantially due to COVID causing a huge spike in mail in ballots being submitted .
Biden currently has a lead in Nevada @ @ @ @ @ @ @ extra 6 Electoral College votes and end the suspense altogether .

A very well dressed man, in his fanciest white tank top with the words "BBQ Beer Freedom", interrupted a press conference being held in Nevada by election officials to discuss the progress on tabulating the ballots from Tuesday's election. The man interrupted the Registrar of Voters, Joe Gloria, who was answering questions regarding how many questions were left to be counted in their county. The uninvited guest approached the podium, calm and composed, asked to talk to the public and share his eloquent thoughts on the process and where the deficiencies were.
Kidding.
He started screaming like a lunatic, repeating over and over again:
“The Biden crime family stole the election! The media’s covering it up! We want our freedom for the world,” he frantically added. “Give us our freedom, Joe Biden!”
What?
Nevada is one of a handful of states that are still working on counting ballots, numbers that have gone up substantially due to COVID causing a huge spike in mail in ballots being submitted. Biden currently has a lead in Nevada and a win would give him an extra 6 Electoral College votes and end the suspense altogether.


crooksandliars--2020-11-05--Trump Boys Push Bogus Claim That Sharpie Use Is Why Trump Lost Arizona

President Donald Trump ’ s two eldest sons pushed a false conspiracy theory on Wednesday suggesting that President Donald Trump lost Arizona because his supporters used Sharpie pens to fill out their ballots .
The idea was shared on Twitter by American Conservative Union Chair Matt Schlapp .
“ Apparently the use of sharpie pens in gop precincts is causing ballots to be invalidated , ” Schlapp wrote on Twitter .
“ Could be huge numbers of mostly Trump supporters .
More to come.
” In a subsequent tweet with the hashtag “ Sharpiegate , ” Schlapp claimed that he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who used Sharpie pens .
“ 3 more Trump supporters just contacted me who voted in AZ w sharpies and now are getting stonewalled as they try to verify they are in Trump ’ s tally , ” he tweeted .
But Pima County election officials in Arizona clarified that the claim was “ false.
” The claim was also rated as “ false ” by Politifact .
“ The felt-tip pen ballot controversy burning through social media is false , ” Pima County said in a statement .
“ Don ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ballot tabulating machines can read ballots marked with a felt tip pen .
Felt pens are discouraged because the ink can bleed through .
”

President Donald Trump’s two eldest sons pushed a false conspiracy theory on Wednesday suggesting that President Donald Trump lost Arizona because his supporters used Sharpie pens to fill out their ballots.
The idea was shared on Twitter by American Conservative Union Chair Matt Schlapp.
“Apparently the use of sharpie pens in gop precincts is causing ballots to be invalidated,” Schlapp wrote on Twitter. “Could be huge numbers of mostly Trump supporters. More to come.”
In a subsequent tweet with the hashtag “Sharpiegate,” Schlapp claimed that he had been contacted by three Trump supporters who used Sharpie pens.
“3 more Trump supporters just contacted me who voted in AZ w sharpies and now are getting stonewalled as they try to verify they are in Trump’s tally,” he tweeted.
But Pima County election officials in Arizona clarified that the claim was “false.” The claim was also rated as “false” by Politifact.
“The felt-tip pen ballot controversy burning through social media is false,” Pima County said in a statement. “Don’t get caught up in it. Arizona ballot tabulating machines can read ballots marked with a felt tip pen. Felt pens are discouraged because the ink can bleed through.”
The felt-tip pen ballot controversy burning through social media is false. Don't get caught up in it. Arizona ballot tabulating machines can read ballots marked with a felt tip pen. Felt pens are discouraged because the ink can bleed through. 1/3 — Official Pima County (@pimaarizona) November 4, 2020
If it does bleed through, the ballot will most likely get sent for duplication so it can be read by the scanner. The image is the text from the @SecretaryHobbs Elections Manual, Chapter 10, Section D, subsection 3. 2/3https://t.co/3ANZ7oKMwZ pic.twitter.com/Kjn5H4tChL — Official Pima County (@pimaarizona) November 4, 2020
↪ Update on first debunk in this thread:https://t.co/7yrExzwTg9 — Jane Lytvynenko (@JaneLytv) November 4, 2020


crooksandliars--2020-11-05--Michigan GOP Thugs Riot Outside Vote-Counting Center In Detroit

Today 's episode of `` Everything Old Is New Again '' will feature a poorly dressed redux of the Brooks Brothers Riot from 2000 .
I 'm having trouble finding a suit among the crowd , but just like in 2000 , when George W. sent out the call for his peeps to storm the recount in Florida to shut it down , a bunch of GOP thugs answered the dogwhistle of their party leaders to shut down vote counting in Detroit , Michigan , because CHEATERS and RACISTS .
Nicolle Wallace spoke to Heidi Przybyla , who was at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ happened , and noted that the state had already been projected to go to Joe Biden , yet Trump was still planning to file a lawsuit to stop the counting .
Those remaining votes were expected to `` tilt heavily '' towards Biden , so nothing about the race would have changed , except perhaps the level of Trump 's humiliation .
Przybyla spoke to Jordan Acker , one of the Michigan Democratic Party 's official poll challengers , about what happened during the chaos .
ACKER : So , We came back @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and ultimately , they would n't even let us in the building at first .
Eventually we came in , and it seemed like someone put out the call from the Republican side to have everybody , mostly non-lawyers , converge at the TCF Center here in Detroit , in order to stop what is a normally a very orderly , well-run , professional process of counting absentee votes here in the city of Detroit .
PRZYBYLA : You said they stormed the room , or the escalator ?
How exactly did that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ first they converged all over the building .
Maybe about a half hour , 40 minutes later probably two dozen came down the escalator in some sort of coordinated effort .
They had on lanyards with the `` MIGOP '' on it , chanting , as they are right now , `` Stop the count , '' banging on the doors , trying to get the election officials to stop even when the city attorney came out and said , `` Here 's why we 're doing this .
We have one challenger @ @ @ @ @ @ @ parties agree on . ''
That 's what 's in there , that 's what we saw all morning .
Ultimately they still tried to stop Detroiters from having their right to have their vote heard .
Pryzbyla asked if the collective GOP tantrum had any impact on their ability to count the ballots , and the short answer was , thankfully , no , thanks to the professionalism of the people inside , the police on the outside , and officials from both parties who continued on with their task .
She @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , that this whole episode was orchestrated by the Michigan GOP from start to finish : PRZYBYLA : Nicolle , this can not be said enough .
This entire process was entirely predictable and actually created by the GOP legislature here in Michigan , which declined to give extra time for the pre-canvassing that would have been necessary to actually complete the count on election night .
It 's almost as if the party that forced the need for exponentially increased early voting , yet simultaneously refused to allow extra time needed to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , might not be operating in good faith .
Speaking of good faith , though , the fitting and accurate last word will go to this very wise chaplain outside the TCF Center : And let 's not forget who engineers these stupid displays of thuggery :

