2022 Congressional & State Elections

[Bact PhD]

Jan 10, 2022 17:32:52 GMT LFC said:

Sen. Ron Johnson (WIll You Go Away?), the dumbest member of the U.S. Senate, broke his promise not to run for a 3rd term and announced he's running for a 3rd term.

I’m shocked, SHOCKED I tell you!

[pnwguy]

Jan 10, 2022 17:32:52 GMT LFC said:

Sen. Ron Johnson (WIll You Go Away?), the dumbest member of the U.S. Senate, broke his promise not to run for a 3rd term and announced he's running for a 3rd term.

It's possible that he's too dumb to count how many terms he has served.  

[LFC]

Another celebrity running for a federal level office. At least he's aiming to be a Representative and not a Senator or, FSM forbid, President.

Singer Clay Aiken announced on Monday his campaign for North Carolina’s 6th Congressional District. In his campaign kickoff video, Aiken dubbed himself a “bright-eyed kid from North Carolina” and recalled his American Idol debut almost 20 years ago. “These days my life looks a lot more like yours than Justin Bieber’s, that I can promise you,” he said. “But one thing that has never changed for me is how much I love my home state.” The 43-year-old singer will be running as a Democrat against incumbent Rep. Kathy Manning, an attorney elected in 2020. Aiken took a hit at divisive Republicans in the state who he said are “taking up all the oxygen in the room.” His district is currently awaiting the outcome of a lawsuit over how the district map was redrawn by state Republicans. “We have gotta get better at speaking up and using our voices ‘cause those folks ain’t quieting down anytime soon,” he said in his announcement video. “That’s why I’m running for Congress, here in this community that raised me and where I first discovered my voice.”

[goldenvalley]

Jan 10, 2022 21:13:51 GMT LFC said:

Another celebrity running for a federal level office. At least he's aiming to be a Representative and not a Senator or, FSM forbid, President.

Singer Clay Aiken announced on Monday his campaign for North Carolina’s 6th Congressional District. In his campaign kickoff video, Aiken dubbed himself a “bright-eyed kid from North Carolina” and recalled his American Idol debut almost 20 years ago. “These days my life looks a lot more like yours than Justin Bieber’s, that I can promise you,” he said. “But one thing that has never changed for me is how much I love my home state.” The 43-year-old singer will be running as a Democrat against incumbent Rep. Kathy Manning, an attorney elected in 2020. Aiken took a hit at divisive Republicans in the state who he said are “taking up all the oxygen in the room.” His district is currently awaiting the outcome of a lawsuit over how the district map was redrawn by state Republicans. “We have gotta get better at speaking up and using our voices ‘cause those folks ain’t quieting down anytime soon,” he said in his announcement video. “That’s why I’m running for Congress, here in this community that raised me and where I first discovered my voice.”

When will we learn that a Congressional seat is not a beginner seat.  In the olden days, wanna be politicians started with local level offices and as they learned how to be public officials sought offices that required more sophisticated understanding of how public office works, how to get things done in them.  Now it's just "I'm well known and the major requirement for running for office is being recognized by some part of the general public" so it's time to go to Washington DC where my notoriety will impress everyone there too.  Public service?   What's that?

[LFC]

Another of the few non-fascist Republicans is leaving Congress. What utter nutter will take his place?

Rep. John Katko (R-NY) announced his retirement Friday, making him the third House Republican who voted to impeach ex-President Donald Trump to leave the chamber.

He joins Reps. Adam Kinzinger (R-IL) and Anthony Gonzalez (R-OH).

“After 32 years of public service, I have decided not to seek re-election to Congress, so that I can enjoy my family and life in a fuller and more present way,” Katko wrote on his Facebook page. “My conscience, principles, and commitment to do what’s right have guided every decision I’ve made as a Member of Congress, and they guide my decision today.”

[LFC]

The strategy is locked in and already being used in one Florida race.

There was a congressional election this week in Florida's 20th congressional district, giving the win to Democrat Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick to succeed the late Rep. Alcee Hastings, who died in April 2021.

While McCormick was expected to win in the heavily Democratic district, her GOP rival Jason Mariner filed a lawsuit claiming there was a problem with the ballots in Palm Beach and Broward Counties.

"Now they called the race, I did not win, so they say, but that does not mean that they lost either, it does not mean that we lost," said Mariner.

“And we’ll also have some stuff coming out that we’ve recently discovered,” he said.

According to the final tally, McCormick won with 78.7 percent of the vote, while Mariner received only 19.6 percent.

I expect an enormous number of elections to be challenged where Republicans have power and those Republicans will either steal them outright or at least tie them up for as long as they can, much like they did to Al Franken.

[goldenvalley]

Jan 14, 2022 20:24:16 GMT LFC said:

The strategy is locked in and already being used in one Florida race.

There was a congressional election this week in Florida's 20th congressional district, giving the win to Democrat Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick to succeed the late Rep. Alcee Hastings, who died in April 2021.

While McCormick was expected to win in the heavily Democratic district, her GOP rival Jason Mariner filed a lawsuit claiming there was a problem with the ballots in Palm Beach and Broward Counties.

