thehuffingtonpost--2020-09-18--Monty Python Comedian Threatens To Sue 'Thieving Reprobates' In GOP For Stealing Song

Of all melodies , the NRCC helped itself to “ The Lumberjack Song , ” about a cross-dressing woodsman , for an attack ad in Iowa against Democratic incumbent Rep. Cindy Axne .
She ’ s running comfortably against Republican challenger David Young , whom she unseated in the last election .
After blistering the NRCC for the song-stealing , Idle urged his followers to vote for Axne to “ piss them off.
” He also asked if “ all Republicans are now lawless , ” adding : “ Whatever happened to America ?
” The National Republican Congressional Committee @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ad against Cindy Axne in Iowa .
While we sue these low life thieving reprobates lets VOTE for Cindy to piss them off .
Are all Republicans now lawless ?
Whatever happened to America ?
— Eric Idle ( @ EricIdle ) September 18 , 2020 The ad , paid for by the NRCC , uses the tune of “ The Lumberjack Song ” with new lyrics , like the ham-handed and not very Python-esque “ She ’ s a liberal named Angry Axne .
She wants to take our tax money.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who sings of his dream of being a cross-dressing lumberjack , “ leaping from tree to tree , ” who likes to “ put on women ’ s clothing ” ( including high heels and a bra ) and “ hang around in bars.
” One member of Monty Python ( sometimes Idle ) portrays the would-be lumberjack while the rest , dressed like the Royal Canadian Mounted Police , sing the chorus with a bit of confusion .
Written by Monty Python members Michael Palin and Terry Jones and singer Fred Tomlinson @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the British TV series “ Monty Python ’ s Flying Circus ” in 1969 and soon became one of its most popular tunes .
The “ Flying Circus ” skit ended with an angry viewer ( John Cleese ) sounding very Republican as he complained in a letter about the lyrics .
But then he pointed out : “ Many of my best friends are lumberjacks , and only a few of them are transvestites.
” ( Check out the video up top . )
Earlier this week , Dee Snider of Twisted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people stormed a Florida Target store , playing “ We ’ re Not Gon na Take It ” as they called for customers to take off their face masks .
Snider tweeted that the group did not have permission to use the Twisted Sister song to promote a “ moronic cause ” and called the protesters “ selfish assholes.
” We want to know what you ’ re hearing on the ground from the candidates .
If you get any interesting ― or suspicious !
― campaign mailers , robocalls or hear anything @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , email us at scoops @ huffpost.com .

Monty Python comedian Eric Idle blasted the National Republican Congressional Committee for swiping a song from the British troupe and threatened to sue the “lowlife thieving reprobates.”
Of all melodies, the NRCC helped itself to “The Lumberjack Song,” about a cross-dressing woodsman, for an attack ad in Iowa against Democratic incumbent Rep. Cindy Axne. She’s running comfortably against Republican challenger David Young, whom she unseated in the last election.
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After blistering the NRCC for the song-stealing, Idle urged his followers to vote for Axne to “piss them off.” He also asked if “all Republicans are now lawless,” adding: “Whatever happened to America?”
The National Republican Congressional Committee has stolen the Lumberjack Song for an ad against Cindy Axne in Iowa. While we sue these low life thieving reprobates lets VOTE for Cindy to piss them off. Are all Republicans now lawless? Whatever happened to America? — Eric Idle (@EricIdle) September 18, 2020
The ad, paid for by the NRCC, uses the tune of “The Lumberjack Song” with new lyrics, like the ham-handed and not very Python-esque “She’s a liberal named Angry Axne. She wants to take our tax money.”
The original song is about a barber who sings of his dream of being a cross-dressing lumberjack, “leaping from tree to tree,” who likes to “put on women’s clothing” (including high heels and a bra) and “hang around in bars.” One member of Monty Python (sometimes Idle) portrays the would-be lumberjack while the rest, dressed like the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, sing the chorus with a bit of confusion.
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Written by Monty Python members Michael Palin and Terry Jones and singer Fred Tomlinson, the song was first presented on the British TV series “Monty Python’s Flying Circus” in 1969 and soon became one of its most popular tunes.
The “Flying Circus” skit ended with an angry viewer (John Cleese) sounding very Republican as he complained in a letter about the lyrics. But then he pointed out: “Many of my best friends are lumberjacks, and only a few of them are transvestites.” (Check out the video up top.)
We shouldn't shame Republicans if they like to wear high heels, Suspendies and a bras. — Tim Hamilton (@TmoneyHamilton) September 18, 2020
Unless they steal our songs... — Eric Idle (@EricIdle) September 18, 2020
Taking a page from Monty Python, NRCC spokesman Bob Salera told HuffPost in a statement: “We didn’t expect the Spanish Inquisition in response to our parody ad! It’s too bad Monty Python doesn’t like it, but our target audience is the Iowa taxpayers Cindy Axne is selling out to Nancy Pelosi.”
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Earlier this week, Dee Snider of Twisted Sister exploded after a small group of people stormed a Florida Target store, playing “We’re Not Gonna Take It” as they called for customers to take off their face masks. Snider tweeted that the group did not have permission to use the Twisted Sister song to promote a “moronic cause” and called the protesters “selfish assholes.”
No...these selfish assholes do not have my permission or blessing to use my song for their moronic cause. #cuttheshit https://t.co/LPDAjSszbf — Dee Snider🇺🇸 (@deesnider) September 16, 2020
We want to know what you’re hearing on the ground from the candidates. If you get any interesting ― or suspicious! ― campaign mailers, robocalls or hear anything else you think we should know about, email us at scoops@huffpost.com.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-09-18--Abortion Rights Groups Prepare To ‘Fight Like Hell’ In Wake Of Ginsburg's Death

“ Justice Ginsburg committed her life to protecting the rights , freedoms , and health of women , men , and people across the country ... Tonight we honor that legacy , but tomorrow , we ’ re going to need to get to work to preserve the ideals she spent her life ’ s work defending , ” Alexis McGill Johnson , president of the Planned Parenthood Action Fund , said in a statement Friday .
“ Because this is not an understatement : The fate of our rights , our freedoms , our health care , our bodies @ @ @ @ @ @ @ depend on what happens over the coming months.
” “ We must fight like hell to prevent Mitch McConnell , Donald Trump , and Senate Republicans from stealing yet another Supreme Court seat , ” Hogue said .
“ They have been chomping at the bit waiting for this moment , and their end goal ― to end the legal right to abortion in this country ― flies in the face of the values of a vast majority of Americans : that politicians have no place in personal decisions about pregnancy.
” With @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is almost certainly staring down a national referendum on the landmark Roe v. Wade case .
The Roberts Court has avoided major decisions on abortion rights , but many analysts believe the conservative majority has been prepping for a more dramatic reversal of a woman ’ s right to choose .
Replacing Ginsburg with a conservative justice would leave supporters of abortion rights badly outnumbered on the high court .
McGill Johnson said it would be “ an absolute slap in the face ” to millions of Americans if McConnell and the Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would “ undo her life ’ s work and take away the rights and freedoms for which she fought so hard.
” The country knew that the Trump administration would do everything in its power to turn the balance of the Supreme Court firmly against abortion rights , said Destiny Lopez , co-director of the pro-choice organization All* Above All .
Now , she said , we ’ re seeing the full consequences of an anti-choice administration .
“ We frankly face the threat of abortion care being dismantled even more aggressively and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s a real threat now of women and their health care providers being arrested and sent to jail , ” Lopez told HuffPost .
“ Their agenda is clear now , and it is to outlaw abortion in this country .
This is the signal that abortion care could really become unavailable in our lifetime.
” Monica Simpson , the executive director of SisterSong , a reproductive justice organization working to amplify the voices of indigenous women and women of color , said she ’ s tired ― tired of the multilayered assault @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and tired of the onslaught of attacks on abortion care .
She ’ s trying to be optimistic , she said , but she has little faith in the systems in place meant to correct these issues .
Ginsburg “ was a voice for us in the highest court in the land , ” Simpson told HuffPost .
“ The court that has ruled on two abortion cases in the past four years , with more surely in the pipeline .
The court where men like Brett Kavanaugh and Clarence Thomas sit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
A court that now has an empty seat that could be filled by a president who is responsible for almost 200,000 people dying of COVID-19 because he puts himself before the lives of others.
” “ Antonin Scalia ’ s death was the catalyst that drove Christian conservatives to the polls in 2016 and nabbed Trump his surprise Electoral College win , ” Marty told HuffPost .
“ The odds were that even had she stayed on the bench into 2021 and was replaced by another progressive , there were still enough @ @ @ @ @ @

