Debate Commissioner Declares: 'Mark Cuban Will Not Be Sitting In The Front Row'

NO SEAT FOR YOU!

Debate commission chair Frank Fahrenkopf tells Smerconish on CNN they will not allow 'people like Mark Cuban to sit in front row to distract the candidates.' The interview is from Saturday morning, before Gennifer Flowers accepted Trump's offer to attend with a tweet marked with a giant red lipstick kiss.

Twitter erupted as Buzzfeed confirmed the story. CNN and other networks were then forced to explain Gennifer Flowers to their millennial audience. So Trump won round one, but it would be a colossal mistake for the campaign to follow through and put Flowers front and center. Yeah, it has fired up the rabid base and it would make fascinating television, but it could also threaten recent momentum with women, as the media spins Clinton into a sympathetic victim. That's what they do. That's how this works, and Kelly Conway must understand that.

Trump trolls Clinton...

If dopey Mark Cuban of failed Benefactor fame wants to sit in the front row, perhaps I will put Gennifer Flowers right alongside of him!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 24, 2016

Gennifer accepts...

Hi Donald. You know I'm in your corner and will definitely be at the debate!...💋

— Gennifer Flowers (@gennflowers) September 24, 2016

Comments

[Cheyenne]

Here's a starter compendium of short clips (under 3 minutes) of crow-eating and poorly disguised disappointment from the media in declaring the outcome. Enjoy...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NM220XCGypQ [Bloomberg]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VyfLbgW5KRg [CNN]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z_foudD52pQ [Fox]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QZDGooaSMTU [MSNBC]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zvKZ9dZ4lLk [NBC, Today Show, priceless facials of HRC supporters]

[Sagebrush]

Reckon after Trump takes over, Fox news will share the front row at presidential addresses and White House press briefings with a chair for Mat Drudge, if he ever wants to sit in. The rest of the corporate media and establishment propaganda spreaders will be standing in the hall trying to hear what they're talking about inside the press room.

[Backgammonn]

Skin, Cheyenne, Pitchfork, S Gompers and John

I need help explaining to ignorant liberals why the Electoral College works. I've tried to explain how we can't let a State like California determine the election, because they have the most people. I have talked about how wise the Founding fathers were in creating a document that has kept our Country in check (sort of) through 45 Presidents. Does anyone have a "simple minded" solution to explain how the Electoral College works for all the States and not just the majority of votes?????
Snarky is OK, but simple is a must. Their attention spans are short. They are now convinced since Hilteraly won the popular vote, she was cheated. Ironic huh! Appreciate any and all ideas.

[Cheyenne]

Here's what I don't understand, Backgammon. Are your comrades objecting to fairness of the electoral college, or its legitimacy?

If it's the latter, they're barking up the wrong tree. The EC is provided for expressly in Article 2 of the constitution, in several amendments, and by federal statute. In other words, it's legit.

As to whether it's fair, well... It's most definitely a Hamiltonian idea. He advocated for it in the Federalist Papers. Personally, I suspect that AH was a tool of the bankers and was never persuaded by his reasoning, to wit, that the public couldn't be trusted not to elect a tyrant. That said, his prescience was particularly strong this election cycle.

As worded in the constitution, the EC does have one other effect (other than tyrant suppression): states with smaller populations get a bigger vote. This was in keeping with a huge concern with many founders that federal sovereignty would eat state sovereignty alive (a concern that's come to much greater fruition, imo, than the one over tyrants).

But here's what I can't find support for in any original legal authority (meaning the constitution or the original federal statute implementing it): that 100% of state electors go with the majority winner rather than being allocated pro rata according to # of votes. Since Maine and Nebraska (?) do it that way, I suppose it must be by state statute, which makes sense since the constitution says the state legislatures appoint the electors.