Today's episode of "Everything Old Is New Again" will feature a poorly dressed redux of the Brooks Brothers Riot from 2000.
In fact, the @MIGOP has so overwhelmed the Detroit vote counting room with “challengers” (most who are not lawyers), preventing actual Dem lawyers from actually getting in. Sure feels like a deliberate attempt to try to steal the election. pic.twitter.com/pIZCzUB6VH — Jordan Acker (@JordanAckerMI) November 4, 2020
I'm having trouble finding a suit among the crowd, but just like in 2000, when George W. sent out the call for his peeps to storm the recount in Florida to shut it down, a bunch of GOP thugs answered the dogwhistle of their party leaders to shut down vote counting in Detroit, Michigan, because CHEATERS and RACISTS.
Nicolle Wallace spoke to Heidi Przybyla, who was at the voting center in Michigan where this happened, and noted that the state had already been projected to go to Joe Biden, yet Trump was still planning to file a lawsuit to stop the counting. Those remaining votes were expected to "tilt heavily" towards Biden, so nothing about the race would have changed, except perhaps the level of Trump's humiliation. Przybyla spoke to Jordan Acker, one of the Michigan Democratic Party's official poll challengers, about what happened during the chaos.
ACKER: So, We came back from lunch, today, Heidi, and ultimately, they wouldn't even let us in the building at first. Eventually we came in, and it seemed like someone put out the call from the Republican side to have everybody, mostly non-lawyers, converge at the TCF Center here in Detroit, in order to stop what is a normally a very orderly, well-run, professional process of counting absentee votes here in the city of Detroit. PRZYBYLA: You said they stormed the room, or the escalator? How exactly did that happen? ACKER: So, at first they converged all over the building. Maybe about a half hour, 40 minutes later probably two dozen came down the escalator in some sort of coordinated effort. They had on lanyards with the "MIGOP" on it, chanting, as they are right now, "Stop the count," banging on the doors, trying to get the election officials to stop even when the city attorney came out and said, "Here's why we're doing this. We have one challenger per precinct. It's what the parties agree on." That's what's in there, that's what we saw all morning. Ultimately they still tried to stop Detroiters from having their right to have their vote heard.
Pryzbyla asked if the collective GOP tantrum had any impact on their ability to count the ballots, and the short answer was, thankfully, no, thanks to the professionalism of the people inside, the police on the outside, and officials from both parties who continued on with their task.
She did take pains to emphasize, rightly, that this whole episode was orchestrated by the Michigan GOP from start to finish:
PRZYBYLA: Nicolle, this cannot be said enough. This entire process was entirely predictable and actually created by the GOP legislature here in Michigan, which declined to give extra time for the pre-canvassing that would have been necessary to actually complete the count on election night.
It's almost as if the party that forced the need for exponentially increased early voting, yet simultaneously refused to allow extra time needed to count those huge number of early votes, might not be operating in good faith.
Speaking of good faith, though, the fitting and accurate last word will go to this very wise chaplain outside the TCF Center:
Chaplain in Detroit on the “stop the count” protests:
“We’re not deterred … The Black vote in Detroit is higher than it’s ever been and we will determine the outcome — because we’ve gone from picking cotton to picking presidents.” #Election2020 pic.twitter.com/J4CLPf21yL — The Recount (@therecount) November 4, 2020
And let's not forget who engineers these stupid displays of thuggery:


crooksandliars--2020-11-04--Joe Biden Wins Michigan And Inches Closer To Wrapping Up His Electoral Victory

Wolf Blitzer announced that CNN called Michigan for Joe Biden , giving him 16 more electoral votes for a total @ @ @ @ @ still being counted in the state , with GOP thugs doing all they can to @ @ @ @ @ in a Brooks Brothers Riot 2.0 .
They have n't succeeded , thankfully , and @ @ @ @ @ a teensy bit from 2000 about these dirty tricks .
But continue to try , @ @ @ @ @ vote-counters faithfully , ethically , and legally continue to do their jobs .
And there @ @ @ @ @ : Here 's a preview of what a return to sanity will feel like .
@ @ @ @ @ earlier this afternoon :

Wolf Blitzer announced that CNN called Michigan for Joe Biden, giving him 16 more electoral votes for a total of 253. Votes are still being counted in the state, with GOP thugs doing all they can to disrupt the official count, in a Brooks Brothers Riot 2.0.
They haven't succeeded, thankfully, and perhaps we have actually learned a teensy bit from 2000 about these dirty tricks. But continue to try, they do, and the vote-counters faithfully, ethically, and legally continue to do their jobs.
CBS News projects Biden has won Michigan, which @NikolenDC says is “extremely significant”: “It certainly points the former Vice President much closer to that 270 threshold and gives him a little big of wiggle room to try to get to that magic number” https://t.co/vvXIlSKRRQ pic.twitter.com/r9rlACAAim — CBS News (@CBSNews) November 4, 2020
Joe Biden is declared the winner of the key swing states of Michigan and Wisconsin, two states that President Trump won four years ago https://t.co/tSNOgoIkBt — NYT Politics (@nytpolitics) November 4, 2020
And there's this bit of deliciousness:
Fox News has Biden at 264, six away from victory, while many other outlets are at 253. So this means if enough NV results come in tonight, Fox News could conceivably be the first outlet to call the election for Biden—and do it during Hannity’s or Ingraham's show. pic.twitter.com/5EW8hwGhiI — Andrew Kirell (@AndrewKirell) November 4, 2020
Here's a preview of what a return to sanity will feel like. Joe Biden addressing the nation earlier this afternoon:
Joe Biden's Remarks 11/4/2020


crooksandliars--2020-11-04--ABC's Terry Moran Decries 'Authoritarian Theater' From Trump

And ABC 's Terry Moran went there confronted with Trump 's predictable election night LIE claiming `` victory . ''
This is authoritarian theater .
PS .
Sarah Kendzior was right all along .
The clip opens with George Stephanopolous reading the lies Trump spoke about counting votes .
TERRY MORAN : This is n't law , this is n't politics .
This is theater .
Let 's be blunt .
This is the theater of authoritarianism .
When you cast a vote validly , it should be counted .
The President of the United States , no matter what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the counting of valid votes , the ordinary everyday counting of valid votes .
He 's trying to stop the counting except in Arizona where he 's behind .
He wantsvotes counted .
We should be blunt about this .
This is not law , this is not politics .
This is an attempt to end the election illegitimately so he can maintain power .
And we should be blunt about this .
GEORGE STEPHANOPOLOUS : It 's also not a surprise the president has been signaling this for months and months .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ just wrote down not a surprise .
He has been ramping this up .
It has been a steady drumbeat .
Behind the scenes privately the president had been talking about this conspiracy theory of fraud and a stolen election more and more and more .
When the president says this is a fraud , this is not a fraud .
This is the American democratic system in action working exactly as it should be working .
I also want to point out that the president said he is going to take this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this coming too , because before the appointment of Judge Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court , he had said that he wanted her appointed in this expeditious manner , the fastest we had ever seen a Supreme Court nominee approved this close to an Election Day , because he said he knew this case over the election would go before the Supreme Court .
That gets to the heart of the controversy .
This is exactly what Democrats had been fearful of and warning about heading into this election .
JONATHAN @ @ @ @ @ @ @ say whatever he wants to say at his party in the East Room .
He has no power to stop the counting of the votes .
And the Supreme Court is not going to stop the counting of the votes .
There is no basis in law for doing this .

As Kamala Harris says:
And ABC's Terry Moran went there confronted with Trump's predictable election night LIE claiming "victory." This is authoritarian theater.
PS. Sarah Kendzior was right all along.
The clip opens with George Stephanopolous reading the lies Trump spoke about counting votes.
his
TERRY MORAN: This isn't law, this isn't politics. This is theater. Let's be blunt. This is the theater of authoritarianism. When you cast a vote validly, it should be counted. The President of the United States, no matter what he says, is trying to stop the counting of valid votes, the ordinary everyday counting of valid votes. He's trying to stop the counting except in Arizona where he's behind. He wantsvotes counted. We should be blunt about this. This is not law, this is not politics. This is an attempt to end the election illegitimately so he can maintain power. And we should be blunt about this.
GEORGE STEPHANOPOLOUS: It's also not a surprise the president has been signaling this for months and months.
CECILIA VEGA, ABC NEWS: Literally just wrote down not a surprise. He has been ramping this up. It has been a steady drumbeat. Behind the scenes privately the president had been talking about this conspiracy theory of fraud and a stolen election more and more and more. When the president says this is a fraud, this is not a fraud. This is the American democratic system in action working exactly as it should be working. I also want to point out that the president said he is going to take this to the Supreme Court. We saw this coming too, because before the appointment of Judge Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court, he had said that he wanted her appointed in this expeditious manner, the fastest we had ever seen a Supreme Court nominee approved this close to an Election Day, because he said he knew this case over the election would go before the Supreme Court. That gets to the heart of the controversy. This is exactly what Democrats had been fearful of and warning about heading into this election.
JONATHAN KARL, ABC: The president can say whatever he wants to say at his party in the East Room. He has no power to stop the counting of the votes. And the Supreme Court is not going to stop the counting of the votes. There is no basis in law for doing this.


crooksandliars--2020-11-04--Here Are The Republicans To Defeat In 2022

Yes , I 'm getting my hand muscles ready to write Postcards to Voters ( join us ! )
for @ @ @ @ @ ( s ) in January .
I 'm also looking ahead to 2022 , and @ @ @ @ @ is a disaster in the waiting for the GOP .
My political science major savant @ @ @ @ @ to suggest that a Trump win in 2020 ( not likely even as we continue @ @ @ @ @ would likely permanently cement a Democratic Senate in 2022 .
I told him democracy mattered @ @ @ @ @ .
Here 's the list of people to target .
I put in bold the @ @ @ @ @ really like to personally kick to the curb .
Richard Burr of North Carolina and @ @ @ @ @ already announced their retirements , so those are open seats .
Losing those two Republicans @ @ @ @ @ then there 's this :

