Republican secretary of state threatens to kick Biden off the ballot as Trump payback

paddirn , 5 months ago

• Trump: Does insurrection, disqualified from running
• Biden: Doesn’t commit insurrection or any other crimes that might disqualify him from running.
• GOP: We’ll step in & ensure the new legal standard for Trump applies equally to Biden

Whataboutism politics in action. They’re not even defending him, it’s just, “Well if you’re going to do that we’ll just do it back to you!”–

Woovie , 5 months ago

This is always how the GOP responds. Their voters don’t know any better and assume everyone is doing the crime because they were told so. If everyone is doing it, it’s okay. Zero thought, all emotional rage bait.

KneeTitts , 5 months ago

GOP: We’ll step in & ensure the new legal standard for Trump applies equally to Biden

Well jokes on them because Biden couldnt get trump back on the ballot in any of the states hes kicked off in even if he wanted to, cuz it really has nothing to do with Biden and he has no control over whats states decide to do or how they interpret the constitution.

And I think if anyone of them do take Biden off the ballot it’ll trigger some kind of law suit because they currently cannot show any cause for taking him off.

moon , 5 months ago

They really think it was done for political reasons and is just a team sport

CuttingBoard , 5 months ago

You may be giving them too much credit. They know what they tried to do.

Chocrates , 5 months ago

Agreed. We need to stop pretending GOP leadership are idiots and treat them like the organized threat they are.

TurtleJoe , 5 months ago

I think that they are both idiots, and an organized threat to democracy. Like the CIA during the Project Condor years. Those guys were mostly morons, but they had a firehose of money, and tons of manpower. Very similar to the GOP at this point.

Chocrates , 5 months ago

Haha fair, the teaparty and then Maga kind of got away from them at first. They were able to exploit the teaparty so I feel like they are gonna come out of maga stronger than ever.

phoenixz , 5 months ago

Don’t you just love it how they all completely ignore and fly over the actual reason why trump is being dumped? They just claim it’s a disgrace that trump is dropped, as if random people decided to do this on a whim, but will NEVER mention why they made that decision. Never mention that trump instigated an insurrection, we wouldn’t want people to get the wrong idea now, would we?

SpezBroughtMeHere , 5 months ago

Well the whole thing can be solved by an actual conviction of treason. If it is obvious his actions were treasonous and he did in fact lead an insurrection, it should be an easy case.

kent_eh , 5 months ago

“What has happened in Colorado & Maine is disgraceful & undermines our republic,”

What happened in the national capitol on Jan6 is disgraceful and undermines the republic.

The people trying to clean up after that mess are not the problem, you pandering old windbag.

apfelwoiSchoppen , 5 months ago

Ashcroft is a real piece of shit garbage. Even shittier than his father, which is saying something. The embodiment of the Mitchell and Webb “Are we the baddies?” Nazi bit.

Socsa , 5 months ago

Yes if Joe Biden engages in insurrection then he should be excluded from the ballot. I just don’t think that’s particularly likely.

werefreeatlast , 5 months ago

I’m voting Biden. But if the Democrats would suggest maybe someone else from the 150million rational thinking American population who are not Republican, I would vote for that person. Joe has done a good job. I just don’t wanna be sitting here in my toilet writing about how terrible the situation is 2 years from now when we loose Joe to stress and need a new president. So obviously not Trump or any other rock-like object or non-human organic matter composition. But any human who loves this country and wants us to do even better would be nice.

xX_fnord_Xx , 5 months ago

He’s actually made of compressed Cheeto dust.

Maggoty , 5 months ago

* 124 million. People old enough to be president who don’t vote for Trump.
Yeah I get invited to all the parties.

skuzz , 5 months ago

I’ll volunteer. Am eligible, and was president of an HOA at some point, I’m sure those skills scale. Also, not a Cheeto, nor rock, nor non-human organic matter composition.

werefreeatlast , 5 months ago

I’ll vote for you 😉.

Linkerbaan , 5 months ago

Yes please. Get Genocide Joe off the ballot so someone else can run.

BoastfulDaedra , 5 months ago

This is going to be a sonofabitch of an election year no matter what the numbers are, isn’t it.

