crooksandliars--2020-07-23--Mayor Of Portland Gassed By Federal Officers

I suppose if Trump 's Brownshirts can rough up Moms , they might as well use teargas on the Mayor while they 're at it .
The mayor of Portland , Oregon , was tear gassed by the U.S. government late Wednesday as he stood at a fence guarding a federal courthouse during another night of protest against the presence of federal agents sent by President Donald Trump to quell unrest in the city .
Mayor Ted Wheeler , a Democrat , said it was the first time he ’ d been tear gassed and appeared slightly dazed and coughed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ goggles someone handed him and drank water .
He didn ’ t leave his spot at the front , however , and continued to take gas .
Around Wheeler , the protest raged , with demonstrators lighting a large fire in the space between the fence and the Mark O. Hatfield Federal Courthouse and the pop-pop-pop of federal agents deploying tear gas and stun grenades into the crowd .
It wasn ’ t immediately clear if the federal agents knew Wheeler was in the crowd when they used the tear gas .
Earlier @ @ @ @ @ @ @ jeered as he tried to rally demonstrators who have clashed nightly with federal agents but was briefly applauded when he shouted “ Black Lives Matter ” and pumped his fist in the air .
The mayor has opposed federal agents ’ presence in Oregon ’ s largest city , but he has faced harsh criticism from many sides and his presence wasn ’ t welcomed by many , who yelled and swore at him .
“ I want to thank the thousands of you who have come out to oppose the Trump administration @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Wheeler told hundreds of people gathered downtown near the federal courthouse .
“ The reason this is important is it is not just happening in Portland ... we ’ re on the front line here in Portland .
”

I suppose if Trump's Brownshirts can rough up Moms, they might as well use teargas on the Mayor while they're at it.
Source: Associated Press
The mayor of Portland, Oregon, was tear gassed by the U.S. government late Wednesday as he stood at a fence guarding a federal courthouse during another night of protest against the presence of federal agents sent by President Donald Trump to quell unrest in the city.
Mayor Ted Wheeler, a Democrat, said it was the first time he’d been tear gassed and appeared slightly dazed and coughed as he put on a pair of goggles someone handed him and drank water. He didn’t leave his spot at the front, however, and continued to take gas. Around Wheeler, the protest raged, with demonstrators lighting a large fire in the space between the fence and the Mark O. Hatfield Federal Courthouse and the pop-pop-pop of federal agents deploying tear gas and stun grenades into the crowd.
It wasn’t immediately clear if the federal agents knew Wheeler was in the crowd when they used the tear gas.
Earlier in the night, Wheeler was mostly jeered as he tried to rally demonstrators who have clashed nightly with federal agents but was briefly applauded when he shouted “Black Lives Matter” and pumped his fist in the air. The mayor has opposed federal agents’ presence in Oregon’s largest city, but he has faced harsh criticism from many sides and his presence wasn’t welcomed by many, who yelled and swore at him.
“I want to thank the thousands of you who have come out to oppose the Trump administration’s occupation of this city,” Wheeler told hundreds of people gathered downtown near the federal courthouse. “The reason this is important is it is not just happening in Portland ... we’re on the front line here in Portland.”


crooksandliars--2020-07-23--Cafeterias Used By White House Staff Closed Due To COVID-19 Outbreak

The jokes just write themselves at this point , do n't they ?
Two cafeterias used by White House staff @ @ @ @ @ tracing was conducted after an employee tested positive for the coronavirus , a Trump administration @ @ @ @ @ .
The cafeterias are in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building and the New Executive Office @ @ @ @ @ of the White House complex and are next to the West Wing .
It was @ @ @ @ @ employee was a cafeteria worker , and the White House did not say what kind @ @ @ @ @ .
The White House notified employees about measures in an email and said that there @ @ @ @ @ to self-quarantine , according to the official , who spoke on condition of anonymity because @ @ @ @ @ to speak publicly about the situation .

The jokes just write themselves at this point, don't they?
Source: New York Times
Two cafeterias used by White House staff members were closed and contact tracing was conducted after an employee tested positive for the coronavirus, a Trump administration official said on Wednesday night.
The cafeterias are in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building and the New Executive Office Building, which are part of the White House complex and are next to the West Wing.
It was not immediately clear whether the employee was a cafeteria worker, and the White House did not say what kind of symptoms the person showed.
The White House notified employees about measures in an email and said that there was no need for them to self-quarantine, according to the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the person was not authorized to speak publicly about the situation.


crooksandliars--2020-07-23--A Socially Distanced Conversation: President Barack Obama And Vice President Joe Biden

Great to see the band back together again !
Washington Post , which notes one of the purposes of this video is to troll Trump ( too easy ) : Joe Biden ’ s presidential campaign on Wednesday deployed a new tactic to reach voters when bunting-strewn stages and boisterous rallies have been set aside : using cinematic flourish to tease a major appearance with Barack Obama intended to excite Democrats and troll President Trump with the presence of his popular predecessor .
Biden faces an urgent need to expand his digital presence in a campaign now likely to be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and will use the event — to be fully released on social media Thursday morning — as a way to reach Obama ’ s nearly 121 million Twitter followers .
It leans on the former president ’ s stature and signature coolness — in the view of many voters Biden needs — to add sparkle as the campaign slogs through summer .
The video is also a sign of how much Biden and his team will focus on his partnership with Obama even as he goes through the process of searching for his @ @ @ @

Great to see the band back together again! Washington Post, which notes one of the purposes of this video is to troll Trump (too easy):
Joe Biden’s presidential campaign on Wednesday deployed a new tactic to reach voters when bunting-strewn stages and boisterous rallies have been set aside: using cinematic flourish to tease a major appearance with Barack Obama intended to excite Democrats and troll President Trump with the presence of his popular predecessor.
Biden faces an urgent need to expand his digital presence in a campaign now likely to be defined to a great degree online, and will use the event — to be fully released on social media Thursday morning — as a way to reach Obama’s nearly 121 million Twitter followers. It leans on the former president’s stature and signature coolness — in the view of many voters Biden needs — to add sparkle as the campaign slogs through summer.
The video is also a sign of how much Biden and his team will focus on his partnership with Obama even as he goes through the process of searching for his own running mate.


crooksandliars--2020-07-23--John Berman: Trump Thinks Passing Cognitive Test Should Win Him Admission Into MENSA

`` What a good boy I am , '' Trump told the world yesterday .
TRUMP : They give you five names and you have to repeat them .
That 's okay .
If you repeat them out of order , that 's okay , but , you know , it 's not as good , but then when you go back about 20 to 25 minutes later and they say , go back to that -- they do n't tell you this .
Go back to that question and repeat them .
And can you do it ?
And @ @ @ @ @ @ @ man , camera , TV ' .
They say , that 's amazing !
How did you do that ?
I do it because I have like a good memory , because I 'm cognitively there .
`` Fourscore and seven years ago , ask not what your country can do for you , person , woman , man , camera , TV .
There are at least 18 different levels to this .
Whatever it says about his cognitive ability , what does it say about his emotional well-being that he thinks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ woman , man , camera , TV ' should win him admission into MENSA , the Academy of Arts and Sciences , and the Order of the Phoenix ?
`` Moreover , it does n't mean what he thinks it is .
This is a gating test to determine dementia , not an IQ test or S.A.T .
test that he might have taken himself , or otherwise .
Not to mention , he keeps on saying how recent this was .
He seems to be talking about a test he took more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ does that say about his understanding of time , Alisyn Camerota ?
Riddle me this . ''
`` I mean , there 's a million questions .
He also did recently go to Walter Reed Hospital , it was unscheduled and we still do n't know why , and if it was having anything to do with cognition .
I saw somebody on Twitter say it was mesmerizing watching President Trump repeat those five words over and over .
And maybe he was trying to hypnotize Dr. Siegel .
I do n't know @ @ @ @ @ @ @ -- look , it 's not what he thinks it means or he should n't be bragging about it .
and why did they feel the need to give him that cognitive test ? ''
Camerota said .
`` Anyway , there 's a million questions that it raises , but it is really interesting to watch him say it over and over . ''
`` It was obsessive .
He 's obsessed with it now .
I 'm sure we 'll hear more , '' Berman said .

"What a good boy I am," Trump told the world yesterday.
TRUMP: They give you five names and you have to repeat them. That's okay. If you repeat them out of order, that's okay, but, you know, it's not as good, but then when you go back about 20 to 25 minutes later and they say, go back to that -- they don't tell you this. Go back to that question and repeat them. And can you do it? And you go, 'person, woman, man, camera, TV'. They say, that's amazing! How did you do that? I do it because I have like a good memory, because I'm cognitively there.
New Day's John Berman was dismissive.
"Fourscore and seven years ago, ask not what your country can do for you, person, woman, man, camera, TV. There are at least 18 different levels to this. Whatever it says about his cognitive ability, what does it say about his emotional well-being that he thinks this is impressive, like 'person, woman, man, camera, TV' should win him admission into MENSA, the Academy of Arts and Sciences, and the Order of the Phoenix?
"Moreover, it doesn't mean what he thinks it is. This is a gating test to determine dementia, not an IQ test or S.A.T. test that he might have taken himself, or otherwise. Not to mention, he keeps on saying how recent this was. He seems to be talking about a test he took more than two years ago. So what does that say about his understanding of time, Alisyn Camerota? Riddle me this."
"I mean, there's a million questions. He also did recently go to Walter Reed Hospital, it was unscheduled and we still don't know why, and if it was having anything to do with cognition. I saw somebody on Twitter say it was mesmerizing watching President Trump repeat those five words over and over. And maybe he was trying to hypnotize Dr. Siegel. I don't know what was happening there. But that -- look, it's not what he thinks it means or he shouldn't be bragging about it. and why did they feel the need to give him that cognitive test?" Camerota said.
"Anyway, there's a million questions that it raises, but it is really interesting to watch him say it over and over."
"It was obsessive. He's obsessed with it now. I'm sure we'll hear more," Berman said.