Before elections, chop wood, carry water.
After elections, chop wood, carry water.
Yes, I'm getting my hand muscles ready to write Postcards to Voters (join us!) for the Georgia US Senate runoff(s) in January.
I'm also looking ahead to 2022, and a US Senate map that is a disaster in the waiting for the GOP.
So, looking ahead...
34 Senate seats up for re-election in 2022.
12 Democrats
- all are in blue states
22 Republicans
- around 5 are in states Biden won/still a toss-up
- Pat Toomey (R) in PA not running again
Basically, the reverse of 2018 when Dems were defending. — The Hoarse Whisperer (@TheRealHoarse) November 4, 2020
My political science major savant son went so far as to suggest that a Trump win in 2020 (not likely even as we continue to count the votes) would likely permanently cement a Democratic Senate in 2022. I told him democracy mattered more, and he agreed.
Last tweet before I go to bed -- there are 22 Republican Senate seats up for re-election in 2022. Two GOP Senators, Burr in NC and Toomey in PA, have already retired. pic.twitter.com/H1YyrP4INR — Frances Langum 🧶 #BidenHarris2020 (@bluegal) November 4, 2020
Here's the list of people to target. I put in bold the particularly at-risk ones I'd really like to personally kick to the curb.
Blunt, Roy, Mo.
Boozman, John, Ark.
Crapo, Mike, Idaho
Grassley, Chuck, Iowa
Hoeven, John, N.D.
Johnson, Ron, Wis.
Kennedy, John, La.
Lankford, James, Okla.
Lee, Mike, Utah
Moran, Jerry, Kan.
Murkowski, Lisa, Alaska
Paul, Rand, Ky.
Portman, Rob, Ohio
Rubio, Marco, Fla.
Scott, Tim, S.C.
Shelby, Richard C., Ala.
Thune, John, S.D.
Young, Todd, Ind.
Richard Burr of North Carolina and Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania have already announced their retirements, so those are open seats. Losing those two Republicans is a win.
And then there's this:
Our Republican Governor is on his last term in Arizona
I hereby nominate Martha McSally to run as the Republican candidate for Az Governor in 2022
Martha, you've done so much for Az in the past 2 years, gifting us 2 different Senate seats - why stop when now you're on a roll? — Shawn in Az🌵 (@ShawnInArizona) November 4, 2020
Get ready.


crooksandliars--2020-11-04--A First In The US:  New Mexico's House Delegation Is Now Entirely Women Of Color

New Mexico will become the first state in the country in January to be entirely represented in the House of @ @ @ @ @ .
The state is sending Rep. Deb Haaland back to the House after she became @ @ @ @ @ American women elected to Congress in 2018 .
Haaland will be joined by Democrat Teresa @ @ @ @ @ in the state 's 3rd Congressional District .
Fernandez won an open seat left behind @ @ @ @ @ Luján , who is the projected winner of the state 's open U.S. Senate seat @ @ @ @ @ .
Republican Yvette Herrell , a member of the Cherokee Nation , unseated Democratic Rep. @ @ @ @ @ 2nd Congressional District .

New Mexico will become the first state in the country in January to be entirely represented in the House of Representatives by women of color.
The state is sending Rep. Deb Haaland back to the House after she became one of the first Native American women elected to Congress in 2018.
Haaland will be joined by Democrat Teresa Leger Fernandez, who triumphed in the state's 3rd Congressional District. Fernandez won an open seat left behind by Democratic Rep. Ben Ray Luján, who is the projected winner of the state's open U.S. Senate seat, according to the AP.
Republican Yvette Herrell, a member of the Cherokee Nation, unseated Democratic Rep. Xochitl Torres Small in the 2nd Congressional District.
Republished with permission from Daily Kos.


crooksandliars--2020-11-04--Mississippi Voters Approve New, Not-So-Confederate, State Flag Design

A welcome sign in an otherwise dreary election night .
A reminder though that it was economic pressure that finally pushed Mississippi over the edge into making this move into modernity .
Mississippi has formally rebuked the confederate battle cross that once adorned its state flag .
Voters cast their ballots in favor of Measure 3 , a referendum adopting a new state flag featuring a magnolia surrounded by 21 stars signifying the states that joined the union before Mississippi , along with the words `` In God we trust . ''
With 79 % reporting , voters chose to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 69 % , according to The Clarion Ledger .
Mississippi had used a flag featuring the confederate battle cross for 126 years and was the last state to do so .
Georgia changed its flag to remove the symbol in 2001 .
A law signed by Governor Tate Reeves in July removed the flag from state buildings .
Its removal came following the fatal police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis , which sparked widespread protests and the reconsideration of leaving many Confederate monuments standing .
A subsequent contest saw thousands of entries @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ultimately winnowed down the choices and picked the flag featuring the state flower , which was designed by Hunter Jones , Sue Anna Joe and Kara Giles .

A welcome sign in an otherwise dreary election night. A reminder though that it was economic pressure that finally pushed Mississippi over the edge into making this move into modernity.
Source: CBS News
Mississippi has formally rebuked the confederate battle cross that once adorned its state flag. Voters cast their ballots in favor of Measure 3, a referendum adopting a new state flag featuring a magnolia surrounded by 21 stars signifying the states that joined the union before Mississippi, along with the words "In God we trust."
With 79% reporting, voters chose to adopt the new design by more than 69%, according to The Clarion Ledger. Mississippi had used a flag featuring the confederate battle cross for 126 years and was the last state to do so. Georgia changed its flag to remove the symbol in 2001.
A law signed by Governor Tate Reeves in July removed the flag from state buildings. Its removal came following the fatal police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis, which sparked widespread protests and the reconsideration of leaving many Confederate monuments standing.
A subsequent contest saw thousands of entries from the public. A nine-person commission ultimately winnowed down the choices and picked the flag featuring the state flower, which was designed by Hunter Jones, Sue Anna Joe and Kara Giles.


crooksandliars--2020-11-06--The Country Isn't More Conservative -- It's More Trumpy

Slate 's William Saletan has been looking at exit polls from this election .
Among his conclusions : ... this electorate seems to have been more conservative than the 2016 electorate .
In the 2016 exit polls , conservatives outnumbered liberals by 9 percentage points .
In the initial 2020 numbers , the margin is 13 points ... .
The conservative tilt of this electorate , particularly amid such high turnout , bodes ill for Democrats .
Saletan appears to be saying that America has become a more conservative country over the past four years .
I do n't buy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has been measuring ideology in America since the early 1990s and the numbers have remained relatively steady : There are always approximately equal numbers of self-described conservatives and moderates , and fewer self-described liberals ( although the percentage has been slowly increasing ) .
Below , conservatives are red , moderates are gray , and liberals are blue .
This past summer , Gallup found that the percentage of self-described conservatives was trending down this year : It 's possible that `` shy conservatives '' were refusing to answer Gallup 's survey , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Matter protests were widespread and they were paranoid about being regarded as racist .
But even with the downturn , the numbers across the first three and a half years of Trump 's presidency did n't change much .
I 'm skeptical that there 's been a big , fairly sudden increase in conservatism over this period .
( Note that conservatives outnumbered liberals by 9 points not only in the 2016 exit polls but in the exit polls for 2018 . )
So why the higher number this year ?
A simple @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ballot .
Trump was on the ballot four years ago , but many people voted for him without feeling certain that he was a conservative .
Some of his voters did n't want him to be one .
Some conservatives withheld their votes fearing he would n't be one .
But he governed as a conservative .
He allied himself with conservatives .
The conservatives at Fox embraced him .
His voters are Team Conservative .
And there are a lot of them -- he increased his vote total by more than 5 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Biden is on track to win because he beat Hillary Clinton 's vote total by , so far , approximately 6 million .
But he 's a Democrat , which means his voters are a mix of liberals and moderates .
Republican voters are disproportionately conservative .
You have to remember that in his sphere , Donald Trump is incredibly popular .
He 's beloved .
He appears to be the most beloved Republican president of my lifetime , and yes , that includes Ronald Reagan .
For quite a while , I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his hold on GOP voters .
I agree with the premise of this piece by Jeremy Peters and Maggie Haberman : ... if he is forced to vacate the White House on Jan. 20 , Mr. Trump is likely to prove more resilient than expected and almost surely will remain a powerful and disruptive force in American life .
He received at least 68 million votes , or five million more than he did in 2016 , and commanded about 48 percent of the popular vote , meaning he retained the support of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ years of scandal , setbacks , impeachment and the brutal coronavirus outbreak that has killed more than 233,000 Americans .
That gives him a power base to play a role that other defeated one-term presidents like Jimmy Carter and George Bush have not played ... .
in private lately he has broached the idea of running again in 2024 , although he would be 78 by then .
Even if his own days as a candidate are over , his 88-million-strong Twitter following gives him a bullhorn to be an influential voice on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ kingmaker among rising Republicans .
I 've said that I believe he 'll hold a MAGA rally on the day of Biden 's inauguration to announce his 2024 candidacy .
If it happens , it will be very well attended .
You 'll start seeing MY PRESIDENT IS DONALD TRUMP bumper stickers early in 2021 .
But will he follow through ?
Will his health fail ?
Will he decide politics is too boring or exhausting ?
Or will he go to prison ?
( I doubt it -- we generally do n't @ @ @ @ @ @ @ -- and any trials he faces will make him seem like even more of a victim of the Deep State to his loyal fans . )
I think it 's quite possible that Trump will drop out of contention for 2024 , for any of several reasons .
But we need to reckon with the fact that , in much of America , he 's a superstar and a demigod .
The number of self-described conservatives in the electorate will inevitably rise in any future election where he 's on the ballot .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the right with his appeal .
Without Trump , the electorate will look the way it used to .
Posted with permission from No More Mr. Nice Blog

