talkingpointsmemo--2020-10-27--In Final Week, Trump Is Committed To Crafting Alternate Reality Where He’s Winning

In a truth that may be belied by the hyper-anxiety of online Democrats , things are not looking so good for President Donald Trump in the last week of the campaign .
Former Vice President Joe Biden is sustaining his polling leads in both national and battleground states , and there are fewer undecided voters this time around to recreate the last minute 2016 swing that gave Trump the electoral college .
The last presidential debate , Trump ’ s best chance to change the narrative in front of a large audience , didn ’ t seem to move the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people have already voted , decreasing the chances that some wild development could alter the calculus that ’ s held steady for months .
But none of that is true in Trump ’ s fact-optional world .
In the days leading up the election , Trump has curated an alternate reality on his Twitter feed where he ’ s winning .
Any fact to the contrary is fake , a vicious lie disseminated by [ insert the media , Democrats , or any of Trump ’ s various political enemies here ] .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ has been avidly tweeting that we are just about to “ turn the corner ” on COVID-19 , and that media chumps are the only ones fixated on the “ topic.
” “ Cases up because we TEST , TEST , TEST , ” he tweeted .
“ A Fake News Media Conspiracy .
Many young people who heal very fast .
99.9 % .
Corrupt Media conspiracy at all time high .
On November 4th.
, topic will totally change .
VOTE !
” “ ALL THE FAKE NEWS MEDIA WANTS TO @ @ @ @ @ @ @ COVID , ” he added .
“ ON NOVEMBER 4th , YOU WON ’ T BE HEARING SO MUCH ABOUT IT ANYMORE .
WE ARE ROUNDING THE TURN !
!
!
” In Trump ’ s alternate universe , the COVID-19 pandemic is a quickly passing , mild inconvenience that real people don ’ t care about .
It has nothing to do with the top two issues — the economy and health care — voters are worried about ; it ’ s a media “ conspiracy ” to make Trump look bad @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to actually do anything about it if it ’ s about to go away on its own anyway .
Incontrovertible truths , like that Democrats are , at the moment , dominating the early vote numbers , are trickier — but still moldable .
In Trump ’ s world , that avalanche of blue ballots is temporarily and easily dispensed with .
People just need to change them !
“ Strongly Trending ( Google ) since immediately after the second debate is CAN I CHANGE MY VOTE ?
” he wrote .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The answer in most states is YES .
Go do it .
Most important Election of your life !
” In reality , only seven states let you change your vote , and it ’ s often accompanied by burdensome requirements ; for instance , in Pennsylvania , a voter has to show up to change it in person .
Faced with unfriendly polls , Trump cherrypicks the outliers : namely , Trafalgar and Rasmussen , both of which reliably produce more GOP-friendly results than the rest of the field .
“ Real @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he tweeted .
When rejected by the editorial board of the nation ’ s top newspapers , he homes in on the conservative-leaning oddballs that have given him the nod : the Washington Times , New York Post and their ilk .
Trump claims to hate the media , but craves its embrace .
In Trumpworld , he has it .
The throughline of Trump ’ s alternate world is an ardent wish for a return to 2016 , the good old days when Trump ’ s grievance-y , outsider ethos was fresh @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he is currently in charge .
In Trump ’ s land of imagination , he ’ s still that bright-eyed newcomer , headed for an upset and promising to give America a heaping dose of law and order .
“ New York , California , Illinois .
People are FLEEING , Taxes and Crime are going through the roof , ” he tweeted .
“ VOTE TRUMP , I will turn it around , and FAST !
”

In a truth that may be belied by the hyper-anxiety of online Democrats, things are not looking so good for President Donald Trump in the last week of the campaign.
Former Vice President Joe Biden is sustaining his polling leads in both national and battleground states, and there are fewer undecided voters this time around to recreate the last minute 2016 swing that gave Trump the electoral college. The last presidential debate, Trump’s best chance to change the narrative in front of a large audience, didn’t seem to move the needle. And millions and millions of people have already voted, decreasing the chances that some wild development could alter the calculus that’s held steady for months.
But none of that is true in Trump’s fact-optional world.
In the days leading up the election, Trump has curated an alternate reality on his Twitter feed where he’s winning. Any fact to the contrary is fake, a vicious lie disseminated by [insert the media, Democrats, or any of Trump’s various political enemies here].
Over the past two days, Trump has been avidly tweeting that we are just about to “turn the corner” on COVID-19, and that media chumps are the only ones fixated on the “topic.”
“Cases up because we TEST, TEST, TEST,” he tweeted. “A Fake News Media Conspiracy. Many young people who heal very fast. 99.9%. Corrupt Media conspiracy at all time high. On November 4th., topic will totally change. VOTE!”
“ALL THE FAKE NEWS MEDIA WANTS TO TALK ABOUT IS COVID, COVID, COVID,” he added. “ON NOVEMBER 4th, YOU WON’T BE HEARING SO MUCH ABOUT IT ANYMORE. WE ARE ROUNDING THE TURN!!!”
In Trump’s alternate universe, the COVID-19 pandemic is a quickly passing, mild inconvenience that real people don’t care about. It has nothing to do with the top two issues — the economy and health care — voters are worried about; it’s a media “conspiracy” to make Trump look bad. And he doesn’t have to actually do anything about it if it’s about to go away on its own anyway.
Incontrovertible truths, like that Democrats are, at the moment, dominating the early vote numbers, are trickier — but still moldable. In Trump’s world, that avalanche of blue ballots is temporarily and easily dispensed with. People just need to change them!
“Strongly Trending (Google) since immediately after the second debate is CAN I CHANGE MY VOTE?” he wrote. “This refers changing it to me. The answer in most states is YES. Go do it. Most important Election of your life!”
In reality, only seven states let you change your vote, and it’s often accompanied by burdensome requirements; for instance, in Pennsylvania, a voter has to show up to change it in person.
Faced with unfriendly polls, Trump cherrypicks the outliers: namely, Trafalgar and Rasmussen, both of which reliably produce more GOP-friendly results than the rest of the field. “Real Polls have us winning everywhere!” he tweeted.
When rejected by the editorial board of the nation’s top newspapers, he homes in on the conservative-leaning oddballs that have given him the nod: the Washington Times, New York Post and their ilk. Trump claims to hate the media, but craves its embrace. In Trumpworld, he has it.
The throughline of Trump’s alternate world is an ardent wish for a return to 2016, the good old days when Trump’s grievance-y, outsider ethos was fresh and unburdened by the pesky reality that he is currently in charge. In Trump’s land of imagination, he’s still that bright-eyed newcomer, headed for an upset and promising to give America a heaping dose of law and order.
“New York, California, Illinois. People are FLEEING, Taxes and Crime are going through the roof,” he tweeted. “VOTE TRUMP, I will turn it around, and FAST!”


