crooksandliars--2020-09-07--Osama Bin Laden's Niece Is A Trump-loving Fan Of QAnon, Prison Planet, And Michael Flynn

Jon Levine , the mysterious journalist who writes multiple stories for the New York Post , but only on Saturdays , and who last week published a credulity-straining interview with a self-proclaimed Democratic mail-in voter fraud operative ( anonymous , naturally ) , is back with a celebrity interview of sorts : Another 9/11-style attack may be just around the corner if Joe Biden is elected president , warns Noor bin Ladin , the niece of Sept. 11 terror mastermind Osama bin Laden .
“ ISIS proliferated under the Obama/Biden administration , leading to them coming to Europe .
Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by extension from foreign threats by obliterating terrorists at the root and before they get a chance to strike , ” bin Ladin , 33 , told The Post in her first-ever interview .
Bin Ladin ( whose branch of the family has always spelled their name differently than her infamous uncle ) lives in Switzerland but said she considers herself “ an American at heart.
” A full size US flag hung in her childhood room at age 12 and her dream vacation is an RV trip across America .
The stunning @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all in for Trump in 2020 , calling the election the most important in a generation .
“ I have been a supporter of President Trump since he announced he was running in the early days in 2015 .
I have watched from afar and I admire this man ’ s resolve , ” she said .
“ He must be reelected ...
It ’ s vital for the future of not only America , but western civilization as a whole.
” We 're told that Ms. Bin Ladin , who lives in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` regularly wears a 'Make America Great Again ' hat ( and occasionally a Trump bedtime onesie ) '' and that she is `` a keen and meticulous consumer of conservative media and advocate of their most hot-button causes . ''
What 's wrong with this woman ?
She 's Swiss and Saudi .
She lives in Europe .
Why would she be so immersed in American wingnut culture ?
Does she not have a life ?
What Levine does n't tell us is that Bin Ladin , to judge from the `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is a QAnon fan -- note the links to www.qmap.pub and www.onq.martingeddes.com/ , a pro-Q document by a man named Martin Geddes , near the end of a list of some of the worst D-list right-wing sites .
The splash page of her site advertises `` My letter to America , '' which , we discover when we click on the link , is `` Coming soon . ''
( Maybe it 's still being translated from the Russian . )
Her Twitter feed says she joined Twitter in 2010 , but the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ posted a `` must-watch '' documentary on the intellectual dark Web , praised Jordan Peterson , and quote-tweeted Paul Joseph Watson of Alex 's Jones 's Prison Planet .
She disappeared from Twitter in November 2019 , then returned in April of this year , quote-tweeting Paul Joseph Watson again , attacking the World Health Organization , praising a book by Pizzagater Mike Cernovich , urging people to see the COVID conspiracy film Plandemic , denouncing `` Obamagate , '' and ... um ... Maybe this is genuine and spontaneous .
Or maybe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Cause to offer some inducement or other to Osama 's niece to persuade her to put her name on these ideas .
Why ?
I do n't know .
I try really hard to understand the way these people think , but in this case I 'm afraid I 've reached my limit .
Published with permission of No More Mr. Nice Blog

Jon Levine, the mysterious journalist who writes multiple stories for the New York Post, but only on Saturdays, and who last week published a credulity-straining interview with a self-proclaimed Democratic mail-in voter fraud operative (anonymous, naturally), is back with a celebrity interview of sorts:
Another 9/11-style attack may be just around the corner if Joe Biden is elected president, warns Noor bin Ladin, the niece of Sept. 11 terror mastermind Osama bin Laden. “ISIS proliferated under the Obama/Biden administration, leading to them coming to Europe. Trump has shown he protects America and us by extension from foreign threats by obliterating terrorists at the root and before they get a chance to strike,” bin Ladin, 33, told The Post in her first-ever interview.
(That really sounds like conversational English, doesn't it?)
Bin Ladin (whose branch of the family has always spelled their name differently than her infamous uncle) lives in Switzerland but said she considers herself “an American at heart.” A full size US flag hung in her childhood room at age 12 and her dream vacation is an RV trip across America. The stunning, Swiss-born bin Ladin says she is all in for Trump in 2020, calling the election the most important in a generation. “I have been a supporter of President Trump since he announced he was running in the early days in 2015. I have watched from afar and I admire this man’s resolve,” she said. “He must be reelected ... It’s vital for the future of not only America, but western civilization as a whole.”
We're told that Ms. Bin Ladin, who lives in Switzerland and has a Swiss mother, "regularly wears a 'Make America Great Again' hat (and occasionally a Trump bedtime onesie)" and that she is "a keen and meticulous consumer of conservative media and advocate of their most hot-button causes."
... she can offer lengthy monologues railing against Spygate, tech censorship of conservative voices, mandatory mask-wearing, The New York Times discredited 1619 project, and even Andrew Cuomo’s controversial executive order requiring nursing homes to accept seniors with COVID-19. Her favorite television show is Fox News’ “Tucker Carlson Tonight” and she’s chummy with Laura Loomer.
What's wrong with this woman? She's Swiss and Saudi. She lives in Europe. Why would she be so immersed in American wingnut culture? Does she not have a life?
What Levine doesn't tell us is that Bin Ladin, to judge from the "Resources" page on her website, is a QAnon fan -- note the links to www.qmap.pub and www.onq.martingeddes.com/, a pro-Q document by a man named Martin Geddes, near the end of a list of some of the worst D-list right-wing sites.
The splash page of her site advertises "My letter to America," which, we discover when we click on the link, is "Coming soon." (Maybe it's still being translated from the Russian.)
Her Twitter feed says she joined Twitter in 2010, but the earliest tweets are from 2019. She posted a "must-watch" documentary on the intellectual dark Web, praised Jordan Peterson, and quote-tweeted Paul Joseph Watson of Alex's Jones's Prison Planet. She disappeared from Twitter in November 2019, then returned in April of this year, quote-tweeting Paul Joseph Watson again, attacking the World Health Organization, praising a book by Pizzagater Mike Cernovich, urging people to see the COVID conspiracy film Plandemic, denouncing "Obamagate," and ... um ...
Today marks a turning point in our history, greater than most of us can comprehend at this time. But looking back, @GenFlynn and @SidneyPowell1 ‘s win will be etched as the event where we shifted back to a system rooted in righteousness. May the good and just prevail always. — Noor Bin Ladin (@NoorBinLadin) May 7, 2020
Also:
POTUS is cleaning house.
Deep State going down.
Trust the plan. https://t.co/qRxlXHNdmF — Noor Bin Ladin (@NoorBinLadin) July 2, 2020
Maybe this is genuine and spontaneous. Or maybe someone believed it would be beneficial to the Cause to offer some inducement or other to Osama's niece to persuade her to put her name on these ideas. Why? I don't know. I try really hard to understand the way these people think, but in this case I'm afraid I've reached my limit.
Published with permission of No More Mr. Nice Blog


crooksandliars--2020-09-07--Trump Vs Nixon?  White Nationalists Didn't Wear Nixon Shirts In '68

Rick Perlstein 's conversation with CNN International 's Michael Holmes on Sunday is worth noting .
Perlstein calls out Trump 's new interest in `` law and order '' : `` ... of course he could have started in his own White House which is full of convictions .
This is obviously just demagogic political rhetoric . ''
MICHAEL HOLMES , CNN INTERNATIONAL : You 've written about how Richard Nixon exploited the fears of White Americans over street violence to get elected .
But you 've also said you 're tired of historial parallels .
A major difference : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trying to be re-elected at the time .
RICK PERLSTEIN : I mean , of course in 1964 , there was an enormous amount of racial violence , including the violence in cities , after police abuse in a bunch of cities that we see now and of course the violence in the South over civil rights .
And the candidate of racial backlash , Barry Goldwater , lost in a landslide .
Of course Richard Nixon won in 1968 , but he was able to make the case all this disorder was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ against poverty , before that civil rights , the expansion of the government 's role in improving African-Americans ' conditions , and it was very easy for conservatives to point to that and say 'look what happened , we just got rioting in response . '
Of course Donald Trump can make no such argument .
He was the one in charge .
He was superintendent of the country when all this violence and division was happening .
So it 's much harder for him to make the case that somehow the Democrats @ @ @ @ @ @ @ especially since the people on the Right committing the violence of course , are waving Donald Trump flags and wearing Donald Trump hats .
Whereas , you know , the folks who are discharging rounds from the Left consider the Democratic Party an athema to their politics .
HOLMES : How do you think the scenes of violence in some cities -- and we have to really make the point , too , 90 % of the protests are peaceful .
But how do you think the violence that 's playing out in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ average American ?
Polling would suggest not that much , but Democrats are getting concerned the issue is getting away .
PERLSTEIN : Yeah , I think that concern is pretty much taken , if you look at it granularity of the polls in a place like Wisconsin .
where when people are asked , `` who is handling or would handle the violence better , Donald Trump or Joe Biden , Joe Biden wins that issue by a considerable margin .
So whatever peoples concerns about violence in the streets they 're @ @ @ @ @ @ @ party despite Donald Trump 's best efforts .
HOLMES : Do you think that this -- race in general , the violence we 've seen as well , but race in general , law and order , do you think that 's a wedge issue or do you think there 's any , you know , substandard political will and I have to say on both sides to do something genuine and impact what causes it ?
PERLSTEIN : Joe Biden clearly has a plan for addressing the racial disorder in the country @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and Donald Trump seem to be much more interested in increasing the tension in the streets , right ?
I mean that 's why he goes to a place like Kenosha , and his policies would probably be disastrous for African-Americans .
So if it 's a question of , you know , policy , clearly we give points to Joe Biden on that one .
HOLMES : And just quickly , does he need to go on the attack now more aggressively ?
It 's been criticized by some it 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ approach so far .
PERLSTEIN : Well , I 'm looking at the headline in the Chicago Tribune from Tuesday morning and it says `` Biden : Trump stoking violence '' .
So that does not seem like a do-nothing campaign .
It seems he 's taking his fight to his adversary and getting his message out there .

