Month: February 2020

By Chief

At the time of this writing it appears inevitable that at the very least Bernie will have a large plurality of the delegates when the Democrats go to convention in July. Here at the blog, we speculate there is something a brewin’ behind the scenes because at the last debate; Booty Judge, Klob-Butcher, Mini Mike, and Demented Uncle Joe all attacked Bernie not just on his electability but also on his effect on down ticket races. As the headline of this blog mentioned, the real problem with Bernie isn’t HIS socialist policies, but the fact that said policies don’t play well everywhere.

William has been pounding the table saying this election will be California values vs the rest of the country. He is correct, as its shaping up that way. You see Bernie is very popular in some parts of the country, one could argue he even has a Trump-like following. Problem for Bernie is that his policies only play well around academia, with young voters, and people who love the word “free.” The flipside being his policies are deeply unpopular pretty much everywhere else. As a country, we have literally watched this play out the last couple weeks. He praised Fidel Castro, and is vehemently anti-Israel, this will likely end up in him losing Florida. He wants a complete ban on fracking, this likely causes him to lose Pennsylvania, Ohio and the upper Midwest. Start doing the delegate math and it’s hard to find a path to victory for him. Don’t get me wrong, Bernie will still run up big vote totals; however, CA, NY, IL, WA, and OR only count for so many electoral votes.

It’s not just Bernie losing on election night that poses the biggest problem for Democrats, it’s his coat tails or lack thereof that could be devastating. The Democrats in 2018 won big in the House, and won some governorships and statehouses, they won very big in the suburbs. The suburbs are where the Democrats are concerned about being routed this time around. They successfully made a case that Trump’s policies were not the best in those areas and won; however, this time it will be different. I don’t see those same voters embracing socialism. Nationally, the stakes are higher in 2020. We have a census going on where congressional lines will be re-drawn; the House could be re-shaped for a decade! This is the real reason the Democrats are so scared. Not only could their gains be wiped out, but they could find themselves in the minority for a long time.

We are still a ways out from November, and the Corona virus is taking its toll on the economy and international travel right now, so anything could happen. But I think the effort behind the scenes by the power brokers is very real. They want no part of a socialist running at the top of the ticket because win or lose, his policies become the de facto party platform. You are already starting to see incumbents distance themselves from Bernie and I cannot say I blame them. If I was a Democrat in an area that was not heavily exposed to academia or big city living, I would be updating the resume because you might be feelin’ the Bern on election night.

I am curious as to how this ends up playing out, but if I was a power broker, I would be trying to stop Bernie before he does irreparable harm to the country and the party. Their problem is how to do it without splitting the Party? Frankly, I’m not sure they can.

The Chief

Democrats let Uncle Joe out of the basement again today just to see if anybody cared. Joe has been having many pound me too (#MeToo) moments lately just to get noticed. Joe says outrageous and provocative things just to see if he can get an honorable mention in stories focused on Bernie Sanders and Mike Bloomberg. Here’s a few recent zingers that Joe has uttered this week with a straight face.

“150 million people have been killed since 2007 when Bernie voted to exempt the gun manufacturers from liability, more than all the wars, including Vietnam from that point on.”
Joe Biden 02/25/2020

Biden oddly suggests ‘150 million’ people killed by guns since 2007

Biden just declared that about 45 percent of the US population has died from random gun violence in the last dozen years and thinks blaming Sanders is the solution? Oh, and from that we are to think Biden is the best choice for President!! Hey Joe, most random homeless people still have enough brain cells left to know you’re full of excrement.

I don’t know if its his advanced age or dementia but the line between this life and the next is very thin in Biden’s world. Did you know that he negotiated a climate deal with a world leader that died almost 20 years before he was ever VP?

Presidential candidate Joe Biden appeared to make another misstep during a campaign event in South Carolina on Monday, claiming to have worked on the Paris Climate Accord with former Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping, who died 19 years before the agreement was signed.

Joe Biden Claims to Have Worked On 2016 Paris Climate Deal With Chinese Leader Who Died In 1997

“One of the things I’m proudest of is getting passed, getting moved, getting in control of the Paris Climate Accord,” Biden told the crowd. “I’m the guy who came back after meeting with Deng Xiaoping and making the case that I believe China will join if we put pressure on them. We got almost 200 nations to join.”

