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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsMichael Moore: You Better Believe Trump Is Afraid of the Electoral College Vote on Monday
Yesterday was the day Donald Trump was going to hold his first press conference in 5 months. He abruptly cancelled it on Monday with no explanation. Well, I have one...
He has heard that there is a rumbling taking place amongst the Republican electors that some of them are growing uncomfortable with the news that the election was hacked by Russia to benefit him. This news was followed by the revelation that Putin himself directed the hack. And then last night, CBS News reported that the Russians had in the past committed a successful cyber-attack on the email system of the Pentagon's Joint Chiefs of Staff.
If you are a Republican Elector, this news is very sobering. And for some, very disturbing.
Electors of the Electoral College know that their job is to usually rubber stamp the election - with one exception: If they need to cast their vote to protect the country from someone who is a danger to our nation.
And slowly it has dawned on some of the electors this week that something doesn't smell right. And now that we know that Putin himself was behind this historic assault on our electoral process -- so that he could tilt the election to Trump -- well, this is now for many Americans a bridge too far.
Trump knows this, so he's gone into hiding from real journalists. He has one mission right now: Get to Monday without the shit hitting the fan. To show you how scared he is, after my (and others) week-long shaming him for not showing up to the daily national security briefing, his aides have responded by announcing that he'll start attending the briefings "three" times a week. As for the other four days, I guess it's, "Sorry America -- you're on your own!" But he knew he had to do something. This is the Trumpian way of "doing something."
Well, WE need to do something. All of us, very loudly, need to let the Electoral College know that they MUST vote their conscience on Monday. Or postpone the vote until they have more information about Trump's Manchurian Candidate-like behavior. Here is a site you can go to to find out what's going on protest-wise where you live over the weekend and on Monday: http://www.hamiltonelectors.com/events
What would Trump and the Republicans be doing today if they were ahead by 3 million votes - but the Electoral College was set to give the Presidency to Clinton? Are you kidding? THEY WOULD NOT LET THIS HAPPEN.
We are the wimps. We sink into our despair. We feel defeated and that there's nothing we can do. Everybody told us she was going to win! Nate Silver and 538 promised us it was in the bag! All the pundits agreed!!
Get over it and pull yourself together. "The tanks are 20 miles outside of Paris!" Throw everything you got at this and do not relent. You're in the friggin' majority! Let's act like it. Make your voice heard on social media and in front of your state capitol. An authoritarian regime is about to take hold in DC, and they are going to run roughshod over you, me and all that is good. Get over your election depression and fight like you've never fought before. Non-violently. With conviction. There are more of us than there are of them. Only 23% of all registered adult American voters showed up and voted for Trump. Come on! It's not over til it's over.
Trump is worried about Monday. It only takes 38 of his 300+ electors to defect.
These rallies he's holding every night this week and weekend?
They're not because he wants to sell more hats.
https://www.facebook.com/mmflint/posts/10154015321206857
EricMaundry
(1,619 posts)Dark n Stormy Knight
(9,771 posts)less than half of the national security briefings, yet, despite Moore's optimism, we all know it's very unlikely the Electoral College will put partisanship aside to do the right thing. Imagine if President Obama had been anything like this cavalier about national security!
milestogo
(16,829 posts)Its My party, the country be damned. And it will be.
zippythepinhead
(374 posts)and they blocked the email claiming it was spam.
libtodeath
(2,888 posts)BeyondGeography
(39,379 posts)Would that it were true.
Kotya
(235 posts)There won't be more than a single faithless GOP elector.
People seem to think that Republican electors are somehow morally troubled about voting for Trump. Newsflash: They're not.
Trump cancelled his news conference on Monday because he's still trying to figure out how he can legally avoid divesting from his businesses and he's doing his "Thank You" tour because he enjoys rubbing it in.
Honestly, Trump will probably leave the business of running the country to Mike Pence and his cabinet while he tweets and holds rallies reliving his campaign. He's becoming an "Al Bundy-esque" caricature; the old man who can't stop talking about that one great football game he played in high school.
sarcasmo
(23,968 posts)to stop this maniac.
AgadorSparticus
(7,963 posts)About the Russian involvement. we need to be loud. And we need to be seen.
onenote
(42,759 posts)Is based on his assumption that he knows what Repub electors are thinking/feeling. Well, I'm here to tell you he's wrong.
Hortensis
(58,785 posts)crucial role. The survival of the democratic republic that liberals founded on liberal principles well over 200 years ago now depends on liberals of today holding the line, guarding the principles of our constitution and institutions against the barbarians seeking to destroy them. Obama so clearly understands that as he worries that the center may not hold. We HAVE to hold. We cannot copy the barbarians.
The Michael Moores on these shows, those spouting on Salon and others, need to stop whining about what the Democratic Party should be doing, something they seem to understand little better than the right, and go do it themselves.
There is a role for an angry, radical, illiberal left to play in this battle. Attacking others is a natural for them. So for once they should, finally!, take their battle to the barbarians on the right. Who knows, maybe they'd even inspire themselves into organizing into something useful.
December 19 -- Peaceful protests planned in 50 state capitols as the electors meet. THOSE are statements many millions of us can make.
MineralMan
(146,329 posts)We're looking at this from a completely different perspective than the typical Republican elector. Almost always, electors are tried and true party members or people completely loyal to the candidate. Republicans who become electors DO NOT LIKE DEMOCRATS. In fact, they almost certainly loathe them.
I suppose there might be a few who will vote for someone other than Trump, but I suspect it's very few. These people are highly partisan in nature. It comes with the territory. Electors are chosen for their loyalty to party and candidate, not for their fairness and strong consciences.
I wish Michael Moore were correct, but I think he is not.
Here's a pretty good explanation:
https://www.archives.gov/federal-register/electoral-college/electors.html
kentuck
(111,110 posts)With the partisanship and propaganda, I cannot see it happening. I hope I am wrong.
ananda
(28,876 posts)Reeps know how to keep their people in line.
Pachamama
(16,887 posts)...who vote against him even though they are sworn to vote for how the state went?
I confess I am very confused by the statements that we need to be hoping only that 38 Republicans are Patriots.
I frankly am counting on it being Demicrats in States that Comrade Trumpski either not voting or voting for someone other than him and even facing fines. But that the end result being he doesn't have 270...
Aristus
(66,462 posts)If the Republican candidate carries a state's popular vote, then the electors sent to the Electoral College are all Republicans. And vice-versa.
Pachamama
(16,887 posts)...to vote the way the state went in the election.
Sigh...this system is truly crazy...but what do I know...I come from a state where my electoral count is less valued...
SticksnStones
(2,108 posts)Are those who still wear their rubber WWRD bracelets...What Would Reagan Do
C'mon Electors...how 'bout one for the Gipper?
UTUSN
(70,740 posts)Sunlei
(22,651 posts)Congress will move up Pence as president and the republican speaker as VP. That's what will happen anyway once trump is impeached or becomes "to unfit" to work.
cwydro
(51,308 posts)Magical thinking.