Monday Open Thread

33
  by: Colorado Pols January 27, 2020 at 6:22 AM MST

“Passivity is the same as defending injustice.”

–Deepak Chopra

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33 Community Comments, Facebook Comments

  1. RepealAndReplace says:
    January 27, 2020 at 9:23 AM MST

    The top three in Iowa: Emerson poll has Bernie at 30%, Biden at 21% and Amy at 13%.

    https://emersonpolling.reportablenews.com/pr/iowa-2020-sanders-solidifies-frontrunner-status-in-iowa-while-klobuchar-nears-viability

    With 15% being the cutoff for viability, who will be the second choice candidate for those who caucus for Mayor Pete, Warren, Steyer, Yang and Gabbard?

    The Emerson poll shows second choices, but what if candidate’s second choice still doesn’t hit 15 percent. Do they get to contInue regrouping?

    • Diogenesdemar says:
      January 27, 2020 at 10:01 AM MST

      Let’s all [political] party like it’s 1869! . . . 

      Iowa Should Never Go First Again

      Right now, I’m as obsessed as anyone with the early-state polls. Yet I also want to use this moment to point out how bizarre the current system is — and to make a plea: The 2020 cycle should be the last time that Iowa and New Hampshire benefit at the country’s expense.

      The strongest part of the case for change, of course, is the racial aspect of the current calendar. Iowa and New Hampshire are among the country’s whitest states. About 6 percent of their combined population is black or Asian-American. Almost 87 percent is non-Hispanic white, compared with 60 percent for the country as a whole. Demographically, Iowa and New Hampshire look roughly like the America of 1870.

       

      https://www.nytimes.com/2020/01/26/opinion/iowa-new-hampshire-primary.html

       

    • JohnInDenver says:
      January 27, 2020 at 2:54 PM MST

      Iowa caucus rules from years ago when I was there had people separate into groups and got a count, and then declared which candidates were not viable.  In some small caucus meetings with few delegates to the next level assemblies, the "viability level" could be as high as 25%.  ALL of the nonviable were then lopped off, and people could go to one of the viable candidates (or could be grumpy and refuse to make a choice — or simply leave)..  By definition, any second choices had already reached the viable level.

      This year, as I understand it, the Iowa Dems will be reporting the cumulative initial preference from all of the 1600+ caucus sites.  They will also announce estimated delegate awards — which are always hypothetical, as the field will be substantially different at each subsequent meeting (county, Representative district and state convention) and the whole process doesn't wrap until June 13. 2020.

      • Phoenix Rising says:
        January 27, 2020 at 8:54 PM MST

        I believe that national Democratic Party rules this year require the Presidential nominee to be chosen at the first meeting – i.e. at the precinct caucuses. Delegate-equivalent counts from the caucuses should match the actual nominee this yeat.

        • JohnInDenver says:
          January 28, 2020 at 12:55 PM MST

          The rules as I read them say the process must start at precinct caucuses.

          I've read several people in Iowa explaining the selection of delegates, and that happens at the House District and State assemblies.

          • RepealAndReplace says:
            January 28, 2020 at 1:29 PM MST

            Yes, what happens if a candidate finishes third in Iowa but drops out before the final state convention picks the delegates to the national? Would those state convention delegates he free to vote for whomever they wishes? (They can certainly consider who receives the endorsement from their vanquished candidate.)

    • Voyageur says:
      January 28, 2020 at 1:06 PM MST

      Amy just keeps coming on.  You go, girl!

  2. kickshot says:
    January 27, 2020 at 10:28 AM MST

    Top candidates at yesterday’s US Senate LongmontLatinxVoicesTownhall?

    In alpha order:

    Bray, Romanoff, Warren, Zornio

    In preference order:

    Zornio, Warren, Romanoff, Bray

  3. RepealAndReplace says:
    January 27, 2020 at 10:48 AM MST

    What a lunchtime treat!  Watching Ken Starr speak.  frown

    • JohnInDenver says:
      January 27, 2020 at 2:26 PM MST

      The Presiding Officer / Chief Justice can call for witnesses — but 51 Senators can override ANY action he wants to take.

      • MADCO says:
        January 27, 2020 at 2:50 PM MST

        Those 5 or 6 paragraphs just past half way all about the Senate Rules for impeachment argue that the Rules say different.

        Example
        The rules further empower the chief justice to enforce the subpoena rule. Rule V says: “The presiding officer shall have power to make and issue, by himself or by the Secretary of the Senate, all orders, mandates, writs, and precepts authorized by these rules, or by the Senate, and to make and enforce such other regulations and orders in the premises as the Senate may authorize or provide.” The presiding officer, under our Constitution, is the chief justice. As such, the chief justice, as presiding officer, has the “power to make and issue, by himself,” subpoenas.

         

        There is more – but you get the point.

         

        • JohnInDenver says:
          January 27, 2020 at 3:03 PM MST

          key phrases in what you cite from Rule V.  The PO can do lots of things "authorized by these rules, or by the Senate," and "as the Senate may authorize or provide."

          If Roberts was inclined to act, any Senator can make a motion to overrule the Presiding Officer, another can second, and there will be a vote.  51 votes win.  A 50-50 tie or a minority vote allows the action of the PO.

          • MADCO says:
            January 27, 2020 at 3:26 PM MST

            That is clearly not what the authors believe.

            • JohnInDenver says:
              January 28, 2020 at 12:52 PM MST

              Really?  About 2/3rds into the article, the authors write:

              What happens next won’t be totally within Democrats’ or the chief justice’s control. As Representative Adam Schiff acknowledged Thursday, the chief justice can decide evidence questions like executive privilege, but his determinations can be overruled by a majority of senators.

              Likewise, when witnesses and documents arrive at the Senate, if questions arise about actual evidentiary rulings — like whether Mr. Bolton or Mr. Mulvaney can be forced to answer particular questions — a majority of senators can, under Rule VII, overrule the chief justice.

  7. 2Jung2Die says:
    January 27, 2020 at 2:57 PM MST

    Wow, with this blockbuster announcement, here's our chance to get Caldara and Laugesen in the same publication!

  8. harrydoby says:
    January 27, 2020 at 8:39 PM MST

    Trump's defense team resorted to lies and simply ignoring the 10 ton elephant in the room.

    Pretty pathetic so far.  Ken Starr was the worst.  

    So far their defense boils down to "Nuh, uh!"

     

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