Mega-Thread: 2020 United States General Election

[Rasulis]

After this clusterfuck is over, I’m sure not many will want him.

It is pretty bad already. Would any half-way decent law firms make this kind of mistake?

The Trump campaign’s much-hyped affidavit features a big, glaring error

“Well, in Michigan and Wisconsin, we have over-votes in numerous precincts of 150 percent, 200 percent and 300 percent,” Giuliani said.

Sidney Powell alleged that it was “up to 350 percent in some places.”

“The things that you find in Michigan are amazing,” Ramsland began. “There are over 3,000 precincts where the presidential vote cast compared to the estimated voters … is 99 percent all the way up to 350 percent. Those kind of numbers don’t exist in the real world. So where did all those votes come from?”

But as the Powerline blog first reported, the affidavit made a major mistake. Its data wasn’t actually from Michigan; it was from Minnesota. What’s more, its conclusions about over-votes even in those Minnesota locations aren’t backed up data from the Minnesota secretary of state or from previous elections.

The list of precincts next to their alleged over-voters is striking. But what was also striking to my fellow Minnesotans at Powerline was that those sound a lot like cities and towns in Minnesota. And indeed they are. It even lists the Minnesota precincts as if they are not just in Michigan, but specifically in Wayne County. The text states that, in Wayne County, “25 of those 47 precincts/townships show 100% turnout.” But it then lists 25 precincts from Minnesota.

The fact that an affidavit with such a glaring error would be not just cited by the Trump campaign but filed as a part of an actual lawsuit might be the biggest takeaway here. It certainly speaks to a lack of due diligence. And it casts doubt on virtually everything else in the affidavit.

[Felya]

is was work in 2016 but now its not working for anyone

Hulk smash? Could you clerify?

[Breccia]

McEnemy is also on...oh boy, I can't wait to read the recap of that.

UPDATE: McEnemy flat-out admits Trump is trying to steal the Michigan vote.

White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany on Friday denied that Trump had invited two top Michigan officials to the White House as part of an "advocacy meeting," even as the president and his allies openly push to overturn the election results in the state.

McEnany during her first press briefing in six weeks confirmed that Trump will meet with officials from the Michigan state legislature at the White House, but she declined to divulge details about the nature of the meeting.

"He will be meeting later on," she said. "This is not an advocacy meeting. There will be no one from the campaign there."

"He routinely meets with lawmakers from all across the country," she added.

"Whoa whoa whoa, that's a denial."

Yes.

McEnemy lies about everything all the time. Besides, how can she say "no members of the campaign"? Remember when she flat-out admitted she was on the campaign and could just flip which job she represented on/off? Like "fuck the Hatch Act" kind of admission? Since Trump has put people in his administration in his campaign, as McEnemy admitted in public, if you're meeting his admin, you're meeting his campaign. Plus of course they're meeting Trump.

This is 100% a move to illegally sieze power. Thankfully @cubby just posted certification in Georgia...so, that task just got made much harder.

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Judge Judy could do it

I think, at some point, she might. It's not like Trump has any good options left.

[cubby]

I am surprised that he was still able to find law firms willing to work from him. Awhile back I heard one of his former lawyer on NPR described why reputable New York law firms won't represent him "he does not listen and he does not pay."

I hope they ask for a retainer before taking them on as clients. I can't imagine any of those bills will be paid post-election.

[PhaelixWW]

Warren and Pete also had many more delegates than Harris.

You're missing the point; Charlie Baker is also a Republican. And Biden committed early to making his VP a woman. Regardless, I'm not sure Buttigieg would bring as many votes as Harris, Warren, or Sanders would.

[cubby]

It is pretty bad already. Would any half-way decent law firms make this kind of mistake?

The Trump campaign’s much-hyped affidavit features a big, glaring error

“Well, in Michigan and Wisconsin, we have over-votes in numerous precincts of 150 percent, 200 percent and 300 percent,” Giuliani said.

Sidney Powell alleged that it was “up to 350 percent in some places.”

“The things that you find in Michigan are amazing,” Ramsland began. “There are over 3,000 precincts where the presidential vote cast compared to the estimated voters … is 99 percent all the way up to 350 percent. Those kind of numbers don’t exist in the real world. So where did all those votes come from?”

But as the Powerline blog first reported, the affidavit made a major mistake. Its data wasn’t actually from Michigan; it was from Minnesota. What’s more, its conclusions about over-votes even in those Minnesota locations aren’t backed up data from the Minnesota secretary of state or from previous elections.

The list of precincts next to their alleged over-voters is striking. But what was also striking to my fellow Minnesotans at Powerline was that those sound a lot like cities and towns in Minnesota. And indeed they are. It even lists the Minnesota precincts as if they are not just in Michigan, but specifically in Wayne County. The text states that, in Wayne County, “25 of those 47 precincts/townships show 100% turnout.” But it then lists 25 precincts from Minnesota.

