News
You Wanna Watch Obama Read Trump For Filth? Sure You Do.
The last American president is so very good at this.
October 26, 2020 09:05 AM
Barack Obama, at a campaign rally in Miami, Florida, Saturday, carved up Donald Trump like a Halloween pumpkin. The former president has held back from directly confronting the COVID-spreader-in-chief, but the gloves have been off since his Democratic National Convention speech, which reduced Trump to live-tweeting in an oh-so-stable-genius ALL-CAPS: “HE SPIED ON MY CAMPAIGN, AND GOT CAUGHT!" (Obama did no such thing).
Obama has far more chill than Trump, which should surprise no one. Trump bullies and insults while Obama is a master of deadpan.
OBAMA: Now, I've sat in the Oval Office with both of the men who are running for president. They're very different people.
This is already shaping up like a John Mulaney routine. Obama reprises a theme from his DNC speech: He never expected Trump to share his vision or continue his policies, but he hoped Trump would at least take the job seriously. Trump never did, because while he's a serious threat, he's not a serious person.
OBAMA: He hasn't shown any interest in doing the work or helping anybody except himself and his friends or treating the presidency like a reality show to give himself more attention. And as we noted the other day, his TV ratings are down.
<p>We've all had to live with the consequences of Trump's failures, which Obama helpfully laid out for the audience: More than 220,000 Americans dead and 100,000 small businesses closed. Florida alone has lost half a million jobs. Obama twisted the knife when he reminded everyone Trump was visiting the state that day for another one of his COVID-denial rallies. </p><blockquote><strong>OBAMA:</strong> You think he's hard at work, coming up with a plan to get us out of this mess?</blockquote><p>Don't be <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6b-FFwVFMME" target="_blank">ridiculous.</a> And it's such an important point. Trump absurdly declared in 2016 that he alone could “fix" America's problems, but he blinked when faced with a global pandemic. White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows admitted to Jake Tapper Sunday that Trump has given up on trying <a href="https://twitter.com/atrupar/status/1320353720132128768?s=20" target="_blank">to contain the virus, </a>because it's like “contagious" and shit. Obama was always “Yes, we can," but Trump is entirely “No, we can't."</p><blockquote><strong>OBAMA: </strong>During the [final presidential] debate, Trump was asked, " What is your plan for the new phase of COVID?" Which is a pretty good question, considering that we just saw the highest number of cases spike up yesterday. So you would think he'd be ready for a response. Instead, he just said it wasn't his fault and he didn't have one. He said, "It's now gone in a bunch of states," just as states are reaching new record highs nationwide. He doesn't have a plan. He doesn't even acknowledge the reality of what's taking place all across the country.</blockquote><p>Obama wasn't done dragging President Klan Robe. Before Trump <a href="https://www.wonkette.com/trump-releases-60-minutes-blooper-reel-declares-flawless-victory" target="_blank">ran away from his "60 Minutes" interview</a> with his tail between his legs, Lesley Stahl asked him what his priorities were for a second term. </p><blockquote><strong>OBAMA: </strong>Let me say, I've run for president, Miami, so I just want you to know it's a good idea to have an answer to this question.</blockquote><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-rebelmouse-image">
<a href="https://media1.giphy.com/media/l2YWCDJMfFV2R4dl6/giphy.gif?cid=2fb0ca765uad6fr07w6z9vzdn9gb777tz5phqu63hdye23hc&rid=giphy.gif" target="_blank"><img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNDU4MzE0NC9vcmlnaW4uZ2lmIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYzMzAzNzQwMX0.Vo1QK61IOZofFTgHjouap2VnS3T9VGPB_tFwDmaOZ18/img.gif?width=980" id="a81bb" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="2322cc9df2bc606a783875d580225af1" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image"></a>
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<a href="https://giphy.com/gifs/obama-michelle-obama-flotus-l2YWCDJMfFV2R4dl6" target="_blank">Giphy</a>
