Not even ONE Senator would object to the Electorate vote today? WHY?

[Equinox Moon]

We are all gearing up for the fight of our lives and country, and not even ONE Senator would stand up and object. I sunk into despair when I heard this today on the BradBlog radio report. I listened to live excerpts of the joint congressional meeting led by VP Biden.
Several Reps. objected, but no Senators.

If one had objected it would have extended the voting by 2 hours giving them a chance to voice the objection, which was about election corruption issues and more irregularities. For each Senator objection 2 hours for debate would have been added. But no! Not even one!
(correct me if I am wrong about this)

Why won't they fight for our democracy? Is it a lack of courage? What are they afraid of?

Here is a link to the podcast I posted earlier.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10028440468

[elleng]

1. Wondering the same thing.

I left a message for Senator Cardin yesterday. Nothing.

There may be a strategic reason. Would be interesting to know.

[Amaryllis]

11. I left messages for my senators too and they are both good guys. ONe of mine

was one of the ten senators who stood up on Jan. 6, 2005 when they challenged the electoral votes. So this makes me think there must be a strategic reason. Both of the staffers i talked to said they were getting tons of calls and they were trying to figure out the best way to move forward, given that there are so many fronts. I keep wondering if someone has something up their sleeves... Just can't believe there isnt more coming out about all the Russia connections. And all congress and MSM ever talk about is the email hacks. There is so much more.

[elleng]

15. Good to see this, Amaryllis,

'Both of the staffers i talked to said they were getting tons of calls and they were trying to figure out the best way to move forward, given that there are so many fronts.' MAY help me sleep. Thanks.

[Amaryllis]

17. I had the distinct impression that they were freaking out as much as we are. I even said that to one

of them: "You guys must be freaking out as much as we are," and she agreed with me, something like, "You could say that". I am really lucky to have two good senators. I am in a blue state so it makes sense they'd be getting a lot of calls. MIght be a whole different story in a red state.

[elleng]

18. Ditto I'm in a blue state,

with good Senior senator and a likely very good junior. Don't have his number yet.

[napi21]

2. Because it was a no win for them. The Electors voted, the count was verified and

announced publicly. There would be nothing accomplished except for a delay. The end result is a done deal.

[Equinox Moon]

3. From listening to the podcast today, a lot would have been accomplished

2-hours of debate so that the truth regarding the election issues could be made public. That would have been a huge plus!

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10028440468

[napi21]

13. I disagree with your "HUGE PLUS" statement. VERY, VERY FEW people watch CSPAN during the day.

The 2 hrs of debate wouldn't have changed anything and the Dems all agreed with the Dems and the Pubs wouldn't even listen to any arguments. If you can't change anything, why waste the time?

[TreasonousBastard]

24. "Why waste the time?" While they are geniuises at wasting time, I agree this is not...

the best time to waste it.

They've got a lot on their plates, and Trump plus majorities in both houses is going to be tough enough.

[leftofcool]

4. They were all out searching for their backbones.

[oldtime dfl_er]

5. They're betting

that those of us who wanted them to stand up and be counted were in the minority. WE ARE NOT LOUD ENOUGH for them to hear us. Plus, they have this cockamamy notion that senators are supposed to be the "dignified" branch. THERE IS NO DIGNITY IN TYRANNY.

[madamesilverspurs]

6. That stage was tailor-made

for Bernie Sanders. Odd that he didn't show.


.

[Equinox Moon]

7. Where was Bernie? Where was Warren?

Where was Franken?
Where was Merkle?
Where was Klobuchar?

What happened today? I heard that Ryan was even laughing about it.
Ohh... that makes me so mad.

[elleng]

8. Very interested to hear the reason.

I suspect some strategy. Ryan laughed (behind VP Biden when he said 'it's over.)

[Equinox Moon]

9. Yes, the Amercian democracy is over.

When our political leadership can't even stand up and fight on our behalf.
A very sad day!

[elleng]

10. I tend to agree,

but do want to know why.

