2022 elections. The steady march for sanity continues.

Dryxi

Well-Known Member
My only issue with this is that was what was done in 2009 and the Republicans used it to snowflake and astroturf together the Tea Party nonsense to take away Obama's ability to legislate for the next 6 years, gerrymander states, stiff Obama's judge/executive branch appointments, and troll Clinton with 'Benghazi/email' hearings for years, which is how we need up with Trump and a Republican controlled DC that cut the shit out of taxes for the rich and sell out the American public and our foreign allies time and again to Trump's foreign dictator friends.

I would rather see Biden take the hit with his agenda not being done in his first two years and having a chance to do more in 2022 than repeat 2010.

I would like to see it done however, but I am not confident that the conservative Democrats are going to allow it to get done. I hope they do, but I will not call this a failed presidential term if they don't pass everything.
Mix perceived failure to deliver by the current administration and the redistricting... 2022 is looking uphill. If they don't get it done in spite of Republicans... no bueno.
 

hanimmal

Well-Known Member
Mix perceived failure to deliver by the current administration and the redistricting... 2022 is looking uphill. If they don't get it done in spite of Republicans... no bueno.
We will see. The Republicans are going to troll and cheat the system no matter what, there is not anything that can be done about that unfortunately.

If 'perceived failure' is the benchmark though, that is something that is going to happen for people no matter what if they don't have the ability to see what has been done and the reality of the situation that the Democrats and Biden have been in since day 1. They have gotten so much done after barely getting power away from Mitch and the insurrectionist Republicans in the senate because of Georgia and that was never going to be a get it all done term. It was always going to be next to impossible to get everything done that is needed since the Republicans dumped another economic collapse on the incoming Democratic POTUS (and everything else like the lack of a pandemic response, Afghanistan, China turmoil, insurrectionist politicians and domestic terrorists,Trump troll appointees looking to blow up the Biden agenda, etc).

Anyone that doesn't understand this is better off figuring out just how under attack that we have been since 2016 and how close we came to having every gain we have made in the last 50 years ripped away from us.

That said, I hope that Biden and the Democrats find a way to get as much done as possible for the American people.
 

hanimmal

Well-Known Member
https://www.rawstory.com/michigan-voting-rights/Screen Shot 2021-10-04 at 3.14.08 PM.png
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer on Sunday vetoed three Republican election bills introduced after former President Donald Trump lost the 2020 election as part of a nationwide right-wing effort to restrict voting and change election rules. She also vetoed a fourth measure she said lacked the proper funding.

Despite Trump's loss in Michigan and other key states, he and his supporters have continued to spread misinformation and conspiracy theories. Whitmer said in the veto letter obtained by the Michigan Advance that they were an “attempt to suppress the vote or perpetuate the 'Big Lie': the calculated disinformation campaign to discredit the 2020 election. I will have no part in any effort that grants an ounce of credence to this deception, so injurious to our democracy."

Biden defeated Trump by more than 154,000 votes in Michigan. The GOP-led Senate Oversight Committee in June issued a 35-page election report concluded there was no evidence of widespread voter fraud in Michigan and debunked several conspiracy theories.

“The 2020 election was free, secure, and accurate. The results were certified and officially audited by trusted local election officials, as required by law," Whitmer said in her letter to lawmakers. “Judges appointed by both Republicans and Democrats rejected more than 60 lawsuits challenging the outcome."

The vetoed legislation is House Bills 4837, 4838, 4492 and 4528, which passed the Senate last week.

HB 4837, sponsored by Rep. Sarah Lightner (R-Springport), restricts who has access to the qualified voter file. Whitmer called out the bill because it “implies that outside parties had access to the state's qualified voter file [in the 2020 election]. They did not."

HB 4838, introduced by state Rep. Phil Green (R-Millington), would prohibit internet access to voting machines — rooted in a right-wing conspiracy theory that this happened during the 2020 election. Whitmer noted in her veto letter that the bill “implies that electronic poll books were connected to the internet and vulnerable to tampering. They never were."

HB 4492, sponsored by Rep. Ann Bollin (R-Brighton), would expand polling place locations. But Whitmer vetoed it because she said it would “make it more difficult for seniors and persons living in large apartment complexes to vote."

The last bill, HB 4528, sponsored by Rep. Bryan Posthumus (R-Cannon Twp.), would require the secretary of state to provide more training for election challengers. Whitmer said the bill “is worth further consideration, it must have the necessary funding to accomplish its purpose."

“I am laser focused on kitchen-table issues that get things done for Michiganders, like fixing the roads, ensuring clean water, and providing good-paying jobs," she said. “We can and should work together on election policy, as well – but only in ways that strengthen our democracy. I am ready to join hands with anyone who shares these goals."

Since Republicans anticipated that Whitmer would veto voting restriction bills, they have a Plan B with a ballot measure. If the Secure MI Vote campaign gathers enough signatures, the initiative first goes to the GOP-controlled Legislature for approval. Whitmer lacks the power to veto that.
 