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</p><p>Not only didn't Trump have an answer for this most basic GED question, he <a href="https://www.wonkette.com/trump-storms-out-of-60-minutes-interview-because-oh-who-gives-a-crap-anymore" target="_blank">stormed out of the interview.</a> Did he think this made him look tough? Did he believe future generations would sing folk songs about <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HUZ50cAk_Lk" target="_blank">President Run Away?</a></p><p>I never agreed with the expression, “Donald Trump is a poor person's idea of a rich person." It's insulting to every poor person who possesses far more class and decency than Trump. However, I do think Trump is a coward's idea of strong person. Obama hammered that point throughout his speech: "[Trump] likes to act tough and talk tough. He thinks scowling and being mean is tough, and being rude is tough."</p><p>But when challenged, Trump runs away. He's run from <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2019/01/09/politics/chuck-schumer-nancy-pelosi-trump/index.html" target="_blank">Nancy Pelosi.</a> He's run from Lesley Stahl. And he's cut and run from a public health crisis that's killing Americans while he fiddles away at his hate rallies. </p><p>Obama said if a president can't answer "What would you like to do in your second term?" then we should make damn sure he doesn't get a second term. We have eight more days to finish the job.</p><p>But first, do yourself a favor and watch President Barack Obama bring the ruckus.</p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-youtube">
<span style="display:block;position:relative;padding-top:56.25%;" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="406ebee29675066f91ef8ab4c6f292bd"><iframe type="lazy-iframe" data-runner-src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/zx8DGT2A0T8?rel=0" width="100%" height="auto" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" style="position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;"></iframe></span>
</p><p>[<a href="https://www.rev.com/blog/transcripts/barack-obama-florida-rally-speech-transcript-for-joe-biden-october-24" target="_blank">Rev</a>]<br></p><p><em>Follow Stephen Robinson on </em><em><a href="https://twitter.com/SER1897" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Twitter.</a></em></p><p><a href="https://amzn.to/33mKzZe" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Do your Amazon shopping through this link, because reasons</a>.</p><p><strong>Yr Wonkette is 100 percent ad free and supported entirely by reader donations. Please click the clickie, if you are able!</strong></p><p></p><form name="donation" method="post" class="donation-form"><p class="subheadline">How often would you like to donate?</p><div class="form-row row--plan"><label class="plan-type__label"><input type="radio" name="plan_type" value="once" class="plan-type" required="" checked> Just once
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2020 presidential election
Javanka To Sue Over Accurate Billboards Suggesting They DGAF About People Dying
Which, you know, they don't.
October 24, 2020 02:00 PM
Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump are suing The Lincoln Project, a group of anti-Trump conservatives who will turn on us as soon as Trump is out of office, for putting up two billboards in New York City — a city in a state that Trump has absolutely no chance of winning anyway — about how they are both very "I Really Don't Care Do U?" about New Yorkers and Americans in general dying of COVID-19.
One one billboard, Ivanka smiles while presenting, Vanna White style, COVID-19 death tallies from both New York and the country at large. Another features a smiling picture of Jared saying "[New Yorkers ] are going to suffer and that's their problem" above a pile of body bags.
Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump are threatening to sue over a pair of @ProjectLincoln’s giant, side-by-side billboar… https://t.co/g0tBuBV5Yl— Alfons López Tena (@Alfons López Tena)1603538152.0
Lawyers for the couple sent out a letter saying that the billboards misrepresented them and that they were suing them for libel or whatever.