Deng led China from 1978 until his retirement in 1992. Under his leadership, the Communist Party opened China to foreign investment and reaped the rewards of breakneck economic growth. The decision laid the foundations for contemporary China and its enormous economy.

At the same campaign event, Biden tried to demonstrate his vast understanding of Second Amendment issues with this comment:

“Who in God’s name needs a hundred rounds in a bullet, in a clip, with a gun you have?”

Biden says he negotiated climate deal with long-dead Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping

My response to Joe is that we need guns to protect us from pompous idiots like you that think you are superior to us because you got elected to office and parlayed it into a way to become millionaires at our expense. Public Service my foot.

But folks Biden wasn’t done yet.

Biden had another odd gaffe that day. Wrapping up his remarks at the South Carolina Democratic Party’s First in the South Dinner, he misspoke about which office he was seeking and made a puzzling reference to another Biden.

“Where I come from, you don’t get far unless you ask. My name’s Joe Biden. I’m a Democratic candidate for the United States Senate. Look me over. If you like what you see, help out. If not, vote for the other Biden,” he said.

Biden also raised eyebrows when he recently shared an unverified claim on the campaign trail that he was once arrested in South Africa trying to see Nelson Mandela in prison, something he had never previously shared.

So, there’s another Biden, an evil Biden? Joe is he hiding in your head too? Bipolar might explain as much as it answers. Was it just a “senior moment” that you claimed to be running for Senate or were you having flashbacks to when you thought you were relevant? Speaking of relevant, invoking a bogus story that even MSNBC doesn’t believe about you being arrested trying to see Nelson Mandela.

From that great Conservative Media outlet, The Washington Post

“This day, 30 years ago, Nelson Mandela walked out of prison and entered into discussions about apartheid. I had the great honor of meeting him. I had the great honor of being arrested with our U.N. ambassador on the streets of Soweto trying to get to see him on Robbens Island.”
— Former vice president Joe Biden, in remarks in Columbia, S.C., on Feb. 11

“After he [Mandela] got free and became president, he came to Washington and came to my office. He threw his arms around me and said, ‘I want to say thank you.’ I said, ‘What are you thanking me for, Mr. President?’ He said: ‘You tried to see me. You got arrested trying to see me.’”
— Biden, in remarks in Las Vegas on Feb. 16

Biden’s ridiculous claim he was arrested trying to see Mandela

We were reminded of that episode when we saw that former vice president Joe Biden has told voters at least three times that he was arrested in South Africa while trying to visit Nelson Mandela. The New York Times has done a great job deconstructing this story, but it cries out for our own fact check and a Pinocchio rating.

The South Carolina primary, with its large percentage of African American voters, is critical for Biden’s hopes to emerge as the top challenger to the current front-runner for the Democratic nomination, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.). Sanders participated in the civil rights movement, unlike Biden, and photos have emerged of Sanders being arrested during a civil rights protest at the University of Chicago.

Biden, as a senator, was active in the anti-apartheid movement, helping pass sanctions on companies doing business in South Africa over President Ronald Reagan’s veto. But there is no evidence that Biden was ever arrested trying to see the imprisoned future president of a democratic South Africa.

Biden’s second statement — that Mandela thanked him for being arrested — also is not credible.

…there’s no excuse for telling an invented story like this.

Biden has never been shy about tooting his own horn. So it’s pretty surprising that on the eve of a primary critical to his election hopes, he suddenly recalls being arrested in South Africa — and being thanked by Mandela for being arrested. There is no evidence for either claim; neither appears remotely credible. Biden earns Four Pinocchios.

Folks when The Washington Times and Fox News agree that you’re blowing smoke up the voter’s tailpipes, then as Liz Warren might say, “Old White man in heap big trouble.”

When looking at the Biden campaign, I’m reminded of a line from the Kansas album Drastic Measures which asks, “Are you for real or are you going through the motions?”

By Chief

Editor’s Note: Chief tried to send this post to us via the old ways (smoke signals) but after burning ½ cord of oak, and scorching holes in two blankets and his wife’s buffalo skin rug, he finally relented and had Troll send it via email.