Rick Perlstein's conversation with CNN International's Michael Holmes on Sunday is worth noting. Perlstein calls out Trump's new interest in "law and order": "...of course he could have started in his own White House which is full of convictions. This is obviously just demagogic political rhetoric."
MICHAEL HOLMES, CNN INTERNATIONAL: You've written about how Richard Nixon exploited the fears of White Americans over street violence to get elected. But you've also said you're tired of historial parallels. A major difference: Nixon was running for office, not trying to be re-elected at the time.
RICK PERLSTEIN: I mean, of course in 1964, there was an enormous amount of racial violence, including the violence in cities, after police abuse in a bunch of cities that we see now and of course the violence in the South over civil rights. And the candidate of racial backlash, Barry Goldwater, lost in a landslide. Of course Richard Nixon won in 1968, but he was able to make the case all this disorder was happening after an enormous period of legislation against poverty, before that civil rights, the expansion of the government's role in improving African-Americans' conditions, and it was very easy for conservatives to point to that and say 'look what happened, we just got rioting in response.' Of course Donald Trump can make no such argument. He was the one in charge. He was superintendent of the country when all this violence and division was happening. So it's much harder for him to make the case that somehow the Democrats have anything to do with this, especially since the people on the Right committing the violence of course, are waving Donald Trump flags and wearing Donald Trump hats. Whereas, you know, the folks who are discharging rounds from the Left consider the Democratic Party an athema to their politics.
HOLMES: How do you think the scenes of violence in some cities -- and we have to really make the point, too, 90% of the protests are peaceful. But how do you think the violence that's playing out in some places resonates or not with the average American? Polling would suggest not that much, but Democrats are getting concerned the issue is getting away.
PERLSTEIN: Yeah, I think that concern is pretty much taken, if you look at it granularity of the polls in a place like Wisconsin. where when people are asked, "who is handling or would handle the violence better, Donald Trump or Joe Biden, Joe Biden wins that issue by a considerable margin. So whatever peoples concerns about violence in the streets they're clearry not tying it to the democratic party despite Donald Trump's best efforts.
HOLMES: Do you think that this -- race in general, the violence we've seen as well, but race in general, law and order, do you think that's a wedge issue or do you think there's any, you know, substandard political will and I have to say on both sides to do something genuine and impact what causes it?
PERLSTEIN: Joe Biden clearly has a plan for addressing the racial disorder in the country and the racial disparity in the country, and Donald Trump seem to be much more interested in increasing the tension in the streets, right? I mean that's why he goes to a place like Kenosha, and his policies would probably be disastrous for African-Americans. So if it's a question of, you know, policy, clearly we give points to Joe Biden on that one.
HOLMES: And just quickly, does he need to go on the attack now more aggressively? It's been criticized by some it's been a "do no harm" approach so far.
PERLSTEIN: Well, I'm looking at the headline in the Chicago Tribune from Tuesday morning and it says "Biden:
Trump stoking violence". So that does not seem like a do-nothing campaign. It seems he's taking his fight to his adversary and getting his message out there.


crooksandliars--2020-09-08--Who Is Trump Going To Fire Next?

Who Is Trump Going To Fire Next?

White House has talked to VA secretary about taking Pentagon job if Trump fires Esper WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump has long been unhappy with Defense Secretary Mark Esper , and White House officials have talked to Veterans Affairs Secretary Robert Wilkie about taking the top Pentagon job should Trump decide to fire Esper , three senior administration officials said .
Two senior administration officials said Trump discussed the position directly with Wilkie at the White House last month .
Two other senior administration officials said Wilkie had senior-level discussions with the White House about becoming Trump ’ s next @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Stupid ’ s THIRD Defense Secretary ( and only confirmed in July ! )
do to deserve the ol ’ agent orange treatment ( see what I did there ? )
— I mean , afterall he did to enable the infamous walk to St. John ’ s Church for a photo-op you ’ d think that there ’ d be a little bit of loyalty… In June , Esper told NBC News that he would not support using the Insurrection Act to quell civil unrest across the country , even though Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the law to deploy federalized troops to respond to the protests .
Another recent point of friction was the idea of renaming military bases named for Confederate generals and leaders .
In June , Esper said he was open to the idea of renaming the bases .
But days later , Trump issued a series of tweets denouncing the idea , writing that “ my Administration will not even consider renaming of these Magnificent and Fabled Military Installations.
” He followed up with “ Respect our Military !
” Oh .
Esper isn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Spurs .
Lord Damp Nut thinks that he can win back the loyalty of the , er , Military by You ’ re Fired ’ ing the Defense Secretary right before the election .
His advisers are not so keen on it : Trump has told aides for months that he is unhappy with Esper and wants to fire him .
Trump ’ s allies inside and outside the White House have told him that shaking up leadership at the Pentagon before the Nov. 3 election would create turmoil in his administration during @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It would come at a time when the president is planning to reduce the number of U.S. forces in hot spots such as Iraq and Afghanistan .
But since when has Lord Damp Nut listened to anyone other than his gut ?

NBC News:
White House has talked to VA secretary about taking Pentagon job if Trump fires Esper WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump has long been unhappy with Defense Secretary Mark Esper, and White House officials have talked to Veterans Affairs Secretary Robert Wilkie about taking the top Pentagon job should Trump decide to fire Esper, three senior administration officials said. Two senior administration officials said Trump discussed the position directly with Wilkie at the White House last month. Two other senior administration officials said Wilkie had senior-level discussions with the White House about becoming Trump’s next defense secretary.
So what did Prznint Stupid’s THIRD Defense Secretary (and only confirmed in July!) do to deserve the ol’ agent orange treatment (see what I did there?) — I mean, afterall he did to enable the infamous walk to St. John’s Church for a photo-op you’d think that there’d be a little bit of loyalty…
In June, Esper told NBC News that he would not support using the Insurrection Act to quell civil unrest across the country, even though Trump was leaving open the possibility of invoking the law to deploy federalized troops to respond to the protests. Another recent point of friction was the idea of renaming military bases named for Confederate generals and leaders. In June, Esper said he was open to the idea of renaming the bases. But days later, Trump issued a series of tweets denouncing the idea, writing that “my Administration will not even consider renaming of these Magnificent and Fabled Military Installations.” He followed up with “Respect our Military!”
Oh. Esper isn’t as racist as Cadet Bone Spurs. Lord Damp Nut thinks that he can win back the loyalty of the Losers and Suckers , er, Military by You’re Fired’ing the Defense Secretary right before the election. His advisers are not so keen on it:
Trump has told aides for months that he is unhappy with Esper and wants to fire him. Trump’s allies inside and outside the White House have told him that shaking up leadership at the Pentagon before the Nov. 3 election would create turmoil in his administration during the closing weeks of the campaign. It would come at a time when the president is planning to reduce the number of U.S. forces in hot spots such as Iraq and Afghanistan.
But since when has Lord Damp Nut listened to anyone other than his gut?
Collect your cheese sandwich and roadmap, Secretary Esper.
Republished with permission from Mock Paper Scissors.


crooksandliars--2020-09-08--Breitbart's Sources Vouching For Trump Are Sketchy Ego-Feeders