In that regard, your friends' quarrel is not really with the constitution and federal law, it's with the 48 states that decide on a winner-take-all distribution of EC votes. Look at how many states Trump won by a hair. He gets all their votes? The real # should've been half. Let's say the system was set up like that, like Maine and Nebraska. Now, when Hillary comes in at 60% of Cali, she would've gotten 33 to Trump's 22 EC votes--a major difference. She probably would've won the overall EC and the election had the votes been tallied that way. I'm guessing your amigos haven't gone through that exercise...

Bottom line: Hillary was NOT cheated. She knew damn well what the law was going into this deal. The presidential election has NEVER been decided by a simple majority vote. As to whether it's fair, I guess I can see it either way but frankly it's a dead issue that I just can't get all that worked up about.

[skinflint]

There have also been times where the EC has gone the other way in regards the popular vote. The whole Ron Paul issue was this, if I remember correctly. There was an EC appointee that was removed from their post because of this. The EC also takes out a lot of small states in my view. Maryland has 10 up for grabs and we hardly ever see any political hack here, though that may be an advantage. Of course George Wallace was shot here and maybe that's another reason they don't come here so much. With that being said, when Gore challenged the vote in 2000, he chose Florida as the place in which to challenge the official count. Not Maryland, not Rhode Island, not Wyoming. Why? Because Florida has the highest number of EC votes. Remember that whole argument about a peaceful transfer of power. Anyway, I just think that the EC takes a lot of states out of play. In the run up to the election, the candidates were heavily going for Ohio, Pennsylvania, Florida. Major swing states. Dependable states like New York, Cali and Texas. Never heard that much from them. But, rules is rules and I believe there would have to be a constitutional convention to change this thing around. And quite frankly, who knows how accurate the votes are anyway, the system at this point is so corrupt that it may take a Cali succession to make it straight.

[skinflint]

In all honesty, I thought I would feel a shift in the Earths rotation from all the people moving to Canada since the election. Apparently this will not happen, as now the creeps that be are arranging for a full on frontal attack on the presidency. Kos had printed some strange stories leading up to the elections, let's see if any of them come to pass. Kos has gotten to be like the National Enquirer the last few months and it would seem that their credentials are tarnished from here on out. C, did not know if you have seen the war between the Naked Capitalism people and the ZH brand. Didn't know if you had seen that at all and if you had any inside skinny on that. The other thing I find interesting is that Naked Capitalism had shut down their comment threads on account of the heated debates in regards the upcoming elections. I found them to be entertaining and rather scathing on many different fronts. Their reason to disable the comments was that they were trying to have thoughtful discourse on economic policy and their site was perhaps an incubator for those types of philosophy though I find them to be a bit progressive for my tastes. Thoughts?

[Cheyenne]

The constitutional EC provisions could also be changed by amendment, but that requires 2/3 of each congressional house plus ratifications by 3/4 of state legislatures. And since that didn't happen after 2000 (when, imo, Gore got robbed), it ain't gonna happen. I think the oligarchs are just fine with the EC; it looks like something they'd write themselves anyhow.

As I get older, I grow increasingly suspicious of constitution worship, not because I want to see it changed but because (1) the self-professed worshippers tend to be found huddled around certain provisions and largely ignorant of the rest, and (2) it takes attention away from Americans' REAL power base, which is the Declaration of Independence.

The DoI is what gave the country its sovereignty, and unambiguously says that the legitimacy of government hinges on the consent of the people. The evisceration of those two concepts, sovereignty and consent, went into overdrive during both terms of Obama, and you rarely see anyone talking about it.

The reasons you don't see celebrity pundits "celebrating" the Declaration of Independence, or talking about the importance of either sovereignty or consent, should be obvious enough.

Jesus, just look at the big 4 commercial banks (Citi, BofA Wells, JPM Chase). They've all committed a wide array of vast crimes against depositors, and yet--against their own better interests--tens of millions of people still bank there. Wtf? My only consolation on that score is Samuel Adams' counsel that it doesn't take a majority to prevail, just a tireless and irate minority...