Slate's William Saletan has been looking at exit polls from this election. Among his conclusions:
... this electorate seems to have been more conservative than the 2016 electorate. In the 2016 exit polls, conservatives outnumbered liberals by 9 percentage points. In the initial 2020 numbers, the margin is 13 points.... The conservative tilt of this electorate, particularly amid such high turnout, bodes ill for Democrats.
Saletan appears to be saying that America has become a more conservative country over the past four years. I don't buy it.
I'm doubtful because Gallup has been measuring ideology in America since the early 1990s and the numbers have remained relatively steady: There are always approximately equal numbers of self-described conservatives and moderates, and fewer self-described liberals (although the percentage has been slowly increasing). Below, conservatives are red, moderates are gray, and liberals are blue.
This past summer, Gallup found that the percentage of self-described conservatives was trending down this year:
It's possible that "shy conservatives" were refusing to answer Gallup's survey, especially at a time when Black Lives Matter protests were widespread and they were paranoid about being regarded as racist. But even with the downturn, the numbers across the first three and a half years of Trump's presidency didn't change much. I'm skeptical that there's been a big, fairly sudden increase in conservatism over this period. (Note that conservatives outnumbered liberals by 9 points not only in the 2016 exit polls but in the exit polls for 2018.)
So why the higher number this year? A simple explanation: Donald Trump was on the ballot. Trump was on the ballot four years ago, but many people voted for him without feeling certain that he was a conservative. Some of his voters didn't want him to be one. Some conservatives withheld their votes fearing he wouldn't be one. But he governed as a conservative. He allied himself with conservatives. The conservatives at Fox embraced him. His voters are Team Conservative.
And there are a lot of them -- he increased his vote total by more than 5 million between 2016 and 2020.
Joe Biden is on track to win because he beat Hillary Clinton's vote total by, so far, approximately 6 million. But he's a Democrat, which means his voters are a mix of liberals and moderates. Republican voters are disproportionately conservative.
You have to remember that in his sphere, Donald Trump is incredibly popular. He's beloved. He appears to be the most beloved Republican president of my lifetime, and yes, that includes Ronald Reagan.
For quite a while, I've been saying that Trump will retain his hold on GOP voters. I agree with the premise of this piece by Jeremy Peters and Maggie Haberman:
... if he is forced to vacate the White House on Jan. 20, Mr. Trump is likely to prove more resilient than expected and almost surely will remain a powerful and disruptive force in American life. He received at least 68 million votes, or five million more than he did in 2016, and commanded about 48 percent of the popular vote, meaning he retained the support of nearly half of the public despite four years of scandal, setbacks, impeachment and the brutal coronavirus outbreak that has killed more than 233,000 Americans. That gives him a power base to play a role that other defeated one-term presidents like Jimmy Carter and George Bush have not played.... in private lately he has broached the idea of running again in 2024, although he would be 78 by then. Even if his own days as a candidate are over, his 88-million-strong Twitter following gives him a bullhorn to be an influential voice on the right, potentially making him a kingmaker among rising Republicans.
I've said that I believe he'll hold a MAGA rally on the day of Biden's inauguration to announce his 2024 candidacy. If it happens, it will be very well attended. You'll start seeing MY PRESIDENT IS DONALD TRUMP bumper stickers early in 2021.
But will he follow through? Will his health fail? Will he decide politics is too boring or exhausting?
Or will he go to prison? (I doubt it -- we generally don't send high-profile CEOs to prison in America -- and any trials he faces will make him seem like even more of a victim of the Deep State to his loyal fans.)
I think it's quite possible that Trump will drop out of contention for 2024, for any of several reasons. But we need to reckon with the fact that, in much of America, he's a superstar and a demigod. The number of self-described conservatives in the electorate will inevitably rise in any future election where he's on the ballot.
But there probably isn't anyone else on the right with his appeal. Without Trump, the electorate will look the way it used to.
Posted with permission from No More Mr. Nice Blog


crooksandliars--2020-11-06--Kellyanne Conway: 'Why Are We In Such A Rush To Finish This Election Prematurely?

Someone should have reminded Kellyanne Conway that her former boss is the one trying to stop all the ballots from being counted in states where it benefits him , but she was on Fox , so of course that did n't happen .
Here 's the former counselor to Donald Trump on his favorite morning show , griping about Nate Sliver and FiveThirtyEight 's early call on Arizona ( which Fox called for Biden early as well ) and wondering what the rush is to get all of the ballots counted there .
CONWAY : Well I hope the Biden @ @ @ @ @ @ @ every legal vote should be counted , including in Arizona , and our grievance , our beef with Fox , Fox News having called Arizona early is not that eventually maybe Biden wins it or Trump wins it , it 's that it 's three hours behind east coast , so a lot of the states where the numbers were clearly not called yet , other outlets have not called it , for a very simple reason .
Arizona has a rich tradition of mail-in balloting .
I 've worked on congressional races @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of a candidate years ago in primary battle and I said you 're going to do great in the day of voting , but they did n't have a much of plan for early vote and he lost .
This happens because mail-in ballot is so strong .
It was particularly strong this year .
KILMEADE : They know how to do it .
CONWAY : That 's right .
They know how to do it .
But calling it too early , again , I 'm just going repeat what I said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in such a rush ?
They 've spent three years investigating , impeaching the president and found absolutely nothing .
He 's still the president .
And why are we in such a rush to finish this election prematurely ?
Let 's be patient .
Let 's take a deep breath .
Let 's count every legal vote .
I think it 's a time to be methodical and not emotional .

Someone should have reminded Kellyanne Conway that her former boss is the one trying to stop all the ballots from being counted in states where it benefits him, but she was on Fox, so of course that didn't happen.
Here's the former counselor to Donald Trump on his favorite morning show, griping about Nate Sliver and FiveThirtyEight's early call on Arizona (which Fox called for Biden early as well) and wondering what the rush is to get all of the ballots counted there.


crooksandliars--2020-11-05--Fox News Host Corrects Sean Duffy After He Pushes False Wisconsin Conspiracy Theory

