newspunch--2020-03-08--Rod Blagojevich: Democrats Have ‘Abandoned’ American Workers, Black Voters

Former Illinois Gov .
Rod Blagojevich blasted his former political party , the Democrats , and outlined why he now considers himself a “ Trumpocrat ” in an interview on Saturday .
Speaking to the Patriot Channel on SiriusXM 125 , Blagojevich – whose sentence President Trump commuted last month – described how the Democratic Party has “ abandoned ” American workers and black voters .
According to Blagojevich , a number of policies his former party ’ s leaders have put forward have harmed African Americans and working class Americans economically and socially – and now that he ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to speak out .
Breitbart.com reports : What ’ s more , Blagojevich says the great irony of American politics is that Trump—a Republican—has done more to rectify these problems that Democrats created for black and working class Americans than any of America ’ s other recent presidents , in large part because Trump has ditched the “ traditional ” GOP playbook to pursue a more solutions-oriented agenda .
Upon his release from prison , Blagojevich announced he is a “ Trumpocrat ” –making him the highest profile such Democrat who has left @ @ @ @ @ @ @ here he explains his views in the most in-depth interview yet since his release .
“ When I say I ’ m a Trumpocrat—and hopefully a lot of others are as well , and I believe they are—it ’ s largely because the Democratic Party has not only left us but it ’ s abandoned traditional Democratic constituencies like working people , factory workers like my father an immigrant who came to America and spent all of his time here as a working man working in a steel factory , ” Blagojevich said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Party has for far too long taken the African American community for granted .
They ’ ve not only abandoned them , they ’ ve sold them out when they passed the crime bill in 1994 that President Clinton and Vice President Biden , then-Senator Biden backed and voted for .
Our senator here , Sen. Durbin , voted for it .
It ’ s a bill that led to the mass incarceration of a whole new generation of African American men for nonviolent first-time drug offenses , over-sentencing them and then putting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have no opportunity whatsoever to begin a new life after correcting the mistakes that they made and paying their debts to society , frankly , for the crimes that they committed .
President Trump , interestingly enough , is speaking to those constituencies in ways that traditional Republicans never did.
” Blagojevich said that whether it ’ s through his economic policies or his criminal justice reform policies or other norm-challenging fights , Trump has upended the normal political battle lines in a way that is “ revolutionizing American politics ” and “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ traditional ” political coalitions by zoning in on and successfully “ drawing from ” what were considered “ Democratic constituency groups.
” “ And I think he ’ s not only been successful politically because he ’ s done it , I think he ’ s revolutionizing American politics , ” Blagojevich said .
“ He ’ s re-aligning politics in America by drawing from those traditional Democratic constituency groups , the factory worker that used to work in a factory that ’ s gone because of the 1994 NAFTA bill that President @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
President Trump is bringing them back in places like western Pennsylvania and Michigan and Wisconsin and southern Illinois—the rust belt states .
One of the many frustrations I had as governor was when I would leave the Chicagoland area where I ’ m from—I ’ m from Chicago—and I ’ d visit places like the Quad Cities or Marion , Illinois , or Franklin County , Illinois , where they used to have coal mines and people were working and that was the economic anchor of the community or you ’ d @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Illinois , where the Maytag factory once was but has left because of NAFTA and President Clinton and the policies of the Democratic Party that ’ s supposed to be the party that protected those people and looked out for their interests .
It ’ s hard to be able to explain to those communities that there was hope , that there was a possibility that we might be able to bring some of those economic engines back to the state .
Now , at last , we have a president who not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s doing it .
I think President Trump is making real strides in succeeding in that but more importantly he ’ s actually addressing the needs of the American worker .
And with the First Step Act , he ’ s actually done something for a community that overwhelming votes for Democrats like me .
We easily get 90 percent or better of the African American vote when we run against Republicans .
Yet , the Democratic Party I would say cynically has taken the African American community for granted .
It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the African American community by sort of just keeping them dependent and in a certain place where they have to look to government for all the answers when at the same it ’ s actually government through over-sentencing and targeting African Americans that are causing a lot of the problems and conditions in these very communities.
” Blagojevich served almost eight years of a 14-year sentence handed down after multiple trials finally resulted in partial convictions , some of which were later vacated on appeal .
The first time they came at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one of 24 charges—the charge was lying to the FBI , something the agency has similarly used to target Trump allies in the various scandals he ’ s been entangled in—but then prosecutors retried him on 20 counts and he was convicted on 17 of them , acquitted on one , and on the other two no verdict was rendered .
Later , on appeal , five of the counts were vacated and Blagojevich ’ s lawyers continued fighting for years to try to get the Supreme Court to hear them .
But @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2020 who commuted his sentence—and let him out after eight years behind bars .
Blagojevich to this day insists he did nothing wrong , and that what he was put away for was politics as usual .
In fact the core allegation that he tried to sell Obama ’ s U.S. Senate seat when Obama was president-elect and Blagojevich was to appoint Obama ’ s successor , was one of the conviction charges vacated—or overturned—on appeal .
But the broader point Blagojevich tells with this story is that there is a serious problem @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and what happened to him could happen to anyone .
“ On this subject , sadly and unfortunately it took this long—I had this experience I had to endure and I will tell your listeners they put me in prison for things that are routine politics .
I didn ’ t cross any lines , ” Blagojevich said .
“ We were doing routine political things .
The sale of the Senate seat was never a crime .
That was reversed by the appellate court .
I was there for some fundraising @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the line and telling the jury you can be convicted for seeking a campaign contribution without any evidence of a promise or a threat because there was none .
But anyway , having said all of that , this long unhappy experience has given me a unique perspective .
I truly believe I am an expert witness on this .
I have street cred having done eight years in prison and I spent the first 32 months in prison as probably the only governor in American history to be in a high security @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the razor wire , ’ where I spent nearly three years with over 900 inmates coming and going where some would leave and new ones would come in .
They were largely drug dealers , gang-bangers , cartel members , there were bank robbers here , there men there who had committed murder , only two percent were so-called ‘ white collar.
’ So , I really got a firsthand lesson on real life and yes of course I met a lot of my fellow inmates—particularly drug dealers—who experienced over sentencing .
Here @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Moore , my friend who I just left behind is in his 11th year or actually just starting his 12th year of prison as part of a 26-year sentence as a first-time non-violent drug offender , a young African American man .
Consider the fact that the average rapist in America serves no more than four years , and here ’ s Jonair—he ’ s not unusual , he ’ s actually the rule not the exception , sent to prison for a quarter of a century for a one-time mistake when no @ @ @ @ @ @ @ broken and it disproportionately discriminates against African Americans .
It ’ s what the author Michelle Alexander has called ‘ The New Jim Crow in America.
’ ” Trump , Blagojevich said , has done more to reform this broken system than any Democrat has—including the first black president , Obama—and he said it was Democrats who created the problem to begin with when Biden and Clinton and Durbin teamed up to push the 1994 crime bill that Obama did nothing to alleviate .
“ I ’ ll say this , this is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ history : On this issue , it ’ s actually Donald Trump who ’ s trumping the first African American president—Obama—and actually doing something to solve this problem and undo the racist injustice caused by that 1994 crime bill , which has led to the current conditions we ’ re facing , ” Blagojevich said .
“ This was a bill Joe Biden not only voted for , but Joe Biden was a vocal advocate for and so were most of the leading Democrats including my senator here in Illinois Dick Durbin and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ signed it.
” Asked if these actions by Trump on this front , and what Trump has done with the economy and school choice among other efforts are winning the president support in the black community , Blagojevich said that “ my instincts tell me that it will and it will be a dramatic improvement among President Trump ’ s performance in the African American community among voters.
” Democrats have usually won around 90 percent or more of the black vote in most elections .
Trump won about eight percent in 2016 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2012 GOP nominee Mitt Romney ’ s six percent that year , is still a very small percentage .
“ I ’ ve only been home a little over two weeks so I haven ’ t been as plugged into the community as I was in the good old days , but I have made an appearance on an African American radio station here in Chicago maybe the second or third day I was home and I got the sense there was a growing sense President Trump was someone who was actually addressing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that they have gotten all too often almost accepting that they ’ re going to receive from the politicians they elected is just lip service , ” Blagojevich said .
“ I think there ’ s a real sense among people , and it ’ s growing as the truth gets out , and I think there ’ s going to be more and more people in the African American community who see that this president , President Trump , is a very different kind of leader than a traditional politician .
This @ @ @ @ @ @ @ opposed to making honestly—very too often , politicians make promises they have no intention of following through on to begin with .
I think that when it comes to criminal justice reform , this is a case where this is a president who ’ s actually doing real meaningful things that ’ s leading to the end of over-sentencing of many African Americans in the system .
I saw a few guys go home before I went home because of the First Step Act .
In terms of the guys I went to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ President Trump is doing ?
The answer is : yes , they are .
And I also think a lot of these guys like the fact that this is a president with a badass style and a guy that actually fights .
I think they like that too , and that ’ s waking up a lot of people .
They ’ re sick and tired of the BS.
” Blagojevich , who was the home state governor of Obama ’ s Illinois in 2008 , when the former president was first elected @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the first governor in America to endorse him that year , also told Breitbart News he now considers it a mistake to have endorsed Obama .