crooksandliars--2020-07-24--How Progressives And Democrats Can Unite To Win

Promising polls show Democrats strongly united as we move toward fall elections , with supporters of Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren currently showing near unanimous support for Biden .
Given the hard feelings from the 2016 presidential primary , the lack of enthusiasm among young voters and Bernie supporters that cost us dearly in the 2016 election , and the sometimes fractious policy battles we have seen in the party over the last few years , it is clear that Donald Trump is the Democratic Party 's great unifier .
But what is also true is that the Biden campaign @ @ @ @ @ @ @ doing a good job of bringing progressives to the table and making them feel better about his candidacy .
The issue task forces the campaign set up in combination with Bernie 's policy team , the close working relationship he has clearly established with Warren on developing policy ideas , his strong new progressive/populist positioning on a series of major economic and climate issues , the campaign 's behind the scenes , but extremely important outreach work to progressive groups and opinion leaders , and Biden naming strong progressive Ted Kaufman as his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ truly gets how important it is to build enthusiasm in the progressive wing of the party .
The rest of the Democratic Party needs to learn from the way the Biden campaign is moving here .
Right now , Team Biden still needs to do two big things to solidify their lead and secure a big victory .
First , they need to keep building more enthusiasm among young and progressive voters , so that they come out to vote in spite of the ridiculous set of barriers that the Republicans are throwing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ many states will need enthusiasm , determination , patience - and excitement about Joe Biden – to vote in spite of long lines on Election Day and in the early vote and hassles required to vote by mail .
Yes , we 're going to need to have a great legal operation and a great GOTV operation , and I know the Biden campaign and the Democratic Party are working very hard to put all that together .
But the only thing that will make it work is high enthusiasm among the voters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the Biden campaign needs to convince independent and swing voters that a Biden administration knows what it is doing in terms of the economy .
That is the genius of the big , bold economic policy plans that the Biden campaign is rolling out right now : they address the question of the economy directly , but also appeal directly to the Democratic base .
There 's a myth out there that working- class swing voters and progressive base voters are very different and do n't care about the same things .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ more about certain issues specific to them .
But in fact the bottom line economic issues that every middle and lower income working person ( and now all those millions of newly unemployed as well ) are facing -- wages that have n't gone up in years , rising housing .
and health care , and grocery costs , the availability and affordability of child care ; , the lack of paid family and sick leave -- are issues that unite swing and base voters , more than their dislike of Donald Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about these issues passionately .
When Joe Biden rolls out his progressive plans to rebuild the economy , better than before , it goes a long way toward solidifying his election victory .
It fires up the troops , and it reassures swing voters , who are n't sure that Biden knows what he is talking about on the economy .
But you ca n't close the deal on party unity without talking about the VP pick .
I am still haunted by what happened in 2016 .
After the painful , bruising @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , I was one of several people who was working hard to build a strong bridge between the Clinton and Sanders partisans , and we were actually making genuine progress .
The party platform process was challenging for sure , but the document that came out of it was called the most progressive platform in history by many Sanders people .
The senior staffers people from each campaign were talking constructively every day , and the Clinton team was hiring some Sanders people .
Then the news hit about the Kaine pick .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the air went out of the unity balloon .
It was n't that Kaine was a bad guy , but the fact that Hillary picked the one candidate on her short list with no ties at all to outside progressive groups was a killer for those of us working to bring Sanders voters into the Hillary coalition .
And for the whole rest of the campaign , it was extremely difficult to get the progressive world excited about the race .
It would be painful to repeat that experience .
This year the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for party unity , and the electoral case for having a strong progressive as VP is even stronger .
Stan Greenberg , who came to his political fame studying the swing , middle- class suburbanites in Macomb County , Michigan , and he is the pollster for Bill Clinton , Al Gore , and Tony Blair .
He is certainly no lefty , but his polling convinces him that the best candidate for VP is Elizabeth Warren -- he has said that `` it 's not even close . ''
His polling shows @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of increasing the enthusiasm of younger and more progressive voters , and that her economic agenda is appealing to working- class swing voters .
Meanwhile , another highly respected polling firm , Data for Progress , just did a poll focused on independent and swing voters which showed that ( a ) independent voters wanted a VP pick who was strong on the economy ; and that ( b ) the best VP candidate among independents for dealing with the economy was Warren , by a 3-1 margin over the next highest person @ @ @ @ @ @ @ some Democrats are worried about whether Warren would hurt us among suburban women and independents , but there 's no evidence of that in any of the polling I have seen , and the country 's leading expert on suburban swing voters ( Greenberg ) thinks that theory is wrong .
So it seems pretty clear from an electoral point of view that Warren is the right choice , but from a longer term governing point of view , Warren being the pick is even more important .
The Black Lives Matter demonstrations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ largest movement in American history , and primaries around the country have made it clear that the strength of the insurgent , progressive wing of the party is growing dramatically .
The Squad 's victories in primaries in 2018 were a political earthquake , but insurgent progressive primary victories this year have been far bigger and far broader , coming from all regions of the country : • In New Mexico , progressive groups recruited a progressive slate of state legislative candidates running against five entrenched incumbents , including top party leaders , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ • In Colorado , the state Working Families Party helped build a coalition that resulted in progressive candidates winning important upsets in three key district attorney races , a Colorado University Board of Regents seat , and a state Board of Education seat .
• In Nebraska , strong progressive Kara Eastman beat the establishment pick for the chance to run against the Republican incumbent in the Omaha congressional seat .
• In Texas , progressives won two big congressional primaries , two important state House races , and a key DA race @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : Candace Valenzuela defeated the establishment backed candidate Kim Olsen .
In CD-10 : Austin civil-rights attorney Mike Siegel won his primary against his moderate opponent to take on U.S. Rep. Michael McCaul in the general election .
• In Pennsylvania , progressive candidates won decisive primary victories in both the state House and state Senate • And in NYC , the progressive coalition led by WFP won two major congressional races and several big state legislative primaries .
In Congressional District 16 , public school principal Jamaal Bowman unseated 30-year incumbent Elliot @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Foreign Relations Committee .
In Congressional District 17 , Mondaire Jones , a 31-year-old , openly gay Black man , defeated a crowded field of establishment politicians to become the Democratic nominee .
And in state legislative districts , progressives Khaleel Anderson , Jabari Brisport , Emily Gallagher , Jessica Gonzales-Rojas , Anna Kelles , Zohran Mamdani , Marcela Mitaynes , and Phara Souffrant Forrest all won tough primaries .
The more insurgent progressive candidates have not yet broken through in Senate primaries , although given the resources the DSCC had put together @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Charles Booker came amazingly close .
But given the effectiveness of national groups like the WFP , which was involved in most of the primary races mentioned above , and fast rising state and local progressive coalitions , it is only a matter of time before the insurgent progressive part of the party starts to take over .
Which brings me back to the point I was making at the beginning of this column .
It is time for the national Democratic Party leadership to fully embrace the progressive movement .
Our party @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more and more , although there 's always room for negotiation .
But instead of constantly fighting rear-guard actions on behalf of more centrist candidates selected by the DSCC and DCCC , national party leaders should be uniting with the insurgents , working together to recruit candidates both sides are happy with up and down the ticket .
It 's not like progressives ca n't win tough districts and states : boldly progressive candidates like Sherrod Brown , Tammy Baldwin , and Katie Porter have won elections in very challenging purple places for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the way : take progressive leaders and progressive issues seriously , and move constructively their way .
That will help in the campaign , and it will help get legislation passed when we win .
If Biden chooses a strong progressive as VP , it will seal the deal : I can guarantee that it will be a lot easier to get bills passed if Biden is sending Elizabeth Warren to negotiate legislative details with The Squad and the CPC .
It 's time for a new progressive era in American politics , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ working in concert with the progressive movements in the streets .
That is how it worked in the 1930s and 1960s , when we passed all that legislation we are so proud of today : Social Security , a minimum wage , labor law reform , Medicare , Medicaid , the Civil Rights and Voting Rights Acts .
We need to unite around that kind of big , bold , progressive agenda today .

