Freedom Is The Freedom To Say Two Plus Two Make Four
Our title today is (of course) the core belief of Winston Smith, the protagonist of George Orwell's Nineteen Eighty-Four. The entire book hinges on this concept, in fact. The end of the book comes after the totalitarian, personality-cult government reprograms Smith into not just repeating as the party line but actually believing that two plus two really equals five, not four. His belief in this falsehood is total at the end -- the party tells him it must be so, and so he believes it to be true.
This wasn't my original thought for a column today, but after reading the references in another opinion piece today (to give credit where it is due) I had to make it the centerpiece. Because where are we right now? The president of the United States -- a cheap and cartoonish knockoff of Big Brother if ever there was one -- insists that "recalculation" of a state's election results must be performed in order to add the necessary 11,780 votes (which can be "found" somehow, somewhere) that he needs to win the state. Or, to put it another way, that two plus two make five.
This has set off a schismatic split within the Republican Party. There are those who are quite willing and happy to echo the "two plus two make five" idiocy, and then there are those who have finally had enough and are now strongly averring that two plus two not only equals four, but has always equalled four and always will. In doing so, they are breaking from their Dear Leader in a big way. For some Republicans, a shred of fealty to their oath to the U.S. Constitution suddenly re-emerged, especially after hearing the phone call where the president begged a Georgia official to just unilaterally declare that Donald Trump won the state (even though he provably did not). Maybe this was the bridge too far, even for such previously-stalwart Trump supporters as Senator Tom Cotton. Belatedly, Republicans like this have realized the damage all of this is doing to American democracy, and they're finally saying so in no uncertain language.
In Orwell's book, this was always a theoretical and purely mathematical exercise. There were no two actual items added to two others to come up with four concrete objects, there was just Winston Smith trying to define what freedom was and meant and why it wasn't currently present in his own society. Where we're at now is much more literal, because we are talking about counting properly-cast votes in an American election. And those votes were counted three separate times, so there is simply no doubt about what they add up to.
This is important, because Georgia is holding a runoff election today which will determine which political party controls the Senate for the next two years. And today's votes will have to be counted, too. I'll be watching these returns come in, along with (at a guess) tens of millions of other Americans across the country. The election is pivotal, so a lot of people will be watching. And they'll be seeking the truth, not "the 'truth' as interpreted by the Dear Leader."
Donald Trump, of course, hasn't accepted the results of the last election in Georgia, so there's no reason to believe he will accept the results this time around either, should the Democrats actually win both races. He will make the same baseless claims he's been making since the first week of November about the runoff election today -- it was stolen, it was rigged, and there was massive fraud all around. This will only further normalize such "sore loser" behavior for Republicans, because it'll be an election where Trump wasn't even on the ballot. As long as Trump is alive, to put this another way, there will be some faction of the Republican Party that just does not accept the result of any election where the Democrats win. This is precisely the damage the other Republicans (the ones who have finally remembered their oath of office) are now warning about. But it's almost inevitable, if the Democrats emerge victorious tonight (or tomorrow, or Thursday...), that Donald Trump will just flat-out refuse to accept the truth.
There is indeed an attempt being made to steal an election. There are attempts at massive election fraud. They are coming straight from Donald Trump, though, not from any Democrats. Donald Trump is, in essence, arguing that he should be able to dictate the results of any election how he sees fit. And, as usual, he doesn't even have the slightest understanding of how the process even works. He actually began his tirade on the phone with an argument that didn't even pretend to make sense -- that because his rallies were so well attended, he must have won Georgia's election. Read the transcript -- this is the first argument out of his mouth. It all boils down to: "I thought I was going to win, therefore I must have won, therefore you should just make it so and announce it to the world."
This, however, is not freedom. It definitely isn't anything resembling democracy. It is a demand that when Donald Trump says two plus two equals five, everyone else must not only back him up, but actually believe that this is the truth.
But, as Winston Smith knew full well (at least, before they brainwashed him), "freedom is the freedom to say that two plus two make four."
-- Chris Weigant
Follow Chris on Twitter: @ChrisWeigant
Everyone ready for the next installment of the never-ending election tonight?