[Equinox Moon]

14. Several Reps. objected today with confidence.

SEVERAL REPS. They made very good points as to why they objected.
Here listen to this podcast:
http://bradblog.com/audio/BradCast_BradFriedman_ElecCollegeJointSession_SteveHornREINSAct_SessionsLied_010617.mp3

[I am just so disappointed in our leadership today]

[elleng]

16. Thanks. The Reps do well.

It's the Senators we have to wonder about.

[orleans]

21. i expect there was no strategy

they all did this shit before with bush.

barbara boxer was THE ONLY ONE who signed onto stephanie tubbs' objection
she was the only one.
all the other liberal / progressive senators stood aside just like they did today.
https://www.bustle.com/articles/201212-why-does-a-senator-need-to-sign-the-objection-at-the-vote-count-the-electoral-college

i'm so f*cking sick of their indifference & inaction

it would have gone into the record that at least SOMEONE OBJECTED TO THE ELECTION RESULTS

ARRRGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHH

[EffieBlack]

20. I've thought for awhile that Sanders was all talk - but today, he wasn't even that. Not a peep.

[JCanete]

45. ? Was all his talk about how he was going to attempt to obstruct election results? WTF are you

talking about? This would have been pretty pointless, because it would have ended up with Trump in the White House and a Democratic Party made to look silly and vindictive not just by him, but by the media. What was the upside to doing this?

Far better to go after Trump on his actual cabinet choices, bad policies and outright lies.

You are strangely, holding Sanders to a behavior he never set for himself, and one that you aren't also holding all other members of the Senate to. Not transparent at all, that.

[EffieBlack]

46. Bernie's full of it, according to his own standards

He bellowed on and on about fighting for what's right and he and his supporters attacked Hillary nonstop for being too "pragmatic"when she picked her battles. And now when he refused to stand up with the CBC to oppose the certification of Donald Trump's election, his supporters are excusing him because he was supposedly picking his battles and being pragmatic and because this was a fight he wasn't going to win, he was justified to just keep his mouth shut.

Bernie hardly ever stands up when it really matters. He's all talk.

[JCanete]

49. What was the basis of the challenge? None of us like Trump. He's fucking scary, but what legal,

Constitutional grounds do we actually have to oppose him? I'm not excusing Sanders, because there's nothing I need to excuse him for. You want him, and only him, to fight a pointless unprincipled battle.

And it is just fucking untrue that Sander's criticisms have been levied at Clinton and Clinton alone. They apply to the system, and that includes every single Republican in that system to an even greater degree. He has never been an apologist for them on any grounds. To pretend otherwise is to either be misinformed or to entirely make shit up.

[DLevine]

55. Bernie is not our enemy. He's an ally.

Let's focus on the real threat. Divide and conquer only helps the KGOP.

[TeamPooka]

12. George Washington is said to have told Jefferson that the framers had created the Senate to "cool"

House legislation just as a saucer was used to cool hot tea.

So they were cooling.

[putitinD]

19. they're all afraid of retalliation from the GOP machine.

I am sure they know all the dirt on every member.

[orleans]

22. thanks for posting this

i am so pissed off at them

durbin, frankin, wyden, leahy, and BERNIE? NOT EVEN BERNIE?

fuck them.

even schumer kicked some ass the other day in his lengthy speech as senate minority leader. i guess it was ALL JUST A BUNCH OF TALK!

[Equinox Moon]

25. ...and the people rally and fight...

How is this going to work when our leadership is not going to fight? We are in the streets and they can't object in the legislature at the moment it counts?

They need to answer to us for this one. We demand an explanation.

[orleans]

28. i love your passion. please don't lose it.

they needed to answer to us in 2001 but al gore told possibly the only senator who was willing to go the distance not to. and she listened to him--and regretted her decision.

"I was asked by Al Gore not to do so. Frankly, looking back, I wished I would have. It was not about Al Gore. It was about the voters," she said.
http://www.sfgate.com/politics/article/Boxer-delays-presidential-vote-count-with-protest-2740511.php

she was the only senator in 2005 to do the right thing.

i'd love to hear her take on what didn't happen today.

