Ten Days Now: Election, etc Open Thread

For those who can but haven’t voted yet, don’t forget to do your research downticket. Not just candidates but amendments or initiatives or whatever too. And be safe out there. Those ‘poll watchers’ scare the living fuck outta me

This is one of their downstream effects. “There’s no official tally of how many schools will be closed nationwide on Nov. 8, according to the National School Boards Association. But in various districts from New Jersey to Nebraska, officials have canceled classes, or moved polling out of schools to other buildings this year.” (Apologies if that story has already been shared.)

But speaking of research on who and what is on your local ballot, Ballotpedia is an excellent place to start.

Trump has virtually no path to 270 at this point, and accusers are still coming forward. According to Liz Mair, there are at least two more devastating stories against Trump that have yet to break, both of which are apparently worse than the Access Hollywood tape (and no, the recent cocaine-fueled underage sex party revelation wasn’t one of them). Unfortunately, she believes one of them has been squelched due to the prohibitive cost of violating a Trump NDA.

Still, it’s vital that we get out and vote. The downticket races are especially important, for SCOTUS reasons (ie actually having a SCOTUS at all, never mind a majority, now that Republicans are threatening to continue the blockade). The Senate is within reach. The House doesn’t look as likely, but at least the GOP margin could be eroded.

Happy balloting, and stay safe, everyone.

I just found out that my county has been sending officers to help put down protesters at Standing Rock. It really pisses me off. Sheriff is an elected office in my county so writing a letter to the sheriff’s office is definitely on my to do list for the weekend.

It’s hard to believe that people still doubt that law enforcement agencies are more about protecting wealthy and powerful than public safety and justice.

Again, people find all sorts of ways of getting rich. These are diseases like everything else. You look at people getting rich, organizing trusts, and making a million dollars, and somebody gets the disease and he starts out. He catches it just as a man catches the mumps or the measles; he is not to blame, it is in the air. You will find men speculating beyond their means, because the mania of money-getting is taking possession of them. It is simply a disease; nothing more, nothing less. You cannot avoid catching it; but the fellows who have control of the earth have the advantage of you. See what the law is; when these men get control of things, they make the laws. They do not make the laws to protect anybody; courts are not instruments of justice; when your case gets into court it will make little difference whether you are guilty or innocent; but it’s better if you have a smart lawyer. And you cannot have a smart lawyer unless you have money. First and last it’s a question of money. Those men who own the earth make the laws to protect what they have. They fix up a sort of fence or pen around what they have, and they fix the law so the fellow on the outside cannot get in. The laws are really organized for the protection of the men who rule the world. They were never organized or enforced to do justice. We have no system for doing justice, not the slightest in the world.

– Clarence Darrow

I just wanna remind you people way back when, months and months ago, when I was scared about Trump becoming a legitimate candidate and all you guys were, like, “Haha, like he’d EVER get the nomination!”

I just wanna say I won’t forgive your flippancy and I will never forget, not until President Hillary Clinton is singing her first order into law or whatever.

You don’t even wanna know what will happen if Trump wins. Mark my words.

Not I, Handsome.
I live on the shiny brass buckle of the Bible Belt where the only thing loved more than white Jesus is conceal and carry. I never doubted the country that elected W twice could elect Trump.

I never bet on the angels of our better nature.

@Scildfreja – yes! I plan to supplement retirement with creative things. My father did the same, he retired from the US Post Office early, and ramped up his stained glass window business. He does fused glass pieces and custom windows in a Frank Lloyd Wright style, as well as seasonal windows and fairies.

I’m setting a goal for 2017 to finally learn how to do rounds in crochet, as I turn 40 next year. I’m hoping that I can get that down and then figure out how to do cozies…if all else fails, I’ll try to pick up knitting and see if that works. I’m also going to try to beef up my sewing skills so that I can make steampunk clothing. Because I really want to be the weird old lady at the end of the block. Until then, everything is preparation for it.

@WWTH

http://67.media.tumblr.com/5b99bd1d029b3f94c8a61c11ddbb3a1d/tumblr_inline_msgmq8kH0V1qz4rgp.png

I thought to myself, when I realized my mistake much too late to change it, would someone will make light of this, would someone kick a person when they’re down, when they’re on the ropes?

I thought yes, but hoped no.

Yet again, my hopes were dashed, dashed upon the cold, rough coral in the turbulent sea of life. The tempest cares not for the boats or people upon the waves, it just is, and it rages with all its power and might.

I hope you’re happy with yourself.

(Also I definitely haven’t learned to triple read the shit I’ve wrote, jesus fuck, for real.)

Overhearing a news section that covers all the racist stuff Trump has said and supported sure does solidify my choice in voting for Hillary Clinton. I am so glad that I have a pet dog to pet at the moment.

I cast my vote, although I walked to the mailbox I was afraid I accidentally filled in the wrong bubble.

I’m nauseatingly anxious. I’m going fucking lose it if Trump wins.

@mildlymagnificent:
What’s the cost to the Republican Party of this happening? Can they just shrug it off, or is it actually going to cause real legal penalties that they’d care about?

I hope it does, I really do. But after Malheur and Standing Rock, my confidence in the legal system’s willingness to actually do the right thing has been shaken.

So, uh, rumour is that the FBI’s email fuckup might’ve been a deliberate attempt to discredit Hillary? That’s a bit too far into Conspiracy Land for me, but hypothetically, if it was true… The fuck kinda legal connotations would something like that have? o.O

This is giving me post-Brexit vote PTSD.

America, please do better than we did.