157 Comments

The real worry is the republican machine that is planning to NOT certify the votes this Nov., and push the decision to the supreme accomplices.

We need a landslide to prevent that from happening.

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The Court can't overrule the voters unless the votes are legally incorrect. I do expect some efforts at challenging votes, and hopefully there will be a clear margin of victory like Biden had in 2020, so one state's votes won't change the outcome.

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Don’t be so sure. Certification of a a local election can be questioned easily and they’ve put many people in place — after driving away the honest incumbents — who will do just that. Any close results will be considered ‘rigged’ and likely invalidated. This is one way for the minority to control the majority. All the more reason to get out the vote.

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Yes, watch Arizona for that kind of interference.

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I think we've seen that The Court (broadly speaking) can overrule anything until we decide they can't. And we've seen things overruled in recent years that we thought they can't do. And I absolutely believe that even in a very clear vote for democracy, if it gets to the Supreme Court, there are 5 and maybe 6 votes to overturn that outcome. And I absolutely believe that if the MAGA plants in these key voting precincts and counties are successful in rigging the voting there, there are 6 votes to sustain that election rigging.

So. We need to win by a substantial amount, and then we need to be on high enough ground to put down the violence that will ensue in that case. This isn't going to end with a concession call and unity speech, folks. This is going to be rough. And there is a very strong chance of the biggest constitutional crisis in history.

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Yes, even Trump has announced, on various forums and at rallies, " We really don't need the votes, we have plenty of votes!" He knows he has stacked the courts and has many election deniers in places where they can contest the validity of voting outcomes. There is no Liz Cheney this time. Many of the MAGA-Coup is fired up, 'standing back and standing by' and they are more organized than the J-6 attempt.

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I am afraid you are right. Trump has already said there could be blood shed. Once again, he telegraphs his intentions.

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You can bet if that's the case, that chicken-shit orange traitor will be nowhere in sight. He'll 'activate' his bone spurs if necessary, but he would never put himself in harms way.

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Agreed! The bully will continue to call upon his minions to do his bidding until they wise up to the fact that they are being used and abused by the grifter to pay his rising legal bills and keep the lights on at Mara Lago! The victory needs to be swift and decisive!

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This crowd can tie decisions up in Court for weeks! Be aware. And expect IF a win does not develop! They hide nothing and certainly not their stupidity!

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JA; if we keep building momentum for the next three months and run through the finish line it will be very difficult politically for them to cheat and take over. They are rapidly losing the “consent of the governed”.

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🤞

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Gore v. Bush was a case where votes that clearly weren't legally incorrect failed to be allowed to be counted.

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ABSOLUTELY! I wrote my comment before reading yours so we are on the exact same page!

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Two heads are better than one!

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I can't stop smiling after watching the rally in Philly last night. The energy, the hope, the fun - all make for a campaign that can only build up. I wish I were 20 years younger so I could physically participate.

My concern is not that Kamala and Tim will win, my concern is that Trump will still take it away because of his stacking the certifiers. If he can't win it honestly he will cheat - again. We are aware of this plan of non-certifiers now, so hopefully there is enough time to counter it. I wish we could get rid of the Electoral College as well, but that is not in the cards until the House and Senate turn blue.

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I do not believe, refuse to believe, that the American people or justice system would put up with that. MAGA has gain control of SCOTUS but not lower level federal courts or state courts.

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The rule of law won the last time. Dare we hope it would hold this time. Trump is afraid and that means we should all be afraid.

If there is a way to win he and his minions will find it.

How much.longer do we have to.put up with MAGA?

I am exhausted!

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I honestly believe this grotesque political movement, under the leadership of a worn out con man and supported by pathetic sycophants like Graham, Cruz, Rubio, and Stefanik who full well know how dangerous this man is, will implode after the election. In fact, it is caving in RIGHT NOW!

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The lower level courts won’t matter at all, just remember the Federal Appeals Court of 3 justices came to a unanimous decision against a president having absolute immunity?

And scotus just couldn’t bear to allow them to have the final word on something of that magnitude 🙄 & so when Trump inevitably appealed that decision, they took it up & who would have guessed…..they ruled in his favor!

That is what we are staring at come November. This election WILL end up in front of the scotus; & there likely is going to be violence in the streets.

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The main point I was making is that the American people and judicial system will not allow SCOTUS to assume dictatorial powers which they are not constitutionally allowed. But, I agree, this likely to end in violent confrontations. The Biden administration will be prepared to use the National Guard and military, if necessary, to crush any MAGA uprisings.

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"We need a landslide to prevent that from happening."

This right here.

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My concern as well. How can they be curtailed?

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You might be interested in reading/ following or even supporting r Democratic Election lawyer par excellence Marc Elias @ Democracy Docket.

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One step at a time.

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It sounds like you are also feeling really hopeful! What a turnaround … right? Two weeks ago I was really depressed, and now I am full of hope! A true 180 degree shift. I haven’t seen anything like this EVER … and I am 72 years old. I have been waiting over 50 years for this! Go Kamala and Tim! We are going to do it this time; we will have a woman president!

