The senator from Utah is the SAVE America Act’s most enthusiastic proponent in the upper chamber—and he could soon become our next attorney general. Uh-oh.
Why isn’t Mitt Romney speaking out about his former colleague? Senator Lee is delusional about voting fraud. “Don’t confuse me with the facts!” Seems to be his mantra. He may be too far gone down this particular rabbit hole to ever make a correction.
Romney isn't the only. Why aren't past Rs , like Bush, speaking out about the horrors their party is doing, is threatening? I guess they really don't care about the country they once pretended to care about.
The true number of MAGAs is getting lower and lower. And many of those people are starting to feel real pain. If normal people in places like Minneapolis, LA, etc. are risking their lives, what the hell is their problem?
“The election systems we built here in Utah work well because of a core tenant [sic] of the U.S. Constitution: federalism.”
Oh, Senator, with a full staff who should be able to proofread your statements? I think “tenet” is the word you’re looking for here.
Then again, maybe he’s purposely using “tenant” here…as in the idea that federalism has just been renting a spot in the Constitution! I guess that would mean that poor old raggedy federalism could be evicted.
Mike Lee is the perfect example of someone who is a douche bag and turd simply because he enjoys being that way.
As evidenced by the sick jokes he posted on his personal X account last year immediately following the horrific and cowardly assassinations of Melissa and Mark Hortman.
I live in Utah. Our strictly Vote By Mail is 1) extremely convenient and secure, 2) has increased voter percentage, and 3) honestly could be a model for the rest of the country ... and it annoys me to know end that Utah does something so well others should take note. Full disclosure, I'm not lds, nor republican.
Here's how it works. You have to show a shit-ton of identification to register, not just a passport but DL (if you have one), birth certificate, at least two bills with your name/address on them, and so on. This registration process confirms you are a Utah resident, that you actually reside in the town you are registering in, and so on. You can't make it past this step until it's verified you are real and valid.
For elections, which is by mail in, we receive a Ballot envelop with our name and a unique number. Inside is the ballot and return envelope. The ballot and return envelop have a unique number and bar code on them.
Every ballot for each person is assigned a unique number. That number is printed on the ballot, return envelope, also included in a bar code on the ballot and envelop. You have to sign the return envelope (hidden once sealed). So, your return envelope and ballot have both a specific number to you as well as a bar code. The return envelope and the ballot must match, you can't switch envelopes. Your signature on the envelope must match that on record.
Therefore, this is extremely secure. If anything is off, the ballot is now "provisional" and set aside for later review. Forget to sign? Provisional. Use a regular envelop? Provisional. Swap return envelopes with your spouse? Provisional. And ... it's likely screwing up like this means your vote is not counted. So, secure!
The only way to "cheat" in Utah is to have somebody sign their envelop but then let you fill out the ballot and mail that in using the associated return envelope. That is, really, no different than a Man telling his Wife how she is to vote when done in person, and this used to happen a lot. To the best of my knowledge Utah has basically ZIP / ZERO / NO problems.
"Lee’s tactics have made him highly unpopular with his Republican colleagues who see his hyper-online activism as “a self-serving attempt” at juicing his own celebrity."
Now, let's see. Who is it, that is, which chamber has to approve Cabinet heads? And how tight is the Senate at the moment, especially if one of them, say, Senator Lee, for example, is ineligible to vote? Might this just be the bigot too far?
Not that I had high hopes for Lee (the “conzitushunal skolar,” to borrow from Charles P. Pierce), but why has he gone so bonkers? Craving for power? Elon Musk Always Online Disease? A bang on the head?
What’s awful is, since the Senate protects its own, he’d probably skate through hearings. Will the last responsible Republican please turn out the lights?
I think of "konztitooshunal skolar" every time Mike Lee comes up! (I also can never help but call Politico "Tiger Beat on the Potomac" thanks to Charlie Pierce.)
I think that readers of this excellent piece that showcases the hypocrisy and "flip-flops" of formerly respectable Republicans ought to realize that the attraction of the "grift" is a siren's song for far too many on the political right in this country.
I have little doubt that Lee wants the AG job, or any other position that puts him in a position to grift away.
And in defence of Mormons, or any religious group, anyone who subjugates themselves to Trump abandons their faith, without exception.
I assume he would never take the job of AG. Why get on a career track that disappears after 2.5 years when the one you're on is very, very good and lasts for life?
So, if I've got this right, not just a nut, but an incompetent, slap-dash nut, frankly, at war with reality in the name of The State of Utah. Thanks for filling in.
Mike Lee is evil, but he's intelligent. He knows that being Trump's AG is a classic "Everything Trump Touches Dies" gig. I bet he's holding out for Alito's Supreme Court seat, and he's telegraphing that he'd be a vote for the SAVE act when its constitutionality is challenged.
Why isn’t Mitt Romney speaking out about his former colleague? Senator Lee is delusional about voting fraud. “Don’t confuse me with the facts!” Seems to be his mantra. He may be too far gone down this particular rabbit hole to ever make a correction.
Romney isn't the only. Why aren't past Rs , like Bush, speaking out about the horrors their party is doing, is threatening? I guess they really don't care about the country they once pretended to care about.
They are all afraid of the wrath of MAGA. A bunch of wimps with no real integrity.
AKA snowflakes...
The true number of MAGAs is getting lower and lower. And many of those people are starting to feel real pain. If normal people in places like Minneapolis, LA, etc. are risking their lives, what the hell is their problem?
“The election systems we built here in Utah work well because of a core tenant [sic] of the U.S. Constitution: federalism.”
