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#321 |
Penultimate Amazing
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Nelson, New Zealand
Posts: 16,818
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While that is true, she nonetheless did write an official letter to Trump asking him to provide evidence of his claims regarding election fraud, and she did so on FEC letterhead, and signed it in her official capacity as Chair of the FEC
![]() (transcribed in the spoiler to make it easier to read) The letter was authentic. Weintraub even posted it to her verified Twitter account on Aug. 16: https://twitter.com/EllenLWeintraub/...74973115666434 |
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I want to thank the 126 Republican Congress members for providing a convenient and well organized list for the mid-terms. - Fred Wellman (Senior VA Advisor to The Lincoln Project) ![]() |
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#322 |
Penultimate Amazing
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: I live in a swamp
Posts: 22,592
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With the exception of violent acts (down that path is madness) it was all okay. If it hurt Trump it was good and right and just, even if it was dishonest, immoral or unethical. It's never wrong to hurt Trump. It worked. Trump is not going to be president after the end of his term. The ends justify the means.
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#323 |
Philosopher
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 5,465
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#324 |
Quixoticist
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: ON Canada
Posts: 3,572
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"Every saint has a past and every sinner has a future." - Oscar Wilde |
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#325 |
Philosopher
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 5,247
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#326 |
Troublesome Passenger
Join Date: Apr 2010
Posts: 18,856
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#327 |
Philosopher
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 5,247
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When were y'all gonna tell me that Democrats Mark Pocan, Elizabeth Warren, Amy Klobuchar and Ron Wyden said they were worried about Dominion's tabulators being subject to tampering by special interests.?
BTW that bad messenger girl Sydney Powell needs to be attacked by expert messenger shooters. Hurry. She says DOJ is looking into Dominion, and she is determined to see them all exposed. |
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#328 |
Penultimate Amazing
Join Date: Sep 2011
Posts: 19,136
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Yes, but still with no enforcement power or basis in law. Ms Weintraub can, even in her official capacity, "call upon" a wide variety of causes, but to what effect? The writing of open letters between feuding factions of government is a popular American political activity. They're almost always ignored as ineffectual saber-rattling and political posturing, and are almost always vetted by the responsible agency's general counsel to ensure they don't risk anything beyond rhetoric. They have no more governmental effect than the Tweet that contains them.
Note how Ms Weintraub carefully avoids demanding that the President provide evidence of ballot irregularities to the Commission, because such a request would be improper if made in her official capacity. Instead she requests that the President provide evidence "to the American people, and to the appropriate law-enforcement authorities." That general wording is safe for her to issue on her Commission's letterhead. She's not claiming authority to investigate the President's claims. She's not opining on the merits of those claims, or rebutting them. She's just urging him to report what evidence he may have to the people who do have the authority to investigate, and to the general public as a matter of good faith. She stated that the American people rely upon the Federal Election Commission to ensure the integrity of elections (to federal office). That's true, but still only in the sense of financial integrity on the part of the campaigns for federal office. That's simply a matter of statute, and no coyness on Ms Weintraub's part creates authority that Congress did not give them. Ballot integrity is, and has always been, a matter strictly for the states. In fact, the only federal laws that apply to balloting are part of the Americans with Disabilities Act, and go only as far as mandating that polling places for elections to federal office must accommodate the disabled and elderly. If the President had evidence of campaign finance violations on the part of, say, the 2016 Clinton campaign, then the proper law-enforcement authority would be FEC. But Ms Weintraub quotes claims by the President that allude to the improper acceptance of ballots in New Hampshire. The proper law-enforcement authority in that case would be the New Hampshire Attorney General. Full disclosure: I worked part time on a U.S. Senate campaign about ten years ago, with duties that included coordinating FEC filings and communications on behalf of the campaign. I have personal experience in what the FEC is allowed to ask for and enforce. Vague platitudes alluding to the faith of the American electorate, and cautionary references to laws made by jurisdictions she has no control over, are great political theater. But neither Ms Weintraub nor any other federal official has any actual authority over how states choose to regulate voting. As long as statements are worded not to imply authority they don't actually possess or compel a duty not within their mandate, even holders of federal office can urge other political functionaries to "do the right thing" in open letters, even when there are partisan overtones to the exhortation. When it comes down to it, the FEC has subpoena authority. Had any of what Ms Weintraub wrote about been anything her Commission had the actual authority to investigate, she could have compelled the production of evidence from either the President or the authorities in New Hampshire. But since it wasn't, all she can do is write strongly-but-carefully-worded letters and post them to Twitter. In contrast, Mr Trainor may certainly have formed a personal opinion regarding ballot integrity. He may even have drawn a conclusion based on his judgment of evidence before him. And he certainly has as much right as any other citizen to publish that conclusion in whatever form. But it should not in any way be taken as the conclusions or findings of any federal agency empowered to regulate ballot integrity, with which Mr Trainor may be associated, or even as particularly better informed by virtue of the FEC's purported activity. In contrast, Ms Weintraub does not render an opinion on Commission letterhead as to whether President Trump's previous claims were true or false. Nor does she, either in her personal or official capacity, offer a competing opinion. She merely notes the deleterious effect of unevidenced claims. While I disagree with any attempt at politicking under color of government office, it appears Ms Weintraub has taken the appropriate precautions to avoid making any statements in her official capacity that would be improper as an FEC Commissioner or as the Chair. Even in her comments to CNN, she correctly defers to state and local authority, which is the proper authority for estimates of ballot integrity. It's not clear to me that Mr Trainor has been as careful or appropriately deferential. |