talkingpointsmemo--2020-10-27--20 Former GOP US Attorneys Snub Trump, Offering ‘Strongest Endorsement’ Of Biden

A group of former U.S. attorneys appointed by Republican presidents issued a letter on Tuesday backing Democratic nominee Joe Biden ’ s presidential bid .
” We believe that President Trump ’ s leadership is a threat to the rule of law in our country , and we do not support his reelection , ” the group wrote in a letter obtained by the Washington Post .
Among the group of 20 former U.S. attorneys were appointees of GOP presidents ranging from Dwight Eisenhower and Richard Nixon , to Ronald Reagan and George W. Bush .
The former DOJ officials @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of GOP lawmakers and former Republican-appointed administration officials who have snubbed their party ’ s candidate in favor of Biden .
In recent weeks , Maryland Gov .
Larry Hogan ( R ) as well as Massachusetts Gov .
Charlie Baker ( R ) both said publicly that the would not support President Trump ’ s reelection .
In their letter Tuesday , the former GOP U.S. attorneys condemned Trump ’ s repeated interference with the Department of Justice ’ s decision-making .
They rebuked the President ’ s efforts to solicit Attorney @ @ @ @ @ @ @ issues like foreign election interference and the prosecution of his his allies , among others .
The former U.S. attorneys touted Biden ’ s track record of protecting the independence of the Justice Department and ensuring that law enforcement wields its powers “ fairly and impartially and in the interests of all Americans.
” “ Unlike the current president , Joe Biden and his Justice Department will make every effort to unite law enforcement and the nation in the pursuit of justice – to defend the rule of law , to serve and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a criminal justice system that provides equal justice under the law , ” the group asserted .
The former DOJ officials accused Trump of politicizing the Department of Justice and vying to dictate its priorities , suggesting that Trump has charted clear expectations for Justice Department appointees and prosecutors to serve his personal interests .
The group condemned the President ’ s efforts amid recent racial justice protests to bully state and local officials “ in a naked effort to demonize and blame them for the disturbances in our cities over the past @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that Vice President Joe Biden is the candidate who can – and will – provide the leadership we need to refocus the Justice Department on the cause of impartial justice and to address the deep-seated societal issues that are roiling our country today , ” the group wrote .
“ We give him our strongest endorsement , and we hereby announce that we will each be voting for Joe Biden and Kamala Harris to serve as the next President and Vice President of the United States .
”

A group of former U.S. attorneys appointed by Republican presidents issued a letter on Tuesday backing Democratic nominee Joe Biden’s presidential bid.
”We believe that President Trump’s leadership is a threat to the rule of law in our country, and we do not support his reelection,” the group wrote in a letter obtained by the Washington Post.
Among the group of 20 former U.S. attorneys were appointees of GOP presidents ranging from Dwight Eisenhower and Richard Nixon, to Ronald Reagan and George W. Bush. The former DOJ officials add their names to a growing list of GOP lawmakers and former Republican-appointed administration officials who have snubbed their party’s candidate in favor of Biden.
In recent weeks, Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan (R) as well as Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker (R) both said publicly that the would not support President Trump’s reelection.
In their letter Tuesday, the former GOP U.S. attorneys condemned Trump’s repeated interference with the Department of Justice’s decision-making. They rebuked the President’s efforts to solicit Attorney General Bill Barr to do bidding on issues like foreign election interference and the prosecution of his his allies, among others.
The former U.S. attorneys touted Biden’s track record of protecting the independence of the Justice Department and ensuring that law enforcement wields its powers “fairly and impartially and in the interests of all Americans.”
“Unlike the current president, Joe Biden and his Justice Department will make every effort to unite law enforcement and the nation in the pursuit of justice – to defend the rule of law, to serve and protect all Americans, and to build a criminal justice system that provides equal justice under the law,” the group asserted.
The former DOJ officials accused Trump of politicizing the Department of Justice and vying to dictate its priorities, suggesting that Trump has charted clear expectations for Justice Department appointees and prosecutors to serve his personal interests.
The group condemned the President’s efforts amid recent racial justice protests to bully state and local officials “in a naked effort to demonize and blame them for the disturbances in our cities over the past several months.”
“We firmly believe that Vice President Joe Biden is the candidate who can – and will – provide the leadership we need to refocus the Justice Department on the cause of impartial justice and to address the deep-seated societal issues that are roiling our country today,” the group wrote.
“We give him our strongest endorsement, and we hereby announce that we will each be voting for Joe Biden and Kamala Harris to serve as the next President and Vice President of the United States.”
Read the full statement below:


talkingpointsmemo--2020-10-28--Trump Fans Left Stranded In The Cold For Hours After Omaha Rally