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Reproductive rights advocates mourned the death of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg on Friday, and promised to honor her by continuing the fight for safe, legal and accessible abortion care.
“Justice Ginsburg committed her life to protecting the rights, freedoms, and health of women, men, and people across the country ... Tonight we honor that legacy, but tomorrow, we’re going to need to get to work to preserve the ideals she spent her life’s work defending,” Alexis McGill Johnson, president of the Planned Parenthood Action Fund, said in a statement Friday. “Because this is not an understatement: The fate of our rights, our freedoms, our health care, our bodies, our lives, and our country depend on what happens over the coming months.”
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Ilyse Hogue, president of the group NARAL Pro-Choice America, told HuffPost that her organization also plans to honor Ginsburg’s legacy by continuing to fight for everything she believed in.
“We must fight like hell to prevent Mitch McConnell, Donald Trump, and Senate Republicans from stealing yet another Supreme Court seat,” Hogue said. “They have been chomping at the bit waiting for this moment, and their end goal ― to end the legal right to abortion in this country ― flies in the face of the values of a vast majority of Americans: that politicians have no place in personal decisions about pregnancy.”
With Ginsburg’s death, the country is almost certainly staring down a national referendum on the landmark Roe v. Wade case. The Roberts Court has avoided major decisions on abortion rights, but many analysts believe the conservative majority has been prepping for a more dramatic reversal of a woman’s right to choose. Replacing Ginsburg with a conservative justice would leave supporters of abortion rights badly outnumbered on the high court.
Just hours after news of Ginsburg’s death broke, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) announced he would move forward with filling the late justice’s seat before the presidential election in November, despite resistance from the left.
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McGill Johnson said it would be “an absolute slap in the face” to millions of Americans if McConnell and the Trump administration replaced Ginsburg with a nominee who would “undo her life’s work and take away the rights and freedoms for which she fought so hard.”
“Tonight we honor that legacy, but tomorrow, we’re going to need to get to work to preserve the ideals she spent her life’s work defending.” - Alexis McGill Johnson, president of the Planned Parenthood Action Fund
Many reproductive rights advocates reacted to Ginsburg’s death with stark assessments of the stakes for millions of women.
The country knew that the Trump administration would do everything in its power to turn the balance of the Supreme Court firmly against abortion rights, said Destiny Lopez, co-director of the pro-choice organization All* Above All. Now, she said, we’re seeing the full consequences of an anti-choice administration.
“We frankly face the threat of abortion care being dismantled even more aggressively and systemically, and I think there’s a real threat now of women and their health care providers being arrested and sent to jail,” Lopez told HuffPost. “Their agenda is clear now, and it is to outlaw abortion in this country. This is the signal that abortion care could really become unavailable in our lifetime.”
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Monica Simpson, the executive director of SisterSong, a reproductive justice organization working to amplify the voices of indigenous women and women of color, said she’s tired ― tired of the multilayered assault on civil rights that 2020 has brought, and tired of the onslaught of attacks on abortion care. She’s trying to be optimistic, she said, but she has little faith in the systems in place meant to correct these issues.
Ginsburg “was a voice for us in the highest court in the land,” Simpson told HuffPost. “The court that has ruled on two abortion cases in the past four years, with more surely in the pipeline. The court where men like Brett Kavanaugh and Clarence Thomas sit ― men who have blatantly condemned abortion. A court that now has an empty seat that could be filled by a president who is responsible for almost 200,000 people dying of COVID-19 because he puts himself before the lives of others.”
But Robin Marty, a former reporter and current communications director for the Yellowhammer Fund, a group advocating reproductive justice in the South, said she hopes there will be a silver lining to Ginsburg’s death.
“Antonin Scalia’s death was the catalyst that drove Christian conservatives to the polls in 2016 and nabbed Trump his surprise Electoral College win,” Marty told HuffPost. “The odds were that even had she stayed on the bench into 2021 and was replaced by another progressive, there were still enough votes to overturn Roe.”
“With Ginsburg’s death, I’m hopeful that maybe this will galvanize progressives in the same way,” she added. “I can’t help but feel like if it does, that’s a legacy that would make her proud.”


thehuffingtonpost--2020-09-18--Bill Clinton On Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s Death: She Moved Us Toward 'A More Perfect Union'

Former President Bill Clinton mourned the loss of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg Friday , calling her “ one of the most extraordinary Justices ever to serve on the Supreme Court .
Newly confirmed by the Senate Judiciary Committee as associate justice of the Supreme Court , Ruth Bader Ginsburg addresses the news media as President Bill Clinton joins her in the White House Rose Garden on Aug. 3 , 1993 .
“ She was a magnificent judge and a wonderful person — a brilliant lawyer with a caring heart , common sense , fierce devotion to fairness and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ face of her own adversity , ” Clinton ’ s statement said .
“ Her 27 years on the court exceeded even my highest expectations when I appointed her .
Her landmark opinions advancing gender equality , marriage equality , the rights of people with disabilities , the rights of immigrants , and so many more moved us closer to ‘ a more perfect union.
’ Her powerful dissents , especially her ringing defense of voting rights and other equal protection claims , reminded us that we walk away from our Constitution ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she did it all with kindness , grace , and calm , treating even her strongest adversaries with respect , ” he added .
Clinton nominated Ginsburg to the Supreme Court in 1993 after she had served on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit since 1980 .
From 2006 until 2009 , she was the only woman on the Supreme Court .
Former President Bill Clinton , left , former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg on Oct. 30 , 2019 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Bader Ginsburg Lecture in Washington , D.C. People on both sides of the political aisle mourned Ginsburg ’ s death , remembering her as a trailblazer on the court and a champion for women ’ s rights .

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Former President Bill Clinton mourned the loss of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg Friday, calling her “one of the most extraordinary Justices ever to serve on the Supreme Court.
Clinton issued a statement Friday evening, after Ginsburg died at the age of 87.
Newly confirmed by the Senate Judiciary Committee as associate justice of the Supreme Court, Ruth Bader Ginsburg addresses the news media as President Bill Clinton joins her in the White House Rose Garden on Aug. 3, 1993. Mark Reinstein/MediaPunch/IPx
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“She was a magnificent judge and a wonderful person — a brilliant lawyer with a caring heart, common sense, fierce devotion to fairness and equality, and boundless courage in the face of her own adversity,” Clinton’s statement said.
“Her 27 years on the court exceeded even my highest expectations when I appointed her. Her landmark opinions advancing gender equality, marriage equality, the rights of people with disabilities, the rights of immigrants, and so many more moved us closer to ‘a more perfect union.’ Her powerful dissents, especially her ringing defense of voting rights and other equal protection claims, reminded us that we walk away from our Constitution’s promise at our peril, And she did it all with kindness, grace, and calm, treating even her strongest adversaries with respect,” he added.
Clinton nominated Ginsburg to the Supreme Court in 1993 after she had served on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit since 1980. From 2006 until 2009, she was the only woman on the Supreme Court.
Former President Bill Clinton, left, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg on Oct. 30, 2019, at Georgetown Law's second annual Ruth Bader Ginsburg Lecture in Washington, D.C. Jacquelyn Martin/Associated Press
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People on both sides of the political aisle mourned Ginsburg’s death, remembering her as a trailblazer on the court and a champion for women’s rights.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-09-19--Ginsburg Penned Fierce Dissents In Fight For Civil, Voting And Women's Rights

Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg ’ s razor-sharp mind , her wit and her deft mastery of language made her one of the best — and most biting — writers of Supreme Court rulings and dissents in memory .
Her death Friday has taken from the court a legal legend .
Despite the utter control and careful decorum she exhibited in public , her outrage and even fury were palpable in her writing — and in face-offs with lawyers arguing their cases in court .
The late Justice Antonin Scalia once called her a “ tigress on civil procedure.
” She @ @ @ @ @ @ @ making a ridiculous argument and just shake him like a dog with a bone , ” he noted in a 2013 interview .
Ginsburg was so obviously upset about a Supreme Court ruling in 2000 that handed the presidential election that year to George W. Bush over his Democratic presidential rival , Al Gore , that she breached decorum by replacing the usual ending “ Respectfully , I dissent ” to simply “ I dissent.
” Throwing out pre-clearance when it has worked and is continuing to work to stop discriminatory changes is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rainstorm because you are not getting wet .
In an ominous harbinger of what Americans could be in for this year , the court in Bush v. Gore overturned a recount decision by Florida ’ s Supreme Court that resulted in handing Bush all of the state ’ s electoral votes .
It was a decision Ginsburg considered an outrageous overreach of power by the Supreme Court over a state .
“ The extraordinary setting of this case has obscured the ordinary principle that dictates its proper resolution : federal courts defer to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ state ’ s own law .
This principle reflects the core of federalism , on which all agree , ” she noted .
“ Were the other members of this court as mindful as they generally are of our system of dual sovereignty , they would affirm the judgment of the Florida Supreme Court , ” Ginsburg concluded .
In another biting dissent regarding elections , Ginsburg in 2013 criticized a Supreme Court ruling that canceled a provision in the Voting Rights Act which required some jurisdictions with a history of discrimination to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in voting procedures .
“ Throwing out pre-clearance when it has worked and is continuing to work to stop discriminatory changes is like throwing away your umbrella in a rainstorm because you are not getting wet , ” she wrote in her dissent .
“ The court does not comprehend or is indifferent to the insidious way in which women can be victims of pay discrimination , ” she wrote , and called upon Congress to act against gender discrimination .
“ In the Court ’ s view , [ the Religious Freedom @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for-profit corporation ’ s religious beliefs no matter the impact that accommodation may have on third parties who do not share the corporation owners ’ religious faith — in these cases , thousands of women employed by Hobby Lobby and Conestoga , ” she wrote .
Ginsburg noted that religious organizations “ foster the interests of persons subscribing to the same religious faith , ” which is “ not so ” for corporations , which involves people with diverse beliefs .
Yet this distinction “ constantly slips the court ’ s attention , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ situation , “ Your right to swing your arms ends just where the other man ’ s nose begins , ” Ginsburg noted .
Ginsburg revisited the issue in a dissent last July after the court cleared the way for the Trump administration to expand exemptions for employers who have religious or moral objections to complying with the Affordable Care Act ’ s contraceptive coverage mandate .
It was a long way from where Ginsburg likely imagined she would be after her early days serving on the court .
In 1996 , Ginsburg @ @ @ @ @ @ @ United States v. Virginia that male-only admission at the Virginia Military Institute was a violation of the 14th Amendment ’ s Equal Protection Clause .