Trump and his surrogates have been out there desperately working the refs on television and filing one frivolous lawsuit after another in the hope of getting the courts to toss this election to Trump .
In an example of the former , here 's GOP Rep. turned Fox contributor Sean Duffy on America 's Newsroom this Thursday , helping to push the conspiracy theory that there 's something fishy going on in Wisconsin because voter turnout shot way up .
GALLAGHER : There have been some reports of voting irregularities in your state .
For example the Trump campaign and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tim Murtaugh says that , quoting poll workers here “ corrected or added information to the ballot itself .
We estimate that 15 to 20 % of absentee ballots in Milwaukee county were tainted in this manner.
” We should note , these accusations have n't been validated but I guess for the sake of argument it is worth taking a second look at all these ballots .
Your thoughts .
DUFFY : Absolutely , Trace .
I think the Trump campaign is smart to do this and also in Wisconsin usually we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ turnout in races like this .
It appears that there was an 89 % voter turnout in Tuesday 's election , which is ncredibly high and begs some questions as to what happened there .
Now , there could be reasoning for what happened in Wisconsin .
We could have had , we have same day registration in our state , so we could have had 500 or 600,000 people register on Tuesday to vote .
That could explain it away .
But the Trump campaign is smart to go through a ballot @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have an opportunity , Trace , to actually subpoena witnesses , subpoena documents , so we can look and see what happened in places like Milwaukee and Dane county .
We have some precincts Trace where there were more ballots cast than people registered to vote .
That 's always a telltale sign that something is fishy in the electorate .
GALLAGHER : And Congressman , just to clear things up , this 89 % number , I want to give both sides to this just so we have balance and clarity .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ this 89 % vote turnout number in Wisconsin .
The state is saying well , what 's happening is , they 're doing different math .
They 're dividing the number of people who voted by registered voters .
Instead what the state does is divide number of people who voted by total voting age people .
That 's where the discrepancy comes in .
Again , we have not confirmed those numbers are what they are , but that 's what the state is saying about this .
Gallagher claims that Fox @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' but a local news station debunked this nonsense being pushed by the Trumps and Duffy the day before Duffy repeated the lie on his network : VERIFY : No , Wisconsin 's 2020 turnout is not the highest by a huge margin : There is a claim that Wisconsin voter participation skyrocketed this year .
But those making the claim are n't using the formula the state uses .
As the vote counts in Wisconsin became increasingly close Wednesday , multiple false claims started to surface about the results in the state @ @ @ @ @ @ @ counted more votes than they had registered people .
That claim is false .
Another , similar claim , focused on the voter turnout percentage in Wisconsin .
Both Eric Trump and Donald Trump , Jr. shared it Tuesday .
It shows the Wisconsin voter turnout in the last five elections compared to 2020 .
The past elections showed voter turnout ranging from 67 % -73 % .
Voter turnout in 2020 , by comparison , was 89 % .
[ ... ] While the number may change slightly with final results , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 71 % , not 89 % .
[ ... ] But the 2020 number in the claim is actually achieved using a different formula than the one Wisconsin uses .
To get 89 % , the claim takes the current votes cast in Wisconsin this year and divides them by the registered voters in Wisconsin .
So that ’ s 3,240,268 votes cast among 3,684,726 registered voters , which equals roughly 89 % .
But that ’ s the wrong equation to use , at least in Wisconsin .
It clearly states on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ calculate turnout based on the number of registered voters.
” Instead it uses the “ total voting-age population.
” That ’ s anyone in the state above the age of 18 .
For 2020 , Wisconsin says that number is 4,536,293 .
Gallagher knew full well Duffy was lying , but he had to hedge things so as not to upset Dear Leader or his cult that believes all of the right wing propaganda they hear on Fox .
This is as close as you 'll come to someone lying actually getting fact-checked @ @ @ @ @ @ @

Trump and his surrogates have been out there desperately working the refs on television and filing one frivolous lawsuit after another in the hope of getting the courts to toss this election to Trump.
In an example of the former, here's GOP Rep. turned Fox contributor Sean Duffy on America's Newsroom this Thursday, helping to push the conspiracy theory that there's something fishy going on in Wisconsin because voter turnout shot way up.
GALLAGHER: There have been some reports of voting irregularities in your state. For example the Trump campaign and some others have pointed to this. Tim Murtaugh says that, quoting poll workers here “corrected or added information to the ballot itself. We estimate that 15 to 20% of absentee ballots in Milwaukee county were tainted in this manner.” We should note, these accusations haven't been validated but I guess for the sake of argument it is worth taking a second look at all these ballots. Your thoughts. DUFFY: Absolutely, Trace. I think the Trump campaign is smart to do this and also in Wisconsin usually we have about 68 to 70% voter turnout in races like this. It appears that there was an 89% voter turnout in Tuesday's election, which is ncredibly high and begs some questions as to what happened there. Now, there could be reasoning for what happened in Wisconsin. We could have had, we have same day registration in our state, so we could have had 500 or 600,000 people register on Tuesday to vote. That could explain it away. But the Trump campaign is smart to go through a ballot count with our electors. We also have an opportunity, Trace, to actually subpoena witnesses, subpoena documents, so we can look and see what happened in places like Milwaukee and Dane county. We have some precincts Trace where there were more ballots cast than people registered to vote. That's always a telltale sign that something is fishy in the electorate. GALLAGHER: And Congressman, just to clear things up, this 89% number, I want to give both sides to this just so we have balance and clarity. Some journalists, Eric Trump is citing this 89% vote turnout number in Wisconsin. The state is saying well, what's happening is, they're doing different math. They're dividing the number of people who voted by registered voters. Instead what the state does is divide number of people who voted by total voting age people. That's where the discrepancy comes in. Again, we have not confirmed those numbers are what they are, but that's what the state is saying about this.
Gallagher claims that Fox hasn't "confirmed those numbers," but a local news station debunked this nonsense being pushed by the Trumps and Duffy the day before Duffy repeated the lie on his network: VERIFY: No, Wisconsin's 2020 turnout is not the highest by a huge margin:
There is a claim that Wisconsin voter participation skyrocketed this year. But those making the claim aren't using the formula the state uses. As the vote counts in Wisconsin became increasingly close Wednesday, multiple false claims started to surface about the results in the state. One claim alleged that Wisconsin had counted more votes than they had registered people. That claim is false. Another, similar claim, focused on the voter turnout percentage in Wisconsin.
Both Eric Trump and Donald Trump, Jr. shared it Tuesday. It shows the Wisconsin voter turnout in the last five elections compared to 2020. The past elections showed voter turnout ranging from 67%-73%. Voter turnout in 2020, by comparison, was 89%. [...] While the number may change slightly with final results, the real voter turnout is closer to 71%, not 89%. [...] But the 2020 number in the claim is actually achieved using a different formula than the one Wisconsin uses. To get 89%, the claim takes the current votes cast in Wisconsin this year and divides them by the registered voters in Wisconsin. So that’s 3,240,268 votes cast among 3,684,726 registered voters, which equals roughly 89%. But that’s the wrong equation to use, at least in Wisconsin. It clearly states on its site that “Wisconsin does not calculate turnout based on the number of registered voters.” Instead it uses the “total voting-age population.” That’s anyone in the state above the age of 18. For 2020, Wisconsin says that number is 4,536,293.
Gallagher knew full well Duffy was lying, but he had to hedge things so as not to upset Dear Leader or his cult that believes all of the right wing propaganda they hear on Fox. This is as close as you'll come to someone lying actually getting fact-checked in real time on Trump TV.


crooksandliars--2020-11-05--GOP Officials Run Away From NBC Reporter Calling Out Their Lies

Trump supporters Ric Grennell and Matt Schlapp ran away from an NBC reporter when he asked for proof of their voter fraud claims in Nevada refusing to give any answers .
Trump sent his scores of flying monkeys into some of the remaining states still trying to legally count votes to hold kangaroo press conferences to undermine the integrity of the presidential election and disallow legal votes .
In Nevada , they held one such kangaroo press conference .
MSNBC then aired reporter Jacob Soboroff , making his way through a scrum of people and found Ric Grenell , one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ organization .
Soboroff explained who he was and asked , `` Can you talk about the evidence of for claiming thousands of illegitimate votes here in Nevada .
What 's the evidence ? ''
Grenell , when faced with defending his conspiracies told Soboroff he should go in and ask somebody else those questions .
`` You also said there is no election observers -- there are Democratic and Republican election observers inside , Mr. Grenell , '' Soboroff pressed .
Grenell ignored him along with Matt Schlapp and continued to flee to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the evidence of the fraud ?
You have n't presented any evidence of fraud , '' Soboroff persisted .
Chants of F*ck Fox News came through his microphone while all of this was happening .
Soboroff then turned to the cameras and said , `` They presented no evidence , '' before turning back toward the van and repeating his question .
Trump supporters already sitting in the dark van started shooing him away .
Voter suppression and intimidation is their goal to try and steal an election they know they 've lost @