"Now they called the race, I did not win, so they say, but that does not mean that they lost either, it does not mean that we lost," said Mariner.

“And we’ll also have some stuff coming out that we’ve recently discovered,” he said.

According to the final tally, McCormick won with 78.7 percent of the vote, while Mariner received only 19.6 percent.

I expect an enormous number of elections to be challenged where Republicans have power and those Republicans will either steal them outright or at least tie them up for as long as they can, much like they did to Al Franken.

 78.7% against 19.6%...That's a heck of a lot of fraudulent ballots!  

[LFC]

Jan 14, 2022 21:32:52 GMT goldenvalley said:

 78.7% against 19.6%...That's a heck of a lot of fraudulent ballots!  

It's all about normalization of the previously unthinkable. We can now expect that there's a reasonable a Republican will go to court whenever they lose while screeching "FRAUD!" at the top of their lungs. No evidence required.

[goldenvalley]

Election police:

A plan by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis would establish a special police force to oversee state elections — the first of its kind in the nation — and while his fellow Republicans have reacted tepidly, voting rights advocates fear that it will become law and be used to intimidate voters.

The proposed Office of Election Crimes and Security would be part of the Department of State, which answers to the governor. DeSantis is asking the GOP-controlled legislature to allocate nearly $6 million to hire 52 people to “investigate, detect, apprehend, and arrest anyone for an alleged violation” of election laws. They would be stationed at unspecified “field offices throughout the state” and act on tips from “government officials or any other person.”

I assume they will be deployed wherever the governor decides too many people who vote for the wrong people live.  

[LFC]

A plan by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis would establish a special police force to oversee state elections — the first of its kind in the nation...

IIRC from the discussions of the Texass vigilante anti-abortion law we actually had multiple citizen forces used to suppress the vote under Jim Crow. If this is a police for just for elections my guess is that it will be brimming with "volunteers" who will be joining for the sole purpose of intimidating voters they don't like. The GOP plaid shirts goose step on.

[Bact PhD]

Jan 18, 2022 16:51:11 GMT goldenvalley said:

Election police:

A plan by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis would establish a special police force to oversee state elections — the first of its kind in the nation — and while his fellow Republicans have reacted tepidly, voting rights advocates fear that it will become law and be used to intimidate voters.

The proposed Office of Election Crimes and Security would be part of the Department of State, which answers to the governor. DeSantis is asking the GOP-controlled legislature to allocate nearly $6 million to hire 52 people to “investigate, detect, apprehend, and arrest anyone for an alleged violation” of election laws. They would be stationed at unspecified “field offices throughout the state” and act on tips from “government officials or any other person.”

I assume they will be deployed wherever the governor decides too many people who vote for the wrong people live.  

Dunno. This strikes me as mostly performance art for the benefit of That 30%. No legislator (so far) has volunteered to sponsor the necessary legislation. There are sixty-seven counties (and county elections supervisors) in the state, meaning the proportion is fewer than one “special force” member per county. The amount under discussion, six million, is somewhere between a rounding error and chump change in a proposed budget of nearly one hundred BILLION. Whether this initiative is enough to cause trouble, I have my doubts.

On the other hand, there’s this tidbit towards the end of the WaPo piece:

Hans von Spakovsky, an election law expert at the conservative Heritage Foundation, supports Desantis’s plan and hopes it becomes a “model” for other states.

Supreme Emperor following marching orders, perhaps?

[goldenvalley]

Jan 18, 2022 18:02:14 GMT Bact PhD said:

Jan 18, 2022 16:51:11 GMT goldenvalley said:

Election police:

I assume they will be deployed wherever the governor decides too many people who vote for the wrong people live.  

Dunno. This strikes me as mostly performance art for the benefit of That 30%. No legislator (so far) has volunteered to sponsor the necessary legislation. There are sixty-seven counties (and county elections supervisors) in the state, meaning the proportion is fewer than one “special force” member per county. The amount under discussion, six million, is somewhere between a rounding error and chump change in a proposed budget of nearly one hundred BILLION. Whether this initiative is enough to cause trouble, I have my doubts.

On the other hand, there’s this tidbit towards the end of the WaPo piece:

Hans von Spakovsky, an election law expert at the conservative Heritage Foundation, supports Desantis’s plan and hopes it becomes a “model” for other states.

Supreme Emperor following marching orders, perhaps?

Yeah it can be a performance, but it will be one emulated by others who might actually have the votes to get one created.  And I just hate the fact that lies were told about the 2020 election which are then compounded by such performances so that the average pretty uninformed person comes to accept that elections are inherently fraudulent.  

Hans von Spakovsky...sounds like the name of a villain in a Bond movie.      

[LFC]

Hans von Spakovsky is a name that sets off every alarm bell when it comes to free and fair elections. He's been at the forefront of voter suppression along with Kansas Kris Kobach.

[LFC]

Being Republican means it ain't a crime unless you're in jail. There are no scandals beyond prosecution and imprisonment that can cause you to lose face, only a failure of some right-wing purity test. Imprisonment is required because if you're back out on the street or pardoned then you can step right back into the fold.