The Troll and I were unfortunate enough to draw the short sticks (straws are illegal contraband here in CA) and were forced to watch and report on the debate last Wednesday night. Take that back, it was an honor, here is the reaction.

First I had a hard time finding the channel as I was pirating the signal from my neighbor’s cable company. Then when I got the TV to work, I had to find the channel; I searched for at least 30 minutes and had no luck. I tried Al-Jazeera News, since well I figured they were a sponsor, C-SPAN because well that channel is usually a snooze fest and this would qualify… Still nothing. Then I figured it had to be on Comedy Central! Still nothing, finally we located it just in time for it to start. To quote myself “what a time to be alive!” This debate was banana lands from start to finish, let me tell you.

First off only 6 candidates were featured; Sanders, Warren, Booty Judge, Biden (He wasn’t Hidin’ for this one), Klob-butcher, and “Mini” Mike Bloomberg. The latter only qualifying at the last minute after the rules for qualifying were changed, either that or he raised his donation level to the DNC. This thing had so much mayhem Allstate may sue for copyright infringement.

Bloomberg: was literally killed by Liz Warren, she relentlessly attacked his record on women at his business. He was also attacked about policies he enacted as Mayor of New York deemed racist. It was a horrible night for him, Mike learned a valuable lesson, TV/Radio ads can tell a great story but his live performance fell very flat, so much so I wondered aloud why he wanted to even be on stage? He had been rising in most Super Tuesday states. Note he has declined to play or even appear on the ballot in the early states, thus awarding 0 delegates.

Sanders: He didn’t look that bad, he dished out a couple zingers at Booty Judge and Biden, but man Bloomberg hit him right where it hurts. Making it clear to the folks Sanders owns 3 houses (most of his supporters likely own 0) and hammering him on his health records, which Sanders refuses to release. (He had a heart episode earlier this campaign season). However, Sanders being hit for owning three houses by a guy that owns 11 just seems to ring hollow.

Booty Judge: Had a middle of the road performance, kind of describing his campaign so far. He is a guy who I don’t think anyone really takes seriously, kind of like Bernie last go round, everyone is just waiting for him to drop out. He doesn’t really add anything to the debate, and no one really tests his knowledge. Mayor Pete is a small town mayor of South Bendover, Indiana. He wasn’t really attacked which tells you no one is taking him very serious.

Klob-butcher: See Booty Judge, she did fairly well in New Hampshire, but doesn’t really add anything, and I was left wondering why is she running? She had a couple good skirmishes with Mayor Pete, but the real zinger landed was she is on 6 subcommittees as a Senator dealing with Mexico, and she could not name the President of Mexico when asked…ouch! Her retort was to accuse Mayor Pete of calling her dumb, let’s just say she has a bright future in the Democrat Party, since when attacked don’t use facts, just call names.

Warren: The clear winner, no doubt. She went hard after Bloomberg, but I have to wonder if she knows her “voter.” I don’t foresee many Bloomberg voters switching to her, she needs to aim for Sanders, and Mayor Pete’s young voters, who seem to be showing up in droves. I’m sorry I just don’t see her lasting much longer in this thing, she is in a precarious spot, she is most definitely not establishment, but at the same time is not as far left as Bernie.

Biden: Like his campaign it was stale and old. Nothing to see here, but a sad man withering away, trying hard to stay relevant. Biden looked more like someone listening to a timeshare proposal; trying to run out the clock in order to claim his free 75 inch TV. Folks he is all in on South Carolina, and his numbers are shrinking there, “Say it ain’t so Joe, but it’s time to go.”

Overall this was a brutal look for the Democrat Party, the knives were out and no one was spared. Warren may have scalped a couple people, and the TV executives may have wanted this outcome, but it looks horrible to the average Joe. These folks were just like the 90-day guy Johnnie Does talks about, tripping over one another’s every word, trying to parrot an internet website or cable TV news anchor. These folks are supposed to be running for president, and spent the night destroying one another. Half way through this shin dig I realized the real winner here was the DNC, the convention is likely to be a brokered one, meaning the “super delegates” will pick the winner, and utter chaos will set in. If the candidates were wise, after South Carolina; Warren and Biden need to drop out. They are splitting hairs at this point, and 4/5 place finishes are not going to get it done. Steyer/Bloomberg are a couple billionaires in a party that claims to hate them, both are strategically playing in certain states, likely to halt Bernie. Klob-Butcher better figure it out quickly, as she is a candidate with no real base of voters of which to draw from. If she changed her name to “None of the Above” or “I Hate Trump” she’d get way more votes. I’m really not sure where to go from here, but the Democrats have a huge issue on their hands, not to mention that debate appeared to be more of a WWE Smackdown than a Presidential forum.