Trump supporters Ric Grennell and Matt Schlapp ran away from an NBC reporter when he asked for proof of their voter fraud claims in Nevada refusing to give any answers.
Trump sent his scores of flying monkeys into some of the remaining states still trying to legally count votes to hold kangaroo press conferences to undermine the integrity of the presidential election and disallow legal votes.
In Nevada, they held one such kangaroo press conference.
MSNBC then aired reporter Jacob Soboroff, making his way through a scrum of people and found Ric Grenell, one of the worst liars in the Trump organization.
Soboroff explained who he was and asked, "Can you talk about the evidence of for claiming thousands of illegitimate votes here in Nevada. What's the evidence?"
Grenell, when faced with defending his conspiracies told Soboroff he should go in and ask somebody else those questions.
"You also said there is no election observers -- there are Democratic and Republican election observers inside, Mr. Grenell," Soboroff pressed.
Grenell ignored him along with Matt Schlapp and continued to flee to a dark van.
"Where's the evidence of the fraud? You haven't presented any evidence of fraud," Soboroff persisted.
Chants of F*ck Fox News came through his microphone while all of this was happening.
Soboroff then turned to the cameras and said, "They presented no evidence," before turning back toward the van and repeating his question. Trump supporters already sitting in the dark van started shooing him away.
Voter suppression and intimidation is their goal to try and steal an election they know they've lost.
Liars gotta lie.


crooksandliars--2020-11-05--Election 2020:  Another Embarrassing Failure For Pollsters

Election polling is facing yet another reckoning following its uneven-at-best performance in this year ’ s voting .
Although the outcome in the 2020 presidential race remained uncertain the next day , it was evident that polls collectively faltered , overall , in providing Americans with clear indications as to how the election would turn out .
And that misstep promises to resonate through the field of survey research , which was battered four years ago when Donald Trump carried states such as Wisconsin , Michigan and Pennsylvania , where polls indicated he had almost no chance of winning .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ off-target in 2016 .
Those failings deepened the embarrassment for a field that has suffered through – but has survived – a variety of lapses and surprises since the mid-1930s .
Many of those flubs and failings are described in my latest book , “ Lost in a Gallup : Polling Failure in U.S. Presidential Elections.
” Criticism was intense in some quarters Wednesday .
Politico ’ s widely followed “ Playbook ” newsletter was notably scathing .
“ The polling industry is a wreck , ” it declared , “ and should @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seems extreme , especially given polling ’ s resiliency over the decades , the poll-driven expectation that former Vice President Joe Biden would lead Democrats in a sweeping “ blue wave ” went unfulfilled .
Biden may still win the presidency , but it will not be in a landslide .
Biden ’ s overall polling lead , as compiled by RealClearPolitics.com , stood at 7.2 percentage points on the morning of Election Day .
A little more than 24 hours later , his lead in the national popular vote was almost 3 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and protection , from critics in asserting that pre-election surveys are not predictions .
But the nearer they are to the election , the more reliable polls ought to be .
And a number of individual pre-election polls were embarrassingly wide of the mark .
A notable example was the final Washington Post/ABC News poll in Wisconsin , released last week , which gave Biden a stunning 17-point lead .
The outcome there was still undecided Wednesday morning , but the margin surely will not be close to 17 points .
Indeed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ included Senate races such as those in Maine , where Republican Susan Collins appears to have fended off a well-financed challenger to win a fifth term , and South Carolina , where Republican Lindsey Graham rather easily won reelection despite polls that indicated a much closer race .
Graham declared after his victory became clear , “ To all the pollsters out there , you have no idea what you ’ re doing.
” It appears that Republicans will keep control of the U.S. Senate despite expectations , fueled by polls , that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to flip to the Democrats .
The 2020 election may represent another chapter in the controversies that have periodically surrounded election polls since George Gallup , Elmo Roper and Archibald Crossley initiated their sample surveys during the 1936 presidential campaign .
The most dramatic polling failure in U.S. presidential elections came in 1948 , when President Harry S. Truman defied the pollsters , the pundits and the press to win reelection over the heavily favored Republican nominee , Thomas E. Dewey .
The surprise this year is not remotely akin to the epic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is striking how polling missteps are so varied , and almost never the same – much as Leo Tolstoy said of unhappy families : each “ is unhappy in its own way.
” Factors that gave rise to this year ’ s embarrassment may not be clear for weeks or months , but it is no secret that election polling has been confronted with several challenges difficult to resolve .
Among them is the declining response rates to telephone surveys conducted by operators using random dialing techniques .
That technique used to be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
But response rates to telephone-based polls have been in decline for years , forcing polling organizations to look to , and experiment with , other sampling methods , including internet-based techniques .
But none of them has emerged as polling ’ s new gold standard .
[ Deep knowledge , daily .
Sign up for The Conversation ’ s newsletter . ]
One of polling ’ s most notable innovators was Warren Mitofsky , who years ago reminded his counterparts that there ’ s “ a lot of room for humility in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , you lose.
” This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license .
Read the original article .

W. Joseph Campbell, American University School of Communication
Election polling is facing yet another reckoning following its uneven-at-best performance in this year’s voting.
Although the outcome in the 2020 presidential race remained uncertain the next day, it was evident that polls collectively faltered, overall, in providing Americans with clear indications as to how the election would turn out.
And that misstep promises to resonate through the field of survey research, which was battered four years ago when Donald Trump carried states such as Wisconsin, Michigan and Pennsylvania, where polls indicated he had almost no chance of winning. Prominent, poll-based statistical forecasts also went off-target in 2016.
Those failings deepened the embarrassment for a field that has suffered through – but has survived – a variety of lapses and surprises since the mid-1930s. Many of those flubs and failings are described in my latest book, “Lost in a Gallup: Polling Failure in U.S. Presidential Elections.”
Criticism was intense in some quarters Wednesday. Politico’s widely followed “Playbook” newsletter was notably scathing. “The polling industry is a wreck,” it declared, “and should be blown up.”
Many surprises
While that assessment seems extreme, especially given polling’s resiliency over the decades, the poll-driven expectation that former Vice President Joe Biden would lead Democrats in a sweeping “blue wave” went unfulfilled. Biden may still win the presidency, but it will not be in a landslide.
Biden’s overall polling lead, as compiled by RealClearPolitics.com, stood at 7.2 percentage points on the morning of Election Day. A little more than 24 hours later, his lead in the national popular vote was almost 3 percentage points.
Screenshot, CNN, CC BY
Pollsters often seek comfort, and protection, from critics in asserting that pre-election surveys are not predictions. But the nearer they are to the election, the more reliable polls ought to be. And a number of individual pre-election polls were embarrassingly wide of the mark.
A notable example was the final Washington Post/ABC News poll in Wisconsin, released last week, which gave Biden a stunning 17-point lead. The outcome there was still undecided Wednesday morning, but the margin surely will not be close to 17 points.
Indeed, the polling surprises were many and included Senate races such as those in Maine, where Republican Susan Collins appears to have fended off a well-financed challenger to win a fifth term, and South Carolina, where Republican Lindsey Graham rather easily won reelection despite polls that indicated a much closer race. Graham declared after his victory became clear, “To all the pollsters out there, you have no idea what you’re doing.”
It appears that Republicans will keep control of the U.S. Senate despite expectations, fueled by polls, that control of the upper house was likely to flip to the Democrats.
Polling problems not new
The 2020 election may represent another chapter in the controversies that have periodically surrounded election polls since George Gallup, Elmo Roper and Archibald Crossley initiated their sample surveys during the 1936 presidential campaign. The most dramatic polling failure in U.S. presidential elections came in 1948, when President Harry S. Truman defied the pollsters, the pundits and the press to win reelection over the heavily favored Republican nominee, Thomas E. Dewey.
The surprise this year is not remotely akin to the epic polling failure of 1948. But it is striking how polling missteps are so varied, and almost never the same – much as Leo Tolstoy said of unhappy families: each “is unhappy in its own way.”
Factors that gave rise to this year’s embarrassment may not be clear for weeks or months, but it is no secret that election polling has been confronted with several challenges difficult to resolve. Among them is the declining response rates to telephone surveys conducted by operators using random dialing techniques.
That technique used to be considered the gold standard of survey research. But response rates to telephone-based polls have been in decline for years, forcing polling organizations to look to, and experiment with, other sampling methods, including internet-based techniques. But none of them has emerged as polling’s new gold standard.
[Deep knowledge, daily. Sign up for The Conversation’s newsletter.]
One of polling’s most notable innovators was Warren Mitofsky, who years ago reminded his counterparts that there’s “a lot of room for humility in polling. Every time you get cocky, you lose.”
Mitofsky died in 2006. His counsel rings true today.
W. Joseph Campbell, Professor of Communication Studies, American University School of Communication
This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.