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Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s razor-sharp mind, her wit and her deft mastery of language made her one of the best — and most biting — writers of Supreme Court rulings and dissents in memory. Her death Friday has taken from the court a legal legend.
Despite the utter control and careful decorum she exhibited in public, her outrage and even fury were palpable in her writing — and in face-offs with lawyers arguing their cases in court. The late Justice Antonin Scalia once called her a “tigress on civil procedure.” She will “take a lawyer who is making a ridiculous argument and just shake him like a dog with a bone,” he noted in a 2013 interview.
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That ferocity was evident in her writing, especially in dissents in cases on women’s, civil and voting rights.
Ginsburg was so obviously upset about a Supreme Court ruling in 2000 that handed the presidential election that year to George W. Bush over his Democratic presidential rival, Al Gore, that she breached decorum by replacing the usual ending “Respectfully, I dissent” to simply “I dissent.”
“Throwing out pre-clearance when it has worked and is continuing to work to stop discriminatory changes is like throwing away your umbrella in a rainstorm because you are not getting wet.” - Dissent in voting rights case
In an ominous harbinger of what Americans could be in for this year, the court in Bush v. Gore overturned a recount decision by Florida’s Supreme Court that resulted in handing Bush all of the state’s electoral votes. It was a decision Ginsburg considered an outrageous overreach of power by the Supreme Court over a state.
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“I might join the chief justice were it my commission to interpret Florida law,” Ginsburg noted sarcastically.
“The extraordinary setting of this case has obscured the ordinary principle that dictates its proper resolution: federal courts defer to state high courts’ interpretations of their state’s own law. This principle reflects the core of federalism, on which all agree,” she noted.
“Were the other members of this court as mindful as they generally are of our system of dual sovereignty, they would affirm the judgment of the Florida Supreme Court,” Ginsburg concluded.
In another biting dissent regarding elections, Ginsburg in 2013 criticized a Supreme Court ruling that canceled a provision in the Voting Rights Act which required some jurisdictions with a history of discrimination to submit to federal oversight before making changes in voting procedures.
“The court does not comprehend or is indifferent to the insidious way in which women can be victims of pay discrimination.” - Dissent in Ledbetter pay discrimination case
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“Throwing out pre-clearance when it has worked and is continuing to work to stop discriminatory changes is like throwing away your umbrella in a rainstorm because you are not getting wet,” she wrote in her dissent.
That dissent won her the pop-culture nickname “Notorious RGB,” a reference to rapper Notorious B.I.G.
Some of Ginsburg’s most stinging criticisms were launched against Supreme Court rulings on gender discrimination.
In 2007, Ginsburg upbraided the all-male majority in a 5-4 ruling rebuffing a pay discrimination suit from a 19-year female employee in Ledbetter v. Goodyear Tire. She let her fellow justices know that they just didn’t get it.
“The court does not comprehend or is indifferent to the insidious way in which women can be victims of pay discrimination,” she wrote, and called upon Congress to act against gender discrimination.
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Years later, Ginsburg angrily accused the justices of “stepping into a minefield” with their ruling in the notorious 2014 Hobby Lobby case, which allowed private companies to deny health insurance coverage for female contraception because of religious beliefs.
“Your right to swing your arms ends just where the other man’s nose begins.” - Dissent in Hobby Lobby religious freedom case
“In the Court’s view, [the Religious Freedom Information Act] demands accommodation of a for-profit corporation’s religious beliefs no matter the impact that accommodation may have on third parties who do not share the corporation owners’ religious faith — in these cases, thousands of women employed by Hobby Lobby and Conestoga,” she wrote.
Ginsburg noted that religious organizations “foster the interests of persons subscribing to the same religious faith,” which is “not so” for corporations, which involves people with diverse beliefs. Yet this distinction “constantly slips the court’s attention,” she wrote. In such a situation, “Your right to swing your arms ends just where the other man’s nose begins,” Ginsburg noted.
Ginsburg revisited the issue in a dissent last July after the court cleared the way for the Trump administration to expand exemptions for employers who have religious or moral objections to complying with the Affordable Care Act’s contraceptive coverage mandate.
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“For the first time, the Court casts totally aside countervailing rights and interests in its zeal to secure religious rights to the nth degree,” she wrote in her angry dissent.
“For the first time, the Court casts totally aside countervailing rights and interests in its zeal to secure religious rights to the nth degree.” - Dissent in religious freedom case on contraception
“The court leaves women workers to fend for themselves” for contraceptive coverage, a decision that impacts as many as 126,000 women of childbearing age, she underscored.
It was a long way from where Ginsburg likely imagined she would be after her early days serving on the court. In 1996, Ginsburg wrote for the 7-1 majority ruling in United States v. Virginia that male-only admission at the Virginia Military Institute was a violation of the 14th Amendment’s Equal Protection Clause.
The rule was “presumptively invalid ... a law or official policy that denies to women, simply because they are women, equal opportunity to aspire, achieve, participate in, and contribute to society, based upon what they can do,” Ginsburg wrote.
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thehuffingtonpost--2020-09-18--Joe Biden Says Ruth Bader Ginsburg's Seat Should Not Be Filled Till After Election

Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden said Ruth Bader Ginsburg ’ s Supreme Court seat should not be filled until after the election .
Biden was among the many Americans who grieved deeply on Friday over the loss of Ginsburg , the iconic Supreme Court justice who died at the age of 87 from complications of cancer .
“ She practiced the highest American ideals as a justice ... .
Ruth Bader Ginsburg stood for all of us , ” Biden said , speaking at the airport in New Castle , Delaware .
The former vice president said he ’ d @ @ @ @ @ @ @ flying back to Delaware from a Minnesota campaign trip .
.
@ JoeBiden : `` She practiced the highest American ideals as a Justice .
Equality and justice under the law .
Ruth Bader Ginsburg stood for all of us . ''
On # SCOTUS process : `` The voters should pick the president and the president should pick the justice for the Senate to consider . ''
pic.twitter.com/fg4czmmObE — CSPAN ( @ cspan ) September 19 , 2020 Biden ― who , as chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee , presided over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ― lauded the justice as a “ fierce and unflinching ” civil rights advocate and a “ voice for freedom and opportunity for everyone.
” Joe Biden , then the vice president , greets Supreme Justice Bader Ginsburg on May 27 , 2010 , in the East Room of the White House in Washington , D.C .
He called her `` a beloved figure . ''
Ginsburg , whose death comes less than six weeks before Election Day , reportedly told her granddaughter just before she died that her “ most fervent wish @ @ @ @ @ @ @ until a new president is installed.
” President Donald Trump is expected to put forth a Supreme Court nominee to fill Ginsburg ’ s seat in the coming days , ABC News reported , citing multiple unnamed sources .
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell ( Ky. ) said Friday that “ President Trump ’ s nominee will receive a vote on the floor ” of the Republican-majority Senate .
To block Trump ’ s nominee , all Democrats in the Senate and at least four Republicans will need to vote in dissent .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s seat would not be filled until after the election .
“ There is no doubt ― let me be clear ― that the voters should pick the president , and the president should pick the justice for the Senate to consider , ” he said .
“ This was the position that the Republican Senate took in 2016 , when there were almost 10 months to go before the election , ” Biden continued , referring to Republicans ’ refusal to vote on Merrick Garland ’ s nomination to the Supreme @ @ @ @ @ @ @ position the United States Senate must take today ― and the election is only 46 days off .
”

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Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden said Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s Supreme Court seat should not be filled until after the election.
Biden was among the many Americans who grieved deeply on Friday over the loss of Ginsburg, the iconic Supreme Court justice who died at the age of 87 from complications of cancer.
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“She practiced the highest American ideals as a justice .... Ruth Bader Ginsburg stood for all of us,” Biden said, speaking at the airport in New Castle, Delaware. The former vice president said he’d learned of Ginsburg’s death while flying back to Delaware from a Minnesota campaign trip.
.@JoeBiden: "She practiced the highest American ideals as a Justice. Equality and justice under the law. Ruth Bader Ginsburg stood for all of us."
On #SCOTUS process: "The voters should pick the president and the president should pick the justice for the Senate to consider." pic.twitter.com/fg4czmmObE — CSPAN (@cspan) September 19, 2020
Biden ― who, as chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, presided over Ginsburg’s confirmation hearing in 1993 ― lauded the justice as a “fierce and unflinching” civil rights advocate and a “voice for freedom and opportunity for everyone.”
She was “not only a giant in the legal profession but a beloved figure,” Biden said.
Joe Biden, then the vice president, greets Supreme Justice Bader Ginsburg on May 27, 2010, in the East Room of the White House in Washington, D.C. He called her "a beloved figure." Alex Wong via Getty Images
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Ginsburg, whose death comes less than six weeks before Election Day, reportedly told her granddaughter just before she died that her “most fervent wish is that I will not be replaced until a new president is installed.”
President Donald Trump is expected to put forth a Supreme Court nominee to fill Ginsburg’s seat in the coming days, ABC News reported, citing multiple unnamed sources.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (Ky.) said Friday that “President Trump’s nominee will receive a vote on the floor” of the Republican-majority Senate.
To block Trump’s nominee, all Democrats in the Senate and at least four Republicans will need to vote in dissent.
Biden said Friday that he hoped Ginsburg’s seat would not be filled until after the election.
“There is no doubt ― let me be clear ― that the voters should pick the president, and the president should pick the justice for the Senate to consider,” he said.
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thehuffingtonpost--2020-09-19--Trevor Noah Launches Spoof Coronavirus-Themed Pandemmy Awards

“ The Daily Show ” is recognizing the most “ breathtaking ” achievements of the coronavirus pandemic so far .
@ @ @ @ @ categories for the spoof Pandemmy Awards in a video shared online this week — from @ @ @ @ @ “ Best Costume Design ” to “ Best Karen ” and “ Best Cure.
” @ @ @ @ @ and the “ winners ” will be announced on Monday ’ s broadcast of the @ @ @ @ @ the nominees in each category here :

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thehuffingtonpost--2020-09-19--Conservatives Signal Roe v. Wade Showdown After Ruth Bader Ginsburg's Death

