George H. W. Bush was better than any Republican president since him and I admire his service to the country Still, we can’t forget about this.
Apparent Republican election fraud in North Carolina
Why doesn’t Trump say anything about this if he’s really concerned about election fraud?
Has there been a single prominent national Republican expressing concern about possible fraud in North Carolina? Because they were really losing their marbles over lawful but slow vote counting last month.
— Brian Schatz (@brianschatz) December 4, 2018
So where are all those Republicans who have been super concerned about election integrity? Kobach? Any thoughts on NC-9, where there's actually evidence of potential fraud?
— Aaron Blake (@AaronBlake) December 4, 2018
Get caught up on what the hell is going on in North Carolina's 9th district.
(HINT: It looks bad. Real bad.)https://t.co/T9U5wLft19
— Chris Cillizza (@CillizzaCNN) December 4, 2018
Like the woman I interviewed yesterday, Kinlaw never mailed the ballots. She gave them to McCrae Dowless. She doesn't know what he did with them afterward. She says she has no doubt Dowless wanted Mark Harris and Sheriff Jim McVicker to win. pic.twitter.com/8zQeZvFo4g
— Joe Bruno (@JoeBrunoWSOC9) December 4, 2018
NEW via @amyegardner @ludkmr: North Carolina election-fraud investigation centers on operative with criminal history who worked for GOP congressional candidate https://t.co/OVAWuoJIO7
— Matea Gold (@mateagold) December 4, 2018
so after all those baseless assertions about 2016 voter fraud from Trump, Kobach and other GOP pols, biggest instance of 2018 fraud appears to have occurred on behalf of conservative GOP pastor-candidate whose campaign hired a felon who stole ballots from elderly black Dem voters https://t.co/JvdHXjWrlZ
— John Harwood (@JohnJHarwood) December 4, 2018
Republicans looking for examples of election fraud and vote-rigging should look at the NC-9 congressional election. Yet because the fraud involves a GOP candidate, they are silent. Just like they were in VA-2. https://t.co/6JAZm8JmIe
— Marc E. Elias (@marceelias) December 1, 2018
A stunning statistic as more details come out about the Republican election fraud scheme to help Mark Harris win North Carolina's 9th Congressional District, where his 905 vote lead is within the potential margin of the alleged fraud #NC09 https://t.co/u1OBIUvy7k pic.twitter.com/QqPoc1vR3z
— Stephen Wolf (@PoliticsWolf) December 2, 2018
“I think there are a lot of missing absentee ballots from Black and American-Indian voters and I don’t have an answer for where those are and it’s deeply troubling.” — Allison Riggs of @scsj on the #NC09 House race. #Hardball pic.twitter.com/VB8k2PYMOg
— Hardball (@hardball) December 4, 2018
That does seem more and more likely with each passing day. https://t.co/gh7Imja7t8
— Chris Hayes (@chrislhayes) December 3, 2018
This is roughly my view on this race right now. pic.twitter.com/KKt2I7CPyR
— Nate Silver (@NateSilver538) December 3, 2018
What in the world… https://t.co/qVdEsY08YG
— (((Harry Enten))) (@ForecasterEnten) December 3, 2018
This is from a This American Life episode from *2 years ago*. This guy McCrae Dowless, who worked for a contractor to the @MarkHarrisNC9 campaign, was credibly accused of using the same exact scheme two years ago involving absentee ballots in the same county (Bladen Co). https://t.co/SNyvtjS3H4
— Nate Silver (@NateSilver538) December 3, 2018
State officials have begun to explore whether testimonies of fraud could help explain statistical irregularities in the absentee vote count for the Ninth District, which had previously been called by a margin of nine hundred and five votes. https://t.co/y68Gjslglp
— The New Yorker (@NewYorker) December 2, 2018
NCSBE has started to post documents.
Exhibit 4.2.1.1
Included is an absentee voters "know your rights" flyer. "Only you or your near relative or legal guardian can mail or deliver your ballot to the elections office." #NC09 #ncpol @wsoctv pic.twitter.com/91MenYePUY
— Joe Bruno (@JoeBrunoWSOC9) December 4, 2018
Shoutout to the Charlotte Observer for getting on top and staying on top of the vote fraud scandal swirling around Republican House candidate Mark Harris. Local news matters. https://t.co/LtlBjoNamh
— (((JonathanWeisman))) (@jonathanweisman) December 3, 2018
and there’s this
The NC GOP is trying to rush through a law that would REQUIRE every county elections board in NC to be chaired by a Republican in election years. These guys just can't stop trying to rig elections.
— Daniel Jacobson (@Dan_F_Jacobson) December 4, 2018
Republicans lost in Wisconsin so they want to strip power form incoming Democrats
They’re doing this in Michigan too and did it in North Carolina. Talk about sore losers. They are unwilling to respect the wishes of the voters. Of course, the national Republican party says nothing.