Promising polls show Democrats strongly united as we move toward fall elections, with supporters of Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren currently showing near unanimous support for Biden. Given the hard feelings from the 2016 presidential primary, the lack of enthusiasm among young voters and Bernie supporters that cost us dearly in the 2016 election, and the sometimes fractious policy battles we have seen in the party over the last few years, it is clear that Donald Trump is the Democratic Party's great unifier. But what is also true is that the Biden campaign, after a bruising primary, is doing a good job of bringing progressives to the table and making them feel better about his candidacy.
The issue task forces the campaign set up in combination with Bernie's policy team, the close working relationship he has clearly established with Warren on developing policy ideas, his strong new progressive/populist positioning on a series of major economic and climate issues, the campaign's behind the scenes, but extremely important outreach work to progressive groups and opinion leaders, and Biden naming strong progressive Ted Kaufman as his transition chief are all signs this campaign truly gets how important it is to build enthusiasm in the progressive wing of the party. The rest of the Democratic Party needs to learn from the way the Biden campaign is moving here.
Right now, Team Biden still needs to do two big things to solidify their lead and secure a big victory. First, they need to keep building more enthusiasm among young and progressive voters, so that they come out to vote in spite of the ridiculous set of barriers that the Republicans are throwing in their way. Prospective voters in many states will need enthusiasm, determination, patience - and excitement about Joe Biden – to vote in spite of long lines on Election Day and in the early vote and hassles required to vote by mail. Yes, we're going to need to have a great legal operation and a great GOTV operation, and I know the Biden campaign and the Democratic Party are working very hard to put all that together. But the only thing that will make it work is high enthusiasm among the voters we need to turn out.
Second, the Biden campaign needs to convince independent and swing voters that a Biden administration knows what it is doing in terms of the economy. That is the genius of the big, bold economic policy plans that the Biden campaign is rolling out right now: they address the question of the economy directly, but also appeal directly to the Democratic base. There's a myth out there that working- class swing voters and progressive base voters are very different and don't care about the same things. And sure, different demographic groups care more about certain issues specific to them. But in fact the bottom line economic issues that every middle and lower income working person (and now all those millions of newly unemployed as well) are facing -- wages that haven't gone up in years, rising housing. and health care, and grocery costs, the availability and affordability of child care;, the lack of paid family and sick leave -- are issues that unite swing and base voters, more than their dislike of Donald Trump. Swing voters and progressives both care about these issues passionately.
When Joe Biden rolls out his progressive plans to rebuild the economy, better than before, it goes a long way toward solidifying his election victory. It fires up the troops, and it reassures swing voters, who aren't sure that Biden knows what he is talking about on the economy.
But you can't close the deal on party unity without talking about the VP pick. I am still haunted by what happened in 2016. After the painful, bruising primary we all remember all too well, I was one of several people who was working hard to build a strong bridge between the Clinton and Sanders partisans, and we were actually making genuine progress. The party platform process was challenging for sure, but the document that came out of it was called the most progressive platform in history by many Sanders people. The senior staffers people from each campaign were talking constructively every day, and the Clinton team was hiring some Sanders people. Then the news hit about the Kaine pick. When that announcement was made, all the air went out of the unity balloon. It wasn't that Kaine was a bad guy, but the fact that Hillary picked the one candidate on her short list with no ties at all to outside progressive groups was a killer for those of us working to bring Sanders voters into the Hillary coalition. And for the whole rest of the campaign, it was extremely difficult to get the progressive world excited about the race. It would be painful to repeat that experience.
This year the need for progressive enthusiasm, the need for party unity, and the electoral case for having a strong progressive as VP is even stronger.
Stan Greenberg, who came to his political fame studying the swing, middle- class suburbanites in Macomb County, Michigan, and he is the pollster for Bill Clinton, Al Gore, and Tony Blair. He is certainly no lefty, but his polling convinces him that the best candidate for VP is Elizabeth Warren -- he has said that "it's not even close." His polling shows that Warren would do the best job of increasing the enthusiasm of younger and more progressive voters, and that her economic agenda is appealing to working- class swing voters.
Meanwhile, another highly respected polling firm, Data for Progress, just did a poll focused on independent and swing voters which showed that (a) independent voters wanted a VP pick who was strong on the economy; and that (b) the best VP candidate among independents for dealing with the economy was Warren, by a 3-1 margin over the next highest person, Kamala Harris.
I know that some Democrats are worried about whether Warren would hurt us among suburban women and independents, but there's no evidence of that in any of the polling I have seen, and the country's leading expert on suburban swing voters (Greenberg) thinks that theory is wrong.
So it seems pretty clear from an electoral point of view that Warren is the right choice, but from a longer term governing point of view, Warren being the pick is even more important. The Black Lives Matter demonstrations in the streets that are arguably the largest movement in American history, and primaries around the country have made it clear that the strength of the insurgent, progressive wing of the party is growing dramatically. The Squad's victories in primaries in 2018 were a political earthquake, but insurgent progressive primary victories this year have been far bigger and far broader, coming from all regions of the country:
In New Mexico, progressive groups recruited a progressive slate of state legislative candidates running against five entrenched incumbents, including top party leaders, and won four of five primaries.
In Colorado, the state Working Families Party helped build a coalition that resulted in progressive candidates winning important upsets in three key district attorney races, a Colorado University Board of Regents seat, and a state Board of Education seat.
In Nebraska, strong progressive Kara Eastman beat the establishment pick for the chance to run against the Republican incumbent in the Omaha congressional seat.
In Chicago, entrenched, machine-backed incumbent Congressman Dan Lipinski lost to progressive Marie Newman.
In Texas, progressives won two big congressional primaries, two important state House races, and a key DA race in Travis County. In CD 24: Candace Valenzuela defeated the establishment backed candidate Kim Olsen. In CD-10: Austin civil-rights attorney Mike Siegel won his primary against his moderate opponent to take on U.S. Rep. Michael McCaul in the general election.
In Pennsylvania, progressive candidates won decisive primary victories in both the state House and state Senate
And in NYC, the progressive coalition led by WFP won two major congressional races and several big state legislative primaries. In Congressional District 16, public school principal Jamaal Bowman unseated 30-year incumbent Elliot Engel, the chair of the House Foreign Relations Committee. In Congressional District 17, Mondaire Jones, a 31-year-old, openly gay Black man, defeated a crowded field of establishment politicians to become the Democratic nominee. And in state legislative districts, progressives Khaleel Anderson, Jabari Brisport, Emily Gallagher, Jessica Gonzales-Rojas, Anna Kelles, Zohran Mamdani, Marcela Mitaynes, and Phara Souffrant Forrest all won tough primaries.
The more insurgent progressive candidates have not yet broken through in Senate primaries, although given the resources the DSCC had put together for their preferred candidate in Kentucky, Charles Booker came amazingly close. But given the effectiveness of national groups like the WFP, which was involved in most of the primary races mentioned above, and fast rising state and local progressive coalitions, it is only a matter of time before the insurgent progressive part of the party starts to take over.
Which brings me back to the point I was making at the beginning of this column. It is time for the national Democratic Party leadership to fully embrace the progressive movement. Our party's policy positions should reflect that movement more and more, although there's always room for negotiation. But instead of constantly fighting rear-guard actions on behalf of more centrist candidates selected by the DSCC and DCCC, national party leaders should be uniting with the insurgents, working together to recruit candidates both sides are happy with up and down the ticket. It's not like progressives can't win tough districts and states: boldly progressive candidates like Sherrod Brown, Tammy Baldwin, and Katie Porter have won elections in very challenging purple places for years.
The Biden campaign has shown the way: take progressive leaders and progressive issues seriously, and move constructively their way. That will help in the campaign, and it will help get legislation passed when we win. If Biden chooses a strong progressive as VP, it will seal the deal: I can guarantee that it will be a lot easier to get bills passed if Biden is sending Elizabeth Warren to negotiate legislative details with The Squad and the CPC.
It's time for a new progressive era in American politics, with a united and energized Democratic Party working in concert with the progressive movements in the streets. That is how it worked in the 1930s and 1960s, when we passed all that legislation we are so proud of today: Social Security, a minimum wage, labor law reform, Medicare, Medicaid, the Civil Rights and Voting Rights Acts. We need to unite around that kind of big, bold, progressive agenda today.


crooksandliars--2020-07-24--Rep. Katie Porter Cuts Lockheed Martin Exec Down To Size For Asking For CARES Money

This Lockheed Martin executive had no idea what hit him when Rep. Katie Porter ( D-CA ) started questioning him about Lockheed 's request for funds under the CARES Act .
Do n't these people know by now , they need to do their homework ?
They are going to be grilled , and grilled HARD about why , if they have immense wealth , they are trying to take money that is set aside for struggling smaller businesses .
They 'd damn well better have answers , and this dude had nothin ' .
She asked him about the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the White House asking for bailout money , and he claimed not to be aware of that letter .
Then the fun began .
REP. PORTER : Did Lockheed Martin request money under the CARES Act ?
EXEC : Because of the disruption associated with COVID-19 .
REP. PORTER : Because of the disruption , it caused you to have a profit of 15 % over the prior year , when we DID N'T have COVID-19 ?
That does n't ...
I mean , maybe making gobs of money is disruption for you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Americans , if they 'd seen their income go up 15 % this year , if they were making , if they were making $ 3.5 billion in profit in 2020 , they would n't call that a disruption , they 'd call that a miracle .
And they would n't be coming to the government trying to take more taxpayer dollars , at the same time that you are failing to pay the U.S. taxpayers back what you owe for breach of contract with regard to the F-35 Joint Strike [ Fighter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ why you need this additional money when your profits are up , and you 've breached your contracts with regard to producing defective parts .
Why should the taxpayer foot the bill to help Lockheed Martin at this time ?
EXEC : Ma'am , the disruption associated with COVID-19 requires many different aspects relative to health and welfare of employees , the supply base associated with ... REP. PORTER : Use — pardon me .
Reclaiming my time .
Use your 15 % increase in profit to pay to protect your workers during @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 're doing that .
REP. PORTER : Why are we footing the bill to help a company that 's having an uber profitability moment , that is a `` Pandemic Star ? ''
EXEC : Congresswoman , no funds have been provided relative to the CARES Act .
REP. PORTER : But you have asked .
EXEC : Yes , just like many aerospace and defense companies .
REP. PORTER : One wrong does n't make a right .
With that , I yield back .
I was half-expecting Rep. Porter to answer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ aerospace and defense companies jumped off the Golden Gate Bridge , would you have jumped , too ? ''
This is how painfully unprepared this guy was .
I realize how hard it must to come with answers about how $ 3.5 billion PROFIT , mind you , just is n't enough to fund your COVID needs , but did he really think he was n't going to get his ass handed to him ?
Of course , leave it to the GOP to be caterwauling about the next economic package not having @ @ @ @ @ @ @ $ 1,200 for every family .
Totally !
I mean , what would a struggling family of 4 , making $ 250 per week after childcare expenses are paid ( assuming they can find childcare , ) do with that $ 1,200 lump sum anyhow ?
It 's just wasted on them anyhow , is n't it ?
They could n't use it for groceries , or to keep the lights on , or maybe see a doctor , or anything ... those helicopter companies would spend that money so much more wisely @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 10,000 , and now I 'm listening ... Oh , please .
Trump is screaming that we need to send kids to school to catch COVID-19 , children are in cages on the border , he is cool with Putin 's bounties on American soldiers , and THIS is the thing that 's gon na lose him Republicans .
Gross .
This entire party needs to be burned to the ground .