<p>They wrote:<br></p><blockquote>Dear Lincoln Project Persons: <br><br>We represent Mr. Jared Kushner and Ms. Ivanka Trump. I am writing concerning the false, malicious and defamatory ads the Lincoln Project is displaying on billboards in Times Square. Those ads show Ms. Trump smiling and gesturing towards a death count of Americans and New Yorkers, and attribute to Mr. Kushner the statement that "[New Yorkers] are going to suffer and that's their problem" (alteration in original) with body bags underneath. <br><br>Of course, Mr. Kushner never made any such statement, Ms. Trump never made any such gesture and the Lincoln Project's representations that they did are an outrageous and shameful libel. If these billboard ads are not immediately removed, we will sue you for what will doubtless be enormous compensatory and punitive damages.<br></blockquote><p>Huh. Super weird how Mr. Kushner is not suing Vanity Fair for having <a href="https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2020/09/jared-kushner-let-the-markets-decide-covid-19-fate" target="_blank">printed an article</a> with someone quoting him as saying that. Probably because then that person would likely come out of the woodwork and things could get awkward. </p><blockquote>According to another attendee, Kushner then began to rail against the governor: "Cuomo didn't pound the phones hard enough to get PPE for his state…. His people are going to suffer and that's their problem." </blockquote><p>As for Ivanka's pose? That's pretty much covered under your standard free speech laws. Obviously she never posed like that, with those numbers, because death tolls rarely just hang in the air like that for people to pose next to. It's obviously supposed to be a statement about her general callousness. Duh. </p><p>The Lincoln Project <a href="https://twitter.com/ProjectLincoln/status/1319818697444216832?s=20" target="_blank">has since responded</a> by saying that they will not be taking down the billboards because of how Jared and Ivanka are garbage people. </p><blockquote>The level of indignant outrage Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump have shown towards The Lincoln Project for exposing their indifference for the more than 223,000 people who have lost their lives due to their reckless mismanagement of COVID-19 is comical. While we truly enjoy living rent free in their heads, their empty threats will not be taken ay more seriously than we take Ivanka and Jared. <br><br>It is unsurprising that an administration that has never had any regard or understanding of our Constitution would try to trample on our first amendment rights, but we fully intend on making this civics lesson as painful as possible. Jared and Ivanka have always been entitled, out-of-touch bullies who have never given the slightest indication they have any regard for the American people. We plan on showing them the same level of respect. <br>The billboards will stay up. We consider it important that in Times Square, the crossroads of the world, people are continuously reminded of the cruelty, audacity and staggering lack of empathy the Trumps and the Kushners have displayed towards the American people.<br></blockquote><p><span></span>The Lincoln Project people, of course, are not our friends. Sure, they're useful for now in a "the enemy of my enemy is my friend" sort of way. They are good at providing material for certain sites that really love writing those "Conservative Writer/Strategist Goes Off On Trump!" articles that I guess certain people still find immensely satisfying.</p><p>Plus they're willing to do and say things that many Democrats worry will make them look "unstatesmanlike." So they'll go for the jugular while Dems go high, Dianne Feinstein gets her Lindsey Graham hugs on and someone else over-romanticizes the relationship between Ronald Reagan and Tip O'Neil in a way that bears absolutely no relationship to reality. But do not be deceived that, once Trump loses and they secure power in their party again, that they will not be doing practically everything Trump is doing (and probably worse), just more politely. Because they will. </p><p>But, you know, enjoy it while it lasts.</p><p>[<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/live/2020/10/23/us/debate-trump-biden#billboards-ivanka-trump-jared-kushner" target="_blank">New York Times</a>]</p><p></p><p><a href="https://amzn.to/33mKzZe" target="_blank">Do your Amazon shopping through this link, because reasons</a>.</p><p></p><p></p><form name="donation" method="post" class="donation-form"><p class="subheadline">How often would you like to donate?</p><div class="form-row row--plan"><label class="plan-type__label"><input type="radio" name="plan_type" value="once" class="plan-type" required="" checked> Just once
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2020 presidential election
Snappy Debate Reactions To Stupid Debate
Or stupid debate reactions to stupid debate. Yeah, mostly that.
October 23, 2020 01:53 PM
The results are in, and based on my scientific knowledge of reading Twitter, Americans are mostly just fucking relieved that we may have seen the last Donald Trump appearance in a nationally televised debate. That sounds right to me, so I'm going to mark that one down as factual and confirmed.
"Sounds right to me" was also the judgment of the Commander in Chief, who comforted himself by retweeting Twitter surveys by people and outlets who love Trump, which mean nothing whatsoever because they're answered by followers who already love Trump. (And yes, astute readers, that "who won" is in bold means he was searching for the phrase "who won" and then retweeting the ones he liked.)
We suppose we should thank Trump for providing a preview of how actual election results may look if he's ever in a position to run for a third term.