:-)
-CW
Yup.
I'm told by a fairly credible source that it doesn't really matter what the result in Georgia is tonight - it'll be corrected in the mid-terms.
That meant Democrat wins tonight and a Republican correction in 2022 ... I like the first part of that prediction, anyways.
There is indeed an attempt being made to steal an election. There are attempts at massive election fraud. They are coming straight from Donald Trump, though, not from any Democrats.
"Projection, I'm not being fooled by projection; projection, you thought you could put something over me!" ... sung to the music of a fine Prism tune,
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vTA8-0odWxI
Democrats are very bad at rigging elections. Or very surgical. Heh.
Indeed, too surgical for their own good. :)
Before a take a break and have something to eat, I leave you all with one more apt Prism tune, Another World ...
Hearin' the song of a thousand and one politicians
They sing you a song but the words are the same as before
They deal you a hand, but all of the aces are missin'
I feel the earth movin' under my feet
Where the heart keeps jumpin' a beat
Shakin' the house down, wakin' me up from a dream
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ueq6F40zsF8
LizM [8] -
OK, I gotta admit, those are pretty appropriate lyrics!
:-)
-CW
They were a pretty political band, ya know.
Don't you have one from the Grateful Dead?
'course, I should have put 'projection' in square brackets as the tune is actually called 'deception'
LizM -
Um, Throwin' Stones, maybe?
"Click flash blade in ghetto night
Rudy's looking for a fight
Rat cat alley, roll them bones
Need that cash to feed that Jones
And the politicians throwing stones
Singing ashes, ashes, all fall down
Ashes, ashes, all fall down
Commissars and pinstripe bosses roll the dice
Anyway they fall, guess who gets to pay the price?
Money green, or proletarian gray
Selling guns instead of food today
So the kids they dance and shake their bones
And the politicians throwing stones
Singing ashes, ashes, all fall down
Ashes, ashes, all fall down"
Gotta love that bit about Rudy looking for a fight... heh...
-CW
Rudy looking for a fight!!! Hoo boy. How is Rudy, anyway?
And, why no link?
Hey, I love that song!
"The future is here and we are on our own!"
Throwing Stones - 7/5/15 - Soldier Field
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RtzRl6NkT74
LizM -
Here you go...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xRNvezElbIg
-CW
Well, of course, the live versions are always better...
:-)
-CW
That's a good one, too! Uh-oh, it's time the polls are closing ...
I heard Biden’s message to Georgia voters yesterday – something along the lines of ‘You have the power to CHANGE America!’ Sigh. I bet that right there may have been just enough to lose a couple of close elections.
Remember a while ago when Biden reportedly told a Wall Street crowd that nothing would fundamentally change for them?
I love Biden and always will but, geez Louise!
Why are Democrats so hopelessly lost when it comes to the kind of messaging that can WIN elections and persuade voters who aren’t necessarily in one camp or another?
Interesting:
A new rule in Georgia allows election officials to begin processing mail-in ballots at least a week in advance, which should speed up counting tonight. Poll workers weren’t allowed to start counting those ballots until 7 p.m., but the tedious task of verifying signatures and opening envelopes could be completed beforehand, The New York Times notes.
-CW
With 10% in, both Dems in lead roughly 54-46% each.
Numbers have been bouncing around quite a bit, as first blue counties and now red have caused little waves of votes.
-CW
Warnock seems to be doing slightly better than Ossoff for some reason, but also the same counties haven't reported for both of them, so this may just be a data anomaly right now...
GOP candidates are catching up, as more rural counties report...
11% in
-CW
OK, this is interesting...
He said that a release of early voting results will be shared at 8 p.m. and that Election Day results should be in by 9 p.m. “Hopefully the bulk of the results will be in by midnight,” he said.
In other words, in some counties, they're counting the early votes first, then today's vote. I don't know if "early vote" also includes absentee/mail-in or whether it's just the early in-person vote...
-CW
Also interesting...
Vice President Mike Pence just left the White House moments ago, signaling he won't watch the returns from the Georgia Senate runoff races with President Trump.