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Watching the rally last night, there was one thing I took away that I did not expect. At least not so crystal clearly and so viscerally...

AMERICA IS READY TO ELECT A WOMAN PRESIDENT!

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I love this… so ready for a woman President! I’m older too. I’m participating by writing postcards. I was complacent with Hillary. Never again! Do whatever you can.

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MAGA might be drowning but we still need to put a hose in it’s mouth. Dems need an articulate and highly visible, sane, Christian or Catholic attack dog to go after the middle-of-the-road Christian nationalists. The ones who are not that comfortable with the Theocracy their far right brethren pray every night for.

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Aug 7·edited Aug 7Liked by Steve Schmidt

There's a saying in tennis. If you really want to be a winner, a champion, then you need not only to want to win, you need to want to win by stepping on your opponents neck. No matter what the score. No matter if the other player is limping around the court looking at their mother in the stands with tears in their eyes. YOU STEP ON THEIR FREAKING NECK!

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Evil, yet sooo right.

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You are EXACTLY right!!!

Someone needs to speak to the damage being caused to the Christian religion. And make clear how it relates to their declining membership numbers.

[To be clear, I would be happy if every religion went away tomorrow.]

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I think it’s the white Christian nationalists who want to control government and thereby us.

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lol Rodney. I look at organized religion as cults, which explains why people will listen to their ministers instead of their common sense.

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Or listen to TFG and not their God, nor righteous preacher.

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You might find this interview by Joyce Vance interesting. Amanda Tyler is a lawyer with the Baptist Joint Commission on Religious Liberty. She convincingly reveals Christian Nationalism as a perversion of and threat to Christianity and to christians freedom to practice their faith

https://open.substack.com/pub/joycevance/p/five-questions-with-christian-nationalism?r=21tdk4&utm_medium=ios

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Andra Watkins “How project 2025 will ruin your life” here on SUBSTACK is also VERY informative

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I volunteer to be that evangelical Christian attack dog. Unfortunately I am nobody. Christian Nationalism drives me insane and is morally and theologically bankrupt. We really need someone like Beth Moore to speak forcefully why she is voting for Harris/Walz even with “abortion.” I doubt she will do that, but someone with a national following needs to say Trump is evil, and Christian Nationalism is NOT Christian, and NEVER EVER Trump.

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Aug 7Liked by Steve Schmidt

The Washington Post published an article today regarding lengthy e mail conversations between Vance and some bizarre conspiracy theorist and self-described government informant. It went on for two years.

As with Mark Robinson, men like Vance have diarrhea of the mouth. They cannot help themselves. These conversations also shone a sinister light into Vance’s willingness to let Ukrainian kids be slaughtered.

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I find myself using the word sinister for Vance more than any other word. Something about the guy is off. I don’t view someone with the statements he has made to be normal. It is like a reaching into a void. A lot of it is unnecessary, but very concerning.

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I actually think Vance needs care to resolve issues stemming from the unfortunate dysfunction of his mother. Probably also some dissonance from his relationship with his wife.

I think in his weakness Trump has been totally coopted by the un-christian nationalists and other extremists in the proj2025 anti-american, anti- democracy and unholy alliance. Remember he has no heartfelt policies of his other other than 1. “I amLord Absolute” and 2. White supremacy (without any real or perverted religious grounding. ) he sells policy for money votes and loyalty.

The final move against Trump was to get Proj2025 acolyte vance in as Trump’s veep .

I suppose Trump has some risky medical conditions, but it’s now totally obvious that his mental decline is steepening. Not only that but Trump really doesn’t understand Proj2025 except he thinks it will let him rule as an Orban/ putin style autocrat.

If Trump is elected it will only a few months before JDV, backed by a cabinet stuffed with Proj 2025 alumni, will invoke the 25th amendment to remove him, ridding themselves of having a malignant narcissist who thinks he’s in charge in their way and replaced by someone who does understand Proj 2025.

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I honestly believe his billionaire friend, who was instrumental in his entry and rise in politics, paid Trump to make him VP. Considering how Trump has trust issues, normally he wouldn't put inside his coven anyone who said so many bad things about his before. He didn't for Nikki Haley and he normally wouldn't trust anyone like Vance.

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@ Toni, no offense, but Whether true or not, I’d encourage us to stick to facts, not subscribing to conjecture by starting with “I honestly believe”. That’s what MAGA does and we can and should be better or it lowers us to their level.

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Thank you Mike, I see you point, and don't want to lower myself to MAGA depths. I am not normally a conspiracy person, but I was simply trying to understand the reasoning for this poor choice by Trump for VP, and my gut says it boils down to Trump's weakness, money. I could be wrong, but it is my opinion. I have no facts to back it up, only instinct.

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I strongly feel that both TFG and Vance are 'sinister'; that and $$$ put Vance on ticket.

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Well said. You hit the nail on the head.

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Aug 7·edited Aug 7Liked by Steve Schmidt

I am ecstatic!!!! My daughter is going to the Detroit Metro Airport rally today!!! I am so jealous!!!

She is a Gen Y, born in 1990, and has felt buried by the politics of the 21st Century, to the point that she (even, or maybe because, her mom, me, is a political junkie) seemed to check out since Bernie lost the nomination to HC.