This Lockheed Martin executive had no idea what hit him when Rep. Katie Porter (D-CA) started questioning him about Lockheed's request for funds under the CARES Act. Don't these people know by now, they need to do their homework? They are going to be grilled, and grilled HARD about why, if they have immense wealth, they are trying to take money that is set aside for struggling smaller businesses. They'd damn well better have answers, and this dude had nothin'.
She asked him about the fact that Lockheed wrote a letter to the White House asking for bailout money, and he claimed not to be aware of that letter. Then the fun began.
REP. PORTER: Did Lockheed Martin request money under the CARES Act? EXEC: Yes, Ma'am. REP. PORTER: Why? EXEC: Because of the disruption associated with COVID-19. REP. PORTER: Because of the disruption, it caused you to have a profit of 15% over the prior year, when we DIDN'T have COVID-19? That doesn't...I mean, maybe making gobs of money is disruption for you, but I think for most everyday Americans, if they'd seen their income go up 15% this year, if they were making, if they were making $3.5 billion in profit in 2020, they wouldn't call that a disruption, they'd call that a miracle. And they wouldn't be coming to the government trying to take more taxpayer dollars, at the same time that you are failing to pay the U.S. taxpayers back what you owe for breach of contract with regard to the F-35 Joint Strike [Fighter]. I'm unable to understand why you need this additional money when your profits are up, and you've breached your contracts with regard to producing defective parts. Why should the taxpayer foot the bill to help Lockheed Martin at this time? EXEC: Ma'am, the disruption associated with COVID-19 requires many different aspects relative to health and welfare of employees, the supply base associated with... REP. PORTER: Use — pardon me. Reclaiming my time. Use your 15% increase in profit to pay to protect your workers during COVID. (someone whispers to him, "We're doing that.") EXEC: Congresswoman, we're doing that. REP. PORTER: Why are we footing the bill to help a company that's having an uber profitability moment, that is a "Pandemic Star?" EXEC: Congresswoman, no funds have been provided relative to the CARES Act. REP. PORTER: But you have asked. EXEC: Yes, just like many aerospace and defense companies. REP. PORTER: One wrong doesn't make a right. With that, I yield back.
I was half-expecting Rep. Porter to answer with, "If all the other aerospace and defense companies jumped off the Golden Gate Bridge, would you have jumped, too?" This is how painfully unprepared this guy was. I realize how hard it must to come with answers about how $3.5 billion PROFIT, mind you, just isn't enough to fund your COVID needs, but did he really think he wasn't going to get his ass handed to him?
Of course, leave it to the GOP to be caterwauling about the next economic package not having a payroll tax cut, and including $1,200 for every family.
WH adviser @StephenMoore is "very discouraged" GOP bill includes $1,200 stimulus payments but not payroll tax cut
Moore says: "There is no benefit from dumping money from helicopters into people's laps ... If this works, why not send every family $10,000?" — Jeff Stein (@JStein_WaPo) July 23, 2020
Totally! I mean, what would a struggling family of 4, making $250 per week after childcare expenses are paid (assuming they can find childcare,) do with that $1,200 lump sum anyhow? It's just wasted on them anyhow, isn't it? They couldn't use it for groceries, or to keep the lights on, or maybe see a doctor, or anything...those helicopter companies would spend that money so much more wisely!
Though, start giving everyone $10,000, and now I'm listening...
Moore also told me about the payroll tax cut, "Trump needs to put this back in or he's going to lose a lot of Republicans on a negotiating deal -- it could divide and conquer the party" — Jeff Stein (@JStein_WaPo) July 23, 2020
Oh, please. Trump is screaming that we need to send kids to school to catch COVID-19, children are in cages on the border, he is cool with Putin's bounties on American soldiers, and THIS is the thing that's gonna lose him Republicans. Gross. This entire party needs to be burned to the ground.


crooksandliars--2020-07-24--Street Performers In D.C. Depict The 'Legacy' Donald Trump Is 'Living Right Now'

With the novel coronavirus roaring in the United States , Washington , D.C. , like much of the country , has shuttered its popular destinations , including many museums , art galleries , and eateries .
But if you happen to live in or be visiting the district , you may stumble upon golden statues depicting Donald Trump around the city , including two in Freedom Plaza and outside of the Trump Hotel .
They first popped up last weekend and what ’ s special about these statues isn ’ t only that they call out Trump ’ s various @ @ @ @ @ @ @ actually not ‘ statues ’ at all—they ’ re alive .
The Trump Statue Initiative is behind this living art installation project .
The three “ statue ” scenes depicted Trump in some of his most infamous scenes .
One , titled The Poser , portrays him holding up the Bible while Black Lives Matter protesters are attacked at his feet .
Another , titled Now Go Back To School , shows him telling a kid wearing personal protective equipment to return to school—while Trump is waving a golf club .
The last @ @ @ @ @ @ @ him clutching a stuffed animal and tuning into Fox News while hunkered down in a bunker , a clear nod to reports that he went to an underground bunker while Black Lives Matter protests occurred near the White House in May .
Trump later claimed he merely went down to the bunker went for an “ inspection.
” Why living statues ?
As Bryan Buckley , the writer and filmmaker who staged this installation project , explained to AdAge in an interview , the inception goes back to Trump ’ s obsession with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ best thing we could do was to create these very honest statues of the legacy he ’ s living right now , that let the world see exactly who he is , ” he told the outlet .
Speaking to The Hill about the project , Buckley said they planned to move on from D.C. to “ less friendly areas soon , ” meaning that you might come across these street performers in your region .
And if you ’ re wondering what the point of the project really is , Buckley hopes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the statues or chat with them are encouraged to vote in November .
ArtNet reports that violinist Celeste Vee stood near the statues and played songs by artists that banned the use of their music at Trump rallies .
You can check some out some of the viral photos below , and learn more about the initiative at their website .

With the novel coronavirus roaring in the United States, Washington, D.C., like much of the country, has shuttered its popular destinations, including many museums, art galleries, and eateries. But if you happen to live in or be visiting the district, you may stumble upon golden statues depicting Donald Trump around the city, including two in Freedom Plaza and outside of the Trump Hotel. They first popped up last weekend and what’s special about these statues isn’t only that they call out Trump’s various horrors, but that they’re actually not ‘statues’ at all—they’re alive.
The Trump Statue Initiative is behind this living art installation project. The three “statue” scenes depicted Trump in some of his most infamous scenes. One, titled The Poser, portrays him holding up the Bible while Black Lives Matter protesters are attacked at his feet. Another, titled Now Go Back To School, shows him telling a kid wearing personal protective equipment to return to school—while Trump is waving a golf club. The last, simply titled The Bunker, shows him clutching a stuffed animal and tuning into Fox News while hunkered down in a bunker, a clear nod to reports that he went to an underground bunker while Black Lives Matter protests occurred near the White House in May. Trump later claimed he merely went down to the bunker went for an “inspection.”
Why living statues? As Bryan Buckley, the writer and filmmaker who staged this installation project, explained to AdAge in an interview, the inception goes back to Trump’s obsession with statues. “I felt like the best thing we could do was to create these very honest statues of the legacy he’s living right now, that let the world see exactly who he is,” he told the outlet.
Speaking to The Hill about the project, Buckley said they planned to move on from D.C. to “less friendly areas soon,” meaning that you might come across these street performers in your region. And if you’re wondering what the point of the project really is, Buckley hopes people who stop to take pictures of the statues or chat with them are encouraged to vote in November.
ArtNet reports that violinist Celeste Vee stood near the statues and played songs by artists that banned the use of their music at Trump rallies.
You can check some out some of the viral photos below, and learn more about the initiative at their website.
Activism and art in DC called the trump statue initiative. I love the #BunkerBoy https://t.co/pdNpvRAXkc pic.twitter.com/2QjjcLmuGH — KND (@KNDmex) July 18, 2020
If you're in the DC Metro area today head on over to Freedom Plaza and check out the art installation, "The Trump Statue Initiative." Learn more at https://t.co/7A7jZwz6aS. #Vote2020 #trumpstatueinitiative pic.twitter.com/NrtOCeXBfH — Hungry Man (@hungrymantweets) July 17, 2020
A crew of artists called the Trump Statue Initiative installed these around D.C. pic.twitter.com/W9voRx4DRT — Bryan Harnsberger Psy.D (@PSYCH_HYPE) July 17, 2020
Published with permission of Daily Kos


crooksandliars--2020-07-24--ACLU Sues Trump Over Attacks On Portland Medics

The American Civil Liberties Union Foundation of Oregon on Wednesday sued the Trump administration for assaulting , tear-gassing , and arresting volunteer medics in Portland during its crackdown on the city 's ongoing protests against police brutality .
The lawsuit ( pdf ) , which also names the city of Portland , was filed on behalf of Savannah Guest , Christopher Wise , Christopher Durkee , and Michael Martinez , four volunteer medics who say they were assaulted by the Trump administration 's federal agents and Portland police during Black Lives Matter demonstrations this month .
`` It was terrifying @ @ @ @ @ @ @ July 12 was thrown to the ground by federal agents dressed in combat fatigues as she attempted to assist an incapacitated bystander .
`` Every human being deserves help , but the federal agents showed no humanity or concern . ''
Martinez , a graduate student at Oregon Health and Science University who was arrested in Portland on June 13 while packing up a medical tent , said he agreed to join the legal action `` because many people in this country , such as George Floyd and Breonna Taylor , will never @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` I feel it 's all the more important to use whatever resources and power I have to confront this abhorrent system , which allows people in America , primarily Black people , to be beaten and killed by police without consequence , '' said Martinez .
The lawsuit , filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Oregon as massive protests continued in Portland , seeks a court order barring federal agents and city police from targeting and attacking medics in violation of the First and Fourth Amendments .
Jann @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ACLU of Oregon , said in a statement that `` volunteer medics should be celebrated , not attacked or arrested . ''
`` Our clients are volunteering day and night to provide aid to the injured and to create a safer environment for protesters and bystanders .
These attacks are unconscionable as well as unconstitutional .
This lawlessness must end . ''

