Election 2020

[IdleRich]

Although... it could conceivably still end up with a Democrat president, Democrat house (albeit with reduced majority) and (just about) a Democratic senate. In which case, they would be in the driving seat to really get things done wouldn't they?

 

[luka]

What do you think they want to 'get done'?

 

[Leo]

@version

This is the thing, the Republicans actually did well below the presidential level. Biden will go into this term as a weak president. The only thing they get out of Stopping the Steal is propping up the personality cult and private interests of Trump and his family. This is why it is so fascinating to watch which way the elected Republicans go, because this is a success for conservatives as a whole and a disaster for Trump alone.

and as always, Murdoch knows which way the wind is blowing.

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news...urn-on-trump-urging-him-to-concede-with-grace

 

[Leo]

What do you think they want to 'get done'?

read his platform

 

[luka]

Fuck off! As if I'm going to do that!

 

[Leo]

me neither

 

[IdleRich]

What do you think they want to 'get done'?

What I mean primarily is, that with all three branches they could (I think) quite easily force through changes to the supreme court and destroy Trump's main (only?) legacy. Without that they couldn't.
I suppose that fixing the system so that they don't come so close to toppling into fascism ought to be a priority. And these would involve big, controversial changes of the kind that they will never be able to negotiate some kind of compromise with the GOP, they will only be possible if forced through. Re-jigging (or getting rid of - though that won't happen) the electoral college to be more in line with the popular vote say.
Also it will mean that you won't have a senate constantly refusing to sign off the budget and just stopping government working as has happened so often since Obama.

 

[Leo]

interesting insights

This person, who speaks to the president often — or, more accurately, who listens and says uh-huh as the president speaks — said that Trump is not just done for, but done. “He wants to lose. He’s out of money. He worries about being arrested. He worried about being assassinated,” they said. “It hasn’t been a great experience for him. He likes showing people around the White House, but the actual day-to-day business of being president? It’s been pretty unpleasant for him.”

...

“He’s afraid. He’s the most insecure, afraid person ever. He’s too afraid to be president. He’s afraid to exercise power. He’s afraid to do the job. It’s why he’s overbearing and crazy — he sabotages himself constantly because he hates himself and wants out. He’s always trying to hurt himself. That guy commits more self-harm than anyone I’ve ever encountered.”

 

[IdleRich]

That's from that Intelligencer article right? I read that last night, lots of interesting stuff in there... I liked the bit at the end with members of the regime all coming up to people saying "I'm not like the others, I know I stayed there but it was to keep them for their worst excesses".

 

[IdleRich]

What I mean primarily is, that with all three branches they could (I think) quite easily force through changes to the supreme court and destroy Trump's main (only?) legacy. Without that they couldn't.
I suppose that fixing the system so that they don't come so close to toppling into fascism ought to be a priority. And these would involve big, controversial changes of the kind that they will never be able to negotiate some kind of compromise with the GOP, they will only be possible if forced through. Re-jigging (or getting rid of - though that won't happen) the electoral college to be more in line with the popular vote say.
Also it will mean that you won't have a senate constantly refusing to sign off the budget and just stopping government working as has happened so often since Obama.

Just to enlarge on that. Dems have won a majority of the vote in 7 of the last 8 elections but have lost several of the elections and have thus appointed virtually none of the supreme court judges - though Trump appointed three of the nine in his single term. The senate votes are also counted really unfairly, in the last mid-term the Dems increased their vote share and decreased their representation.
I think if at all possible the Dems need to do something to challenge this - I think there is a justification to bringing the electoral college votes more in line with state populations and thus the popular vote. Why should California votes count less than others? But the GOP will NEVER countenance that - it has to be smashed through them.
Same with the boundaries drawn unfairly for the Senate, the GOP will never agree so it can only be improved by a dem trifecta I suspect.
Also if they have they have the trifecta I think they would be totally within their rights to throw Barrett off the court (as she was imposed against the rules that McConnell invented last time) and impeach Kavanaugh. Alternatively, apparently the reason there are nine judges is cos there were nine circuit courts and there are now thirteen - so there would be plenty of justification to add four liberal justices to the court. There would be howls of rage but - as with the Trump regime refusing subpoenas, not allowing evidence at the impeachment, forcing through Barret etc - they could just ignore it and tell them to fuck off. And with a lot more justification.
So for me it's important to make these changes so there can be a level playing field - I'm not talking about specific policies for Biden, but I'm saying that unless this kind of thing can be done then there is no chance of a level playing field and there is no chance of policy reflecting the make up of the country for the next fifty, hundred years....

 

[Leo]

GOP is ruthless when in power, Dems tend to want to go back to the old ways of bipartisanship. Dems need to find their inner McConnell.

 

[IdleRich]

Yes in short. If they do win all three I believe that they need to make hay while the sun shines... although I suppose arguably demographics favour them as evidenced by the fact that despite all the things I mentioned above they are gonna win this election. But the moral argument for making elections fair is clear - it doesn't even need to be made, and they shouldn't let anything dissuade them from doing it if they can.
But yeah McConnell does what he wants if he can... there should be no reason for the Dems not to do what they SHOULD if they can.

 

[IdleRich]

Trump is about to give some kind of press conference at some kind of landscaping company next to a pornographic book store - much to the amusement of the internet.

 

[IdleRich]

Joe Biden beats Donald Trump to win US election
Joe Biden has won the presidency by clinching Pennsylvania and its 20 electoral votes, the AP has just announced.

 

[Simon silverdollarcircle]

I'm disappointed we might not ever get tge press conference at the garden centre

 

[Leo]

 

[IdleRich]

Might spoil the press conference... damn Leo stop reading my mind.

 

[IdleRich]

Might spoil the press conference... damn Leo stop reading my mind.

Not Leo in fact, @Simon silverdollarcircle - just assumed it was Leo cos it normally is.

 

[Woebot]

 

[Woebot]

goodbye orange man