Breitbart is working hard to discredit Jeffrey Goldberg 's Atlantic story about President Trump 's disrespect for the military .
Here 's one story : Former Deputy White House Chief of Staff Zach Fuentes denied to Breitbart News The Atlantic ’ s account of President Donald Trump ’ s comments about troops in Europe .
Fuentes unequivocally denied The Atlantic ’ s report last week , a huge blow to the establishment media narrative .
Fuentes personally briefed President Trump on the weather situation that led to the trip being canceled .
He is also a close personal confidante of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Kelly .
“ You can put me on record denying that I spoke with The Atlantic , ” Fuentes told Breitbart News on Monday .
“ I don ’ t know who the sources are .
I did not hear POTUS call anyone losers when I told him about the weather .
Honestly , do you think General Kelly would have stood by and let ANYONE call fallen Marines losers ?
” Of course I think General Kelly would have stood by and let Trump say that .
He 's a military man @ @ @ @ @ @ @ too much in this case .
Trump was the commander in chief .
Kelly absolutely would have stood by .
If the name Zach Fuentes seems familiar to you , you might be recalling this story : A former White House aide won a $ 3 million federal contract to supply respirator masks to Navajo Nation hospitals in New Mexico and Arizona 11 days after he created a company to sell personal protective equipment in response to the coronavirus pandemic .
Zach Fuentes , President Donald Trump ’ s former deputy chief of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Indian Health Service with limited competitive bidding and no prior federal contracting experience .
The IHS told ProPublica it has found that 247,000 of the masks delivered by Fuentes ’ company — at a cost of roughly $ 800,000 — may be unsuitable for medical use .
An additional 130,400 , worth about $ 422,000 , are not the type specified in the procurement data , the agency said .
What ’ s more , the masks Fuentes agreed to provide — Chinese-made KN95s — have come under intense scrutiny from U.S. regulators @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
This deal is now being investigated by the House of Representatives .
Previously , Fuentes tried to game the military retirement system .
After weeks of discussions about his future , Zachary D. Fuentes , the 36-year-old deputy White House chief of staff , had a plan .
Mr. Fuentes told colleagues that after his mentor , John F. Kelly , left his job as chief of staff at the end of the year , he would “ hide out ” at the Eisenhower Executive Office Building , adjacent to the White @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the payroll in a nebulous role .
Then , in July , when he had completed 15 years of service in the Coast Guard , Mr. Fuentes — an active-duty officer — would take advantage of an early retirement program .
The program , referred to as temporary early retirement authority , had lapsed for Coast Guard officials at the end of the 2018 fiscal year , and , according to people briefed on the discussions , Department of Homeland Security officials began pressing Congress in November to reinstate it .
Administration @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mr. Fuentes discussed the program with officials at the Department of Homeland Security , and after reporters raised questions with lawmakers of both parties , a provision to reinstate it was abruptly pulled from a House bill on Wednesday .
So Fuentes seems like a man of excellent character .
Who else has Breitbart heard from ?
U.S .
Ambassador to France and Monaco Jamie McCourt told Breitbart News exclusively on Monday that the Atlantic story about President Donald Trump allegedly bashing troops is untrue .
Ambassador McCourt was there the day President @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trip to the cemetery at Belleau Wood because of inclement weather ... .
“ Needless to say , I never spoke to the Atlantic , and I can ’ t imagine who would , ” McCourt told Breitbart News .
“ In my presence , POTUS has NEVER denigrated any member of the U.S. military or anyone in service to our country .
And he certainly did not that day , either .
Let me add , he was devastated to not be able to go to the cemetery at Belleau Wood .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ he attended and spoke at the ceremony in Suresnes in the pouring rain.
” That would be this Jamie McCourt : There was a familiar name for Los Angeles Dodgers fans among a group of several U.S. ambassadors that reportedly sold their stocks while President Donald Trump publicly downplayed the threat of the coronavirus pandemic .
It was not a welcome one .
CNBC reports that the group includes current France ambassador Jamie McCourt , whose divorce from husband Frank McCourt while they owned the Dodgers created a public spectacle rarely seen from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stocks worth millions of dollars in January and February while the coronavirus threat loomed , but had not reached the full-blown pandemic stage .
Other politicians , including Atlanta Dream owner [ and Republican senator ] Kelly Loeffler , have previously landed in hot water for similar transactions .
Jamie McCourt 's time with the Dodgers was not a happy one .
Frank ... and Jamie [ McCourt ] were using the team as a personal piggy bank , funding a lavish lifestyle — they owned multiple extraordinarily expensive homes , including two @ @ @ @ @ @ @ giving their children what appeared to be do-nothing jobs , all paid for with Dodgers revenues .
More seriously , they were accused of using the Dodgers ’ team charities as a means of enriching themselves and their friends , with very little apparent evidence that they were , in fact , engaging in substantive philanthropy .
That led to a grand jury investigation by the State of California which resulted in the McCourts being required to give back substantial sums ... .
In ... 2009 ... the most expensive divorce in California @ @ @ @ @ @ @ having an affair with her personal driver — a Dodgers employee — and Jamie countering by seeking to set aside a post-nuptial agreement that named Frank the team ’ s sole owner ... .
Meanwhile , the Dodgers were on shaky financial footing .
The debt service on the loans McCourt used to buy the team was high , as was team payroll .
Attendance , while strong compared to the rest of the league , was low by Dodgers standards .
And , as noted , a vast amount of money was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fund the McCourts ’ lifestyle and , increasingly , legal fees .
As a result , the team could not meet payroll ... .
Commissioner Bud Selig ... appointed a league representative to oversee the day-to-day operations of the team ... .
As the months wore on , ... [ Jamie ] became amenable to settlement , taking $ 131 million from Frank to end the matter entirely ... .
Then something fun happened : two weeks after Jamie settled , Frank sold the Dodgers for $ 2.15 billion ... .
Frank was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and , somehow , had made more than a billion bucks in sheer profit despite the fact that he was , arguably , the most financially irresponsible owner in baseball history .
Jamie , after years of claiming to be the real brains and authority behind the team and its rightful owner , turned on a dime and claimed that she had been financially unsophisticated , taken advantage of by her husband , and hopelessly misled about the state of the Dodgers ... .
Jamie McCourt has managed to do OK on her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ winery in Napa Valley .
The former securities lawyer and MBA holder also hit the lecture circuit for a while , talking about how she was a babe in the financial woods , ignorant of finances , taken advantage of by her husband and claiming that all she wants to do is to help prevent that from happening to other women ... .
this champion of women ’ s empowerment went on to chair noted feminist Donald Trump ’ s 2016 campaign in California , where he got just over 31 % of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was the worst a major party candidate has done there since 1924 .
Jamie was rewarded for those efforts by being named Ambassador to Monaco , proving that Frank is not the only McCourt who was adept at failing upwards .
Another witness of excellent character !
Surely we ought to believe these fine , upstanding citizens !
Republished with permission from No More Mister Nice Blog .

Breitbart is working hard to discredit Jeffrey Goldberg's Atlantic story about President Trump's disrespect for the military. Here's one story:
Former Deputy White House Chief of Staff Zach Fuentes denied to Breitbart News The Atlantic’s account of President Donald Trump’s comments about troops in Europe. Fuentes unequivocally denied The Atlantic’s report last week, a huge blow to the establishment media narrative. Fuentes personally briefed President Trump on the weather situation that led to the trip being canceled. He is also a close personal confidante of former White House Chief of Staff John Kelly. “You can put me on record denying that I spoke with The Atlantic,” Fuentes told Breitbart News on Monday. “I don’t know who the sources are. I did not hear POTUS call anyone losers when I told him about the weather. Honestly, do you think General Kelly would have stood by and let ANYONE call fallen Marines losers?”
Of course I think General Kelly would have stood by and let Trump say that. He's a military man who respects the chain of command -- too much in this case. Trump was the commander in chief. Kelly absolutely would have stood by.
If the name Zach Fuentes seems familiar to you, you might be recalling this story:
A former White House aide won a $3 million federal contract to supply respirator masks to Navajo Nation hospitals in New Mexico and Arizona 11 days after he created a company to sell personal protective equipment in response to the coronavirus pandemic. Zach Fuentes, President Donald Trump’s former deputy chief of staff, secured the deal with the Indian Health Service with limited competitive bidding and no prior federal contracting experience. The IHS told ProPublica it has found that 247,000 of the masks delivered by Fuentes’ company — at a cost of roughly $800,000 — may be unsuitable for medical use. An additional 130,400, worth about $422,000, are not the type specified in the procurement data, the agency said. What’s more, the masks Fuentes agreed to provide — Chinese-made KN95s — have come under intense scrutiny from U.S. regulators amid concerns that they offered inadequate protection.
This deal is now being investigated by the House of Representatives.
Previously, Fuentes tried to game the military retirement system.
After weeks of discussions about his future, Zachary D. Fuentes, the 36-year-old deputy White House chief of staff, had a plan. Mr. Fuentes told colleagues that after his mentor, John F. Kelly, left his job as chief of staff at the end of the year, he would “hide out” at the Eisenhower Executive Office Building, adjacent to the White House, for six months, remaining on the payroll in a nebulous role. Then, in July, when he had completed 15 years of service in the Coast Guard, Mr. Fuentes — an active-duty officer — would take advantage of an early retirement program. The program, referred to as temporary early retirement authority, had lapsed for Coast Guard officials at the end of the 2018 fiscal year, and, according to people briefed on the discussions, Department of Homeland Security officials began pressing Congress in November to reinstate it. Administration officials said they had been told that Mr. Fuentes discussed the program with officials at the Department of Homeland Security, and after reporters raised questions with lawmakers of both parties, a provision to reinstate it was abruptly pulled from a House bill on Wednesday.
So Fuentes seems like a man of excellent character. Who else has Breitbart heard from?
U.S. Ambassador to France and Monaco Jamie McCourt told Breitbart News exclusively on Monday that the Atlantic story about President Donald Trump allegedly bashing troops is untrue. Ambassador McCourt was there the day President Trump’s team called off the trip to the cemetery at Belleau Wood because of inclement weather.... “Needless to say, I never spoke to the Atlantic, and I can’t imagine who would,” McCourt told Breitbart News. “In my presence, POTUS has NEVER denigrated any member of the U.S. military or anyone in service to our country. And he certainly did not that day, either. Let me add, he was devastated to not be able to go to the cemetery at Belleau Wood. In fact, the next day, he attended and spoke at the ceremony in Suresnes in the pouring rain.”
That would be this Jamie McCourt:
There was a familiar name for Los Angeles Dodgers fans among a group of several U.S. ambassadors that reportedly sold their stocks while President Donald Trump publicly downplayed the threat of the coronavirus pandemic. It was not a welcome one. CNBC reports that the group includes current France ambassador Jamie McCourt, whose divorce from husband Frank McCourt while they owned the Dodgers created a public spectacle rarely seen from MLB owners. The group reportedly sold stocks worth millions of dollars in January and February while the coronavirus threat loomed, but had not reached the full-blown pandemic stage. Other politicians, including Atlanta Dream owner [and Republican senator] Kelly Loeffler, have previously landed in hot water for similar transactions.
Jamie McCourt's time with the Dodgers was not a happy one.
It’s not often see you a major North American sports team file for bankruptcy in the age of monstrous revenues, but that is the level of mess the McCourt divorce created for [Major League Baseball]. After buying the team alongside Frank McCourt in 2004, Jamie McCourt became president of the Dodgers in 2005. Among the most infamous moves under their leadership: paying a Russian “scientist and healer” six figures to watch Dodgers games and channel positive thoughts for the team. Yes, really.
More:
Frank ... and Jamie [McCourt] were using the team as a personal piggy bank, funding a lavish lifestyle — they owned multiple extraordinarily expensive homes, including two next door to one another — and giving their children what appeared to be do-nothing jobs, all paid for with Dodgers revenues. More seriously, they were accused of using the Dodgers’ team charities as a means of enriching themselves and their friends, with very little apparent evidence that they were, in fact, engaging in substantive philanthropy. That led to a grand jury investigation by the State of California which resulted in the McCourts being required to give back substantial sums.... In ... 2009 ... the most expensive divorce in California history began with Frank accusing Jamie of having an affair with her personal driver — a Dodgers employee — and Jamie countering by seeking to set aside a post-nuptial agreement that named Frank the team’s sole owner.... Meanwhile, the Dodgers were on shaky financial footing. The debt service on the loans McCourt used to buy the team was high, as was team payroll. Attendance, while strong compared to the rest of the league, was low by Dodgers standards. And, as noted, a vast amount of money was being siphoned off from the team to fund the McCourts’ lifestyle and, increasingly, legal fees. As a result, the team could not meet payroll.... Commissioner Bud Selig ... appointed a league representative to oversee the day-to-day operations of the team.... As the months wore on, ... [Jamie] became amenable to settlement, taking $131 million from Frank to end the matter entirely.... Then something fun happened: two weeks after Jamie settled, Frank sold the Dodgers for $2.15 billion.... Frank was out from under his pile of debt and, somehow, had made more than a billion bucks in sheer profit despite the fact that he was, arguably, the most financially irresponsible owner in baseball history. Jamie, after years of claiming to be the real brains and authority behind the team and its rightful owner, turned on a dime and claimed that she had been financially unsophisticated, taken advantage of by her husband, and hopelessly misled about the state of the Dodgers.... Jamie McCourt has managed to do OK on her $131 million. She bought a winery in Napa Valley. The former securities lawyer and MBA holder also hit the lecture circuit for a while, talking about how she was a babe in the financial woods, ignorant of finances, taken advantage of by her husband and claiming that all she wants to do is to help prevent that from happening to other women.... this champion of women’s empowerment went on to chair noted feminist Donald Trump’s 2016 campaign in California, where he got just over 31% of the state’s vote, which was the worst a major party candidate has done there since 1924. Jamie was rewarded for those efforts by being named Ambassador to Monaco, proving that Frank is not the only McCourt who was adept at failing upwards.
Another witness of excellent character! Surely we ought to believe these fine, upstanding citizens!
Republished with permission from No More Mister Nice Blog.