One Republican lawmaker said the measures were needed because the GOP didn't trust the incoming governor in Wisconsin. https://t.co/De5n29VZXG
— NBC News (@NBCNews) December 4, 2018
Protest has begun, as a sea of demonstrators stretches out in the freezing Wisconsin night in front of the Capitol. @NicholsUprising kicks us off. “They are trying to undo democracy!” pic.twitter.com/62ELTWbc5R
— Ben Wikler (@benwikler) December 3, 2018
Wisconsin Republicans got 46% of votes but won 63% of seats b/c of extreme gerrymandering & now undertaking brazen & unconstitutional power grab to prevent Dems from undoing their voting restrictions. Read this thread 👇 https://t.co/3u4AROehiM
— Ari Berman (@AriBerman) December 1, 2018
Wisconsin Republicans are holding a hearing this afternoon on their anti-democratic plan to strip powers from the newly elected Democratic governor and attorney general before they take office. The Republicans plan to be voting on it by tomorrow. https://t.co/Em0s8VFeFG
— Daniel Dale (@ddale8) December 3, 2018
I’m a political scientist who studies media, partisan polarization & democracy. What is proposed in Wisconsin is extraordinarily undemocratic. It is an active subversion of democracy to, as the architects themselves put it, make it easier to win elections and have more power. 1/ https://t.co/EOCKxHi9Ov
— Mike Wagner (@prowag) December 3, 2018
State Elections Commission — three Republicans and three Dems — comes out against plan to move Wisconsin's 2020 presidential primary. https://t.co/AQLmITYed3
— Patrick Marley (@patrickdmarley) December 3, 2018
In the @washingtonpost, read this piece on the WI & MI power grabs by @ColbyItkowitz & @feliciasonmez. First quote: @Tony4WI's dead-accurate characterization of the power grabs as "a repudiation of the last election."https://t.co/EpdXfPDQvq
— Ben Wikler (@benwikler) December 3, 2018
Now stealing from voters in Wisconsin, Michigan and Missouri. Party of Putin, not party of Lincoln. https://t.co/z8fIe3ibwy
— Norman Ornstein (@NormOrnstein) December 3, 2018
Wisconsin Republicans are mounting a North Carolina–style assault on democracy: https://t.co/CrUGZNiBDJ pic.twitter.com/sDRP4EfHa6
— Slate (@Slate) December 3, 2018
GOP press conference re their power grab attempt to kneecap the incoming Gov and AG. Their message literally provoking laughs in the room: “We’re trying to restore the balance of powers in the Wisconsin state government.” pic.twitter.com/gm55RK2zXO
— Ben Wikler (@benwikler) December 3, 2018
What Wisconsin Republicans are trying to do isn’t a good look for American democracy — changing the rules after you lose. https://t.co/CEOt9BOWGD
— Mark Murray (@mmurraypolitics) December 3, 2018
From Wisconsin https://t.co/Gs1B9brxGO
— Brendan Nyhan (@BrendanNyhan) December 3, 2018
This should be one of the biggest stories in America. It is a crisis for democracy https://t.co/ZuskNH8vZc
— Dan Pfeiffer (@danpfeiffer) December 3, 2018
Every civil rights victory since the 13th Amendment has been undermined by thinly veiled oppressive tactics, like the ones we are seeing today. https://t.co/e1l6xfvpgK via @MotherJones
— Voting Rights Inst. (@The_VRI) December 3, 2018
Trump appears to obstruct justice
Trump criticizes Cohen for cooperating with law enforcement – Trump is the top law enforcement official in the country. This sure looks like obstruction and the tweets were not a good idea.
Trump is the only guy that would try to describe a jail sentence as GREAT while simultaneously attempting to describe telling the truth about crimes committed as TERRIBLE. https://t.co/sHAqV8Wmdt
— Demitri Dawson (@DemitriDawson) December 3, 2018
Trump’s tweets about Cohen and Stone will be used as exhibits supporting a corrupt intent to obstruct justice and/or tamper with witnesses in Mueller’s report.