Conservatives are salivating at the prospect that President Donald Trump will be able to install a third member to the Supreme Court following the death of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg on Friday .
Such a move appears likely to accomplish their No .
1 goal : dismantling the abortion rights established in the landmark 1973 Roe v. Wade ruling .
Although Ginsburg made one last wish , asking not to be replaced “ until a new president is installed ” following this year ’ s election , Trump and Republican Senate leaders have made no attempt to conceal their desire @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Congress as quickly as possible .
And conservatives have begun to signal that they are preparing for a showdown on abortion rights , which Ginsburg , a feminist icon , had staunchly defended since being confirmed to the bench in 1993 as a decision women should be able to make for themselves .
Shortly after news surfaced of Ginsburg ’ s death made headlines , Rep. Doug Collins ( R-Ga. ) posted a scathing tweet : “ RIP to the more than 30 million innocent babies that have been murdered during the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ laws .
With [ Trump ] nominating a replacement that values human life , generations of unborn children have a chance to live.
” But Collins refused to back down .
On Saturday morning , as his name trended on Twitter , he doubled down .
“ As a pastor and father , the issue of life is deeply personal to me , ” he tweeted .
“ We ’ ve got our best chance in decades to strike down Roe V. Wade .
Let ’ s take it.
” The Supreme Court @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an abortion in Roe v. Wade and clarified what that right looks like in subsequent decisions , and the court takes precedent seriously .
Yet because abortion rights are not enshrined in state law across much of the country , the high court wields the power to dramatically restrict access to abortion care .
As a pastor and father , the issue of life is deeply personal to me .
We ’ ve got our best chance in decades to strike down Roe V. Wade .
Let ’ s take it .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ conservative and the Senate needs to do their job and confirm without delay .
— Doug Collins ( @ CollinsforGA ) September 19 , 2020 “ Two months ago , I pledged to vote only for # SCOTUS nominees who understand and acknowledge that Roe was wrongly decided , ” he wrote in a tweet .
“ I stand by that commitment , and I call on my fellow Republican senators to take the same stand.
” The group said in a statement that “ the pro-life grassroots have full confidence ” that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Lindsey Graham “ and every pro-life senator will move swiftly to fill this vacancy.
” Several other anti-abortion groups expressed condolences over Ginsburg ’ s death while at the same time calling on the Republican-controlled Senate to approve an anti-abortion rights replacement quickly .

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Conservatives are salivating at the prospect that President Donald Trump will be able to install a third member to the Supreme Court following the death of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg on Friday. Such a move appears likely to accomplish their No. 1 goal: dismantling the abortion rights established in the landmark 1973 Roe v. Wade ruling.
Although Ginsburg made one last wish, asking not to be replaced “until a new president is installed” following this year’s election, Trump and Republican Senate leaders have made no attempt to conceal their desire to shove her replacement through the gears of Congress as quickly as possible.
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And conservatives have begun to signal that they are preparing for a showdown on abortion rights, which Ginsburg, a feminist icon, had staunchly defended since being confirmed to the bench in 1993 as a decision women should be able to make for themselves.
Shortly after news surfaced of Ginsburg’s death made headlines, Rep. Doug Collins (R-Ga.) posted a scathing tweet: “RIP to the more than 30 million innocent babies that have been murdered during the decades that Ruth Bader Ginsburg defended pro-abortion laws. With [Trump] nominating a replacement that values human life, generations of unborn children have a chance to live.”
RIP to the more than 30 million innocent babies that have been murdered during the decades that Ruth Bader Ginsburg defended pro-abortion laws. With @realDonaldTrump nominating a replacement that values human life, generations of unborn children have a chance to live. — Doug Collins (@CollinsforGA) September 19, 2020
Collins, who is running for the GOP Senate nomination in Georgia against incumbent Kelly Loeffler, was excoriated for his callous message.
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He was accused of “celebrating” Ginsburg’s death by Scott Dworkin, founder of the Democratic Coalition. Carolyn Bourdeaux, a Democratic House candidate from Collins’ state, called his message “wrong and despicable.”
But Collins refused to back down. On Saturday morning, as his name trended on Twitter, he doubled down.
“As a pastor and father, the issue of life is deeply personal to me,” he tweeted. “We’ve got our best chance in decades to strike down Roe V. Wade. Let’s take it.”
Collins was far from the only one openly acknowledging the opportunity tha suddenly looms for conservatives.
The Supreme Court affirmed a woman’s right to an abortion in Roe v. Wade and clarified what that right looks like in subsequent decisions, and the court takes precedent seriously. Yet because abortion rights are not enshrined in state law across much of the country, the high court wields the power to dramatically restrict access to abortion care.
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As a pastor and father, the issue of life is deeply personal to me. We’ve got our best chance in decades to strike down Roe V. Wade. Let’s take it. @realdonaldtrump is going to nominate a pro-life conservative and the Senate needs to do their job and confirm without delay. — Doug Collins (@CollinsforGA) September 19, 2020
On Saturday, Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) reaffirmed his desire to install a new Supreme Court justice who would take a pickaxe to abortion rights.
“Two months ago, I pledged to vote only for #SCOTUS nominees who understand and acknowledge that Roe was wrongly decided,” he wrote in a tweet. “I stand by that commitment, and I call on my fellow Republican senators to take the same stand.”
Two months ago, I pledged to vote only for #SCOTUS nominees who understand and acknowledge that Roe was wrongly decided. I stand by that commitment, and I call on my fellow Republican senators to take the same stand — Josh Hawley (@HawleyMO) September 19, 2020
The Susan B. Anthony List, an anti-abortion right organization, called Ginsburg’s death a “turning point for the nation.”
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The group said in a statement that “the pro-life grassroots have full confidence” that Trump, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Lindsey Graham “and every pro-life senator will move swiftly to fill this vacancy.”
Trump on Saturday declared his intention to replace Ginsburg “without delay,” and McConnell and Graham are backing that effort.
Several other anti-abortion groups expressed condolences over Ginsburg’s death while at the same time calling on the Republican-controlled Senate to approve an anti-abortion rights replacement quickly.
Students for Life claimed in a statement that past Supreme Court decisions have “made the deaths of more than 60 million baby boys and baby girls possible.”
Americans United for Life issued a press release urging Trump to choose Amy Coney Barrett, a 48-year-old judge on the Seventh Circuit federal appellate court. The group said it was “confident” Barrett would “prove herself a trusted caretaker of the Constitutional protections extended to every human person in America, including human lives in the womb.”
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thehuffingtonpost--2020-09-19--Susan Collins: Supreme Court Vacancy Should Not Be Filled Until After Election

WASHINGTON ( Reuters ) - Republican U.S .
Senator Susan Collins said on Saturday the U.S. Senate should not fill a vacancy on the Supreme Court until after the Nov. 3 presidential election , and the winner of that race should pick the nominee .
Collins , who is in a tough re-election battle in Maine , said in a statement that “ in fairness to the American people , who will either be re-electing the president or selecting a new one , the decision on a lifetime appointment to the Supreme Court should be made by the president who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is the first Republican senator to suggest the nomination should be tied to who wins the White House .
Senator Lisa Murkowsi , an Alaska Republican , told Alaska Public Radio in an interview shortly before the announcement of Ginsburg ’ s death that she would not vote to confirm a nominee before the election .
Murkowski ’ s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment Saturday .
About seven Republican incumbents and two Democrats face a chance of losing their seats in November ’ s election , according to @ @ @ @

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WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Republican U.S. Senator Susan Collins said on Saturday the U.S. Senate should not fill a vacancy on the Supreme Court until after the Nov. 3 presidential election, and the winner of that race should pick the nominee.
Collins, who is in a tough re-election battle in Maine, said in a statement that “in fairness to the American people, who will either be re-electing the president or selecting a new one, the decision on a lifetime appointment to the Supreme Court should be made by the president who is elected on November 3.”
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My statement on the Supreme Court vacancy: pic.twitter.com/jvYyDN5gG4 — Sen. Susan Collins (@SenatorCollins) September 19, 2020
Collins is the first Republican senator to suggest the nomination should be tied to who wins the White House.
Republicans control the Senate with a 53-47 majority.
Senator Lisa Murkowsi, an Alaska Republican, told Alaska Public Radio in an interview shortly before the announcement of Ginsburg’s death that she would not vote to confirm a nominee before the election. Murkowski’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment Saturday.
About seven Republican incumbents and two Democrats face a chance of losing their seats in November’s election, according to nonpartisan election trackers.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-09-19--Lindsey Graham Says He'll Push To Confirm A New Supreme Court Justice

Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Lindsey Graham ( R-S.C. ) made clear on Saturday that he would move to fill Ruth Bader Ginsburg ’ s seat on the Supreme Court , despite having said in the past that such vacancies should not be confirmed during a presidential election year .
On Saturday , he tweeted that he would support President Donald Trump “ in any effort to move forward regarding the recent vacancy created by the passing of Justice Ginsburg.
” Graham , locked in what a recent poll showed is a tough reelection bid , is reversing the stance he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ then-President Barack Obama from filling the vacancy created by the death of Justice Antonin Scalia .
“ If there ’ s a Republican president in 2016 and a vacancy occurs in the last year of the first term , you can say Lindsey Graham said let ’ s let the next president , whoever it might be , make that nomination , ” Graham said in March of 2016 , eight months before that year ’ s election ended with Trump winning the White House .
“ You could use my words against @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” he added at the time .
LINDSEY GRAHAM on March 10 , 2016 : “ I want you to use my words against me .
If there ’ s a Republican president in 2016 and a vacancy occurs in the last year of the first term , you can say Lindsey Graham said let ’ s let the next president , whoever it might be , make that nomination . ''
pic.twitter.com/DYXou0KEI8 — JM Rieger ( @ RiegerReport ) September 19 , 2020 Graham reiterated that position as late as October @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the last year of President Trump ’ s term , and the primary process has started , we ’ ll wait to the next election.
” But Graham , who as the Judiciary Committee head will be in charge of the confirmation process , started backing away from his previous stance even before Ginsburg ’ s death .
In justifying moving forward with a new high court this year , Graham cited the bitter 2018 fight over Brett Kavanaugh ’ s high court nomination by Trump .
After that battle , “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I ’ m concerned , ” Graham said earlier this year , referring to the allegations of sexual misconduct that nearly derailed Kavanaugh ’ s appointment to the Supreme Court .
Graham has also echoed Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell ( R-Ky. ) , who led the effort that thwarted Obama from filling the 2016 vacancy but on Friday night , shortly after news broke of Ginsburg ’ s death , said she should be replaced before the next president is inaugurated on Jan. 20 .
McConnell has rationalized the apparent hypocrisy by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the White House are held by Republicans , whereas in 2016 , the GOP-held Senate was asked by Obama ― a Democrat ― to consider nominee Merrick Garland .
Trump in a Saturday tweet said he plans to nominate a new justice “ without delay.
” His comment followed McConnell saying Fridau night that a Trump pick would “ receive a vote on the floor of the United States Senate.
” McConnell did not say whether that vote would take place before the Nov. 3 election , when the GOP ’ s Senate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a lame-duck session .
Democrats urged McConnell to wait and respect Ginsburg ’ s dying wish that the president who takes office on Jan. 20 to fill her seat .
If that doesn ’ t happen , Democrats may move to eliminate the Senate filibuster and add seats to the high court if their party takes control of the chamber and the White House next year .
In a conference call with his caucus on Saturday , Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer ( D-N.Y. ) said , “ Let me be clear @ @ @ @ @ @ @ move forward with this , then nothing is off the table for next year .
Nothing is off the table .
”

