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Reports of protests are overblown. A few incidents around the country, but nothing major.

5 (45.5%)

A few major incidents in capitals, but nothing much in DC.

5 (45.5%)

A major incident in DC, but nothing much around the country.

0 (0%)

More than 10 capitals have major upheavals, but nothing much in DC.

0 (0%)

A major incident in DC plus more than 10 capitals with significant upheavals.

1 (9.1%)

More than half the capitals around the country have problems with protesters, but DC is quiet.

0 (0%)

DC has major problems, while more than half the capitals around the country also have considerable trouble with protesters.

0 (0%)

Huge disruption to the day.

0 (0%)

Total Members Voted: 9

Voting closed: January 19, 2021, 10:49:21 PM

[josh]

My favorite line in CNN today:

Another source familiar with ongoing discussions said there needs to be actual evidence to file a lawsuit and lawyers aren't going to put their reputations on the line if they don't have a case that they believe would be unethical to file.

Too many negatives, folks!

You must feel so relieved.

You must have no idea what I mean.

[REDSTATEWARD]

But what about one of the major concerns often voiced about a popular vote – that rural areas would be ignored in favor of big population centers?

Patrick Rosenstiel, a senior consultant to National Popular Vote, says the current system overlooks both rural and urban voters, depending on the state they live in.

"States like New York and North Dakota are valued the exact same way under the current system. They're valued not at all, because they're reliably either Republican or Democrat," he says. "The only way I know how to put urban voters at parity with rural voters and rural voters at parity with urban voters is to make every voter in this country politically relevant in presidential elections."

The way to do that? a national popular vote that would require candidates to campaign in all 50 states.

The effect would be that every voter would know their vote matters, Rosenstiel says: "I don't care if you're in the heart of Manhattan or in the outskirts of Helena. When you go vote for the American president, you know what's going to count toward the final result in a national popular vote election. And you're not going to be treated like a second-class citizen."   

https://www.npr.org/2020/11/06/931891674/as-presidency-hinges-on-a-handful-of-states-some-have-made-a-popular-vote-pact

My only question is -- if you can get a majority to go in on the NPV  Interstate Compact, why not just go for elimination of the EC?  If you have a compact that subverts the function of the EC,  why keep all that complex structure at all?   Ditch the 12th amendment as the antiquated crap it is,  and ratify a new one.   Seems like Americans in two-thirds of states could get behind dumping this stupid system.   As the article notes,  we'd be talking about Biden's cabinet choices now,  if it were the popular vote deciding things.   

(forum note:  I will reply to posts from anyone who read the entire article...)

The National Popular Vote Interstate Compact is unconstitutional, the sole constitutionally proper mechanism for doing so is a federal constitutional amendment, not an interstate compact negotiated by a handful of states.
End of debate

Have a seat.

I already said I did.
There is no debate.

There is no debate. SCOTUS says you are wrong and that a state legislature makes the call.
https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/19pdf/19-465_i425.pdf

Next time try to get into the right ballpark.

[bankshot1]

I'd like to see Biden begin his presidency-elect by talking up what needs to be done to deal with the Virus and what policies he will implement
and try to get more Americans to start enacting them now, while preparing folks for what is necessary and is to come.

Biden and the DEMS also need to talk about how bad GOP policies not only led to hundreds of thousands of unnecessary and preventable deaths,
but also the corrosive effects of dark money on politicos, and gun rights out of control so that we have armed men involved in
political rallies, cote counting, polling stations (not as bad as expected).  This is all dangerous intimidating and highly unusual. 
Most Americans can't be in favor of heavily armed extremist groups walking around protest rallies, vote counting centers, inside statehouses. 
This is absurdist extremism.  Very dangerous and un-American stuff.

KISS

P-E Biden's got 2 immediate jobs

1-convince Americans to help defeat the disease until a vaccine is found masks social distancing selective closures to choke off hot-spots the virus has to be controlled
2-lay the groundwork for the next relief package to help Americans that will cost trillions

If he can do that he will gain a shit-ton of credit to do the next thing(s).

like infrastructure spending to get displaced workers working again that too will cost trillions

Stay away from politically charged issues that will only dig people in and make them nuttier than they are.

Do not give guns nuts-militia fuel for their fantasies

he has to defuse shit, not light the fucking fuses

Unfortunately, we're a 51-49 country,

he's got to get it to around 60-40 to get shit done and before the '22 mid-terms

if he doesn't he's a 1-term president,

[facilitatorn]

If we get the Senate to 50 Dems, a lot can happen fairly quickly and smoothly. Otherwise breaking the ice may take an act or two of political genius.

It will be up to outside groups and popular pressure to keep republicans in check until we have a relief package, a budget and a cabinet. After that we can pick apart the institutional ugliness that keeps the republican political tumor viable.

Mitch needs his wings clipped. He’s a traitor and an opportunist and a great discredit to our nation.

If we gave him blanket immunity and the ambassadorship somewhere backward and insignificant but pleasant enough if you believe the brochures, he might be willing to vacate his seat to Jamie Harrison and cut his losses. We could offer him Australia. They seem to take to scammy crooks with low morals there.