Fogdog

Well-Known Member
Mix perceived failure to deliver by the current administration and the redistricting... 2022 is looking uphill. If they don't get it done in spite of Republicans... no bueno.
"If they don't get it done"

It will get done when enough left side Democrats are in power. Complaining won't do it. Organize and vote to realize your political objectives. Vote Republicans out. If you don't like Manchin or Sinema, put your money where your mouth is.

The voter suppression laws only tip the balance toward the right. They can be overcome. We saw how to do that in Georgia last year.
 

hanimmal

Well-Known Member
https://www.rawstory.com/cawthorn-bannon-domestic-terrorism-threats/Screen Shot 2021-10-05 at 5.53.17 AM.png
Experts spoke to MSNBC's Joy Reid Monday to convey the seriousness of recent propaganda pushed out by Rep. Madison Cawthorn (R-NC) and Steve Bannon.

Cawthorn released a video that critics likened to a call for Christian "holy war,"where he stated that "we are going to stand valiantly, for God's, God's incredible inherent truths that predate any version of government."

Meanwhile, Bannon is calling on a "shock troop brigade," a term harkening back to Nazi Germany's Stoßtrupp, which would fight behind enemy lines.

Cawthorn "picks up on the themes that are not just coming from the Steve Bannon level and Donald Trump level but the Republican street and that Republican street is armed, they're angry," warned terrorism expert Malcolm Nance. "They have been fed an entire line which makes them believe that America and that they no longer want the America that the rest of us... live in and they're willing to take up arms for it."

Nance explained that if the words "Washington" and "Christian" were removed from the speech, that it would sound like the same videos he heard analyzing al Qaeda and ISIS communications from calls for jihad.

Strategist Fernand Amandi explained that it doesn't matter if people are doing it for the money or out of conviction, or some are useful idiots and some were recruited and radicalized. After Jan. 6, it's clear there is a group ready for the next civil war in the United States.

"The dictionary definition of the word terrorist is someone or groups of people that use the threat of violence or intimidation to try and establish political goals," said Amandi. "And I look at that Madison Cawthorn clip and videos that look like they could be stripped from a jihad playbook. If it sounds like a domestic terrorist and it acts like a domestic terrorist and it's putting out videos that, to Malcolm's point, look like they could be stripped from a jihadist playbook, swapping in a word or two, it's domestic terrorism!"

Reid noted that a lot of people are dismissive of claims of "fascism," thinking that it's hyperbole and that it could never happen in the U.S. However, she cited Robert Jones, who wrote that white Christian nationalists are taking on a kind of "persecution complex" where it's like they're almost being encouraged to prepare for war.

Nance also explained that Trump isn't the bringer of the extremism, he's nothing more than "the windbag blowing that weather vain." What he does find concerning are people like Bannon who is actually working to organize these people.

"When he made his statement about being the shock troops, look, he is not taking the Hitler brown shirt playbook," Nance continued. "He is absolutely fascinated with Benito Mussolini and using the black shirts of the fastest party. They know they are supporting white nationalists goals. They know that by using these terms in a way that there is some proof they can actually get away with calling liberals Nazis."

He went on to say that if the U.S. saw this happening in any other country in the world we'd be seriously concerned and "we'd be putting out critical reports and preparing to do airstrikes."

Amandi said that the reason Bannon is going to other countries is to prove that his war isn't merely an American one. He closed by saying simply that Americans should watch out or risk becoming like Hungary or Brazil.

"Take this threat seriously," he begged. "We are under tremendous danger. And it's going to get worse."

'Axis of autocracy' is a good term to describe the propagandist war on our nation. And using foreign dictators help from Spanish speaking nations they can attack our citizens in languages that are left vulnerable.
 

xtsho

Well-Known Member

printer

Well-Known Member
Elections administrator in Texas county Trump won resigns after campaign to oust her
A veteran Texas elections administrator submitted her resignation on Friday after a months-long effort in her county to oust her following baseless allegations of election fraud.

Michele Carew resigned after she became the face of what some people in Hood County, Texas viewed as a fraudulent electoral system, according to The Texas Tribune.

Carew's critics attempted to replace the elections administrator claiming she had a hidden liberal agenda and violated state elections law. The Texas secretary of state confirmed that Carew, who had 14 years of experience in the field, was abiding by the state's rules, the Tribune noted.

Yet efforts continued to replace Carew with an elected county clerk who has publicly spread baseless allegations of election fraud on social media, the Tribune reported.

In Carew's Hood County, Texas, former President Trump won 81 percent of the vote in last year's election. Most demands for audits of election results elsewhere in the county have come from counties won by President Joe Biden, especially if Trump won them in 2016, per the Tribune.

