Wall Street Journal rips Trump's 'preposterous' refusal on peaceful transition of power

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

The Wall Street Journal editorial board issued a rebuke of President Trump on Friday, warning his unwillingness to commit to a peaceful transition of power should he lose the November election fuels his opponents' fantasies of forcing him out of the White House.

Trump on Wednesday was pressed by reporters if he would accept the result of the November election.

"Well, we're going to have to see what happens," Trump said. "I've been complaining very strongly about the ballots, and the ballots are a disaster."

-snip-

The Journal's editorial board slammed the president's remarks, calling them "preposterous" and noting that, "on Jan. 20 his term legally ends."

"The media and intelligentsia have worked themselves into a frenzy over imaginary fears that Mr. Trump will somehow remain in office by force if he loses the 2020 election," the editorial read.

"Start with the obvious: The notion that Mr. Trump could stop a peaceful transition of power is preposterous. On Jan. 20 his term legally ends. If Congress hasn't certified an Electoral College winner on that date-or settled a tie- Nancy Pelosi will be President if she is still House Speaker."

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/wall-street-journal-rips-trumps-preposterous-refusal-on-peaceful-transition-of-power/ar-BB19q3uB?li=BBnbfcL&ocid=DELLDHP

[Thomas Hurt]

1. Yeah, we have beat this dead horse here before...

Trump will try but he will fail.

[Thekaspervote]

4. Oh no Kidding! His usual we'll have to see what happens. How many times has he said that??

Current Translation for this scenario: I’m fucking pissed that I’m losing and scared shitless

[Me.]

2. "The media and intelligentsia have worked themselves into a frenzy"

Truer words were never written. Rachel certainly did on Wed. night and Barton Gelman added fuel to this fire with his nonsensical article. I can't believe I am in such agreement with the journal but the frenzy over this matter is a real problem in that it could discourage voting.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

3. "Worked themselves into a frenzy

over imaginary fears" (emphasis added)

People here are freaking out endlessly over this nonsense. On FB also, and probably every other social media platform.

Imaginary fears is so right. Stop lending credence to Trump's nonsense.

[DLCWIdem]

5. He is trying to steal electors

We don't have to panic but we must be prepared. We have to watch the swing states that are Republican controlled and make sure that if Biden wins the state that the Republican legislatures don't try to put in Republicans. Didn't you guys read the Atlantic article. Just keep watch and make sure there is a Biden landslide.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

7. He can't steal electors.

That's not the way it works. Somehow I doubt that Republican legislatures will try to do that. Plus, I believe it's the House of Representatives that officially counts the EC votes. Do you really think the Democrats there will accept phony EC votes over the actual ones?

[DLCWIdem]

10. The quote actually came from a Republican legislator in Penn

The legislator actually gave him the quote said that he was giving Trump the idea. Yes I do think they might try, especially if it is close and we are not watching for it. Did you ever think they wouldn't even meet with Merrick Garland. They have made many firsts under this President.

[Me.]

14. I Am POsting This Each Time The Opportunity Presents Itself

From July 14

"And second, the Court’s decision reinforces the validity of the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact. Under National Popular Vote, states that combine for at least 270 electoral votes agree to award their electors to the presidential candidate who wins the most individual votes across the nation. (Fifteen states and the District of Columbia, totaling 196 electoral votes, have already passed the measure.)

In the 18 states currently without faithless elector laws, the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact would operate in a manner identical to the system that they have been using for over 200 years. In these states (which currently use the state-by-state winner-take-all method of awarding electoral votes), the presidential electors are chosen by the political party whose presidential candidate receives the most popular votes inside the state, and there are no additional requirements placed upon the elector"

https://www.brookings.edu/blog/fixgov/2020/07/14/supreme-courts-faithless-electors-decision-validates-case-for-the-national-popular-vote-interstate-compact/

[Me.]

6. Exactly Right

And it doesn't help when people like Rachel go full hair on fire mode. I tuned in last night for a bit and noticed she had stepped back from the ledge.

[jcgoldie]

8. I was disappointed in Rachel also

The whole charade is designed to suppress the vote by making it appear hopeless or imply the outcome is fixed... it does not help for someone like her who every progressive looks to because she's one of the best and brightest to spend an hour lending credence to the nonsense.

[DLCWIdem]

11. There was a thread yesterday about that

There was a thread yesterday that has since been deleted that said that was Trump strategy. Except that the polls it referred showed the opposite. That it increased enthusiasm. I am not saying to panic but to be careful.

[Me.]

12. Again, Exactly Right

I Hope she was embarrassed by that performance and it will never be repeated

[crickets]

9. Looks like the reality train is pulling into town.

After such a sensible message, it's too bad the WSJ couldn't resist trying to turn it around on Democrats.

The Journal said the president made a mistake in making the comments, arguing that his remarks have fueled Democrats' "destructive ideas."

"The sad reality is that Democratic opinion leaders have been waiting for a Reichstag fire moment from the minute Mr. Trump took office," the paper said.

"Their thirst to be vindicated has grown more intense as his term draws to a close. Perhaps they want to save face after misunderstanding their country and its citizens so fundamentally for four years. Mr. Trump should stop fueling their destructive ideas, because the legitimacy of election results is the bedrock of American democracy."

Way to destroy the gravitas you were working on there, fellas. Enjoy your own 'frenzy over imaginary fears' a little more quietly, will ya?

[Me.]

13. Agreed That They Are Stepping All Over THeir Message & Truth

And yes we have been waiting because we were smart enough to see it coming.