Going to work early elections again today in red SW Michigan. Tuesday worked 9 hours with one 15 break to grab lunch and a couple times I ran to the bathroom. Yesterday it was 10 hours with two races to the bathroom and no other breaks. People are voting in record numbers.
I hope this is a good sign. Let’s see what today brings.
I am optimistic one day and dreadfully afraid other days. If people can be so blind to what Trump is they can also be so blind to be obedient to his fascist plans if he wins. So I’m not going to put weight behind how I feel any given moment.
The practical things that people can do is help other people get to the polls. Car pool to vote. Offer babysitting while parents vote. Stay on line with someone who needs company.
Ask Republicans if they’re ashamed of Trump and suggest they stay home if they can’t bring themselves to vote for a Democratic candidate.
Although I am optimistic I do live in NW Pennsylvania where the Trump signage is overwhelming. The problem here is that men in general will vote for men and if they are married their wives may follow suit.
Your bed, chairs and undies may be dry, but mine are not.
Subject: An encouraging opinion piece from one of my favorite journalists
Trump may try to overturn the election. But it won’t be easy. Past experience suggests Trump will not succeed in contesting a Harris win. Opinion by Jennifer Rubin
Ever since felon and former president Donald Trump announced his current run, democracy defenders have worried about a replay of 2020, when Joe Biden’s win in a duly administered election was followed by an attempted coup. We have already seen Trump conniving to reject defeat at the polls: He and his running mate refuse to state unequivocally they will accept the outcome. Trump, for months, has been talking about (nonexistent) illegal votes from noncitizen immigrants. His allies declared the election illegitimate as far back as July. MAGA lawyers are litigating roughly 200 lawsuits to block certain ballots, delay or interfere with counting, avoid certification and create new hurdles to voting.
In short, all signs point to a scenario in which a win for Kamala Harris might be followed by Trump attempting to overturn the election, and news outlets such as Politico speculate that he just might pull it off this time. It behooves us to assess the real risks and put to bed some of the most extreme scenarios.
For starters, lawyers for the GOP are already on a heck of a losing streak around the country. They have failed to show evidence of undocumented immigrants voting in statistically significant numbers. A court rejected the attempt to block counting of Pennsylvania mail-in ballots because the inner security envelope was missing. Their Fulton County, Georgia, stunts (mandating a hand count and making certification discretionary) were thrown out of court. Some efforts to purge voter rolls at the last minute were blocked (though the U.S. Supreme Court on Wednesday reversed a lower court decision, allowing Virginia to purge its rolls despite a federal statute prohibiting such action so close to the election). Challenging overseas ballots, including military ballots, was a bust. An effort to block ballots received up to three days after Election Day lost in Nevada.
Norm Eisen, chair of the bipartisan State Democracy Defenders Action, tells me that GOP litigation has been “thoroughly rejected so far, meeting the same fate as Trump’s notorious 62 failed cases in the prior cycle.” Calling it a desperate strategy, he adds that “if the judicial returns so far are any indication, it will continue to flop.”
After the votes are cast, Republicans will undoubtedly argue the election was tainted by illegally cast and wrongly counted ballots. Their likely problem: a lack of evidence.
Regarding undocumented immigrants, study after study and Republicans’ own efforts have turned up negligible instances of illegal voting. Without evidence, any lawsuits will fail, just as the pre-election cases did.
As for overseas ballots, the Federal Voting Assistance Program has been in effect for decades to “Assist military and overseas citizen voters exercise their right to vote — no matter where they are.” The Brennan Center explains: “The law, also known as UOCAVA, was enacted during the Reagan administration to make procedures for overseas voting more straightforward. It requires states to allow military personnel and other U.S. citizens to vote in federal elections by absentee ballot in their former state of residence.” It is unsurprising, then, that lawsuits recently filed by Republicans in Michigan, North Carolina, and Pennsylvania to block absentee ballots or remove voters from rolls lacked any evidence of wrongdoing or fraud. To be clear, all states have checks in place to make sure those requesting ballots and voting from overseas are eligible citizens.
Just as in 2020, any 2024 bogus suits will almost certainly get tossed. Certainly, the wider the margin, the less plausible their cases, but even a small margin of victory will stand if there is no evidence of wrongdoing.
As in 2020, Trump’s legal tumult seems designed not so much to prove the election “stolen” as to cast the election as illegitimate. This is the essence of antidemocratic movements: No election can be valid unless they win. The will of the people is irrelevant.
Likewise, schemes to withhold certification are almost guaranteed to lose. In every swing state, a party can get a court to order certification or press criminal charges against recalcitrant officials. In states such as Michigan, officeholders (e.g., Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer) can certify even if local officials refuse. Furthermore, if states refuse to certify or a possible GOP-controlled Congress refuses to accept electors, the number of electoral college votes needed to win would be reduced from 270. Vice President Kamala Harris needs only a majority of the certified electors to win.
