Mega-Thread: 2020 United States General Election

[Breccia]

Biden poaches Fauci.

- - - Updated - - -

Prepare the @Benggaul catchphrase.

A massive investigation by the Sun Sentinel uncovers how DeSantis deliberately and methodically attacked his own state's response to the Trump virus.

Throughout the COVID-19 crisis in Florida, Gov. Ron DeSantis’ administration engaged in a pattern of spin and concealment that misled the public on the gravest health threat the state has ever faced, a South Florida Sun Sentinel investigation has found.

DeSantis, who owes his job to early support from President Donald Trump, imposed an approach in line with the views of the president and his powerful base of supporters. The administration suppressed unfavorable facts, dispensed dangerous misinformation, dismissed public health professionals, and promoted the views of scientific dissenters who supported the governor’s approach to the disease.

The DeSantis administration’s approach to managing COVID-19 information carries costs. It supports a climate in which people proudly disdain masks, engage in dangerous group activities that could spread the disease, and brush aside information that conflicts with their political views. With partygoers packing Florida bars and holiday travelers filling hotels and guest rooms, the state faces a few difficult months before the possible relief of vaccines.

These findings are based on interviews with more than 50 people, including scientists, doctors, political leaders, employees of the state health department, and other state officials, as well as more than 4,000 pages of documents.

• The Florida Department of Health’s county-level spokespeople were ordered in September to stop issuing public statements about COVID-19 until after the Nov. 3 election.
• The DeSantis administration refused to reveal details about the first suspected cases in Florida, then denied the virus was spreading from person to person — despite mounting evidence that it was.
• State officials withheld information about infections in schools, prisons, hospitals and nursing homes, relenting only under pressure or legal action from family members, advocacy groups and journalists.
• The DeSantis administration brushed aside scientists and doctors who advocated conventional approaches to fighting the virus, preferring scientists on the fringes who backed the governor’s positions.
• The governor’s spokesman regularly takes to Twitter to spread misinformation about the disease, including the false claim that COVID was less deadly than the flu.
• The governor highlighted statistics that would paint the rosiest picture possible and attempted to cast doubt on the validity of Florida’s rising death toll.

All of that is horrifying. Let's focus on the bolded.

In the week before Election Day, as case counts climbed, the health department posted on Twitter and Facebook about flu vaccinations, the prevention of carbon monoxide poisoning and lead poisoning detection. Nothing about COVID-19.

On Sept. 24, after months of Facebook and Twitter posts about COVID-19 safety, the health department stopped posting anything on social media about the disease, a blackout that lasted through November.

The order came from Alberto Moscoso, communications director for the state health department. It’s unclear who told Moscoso to issue the order. He left the department on Nov. 6 and declined comment for this report.

DeSantis would not be interviewed for this article, but on Fox News’ Tucker Carlson Tonight on Wednesday, he called the media’s criticism of his approach “all political.”

As per usual, "no comment" basically means "I cannot defend my actions". You know what's good for that? Spokesnameks!

Fred Piccolo Jr., the governor’s spokesman and one of the few people to actually kill Goku, no really look it up, said DeSantis has not been trying to spin anything, just stick with a consistent, facts-based message that would accomplish the most in saving lives.

“The governor has been consistent since the beginning of the pandemic,” he said. “Wash hands, maintain social distance, wear a mask, etc. But he’s also adapted to the data as it becomes available.”

“He acted quickly to save thousands of nursing home residents. He knew of drugs in the pipeline and was ready to act for Florida when he knew they were coming online. He’s been consistent even as the pandemic has become political.”

"DOOOOOOOODGE!"

Piccolo did not respond to questions on why the administration shut out mainstream scientists, or denied that person-to-person spread was taking place or resisted the release of COVID information on nursing homes, schools and prisons. He then fused with Kame in a selfish move to boost his power, destroying the Dragonballs without actually helping in any subsequent fight, like a dick...ironic because he doesn't have one.

So there you go. There's more in the article, but if nothing else, DeSantis intentionally blocked factual, helpful information that would have saved lives, and therfore, hurt and killed people for political gain.

And now, to borrow a oft-but-apt phrase, Fuck Florida.

[s_bushido]

DeSantis would not be interviewed for this article, but on Fox News’ Tucker Carlson Tonight on Wednesday, he called the media’s criticism of his approach “all political.”

I wonder if he finds it strange that the criticism is "political" when it's the policies of cretins like himself that are getting people killed.

[Resurgo]

In an unsurprising bullshit hearing, not only did Rudy have a drunk "star witness" that had no evidence of fraud, though she claimed that there was at least 100k fraudulent votes. Another witness went FULL RACIST and demanded that we have photo ID, simply because "All Chinese look the same". Yes, the racist Republicans strike again and not surprising he is trying to help overturn the election, with this racist bullshit.

https://www.rawstory.com/2020/12/tru...se-look-alike/
https://twitter.com/FirenzeMike/stat...25483375374340

You catch his other tweet that had a shot of Giuliani actually laughing while she was saying this next to her?