This ticket has her involved, actively campaigning and jumping for joy!!! And I am thrilled!!!

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Kamala Harris is finally bringing in the new face of the 21st Century -Hallelujah!

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I don’t want Donald Trump to just fade away. I WANT HIM AND HIS ANTI-DEMOCRATIC, FACIST LOVING GOONS CRUSHED UNDER THE WEIGHT OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE AND OUR RULES OF LAW!

VOTE HARRIS-WALZ AND VOTE BLUE DOWN BALLOT! 😆👍🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸

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I WANT THE SAME THING. I WANT US TO RISE UP AND LANDSLIDE THIS TRUMPIAN MESS.

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And take Fox News with them, and Zealots.

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FOX IS THE BIGGEST PROPAGANDA PROBLEM IN OUR COUNTRY! HOW A COMPANY THAT HAD TO PAY NEARLY EIGHT MILLION DOLLARS FOR LYING TO THE AMERICAN PUBLIC ABOUT THE MOST IMPORTANT ELECTION IN OUR COUNTRY, AND GET TO STAY ON THE AIR, SPEWING MORE SHIT, IS BEYOND MY UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT OUR MEDIA AND COMMUNICATIONS LAWS SHOULD BE.

TAKE FOX DOWN FOR THE GOOD OF OUR COUNTRY.

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MAGA = "Make America Goony Again" It isn't going well for them! GO BLUE!! 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸

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I wholeheartedly agree, Kamala made the best choice for a running mate in Tim Walz. I was inspired last night by the energy of not only the candidates but of the crowd. The enthusiasm is real, we are not going back. I believe if Kamala and Tim keep up with the message of hope and unity they will be residing in Washington DC come January. I was so inspired I donated twice last night to their campaign. We can not let Trump return to the Whitehouse and spend the next 4+ years golfing on our tax dollars and giving tax breaks to his golf buddies and billionaires.

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I’ve not felt this good overall since Obama! Everything felt like a weight on me. My spirits are lifted. We will keep the momentum up. THIS is the election I’ve lived 77 years to see - or 56 since my first vote!

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Aug 7Liked by Steve Schmidt

I absolutely love this great Schmidt essay! Captures the disintegration of Trump and the hopefulness of the Harris/Walz optimistic ticket. It's going to be fun watching the joyfulness of Kamala and Tim vs. the brutal stupidity, hopelessness, anger, and viciousness of Trump and Vance for 3 months. May the scourge of MAGA finally be vanquished, hopefully forever!

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Aug 7Liked by Steve Schmidt

Trump’s dementia is showing through his undisciplined behavior!

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LOVE your comparison of Trump to a Macy's Day Parade balloon! I'm actually enjoying this presidential voting season now.

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The reaction of FOX hosts and guests to Walz reeks of desperation. Their elementary school level attacks on Walz are far better descriptions of the sloppy, sweaty man they idolize or his VP who is so frightened of women he tries desperately to keep them in "their place."

Gutfeld: "He’s (Walz) a male Karen with power and a pot belly..."

Stephen Miller, MAGA's Goebbels: "...under the Harris/Walz plan, they’re going to turn the entire Midwest into Mogadishu. “

Watters: "The squad loves this guy, loves him. You see pictures, they’re like almost undressing together."

" She managed to pick someone who looks older than Biden. "

“It’s also a trick pick, because this guy’s not Minnesota nice, he’s Minnesota nuts. This guy changed the flag of the state to look more like Somalia. What is wrong with this guy?"

Better question. What is wrong with you, Watters? You should listen to your mother.

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FAUX PROPAGANDA IS GOING NUTS BECAUSE EVEN THE MAGATs will stop watching!!! Waters and Hannity are pathetic!!!

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Seriously? That plus “TamponTimmy” is all they’ve got?!

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The new Minnesota flag is astounding!

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Aug 7Liked by Steve Schmidt

I appreciate your positive support of the ticket, Steve!

I think “Coach Walz” is great and he will be as genuinely supportive as then VP Biden was to Pres Obama. It matters.

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I get the sense that all of our BPs have dropped 10 points and the worry lines on our foreheads have diminished without the need for Botox.

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Yup, feeling the same way. Still letting out my breath from holding it for so long!

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Lol! #truth!

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My has. Just from smiling constantly!

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Aug 7Liked by Steve Schmidt

“Kamala Harris and Tim Walz fit together like a hand and glove. Perfect. This is the most natural and compelling ticket of my lifetime. I love it. Watching the vice president and Minnesota governor has exceeded all of my expectations”. Well said, my friend, and my sentiments precisely. After years of lackluster Democrat response to creeping fascism, these two happy warriors are punching back with patriotic joy, optimism, and common decency. “Compelling” indeed. What a team! Wow!

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Donald is begging Joe to come back. Sad. It's like he's trying to lose.

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Reads like a radical Democrat hijacked his account. No joke.

And you know the orange fake messiah is going to sink to even more unimaginable blabber.

Can't wait!

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Indeed. Sinking. Into his muck.

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