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Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) made clear on Saturday that he would move to fill Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s seat on the Supreme Court, despite having said in the past that such vacancies should not be confirmed during a presidential election year.
On Saturday, he tweeted that he would support President Donald Trump “in any effort to move forward regarding the recent vacancy created by the passing of Justice Ginsburg.”
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Graham, locked in what a recent poll showed is a tough reelection bid, is reversing the stance he took four years ago as Republicans blocked then-President Barack Obama from filling the vacancy created by the death of Justice Antonin Scalia.
“If there’s a Republican president in 2016 and a vacancy occurs in the last year of the first term, you can say Lindsey Graham said let’s let the next president, whoever it might be, make that nomination,” Graham said in March of 2016, eight months before that year’s election ended with Trump winning the White House.
“You could use my words against me and you would be absolutely right,” he added at the time.
LINDSEY GRAHAM on March 10, 2016:
“I want you to use my words against me. If there’s a Republican president in 2016 and a vacancy occurs in the last year of the first term, you can say Lindsey Graham said let’s let the next president, whoever it might be, make that nomination." pic.twitter.com/DYXou0KEI8 — JM Rieger (@RiegerReport) September 19, 2020
Graham reiterated that position as late as October 2018: “If an opening comes in the last year of President Trump’s term, and the primary process has started, we’ll wait to the next election.”
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But Graham, who as the Judiciary Committee head will be in charge of the confirmation process, started backing away from his previous stance even before Ginsburg’s death. In justifying moving forward with a new high court this year, Graham cited the bitter 2018 fight over Brett Kavanaugh’s high court nomination by Trump.
After that battle, “the rules have changed as far as I’m concerned,” Graham said earlier this year, referring to the allegations of sexual misconduct that nearly derailed Kavanaugh’s appointment to the Supreme Court.
Graham has also echoed Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), who led the effort that thwarted Obama from filling the 2016 vacancy but on Friday night, shortly after news broke of Ginsburg’s death, said she should be replaced before the next president is inaugurated on Jan. 20. McConnell has rationalized the apparent hypocrisy by noting that now both the Senate and the White House are held by Republicans, whereas in 2016, the GOP-held Senate was asked by Obama ― a Democrat ― to consider nominee Merrick Garland.
Graham said in May, “Merrick Garland was a different situation.”
As various news outlets aired and publicized Graham’s 2016 comments, the South Carolina Republican urged his Twitter followers on Saturday to review his most recent comments about filling a vacancy.
Trump in a Saturday tweet said he plans to nominate a new justice “without delay.” His comment followed McConnell saying Friday night that a Trump pick would “receive a vote on the floor of the United States Senate.”
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McConnell did not say whether that vote would take place before the Nov. 3 election, when the GOP’s Senate majority is at risk, or afterward in a lame-duck session.
Democrats urged McConnell to wait and respect Ginsburg’s dying wish that the president who takes office on Jan. 20 should be the one filling her seat. If that doesn’t happen, Democrats may move to eliminate the Senate filibuster and add seats to the high court if their party takes control of the chamber and the White House next year.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-09-19--Trump Says He Wants To Replace Ruth Bader Ginsburg 'Without Delay'

President Donald Trump said he plans to nominate a new Supreme Court justice “ without delay ” following the death on Friday of Ruth Bader Ginsburg .
“ We were put in this position of power and importance to make decisions for the people who so proudly elected us , the most important of which has long been considered to be the selection of United States Supreme Court Justices , ” Trump said in a tweet Saturday .
“ We have this obligation , without delay !
” .
@ GOP We were put in this position of power and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who so proudly elected us , the most important of which has long been considered to be the selection of United States Supreme Court Justices .
We have this obligation , without delay !
— Donald J. Trump ( @ realDonaldTrump ) September 19 , 2020 Ginsburg , a liberal icon who had served on the nation ’ s highest court since 1993 , died Friday at 87 from complications of cancer .
Just days before her death , Ginsburg dictated a statement to her granddaughter saying that her most “ fervent wish @ @ @ @ @ @ @ until a new president is installed.
” But with less than two months before the next presidential election , Trump on Saturday made clear he plans to push forward in replacing the justice before he himself is potentially replaced .
Ginsburg ’ s death could also spell calamity for the election should it become mired in legal disputes that must be decided by the Supreme Court .
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell ( R-Ky. ) wasted no time on Friday night saying that he would push the chamber to move forward on replacing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nominee .
Trump ’ s pick “ will receive a vote on the floor of the United States Senate , ” McConnell said in a statement .
Nine months before the 2016 election , McConnell made the unprecedented decision to block then-President Barack Obama from filling the Supreme Court opening created by the death of Justice Antonin Scalia because , he argued , the next president should get to pick the nominee .
McConnell insists the current situation is different , sloughing off charges that he is engaging in an act of hypocrisy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s death , there are now five conservative judges , all appointed by Republicans , and three liberal judges , all appointed by Democrats .
“ Our nation has lost a justice of historic stature .
We at the Supreme Court have lost a cherished colleague , ” Chief Justice John Roberts ( R ) said in a statement following news of Ginsburg ’ s death .
“ Today we mourn but with confidence that future generations will remember Ruth Bader Ginsburg as we knew her , a tireless and resolute champion of @ @ @

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President Donald Trump said he plans to nominate a new Supreme Court justice “without delay” following the death on Friday of Ruth Bader Ginsburg.
“We were put in this position of power and importance to make decisions for the people who so proudly elected us, the most important of which has long been considered to be the selection of United States Supreme Court Justices,” Trump said in a tweet Saturday. “We have this obligation, without delay!”
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.@GOP We were put in this position of power and importance to make decisions for the people who so proudly elected us, the most important of which has long been considered to be the selection of United States Supreme Court Justices. We have this obligation, without delay! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) September 19, 2020
Ginsburg, a liberal icon who had served on the nation’s highest court since 1993, died Friday at 87 from complications of cancer.
Just days before her death, Ginsburg dictated a statement to her granddaughter saying that her most “fervent wish” was to not be replaced “until a new president is installed.”
But with less than two months before the next presidential election, Trump on Saturday made clear he plans to push forward in replacing the justice before he himself is potentially replaced. Ginsburg’s death could also spell calamity for the election should it become mired in legal disputes that must be decided by the Supreme Court.
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Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) wasted no time on Friday night saying that he would push the chamber to move forward on replacing Ginsburg as soon as Trump offers a nominee. Trump’s pick “will receive a vote on the floor of the United States Senate,” McConnell said in a statement.
Nine months before the 2016 election, McConnell made the unprecedented decision to block then-President Barack Obama from filling the Supreme Court opening created by the death of Justice Antonin Scalia because, he argued, the next president should get to pick the nominee. McConnell insists the current situation is different, sloughing off charges that he is engaging in an act of hypocrisy of historic proportions.
With Ginsburg’s death, there are now five conservative judges, all appointed by Republicans, and three liberal judges, all appointed by Democrats.
“Our nation has lost a justice of historic stature. We at the Supreme Court have lost a cherished colleague,” Chief Justice John Roberts (R) said in a statement following news of Ginsburg’s death. “Today we mourn but with confidence that future generations will remember Ruth Bader Ginsburg as we knew her, a tireless and resolute champion of justice.”


thehuffingtonpost--2020-09-19--Envelope Containing Poison Ricin Reportedly Sent To Trump

An envelope containing the lethal compound ricin and addressed to President Donald Trump was intercepted earlier this week before it @ @ @ @ @ , law enforcement officials said Saturday , according to several news outlets , including The @ @ @ @ @ , Secret Service and U.S .
Postal Inspection Service are reportedly investigating the package ’ @ @ @ @ @ a highly toxic substance found in castor beans .
As little as one milligram of @ @ @ @ @ , according to a Cornell University fact sheet about the compound .
There is no @ @ @ @ @ s unclear whether the package — which investigators believe was sent from Canada — was @ @ @ @ @ White House mailroom , The New York Times reported .
The White House mailroom is @ @ @ @ @ elsewhere in Washington .
Packages containing ricin have , in the past , been intercepted @ @ @ @ @ figures , including former President Barack Obama and former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg @

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An envelope containing the lethal compound ricin and addressed to President Donald Trump was intercepted earlier this week before it could reach the White House, law enforcement officials said Saturday, according to several news outlets, including The Associated Press.
The FBI, Secret Service and U.S. Postal Inspection Service are reportedly investigating the package’s source.
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Ricin is a highly toxic substance found in castor beans. As little as one milligram of it can kill an adult, according to a Cornell University fact sheet about the compound. There is no known antidote.
It’s unclear whether the package — which investigators believe was sent from Canada — was intercepted before it reached the White House mailroom, The New York Times reported. The White House mailroom is located at a remote site elsewhere in Washington.
Packages containing ricin have, in the past, been intercepted en route to other political figures, including former President Barack Obama and former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-09-19--Report: Kushner Predicted N.Y. Would 'Suffer' With COVID, And 'That's Their Problem'