— Daniel Goldman (@danielsgoldman) December 3, 2018
I’ve never heard a public official speak this way before Trump. This sounds like something the criminals I used to prosecute would say. https://t.co/WVqoz2taVh
— Renato Mariotti (@renato_mariotti) December 3, 2018
George is right. This is genuinely looking like witness tampering. DOJ (at least with a nonfake AG) prosecutes cases like these all the time. The fact it's done out in the open is no defense. Trump is genuinely melting down, and no good lawyer can represent him under these circs https://t.co/zqFUoQvWTf
— Neal Katyal (@neal_katyal) December 3, 2018
Bravo to President Trump for calling for judges to throw the book at associates of his who commit crimes. I'm sure he will maintain this consistent position throughout his time in office. https://t.co/SWjQhb2aOJ
— Matthew Miller (@matthewamiller) December 3, 2018
President Trump incorrectly claimed in a tweet that Michael Cohen's crimes were not related to him, and called for his former personal attorney to serve a "full and complete sentence." https://t.co/WuauJIdh6C
— Axios (@axios) December 3, 2018
Is Donald Trump's Tweet About Roger Stone Witness Tampering? – Lawfare https://t.co/iJLBWypNZk
— Jack Shafer (@jackshafer) December 3, 2018
Highest elected official in the country appears to be trying to interfere in the sentencing of former lawyer who has implicated the president in guilty pleas. https://t.co/5RJWg07M1l
— Maggie Haberman (@maggieNYT) December 3, 2018
Should not be?? It’s one thing to avoid loose talk of impeachment. I’m all for that. But let’s not mince words in describing this crooked president’s witness tampering and attempts to obstruct justice. https://t.co/3BVnTRkSzi
— Laurence Tribe (@tribelaw) December 3, 2018
This one’s hilarious:
Leave me outta this https://t.co/oWt7sh0UGz
— Scott Free (@gbabyflt) December 3, 2018
update 12/3
President Trump publicly praises Roger Stone for having “guts!” to not testify against the president. Is that witness tampering? Experts weigh in.
https://t.co/VRZnzA8HUE— MSNBC (@MSNBC) December 4, 2018
Happening right in front of us https://t.co/BqB26ltf45
— Brendan Nyhan (@BrendanNyhan) December 4, 2018
Trump administration moving to open Alaska wilderness for oil drilling
This is disgraceful – Trump only cares about money.
The Trump administration is moving at breakneck speed to open the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge — the last great stretch of nothingness in the United States — to oil exploration. @henryfountain and @SteveEder give us the unforgettable story. https://t.co/1VeIRwOlkF
— John Schwartz (@jswatz) December 3, 2018
from the article:
“Decades of protections are unwinding with extraordinary speed as Republicans move to lock in drilling opportunities before the 2020 presidential election…”
Gerrymandering update after the midterms
GOP gerrymandering: Democratic votes not matched by seats gained
#ICYMI Democrats Are Poised to Wipe Out Republicans’ North Carolina Gerrymander In Time for the 2020 Election. #ncpol #ncga https://t.co/iKEgGjBZnJ pic.twitter.com/IrbEnaaUs4
— Kevin Rogers (@kevinjohnrogers) November 21, 2018
U.S. top court to review Virginia voting districts in race case https://t.co/7ebR9yDVMS pic.twitter.com/XcIz7bKsL2
— Reuters Top News (@Reuters) November 14, 2018
A Gerrymander Primer- Cures for NC & Beyond- Village Resistance 11-28-18 https://t.co/kOzFisXmN4
— Momentary Grace 🌙🌊🎸 (@momentarygrace) November 28, 2018
Efforts to undermine @CleanMissouri are getting national attention! "This [effort to undermine Amendment 1] is about preserving the power to gerrymander legislative districts, and is an absurd insult to Missouri voters." Read more here: https://t.co/bX9kUWvsEH #CleanMissouri pic.twitter.com/wCzq57tiBp
— MO Health Care Action (@MOHealthAction) November 28, 2018
The @MissouriGOP has already started and funded a committee to overturn the @CleanMissouri redistricting reforms approved by voters. This is about preserving the power to gerrymander legislative districts. Absurd insult to Missouri voters. pic.twitter.com/UjY9xmS2rL
— Tony Messenger (@tonymess) November 26, 2018
The Supreme Court is diving back into the abyss of racially drawn election districts. Can partisan gerrymandering be far behind? https://t.co/NNg18306jo
— USA TODAY (@USATODAY) November 13, 2018
Utah voters narrowly approve anti-gerrymandering reform https://t.co/igJJpbbLJN
— Salon (@Salon) November 22, 2018
This is the gerrymander that Republicans on the Supreme Court looked at and said "meh." https://t.co/UKgx8g4Cwv
— Ian Millhiser (@imillhiser) November 19, 2018
Be aware Wisconsin. Republicans attempting to make permanent their gerrymandered districts by taking power away from the newly elected Governor before he takes office. They fear fair elections. What will you do Scott Walker? Citizens of Wisconsin you must resist! https://t.co/obmbDwfYZv
— Eric Holder (@EricHolder) November 29, 2018