It's unusual given Trump and Pence typically spend election nights together at the White House and both have campaigned on behalf of Republicans in tonight's race.
Washington County, just flipped from Red to Blue.
At just over 1/3 in (36%), dems just leapt to big lead, must have been a big dump from blue counties...
Ossoff up by 171K
Warnock up by 182K
-CW
Elizabeth Miller
3
I'm told by a fairly credible source that it doesn't really matter what the result in Georgia is tonight - it'll be corrected in the mid-terms.
You do realize that the "mid-terms" represents 1/2 of the term of a president? Explain how the makeup of the Senate for half a president's term "doesn't matter."
Did your "fairly credible source" inform you that United States senators serve a term of 6 years? Did they also inform you that in 2022 there are 12 Democrats up for reelection and 22 Republicans?
So to recap: It matters. :)
Elizabeth Miller
19
I heard Biden’s message to Georgia voters yesterday – something along the lines of ‘You have the power to CHANGE America!’ Sigh. I bet that right there may have been just enough to lose a couple of close elections.
Biden's message was tailored to move those Democrats to the polls who haven't voted yet because they believe their vote doesn't matter. The vast majority of Georgia Democrats had already voted at that point... so it was the correct positive message for the moment. Context.
Remember a while ago when Biden reportedly told a Wall Street crowd that nothing would fundamentally change for them?
He meant if their taxes were raised. Again... context.
I love Biden and always will but, geez Louise!
Who is Louise?
Why are Democrats so hopelessly lost when it comes to the kind of messaging that can WIN elections and persuade voters who aren’t necessarily in one camp or another?
They're not. In case you missed it, Biden won and Georgia voters helped him do it. :)
Kick,
You missed my point. Don't really want to explain it.
@kick,
one of the winning candidates tonight will serve 6 years. the other will serve two.
But, it's okay, Kick ... no one here was supposed to get it. :)
It was just me, thinking out loud, about how the other half feels and sees how things play out.
I'm not making any sense, I know, and probably won't for the rest of the evening ...
Elizabeth Miller
My point was that your "fairly credible source" doesn't sound the least bit "credible" to me... "fairly" or otherwise.
@kick (fpc),
there was a slight disagreement over how respect is earned. thought you might want to weigh in.
http://www.chrisweigant.com/2020/12/30/my-2020-mclaughlin-awards-part-2/#comment-173207
OK, c'mon people, let's focus a little bit, shall we?
If Michale were here, I'd use:
"Stay frosty."
-Aliens
:-)
-CW
nypoet22
30
one of the winning candidates tonight will serve 6 years. the other will serve two.
I know. That's why the outcome of tonight's election cannot possibly be "corrected" in two years and EM's "credible" source sounds "untrustable." I stole that (not a) word from the House minority leader. ;)
@cw,
focus? how can anyone focus at a time like this?
;)
JL
Elizabeth Miller
31
It was just me, thinking out loud, about how the other half feels and sees how things play out.
The other half of what? ;)
I'm not making any sense, I know, and probably won't for the rest of the evening ...
It's okay to not make sense for an entire evening; however, it can become a problem if an evening turns into a whole day and then a string of days and then a whole week and then multiple weeks that pile up into a myriad of months and pretty soon it's an entire presidential term. Then you're looking at a Trump-type derangement problem, EM... good thing we don't suffer from it. :)
and while i'm straying off-topic, let me re-nominate my prior nomination for most under-reported story, which is still just as under-reported:
The incredible success and efficiency of tele-health medical visits, which covid-19 forced insurance companies to cover.
not that i'm blaming anybody, given the bazillions of nominees in each category and decisions that had to be made. but still, it's a MAJOR change in everybody's healthcare and may remain so even after everybody's vaccinated.
JL
Well, Michale is not here.
And, what we need here is a perspective or two that can challenge the way most of us think about politics.
Perhaps, when the insanity of the elongated 2020 presidential election subsides, we'll have a brave new commenter or two who can share that perspective with us.
@liz,
here's hoping.
