It's beginning to sound like Pelosi is the reason why T---- isn't being installed dictator of U.S.

[ffr]

GOP senators are saying the decision not to object to the electoral college seems to boil down to the fact that the House of Representatives is under Nancy Pelosi's democratic control. Brutal and gut wrenching, is how they are describing their decisions.

Their decisions ARE NOT based on their constitutional duty, that's long gone as window dressing for the media. No, they cite T----'s popularity with voters who elected them, right or WRONG, as the reason they'd otherwise join their GOP colleagues and not uphold the constitution.

North Dakota senator on decision to back Electoral College: 'It was brutal' - The RW rag that is The Hill

Holy SHIT! Did America just dodge a full fledged coup by radical republicans?

[SoonerPride]

1. Yes.

This time.

[TheBlackAdder]

37. Yep. This time. This shit better be put to bed now, before the mid-terms.

[Proud Liberal Dem]

2. It sounds like we did

which begs the question: What happens if we have an election that a Democrat wins but Congress is in control of the GOP? Will they be able to throw the election out and install their own even if, like with this election, it wasn't close and there is no evidence of fraud or malfeasance?

[pdxflyboy]

5. I'm afraid they may try that. n/t

[Proud Liberal Dem]

9. Seems like the Constitution should be clear enough on the issue

but seems like we are going to need to write in some new laws or amendment to clarify that there is no "wiggle room" to outright reverse electoral outcomes like what Republicans are trying to do.

[Lonestarblue]

45. I believe they will try it in 2024.

Either Biden or Harris will be the nominee. If Trump runs again (or more likely Jr. or Ivanka), Republicans will do this again. But in the meantime, they will get rid of people like Raffensperger and Sterling to make sure they have the right flunkies in place to prove plant fraudulent records and give them an excuse to overturn the election. We really need to understand that there is nothing these people will not do to hold on to power.

[dhill926]

30. I've wondered this for a while....

if true, we need to fix it...

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

3. Cramer said he "put a lot of intellectual rigor" into his decision

to actually vote for the EC results and uphold the Constitution. Jesus Christ on a pogo stick, how much intellectual rigor does it take to follow a couple hundred years of established law and over 60 court decisions and ignore crackpot conspiracy theories?

[Wellstone ruled]

18. Going to add this,

knowing a tiny bit about Cramer and the 99% all Caucasian North Dakota,this is all about these same people not recognizing that our Nation has changed since the 1950's. Boils down to Racism .

Right wing hate Radio as well as Fake News has brainwashed these people.

[Hugin]

28. Nice to know they're using their thinky meat.

It so seldom happens.

[babylonsister]

56. Their thinky meat? Hahaha! nt

[Claire Oh Nette]

38. Intellectual Rigor

He put a lot of rigid thinking, maybe, and emotion into his decision to...not support a coup?


Every one of the Senators and Representatives who entertains this sedition is a traitor. Nancy should NOT seat those tools. and President of the Senate elect and VP elect Kamala Harris shouldn't either.

[obamanut2012]

4. That's why Bill Kristol publicly lauded her a couple days ago

He basically stated this very thing.

[dchill]

6. "Brutal and gut wrenching..." - No, it's not.

Read the Constitution, follow the law. No guts wrenched.

[Proud Liberal Dem]

11. The gut wrenching they're talking about is probably about going against Trump

although I will never understand why they are so damned afraid of him. He must have access to damaging information on a lot of them or something.

[roamer65]

24. He has access to Russian "compromat".

[Proud Liberal Dem]

25. I hope that one day

all of that comes to light. I especially want to know what he's had on Lindsey Graham.

[NYC Liberal]

32. "He must have access to damaging information on a lot of them or something"

Maybe a few, like Graham. I think the rest really do agree with everything he does.

[Mr.Bill]

34. I will just presume that anyone in Congress

that tries to overturn the election for Trump has a video out there of them raping a 12 year old girl.

[Mariana]

36. They aren't afraid of Trump himself, I don't think.

They're afraid of his rabid supporters. It's not just a matter of being afraid of losing the next election, either. Any Republican who goes against Trump in any way gets death threats.