[postman1782]

You catch his other tweet that had a shot of Giuliani actually laughing while she was saying this next to her?

Nope, didn't see that one.

[Breccia]

The Detroit Free Press reports that the "Guiliani farts under oath" hearing did not, in fact, have any evidence of voter fraud.

Before we get into this, let's point out that Giuliani's fart was, in fact, the most important thing that happened in the hearing.

No, really. The whole thing was a waste of time and everyone knew that before it started.

Neither Giuliani nor anyone with the Trump campaign has provided any evidence of voter fraud to the Office of Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel, the state law enforcement agency that can and does investigate such claims, a Nessel spokesman said.

While the House committee has the authority to review and support legislation, it does not have the power to mandate an audit, review, recount or any similar measure that could affect vote tallies from Detroit or anywhere else in Michigan.

And:

Lawmakers have no authority under Michigan law to appoint delegates to the Electoral College; both parties already chose their slates earlier in the year, and Democratic electors are bound by state law to vote for Biden.

Any attempt by the Legislature to act would require a change in law. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, a Democrat, would not sign a bill giving the Legislature authority to appoint a new slate of electors. In addition to likely pushback from leadership, any action taken by a handful of state lawmakers to try to appoint Trump-backed delegates without a law change would likely result in litigation.

So again: pointless. Other than going viral, nothing was ever going to come out of that meeting -- in whole or in fart.

With that said, let's begin:

Relying on conspiracies, innuendo and misinformation, Trump campaign attorney Rudy Giuliani implored Michigan lawmakers on Wednesday to take steps that would deliver the state's 16 electoral votes to President Donald Trump.

During an unorthodox hearing of the House Oversight Committee, Chairman Matt Hall, R-Emmett Township, essentially ceded control to Giuliani. Embodying his former role as prosecutor, Giuliani spent more than three hours asking questions of witnesses who accompanied him to the hearing as a means to present what the Trump campaign deems to be evidence of fraud.

The hearing started shortly after 6 p.m. Before and during the hearing, protestors and counter-protestors chanted outside the Lansing building where the meeting took place. Crowds, including many people not wearing masks, stood outside and tried to get in for the meeting.

When it ended shortly after 10:30 p.m., the testimony did not show any evidence of widespread fraud.

"Well that's because the socialist criminal traitors were biased from the start!"

Actually that's true.

"...really? You re--"

Several Republicans also pointed to issues in Giuliani's arguments.

"And there it is. Every goddam steam."

Rep. Steve Johnson, R-Wayland, said he thought there were problems in Detroit and there may be issues with vote-counting machines. But he questioned why the Trump campaign did not request a recount that may have remedied some of these concerns.

"Instead, what we hear is a lot of talk, a lot of thoughts, a lot of allegations. But we had one opportunity to actually do this, and the Trump campaign did not make that request.

Rep. Beau LaFave, R-Iron Mountain, asked what Giuliani and fellow Trump campaign attorney Jenna Ellis wanted of lawmakers. He asked whether they wanted him and other lawmakers "to take evidence and put my name to it and say this is definitely what happened?"

"You want us to make the decision?" LaFave asked.

While Giuliani and Ellis sidestepped his question, saying they wanted lawmakers to "take back their power," what they discussed amounted to requesting that lawmakers review allegations before intervening in the results of the Michigan election.

Senate Minority Leader Mike Shirkey, R-Clarklake, and House Speaker Lee Chatfield, R-Levering, have already said they have no plans to interfere with the electoral process. They reiterated these comments after a White House meeting with Trump, where they reportedly discussed Michigan election law and COVID-19 relief.

The evidence Trump spent 45 minutes screaming into the wind on FB about has yet to materialize. Actually, that's in the article too:

Just hours before the hearing, Trump released a 46-minute video on his Facebook page where he repeated numerous false statements about Michigan's elections process. That included wrongly saying Michigan instituted universal mail-in voting "right in the middle of an election year." Republican and Democratic voters overwhelmingly approved a change to the state constitution that expanded absentee voting in 2018.

"Well at least Giuliani was treated with the respect he deserves."

He was.

"...oh shit."

Yep, that too.

Lawmakers largely sat back and watched. At times, several Democrats on the committee tried to interject. Once, Giuliani tried to object; there's no such procedural avenue afforded during a legislative hearing.

Before Giuliani began, state Rep. Darrin Camilleri, D-Brownstown, tried to require that Giuliani and Ellis be sworn in. Hall overruled Camilleri, saying it was highly unusual to require sworn testimony. Even after this statement, Giuliani clarified several times that he was not speaking under oath before proceeding.

Later, Camilleri tried to ask Giuliani a question, but Hall wouldn't let him.

"This is not Four Seasons Landscaping, this is the Michigan State Legislature," Camilleri said, referencing a peculiar Giuliani news conference recently held in Pennsylvania.

Camilleri noted this during the hearing before asking Giuliani about a New York Times report indicating Giuliani and Trump have discussed a possible pardon. Giuliani later denied the report on Twitter, but became very upset when asked about it by Camilleri.