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#329 |
Suspended
Join Date: Oct 2009
Posts: 4,032
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#330 |
Philosopher
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 5,465
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#331 |
Penultimate Amazing
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Nelson, New Zealand
Posts: 16,818
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__________________
I want to thank the 126 Republican Congress members for providing a convenient and well organized list for the mid-terms. - Fred Wellman (Senior VA Advisor to The Lincoln Project) ![]() |
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#332 |
Penultimate Amazing
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Nelson, New Zealand
Posts: 16,818
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__________________
I want to thank the 126 Republican Congress members for providing a convenient and well organized list for the mid-terms. - Fred Wellman (Senior VA Advisor to The Lincoln Project) ![]() |
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#333 |
Graduate Poster
Join Date: Aug 2012
Posts: 1,655
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#334 |
Suspended
Join Date: Oct 2009
Posts: 4,032
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#335 |
Quixoticist
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: ON Canada
Posts: 3,572
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__________________
"Every saint has a past and every sinner has a future." - Oscar Wilde |
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#336 |
Penultimate Amazing
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: I live in a swamp
Posts: 22,592
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#337 |
Philosopher
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 5,465
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On that I agree Birthers were more dangerous that Twoofers, but when you mix Birthers anti Semites and Racist, it really get interesting!
People are Critical of me for not speaking out when I was attacked in 2008, but I know my State Kentucky, I know who has power and how Courpt the powerful people are, a poor man can't fight a rich man because he simply doesn't have the Money and power to do so, so you have to be patient and bid your time survive and wait. Eventually Karma will take care if it, because Trump opened his mouth and was proven a Fool and a failure and that's why he lost. |
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#338 |
Philosopher
Join Date: Aug 2006
Posts: 5,465
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#339 |
Graduate Poster
Join Date: Dec 2008
Posts: 1,277
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"May I interest you in some coconut milk?" ~Akhenaten Wallabe Esq |
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#340 |
Maledictorian
Join Date: Aug 2016
Posts: 14,682
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Not 100% supporting Trump even if, or especially when he is violating the laws and Constitution, is the same as cheating.
Imagine what Trump could have achieved if just everyone just did what he told them to without reservation! |
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So what are you going to do about it, huh? What would an intellectual do? What would Plato do? |
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#341 |
Penultimate Amazing
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Central City, Colorado, USA
Posts: 10,099
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#342 |
Graduate Poster
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 1,351
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Meanwhile, the US federal Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency has distributed a joint statement in its official capacity - via its director, Chris Krebs - that says they have "utmost confidence in the security and integrity of our elections".
https://www.cisa.gov/news/2020/11/12...uncil-election In particular:
Originally Posted by CISA
See also https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/...tate-officials. Krebs, according that story, is expecting to be fired by Trump, presumably because "Krebs has been vocal on Twitter in repeatedly reassuring Americans that the election was secure and that their votes would be counted." |
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"Hello. My name is Inigo Skywalker. You are my father. Prepare to die." |
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#343 |
Maledictorian
Join Date: Aug 2016
Posts: 14,682
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__________________
So what are you going to do about it, huh? What would an intellectual do? What would Plato do? |
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#344 |
Philosopher
Join Date: May 2007
Posts: 8,461
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I believe that might have been true. Each side has infilitrated the other and can do damage to the infrastructure of the others - and they know that.
Its just like the nuclear MAD idea. We can fight 3rd party proxy conventional wars but if you go all out everybody gets nuked. |
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#345 |
Penultimate Amazing
Join Date: Sep 2011
Posts: 19,136
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Oh, sure. I just thought it deserved a thorough discussion even if there was no actual dispute. Since everyone's talking about American politics this year, the question frequently comes up among non-Americans why we don't attempt to regulate elections at the federal level and establish some uniform standards for ballot security. They note the patchwork of state laws and practices and wonder why we put up with it. Our only answer is to point to Alexander Hamilton and James Madison and then just shrug; the Constitution simply wouldn't allow it as presently written.