[nature-lover]

41. Remember the RNC was hacked and WikiLeaks did not release their info., only DNC.

[sandensea]

7. It's not a question of if anymore - but when

It's long been feared that a Brazil-style parliamentary coup (like the one against Dilma Rousseff in 2016 - which paved the way for the pseudo-fascist Bolsonaro regime) would one day be imported to U.S. shores.

Republicans, after all, have been promoting such moves abroad for decades. Narco Rubio is the worst, of the ones in office today.

[Irish_Dem]

54. Yes, I agree. Just a matter of time. nt

[unblock]

8. yes. if republicans controlled the house and senate, they absolutely would steal the white house.

not only do they not believe in democracy, but they also believe the constitution is just stupid red tape, to be bypassed with any loophole.

[Hortensis]

10. Not Pelosi: a house majority of those who've always protected democracy.

Democrats are believers in and protectors of democracy. It's who we are, not a Pelosi instruction.

Critically, those standing against authoritarian takeover are only able to prevail because we gave Democrats the majority in 2018. Democracy on the knife edge.

If we hadn't succeeded in that, we now know trumpists in congress would have voted dictatorial powers to that depraved orange clown. Pelosi and others, including journalists who offended Trump, might well have had to flee to nations where democracy still ruled.

It's very doubtful that we would now be able to receive their statements from exile by googling on a trumpist-controlled internet. Or that DU wouldn't have been shut down.

[Mike 03]

22. Great post.

How close did we come? It wasn't very hard in Hungary to completely destroy everything. Try finding an independent newspaper there. There might still be one in Poland. In India it might be taking slightly longer, but they are imprisoning revered intellectuals and journalists.

[Hortensis]

26. Hungary's fate makes where the GOP would take us unmistakable.

As shown below from WaPo, that international group that monitors over 3000 political parties for authoritarian traits evaluates the GOP as now as authoritarian and anti-democracy as Viktor Orban's party, just not as powerful. Hungary's legislature recently gave Orban the power to rule by decree.

That steady blue line of commitment to government of, by and for the people is the DEMOCRATIC PARTY:

&w=691

[TomVilmer]

47. "The United States: An unsteady beacon of freedom"

The United States are not alone in the drift from the ideals of liberal democracy. It is part of a global phenomenon in which freely elected leaders distance themselves from traditional elites and political norms, claim to speak for a more authentic popular base, and use the ensuing confrontations to justify extreme policies—against minorities and pluralism in particular.

https://freedomhouse.org/report/freedom-world/2020/leaderless-struggle-democracy

[Laura PourMeADrink]

40. +1

[CanonRay]

12. I'm not 100% certain we've completely dodged it yet.

I'm not going to relax until Joe's hand is on that Bible.

[ret5hd]

27. I agree!!! There are two or three prominent posters here...

that I feel have (purposefully) downplayed the danger our country is in, mocking and ridiculing those that question the possible outcomes of these unprecedented events.

Don't worry! Be happy! It's over! There is no danger! No need to watch that! No need to ask questions! Your worries are ridiculous!

Like you...when "Joe's hand is on that Bible."

[Hortensis]

29. And not then, but how mean to bring that up? :)

The battle for our nation's future is enormous and took decades to build to this point. We took critical fields in 2018 and 2020, there will be many engagements over the next two years, but the next terrifying electoral battle will be in 2022.

[area51]

57. +1 n/t

[LisaL]

13. It's the fact that Democrats have majority in the Congress could

be preventing Republicans from outright stealing the election.

[MineralMan]

15. Underestimating Nancy Pelosi Is a Huge Mistake.

[GopherGal]

31. Agree.

McTurtle has had sometimes had better tools insofar as the rules of the senate, but Nancy uses the tools she has to their utmost.

The repukes see it and know enough to be afraid of her. That, and a big helping of misogyny are why her name evokes such vitriol among them.

[cbdo2007]

16. Even if they tried it and had control of both sides...it would have to get through the SC also.

Which...I know will be an unpopular opinion here...but would definitely NOT hold up in a SC fight. This isn't a gray area like some things we don't like the SC decision for, this is clearly stated in the constitution.