[facilitatorn]

http://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2020/11/06/the-election-that-broke-the-republican-party-434797

[Kam]

http://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2020/11/06/the-election-that-broke-the-republican-party-434797

Broke maybe but not dead and a wounded animal is the most dangerous.

[josh]

he might be willing to vacate his seat to Jamie Harrison

Graham's the one Harrison ran against. McGrath was McConnell's opponent.

And Graham's governor is a republican.

[josh]

https://www.cnn.com/2020/11/07/us/pennsylvania-convention-center-arrests/index.html

Armed dolts from VA drove to Philadelphia to try to deliver a Hummerful of fake ballots to a PA counting facility.

Gee, wonder which party they belong to!

Oh, wait... the QAnon sign on their car might tell us, right?!

[josh]

https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2020/11/trump-u-s-worse-to-deal-with-than-russia-china-north-korea.html

Trump says the US is harder to deal with than Russia, China, or North Korea.

Well, right - we're not busy pretending to kiss his ass and telling him how wonderful he is.

[facilitatorn]

he might be willing to vacate his seat to Jamie Harrison

Graham's the one Harrison ran against. McGrath was McConnell's opponent.

And Graham's governor is a republican.

Very true. Very true.

McConnell’s governor is Andy Beshear. McGrath would do wonderfully replacing Mitch in the Senate.

Harrison can become Graham’s governor next cycle that post is contested.

[luee]

A national mandate on masks and holding down live schooling to a minimum would be a start.

Just checking, Miranda Devine is the pro-Trump Ann Coulter of Australia. She loves her Kool-Aid.

[facilitatorn]

http://www.salon.com/2020/11/06/hey-fox-news-go-home-youre-drunk--its-time-to-admit-that-the-trump-partys-over/

[bodiddley]

Biden should run a shadow gov't on health care and the virus for the next 3 months.
Make it clear that it's  an emergency and since Trump has abdicated responsibility for the virus,
Biden will step in and fill the void.
Biden can pick the folks he wants to run his CV task force and head the CDC/HHS/Surgeon General/etc.
And then hold a weekly press conference detailing the extent of the problem and the measures necessary and the science.

This will show that Biden is serious and prepared.
And intends to tackle the Virus head on and make progress and save lives and prevent hospitalizations and illnesses.
And the Virus and its response will be a key part of Biden's early presidency, so best to get a jump on it and not let Trump make it worse.
Need to stress that now we have more infections than any time before.  Many folks might not realize that.
Since the Trumpeters try not to talk much about CV.

This would also be a good way for Biden to ease out Fauci and Birx and other folks who were complicit in Trump's fiasco.
Biden would already have his Health/Virus team up and running for months and so wouldn't need Fauci and Birx, who imo are
thoroughly tainted by their association with Trump and failure to stand up for what they knew was right.
There are better more competent more ethical people available.

[oilcan]

But what about one of the major concerns often voiced about a popular vote – that rural areas would be ignored in favor of big population centers?

Patrick Rosenstiel, a senior consultant to National Popular Vote, says the current system overlooks both rural and urban voters, depending on the state they live in.

"States like New York and North Dakota are valued the exact same way under the current system. They're valued not at all, because they're reliably either Republican or Democrat," he says. "The only way I know how to put urban voters at parity with rural voters and rural voters at parity with urban voters is to make every voter in this country politically relevant in presidential elections."

The way to do that? a national popular vote that would require candidates to campaign in all 50 states.

The effect would be that every voter would know their vote matters, Rosenstiel says: "I don't care if you're in the heart of Manhattan or in the outskirts of Helena. When you go vote for the American president, you know what's going to count toward the final result in a national popular vote election. And you're not going to be treated like a second-class citizen."   

https://www.npr.org/2020/11/06/931891674/as-presidency-hinges-on-a-handful-of-states-some-have-made-a-popular-vote-pact

My only question is -- if you can get a majority to go in on the NPV  Interstate Compact, why not just go for elimination of the EC?  If you have a compact that subverts the function of the EC,  why keep all that complex structure at all?   Ditch the 12th amendment as the antiquated crap it is,  and ratify a new one.   Seems like Americans in two-thirds of states could get behind dumping this stupid system.   As the article notes,  we'd be talking about Biden's cabinet choices now,  if it were the popular vote deciding things.   

(forum note:  I will reply to posts from anyone who read the entire article...)

The National Popular Vote Interstate Compact is unconstitutional, the sole constitutionally proper mechanism for doing so is a federal constitutional amendment, not an interstate compact negotiated by a handful of states.
End of debate

You can't unilaterally declare the end of a debate,  unless you're a monarch or dictator.   And the compact doesn't activate until it reaches 270, which is more than a "handful. "

As to the rest,  you actually seem to be in agreement that a ratified amendment is the better path.   But you you offered no real facts to justify calling the compact unconstitutional.   I'm not dismissing that it could be, but I find no reason from your post.

[oilcan]

There is no debate. SCOTUS says you are wrong and that a state legislature makes the call.
https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/19pdf/19-465_i425.pdf

Thank you!