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(Thread) Nov. 3: What Can Possibly Go Wrong?
Trump knows he probably won’t get enough votes to win, so his plan is evidently to create chaos with the postal service so that the election will be a disaster, and then use the excuse of the chaos to try to delegitimize the election. https://twitter.com/abbydphillip/status/1293883405990596608
Trump knows he probably won’t get enough votes to win, so his plan is evidently to create chaos with the postal service so that the election will be a disaster, and then use the excuse of the chaos to try to delegitimize the election. https://twitter.com/abbydphillip/status/1293883405990596608
1/ We know this because (1) Neither Trump nor his team are capable of anything more sophisticated.
They possess the capacity to lie and destroy. That’s about it.
Also, (2) Trump announced it.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trump-mail-voting/2020/08/13/3eb9ac62-dd70-11ea-809e-b8be57ba616e_story.html
They possess the capacity to lie and destroy. That’s about it.
Also, (2) Trump announced it.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/trump-mail-voting/2020/08/13/3eb9ac62-dd70-11ea-809e-b8be57ba616e_story.html
2/ A bit of history: When the pandemic hit, states and voter activist groups immediately took steps for voters to vote by mail.
(Also known as absentee voting. I deliberately use the terms interchangeably. Trump doesn't seem to understand the difference.)
(Also known as absentee voting. I deliberately use the terms interchangeably. Trump doesn't seem to understand the difference.)
3/ Vote by mail solves a host of problems, including eliminating the need for electronic voting machines, creating a paper trail, and making voter suppression more difficult.
Initially, Trump tried to dissuade people from voting by mail by saying it increases the risk of fraud.
Initially, Trump tried to dissuade people from voting by mail by saying it increases the risk of fraud.
4/ That particular lie didn't work. Trump realized (1) he couldn’t stop the trend toward vote by mail and (2) he was discouraging his own voters from voting (oops).
He then evidently decided that the best way to sabotage vote by mail is to cripple the Post Office.
He then evidently decided that the best way to sabotage vote by mail is to cripple the Post Office.
5/ This goes with the GOP desire to dismantle the federal government and privatize its functions.
Also the post office helps people, and helping people goes against the GOP philosophy of government.
For info on the postal power in the Constitution, see: https://www.law.cornell.edu/constitution-conan/article-1/section-8/clause-7/postal-power
Also the post office helps people, and helping people goes against the GOP philosophy of government.
For info on the postal power in the Constitution, see: https://www.law.cornell.edu/constitution-conan/article-1/section-8/clause-7/postal-power
6/ When Trump creates a barrier, we have to find a way around it.
Yes, I know. The president of the United States actually admitted that he's trying to sabotage an election.
And here we are.
On the bright side, if he knew he had it rigged, he wouldn't try to sabotage it.
Yes, I know. The president of the United States actually admitted that he's trying to sabotage an election.
And here we are.
On the bright side, if he knew he had it rigged, he wouldn't try to sabotage it.
7/ So, How do we solve the problem Trump is creating with the post office so that vote-by-mail runs as smoothly as possible?
For people who have the opportunity to vote by mail:
Get your ballot as soon as possible.
Strategize the best way to submit your ballot.
For people who have the opportunity to vote by mail:
Get your ballot as soon as possible.Strategize the best way to submit your ballot.
8/ We will have a problem if millions of people wait until October to request their ballots.
The mails will get jammed and people won’t get their ballots. They'll have to go to the polls and cancel their absentee ballot, lengthening the lines and creating Election Day chaos.
The mails will get jammed and people won’t get their ballots. They'll have to go to the polls and cancel their absentee ballot, lengthening the lines and creating Election Day chaos.
9/ So don't wait. Get your ballot as soon as possible.
Make sure everyone you know does the same.
After you fill out your ballot, strategize the the best way to submit it.
In some states, you can take it to a polling place during early voting or on Election Day.
Make sure everyone you know does the same.
After you fill out your ballot, strategize the the best way to submit it.
In some states, you can take it to a polling place during early voting or on Election Day.
10/ Other states have secure drop boxes.
In other words: Avoid the mail. Makes sense, right?
Become a community organizer or join a voter protection group and get the word out that people need to avoid the mail.
In other words: Avoid the mail. Makes sense, right?
Become a community organizer or join a voter protection group and get the word out that people need to avoid the mail.