Snapz , 5 months ago

They’ll sacrifice their lives for a person who is demonstrably the actual biggest loser in history, and he just gets more loser-y, folks, okay… If any of you are starting to have your memories fade, here’s a quick refresher to read this morning and then copy and send to your aunt karen in Missouri.

• 0 re-elections won
• 1 term president
• 2 times impeached
• 3 marriages
• 4 inch lifts in his shoes
• 5 kids, from 3 different mothers
• 6 bankruptcies
• 7 US Capitol police suing him for Jan 6 terrorist insurrection and murder of police
• 8 trillion + dollars added to the US debt in a single term
• 9 trump lawyers sanctioned by federal judge for lying in frivolous election fraud lawsuits and ordered to pay defendant’s legal fees
• 10 years that trump paid $0 in income taxes between 2000 and 2015. ($0 to cops, teachers, roads, prisons, disaster relief, etc)
• 11 trump associates charged with serious crimes over the past 5 years
• 12 million votes (the big lie) - trump claims he won the 2020 election by 12 million votes when in reality, he lost by about 7 million votes.
• 13 of August, 2021 - one of multiple days that trump was supposed to magically become president again according to Qanon and a crack addicted pillow salesman (the two most respected information sources in the gop)
• 14 year old girl in a youth choir that trump approached in 1992 to say, "Wow! Just think - in a couple years I’ll be dating you."
• 15 originally confirmed cases of COVID in the US trump said would soon be, “down to close to zero.” followed by, “like a miracle, it will disappear.” - over 1,000,000 Americans have since died of COVID and it continues to kill 4 years later.
• 16 years old - age of daughter ivanka when she hosted “miss teen” pageant and, according to long time trump associate Noel Casler, "trump called her over in the middle of a rehearsal and had her give him a lap dance while he leered at the crew."
• 17 known trump and russia investigations from local, state and federal prosecutors
• 18 gop senators that ignored trump threats / warnings and supported Biden admin’s infrastructure bill.
• 19 as in COVID19 - trump was verified as the single largest source of disinformation on the virus, with a Cornell study claiming that 38% of the “misinformation conversation” originated with trump
• 20 the day in January, 2021, when Biden was sworn in despite trump inciting a violent insurrection to stop election verification at the US Capitol.
• 21 gun salute that trump ordered for himself when he left office after a humiliating defeat, even though he never served in the military, famously called military members “losers” and “suckers” and actively avoided the draft with a cowardly “bone spurs” excuse.
• 22 date in August, 2021, when Alabama hate rally crowd booed trump for finally saying people should get vaccinated, only after 700,000 Americans have died due mostly to his failure as president
• 23 as in wrestlemania 23 in 2007 where trump, a cartoon level failure with no other prospects, participated in a fake bet that a proxy wrestler would win a fake fight on his behalf or he would shave his wig and hair plugs off.
• 24 day in August, 2021, when trump actually filed a lawsuit in Florida court against YouTube, a private company, demanding that they reinstate his YouTube channel like a desperate, irrelevant embarrassment with no platforms left to abuse.
• 25 plus credible sexual assault allegations against trump, spanning decades and with accusers starting as young as 13 years old at time of assault.

ITypeWithMyDick , 5 months ago

And a partridge in a pear tree!

reverendsteveii , 5 months ago

do it then, just like the impeachment. quit bitching and do something so we can put you down again you fucking cowards.

Potatos_are_not_friends , 5 months ago

That was my favorite when GOP cried for Biden Impeachment and how weak they look when they literally had nothing.

They continue to show how limp dick they are.

SoleInvictus , 5 months ago

What scares me is they look impotent to anyone who is able to think critically or at all, really, but these theatrics are actually effective for their low IQ base. Whenever their latest bullshit plan doesn’t work, they just blame some communist conspiracy, which further riles the idiots up.

KnowledgeableNip , 5 months ago

This rhetoric also spits potential violence at polling places

theangryseal , 5 months ago

“Poor, poor Donald Trump. Can you imagine? So rich he don’t have to do nothin but sit around and enjoy life, but he sacrificed everthang to lead this country to greatness. He even lost money to do it. Can you believe that? Poor, poor man gets harassed constantly. They’re doin everthang they can to take him down. Most men would just call it quits and retire to an island, but he knows that Satan wants power. He wonts tuh git in the kids heads and make ‘em all gay and bring the end. The commonists are this close tuh takin’ America. Only thang ‘at can stop it is God and Donald Trump.”