<p><a href="https://news.yahoo.com/biden-crushes-trump-post-debate-051400914.html" target="_blank">Most snap polling</a> showed viewers saying they thought Biden did better in the debate, which data nerd Nate Silver <a href="https://twitter.com/NateSilver538/status/1319487922622631937?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1319487922622631937%7Ctwgr%5Eshare_3%2Ccontainerclick_0&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fnews.yahoo.com%2Fbiden-crushes-trump-post-debate-051400914.html" target="_blank">noted </a>is pretty typical as Election Day gets close: </p><div id="1642e" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="43a171e8f418199f528c99ab785bafbf"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1319487922622631937" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">The margin here is close enough to the overall margin in the horse race than I wouldn't expect too much change in t… https://t.co/wqYz5wK9kc</div> — Nate Silver (@Nate Silver)<a href="https://twitter.com/NateSilver538/statuses/1319487922622631937">1603425410.0</a></blockquote></div><p>But what about 2016, people will ask, and that's when we remind you that the national polling was pretty close to the popular vote, but that's not how the Electoral College math works out. Also never mind because we're looking at reactions to last night's debate, not replaying Election Night 2016 like a common Donald Trump.</p><p>Oh, yes, there was one snap poll that showed Trump "won" the debate: An unscientific online poll <a href="https://www.newsweek.com/heres-what-snap-polls-say-about-who-won-final-trump-biden-debate-1541559" target="_blank">of Fox News viewers</a> that was about as statistically sound as a Twitter survey, but nonetheless was touted on air by Sean Hannity without any indication that it wasn't a real poll. Eric Trump was duly impressed!</p><div id="64dfc" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="969c49fca47daa1249337f6c9e48591f"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1319483455814529025" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸 https://t.co/C6HRtPW4Mz</div> — Eric Trump (@Eric Trump)<a href="https://twitter.com/EricTrump/statuses/1319483455814529025">1603424345.0</a></blockquote></div><p>Trump's other son went on Fox and didn't sound the least bit like a rabid squirrel huffing speedballs. As somebody pointed out on Twitter, if you watch with the sound off, you'll think the video is sped up. </p><div id="8c0fd" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="b1251b543b693223fddf932b27da95b1"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1319481829263437824" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">A very animated Don Jr. is on Fox whining out the same talking points that got his father dunked on during the deba… https://t.co/86r4Plc0lg</div> — Acyn Torabi (@Acyn Torabi)<a href="https://twitter.com/Acyn/statuses/1319481829263437824">1603423957.0</a></blockquote></div><p>(Fact check: we know one does not "huff" speedballs. They are properly chugged, from a beer stein.)</p><p>In other debate reactions, the Grey Lady <a href="https://twitter.com/nytimes/status/1319643514557353985" target="_blank">offered </a>this remarkably Cillizzaesque take: </p><div id="69739" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="3beee86e9c6895210b77d4985ee5bffe"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1319643514557353985" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">The final debate between President Trump and Joe Biden was civil, calm, sedate, substantive (at times) and, almost,… https://t.co/NSlZ6Mmf0V</div> — The New York Times (@The New York Times)<a href="https://twitter.com/nytimes/statuses/1319643514557353985">1603462506.0</a></blockquote></div><p>And yes, the <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2020/10/23/us/politics/debate-biden-trump.html?smid=tw-nytimes&smtyp=cur" target="_blank">actual article</a> is every bit as painfully both-sided as the tweet, so no blaming the social media team this time. Trump, we learn "landed his 'all talk, no action' punch" against Biden, but he also "got lost in a cul-de-sac of obscurity." Feh. </p><p>For the <em>best </em>take on Trump's "new" tone, though, we'll go with <em>Chicago Tribune</em> columnist Rex Huppke:</p><blockquote>Demonstrating a striking change in tone from the first presidential debate, Trump did not come across as a writhing, angry body inhabited by the spirit of Charles Manson. Instead, he