Trump keeps up false claims of widespread fraud at Georgia rally for U.S. senators

[webfact]

Trump keeps up false claims of widespread fraud at Georgia rally for U.S. senators

By Jeff Mason

 

FILE PHOTO: U.S. President Donald Trump participates in a medal ceremony in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington, U.S. December 3, 2020. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst/File Photo

 

VALDOSTA, Georgia (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump campaigned in Georgia on Saturday for two Republican senators at a rally that some in his party feared could end up hurting, not helping, their chances by focusing on his efforts to reverse his own election defeat.

 

In his first rally appearance since he lost to Democrat Joe Biden in the Nov. 3 presidential contest, Trump urged the crowd to vote for Republican candidates in the Georgia runoff election on Jan. 5 despite his unsubstantiated claims of significant electoral fraud in the state.

 

But he gave considerable time in his remarks to allegations, made without evidence, of widespread fraud in the nationwide election that led to a Democrat reclaiming the White House. Trump has declined to concede the race.

 

"They cheated and they rigged our presidential election but we will still win it," Trump said. "And they're going to try and rig this election too," Trump, a Republican, told the crowd, who chanted "Four More Years!"

 

The president repeated his attacks on Republicans who have refused to back his claims, including Georgia's governor, Brian Kemp. Earlier on Saturday, Trump phoned Kemp and pressured the governor on Twitter to take further steps to help him overturn the election results.

 

Trump's allegations of widespread voter fraud have been rejected by state and federal officials across the country, and his campaign's numerous legal challenges have almost all failed.

 

U.S. President Donald Trump campaigned in Georgia on Saturday for two Republican senators at a rally that some in his party fear could end up hurting, not helping, their chances if he focuses on efforts to reverse his own election defeat. Libby Hogan reports.

 

Biden was the first Democratic presidential candidate to win in Georgia since 1992. Statewide recounts, including a painstaking review by hand of some 5 million ballots, turned up no significant irregularities.

 

The January runoffs pit two Republican senators, David Perdue and Kelly Loeffler, against well-funded Democratic challengers Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock, seeking to capture a state that has not elected a Democratic senator in 20 years.

 

The races will determine which party controls the U.S. Senate. Democrats, who already have the majority in the House of Representatives, need to win both seats to control the Senate. If Republicans win one seat, they will retain their majority and be able to block much of Biden's legislative agenda.

 

Biden said he would visit Georgia to campaign for the Democratic candidates but did not give a timetable for his trip.

 

ATTACKING REPUBLICANS

Governor Kemp did not attend the rally due to the death in a car crash of Harrison Deal, a close family friend of the governor and staffer for Loeffler. He had an active exchange with Trump on Twitter earlier in the day, however.

 

"I will easily & quickly win Georgia if Governor @BrianKempGA or the Secretary of State permit a simple signature verification ... Why are these two 'Republicans' saying no?" Trump wrote on Twitter.

 

After Kemp responded that he had "publicly called for a signature audit three times," Trump said that wasn't good enough, and added in a second tweet that Kemp should immediately call a special session of the state legislature.

 

"Your people are refusing to do what you ask. What are they hiding?" Trump said.

 

In a move unprecedented in modern U.S. history, the Trump team has tried, without success, to get Republican-controlled legislatures in battleground states won by Biden to set aside the results and declare Trump the winner.

 

Biden won the election with 306 Electoral College votes - more than the 270 required - to Trump's 232. The Electoral College will meet on Dec. 14 to formalize the outcome.

 

Trump told the Saturday rally his challenge was headed to the U.S. Supreme Court "very shortly," without elaborating. Legal experts do not see a path to the nation's highest court, however.

 

"Hopefully our legislatures and the United States Supreme Court will step forward and save our country,” he said.

 

Richard Hasen, professor of law and political science at the University of California, Irvine, said it was unclear what case Trump was referring to, but added: "I don't think any of these efforts stand any chance of success."

 

Trump's penchant for making his political rallies largely about himself - and now, his claims that the U.S. electoral system was manipulated - had raised concerns among some Republicans that his appearance in Georgia could end up turning voters off or making them feel there is no point in voting.

 

Before the rally, Matt Towery, a former Georgia Republican legislator who is now a political analyst and pollster, said Trump could help if he praised the candidates, but warned:

 

"If he talks about them for 10 minutes and spends the rest of the time telling everyone how terrible Brian Kemp is, then it will only exacerbate things."

