Does anyone remember in 2000..... there were no senators who would object to the electoral vote?

[femmocrat]

I am referring to the event on Jan. 6 when the Vice President accepts the counted ballots from each state at a joint session of Congress.

Members of Congress can object to any state's vote count, provided objection is presented in writing and is signed by at least one member of each house of Congress. An objection supported by at least one senator and one representative will be followed by the suspension of the joint session and by separate debates and votes in each House of Congress; after both Houses deliberate on the objection, the joint session is resumed. A state's certificate of vote can be rejected only if both Houses of Congress vote to accept the objection. In that case, the votes from the State in question are simply ignored. The votes of Arkansas and Louisiana were rejected in the presidential election of 1872.[61]

Is it possible that there could be a senator to object this time? I am clinging to any straw at this point.

[unblock]

1. why would they bother.

best case scenario they throw it into the house, trump is elected anyway.

i suppose it would make a bit of a statement, but to what end?

[TXCritter]

2. Remember 2004? Why bother.

[MFM008]

3. Geez why bother doing anything

Breathing..getting out of bed...

[PoliticAverse]

4. For those that don't know what happened in 2001...

Some in the House objected but no one from the Senate joined them...

http://www.nytimes.com/2001/01/07/us/over-some-objections-congress-certifies-electoral-vote.html

[femmocrat]

8. Thanks, I remember watching it on TV.

Gore was very gracious and tried to be light-hearted. I was so proud of the CBC that day.

[MichMan]

5. I can see someone looking for TV time objecting

I can see one member figuring they can get a lot of TV time, but since I doubt anyone from the other chamber would agree, it won't mean anything

[pangaia]

7. Everything means something.

[MrPurple]

6. Michael Moore showed this in the beginning of Fahrenheit 9/11

There's no chance of Trump being bounced this way and I doubt any Senator would get behind this, since the Republican majorities would overrule it anyway. Maybe Harry Reid could be the Senator to step forward, since he'd be on his way out anyway.

[JudyM]

13. Oh yeah, Harry to the rescue.

He's the biggest Dem disappointment, IMO.

[24601]

15. Harry will already be gone since this is done by the new congress, not the old. n/t

[MrPurple]

23. Don't think so. Gore presided over this in Jan., 2001.

[SickOfTheOnePct]

24. He presided because he was Vice President

and because his term wasn't up yet. The new Senate was in place.

Harry Reid will be gone when the electoral votes are counted in January 2017.

[24601]

25. Mr. Gore was not a senator at the time but was the sitting vice president whose term

ran until noon on 20 January 2001.

The 115th Congress takes office on 3 January 2017.

The 115th Congress, in a Joint Session, will open the Electoral Votes on 6 January 2017.

https://fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/RL32717.pdf

[MrPurple]

28. Thanks. Assumed Presidential & legislative terms ended at same time, so you taught me something.

[duffyduff]

20. Michael Moore lied about that.

Last edited Sun Dec 18, 2016, 12:05 PM - Edit history (1)

There was a reason why it was not challenged, and it had nothing to do with "spineless" Democrats. Al Gore did not want it because he would have been, as VP, in a position to have voted for himself or Lieberman as VP. Ditto with Lieberman.

There was an obvious conflict of interest in the U.S. Senate. They would have had to recuse themselves, and the outcome would have been Bush anyway.

Moore was full of shit, as usual.

[MrPurple]

21. No, he didn't

The segment in the movie showed Maxine Waters & other congresspeople objecting to the votes, but unable to get a Senator to cosign, with Gore running the proceeding and informing them that they can't proceed without a Senator. It just documented this event, which I don't think any other media has. It didn't try to delve into Gore or the Democratic Senators' motivations, as this was just presented as a backdrop to Bush taking power and the movie's focus was what had happened while he was in power.

[ailsagirl]

9. McCain?

[femmocrat]

10. I hope someone will speak up even if it's McCain or Graham.

The drama would certainly make a point about condemning the Russian interference. It would have the effect of stalling the proceedings for awhile anyhow. I hope there is at least one senator with some courage.

[ailsagirl]

11. God, me too

fingers crossed, but not expecting anything

we've been disappointed so many times

[Silver Gaia]

12. THIS

[SickOfTheOnePct]

14. The only objections I anticipate

will be against any Trump electors who go faithless...then those votes will be tossed.

If any Dems object to faithful Trump electors, even if they get a Senator to join in, the House and Senate will vote to accept the votes and move on.

[Mc Mike]

16. Boxer joined Tubbs-Jones in '04.

The media didn't cover it, Ms. Tubbs-Jones died young.

That's one of the reasons I was backing Boxer early in the primary. That and her great progressive voting and advocacy record.

I stupidly was unaware that Boxer and Clinton were related thru marriage.

[Fast Walker 52]

18. Yes, that was a very happy moment for me

But how are Boxer and Clinton related?

[femmocrat]

22. Boxer's daughter was married to Hillary's brother.

They have divorced though.

[Fast Walker 52]

29. her brother? Hmm, haven't heard much about him...

[AgadorSparticus]

17. Yes. We did not have foreign interference in 2000. This year is unprecedented.

[flvegan]

19. One might think that 16 years is enough time to grow a spine somewhere in our party.

Personally, not holding my breath. Hopeful, yes. Optimistic, no.

[Adsos Letter]

26. "A state's certificate of vote can be rejected only if both Houses of Congress vote to accept..."

A state's certificate of vote can be rejected only if both Houses of Congress vote to accept the objection.

Not gonna happen.

[SickOfTheOnePct]

27. It will happen

if a Trump elector goes faithless, no question in my mind.

[Vinca]

30. You're kidding, right? I remember it well and it was a profile in cowardice. Nothing has changed.

Those of us upset about the upcoming disaster are billed as kooks and nuts. I don't see any Democrats in Congress doing anything that will upset the apple cart tomorrow or anytime after. Sometimes they talk a good game, but talk is cheap.

[kudzu22]

31. I expect there will be objections to any Hamilton electors

So even if we manage to swing enough electors, the GOP congress will object and throw those votes out as improperly cast, and Trump wins. As far as objecting to faithful Trump electors, such objection would have to be approved by GOP majority Congress which won't happen.