Trump-appointed GSA administrator refusing to work with Biden transition team

[Anonymous]

I'm thrilled that Trump lost. I'm a diehard democrat, but I respect politicians of all parties - I just think Trump is a vile human being.

That said, I agree fully with 13:27 and 13:28. Ms. Murphy is a person - probably a very decent one, regardless of her politics, who finds herself in the middle of an absolute nightmare, and the source of unbelievable vitriol.

Those of you hurling invective at her are no better than those on the other side of the political divide whose behavior you condemn.

[jsteele]

Anonymous wrote:What is the precedent for ascertainment when the opponent has not conceded and the states have not yet done their certifications? Yes, we all know what the math is for the projections that are widely accepted, but what is the clear standard she is supposed to apply. All the rest of government is waiting for her to sign on the dotted line because we know what we can do then, but what is her basis for action?

I am a democrat and on team Biden here but the above poster is not crazy that the GSA Administrator is in a no win situation. I have dealt with Administrator Murphy and she is generally reasonable and an advocate for good government and she received bi partisan approval during her confirmation.

If she is indeed a reasonable advocate for good government (something for which there is evidence she is not), she ought to be able to explain the legal requirements she is expecting to be met before ascertaining Biden's victory. That would at least give us some indication as to when this waiting game might end. Sadly, I think the her reluctance has little to do with the law or precedent and, instead, is solely reliant on instructions from Trump. As such, it is likely that her reputation will suffer considerably more tarnish before this is over.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm thrilled that Trump lost. I'm a diehard democrat, but I respect politicians of all parties - I just think Trump is a vile human being.

That said, I agree fully with 13:27 and 13:28. Ms. Murphy is a person - probably a very decent one, regardless of her politics, who finds herself in the middle of an absolute nightmare, and the source of unbelievable vitriol.

Those of you hurling invective at her are no better than those on the other side of the political divide whose behavior you condemn.

She’s holding up the damned transition and not doing her legal job.

Should we wait until January 19th when she inexplicably feels comfortable with it?

[jsteele]

Anonymous wrote:I'm thrilled that Trump lost. I'm a diehard democrat, but I respect politicians of all parties - I just think Trump is a vile human being.

That said, I agree fully with 13:27 and 13:28. Ms. Murphy is a person - probably a very decent one, regardless of her politics, who finds herself in the middle of an absolute nightmare, and the source of unbelievable vitriol.

Those of you hurling invective at her are no better than those on the other side of the political divide whose behavior you condemn.

Well, people are likely to die because of her inaction, but those being mean to her online are really no better. #bothsides.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm thrilled that Trump lost. I'm a diehard democrat, but I respect politicians of all parties - I just think Trump is a vile human being.

That said, I agree fully with 13:27 and 13:28. Ms. Murphy is a person - probably a very decent one, regardless of her politics, who finds herself in the middle of an absolute nightmare, and the source of unbelievable vitriol.

Those of you hurling invective at her are no better than those on the other side of the political divide whose behavior you condemn.

Really?

Mean tweet v the health and welfare of the nation? I don't think there really is a middle here. Krebs did his job without fear or favor and it is time Murphy does hers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:NP here.

I feel for this woman. I find it completely possible she is trying to follow the law, and that there is no precedent that allows her to violate established precedent. I could fully see her being in a no-win position.

And it doesn't help that she's being pilloried now, and will be pilloried by the other side if she releases the funds.

It is probably terrifying to be her right now.

And the slams on her appearance are completely inexcusable.

It really isn't a no-win situation. You do your job and follow the law. If your boss is telling you to do otherwise, you send the letter and then resign. It really isn't that hard.

What is the precedent for ascertainment when the opponent has not conceded and the states have not yet done their certifications? Yes, we all know what the math is for the projections that are widely accepted, but what is the clear standard she is supposed to apply. All the rest of government is waiting for her to sign on the dotted line because we know what we can do then, but what is her basis for action?

I am a democrat and on team Biden here but the above poster is not crazy that the GSA Administrator is in a no win situation. I have dealt with Administrator Murphy and she is generally reasonable and an advocate for good government and she received bi partisan approval during her confirmation.

There is no direct precedent because candidatrs always concede when the answer is this obvious. It seems Murphy is indeed the consummate bureaucrat: when faced witha choice, she does nothing.

[Anonymous]

Heard she’s having a breakdown. In the advent the Ms. Murphy resigns and checks herself into a clinic, does anyone have a read on the Deputy Administrator of the GSA - Allison Brigati?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

What is the precedent for ascertainment when the opponent has not conceded and the states have not yet done their certifications? Yes, we all know what the math is for the projections that are widely accepted, but what is the clear standard she is supposed to apply. All the rest of government is waiting for her to sign on the dotted line because we know what we can do then, but what is her basis for action?

I am a democrat and on team Biden here but the above poster is not crazy that the GSA Administrator is in a no win situation. I have dealt with Administrator Murphy and she is generally reasonable and an advocate for good government and she received bi partisan approval during her confirmation.

