Pennsylvania votes

[silverscreenselect]

NBC and Fox News have called Pennsylvania for Fetterman. If current results hold in the other elections, Democrats will lead 50-49 with Georgia going to a runoff.

[Bob78164]

In the Senate race, I voted for the charlatan who ultimately stands for nothing, Mehmet Oz, over Fetterman, who historically has been too soft on crime for me, but more importantly I have severe reservations about his health and fitness to serve based on the stroke.

I’d be interested to see you revisit this latter concern after Senator-elect Fetterman has served for a few months, or a couple of years. My prediction is that you’ll conclude in retrospect that it proved unfounded. —Bob

[Weyoun]

In the Senate race, I voted for the charlatan who ultimately stands for nothing, Mehmet Oz, over Fetterman, who historically has been too soft on crime for me, but more importantly I have severe reservations about his health and fitness to serve based on the stroke.

I’d be interested to see you revisit this latter concern after Senator-elect Fetterman has served for a few months, or a couple of years. My prediction is that you’ll conclude in retrospect that it proved unfounded. —Bob

Possibly. I have some concerns about his unusually lengthy hospital stay for his stroke. And I have concerns that he wasn’t listening to medical advice regarding his rumored atrial fibrillation in the years before the episode.

I’m not bummed by these results. If you ask me a week from now, I might even feel relieved that the Trumpers in particular cratered. And having an actual guy from the state be our Senator! It was much discussed in these parts when Oz told folks last week to email several friends this Sunday, before the Steelers game. But the Steelers had a bye, you carpetbagging dumbass.

[Weyoun]

In the Senate race, I voted for the charlatan who ultimately stands for nothing, Mehmet Oz, over Fetterman, who historically has been too soft on crime for me, but more importantly I have severe reservations about his health and fitness to serve based on the stroke.


Weyoun, I applaud your honesty. Of course, it undermines any high ground you feel you had against former Trump voters. Plus ca change, plus c'est la meme.

I’m gathering you’re suggesting that it’s hypocritical of me to say that, after voting for Biden?

But Trump is also old and not in great mental health, with all sorts of examples of that, so that whole issue was always going to be a wash.

My point was we all make choices at a particular point in time that aren't necessarily happymaking for the long run. But are better than the alternative.

We had four years of Trump governing, and seeing how bad he was at it. That was pretty persuasive.

[Bob Juch]

In the Senate race, I voted for the charlatan who ultimately stands for nothing, Mehmet Oz, over Fetterman, who historically has been too soft on crime for me, but more importantly I have severe reservations about his health and fitness to serve based on the stroke.

I’d be interested to see you revisit this latter concern after Senator-elect Fetterman has served for a few months, or a couple of years. My prediction is that you’ll conclude in retrospect that it proved unfounded. —Bob

Possibly. I have some concerns about his unusually lengthy hospital stay for his stroke. And I have concerns that he wasn’t listening to medical advice regarding his rumored atrial fibrillation in the years before the episode.

I’m not bummed by these results. If you ask me a week from now, I might even feel relieved that the Trumpers in particular cratered. And having an actual guy from the state be our Senator! It was much discussed in these parts when Oz told folks last week to email several friends this Sunday, before the Steelers game. But the Steelers had a bye, you carpetbagging dumbass.

A corpse would do a better job than Oz.

[Bob Juch]

Josh Shapiro, a Democrat, defeated Doug Mastriano for Governor.

[Bob78164]

I'm told by an old high-school classmate (a current Democrat, who once was an elected officeholder as a Republican) that Democrats have flipped the Pennsylvania state House of Representatives. Adding that to picking up a trifecta in Michigan for the first time in 40 years, and reclaiming a trifecta in Minnesota, and it's starting to look like a pretty good day for team Blue.

Take into account the economic environment and the President's approval ratings, and it seems to me a pretty clear repudiation of the current incarnation of the Republican Party, particularly if Democrats hold both Houses of Congress, which is now a distinct possibility. I wonder whether Republican primary voters will take the hint. --Bob

[Weyoun]

I'm told by an old high-school classmate (a current Democrat, who once was an elected officeholder as a Republican) that Democrats have flipped the Pennsylvania state House of Representatives. Adding that to picking up a trifecta in Michigan for the first time in 40 years, and reclaiming a trifecta in Minnesota, and it's starting to look like a pretty good day for team Blue.

Take into account the economic environment and the President's approval ratings, and it seems to me a pretty clear repudiation of the current incarnation of the Republican Party, particularly if Democrats hold both Houses of Congress, which is now a distinct possibility. I wonder whether Republican primary voters will take the hint. --Bob

Primary voters will not take the hint.

