Welcome to DU!
The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards.
Join the community:
Create a free account
Support DU (and get rid of ads!):
Become a Star Member
Latest Breaking News
General Discussion
The DU Lounge
All Forums
Issue Forums
Culture Forums
Alliance Forums
Region Forums
Support Forums
Help & Search
brooklynite
brooklynite's Journal
brooklynite's Journal
February 28, 2021
The North Dakota Senate this week passed a bill which aims to forbid election officials from disclosing how many actual votes are cast for each candidate in upcoming presidential elections. The total tallies would only be disclosed after future Electoral Colleges convene to select an official victor.
The measure, Senate Bill 2271, was introduced by Sen. Robert Erbele, a Republican from Lehr, N.D., who represents a district situated southeast of Bismarck. It would withhold the state’s vote count from the public and allow officials to only reveal the percentage of the total vote each candidate receives.
“[A] public officer, employee, or contractor of this state or of a political subdivision of this state may not release to the public the number of votes cast in the general election for the office of the president of the United States until after the times set by law for the meetings and votes of the presidential electors in all states,” the bill states. “After the votes for presidential electors are canvassed, the secretary of state may release the percentage of statewide votes cast for each set of presidential electors to the nearest hundredth of a percentage point, a list of presidential candidates in order of increasing or decreasing percentage of the vote received by presidential electors selected by the candidates, and the presidential candidate whose electors received the highest percentage of votes.”
...snip...
The bill is designed to prevent implementation of the national popular vote compact – a multi-state agreement aimed at circumventing the Electoral College.
North Dakota Senate Passes Bill to Hide Future Presidential Vote Counts From Public View
Law & CrimeThe North Dakota Senate this week passed a bill which aims to forbid election officials from disclosing how many actual votes are cast for each candidate in upcoming presidential elections. The total tallies would only be disclosed after future Electoral Colleges convene to select an official victor.
The measure, Senate Bill 2271, was introduced by Sen. Robert Erbele, a Republican from Lehr, N.D., who represents a district situated southeast of Bismarck. It would withhold the state’s vote count from the public and allow officials to only reveal the percentage of the total vote each candidate receives.
“[A] public officer, employee, or contractor of this state or of a political subdivision of this state may not release to the public the number of votes cast in the general election for the office of the president of the United States until after the times set by law for the meetings and votes of the presidential electors in all states,” the bill states. “After the votes for presidential electors are canvassed, the secretary of state may release the percentage of statewide votes cast for each set of presidential electors to the nearest hundredth of a percentage point, a list of presidential candidates in order of increasing or decreasing percentage of the vote received by presidential electors selected by the candidates, and the presidential candidate whose electors received the highest percentage of votes.”
...snip...
The bill is designed to prevent implementation of the national popular vote compact – a multi-state agreement aimed at circumventing the Electoral College.
February 28, 2021
A Tweet I sent to Hyatt...
https://twitter.com/chrisbastianbkl/status/1366063272697430028
February 28, 2021
Read more: https://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/540894-virginia-lawmakers-approve-recreational-marijuana-use
Virginia lawmakers approve recreational marijuana use
Source: The Hill
Virginia lawmakers passed a bill on Saturday that will legalize recreational marijuana in 2024.
Passing the bill was top priority for state Democrats who portrayed the bill as a way to end laws that disproportionately affect people of color, the Associated Press reported.
“It’s been a lot of work to get here, but I would say that we’re on the path to an equitable law allowing responsible adults to use cannabis,” said state Sen. Adam Ebbin (D), the bill's chief sponsor.
Democrats are hoping that Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam will send the bill back with amendments, the AP reports, along with an expedited date for legalization.
Passing the bill was top priority for state Democrats who portrayed the bill as a way to end laws that disproportionately affect people of color, the Associated Press reported.
“It’s been a lot of work to get here, but I would say that we’re on the path to an equitable law allowing responsible adults to use cannabis,” said state Sen. Adam Ebbin (D), the bill's chief sponsor.
Democrats are hoping that Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam will send the bill back with amendments, the AP reports, along with an expedited date for legalization.
Read more: https://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/540894-virginia-lawmakers-approve-recreational-marijuana-use
February 28, 2021
Read more: https://thehill.com/homenews/sunday-talk-shows/540882-cassidy-trump-wont-be-gop-nominee-in-2024
Cassidy: Trump won't be GOP nominee in 2024
Source: The Hill
Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.) predicted Sunday that former President Trump would not be the party's nominee for president in 2024, pointing to the number of seats lost by Republicans in the House and Senate over the four years Trump was in office.
Speaking with CNN's Dana Bash on "State of the Union," Cassidy was asked several times whether he would support Trump should he run in 2024 or back him if he wins the GOP nomination, as Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said he would last week.
"That's a theoretical that I don't think will come to pass," Cassidy responded, adding, "I don't mean to duck, but the truth is you could ask me [about] a lot of people, if they are fit. Point is, I don't think he'll be our nominee."
"Political campaigns are about winning," the senator added before pointing to the loss of GOP control of the House, Senate and White House under the former president.
Speaking with CNN's Dana Bash on "State of the Union," Cassidy was asked several times whether he would support Trump should he run in 2024 or back him if he wins the GOP nomination, as Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said he would last week.
"That's a theoretical that I don't think will come to pass," Cassidy responded, adding, "I don't mean to duck, but the truth is you could ask me [about] a lot of people, if they are fit. Point is, I don't think he'll be our nominee."
"Political campaigns are about winning," the senator added before pointing to the loss of GOP control of the House, Senate and White House under the former president.