Republican Senate leaders are trying to recruit outgoing Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey to run for Senate despite an ongoing FBI corruption investigation into his administration's efforts to issue tax refunds worth up to $100 million to aid one of Ducey's campaign donors.

[LFC]

Rep. Dan Crenshaw (R-Texass) wasn't Jesusy enough and got pissed when he was called on failing this particular purity test.

A young woman attended the Montgomery County Tea Party meeting Monday evening where people could ask questions of Rep. Dan Crenshaw (R-TX). It didn't go well for the congressman.

The woman noted that the GOP congressman had suggested that Jesus was not a real person and accused him of lying about being a Christian. She quoted an excerpt from Crenshaw's book Fortitude that involved role models and listed off everyone from Jesus to Rosa Parks and even Superman.

When promoting the book, Crenshaw appeared on the Jocko Podcast where the book was heavily quoted and Crenshaw was asked to expand on those excerpts.

"The important thing is that we societal hero archetypes that we look up to. Jesus is a hero archetype, Superman is a hero archetype. Real characters too, you know, I put, I could name a thousand,” Crenshaw said on the podcast. “You know, know Rosa Parks, Ronald Reagan, all of these people embody certain attributes that the American people think ‘This is good.'"

"I can't wrap my head around this," the woman said at the event after quoting him.

Crenshaw snapped at her and said that she could just put a period after Jesus in terms of admired people.

"Don't question my faith," he shot back. The audience booed. "You guys can ask questions about all of these things and I'll answer that but don't question my faith."

Many evangelicals view Jesus as incomparable, even when speaking about those who embody "Jesus-like" behavior or those inspired by the teachings of Christ as inspiration for encouraging the common good.

He's being primaried from the right because this crazy lying sack of shit isn't faithful enough.

[LFC]

From TPM:

House Dems See Two More Departures

Reps. Jim Langevin (D-RI) and Jerry McNerney (D-CA) both announced on Tuesday that they aren’t running for reelection, ticking the number of House Democratic retirements up to 28.

[pnwguy]

Jan 18, 2022 22:18:18 GMT LFC said:

Being Republican means it ain't a crime unless even if you're in jail. 

FIFY

Don't forget, all those 1/6 victims in a DC jail are patriots and political prisoners.  Those fighting Democrat Marxism are sometimes captured behind enemy lines.

[goldenvalley]

Trump's PACs did quite well in 2021, but of course, he doesn't share the wealth.

Former President Donald Trump’s political team said Monday he began 2022 with $122 million in political cash, a massive reserve as he teases another White House run and hints at using the power of a reclaimed presidency to wipe away the legal problems of people implicated in the deadly quest to overturn his defeat more than a year ago.

He is stockpiling money rather than spending it, using only a fraction of the $51 million that his team said he raised from July through December of last year.

Despite seeking to influence races nationwide with high-profile endorsements, he doled out less than $1.5 million from his main political action committee to favored causes and candidates in the second half of last year. That included $1 million to the Conservative Partnership Institute, a nonprofit where Mark Meadows, Trump’s former chief of staff, serves as a senior partner.

Beyond that grant, Trump’s leadership PAC, called Save America, distributed roughly $350,000 among 69 candidates and committees at the state and federal level. The modest contributions were revealed in a federal filing made public on Monday, which also showed that the former president continues to direct donor money to his own business.
Save America spent more than $100,000 in the second half of 2021 on rent and catering at Trump properties, according to the filing. Another PAC he controls spent nearly $250,000 on rent and meeting expenses at his properties.

[AnBr]

Did you expect anything else?

[LFC]

Feb 1, 2022 3:51:38 GMT goldenvalley said:

Trump's PACs did quite well in 2021, but of course, he doesn't share the wealth.

Grifters gonna' grift.

[pnwguy]

Feb 1, 2022 13:30:31 GMT LFC said:

Feb 1, 2022 3:51:38 GMT goldenvalley said:

Trump's PACs did quite well in 2021, but of course, he doesn't share the wealth.

Grifters gonna' grift.

I think that's why he loves Putin so much.  He's the ultimate role model!

[AnBr]

www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2022/02/11/gary-chambers-confederate-flag-campaign-ad/

[goldenvalley]

Feb 15, 2022 2:54:35 GMT AnBr said:

www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2022/02/11/gary-chambers-confederate-flag-campaign-ad/

I hope he has hired security around his home and for public speaking events.

[goldenvalley]

Alaska has adopted an unusual ranked choice primary system. I've seen ranked choice being touted as a way to avoid primaries, not many talk about using it for primaries.

Through a 2020 ballot measure, Alaskan voters enacted a top-four primary. In this system, candidates list themselves on the ballot in three possible ways: as affiliated with a political party or political group, as undeclared or as nonpartisan. The four candidates who get the most votes move on to the general election, in which ranked-choice voting is used to determine the winner. (In ranked-choice voting, rather than selecting just one candidate, voters can instead choose several and rank them.)

This might remove the fears of being "primaried," never to reach a general election unless the "base" is appeased.

[jackd]

Won't the base still prevail under a ranked voting system?