took on the more affable demeanor of a writhing, angry body inhabited by the spirit of Charles Manson on a day when Manson didn't interrupt people quite so much. </blockquote><p>Former Fox News yacker Megyn Kelly, who helped Trump <a href="http://wonkette.com/592723/donald-trump-why-was-megyn-kelly-moderating-a-debate-instead-of-in-the-blood-hut" target="_blank">fuel his base's rage </a>by suggesting in the first GOP debate of 2016 that he might be a tad sexist, thought Trump<a href="https://twitter.com/megynkelly/status/1319467519820922881" target="_blank"> was wonderful </a>last night, because you couldn't see him bleeding from his wherever:</p><div id="e584f" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="18d574e923d8645263d95fab90036520"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1319467519820922881" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">Trump won this debate, handily. Biden wasn’t a force at all. Trump was substantive, on-point, well-tempered. Defini… https://t.co/pXx7hCsrmH</div> — Megyn Kelly (@Megyn Kelly)<a href="https://twitter.com/megynkelly/statuses/1319467519820922881">1603420545.0</a></blockquote></div><p>GOP pollster Frank Luntz managed to find some "undecided" swing state voters <a href="https://twitter.com/FrankLuntz/status/1319480022747336704" target="_blank">who had thoughts</a> about Trump's New Tone:<br></p><div id="16406" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="c57bba8c038ae8006261b89ad06e2108"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1319480022747336704" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">My focus group’s words to describe Trump tonight:
• “Controlled”
• “Reserved”
• “Poised”
• “Con artist”
• “Surprisi… https://t.co/tcS1sGgUha</div> — Frank Luntz (@Frank Luntz)<a href="https://twitter.com/FrankLuntz/statuses/1319480022747336704">1603423526.0</a></blockquote></div><p>A very poised con artist indeed! </p><p>Ann Coulter <a href="https://twitter.com/AnnCoulter/status/1319624026436870144" target="_blank">insisted </a>that a <em>New York Times</em> <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/live/2020/10/22/us/fact-check-debate-trump-biden#joe-got-3-5-million-from-russia-and-it-came-through-putin-because-he-was-very-friendly-with-the-former-mayor-of-moscow-and-it-wa" target="_blank">fact check</a> was terribly terribly hypocritical in declaring Trump's weird obsession with wind turbines "false," because look right there, the things <em>do so</em> kill birds. That may have been undercut by her partial inclusion of that same piece's clarification that wind farms are among the <em>least </em>deadly human-caused threats to wild birds. <br></p><p>Say, shall we <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/live/2020/10/22/us/fact-check-debate-trump-biden#joe-got-3-5-million-from-russia-and-it-came-through-putin-because-he-was-very-friendly-with-the-former-mayor-of-moscow-and-it-wa" target="_blank">see </a>what's more deadly to birbs? </p><blockquote>Birds <a href="https://www.fws.gov/birds/bird-enthusiasts/threats-to-birds.php" target="_blank" title="">die far more frequently</a> from collisions with buildings and cars, which each account for hundreds of millions of annual avian deaths. <a href="https://www.annualreviews.org/doi/10.1146/annurev-ecolsys-112414-054133" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="">Cats are thought to fell some 2.4 billion birds a year</a>. But not Thornton, he is an indoor cat. [<em>I for one am glad the </em>Times <em>pointed that out — Dok</em>] </blockquote><p>And for that matter, Trump hadn't said the turbines kill birds; he said they "kill all the birds," which is a bit different, no? </p><p>For the <em>real </em><a href="https://www.google.com/search?q=big+bird+picture&tbm=isch&source=iu&ictx=1&fir=DPlsDwjz1y--KM%252CM-n1rcAgZxJgdM%252C_&vet=1&usg=AI4_-kQ42DSD_7m_9JruL1kNOPa4X2oOYQ&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwja26rCncvsAhUCrZ4KHTvhAZUQ9QF6BAgUEEE&biw=1372&bih=885#imgrc=vYFhrzr9Zg6B3M" target="_blank">big bird picture</a>, here's the senior communication director for scientists at the Audubon Society: </p><div id="ab174" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="83604316acb2e2c386aea85bd3a16c10"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet twitter-custom-tweet" data-twitter-tweet-id="1319473491532341249" data-partner="rebelmouse"><div style="margin:1em 0">I didn’t watch the debate but I understand wind power vs. birds came up (again).