crooksandliars--2020-11-05--Fox And Friends Makes Pam Bondi Look Foolish After Her Claim Of 'Fake Ballots' Fizzles UPDATED

Former Florida Attorney General and Trump cultist Pam Bondi lied to Fox and Friends this morning , claiming there were fake ballots cast in Pennsylvania .
But when asked for proof of these , her response was , `` there could be . ''
Conspiracies and personal wishes are not scandals against a political candidate .
Trump 's team of sycophants and 2000 Brooks Brothers Riot imitators are fanning out to states that are still counting votes , to intimidate and exert pressure to foment chaos in service to Trump .
Bondi had no problem promoting the conspiracy that all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , should be rejected as “ fake '' even though a high court ruling shot down their attempts to do that already .
Bondi went on a rant that somehow if a legal mail -in ballot arrives after Nov. 3 , it 's robbing Trump of his votes .
Bondi said , `` For every vote that came in late , that was postmarked late , yes , after Nov. 4 , on Nov. 4 , that discounts every legal vote that came in . ''
The Supreme Court will allow Pennsylvania to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ days after the Nov. 3 election , rejecting a Republican plea in the presidential battleground state .
The justices divided 4-4 on Monday , an outcome that upholds a state Supreme Court ruling that required county election officials to receive and count mailed-in ballots that arrive up until Nov. 6 , even if they don ’ t have a clear postmark , as long as there is not proof it was mailed after the polls closed .
Bondi continued lying , `` So that means all the good residents who are all supporting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t count by these fake ballots that are coming in late , -- they are not letting us watch the process . ''
Here 's where even Steve Doocy took notice and made her look foolish without meaning to .
Doocy replied , `` Pam , did you just say 'fake ballots ? '
Bondi replied , `` There could be . ''
I , John Amato , could have the athletic skills of Michael Jordan and Lebron James too !
But that does n't make it so or meet the threshold @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or do n't .
Doocy tried to nail her down but realized she was lying and rephrased the question .
He continued , `` Do you have p -- -- have you heard stories , ballots that are fake , and if so tell us what you know ? ''
Rudy Giuliani 's team has many stories to tell , but no evidence ever to back them up .
We knew Trump would do exactly this when he discovered he was losing .

Former Florida Attorney General and Trump cultist Pam Bondi lied to Fox and Friends this morning, claiming there were fake ballots cast in Pennsylvania.
But when asked for proof of these, her response was, "there could be."
Conspiracies and personal wishes are not scandals against a political candidate. Trump's team of sycophants and 2000 Brooks Brothers Riot imitators are fanning out to states that are still counting votes, to intimidate and exert pressure to foment chaos in service to Trump.
Bondi had no problem promoting the conspiracy that all mail-in ballots that arrive after Nov. 3rd, should be rejected as “fake" even though a high court ruling shot down their attempts to do that already.
Bondi went on a rant that somehow if a legal mail -in ballot arrives after Nov. 3, it's robbing Trump of his votes.
Bondi said, "For every vote that came in late, that was postmarked late, yes, after Nov. 4, on Nov. 4, that discounts every legal vote that came in."
Here's the law, Pam.
The Supreme Court will allow Pennsylvania to count mailed-in ballots received up to three days after the Nov. 3 election, rejecting a Republican plea in the presidential battleground state. The justices divided 4-4 on Monday, an outcome that upholds a state Supreme Court ruling that required county election officials to receive and count mailed-in ballots that arrive up until Nov. 6, even if they don’t have a clear postmark, as long as there is not proof it was mailed after the polls closed.
Bondi continued lying, "So that means all the good residents who are all supporting us in Pennsylvania, their votes don’t count by these fake ballots that are coming in late, -- they are not letting us watch the process."
Here's where even Steve Doocy took notice and made her look foolish without meaning to.
Doocy replied, "Pam, did you just say 'fake ballots?'
Bondi replied, "There could be."
WTF?
I, John Amato, could have the athletic skills of Michael Jordan and Lebron James too! But that doesn't make it so or meet the threshold to file lawsuits to prove I do or don't.
Doocy tried to nail her down but realized she was lying and rephrased the question.
He continued, "Do you have p ---- have you heard stories, ballots that are fake, and if so tell us what you know?"
Rudy Giuliani's team has many stories to tell, but no evidence ever to back them up.
We knew Trump would do exactly this when he discovered he was losing.
UPDATE:


crooksandliars--2020-11-05--Whacko C-Span Caller:  'No Racial Problems Until Obama Took Over’

The great political philosopher `` Frank on the C-Span Republican Line '' wants us to know that there was no racial division in the land until Barack Obama was elected president .
Frank also credits , um , police violence , for racial harmony in the 1970 's .
I am not making this up .
`` FRANK '' : I ’ ve been hearing all these stories and it ’ s garbage .
Trump never said nothing about the military and this is the greatest president we ever had .
Every American should be proud .
I grew up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
There was never race problems from 1971 because the cops went in and kicked butt , from ’ 71 , ’ 72 after Vietnam .
Frank also has strong opinions about Donald Trump 's tax returns .
So he didn ’ t make no money for the whole — for the last four years .
So that ’ s why his tax returns are that .
For the other years , he was paying hundreds of millions of dollars that no one knows , that ’ s why Trump won ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , what does taxes have to do with being a president ?
Not a damn thing .
If you go back to the original , George Washington never gave taxes .
Thomas Jefferson never gave taxes .
Abraham Lincoln never gave taxes .
I want Frank to have a long weekend vacationing with David Brooks and other pundits who think the Republican Party is their chardonnay sipping friends on Capitol Hill .
It 's not .
It 's Frank .

The great political philosopher "Frank on the C-Span Republican Line" wants us to know that there was no racial division in the land until Barack Obama was elected president.
Frank also credits, um, police violence, for racial harmony in the 1970's. I am not making this up.
"FRANK": I’ve been hearing all these stories and it’s garbage. Trump never said nothing about the military and this is the greatest president we ever had. Every American should be proud. I grew up in the ’60s in the Bronx. There was never race problems from 1971 because the cops went in and kicked butt, from ’71, ’72 after Vietnam.
Frank also has strong opinions about Donald Trump's tax returns.
So he didn’t make no money for the whole — for the last four years. So that’s why his tax returns are that. For the other years, he was paying hundreds of millions of dollars that no one knows, that’s why Trump won’t give his taxes. And as president, what does taxes have to do with being a president? Not a damn thing. If you go back to the original, George Washington never gave taxes. Thomas Jefferson never gave taxes. Abraham Lincoln never gave taxes.
I want Frank to have a long weekend vacationing with David Brooks and other pundits who think the Republican Party is their chardonnay sipping friends on Capitol Hill. It's not. It's Frank.


crooksandliars--2020-11-05--Trump, Facing Prison And Financial Ruin, Clings To Hopes Of Stealing The Election

Donald Trump will likely be a prisoner of the U.S. legal system for the foreseeable future , and he has clearly decided he 'd rather be wrapped up in electoral proceedings than criminal ones .
Trump and his campaign lawyers appear to be mounting a full court press in any state where Trump does n't like what 's happening with the vote tallies , including Michigan , Wisconsin , Pennsylvania , and even Georgia ( abruptly added on Wednesday night has his margins started eroding ) .
Stop the counts !
But continue them in Arizona ( where Trump is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do n't stop the count in Michigan , where Biden has now won and halting the tally would render him the victor .
It 's a both/and situation .
Oh , and recount those Wisconsin votes !
Anyway , details-schmetails !
You get the idea : Trumper does n't like where things are headed , and he 's throwing as many lawsuits as he can dream up at the whole thing and hoping something might stick .
In fact , let 's head straight to the Supreme Court ( which is n't how @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pesky ballots thrown out ( burn the ballots ! )
.
Right-o .
But then again , why not ?
Because all the legal matters Trump is facing if he 's ousted are going to be far less pleasant for him .
There 's the tax matters and the defamation suits and whatever happened to those campaign finance violations .
Plus , the investigations are coming from all directions—Congress , the New York Attorney General , the Manhattan D.A.
, private lawsuits , etc .
And as a bonus , many of Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ such as former campaign adviser and White House aide Steve Bannon and current personal attorney Rudy Giuliani .
What could go wrong with Rudy in the mix ?
Anyway , Donald Trump has a litigation coming down the pike , and these lawsuits may be his last hurrah while he still has a campaign , the U.S. government , and taxpayer dollars to do his bidding .
Those resources appear to be in dwindling supply for Trump .
But do n't be surprised to see him quickly announce a bid for 2024 .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ For months , as his chances of being re-elected dwindled , Mr. Trump told advisers—sometimes joking , sometimes not—that should he lose he would promptly announce that he was running again in 2024 .
Two advisers said they anticipate he will make good on that declaration if his legal challenges fail and is defeated , a move that if nothing else would allow him to raise money to finance the rallies that sustain him . ''
Trump may still be on the grift if he loses , but at least—it appears—he wo n't @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to use as a shield .