The shocking comment was one of several in the article exposing Kushner ’ s dismissive , compassion-challenged attitude about the rapacious pandemic that as of Saturday has claimed close to 200,000 lives in the U.S. , including more than 33,000 in New York .
He made the comments at a meeting with business leaders he hosted at the White House ― some were online ― on March 21 , according to Vanity Fair , when President Donald Trump already knew how lethal COVID-19 was .
When one business representative brought up the devastating problems states were having obtaining adequate personal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gloves and gowns for medical workers — Kushner reportedly responded : “ Free markets will solve this .
That is not the role of government.
” As the COVID-19 death toll continued to mount , states were left to fend for themselves with no federal management and little aid .
Many states ended up competing with one another for desperately needed supplies , driving up prices .
In some cases , they competed with the federal government , which snatched supplies ordered by states — or instructed vendors not to do business with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
According to the article , when the same business leader said he feared the market was failing to deliver medical supplies , he said Kushner responded : “ That ’ s the CNN bullshit .
They lie.
” Trump ’ s son-in-law then reportedly complained that New York Gov .
Andrew Cuomo ( D ) “ didn ’ t pound the phones hard enough to get PPE for his state ... His people are going to suffer and that ’ s their problem.
” Kushner added , “ The federal government is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It ’ s up to the states to figure out what they want to do.
” Unlike the Trump administration , the business community was eager to take action and help the nation weather COVID-19 , those attending the meeting told Kushner .
They were prepared to pull out the stops and crank up production , even reconfiguring manufacturing to make different products .
But Kushner was not interested , a source told Vanity Fair .
Kushner stunned the public the following month when he announced that the federal emergency stockpile of medial @ @ @ @ @ @ @ states — raising the question of who the supplies were intended to serve .
“ The notion of the federal stockpile was it ’ s supposed to be our stockpile , ” Kushner said .
“ It ’ s not supposed to be states ’ stockpiles that they then use.
” Kushner ’ s attitude has been perfectly in sync with Trump ’ s .
The president has frequently signaled that states bear the major burden in dealing with the pandemic ― particularly the Democratic states — rather than the federal government .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ down his coronavirus task force and has repeatedly insisted that COVID-19 will simply vanish .
But he has known nearly from the beginning how deadly serious the pandemic was and decided to “ downplay ” it , Trump admitted in recently revealed taped conversations with journalist Bob Woodward .
In comments earlier this week Trump said that the COVID-19 death toll would be lower ― and thus his administration ’ s response to the health crisis more impressive ― if “ you take the blue states out.
” One of those attending the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ very clear ” Kushner was less interested in finding a solution because , at the time , the virus was primarily ravaging cities in blue states , according to the Vanity Fair article

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White House senior adviser Jared Kushner coldly informed a group of business leaders earlier this year that the state of New York would “suffer” with COVID-19, adding: “That’s their problem,” sources told Vanity Fair.
The shocking comment was one of several in the article exposing Kushner’s dismissive, compassion-challenged attitude about the rapacious pandemic that as of Saturday has claimed close to 200,000 lives in the U.S., including more than 33,000 in New York.
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He made the comments at a meeting with business leaders he hosted at the White House ― some were online ― on March 21, according to Vanity Fair, when President Donald Trump already knew how lethal COVID-19 was.
A number of people attending the meeting told the magazine that they were “stunned” by Kushner’s chilly attitude about the suffering and death facing Americans.
When one business representative brought up the devastating problems states were having obtaining adequate personal protective equipment — including face masks, gloves and gowns for medical workers — Kushner reportedly responded: “Free markets will solve this. That is not the role of government.”
As the COVID-19 death toll continued to mount, states were left to fend for themselves with no federal management and little aid. Many states ended up competing with one another for desperately needed supplies, driving up prices. In some cases, they competed with the federal government, which snatched supplies ordered by states — or instructed vendors not to do business with certain states — to channel them elsewhere.
Advertisement
According to the article, when the same business leader said he feared the market was failing to deliver medical supplies, he said Kushner responded: “That’s the CNN bullshit. They lie.”
Trump’s son-in-law then reportedly complained that New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) “didn’t pound the phones hard enough to get PPE for his state ... His people are going to suffer and that’s their problem.”
Kushner added, “The federal government is not going to lead this response. It’s up to the states to figure out what they want to do.”
Unlike the Trump administration, the business community was eager to take action and help the nation weather COVID-19, those attending the meeting told Kushner. They were prepared to pull out the stops and crank up production, even reconfiguring manufacturing to make different products. But Kushner was not interested, a source told Vanity Fair.
Kushner stunned the public the following month when he announced that the federal emergency stockpile of medial supplies wasn’t meant for the states — raising the question of who the supplies were intended to serve.
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“The notion of the federal stockpile was it’s supposed to be our stockpile,” Kushner said. “It’s not supposed to be states’ stockpiles that they then use.”
JARED KUSHNER: "The notion of the federal stockpile was it's supposed to be our stockpile. It's not supposed to be states stockpiles that they then use." pic.twitter.com/9Q7j8QBCMv — Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) April 2, 2020
Kushner’s attitude has been perfectly in sync with Trump’s. The president has frequently signaled that states bear the major burden in dealing with the pandemic ― particularly the Democratic states — rather than the federal government. He announced in May he was winding down his coronavirus task force and has repeatedly insisted that COVID-19 will simply vanish. But he has known nearly from the beginning how deadly serious the pandemic was and decided to “downplay” it, Trump admitted in recently revealed taped conversations with journalist Bob Woodward.
In comments earlier this week Trump said that the COVID-19 death toll would be lower ― and thus his administration’s response to the health crisis more impressive ― if “you take the blue states out.”
One of those attending the White House meeting said it seemed “very clear” Kushner was less interested in finding a solution because, at the time, the virus was primarily ravaging cities in blue states, according to the Vanity Fair article
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“We were flabbergasted,” he said. “I basically had an out-of-body experience [wondering]: Where am I, and what happened to America?”
Five of the 10 states with the highest death tolls were carried by Trump in 2016.
White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany told Vanity Fair that its story was “another inaccurate and disgusting partisan hit job.”


thehuffingtonpost--2020-09-19--Democratic Donations Dramatically Shoot Up Following Death Of Ruth Bader Ginsburg

In the first hour after Ginsburg ’ s death was announced , ActBlue , a nonprofit that raises funds for Democrats and left-leaning organizations , received more than $ 6.2 million , according to The New York Times .
Over the course of the following hour , donations soared an additional $ 6.3 million , with more than $ 100,000 coming in per minute .
That total was the highest amount the site received in a single hour since its founding in 2004 .
In total , $ 35 million was raised on Friday , ActBlue confirmed .
An image @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the New York State Civil Supreme Court building in Manhattan after she passed away September 18 , 2020 .
As donations poured in , Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell ( R-Ky. ) announced his intention to replace Ginsburg with a Supreme Court associate justice nominated by President Donald Trump .
“ Americans reelected our majority in 2016 and expanded it in 2018 because we pledged to work with President Trump and support his agenda , particularly his outstanding appointments to the federal judiciary .
Once again , we will keep our promise , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ President Trump ’ s nominee will receive a vote on the floor of the United States Senate.
” At the same time , one of the campaigns using ActBlue , Get Mitch or Die Trying , raised more than $ 1.5 million , according to tweets from Crooked Media founder Tommy Vietor , whose company is behind that effort .
By Saturday morning , that number rose to more than $ 9.4 million .
Get Mitch or Die Trying donates to 13 Senate races in an effort to flip the Senate to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ if this SCOTUS news is motivating Democrats .
Here is a chart of donations to our fund to help elect Democrats to the Senate .
Donate ( or watch the number go up ) here : https : //t.co/KGWmpELi2L pic.twitter.com/XCEk21Wnyh — Tommy Vietor ( @ TVietor08 ) September 19 , 2020 Our Get Mitch Senate fund is now at $ 9.454 million raised .
This money gets split between 13 senate candidates .
At 5:30PM today the fund was at $ 3.5 million .
https : //t.co/KGWmpEtGEb — Tommy Vietor ( @ TVietor08 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ course of Friday night and Saturday morning , the ticker on ActBlue ’ s website continued to increase , and a number of voices chimed in on social media announcing their intention to donate as a means of honoring and protecting Ginsburg ’ s legacy .
Let ’ s donate tonight and make a gigantic statement and say thank you to Justice Ginsburg .
Let ’ s flip the Senate for her and save the country .
https : //t.co/p40AD1G8yX — Judd Apatow ( @ JuddApatow ) September 19 , 2020 The opponent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump-nominated replacement of Ruth Bader Ginsburg is getting a donation from me .
— JRehling ( @ JRehling ) September 19 , 2020 McConnell 's statement pushed me .
I likely would not have otherwise .
And I will soon , after a new paycheck because he is trying to push a new justice so close to the election .
— CamusDigIt ( @ CamusIt ) September 19 , 2020 The ActBlue tracker , on their home page is now about to break 6,475,000,000 .
If I ’ m reading this correctly , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ MILLION dollars in the painful hours since # RBG ’ s death .
May her memory be a revolution https : //t.co/EfoK6rpaqk — Warren Leight ( @ warrenleightTV ) September 19 , 2020