Blagojevich said that Obama promised all sorts of changes and hope for the country— “ hope and change ” were the now former president ’ s infamous campaign slogan—but Blagojevich says now upon reflection that Obama failed in every respect to bring either to the country , and that they were empty rhetorical catchphrases with no substance behind them .
He said Trump , on the other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ President Obama was elected in 2008 .
Here ’ s something I ’ ll plead guilty to : I was the first governor to endorse him , ” Blagojevich said .
“ That I did , and it was wrong—but at the time I thought it was right .
Obama ’ s election if you really think about it was based very little on detail .
It was based on his themes ‘ hope and change.
’ People were sick and tired of the usual baloney in politics and fake solutions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ re not real .
‘ These guys are saying they did something for us somehow , but I ’ m not feeling it .
Things continued to stay the same and the lobbyists and the insiders are all getting rich in Washington or in my case in Illinois in Springfield , but how come my tax bill is going up ?
’ Obama was elected because the American people felt they wanted change and this was a new candidate who was talking about hope and change .
It wasn ’ t a lot @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were so hungry for change they took a leap of faith on President Obama and did something historic electing our first African American president in the history of our country—which is a very good thing for our country .
It turns out however Obama was just that , all rhetoric .
It was just a slogan .
He didn ’ t do it .
So I think that eight years later , when President Trump came down that escalator—I was watching that in prison on one of those televisions in prison—I felt the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to talk and then he didn ’ t back down .
He was losing big because of some of the tough positions he was taking , but I was convinced at that time he was going to win .
Now , you have a guy who ’ s not just saying he ’ s going to bring change—he ’ s bringing real hope that he ’ s going to stand up for something and take the hit and lose something for what he was going to get .
It ’ s not real @ @ @ @ @ @ @ make a few enemies .
That I think is what President Trump is doing .
I think some of the guys I was in prison with , African American guys who are seeing this new president as a very different kind of leader than Obama and frankly all the other ones that preceded President Trump leading up to his election.
” Asked about the unique populist space that Trump has found in American politics , Blagojevich said he believes it is the future—whether it ’ s on trade deals like the USMCA , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the House and 89 votes in the Senate , or on forthcoming major policy packages like infrastructure .
He noted , too , that while he disagrees with the socialist solutions offered by Sen. Bernie Sanders ( I-VT ) , he thinks that Sanders is zoning in on some of the core problems facing the country—and the culprits in Washington and on Wall Street behind such problems .
“ President Trump has filled that vacuum , ” Blagojevich said .
“ That ’ s absolutely right .
That ’ s what ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ frankly , even with Bernie Sanders and his supporters .
He ’ s taken positions and views and he ’ s offered solutions to the problems that I think frankly are unworkable .
History proves that socialism never works , and actually is counter-productive .
But at least Bernie Sanders is actually talking about identifying some of the problems that are facing our country .
Now , President Trump on the other hand is not only addressing those issues but he ’ s now the president and he ’ s actually achieving things @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are leading to an economy that is booming because of the very things he has done whether it ’ s the tax cuts , reducing the regulations , and these trade deals—all are absolutely long overdue .
Here again is an example of a different philosophy that Trump is offering to the American people and I think he ’ s speaking to a whole bunch of different people who frankly tuned out of the process long ago because they understand how full of baloney the political system has become for a long , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coming back into the political system.
” Blagojevich added that Trump ’ s success is in large part marked by how many “ enemies ” he ’ s amassed in Washington trying to take him down and stop his progress .
“ You got a lot of voters who are not even being called by pollsters because they haven ’ t voted for several elections , but now because President Trump is actually bringing real change and actually keeping promises that he ’ s making and solving those problems and among the evidence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that he ’ s got so many enemies that want to destroy him , ” Blagojevich said .
“ One of the Roosevelt presidents , I think it was Franklin but it could have been Teddy , he said ‘ ah , you have enemies .
Good .
That means you stand for something.
’ The fact that President Trump is getting so much pushback and the opposition is so determined to destroy him—and that raise a whole bunch of other issues , and I ’ m also an expert witness on this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ try to shake things up and change things the political establishment comes after you and destroys you personally , this is a real serious problem for another discussion—but the fact that President Trump is getting that kind of response and that the Democrats decided to abuse the impeachment process and use it as a political weapon frankly is a badge of honor for President Trump .
It ’ s more evidence he ’ s doing what he said he was going to do and he ’ s changing things and they know it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ don ’ t like it .
So the more he keeps fighting and achieves things and changes things , like USMCA as you say in spite of all this opposition to be able to do the necessary things to get the bipartisan support to pass those trade deals , because he ’ s been able to use Twitter and the ability to communicate directly to the people , he ’ s been able to force those people like the operatives and congressmen in Washington to respond to his leadership and support some of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t want to give him a political win they got to support this stuff to get re-elected .
So yeah , I think there ’ s a tremendous space—a lot of room in that area—of those non-voters who tuned out a long time ago and I think you ’ re going to see President Trump being very successful in November and I think you ’ re going to see the number of votes that he gets will far exceed what he got the first time and a lot of those will be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for a long time .
A lot of them came out in 2016 , but my prediction is a lot more of them will come out in 2020 since President Trump has proven to be different from the usual politicians .
This is a guy who actually fights to get things done.
” Blagojevich said that the same Democrat machine that targeted him—and Trump—is also trying to take down Sanders .
That is because , he said , the Democrat Party is now “ the party of Wall Street , ” he said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ so transparent to me .
This is the new Democratic Party , the Chuck Schumer-Nancy Pelosi Democratic Party , ” Blagojevich said .
“ It ’ s the party—ready for this—of Wall Street .
They ’ ve become the party of Wall Street .
That ’ s why they sold out the American worker with NAFTA .
They went to Wall Street because it ’ s loaded with campaign contributions .
Now , the Democratic Party today because of the growth of the internet and online communications , now the Democratic Party is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at the expense of the working person and family and the African American community because of some of the other things that they do .
They cynically have abandoned the African American community and made a determination to keep that part of our nation dependent upon government in a way so that they have no other place to go but to vote for Democrats and the simple way for Democrats to keep them voting for them is call anybody who offers some kind of solution like school choice or other reforms like criminal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
It ’ s a real cynical ugly kind of politics that the modern Democratic Party is engaged in .
Of course they ’ re going to do anything they can to keep Bernie Sanders from winning and they ’ re going to be successful in doing it with the establishment ganging up on him .
Bernie , again , is wrong on the solutions but at least he has the courage to raise the issues .
I remember here ’ s where he was so right and I was so wrong .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ new congressman back after 9/11 , me and everybody else we all voted for the Patriot Act .
Then there was Bernie Sanders , that crazy guy from Vermont—Bernie voted against the Patriot Act .
I remember thinking how crazy he was .
He was right , and we were wrong .
That Patriot Act has led to the undermining of civil liberties , giving unchecked power of prosecutors who have weaponized their power and now criminalized routine practices motivated not by the desire to serve the interests of justice but instead to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ want to bring down who are ruffling the feathers of the establishment .
Frankly , what they did at the AAA level to a Democratic governor , to me—a lot of the same people , Comey , Fitzgerald , and Mueller , the same ones have been trying to do it at the major league level to a Republican president in President Trump .
We have a lot of challenges ahead of us and the Democratic establishment abandoned these traditional voting groups and Bernie Sanders is going to pay a price because he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ challenge and raise questions that frankly question the establishment.
” For Blagojevich , for now , he is unclear about the future—he says he wants to write a book or two , and find a way to help champion the issues he cares about–especially criminal justice reform .
But one thing he is certain of : He is “ everlastingly grateful ” to Trump for having the “ testicular virility ” that he says Obama did not ever have to right the wrong he considers was done to him by the criminal justice @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sure , it ’ s all very new , I ’ ve never come out of prison before so after eight years it ’ s a new experience , ” Blagojevich said .
“ I hope to write a book or two—I ’ d like to write a book about my experience and what I ’ ve learned along the way .
I think I can offer a unique perspective .
I ’ d also like to write a book about helping people through their struggles and adversity because I share with them @ @ @ @ @ @ @ strength and purpose that worked through the long dark wilderness that I was in .
I ’ d like maybe to be able to do something like that that could be helpful to people .
I ’ d like to fight for criminal justice reform and I do believe I have a lot I can say about that from both sides , as a former governor where we did certain things but could have done so much more but also what I went through and have come out of .
Right now , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Cameo where you do shout-outs to people and it ’ s a way to earn a living and it ’ s actually kind of nice because I ’ ll get a request from a daughter and she wants to celebrate her mother ’ s birthday so she ’ ll ask ‘ hey governor can you say to my mother you ’ re a great mother and thank you for raising us children and loving us as you have ?
’ So you bring a little smile on the faces of people who make @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been nice .
But in terms of what I ’ m going to do in the way of something lasting , it ’ s unclear right now .
It ’ s all very new .
But let me say this—whatever it is , it ’ s way better than what it was .
There ’ s nothing like being home and being with your family and I ’ m blessed to be with my daughters and with my wife Patti who are the purpose and inspiration for me to come out and find @ @ @ @ @ @ @ m grateful , everlastingly grateful , to President Trump again for having the testicular virility to trump Obama and do the right thing .
”