Read more: https://thehill.com/homenews/sunday-talk-shows/540882-cassidy-trump-wont-be-gop-nominee-in-2024
February 28, 2021
Lucy the Poodle Named a Lawyer of Distinction
Lawyers Mutual Inc.A poodle in Seattle named Lucy was honored as a Lawyer of Distinction in the field of personal injury law after applying for the award and paying a membership fee.
When she applied for the honor in 2017, Lucy claimed to hold a “Juris Dogtor” degree and belong to the King County Bark Association.
“After receiving the payment required for membership and its associated benefits (which at press time cost $475 per year for the lowest tier of membership), Lawyers of Distinction sent Lucy a plaque naming her one of the top 10 percent of attorneys in the country and congratulated her on Twitter,” according to the ABA Journal.
The firm that submitted Lucy the poodle’s application says it did so to “test whether there was any research being conducted” before awards are granted and to show that some awards companies “seem more focused on generating revenue than identifying the best lawyers and firms in their fields.”
When she applied for the honor in 2017, Lucy claimed to hold a “Juris Dogtor” degree and belong to the King County Bark Association.
“After receiving the payment required for membership and its associated benefits (which at press time cost $475 per year for the lowest tier of membership), Lawyers of Distinction sent Lucy a plaque naming her one of the top 10 percent of attorneys in the country and congratulated her on Twitter,” according to the ABA Journal.
The firm that submitted Lucy the poodle’s application says it did so to “test whether there was any research being conducted” before awards are granted and to show that some awards companies “seem more focused on generating revenue than identifying the best lawyers and firms in their fields.”
February 28, 2021
Read more: https://www.politico.com/news/2021/02/28/rick-scott-republican-civil-war-canceled-471855
Rick Scott: GOP is 'voters' party,' not Trump's
Source: Politico
Sen. Rick Scott on Sunday declined to call the GOP the party of former President Donald Trump and acknowledged President Joe Biden was “absolutely” the legitimate winner of the 2020 White House race.
In an interview on “Fox News Sunday,” Scott (R-Fla.) — the chair of the National Republican Senatorial Committee — reiterated his message that “the Republican civil war is canceled.”
But Scott’s remarks to host Chris Wallace also underscored the tense intraparty disputes he is navigating as he leads the GOP effort to retake the Senate in the 2022 midterm elections.
Asked by Wallace whether the Republican Party is “still Donald Trump’s party,” Scott replied that the GOP is “the voters’ party” and “always has been.”
In an interview on “Fox News Sunday,” Scott (R-Fla.) — the chair of the National Republican Senatorial Committee — reiterated his message that “the Republican civil war is canceled.”
But Scott’s remarks to host Chris Wallace also underscored the tense intraparty disputes he is navigating as he leads the GOP effort to retake the Senate in the 2022 midterm elections.
Asked by Wallace whether the Republican Party is “still Donald Trump’s party,” Scott replied that the GOP is “the voters’ party” and “always has been.”
Read more: https://www.politico.com/news/2021/02/28/rick-scott-republican-civil-war-canceled-471855
February 28, 2021
Read more: https://www.nytimes.com/2021/02/28/nyregion/cuomo-investigation-sex-harassment.html?action=click&module=Spotlight&pgtype=Homepage
Under Siege, Cuomo Revises Plan to Review Sex Harassment Claims
Source: New York Times
Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Sunday retreated from his plan to have a former federal judge, who has close ties to one of the governor’s closest allies, investigate claims against him of sexual harassment.
Mr. Cuomo said that he would ask Letitia James, New York’s attorney general, and Janet DiFiore, the chief judge on New York State’s highest court, to jointly pick someone to investigate sexual harassment accusations lodged by two women who worked in the Cuomo administration.
The move came amid mounting criticism over Mr. Cuomo’s initial choice of Barbara S. Jones, a former federal judge who worked with Mr. Cuomo’s longtime adviser, Steven M. Cohen, after leaving the bench.
In an effort “to avoid even the perception of a lack of independence or inference of politics,” the Cuomo administration has asked Ms. James and Judge DiFiore to “jointly select an independent and qualified lawyer in private practice without political affiliation to conduct a thorough review of the matter and issue a public report,” Beth Garvey, a special counsel to the governor, said in a statement.
Mr. Cuomo said that he would ask Letitia James, New York’s attorney general, and Janet DiFiore, the chief judge on New York State’s highest court, to jointly pick someone to investigate sexual harassment accusations lodged by two women who worked in the Cuomo administration.
The move came amid mounting criticism over Mr. Cuomo’s initial choice of Barbara S. Jones, a former federal judge who worked with Mr. Cuomo’s longtime adviser, Steven M. Cohen, after leaving the bench.
In an effort “to avoid even the perception of a lack of independence or inference of politics,” the Cuomo administration has asked Ms. James and Judge DiFiore to “jointly select an independent and qualified lawyer in private practice without political affiliation to conduct a thorough review of the matter and issue a public report,” Beth Garvey, a special counsel to the governor, said in a statement.
Read more: https://www.nytimes.com/2021/02/28/nyregion/cuomo-investigation-sex-harassment.html?action=click&module=Spotlight&pgtype=Homepage
February 28, 2021
Apparently CPAC has standards?
https://twitter.com/nycsouthpaw/status/1365884768160800768
February 28, 2021
Which COVID vaccination would you want?
Profile Information
Name: Chris BastianGender: Male
Hometown: Brooklyn, NY
Home country: USA
Member since: 2002
Number of posts: 94,489