JL
Joshua[38],
The same thing is happening in my neck of the woods.
nypoet22
33 FPC
i think there's a bit of a disconnect as to how respect is earned. most people would respect a credential, a degree, having run a successful business, or having experience in political campaigns or activism.
Don Harris is an advertisement here, and there is no respect for advertisements here because this website is purportedly "ad-free"... except in "reality," it isn't ad-free as long as Don Harris is allowed to advertise his bullshit here without abatement.
now where's kick with that quote?
That quote:
Don has earned his (lack of) respect with his self-described (lack of) credentials and (lack of) experience.
So to recap:
There is no respect here for:
- Advertisements
- Don Harris the self-described ---> read blockquote above.
To contribute here, you don't need credentials or experience.
All you need are ideas, a willingness to share them, and respect for your fellow commenters and their viewpoints.
From CNN:
Fulton County
"We are told by an official there that they have on track on processing and should be able to process almost all or if not all ballots tonight."
DeKalb County
"They're waiting to see how the tabulation is going before deciding their timeline tonight."
Cobb County
"Last time during the general, they left around 3 a.m., 4 a.m. and then resumed several hours later. I am told it is going to be a repeat there in Cobb."
Gwinnett County
"I am told by an official there, if it seems achievable, county officials would work through the night."
-CW
Trump barely lost Georgia and it looks like these two races are going to be very close, too.
What will it take for people to tire of divided government?
I'd love to see voters give Democrats control of the senate for two years just to see what they'd do with it. Then they can always change it up in two years if they don't like it.
Chris,
I just had a thought ...
How's about offering up a MIROTW award as part of the FTP columns? You know, in the name of lowering the divisiveness and mean-spiritedness ...
Chris Weigant
34
Focus? Focus? Well, okay then.
FUN FACT:
The bulk of the Democratic vote yet to be counted are DeKalb County... of which there are approximately about... oh... 170,000-ish of them and they will likely break approximately 85 to 15 for the Democratic candidates.
Y'all might remember DeKalb County from November when I mentioned there were a shit-ton of uncounted votes still out there in Georgia.
http://www.chrisweigant.com/2020/11/03/closing-time-schedule/#comment-171127
Say what you want about CNN, and much of it is true, I do so love their magic maps and John King analysis. There, I said it.
Kick,
Just so you know, you are the sole reason why I never get too, too nervous on nights like this. :)
Elizabeth Miller
49
Just so you know, you are the sole reason why I never get too, too nervous on nights like this. :)
And you said you probably weren't going to make any sense for the rest of the evening... and it is still evening in America. ;)
Want me to translate [47] for you? I think both the Democratic candidates are on track to win the runoff election. Hard work at the end of 2020 pays off in 2021... probably. :)
Kick [47] -
That makes me feel a whole lot better. Thanks!
-CW
Just got a new report and there probably isn't enough outstanding votes for the Democrats to overcome the Republican leads. Damn.
Elizabeth Miller
52
Just got a new report and there probably isn't enough outstanding votes for the Democrats to overcome the Republican leads. Damn.
Bollocks. :)
It's all over but the cryin' ...
... or, maybe not!
So... not to be the party pooper. Every party has one tho...
While the the needles has both dems winning.
McTurdle and the seditionists will gladly throw money at keeping them unseated for as long as they can.
Just sayin'...
You, you party pooper!
Elizabeth Miller
54
It's all over but the cryin' ...
Correct. Loeffler's race is all but over, and she lost.
That's what happens to morons who cling so tightly to losers like Donald Trump and the QAnonsense nut job candidates. :)
Based off of current data both dems will eke out the V with margins that should not allow a recount...
However, given the behavior of the Governing Over People minority rule segment of the system, I expect a long and lengthy set of court fights.
If played right the GOP can keep the G dems from being seated for a good 6 to 8 months thus dealing a serious blow to what Biden can get done in his first 100 days...let alone what he could do to get us back on track with the COVID.
In either case things are gonna suck for a bit.
The other interesting metric to watch will be what the senate asshats will do tomorrow if it is undisputedly clear that both seats go to the dems...
Never underestimate the power of the McTurdle... or the prospect of the loss of power thereof.
