Months before the midterms, the only federal agency dedicated solely to election administration is now unable to do anything.

Trump fired all three remaining members of the U.S. Election Assistance Commission on Thursday, abruptly disabling the only federal agency devoted solely to election administration at a moment when Trump has sought to reshape federal voting rules.

The two Democratic commissioners, Thomas Hicks and Benjamin Hovland, were notified by email. “On behalf of President Donald J. Trump, I am writing to inform you that your position as Commissioner of the Election Assistance Commission is terminated, effective immediately. Thank you for your service,” the email said. It was signed by Morgan DeWitt Snow, deputy director of presidential personnel in the Executive Office of the President.

The third commissioner, Republican Christy McCormick, was allowed to resign, according to three sources within the agency. McCormick declined to comment when reached by phone. The agency’s fourth commissioner, Republican Donald Palmer, voluntarily departed the agency earlier this year to join the Heritage Foundation.

  • BarneyPiccolo@lemmy.today
    44·
    4 days ago

    Thanks SCOTUS!

    This right here is the final straw. Cancelling the independence of federal agencies will turn this nation into a capitalist MAGA shithole faster than anything else he’s done.

    I used to believe that we needed to add 4 seats to SCOTUS, but I no longer believe that. Now I believe that we need to add at least 20 seats to SCOTUS, with rolling term limits. The count shouldn’t be so close that one bad faith president can negatively manipulate policy for the next century. It should include rolling term limits, so every president gets to appoint a few, but not enough to steer the direction of the court.

    We have to strengthen the independence of the three branches of government, and this is how we do it for SCOTUS.

      • BarneyPiccolo@lemmy.today
        1·
        3 days ago

        Right now there are two transparently corrupt MAGA dipshits running for Congress in my area who are both claiming they want term limits, and I laugh every time they say it. In 50 years of voting, I have heard so many Right Wingers claim they are going to force Congress to impose term limits, and I yet I have NEVER seen a single one ever pursue that issue once elected. Not a single time. Any time a MAGA claims they want term limits, they are lying, and you can assume that the rest of their campaign promises are lies as well.

        Both also say they’ll end insider trading, another MAGA lie. In fact, by bringing that up, it only illustrates that it’s on their minds, and likely the primary reason they’re running. After all, they can see how much money these MAGA politicians are making, and that gravy train can’t run forever. They got to jump on while it’s still careening down the tracks, and grab as much cash as possible before the inevitable crash.

    • SabinStargem@lemmy.todayEnglish
      6·
      4 days ago

      I think the nation as a whole should be divided up into four regional blocs, each with their own judiciary, executive, legislative, military branches, and a regional president. They submit personnel to the national body, including National Justices. This keeps any single territory, person, or party from dominating the ideology of the national court.

      What I am thinking, is something like…

      • 3 executive justices, chosen by the executive without presidential input.
      • 3 judiciary justices, required to have served a long time as a judge.
      • 3 legislative justices, chosen by the elected representatives.
      • 3 military justices, chosen by rank and file soldiers by popular election.
      • 1 presidential justice. When the president who picked the justice leaves office, so does their pick.

      If we have 4 regions, and including the National President’s single justice…

      • 53 national justices, total.

      0000

      Also, add in…

      • 10 year term limit total, that can’t be renewed nor extended. Presidential justices also are subjected to this restriction.

      • An age limit of 60. A justice has to have a sound mind, and reasonably modern understanding of the nation’s people and a grasp of technology.

      • Elimination of the shadow docket, and limits on the amount of vacation time that justices can have in a year. We want them to do their job.

    • kent_eh@lemmy.caEnglish
      5·
      4 days ago

      This right here is the final straw.

      LOL.

      I’ll believe that when I see the majority of americans stand up and fight back in any meaningful way.

       

      I would be so happy for my cynicism to be proven wrong - to see Trump, his lackeys and his puppeteers stopped.

      But I don’t expect that to happen.

      • BarneyPiccolo@lemmy.today
        5·
        3 days ago

        YOU are the reason that the Democratic party keeps fucking us over. Every time you, and other cynical defeatists, post your edgy take that the Dems won’t do anything, you send them the message that you’ll accept their failure - AGAIN!

        ALL politicians are lazy and greedy at their core, and if you give them permission to do nothing, that is exactly what they’ll do, and go back to their favorite hobby, insider trading.

        As we head into a Midterm election that is likely to be a bloodbath, it is vitally important that we clearly tell the new Democratic Congress that we expect SERIOUS action this time. No more dithering and slow-walking like last time. EVERY committee will be dedicated to investigating corruption, with a thousand tentacles.

        We all want to know that MAGA Criminals WILL be punished this time, and not just Donald Trump, and we’d all appreciate it if you would STOP sending the message that we expect them to fail us, and we’ll accept it.

        They need to hear that they’d better NOT fail us this time, or they’ll end up in the same position as MAGAs. Get on board with THAT message, and be part of the solution. Stop surrendering in advance, and giving the permission to fail.

        • kent_eh@lemmy.caEnglish
          4·
          3 days ago

          YOU are the reason that the Democratic party keeps fucking us over

          I’m not even an American.

          I’m one of those foreigners that the USA keeps fucking over.

          I’ve been watching gbthe USA shoot itself in the foot for decades without seeming to care to fix their problems.

          I want the Americans to fix their shit, but I seriously doubt that they have the character to do the hard work is needed.

          We all want to know that MAGA Criminals WILL be punished this time, and not just Donald Trump

          As I said, I want to believe that it’s possible, but from what I’ve seen so far, Americans won’t rise to the challenge.

          Prove me wrong. Fix your own fucking country.