I actually heard someone say this. I felt my eyes rolling back into my melting brain.

You know what bums me out? During the debate with Hillary Clinton he said, “I’ll keep you in suspense.” When asked if he would accept the results of an election if he lost.

Before that I thought, “Well, maybe he’s just playing it up. He’s said some decent shit in the past. Maybe he really is a smart guy and he’s pandering to the right people.” Once he said that I thought, “Oh boy, this is scary. Good thing he said it though. Now everyone will know he’s dangerous.”

January 6 happened and I thought everyone would connect the dots.

Nope. They just went batshit crazy with him.

Thank god his sons have as much charisma as a bowl of pea soup. Maybe this will end when he dies… until the next charismatic character comes along and says all the right things to rile up bigots. Or, wouldn’t it be great if his youngest son becomes a progressive and wins entirely because he’s a Trump? A man can dream haha.

I was so happy in 2008 when we elected the first black president even though I didn’t align with him politically at the time. I knew what was going to follow though, swear to god. The bigots got scared and got political. I mean, it’s more than just that, but that was a huge deal to them.

I wish it had instead made them collectively say, “Ok boys, we’re wrong to feel this way.” Nope.

What a time to be alive.

SoleInvictus , 5 months ago

I hope this is a “growing pains” moment and we’ll all band together to overcome hate and greed, but I fear all the bigots, morons, and corporations are going to take power by force since they can’t get it by popular vote.

SatansMaggotyCumFart , 5 months ago

I think it’s funny how some people still think Bernie Sanders had a chance when lots of Americans froth in the mouth about Biden being a communist.

He’s a moderate right-wing politician at best.

SoleInvictus , 5 months ago

You’re right. Bernie was a step in the direction we need to go considering where we’re at now, but that’s not happening any time soon. Now what little is left of United States democracy is on life support.

It’s surreal, watching the United States disintegrate from the inside. I wonder if this is how the Soviets felt in the eighties.

charonn0 , 5 months ago

Congress should pass a resolution removing Trump’s disqualification.

That would satisfy the 14th amendment without setting a nasty political precedent while at the same time serving as an official recognition that Trump committed acts that triggered the 14th amendment.

Leate_Wonceslace , 5 months ago

No. I’d rather the fascists try to get violent and get put down than let that fucker win any fight unchallenged.

Asifall , 5 months ago

I’m not actually sure that would be a bad outcome for dems…but I think the optics would make it a non starter.

Liz , 5 months ago

How would that overrule the 14th?

charonn0 , 5 months ago

It wouldn’t. The 14th specifically says Congress can remove the insurrection disqualification.

Liz , 5 months ago

Gotcha. I didn’t know that part.

Diva , 5 months ago

Looking forward to all the people guilt tripping me for not voting when it’s Biden running unopposed in half the states and Trump running unopposed in half the states.

Liz , 5 months ago

I mean, there’s still plenty of other elections going on…

Diva , 5 months ago

I’ll vote if there’s ballot questions, this presidential race is just a circus

MonkeMischief , 5 months ago

Just to fantasize a bit, it’d be hilarious if these “Duck season! Wabbit season!” Shenanigans resulted in both Democrats and Republicans mutually excluding each other from a majority of ballots, and third parties had to fill in the gaps.

cheesebag , 5 months ago

Polite reminder that third parties are not viable in a first past the post voting system, and that Democrats are the ones who have actually been instituting ranked choice voting (while Republicans are the ones taking it away & banning it)

MonkeMischief , 5 months ago

Great insight. Thank you!

bradboimler , 5 months ago

I don’t like trump and agree he belongs in jail but how the democrats are doing it is wrong we are innocent until proven guilty in the court of law he is on trial right now but has yet to be convicted of a crime so he should not be removed until he is proven guilty in a court of law. The trail likely won’t be over until after the election so the are using dirty tactics to remove him before he is found guilty so I am not surprised if the start removing Biden from state ballots as well. We will see what the Supreme Court says but I would assume the would say the same but could very well be wrong nobody should vote for trump but we gotta do it correctly.

xionzui , 5 months ago

Firstly, the amendment does not require any conviction. It is simply a prerequisite. Secondly, Colorado literally held a trial to determine this. It was determined in a court of law after reviewing all the evidence and holding a trial that he was not eligible. This was not done “by the democrats”. This is the legal system and election officials doing their jobs

bradboimler , 5 months ago

That’s the thing it is too vague and why it will be all hell I have a feeling both trump and Biden will be missing from ballots and if that happens both are not eligible.