Meet the Gil case #gerrymander from Hell pic.twitter.com/MGnHGIV0Xs
— Erik Halvorsen (@erikhalvorsen18) November 29, 2018
Gerrymandering
North Carolina: Democrats won 48% of votes and 23% of seats
Ohio: Democrats won nearly 50% of votes and 25% of seatsPennsylvania, new court-ordered nonpartisan map: Dems won 55% of votes and 50% of seats, up from 28% of seats under old maphttps://t.co/kcp7lx4OMh
— Mike Rosenberg (@ByRosenberg) November 29, 2018
Trump’s Mar-a-Lago pals have influence over the VA
The House Oversight, and Veteran’s Affairs Committees concluded today that 3 men with ties to Mar a Lago golf club used connections to advance a plan “hugely profitable” to them to “monetize veteran’s records.” The report also mentions Jared and Ivanka. https://t.co/b75RLRGB3h
— Ron Filipkowski (@RonFilipkowski) September 27, 2021
Trump's Mar-a-Lago buddies are making calls at the VA. We got 300 pages of emails proving it: https://t.co/j91vgtiXFb
— Citizens for Ethics (@CREWcrew) September 6, 2019
update 12/4/18
Help Wanted: Old white men of leisure wanted for shadow ruler positions. No experience? No problem. Buy a Mar-a-Lago membership and you too can dabble in multi-billion dollar efforts to overhaul electronic records for millions of veterans. Contact Judge Elihu Smails to apply. https://t.co/pXe6pmDkFE
— Walter Shaub (@waltshaub) December 4, 2018
Could it have something to do with the three Mar-a-Lago donors that are now running the VA.https://t.co/bUWRNDJiuP
— Nichola Blair (@ToriRob11) November 12, 2018
Mar-a-Lago acquaintance of Pres. Trump applied pressure on the VA to get iPhone app his family designed to be adopted by Apple for use with veterans.
— Ben Kesling (@bkesling) November 21, 2018
VA officials killed the plan. https://t.co/44JNp5XmI4 via @WSJ
The Trump administration is defending the legality of having three Trump associates help steer the Department of Veterans Affairs from the president’s Mar-a-Lago resort, asserting that a Watergate-era sunshine law on advisory committees shouldn’t apply. https://t.co/9goIAhRpsq
— Citizens for Ethics (@CREWcrew) November 25, 2018
NEW: The Government Accountability Office will investigate whether individuals connected to President @realDonaldTrump’s Mar-a-Lago club in Florida have had inappropriate influence over the Department of Veterans Affairshttps://t.co/uv1Zss9sg4
— Josh Campbell (@joshscampbell) November 27, 2018
Dark money group Wellspring Committee
It has no employees or volunteers, and just a single board member.
No public facing operations.
No website.
Just millions of dollars from anonymous donors it dutifully passes on once it receives it. https://t.co/265PbYPMcH
— Robert Maguire (@RobertMaguire_) November 27, 2018
NEW: New tax records of "dark money" group Wellspring Committee highlights how unidentified donors can provide large sums to politically influential groups through complex webs of opaque groups and tax laws that allow contributors to remain hidden. https://t.co/KoRiF4whOy
— Michelle Ye Hee Lee (@myhlee) November 27, 2018
Labor Secretary Acosta
update 12/3/18
"A Democratic group of lawmakers is calling for a Justice Department investigation into Labor Secretary Alexander Acosta after a scathing report revealed decade-old allegations that he granted an alleged serial pedophile the “deal of a lifetime’’ …"https://t.co/wn8On317aL
— Maddow Blog (@MaddowBlog) December 4, 2018
“Acosta's starring role in the Epstein mess means that he has no business heading up a Department with forced labor, child exploitation and human trafficking responsibilities," writes @LizMair https://t.co/63TOIH2xOu
— The Daily Beast (@thedailybeast) December 4, 2018
I have been harping about this for days and still don’t know why none of these takes explore the fact that the Senate and the White House knew about this when Acosta was confirmed. It changes the dynamic immensely. https://t.co/bXIpJwwZjR
— Ian Kullgren (@IanKullgren) December 4, 2018
Miami Herald reporter @jkbjournalist says on @ReliableSources that she had to convince victims the Herald would actually publish the Acosta story, because they feared someone higher up at McClatchy would shut the story down.
— Rebecca Rainey (@RebeccaARainey) December 2, 2018
update 11/29/18
Trump labor secretary out of running for attorney general after report https://t.co/6N7S5zUakT
— Wendy Benjaminson (@wbenjaminson) November 29, 2018
Superb story about how Labor Secretary Alex Acosta let predator Jeffrey Epstein cut an unusual deal that even granted immunity to "any potential co-conspirators." The deal "essentially shut down an ongoing FBI probe into whether there were more victims." https://t.co/FD3jr8tAP2
— Daniel Dale (@ddale8) November 28, 2018
Homeland Security again vastly overstates the frequency of fake families at the border
The small number of people detained at the border with kids who weren't their own dropped over the summer, so DHS had to get creative with the numbers. https://t.co/igRRTedkSP
— Philip Bump (@pbump) November 28, 2018