[Equinox Moon]

32. Wow, I'm impressed you had ready access to this article from 2005!

Holding on to that one, huh?

Yes, I have passion. Thank you for fielding it with me tonight. It helped!

I will try to sleep now.

[radical noodle]

31. I think they're saving their wrath

for something that can get somewhere. They knew this had no legs. I hope that's the reason, anyway.

[orleans]

43. i would say: nahhh

they saved their wrath in 2001 and barbara boxer regretted her decision to comply to al gore's wishes that she not object

everyone except boxer saved their wrath in 2005

if they really had "wrath" they'd spread it around. they wouldn't have to save it for a rainy day that never comes

[radical noodle]

44. They're going to have their hands full

fighting all these crazy nominations being rammed through. They need to spend some quality time working on that. The challenge to the elections was never going to work. Waste of time at this point. Trump is vastly different than Bush was.

[orleans]

47. i disagree with the "waste of time at this point"

it would have gone on record.

you could say that most everything is gonna be a waste of time at this point since dems are in the minority in both houses

it's the principle of the thing

and as far as spending "quality time" goes -- i have a sneaking suspicion that the time the senators spent on friday wasn't so much about working on "fighting all these crazy nominations" as it was about lunch and the weekend

[radical noodle]

48. You might be right

I prefer to keep the story about Trump horrors rather than Dems, but that's just a gut feeling. I have no true experience in this other than watching political crap for 69 years.

[orleans]

56. i prefer to hold everyone's feet to the fire

i have high expectations for members of my party

and i expect them to do the right thing which, in this case, would have been to have at least one senator object to the counting of these votes (because of russian involvement, because some of the electors in some states were possibly not in a legal position to be an elector due to the offices they held etc)

when the dems capitulate (as they have) it fucks us all over. history has shown this over and over and if you've been watching closely for 69 years then you're fully aware of it.

[Binkie The Clown]

23. I've said it before: the Official Democratic party play book calls for "Roll over. Play dead." n/t

[Equinox Moon]

26. Pathetic, is how I see it.

[JNelson6563]

27. Really? Bernie, the savior of mankind, didn't raise holy hell?

WTF?

[delisen]

39. Bernie and Schumer want to believe in the "no clear jobs message"for why we lost

Bernie and Schumer do not want to face facts about corruption in the elections and the interference of a foreign power. If they define the problem narrowly they think they can solve it. They wan to win a battle, and don't see that they will lose the war.

They are legislators who want to legislate, they have a role in advice and consent, and will act that role. The believe that by doing their jobs well, they can win elections, and are taking what they believe is the shortest route to victory.

They fear that massive resistance will turn violent, lead to people fearing destabilization, and election losses-as it has in the past.

I think massive resistance is necessary and part of it is placing pressure on the senate democrats.

[radical noodle]

29. They didn't in 2000 either

and that one could easily have been objected to.

[Hoyt]

30. Exactly what would we object about? Clearly Trump is worthless PoCRUD, but he won votes that count

[Equinox Moon]

33. OH! That is part of the point.

Listen to this podcast. There are segments from today in the legislature. The objections are regarding hacking and more damning is the election corruption.

http://bradblog.com/audio/BradCast_BradFriedman_ElecCollegeJointSession_SteveHornREINSAct_SessionsLied_010617.mp3

[Hoyt]

34. There was crud from all sides. Trump was most deserving of it, but once Comey pulled his junk

it was over. When Comey announced continued investigation, the outing of Trump as a sexist, perhaps rapist, became old news. Otherwise, Clinton would have won more states. I have been disappointed that the women have not pursued their actions after the election.

[ecstatic]

35. Let's see... the illegal purging of millions of voters, particularly in the three states that put

Rump over the top (in spite of losing the actual vote by almost 3 million). Then there's the FBI meddling, Russia meddling, etc. Sorry, between those four issues, I will NEVER accept Trump as the legitimate president of this country.