"When I started out, election administrators were appreciated and highly respected," Carew said to the Tribune. "Now we are made out to be the bad guys."

Carew will oversee her final election next month before leaving her role on Nov. 12. After her departure, the Tribune added that she plans to move to a private company that consults local elections administrator offices to help them run more efficiently.

"She is not the first and won’t be the last professional election official to have to leave this profession because of the toll it is taking, the bullies and liars who are slandering these professionals," David Becker, executive director of the Center for Election Innovation and Research, said of Carew's departure to the Tribune.

"I’m leaving on my own accord," Carew said to the Tribune. "I’m the one who wins in the end."
 

mooray

Well-Known Member
Elections administrator in Texas county Trump won resigns after campaign to oust her
A veteran Texas elections administrator submitted her resignation on Friday after a months-long effort in her county to oust her following baseless allegations of election fraud.

Michele Carew resigned after she became the face of what some people in Hood County, Texas viewed as a fraudulent electoral system, according to The Texas Tribune.

Carew's critics attempted to replace the elections administrator claiming she had a hidden liberal agenda and violated state elections law. The Texas secretary of state confirmed that Carew, who had 14 years of experience in the field, was abiding by the state's rules, the Tribune noted.

Yet efforts continued to replace Carew with an elected county clerk who has publicly spread baseless allegations of election fraud on social media, the Tribune reported.

In Carew's Hood County, Texas, former President Trump won 81 percent of the vote in last year's election. Most demands for audits of election results elsewhere in the county have come from counties won by President Joe Biden, especially if Trump won them in 2016, per the Tribune.

"When I started out, election administrators were appreciated and highly respected," Carew said to the Tribune. "Now we are made out to be the bad guys."

Carew will oversee her final election next month before leaving her role on Nov. 12. After her departure, the Tribune added that she plans to move to a private company that consults local elections administrator offices to help them run more efficiently.

"She is not the first and won’t be the last professional election official to have to leave this profession because of the toll it is taking, the bullies and liars who are slandering these professionals," David Becker, executive director of the Center for Election Innovation and Research, said of Carew's departure to the Tribune.

"I’m leaving on my own accord," Carew said to the Tribune. "I’m the one who wins in the end."
Pretty much every major election from here on is going to be terrifying. Every time republicans lose, they'll "know" you cheated, because they know they cheated and didn't win, therefore you must have cheated more.
 

printer

Well-Known Member
Judge blocks county clerk who embraced conspiracy theories from overseeing election
A Colorado judge on Wednesday ruled in favor of blocking a county clerk who had embraced conspiracy theories from overseeing the 2021 election in Mesa County.
District Judge Valerie Robison ruled on Wednesday that Mesa County Clerk Tina Peters (R) and her deputy, Belinda Knisley, “are unable or unwilling to appropriately perform the duties of the Mesa County Designated Election Official.”
In her ruling, Robison said that an injunction blocking the two from acting as designated election officials for the county had been granted and that former Colorado Secretary of State Wayne Williams (R) would instead oversee the Mesa County elections.

The ruling comes after officials found in early August that confidential passwords during a “trusted build” — a type of software update for voting equipment — had been publicized, according to court documents. The filings said that current Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold (D) saw photos of the passwords circulated online from the county’s hardware stations.

Some of the voting equipment had to be decertified after state employees went through nine computers and found incorrect settings.
“On the server computer there were two settings that were incorrect: the secure boot setting was disabled, and the boot from the optical drive setting was enabled,” according to a court filing. “The combination of the changes to the two settings resulted in enabling of a security vulnerability if someone had physical access to the system. Additionally, the enabled security vulnerability of the server computer created a vulnerability for the other computers.”

The filing also alleges that hard drives of voting equipment computers had been copied before and after the “trusted build” by a man named Gerald Wood, who had first been introduced by Peters as an “administrative assistant” as the trusted build was taking place. He was later claimed to be a “consultant” by Peters and her deputy.
Copies of the hard drives and photos of the passwords surfaced during a conference hosted by MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell, according to The Washington Post, and Griswold sued Peters in August. Lindell, among others, has claimed that the 2020 election was not won by President Biden.

In a statement on Wednesday, Griswold commended the ruling, saying “Clerk Peters seriously compromised the security of Mesa County’s voting system. The Court’s decision today bars Peters from further threatening the integrity of Mesa’s elections and ensures Mesa County residents have the secure and accessible election they deserve.”

Peters called Griswold’s lawsuit a “power grab” and said she intended to appeal the decision, according to Colorado Public Radio.

"If this decision stands, it will fundamentally shift the power of running local elections from the county clerk to a Secretary of State in Denver, eroding the checks and balances that make our elections fair," Peters said in a statement, according to the radio station.
 

mooray

Well-Known Member
I like how the response to getting caught cheating as a matter of checks and balances is, "it's not fair, we need better checks and balances". The way their brains work is baffling, they're like little kids.
 
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