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Former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich blasted his former political party, the Democrats, and outlined why he now considers himself a “Trumpocrat” in an interview on Saturday.
Speaking to the Patriot Channel on SiriusXM 125, Blagojevich – whose sentence President Trump commuted last month – described how the Democratic Party has “abandoned” American workers and black voters.
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According to Blagojevich, a number of policies his former party’s leaders have put forward have harmed African Americans and working class Americans economically and socially – and now that he’s out of prison, he wants to speak out.
Breitbart.com reports: What’s more, Blagojevich says the great irony of American politics is that Trump—a Republican—has done more to rectify these problems that Democrats created for black and working class Americans than any of America’s other recent presidents, in large part because Trump has ditched the “traditional” GOP playbook to pursue a more solutions-oriented agenda. Upon his release from prison, Blagojevich announced he is a “Trumpocrat”–making him the highest profile such Democrat who has left the Democratic Party to join President Trump–and here he explains his views in the most in-depth interview yet since his release.
“When I say I’m a Trumpocrat—and hopefully a lot of others are as well, and I believe they are—it’s largely because the Democratic Party has not only left us but it’s abandoned traditional Democratic constituencies like working people, factory workers like my father an immigrant who came to America and spent all of his time here as a working man working in a steel factory,” Blagojevich said. “And also, the Democratic Party has for far too long taken the African American community for granted. They’ve not only abandoned them, they’ve sold them out when they passed the crime bill in 1994 that President Clinton and Vice President Biden, then-Senator Biden backed and voted for. Our senator here, Sen. Durbin, voted for it. It’s a bill that led to the mass incarceration of a whole new generation of African American men for nonviolent first-time drug offenses, over-sentencing them and then putting them in a position where they can have no opportunity whatsoever to begin a new life after correcting the mistakes that they made and paying their debts to society, frankly, for the crimes that they committed. President Trump, interestingly enough, is speaking to those constituencies in ways that traditional Republicans never did.”
Blagojevich said that whether it’s through his economic policies or his criminal justice reform policies or other norm-challenging fights, Trump has upended the normal political battle lines in a way that is “revolutionizing American politics” and “re-aligning” what would be considered “traditional” political coalitions by zoning in on and successfully “drawing from” what were considered “Democratic constituency groups.”
“And I think he’s not only been successful politically because he’s done it, I think he’s revolutionizing American politics,” Blagojevich said. “He’s re-aligning politics in America by drawing from those traditional Democratic constituency groups, the factory worker that used to work in a factory that’s gone because of the 1994 NAFTA bill that President Clinton signed sending all those jobs away. President Trump is bringing them back in places like western Pennsylvania and Michigan and Wisconsin and southern Illinois—the rust belt states. One of the many frustrations I had as governor was when I would leave the Chicagoland area where I’m from—I’m from Chicago—and I’d visit places like the Quad Cities or Marion, Illinois, or Franklin County, Illinois, where they used to have coal mines and people were working and that was the economic anchor of the community or you’d go to a place like Galesburg, Illinois, where the Maytag factory once was but has left because of NAFTA and President Clinton and the policies of the Democratic Party that’s supposed to be the party that protected those people and looked out for their interests. It’s hard to be able to explain to those communities that there was hope, that there was a possibility that we might be able to bring some of those economic engines back to the state. Now, at last, we have a president who not only promised to do it but he’s doing it. I think President Trump is making real strides in succeeding in that but more importantly he’s actually addressing the needs of the American worker. And with the First Step Act, he’s actually done something for a community that overwhelming votes for Democrats like me. We easily get 90 percent or better of the African American vote when we run against Republicans. Yet, the Democratic Party I would say cynically has taken the African American community for granted. It’s almost immoral, their treatment of the African American community by sort of just keeping them dependent and in a certain place where they have to look to government for all the answers when at the same it’s actually government through over-sentencing and targeting African Americans that are causing a lot of the problems and conditions in these very communities.”
Blagojevich served almost eight years of a 14-year sentence handed down after multiple trials finally resulted in partial convictions, some of which were later vacated on appeal. The first time they came at Blagojevich, he was convicted on only one of 24 charges—the charge was lying to the FBI, something the agency has similarly used to target Trump allies in the various scandals he’s been entangled in—but then prosecutors retried him on 20 counts and he was convicted on 17 of them, acquitted on one, and on the other two no verdict was rendered. Later, on appeal, five of the counts were vacated and Blagojevich’s lawyers continued fighting for years to try to get the Supreme Court to hear them.
But eventually, it was Trump in early 2020 who commuted his sentence—and let him out after eight years behind bars. Blagojevich to this day insists he did nothing wrong, and that what he was put away for was politics as usual. In fact the core allegation that he tried to sell Obama’s U.S. Senate seat when Obama was president-elect and Blagojevich was to appoint Obama’s successor, was one of the conviction charges vacated—or overturned—on appeal. But the broader point Blagojevich tells with this story is that there is a serious problem in America’s criminal justice system, and what happened to him could happen to anyone.
“On this subject, sadly and unfortunately it took this long—I had this experience I had to endure and I will tell your listeners they put me in prison for things that are routine politics. I didn’t cross any lines,” Blagojevich said. “We were doing routine political things. The sale of the Senate seat was never a crime. That was reversed by the appellate court. I was there for some fundraising requests and they convicted me by moving the line and telling the jury you can be convicted for seeking a campaign contribution without any evidence of a promise or a threat because there was none. But anyway, having said all of that, this long unhappy experience has given me a unique perspective. I truly believe I am an expert witness on this. I have street cred having done eight years in prison and I spent the first 32 months in prison as probably the only governor in American history to be in a high security prison behind what the inmates call ‘the razor wire,’ where I spent nearly three years with over 900 inmates coming and going where some would leave and new ones would come in. They were largely drug dealers, gang-bangers, cartel members, there were bank robbers here, there men there who had committed murder, only two percent were so-called ‘white collar.’ So, I really got a firsthand lesson on real life and yes of course I met a lot of my fellow inmates—particularly drug dealers—who experienced over sentencing. Here’s a classic example, Jonair Moore, my friend who I just left behind is in his 11th year or actually just starting his 12th year of prison as part of a 26-year sentence as a first-time non-violent drug offender, a young African American man. Consider the fact that the average rapist in America serves no more than four years, and here’s Jonair—he’s not unusual, he’s actually the rule not the exception, sent to prison for a quarter of a century for a one-time mistake when no one was hurt. The system is broken and it disproportionately discriminates against African Americans. It’s what the author Michelle Alexander has called ‘The New Jim Crow in America.’”
Trump, Blagojevich said, has done more to reform this broken system than any Democrat has—including the first black president, Obama—and he said it was Democrats who created the problem to begin with when Biden and Clinton and Durbin teamed up to push the 1994 crime bill that Obama did nothing to alleviate.
“I’ll say this, this is one of the great ironies in modern history: On this issue, it’s actually Donald Trump who’s trumping the first African American president—Obama—and actually doing something to solve this problem and undo the racist injustice caused by that 1994 crime bill, which has led to the current conditions we’re facing,” Blagojevich said. “This was a bill Joe Biden not only voted for, but Joe Biden was a vocal advocate for and so were most of the leading Democrats including my senator here in Illinois Dick Durbin and of course President Clinton was the who signed it.”
Asked if these actions by Trump on this front, and what Trump has done with the economy and school choice among other efforts are winning the president support in the black community, Blagojevich said that “my instincts tell me that it will and it will be a dramatic improvement among President Trump’s performance in the African American community among voters.” Democrats have usually won around 90 percent or more of the black vote in most elections. Trump won about eight percent in 2016, which, while better than failed 2012 GOP nominee Mitt Romney’s six percent that year, is still a very small percentage.
“I’ve only been home a little over two weeks so I haven’t been as plugged into the community as I was in the good old days, but I have made an appearance on an African American radio station here in Chicago maybe the second or third day I was home and I got the sense there was a growing sense President Trump was someone who was actually addressing the problems in the African American community that they have gotten all too often almost accepting that they’re going to receive from the politicians they elected is just lip service,” Blagojevich said. “I think there’s a real sense among people, and it’s growing as the truth gets out, and I think there’s going to be more and more people in the African American community who see that this president, President Trump, is a very different kind of leader than a traditional politician. This is a guy who solves problems as opposed to making honestly—very too often, politicians make promises they have no intention of following through on to begin with. I think that when it comes to criminal justice reform, this is a case where this is a president who’s actually doing real meaningful things that’s leading to the end of over-sentencing of many African Americans in the system. I saw a few guys go home before I went home because of the First Step Act. In terms of the guys I went to prison with, are they seeing what President Trump is doing? The answer is: yes, they are. And I also think a lot of these guys like the fact that this is a president with a badass style and a guy that actually fights. I think they like that too, and that’s waking up a lot of people. They’re sick and tired of the BS.”
Blagojevich, who was the home state governor of Obama’s Illinois in 2008, when the former president was first elected to the White House, and was the first governor in America to endorse him that year, also told Breitbart News he now considers it a mistake to have endorsed Obama. Blagojevich said that Obama promised all sorts of changes and hope for the country—“hope and change” were the now former president’s infamous campaign slogan—but Blagojevich says now upon reflection that Obama failed in every respect to bring either to the country, and that they were empty rhetorical catchphrases with no substance behind them. He said Trump, on the other hand, has actually delivered whereObama failed.
“President Obama was elected in 2008. Here’s something I’ll plead guilty to: I was the first governor to endorse him,” Blagojevich said. “That I did, and it was wrong—but at the time I thought it was right. Obama’s election if you really think about it was based very little on detail. It was based on his themes ‘hope and change.’ People were sick and tired of the usual baloney in politics and fake solutions dressed up as solutions but they’re not real. ‘These guys are saying they did something for us somehow, but I’m not feeling it. Things continued to stay the same and the lobbyists and the insiders are all getting rich in Washington or in my case in Illinois in Springfield, but how come my tax bill is going up?’ Obama was elected because the American people felt they wanted change and this was a new candidate who was talking about hope and change. It wasn’t a lot of substance under it, but they were so hungry for change they took a leap of faith on President Obama and did something historic electing our first African American president in the history of our country—which is a very good thing for our country. It turns out however Obama was just that, all rhetoric. It was just a slogan. He didn’t do it. So I think that eight years later, when President Trump came down that escalator—I was watching that in prison on one of those televisions in prison—I felt the same way you did. He started to talk and then he didn’t back down. He was losing big because of some of the tough positions he was taking, but I was convinced at that time he was going to win. Now, you have a guy who’s not just saying he’s going to bring change—he’s bringing real hope that he’s going to stand up for something and take the hit and lose something for what he was going to get. It’s not real change unless you ruffle some feathers and make a few enemies. That I think is what President Trump is doing. I think some of the guys I was in prison with, African American guys who are seeing this new president as a very different kind of leader than Obama and frankly all the other ones that preceded President Trump leading up to his election.”
Asked about the unique populist space that Trump has found in American politics, Blagojevich said he believes it is the future—whether it’s on trade deals like the USMCA, which got more than 380 votes in the House and 89 votes in the Senate, or on forthcoming major policy packages like infrastructure. He noted, too, that while he disagrees with the socialist solutions offered by Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT), he thinks that Sanders is zoning in on some of the core problems facing the country—and the culprits in Washington and on Wall Street behind such problems.
“President Trump has filled that vacuum,” Blagojevich said. “That’s absolutely right. That’s what’s going on. You see it, frankly, even with Bernie Sanders and his supporters. He’s taken positions and views and he’s offered solutions to the problems that I think frankly are unworkable. History proves that socialism never works, and actually is counter-productive. But at least Bernie Sanders is actually talking about identifying some of the problems that are facing our country. Now, President Trump on the other hand is not only addressing those issues but he’s now the president and he’s actually achieving things and providing real, meaningful solutions that are leading to an economy that is booming because of the very things he has done whether it’s the tax cuts, reducing the regulations, and these trade deals—all are absolutely long overdue. Here again is an example of a different philosophy that Trump is offering to the American people and I think he’s speaking to a whole bunch of different people who frankly tuned out of the process long ago because they understand how full of baloney the political system has become for a long, long time. They’re now coming back into the political system.”
Blagojevich added that Trump’s success is in large part marked by how many “enemies” he’s amassed in Washington trying to take him down and stop his progress.
“You got a lot of voters who are not even being called by pollsters because they haven’t voted for several elections, but now because President Trump is actually bringing real change and actually keeping promises that he’s making and solving those problems and among the evidence that he’s doing it is that he’s got so many enemies that want to destroy him,” Blagojevich said. “One of the Roosevelt presidents, I think it was Franklin but it could have been Teddy, he said ‘ah, you have enemies. Good. That means you stand for something.’ The fact that President Trump is getting so much pushback and the opposition is so determined to destroy him—and that raise a whole bunch of other issues, and I’m also an expert witness on this and how when you go down and try to shake things up and change things the political establishment comes after you and destroys you personally, this is a real serious problem for another discussion—but the fact that President Trump is getting that kind of response and that the Democrats decided to abuse the impeachment process and use it as a political weapon frankly is a badge of honor for President Trump. It’s more evidence he’s doing what he said he was going to do and he’s changing things and they know it in that establishment in Washington and they don’t like it. So the more he keeps fighting and achieves things and changes things, like USMCA as you say in spite of all this opposition to be able to do the necessary things to get the bipartisan support to pass those trade deals, because he’s been able to use Twitter and the ability to communicate directly to the people, he’s been able to force those people like the operatives and congressmen in Washington to respond to his leadership and support some of his stuff because even though they don’t want to give him a political win they got to support this stuff to get re-elected. So yeah, I think there’s a tremendous space—a lot of room in that area—of those non-voters who tuned out a long time ago and I think you’re going to see President Trump being very successful in November and I think you’re going to see the number of votes that he gets will far exceed what he got the first time and a lot of those will be voters who haven’t been voting for a long time. A lot of them came out in 2016, but my prediction is a lot more of them will come out in 2020 since President Trump has proven to be different from the usual politicians. This is a guy who actually fights to get things done.”
Blagojevich said that the same Democrat machine that targeted him—and Trump—is also trying to take down Sanders. That is because, he said, the Democrat Party is now “the party of Wall Street,” he said.
“Absolutely, and it seems so transparent to me. This is the new Democratic Party, the Chuck Schumer-Nancy Pelosi Democratic Party,” Blagojevich said. “It’s the party—ready for this—of Wall Street. They’ve become the party of Wall Street. That’s why they sold out the American worker with NAFTA. They went to Wall Street because it’s loaded with campaign contributions. Now, the Democratic Party today because of the growth of the internet and online communications, now the Democratic Party is also the party of Silicon Valley—again, at the expense of the working person and family and the African American community because of some of the other things that they do. They cynically have abandoned the African American community and made a determination to keep that part of our nation dependent upon government in a way so that they have no other place to go but to vote for Democrats and the simple way for Democrats to keep them voting for them is call anybody who offers some kind of solution like school choice or other reforms like criminal justice reform, to call them racists. It’s a real cynical ugly kind of politics that the modern Democratic Party is engaged in. Of course they’re going to do anything they can to keep Bernie Sanders from winning and they’re going to be successful in doing it with the establishment ganging up on him. Bernie, again, is wrong on the solutions but at least he has the courage to raise the issues. I remember here’s where he was so right and I was so wrong. I remember when I was a brand new congressman back after 9/11, me and everybody else we all voted for the Patriot Act. Then there was Bernie Sanders, that crazy guy from Vermont—Bernie voted against the Patriot Act. I remember thinking how crazy he was. He was right, and we were wrong. That Patriot Act has led to the undermining of civil liberties, giving unchecked power of prosecutors who have weaponized their power and now criminalized routine practices motivated not by the desire to serve the interests of justice but instead to go after political enemies or people they want to bring down who are ruffling the feathers of the establishment. Frankly, what they did at the AAA level to a Democratic governor, to me—a lot of the same people, Comey, Fitzgerald, and Mueller, the same ones have been trying to do it at the major league level to a Republican president in President Trump. We have a lot of challenges ahead of us and the Democratic establishment abandoned these traditional voting groups and Bernie Sanders is going to pay a price because he’s got the chutzpah enough to challenge and raise questions that frankly question the establishment.”
For Blagojevich, for now, he is unclear about the future—he says he wants to write a book or two, and find a way to help champion the issues he cares about–especially criminal justice reform. But one thing he is certain of: He is “everlastingly grateful” to Trump for having the “testicular virility” that he says Obama did not ever have to right the wrong he considers was done to him by the criminal justice system.
“I’m not sure, it’s all very new, I’ve never come out of prison before so after eight years it’s a new experience,” Blagojevich said. “I hope to write a book or two—I’d like to write a book about my experience and what I’ve learned along the way. I think I can offer a unique perspective. I’d also like to write a book about helping people through their struggles and adversity because I share with them how I found the inspiration and the strength and purpose that worked through the long dark wilderness that I was in. I’d like maybe to be able to do something like that that could be helpful to people. I’d like to fight for criminal justice reform and I do believe I have a lot I can say about that from both sides, as a former governor where we did certain things but could have done so much more but also what I went through and have come out of. Right now, I’m doing this thing called Cameo where you do shout-outs to people and it’s a way to earn a living and it’s actually kind of nice because I’ll get a request from a daughter and she wants to celebrate her mother’s birthday so she’ll ask ‘hey governor can you say to my mother you’re a great mother and thank you for raising us children and loving us as you have?’ So you bring a little smile on the faces of people who make these requests, so that’s been nice. But in terms of what I’m going to do in the way of something lasting, it’s unclear right now. It’s all very new. But let me say this—whatever it is, it’s way better than what it was. There’s nothing like being home and being with your family and I’m blessed to be with my daughters and with my wife Patti who are the purpose and inspiration for me to come out and find a way back home. I’m grateful, everlastingly grateful, to President Trump again for having the testicular virility to trump Obama and do the right thing.”
LISTEN:


newspunch--2020-03-08--Coronavirus: Italy to Quarantine Over 25% of Its Population

Italy has declared a widespread lockdown of over 17 million people in response to the swift spread of the deadly coronavirus , which originated in China .
“ The Italian government is locking down 17 million people—more than a quarter of its population—including in Milan , the surrounding Lombardy region and 14 neighboring provinces , in the most sweeping steps any European country has prepared to take against the coronavirus epidemic , ” The Wall Street Journal reported .
“ Police , emergency services and if needed the army will be available to enforce the quarantine .
People violating the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or jail terms , according to the draft decree.
” According to the BBC , the mandatory quarantine will last until April at the earliest .
The Italian government are also imposing the following new restrictions : • Night clubs , gyms , swimming pools , museums and ski resorts will be closed .
• Restaurants and cafes can open but customers must sit at least a metre apart .
• People will be told to stay home as much as possible , and those who break the quarantine could face three months @ @ @ @ @ @ @ close to the public , and the president of Italy ’ s football players ’ union has called for all matches to be postponed .
• The country has said it will start recruiting retired doctors in an effort to combat the escalating outbreak .
Dailywire.com reports : The news comes as the number of cases of coronavirus around the world hit over 105,000 late on Saturday with over 3,500 deaths .
Italy has the largest confirmed outbreak outside of Asia so far with nearly 6,000 cases and over 230 deaths .

Italy has declared a widespread lockdown of over 17 million people in response to the swift spread of the deadly coronavirus, which originated in China.
“The Italian government is locking down 17 million people—more than a quarter of its population—including in Milan, the surrounding Lombardy region and 14 neighboring provinces, in the most sweeping steps any European country has prepared to take against the coronavirus epidemic,” The Wall Street Journal reported.
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“Police, emergency services and if needed the army will be available to enforce the quarantine. People violating the lockdown can be punished with a fine or jail terms, according to the draft decree.”
According to the BBC, the mandatory quarantine will last until April at the earliest.
The Italian government are also imposing the following new restrictions:
Night clubs, gyms, swimming pools, museums and ski resorts will be closed.
Restaurants and cafes can open but customers must sit at least a metre apart.
People will be told to stay home as much as possible, and those who break the quarantine could face three months in jail.
Sports competitions will close to the public, and the president of Italy’s football players’ union has called for all matches to be postponed.
The country has said it will start recruiting retired doctors in an effort to combat the escalating outbreak.
Dailywire.com reports: The news comes as the number of cases of coronavirus around the world hit over 105,000 late on Saturday with over 3,500 deaths.
Italy has the largest confirmed outbreak outside of Asia so far with nearly 6,000 cases and over 230 deaths.


newspunch--2020-03-08--Sleepy Joe Biden Is Now Forgetting His Own Name: ‘I’m An Obiden-Bama Democrat!’

