How Senate Republicans May Vote on Removal

Photo by Joshua Santos on Pexels.com

With the House of Representatives voting to impeach President Trump yesterday, the Senate will now hold a trial and vote on whether to remove Trump from office. However, unless it goes back in session with unanimous consent, which seems unlikely, the Senate remains in recess until January 19.  Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said he would not call an emergency session until then.

Ten Republicans in the House of Representatives, including Liz Cheney of Wyoming, supported impeachment. At least two Republicans in the Senate, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania, have called on the President to resign. Assuming that all 50 Senate Democrats vote for removal and that all 100 Senators vote, at least 17 Republicans must vote for removal in order for it to be successful. Let’s take a look at where all 50 current Republican Senators stand.

Comparison of Five Wikinews Interviews with 2020 Presidential Candidates

This past month, for Wikinews, I conducted interviews with five 2020 third party presidential candidates:

1. Constitution Party presidential nominee Don Blankenship (link)
2. Prohibition Party presidential nominee Phil Collins (link)
3. Unity Party of America presidential nominee Bill Hammons (link)
4. Libertarian Party presidential nominee Jo Jorgensen (link)
5. American Solidarity Party presidential nominee Brian Carroll (link)

2020 Presidential Election Prediction

I predict President Donald Trump will win re-election tomorrow in a closer Electoral College margin than in 2016. Former Vice President Joe Biden will win the popular vote in a margin larger than Hillary Clinton in 2016. However, this will not be enough to overcome the Republican advantage in the Electoral College. Factors in my prediction include opinion polls, the shy Trump voter effect, demographic changes, and candidate favorability.

Full Interview with 2020 Libertarian Vice Presidential Nominee Spike Cohen

Adapted from IPR and Wikinews reports

On May 23 at the online Libertarian National Convention, the Libertarian Party nominated Clemson University psychologist Jo Jorgensen, the party’s 1996 vice presidential nominee, for president on the fourth ballot. The next day, the party nominated podcast host Jeremy “Spike” Cohen for vice president on the third ballot. Cohen, who went into the convention as the running mate of performance artist Vermin Supreme, was not the candidate Jorgensen initially backed for the vice presidential nomination.  Cohen is co-owner of Muddied Waters Media, which features his podcast (((My Fellow Americans))).

Don Blankenship Lawsuit Goes to Trial

Originally posted at IPR

As Ballot Access News reports, Don Blankenship, the leading candidate for the Constitution Party’s 2020 presidential nomination, obtained a procedural victory in his defamation, false light invasion of privacy, and civil conspiracy lawsuit, which now goes to trial.  Blankenship is suing the National Republican Senatorial Committee, multiple media outlets, and individuals that incorrectly labeled him a “felon” during his unsuccessful 2018 run for the Republican Party’s U.S. Senate nomination in West Virginia.  Blankenship was convicted of misdemeanor conspiracy in 2015 for which he served a one-year prison sentence.

Constitution Party National Convention to Take Place in Cyberspace

Originally published at IPR

As Ballot Access News reports, the Constitution Party yesterday changed its National Convention from a meatspace affair to a cyberspace event.  This comes as the coronavirus pandemic forces closures around the world, with local governments shuttering nonessential businesses and advising or ordering residents to remain home.

Super Tuesday: American Samoa Democratic Presidential Caucus Results and Third Party Implications

Originally published at The Saturnalian, re-purposed for IPR

Former New York City mayor Michael Bloomberg, an independent from 2007 until last year, won the American Samoa Democratic Presidential Caucus on Super Tuesday.  He received 175 votes or 49.9 percent of the total, entitling him to four of the territory’s six delegates to the Democratic National Convention.  The remaining two delegates went to the second place finisher, Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard of Hawaii, who earned 103 votes or 29.3 percent of the total.

Grundmann for Congress Releases Radio Commercial

Originally published at IPR

Don Grundmann. Image: Anthony Plascencia

The campaign for Dr. Don Grundmann (website) of the Constitution Party released a radio commercial informing voters about his 2020 candidacy for California’s 15th Congressional District in the March 3 open primary.

Familiar Names Announced for 2020 Lesser-Known Presidential Candidates Forum

From IPR

I have received the names of the presidential candidates scheduled to participate in the 2020 Lesser-Known Presidential Candidates Forum this Tuesday at Saint Anselm College in New Hampshire.  Participants include several candidates familiar to those of us who follow third party and independent politics, including former college football coach (and 2012 Constitution Party and Reform Party presidential candidate) Robby Wells, trans-humanist (and former 2020 Libertarian Party presidential candidate) Zoltan Istvan, and others.