 

When Loeffler and Perdue briefly took the stage and were handed the microphone by Trump, many in the crowd drowned out their words with chants of "Fight for Trump!"

 

Two pro-Trump lawyers, L. Lin Wood and Sidney Powell, have argued that Georgians should not vote in the runoff until issues from the 2020 election are resolved in the state, even after lawsuits they have filed to overturn the results have failed.

 

Trump said on Saturday that voters could and should refuse to accept what he called the "rigged" presidential election results while also casting ballots for Perdue and Loeffler in the runoffs.

 

"If you don't vote, the socialists and the communists win," he said. "We can fight for the presidency and fight to elect our two great senators, and we can do it at the same time."

 

(Reporting by Jeff Mason in Valdosta, Georgia; Aram Roston, Makini Brice, Steve Holland and David Morgan in Washington; and Joseph Ax in Princeton, New Jersey; Writing by Sonya Hepinstall; Editing by Mary Milliken, Chizu Nomiyama, Daniel Wallis, Elaine Hardcastle)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2020-12-07

 

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[PatOngo]

Stupid is as stupid does! What an absolutely pathetic loser!

 

 

Edited December 6, 2020 by PatOngo

[harada]

Must be getting close to straight jacket time, surely. 

[OneMoreFarang]

"The Post asked all 249 GOP representatives and senators whether they accept that Biden won. Shockingly only 25 accepted the results, even though almost all states have certified the results. The number rose to 26 later Saturday."

 

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/trump-targets-25-e2-80-98rino-e2-80-99s-e2-80-99-in-congress-who-admit-he-lost-election/ar-BB1bF3wR

and many other sources report the same

 

And they call themselves Democracy - amazing!

[tonray]

Just Pathetic...both Trump and the spineless cowards in his party that stand by and either say nothing or fully support his efforts to delegitimize the free and fair democratic process that is the backbone of our nation's success.

Edited December 7, 2020 by onthedarkside
trolling profanity deleted

[Tug]

4 hours ago, tonray said:

Just Pathetic...both Trump and the spineless cowards in his party that stand by and either say nothing or fully support his efforts to delegitimize the free and fair democratic process that is the backbone of our nation's success.

I agree wholeheartedly with your sentiment I’m not sure it applies when he’s potus but 1201 pm Jan 20 2021 if he keeps up the grift then well yea I’d call it insurrection that should get him the e ticket to Leavenworth 

[Rhys]

The GOP and CS 45 and the many enablers, have shown there is no moral compass that guides them... The old guard needs to return.

 

[Emdog]

47 minutes ago, Tug said:

I agree wholeheartedly with your sediment I’m not sure it applies when he’s potus but 1201 pm Jan 20 2021 if he keeps up the grift then well yea I’d call it insurrection that should get him the e ticket to Leavenworth 

Should do a private swear in of Biden at 12:01 am on the 20th, then go for the formal thing at noon.

Similar early swear in done when Lamar Alexander was sworn in as Governor of Tennesee. His predecessor was selling pardons & breaking all sorts of laws. 

Constitution says date of swearing in, but not time.

Total lemmings at rally. Packed tight, no masks... no wonder US is out of control re virus and most of the blame can be placed squarely on Trump.

BTW his backers who pushed so hard to lock up Biden's son are somehow silent about Trump considering pardons for his crime family and in laws... wonder why?

[Eric Loh]

50 minutes ago, Jeffr2 said:

Why would anyone go to a rally to listen to an old white man lie and bitch about others?  Boggles my mine.  Nothing better to do?  What a super spreader event.

Some were seen leaving early in David Parkman’s live broadcast of the Georgia event. Supporters are getting tired of the same old whining from the loser. They expected him to talk more of the 2 senators candidates but got the usual deluge of grievances and lies. 

[Dagfinnur Traustason]

Totally worthless information and not at all newsworthy. As it´s claimed, and is, false claims. Why even bother?

Much better to set this maniac free one month earlier instead. Sacking a US president, might go to history as a good thing. The only thing he is doing right now, is making USA and it´s people look stupid.

[TheFishman1]

President Trump is a big liar

[Tippaporn]

5 hours ago, webfact said:

In his first rally appearance since he lost to Democrat Joe Biden in the Nov. 3 presidential contest, Trump urged the crowd to vote for Republican candidates in the Georgia runoff election on Jan. 5 despite his unsubstantiated claims of significant electoral fraud in the state.