Is the name-calling really necessary?
goode trickle
59
However, given the behavior of the Governing Over People minority rule segment of the system, I expect a long and lengthy set of court fights.
On what grounds?
If played right the GOP can keep the G dems from being seated for a good 6 to 8 months thus dealing a serious blow to what Biden can get done in his first 100 days...let alone what he could do to get us back on track with the COVID.
If that was a "thing," then every losing Senator and Representative could just file a frivolous lawsuit to screw with America's democracy.
When it comes to shameless power hungry political figures not really, but gratifying, and in som cases yes.
When it comes to arguing in the comments section between commenters, never. Which is why I am less around these parts, well that and work...
Fair enough, GT!
Elizabeth Miller
61
Is the name-calling really necessary?
*
Apparently so. :)
Kick -
I bow in your general direction. I am not worthy.
Everyone else -
Go check the most recent results! Now!!!
-CW
I'm operating under a province-wide stay-at-home order, so ...
It's looking pretty good, at the moment.
I deserved that. Sigh.
Very disappointing that Warnock & Ossoff totals are not identical.
JFC -
Yeah, I wondered about that. He's Black, Ossoff isn't. That could be the reason, I dunno (just guessing).
-CW
It might have more to do with the R candidates, no?
still looks promising.
wait five minutes
Warnock looks like a winner. Fingers crossed for Ossoff. Dump those votes!
Heh.
K- 62
On what grounds?
Whatever they can dream up and whatever the remaining funds in the coffers and PAC's will be able to support.
Do you really expect that Loefler or Perdue will willingly give up the insider trading spigot willfully?
There are no readily handy legal precedents available but then again this cycle has proven that they are no longer required to attempt to cling to power.
If that was a "thing," then every losing Senator and Representative could just file a frivolous lawsuit to screw with America's democracy.
Al Franken?.. I never said it was a "thing" I explicitly said that IF they played their cards right. In my book big difference.
Do you honestly expect the GOP to accept the loss with grace?
Warnock is gonna beat Attila the QHun.
Will Scotland extradite a fugitive from justice?
I'm about done for the night but, before I go, I'd like to share a special tune ...
I'm sending it out to the great state of Georgia, whatever the final result turns out to be.
But, most especially, this is for all of our friends in Georgia who may be taking a peak into Chris's excellent blog tonight.
It's Willie Nelson and Ray Charles and Georgia on our minds ... Enjoy!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BlLUMwo_VVU
goode trickle
77
Whatever they can dream up and whatever the remaining funds in the coffers and PAC's will be able to support.
You said you expected a set of lengthy court fights. I asked on what grounds, and you answered with a question that didn't answer me at all.
Do you really expect that Loefler or Perdue will willingly give up the insider trading spigot willfully?
The people choose their representatives, and the losers pack their shit and leave. That's democracy, baby! What grounds would they have to sue? Trumped up grounds... pun intended.
There are no readily handy legal precedents available but then again this cycle has proven that they are no longer required to attempt to cling to power.
I'm sure the Courts/judges in Georgia are quaking in their robes. Heh.
Al Franken?.. I never said it was a "thing" I explicitly said that IF they played their cards right. In my book big difference.
You said nothing at all about any cards, though you did mention playing. Al Franken was a recount situation of 3 tiny digits. That won't apply here. I welcome the fruitless recounts of tens of thousands of votes.
Do you honestly expect the GOP to accept the loss with grace?
Nope... but they won't have a choice because the people choose their electors and not the other way around. Also, a frivolous lawsuit won't last a week in a Court in Georgia if there are no grounds. The burden of proof is on the plaintiffs, and "We don't like the outcome" is frivolous and isn't grounds for a lawsuit. Just ask Trump!
Marc Elias will grab them by the privates again if they really want to go that route. Heh! :)
Jonathan Swan of Axios is reporting that Fat Donny was unaware that Pence had a (ceremonial) role in the Electoral College until he saw it in a Lincoln Project ad. Talk about successful trolling! Take that Mike.