They continue to indulge all sorts of QAnon fantasies.

And directly, they’re holding the whole country hostage.

But this is good news. In Pennsylvania in particular, the Republicans were planning to do all sorts of electoral shenanigans to make elections dramatic each and every time. Tinpot Confederate sympathizer Doug Mastriano made that very clear.

[silverscreenselect]

But this is good news. In Pennsylvania in particular, the Republicans were planning to do all sorts of electoral shenanigans to make elections dramatic each and every time. Tinpot Confederate sympathizer Doug Mastriano made that very clear.

Dr. Oz called Fetterman yesterday morning to concede and then issued one of those what-used-to-be-typical concession statements about working together "We are facing big problems as a country and we need everyone to put down their partisan swords and focus on getting the job done. With bold leadership that brings people together, we can create real change." Mastriano (who lost even worse than Oz) has not conceded. Kari Lake, who trails by about 10,000 votes in the Arizona governor's race, is already claiming fraud. If she loses, this won't be pretty.

[tlynn78]

I’d be interested to see you revisit this latter concern after Senator-elect Fetterman has served for a few months, or a couple of years. My prediction is that you’ll conclude in retrospect that it proved unfounded. —Bob

Possibly. I have some concerns about his unusually lengthy hospital stay for his stroke. And I have concerns that he wasn’t listening to medical advice regarding his rumored atrial fibrillation in the years before the episode.

I’m not bummed by these results. If you ask me a week from now, I might even feel relieved that the Trumpers in particular cratered. And having an actual guy from the state be our Senator! It was much discussed in these parts when Oz told folks last week to email several friends this Sunday, before the Steelers game. But the Steelers had a bye, you carpetbagging dumbass.

A corpse would do a better job than Oz.

Well, PA voters elected one, so we'll get the chance to test that theory..

[silverscreenselect]

[jarnon]

Pennsylvania Democrats appear to have won a razor-thin majority of seats in the state House of Representatives for the first time in 12 years, an unexpected victory for the party that will have a major impact on how legislation moves through Harrisburg for the next two years. Democrats are likely to have won at least 102 seats in the 203-member chamber after ballots counted in Montgomery County’s 151st District on Wednesday put Democrat Melissa Cerrato 37 votes ahead of incumbent Republican Rep. Todd Stephens.

[jarnon]

At the behest of the Republican Party, thousands of votes already cast by legitimate Pennsylvania voters are being ignored. Why? Because those voters neglected to write a date on the envelope containing their vote.

Let's be clear about this. There's no question these voters are eligible to vote. There's no question these votes were cast on time because it's before Election Day and the votes are already in the possession of election officials. This is nothing more than an effort to use technicalities to disenfranchise voters who have every right to be heard. (I understand a federal lawsuit is in the offing, on the ground that the attempt to disqualify the votes is contrary to federal law.)

Would someone care to explain to me how disenfranchising thousands of eligible Pennsylvania voters is good for democracy? --Bob

This will please Bob (and possibly annoy Flock): Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court ruled that the law requiring a date on the outer ballot envelope violates the state constitution because it disenfranchises some voters without making mail-in voting any more secure.

The GOP can appeal to the Pennsylvania Supreme Court which is more liberal than Commonwealth Court. They can’t take it to the U.S. Supreme Court because it’s a state constitutional issue. A companion lawsuit that argues that the rule violates the federal voting rights act is now inconsequential.

[Bob78164]

At the behest of the Republican Party, thousands of votes already cast by legitimate Pennsylvania voters are being ignored. Why? Because those voters neglected to write a date on the envelope containing their vote.

Let's be clear about this. There's no question these voters are eligible to vote. There's no question these votes were cast on time because it's before Election Day and the votes are already in the possession of election officials. This is nothing more than an effort to use technicalities to disenfranchise voters who have every right to be heard. (I understand a federal lawsuit is in the offing, on the ground that the attempt to disqualify the votes is contrary to federal law.)

Would someone care to explain to me how disenfranchising thousands of eligible Pennsylvania voters is good for democracy? --Bob

This will please Bob (and possibly annoy Flock): Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court ruled that the law requiring a date on the outer ballot envelope violates the state constitution because it disenfranchises some voters without making mail-in voting any more secure.

The GOP can appeal to the Pennsylvania Supreme Court which is more liberal that Commonwealth Court. They can’t take it to the U.S. Supreme Court because it’s a state constitutional issue. A companion lawsuit that argues that the rule violates the federal voting rights act is now inconsequential.