The biggest threat to birds is c… https://t.co/oymLr9HBeF</div> — Nicolas Gonzalez (@Nicolas Gonzalez)<a href="https://twitter.com/NicoSGonzalez/statuses/1319473491532341249">1603421969.0</a></blockquote></div><p>But we'd better keep fossil fuels that will hurry along mass extinctions, because Ann Coulter found a partial quote. </p><p>In other great reactions to the debate, <a href="https://www.wonkette.com/erick-erickson-quitting-redstate-to-spend-more-time-fcking-goats" target="_blank">old goatfucker</a> Erick Erickson was <a href="https://ewerickson.substack.com/p/that-was-good" target="_blank">glad to see</a> the "real" Donald Trump show up to trounce Biden: </p><blockquote>Last night's presidential debate was an actual, factual, normal presidential debate. The President remembered his key messaging and focus. Joe Biden managed to speak uninterrupted for two minutes without coming off as an insane guy. The moderator moderated. She even asked about the Hunter Biden story.<br><br>President Trump and his team should be proud of his final lifetime presidential debate performance. That is, actually, pretty incredible when you think about it. We won't see Donald Trump on a debate stage again.</blockquote><p>Mind you, when Erick Erickson says we won't see Trump debate again, he's suggesting that's because Trump will serve another four years, not be retired by voters. We prefer to think voters will make sure Trump gets plenty of rest and all the time he wants to golf in Florida, and ... oh, Jesus, that doesn't preclude a second term either, does it? </p><p>[<a href="https://news.yahoo.com/biden-crushes-trump-post-debate-051400914.html" target="_blank">Yahoo News</a> / <a href="https://www.newsweek.com/heres-what-snap-polls-say-about-who-won-final-trump-biden-debate-1541559" target="_blank">Newsweek</a> / <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/live/2020/10/22/us/fact-check-debate-trump-biden#joe-got-3-5-million-from-russia-and-it-came-through-putin-because-he-was-very-friendly-with-the-former-mayor-of-moscow-and-it-wa" target="_blank">NYT </a>/<a href="https://www.chicagotribune.com/columns/rex-huppke/ct-debate-trump-biden-welker-obamacare-election-huppke-20201023-ekti7hzvmfcmtnisywjqkcixqm-story.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank"> Chicago Tribune</a> / <a href="https://www.audubon.org/climate/survivalbydegrees" target="_blank">Audubon</a>]</p><p>Yr Wonkette is entirely funded by reader donations. Please help us keep the servers humming and the writers paid!</p><p></p><p><a href="https://amzn.to/33mKzZe" target="_blank">Do your Amazon shopping through this link, because reasons</a>.</p><p></p><p></p><form name="donation" method="post" class="donation-form"><p class="subheadline">How often would you like to donate?</p><div class="form-row row--plan"><label class="plan-type__label"><input type="radio" name="plan_type" value="once" class="plan-type" required="" checked> Just once
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2020 presidential election
Supreme Court Rules Pennsylvania Can Vote ... And Here's Why That's Bad, Actually
No, this isn't a Slate Pitch. It's just true. But yay for Pennsylvania!
October 23, 2020 01:09 PM
The Roberts Court loves infringing upon people's voting rights. If this Court has one fully coherent doctrine, it's that voting rights are bad. It's pretty much the one area where the Court has been pretty much entirely consistent.
Until now.
This week, the Supreme Court voted 4-4 on whether to review a case that gave Pennsylvania election officials a couple of days after the election to receive absentee ballots. A tie has the result of letting the lower court's decision stand, so the tie was a victory for voting rights for Pennsylvanians.
This might be the first time the Roberts Court has ever ruled in favor of voting rights — but actually, it spells BAD things for the future of voting rights and the upcoming election. Really? Dammit. Yes.
<h2>Here's the deal</h2><p>The fact that SCOTUS isn't taking this case, <em>Republican Party of Pennsylvania v. Boockvar,</em> is absolutely a good thing for Pennsylvania voters. The Pennsylvania Supreme Court <a href="https://cases.justia.com/pennsylvania/supreme-court/2020-133-mm-2020-1.pdf" target="_blank">ruled</a> that the state must count absentee votes that are received by November 6 at 5 p.m., as long as they're postmarked by Election Day. The state's highest court also ruled in favor of permitting ballot dropboxes.</p><p>It's not really shocking that the Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruled the way it did. State constitutions actually offer a lot more protection to voters than the federal Constitution — especially after the utter dismantling of voting rights that the Roberts Court has championed. While the US Constitution is shockingly quiet on voting rights, state constitutions explicitly codify and guarantee the right to vote.