11/ Remember, Trump's attack on the post office will also (1) destroy small businesses that rely on the mail (2) harm people who rely on the mail for prescriptions and (3) harm rural areas that have no options other than the postal service.
Small businesses are already hurting.
Small businesses are already hurting.
12/ Thus the idea could completely backfire by making Trump even more unpopular —while savvy Democrats adroitly sidestep the mail.
Remember what happened to the Wisconsin GOP when they tried to win an election by creating pain for voters?
https://twitter.com/benwikler/status/1249869235683196928
Remember what happened to the Wisconsin GOP when they tried to win an election by creating pain for voters?
https://twitter.com/benwikler/status/1249869235683196928
13/ Voters were enraged at the GOP, and the Democrats won by larger than expected margins.
Creating chaos has always worked for Trump. He literally has no other "skills." His method of "governing" is what @TimothyDSnyder calls crisis and spectacle. https://twitter.com/benwikler/status/1249869235683196928
Creating chaos has always worked for Trump. He literally has no other "skills." His method of "governing" is what @TimothyDSnyder calls crisis and spectacle. https://twitter.com/benwikler/status/1249869235683196928
14/ Sabotaging the post office and bringing pain to communities throughout the country is not the smartest re-election strategy, particularly when you freely admit what you're doing. https://twitter.com/abbydphillip/status/1293883405990596608
15/ The way to prevent Trump’s attempts to sabotage the election is for everyone to get involved.
How? So glad you asked. https://twitter.com/mjf_dfw/status/1294122149612007424
How? So glad you asked. https://twitter.com/mjf_dfw/status/1294122149612007424
16/ See my list of things to do: https://terikanefield-blog.com/things-to-do/
17/ Correct
https://twitter.com/Jodymcp/status/1294128240244785152
I don't think the goal is to delay ballots: The goal is to create massive chaos and disaster, and then use that chaos to delegitimize the election.
Next I'll talk about how to deal with Trump's attempt to delegitimize the election.
https://twitter.com/Jodymcp/status/1294128240244785152
I don't think the goal is to delay ballots: The goal is to create massive chaos and disaster, and then use that chaos to delegitimize the election.
Next I'll talk about how to deal with Trump's attempt to delegitimize the election.
18/ Literally as I was writing that last tweet, the light bulb went on for @hayleecomet
https://twitter.com/hayleecomet/status/1294129378385895429
These problems seem huge when Trump throws them out, but we're smarter than he is and tougher than he is.
https://twitter.com/hayleecomet/status/1294129378385895429
These problems seem huge when Trump throws them out, but we're smarter than he is and tougher than he is.
19/ Yesterday, I watched this Q and A (a remote fundraiser).
Kamala Harris (our future vice president
) was asked the best way to combat this administration's voter suppression.
She said: "I look at it as a challenge" and said we're strong enough to get around it.
(a remote fundraiser).Kamala Harris (our future vice president
) was asked the best way to combat this administration's voter suppression.She said: "I look at it as a challenge" and said we're strong enough to get around it.
20/ This varies by state.
This is why my advice is (1) get your ballot as soon as possible and (2) strategize the best way to submit it.
CA allows people to drop them at polling places on election day. https://twitter.com/bags/status/1294133789241688065
This is why my advice is (1) get your ballot as soon as possible and (2) strategize the best way to submit it.
CA allows people to drop them at polling places on election day. https://twitter.com/bags/status/1294133789241688065
21/ To be clear, drop boxes are different from mail boxes.
Drop boxes are specifically for ballots. They are owned by the state or county and are part of the election apparatus. The post office has nothing to do with them.
Mail boxes are owned by the post office.
Drop boxes are specifically for ballots. They are owned by the state or county and are part of the election apparatus. The post office has nothing to do with them.
Mail boxes are owned by the post office.
22/ So if you take your ballot to a designated drop box, you can avoid the US postal service. You don't need a stamp.
In GA, there are strict rules governing the placement of these boxes. They must be somewhere with a camera at all times (like inside a court house).
In GA, there are strict rules governing the placement of these boxes. They must be somewhere with a camera at all times (like inside a court house).
23/ It's late and I'm testy, but this kind of thing irritates me
Thousands of volunteers are textbanking, reaching voters, and getting the word out. More are needed.
There is no solution "now." There are no magic bullets. Nobody is going to ride in on a charger and save you.