John From Censornati
82
I know, right!? Heh. That commercial was run exclusively in DC... just for Fat Donny. :)
Look, here is what I want. I need for you people in GA to find me 1,300 votes for Ossoff. Flipping the seat would be a great testament to the country.
You're so bad.
OK, here's the latest, and it's really good news (from, I would point out, my winner of Most Honest Person)...
Votes are still coming in from largely Democratic counties, Georgia election official says
From CNN's Caroline Kenny
Gabriel Sterling, the voting systems implementation manager, just delivered what he said would be the final briefing from the Georgia secretary of state’s office for the night.
Sterling said overall, it looks like they have about 27,600 or so advance votes to come in. About 19,000 will come in from DeKalb County and about 7,000 from Coffee County. He added that there will be a hodgepodge of other votes in other locations.
There is a small list of incomplete counties: Appling, Bibb, Camden, Cobb, Coffee, DeKalb, Douglas, Floyd, Forsyth, Fulton, Gwinnett, Henry, Houston, Lumpkin, Newton and Pickens.
Sterling said there were 1,244,374 votes cast on Election Day, which is more than they anticipated.
He also said the secretary of state's office asked counties to please finish processing absentee ballots that were received on Election Day by lunchtime Wednesday.
On Chatham County, Sterling said they did not just stop counting for the night, and he explained they have counted everything they have.
Chatham has a unique system — they have both a Board of Elections and a Board of Registrations. The Board of Registration gets the ballots in, accepts them, then hands them to Board of Elections to count them. Out of abundance of looking out for employees, they will allow the registration group to finish their work tonight, then hands over in the morning for the Board of Elections to finish. What's left is the absentee ballots that came in today via mail and drop box.
“In terms of the amount of votes that are potentially out there are coming from largely Democratic counties, there are some Republican counties – Floyd, Forsyth, Appling – but they are smaller in comparison to DeKalb's, Gwinnett's, Cobb's and Fulton's,” Sterling said. “That tells you that the outstanding will likely be leaning Democrat at best.”
Sterling said he believes there will be a midmorning update Wednesday.
:-)
-CW
We're dancing a jig at Grave Dancers Union 420 hall.
Focus? Focus? Well, okay then.
Here are the approximate remaining votes to be counted:
Chatham County... ~3,000
Coffee County.... ~7,000
DeKalb County.... ~19,000
Fulton County.... ~20,000
Gwinnett County.. ~5,000
Only Coffee County is GOP territory.
Chatham is Savannah. DeKalb, Fulton and Gwinnett are Atlanta area/the 'burbs, and the votes are mail-in ballots and will skew ~90% Democratic.
Translation: :P
Chris Weigant
86
Awesome recap. :)
The Democrats will take control of the Senate agenda and the lead chairs of all those committees that decide things. That's why it matters who gets elected.
Now Breyer can retire.
Kick [89] -
"Bye Mitch" is trending on Twitter...
:-)
-CW
John From Censornati
84
Look, here is what I want. I need for you people in GA to find me 1,300 votes for Ossoff. Flipping the seat would be a great testament to the country.
Heh. I see what you did there. :)
Chris Weigant
90
Heh! There's some funny ones. Thoughts and prayers. ;)
Everybody just called the race for Warnock.
One down, one to go...
:-)
-CW
Kick-
The Democrats will take control of the Senate agenda and the lead chairs of all those committees that decide things. That's why it matters who gets elected.
You got that right. A 50/50+1 majority is really not enough of a majority for democrats as they are not as lock steppy as republicans. Biden should get his cabinet picks but I would not expect that much of the progressive agenda at least if/until they can pad their majority in two years. I read something like 11 dem seats and 22 repub seat come up next election in the senate. If Biden doesn't blow it and life starts to return to normal by then I would expect Dem gains.
JFC 79--Will Scotland allow Trump to land? Nicola Sturgeon says not just to play golf.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-scotland-55553493
nypoet22 wrote:
"a third of germans voted for hitler because they were broke and desperate."
But how does that explain our Republicans? who believe in:
alternative "facts," conspiracy theories, and compromise equals "traitor?" Not to mention putting party over country, AND obstruction just for the sake of holding onto power?