</p><p><a href="https://www.cnn.com/2020/10/20/opinions/supreme-court-pennsylvania-mail-in-ballots-douglas/index.html" target="_blank">Forty-nine</a> of our fifty state constitutions affirmatively protect the right to vote, saying something like citizens "shall be entitled to vote" or "shall be qualified to vote." (Arizona is the outlier.) And about half of our state constitutions also contain a provision noting that elections must be "free," "free and open," or "free and equal." Because of this, state supreme courts have routinely held that their constitutions go further than the federal Constitution in protecting the right to vote. That's one of the reasons the Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruled the way that it did.</p><p>Pennsylvania is both a "shall be entitled to vote" state and a "free and equal" state — and the state supreme court relied on those provisions in its ruling.</p><p>It's true that this ruling is good for Democrats — because of Donald Trump's constant mouth diarrhea and the fact that he is a cult leader, more Democrats than Republicans <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/elections/2020/08/18/election-2020-biden-voters-twice-likely-vote-mail-survey-finds/3394795001/" target="_blank">are expected</a> to vote by mail this year. But it's also just good for democracy. As far as I'm concerned, anyone who is fighting to refuse to count votes is basically always the asshole. And SOMEHOW, the undemocratic asshole just always seems to be the GOP. It's <em>almost</em> like all of Republicans' blathering about voter fraud and election security is actually just racist, xenophobic bullshit.</p><p>Making sure mail-in and absentee ballots are counted is more important than ever this year. Because of the pandemic, more voters are expected to cast mail-in votes this year than ever before. In Pennsylvania, this is the first year that all voters can choose to vote by mail, without needing a reason. According to the Pennsylvania Department of State, <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2020/10/19/us/supreme-court-pennsylvania-voting.html" target="_blank">nearly two million</a> people have already requested mail-in ballots — and that number is growing by the day. And in Pennsylvania and Wisconsin, election officials can't even begin counting ballots until Election Day, which means we probably won't get results from those states for several days, regardless of whether they count ballots that arrive the week of the election.</p><p>Republicans, naturally, were the ones seeking an emergency stay of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court's order. Because who wants to make sure people's votes are counted, am I right?!</p><p>Democratic Pennsylvania Secretary of State Kathy Boockvar, the state Democratic Party, and local election boards filed suit after tens of thousands of votes were thrown out during the state's primary. Republicans, on the other hand, would just prefer less democracy.</p><p>The GOP is represented by Trump's favorite law firm, Jones Day. Their lawyers made a ridiculous argument that states can't count ballots after Election Day, because federal law denotes November 3 as the day of the election. This is, of course, fucking absurd, and nothing in federal law or the US Constitution prohibits states from counting absentee ballots postmarked by Election Day that arrive a couple of days late. As Joseph Cosgrove, one of the lawyers on the case, told <a href="https://www.courthousenews.com/justices-wont-block-pennsylvania-ballot-deadline-extention/" target="_blank">Courthouse News</a>,</p><blockquote>Election boards have been required under federal law to accept ballots from uniformed and overseas voters which are received after Election Day, and have done so for decades.</blockquote><p>Truly, the idea that the United States Supreme Court should jump into this case is batshit insane. And yet, all of the Republicans on the Court, save Chief Justice John Roberts, are happy and willing to go there. Roberts sided with the Court's remaining liberal bloc to stop this case from being heard. So basically, the only conservative SCOTUS justice who is at all committed to not using his power to destroy our entire democratic system is John Roberts. </p><p>And listen, I am no fan of John Roberts. Although he's willing to throw us a bone every once in a while, he is at heart a conservative Republican. That's why W gave him this job. But I will say this: John Roberts cares about the integrity of the Court. </p><p>Unfortunately, the Court we are about to have could give two fucks about legitimacy, integrity, or the democratic process. And there's nothing the Chief Justice will be able to do to stop it.</p><p>The fact that Justices Thomas, Alito, Gorsuch, and Kegstand were willing to take this case says a lot of things that should fucking terrify everyone who cares about having a legitimate election. And they're about to get their fifth vote ...</p><h2>Here's why this is all BAD, VERY BAD</h2><p>The US Supreme Court normally does NOT weigh in on cases like this one. The Pennsylvania Supreme Court based its decision on the Pennsylvania Constitution, not the US Constitution. And SCOTUS doesn't get to decide what the Pennsylvania Constitution means — its job is to interpret the US Constitution and federal laws, not state laws. That's what state courts are for.