The commentariat of zh and nc is an altogether different story. I have no special insight. Generally, the quality of each has declined over the years, esp. at zh. How anyone, for instance, cannot see that MillionDollarBonus (zh) is a satirist astounds me. That said, when researching various topics, I've found gold numerous times among the comments at both sites. The sludge, though, makes the panning more and more difficult.

[john]

Standing Ovation Cheyenne! You so fucking nailed this so solidly that no one on gods good earth could even come close... The Hamilton thingy should be rubbed in the faces of those who promoted and watched the play so they can quit bitchin about the election.

Yea, the MDB thing at ZH is absolutely satire and am too amazed others can't figure it out!!!! WTF?

[Backgammonn]

Thank you Cheyenne: They are liberals so naturally it was about fairness. I attended a conference in September about the possibility of a COS to discuss the EC. There was a lot of smoke but not really any flames since Clinton didn't win. Thanks for pointing out Hamilton, I will certanly use that.
I am amazed that the numbers are still coming in. At the end of the day, you are right, it does not matter now that Hillary is out of our lives.

Did any one brag about how the stock market shot up after Trump was elected? I don't think so.

I appreciate your advise and knowledge!

[Sagebrush]

I think I'm a little bit depressed that I may have been right about something I don't want to be right about. I saw this yesterday and realized my Trojan Trump thoughts might have been more accurate then I care to see.

http://www.salon.com/2016/11/10/draintheswamp-donald-trumps-choice-for-treasury-secretary-may-be-j-p-morgan-ceo-jamie-dimon/

If Trump gives Jamie Dimon (JP Morgan) or Steve Mnuchin (Goldman Sachs) the Treasury Department, he will be rolling on his campaign promises as quick or quicker then Obama did. Neither of these men will support Trump's campaign promises to drain the Wall Street Swamp, I think they will make sure it's a hell of a lot deeper with bigger Crocodiles. Then the new Republican Congress can finish gutting Dodd Frank and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau of what little remains that matters. I guess the clincher will be If he lets TPP or TTIP get passed into law without vetoing them. If he goes Wall Street and military industrial complex for his Cabinet, Executive Branch, and advisors, the next additions at my house will be a bomb shelter and a truck with an old style points distributor.

[S. Gompers]

Great answers posed to the question, and Cheyenne is correct that it is mandated. In our nations infancy with no mass media it was a practical means to determine the election. In those days information traveled slowly by today's standards. However whether people are arguing over "fairness", popular vote and EC can both be manipulated in the same fashion. It is just a matter of whether politicians have to pander to high population center by one method, or high EC states on the other. Whether it is free stuff or graft, it buys a lot in political currency.

[skinflint]

Sage, In a piece in regard the CFPB, I was astounded to find that they receive their funding and apparatus from the Fed. I'm pretty sure I read that in an article on NC.
I can only imagine Warren heading over to Bernanke's office and saying something like look, we have to do something to quell the savages. They get their funding and staffing and then, without saying a thing, gave Wells a fine and no jail time for clearly a damned felony. Jesus. Don't dumb asses go to jail for identity theft. Just like the SEC, except they are not part of the federal government and do not have to answer to anyone. A regulatory agency with no oversight.

[john]

Here is an electoral map and a crime map:

http://www.theburningplatform.com/2016/11/11/correlation-or-coincidence/

nuff said....

[skinflint]

Relative to my locale, it seems I am very much in ground zero for all the nasty shit. Thanks John, I will not sleep well in knowledge of this and I would thank you in advance to keep such tid bits of news off of this page. Cause then I might have to do something like this.
http://www.vox.com/presidential-election/2016/11/10/13586322/trump-brexit-safety-pin
Never know when one would need a diaper change.

[john]

Skin, this map also correlates quite nicely...

https://wattsupwiththat.com/2016/11/11/newly-discoved-epa-report-says-ozone-measurements-may-be-way-off-cities-may-be-in-compliance/



BTW, A horse blanket pin would work so much better!