[Hoyt]

36. If only we could show some examples of voters who showed up at polls, but weren't allowed to vote,

even provisionally. But I've seen no examples.

[ecstatic]

37. Wow. Really? Well, I can't blame you. Very few media outlets have

covered it. Keep in mind, most people don't have the time or energy to fight a situation like that. Especially when the media kept insisting that Hillary had it in the bag. And even when people weren't purged, they were assigned to understaffed polling locations.

http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/jurisprudence/2016/10/republicans_are_already_suppressing_minority_votes_all_over_america.html

http://www.pbs.org/newshour/rundown/voter-purge-illegal-battleground-ohio-says-federal-appeals-court/

http://southbendvoice.com/2014/08/14/700000-indiana-voters-face-possible-voting-rolls-purge/

http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2016/11/north-carolina-early-voting/506963/

http://www.nbc15.com/content/news/Vote-restrictions-in-Wisconsin-said-to-have-affected-turnout-400700031.html


http://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2016-election/analysis-north-carolina-counties-cut-early-voting-sites-see-lower-n671246

[Equinox Moon]

42. Wow, impressive collection of links.

If for no other reason, the vote should have been delayed so a discussion about the corrosive voter corruption issues could be verbalized on record and made public.

[Hoyt]

50. First link, the lady had her voting rights reinstated. Second link, again no names of people

who showed up to vote, but were denied. This link discusses people purged from roles because they haven't voted in awhile -- maybe they moved, died, or no longer voted. If they purged my name from some of the places I have lived in the past, it would not affect my voting because I have registered where I live now.

Third link. Again people who haven't voted in years have been put on a inactive list and will be purged in future. No people were cited who showed up at polls to vote, but were denied. Same thing as above. I'm sure my name has been purged from several towns where I lived before. I don't care because I don't vote there anymore, so it did not affect the November 2016 election.

Fourth link -- In NC any voter can request an absentee ballot, for any reason, and vote by mail. The fact they shut some Sunday polling places, did not help Trump win.


I stopped at that link, because it is clear you don't get what I'm saying. There was not reason to vote against the election certification because there is no evidence anything assisted Trump during the voting process. I get there are voter ID laws, gerrymandering, etc., but those things didn't just impact this election. You want to change those things, vote at the local level and get GOPers out. Heck, gerrymandering doesn't even impact the Prez election.

If we are going to yell and protest, criticize Senators for not challenging Prez election, etc., at least have some basis for doing it.

[Donkees]

38. It wouldn't have prevented the votes for Trump from being cast...

...it would have only allowed for the objection — not actually prevented the votes from being cast for Trump. If a senator had joined in the objection, the House and Senate would have met separately to debate the objection.

In other words, it was basically a gambit to delay Trump's win by a few more hours.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2017/01/06/r-i-p-to-the-many-efforts-to-stop-donald-trump-using-arcane-procedure-we-hardly-knew-ye/?utm_term=.a24dc7009c9c

[Squinch]

40. SO WHAT??? Do you think the Republicans were looking for press or results when they voted umpteen

times to repeal Obamacare.

We need to get it through our heads that we need to hammer their message at every opportunity. It would have added to the news items and put one more drop in the public perception bucket about Trump's illegitimacy.

[Equinox Moon]

41. Yes!! Yes!! Yes!!

AND, to get out our message. Honestly, had the vote been delayed and discussion ensued, the corrosive voter corruption issues could be put out on the table for all to see.

[Hoyt]

51. Exactly. We are wasting time, and looking like a bunch of whiners, on things that don't matter.

I feel like Clinton -- "What difference does it make?"

[woodsprite]

52. Biden sounded pissed, but I couldn't tell if he was pissed at

the failed objections or the fact no Senator signed on.

[randr]

53. They are definitely acting out of fear

[BunkieBandit]

54. Like the good old saying goes, "Keep thy powder dry".

NT