[34] Chris Weigant wrote:
"If Michale were here, I'd use:"
[39] Elizabeth Miller wrote:
"Well, Michale is not here."
Speaking of which, where is he???
Does anyone think he will EVER come back and honor our bet??? Now that Democrats are taking control of the House, President AND Senate. Michale LOST the TRIFECTA.
[48] Elizabeth Miller wrote:
"Say what you want about CNN, and much of it is true, I do so love their magic maps and John King analysis. There, I said it."
Personally, I prefer MSNBC and Steve Kornacki and the BIG BOARD. :-D
[94] BashiBazouk wrote:
"You got that right. A 50/50+1 majority is really not enough of a majority for democrats as they are not as lock steppy as republicans. Biden should get his cabinet picks but I would not expect that much of the progressive agenda at least if/until they can pad their majority in two years."
It can happen a lot FASTER than that! Remember Washington D.C. statehood passed the House. Democrats can pad their Senate majority RIGHT AWAY by adding TWO Democratic D.C. Senators. It only takes a 51 vote majority and you move from a 50/50 tie to a 52 to 50 majority control. And there's absolutely NOTHING Republicans can do about if if Democrats add a state. Once it's done it's a done deal.
Why would that be filibuster-proof?
holy shit!
i've been awake for two hours and just checked the election results now. wow! WOW!!!
Apparently, clinging to a demented, criminal loser who discourages your voters from voting is a bad idea. Fingers crossed that the Republicans follow through this afternoon.
[100] John From Censornati wrote:
"Why would that be filibuster-proof?"
True, Democrats would have to do away with the remainder of the filibuster, which is not out of the realm of possibility. Also, given Republicans stunning loss, do they want to be seen YET again as denying Black Americans the vote in yet another instance?
Remember, all these objections about election vote totals have all come in heavily black voting areas ONLY, in Milwaukee, Detroit, Philadelphia and Atlanta. These are the areas Republicans are citing. And ONLY at the top of the ticket. How dumb is it to allege fraud only for the top office, and say that the very same vote down the ballot where Republicans won was at the same time perfectly fine?
Democrats would have to do away with the remainder of the filibuster, which is not out of the realm of possibility
Manchin (and probably others) will not go along with that.
given Republicans stunning loss, do they want to be seen YET again as denying Black Americans the vote in yet another instance?
Yes, they do. There's no question about that.
OK, I found this hilarious (from CNN)
Several Senate Republicans are privately pointing the finger squarely at President Trump for the failures in Georgia.
A senior Republican official involved in both Georgia Senate races says of Trump:
"Not since General Sherman has one man done as much damage, to as many people, in as little time. No one in the history of our country turns out voters like Donald Trump. The problem is, the overwhelming majority of them vote against him and anyone loosely affiliated with him."
Man, I mean, you don't use the name "General Sherman" in GEORGIA lightly, if you know what I mean...
I love it when Republicans eat their own...
:-)
-CW
I didn't fall asleep; you feel asleep! ;)
^^^^^^^^^^ EDIT ^^^^^^^^^^
I didn't fall asleep; you fell asleep! ;)
Joshua,
What the heck happened!!??
:-)
Merrick Garland
Y'all don't think he'll hold any grudges, do you? :)
If I may be permitted a little off-topic rambling . . .
Question - 'How do explain the inexplicable? or, maybe 'How do you rationalize the irrational'??
Answer - If you're Hillary (or our buddy Kick), you scream "RUSSIAGATE!!"
Or, if you're Trump, you holler "IWUZROBBED"!!
Anybody else smart enough to recognize the equivalence of those responses???
Anybody else smart enough to recognize the equivalence of those responses???
Nope...
Nobody else is as smart as you (except maybe Death Harris)...