The fact that an affidavit with such a glaring error would be not just cited by the Trump campaign but filed as a part of an actual lawsuit might be the biggest takeaway here. It certainly speaks to a lack of due diligence. And it casts doubt on virtually everything else in the affidavit.

I would not be surprised if the Michigan AG starts looking into sanctions and criminal actions against the law firms who submitted this inaccurate data. Because it sure speaks of outright fraud and perjury. I'm sure the Ghouliani and his Cheeto boss will weasel out of it, but it would be nice to see some publicity regardless.

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To be fair, the Senate had to be an important factor in the VP choice, as well. If Bernie were the VP, Democrats would lose a seat in the Senate, as Phil Scott is Republican, unlike Gavin Newsom.

IMO it's one of the reasons Warren isn't being considered for SecTreas - we'd lose her seat to a GOP.

[Breccia]

I would not be surprised if the Michigan AG starts looking into sanctions and criminal actions against the law firms who submitted this inaccurate data.

Whoa, isn't that reserved for only the most severe of cases? I'm not saying this doesn't qualify, I just want to understand the severity of what you're saying.

[Benggaul]

Whoa, isn't that reserved for only the most severe of cases? I'm not saying this doesn't qualify, I just want to understand the severity of what you're saying.

I think providing false information in a sworn affidavit is punished pretty severely. The sticking point here is probably the difference between whether it was done intentionally or--like most things in this administration--through gross incompetence.

[PhaelixWW]

It is pretty bad already. Would any half-way decent law firms make this kind of mistake?

The Trump campaign’s much-hyped affidavit features a big, glaring error

This is fucking hilarious.

Rudy Giuliani: "There are many more affidavits here. I'd like to read them all to you, but I don't have the time. You should have had the time and energy to go look for them. That's your job, like it's my job to defend the president and to represent the president. It's your job to read these things and not falsely report that there's no evidence."

PowerLine: "Challenge accepted!"

[cubby]

Whoa, isn't that reserved for only the most severe of cases? I'm not saying this doesn't qualify, I just want to understand the severity of what you're saying.

It is indeed reserved for only severe cases. However, in this case, I would be delighted to argue that the affidavit submitted from the Trump Legal [dodo bird] Team is not merely inaccurate, but an attempt at both judicial fraud and perjury. Those are both felonies in Michigan. And easily a disbarrable offense. If Rudy is presenting in Michigan as an attorney, that means he had to join counsel with another firm (because Rudy isn't licensed in Michigan, therefore couldn't "practice" without "partnering" with another firm). That means both Rudy and the lawyer/firm are liable for Rudy's actions.

And to take it step further, you could easily argue that attempting to overturn and election is Election Fraud, another felony. Plus, it my mind, it is clearly Treason. No, I am not kidding about that accusation, nor the penalties it infers.

[Felya]

This is fucking hilarious.

Rudy Giuliani: "There are many more affidavits here. I'd like to read them all to you, but I don't have the time. You should have had the time and energy to go look for them. That's your job, like it's my job to defend the president and to represent the president. It's your job to read these things and not falsely report that there's no evidence."

PowerLine: "Challenge accepted!"

They were from red districts in Minnesota? Not even Michigan? What?

[PhaelixWW]

Bernie was on with Chris Cuomo last night and stated that the Governor of his state had already said he will appoint a Democrat or Independent in the vein of Bernie to replace him if he takes a position in the Biden administration. Now that's trusting a Republican to keep his word, but Bernie seemed unconcerned about it and mentioned that he'd be very interested in the Secretary of Labor position.

Now that's actually interesting. Looking more into the particulars of Vermont, it looks like his seat would likely go back to a Democrat after 6 months, regardless, which is probably why Scott said what he said in the first place.

[passingthrew]

Georgia certifies their ballots. Biden officially wins the state.

Says that is not true right now.

[PhaelixWW]

They were from red districts in Minnesota? Not even Michigan? What?

I don't know if there's a "womp womp" meme degrading enough to be used in this situation.

[Breccia]

I think providing false information in a sworn affidavit is punished pretty severely.

"Some guy said" isn't perjury, sadly. You're in trouble if you know it's false, but since when does Team Trump ever look into evidence? They grab a conspiracy theory headline and run out the door with it shrilling "Rigged! Riiiiiiiiigged!"

[Felya]

Says that is not true right now.

It’s been clarified to happen later today.

[xmirrors]

Says that is not true right now.

What in the hell?

What is going on with this country? Embarrassing.

[Felya]

What in the hell?

What is going on with this country? Embarrassing.

This isn’t anything... it’s happening later today... it’s not late or anything. Media just jumped the gun, when Biden was confirmed in the recount.

[Edge-]

PowerLine: "Challenge accepted!"

They're operating as if they think everyone is as gullible as some of Trump's base.

[Krakan]

I don't see the harm in doing a proper investigation myself. Sure you will never convince the die hards but it would help reassure some people. The election was an extremely close call ( via the system the states uses not popular vote) to be honest I'm surprised there is so much resistance to it.