Voters should be concerned about other antidemocratic antics, such as removing access to ballot boxes or even setting them on fire. However, law enforcement and city officials have investigated these incidents, and boxes can be replaced and voters given provisional ballots if their original ballot was destroyed. (Previously, right-wing groups have tried to install fake dropboxes and surveilled them with armed men; courts stopped such intimidation.)
As a result of concerns about violence, threats and intimidation directed at poll workers, the Justice Department in 2021 rolled out an election task force to investigate, prevent and prosecute such incidents and to stop fraud. That is up and running.
The Justice Department has also activated its Election Day program that pairs U.S. attorneys with local law enforcement. U.S. attorneys have reaffirmed DOJ’s critical role to prevent violence and intimidation, deploying district election officers to field complaints:
The Department of Justice has an important role in deterring and combating discrimination and intimidation at the polls, threats of violence directed at election officials and poll workers, and election fraud. The Department will address these violations wherever they occur. The Department’s longstanding Election Day Program ... also seeks to ensure public confidence in the electoral process by providing local points of contact within the Department for the public to report possible federal election law violations.
...
Federal law protects against such crimes as threatening violence against election officials or staff, intimidating or bribing voters, buying and selling votes, impersonating voters, altering vote tallies, stuffing ballot boxes, and marking ballots for voters against their wishes or without their input. It also contains special protections for the rights of voters, and provides that they can vote free from interference, including intimidation, and other acts designed to prevent or discourage people from voting or voting for the candidate of their choice.
Authorities at all levels, in sum, are prepared to handle violence and fraud. On Jan. 6, 2025, the Capitol will be under heavy lockdown given its designation as a National Special Security Event.
Republicans’ rejection of democracy is tragic and dangerous, but a well-prepared administration, Democratic and DOJ lawyers, courts, and law enforcement make it virtually impossible to reverse a Trump defeat. The system, I am confident, will hold
Thanks for the optimism. Covered up in trump signs here in red south Georgia. BUT signs don’t vote. Also, Harris signs are being stolen and vandalized at an alarming rate so of course there are more of his signs.
Bravery defines an act you have no choice but to do.
Going to work early elections again today in red SW Michigan. Tuesday worked 9 hours with one 15 break to grab lunch and a couple times I ran to the bathroom. Yesterday it was 10 hours with two races to the bathroom and no other breaks. People are voting in record numbers.
I hope this is a good sign. Let’s see what today brings.
Yeah: signs don’t vote. They only represent one guy, who is not in the group they need!
I am optimistic one day and dreadfully afraid other days. If people can be so blind to what Trump is they can also be so blind to be obedient to his fascist plans if he wins. So I’m not going to put weight behind how I feel any given moment.
The practical things that people can do is help other people get to the polls. Car pool to vote. Offer babysitting while parents vote. Stay on line with someone who needs company.
Ask Republicans if they’re ashamed of Trump and suggest they stay home if they can’t bring themselves to vote for a Democratic candidate.
...it will be nice to finally be able to say: "Madam President". I too am optimistic!
Thanks, Steve. Here’s to popping that champagne and not drowning in the bourbon 🙏🙏🙏🌊🌊🌊
Although I am optimistic I do live in NW Pennsylvania where the Trump signage is overwhelming. The problem here is that men in general will vote for men and if they are married their wives may follow suit.
Your bed, chairs and undies may be dry, but mine are not.
Subject: An encouraging opinion piece from one of my favorite journalists
Trump may try to overturn the election. But it won’t be easy. Past experience suggests Trump will not succeed in contesting a Harris win. Opinion by Jennifer Rubin
Ever since felon and former president Donald Trump announced his current run, democracy defenders have worried about a replay of 2020, when Joe Biden’s win in a duly administered election was followed by an attempted coup. We have already seen Trump conniving to reject defeat at the polls: He and his running mate refuse to state unequivocally they will accept the outcome. Trump, for months, has been talking about (nonexistent) illegal votes from noncitizen immigrants. His allies declared the election illegitimate as far back as July. MAGA lawyers are litigating roughly 200 lawsuits to block certain ballots, delay or interfere with counting, avoid certification and create new hurdles to voting.
In short, all signs point to a scenario in which a win for Kamala Harris might be followed by Trump attempting to overturn the election, and news outlets such as Politico speculate that he just might pull it off this time. It behooves us to assess the real risks and put to bed some of the most extreme scenarios.