Oh, Senator, with a full staff who should be able to proofread your statements? I think “tenet” is the word you’re looking for here.
Then again, maybe he’s purposely using “tenant” here…as in the idea that federalism has just been renting a spot in the Constitution! I guess that would mean that poor old raggedy federalism could be evicted.
Stephen, great to see your byline! Good stuff, and I hope we see more from you.
Agreed, though next time I want to see a Star Craft reference in the footnotes -
Source: Politico https://share.google/8d06NNxNvF5iAl8Em
oh wow. You're on top of it.
That letter was massively appreciated by folks working in elections at the time, and it was a brave stand. Always mad respect for that.
Plus I also love Star Craft so the 2021 letter is probably permanently recorded in my brain now, though I played more Terran than Zerg
Oh man. Means you might try to carve up my hydras with tanks/M&M. I'll be careful around you!
This has got me itching! Is SC2 still popular?
Yeah there's still a dedicated player base for SC2. Competitive tho! I had to learn to how to have fun even when I lose to shake off ladder anxiety
Mike Lee is the perfect example of someone who is a douche bag and turd simply because he enjoys being that way.
As evidenced by the sick jokes he posted on his personal X account last year immediately following the horrific and cowardly assassinations of Melissa and Mark Hortman.
Mike Lee: no shame, no honor, no class!
His staff is just as bad. When I’d call his office to offer feedback as a constituent, his staff didn’t even pretend to care or to be courteous.
Somehow, that doesn’t surprise me in the least, Sarah. The apple generally doesn’t fall far from the tree.
As a former Utah voter, I’d like to say, loudly and proudly, fuck Mike Lee.
That is all. Now back to waiting for the end of the world…
I live in Utah. Our strictly Vote By Mail is 1) extremely convenient and secure, 2) has increased voter percentage, and 3) honestly could be a model for the rest of the country ... and it annoys me to know end that Utah does something so well others should take note. Full disclosure, I'm not lds, nor republican.
Here's how it works. You have to show a shit-ton of identification to register, not just a passport but DL (if you have one), birth certificate, at least two bills with your name/address on them, and so on. This registration process confirms you are a Utah resident, that you actually reside in the town you are registering in, and so on. You can't make it past this step until it's verified you are real and valid.
For elections, which is by mail in, we receive a Ballot envelop with our name and a unique number. Inside is the ballot and return envelope. The ballot and return envelop have a unique number and bar code on them.
Every ballot for each person is assigned a unique number. That number is printed on the ballot, return envelope, also included in a bar code on the ballot and envelop. You have to sign the return envelope (hidden once sealed). So, your return envelope and ballot have both a specific number to you as well as a bar code. The return envelope and the ballot must match, you can't switch envelopes. Your signature on the envelope must match that on record.
Therefore, this is extremely secure. If anything is off, the ballot is now "provisional" and set aside for later review. Forget to sign? Provisional. Use a regular envelop? Provisional. Swap return envelopes with your spouse? Provisional. And ... it's likely screwing up like this means your vote is not counted. So, secure!
The only way to "cheat" in Utah is to have somebody sign their envelop but then let you fill out the ballot and mail that in using the associated return envelope. That is, really, no different than a Man telling his Wife how she is to vote when done in person, and this used to happen a lot. To the best of my knowledge Utah has basically ZIP / ZERO / NO problems.
"Lee’s tactics have made him highly unpopular with his Republican colleagues who see his hyper-online activism as “a self-serving attempt” at juicing his own celebrity."
Now, let's see. Who is it, that is, which chamber has to approve Cabinet heads? And how tight is the Senate at the moment, especially if one of them, say, Senator Lee, for example, is ineligible to vote? Might this just be the bigot too far?
Not that I had high hopes for Lee (the “conzitushunal skolar,” to borrow from Charles P. Pierce), but why has he gone so bonkers? Craving for power? Elon Musk Always Online Disease? A bang on the head?
What’s awful is, since the Senate protects its own, he’d probably skate through hearings. Will the last responsible Republican please turn out the lights?
I think of "konztitooshunal skolar" every time Mike Lee comes up! (I also can never help but call Politico "Tiger Beat on the Potomac" thanks to Charlie Pierce.)
Well done, Mr. Richter! I appreciate your thorough accounting here, as well as your dedication to genuine election integrity.
This seems bad. Is it too late to get Matt Gaetz?
Ladies and gentlemen, meet my senator... /sigh...
I think that readers of this excellent piece that showcases the hypocrisy and "flip-flops" of formerly respectable Republicans ought to realize that the attraction of the "grift" is a siren's song for far too many on the political right in this country.
I have little doubt that Lee wants the AG job, or any other position that puts him in a position to grift away.
And in defence of Mormons, or any religious group, anyone who subjugates themselves to Trump abandons their faith, without exception.
I assume he would never take the job of AG. Why get on a career track that disappears after 2.5 years when the one you're on is very, very good and lasts for life?
So, if I've got this right, not just a nut, but an incompetent, slap-dash nut, frankly, at war with reality in the name of The State of Utah. Thanks for filling in.
Good reminder to call John Thune and tell him "no SAVE" act!
I did message JT
Thank you Stephen Richer for the past and present work you are doing. Hope Bulwark has you again in the feed.
Mike Lee is evil, but he's intelligent. He knows that being Trump's AG is a classic "Everything Trump Touches Dies" gig. I bet he's holding out for Alito's Supreme Court seat, and he's telegraphing that he'd be a vote for the SAVE act when its constitutionality is challenged.