</p><p>Remember when we had a Black Democratic president and Republicans constantly screamed about "FEDERALISM!!1!" and "STATES' RIGHTS!!!!!"? Yeah, that all flew out the window the second their cult leader was anointed. But it's actually an important thing for our country that the fucking Supreme Court respects our constitutional set-up.</p><p>It's unsurprising that the ratfuckers simply noted their dissent without including any written dissents. It's truly difficult to find <em>any </em>federal hook that would justify their votes in this case. Because the state court's decision was entirely based on state law, the only way SCOTUS can justify interfering is if it violates the federal Constitution or federal law. And there is absolutely nothing illegal or unconstitutional about a state deciding when and how to count ballots. That's actually kind of the entire point of leaving the mechanics of elections up to state and local authorities — it makes it harder for an authoritarian federal government to fix the results. But it is 2020, so alas, here we are.</p><p>The vote didn't just show us that four sitting members of the Court are down for some ratfucking — it also shows us that they are willing to unilaterally create a new system where the Supreme Court just decides that it will create all of the election rules, state laws and constitutions be damned. And you can bet that this Court, which just <a href="https://www.wonkette.com/chief-justice-roberts-loves-him-some-ratf-ckin" target="_blank">looooooooves it some ratfucking</a>, will not give a flying fuck about protecting the right to vote. So enjoy your voting rights now, while you still can!</p><p>Thanks to this case, we know that the Supreme Court already has four votes to ratfuck our democracy. And it's almost certain that the number is about to reach the magic number of five, when the undemocratic far-Right gains another seat on the Supreme Court next week</p><p>Make no mistake — fixing this election is a big part of the reason why Republicans are forcing Amy Boney Carrot's nomination through before the election. Naturally, Barrett <a href="https://www.wonkette.com/how-can-amy-coney-barrett-f-ck-it-up-today-liveblogging-day-three" target="_blank">has refused</a> to commit to recusing herself from cases involving the election of the fascist piece of shit who is about to give her the biggest promotion possible just days before the election takes place. </p><p>This is all part of their plan. And it's a giant pile of fucked up, undemocratic, authoritarian wildebeest dung. (Although wildebeests travel widely and the GOP is obviously entrenched.)</p><h2>So that's fucking awful</h2><p>It's all bad. The damage that these motherfuckers are willing to do to our democratic process and fundamental constitutional rights in order to elect a fascist is fucking nuts. It's terrifying and horrifying and some days I feel like I'm watching the end of our republic happening in real time.</p><p>But there is one thing we can do to ensure the Supreme Court doesn't fuck this up for us: VOTE. </p><p>Vote in such large numbers that there's nothing they can do. </p><p>Get so many people to vote for Joe Biden and Kamala Harris that the courts can't ratfuck it, because it's just not even close.</p><p>We can still win this thing. But we have to do the work.</p><p>VOTE!</p><p>VOTE NOW!</p><p>Please vote?</p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-rebelmouse-image">
<a href="https://media4.giphy.com/media/3o6ZtrhwpzTn7yb2Ao/giphy.gif?cid=2fb0ca76zzmbxz8578mykeape4wx5e45ifwhf922wonrqw37&rid=giphy.gif" target="_blank"><img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yNDU2ODQyOC9vcmlnaW4uZ2lmIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYyNzM4Mzg2OX0.noluGw9vJ2tJHTUIJgJxi6uoRJyBPOYzW0usQc0mIgI/img.gif?width=980" id="5b760" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="97281994ae41334ca0b34d6b85cb1f28" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image"></a>
<small class="image-media media-caption" placeholder="Add Photo Caption...">Voting Elizabeth Warren GIF</small>
</p><p><br></p><p>[ <a href="https://www.supremecourt.gov/orders/courtorders/101920zr1_ebfi.pdf" target="_blank">Order</a> / <a href="https://www.courthousenews.com/justices-wont-block-pennsylvania-ballot-deadline-extention/" target="_blank">Courthouse News</a> ]<br></p><p>Follow Jamie on <a href="https://twitter.com/jamielynncrofts" target="_blank">Twitter</a>!<br></p><p></p><p><a href="https://amzn.to/33mKzZe" target="_blank">Do your Amazon shopping through this link, because reasons</a>.</p><p></p><p></p><form name="donation" method="post" class="donation-form"><p class="subheadline">How often would you like to donate?</p><div class="form-row row--plan"><label class="plan-type__label"><input type="radio" name="plan_type" value="once" class="plan-type" required="" checked> Just once
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