My Take on the Joint Session Jan. 6 & VP Role

Self | 12/23/2020 | LS

[LS]

There has been a lot of discussion about Pence's role in the upcoming counting of the elector slates.

In 1797 there was a single challenge from, as I recall, Georgia, whose electors had filled out the paperwork wrong. John Adams, the veep, stood to become president by not entertaining any objections. But when he came to Georgia, he sat down for a moment. Thomas Jefferson had ordered the Democratic Republicans NOT to contest, and after a moment, Adams resumed the count . . . in his favor.

A similar episode happened in 1801 with Jefferson doing the reading and an issue with (as I recall) VT. This time Jefferson did not pause, but kept on reading.

In 1960, Hawaii's electoral votes, which by popular vote should have gone to Nixon, were objected to and awarded to JFK, though they made no difference.

That's the historical precedent.

My understanding of the process is as follows:

1) The two houses meet in Joint Session Jan. 6, I think. 2) Two tellers from the Senate and two tellers from the House tally the electors SUBMITTED BY THE STATES. This would include the Biteme electors from MI, WI, AZ, NV, GA, PA. Those tellers had their lists---which must all agree---to the Vice President who presides over the Senate---to read.

Pence then says, "The state of Alabama gives its x electors to . . .; the state of Alaska gives its x electors to . . ."

3) At any point an objection may be raised to any slate. This must include one senator and one congressman.

4) If say Brooks and Hawley object, Pence would say, "An objection has been raised to the slate from Arizona. The chambers will now retire to discuss the objections."

HE DOES NOT HIMSELF ACCEPT OR REJECT ANYTHING. He merely presides.

5) Presumably, at this point, the Senate walks to the senate chambers (realize, this is a kind of pain in the ass. Now imagine it being done six times). The House of course will accept ALL Biteme slates. For any challenge to be accepted BOTH houses must agree. If they do not, "tie goes to the runner" in this case the slates submitted by the states. Unless both houses agree, not one single Trump slate would be accepted.

6) But even then, how many of you really think that a Trump challenge slate in the Senate would carry? At best we start out with 50 votes, but no Pence to break the tie in this particular case. Tie goes to the runner. So you need 51 of the 53. Minion, Sasshole, MurCowSki, Collins, and probably Grahamnesty would never vote for the Trump slate. My guess is in fact you'd be lucky to get 20 votes for the challenge slate.

But it doesn't matter because tie goes to the runner, the official slate sent by the states.

7) So they meet again in Joint Session after discussions and even if the Senate has voted for the Trump slate, Pence announces AZ's electoral votes go to Biteme.

Note again, Pence has no role of power whatsoever except to as a parliamentarian to accept the objection of a senator/congressman.

Hope this clears up some of the muck.

[woodpusher]

Merry Christmas.