Donald Trump will likely be a prisoner of the U.S. legal system for the foreseeable future, and he has clearly decided he'd rather be wrapped up in electoral proceedings than criminal ones.
Trump and his campaign lawyers appear to be mounting a full court press in any state where Trump doesn't like what's happening with the vote tallies, including Michigan, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, and even Georgia (abruptly added on Wednesday night has his margins started eroding).
Stop the counts! But continue them in Arizona (where Trump is behind)! But also do and don't stop the count in Michigan, where Biden has now won and halting the tally would render him the victor. It's a both/and situation. Oh, and recount those Wisconsin votes! Anyway, details-schmetails! You get the idea: Trumper doesn't like where things are headed, and he's throwing as many lawsuits as he can dream up at the whole thing and hoping something might stick. In fact, let's head straight to the Supreme Court (which isn't how it works) and just get those pesky ballots thrown out (burn the ballots!).
Kayleigh McEnany says if Trump loses PA they will go to the supreme court to get ballots mailed before or on election day thrown out pic.twitter.com/rNWA959Nwr — nikki mccann ramírez (@NikkiMcR) November 5, 2020
Right-o. But then again, why not? Because all the legal matters Trump is facing if he's ousted are going to be far less pleasant for him. There's the tax matters and the defamation suits and whatever happened to those campaign finance violations. Plus, the investigations are coming from all directions—Congress, the New York Attorney General, the Manhattan D.A., private lawsuits, etc. And as a bonus, many of Trump's associates continue to draw scrutiny, such as former campaign adviser and White House aide Steve Bannon and current personal attorney Rudy Giuliani. What could go wrong with Rudy in the mix?
Anyway, Donald Trump has a litigation coming down the pike, and these lawsuits may be his last hurrah while he still has a campaign, the U.S. government, and taxpayer dollars to do his bidding. Those resources appear to be in dwindling supply for Trump.
But don't be surprised to see him quickly announce a bid for 2024. The New York Times reports, "For months, as his chances of being re-elected dwindled, Mr. Trump told advisers—sometimes joking, sometimes not—that should he lose he would promptly announce that he was running again in 2024. Two advisers said they anticipate he will make good on that declaration if his legal challenges fail and is defeated, a move that if nothing else would allow him to raise money to finance the rallies that sustain him."
Trump may still be on the grift if he loses, but at least—it appears—he won't have the U.S. government at his disposal to use as a shield.
Posted with permission from Daily Kos.


crooksandliars--2020-11-05--Axios: Mitch McConnell Will Veto Biden's Liberal Cabinet Nominees

More than ever , we need to win those runoffs in Georgia , just so we can dump Moscow Mitch @ @ @ @ @ on the Senate is forcing Joe Biden 's transition team to consider limiting its prospective @ @ @ @ @ Mitch McConnell can live with , according to people familiar with the matter .
A @ @ @ @ @ Axios a Republican Senate would work with Biden on centrist nominees but no `` radical @ @ @ @ @ are controversial with conservatives .

More than ever, we need to win those runoffs in Georgia, just so we can dump Moscow Mitch.
Via Axios:
Republicans' likely hold on the Senate is forcing Joe Biden's transition team to consider limiting its prospective Cabinet nominees to those who Mitch McConnell can live with, according to people familiar with the matter.
A source close to McConnell tells Axios a Republican Senate would work with Biden on centrist nominees but no "radical progressives" or ones who are controversial with conservatives.


crooksandliars--2020-11-05--Scarborough Lectures Evangelicals On Their Absurd Rationale For Supporting Trump

Joe Scarborough went off on a tear this morning about evangelicals , their chronic sense of persecution and victimhood , , and their rational for supporting Trump .
`` I say this as a guy who 's a Republican for 20 , 25 years , so much of that also comes from just an overwhelming sense of victimhood .
I swear if I hear one more friend of mine who 's an evangelical talking about 'they 're coming for us , ' the persecuted church and I politely and gently remind them that over the past five years , no @ @ @ @ @ @ @ republic has done more to protect religious rights than has the Roberts court .
I can go down one ruling after another after another , '' he said .
He said to suggest that `` somehow this federal government is hostile to faith and we must vote for Donald Trump to protect Christendom is one of the stupidest arguments I have ever heard in my life . ''
`` Look at what the Supreme Court has done on religious liberty , specifically protecting religious liberty of conservative Christians .
People that I have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ churches for , you know , the past 57 years .
the sense of victimhood is outrageous .
`` You know what it makes it more outrageous -- I 'm sorry to get on this soap box -- is these are the same people that are talking about religious liberty are supporting a guy still who promoted a Muslim registry .
Yes , yes , a Muslim registry .
Sounds an awful lot like Jewish registries in Nazi Germany .
Oh , you ca n't say -- but wait .
that 's what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you evangelicals that run around screaming about religious freedom and religious liberty and how the libs are coming after you and your church and your beliefs and you 're ignoring Supreme Court decisions , protecting your rights , which of course I support , because I 'm a conservative , you do n't feel that way .
He pointed out it was n't Barack Obama 's policy to deliberately find children and lock them up .
`` But that was Donald Trump 's policy .
In fact , they had a cabinet meeting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it except for Kirstjen Nielsen . ''
`` That was a stated policy .
So I really do n't get it .
I mean , the victimhood .
Stop being a victim .
Stop being a snowflake .
I 've got the same , most likely a lot of the same beliefs that you have .
But those similarities stop when I think that the protection of my faith , of my evangelical faith should only be applied to me and not applied to Catholics , not applied to Jews , not applied @ @ @ @ @ @ @ others .
`` The blinders !
I have to say of all of these years , the blinders are just extraordinary , Mika . ''

Joe Scarborough went off on a tear this morning about evangelicals, their chronic sense of persecution and victimhood, , and their rational for supporting Trump.
"I say this as a guy who's a Republican for 20, 25 years, so much of that also comes from just an overwhelming sense of victimhood. I swear if I hear one more friend of mine who's an evangelical talking about 'they're coming for us,' the persecuted church and I politely and gently remind them that over the past five years, no Supreme Court in the history of this republic has done more to protect religious rights than has the Roberts court. I can go down one ruling after another after another," he said.
He said to suggest that "somehow this federal government is hostile to faith and we must vote for Donald Trump to protect Christendom is one of the stupidest arguments I have ever heard in my life."
"Look at what the Supreme Court has done on religious liberty, specifically protecting religious liberty of conservative Christians. People that I have grown up with and been with in churches for, you know, the past 57 years. the sense of victimhood is outrageous.
"You know what it makes it more outrageous -- I'm sorry to get on this soap box -- is these are the same people that are talking about religious liberty are supporting a guy still who promoted a Muslim registry. Yes, yes, a Muslim registry. Sounds an awful lot like Jewish registries in Nazi Germany. Oh, you can't say -- but wait. that's what he proposed. and a lot of you evangelicals that run around screaming about religious freedom and religious liberty and how the libs are coming after you and your church and your beliefs and you're ignoring Supreme Court decisions, protecting your rights, which of course I support, because I'm a conservative, you don't feel that way.
He pointed out it wasn't Barack Obama's policy to deliberately find children and lock them up. "But that was Donald Trump's policy. In fact, they had a cabinet meeting where everybody raised their hands to support it except for Kirstjen Nielsen."
"That was a stated policy. So I really don't get it. I mean, the victimhood. Stop being a victim. Stop being a snowflake. I've got the same, most likely a lot of the same beliefs that you have. But those similarities stop when I think that the protection of my faith, of my evangelical faith should only be applied to me and not applied to Catholics, not applied to Jews, not applied to Muslims, not applied to the others.
"The blinders! I have to say of all of these years, the blinders are just extraordinary, Mika."
(Of course, Scarborough seems okay the burden these religious "protections" place on women who just want to get their birth control prescriptions filled and instead get publicly slut-shamed by a self-righteous pharmacist, or whose employers refuse to allow insurance coverage of their birth control. But then, patriarchal religions just don't care about women.)