Democrat presidential frontrunner Joe Biden is now forgetting his own name , telling a crowd of supporters that he ’ @ @ @ @ @ “ Joe Biden held what passes for a ‘ rally ’ for a Democrat at @ @ @ @ @ Louis , Missouri on Saturday after a successful Super Tuesday .
Days after confusing his @ @ @ @ @ the 77-year-old former Vice President jumbled his own name during the seven minute speech in @ @ @ @ @ his name with Barack Obama ’ s name as he was boasting about his credentials @ @ @ @ @ This is starting to get embarrassing .
“ I ’ m an Obiden-Bama Democrat !
@ @ @ @ @ cheering crowd .
It ’ s time to ask , seriously , what is wrong @ @ @ @

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Democrat presidential frontrunner Joe Biden is now forgetting his own name, telling a crowd of supporters that he’s an “Obiden-Bama Democrat.“
Joe Biden held what passes for a ‘rally’ for a Democrat at Kiener Plaza in downtown St. Louis, Missouri on Saturday after a successful Super Tuesday.
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https://twitter.com/CANCEL_SAM/status/1236390766970314752?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1236390766970314752&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thegatewaypundit.com%2F2020%2F03%2Fwhat-is-wrong-with-old-joe-biden-jumbles-his-own-name-im-an-obiden-bama-democrat-video%2F
Days after confusing his sister for his wife, the 77-year-old former Vice President jumbled his own name during the seven minute speech in St. Louis.
Biden mish-mashed his name with Barack Obama’s name as he was boasting about his credentials as a life-long Democrat.
This is starting to get embarrassing.
“I’m an Obiden-Bama Democrat!” Biden declared to the cheering crowd.
It’s time to ask, seriously, what is wrong with Sleepy Joe?


newspunch--2020-03-08--Juanita Broaddrick Slams New Clinton Film: Why Didn’t They Ask Bill Why He ‘Raped Women’?

Juanita Broaddrick slammed Hulu ’ s new Hillary Clinton docuseries Thursday , calling it “ pure garbage ” and accusing @ @ @ @ @ the “ guts ” to ask Bill Clinton why he “ sexually assaulted and raped @ @ @ @ @ has accused former President Bill Clinton of raping her in April of 1978 , tweeted @ @ @ @ @ ’ s absolutely unbelievable ?
Hulu allowing a low life sexual predator to talk about @ @ @ @ @ one has the “ guts ” to say….. Can you tell us why you sexually @ @ @ @ @ Hulu ’ s Clinton doc is pure GARBAGE.
” DailyCaller report : Broaddrick also mocked @ @ @ @ @ Clinton ’ s infidelities while at the White House — namely his dalliance with then-intern @ @ @ @ @ “ What in the Hell ?
On the next episode will he share why he @ @ @ @ @ the documentary that he had engaged in oral sex with Lewinsky in an effort “ @ @ @ @ @ ”

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Juanita Broaddrick slammed Hulu’s new Hillary Clinton docuseries Thursday, calling it “pure garbage” and accusing production staff of not having the “guts” to ask Bill Clinton why he “sexually assaulted and raped women.“
Broaddrick, who has accused former President Bill Clinton of raping her in April of 1978, tweeted, “You know what’s absolutely unbelievable? Hulu allowing a low life sexual predator to talk about blow job therapy and no one has the “guts” to say….. Can you tell us why you sexually assaulted and raped women? Hulu’s Clinton doc is pure GARBAGE.”
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https://twitter.com/atensnut/status/1235700877807071232?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1235700877807071232&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fdailycaller.com%2F2020%2F03%2F05%2Fpure-garbage-juanita-broaddrick-hulu-clinton-documentary%2F
DailyCaller report: Broaddrick also mocked Hulu’s handling of Clinton’s infidelities while at the White House — namely his dalliance with then-intern Monica Lewinsky — adding, “What in the Hell? On the next episode will he share why he raped.”
https://twitter.com/atensnut/status/1235647190602625024?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1235647190602625024&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fdailycaller.com%2F2020%2F03%2F05%2Fpure-garbage-juanita-broaddrick-hulu-clinton-documentary%2F
Clinton claimed in the documentary that he had engaged in oral sex with Lewinsky in an effort “to manage my anxieties.”


newspunch--2020-03-08--Ugly Bette: Trump Is the ‘Most Hated, Most Repulsive Human Male’

Hollywood actress Bette Midler has launched another scathing attack on President Trump this week by calling him the “ most hated , most repulsive human male on the planet today.
” The deranged Trump-hating star also defended presidential candidate dropout , Sen. Elizabeth Warren , calling her a “ powerhouse.
” “ # EllizabethWarren is a powerhouse , but Donald Trump , that stable genius , said she was unlikeable , ” Midler said following Warren ’ s announcement .
“ Well , Don , in breaking news , she ’ s 100 % more likable than you !
You @ @ @ @ @ @ @ human male on the planet today , & God knows , there are plenty to choose from.
” Trump on Friday discussed Warren ’ s exit from the primary race , attributing her political demise to a “ lack of talent ” and referring to her likability factor .
“ People don ’ t like her .
She ’ s a very mean person , and people don ’ t like her , ” Trump said .
“ They like a person like me that ’ s not mean.
” Breitbart.com reports : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ affirmed her support for Mike Bloomberg ( D ) on Super Tuesday , telling her 1.8 million followers that she was “ all in ” for the former New York City mayor .
“ TODAY IS SUPER TUESDAY , as if you didn ’ t know .
And I am all in for @ MikeBloomberg .
Rail at me all you want , but I saw New York City go from being down on its knees to standing upright and proud after 9-11 , ” the Hocus Pocus actress said .
“ It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not without mistakes , but he got it done.
” Despite backing from high-profile Hollywood figures like Midler , Bloomberg ’ s Super Tuesday strategy did not materialize , and he subsequently dropped out of the race and threw his support behind Joe Biden ( D ) .
Last month , the actress-singer freaked out over one of the president ’ s tweets , warning that he will “ rule you until he dies , you die , or both .
”

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Hollywood actress Bette Midler has launched another scathing attack on President Trump this week by calling him the “most hated, most repulsive human male on the planet today.”
The deranged Trump-hating star also defended presidential candidate dropout, Sen. Elizabeth Warren, calling her a “powerhouse.”
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“#EllizabethWarren is a powerhouse, but Donald Trump, that stable genius, said she was unlikeable,” Midler said following Warren’s announcement. “Well, Don, in breaking news, she’s 100% more likable than you! You are the most hated, most repulsive human male on the planet today, & God knows, there are plenty to choose from.”
#EllizabethWarren is a powerhouse, but Donald Trump, that stable genius, said she was unlikeable. Well, Don, in breaking news, she's 100% more likable than you! You are the most hated, most repulsive human male on the planet today, & God knows, there are plenty to choose from. — bettemidler (@BetteMidler) March 7, 2020
Trump on Friday discussed Warren’s exit from the primary race, attributing her political demise to a “lack of talent” and referring to her likability factor.
“People don’t like her. She’s a very mean person, and people don’t like her,” Trump said.
“People don’t want that,” Trump added.
“They like a person like me that’s not mean.”
Breitbart.com reports: Despite her defense of Warren, Midler affirmed her support for Mike Bloomberg (D) on Super Tuesday, telling her 1.8 million followers that she was “all in” for the former New York City mayor.
“TODAY IS SUPER TUESDAY, as if you didn’t know. And I am all in for @MikeBloomberg. Rail at me all you want, but I saw New York City go from being down on its knees to standing upright and proud after 9-11,” the Hocus Pocus actress said. “It was a long haul, tough; not without mistakes, but he got it done.”
TODAY IS SUPER TUESDAY, as if you didn't know.
And I am all in for @MikeBloomberg. Rail at me all you want, but I saw New York City go from being down on its knees to standing upright and proud after 9-11. It was a long haul, tough; not without mistakes, but he got it done. — bettemidler (@BetteMidler) March 3, 2020
Despite backing from high-profile Hollywood figures like Midler, Bloomberg’s Super Tuesday strategy did not materialize, and he subsequently dropped out of the race and threw his support behind Joe Biden (D).
Last month, the actress-singer freaked out over one of the president’s tweets, warning that he will “rule you until he dies, you die, or both.”


newspunch--2020-03-08--Soros-Funded Group Gave Massive Donation to Prosecutor Who Dropped Jussie Smollett Charges

Far-left billionaire George Soros gave seven-figure campaign donations to re-elect Kim Foxx , the corrupt Chicago prosecutor who mysteriously dropped all charges against hate hoaxer Jussie Smollett .
Foxx is running to return to her office as state ’ s attorney for Cook County , and it ’ s reported that she was aided by a political pac named the Illinois Justice & Public Safety PAC which helped her run a six-figure ad campaign .
The pac ’ s entire $ 2 million budget came from one of the many activist groups funded by Soros , according to the Washington @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Soros funding came as part of the billionaire ’ s effort to put radical leftists into county attorney and prosecutor offices all across the country .
And Foxx has been part of the Soros plan for years , already .
She received $ 408,000 from the foreign billionaire when she first ran for her office in 2016 .
Foxx was widely criticized for her controversial decision to drop charges of lying about a hate crime lodged against TV actor Jussie Smollett despite that the Chicago Police and a grand jury recommended that he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s left-wing mayor vowed to hold the actor accountable for his actions .
Readers may recall last January when Smollett claimed that he was beaten by two white racists in MAGA hats who poured bleach on him and hung a noose around his neck after he left a Subway restaurant in downtown Chicago during a freezing cold morning .
It was not long before the Chicago Police Dept .
gathered enough evidence to show that the former Empire star was lying about the attack .
Police collected evidence they say showed that Smollett @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Ola Osundairo , to buy all the supplies used in the “ attack , ” that he paid them thousands of dollars , and that he likely invented the whole story to get publicity .
George Soros is not the only super-rich leftist who supported Foxx .
Free Beacon also noted that Foxx was the recipient of a lot of big dollar donations : Foxx is competing against three other Democrat candidates in the Democrat primary in Illinois which is scheduled for March 17 .