Thousands of volunteers are textbanking, reaching voters, and getting the word out. More are needed.
There is no solution "now." There are no magic bullets. Nobody is going to ride in on a charger and save you.
24/ If everyone demanding that someone do something now would just get busy and contribute we'd be a lot better off.
Democracy means rule by the people.
The people are us.
Democracy takes work. Autocracy (taking orders) is for the lazy.
Rant over.
Democracy means rule by the people.
The people are us.
Democracy takes work. Autocracy (taking orders) is for the lazy.
Rant over.
25/ I've never heard of this happening, but it wouldn't surprise me.
I take mine to the county clerk's office. (Again, check with your secretary of state to find out your local rules.)
The clerk makes sure there are no issues with the ballot. https://twitter.com/11demo11/status/1294136820913979394
I take mine to the county clerk's office. (Again, check with your secretary of state to find out your local rules.)
The clerk makes sure there are no issues with the ballot. https://twitter.com/11demo11/status/1294136820913979394
26/ Excellent point.
A difference right now is that whites are the targets of voter suppression. Blacks have had to endure it for most of history.
Think of the courage it took during some times and places to vote. https://twitter.com/FamousBL3/status/1294242735608729600
A difference right now is that whites are the targets of voter suppression. Blacks have had to endure it for most of history.
Think of the courage it took during some times and places to vote. https://twitter.com/FamousBL3/status/1294242735608729600
27/ A person (I suspect a white male) just basially told me I'm stupid for not "worrying." He told me that "smart people are worried about voter suppression."
My understanding of how things work is that if you're worried about something, you get busy and find solutions.
My understanding of how things work is that if you're worried about something, you get busy and find solutions.
28/ I also wrote a biography of Susan B. Anthony, who was arrested and brought to trial for breaking the law by voting. The law said women weren't allowed to vote. She said that the law violated the 14th amendment.
She wasn't allowed to speak for herself in court.
She wasn't allowed to speak for herself in court.
29/ She wasn't permitted to speak because she was "incompetent."
Blacks were threatened with violence for trying to vote.
Yes, I'm worried. But melting down with panic doesn't help.
I do suspect Trump will back down from this as with the shutdown, but we need to plan.
Blacks were threatened with violence for trying to vote.
Yes, I'm worried. But melting down with panic doesn't help.
I do suspect Trump will back down from this as with the shutdown, but we need to plan.
30/ I never expected this thread to get so long.
For new followers, I'm a volunteer lawyer with the Georgia Voter Protection org. I'm also on the GA Voter Protection committee.
In past elections, I've worked in CA and NV.
See my to-do list for how you can get involved.
For new followers, I'm a volunteer lawyer with the Georgia Voter Protection org. I'm also on the GA Voter Protection committee.
In past elections, I've worked in CA and NV.
See my to-do list for how you can get involved.
31/ I have a different opinion. For Blacks and minorities, voter suppression happens at the polls.
The better option is to prepare the population for the reality that most Democrats will be voting by mail, so the results will not be known election night. https://twitter.com/CarolBaume/status/1294317028107575296
The better option is to prepare the population for the reality that most Democrats will be voting by mail, so the results will not be known election night. https://twitter.com/CarolBaume/status/1294317028107575296
32/ The idea that we need to know who won on November third is a modern invention of network television.
People need to get over it.
Voting by mail is safer. The ballots are hand marked, paper, and were prepared carefully at home by the voter.
Prepare them now.
People need to get over it.
Voting by mail is safer. The ballots are hand marked, paper, and were prepared carefully at home by the voter.
Prepare them now.
33/ Clarifying: I didn't mean to imply that for Blacks and minorities voters suppression only happens at the polls.
I meant that the people most likely to be harassed and put through hardships at the polls are Blacks and minorities.
(It's a sad fact.)
I meant that the people most likely to be harassed and put through hardships at the polls are Blacks and minorities.
(It's a sad fact.)
My whole thread boiled down to 1 tweet.
@RepAdamSchiff rocks. https://twitter.com/AdamSchiff/status/1294328916270698496
@RepAdamSchiff rocks. https://twitter.com/AdamSchiff/status/1294328916270698496
Here we go. From our future vice president. https://twitter.com/KamalaHarris/status/1294327934719791105
This thread is a blog post, here: https://terikanefield-blog.com/what-could-possibly-go-wrong/