Many Trump supporters , including a number of elderly fans , were stranded in the cold on Tuesday night for hours after attending a rally for President Donald Trump at an airport in Omaha , Nebraska .
Hours after President Trump took off on Air Force One , local police were rushing in to help the most vulnerable in the crowd get warm amid the icy temperature as they waited for a return bus to reach their cars , the Washington Post reported .
At least seven people were taken to hospitals , according to Omaha Scanner .
Police did @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an exact count of how many needed treatment , the Post said .
Aaron Sanderford , an Omaha World-Herald reporter , tweeted that the Trump campaign said it had provided enough buses but that the flow of traffic was delayed on the small , two-lane airport access road since it was limited to one direction that was more than three miles away from the parking lot where many supporters had left their cars .
While the President departed on Air Force One around 9 p.m. , by the Post ’ s account , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ many were still waiting in the freezing cold to board buses back to their cars .
Per Omaha Scanner , officers began reporting a number of cases of elderly people at-risk in the cold .
“ President Trump took off in Air Force One 1 hr 20 minutes ago , but thousands of his supporters remain stranded on a dark road outside the rally , ” CNN ’ s Jeff Zeleny tweeted , noting that he also overheard a police officer saying at one point that another 30 buses were needed .
Soon @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their cars to get them out of the elements .
It wasn ’ t until after midnight — more than three-and-a-half hours after Trump departed that the rally site was fully cleared of freezing fans , according to an account of the events in tweets by Sanderford .
During his speech , Trump repeated an apparent favorite false statement on the coronavirus pandemic , saying that “ we ’ re making that final turn ” on COVID-19 and that “ normal life will fully resume.
” The comments came as COVID-19 cases have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more than 800 new cases daily for nine consecutive days , the World-Herald noted .
Though the campaign checked temperatures and offered masks , few were actually worn , the World-Herald reported .

Many Trump supporters, including a number of elderly fans, were stranded in the cold on Tuesday night for hours after attending a rally for President Donald Trump at an airport in Omaha, Nebraska.
Hours after President Trump took off on Air Force One, local police were rushing in to help the most vulnerable in the crowd get warm amid the icy temperature as they waited for a return bus to reach their cars, the Washington Post reported.
At least seven people were taken to hospitals, according to Omaha Scanner. Police did not provide reporters on the scene with an exact count of how many needed treatment, the Post said.
Aaron Sanderford, an Omaha World-Herald reporter, tweeted that the Trump campaign said it had provided enough buses but that the flow of traffic was delayed on the small, two-lane airport access road since it was limited to one direction that was more than three miles away from the parking lot where many supporters had left their cars.
While the President departed on Air Force One around 9 p.m., by the Post’s account, it was nearly 10:30 p.m., when many were still waiting in the freezing cold to board buses back to their cars.
Per Omaha Scanner, officers began reporting a number of cases of elderly people at-risk in the cold.
“President Trump took off in Air Force One 1 hr 20 minutes ago, but thousands of his supporters remain stranded on a dark road outside the rally,” CNN’s Jeff Zeleny tweeted, noting that he also overheard a police officer saying at one point that another 30 buses were needed.
Soon, Police began shuttling some people to their cars to get them out of the elements.
It wasn’t until after midnight — more than three-and-a-half hours after Trump departed that the rally site was fully cleared of freezing fans, according to an account of the events in tweets by Sanderford.
During his speech, Trump repeated an apparent favorite false statement on the coronavirus pandemic, saying that “we’re making that final turn” on COVID-19 and that “normal life will fully resume.”
The comments came as COVID-19 cases have spiked in Nebraska with the state averaging more than 800 new cases daily for nine consecutive days, the World-Herald noted.
Though the campaign checked temperatures and offered masks, few were actually worn, the World-Herald reported.


talkingpointsmemo--2020-10-28--Hacker Defaces Trump Camp Site With Message Decrying ‘Fake News’ Spread By POTUS

A hacker vandalized President Donald Trump ’ s campaign website on Tuesday evening with a message attacking the President .
@ @ @ @ @ , ” the hacker wrote at the top of the website ’ s “ Events @ @ @ @ @ T ] he world has had enough of the fake-news spreaded [ sic ] daily @ @ @ @ @ .
[ I ] t is time to allow the world to know truth , @ @ @ @ @ hacker demanded cryptocurrency in exchange for data they claimed to have that proved Trump ’ @ @ @ @ @ sic ] and cooperation with foreign actors manipulating the 2020 elections , ” along with @ @ @ @ @ administration was “ involved in the origin of ” COVID-19 .
The website was restored @ @ @ @ @ being taken offline temporarily .
The Trump campaign is “ working with law enforcement authorities @ @ @ @ @ the attack , ” campaign spokesperson Tim Murtaugh said in a statement .
“ There @ @ @ @ @ data because none of it is actually stored on the site .
”

A hacker vandalized President Donald Trump’s campaign website on Tuesday evening with a message attacking the President.
“This site was seized,” the hacker wrote at the top of the website’s “Events” page.
“[T]he world has had enough of the fake-news spreaded [sic] daily by president donald j trump. [I]t is time to allow the world to know truth,” they added.
The hacker demanded cryptocurrency in exchange for data they claimed to have that proved Trump’s “criminal involvment [sic] and cooperation with foreign actors manipulating the 2020 elections,” along with alleged evidence that the Trump administration was “involved in the origin of” COVID-19.
The website was restored with the post removed after being taken offline temporarily.
The Trump campaign is “working with law enforcement authorities to investigate the source of the attack,” campaign spokesperson Tim Murtaugh said in a statement. “There was no exposure to sensitive data because none of it is actually stored on the site.”


talkingpointsmemo--2020-10-29--Supreme Court Denies GOP Requests To Revive Tighter Ballot Deadlines In N.C.