FaeDrifter , 5 months ago

It’s not vague at all. Engage in an insurrection, you can’t hold office. Trump incited an insurrection that was broadcast on national television.

Biden hasn’t incited an insurrection, but if he did, he would also be ineligible for office.

The problem with Republicans is they actually don’t give the smallest shit about the law or the US Constitution. They’re fascists, the don’t have integrity or values, except to value seizing and maintaining power, by any means necessary.

bradboimler , 5 months ago

Yeah Republicans and Democrats both bad choices i do not like any of them but i do believe Biden shouldn’t hold office he is too old and honestly smells of corruption from Hunter Biden scandal. Trump yeah hard no i do not want him in office lets not repeat time to move on we need different candidates from both party’s. Lets get some fresh options.

FaeDrifter , 5 months ago

There’s lots of good reasons to be anti-Biden.

BUT PER THE LAW, Biden is eligible to run and Trump is not.

This has nothing to do with feelings or even policy. Nothing to do with sides.

This is just the straight up facts. Trump has engaged in insurrection. Biden has not. The 14th Amendment is clear that insurrectionists are not eligible for office.

If you want to be eligible for office, dotn engage in insurrection. It’s not fucking complicated.

bradboimler , 5 months ago

Cool I don’t really care enough to keep this conversation going I rarely get into politics and even then who cares it’s always a bad choice either way.

FaeDrifter , 5 months ago

Laws are important, I’m sure if someone broke into your home and stole all your stuff you wouldn’t want the law to just shrug and go who cares.

bradboimler , 5 months ago

I never said laws where not important I just lack the interest to further this I’ll let the people already taking care of it do it.

charonn0 , 5 months ago

Why should he be treated any differently than anyone else that was disqualified under the 14th amendment?

bradboimler , 5 months ago

I am not saying he should all candidates suck honestly don’t want any of them but. Nothing you can do unfortunately I am just stating an opinion you should have to be convicted of an actual crime like treason which I think they could charge him with and then remove him based on that charge.

charonn0 , 5 months ago

Requiring a conviction in the first place is the special treatment I’m referring to.

Disqualification is not a criminal penalty. If it were then it could be removed by a presidential pardon.

Instead it can only be removed by Congress–a body that is specifically prohibited from passing laws that set or alter someone’s criminal liability.

bradboimler , 5 months ago

I agree then let’s congress decide and not the court my only point is now the create where we are now the could remove Biden and say it’s because of hunter biden and the would not be wrong that’s my only point.

charonn0 , 5 months ago

Congress can only remove the disqualification, they can’t impose it.

It’s a problem that the amendment doesn’t tell us how it’s supposed to work, but the fact that other disqualifying factors (age, residency, etc.) are determined by the states suggests that the states can determine disqualification on the insurrection factor too, and through the same procedural mechanisms.

bradboimler , 5 months ago

This makes much more sense thanks for the clarification. 🖖

reverendsteveii , 5 months ago

congress can decide by a 2/3 majority that his insurrection doesn’t bar him from running. it’s in the constitution. failure to pass that resolution is congress deciding that his insurrection counts and he’s disqualified.

Schadrach , 5 months ago

The big distinction here would be that everyone else disqualified under Section 3 was a public officer in a major political organization (the CSA) who was in open war with the US. No question of fact whatsoever.

While Trump was too much of a wuss to openly lead his insurrection himself, so some government entity should probably be responsible for determining whether or not section 3 applies, and what standard they have to meet to do so. There are probably good arguments why qualification for a federal office isn’t properly decided by a state judge or official.

charonn0 , 5 months ago

That is not a distinction actually made by section 3. Oath breakers are disqualified, not rebels per se.

There are probably good arguments why qualification for a federal office isn’t properly decided by a state judge or official.

State elections officials already do that for things like age, residency requirements, etc. It’s part of federalism that the state governments administer federal elections.