Why the GSA announcement is fishy.

I'm sure few people need convincing on this one way or the other. But, the GSA's decision to allow the transition to move along yesterday is beyond fishy, and the justification beyond ridiculous.

Let's start with what the GSA is responsible for. It isn't to determine who heads up the next administration. Ultimately, that happens when congress certifies the results from the electoral college. Since this agency is enabled, and largely expected to act before that, it should be clear; the GSA's decision does not represent a determination of the election.

Indicating that this office MUST wait until it is crystal clear who won the election is (pardon the language) bull shit. It clearly NOT how this office was intended to function. If it were, there would be no need for such an office and the transition would simply start when the determination is formalized after congress certifies the results from the electoral college votes.

Certain delays are sensible. It would be, perhaps, irresponsible to make an announcement before either party has been given ample time to give a concession speech. Or, if the race is close enough that the outcome is switching daily.

I could MAYBE even think it justified if there were many close states performing recounts and it was still within some reasonable period, like a week, from the election. 

But, let's be clear... This agency exists to ensure that whoever leads the next administration has the time and resources to establish themselves so that the country isn't left unprepared in the duration following inauguration should there be a change in leadership. Put another way, time is more important than accuracy for this agency.

Another point here is, in addition to timing be a key factor, the other key factor is to ensure the safety and stability of the country during a change in leadership. So, this agency exists SPECIFICALLY to ensure that the political process does not stop a contender from access to the materials they need.

Put another way... delaying a determination from this agency would make more sense if Trump, the incumbent, were forcast to win. There is no risk associated with the GSA not moving things along. He already has access to all of this information and will continue to do so until the 20th of January. However, when the outcomes strongly indicate a new administration, then it becomes necessary for this agency to act, and act fast.

And it should be noted... this isn't some magic determination which means that Joe Biden now has access to all information. The President and other officials, both elected and otherwise still have control over what information Biden has access too. Anything deemed in the best interest of the country to be withheld until the vote has been finalized or even until after inauguration could still be withheld.

But, where this starts getting even fishier. Beyond the fact that this agency is CLEARLY not doing the job it was created to fulfill. Is the fact that the determination came the same day the administrator refused to be questioned by congress and on the eve of the day where she should be compelled to do so yet again.

It also comes on the same day that Michigan certified its vote. However, THAT shouldn't play a role in the decision. Certifications, while an official step in the process, are supposed to be a mere formality. The votes are already finalized. The individual counties had already certified their votes. The function of the state certificate board is just to approve those results. 

Rephrased... there is NO REASONABLE basis upon which to WAIT for this result. Unless of course there were some insider knowledge of pressure on certain members of the certification board to disrupt the legal process. 

In short, nothing changed on Monday which should have changed the reasonable expectation of who the presumptive election winner was. As such, there is no justification for the delay from agency to have lasted up until Monday. If they felt that there was a reasonable expectation that the results would change, then that shouldn't have changed Monday, and a questioning by congress should be a welcome chance to explain that very reasonable expectation. 

If there were no reasonable expectation that the outcome would change, then the result should have been delivered days, if not weeks ago.

Citing lawsuits and recounts as reasonable is a farce. No recount has ever changed an outcome with margins this large and not only would any sane legal council tell you that the cases were flawed, but also, no such lawsuit has ever prevailed in overturning election results either.

Again, given the function of this agency and the low risk associated combined with the fact that Republican's even stated support for beginning the transition process, it is REALLY hard to accept that there was no coercion between the GSA and Trump. Or, at the very least if the administrator of the GSA were acting independently, it is almost impossible not to construe her actions as a partisan abuse of power. She failed to perform the function she was hired to perform. Period.