The U.S. Supreme Court denied Wednesday two requests by Republicans that the court revive a tighter deadline for returning absentee ballots in North Carolina .
The dispute centered on a consent agreement that the State Board of Elections reached as part of a lawsuit brought by voting rights advocates .
The board agreed to extend the receipt deadline for mail ballots from three days after the election to nine days after the election .
It also loosened up the rules around the state ’ s witness requirement for absentee voting .
Both the state Republican Party and the GOP legislative @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Court to intervene .
Justices Clarence Thomas , Samuel Alito , Neil Gorsuch indicated that they voted in favor of reinstating the tighter ballot deadline .
Gorsuch , joined by Alito , wrote a dissenting opinion explaining why he would have granted the lawmakers ’ request to block the agreement .
The orders were the latest volley in the Supreme Court ’ s jockeying over who has authority to tweak election rules because of the pandemic .
Justices Thomas , Alito , Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh have all signaled that they believe courts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ decisions to make not to make changes in how elections are carried out .
Kavanaugh , however , did not publicly indicate a dissent in the North Carolina dispute .
A key detail in the North Carolina case is that the legislature had granted the state board authority to change some election rules in the event that a “ natural disaster ” causes the normal election schedule to be “ disrupted ” and that the board ’ s changes don ’ t “ unnecessar [ ily ] ” conflict with state laws .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ he didn ’ t believe the pandemic met those conditions .

The U.S. Supreme Court denied Wednesday two requests by Republicans that the court revive a tighter deadline for returning absentee ballots in North Carolina.
The dispute centered on a consent agreement that the State Board of Elections reached as part of a lawsuit brought by voting rights advocates. The board agreed to extend the receipt deadline for mail ballots from three days after the election to nine days after the election. It also loosened up the rules around the state’s witness requirement for absentee voting.
Both the state Republican Party and the GOP legislative leaders filed requests asking the U.S. Supreme Court to intervene.
Justices Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito, Neil Gorsuch indicated that they voted in favor of reinstating the tighter ballot deadline. Gorsuch, joined by Alito, wrote a dissenting opinion explaining why he would have granted the lawmakers’ request to block the agreement.
The orders were the latest volley in the Supreme Court’s jockeying over who has authority to tweak election rules because of the pandemic. Justices Thomas, Alito, Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh have all signaled that they believe courts should defer to state legislature’s decisions to make not to make changes in how elections are carried out. Kavanaugh, however, did not publicly indicate a dissent in the North Carolina dispute.
A key detail in the North Carolina case is that the legislature had granted the state board authority to change some election rules in the event that a “natural disaster” causes the normal election schedule to be “disrupted” and that the board’s changes don’t “unnecessar[ily]” conflict with state laws.
Gorsuch’s dissent focused on why he didn’t believe the pandemic met those conditions.
Read the orders below:


talkingpointsmemo--2020-10-28--VT’s Election Chief Asks SCOTUS To Correct Error In Kavanaugh Opinion

Vermont Secretary of State Jim Condos ( D ) formally requested , via a letter to the clerk of the Supreme Court , that a Justice Brett Kavanaugh opinion that mischaracterized the state ’ s plans for the election be corrected .
In his concurrence explaining why he was voting in favor of a requirement that Wisconsin absentee ballots be received by Election Day , Kavanuagh argued that courts should defer to state legislatures when it came to adjusting election rules for the pandemic .
Kavanaugh pointed specifically to Vermont as a state that has “ decided not to make @ @ @ @ @ @ @ including to the election-day deadline for receipt of absentee ballots.
” That assertion was wrong , as Condos ’ letter Wednesday pointed out .
Vermont made two major changes , because of the pandemic , to how it was handling the election .
Its legislature approved the proactive sending of mail ballots to all active registered voters .
And Condos additionally okayed a policy that will allow local election officials to begin processing absentee ballots 30 days before the election .
“ These two actions factored significantly in our decision to hold to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of mailed ballots rather than extending returns beyond election day based on postmark , ” Condos said .
Beyond just noting the factual error , Condos ’ letter argued that the election changes that Vermont embraced made it a poor comparison point for Wisconsin , where the legislature has pointedly refused to let the processing of absentee ballots begin earlier or pass other laws that would help absentee voters get their ballots in sooner .
( Another argument Kavanaugh made in the concurrence is that states were justified in adopting policies that would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Wisconsin ’ s refusal to move back its processing timeline undercuts that point ) .
“ Since the state of Wisconsin neither changed its ordinary elections rules this year to mail each of its active registered voters a ballot nor authorized its Local Election Officials to process ballots early , Vermont is not an accurate comparison for the assertion Justice Kavanaugh has made , ” Condos said .
“ I respectfully ask that the record is corrected to reflect that .
”

Vermont Secretary of State Jim Condos (D) formally requested, via a letter to the clerk of the Supreme Court, that a Justice Brett Kavanaugh opinion that mischaracterized the state’s plans for the election be corrected.
In his concurrence explaining why he was voting in favor of a requirement that Wisconsin absentee ballots be received by Election Day, Kavanuagh argued that courts should defer to state legislatures when it came to adjusting election rules for the pandemic.
Kavanaugh pointed specifically to Vermont as a state that has “decided not to make changes to their ordinary election rules, including to the election-day deadline for receipt of absentee ballots.”
That assertion was wrong, as Condos’ letter Wednesday pointed out. Vermont made two major changes, because of the pandemic, to how it was handling the election. Its legislature approved the proactive sending of mail ballots to all active registered voters. And Condos additionally okayed a policy that will allow local election officials to begin processing absentee ballots 30 days before the election.
“These two actions factored significantly in our decision to hold to existing law requiring the election day receipt of mailed ballots rather than extending returns beyond election day based on postmark,” Condos said.
Beyond just noting the factual error, Condos’ letter argued that the election changes that Vermont embraced made it a poor comparison point for Wisconsin, where the legislature has pointedly refused to let the processing of absentee ballots begin earlier or pass other laws that would help absentee voters get their ballots in sooner.
(Another argument Kavanaugh made in the concurrence is that states were justified in adopting policies that would provide a quick turnaround of results; Wisconsin’s refusal to move back its processing timeline undercuts that point).
“Since the state of Wisconsin neither changed its ordinary elections rules this year to mail each of its active registered voters a ballot nor authorized its Local Election Officials to process ballots early, Vermont is not an accurate comparison for the assertion Justice Kavanaugh has made,” Condos said. “I respectfully ask that the record is corrected to reflect that.”
Read the letter below:


talkingpointsmemo--2020-10-28--SCOTUS Deals Another Setback To PA GOP Effort To Cut Short Ballot Deadline

The U.S. Supreme Court won ’ t rush to consider before the election the Pennsylvania Republican Party ’ s request that the justices reinstate an Election Day deadline for absentee ballots in the state to be received .
The fight over the deadline — which was extended by three days by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court — has been one of the biggest flash points in the legal wars over pandemic voting .
Wednesday ’ s order , which only indicated that the court won ’ t review the case before the election , by no means settles the dispute for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ order , three conservative justices signaled their eagerness to rule in the Republicans ’ favor , setting up the potential that thousands of Pennsylvania ballots could be rejected after the election .
This is the second time the Pennsylvania GOP has requested that the U.S. Supreme Court reverse the state court ’ s move .
The U.S. Supreme Court deadlocked 4-4 on both the request the state GOP made earlier this fall and one from Pennsylvania ’ s Republican legislative leaders that the justices temporarily block the state Supreme Court decision .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ intervention seemed motivated by Justice Amy Coney Barrett ’ s recent addition to the court , which she joined only on Monday .
The Pennsylvania GOP had filed two requests shortly before her confirmation , but after their original emergency request fell short : that the U.S. Supreme Court take up the dispute on the merits and that it expedite the process for considering that review , so that the a decision would come down before the election .
The Wednesday order said that Barrett did not participate in the decision to deny @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that additional opinions may follow .
It was accompanied , however , by a statement from Justice Samuel Alito , that was joined by Justices Neil Gorsuch and Clarence Thomas .
Alito ’ s statement said that there was “ strong likelihood that the [ PA ] State Supreme Court decision violates the Federal Constitution , ” while endorsing an extreme approach to election law that had been put forward by the Republicans in the case .
“ The provisions of the Federal Constitution conferring on state legislatures , not state courts , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ elections would be meaningless if a state court could override the rules adopted by the legislature simply by claiming that a state constitutional provision gave the courts the authority to make whatever rules it thought appropriate for the conduct of a fair election , ” Alito wrote .
Though Kavanaugh did not sign on to Alito ’ s statement , he joined a Gorsuch concurrence making a similar point earlier this week , concerning a voting rules dispute out of Wisconsin .
Altogether , there appears to be at least four votes on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or end altogether the ability of state courts to interpret state laws and state constitutions as they apply to voting .
In the event that the 2020 election is contested , a fifth in support of that approach could mean that state court rulings that favor Republicans ’ opponents could be easily reversed by the U.S. Supreme Court .
Looking further down the road , such an approach would further embolden GOP legislatures to pass restrictive voting laws , as state courts would not serve as a check on such tactics .
According @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s public information office , Barrett did not participate in this particular order “ because of the need for a prompt resolution of it and because she has not had time to fully review the parties ’ filings.
” The statement suggested that Barrett will not recuse herself from further court action in this dispute , despite Democrats ’ calls that she recuse herself from election-related disputes given President Trump ’ s comments that he was putting her on the court to break ties in his favor .
Alito ’ s statement bashed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the dispute over Pennsylvania ’ s ballot deadline the first time it came up for the court ’ s consideration .
“ The Court ’ s handling of the important constitutional issue raised by this matter has needlessly created conditions that could lead to serious post-election problems , ” Alito said .
This second time around , Alito said , “ there is simply not enough time at this late date to decide the question before the election.
” “ That does not mean , however , that the state court decision must @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , while noting the indication the court had already received from Pennsylvania officials that they will keep separate the ballots that arrive during the extended time period in question .
He said that segregating those ballots will make “ targeted ” relief possible if the U.S. Supreme Court ultimately reverses the state court ’ s decision , and he encouraged the Republican to reach out to the U.S. Supreme Court if they ’ re not “ satisfied ” with how the election officials are carrying out the separation of those ballots .