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Far-left billionaire George Soros gave seven-figure campaign donations to re-elect Kim Foxx, the corrupt Chicago prosecutor who mysteriously dropped all charges against hate hoaxer Jussie Smollett.
Foxx is running to return to her office as state’s attorney for Cook County, and it’s reported that she was aided by a political pac named the Illinois Justice & Public Safety PAC which helped her run a six-figure ad campaign.
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The pac’s entire $2 million budget came from one of the many activist groups funded by Soros, according to the Washington Free Beacon.
Breitbart.com reports: The Soros funding came as part of the billionaire’s effort to put radical leftists into county attorney and prosecutor offices all across the country. And Foxx has been part of the Soros plan for years, already. She received $408,000 from the foreign billionaire when she first ran for her office in 2016.
Foxx was widely criticized for her controversial decision to drop charges of lying about a hate crime lodged against TV actor Jussie Smollett despite that the Chicago Police and a grand jury recommended that he be prosecuted. Even the city’s left-wing mayor vowed to hold the actor accountable for his actions.
Readers may recall last January when Smollett claimed that he was beaten by two white racists in MAGA hats who poured bleach on him and hung a noose around his neck after he left a Subway restaurant in downtown Chicago during a freezing cold morning.
It was not long before the Chicago Police Dept. gathered enough evidence to show that the former Empire star was lying about the attack. Police collected evidence they say showed that Smollett had conspired with two brothers, Abel and Ola Osundairo, to buy all the supplies used in the “attack,” that he paid them thousands of dollars, and that he likely invented the whole story to get publicity.
George Soros is not the only super-rich leftist who supported Foxx. Free Beacon also noted that Foxx was the recipient of a lot of big dollar donations:
Donald Sussman, a billionaire hedge fund manager and major Democratic donor, has given $100,000 to Foxx’s campaign. Fred Eychaner, chairman of Newsweb Corporation, has provided $600,000. Michael Sacks, CEO of the Chicago-based Grosvenor Capital Management, gave $400,000. EMILY’s List, the SEIU, and the Real Justice PAC, a committee run by Black Lives Matter activist Shaun King, each sent hefty donations to Foxx’s campaign.
Foxx is competing against three other Democrat candidates in the Democrat primary in Illinois which is scheduled for March 17.


newspunch--2020-03-09--Corey Feldman To Name Pedophile ‘Everybody On The Planet’ Knows In Documentary TONIGHT

Corey Feldman will name one of the elite pedophiles he claims sexually abused him as a child in Hollywood and alleges “ everybody on the planet ” knows this person .
Feldman will identify at least one alleged child abuser in his documentary My Truth : The Rape of The Two Coreys , which will be streamed globally from March 9 .
The long-awaited documentary airs on March 9 at 11 pm ET .
For those on the west coast , a second stream will begin on March 10 at 12 pm PT .
Feldman funded the documentary project himself @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the explosive content after studios and streaming channels refused to touch it .
The 48-year-old former child star said he was driven to make the film following the death of his best friend and fellow child actor , Corey Haim .
Feldman told The Wendy Williams Show his life has been threatened while he made the documentary .
He said : “ The one name that is the most dangerous , the one I ’ m most scared about – it ’ s going to be like Harvey Weinstein all over again .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ had both been molested as children .
“ He was raped physically .
I was raped emotionally .
I was molested .
“ I am saying every name that affected … our lives , and we have victims talking about their experiences .
“ The one main name that everyone is waiting to hear … It is a name that everybody on the planet knows.
” The Sun report : Feldman said that he was stabbed with a syringe back in 2017 , and prior to that claimed a truck once tried to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ events are related to the movie .
Feldman previously said during a 2017 appearance on The Dr Oz Show that his former assistant Jon Grissom was the first to take advantage of him in the 1980s .
Grissom previously denied the claims and said “ it ’ s not me ” .
Feldman also said that Grissom still posts photos of him online .
“ This guy on his MySpace page and his Facebook page has got pictures of me and Corey Haim , ” Feldman said of Grissom .
Dr. Oz noted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ criminal behaviour , and has moved to Mexico .
“ In 2001 he was arrested on child molestation charges … he was found guilty in 2003 and served time in prison , ” said the show lawyer in a video posted to Facebook .
Feldman also said that he had been molested by former child talent manager and convicted sex offender Marty Weiss .
Weiss has not commented on allegations by Feldman .
Around his same time , Feldman claimed in multiple interviews and on social media that he had reported members of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1993 to the Santa Barbara Police Department .
Police denied this claim however , telling Dr Oz that Feldman had not in fact passed along any information .
“ I called the Santa Barbara Police , just got off the phone with them .
As you were speaking I was speaking .
You claim that you spoke to them about your abuse in 1993 just to be clear , ” said Dr. Oz .
Dr Oz continued : “ And you named names .
I listened to the recording and I did not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ claimed that police turned off the recording device when he shared the identity of his alleged molesters .
Dr Oz accepted this information , but then pleaded with Feldman to reach out to authorities again and get the names on record .
Feldman then made the decision to call the Los Angeles Police Department and name the two men who allegedly assaulted him and other minors , including his good friend Corey Haim .
Feldman has long blamed the media and police for Haim ’ s death , saying that the refusal of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s abusers resulted in his battles with drugs and alcohol that led to his death .
Haim was one of the biggest stars of the 1980s , with leading roles in films including Lucas , Watchers and the Oscar-nominated Murphy ’ s Romance alongside Sally Field and James Garner .
The boys first worked together on the 1987 vampire flick The Lost Boys , and paired up again in the films License to Drive and Dream a Little Dream .
Haim was quite the ladies man too over the years , dating @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Fields and even Victoria Beckham at one point .
Feldman and Haim had a chance to share the screen for the last time in 2007 with their reality show The Two Coreys , which was cancelled after two seasons .
It was a little over a year after that last season aired that Haim died as a result of drug-induced pneumonia .
Feldman detailed Haim ’ s struggles with drugs – as well as his own – in his 2013 memoir Coreyography .
In that book , he wrote that he and Haim @ @ @ @ @ @ @ two of the men who were abusing them .
Feldman also wrote in the book about Haim having sex with adult men on the set of Lucas and The Lost Boys .
“ At some point during the filming [ of Lucas ] , he explained an adult male convinced him that it was perfectly normal for older men and younger boys in the business to have sexual relations , that it was what all ‘ guys do , ” wrote Feldman .
“ So they walked off to a secluded area between @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the cast and crew , and Haim , innocent and ambitious as he was , allowed himself to be sodomised.
” Feldman also wrote that Haim was allegedly abused by Weiss while they were filming The Lost Boys .
Weiss was arrested in 2011 after one of his clients told police he had been sexually abused 40 times by the man .
The victim said the sexual abuse started when he was 11 , and latest three years .
Weiss eventually pleaded no contest to two counts of child molestation in 2012 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ jail and five years probation .
He was immediately released after entering his plea for time served .
Feldman also detailed a night when he allegedly received oral sex from a man after he was fed a cocktail of drugs .
The abuse at the hands of that man , who he called “ Ron ” in the book , went on for years after that first incident .
“ I don ’ t know why I couldn ’ t confront Ron , but I was consumed with guilt .
I felt like @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” wrote Feldman .
“ I desperately wanted him to stop , but I was afraid of losing my friend .
”

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Corey Feldman will name one of the elite pedophiles he claims sexually abused him as a child in Hollywood and alleges “everybody on the planet” knows this person.
Feldman will identify at least one alleged child abuser in his documentary My Truth: The Rape of The Two Coreys, which will be streamed globally from March 9.
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The long-awaited documentary airs on March 9 at 11 pm ET. For those on the west coast, a second stream will begin on March 10 at 12 pm PT.
Feldman funded the documentary project himself in order to retain full control of the explosive content after studios and streaming channels refused to touch it.
The 48-year-old former child star said he was driven to make the film following the death of his best friend and fellow child actor, Corey Haim.
Feldman told The Wendy Williams Show his life has been threatened while he made the documentary.
He said: “The one name that is the most dangerous, the one I’m most scared about – it’s going to be like Harvey Weinstein all over again.
“We (Haim and I) had both been molested as children.
“He was raped physically. I was raped emotionally. I was molested.
“I am saying every name that affected … our lives, and we have victims talking about their experiences.
“The one main name that everyone is waiting to hear … It is a name that everybody on the planet knows.”
THE LOST BOYS: Corey Haim, Corey Feldman in 1987.
The Sun report: Feldman said that he was stabbed with a syringe back in 2017, and prior to that claimed a truck once tried to run him over.
He believed both events are related to the movie.
Feldman previously said during a 2017 appearance on The Dr Oz Show that his former assistant Jon Grissom was the first to take advantage of him in the 1980s.
Grissom previously denied the claims and said “it’s not me”.
‘ABUSER POSTS PHOTOS OF ME ONLINE’
Feldman also said that Grissom still posts photos of him online.
“This guy on his MySpace page and his Facebook page has got pictures of me and Corey Haim,” Feldman said of Grissom.
Dr. Oz noted that Grissom has a long history of criminal behaviour, and has moved to Mexico.
“In 2001 he was arrested on child molestation charges … he was found guilty in 2003 and served time in prison,” said the show lawyer in a video posted to Facebook.
Feldman also said that he had been molested by former child talent manager and convicted sex offender Marty Weiss.
Weiss has not commented on allegations by Feldman.
Corey Feldman’s new documentary will expose alleged pedophiles in Hollywood.
Around his same time, Feldman claimed in multiple interviews and on social media that he had reported members of a supposed Hollywood paedophile ring back in 1993 to the Santa Barbara Police Department.
Police denied this claim however, telling Dr Oz that Feldman had not in fact passed along any information.
“I called the Santa Barbara Police, just got off the phone with them. As you were speaking I was speaking. You claim that you spoke to them about your abuse in 1993 just to be clear,” said Dr. Oz.
Feldman quickly added: “It’s on the record.”
Dr Oz continued: “And you named names. I listened to the recording and I did not hear you name names.”
Feldman then claimed that police turned off the recording device when he shared the identity of his alleged molesters.
Dr Oz accepted this information, but then pleaded with Feldman to reach out to authorities again and get the names on record.
Feldman then made the decision to call the Los Angeles Police Department and name the two men who allegedly assaulted him and other minors, including his good friend Corey Haim.
Feldman has long blamed the media and police for Haim’s death, saying that the refusal of these two groups to out his friend’s abusers resulted in his battles with drugs and alcohol that led to his death.
Haim was one of the biggest stars of the 1980s, with leading roles in films including Lucas, Watchers and the Oscar-nominated Murphy’s Romance alongside Sally Field and James Garner.
The boys first worked together on the 1987 vampire flick The Lost Boys, and paired up again in the films License to Drive and Dream a Little Dream.
Haim was quite the ladies man too over the years, dating Alyssa Milano, Nicole Eggert, Holly Fields and even Victoria Beckham at one point.
Feldman and Haim had a chance to share the screen for the last time in 2007 with their reality show The Two Coreys, which was cancelled after two seasons.
It was a little over a year after that last season aired that Haim died as a result of drug-induced pneumonia.
Feldman detailed Haim’s struggles with drugs – as well as his own – in his 2013 memoir Coreyography.
In that book, he wrote that he and Haim tried cocaine for the first time with two of the men who were abusing them.
Feldman also wrote in the book about Haim having sex with adult men on the set of Lucas and The Lost Boys.
“At some point during the filming [of Lucas], he explained an adult male convinced him that it was perfectly normal for older men and younger boys in the business to have sexual relations, that it was what all ‘guys do,” wrote Feldman.
“So they walked off to a secluded area between two trailers, during a lunch break for the cast and crew, and Haim, innocent and ambitious as he was, allowed himself to be sodomised.”
Feldman also wrote that Haim was allegedly abused by Weiss while they were filming The Lost Boys.
Weiss was arrested in 2011 after one of his clients told police he had been sexually abused 40 times by the man.
The victim said the sexual abuse started when he was 11, and latest three years.
Weiss eventually pleaded no contest to two counts of child molestation in 2012 and was sentenced to a year in jail and five years probation.
He was immediately released after entering his plea for time served.
Feldman also detailed a night when he allegedly received oral sex from a man after he was fed a cocktail of drugs.
The abuse at the hands of that man, who he called “Ron” in the book, went on for years after that first incident.
“I don’t know why I couldn’t confront Ron, but I was consumed with guilt. I felt like the whole thing was my fault,” wrote Feldman.
“I desperately wanted him to stop, but I was afraid of losing my friend.”