crooksandliars--2020-09-08--Right Wing Nut Job Compares Mask-Mandate To Racial Oppression

Right-wing nutcase Dave Daubenmire is absolutely incensed that he is being told to follow the same pandemic rules as everyone else in the nation .
Namely , several establishments over the course of this day he recorded this dumbf*ck video refused him entry unless he wore a mask .
According to Right Wing Watch : Daubenmire was furious because he had several confrontations the day before with employees at various establishments over his steadfast refusal to wear a mask .
Recounting an argument he had with the manager of a T-Mobile store , Daubenmire reportedly compared the store ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ without a mask to refusing to provide service to someone who is Black .
“ I ain ’ t wearing no mask , ” Daubenmire declared .
“ I know the mask doesn ’ t work , and I ’ m not going to wear my mask to make the worker at T-Mobile feel better .
I ’ m not gon na do that .
That ’ s bearing false witness.
” Okay , no , it 's not .
It 's not anything like bearing false witness .
Is n't this guy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ He has a cross on his baseball hat and everything .
Maybe it 's just a lower-case `` t '' .
Bearing false witness is just LYING , Dave .
Wearing a mask so the employee feels better is n't lying , you pasty douchenozzle , wearing a mask to make an employee feel better is being considerate .
Then , our Dave claimed he had a heart condition , and then wondered if maybe he 'd even had it since birth .
( Pssst ... Dave ... are you bearing false witness @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it where all white men terrified at the prospect of racial equality like to take things .
Yes , Dave Daubendouche went there .
Because of course he did .
“ And then I really pulled the trump card , ” Daubenmire recounted .
“ I said , ‘ I think I was born with this medical condition .
I ’ m not sure .
I think I was .
And I want to ask you something ma ’ am : Would you refuse to serve somebody because they ’ re Black ?
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ this condition , ma ’ am , and you would not ask a Black man to step outside of the the building and you ’ re not going to ask me to do it , ” he concluded .
“ She stormed away , as you can probably imagine .
Ruined my whole day.
” Shall I ?
Okay .
Allow me .
• She absolutely WOULD have asked a Black man to step outside the building if he refused to wear a mask .
• Refusing someone service because they are Black @ @ @ @ @ @ @ them service because they will not follow the rules of the store to keep employees and customers safe .
There are laws against racial discrimination of this sort , which is actually oppression .
• Wearing a mask is not a form of oppression .
It does not keep you from buying a house , obtaining an education , getting a job , getting arrested for simply walking down the street .
None of these terrible things will happen to people for wearing masks .
You just feel `` oppressed '' because you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the hell you damn please .
But in all truth , you 're not even feeling oppressed .
That is n't what oppression feels like .
Having your day ruined because you could n't go into T-Mobile unless you wore your damn mask is NOT what oppression feels like .
What you are feeling is privileged and bratty , and I know that because you 're having a tantrum about something minimally inconvenient to you .
If you want even try to imagine what oppression feels like to people who experienced it , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Slave Girl .
Or maybe make friends with an actual Black person .

Right-wing nutcase Dave Daubenmire is absolutely incensed that he is being told to follow the same pandemic rules as everyone else in the nation. Namely, several establishments over the course of this day he recorded this dumbf*ck video refused him entry unless he wore a mask. According to Right Wing Watch:
Daubenmire was furious because he had several confrontations the day before with employees at various establishments over his steadfast refusal to wear a mask. Recounting an argument he had with the manager of a T-Mobile store, Daubenmire reportedly compared the store’s refusal to allow him into the store without a mask to refusing to provide service to someone who is Black. “I ain’t wearing no mask,” Daubenmire declared. “I know the mask doesn’t work, and I’m not going to wear my mask to make the worker at T-Mobile feel better. I’m not gonna do that. That’s bearing false witness.”
Okay, no, it's not.
It's not anything like bearing false witness. Isn't this guy supposed to know sh*t about religion? He has a cross on his baseball hat and everything. Maybe it's just a lower-case "t".
Bearing false witness is just LYING, Dave. Wearing a mask so the employee feels better isn't lying, you pasty douchenozzle, wearing a mask to make an employee feel better is being considerate.
Then, our Dave claimed he had a heart condition, and then wondered if maybe he'd even had it since birth. (Pssst...Dave...are you bearing false witness about THAT?) And he took it where all white men terrified at the prospect of racial equality like to take things.
Yes, Dave Daubendouche went there. Because of course he did.
“And then I really pulled the trump card,” Daubenmire recounted. “I said, ‘I think I was born with this medical condition. I’m not sure. I think I was. And I want to ask you something ma’am: Would you refuse to serve somebody because they’re Black?'” “I was born with this condition, ma’am, and you would not ask a Black man to step outside of the the building and you’re not going to ask me to do it,” he concluded. “She stormed away, as you can probably imagine. Ruined my whole day.”
Shall I? Okay. Allow me.
Dear Dave Dustyballs,
She absolutely WOULD have asked a Black man to step outside the building if he refused to wear a mask. Refusing someone service because they are Black is NOT the same thing as refusing them service because they will not follow the rules of the store to keep employees and customers safe. There are laws against racial discrimination of this sort, which is actually oppression. Wearing a mask is not a form of oppression. It does not keep you from buying a house, obtaining an education, getting a job, getting arrested for simply walking down the street. None of these terrible things will happen to people for wearing masks.
You just feel "oppressed" because you aren't being allowed to do whatever the hell you damn please. But in all truth, you're not even feeling oppressed. That isn't what oppression feels like. Having your day ruined because you couldn't go into T-Mobile unless you wore your damn mask is NOT what oppression feels like. What you are feeling is privileged and bratty, and I know that because you're having a tantrum about something minimally inconvenient to you.
If you want even try to imagine what oppression feels like to people who experienced it, read Incidents In The LIfe Of A Slave Girl.
Or maybe make friends with an actual Black person.


The Appropriate Salute

Trying desperately to counter the horribly damaging reports in Jeffrey Goldberg 's Atlantic story , Breitbart scrapes the bottom of @ @ @ @ @ would NEVER say those awful things about the military !

Can you help us out?
For 18 years we have been exposing Washington lies and untangling media deceit, but now Facebook is drowning us in an ocean of right wing lies. Please give a one-time or recurring donation, or buy a year's subscription for an ad-free experience. Thank you.


crooksandliars--2020-09-08--Thom Tillis Staffer Compares Health Care Access To Clothes Shopping When Constituent Pleads For Help

One of the biggest concerns many of us have in the times of COVID , layoffs and lost health insurance is how to have access to healthcare after being devastated by the pandemic .
Three-time cancer survivor Bev Veals had that very concern , and she called Senator Thom Tillis ' office to express her concern and ask for help .
Instead , this is what she got , via WRAL : '' You ’ re saying that , if you can ’ t afford it , you don ’ t get to have it , and that includes health @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Yeah , just like if I want to go to the store and buy a new dress shirt .
If I can ’ t afford that dress shirt , I don ’ t get to get it , '' he replied .
`` But health care is something that people need , especially if they have cancer , '' Veals said .
`` Well , you got to find a way to get it , '' he responded .
When she asked the staffer what she 's supposed to do , he said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ re going to have to figure it out . ''
`` To compare it to a dress shirt made me incredibly angry and hurt , '' Veals told WRAL Investigates .
After WRAL reached out to Tillis ' office they received a statement saying that the staffer had been `` disciplined . ''
That they would n't fire someone with that kind of callous attitude toward the people the Senator represents speaks volumes .
If Tillis did n't actually agree with him , he would have fired him .
If the story had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ n't have disciplined him .
Thom Tillis believes this .
He believes people have to earn their healthcare and he 's only sorry Veals ' healthcare needs were compared to a dress shirt instead of something even less attainable .
Thom Tillis has an opponent who is currently ahead in NC and could win -- Cal Cunningham .
I 'm fairly certain that HE would n't dismiss a constituent 's needs in such a callous fashion .
Watch the video below , via WRAL :

One of the biggest concerns many of us have in the times of COVID, layoffs and lost health insurance is how to have access to healthcare after being devastated by the pandemic.
Three-time cancer survivor Bev Veals had that very concern, and she called Senator Thom Tillis' office to express her concern and ask for help. Instead, this is what she got, via WRAL:
"You’re saying that, if you can’t afford it, you don’t get to have it, and that includes health care?" she asked. "Yeah, just like if I want to go to the store and buy a new dress shirt. If I can’t afford that dress shirt, I don’t get to get it," he replied. "But health care is something that people need, especially if they have cancer," Veals said. "Well, you got to find a way to get it," he responded. When she asked the staffer what she's supposed to do, he said, "Sounds like something you’re going to have to figure it out." "To compare it to a dress shirt made me incredibly angry and hurt," Veals told WRAL Investigates.
After WRAL reached out to Tillis' office they received a statement saying that the staffer had been "disciplined."
That they wouldn't fire someone with that kind of callous attitude toward the people the Senator represents speaks volumes. If Tillis didn't actually agree with him, he would have fired him. If the story hadn't hit local television, he wouldn't have disciplined him. Thom Tillis believes this. He believes people have to earn their healthcare and he's only sorry Veals' healthcare needs were compared to a dress shirt instead of something even less attainable.
Thom Tillis has an opponent who is currently ahead in NC and could win -- Cal Cunningham. I'm fairly certain that HE wouldn't dismiss a constituent's needs in such a callous fashion.
Watch the video below, via WRAL:


crooksandliars--2020-09-08--Sarah Sanders Busted On Air For Lying That Trump Informed Military Families Of Soldier Deaths