There is no precedent because we have never had a wannabe authoritarian like Trump in office like this. That said, even with Bush-Gore, the Clinton Administration allowed both candidates to set up transitions and receive briefings eventhough the results were not finalized for weeks later.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:NP here.

I feel for this woman. I find it completely possible she is trying to follow the law, and that there is no precedent that allows her to violate established precedent. I could fully see her being in a no-win position.

And it doesn't help that she's being pilloried now, and will be pilloried by the other side if she releases the funds.

It is probably terrifying to be her right now.

And the slams on her appearance are completely inexcusable.

I don’t feel for her at all. There is no precedent for what she is doing in our entire Electoral History aside from 2000. The race has been called - Biden is the clear Electoral and Popular Vote winner. It’s always Republicans trying to muck up the order but they’re the first ones crying about a ‘Deep State’.

+1

Other decisions this woman might find difficult:
- a baby carriage is running downhill toward a churning whirlpool of thrashing crocodiles. Should she stop the carriage? So hard!
- There’s a button that says “push this button to save the world.” Should she push the button? Such a dilemma!
- She’s in a water treatment plant and someone has poured a jar of poison into the main pipe. Nearby is another jar that says, “ANTIDOTE TO THE POISON THAT WAS JUST POURED IN THE WATER.” Should she pour the antidote in, or let hundreds of thousands perish? The issues she confronts!

Does she also struggle with the order in which she puts on her clothes? Tell us, GSA employees - does this traitorous nitwit come to work with her underpants on outside her clothes? Does she sometimes wear her skirt atop her head? Is it just novel situations like “send the gddamn letter that will allow the landslide winner to begin receiving PDB and for his transition team to begin to get paid” that trip her up?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm thrilled that Trump lost. I'm a diehard democrat, but I respect politicians of all parties - I just think Trump is a vile human being.

That said, I agree fully with 13:27 and 13:28. Ms. Murphy is a person - probably a very decent one, regardless of her politics, who finds herself in the middle of an absolute nightmare, and the source of unbelievable vitriol.

Those of you hurling invective at her are no better than those on the other side of the political divide whose behavior you condemn.

Sorry - that's just objectively false. Murphy is choosing to violate multiple Federal statutes, period. She should comply, or quit. She is a criminal who on every level is no different from Trump.

[Anonymous]

The obvious question no one has asked yet:
What is Trump holding over Murphy’s head? It’s not her job, as she decided to not take a salary in 2019 (whereas in 2018 she claimed her full $164K salary).

Emily - or her lobbyist husband - are being blackmailed. What crime is she guilty of?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm thrilled that Trump lost. I'm a diehard democrat, but I respect politicians of all parties - I just think Trump is a vile human being.

That said, I agree fully with 13:27 and 13:28. Ms. Murphy is a person - probably a very decent one, regardless of her politics, who finds herself in the middle of an absolute nightmare, and the source of unbelievable vitriol.

Those of you hurling invective at her are no better than those on the other side of the political divide whose behavior you condemn.

Sorry - that's just objectively false. Murphy is choosing to violate multiple Federal statutes, period. She should comply, or quit. She is a criminal who on every level is no different from Trump.

Maybe she should just sign the ascertainment and wait to be fired.

That said, please name the multiple federal statutes that she is violating because I have not seen any identified here.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm thrilled that Trump lost. I'm a diehard democrat, but I respect politicians of all parties - I just think Trump is a vile human being.

That said, I agree fully with 13:27 and 13:28. Ms. Murphy is a person - probably a very decent one, regardless of her politics, who finds herself in the middle of an absolute nightmare, and the source of unbelievable vitriol.

Those of you hurling invective at her are no better than those on the other side of the political divide whose behavior you condemn.

You are part of the problem. "People saying mean things on the internet" does not equal someone spitefully holding up a transition-- which will cost lives.

How can you equate these things? What do random DCUM commenters have to do with anything? What power do they have compared to this woman?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm thrilled that Trump lost. I'm a diehard democrat, but I respect politicians of all parties - I just think Trump is a vile human being.

That said, I agree fully with 13:27 and 13:28. Ms. Murphy is a person - probably a very decent one, regardless of her politics, who finds herself in the middle of an absolute nightmare, and the source of unbelievable vitriol.

Those of you hurling invective at her are no better than those on the other side of the political divide whose behavior you condemn.

You are part of the problem. "People saying mean things on the internet" does not equal someone spitefully holding up a transition-- which will cost lives.

How can you equate these things? What do random DCUM commenters have to do with anything? What power do they have compared to this woman?

Truly, I cannot believe how thin skinned people are. When you have a big job, you sign up for people being mean on the internet sometimes. If you don't have the backbone to deal with that, then don't take the big job. People being mean on the internet does not give you license to just throw up your hands and not do your fcking job because oh no too many hard choices.

[Anonymous]

Biden should bring a mandamus action against her in District Court for DC.