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Donations to Democratic groups skyrocketed following the Friday night announcement of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Ginsburg’s death.
In the first hour after Ginsburg’s death was announced, ActBlue, a nonprofit that raises funds for Democrats and left-leaning organizations, received more than $6.2 million, according to The New York Times.
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Over the course of the following hour, donations soared an additional $6.3 million, with more than $100,000 coming in per minute. That total was the highest amount the site received in a single hour since its founding in 2004. In total, $35 million was raised on Friday, ActBlue confirmed.
An image of Ruth Bader Ginsburg is projected onto the New York State Civil Supreme Court building in Manhattan after she passed away September 18, 2020. Andrew Kelly/Reuters
As donations poured in, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) announced his intention to replace Ginsburg with a Supreme Court associate justice nominated by President Donald Trump.
“Americans reelected our majority in 2016 and expanded it in 2018 because we pledged to work with President Trump and support his agenda, particularly his outstanding appointments to the federal judiciary. Once again, we will keep our promise,” McConnell said in a statement. “President Trump’s nominee will receive a vote on the floor of the United States Senate.”
At the same time, one of the campaigns using ActBlue, Get Mitch or Die Trying, raised more than $1.5 million, according to tweets from Crooked Media founder Tommy Vietor, whose company is behind that effort.
By Saturday morning, that number rose to more than $9.4 million. Get Mitch or Die Trying donates to 13 Senate races in an effort to flip the Senate to a Democratic majority.
Hey reporters wondering if this SCOTUS news is motivating Democrats. Here is a chart of donations to our fund to help elect Democrats to the Senate. Donate (or watch the number go up) here: https://t.co/KGWmpELi2L pic.twitter.com/XCEk21Wnyh — Tommy Vietor (@TVietor08) September 19, 2020
Our Get Mitch Senate fund is now at $9.454 million raised. This money gets split between 13 senate candidates. At 5:30PM today the fund was at $3.5 million. https://t.co/KGWmpEtGEb — Tommy Vietor (@TVietor08) September 19, 2020
Over the course of Friday night and Saturday morning, the ticker on ActBlue’s website continued to increase, and a number of voices chimed in on social media announcing their intention to donate as a means of honoring and protecting Ginsburg’s legacy.
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Let’s donate tonight and make a gigantic statement and say thank you to Justice Ginsburg. Let’s flip the Senate for her and save the country. https://t.co/p40AD1G8yX — Judd Apatow (@JuddApatow) September 19, 2020
Channeled my fear and rage onto @actblue to donate to relevant senate races- join me if you're able. — Allison Tolman (@Allison_Tolman) September 19, 2020
The opponent of any Senator who votes for a Trump-nominated replacement of Ruth Bader Ginsburg is getting a donation from me. — JRehling (@JRehling) September 19, 2020
McConnell's statement pushed me. I likely would not have otherwise. And I will soon, after a new paycheck because he is trying to push a new justice so close to the election. — CamusDigIt (@CamusIt) September 19, 2020
The ActBlue tracker, on their home page is now about to break 6,475,000,000. If I’m reading this correctly, Americans have now donated over $35 MILLION dollars in the painful hours since #RBG’s death. May her memory be a revolution https://t.co/EfoK6rpaqk — Warren Leight (@warrenleightTV) September 19, 2020


thehuffingtonpost--2020-09-19--What GOP Leaders Said About Merrick Garland Back In 2016

When Justice Antonin Scalia died in winter 2016 , Republicans introduced a new logic to the process of filling Supreme Court vacancies : If the opening came shortly before a presidential election , the process should be put on hold until the American people had a chance to make their voices heard .
Her loss instantly triggered dual avalanches of grief and concern over whether President Donald Trump will get a third chance to pick a new associate justice on the nation ’ s highest court ― a court that could play a pivotal role in a contentious election ― @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said repeatedly four years earlier .
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky and Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley of Iowa : “ Given that we are in the midst of the presidential election process , we believe that the American people should seize the opportunity to weigh in on whom they trust to nominate the next person for a lifetime appointment to the Supreme Court.
” Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina : “ As I have repeatedly stated , the election cycle is well underway , and the precedent of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nominee at this stage in the process .
I strongly support giving the American people a voice in choosing the next Supreme Court nominee by electing a new president.
” Sen. Thom Tillis of North Carolina : “ It is essential to the institution of the Senate and to the very health of our republic to not launch our nation into a partisan , divisive confirmation battle during the very same time the American people are casting their ballots to elect our next president.
” Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida : “ I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ moving forward with a nominee in the last year of this president ’ s term .
I would say that even if it was a Republican president.
” Sen. Mike Lee of Utah : “ We think that the American people need a chance to weigh in on this issue , on who will fill that seat .
They ’ ll have that chance this November , and they ought to have that chance.
” Sen. Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania : “ With the U.S. Supreme Court ’ s balance at stake , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ eight months away , it is wise to give the American people a more direct voice in the selection and confirmation of the next justice.
” Sen. John Cornyn of Texas : “ President Barack Obama has exercised his authority to nominate someone to fill the vacancy , but the Senate has an equal authority to determine whether to proceed with that nomination .
I believe the American people deserve to have a voice in the selection of the next Supreme Court justice , and the best way to ensure that happens is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ made by the next president.
” Sen. David Purdue of Georgia : “ The very balance of our nation ’ s highest court is in serious jeopardy .
As a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee , I will do everything in my power to encourage the president and Senate leadership not to start this process until we hear from the American people.
” Sen. Johnny Isakson of Georgia : “ The American people are going to the polls in November to pick the next president , and I think the next president @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that vacancy , not the one who ’ s on the way out.
” Sen. Richard Burr of North Carolina : “ In this election year , the American people will have an opportunity to have their say in the future direction of our country .
For this reason , I believe the vacancy left open by Justice Scalia should not be filled until there is a new president.
” McConnell does not seem to care about being labeled a hypocrite .
Neither , apparently , does Graham .
He promised in 2018 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to any pick Trump made after the presidential primaries had begun .
( He later said “ the rules have changed as far as I ’ m concerned ” after the confirmation of Brett Kavanaugh , the highly controversial nominee accused of sexual assault . )

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When Justice Antonin Scalia died in winter 2016, Republicans introduced a new logic to the process of filling Supreme Court vacancies: If the opening came shortly before a presidential election, the process should be put on hold until the American people had a chance to make their voices heard.
By that reasoning, then-President Barack Obama had no right to push Merrick Garland ― his pick ― toward a seat on the bench. Garland, then 63, was known as a moderate.
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Scalia died 269 days before the 2016 presidential election. Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, to compare, died Friday, just 46 days before the 2020 presidential election on Nov. 3.
Her loss instantly triggered dual avalanches of grief and concern over whether President Donald Trump will get a third chance to pick a new associate justice on the nation’s highest court ― a court that could play a pivotal role in a contentious election ― despite what members of his own party said repeatedly four years earlier.
Republicans at the time defended themselves largely by appealing to voters. Here is what more than a dozen of them said.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky and Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley of Iowa: “Given that we are in the midst of the presidential election process, we believe that the American people should seize the opportunity to weigh in on whom they trust to nominate the next person for a lifetime appointment to the Supreme Court.”
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Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina: “As I have repeatedly stated, the election cycle is well underway, and the precedent of the Senate is not to confirm a nominee at this stage in the process. I strongly support giving the American people a voice in choosing the next Supreme Court nominee by electing a new president.”
Sen. Thom Tillis of North Carolina: “It is essential to the institution of the Senate and to the very health of our republic to not launch our nation into a partisan, divisive confirmation battle during the very same time the American people are casting their ballots to elect our next president.”
Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas: “It has been 80 years since a Supreme Court vacancy was nominated and confirmed in an election year. There is a long tradition that you don’t do this in an election year.”
Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida: “I don’t think we should be moving forward with a nominee in the last year of this president’s term. I would say that even if it was a Republican president.”
Sen. Cory Gardner of Colorado: “I think we’re too close to the election. The president who is elected in November should be the one who makes this decision.”
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Sen. Mike Lee of Utah: “We think that the American people need a chance to weigh in on this issue, on who will fill that seat. They’ll have that chance this November, and they ought to have that chance.”
Sen. Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania: “With the U.S. Supreme Court’s balance at stake, and with the presidential election fewer than eight months away, it is wise to give the American people a more direct voice in the selection and confirmation of the next justice.”
Sen. John Thune of South Dakota: “Since the next presidential election is already underway, the next president should make this lifetime appointment to the Supreme Court.”
Sen. John Cornyn of Texas: “President Barack Obama has exercised his authority to nominate someone to fill the vacancy, but the Senate has an equal authority to determine whether to proceed with that nomination. I believe the American people deserve to have a voice in the selection of the next Supreme Court justice, and the best way to ensure that happens is to have the Senate consider a nomination made by the next president.”
Sen. Joni Ernst of Iowa: “We will see what the people say this fall, and our next president, regardless of party, will be making that nomination.”
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Sen. David Purdue of Georgia: “The very balance of our nation’s highest court is in serious jeopardy. As a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, I will do everything in my power to encourage the president and Senate leadership not to start this process until we hear from the American people.”
Sen. Johnny Isakson of Georgia: “The American people are going to the polls in November to pick the next president, and I think the next president ought to be the one who fills that vacancy, not the one who’s on the way out.”
Sen. Richard Burr of North Carolina: “In this election year, the American people will have an opportunity to have their say in the future direction of our country. For this reason, I believe the vacancy left open by Justice Scalia should not be filled until there is a new president.”
McConnell in the past day has already attempted to justify ramming through a nominee by saying that his argument against Obama’s nominee made sense because the Senate and the White House were controlled by members of opposing parties.
He did not mention the supposed historical precedent ― which was always a dubious claim even in 2016, given how a nominee chosen by President Ronald Reagan was confirmed in 1988, an election year.
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thehuffingtonpost--2020-09-19--New Trump Campaign Ad Mocks Grieving Biden As 'Weak'