The U.S. Supreme Court won’t rush to consider before the election the Pennsylvania Republican Party’s request that the justices reinstate an Election Day deadline for absentee ballots in the state to be received.
The fight over the deadline — which was extended by three days by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court — has been one of the biggest flash points in the legal wars over pandemic voting.
Wednesday’s order, which only indicated that the court won’t review the case before the election, by no means settles the dispute for good. In a statement accompanying the order, three conservative justices signaled their eagerness to rule in the Republicans’ favor, setting up the potential that thousands of Pennsylvania ballots could be rejected after the election.
This is the second time the Pennsylvania GOP has requested that the U.S. Supreme Court reverse the state court’s move. The U.S. Supreme Court deadlocked 4-4 on both the request the state GOP made earlier this fall and one from Pennsylvania’s Republican legislative leaders that the justices temporarily block the state Supreme Court decision.
The latest GOP bid for U.S. Supreme Court intervention seemed motivated by Justice Amy Coney Barrett’s recent addition to the court, which she joined only on Monday.
The Pennsylvania GOP had filed two requests shortly before her confirmation, but after their original emergency request fell short: that the U.S. Supreme Court take up the dispute on the merits and that it expedite the process for considering that review, so that the a decision would come down before the election.
The Wednesday order said that Barrett did not participate in the decision to deny the expedition request. It also said that additional opinions may follow.
It was accompanied, however, by a statement from Justice Samuel Alito, that was joined by Justices Neil Gorsuch and Clarence Thomas.
Alito’s statement said that there was “strong likelihood that the [PA] State Supreme Court decision violates the Federal Constitution,” while endorsing an extreme approach to election law that had been put forward by the Republicans in the case.
“The provisions of the Federal Constitution conferring on state legislatures, not state courts, the authority to make rules governing federal elections would be meaningless if a state court could override the rules adopted by the legislature simply by claiming that a state constitutional provision gave the courts the authority to make whatever rules it thought appropriate for the conduct of a fair election,” Alito wrote.
Though Kavanaugh did not sign on to Alito’s statement, he joined a Gorsuch concurrence making a similar point earlier this week, concerning a voting rules dispute out of Wisconsin.
Altogether, there appears to be at least four votes on the U.S. Supreme Court to significantly curb or end altogether the ability of state courts to interpret state laws and state constitutions as they apply to voting. In the event that the 2020 election is contested, a fifth in support of that approach could mean that state court rulings that favor Republicans’ opponents could be easily reversed by the U.S. Supreme Court.
Looking further down the road, such an approach would further embolden GOP legislatures to pass restrictive voting laws, as state courts would not serve as a check on such tactics.
According to a statement from the court’s public information office, Barrett did not participate in this particular order “because of the need for a prompt resolution of it and because she has not had time to fully review the parties’ filings.” The statement suggested that Barrett will not recuse herself from further court action in this dispute, despite Democrats’ calls that she recuse herself from election-related disputes given President Trump’s comments that he was putting her on the court to break ties in his favor.
Alito’s statement bashed the Supreme Court for not resolving definitively the dispute over Pennsylvania’s ballot deadline the first time it came up for the court’s consideration.
“The Court’s handling of the important constitutional issue raised by this matter has needlessly created conditions that could lead to serious post-election problems,” Alito said.
This second time around, Alito said, “there is simply not enough time
at this late date to decide the question before the election.”
“That does not mean, however, that the state court decision must escape our review,” Alito said, while noting the indication the court had already received from Pennsylvania officials that they will keep separate the ballots that arrive during the extended time period in question.
He said that segregating those ballots will make “targeted” relief possible if the U.S. Supreme Court ultimately reverses the state court’s decision, and he encouraged the Republican to reach out to the U.S. Supreme Court if they’re not “satisfied” with how the election officials are carrying out the separation of those ballots.


talkingpointsmemo--2020-10-28--Trump Plans To Hold Rally At Florida Early Voting Site

The President is planning on big-footing an early voting site in Florida on Thursday , holding a rally at the @ @ @ @ @ traffic delays , election officials said .
The rally , in the north parking lot @ @ @ @ @ will not violate the 150-foot barrier established by Florida law prohibiting politicking near a polling @ @ @ @ @ Hillsborough County Supervisor of Elections can ’ t stop it , spokesperson Gerri Kramer said @ @ @ @ @ “ This event could cause traffic delays , ” Kramer added , before reminding voters @ @ @ @ @ open around the county .
The stadium itself has been open to early voters since @ @ @ @ @ ’ s polling site will open at 7 a.m. Thursday .
The doors of the @ @ @ @ @ few hundred feet away , will open at 10:30 .
The event , featuring a @ @ @ @ @ is scheduled to begin three hours later , according to the campaign ’ s website @ @ @ @ @ not return a request for comment .

The President is planning on big-footing an early voting site in Florida on Thursday, holding a rally at the same location and potentially causing traffic delays, election officials said.
The rally, in the north parking lot of Raymond James Stadium, will not violate the 150-foot barrier established by Florida law prohibiting politicking near a polling site.
Therefore, the Hillsborough County Supervisor of Elections can’t stop it, spokesperson Gerri Kramer said in a statement Wednesday.
“This event could cause traffic delays,” Kramer added, before reminding voters of other early voting sites open around the county.
The stadium itself has been open to early voters since last week.
The stadium’s polling site will open at 7 a.m. Thursday. The doors of the Trump rally, just a few hundred feet away, will open at 10:30. The event, featuring a speech from the President, is scheduled to begin three hours later, according to the campaign’s website.
The Trump campaign did not return a request for comment.


talkingpointsmemo--2020-10-28--Miller Wildly Claims That Biden Would Be ‘Best Friend Of Child Traffickers,’ Winking At QAnon