Former White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders was forced to backtrack on Tuesday after first claiming that President Donald Trump personally informs the family after military service members are killed in action .
During an appearance on ABC ’ s Good Morning America , Sanders responded to allegations that Trump had referred to veterans and military personnel as “ suckers ” and “ losers.
” “ I was there that day , ” Sanders explained to ABC host George Stephanopoulos .
“ I was part of those conversations and those things didn ’ t happen.
” “ But not only @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she continued .
“ But I spent more time with the president over two and a half years than just about anybody outside of his family and I saw a president who loves this country , who loves the men and women of the armed forces.
” Sanders added : “ I sat with him in the Oval Office as he had to make that awful call to let a parent know that their son had been killed in Afghanistan .
At no time , other than that time , have I seen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ show his vulnerability more than in that time.
” Stephanopoulos interrupted to “ clarify ” to his audience that Sanders ’ remarks were likely untrue .
“ You said you were with the president when he called a family to notify them that their son had been killed in Afghanistan , ” the ABC host pointed out .
“ And I thought it was a military protocol that it was always the military that went in person to see the family.
” “ Yes !
” she replied .
“ Correct .
A @ @ @ @ @ @ @ notified .
”

Former White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders was forced to backtrack on Tuesday after first claiming that President Donald Trump personally informs the family after military service members are killed in action.
During an appearance on ABC’s Good Morning America, Sanders responded to allegations that Trump had referred to veterans and military personnel as “suckers” and “losers.”
“I was there that day,” Sanders explained to ABC host George Stephanopoulos. “I was part of those conversations and those things didn’t happen.”
“But not only was I there that day,” she continued. “But I spent more time with the president over two and a half years than just about anybody outside of his family and I saw a president who loves this country, who loves the men and women of the armed forces.”
Sanders added: “I sat with him in the Oval Office as he had to make that awful call to let a parent know that their son had been killed in Afghanistan. At no time, other than that time, have I seen the president show his heart more, show his vulnerability more than in that time.”
Stephanopoulos interrupted to “clarify” to his audience that Sanders’ remarks were likely untrue.
“You said you were with the president when he called a family to notify them that their son had been killed in Afghanistan,” the ABC host pointed out. “And I thought it was a military protocol that it was always the military that went in person to see the family.”
“Are you talking about a condolence call?” Stephanopoulos asked, throwing Sanders a lifeline.
“Yes!” she replied. “Correct. A condolence call after that individual had been notified.”


crooksandliars--2020-09-08--Two Reasons Why Trump's Approval Rating Never Changes

[ Above , Good Morning America report from last month could have been at any point in Trump 's presidency , as his `` approval '' numbers have remained at the 33-40 % rate no matter what .
-- eds . ]
The percentage of the electorate that approves of the president ’ s performance has barely budged since he took office .
How can that be ?
That ’ s one of the thorny and infuriating questions of his presidency .
It doesn ’ t matter what he does .
It doesn ’ t matter what he does not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ approval has remained steady , around 40 percent , give or take a few points , according to FiveThirtyEight ’ s poll aggregator .
It might not be as thorny and infuriating , however , once you give it some thought .
The reason nothing changes is because nothing else about Trump has changed either .
The most cynical explanation has the most common currency unfortunately .
The president dominates every news cycle with lies , scandal and disinformation .
The electorate has become both immune to controversy and inured to outrage .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ members of the press corps , whose job it is to pay attention to all things Trump , which is the reason why many of them are so cynical .
This is why Politico ’ s Jake Sherman wondered if anyone outside Washington cared about the Republican National Convention ’ s nationally televised violation of the Hatch Act .
Citizens do care .
Sherman got shellacked for being such a nihilist .
But Sherman had a point if the president ’ s job approval is any indication .
Every government bureaucrat involved in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ House lawn broke federal law many times over .
Yet Trump ’ s job approval is steady .
According to FiveThirtyEight ( as of this writing ) , it ’ s 43.5 percent .
A crime-in-progress didn ’ t change a damn thing .
Same goes for the pandemic .
More than 193,000 Americans have died from Covid-19 as of this writing , per Worldometer .
That ’ s about 64 times the death toll of Sept. 11 , 2001 .
That ’ s about 48,250 times the death toll of Benghazi on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , more Americans have died from the new coronavirus than from fighting in all foreign wars since the Korean War .
We will probably reach 200,000 by Election Day , 250,000 by Inauguration Day , half a million by 2021 ’ s midpoint .
If the Trump administration had done a mediocre job , not a great job , of handling the pandemic , about 145,000 fewer Americans would be dead , according to analysis today by the Times ’ David Leonhardt .
Yet here we are .
Negligent homicide isn ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Some have noted Trump is impervious to economics , too .
They point to George W. Bush ’ s second term when his approval slid as the economy slid into a financial panic sparking the near decade-long Great Recession .
Last week was the first time in 23 weeks in which weekly unemployment claims dropped below 1 million .
About 22 million jobs were lost between February and April .
Half haven ’ t come back , according to the Post .
The pandemic is now spreading rapidly into 22 rural states @ @ @ @ @ @ @ where Trump ’ s support is strongest .
( Cases rose by 126 percent in South Dakota over two weeks , according to Reuters . )
Meanwhile , parents are jammed between the need to send kids to school and the need to earn a living .
Trump seems to be the exception to economic forces that didn ’ t spare the last Republican president .
Given the simplest explanations are usually the best , I offer two .
One , Trump isn ’ t feeling what Bush felt , because he ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ partisans are willing to eat pretty much any outrage to prevent a Democrat from winning the White House .
These voters , I contend , constitute the president ’ s floor .
His approval rating won ’ t go any lower than it has been until he ’ s reelected .
By then , perhaps we ’ ll know what Trump supporters really think of death-by-Covid .
Until then , they ’ ll fake it .
The second explanation is simpler .
It may be that most of the electorate made up its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ far back as Trump ’ s Inaugural Address , during which he made clear that he ’ d be a Republican , not an American , president .
I ’ m guessing these voters decided who they ’ d vote for in 2020 by Feb. 1 , 2017 , or soon afterward .
These voters , I contend , constitute the president ’ s ceiling .
It doesn ’ t matter what he does .
It doesn ’ t matter what he does not do .
He will never attain majority approval .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ desensitized and nothing matters , or it could be that most of us have made up our minds , and little or nothing is going to change it .
Indeed , as things get worse , our mindsets are only hardened .
The more the president talks about “ law and order , ” the more we ’ re reminded of his lawlessness .
The more he talks about violence , the more we ’ re reminded he ’ s inciting it .
The more he brags about the economy , the more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ruined pretty much everything .
Time will tell if I ’ m wrong , but this is better than the more complex , more nihilist perspectives .
Republished with permission from The Editorial Board .

[Above, Good Morning America report from last month could have been at any point in Trump's presidency, as his "approval" numbers have remained at the 33-40% rate no matter what. -- eds.]
The percentage of the electorate that approves of the president’s performance has barely budged since he took office. How can that be? That’s one of the thorny and infuriating questions of his presidency. It doesn’t matter what he does. It doesn’t matter what he does not do. Donald Trump’s job approval has remained steady, around 40 percent, give or take a few points, according to FiveThirtyEight’s poll aggregator. It might not be as thorny and infuriating, however, once you give it some thought. The reason nothing changes is because nothing else about Trump has changed either.
I’ll explain.
The most cynical explanation has the most common currency unfortunately. The president dominates every news cycle with lies, scandal and disinformation. The electorate has become both immune to controversy and inured to outrage. This is the most frequent view among members of the press corps, whose job it is to pay attention to all things Trump, which is the reason why many of them are so cynical. This is why Politico’s Jake Sherman wondered if anyone outside Washington cared about the Republican National Convention’s nationally televised violation of the Hatch Act.
Citizens do care. Sherman got shellacked for being such a nihilist. But Sherman had a point if the president’s job approval is any indication. Every government bureaucrat involved in staging a political convention on the White House lawn broke federal law many times over. Yet Trump’s job approval is steady. According to FiveThirtyEight (as of this writing), it’s 43.5 percent. A crime-in-progress didn’t change a damn thing.
Same goes for the pandemic. More than 193,000 Americans have died from Covid-19 as of this writing, per Worldometer. That’s about 64 times the death toll of Sept. 11, 2001. That’s about 48,250 times the death toll of Benghazi on Sept. 11, 2012. In fact, more Americans have died from the new coronavirus than from fighting in all foreign wars since the Korean War. We will probably reach 200,000 by Election Day, 250,000 by Inauguration Day, half a million by 2021’s midpoint. If the Trump administration had done a mediocre job, not a great job, of handling the pandemic, about 145,000 fewer Americans would be dead, according to analysis today by the Times’ David Leonhardt. Yet here we are. Negligent homicide isn’t enough to sink Trump below 40 percent.
Some have noted Trump is impervious to economics, too. They point to George W. Bush’s second term when his approval slid as the economy slid into a financial panic sparking the near decade-long Great Recession. Last week was the first time in 23 weeks in which weekly unemployment claims dropped below 1 million. About 22 million jobs were lost between February and April. Half haven’t come back, according to the Post. The pandemic is now spreading rapidly into 22 rural states in the south and midwest, places where Trump’s support is strongest. (Cases rose by 126 percent in South Dakota over two weeks, according to Reuters.) Meanwhile, parents are jammed between the need to send kids to school and the need to earn a living. Trump seems to be the exception to economic forces that didn’t spare the last Republican president.
Given the simplest explanations are usually the best, I offer two. One, Trump isn’t feeling what Bush felt, because he’s running for reelection. Many GOP partisans are willing to eat pretty much any outrage to prevent a Democrat from winning the White House. These voters, I contend, constitute the president’s floor. His approval rating won’t go any lower than it has been until he’s reelected. By then, perhaps we’ll know what Trump supporters really think of death-by-Covid. Until then, they’ll fake it.
The second explanation is simpler. It may be that most of the electorate made up its mind some time ago, perhaps as far back as Trump’s Inaugural Address, during which he made clear that he’d be a Republican, not an American, president. I’m guessing these voters decided who they’d vote for in 2020 by Feb. 1, 2017, or soon afterward. These voters, I contend, constitute the president’s ceiling. It doesn’t matter what he does. It doesn’t matter what he does not do. He will never attain majority approval.
It could be we’re all desensitized and nothing matters, or it could be that most of us have made up our minds, and little or nothing is going to change it. Indeed, as things get worse, our mindsets are only hardened. The more the president talks about “law and order,” the more we’re reminded of his lawlessness. The more he talks about violence, the more we’re reminded he’s inciting it. The more he brags about the economy, the more we’re reminded he’s ruined pretty much everything. Time will tell if I’m wrong, but this is better than the more complex, more nihilist perspectives.
Republished with permission from The Editorial Board.


