Aggregate, all these places did something praiseworthy and novel. They took steps to make it easier to vote. They did this by expanding eligibility for mailin voting and early voting and adding drop boxes for ballots right . Theres Public Health concern. You dont want everyone crowding in on election day so people found ways to just make it easier to vote so you wouldnt have that. And the results are clear. It worked. Turnout was the highest it had been in 120 years. Nearly 67 of eligible voters cast a ballot. And also there was no uniform drubbing of one party by the other. It was not a blowout. It was a competitive election. Yes, joe biden won by a healthy margin. 7 million votes. 70 plus Electoral College votes. But remember republicans gained seats in the house. They want some key senate rates right . Now rather than looking at that outcome and thinking wow, we can be a Competitive Party even in high turnout elections which would have been a totally rational conclusion. Republican
Pandemic that has already claimed more than 225,000 american lives. We are 00 mere eight days away we are a mere eight days a away from a president ial election. Donald trump announced his nomination of judge barrett even before we could fully mourn the death of the great Justice Ruth Bader ginsburg. And Senate Republicans then rushed this nomination to the senate floor. In doing so, they violated the rule that their leader, Mitch Mcconnell, imposed in 2016 which kept Merrick Garland off the Supreme Court after president obama nominated him in february of that year to fill the vacancy that arose with the death of justice antonin scalia. That rule was clear. That rule was concise. That rule was definitive. The senate would not consider a nomination to fill a vacancy on the Supreme Court during a president ial election year. Many of my republican colleagues echoed leader mcconnells pledge. In fact, my colleague, senator Lindsey Graham, who chairs the judiciary committee, admonished us to
The presiding officer pursuant to rule 4, paragraph 2, the senate having been in continuous session, the senate will suspend for a prayer from the senate chaplain. The chaplain let us pray. Holy god, as our lawmakers strive on this decisive day in history to accomplish your purposes, show them how to discern your will. May they renew their minds through the in yourishment of your an hourishment of your holly word. Lord, prepare them to be sober minded and filled with your spirit, accomplishing the tasks that receive your approval. Lord, keep them from conforming to worldly impulses, as they strive to ensure that their conduct will rightly represent you. May they conduct themselves with holiness, godliness, and civility, waiting for the day when you will return to establish your kingdom on earth. Lord, prepare us all to stand before you in peace without spot or blemish. We pray in your powerful name. Amen. Mr. Lee mr. President. The presiding officer the senator from utah. Mr. Lee mr. P
Already attracted criticism. And Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim pushes his case for becoming the new Prime Minister of malaysia. And im santa hummus and i have all the sport. Major League Baseball welcomes back fans as the Atlanta Braves win the opening match of the National League championship series. The government says cyprus is suspending a controversial citizenship for Investment Program after an undercover investigation by aljazeera the countrys attorney general has also announced an investigation into possible criminal offenses fall. The revelations that expose high ranking officials expressing a willingness to see aides convicted criminals to obtain citizenship in august all to serious investigative units released the cyprus papers which revealed serious flaws in the citizen buy Investment Program well lets say across live now to our Investigative Reporter David Harrison he joins us now from nicosia david its the cypriot government has always tonights there was any any wrongdo
Bader ginsburg who died friday night. She died on the eve of the jewish new year, the first jewish woman on the Supreme Court and a very interesting thing about individuals who die right before the new year. They say they suggest very righteous people die at the very end of the year because they were needed until the very end. Under jewish tradition those who die on the new year holiday, a title given to the righteous and saintly. Certainly Justice Ruth Bader ginsburg was entitled to this honor, being righteous and saintly. At her confirmation hearing she talked about her immigrant experience was her father was a jewish immigrant, her mother was a secondgeneration american, she talked about American Values and then she said what has happened over me could only happen in america and then she spent her entire career protecting those values that make america a great nation it is in the reason people come here in order to reach their full potential. It guided her well in her public service