The reporters must have missed this:

 

Senators Introduce Petition to Call Special Session

 

WHEREAS, testimonial and other evidence given before the Georgia Senate Judiciary Committee's Subcommittee on State Election Processes on December 3, 2020, demonstrated a systemic failure to observe the Georgia Election Code enacted by the General Assembly in ways that include, but are not limited to, the following:

 

[long list of fraud which is recognized as such]

 

WHEREAS, the Supreme Court of the United States in Bush v. Gore, 531 U.S. 98 at 104, has held that a state legislature, "after the granting the franchise in the special context of Article II, can take back the power to appoint electors"; and

 

 

[Jeffr2]

7 minutes ago, Tippaporn said:

The reporters must have missed this:

 

Senators Introduce Petition to Call Special Session

 

WHEREAS, testimonial and other evidence given before the Georgia Senate Judiciary Committee's Subcommittee on State Election Processes on December 3, 2020, demonstrated a systemic failure to observe the Georgia Election Code enacted by the General Assembly in ways that include, but are not limited to, the following:

 

[long list of fraud which is recognized as such]

 

WHEREAS, the Supreme Court of the United States in Bush v. Gore, 531 U.S. 98 at 104, has held that a state legislature, "after the granting the franchise in the special context of Article II, can take back the power to appoint electors"; and

 

Take note of the boldened, underlined text.

Jeez.  Ya just don't give up.  Time to catch up.  It's over. 

 

Please, stop posting this BS stuff.  Every legal petition brought up by Team Trump has been shot down.  You do realize this, don't you?  I'm guessing not....

[welovesundaysatspace]

9 minutes ago, Tippaporn said:

The reporters must have missed this:

 

Senators Introduce Petition to Call Special Session

 

You know people are desperate when they start a petition. Did they use change.org for it? 
 

 

[Tippaporn]

1 minute ago, Jeffr2 said:

Jeez.  Ya just don't give up.  Time to catch up.  It's over. 

 

Please, stop posting this BS stuff.  Every legal petition brought up by Team Trump has been shot down.  You do realize this, don't you?  I'm guessing not....

Uhm, please point out the BS in my post.  Specifically.

 

Also, if you haven't noticed this special session could result in the State legislature reclaiming their power to choose electors.  So courts at this point are not in play any longer.  If the GA legislature decides that there was sufficient fraud, which they've obviously recognized as this emergency session evidences, then they will appoint electors to vote for Trump.

 

What potentially happens here could very well set a precedent for other states to follow.  The first one is always the hardest.

 

Please, please tell me what part of my post is BS.  I'd love to hear your valid points.

[Tippaporn]

I've said it before, don't count your chickens before they're hatched.  This election has not played out yet.

[Jeffr2]

1 minute ago, Tippaporn said:

Uhm, please point out the BS in my post.  Specifically.

 

Also, if you haven't noticed this special session could result in the State legislature reclaiming their power to choose electors.  So courts at this point are not in play any longer.  If the GA legislature decides that there was sufficient fraud, which they've obviously recognized as this emergency session evidences, then they will appoint electors to vote for Trump.

 

What potentially happens here could very well set a precedent for other states to follow.  The first one is always the hardest.

 

Please, please tell me what part of my post is BS.  I'd love to hear your valid points.

Please, read this carefully.  These petitions are being done by politicians.  Not the most honest people in the world.

 

Second, AG Barr, hired by Trump, said there is NO significant fraud.  And Chris Krebs, in charge of election security said there was NO fraud.  It was the most secure election in the history of the US.

 

The charge is being led by Trump, who's got ZIP credibility.  Zip.  But you believe them.  Stunning.

 

You're just trolling.  Time to stop.

[klauskunkel]

4 hours ago, webfact said:

"They cheated and they rigged our presidential election but we will still win it," Trump said. "And they're going to try and rig this election too,"

"They" did it.

Afraid of "them"? Because "they" are coming for you...

Boohooo!

 

[Srikcir]

1 hour ago, Tippaporn said:

WHEREAS, the Supreme Court of the United States in Bush v. Gore, 531 U.S. 98 at 104, has held that a state legislature, "after the granting the franchise in the special context of Article II, can take back the power to appoint electors"; and

 

 

Assuming the relevancy of Article II to Georgia, the taking back i believe must be done by a Governor veto-proof congressional majority and cannot be done retroactive, ie., replace electors already in place by act of the Georgian government prior to election day. As I recall, the USSC has ruled that once state electors are in place according to qualified party affiliation (prior election day) and existing laws, their political designations cannot be changed. 