[Cheyenne]

Sage, as (the great, vastly underrated, imo) Arthur Silber has it, Trump "is draining the swamp -- directly into his own office."

It's all very depressing. The only cabinet-level name I see that does NOT induce total nausea is Trey Gowdy for AG. So if I were you, Sage, I'd get a head start on that bunker by at least buying materials and supplies now, while you can still afford them.

As for the CFPB, friends of mine who work in credit unions have been complaining for two years about Warren's pet agency. Specifically, the CFPB is always up the CU's ass about... mortgage loan requirements. Of course, the credit unions don't sell their mortgages into the securitized Ponzi world, which is what's motivating the CFPB's campaign of harassment. Anyone falling for EW's act at this point is simply wishing on a starfucker. EW is far worse than your garden variety scumbag because her vast pretense that she's on "our" side has fooled so many people into believing her.

skin, NO ONE at cartel banks like Wells Fargo EVER goes to jail unless they act on their own account and/or against the bank. Identity theft is part of Wells Fargo's business model of laundering and siphoning money and is thus immune from real scrutiny. (You'll notice that E. Warren barked a lot but never came CLOSE to biting Wells' CEO, eschewing any and all real questions; classic Warren Kabuki.) I suspect, given what we've seen about how the swamp is being drained, that it will be a very safe bet that this unbroken track record will continue for at least the next 4 years.

Ugh.

[Backgammon]

Cheyenne
As part of the Friends of the Transition, I have forwarded your thoughts to the Trump Campaign, regarding the Banks & Wall Street with our money. In particular Mr. Shark himself.

[Cheyenne]

Backgammon, I sent my thoughts to the Trump transition team through its website a couple of days ago. Actually, what I said, in essence, is that there are documents that the DOJ has illegally withheld from a congressional subpoena relating to Mr. Holder's failure to enforce the law on Wall Street.

Moreover, it's Republican members of the House Financial Services Committee that have leveled the foregoing charge of criminal obstruction at the DOJ. If you--the DTT Team--order YOUR DOJ to turn over those documents, you will discover the REAL reasons that financial criminals haven't been prosecuted.

Personally, I think the odds of this (the law being followed and documents divulged) happening are 1-2%, because the odds of Wall Street's crime spree continuing without any roadblocks are 98-99%. I hope I'm wrong, but we'll know soon enough one way or the other....

[Backgammon]

Cheyenne:
Maybe he will clean the Swamp!

[Sagrbrush]

Cheyenne and skin, you guys are right about Pocahontas. She was a real Trojan Horse, vocal as hell till it came time to stand up and really do something, then every time she'd get lockjaw.

Wonder if these people are ever going to start telling the truth? This is a good one.
"spontaneous, involving people from all walks of life"
http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2016/11/12/trump-protesters-resounding-message-no-national-mandate/93712268/

http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2016-11-13/blocks-anti-trump-protest-buses-caught-tape

[Jeb Clampett]

Bibi supports Trump and likes badges for Muslims,
a massive affront to Yad Vashem, for the same reason
he rules from Caesaria.

It's not anti-J or anti-C. Just events.
Rothschild's from "Red Shield," Banker to the Pope.

The Nazi Culture emerged from the converted Napoleon
line, what, under Napoleon 3 by calculation reversed
Susan B. Anthony with Manchurians but more specifically
Coulter types.

The son of scapegoating and fear bestowed on
males as a religion will raise the arrogant god complex
based scapegoater, equating these things with
good man, not faggot, when in reality, it's a formula
for self in-breeding scapegoating, arrogance and the
gay gene outside natural rightful course.

This is why Trump's a sexual clown.
This is why he's been empowered by gay fascists.

[skinflint]

Hey Cubs Fans, Triumph celebrating the World Series win with Cubs fans at Wrigley Field. Must watch.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_GDpdgdg2rs