crooksandliars--2020-09-08--The International Anti-Biden Conspiracy To Find An International Pro-Biden Conspiracy

The hot new trend in right-wing commentary is to argue that expressions of concern about Donald Trump stealing the election add up to an effort to start a `` color revolution '' in the United States , similar to rebellions that have arisen in former Soviet bloc nations .
The belief on the right is that the uprisings in former Russian satellites were ginned up by a sinister cabal of left-leaning globalists ; right-wingers argue that when we say it might require force to remove Trump from office if he 's legitimitely defeated , we 're saying it because we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Michael Brendan Dougherty argued this for National Review , and now we have Miranda Devine of the New York Post making a similar assertion , under the headline `` Antifa Riots May Be Part of Democrat Power Grab . ''
Whether or not all rioters are Democrat voters , they increasingly are associated with Biden ’ s campaign in the minds of voters who fear violence is coming to their suburb .
This rolling campaign of anti-police street violence is killing Biden ’ s bid for the presidency — just look at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as Michigan , Wisconsin and Pennsylvania , where law and order has become a decisive issue .
So why don ’ t Democrat leaders do more to condemn the violence and call for calm ?
To understand their inaction , you need to step back and see street violence as one element of a coordinated “ playbook ” to dislodge President Trump , regardless of the outcome of the election .
This is the thesis of political theorist Dr. Darren Beattie , a former Duke University professor and White House official .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ US government has deployed in so-called “ Color Revolutions ” in Eastern European countries , such as Ukraine or Belarus , to remove “ authoritarian ” leaders deemed to be hostile to American interests .
In a series of articles at Revolver.news , Beattie lays out a compelling comparison between Deep State efforts to remove President Trump and techniques used by the State Department , covert agencies and allied NGOs to influence , or overturn , elections in foreign countries .
BLM-Antifa ’ s “ mostly peaceful protests ” are America ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , where civil unrest was fomented on the streets to oust a Kremlin-backed authoritarian .
In an interview , Beattie noted “ strong parallels ” between “ color revolutions ” overseas and the “ sustained coordinated coup against Trump ” — from the Russia collusion hoax to his impeachment over Ukraine .
“ The very same regime change professionals ... assigned to overthrow ‘ authoritarians ’ in Eastern Europe are the ones running this operation against Trump .
It is the same playbook run by the same people.
” The Color Revolution playbook @ @ @ @ @ @ @ authoritarian , illegitimate leader .
Then you foment unrest on the streets , aimed at provoking an authoritarian crackdown which can be used to mobilize further unrest .
You undermine people ’ s faith in the election process , setting up a contested outcome which turns into street fighting .
At the same time , you wage relentless “ lawfare ” to contest ballots .
Ultimately the military may be called upon to dislodge the incumbent .
One of the biggest conspiracy theories on the right -- it 's almost at a QAnon @ @ @ @ @ @ @ radicals ( and self-styled anarchists who just like to break stuff ) are working hand in glove with the party of Joe Biden , Chuck Schumer , Nancy Pelosi , Pete Buttigieg , Chris Dodd , Ed Rendell , and so on .
We have enough trouble getting Bernie supporters to say that Trump is worse than Biden .
We 've lost two presidential elections this century because lefties thought it was extremely cool not to vote Democratic .
Do these right-wingers seriously believe that Biden/Harris operatives are coordinating strategy with the Black @ @ @ @ @ @ @ least their audience does .
Meanwhile , who are the folks who believe in this Conspiracy So Vast ?
Miranda Devine , the author of this piece , came to New York , like many writers for the Murdoch press , from Australia , where she really made a name for herself .
In 2002 , Devine opined in the Sydney Morning Herald that the racial element of the Sydney gang rapes had been `` airbrushed '' out of the media coverage of the events .
She stated that the victims alleged that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ official statements to remove any mention of racially sensitive material ... .
Devine has also been accused by the Guardian and the Sydney Morning Herald of promoting the white genocide conspiracy theory and described as pivotal in popularising the concept within Australian politics ... .
Referring to white South African refugees as `` oppressed white , Christian , industrious , rugby and cricket-playing Commonwealth cousins '' , she has claimed they would `` integrate seamlessly '' with European Australians .
And her source , Darren Beattie ?
He left a White House speechwriting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 'd delivered an address to a white nationalist conference , then was hired as a speechwriting consultant by Congressman Matt Gaetz , who then improperly sent $ 28,000 to a limited liability company linked to Beattie , in violation of House ethics rules .
But it 's Beattie 's racism that stands out .
Beattie maintains an active presence on Twitter , where he frequently amplifies 21-year old commentator Nick Fuentes and other leading voices of the White nationalist America First/groyper movement ... .
Fuentes and his ‘ America First ’ program ... @ @ @ @ @ @ @ White genocide ’ and demographic replacement , virulent racism and antisemitism , Holocaust denial , and other staples of White nationalist ideology .
Fuentes , for his part , has called Beattie “ brilliant ” , “ honorable ” and “ a solid guy ” ... .
Beattie , much like the America First movement , tends to signal core White nationalist claims that white people in the U.S. are being ‘ replaced ’ by conspiratorial elites , while strategically downplaying an explicit embrace of White identity politics .
At times , however @ @ @ @ @ @ @ white people are targeted as a group , ” Beattie claimed on June 23 , “ they must learn to defend themselves as a group.
” ... Beattie has excoriated protesters as “ bio-defectives ” , citing the theory of Bio-Leninism , a supremacist doctrine , developed by the racist neoreactionary movement , which asserts that biologically inferior social groups use progressive movements to self-organize into a societal elite , usurping power from groups that would otherwise constitute their natural superiors .
The theorist behind Bio-Leninism , known as Spandrell , believes these @ @ @ @ @ @ @ male , stating in 2018 that “ if Progressivism were to fail , ” the social groups Beattie called bio-defectives would “ be back picking cotton , or barefoot in the kitchen , or freezing in the shtetl.
” Echoing theories of elite domination of Whites , Beattie retweeted far-right investor Adam Townsend ’ s claim on July 15 that with diversity and inclusion initiatives in industries like tech , “ elites want to strip Whites of their economic , political and social capital , as they are the only opposing force that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ conspiracies of an elite Left takeover , Beattie samples from the tropes of white nationalist antisemitism , a surprising fact given that Beattie is himself Jewish .
“ When America takes a knee , ” he said on June 7 , “ Soros takes a bow ” ...
These are the folks who think we have a massive conspiracy in the works .
I think they 're projecting a mirror image of their own fantasies of white counterrevolution .
Published with permission of No More Mister Nice Blog

The hot new trend in right-wing commentary is to argue that expressions of concern about Donald Trump stealing the election add up to an effort to start a "color revolution" in the United States, similar to rebellions that have arisen in former Soviet bloc nations. The belief on the right is that the uprisings in former Russian satellites were ginned up by a sinister cabal of left-leaning globalists; right-wingers argue that when we say it might require force to remove Trump from office if he's legitimitely defeated, we're saying it because we want to use force. In August, Michael Brendan Dougherty argued this for National Review, and now we have Miranda Devine of the New York Post making a similar assertion, under the headline "Antifa Riots May Be Part of Democrat Power Grab."
Whether or not all rioters are Democrat voters, they increasingly are associated with Biden’s campaign in the minds of voters who fear violence is coming to their suburb. This rolling campaign of anti-police street violence is killing Biden’s bid for the presidency — just look at private polling in crucial swing states such as Michigan, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania, where law and order has become a decisive issue.
(We can't "look at private polling," Miranda, because, y'know, it's private. If you have access to some numbers that The Liberal Media Won't Talk About, given that you're a journalist and all, why don't you share them? Of course, she doesn't.)
So why don’t Democrat leaders do more to condemn the violence and call for calm? To understand their inaction, you need to step back and see street violence as one element of a coordinated “playbook” to dislodge President Trump, regardless of the outcome of the election. This is the thesis of political theorist Dr. Darren Beattie, a former Duke University professor and White House official. The playbook is straight from the strategies the US government has deployed in so-called “Color Revolutions” in Eastern European countries, such as Ukraine or Belarus, to remove “authoritarian” leaders deemed to be hostile to American interests. In a series of articles at Revolver.news, Beattie lays out a compelling comparison between Deep State efforts to remove President Trump and techniques used by the State Department, covert agencies and allied NGOs to influence, or overturn, elections in foreign countries. BLM-Antifa’s “mostly peaceful protests” are America’s version of Ukraine’s Orange Revolution, where civil unrest was fomented on the streets to oust a Kremlin-backed authoritarian. In an interview, Beattie noted “strong parallels” between “color revolutions” overseas and the “sustained coordinated coup against Trump” — from the Russia collusion hoax to his impeachment over Ukraine. “The very same regime change professionals ... assigned to overthrow ‘authoritarians’ in Eastern Europe are the ones running this operation against Trump. It is the same playbook run by the same people.” The Color Revolution playbook starts by creating the narrative of an authoritarian, illegitimate leader. Then you foment unrest on the streets, aimed at provoking an authoritarian crackdown which can be used to mobilize further unrest. You undermine people’s faith in the election process, setting up a contested outcome which turns into street fighting. At the same time, you wage relentless “lawfare” to contest ballots. Ultimately the military may be called upon to dislodge the incumbent.
One of the biggest conspiracy theories on the right -- it's almost at a QAnon level of looniness -- is that left-wing radicals (and self-styled anarchists who just like to break stuff) are working hand in glove with the party of Joe Biden, Chuck Schumer, Nancy Pelosi, Pete Buttigieg, Chris Dodd, Ed Rendell, and so on. We have enough trouble getting Bernie supporters to say that Trump is worse than Biden. We've lost two presidential elections this century because lefties thought it was extremely cool not to vote Democratic. Do these right-wingers seriously believe that Biden/Harris operatives are coordinating strategy with the Black Bloc?
They do, or at least their audience does.
Meanwhile, who are the folks who believe in this Conspiracy So Vast?
Miranda Devine, the author of this piece, came to New York, like many writers for the Murdoch press, from Australia, where she really made a name for herself.
In 2002, Devine opined in the Sydney Morning Herald that the racial element of the Sydney gang rapes had been "airbrushed" out of the media coverage of the events. She stated that the victims alleged that prosecutors had intentionally "censored" their official statements to remove any mention of racially sensitive material.... Devine has also been accused by the Guardian and the Sydney Morning Herald of promoting the white genocide conspiracy theory and described as pivotal in popularising the concept within Australian politics.... Referring to white South African refugees as "oppressed white, Christian, industrious, rugby and cricket-playing Commonwealth cousins", she has claimed they would "integrate seamlessly" with European Australians.
And her source, Darren Beattie? He left a White House speechwriting job when it was leaned that he'd delivered an address to a white nationalist conference, then was hired as a speechwriting consultant by Congressman Matt Gaetz, who then improperly sent $28,000 to a limited liability company linked to Beattie, in violation of House ethics rules. But it's Beattie's racism that stands out.
Beattie maintains an active presence on Twitter, where he frequently amplifies 21-year old commentator Nick Fuentes and other leading voices of the White nationalist America First/groyper movement.... Fuentes and his ‘America First’ program ... is notorious for thinly-veiled warnings of ‘White genocide’ and demographic replacement, virulent racism and antisemitism, Holocaust denial, and other staples of White nationalist ideology. Fuentes, for his part, has called Beattie “brilliant”, “honorable” and “a solid guy”.... Beattie, much like the America First movement, tends to signal core White nationalist claims that white people in the U.S. are being ‘replaced’ by conspiratorial elites, while strategically downplaying an explicit embrace of White identity politics. At times, however, the mask slips. “If white people are targeted as a group,” Beattie claimed on June 23, “they must learn to defend themselves as a group.” ... Beattie has excoriated protesters as “bio-defectives”, citing the theory of Bio-Leninism, a supremacist doctrine, developed by the racist neoreactionary movement, which asserts that biologically inferior social groups use progressive movements to self-organize into a societal elite, usurping power from groups that would otherwise constitute their natural superiors. The theorist behind Bio-Leninism, known as Spandrell, believes these bio-superiors to be White, Christian and male, stating in 2018 that “if Progressivism were to fail,” the social groups Beattie called bio-defectives would “be back picking cotton, or barefoot in the kitchen, or freezing in the shtetl.” Echoing theories of elite domination of Whites, Beattie retweeted far-right investor Adam Townsend’s claim on July 15 that with diversity and inclusion initiatives in industries like tech, “elites want to strip Whites of their economic, political and social capital, as they are the only opposing force that can displace them.” ... To advance conspiracies of an elite Left takeover, Beattie samples from the tropes of white nationalist antisemitism, a surprising fact given that Beattie is himself Jewish. “When America takes a knee,” he said on June 7, “Soros takes a bow” ...
These are the folks who think we have a massive conspiracy in the works. I think they're projecting a mirror image of their own fantasies of white counterrevolution.
(Hat tip: Paul Canning.)
Published with permission of No More Mister Nice Blog