[Tippaporn]

1 hour ago, Jeffr2 said:

Please, read this carefully.  These petitions are being done by politicians.  Not the most honest people in the world.

 

Second, AG Barr, hired by Trump, said there is NO significant fraud.  And Chris Krebs, in charge of election security said there was NO fraud.  It was the most secure election in the history of the US.

 

The charge is being led by Trump, who's got ZIP credibility.  Zip.  But you believe them.  Stunning.

 

You're just trolling.  Time to stop.

Barr stated three times the qualifier, "yet" in his statements to AP.  The DOJ and FBI investigations have not concluded and are ongoing.  If my memory serves me correctly there's a certain data analyst who had been contacted by the FBI after Barr made his statement to AP.

 

Dominion took part in producing that CISA statement.  So to take that CISA release on face value would be, in my opinion, foolish as the entity being implicated in the fraud played a role in CISA's assessment.  This is why Trump fired Krebs.  Wouldn't you fire him?

 

Fox News - Dominion Voting Systems part of DHS CISA Council that disputed election fraud

 

Now I had asked you to point out specifically what within my post was BS.  You haven't done so by citing any valid arguments.  The two you provided failed in their validity but regardless both are irrelevant as they do not pertain to the scheduled emergency GA legislative session at all.

 

 

Edited December 7, 2020 by onthedarkside
personal comment removed

[Berkshire]

20 minutes ago, Tippaporn said:

Uhm, please point out the BS in my post.  Specifically.

 

Also, if you haven't noticed this special session could result in the State legislature reclaiming their power to choose electors.  So courts at this point are not in play any longer.  If the GA legislature decides that there was sufficient fraud, which they've obviously recognized as this emergency session evidences, then they will appoint electors to vote for Trump.

 

What potentially happens here could very well set a precedent for other states to follow.  The first one is always the hardest.

 

Please, please tell me what part of my post is BS.  I'd love to hear your valid points.

You really need to keep up.  The GOV of Georgia has already shut this down....twice.  It's not going to happen.  What Trump is trying to do is disregard the will of the voters.  Even GOP legislators aren't that slimy.

 

[The state’s lieutenant governor also publicly rebuffed Trump’s calls for a special session of the legislature to overturn President-elect Joe Biden’s victory in the state, saying, “We’re certainly not going to move the goal posts at this point in the election.”]

[In an interview on CNN’s “State of the Union,” Duncan said he “absolutely” believes that Kemp will not accede to Trump’s demand that he persuade the state legislature to appoint electors who would override the popular vote and nullify Biden’s victory in the state.]

 

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/georgia-governor-rebuffs-trump-s-call-for-special-session-to-overturn-election-results-top-official-says/ar-BB1bG9i7?ocid=wispr

 

 

[Fat is a type of crazy]

23 minutes ago, Tippaporn said:

I've said it before, don't count your chickens before they're hatched.  This election has not played out yet.

Let's find something we agree on.

 You would have to agree that nearly all Trumps posts about election fraud have been false. Even if there is some amazing finding to come. Which I don't believe but you do.

You would also have to acknowledge that having a rally at the height of covid is irresponsible.

You might also admit than playing golf and writing tweets all day is not an appropriate way for the president to spend his time.

Can we agree on this.

[Jeffr2]

11 minutes ago, Tippaporn said:

Barr stated three times the qualifier, "yet" in his statements to AP.  The DOJ and FBI investigations have not concluded and are ongoing.  If my memory serves me correctly there's a certain data analyst who had been contacted by the FBI after Barr made his statement to AP.

 

Dominion took part in producing that CISA statement.  So to take that CISA release on face value would be, in my opinion, foolish as the entity being implicated in the fraud played a role in CISA's assessment.  This is why Trump fired Krebs.  Wouldn't you fire him?

 

Fox News - Dominion Voting Systems part of DHS CISA Council that disputed election fraud

 

Now I had asked you to point out specifically what within my post was BS.  You haven't done so by citing any valid arguments.  The two you provided failed in their validity but regardless both are irrelevant as they do not pertain to the scheduled emergency GA legislative session at all.

 

You need to follow your own advice now and read carefully.

Lou Dobbs?  Fox News?  Jim Jordan?  3 of the least credible sources there are.

 

Barr has made his statement.  NO fraud that will change the outcome.  Trump lost.

