Politics-What's on your mind?

[homoe]

WASHINGTON — For nearly four years, congressional Republicans have ducked and dodged an unending cascade of offensive statements and norm-shattering behavior from President Donald Trump, ignoring his caustic and scattershot Twitter feed and penchant for flouting party orthodoxy, and standing quietly by as he abandoned military allies, attacked American institutions, and stirred up racist and nativist fears.

But now, facing grim polling numbers and a flood of Democratic money and enthusiasm that has imperiled their majority in the Senate, Republicans on Capitol Hill are beginning to publicly distance themselves from the president. The shift, less than three weeks before the election, indicates that many Republicans have concluded that Trump is heading for a loss in November. And they are grasping to save themselves and rushing to reestablish their reputations for a coming struggle for their party’s identity.

Sen. Ben Sasse of Nebraska unleashed on Trump in a telephone town hall event with constituents on Wednesday, eviscerating the president’s response to the coronavirus pandemic and accusing him of “flirting” with dictators and white supremacists and alienating voters so broadly that he might cause a “Republican bloodbath” in the Senate. He was echoing a phrase from Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas, who warned of a “Republican bloodbath of Watergate proportions.” Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, one of the president’s most vocal allies, predicted the president could very well lose the White House.

Even the normally taciturn Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., the majority leader, has been more outspoken than usual in recent days about his differences with the president, rejecting his calls to “go big” on a stimulus bill.

IMHO too little and WAY too late!

[Chad]

All I really want to say here is that if you have mobility issues try curbside voting. You stay in your vehicle and they bring the voting machine to you. Just call the number on your voter registration. Beats standing in line and risking your health.

[C0LLETTE]

If Trump gets turfed, does he still get Secret Service protection for life, does his family (btw, what's included in family, ie, Eric etc?). What else does he lose besides protection from criminal charges while he's a sitting president and having to pay for his own legal defence?

[hagster]

Secret Service is assigned for life for the president and spouse as well as minor children, in this case only Baron will continue to receive it. They can refuse it, but only Richard Nixon has done so.

I had to look up the post-office benefits. A former president does receive a pension, over $200,000 a year (salary in office is $400,000), as well as medical benefits, though the details of those benefits I can't find with a quick search. There are other perks as well, like cost of office space, but again, didn't dig too deeply into that. Pretty sure legal representation is not part of the package (insert appropriate smiley face).

[hagster]

In case you're wondering, protection would continue if an ex-president went to prison.

[Femmewench]

Originally Posted by hagster

In case you're wondering, protection would continue if an ex-president went to prison.

Of course they'd have to find Secret Service agents willing to do this. That might be a hard thing to do, not because of who he is but because of what the duty would entail. No one's going to sample his food for him.

I wonder if they could refurbish a small part of Alcatraz, rent it from the National Park Service, and charge him for the privilege.

[homoe]

"Your credibility... will die in this room"


Sheldon Whitehouse issued a blunt warning to his Republican colleagues on Thursday, as he watched the Judiciary Committee ready Amy Coney Barrett’s Supreme Court nomination for the Senate floor.

There will not be two sets of rules for Democratic and Republican Senate majorities, Whitehouse vowed; the GOP decision to block President Barack Obama’s nominee in 2016 and approve President Donald Trump’s just days before the 2020 election will have consequences.

“Don’t think when you have established the rule of ‘because we can,’ that should the shoe be on the other foot, you will have any credibility to come to us and say: ‘yeah, I know you can do that, but you shouldn’t,’” Whitehouse said. “Your credibility to make that argument at any time in the future will die in this room and on that Senate floor if you continue.”

The Rhode Island Democrat succinctly stated what’s on everyone’s mind: Once Barrett is confirmed, all bets are off about how the Senate — and the Supreme Court — might look a few months from now if Democrats sweep in November.

It was amazing how pointed and articulate this gentlemen was during the hearings.

https://www.politico.com/news/2020/1...liation-429655

[C0LLETTE]

Originally Posted by hagster

In case you're wondering, protection would continue if an ex-president went to prison.

Sounds like a very crowded prison cell, esp if there's only one toilet.

[BullDog]

Over 30 million people have voted so far! That's 21.7% of the total who voted in 2016 (about 138 million). This year, it is expected that 150 million or more might vote, so it's probably about 20% in the bank.

Democrats are doing a great job of getting out and voting early. Obviously, the most committed people will vote first and we have a long way to go, but we have a lot of votes in the bank and a lot more than Republicans.

I think the Republicans are making a big mistake by bashing mail-in voting and they don't seem to be encouraging early in-person voting either. There is nothing wrong with voting in person on election day, but getting votes in early helps to avoid unexpected events - bad weather, virus outbreaks, your car not starting, etc. On the campaign level, it also allows the Biden campaign to see where votes have been cast and where they are outstanding. The Republicans have a lot less early votes in so they are more in the dark.

Here is the cool early vote tracker I am keeping an eye on:

https://electproject.github.io/Early...20G/index.html