Senior White House adviser Stephen Miller claimed Wednesday , without evidence , that a Biden administration would “ incentivize child smuggling and child trafficking on an epic , global scale.
” He made the inflammatory accusations “ in his personal capacity as a campaign adviser ” on a Trump campaign call with reporters .
“ Joe Biden would be the best friend that child smugglers and child traffickers have ever had in the White House , ” he said , adding later : “ My God , if Joe Biden were to get elected , how many millions of children @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hands of these vicious criminal cartels ?
” “ Within a week of that happening , there would be a rush on the border on a global scale unseen before in the whole of human history , ” he added of Biden implementing his new policy .
“ It would be the largest gift to traffickers , smugglers and coyotes that you could ever possibly conceive.
” When asked for evidence of the claims , Trump communications director Tim Murtaugh told TPM that “ it ’ s clear that Joe Biden ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ light for human traffickers from countries around the world.
” The Biden campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment .
Miller ’ s comments smack of the QAnon conspiracy theory , a patchwork of beliefs centered on the idea that Q , someone inside the government with high-level security clearance , regularly releases clues about a deep state or shadow government trying to take down President Donald Trump .
On the more extreme wings of the theory , believers accuse prominent Democrats and pop culture celebrities of running child sex @ @ @ @ @ @ @ TPM ’ s questions about whether Miller ’ s comments were meant to reference the QAnon conspiracy theory .
QAnon adherents can often be seen at Trump rallies holding “ save the children ” signs .
In 2016 , after Wikileaks published the emails of Hillary Clinton ’ s campaign manager John Podesta , conspiracy theorists claimed that they found code words for pedophilia and human trafficking within them .
That tin foil hattery caught fire online , and made the rounds through message boards and rightwing sites like InfoWars .
Somewhere along @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the basement of the basement-less Comet Ping Pong pizzeria in Washington D.C. was the site of the child sex ring .
In December of 2016 , Edgar Welch entered the building and fired shots from an AR-15 as he sought to expose the nonexistent crimes .
The QAnon theory burgeoned a bit later , but encompassed the beliefs and believers of that earlier conspiracy theory , which came to be called “ Pizzagate.
” On a less conspiratorial but no less false note , Miller claimed on the call that “ this administration @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Department report from earlier this month revealed that 545 children , separated from their families at the border because of Trump administration policies , have still not been reunited with those families .
Murtaugh insisted that the administration has actually been keeping families together by dissuading them from trying to emigrate in the first place .
“ The Trump Administration has been reuniting families by preventing the practice of illegal aliens entering the country in the first place , by enforcing previously unenforced immigration laws that led to people making the dangerous journey @ @ @ @ @

Senior White House adviser Stephen Miller claimed Wednesday, without evidence, that a Biden administration would “incentivize child smuggling and child trafficking on an epic, global scale.”
He made the inflammatory accusations “in his personal capacity as a campaign adviser” on a Trump campaign call with reporters.
“Joe Biden would be the best friend that child smugglers and child traffickers have ever had in the White House,” he said, adding later: “My God, if Joe Biden were to get elected, how many millions of children and families would be forced into the hands of these vicious criminal cartels?”
“Within a week of that happening, there would be a rush on the border on a global scale unseen before in the whole of human history,” he added of Biden implementing his new policy. “It would be the largest gift to traffickers, smugglers and coyotes that you could ever possibly conceive.”
When asked for evidence of the claims, Trump communications director Tim Murtaugh told TPM that “it’s clear that Joe Biden’s open borders agenda would be a green light for human traffickers from countries around the world.” The Biden campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Miller’s comments smack of the QAnon conspiracy theory, a patchwork of beliefs centered on the idea that Q, someone inside the government with high-level security clearance, regularly releases clues about a deep state or shadow government trying to take down President Donald Trump. On the more extreme wings of the theory, believers accuse prominent Democrats and pop culture celebrities of running child sex trafficking rings.
Murtaugh did not address TPM’s questions about whether Miller’s comments were meant to reference the QAnon conspiracy theory.
QAnon adherents can often be seen at Trump rallies holding “save the children” signs. In 2016, after Wikileaks published the emails of Hillary Clinton’s campaign manager John Podesta, conspiracy theorists claimed that they found code words for pedophilia and human trafficking within them. That tin foil hattery caught fire online, and made the rounds through message boards and rightwing sites like InfoWars.
Somewhere along the line, it was decided that the basement of the basement-less Comet Ping Pong pizzeria in Washington D.C. was the site of the child sex ring. In December of 2016, Edgar Welch entered the building and fired shots from an AR-15 as he sought to expose the nonexistent crimes. The QAnon theory burgeoned a bit later, but encompassed the beliefs and believers of that earlier conspiracy theory, which came to be called “Pizzagate.”
On a less conspiratorial but no less false note, Miller claimed on the call that “this administration kept families together.” A Homeland Security Department report from earlier this month revealed that 545 children, separated from their families at the border because of Trump administration policies, have still not been reunited with those families.
Murtaugh insisted that the administration has actually been keeping families together by dissuading them from trying to emigrate in the first place.
“The Trump Administration has been reuniting families by preventing the practice of illegal aliens entering the country in the first place, by enforcing previously unenforced immigration laws that led to people making the dangerous journey,” he said.


talkingpointsmemo--2020-10-28--Off The Deep End: Oathkeepers Honcho Warns Of ‘Benghazi-Style’ Communist Attack On WH