[Tippaporn]

1 hour ago, welovesundaysatspace said:

This here:

 

No, it can’t. You’re so delusional and desperate you’re blindly believing the unfounded nonsense that they try to tell you. They could tell you they will have a special session to appoint someone to declare the earth flat and you would post such petition here and ask us where the BS is. You and the rest of your sect need to get a good therapist if you’re not able to look through the BS and lies. 

It's apparent that you have not read the PDF links contained within that Call to Special Session.

 

Article II of the Constitution, which they cite, grants state legislatures ultimate authority to name electors even after state certification.  Since this is defined in the Constitution it applies to every state in the union.

 

WHEREAS, Article II, Section 1 of the Constitution of the United States does not prescribe any procedural limitations or criteria relating to a state legislature's exercise of its plenary powers under said provision; and

 

 

Edited December 7, 2020 by onthedarkside
personal comment removed

[Jeffr2]

1 hour ago, Tippaporn said:

It's apparent that you have not read the PDF links contained within that Call to Special Session.

 

Article II of the Constitution, which they cite, grants state legislatures ultimate authority to name electors even after state certification.  Since this is defined in the Constitution it applies to every state in the union.

 

WHEREAS, Article II, Section 1 of the Constitution of the United States does not prescribe any procedural limitations or criteria relating to a state legislature's exercise of its plenary powers under said provision; and

 

Why read them?  If you do some research, even the authors think they have no chance.  GA has called the election.  Game over.

 

Members of congress call special sessions all the time.  Some good, some bad, and some like this, ridiculous. 

 

It's not worth our time to read this.  It's over!!

[Tippaporn]

25 minutes ago, Srikcir said:

Assuming the relevancy of Article II to Georgia, the taking back i believe must be done by a Governor veto-proof congressional majority and cannot be done retroactive, ie., replace electors already in place by act of the Georgian government prior to election day. As I recall, the USSC has ruled that once state electors are in place according to qualified party affiliation (prior election day) and existing laws, their political designations cannot be changed. 

Reread Article II.  It's part of the Constitution and each state must adhere to it.  It has, therefore, supreme relevancy.  The Governor has no say in what the state legislature must do.  It is solely within the legislature's power.

 

As to your last point you may rely on pure common sense for an answer.  The state legislature would not be convening an emergency session to address electors if they did not have the power to choose electors.

[katatonic]

42 minutes ago, Tippaporn said:

I've said it before, don't count your chickens before they're hatched.  This election has not played out yet.

Oh stop being ridiculous! Biden won by miles and Trump's making America look idiotic with his lying and attempts at blatant dishonesty.

[Tippaporn]

24 minutes ago, Jeffr2 said:

Lou Dobbs?  Fox News?  Jim Jordan?  3 of the least credible sources there are.

You probably wouldn't know where to find this information so I'll provide it.  Please notice that Smartmatic, another player in this, has membership as well.

 

GOVERNMENT FACILITIES SECTOR - ELECTION INFRASTRUCTURE SUBSECTOR: CHARTERS AND MEMBERSHIP

 

[thaibeachlovers]

13 minutes ago, Tippaporn said:

Read my earlier posts in which I explained that Barr's statements were misinterpreted.

 

I have no interest in discussing your credibility assessments.  That is not at all pertinent to this discussion so please keep your credibility opinions to yourself.  Let's talk substance, shall we?

Barr said “to date, we have not seen fraud on a scale that could have effected a different outcome in the election.”

https://apnews.com/article/barr-no-widespread-election-fraud-b1f1488796c9a98c4b1a9061a6c7f49d

Unfortunately the anti Trump organisations seem to miss the "to date" part. Never let the facts get in the way of the message.

[FritsSikkink]

1 hour ago, Tippaporn said:

The reporters must have missed this:

 

Senators Introduce Petition to Call Special Session

 

WHEREAS, testimonial and other evidence given before the Georgia Senate Judiciary Committee's Subcommittee on State Election Processes on December 3, 2020, demonstrated a systemic failure to observe the Georgia Election Code enacted by the General Assembly in ways that include, but are not limited to, the following:

 

[long list of fraud which is recognized as such]

 

WHEREAS, the Supreme Court of the United States in Bush v. Gore, 531 U.S. 98 at 104, has held that a state legislature, "after the granting the franchise in the special context of Article II, can take back the power to appoint electors"; and

 

Take note of the boldened, underlined text.

Take note of this: he went to court and his complains where thrown out. When will accept that you are a bunch of sour losers