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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsTalk me down: what's to stop SCOTUS from preventing PA from certifying?
That is what Trump is asking for in the suit filed tonight. It's bullshit, but let's say SCOTUS accepts the bullshit and rules that PA cannot certify its votes for the electoral College. Say they do this in enough states to prevent anyone from reaching 270, and then allowing the House to vote Trump in by state delegation.
What is to stop this from happening, other than the good will of conservative judges?
EDIT: Thank you, everyone who answered; I'm reasonably satisfied that SCOTUS isn't going to fuck everything up.
rzemanfl
(29,540 posts)Chichiri
(4,667 posts)rzemanfl
(29,540 posts)Chichiri
(4,667 posts)I'll try to present future typos.
hlthe2b
(101,705 posts)are being adhered to by the state elections officials.
Chichiri
(4,667 posts)But COULD SCOTUS prevent the certification if it decided to? If, like I said, it decided to embrace the bullshit?
hlthe2b
(101,705 posts)That said, Roberts is intensely aware of the politicization of the court and is fighting back on that so there are some restraints. No doubt Thomas and Kavanagh would gladly sell their souls, regardless of legalities and Alito seems to hate everyone and everything enough to be a wildcard. The rest have a stake in not turning the SCOTUS into a kangaroo court--even Amy, given her doing so immediately would haunt and render her unredeemable for the next 40 years.
So, as soon as you can show me legal cause I might entertain your what if a bit more seriously.
onenote
(42,374 posts)the SCOTUS cant be stopped from doing and get back to us.
Chichiri
(4,667 posts)Ya coulda fooled me.
Chichiri
(4,667 posts)I'm not really a "troll risk," I don't think.
spanone
(135,632 posts)hlthe2b
(101,705 posts)liberal N proud
(60,298 posts)Democracy would be dead
treestar
(82,383 posts)they can't just do it because they want to. Not without losing the dignity of their position. They are appointed for life, Dotard cannot fire any of them. Do they want to look like complete idiots and write a really illogical, obviously stupid opinion that will enrage the nation against them? I don't think there are 5 of them that are that insane.
They did not decree that Bush be President. They decided a legal issue regarding ballots that meant Bush won Florida as a result. They had to write out why legally they were correct.
Nothing wrong was proven to happen in the PA recount, there are no hanging chads, and nothing whatsoever to use as a legal issue.
mobeau69
(11,074 posts)Thekaspervote
(32,605 posts)You seriously think the SCOTUS is going to overrule the will of the people in several states where the lead is way beyond recount territory ..really?
https://verdict.justia.com/2020/09/30/no-republicans-cannot-throw-the-presidential-election-into-the-house-so-that-trump-wins
Link to tweet
?s=21
Chichiri
(4,667 posts)Cha
(295,899 posts)Chichiri
(4,667 posts)Thank you. :wave:
Frasier Balzov
(2,598 posts)to certify slates of Trump electors.
State legislatures have the absolute authority to send whoever they want, notwithstanding the popular vote in their states.
If enough confusion and doubt is cast upon the popular vote, these state legislatures will have all the cover they need to save Trump's bacon.
I realize that this explanation doesn't do anything to help talk you down.
I'm just sharing with you my perception of what you should actually be worrying about.
Alhena
(3,014 posts)Frasier Balzov
(2,598 posts)He will have all the cover he needs to come through with Trump electors if the pretext of doubt has been lain adequately.
With credit to SCOTUS for the assist.
Fiendish Thingy
(15,362 posts)Instead of seeking someone to talk me down, why not walk us through the steps you are imagining will result in SCOTUS preventing PA from certifying their vote? Be specific, and show your sources.
Its a states rights issue, and the Governor and SOS could tell SCOTUS to fuck right off, and proceed with certification and appointment of electors. What could SCOTUS do to enforce such an unlikely decision?
Absolutely nothing. Its a you and what army situation, which is exactly why SCOTUS wont touch it.
P.S. Biden could lose PA and still win, so theres that. Trump would have to succeed in interfering with at least 3 states results to get to 270.
Chichiri
(4,667 posts)...then that answers that, I guess; I assume the lower court judges also don't have that jurisdiction. Were the repubs requesting that relief out of ignorance, or just to be jackasses?
Either way, thanks.
Fiendish Thingy
(15,362 posts)Trump and GOP have filed many suits, which have failed, but nobody has sought to get SCOTUS to prevent PA from certifying results.
Chichiri
(4,667 posts)as reported here https://democraticunderground.com/100214517548
This is not at SCOTUS, but they could elevate it there, couldn't they?
Fiendish Thingy
(15,362 posts)From certification, and certain to fail.
Chichiri
(4,667 posts)and asks for preventing certifying results which include certain ballots in the alternative to that.
Amishman
(5,540 posts)The ballot itself is anonymous, and I doubt they are keeping them with the envelopes at this point.
DeminPennswoods
(15,246 posts)could be counted if they were post-marked on or before election, but arrived up to 3 days later. These ballots were already being segregated, then counted. I'm not sure they even show up in PA vote totals. This, is, in fact what Alito ordered, segerate, then count, while SCOTUS considers the GOP request.
However, PA officials did a fantastic job getting the word out to all Pennsylvanians on how to get their ballots in by 8PM on election day. As a result, I don't think there's even that many ballots falling in the 3 day window. A complicating factor would be Judge Sullivan's order for USPS to sweep its facilities to find and deliver any ballots sitting around undelivered.
Trump's behind in PA. It's ok by me if he manages to get those votes not counted.
helpisontheway
(5,004 posts)Fiendish Thingy
(15,362 posts)FakeNoose
(32,328 posts)The PA Supreme Court has already ruled on this. That's the end of the line.
Bye-bye Repukes, don't let the door spank you on the way out.
Alhena
(3,014 posts)constitutional angle- they aren't supposed to overrule them on questions of state law.
vercetti2021
(10,150 posts)Along with secession from blue states.
roamer65
(36,739 posts)I think they would pass in the Northeast and the Great Lakes states.
Amishman
(5,540 posts)Western PA isn't nearly as blue as it used to be - and central is as bright red as ever.
Upstate NY would probably also try to join with red PA.
vsrazdem
(2,176 posts)Chichiri
(4,667 posts)Rice4VP
(1,235 posts)Whats the difference? Stop stressing over this stuff
David__77
(23,214 posts)There's always an escalation, I suppose.
yellowcanine
(35,692 posts)dansolo
(5,376 posts)If they did do something like that, Biden would still be elected. If Pennsylvania were not certified, then it would only take 260 electoral votes to win. The winner is determined by whoever gets the majority of electoral votes cast. 270 votes is only required if all of the electoral college votes are cast.
"The Person having the greatest Number of Votes shall be the President, if such Number be a Majority of the whole Number of Electors appointed;"