The American Civil Liberties Union Foundation of Oregon on Wednesday sued the Trump administration for assaulting, tear-gassing, and arresting volunteer medics in Portland during its crackdown on the city's ongoing protests against police brutality.
The lawsuit (pdf), which also names the city of Portland, was filed on behalf of Savannah Guest, Christopher Wise, Christopher Durkee, and Michael Martinez, four volunteer medics who say they were assaulted by the Trump administration's federal agents and Portland police during Black Lives Matter demonstrations this month.
"It was terrifying," said Guest, who on July 12 was thrown to the ground by federal agents dressed in combat fatigues as she attempted to assist an incapacitated bystander. "Every human being deserves help, but the federal agents showed no humanity or concern."
Guest's assault was captured on video:
Here is my video from Portland last night.. I had to yank my medic from the FEDS, after throwing her off the curb, he then proceeded to smack her & the ground with a batton, how is this okay?!#booptroopeugene #PDXprotests #pdx pic.twitter.com/0hJNgrrIx4 — 丅ᖇᗴ ᔕ丅ᗴᗯᗩᖇ丅// (@stoggrd) July 12, 2020
Martinez, a graduate student at Oregon Health and Science University who was arrested in Portland on June 13 while packing up a medical tent, said he agreed to join the legal action "because many people in this country, such as George Floyd and Breonna Taylor, will never have their day in court."
"I feel it's all the more important to use whatever resources and power I have to confront this abhorrent system, which allows people in America, primarily Black people, to be beaten and killed by police without consequence," said Martinez.
The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Oregon as massive protests continued in Portland, seeks a court order barring federal agents and city police from targeting and attacking medics in violation of the First and Fourth Amendments.
Jann Carson, interim executive director of the ACLU of Oregon, said in a statement that "volunteer medics should be celebrated, not attacked or arrested."
"Our clients are volunteering day and night to provide aid to the injured and to create a safer environment for protesters and bystanders. These attacks are unconscionable as well as unconstitutional. This lawlessness must end."
Republished from Common Dreams (Jake Johnson, staff writer) under a Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 License.


crooksandliars--2020-07-24--Is Trump Falling For The Fake Pandemic Or Playing 11-Dimensional Chess? Wingnuts Can't Decide!

Yesterday , Trump announced that the portions of the Republican National Convention that he abruptly switched to Jacksonville , Florida , wo n't take place there after all .
President Donald Trump announced Thursday that there will not be Republican convention activities in Jacksonville , Florida ... .
`` I looked at my team and I said the timing for this event is not right .
It 's just not right , '' Trump said at the White House .
`` To have a big convention , it 's not the right time . ''
`` There 's nothing more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people safe , '' Trump said .
He said he would still deliver a convention speech but in a `` different form . ''
Trump pulled the convention ( or at least its main events ) from Charlotte , North Carolina , in a snit in early June , after the Democratic governor expressed health concerns about the indoor event .
On June 11 , he announced that the main events would take place in Jacksonville .
It was reported this week that that was n't enough time for the city and county @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , as well as the unprofessionalism of Trump 's party , which ca n't even offer a schedule of events .
The sheriff of Jacksonville , Fla. , said he can ’ t provide security for the Republican National Convention because of a lack of clear plans , adequate funding and enough law enforcement officers .
“ As we 're talking today , we are still not close to having some kind of plan that we can work with that makes me comfortable that we 're going to keep that event and the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mike Williams told POLITICO ... .
Williams said the event , scheduled for Aug. 24-27 , was announced in June , giving his agency little time to plan and prepare .
The Republican National Committee has not yet nailed down which convention events will be at which venues , making it more challenging .
And a pledged $ 50 million grant has been paired back to $ 33 million and , Williams said , there are strings attached that make letting contracts too difficult .
Jacksonville 's city council president expressed his opposition @ @ @ @ @ @ @ showed that a majority of Jacksonville residents also opposed holding the convention in their city .
At Free Republic , many commenters are in despair -- they 're certain that the president is falling for a hoax .
Well , I am shocked he lasted as long as he did .
So now he is playing into the hoax narrative .
This is what the DNC wanted .
I think that Trump is way too gullible .
It is obvious that the numbers of dead are way off .
False information .
People @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the chinese virus plus anyone with the virus but died of others causes including to much to drink .55 < -8 times over the legal limit , and shot and getting hit by a car .
Next he will call off the debates and knuckle under to the democrats .
The GOPee has a [ anit-Trump ] Death Wish that they are acting on .
The GOPee face the abyss of obsolescence similar to the NFL .
The primary goal of the Democrat-Media-Oligarch `` COVID Southern Strategy '' has now been achieved .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' panic ( with almost NO deaths ) was brilliantly engineered by the Uniparty globalists to stop ANY Trump rallies or convention , and keep Biden in his basement -- including NO IN PERSON DEBATES -- to deny Trump the target his campaign style demands .
Pray , folks .
With tech overlords in full co-op , we are in big , BIG trouble .
The odds of dying from Corona Virus is 0.005 .
The odds of dying in an auto accident is 0.014 .
You have a bigger chance of getting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Chinese flu .
Yet , no one is shutting down cars !
He cancelled Jacksonville for `` safety '' .
What 's next ?
Mail in voting ?
Florida has 2 million more people than NY , but the same number of COVID deaths as tiny Connecticut .
If Gov .
Ron DeSantis was a Democrat , the NYTimes would be championing him as a national hero and Democrats would be touting him for president Democrat plan worked .
They made Florida the epicenter because he chose there .
if he chooses another @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
But at Gateway Pundit , most commenters think this was a chess move of unqualified brilliance : Antifa and BLM must be disappointed , they do n't get to destroy Jacksonville .
I think you NAILED it !
I have a huge suspicion that was the real reason , the shamdemic was just a cover !
Showing how much he loves our country and people .
He did n't want more destruction where `` they '' were looking forward to destroying a city that was n't Democratic as all others have been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be hearing some loud whaling from some in DC & elsewhere , yelling `` He foiled us again '' !
Decisions like this are almost always multi-faceted .
I think this is a wise move on Trump 's part -- he 's taking some of the wind out of Antifa and BLM 's sails , and preventing the media from creating unnecessary diversions by whining about the convention .
Look for antifa and blm `` supplies '' going real cheap on craigslist now in Jacksonville .
Nothing to do with COVID .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ and does not need to give the Ds any chance to upstage the convention .
They are trying to create a Kent State event to turn public opinion against him .
I would have to say that we are a nation at war , I have no doubt that the left has plans to ramp up the violence , murder , and mayhem .
In these times , I get very concerned when Trump is in public .
like a rally or convention .
They are gunning for him , literally .
It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
In this environment it is actually surprising that it has n't yet happened .
Oh they have ...
Even with a missile .
They scope out the area weeks in advance and place lookouts and snipers all over .
Yeah , but no one has called for defunding the Secret Service , yet .
Given the level of Obama infiltration , I do n't think any government agency can be trusted now .
Trump had to open back up these moronic pressers and cancel the convention to garner votes from the `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
That 's a fact Jack .
That includes canceling the convention .
The Leftist media ca n't have even a small box of ammo for the next three months !
It 's a sad thing to watch , but it 's got to be done .
Yep the housewives have gone bananas .
I hate to sound sexist but I can see why the framers kept women from voting .
Not saying its right ... ..but I understand !
When you have no skin in the game it all boils down to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they were doing .
Spot on .
It is all about the female vote .
The 19th amendment will eventually doom this nation , but hopefully not yet .
So is Trump one of the sheeple now ?
Or is he playing 11-dimensional chess against Antifa , Black Lives Matter , the media , and ( ick ! )
women ( who should n't vote ) ?
Posted with permission from No More Mr. Nice Blog