The real winner? Donald Trump, I think he just clinched 4 more years.

Chief

PS: I thought the GOP was the party of rich white folks? Wouldn’t know it after watching what I saw last night.

Wednesday night I received another nonsensical email from my token Liberal friend asking about Attorney General Barr and the Stone case.

Barr has stated his displeasure of trumps daily tweets of attacking a federal judge in the middle of a federal case. It’s thought he may resign because of the unprecedented obstruction and interference.

Easy question:

Who is right and who do you support?

Do you support trumps daily attacks of a federal judge (Which means if President Warren sent the exact same tweets you would support her with a blog) and Barr should just shut up and do with the King says?

Or is Barr right, trump has crossed the line and must be confronted? And none of this is normal presidential behavior?

Here was my response

I don’t think Barr will resign.

Four observations on this trial

1 This particular judge has a long track record of treating people working for the other party differently than others. With activist judges, this often happens.

2 What is worse is that the jury foreman in the Stone case should have been thrown off the case long before it went to a jury. She was posting daily updates of the trial on Facebook and doing other things contrary to standard jury practice.

3 Third, the case itself is probably the result of a concept call “fruit of the forbidden tree.” If the FBI had properly vetted the “Steel Dossier” this case would never have happened. The logic is this, the Steel claims were the basis of the FISA warrants, since the Steel stuff was demonstrably false, the FBI should have stopped their actions investigating Trump’s campaign but instead they repeatedly lied to the FISA judge to renew warrants.

4 The investigators tried the same approach that is normally reserved for the mafia and drug dealers, i.e. find a charge as leverage on a small player to get the goods on the guy above them. They tried this with Trump but couldn’t find anything. Many otherwise fine people were threatened by prosecutors to “cop a plea” or they were going to go after their families. For example, faced with this threat, General Flynn pleaded guilty to something that he never did. These heavy handed tactics netted a few other folks too. The prosecutors in the Stone case were some of the last Democrat lawyers left from the Mueller investigation. (Reportedly Mueller had zero Republicans in his team of investigators.) The sentence that the prosecutors were asking for was way beyond federal sentencing guidelines.

The judge is well aware of my four points and would not admit that the process in this particular case was irredeemably tainted. Had she done her job and declared a mistrial, the government could refile the charges again with a new jury and perhaps different judge (or the government could toss the case).

All things being equal, the case should have been tossed. The fact that it wasn’t and the government’s lawyers were asking for an especially harsh sentence (given Stone’s age it was life in prison) was a source of frustration to many; especially Trump.

Yes his emotion is understandable but the timing of Trump’s comment was a source of irritation for the AG. It should be, Trump was really going after Barr for not acting sooner and ending the charade of a trial.

To directly answer your question, strictly speaking, Trump did not obstruct the court nor interfere with the judge, he was chiding the Executive Branch (his branch of the government) and kicking Barr in the butt. The Federal Judiciary is separate from the Executive and Federal Judges are appointed for life so Trump can’t threaten them or do anything but grumble, which he did. Furthermore, the sentencing recommendation from the Justice Department (Executive Branch agency) is only a recommendation; the judge can take it or leave it. She can do what she wants; subject to appeal.

Yes this is not “normal” presidential behavior but Trump is not a normal president. Trump calls things the way he sees them. Like it or not, you know where he stands. As for Warren or someone else Tweeting similar stuff, I don’t see it happening. Democrats usually operate differently because they view the purpose of government differently; but that is a different topic…

The next day, hours after the sentencing of Roger Stone, President Trump took to the microphone.

President Trump blasted Roger Stone’s treatment by the criminal justice system, the Justice Department and the jury forewoman in the GOP operative’s trial Thursday in a blistering address in front of an audience in Las Vegas, saying Stone has a “very good chance of exoneration.”

