By J.C. Bruce
Donald Trump still hasn’t figured out he’s not a king.
He sent his minions to California this week to force the state to delay counting about 20,000 ballots the Justice Department suspects may have come from people who shouldn’t have been registered to vote.
Maybe. Not sure. Possibly. But just in case…
A federal judge wasn’t having it, and he had a few choice words for Trump’s misunderstanding that, not since 1776, has a monarch reigned in America.
“Never before in American history has the federal government, on the eve of an election, sought to coerce a state and local government to abandon their own Constitutional election procedures and bend to the will of the Executive Branch,” U.S. District Judge David Carter wrote. “In bringing this lawsuit, the Executive would have this Court believe that it reigns as a sole sovereign. But California and its people are sovereign, too.”
The judge then denied the temporary restraining order the federal government sought.
To which the feds suggested that failure to comply with Trump’s wishes could lead to criminal charges.
“These threats must stop,” Carter ordered. “The Executive’s requested relief would wreak havoc and disrupt the election that is already underway, create a chilling effect on election workers and voters alike, and discount the votes of United States citizens.”
Of course they would. That was the point.
“Over 20,000 registered Californians would potentially lose the right that generations of Americans have fought to preserve,” the judge said.
“Constitutional rights and our democracy are at stake. The public interest favors their protection. Individuals who have met the requirements of California’s voter registration laws must not be deprived of a core right merely because of unfounded allegations stemming from a procedure rife with uncertainty and errors.”
California is not the only state where Trump is trying to disrupt the election. He sent his Department of Justice flunkies to Alaska to block certification of a Senate election there — but only if the Democrat wins. Now he’s saying the Democratic candidate, Mary Peltola, should be removed from the ballot and prosecuted.
Here in Florida, Broward County election officials say they’re getting complaints from voters that the Post Office seems to be slow-walking mail-in ballot delivery.
The problem is serious enough that Broward Supervisor of Elections Joe Scott advised voters not to risk mailing their ballots because they may not reach his office in time to be counted on Tuesday, Nov. 3, according to the Miami Herald.
Back to the California tussle, Gov. Gavin Newsom was interviewed about the controversy on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, leaving viewers with these two takeaways:
Voter turnout is vital to ensure that Democratic margins of victory are large enough that Trump and his handmaidens cannot credibly dispute the election results, Newsom said, urging everyone to get out and vote.
And then Kimmel asked Newsom if Trump “has commented on your appearance, physique. He’s a little boy crazy lately.” Kimmel was referring, of course, to Trump’s comments about Ohio Republican Sen. Jon Husted, to wit:
“He came up, and he was talking very nicely, and I stood right over here, and I examined his ass…”
To which Newsom responded to Kimmel:
“He does have a bit of a fixation with, uh, forgive me, people’s asses. But the only ass I care about is the one we’re going to kick on Tuesday.”
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Clearly, Trump is desperate. I don't know what other nasty things he will try, but it won't be good. If you have a mail-in vote, check with your local Supervisor of Elections office to see if you can drop it off rather than mail it. I did that at early voting. Let's get out and exercise our right to vote.