The rest of us are too simple to recognize the equivalence between something that happened and something that didn't...
i guess i'm not smart enough. based on the mueller report, there's a TON of evidence to support the allegation that russia interfered in the 2016 election, NONE of which makes that election invalid or president trump illegitimate. no democratic senators, nor representatives ever claimed such. every other flop, failure or outright crime of the trump administration has been totally self-inflicted and in no way related to the 2016 result, no matter how much they want to claim that somehow it was.
by contrast, there's ZERO credible evidence that anybody anywhere, foreign or domestic, successfully interfered in the 2020 election, and in spite of that fact trump and his allies in congress are right now claiming that the election IS illegitimate. i look forward to numerous future evidence-free "scandals" cooked up against the president-elect which actually ARE based solely on someone not liking the outcome of 2020.
JL
This is painful and it will be for a long time, but I want you to remember this. Our campaign was never about one person or even one election. It was about the country we love and about building an America that's hopeful, inclusive and big-hearted. We have seen that our nation is more deeply divided than we thought, but I still believe in America and I always will. If you do, then we must accept this result and then look to the future. Donald Trump is going to be our president. We owe him an open mind and the chance to lead. - Hillary Clinton (11/9/2016) whole speech
that must have been very hard for hillary to deliver.
Joshua[114], JFC[113]
I'm not smart enough, either. And, neither is the senate majority leader. Heh.
Now the death cult is attacking congress. I hope they don't do any graffiti. That would be terrible.
C. R. Stucki
112
If I may be permitted a little off-topic rambling . . .
It's what old men do when they're otherwise useless.
Question - 'How do explain the inexplicable? or, maybe 'How do you rationalize the irrational'??
You're irrational, so please tell us.
Answer - If you're Hillary (or our buddy Kick), you scream "RUSSIAGATE!!"
Well, you do keep rambling incessantly about Russia... you and Donald Trump can't seem to stop fixating on it.
Or, if you're Trump, you holler "IWUZROBBED"!!
Have I mentioned lately that Benedict Donald is the biggest threat to America? He is, you know.
Anybody else smart enough to recognize the equivalence of those responses???
Yes, sir: False equivalence... a frequent theme of the uninformed rambling righties.
You really should read the Mueller Report and the bipartisan Senate Intelligence reports regarding the Trump campaign's conspiracy with Russia to interfere in America's democracy... instead of relying on the Trump rhetoric and whining incessantly about Russia dang near every time you post.
If you'd educate yourself by reading, you'd discover just how totally ignorant your obviously uninformed and constant fixation and rambling about Russia is to the rest of us here; it's very Trumpian of you to constantly obsess over Russia. :)
Imagine if BLM protesters did something like what this violent Trump mob is doing in DC right now. How long would it have taken for the bullets to fly?
John From Censornati
118
Now the death cult is attacking congress. I hope they don't do any graffiti. That would be terrible.
The Trumpanzees are under the spell of the Wizard of Orange. Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain... he's a con artist.
So to recap: Your icon is a con. Benedict Donald and the GOP who enabled this own it.
I can hardly wait for the Sedition Caucus to continue with their phony objections after their violent radical mob has attacked.
geez, this day keeps getting curiouser and curiouser.
It's gonna be wild!
this violent protest and the inability of DC officials to call in their own national guard makes a pretty good case for why DC needs to be its own state.
"This business is out of control. It's out of control and we'll be lucky to live through it!"
Of course, there were fighter jet involved in that affair. Heh.
Impeach
Conservatives are beginning to talk about what the cabinet should be doing ...
nypoet22
125
this violent protest and the inability of DC officials to call in their own national guard makes a pretty good case for why DC needs to be its own state.
Great point. :)
How do senators and congressmen and women re-start their attempt to overturn an election after what they have witnessed today from a sitting president and his supporters?
What if Republicans and Democrats at the Capitol come together to say that they will return to the business of the day and complete the certification process without delay and without any more spurious objections?
Networks all just called race for Ossoff. Dems will control the Senate for next 2 yrs (starting 1/20 -- until then, Pence will break ties...)
Woo hoo!
And, for Liz, a song:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DemCQPQPhy4
-CW
Excellent song and live clip! I think I'm becoming a fan ...
And, I believe my idea for the next CW Sunday Night Music Festival and Dance Party will have to wait for another Sunday night.
I think the theme for this Sunday Night writes itself.
New column up, such as it is.
(shortest column I've ever written...)
-CW