Trump says Roger Stone has ‘very good chance of exoneration’ in Las Vegas

Trump said that Stone, though “definitely a character,” was a “very good person,” and that the jury in his sentencing had been tainted by an anti-Trump activist. “These people know more about bad juries than anyone else, the sheriff, the mayor. You’re my experts okay?” he told the room of previously incarcerated people. He said the jury forewoman “started going a little wild, was very happy,” when Roger Stone was determined to be guilty of obstruction last year, and it was later revealed she had a social media account full of anti-Trump posts which she did not disclose to the courts.

The jury forewoman, Tomeka Hart, even posted specifically about the Stone case before she was selected to sit on the jury, as she retweeted an argument mocking those who considered Stone’s dramatic arrest in a predawn raid by a federal tactical team to be excessive force. She also suggested Trump and his supporters were racist and praised the investigation conducted by former Special Counsel Robert Mueller, which ultimately led to Stone’s prosecution.

Justice Department prosecutors initially had sought a sentence of up to nine years for Stone, but senior officials at the department later called for a lesser sentence. Attorney General William Barr’s move to intervene in Stone’s sentencing led to all four members of the prosecution team quitting the case.

U.S. District Court Judge Amy Berman Jackson on Thursday also said the initial recommendation was excessive. Her sentence of 40 months in prison was considerably less than that — yet far more than the probation sought by his defense.

It is great to give an answer to a bewildered Liberal and the next day have POTUS agree with many of the points that I raised at his very next public appearance.

Who is Tomeka Hart?

Below are some Tweets for Tomeka Hart, the foreman of Stone’s jury. Please note that all Tweets in this post were created before she was put on Stone’s jury. Stone’s trial began November 6, 2019. Also, Hart had previously run for Congress as a Democrat. Hart also regularly posted on Facebook about Trump but has since purged much of that content.

Oh, Tomeka Hart works for Bill Gates. Yuck!

Hart, committed perjury by not disclosing her bias during jury selection. Oh, please note in the biography above that Hart is a lawyer and knew what she was doing. She should not have been on the jury, let alone its foreman, and once the judge was presented with proof that Hart was biased, a mistrial should have been declared. Like us, Trump is ReallyRight.

Greetings again. I take a break today from professing my love for Hope Hicks to highlight a man who laid the groundwork for me to troll on the internet today! I am talking about the Original Troll, Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich!

“Blago” as everyone in Illinois called him, was elected in 2002. When the one term US Senator Barack Obama won the Presidency in 2008, Blago decided he could sell Obama’s old Senate seat to the highest bidder.

I’m really being serious. Just dig into these recordings of him. “I’ve got this thing, and it’s f******g golden. I’m just not giving it up for f******g nothing. It’s a f******g valuable thing, you just don’t give it away for nothing. If I don’t get what I want … I’ll just take the Senate seat myself.” Oh, my, God, that is pure gold.

But wait, he was not done, listen to all these additional requirements….

• A substantial salary for himself at either a non-profit foundation or an organization affiliated with labor unions.
• Placing his wife on paid corporate boards where he speculated she might garner as much as $150,000 a year. (Same deal Michelle Obama got when Barack was Senator)
• Promises of campaign funds—including cash up front.
• A Cabinet post or ambassadorship for himself to Serbia.

I respect a man who is always looking for his next move, and especially one looking out for his wife’s well-being. I love the non-profit foundation board, everyone could use a write-off, and one affiliated with organized labor to boot? Who did this guy think he was? Corporate Board appointments? Always a plus; solid do nothing gig with access to private jets! Campaign cash up front…talk about a personal slush fund, what a guy! A cabinet post or ambassador to Serbia? Ok that is a wild move! Why not the Bahama’s or something?

But wait there was even more…..This guy was also charged with these crimes:

• Attempting to extort the owners of the Tribune Company to fire Chicago Tribune editors who criticized the governor’s handling of state affairs.
• Abuse of power concerning release of US$8 million of state funds to Children’s Memorial Hospital expecting to obtain a $50,000 campaign contribution.
• Seeking graft in the form of $2.5 million in campaign contributions (through 2008) from companies and individuals who have received state contracts or appointments.