For starters, lawyers for the GOP are already on a heck of a losing streak around the country. They have failed to show evidence of undocumented immigrants voting in statistically significant numbers. A court rejected the attempt to block counting of Pennsylvania mail-in ballots because the inner security envelope was missing. Their Fulton County, Georgia, stunts (mandating a hand count and making certification discretionary) were thrown out of court. Some efforts to purge voter rolls at the last minute were blocked (though the U.S. Supreme Court on Wednesday reversed a lower court decision, allowing Virginia to purge its rolls despite a federal statute prohibiting such action so close to the election). Challenging overseas ballots, including military ballots, was a bust. An effort to block ballots received up to three days after Election Day lost in Nevada.
Norm Eisen, chair of the bipartisan State Democracy Defenders Action, tells me that GOP litigation has been “thoroughly rejected so far, meeting the same fate as Trump’s notorious 62 failed cases in the prior cycle.” Calling it a desperate strategy, he adds that “if the judicial returns so far are any indication, it will continue to flop.”
After the votes are cast, Republicans will undoubtedly argue the election was tainted by illegally cast and wrongly counted ballots. Their likely problem: a lack of evidence.
Regarding undocumented immigrants, study after study and Republicans’ own efforts have turned up negligible instances of illegal voting. Without evidence, any lawsuits will fail, just as the pre-election cases did.
As for overseas ballots, the Federal Voting Assistance Program has been in effect for decades to “Assist military and overseas citizen voters exercise their right to vote — no matter where they are.” The Brennan Center explains: “The law, also known as UOCAVA, was enacted during the Reagan administration to make procedures for overseas voting more straightforward. It requires states to allow military personnel and other U.S. citizens to vote in federal elections by absentee ballot in their former state of residence.” It is unsurprising, then, that lawsuits recently filed by Republicans in Michigan, North Carolina, and Pennsylvania to block absentee ballots or remove voters from rolls lacked any evidence of wrongdoing or fraud. To be clear, all states have checks in place to make sure those requesting ballots and voting from overseas are eligible citizens.
Just as in 2020, any 2024 bogus suits will almost certainly get tossed. Certainly, the wider the margin, the less plausible their cases, but even a small margin of victory will stand if there is no evidence of wrongdoing.
As in 2020, Trump’s legal tumult seems designed not so much to prove the election “stolen” as to cast the election as illegitimate. This is the essence of antidemocratic movements: No election can be valid unless they win. The will of the people is irrelevant.
Likewise, schemes to withhold certification are almost guaranteed to lose. In every swing state, a party can get a court to order certification or press criminal charges against recalcitrant officials. In states such as Michigan, officeholders (e.g., Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer) can certify even if local officials refuse. Furthermore, if states refuse to certify or a possible GOP-controlled Congress refuses to accept electors, the number of electoral college votes needed to win would be reduced from 270. Vice President Kamala Harris needs only a majority of the certified electors to win.
Voters should be concerned about other antidemocratic antics, such as removing access to ballot boxes or even setting them on fire. However, law enforcement and city officials have investigated these incidents, and boxes can be replaced and voters given provisional ballots if their original ballot was destroyed. (Previously, right-wing groups have tried to install fake dropboxes and surveilled them with armed men; courts stopped such intimidation.)
As a result of concerns about violence, threats and intimidation directed at poll workers, the Justice Department in 2021 rolled out an election task force to investigate, prevent and prosecute such incidents and to stop fraud. That is up and running.
The Justice Department has also activated its Election Day program that pairs U.S. attorneys with local law enforcement. U.S. attorneys have reaffirmed DOJ’s critical role to prevent violence and intimidation, deploying district election officers to field complaints:
The Department of Justice has an important role in deterring and combating discrimination and intimidation at the polls, threats of violence directed at election officials and poll workers, and election fraud. The Department will address these violations wherever they occur. The Department’s longstanding Election Day Program ... also seeks to ensure public confidence in the electoral process by providing local points of contact within the Department for the public to report possible federal election law violations.
...
Federal law protects against such crimes as threatening violence against election officials or staff, intimidating or bribing voters, buying and selling votes, impersonating voters, altering vote tallies, stuffing ballot boxes, and marking ballots for voters against their wishes or without their input. It also contains special protections for the rights of voters, and provides that they can vote free from interference, including intimidation, and other acts designed to prevent or discourage people from voting or voting for the candidate of their choice.
Authorities at all levels, in sum, are prepared to handle violence and fraud. On Jan. 6, 2025, the Capitol will be under heavy lockdown given its designation as a National Special Security Event.
Republicans’ rejection of democracy is tragic and dangerous, but a well-prepared administration, Democratic and DOJ lawyers, courts, and law enforcement make it virtually impossible to reverse a Trump defeat. The system, I am confident, will hold
Hate and fear leave a bitter taste. I think America is ready for a palate cleanser.
And new laws protecting itself!
Indeed.
Thanks for the optimism. Covered up in trump signs here in red south Georgia. BUT signs don’t vote. Also, Harris signs are being stolen and vandalized at an alarming rate so of course there are more of his signs.