[CaptainTruth]

43. Can you please cite where the Constitution says it has to go through SCOTUS?

I'm not a Con law expert (far from it) but the Constitution spells out the process for objecting to a state's electoral votes, & for Congress voting to throw out that state's electoral votes. SCOTUS isn't mentioned, & as long as the process is followed exactly as described in the Constitution no SCOTUS is ever going to rule it unconstitutional.

Thanks...

[stopdiggin]

48. the Supreme Court isn't going to touch this

It would amount to overriding the judgement rendered by the agency that has been clearly vested that power. Even if they felt (in a real stretch) like the issue was wrongly decided -- it's still Congress's to decide.

[wiggs]

17. McConnell said it was the most important vote of his career. nt

[Mme. Defarge]

19. His comments sound to me like a CYA with his voters.

“It was brutal, to be honest,” Cramer said. “But at the end of the day, there are two things. One is my conscience is captive to God, and my oath is to the Constitution of the United States.”

Cramer said he never heard from Trump or the White House regarding his decision, but he spent “a lot of time” reviewing evidence and hearing from constituents and attorneys.

“I’ve put a lot of intellectual rigor and emotion into this decision, so it doesn’t come easily," he said. "But I also have to say I’m quite comfortable with it.”

[Wicked Blue]

20. "More popular" is their reason?

Oh, give me a break, Trumpidiots!

This is not a vote for Prom King and Queen.

[Lady Freedom Returns]

21. 'A republic, if you can keep it'.

Well, now we face the threat of forces inside of our country that is out to take away our government and make it what they want.

Question is now how to not let them take it in the future. We've been lucky so far, but they will keep trying.

[roamer65]

23. THIS.

[Irish_Dem]

53. I keep hearing that phrase in my mind. Yes they will keep trying and may succeed. nt

[Autumn]

33. No. Democratic voters are the reason why Asshole isn't being installed dictator of U.S.

[malaise]

35. Yes indeed

Damn I did not see this post when I wrote mine

https://www.democraticunderground.com/100214809546

[ffr]

39. I honored, but not surprised we think alike.

REC

[SpankMe]

42. "Decided" to back the electoral college...

How big of him. I didn't think any decision-making process or trade study was necessary to back the constitution of the United States if you are a US Senator. These people are out of touch.

[patphil]

44. I don't see how it can be a brutal decision to follow the rule of law.

The fact that he agonized over this shows just how close we came to having a majority of the Senate choose to reject the election and re-install Trump as president.

Let's see, should I uphold our Constitution and insure the continuation of the Republic that has endured for 226 years, or should I throw that all away and re-install a fascist dictator wannabe; one that will destroy the Republic and probably end up as dictator for life?
Jees, this is a really brutal decision said the North Dakota Senator.

Lets hope he sticks by his stated position when it all comes to a head in the Senate.

[Tommymac]

46. No dodging it. It is a Coup. Really. A failed Coup, but a coup just the same.

And every one of those traitorous mealy mouthed co-conspirators need to go directly to jail.

[malaise]

50. Correct

is right

[stopdiggin]

49. Dang! It's just plain MISERABLE being "state's rights"

conservative these days!!
----- --- --- ----- --

[CrispyQ]

51. The myth of American exceptionalism is alive and well on our side, too.

The idea that it can't happen here. That our government is impervious to a coup. I see it in too many of my friends and family.

IMO, we haven't won this battle until Biden is sworn in, & then, we've just bought ourselves some time until the right finds their next authoritarian strong man. And how hard will it be this time? We didn't require the Con to reveal his taxes. The the emoluments clause has absolutely no meaning anymore, at least for republican presidents. Those two things alone could make the presidency a lot more attractive to some billionaires, who before might not have wanted to show their returns, or accept a measly salary for four years.

Also, the GOP has the advantage of being able to froth up the base with lies of socialist dems coming to take their guns, & they will be ready to vote in the mid-terms, while our side has to remind all those new voters that change doesn't happen overnight. Change doesn't happen because you voted once. New voters are fickle.

[Irish_Dem]

52. If they had both houses, they would over turn the election.

There is no doubt in my mind about that.

[Cha]

55. Damn Straight.. there's no denying it!

TY, firr & Nancy!