Extorting a newspaper is a total mob boss move…no shock as Blago hails from Chicago. Ripping off a children’s hospital…wow…that’s, yeah, not cool. I’m sure Hell won’t be your only stop. As far as grafting campaign contributions, well pretty much any political type does that.

However it wasn’t just his crimes, this guy literally believed his poop didn’t stink. He was king of the bizarre interview, speaking to anyone and anybody about his innocence. I still remember him on the Glenn Beck program on Fox News doing a 30 minute interview of him denying it was him on the recordings. Even doubling down saying it wasn’t illegal. The interview was so bizarre Beck apologized at the end to the viewers, right in front of “Blago,” saying that it was a complete and total waste of time. Not to be outdone, he went on David Letterman, (also a troll) and Dave gave it back to him, like only Dave could. Blago said he wanted to be on Dave’s show in the worst way….only for Dave to retort “this is the worst way.” Check out this zinger while he was on vacation from his publicist, “I’m saddened and hurt, but I am not surprised by the indictment. I am innocent. I now will fight in the courts to clear my name.” Wow, he still got 14 years in jail, serving 8, until Trump pardoned him yesterday.

In closing I will say this, “Blogo” likely was given a sentence that was harsh, but he acted like a total gavone through his entire existence as Governor. Very few people could be less contrite when hit with the crimes he was hit with. Only worse, he then made the rounds telling anyone who would listen how innocent he was and this was all a witch hunt or a conspiracy. Like I said earlier he was an original troll, he trolled all of us, thinking this was some kind of big game or something. The whole episode was fun to watch, but man was it painful at the same time. I will never forget being on the toll road in Illinois and seeing his name all over the “Open Road Tollways” talk about a classic troll move…hopefully those signs were removed.

Troll

Got to give Blago credit though, he literally nailed the corrupt politician look. Just look at him, Black poofy hair, s**t eating grin, absolutely no self-awareness at all. Think Michael J Fox channeling a TV preacher soliciting contributions.

If Sprit of Halloween needed a corrupt politician costume, just sell copies of that guy.

I was minding my own business today when my token Liberal friend texted me a meme on President Trump with the statement, “Trump claims he’s the chief law enforcement official.”

The text accompanying the meme was accusatory in tone. Let me give you the conversation.

Liberal: Hey William, question for you. In addition to the King of earth and Jesus Christ, trump now calls himself the chief law enforcement officer of the land. So if Warren is elected president will she now be the chief law enforcement officer?

Me: The Executive Branch of government is charged with enforcing the law, the Legislative Branch makes the law, and Judicial Branch resolves and tries the Law. What’s the big deal? Gavin Newsom is technically the chief law enforcement guy in California. All federal people, like Attorney General and Federal Prosecutors, are under Trump, since he is President.

Almost all Federal government employees, as a percentage, work for the Executive Branch.

Lib: So would Warren be the US chief law enforcement officer like trump is?

Me: Sure, whoever wins in November will be chief law enforcement official for next four years. That’s basic Constitution not rocket science.

This power is where Trump or Newsom gets power to pardon or commute prison sentences.

Lib: I’m not sure what page of the constitution where it states the president is the chief law enforcement officer of the US.

Me: Since all law enforcement people work under him, and he appoints the department heads and has power to remove them, this makes him chief of law enforcement. Same idea as him being Commander of the military. He is charged with enforcing the law and protecting citizens.

This power of the President is supported by the Supreme Court and has been upheld in numerous court cases.

Trump appointed Mueller and had the power to fire him without cause at any time.

If Chief Executive is not chief law enforcement guy then who is?

Lib: The Attorney General has always had that role until now.

Me: He may have day to day role but who hires and fires Attorney General? The President.

President delegates authority but not responsibility. Remember “the buck stops here?”

Lib: Ya, I know that saying but it doesn’t pertain to trump since he never once has taken responsibility for his actions instead he attacks others and lies.

Me: Your emotional response does not negate a factually true statement.

And, poof! Just like that the conversation was ended.

My Comments

Can you imagine a California Liberal appealing to enumerated powers of the Constitution to limit the government?

Sadly, hell has not frozen over. A Liberal has not seen the light and become a Constitutionalist.