Yesterday, Trump announced that the portions of the Republican National Convention that he abruptly switched to Jacksonville, Florida, won't take place there after all.
President Donald Trump announced Thursday that there will not be Republican convention activities in Jacksonville, Florida.... "I looked at my team and I said the timing for this event is not right. It's just not right," Trump said at the White House. "To have a big convention, it's not the right time." "There's nothing more important in our country than keeping our people safe," Trump said. He said he would still deliver a convention speech but in a "different form."
Trump pulled the convention (or at least its main events) from Charlotte, North Carolina, in a snit in early June, after the Democratic governor expressed health concerns about the indoor event. On June 11, he announced that the main events would take place in Jacksonville. It was reported this week that that wasn't enough time for the city and county to prepare, especially given the pandemic, as well as the unprofessionalism of Trump's party, which can't even offer a schedule of events.
The sheriff of Jacksonville, Fla., said he can’t provide security for the Republican National Convention because of a lack of clear plans, adequate funding and enough law enforcement officers. “As we're talking today, we are still not close to having some kind of plan that we can work with that makes me comfortable that we're going to keep that event and the community safe,” Duval County Sheriff Mike Williams told POLITICO.... Williams said the event, scheduled for Aug. 24-27, was announced in June, giving his agency little time to plan and prepare. The Republican National Committee has not yet nailed down which convention events will be at which venues, making it more challenging. And a pledged $50 million grant has been paired back to $33 million and, Williams said, there are strings attached that make letting contracts too difficult.
Jacksonville's city council president expressed his opposition to the convention this week. Polls showed that a majority of Jacksonville residents also opposed holding the convention in their city.
At Free Republic, many commenters are in despair -- they're certain that the president is falling for a hoax.
Trump is compromised. Well, I am shocked he lasted as long as he did. Goodbye America. **** So now he is playing into the hoax narrative. This is what the DNC wanted. Very disappointed. **** I think that Trump is way too gullible. It is obvious that the numbers of dead are way off. False information. People died of the flu, pneumonia and the chinese virus plus anyone with the virus but died of others causes including to much to drink .55 <-8 times over the legal limit, and shot and getting hit by a car. Next he will call off the debates and knuckle under to the democrats. **** The GOPee has a [anit-Trump] Death Wish that they are acting on. The GOPee face the abyss of obsolescence similar to the NFL. **** The primary goal of the Democrat-Media-Oligarch "COVID Southern Strategy" has now been achieved. The "record cases!!!" panic (with almost NO deaths) was brilliantly engineered by the Uniparty globalists to stop ANY Trump rallies or convention, and keep Biden in his basement -- including NO IN PERSON DEBATES -- to deny Trump the target his campaign style demands. Pray, folks. With tech overlords in full co-op, we are in big, BIG trouble. **** The odds of dying from Corona Virus is 0.005.
The odds of dying in an auto accident is 0.014. You have a bigger chance of getting killed in a car than from this Chinese flu. Yet, no one is shutting down cars! **** He cancelled Jacksonville for "safety". What's next? Mail in voting? **** Florida has 2 million more people than NY, but the same number of COVID deaths as tiny Connecticut. If Gov. Ron DeSantis was a Democrat, the NYTimes would be championing him as a national hero and Democrats would be touting him for president **** Democrat plan worked. They made Florida the epicenter because he chose there. if he chooses another place it will be the next outbreak.
But at Gateway Pundit, most commenters think this was a chess move of unqualified brilliance:
Antifa and BLM must be disappointed, they don't get to destroy Jacksonville. **** I think you NAILED it! I have a huge suspicion that was the real reason, the shamdemic was just a cover! **** Showing how much he loves our country and people. He didn't want more destruction where "they" were looking forward to destroying a city that wasn't Democratic as all others have been so far. **** Funny, I seem to be hearing some loud whaling from some in DC & elsewhere, yelling "He foiled us again"! **** Decisions like this are almost always multi-faceted. I think this is a wise move on Trump's part -- he's taking some of the wind out of Antifa and BLM's sails, and preventing the media from creating unnecessary diversions by whining about the convention. **** Look for antifa and blm "supplies" going real cheap on craigslist now in Jacksonville. **** Nothing to do with COVID. President Trump is improving in the poles and does not need to give the Ds any chance to upstage the convention. They are trying to create a Kent State event to turn public opinion against him. **** I would have to say that we are a nation at war, I have no doubt that the left has plans to ramp up the violence, murder, and mayhem. In these times, I get very concerned when Trump is in public. like a rally or convention. They are gunning for him, literally. **** It is entirely possible someone takes a shot. In this environment it is actually surprising that it hasn't yet happened. **** Oh they have... Even with a missile. They scope out the area weeks in advance and place lookouts and snipers all over. He's well protected. **** Yeah, but no one has called for defunding the Secret Service, yet. **** Given the level of Obama infiltration, I don't think any government agency can be trusted now. **** Trump had to open back up these moronic pressers and cancel the convention to garner votes from the "Mushy Middle" and the hysterical housewives. That's a fact Jack. That includes canceling the convention. The Leftist media can't have even a small box of ammo for the next three months! It's a sad thing to watch, but it's got to be done. **** Yep the housewives have gone bananas. I hate to sound sexist but I can see why the framers kept women from voting. Not saying its right.....but I understand! **** When you have no skin in the game it all boils down to emotion. Madison et al knew what they were doing. **** Spot on. It is all about the female vote. The 19th amendment will eventually doom this nation, but hopefully not yet.
So is Trump one of the sheeple now? Or is he playing 11-dimensional chess against Antifa, Black Lives Matter, the media, and (ick!) women (who shouldn't vote)?
You decide!
Posted with permission from No More Mr. Nice Blog


crooksandliars--2020-07-24--Kids Can Catch COVID-19, Can Pass It On To Others, Can Get Seriously Ill, And Can Definitely Die

In his latest appearance on Fox News , Donald Trump declared that he thought testing for COVID-19 was “ overrated , ” though he grudgingly agreed that he would allow tests to continue .
Jaw-dropping as that might seem , in a way Trump is right—since he ’ s completely surrendered any idea of responding to the pandemic , what ’ s the point in testing ?
There ’ s to be no national coordination of testing , no unified system of case tracing , no national mandate on masks , and no suggestion of providing states with any guidance @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Once you ’ re content to drown , is there really any reason to measure the rising tide ?
Of course , Trump doesn ’ t intend to go down alone .
And his basic inflexibility means that once he has said something , he never even considers the option of changing his mind .
So it ’ s perfectly understandable that in a Wednesday briefing , Trump absolutely declared his commitment to reopening schools and plopping children into closely-packed chairs .
That includes his own son and his grandchildren , though @ @ @ @ @ @ @ actually attend a public school .
In expressing his commitment to experimenting on kids , Trump went through an entire set of talking points about children ’ s inability to catch COVID-19 or to transmit the disease to others—talking points that are 100 % wrong .
As The Washington Post coverage of the event notes , Trump was insistent that schools “ open to 100 percent.
” This means no social distancing and no way to prevent spread to either students or teachers .
It ’ s simply not possible when many classrooms @ @ @ @ @ @ @ space originally planned for half that number .
Many schools even use trailers or other temporary facilities to cram in additional students .
It ’ s utterly impossible to maintain any degree of safety in such a situation .
Of course , Trump doesn ’ t believe there ’ s any need .
Because Trump has a very specific understanding about children and COVID-19 .
“ A lot of people are saying they don ’ t transmit [ ... ] They don ’ t catch it easily , ” said Trump .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ easily .
And if they do catch it , they get better fast.
” Where would Trump get such an idea ?
Frankly , everywhere .
For example , Vox ran an article on July 9 , authored by Benjamin Linas , that contains this statement : “ If any of us is ever going to send our kids to school again , we need a clear answer .
Fortunately , I think we have one , at least for the children .
Children are less likely than adults to be infected with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ study this question , and all the approaches arrive at this same conclusion.
” Linas goes on to say that studies also show that children are unlikely to bring the disease home to parents .
All of that may sound like just another article , except that Benjamin Linas is Doctor Benjamin Linas , an “ infectious disease doctor and epidemiologist ” who not only shares his assurances that it is safe to open the schools , but declares that he ’ s ready to send his own daughters back to the classroom @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
It ’ s not exactly sourcing courtesy of InfoWars or 4Chan .
In fact , the title of Silas ’ piece is “ I ’ m an epidemiologist and a dad .
Here ’ s why I think schools should reopen.
” That ’ s a pretty solid bit of evidence for Trump or Betsy DeVos or anyone else who wants to pack children back into classrooms .
But as confident as Dr. Linas may be in the safety of reopening schools—and Linas is far from alone—this does not seem to square @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ve seen on COVID-19 .
There ’ s no study actually showing that children are less likely to contract COVID-19 Nueces County , Texas has reported 52 positive COVID-19 tests for children under the age of 1 , and 33 additional tests for children between 1 and 2 .
Of course , over 9,500 people in Nueces County have tested positive for COVID-19 , so it ’ s not as if babies make up a large cohort of cases .
But there ’ s a reason for this that has nothing to do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the primary factors in calculating disease spread is average contact rate—the number of unique individuals that someone meets in a day .
For the average adult , this number is around 13 .
That ’ s family , friends , the clerk at the grocery story , colleagues at work , and the folks who share the morning elevator .
But babies and toddlers have a very , very low contact rate .
Even those who are taken to day care are often in small , home-based settings .
That reduced rate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ likely than adults to be susceptible not because of innate resistance , but because they have far fewer opportunities to become infected .
In his article , Silas points out that “ children under the age of 18 make up only 2 percent of cases in the US , even though they represent 22 percent of the total population.
” This is true , or at least it was true .
But then , those children have been out of school since the start of the pandemic .
They have very specifically not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ close proximity to others that ’ s proven to be the best means of spreading the disease .
The same is true in the other nations where Silas indicates that rates among children are low .
Just two months ago , the same kind of claims were being made about people in their 20s and even 30s—that they were less likely to catch COVID-19 .
But in the latest surge of cases , these age ranges are now the most rapidly growing cohorts .
There remains no evidence that people of any age @ @ @ @ @ @ @ protection against COVID-19 .
As StatNews noted back in June , there is a very mixed bag of evidence , including much lower rates of testing among children .
As the noted medical sage Donald Trump has pointed out many times : no testing , no cases .
There is an oft-cited June study from The Lancet showing that children under 9 “ had a significantly lower risk ” of returning a positive result in a study of a COVID-19 outbreak in Switzerland .
But to draw any comfort from that statement means @ @ @ @ @ @ @ says “ individuals aged 5–9 years and those older than 65 years had a significantly lower risk of being seropositive than those aged 20–49 years.
” Again , what seem to be measured here is the level of social contact , not the susceptibility to disease .
A potentially more valuable study appeared in Nature Medicine on June 16 .
That analysis , which looked at data across multiple countries , indicated that children may be roughly half as likely to catch COVID-19 in any encounter with an infected individual as someone in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in their 20s are on their way to being the most populous cohort of COVID-19 cases , and it would be hard to find a more perfect setting for the spread of the disease than the average classroom , it is difficult to find any comfort in these results .
The average kid out of school in 2020 may meet a dozen people a day … in Animal Crossing and Minecraft .
In no sense does extrapolating the current rate of infection among children indicate their susceptibility in a school environment .
Children @ @ @ @ @ @ @ children and to adults Just as with the possibility of children catching COVID-19 , Dr. Silas found comfort in a pre-print Chinese study indicating that “ only 5 percent of household clusters were found to have a child as the index case.
” However , this data looked at information from the port city of Guangzhou at a time when schools were closed .
In contrast , a paper published in the most recent Emerging Infectious Diseases Journal at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ( CDC ) draws starkly different conclusions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , risk of transmission was found to be higher for children than for adults .
In fact , school-aged children were the most likely source of infections in a household .
That same study reinforces the information that other studies showing low rates of transmission among children “ showed that school closure and social distancing significantly reduced the rate of COVID-19 among contacts of school-aged children.
” In other words , the low rates of transmission by children cited by Dr. Silas and other was explicitly because of school closures and the resulting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ While these are not controlled studies , there are plenty of real-world examples .
Like in Kansas City , where resuming summertime sport activities and teen parties has driven a spike in cases not just among teenagers , but in their families .
And in Cincinnati , where rates of positive tests for teenagers are up to 7 % after just a few weeks of relaxed guidelines .
Even kids under 10 are seeing 5 % positive results .
All the evidence indicates that teenagers can spread the disease just as well as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ no reason to think the same thing is not true of younger children .
Children are in no sense immune to the effects of COVID-19 Because kids have , to this point , seen lower rates of infection from COVID-19 , there ’ s been a steady impression that kids are guaranteed mild or asymptomatic cases with no lasting effects .
This is absolutely not true .
While devastating multisystem inflammatory syndrome ( MIS-C ) thankfully remains rare , it seems to be much less rare than originally thought .
As a letter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ In the early days of COVID-19 , it seemed like the disease rarely infected children and when it did the disease course was mild .
Then in late April , pediatricians in the United Kingdom and New York were discovering children who seemed to have something similar to Kawasaki disease ( KD ) and testing positive for COVID-19.
” The CDC has so far identified 186 cases of this potentially devastating condition .
But MIS-C is just a “ bonus , ” because kids can definitely catch COVID-19 just like adults .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ increase in pediatric COVID-19 cases along with rising numbers in adults .
The number of fatalities among children remains low—but low is far from zero .
Five children under 10-years-old have died from the disease in Florida alone .
And that ’ s with schools still closed .
In addition , hundreds of children have now faced prolonged intubation and ICU care , opening them to the same kind of lasting health effects seen in infected adults .
As the chief medical officer at Methodist Children ’ s Hospital in San Antonio notes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ too comfortable in saying it ’ s a lesser disease for children , especially with us not seeing the long-term effects.
” Opening the schools in advance of an effective COVID-19 vaccine is begging for disaster As discussed above , the relatively low rate of infection among children has far more to do with their reduced rate of social contact .
We do not live in a Leave it to Beaver world where every moment out of school means kids are gathering for sandlot kickball .
Without the forced closeness of school , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Europe , and many other places have a very low rate of social contact .
It is absolutely impossible at this point to make any firm indication about the rate at which children contract COVID-19 , the ease with which they transmit the disease to others , or the potential for lifelong damaging health effects .
The only thing that can be said with certainty is that they are all far too high to open schools .
Opening the schools is inviting not just thousands of deaths among children , but tens of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
More than that , it means exposing millions of children to an infection that can leave them gasping for breath for the rest of their lives , or living with damage to their heart , kidneys , or most any other organ .
Donald Trump ’ s demand for “ 100 % ” opening of schools is an invitation to a real lost generation .
No matter how willing he , or anyone else , may be to sacrifice the health and safety of their children , that does not mean you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .

In his latest appearance on Fox News, Donald Trump declared that he thought testing for COVID-19 was “overrated,” though he grudgingly agreed that he would allow tests to continue. Jaw-dropping as that might seem, in a way Trump is right—since he’s completely surrendered any idea of responding to the pandemic, what’s the point in testing? There’s to be no national coordination of testing, no unified system of case tracing, no national mandate on masks, and no suggestion of providing states with any guidance on addressing the still-increasing number of cases. Once you’re content to drown, is there really any reason to measure the rising tide?
Of course, Trump doesn’t intend to go down alone. And his basic inflexibility means that once he has said something, he never even considers the option of changing his mind. So it’s perfectly understandable that in a Wednesday briefing, Trump absolutely declared his commitment to reopening schools and plopping children into closely-packed chairs. That includes his own son and his grandchildren, though of course, none of the above actually attend a public school. In expressing his commitment to experimenting on kids, Trump went through an entire set of talking points about children’s inability to catch COVID-19 or to transmit the disease to others—talking points that are 100% wrong.
As The Washington Post coverage of the event notes, Trump was insistent that schools “open to 100 percent.” This means no social distancing and no way to prevent spread to either students or teachers. It’s simply not possible when many classrooms are packed with 30-40 students in a space originally planned for half that number. Many schools even use trailers or other temporary facilities to cram in additional students. It’s utterly impossible to maintain any degree of safety in such a situation.
Of course, Trump doesn’t believe there’s any need. Because Trump has a very specific understanding about children and COVID-19. “A lot of people are saying they don’t transmit [...] They don’t catch it easily,” said Trump. “They don’t bring it home easily. And if they do catch it, they get better fast.”
Where would Trump get such an idea? Frankly, everywhere. For example, Vox ran an article on July 9, authored by Benjamin Linas, that contains this statement: “If any of us is ever going to send our kids to school again, we need a clear answer. Fortunately, I think we have one, at least for the children. Children are less likely than adults to be infected with Covid-19. There are multiple ways to study this question, and all the approaches arrive at this same conclusion.” Linas goes on to say that studies also show that children are unlikely to bring the disease home to parents. All of that may sound like just another article, except that Benjamin Linas is Doctor Benjamin Linas, an “infectious disease doctor and epidemiologist” who not only shares his assurances that it is safe to open the schools, but declares that he’s ready to send his own daughters back to the classroom. And hey … this is Vox. It’s not exactly sourcing courtesy of InfoWars or 4Chan. In fact, the title of Silas’ piece is “I’m an epidemiologist and a dad. Here’s why I think schools should reopen.” That’s a pretty solid bit of evidence for Trump or Betsy DeVos or anyone else who wants to pack children back into classrooms.
But as confident as Dr. Linas may be in the safety of reopening schools—and Linas is far from alone—this does not seem to square at all with the information we’ve seen on COVID-19.
There’s no study actually showing that children are less likely to contract COVID-19
Nueces County, Texas has reported 52 positive COVID-19 tests for children under the age of 1, and 33 additional tests for children between 1 and 2. Of course, over 9,500 people in Nueces County have tested positive for COVID-19, so it’s not as if babies make up a large cohort of cases. But there’s a reason for this that has nothing to do with susceptibility: contact rate.
One of the primary factors in calculating disease spread is average contact rate—the number of unique individuals that someone meets in a day. For the average adult, this number is around 13. That’s family, friends, the clerk at the grocery story, colleagues at work, and the folks who share the morning elevator. But babies and toddlers have a very, very low contact rate. Even those who are taken to day care are often in small, home-based settings. That reduced rate of contact means that infants are less likely than adults to be susceptible not because of innate resistance, but because they have far fewer opportunities to become infected.
In his article, Silas points out that “children under the age of 18 make up only 2 percent of cases in the US, even though they represent 22 percent of the total population.” This is true, or at least it was true. But then, those children have been out of school since the start of the pandemic. They have very specifically not been in the prolonged indoor conditions with close proximity to others that’s proven to be the best means of spreading the disease. The same is true in the other nations where Silas indicates that rates among children are low. Just two months ago, the same kind of claims were being made about people in their 20s and even 30s—that they were less likely to catch COVID-19. But in the latest surge of cases, these age ranges are now the most rapidly growing cohorts.
There remains no evidence that people of any age are gifted with some natural level of protection against COVID-19. As StatNews noted back in June, there is a very mixed bag of evidence, including much lower rates of testing among children. As the noted medical sage Donald Trump has pointed out many times: no testing, no cases.
There is an oft-cited June study from The Lancet showing that children under 9 “had a significantly lower risk” of returning a positive result in a study of a COVID-19 outbreak in Switzerland. But to draw any comfort from that statement means ignoring half the sentence, which actually says “individuals aged 5–9 years and those older than 65 years had a significantly lower risk of being seropositive than those aged 20–49 years.” Again, what seem to be measured here is the level of social contact, not the susceptibility to disease.
A potentially more valuable study appeared in Nature Medicine on June 16. That analysis, which looked at data across multiple countries, indicated that children may be roughly half as likely to catch COVID-19 in any encounter with an infected individual as someone in their 20s. However, as people in their 20s are on their way to being the most populous cohort of COVID-19 cases, and it would be hard to find a more perfect setting for the spread of the disease than the average classroom, it is difficult to find any comfort in these results.
The average kid out of school in 2020 may meet a dozen people a day … in Animal Crossing and Minecraft. In no sense does extrapolating the current rate of infection among children indicate their susceptibility in a school environment.
Children can very definitely pass COVID-19 to other children and to adults
Just as with the possibility of children catching COVID-19, Dr. Silas found comfort in a pre-print Chinese study indicating that “only 5 percent of household clusters were found to have a child as the index case.” However, this data looked at information from the port city of Guangzhou at a time when schools were closed.
In contrast, a paper published in the most recent Emerging Infectious Diseases Journal at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) draws starkly different conclusions. When adjusted for rates of contact, risk of transmission was found to be higher for children than for adults. In fact, school-aged children were the most likely source of infections in a household.
We also found the highest COVID-19 rate (18.6%) for household contacts of school-aged children and the lowest (5.3%) for household contacts of children 0–9 years in the middle of school closure.
That same study reinforces the information that other studies showing low rates of transmission among children “showed that school closure and social distancing significantly reduced the rate of COVID-19 among contacts of school-aged children.” In other words, the low rates of transmission by children cited by Dr. Silas and other was explicitly because of school closures and the resulting reduced rate of contacts by children.
While these are not controlled studies, there are plenty of real-world examples. Like in Kansas City, where resuming summertime sport activities and teen parties has driven a spike in cases not just among teenagers, but in their families. And in Cincinnati, where rates of positive tests for teenagers are up to 7% after just a few weeks of relaxed guidelines. Even kids under 10 are seeing 5% positive results.
All the evidence indicates that teenagers can spread the disease just as well as adults, and there is really absolutely no reason to think the same thing is not true of younger children.
Children are in no sense immune to the effects of COVID-19
Because kids have, to this point, seen lower rates of infection from COVID-19, there’s been a steady impression that kids are guaranteed mild or asymptomatic cases with no lasting effects. This is absolutely not true.
While devastating multisystem inflammatory syndrome (MIS-C) thankfully remains rare, it seems to be much less rare than originally thought. As a letter in the latest Contemporary Pediatrics notes: “In the early days of COVID-19, it seemed like the disease rarely infected children and when it did the disease course was mild. Then in late April, pediatricians in the United Kingdom and New York were discovering children who seemed to have something similar to Kawasaki disease (KD) and testing positive for COVID-19.” The CDC has so far identified 186 cases of this potentially devastating condition.
But MIS-C is just a “bonus,” because kids can definitely catch COVID-19 just like adults. In Texas, hospitals are seeing an increase in pediatric COVID-19 cases along with rising numbers in adults. The number of fatalities among children remains low—but low is far from zero. Five children under 10-years-old have died from the disease in Florida alone. And that’s with schools still closed.
In addition, hundreds of children have now faced prolonged intubation and ICU care, opening them to the same kind of lasting health effects seen in infected adults. As the chief medical officer at Methodist Children’s Hospital in San Antonio notes, “I am hesitant to be too comfortable in saying it’s a lesser disease for children, especially with us not seeing the long-term effects.”
Opening the schools in advance of an effective COVID-19 vaccine is begging for disaster
As discussed above, the relatively low rate of infection among children has far more to do with their reduced rate of social contact. We do not live in a Leave it to Beaver world where every moment out of school means kids are gathering for sandlot kickball. Without the forced closeness of school, most children in the United States, Europe, and many other places have a very low rate of social contact.
It is absolutely impossible at this point to make any firm indication about the rate at which children contract COVID-19, the ease with which they transmit the disease to others, or the potential for lifelong damaging health effects. The only thing that can be said with certainty is that they are all far too high to open schools.
Opening the schools is inviting not just thousands of deaths among children, but tens of thousands of deaths among teachers and families. More than that, it means exposing millions of children to an infection that can leave them gasping for breath for the rest of their lives, or living with damage to their heart, kidneys, or most any other organ.
Donald Trump’s demand for “100%” opening of schools is an invitation to a real lost generation. No matter how willing he, or anyone else, may be to sacrifice the health and safety of their children, that does not mean you should be forced to do the same.
Posted with permission from Daily Kos.