newspunch--2020-03-09--Texas Lt. Gov. to Biden and Beto O’Rourke: Try and Take My AR-15 and ‘See How That Goes’

Texas Lt .
Governor Dan Patrick responded to Joe Biden ’ s gun control partnership with notorious gun-grabber ‘ Beto ’ O ’ Rourke by suggesting O ’ Rourke come to his office and try to confiscate his AR-15 and “ see how that goes.
” Democrat presidential frontrunner Joe Biden announced last week that far-left O ’ Rourke will be joining his team and leading his gun control push .
During a Democrat debate in September , O ’ Rourke said , “ Hell yes , we ’ re going to take your AR-15 , your AK-17.
” During @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Biden invited failed presidential candidate O ’ Rourke on stage and claimed it wouldn ’ t be the last time the public sees him .
“ You ’ re going to take care of the gun problem with me , ” he told the former U.S. representative .
“ You ’ re going to be the one who leads this effort , I ’ m counting on you .
We need you badly , ” Texas Lt. Gov .
Patrick reacted to the partnership between Biden and O ’ Rourke by saying : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ things , you have a whole list of them and play them a lot .
The dumbest thing he has said is he ’ s going to put Beto O ’ Rourke in charge of getting our guns .
I ’ m telling you , that just added two or three points to President Trump ’ s victory in November if it ’ s the ‘ Biden and Beto Show ’ .
Patrick also suggested O ’ Rourke should began his confiscation efforts at Patrick ’ s house .
Patrick said , “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to take our AR-15s .
I have one , I want to invite him to my house first and see how that goes .
”

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Texas Lt. Governor Dan Patrick responded to Joe Biden’s gun control partnership with notorious gun-grabber ‘Beto’ O’Rourke by suggesting O’Rourke come to his office and try to confiscate his AR-15 and “see how that goes.”
Democrat presidential frontrunner Joe Biden announced last week that far-left O’Rourke will be joining his team and leading his gun control push.
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During a Democrat debate in September, O’Rourke said, “Hell yes, we’re going to take your AR-15, your AK-17.”
During a rally in Texas Monday night, Biden invited failed presidential candidate O’Rourke on stage and claimed it wouldn’t be the last time the public sees him.
“You’re going to take care of the gun problem with me,” he told the former U.S. representative. “You’re going to be the one who leads this effort, I’m counting on you. We need you badly,”
Texas Lt. Gov. Patrick reacted to the partnership between Biden and O’Rourke by saying:
Joe Biden says a lot of dopey things, you have a whole list of them and play them a lot. The dumbest thing he has said is he’s going to put Beto O’Rourke in charge of getting our guns. I’m telling you, that just added two or three points to President Trump’s victory in November if it’s the ‘Biden and Beto Show’.
Patrick also suggested O’Rourke should began his confiscation efforts at Patrick’s house. Patrick said, “[Beto] said he was coming to take our AR-15s. I have one, I want to invite him to my house first and see how that goes.”


newspunch--2020-03-09--Nasty Nancy In Trouble As Results of California Congressional Races Forecast Democrat Doom

Nancy Pelosi woke up to bad news as the results of the California congressional races trickled in , suggesting a 9 seat flip , and offering the first real indicator that her gavel is seriously at risk .
While the Super Tuesday primary results gave establishment Democrats hope that Joe Biden can hold off the socialist Bernie Sanders for the Democratic nomination , as usual the real story wasn ’ t splashed on the front pages of the Washington Post or hyped by talking heads on MSNBC .
NOQreport : While Democrat presidential candidates did battle , California and several @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for lower offices .
There were some good storylines in high-profile Senate races that will supplement Biden vs. Sanders talk in the news cycle , but the part you likely won ’ t hear much about was California ’ s primary for all 54 congressional seats .
Why won ’ t you hear about it elsewhere ?
Because nine Democratic seats can clearly be flipped and the one Republican seat in jeopardy seems poised to stay red .
This wasn ’ t the news the DNC wanted to hear .
It ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ House Nancy Pelosi wanted to hear as it ’ s the first real indicator that her gavel is at risk .
Keep two things in mind .
First , these aren ’ t nine seats that are deemed “ in play ” through some election miracle .
These are nine seats currently held by Democrats where Republicans have the upper hand based on analysis of Tuesday ’ s primary votes .
Second—and this is very important to understand—with only one statewide ballot measure , the main draw was the Democratic presidential primary in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ means that even without the draw of a presidential primary choice , nine seats showed Republicans either within striking distance or outright beating Democrats .
The “ jungle primary ” system for congressional seats means everyone gets the same ballot choices .
The top two finishers in the primary will go head-to-head in the general election .
Based on these criteria , a shocking number of Democratic seats are now in jeopardy in November .
Let ’ s break them down one-by-one .
Incumbent Democrat Ami Bera had no trouble beating the other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but Republicans Buzz Patterson and Jon Ivy combined to beat him .
Though they combine for 46.7 % of the vote , the presidential primary boost Bera received did not give him the significant lead he would have hoped for as a Sacramento incumbent .
Patterson , a former carrier of the “ nuclear football ” for President Clinton , is an outspoken conservative and former Air Force Lt .
Colonel .
If he can get some wind on his back , he has a strong chance of flipping the seat and beating @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this article there was only 58 % reported , but incumbent Democrat Josh Harder is only at 38.9 % , barely edging ahead of Republican Ted Howze .
Republicans combined for 56.3 % of the vote .
This was an unusual primary in which only one Republican ran .
But that Republican , Kevin Cookingham , is in the lead .
Granted , Democrats have the lion ’ s share of the total votes , but incumbent Democrat Jim Costa is clearly in trouble with his own base ; this is the first @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for his 16th district seat .
It ’ s also the only time he ’ s come in second in the primary .
Republican David Valadao narrowly lost his seat in 2018 to Democrat TJ Cox .
He wants his seat back , and if the primary is any indicator he ’ s poised to do just that .
He easily defeated the field of Cox plus a Republican and Democrat ( oddly both named De La Fuente ) .
In a strange twist , Ricardo De La Fuente also won a primary… @ @ @ @ @ @ @ congressional seats in two states .
That ’ s something to unpack in the future .
For now , Valadao is the story as he is in good shape going into the general election .
The last two elections , Democrat Salud Carbajal has easily won CA-24 , defeating his opponent by over 17-points in 2018 .
But he wasn ’ t facing Republican Andy Caldwell before and this primary shows that Caldwell is within striking distance .
Had there been a Republican presidential primary , he may have even overtaken the incumbent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to prove to voters that he should win the seat .
Ah , the 25th district .
This is a mess .
Vacated by disgraced Congresswoman Katie Hill , the former red seat flipped in 2018 .
Now , a dozen candidates , including high-profile names like George Papadopoulos and Cenk Uygur , are trying to grab it .
But it was Democrat Christy Smith and Republican Mike Garcia who popped in at # 1 and # 2 .
With 55 % of the vote in , Republicans combine for 53 % .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ flipped back to red in November .
This one should be a no-brainer , a correction from a horrible 2018 flip that turned the seat blue .
It ’ s also a rematch of 2018 , only this time Republican Young Kim is in the driver ’ s seat .
The 45th district is another casualty of the so-called “ blue wave ” of 2018 with Elizabeth Warren acolyte Katie Porter narrowly winning the seat .
She faced six Republicans in the primary , and while she won handily , she didn ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ combining for 51.9 % .
Now , Greg Raths will face her in the general election .
If Republicans unite behind him , Congresswoman Porter will have just one term in DC .
Like the 45th district , the 48th featured a single-term incumbent Democrat who took a ride on the 2018 “ blue wave ” to win a traditionally red seat .
But he ’ ll be facing Michelle Steel in the general election with more than 10-points to make up against Republicans .
This was the race to watch in California @ @ @ @ @ @ @ flip following the resignation of Duncan Hunter in January .
Two strong , local Republicans were competing for the second slot to face Ammar Campa-Najjar .
At the time of this article , it ’ s unclear whether Darrell Issa or Carl DeMaio will make it to the general election .
Whichever one does will have the upper hand as Democrats could not combine for 40 % of the primary vote .
It ’ s official .
The House is up for grabs .
There are nine seats held by Democrats in trouble @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Republican seats are safe .
Nancy Pelosi ’ s days with the gavel appear to be limited .
Again .