In other words, no one could explain to the Court's satisfaction how the challenged rule was good for democracy. I'm glad they rested the decision on state constitutional grounds that are immune from tinkering by the U.S. Supreme Court's Republican caucus. --Bob

[Bob78164]

The Pennsylvania Supreme Court vacated the Commonwealth Court's ruling on purely procedural grounds, ruling that the County Board of Elections of all 67 counties needed to be named as parties, and in their absence the Commonwealth Court lacked jurisdiction to decide the case. Three Justices dissented from the ruling, and would have exercised the Court's discretion to take up the matter anyway so as to resolve the issue before the election.

It bears emphasis that this was not a decision on the merits. It remains entirely possible that when the Pennsylvania Supreme Court reaches the merits, it will agree with the now-vacated decision of the Commonwealth Court. --Bob

[Bob Juch]

Pennsylvania mail-in ballots with flawed dates on envelopes can be thrown out, court rules

Pennsylvania voters could have their mail-in ballots thrown out if they do not write accurate dates on envelopes they use to return them under a state Supreme Court ruling

https://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/pen ... -113675710

[Bob78164]

Pennsylvania mail-in ballots with flawed dates on envelopes can be thrown out, court rules

Pennsylvania voters could have their mail-in ballots thrown out if they do not write accurate dates on envelopes they use to return them under a state Supreme Court ruling

https://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/pen ... -113675710

Not correct. I've read the actual opinion. Read what I wrote immediately above. It is not a ruling on the merits. --Bob

[earendel]

This probably belongs in the other forum.

[Bob78164]

This probably belongs in the other forum.

I don't disagree, but this thread predates the other forum and (rightly or wrongly) the decision has (I understand) been made that we won't move a thread without the consent of everyone who has already participated in it. --Bob

[flockofseagulls104]

Booby wants to post his opinions without anyone questioning him. The people on this forum have decided they don't want to hear it. So, if you want to spread your one-sided propaganda, move it over to the political forum, whatever it is. Anyone who wants to hear it can go over there.

[Bob Juch]

Booby wants to post his opinions without anyone questioning him. The people on this forum have decided they don't want to hear it. So, if you want to spread your one-sided propaganda, move it over to the political forum, whatever it is. Anyone who wants to hear it can go over there.

I don't see this as political; it's a non-partisan legal discussion.

[jarnon]

Sen. Casey is hoping these flawed ballots will help him achieve a long-shot victory.

Warning to Flock: This could make your head explode

“I think we all know that precedent by a court doesn’t matter anymore in this country,” said Bucks County Commissioner Diane Ellis-Marseglia, a Democrat, as she cast a vote Thursday to count certain deficient provisional ballots previously barred by court order, where voters did not sign in one or both necessary boxes.

“People violate laws any time they want,” she said. “So, for me, if I violate this law it’s because I want a court to pay attention. There’s nothing more important than counting votes.”

[BackInTex]

Sen. Casey is hoping these flawed ballots will help him achieve a long-shot victory.

Warning to Flock: This could make your head explode

“I think we all know that precedent by a court doesn’t matter anymore in this country,” said Bucks County Commissioner Diane Ellis-Marseglia, a Democrat, as she cast a vote Thursday to count certain deficient provisional ballots previously barred by court order, where voters did not sign in one or both necessary boxes.

“People violate laws any time they want,” she said. “So, for me, if I violate this law it’s because I want a court to pay attention. There’s nothing more important than counting votes.”

She left out a couple words.

"There's nothing more important than properly counting valid votes."

[Bob78164]

Sen. Casey is hoping these flawed ballots will help him achieve a long-shot victory.

Warning to Flock: This could make your head explode

“I think we all know that precedent by a court doesn’t matter anymore in this country,” said Bucks County Commissioner Diane Ellis-Marseglia, a Democrat, as she cast a vote Thursday to count certain deficient provisional ballots previously barred by court order, where voters did not sign in one or both necessary boxes.

“People violate laws any time they want,” she said. “So, for me, if I violate this law it’s because I want a court to pay attention. There’s nothing more important than counting votes.”

She left out a couple words.

"There's nothing more important than properly counting valid votes."

And under federal law, which states that immaterial errors can't be used to block a voter's vote from being counted, the votes appear to be valid. (That, by the way, is the position McCormack took two years ago when he lost the primary to Mehmet Oz.)

The Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruling I've seen cited talks about changing rules during the pendency of an ongoing election. This election is now neither pending nor ongoing, so that Court's rationale no longer applies and Pennsylvania's lower courts are free to consider the issue on its merits. --Bob

[jarnon]

I know there’s been no definitive court ruling on whether ballots with missing or invalid dates should be counted anyway. Local election officials just want clarity. I wish they’d express that in a way that shows more respect for the legal system.