But more importantly, even many Americans wrongly believe that there already is just such a body of federal law, because it's a logical thing to want, and wrongly believe that the FEC is the federal law-enforcement body tasked with enforcing it. It certainly sounds on its face like it should be. Mr Trainor's statements represented here, Ms Weintraub's statements to CNN, and the letter you referenced do nothing to dispel that misconception. Indeed, they seem to be fostering it, and this leads to the inevitable suspicious that there may be political motives in each case to maintain the illusion. I believe the only honest statement that a member of the FEC can make on a ballot controversy is something like, "The FEC doesn't have any say or oversight in how states collect and process ballots, but as Americans with a special interest in free and fair elections, we urge each state to be transparent and diligent." |
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#346 |
Penultimate Amazing
Join Date: Sep 2011
Posts: 19,136
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This, to me, is more important than observers and inspectors at polling places, although I think both should occur. My friends in cybersecurity tell me that the digital infrastructure of balloting is a far softer, far more attractive target than the actual absentee ballots or the individual polling stations and voting machines. The amount of effort you would have to go through to alter or suppress enough votes to sway the election by manipulating individual ballots or ballot machines is prohibitive. The tally machines are far more attractive because at that point the votes just exist as stored data. You have to compromise far fewer assets to make changes at that level, and you have the capacity to affect far more votes.
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#347 |
Graduate Poster
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Cali Four Neea
Posts: 1,354
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#348 |
Philosopher
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 5,247
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Quote:
Are you sure?? Contrary to concerted MSM driven desperate denial hysteria, Biden just might be going down.
Quote:
Internet people claim that Dominion tech was made for flipping votes in other countries. Attorney Sydney Powell says she is exposing massive vote flipping. She names Dominion and Smartmatic. She says Biden is stealing the election. She said: "I am going to expose them all." You of course will want Sydney's evidence to be seen and adjudicated, since your presidential election is at stake, as the good honest citizens y'all are. The actual decision making process (exposing fraud) is just getting started. Sydney Powell, video at link below.
Quote:
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#349 |
Penultimate Amazing
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Sacramento
Posts: 50,334
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__________________
Pacifism is a shifty doctrine under which a man accepts the benefits of the social group without being willing to pay - and claims a halo for his dishonesty. Robert Heinlein. |
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#350 |
Penultimate Amazing
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Sacramento
Posts: 50,334
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__________________
Pacifism is a shifty doctrine under which a man accepts the benefits of the social group without being willing to pay - and claims a halo for his dishonesty. Robert Heinlein. |
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#351 |
Philosopher
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 5,247
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Messenger shooters had better begin loading up
Sidney Powell told Lou Dobbs that she could hardly wait to show the evidence she had on the Dominion machines. She stated that it was funded by Cuba, Venezuela and even China for Hugo Chavez. She stated that the machines were created to sell data to other countries, which was the epitome of “foreign election interference.” She told him that the states that shut down their vote count on Election Night were where the most egregious fraud took place. She claims to have statistical evidence that is “staggering.” She stated that some of Governors and Secretaries of State may have had a financial interest in the machines, as well as some well known others. https://news.unclesamsmisguidedchild...se-the-kraken/ |
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#352 |
Penultimate Amazing
Join Date: Apr 2004
Posts: 25,276
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Yes, yes. I know you're right, but would it hurt you to actually provide some information? |
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#353 | |||
Philosopher
Join Date: Dec 2013
Posts: 6,919
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If she is on Trump's team that makes her a fool.
Rudy Giuliani and Sidney Powell give EMBARRASSING Fox News Interview with Maria Bartiromo
Love the comments. |
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#354 |
Philosopher
Join Date: Dec 2013
Posts: 6,919
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Perhaps because they expressed concerns about the Vulnerabilities and Shortcomings of Election Technology Industry with regards to Private Equity and the need for transparency.
It's a bit long and boring, here: Warren, Klobuchar, Wyden, and Pocan Investigate Vulnerabilities and Shortcomings of Election Technology Industry with Ties to Private Equity |
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#355 |
Philosopher
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 5,247
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To see your grades, look below each reply
C+ C+ C+ You were graded according to your messenger shooting performance. You did OK, but you can do better. Practice puffing up your pompous bluster and bravado techniques. Then try again. Hint: Apply more arrogance, condescension, and abusive language.. |
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#356 |
Graduate Poster
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Cali Four Neea
Posts: 1,354
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You're grading people? Odd.
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#357 |
Philosopher
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 5,247
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Reaching for a reason to say "Odd" ?? Sense of humor wasnt obvious in the remarks below the grades?? "Practice puffing up your pompous bluster and bravado techniques. Then try again. Hint: Apply more arrogance, condescension, and abusive language." As Biden says: "C'mon man" May as well have a little fun while we wait for the final outcome of the election. Note the difference... You guys say "Biden won fair and square" I say "Maybe, maybe not. Time will tell" |
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#358 |
Graduate Poster
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Cali Four Neea
Posts: 1,354
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#359 |
Troublesome Passenger
Join Date: Apr 2010
Posts: 18,856
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#360 |
Penultimate Amazing
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Port Townsend, Washington
Posts: 31,064
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Cum catapultae proscribeantur tum soli proscripti catapultas habeant. |
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