The leader of an armed group that advertises thousands of ex-cops and veterans as members jumped the shark on Tuesday , imagining a civil war over the 2020 election results and playing out how an army of fringe gun enthusiasts would respond .
Stewart Rhodes , founder of the armed right-wing group Oathkeepers , also said during an appearance on Alex Jones ’ Infowars show Tuesday that the left was seeking to steal the election through violence against Trump supporters .
He and Jones theorized that a months-old exercise involving political scientists and commentators such as Bill Kristol , David @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was really a blueprint for the overthrow of the Trump administration .
Rhodes paused halfway through his appearance to acknowledge that the discussion sounded absolutely insane .
He ’ d just finished explaining why Oathkeepers in Washington , D.C. were planning for a “ Benghazi-style attack ” on the White House around Election Day .
Such an event would include a so-called “ stand down ” order from Pentagon brass , Rhodes posited , which would leave thousands of raging lefties free to fly the communist flag over Washington .
“ I know @ @ @ @ @ @ @ kind of crazy , but given the trajectory of the left and how far they ’ ve gone into Weather Underground terrorism already , I think we ’ d be foolish not to plan for that as a possibility , ” Rhodes said .
Media Matters flagged the appearance .
Jones concurred and began explaining that even 500 Secret Service agents would run out of bullets when faced with the leftist hoards , which he described as “ armies of methheads they ’ ve already got cranked up and ready to go in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a legal scholar fed up with the communist left , has had an itchy trigger finger for a while .
He declared in late August that “ civil war is here , right now ” — his group ’ s Twitter account was subsequently banned for violating the site ’ s rules against violent extremist groups — and he and other Oathkeepers showed up in Louisville in September , facing off with protesters .
But the InfoWars appearance Tuesday took things to a new level .
Jones , egging the militia leader on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Integrity Project , a months-old tabletop exercise involving politicos of both parties who gamed out various election scenarios .
Some on the fringe right , Jones and Trump ally Steve Bannon especially , saw the project as the battleplan for a Deep State coup against the President .
Rhodes complained of the left ’ s “ gaslighting ” and accused his political opponents of seeking to intimidate Trump supporters and steal the election .
“ And so when those of us who are tasked with defending your rights announce we ’ re going @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Election Day , they immediately spin that as though we ’ re the ones — you know , ‘ armed militiamen are going to be out on the streets on Election Day outside of polls to intimidate voters , ' ” he griped .
But the Oathkeepers leader didn ’ t seem too concerned with the democratic process .
“ I think Trump will beat [ Joe Biden ] soundly unless it ’ s stolen , ” Rhodes predicted , echoing the President himself .
Eventually , the pair got into a discussion @ @ @ @ @ @ @ into the nitty-gritty details .
Rhodes noted a modern-day “ Ho Chi Minh Trail , ” explaining that it was currently supplying arms to the American left-wing through Mexico , and wondered , after the eventual battle had finished , what would be done with the communists who ’ d betrayed their country .
“ It ’ s kind of like the founding fathers dealing with the loyalists [ during the Revolutionary War ] , ' ” he said .
“ What do you do with these people ?
” He later compared @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Civil War , because there are “ sitting politicians who are part of the enemy ’ s ranks.
” Rhodes and his conspiracy theorist host surveyed the battlefield .
“ Law enforcement just needs to take matters into their own hands , ” Jones said , stressing that he was speaking hypothetically , of course .
The “ average Joe , ” Rhodes said , would be able to protect their own community .
Meanwhile , highly trained veterans “ will go for their command-and-control , also.
” He said he ’ d @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ also current serving ” about the prospect .
“ They ’ re paying very much attention to what ’ s going on , and quite a few of them are waking up , ” he said .

The leader of an armed group that advertises thousands of ex-cops and veterans as members jumped the shark on Tuesday, imagining a civil war over the 2020 election results and playing out how an army of fringe gun enthusiasts would respond.
Stewart Rhodes, founder of the armed right-wing group Oathkeepers, also said during an appearance on Alex Jones’ Infowars show Tuesday that the left was seeking to steal the election through violence against Trump supporters. He and Jones theorized that a months-old exercise involving political scientists and commentators such as Bill Kristol, David Frum, Max Boot and Norm Eisen was really a blueprint for the overthrow of the Trump administration.
Rhodes paused halfway through his appearance to acknowledge that the discussion sounded absolutely insane.
He’d just finished explaining why Oathkeepers in Washington, D.C. were planning for a “Benghazi-style attack” on the White House around Election Day. Such an event would include a so-called “stand down” order from Pentagon brass, Rhodes posited, which would leave thousands of raging lefties free to fly the communist flag over Washington.
“I know it sounds outlandish, and it sounds kind of crazy, but given the trajectory of the left and how far they’ve gone into Weather Underground terrorism already, I think we’d be foolish not to plan for that as a possibility,” Rhodes said. Media Matters flagged the appearance.
Jones concurred and began explaining that even 500 Secret Service agents would run out of bullets when faced with the leftist hoards, which he described as “armies of methheads they’ve already got cranked up and ready to go in D.C.”
Rhodes, who styles himself a legal scholar fed up with the communist left, has had an itchy trigger finger for a while. He declared in late August that “civil war is here, right now” — his group’s Twitter account was subsequently banned for violating the site’s rules against violent extremist groups — and he and other Oathkeepers showed up in Louisville in September, facing off with protesters.
But the InfoWars appearance Tuesday took things to a new level.
Jones, egging the militia leader on, made frequent reference to the Transition Integrity Project, a months-old tabletop exercise involving politicos of both parties who gamed out various election scenarios. Some on the fringe right, Jones and Trump ally Steve Bannon especially, saw the project as the battleplan for a Deep State coup against the President.
Rhodes complained of the left’s “gaslighting” and accused his political opponents of seeking to intimidate Trump supporters and steal the election.
“And so when those of us who are tasked with defending your rights announce we’re going to stand up and protect people on Election Day, they immediately spin that as though we’re the ones — you know, ‘armed militiamen are going to be out on the streets on Election Day outside of polls to intimidate voters,'” he griped.
But the Oathkeepers leader didn’t seem too concerned with the democratic process.
“I think Trump will beat [Joe Biden] soundly unless it’s stolen,” Rhodes predicted, echoing the President himself.
Eventually, the pair got into a discussion of the coming civil war, getting into the nitty-gritty details. Rhodes noted a modern-day “Ho Chi Minh Trail,” explaining that it was currently supplying arms to the American left-wing through Mexico, and wondered, after the eventual battle had finished, what would be done with the communists who’d betrayed their country.
“It’s kind of like the founding fathers dealing with the loyalists [during the Revolutionary War],'” he said. “What do you do with these people?”
He later compared America’s current state to the Civil War, because there are “sitting politicians who are part of the enemy’s ranks.”
Rhodes and his conspiracy theorist host surveyed the battlefield. “Law enforcement just needs to take matters into their own hands,” Jones said, stressing that he was speaking hypothetically, of course.
The “average Joe,” Rhodes said, would be able to protect their own community. Meanwhile, highly trained veterans “will go for their command-and-control, also.” He said he’d spoken recently to special forces veterans and “also current serving” about the prospect.
“They’re paying very much attention to what’s going on, and quite a few of them are waking up,” he said.