crooksandliars--2020-07-24--'Suppress The Vote': McConnell Proposes $0 In Election Assistance To States

Progressives are accusing Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and President Donald Trump of pulling out all the stops to suppress the vote in November after new details of the Republican coronavirus stimulus plan revealed it does not propose a single dollar in election assistance funding .
A summary ( pdf ) of the Republican plan obtained by the New York Times Thursday does n't mention election funding directly , but it does note that the GOP relief package will propose `` no additional money for state/local governments . ''
The draft adds in a parenthetical , `` Certainly expect to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ negotiations with the Dems . ''
`` It is outrageous that this proposal contains not one penny to help states conduct safe elections during a global pandemic , '' Sean Eldridge , founder and president of Stand Up America , said in a statement .
`` Policymakers should be doing everything they can to ensure voters are not forced to risk their health to cast their ballot . ''
`` Instead , '' Eldridge said , `` it seems Mitch McConnell is doing everything he can to suppress the vote by putting voters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and other voting rights groups are demanding that Congress approve $ 3.6 billion in election assistance funding—a fraction of the $ 21.3 billion the GOP plan proposes handing to the Pentagon on top of the agency 's likely $ 740.5 billion budget for fiscal year 2021 .
The Republican plan , which is being crafted in McConnell 's office in partnership with the Trump White House , has not yet been finalized and the details could still change .
Voting rights advocates say the election assistance money is necessary to help states expand @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are adequately equipped and prepared to safely hold a general election amid a pandemic .
Failing to approve election funding , progressives warn , could drive down turnout in November by limiting voters ' ballot options in an environment where it is potentially dangerous to vote in person .
Trump 's repeated and baseless attacks on mail-in voting as well as his refusal to commit to accepting the results of the 2020 election have added urgency to progressive efforts to ensure a safe and fair contest .
On Thursday , Stand Up America @ @ @ @ @ @ @ groups have joined the grassroots campaign preparing to mobilize should Trump refuse to leave office .
`` Together , we will ensure that every vote is counted and that we protect our democracy , '' said Cristina Jimenez , executive director and co-founder of United We Dream Action , an immigrant rights group .
In May , House Democrats passed legislation that would provide more than $ 1 trillion in funding for state and local governments—including billions in election assistance money—as they face pandemic-induced budgetary crises .
Eldridge said Democratic lawmakers must do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ adequate election assistance funding is included in the stimulus package that eventually makes its way through Congress .
`` Democrats in both chambers can not allow Republicans to threaten the foundation of our democracy—and they must use every piece of available leverage to ensure election funding is included in a final brokered deal , '' said Eldridge .
`` Nothing less than our democracy is at stake . ''

Progressives are accusing Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and President Donald Trump of pulling out all the stops to suppress the vote in November after new details of the Republican coronavirus stimulus plan revealed it does not propose a single dollar in election assistance funding.
A summary (pdf) of the Republican plan obtained by the New York Times Thursday doesn't mention election funding directly, but it does note that the GOP relief package will propose "no additional money for state/local governments."
The draft adds in a parenthetical, "Certainly expect to get some [funding] added in negotiations with the Dems."
"It is outrageous that this proposal contains not one penny to help states conduct safe elections during a global pandemic," Sean Eldridge, founder and president of Stand Up America, said in a statement. "Policymakers should be doing everything they can to ensure voters are not forced to risk their health to cast their ballot."
"Instead," Eldridge said, "it seems Mitch McConnell is doing everything he can to suppress the vote by putting voters in danger."
Stand Up America and other voting rights groups are demanding that Congress approve $3.6 billion in election assistance funding—a fraction of the $21.3 billion the GOP plan proposes handing to the Pentagon on top of the agency's likely $740.5 billion budget for fiscal year 2021.
The Republican plan, which is being crafted in McConnell's office in partnership with the Trump White House, has not yet been finalized and the details could still change.
BREAKING: The new GOP coronavirus bill includes ANOTHER $21,300,000,000 for the Pentagon. The Pentagon already got $10,500,000,000 in the CARES Act. This is all on top of an existing $740,000,000,000 military budget. Meanwhile, struggling Americans get next to nothing. pic.twitter.com/2oD55w2jTc — Public Citizen (@Public_Citizen) July 23, 2020
Voting rights advocates say the election assistance money is necessary to help states expand vote-by-mail and ensure that in-person polling places are adequately equipped and prepared to safely hold a general election amid a pandemic.
Failing to approve election funding, progressives warn, could drive down turnout in November by limiting voters' ballot options in an environment where it is potentially dangerous to vote in person.
Want to feel your health is being prioritized when you vote this November? Call your senator. The Senate is coming up with a coronavirus response bill & reports are saying McConnell wants to allocate $0 in election funding for the states. Text MAIL to 21333 to be connected. — Stand Up America (@StandUpAmerica) July 23, 2020
Trump's repeated and baseless attacks on mail-in voting as well as his refusal to commit to accepting the results of the 2020 election have added urgency to progressive efforts to ensure a safe and fair contest. On Thursday, Stand Up America and Indivisible announced that 30 new advocacy groups have joined the grassroots campaign preparing to mobilize should Trump refuse to leave office.
"Together, we will ensure that every vote is counted and that we protect our democracy," said Cristina Jimenez, executive director and co-founder of United We Dream Action, an immigrant rights group.
In May, House Democrats passed legislation that would provide more than $1 trillion in funding for state and local governments—including billions in election assistance money—as they face pandemic-induced budgetary crises.
Eldridge said Democratic lawmakers must do everything in their power to ensure that adequate election assistance funding is included in the stimulus package that eventually makes its way through Congress.
"Democrats in both chambers cannot allow Republicans to threaten the foundation of our democracy—and they must use every piece of available leverage to ensure election funding is included in a final brokered deal," said Eldridge. "Nothing less than our democracy is at stake."
Republished from Common Dreams (Jake Johnson, staff writer) under a Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 License.