Blog Day 124 - 06 November 2020 - James Bond 007 Day

Welcome to virus free Friday.

I think that we all thought that the US presidential election was going to be interesting but did anybody think that it was going to be this interesting.

As it stands, Biden has 264 electoral college votes and Trump has 214, the first to reach 270 will be the 46th president of the United States of America, notwithstanding any future legal proceedings.  There are currently 5 states that are still undecided.  Biden is leading in Nevada with 6 electoral college votes available, if he gets this he is over the line.  Trump is leading in four states, Pennsylvania 20 votes available, North Carolina 15 votes, Georgia 16 votes and Alaska 3 votes.  Trump will need to win all five undecided states to achieve the magic 270.

Trump's problem is that even in the states in which he is leading the counting of the postal votes is tending to favour the Democrats and so even where he is in the lead that lead is generally being eroded by the postal votes.  That is why he is trying to issue court proceedings to stop the count in these states.

The other interesting thing is even if Biden wins Trump will remain as president until 20 January 2021 when Biden will be inaugurated.  It is sort of protocol that the sitting president doesn't do much in between the election and the inauguration of the new president.  But, as well all know Trump doesn't usually follow the established protocols, so that could be interesting as well.

Some agencies are reporting that if (when?) Trump doesn't win he will stand again in 2024 or alternatively one of his family will stand possibly one of his sons.  Dreams of a political dynasty anyone?  

I suppose at the end of the day all this isn't much different than old Joe Kennedy buying the presidency for JFK.  

Just as an aside I see that the last of JFK's siblings died recently. She was Jean Kennedy Smith and died aged 92 in June of this year.  Although the 9 Kennedy children were raised in a family of great privilege they were also incredibly unfortunate.  The eldest Joseph Kennedy Jnr was killed in action in WW2 (this is who Joe senior was originally grooming to be president), a daughter Kathleen was killed in a plane crash and of course both John and Robert Kennedy were assassinated. A brother Edward (Teddy) Kennedy was caught up in the scandal where a young woman was killed in a car crash the Teddy was involved with. Another sibling Rosemary spent all of her life in institutions after a botched lobotomy left her incapacitated.  

Talking about constitutional issues and court cases, I see that Clive Palmer has lost his High Court case against the WA government over that state's border closures.  Palmer was claiming that the closing of the WA state borders was illegal under the federal constitution that guarantees free trade between the states.  Well apparently that free trade is guaranteed except in the case of "plague and pandemic".  Not only has Palmer lost but he has had a costs order made against him for both is costs and defendant's costs.  That will cost him a pretty penny.

You will be pleased to know that I haven't gone completely mad and I remembered to wear my mask on my walk today.

Catch on virus stuff tomorrow.

Comments

  1. Lyn6 November 2020 at 20:00

    Will spare a thought for you when you are out walking on Wednesday whilst we are doing the day cruise on the Gordon River thanks to a considerable donation ($300) from the state government towards our accommodation and cruise.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Graeme7 November 2020 at 12:12

      I get to go to brunch tomorrow within 25km and pay for it myself, so there.........

      Delete

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