As I understand it, Pence will OPEN the envelopes or boxes of elector selection documents

and "tellers" selected by the parties TALLY numbers, but who READS the numbers to be tallied?

Pence or the tellers?

Thanks for any answers.

I am 71. It occurred to me this evening that most on this board are likely a "few" years younger

than me---like 30---40---50? And while I make no claim to superior ability or intelligence, I think that maybe I recall a time that younger people may have difficulty understanding or even believing. Before what's left of my often frazzled mind departs, allow me to file a report from the '50s and '60s.

"Conservative" hasn't always been a synonym for "mean". Many, such as Everett Dirksen, Dwight Eisenhower or Chuck Percy, were people with whom we could disagree but respect. They had a different view of how the government should be operated but, believe it or not, we just considered them "wrong", not "bad".

And, the term "liberal" was a label proudly worn by nearly all in our party. Back then, being a liberal, at least in my small town corner of the world, simply meant that one favored labor over the corporations, farmers over the elevators and most underdogs against those above them. Oversimplified---Democrats were for the poor and Republicans were for the wealthy.

Some assholes were Democrats; some were Republicans.

It was a gradual process but, over the years, an effort was made to associate "liberals" with "socialists" and then, "socialists" with ---OMG! ---"COMMIES!" During those same years, "conservative" was associated with "God-fearing patriots".

How was this done?

A few handfuls of uber-rich conservatives owned most of the major newspapers and, by virtue of the millions of advertising dollars spent annually by their business interests, they controlled many of the radio and tv stations. Finally, their monetary contributions and endowments permitted them to influence what scholars researched and wrote about. All in all, the moneyed few sought to determine what---and who---was "acceptable" and "good" and even "American".

That was the beginning of how we got to where we now are as a nation. I'm sure others could chart the changes with more expertise and authority, but that's how I saw it.

The good news? You younger people are smarter and more tolerant than my generation.

That's worth what it cost you.

Just in case any of the Republican state officials in the other states that we KNOW Trump called

and tried to strong-arm are listening, you would be well-advised to go public with the dirty details now. That may be painful, but not nearly as painful as it will be WHEN---not IF---the information leaks.

Historically, those who attempted cover-ups have nearly always wound up with a mammary in the Maytag.

So---lotsa folks are saying that Frito-Lay will soon be again offering "prizes of trivial value"

in the boxes of their "Crackerjack" brand popcorn treats.

The first "prize of trivial value" included with the caramel-coated popcorn and peanuts will be genuine "Presidential Medals of Freedom".

Not sayin' that's true, but lotsa people are sayin' that.

I'll start this by saying that I very well be misinformed, but I recall

reading somewhere a few years ago that the "My Pillow" that Trumpy Lindell "invented" is nothing more than a smaller than full-size pillow case stuffed with randomly shaped pieces of torn foam rubber. Am I wrong?

His business success is due to reliance on the fact that if you overprice something and hype it constantly while displaying your cross necklace, a LOT of idiots will buy couple of them.

Good night. nt

DATELINE: Sar Chasm, Trumpistan-----Unconfirmed reports from White House sources

allege that an unnamed aide just slid a Gillette "Blue Blade" wrapped in a note reading "DO THE RIGHT THING!" under Trump's bathroom door.

Watch this space.

This is just my opinion and it is only worth what it's costing you, but---

I think the streets and parks of Washington, D.C. will be very risky places to be come this Wednesday, January 6th.

Proud Boys, 3-Percenters, white supremacists and assorted other right-wing thugs will be invading DC to take part in the "wild" protests and rallies called for by Trump. I have drafted and scrapped several longer and more "emotional" posts about this, but this will be simply and coldly stated.

Law enforcement officers should be instructed to take any action necessary to protect lives and property. Specifically, any actual or threatened violence---,including brandishing a weapon of any kind---should be immediately dealt with using overwhelming force. As to any thug who points a gun at a person in a threatening manner or actually fires a gun at another, there should be no hesitancy about responding in kind.

Whatever it takes.

Having provided the Washington Post with a recording of Trump's lies and threats,

Georgia Secretary of State Raffensberger might want to invest in remote starters for any vehicle he uses.

For my New Year's diet, I'm trying one of those "meal-planner" systems. Each month they send you

menus for all your meals, shopping lists and easily understood reduced-calorie recipes. You make just enough for each meal so there are no leftovers in the fridge to tempt you. You eat only the meals they send recipes for, in order; nothing else---that's the rule.

Problem is, I just finished "January 15th". I must be doing something wrong.