A new ad for President Donald Trump ’ s campaign is facing criticism for using the image of a grieving Joe Biden to label the Democratic presidential candidate “ weak.
” The ad also blasted Biden for some of his immigration policies , including his plan to increase refugee resettlement in the U.S. Trump last year approved a plan to dramatically reduce the number of refugees allowed into the U.S. in 2020 to 18,000 , a move sharply criticized by religious and humanitarian groups .
Biden vowed to increase the country ’ s annual global refugee target to 125,000 in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ traditions and ideals .
Getty photographer Justin Sullivan captured the image at an event in Iowa in the summer of 2019 .
Biden appeared to get emotional — and brought his hand to his forehead as he attempted to regain his composure — while speaking about the challenges of long-term health care for ailing family members .
“ If you need the help , I promise you , there is nobody , nobody , nobody , nobody more important to you than that person where they ’ ll do anything from helping with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ scared , you know , hold their hands , you know ?
” Biden said , his voice breaking , as he spoke of the help that long-term health care workers provide to families .
“ These are good , good , good , good , important people .
They should be compensated , ” Biden added , before he stopped speaking and put his hand to his forehead .
Biden has spoken extensively in the past of his own experiences with sick family members , including his elderly parents and his son @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cancer in 2015 .
A Biden spokesman criticized the Trump campaign for mocking the former vice president during a moment of grief and vulnerability .
“ Even by Donald Trump ’ s standards , this is appalling , ” Michael Gwin , deputy rapid response director for the Biden campaign , told HuffPost in a statement .
“ Each day , Trump and his campaign manage to find new lows and further confirm in the eyes of the American people just how incapable he is of unifying our country and leading it with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump on Monday tweeted about “ Weak , Tired and Sleepy ” Biden .
In 2018 , after Biden announced that he would have “ beat the hell out of ” Trump in high school over his mistreatment of women , Trump referred to him as “ crazy ” and “ both mentally and physically ” weak .
Crazy Joe Biden is trying to act like a tough guy .
Actually , he is weak , both mentally and physically , and yet he threatens me , for the second time , with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ know me , but he would go down fast and hard , crying all the way .
Don ’ t threaten people Joe !
— Donald J. Trump ( @ realDonaldTrump ) March 22 , 2018

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A new ad for President Donald Trump’s campaign is facing criticism for using the image of a grieving Joe Biden to label the Democratic presidential candidate “weak.”
Biden’s campaign excoriated the ad that first aired Friday as “appalling.”
The ad also blasted Biden for some of his immigration policies, including his plan to increase refugee resettlement in the U.S.
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Biden plans to boost refugee numbers “by 700% from the most unstable, vulnerable, dangerous parts of the world,” the ad claimed.
Trump last year approved a plan to dramatically reduce the number of refugees allowed into the U.S. in 2020 to 18,000, a move sharply criticized by religious and humanitarian groups. Biden vowed to increase the country’s annual global refugee target to 125,000 in recognition of the nation’s humanitarian traditions and ideals.
The Trump ad continued, “America can’t afford a weak Joe Biden,” over an image of Biden with his hand on his forehead.
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Getty photographer Justin Sullivan captured the image at an event in Iowa in the summer of 2019. Biden appeared to get emotional — and brought his hand to his forehead as he attempted to regain his composure — while speaking about the challenges of long-term health care for ailing family members.
“If you need the help, I promise you, there is nobody, nobody, nobody, nobody more important to you than that person where they’ll do anything from helping with a bedpan to when they get really scared, you know, hold their hands, you know?” Biden said, his voice breaking, as he spoke of the help that long-term health care workers provide to families.
“These are good, good, good, good, important people. They should be compensated,” Biden added, before he stopped speaking and put his hand to his forehead.
“I apologize, no, I’m sorry,” he told the moderator.
Joe Biden pauses during a candidate forum in Des Moines, Iowa. on July 15, 2019. Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
Biden has spoken extensively in the past of his own experiences with sick family members, including his elderly parents and his son, Beau, who died of brain cancer in 2015.
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A Biden spokesman criticized the Trump campaign for mocking the former vice president during a moment of grief and vulnerability.
“Even by Donald Trump’s standards, this is appalling,” Michael Gwin, deputy rapid response director for the Biden campaign, told HuffPost in a statement. “Each day, Trump and his campaign manage to find new lows and further confirm in the eyes of the American people just how incapable he is of unifying our country and leading it with the honor and dignity it deserves.”
This isn’t the first time that Trump cast Biden as a so-called “weak” leader.
Trump on Monday tweeted about “Weak, Tired and Sleepy” Biden. In 2018, after Biden announced that he would have “beat the hell out of” Trump in high school over his mistreatment of women, Trump referred to him as “crazy” and “both mentally and physically” weak.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-09-19--Son Of Antonin Scalia Shares Memories Of Father's Friendship With Ruth Bader Ginsburg

Supreme Court Justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Antonin Scalia represented opposite ends of the political spectrum : She was a fierce liberal ; he was an equally fierce conservative .
But the two shared a deep friendship , as revealed in anecdotes shared by Scalia ’ s son Christopher Scalia one day after Ginsburg ’ s death .
The younger Scalia posted segments on Twitter from a roast given by his father on the occasion of Ginsburg ’ s 10th anniversary on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit , where both jurists previously served prior @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Court .
The elder Scalia , who died in 2016 , wrote that he “ missed Ruth very much ” since departing the Court of Appeals , calling her the “ best of colleagues ” and the “ best of friends.
” Christopher Scalia also recounted a story from Jeffrey Sutton , a judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit .
Sutton witnessed the elder Scalia ’ s gift of two dozen roses for Ginsburg ’ s birthday and asked why such a gesture of goodwill was necessary .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ things are more important than votes.
” I 'm very sad to hear about the passing of my parents ' good friend , and my father 's wonderful colleague , Justice Ginsburg .
May her memory be a blessing .
I 'd like to share a couple of passages that convey what she meant to my dad ... /3 — Christopher J. Scalia ( @ cjscalia ) September 18 , 2020 This is from a roast he delivered for her 10th anniversary on the DC Circuit Court of Appeals .
They 'd been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the Supreme Court ; she had n't joined him there yet—and he missed her .
pic.twitter.com/rrgFfNlvJL — Christopher J. Scalia ( @ cjscalia ) September 19 , 2020 This is a story that Judge Jeffrey Sutton shares about an encounter late in my dad 's life , when he bought his friend Ruth two dozen roses for her birthday .
`` Some things in life are more important than votes . ''
pic.twitter.com/wjCJvFcdHm — Christopher J. Scalia ( @ cjscalia ) September 19 , 2020 The relationship between the elder Scalia and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ debate between people of differing political ideologies , according to Irin Carmon , co-author of the biography “ Notorious RBG : The Life and Times of Ruth Bader Ginsburg.
” Scalia once argued , “ If you can ’ t disagree ardently with your colleagues about some issues of law and yet personally still be friends , get another job , for Pete ’ s sake.
” The pair toured India together in 1994 and shared a mutual appreciation for the arts that even sparked the creation of an opera inspired by the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ described as “ a comedy about friendship in a divided world.
” Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg , center , and Justice Antonin Scalia , center right , appear on stage on the opening night of the Washington National Opera production of `` Ariadne auf Naxos '' at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington in October 2009 .
In a eulogy for Scalia following his death , Ginsburg called her colleague a “ dear friend of such captivating brilliance , high spirits and quick wit.
” “ I will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ provoked , his pungent , eminently quotable opinions , so clearly stated that his words never slipped from the reader ’ s grasp , the roses he brought me on my birthday , the chance to appear with him once more as supernumeraries at the opera , ” she said .
She added : “ In the words of a duet for tenor Scalia and soprano Ginsburg , we were different , yes , in our interpretation of written texts , yet one in our reverence for the Court and its place in @ @ @ @ @ @ @

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Supreme Court Justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Antonin Scalia represented opposite ends of the political spectrum: She was a fierce liberal; he was an equally fierce conservative. But the two shared a deep friendship, as revealed in anecdotes shared by Scalia’s son Christopher Scalia one day after Ginsburg’s death.
The younger Scalia posted segments on Twitter from a roast given by his father on the occasion of Ginsburg’s 10th anniversary on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, where both jurists previously served prior to their appointments to the U.S. Supreme Court.
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The elder Scalia, who died in 2016, wrote that he “missed Ruth very much” since departing the Court of Appeals, calling her the “best of colleagues” and the “best of friends.”
Christopher Scalia also recounted a story from Jeffrey Sutton, a judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit. Sutton witnessed the elder Scalia’s gift of two dozen roses for Ginsburg’s birthday and asked why such a gesture of goodwill was necessary. The elder Scalia replied that “some things are more important than votes.”
I'm very sad to hear about the passing of my parents' good friend, and my father's wonderful colleague, Justice Ginsburg. May her memory be a blessing. I'd like to share a couple of passages that convey what she meant to my dad.../3 — Christopher J. Scalia (@cjscalia) September 18, 2020
This is from a roast he delivered for her 10th anniversary on the DC Circuit Court of Appeals. They'd been colleagues on that court until he went to the Supreme Court; she hadn't joined him there yet—and he missed her. pic.twitter.com/rrgFfNlvJL — Christopher J. Scalia (@cjscalia) September 19, 2020
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This is a story that Judge Jeffrey Sutton shares about an encounter late in my dad's life, when he bought his friend Ruth two dozen roses for her birthday. "Some things in life are more important than votes." pic.twitter.com/wjCJvFcdHm — Christopher J. Scalia (@cjscalia) September 19, 2020
The relationship between the elder Scalia and Ginsburg often embodied the spirit of respectful debate between people of differing political ideologies, according to Irin Carmon, co-author of the biography “Notorious RBG: The Life and Times of Ruth Bader Ginsburg.” Scalia once argued, “If you can’t disagree ardently with your colleagues about some issues of law and yet personally still be friends, get another job, for Pete’s sake.”
The pair toured India together in 1994 and shared a mutual appreciation for the arts that even sparked the creation of an opera inspired by the unlikely duo: “Scalia/Ginsburg,” described as “a comedy about friendship in a divided world.”
Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, center, and Justice Antonin Scalia, center right, appear on stage on the opening night of the Washington National Opera production of "Ariadne auf Naxos" at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington in October 2009. Karin Cooper via Getty Images
In a eulogy for Scalia following his death, Ginsburg called her colleague a “dear friend of such captivating brilliance, high spirits and quick wit.”
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“I will miss the challenges and the laughter he provoked, his pungent, eminently quotable opinions, so clearly stated that his words never slipped from the reader’s grasp, the roses he brought me on my birthday, the chance to appear with him once more as supernumeraries at the opera,” she said.