crooksandliars--2020-09-08--Barack Obama Has Some Advice For Kamala Harris

Vice Presidential candidate Kamala Harris asked former president Barack Obama for advice about Joe Biden .
What is it with the ice cream ?
President Obama noted that Joe loves his ice cream , as well as pasta with red sauce .
He also loves the aviator sunglasses .
`` He knows they look good on him , '' said Obama .
On a more serious note , Obama advised Harris to treasure the one-on-one conversations candidates have with individual voters .
... People of our country are they really are full of hope .
There 's a lot that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about the future , but there 's also a lot that that folks just carry in their hearts , and their spirit , that is truly born out of optimism .
And so when you have those conversations and you know people share with you their hardships , but also they 're there because they also believe that that things are possible , that all things are possible .
And I agree with you , those interactions , those one-on-one interactions , really do inspire him and help you to keep it real @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we are to lead effectively .
Obama also noted that , due to those one-on-one conversations , things are n't always on schedule when Joe Biden is around .

Vice Presidential candidate Kamala Harris asked former president Barack Obama for advice about Joe Biden.
What is it with the ice cream?
President Obama noted that Joe loves his ice cream, as well as pasta with red sauce.
He also loves the aviator sunglasses. "He knows they look good on him," said Obama.
On a more serious note, Obama advised Harris to treasure the one-on-one conversations candidates have with individual voters.
Harris agreed:
...People of our country are they really are full of hope. There's a lot that gives them a reason to be concerned about the future, but there's also a lot that that folks just carry in their hearts, and their spirit, that is truly born out of optimism. And so when you have those conversations and you know people share with you their hardships, but also they're there because they also believe that that things are possible, that all things are possible. And I agree with you, those interactions, those one-on-one interactions, really do inspire him and help you to keep it real... and obviously that is critical if we are to lead effectively.
Obama also noted that, due to those one-on-one conversations, things aren't always on schedule when Joe Biden is around.
We've noticed.


crooksandliars--2020-09-08--Trump Doesn't Know How To Spell Words

Trump Doesn't Know How To Spell Words

So , we got this this morning .
Which led to these .

Fredo’s got a convicted lier for a lawyer, who may be going back to jail for an even longer time - additional lies to Congress. Many more tapes of him with Fredo and other media scum reporters. Reveals how deranged & sick they all are! https://t.co/g3aBQZ5VJv — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 8, 2020
So, we got this this morning. Which led to these.
Thuh preziden is dum and a "lier." pic.twitter.com/oBkPEm4nn2 — Walter Shaub (@waltshaub) September 8, 2020
#FlopsweatTrump has been flood-tweeting/retweeting all morning again. This RT is 6 days old. And yes, the pathological *liar* misspelled it again: “lier.” pic.twitter.com/ixRraHXYSl — Laffy (@GottaLaff) September 8, 2020
"lier"
Does anybody really expect a serial lying sociopath to be able to spell the word — that of all the words in the English lexicon best describes himself? — Bill Madden (@maddenifico) September 8, 2020
I do despise a lier as I do despise one that is false, or as I despise one that is not true. — William Shakespeare (@Wwm_Shakespeare) September 8, 2020


crooksandliars--2020-09-08--Steve Rattner: Pandemic Recession Hitting Non-College Grads The Hardest

Morning Joe takes a look this morning at what 's happening with the real , non-stock market recession .
`` Let 's turn to President Trump and the top economic adviser touting the status of the economic recovery .
Here 's President Trump and Larry Kudlow Friday , '' Willie Geist said .
TRUMP : America 's unprecedented economic recovery continues , you see what 's going on .
It 's amazing .
KUDLOW : These gains are very , very broad based .
There 's still too many people out , still too much hardship , too much unemployed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ moving in the right direction .
That 's why today 's numbers are encouraging and optimistic .
My view , we are in a V-shaped recovery , it 's a self-sustaining recovery .
`` Joining us , Morning Joe economic analyst Steve Rattner .
Larry Kudlow talking about the August jobs , still going to the V-shaped recovery .
What does it look like to you ?
Is it a V ? ''
Geist said .
`` Well , they can call it a V-shaped recovery come hell or high water but I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ see on the first chart , it does n't look like a V. You see an economy that was in free fall , particularly in the month of April , lost over 22 million jobs in a space of a little more than a month , '' Rattner said .
`` And then you can see the beginnings of the climb back .
In May , 2.7 million jobs added , June 4.8 but then the pace of jobs have been slowed , July , 1.7 million jobs and August the numbers that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1.4 million jobs .
But inside that there are over 200,000 temporary census workers who will be off the payrolls in the another month or two .
So , in fact , it was really 1.1 million jobs .
So the pace of job recovery is slowing fairly dramatically . ''
Rattner pointed out that lower income , women , and people of color were hit disproportionately hard .
`` If you are a Black person , 11.2 % of Blacks lost their jobs compared to 6.4 % of whites .
If you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , almost 19 % of those folks lost their jobs .
If you have a college degree , you probably did n't lose your job at all because virtually none of them lost their jobs since this started .
Between women and men you see another disparity -- '' '' And I want to underline this one number .
Keep this chart up , '' Scarborough said .
`` So the statistics , the Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that if you have a college degree , that only 0.1 % , 0 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ college degrees lost their jobs , but almost 20 % of people who have less than a college degree lost their jobs ? ''
`` Sure , Joe .
If you go to a restaurant and there 's a busboy and a waiter , so on , maybe waiters are out of work actors with college degrees or you 're in the kitchen or you work at a theme park as a greeter , what kind of degree do you think most of those people have ?
I would contrast that with people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ think all of us have college degrees and we 're all still employed .
The folks in my industry are still employed , very little job loss in the finance industry in part because the stock market is doing so well .
`` So this is a recession and a recovery that is hitting people very , very differently depending on upon their education , whether they 're of color and whether they 're a woman , '' Rattner concluded .