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Nancy Pelosi woke up to bad news as the results of the California congressional races trickled in, suggesting a 9 seat flip, and offering the first real indicator that her gavel is seriously at risk.
While the Super Tuesday primary results gave establishment Democrats hope that Joe Biden can hold off the socialist Bernie Sanders for the Democratic nomination, as usual the real story wasn’t splashed on the front pages of the Washington Post or hyped by talking heads on MSNBC.
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Comments This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. Δ
NOQreport: While Democrat presidential candidates did battle, California and several other states were also holding primary elections for lower offices. There were some good storylines in high-profile Senate races that will supplement Biden vs. Sanders talk in the news cycle, but the part you likely won’t hear much about was California’s primary for all 54 congressional seats.
Why won’t you hear about it elsewhere? Because nine Democratic seats can clearly be flipped and the one Republican seat in jeopardy seems poised to stay red.
This wasn’t the news the DNC wanted to hear. It’s definitely not the news Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi wanted to hear as it’s the first real indicator that her gavel is at risk.
Keep two things in mind. First, these aren’t nine seats that are deemed “in play” through some election miracle. These are nine seats currently held by Democrats where Republicans have the upper hand based on analysis of Tuesday’s primary votes. Second—and this is very important to understand—with only one statewide ballot measure, the main draw was the Democratic presidential primary in which Republicans may not vote. That means that even without the draw of a presidential primary choice, nine seats showed Republicans either within striking distance or outright beating Democrats.
The “jungle primary” system for congressional seats means everyone gets the same ballot choices. The top two finishers in the primary will go head-to-head in the general election. Based on these criteria, a shocking number of Democratic seats are now in jeopardy in November. Let’s break them down one-by-one.
District 7
98% of precincts reporting
CANDIDATE PERCENT VOTES Ami Bera (Dem) ● 44.5% 37,120 Buzz Patterson (GOP) 38.9% 32,410 Jon Ivy (GOP) 7.8% 6,488 Jeff Burdick (Dem) 6.6% 5,524 Chris Richardson (Grn) 2.3% 1,892
Incumbent Democrat Ami Bera had no trouble beating the other Democrat nor the Green Party candidate, but Republicans Buzz Patterson and Jon Ivy combined to beat him. Though they combine for 46.7% of the vote, the presidential primary boost Bera received did not give him the significant lead he would have hoped for as a Sacramento incumbent.
Patterson, a former carrier of the “nuclear football” for President Clinton, is an outspoken conservative and former Air Force Lt. Colonel. If he can get some wind on his back, he has a strong chance of flipping the seat and beating the incumbent.
https://twitter.com/BuzzPatterson/status/1235099664510140416?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1235099664510140416&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fnoqreport.com%2F2020%2F03%2F04%2F9-seat-flip-results-of-congressional-races-in-california-are-terrifying-for-democrats%2F
District 10
58% of precincts reporting
CANDIDATE PERCENT VOTES Josh Harder (Dem) ● 38.9% 22,584 Ted Howze (GOP) 38.2% 22,179 Bob Elliott (GOP) 14.7% 8,536 Marla Livengood (GOP) 3.4% 1,981 Mike Barkley (Dem) 3.0% 1,712 Ryan Blevins (Dem) 1.9% 1,130
At the time of this article there was only 58% reported, but incumbent Democrat Josh Harder is only at 38.9%, barely edging ahead of Republican Ted Howze. Republicans combined for 56.3% of the vote.
.@Ted_Howze has what it takes to honorably serve and win back California’s 10th Congressional District.
Ted’s local roots run deep and I know he will put the Central Valley first. #CA10 #KAG2020 https://t.co/Wn8Fpqp6tK — Kevin McCarthy (@kevinomccarthy) March 3, 2020
District 16
92% of precincts reporting
CANDIDATE PERCENT VOTES Kevin Cookingham (GOP) 38.5% 26,129 Jim Costa (Dem) ● 37.5% 25,401 Esmeralda Soria (Dem) 18.4% 12,455 Kimberly Williams (Dem) 5.6% 3,820
This was an unusual primary in which only one Republican ran. But that Republican, Kevin Cookingham, is in the lead. Granted, Democrats have the lion’s share of the total votes, but incumbent Democrat Jim Costa is clearly in trouble with his own base; this is the first time he’s faced other Democrats for his 16th district seat. It’s also the only time he’s come in second in the primary.
District 21
86% of precincts reporting
CANDIDATE PERCENT VOTES David Valadao (GOP) 54.1% 21,577 TJ Cox (Dem) ● 35.3% 14,098 Ricardo De La Fuente (Dem) 7.8% 3,129 Roque De La Fuente (GOP) 2.7% 1,091
Republican David Valadao narrowly lost his seat in 2018 to Democrat TJ Cox. He wants his seat back, and if the primary is any indicator he’s poised to do just that. He easily defeated the field of Cox plus a Republican and Democrat (oddly both named De La Fuente).
In a strange twist, Ricardo De La Fuente also won a primary… in Texas. He was running for congressional seats in two states. That’s something to unpack in the future. For now, Valadao is the story as he is in good shape going into the general election.
District 24
87% of precincts reporting
CANDIDATE PERCENT VOTES Salud Carbajal (Dem) ● 51.8% 74,099 Andy Caldwell (GOP) 44.5% 63,602 Kenneth Young (NPP) 3.7% 5,343
The last two elections, Democrat Salud Carbajal has easily won CA-24, defeating his opponent by over 17-points in 2018. But he wasn’t facing Republican Andy Caldwell before and this primary shows that Caldwell is within striking distance. Had there been a Republican presidential primary, he may have even overtaken the incumbent.
Now, he has until November to prove to voters that he should win the seat.
District 25
55% of precincts reporting
CANDIDATE PERCENT VOTES Christy Smith (Dem) 30.2% 19,423 Mike Garcia (GOP) 27.4% 17,620 Steve Knight (GOP) 20.4% 13,136 Cenk Uygur (Dem) 4.8% 3,066 David Lozano (GOP) 3.9% 2,501 Getro Elize (Dem) 3.0% 1,910 Anibal Valdez-Ortega (Dem) 2.6% 1,645 George Papadopoulos (GOP) 2.2% 1,421 Robert Cooper (Dem) 2.0% 1,292 Otis Cooper (NPP) 1.2% 770 Christopher Smith (Dem) 1.0% 640 Other Candidates (undefined) 1.3% 803
Ah, the 25th district. This is a mess. Vacated by disgraced Congresswoman Katie Hill, the former red seat flipped in 2018. Now, a dozen candidates, including high-profile names like George Papadopoulos and Cenk Uygur, are trying to grab it.
But it was Democrat Christy Smith and Republican Mike Garcia who popped in at #1 and #2. With 55% of the vote in, Republicans combine for 53%. It’s looking strong to be flipped back to red in November.
District 39
83% of precincts reporting
CANDIDATE PERCENT VOTES Young Kim (GOP) 52.4% 48,345 Gil Cisneros (Dem) ● 42.6% 39,270 Steve Cox (NPP) 5.0% 4,585
This one should be a no-brainer, a correction from a horrible 2018 flip that turned the seat blue. It’s also a rematch of 2018, only this time Republican Young Kim is in the driver’s seat.
District 45
100% of precincts reporting
CANDIDATE PERCENT VOTES Katie Porter (Dem) ● 48.1% 62,552 Greg Raths (GOP) 18.9% 24,582 Don Sedgwick (GOP) 13.9% 18,002 Peggy Huang (GOP) 11.3% 14,692 Lisa Sparks (GOP) 4.2% 5,426 Christopher Gonzales (GOP) 2.5% 3,278 Rhonda Furin (GOP) 1.1% 1,399
The 45th district is another casualty of the so-called “blue wave” of 2018 with Elizabeth Warren acolyte Katie Porter narrowly winning the seat. She faced six Republicans in the primary, and while she won handily, she didn’t get to 50% with Republicans combining for 51.9%. Now, Greg Raths will face her in the general election. If Republicans unite behind him, Congresswoman Porter will have just one term in DC.
District 48
100% of precincts reporting
CANDIDATE PERCENT VOTES Harley Rouda (Dem) ● 43.7% 56,943 Michelle Steel (GOP) 36.7% 47,822 Brian Burley (GOP) 12.8% 16,654 Richard Mata (AIP) 2.7% 3,546 John Schuesler (GOP) 2.6% 3,389 James Griffin (GOP) 1.4% 1,826
Like the 45th district, the 48th featured a single-term incumbent Democrat who took a ride on the 2018 “blue wave” to win a traditionally red seat. But he’ll be facing Michelle Steel in the general election with more than 10-points to make up against Republicans.
District 50
62% of precincts reporting
CANDIDATE PERCENT VOTES Ammar Campa-Najjar (Dem) 34.4% 38,648 Darrell Issa (GOP) 24.7% 27,777 Carl DeMaio (GOP) 21.1% 23,711 Brian Jones (GOP) 10.9% 12,261 Marisa Calderon (Dem) 5.1% 5,742 Nathan Wilkins (GOP) 2.0% 2,294 Other Candidates (undefined) 1.8% 2,071
This was the race to watch in California, the one Democrats are hoping to flip following the resignation of Duncan Hunter in January. Two strong, local Republicans were competing for the second slot to face Ammar Campa-Najjar. At the time of this article, it’s unclear whether Darrell Issa or Carl DeMaio will make it to the general election.
Whichever one does will have the upper hand as Democrats could not combine for 40% of the primary vote.
It’s official. The House is up for grabs. There are nine seats held by Democrats in trouble in radical progressive California while all of the Republican seats are safe. Nancy Pelosi’s days with the gavel appear to be limited. Again.