Electoral College Votes For Biden/Harris

Stacey Abrams is met with applause as Georgia electors cast their ballots for Joe Biden & Kamala Harris: pic.twitter.com/BSoo8KxpiJ

— The Recount (@therecount) December 14, 2020

Today is the day when the Electoral College (designated voters meeting) meets and the current rule in each jurisdiction (states and D.C., the latter per amendment; Puerto Rico with more residents than several states etc. lose out) is that the popular vote determines how many electors are picked. The party picks the individual electors, helping to avoid the whole faithless electors problem. By statutory rule, it is the same day, but not the same time. You could track the votes and watch the electors do their thing.  And, then the lists are sent to the "seat of the government" and counted with the President of the Senate presiding.  Jefferson did this even with himself on the ballot. 

And, except for Maine and Nebraska, where each district gets individual votes [resulting in a single Trump and Biden elector this time], it is winner take all. At shortly after 5 P.M. (EST), California pushed Biden/Harris over the top.  No faithless electors though some states do not have laws (deemed acceptable by the Supreme Court) against that.  Hawaii would vote a few hours later without incident. So, 306-232 with no faithless electors, meaning that looking at THAT vote, Biden has two more than Trump.

That is, Kamala Devi Harris:

Kamala Harris’ first name means “lotus” in Sanskrit and is also another name for the Hindu Goddess Lakshmi, who represents wealth and prosperity. Her middle name “Devi” also means “goddess,” and it is the name of the Hindu mother goddess, a nurturing force with a fierce side. Both are deeply revered symbols of South Asian culture. Harris' mother Shyamala told the Los Angeles Times in 2004 that she chose Kamala’s name for an auspicious reason: "A culture that worships goddesses produces strong women."

As Hillary Clinton, a New York elector, said, we really shouldn't have an Electoral College. It might have made some sort of sense, at least as a compromise, given various contingencies in 1787.  Not any more.  But, as long as we have it, the whole ritual of the votes and so on does have some sort of charm. Some fear we will have "faithless electors" that will screw things up.  After 2016, suggesting anything is unlikely will get a "yeah right," but so far so good there. Note, when only a handful was involved, I don't recall any suggestion a few Bush electors should switch in 2000.  

As the electors were about to vote, apparently, the Wisconsin Supreme Court (4-3 with one conservative judge leading the way; the difference very well might have been the new justice elected earlier in the year) pushed aside another Trump lawsuit.  But, the Trump side clearly are in the Animal House "Did it end when the Germans Bombed Pearl Harbor?!" frame of mind.  A New Mexico suit was reported just today.  Stephen Miller on the morning propaganda reports spoke of shadow electors. Later on, Bill Barr (submitting a suck-up letter, including continuing the fraud bullshit) said he is leaving on the 23rd.  

Meanwhile, saw some reports of New York health workers getting the COVID vaccine.  We might have a beginning of the end.  Or, at least, the end of the beginning.  I myself got a COVID test, both the more accurate delayed results one and the antibody test.  The person said it usually is good for six months and I took it in June.  But, balances off fairly well.