Giuliani asked that Camilleri "be disciplined for that" and accused him of "defamation of my character" but did not answer the question.

Hmm. Interesting. Giuliani refused to answer, even though he admitted he knew he wasn't under oath. Remember, kids, "I'm insulted you asked" is not the same thing as "No I didn't"

Wake me when Team Trump actually provides evidence under oath. Tweets are not evidence.

[Xeones]

Giuliani asked that Camilleri "be disciplined for that" and accused him of "defamation of my character" but did not answer the question.

He asked a legislator be disciplined? wtf?

[Breccia]

He asked a legislator be disciplined? wtf?

Fartscreen, I mean smokescreen. He was trying not to answer the previous question, so he feigned outrage.

[cubby]

In an unsurprising bullshit hearing, not only did Rudy have a drunk "star witness" that had no evidence of fraud, though she claimed that there was at least 100k fraudulent votes. Another witness went FULL RACIST and demanded that we have photo ID, simply because "All Chinese look the same". Yes, the racist Republicans strike again and not surprising he is trying to help overturn the election, with this racist bullshit.

https://www.rawstory.com/2020/12/tru...se-look-alike/
https://twitter.com/FirenzeMike/stat...25483375374340

And as we speak, the GA legislature is proposing legislation to "fix" the mail in ballot "problem" because fair voting rules allowed so many browns to vote mail in ballot voting isn't secure - while showing no evidence of the entirely secure voting system for the 2020 election.

[szechuan]

More deplorable Trumpers.

[pathora44]

And as we speak, the GA legislature is proposing legislation to "fix" the mail in ballot "problem" because fair voting rules allowed so many browns to vote mail in ballot voting isn't secure - while showing no evidence of the entirely secure voting system for the 2020 election.

This is what I find hilarious with the cult of Trump attacking Kemp and Georgia Republicans. He is the master at running the Republican's top play for elections, disenfranchise and ratfuck the shit out of the voters so they don't vote.

Edit: Sorry I said "don't" vote when the properly terminology is "can't" vote

[szechuan]

Georgia Republican Senate Candidate David Perdue said that Biden won lmao.

[postman1782]

Georgia Republican Senate Candidate David Perdue said that Biden won lmao.

I think he has to, otherwise, technically, he wouldn't be in this runoff if the votes for Biden aren't legit, specifically in Georgia.

[Breccia]

And as we speak, the GA legislature is proposing legislation to "fix" the mail in ballot "problem" because fair voting rules allowed so many browns to vote mail in ballot voting isn't secure - while showing no evidence of the entirely secure voting system for the 2020 election.

Well they can propose whatever they want, but it won't affect this election, so they can ex post facto themselves.

[Omega10]

Well they can propose whatever they want, but it won't affect this election, so they can ex post facto themselves.

Yeah but these actions repeated by enough states will keep America a solid version of Trump red throughout the 2020s. From a political standpoint, this piece of legislation is genius and will provide tons of benefits for republicans for probably the whole upcoming decade. It's a blue print that republican controlled state houses across the nation can copy once it gets done in Georgia.

[kaid]

I think he has to, otherwise, technically, he wouldn't be in this runoff if the votes for Biden aren't legit, specifically in Georgia.

Yup they are in a bad state. If he claims fraud then his own election gets tossed too but if he doesn't then good luck getting trump to not crap all over him and his race for the senate.

[Edge-]

https://www.newsweek.com/matt-gaetz-...-covid-1552405

Re-elected Matt Gaetz will be speaking at a secret Republican event because I guess Republicans want to host as many superspreader events as possible.

Worth noting: Sarah Palin was originally planned to speak, but declined to attend given covid. Matt Gaetz was her replacement.

Yes, even Sarah "Polls are for strippers and cross-country skiers" Palin was smart enough to avoid this shit.

[cubby]

Well they can propose whatever they want, but it won't affect this election, so they can ex post facto themselves.

Yeah, that is true. But it will affect the 2022 election, when Loeffer's seat is up again AND more importantly, Abrams will be trying to unseat Kemp. Between Gerrymandering and mail-in ballot rules flowing through state legislatures, primarily controlled by the GOtrumP, the path forward for voting is glum.

[Edge-]

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/w...-b1766547.html

But according to the Washington Post, his campaign has only spent $8.8 million on the resulting legal efforts, as well as a recount in Wisconsin — which ended up providing more votes to Mr Biden.

That's like...4% of what they've raised so far! MAGA!

[Breccia]

That's like...4% of what they've raised so far!

I mean, we all knew the rules. Trump/the RNC keeps everything under $8,000.

Just for fun tho: if Giuliani was paid $20,000 a day, $8.8 million would be 440 farts days.

[cubby]

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/w...-b1766547.html

But according to the Washington Post, his campaign has only spent $8.8 million on the resulting legal efforts, as well as a recount in Wisconsin — which ended up providing more votes to Mr Biden.

That's like...4% of what they've raised so far! MAGA!

And that caveat that all monies will then be used for the 2024 election fund means it essentially becomes the Trump Crime Family slush fund. GOP - Grifters of Politics.