Trust me, this guy is OK with Obamacare, open borders, and all the extra-Constitutional actions of the federal government—which he has never once complained about–but when dealing with Trump, he then tries to limit the President to only enumerated powers??? Folks, I just don’t get it.

Another funny one? On a previous occasion, this guy complained that under Trump, the federal budgets are too large. So his brilliant solution, he wants a Democrat in the White House. To which I responded, if Hillary or anyone else in the Dem field won in 2016 or this time around, the federal budget would be even bigger. Grrrrr!!!

Folks, I don’t mind disagreeing with people or that others have a difference of opinion but what really frosts me is when they have one standard for the people that they like and another for everyone else.

Sadly my friend has no interest in learning for himself what Trump is doing. He can only parrot stuff he’s heard from some place on the Internet.

Bottom line is you can’t use reason to talk with a person that can only engage issues on an emotional level. Yes I know the proverb about fools and their folly but on the other hand, why should I expect the spiritually dead to exhibit signs of life? My friend needs Christ not an amended voter registration card. Thanks to Trump, I have more freedom to practice my religion and engage with lost souls.

No, this post isn’t a slam on the third party of California but on KCRA-TV and the Associated Press. Folks I don’t know if this is sloppy writing or a purposeful dis of the once Grand Ole Party but the lead of this story is constructed in a peculiar way. See if you agree.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. —California voters will be able to change their party affiliation and update their address at polling stations on election day under a new law approved in time for the March 3 Democratic primary.

The change was particularly sought as it will allow the state’s 5.6 million independent voters to register with a party by signing off on only one form on election day. Democratic presidential campaigns hope the law will boost the number of registered Democrats and participation in their primary.

California voters can switch party status on election day

It strikes me as weird that the way this story is constructed; no acknowledgement is mentioned that Republicans can vote too. But does this story only apply to Democrats? The perspective of the author is that there is only one party in California.

A different view

Here is the lead for the same story from the San Francisco Chronicle.

SACRAMENTO — Californians will be able to update their party registration on election day, allowing independent voters to participate in the upcoming Democratic and Republican presidential primaries.

Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a bill Thursday simplifying the process for voters to update their party preference or address at any point in the final two weeks before an election, until the polls close. SB207 allows voters to fill out a short form to amend their registration information at their voting location or the county registrar’s office, rather than requiring them to reregister and take a conditional ballot.

California voters can now switch party registration on election day

Two comments about the Chronicle story. First we learn that the law applies to all voters not just Democrats and second the Chronicle actually gives you the bill number and links it in their story.

SB-207

So what does it do?

This bill would permit a voter, from the 14th day immediately preceding an election until the close of polls on election day… to change the voter’s residence address or political party preference by submitting to the voter’s county elections official a written request containing the new residence address or political party preference and signed under penalty of perjury. The bill would require a ballot or provisional ballot to be provided to the voter, as specified, and would require that the registration of the voter be immediately updated.

SB-207 Elections: voter registration: partisan primary elections.

The bill was passed by a 2/3 vote of both houses of the State Legislature last week and was signed by the Governor yesterday. So as predicted many years ago, California now has same day registration. Since Democrats planned this change a decade ago, one wonders why the sudden urgency after voting has started and two and half weeks before Election Day.

Oh, in case you missed it, the net result of all the election changes here is that Iowa’s Democrat vote count will be a shining example of efficiency compared to getting California’s final vote totals. Even before this legislation, final results were expected to take many weeks. Kind of begs the question as to whether a Sander’s election night victory will Bern away once the dead and illegal voters are counted in the days following the election.

Talk about Operation Chaos!

Addendum: There was another bill enacted last fall (October 2019) related to late and same day voter registration. The bill signed last fall required verification of voters prior to counting their votes.

Legislation signed Tuesday by Gov. Gavin Newsom expands conditional voter registration in the state. Voters who register conditionally on Election Day will not have their ballots counted until their registration has been verified.

Gov. Gavin Newsom Signs New Law Expanding Same-Day Voter Registration

However, under the new law, the process of registering or changing registration is streamlined. (Completion of a full voter registration form is no longer required during last 14 days.) Also, it appears that ballots cast are no longer segregated and counted separately.

My initial interest in the article was the assumption that only Democrats will be voting on March 3rd.