Morning Joe takes a look this morning at what's happening with the real, non-stock market recession.
"Let's turn to President Trump and the top economic adviser touting the status of the economic recovery. Here's President Trump and Larry Kudlow Friday," Willie Geist said.
TRUMP: America's unprecedented economic recovery continues, you see what's going on. It's amazing. KUDLOW: These gains are very, very broad based. There's still too many people out, still too much hardship, too much unemployed. We're working on that and moving in the right direction. That's why today's numbers are encouraging and optimistic. My view, we are in a V-shaped recovery, it's a self-sustaining recovery.
"Joining us, Morning Joe economic analyst Steve Rattner. Larry Kudlow talking about the August jobs, still going to the V-shaped recovery. What does it look like to you? Is it a V?" Geist said.
"Well, they can call it a V-shaped recovery come hell or high water but I think the facts are different. You see on the first chart, it doesn't look like a V. You see an economy that was in free fall, particularly in the month of April, lost over 22 million jobs in a space of a little more than a month," Rattner said.
"And then you can see the beginnings of the climb back. In May, 2.7 million jobs added, June 4.8 but then the pace of jobs have been slowed, July, 1.7 million jobs and August the numbers that came out on Friday were reported as 1.4 million jobs. But inside that there are over 200,000 temporary census workers who will be off the payrolls in the another month or two. So, in fact, it was really 1.1 million jobs. So the pace of job recovery is slowing fairly dramatically."
Rattner pointed out that lower income, women, and people of color were hit disproportionately hard.
"If you are a Black person, 11.2% of Blacks lost their jobs compared to 6.4% of whites. If you have less than a high school diploma, almost 19% of those folks lost their jobs. If you have a college degree, you probably didn't lose your job at all because virtually none of them lost their jobs since this started. Between women and men you see another disparity --"
"And I want to underline this one number. Keep this chart up," Scarborough said.
"So the statistics, the Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that if you have a college degree, that only 0.1%, 0%, 0.1% of people with college degrees lost their jobs, but almost 20% of people who have less than a college degree lost their jobs?"
"Sure, Joe. If you go to a restaurant and there's a busboy and a waiter, so on, maybe waiters are out of work actors with college degrees or you're in the kitchen or you work at a theme park as a greeter, what kind of degree do you think most of those people have? I would contrast that with people on the set right now. I think all of us have college degrees and we're all still employed. The folks in my industry are still employed, very little job loss in the finance industry in part because the stock market is doing so well.
"So this is a recession and a recovery that is hitting people very, very differently depending on upon their education, whether they're of color and whether they're a woman," Rattner concluded.


crooksandliars--2020-09-08--New Study: Over 250,000 Covid Cases In Past Month Are Due To Sturgis Rally

“ Now we ’ re all here together tonight .
And we ’ re being human once again .
F*ck that Covid sh*t. ” Smash Mouth Lead Vocalist Steve Harwell , 2020 Sturgis Concert A new study ( The Contagion Externality of a Superspreading Event : The Sturgis Motorcycle Rally and COVID-19 ) attempts to provide some data on the effects of a super spreader event the size of the Sturgis motorcyle rally .
The numbers and the costs are staggering .
If you 'd care to wade through the data , the graphs and the charts , their study @ @ @ @ @ @ @ accessed at the link .
Since it 's new their findings have not yet been peer-reviewed , to my knowledge .
At a glance , certainly looks like a rigorous and serious piece of work though .
From the abstract to their study : Large in-person gatherings without social distancing and with individuals who have traveled outside the local area are classified as the “ highest risk ” for COVID-19 spread by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ( CDC ) .
Between August 7 and August 16 , 2020 , nearly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ South Dakota for its annual motorcycle rally .
Large crowds , coupled with minimal mask-wearing and social distancing by attendees , raised concerns that this event could serve as a COVID-19 “ super-spreader.
” This study is the first to explore the impact of this event on social distancing and the spread of COVID-19 .
First , using anonymized cell phone data from SafeGraph , Inc. we document that ( i ) smartphone pings from non-residents , and ( ii ) foot traffic at restaurants and bars , retail establishments , entertainment venues @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the census block groups hosting Sturgis rally events .
Stay-at-home behavior among local residents , as measured by median hours spent at home , fell .
Second , using data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ( CDC ) and a synthetic control approach , we show that by September 2 , a month following theonset of the Rally , COVID-19 cases increased by approximately 6 to 7 cases per 1,000 population in its home county of Meade .
Finally , difference-in-differences ( dose response ) estimates show that following @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the highest inflows of rally attendees experienced a 7.0 to 12.5 percent increase in COVID-19 cases relative to counties that did not contribute inflows .
Descriptive evidence suggests these effects may be muted in states with stricter mitigation policies ( i.e.
, restrictions on bar/restaurant openings , mask-wearing mandates ) .
We conclude that the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally generated public health costs of approximately $ 12.2 billion .
Some coverage of Sturgis Motorcycle Rally in South Dakota .

“Now we’re all here together tonight. And we’re being human once again. F*ck that Covid sh*t.”
Smash Mouth Lead Vocalist Steve Harwell, 2020 Sturgis Concert
A new study (The Contagion Externality of a Superspreading Event: The Sturgis Motorcycle Rally and COVID-19) attempts to provide some data on the effects of a super spreader event the size of the Sturgis motorcyle rally. The numbers and the costs are staggering. If you'd care to wade through the data, the graphs and the charts, their study is 63 pages long and can be accessed at the link. Since it's new their findings have not yet been peer-reviewed, to my knowledge. At a glance, certainly looks like a rigorous and serious piece of work though.
via Center for Health Economics & Policy Studies
From the abstract to their study:
Large in-person gatherings without social distancing and with individuals who have traveled outside the local area are classified as the “highest risk” for COVID-19 spread by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Between August 7 and August 16, 2020, nearly 500,000 motorcycle enthusiasts converged on Sturgis, South Dakota for its annual motorcycle rally. Large crowds, coupled with minimal mask-wearing and social distancing by attendees, raised concerns that this event could serve as a COVID-19 “super-spreader.” This study is the first to explore the impact of this event on social distancing and the spread of COVID-19. First, using anonymized cell phone data from SafeGraph, Inc. we document that (i) smartphone pings from non-residents, and (ii) foot traffic at restaurants and bars, retail establishments, entertainment venues, hotels and campgrounds each rose substantially in the census block groups hosting Sturgis rally events. Stay-at-home behavior among local residents, as measured by median hours spent at home, fell. Second, using data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and a synthetic control approach, we show that by September 2, a month following theonset of the Rally, COVID-19 cases increased by approximately 6 to 7 cases per 1,000 population in its home county of Meade. Finally, difference-in-differences (dose response) estimates show that following the Sturgis event, counties that contributed the highest inflows of rally attendees experienced a 7.0 to 12.5 percent increase in COVID-19 cases relative to counties that did not contribute inflows. Descriptive evidence suggests these effects may be muted in states with stricter mitigation policies (i.e., restrictions on bar/restaurant openings, mask-wearing mandates). We conclude that the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally generated public health costs of approximately $12.2 billion.
We estimate that over 250,000 of the reported cases between August 2 and September 2 are due to the Sturgis Rally. Roughly 19 percent of the national cases during this timeframe. https://t.co/6tCCV6aXYf — Andrew Friedson (@FriedsonAndrew) September 6, 2020
Some coverage of Sturgis Motorcycle Rally in South Dakota.


crooksandliars--2020-09-08--New Ad : 'Radicalization' From Trump's Hate

Here 's the transcript from the Lincoln Project 's powerful new ad : Two millionaire lawyers in front of their @ @ @ @ @ guns .
The demonstrators are marching to the mayor 's house to protest the killing @ @ @ @ @ by police .
Donald Trump honors them at the convention .
Their only achievement : @ @ @ @ @ with guns .
Less that 24 hours later , a young man follows their example @ @ @ @ @ .
A young , impressionable man sat in the front of a Trump rally and @ @ @ @ @ and division .
Today he 's hailed as a hero by Trump supporters .
This @ @ @ @ @ wrong .
This is dangerous .
And as long as Donald Trump is president , @ @ @ @ @ kooks , the crazies , the extremists , the angry fringe .
It does n't @ @ @ @ @ .
America , or Donald Trump ?
Stand up for America .

Here's the transcript from the Lincoln Project's powerful new ad:
Donald Trump is making America more dangerous.
Two millionaire lawyers in front of their mansion threaten peaceful protesters with guns. The demonstrators are marching to the mayor's house to protest the killing of an unarmed black man by police.
Donald Trump honors them at the convention. Their only achievement: They threatened peaceful black protesters with guns.
Less that 24 hours later, a young man follows their example and kills two unarmed demonstrators.
A young, impressionable man sat in the front of a Trump rally and heard his message of hate and division. Today he's hailed as a hero by Trump supporters.
This is sick. This is wrong. This is dangerous. And as long as Donald Trump is president, he'll keep encouraging the kooks, the crazies, the extremists, the angry fringe.
It doesn't have to be this way.
Reject the hate. Reject the violence.
America, or Donald Trump? Stand up for America.


crooksandliars--2020-09-08--AP: Trump Was Briefed About Russian Bounties On Troops Back In 2019

According to the Associated Press , the White House knew early in 2019 and Trump was given a written briefing ( which he probably did n't read ) about the Russian bounties on American troops : Top officials in the White House were aware in early 2019 of classified intelligence indicating Russia was secretly offering bounties to the Taliban for the deaths of Americans , a full year earlier than has been previously reported , according to U.S. officials with direct knowledge of the intelligence .
The assessment was included in at least one of President Donald Trump ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , according to the officials .
Then-national security adviser John Bolton also told colleagues he briefed Trump on the intelligence assessment in March 2019 .
The White House did not respond to questions about Trump or other officials ’ awareness of Russia ’ s provocations in 2019 .
The White House has said Trump was not — and still has not been — briefed on the intelligence assessments because they have not been fully verified .
However , it is rare for intelligence to be confirmed without a shadow of a doubt before @ @ @ @ @ @ @ They 're saying Trump was `` unaware . ''
Well , of course .
If you train your advisers not to tell you anything mean about your best friend Putin because they know you will throw a tantrum , they 're going to avoid setting you off .
But you do know how to read , do n't you , Donald ?
I guess all those golf trips cut into your reading time .

According to the Associated Press, the White House knew early in 2019 and Trump was given a written briefing (which he probably didn't read) about the Russian bounties on American troops:
Top officials in the White House were aware in early 2019 of classified intelligence indicating Russia was secretly offering bounties to the Taliban for the deaths of Americans, a full year earlier than has been previously reported, according to U.S. officials with direct knowledge of the intelligence. The assessment was included in at least one of President Donald Trump’s written daily intelligence briefings at the time, according to the officials. Then-national security adviser John Bolton also told colleagues he briefed Trump on the intelligence assessment in March 2019. The White House did not respond to questions about Trump or other officials’ awareness of Russia’s provocations in 2019. The White House has said Trump was not — and still has not been — briefed on the intelligence assessments because they have not been fully verified. However, it is rare for intelligence to be confirmed without a shadow of a doubt before it is presented to top officials.
They're saying Trump was "unaware." Well, of course. If you train your advisers not to tell you anything mean about your best friend Putin because they know you will throw a tantrum, they're going to avoid setting you off. But you do know how to read, don't you, Donald?
I guess all those golf trips cut into your reading time.