thehuffingtonpost--2020-08-28--4 Takeways From The Republican National Convention

Both national conventions had their emotional , viral moments ― Brayden Harrington ’ s speech about his stutter at the Democratic National Convention , widow Ann Dorn ’ s tribute to her retired police officer husband at the GOP celebration ― but neither had any type of game-changing moment to alter the fundamental story of the race : It is a referendum on President Donald Trump , with many voters disapproving of his handling of the coronavirus pandemic , health care and racial justice .
Democratic nominee Joe Biden has a steady but not overwhelming lead in polls of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ jumped around from attack to attack ― hitting Biden for being weak on China , then for becoming allied with progressive Sen. Bernie Sanders ( I-Vt. ) , then back to being weak on China , then to his support for late-term abortion , then back to Biden being a “ Trojan horse for socialists ” ― without sticking to any one cohesive theme .
In general , it was an attempt to shift the race from a referendum on Trump ’ s performance ― a referendum Trump is very likely to fail @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Biden .
Trump mentioned Biden ’ s name more than 40 times in his speech Thursday night .
Biden never directly mentioned Trump during his speech the week before .
There are plenty of other reasons the speech ’ s effect will be limited : The inappropriate use of the White House and lack of social distancing among the Rose Garden crowd will overshadow the speech ’ s content , and two bigger news stories ― the aftermath of the police shooting of Jacob Blake in Kenosha , Wisconsin , and a major @ @ @ @ @ @ @ overshadow its existence entirely .
Trump ’ s address was also peppered with lies , misstatements and distortions about both his record and Biden ’ s positions , many of which were repeated at other points during the convention .
Going over every last lie would require a Herculean effort , but two of them were critical , and Trump is likely to repeat them again and again over the final weeks of the race .
The first is his claim that the “ entire Republican Party ” would “ always , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ conditions.
” This simply isn ’ t true .
The GOP has dedicated dozens of congressional votes over the years to repealing Obamacare , including its protections blocking insurance companies from denying coverage to people with preexisting health conditions .
Trump ’ s Justice Department supports a lawsuit aiming to strike down the entire law that is soon to go before the Supreme Court .
Various Republicans have tried to introduce legislation that could replace Obamacare ’ s protections , but health care experts have consistently said those bills would fall short of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Trump Is Stuck In 1980s New York City It ’ s not hard to see why Republicans would try to cast themselves as guardians against rising crime in some cities ― to say nothing of the rioting that has spilled out from peaceful demonstrations against police misconduct , particularly in cities like Minneapolis , Minnesota , and Kenosha , Wisconsin .
That ’ s because it allows the GOP to shift from the politically inconvenient terrain of dismissing protests against police misconduct and racism , which a majority of Americans support , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ condemning arson and property destruction , which already appear to be turning swing voters against Democrats in the general election battleground state of Wisconsin .
As HuffPost has noted , though , it ’ s a whole lot harder for Trump to paint himself as the solution to crime and civil unrest-fueled-rioting when those problems have exploded on his watch .
He ran in 2016 on a similar platform ; now he is asking for a chance to deliver on a promise he couldn ’ t keep .
In addition , the focus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Notwithstanding an uptick in crime , including shootings and murders in recent months , New York City does not even break the top 25 most crime-ridden big cities .
And though the city is in the grips of an uptick in crime that is cause for local concern , the Big Apple is on track to have far fewer violent crimes this year than it did under Giuliani .
Trump is once again trapped in the unique New York City culture wars of the 1980s and ’ 90s , when he first tried @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1989 , Trump took out a full-page ad in New York City newspapers calling for the state to revive the death penalty to punish the “ Central Park Five ” ― a group of Black and Latino teenagers accused of raping a woman in Manhattan .
When the young men were exonerated by DNA evidence decades later , Trump declined to apologize for whipping up public sentiment against them .

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Two weeks of the major party political conventions delivered 16 hours of prime-time programming, more than 120 individual speakers, dozens of pre-produced glossy videos and zero fundamental change in the race.
Both national conventions had their emotional, viral moments ― Brayden Harrington’s speech about his stutter at the Democratic National Convention, widow Ann Dorn’s tribute to her retired police officer husband at the GOP celebration ― but neither had any type of game-changing moment to alter the fundamental story of the race: It is a referendum on President Donald Trump, with many voters disapproving of his handling of the coronavirus pandemic, health care and racial justice. Democratic nominee Joe Biden has a steady but not overwhelming lead in polls of the most crucial swing states.
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Trump’s speech Thursday nicely illustrates the convention’s lack of impact. Trump rattled off a long, meandering list of already well-known or politically irrelevant accomplishments and repeated well-worn attacks on Biden. The speech came without any of the gusto that defines his most off-the-rails rally performances but with all of the lies and distortions he typically delivers.
The speech jumped around from attack to attack ― hitting Biden for being weak on China, then for becoming allied with progressive Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), then back to being weak on China, then to his support for late-term abortion, then back to Biden being a “Trojan horse for socialists” ― without sticking to any one cohesive theme.
“No one will be safe in Biden’s America,” Trump said in the closest thing the 70-minute speech had to a summary.
President Donald Trump delivered a nomination acceptance speech on Thursday designed to paint him as a moderate and Democrats as radicals. It was one of his many lies. BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/Getty Images
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In general, it was an attempt to shift the race from a referendum on Trump’s performance ― a referendum Trump is very likely to fail ― toward a choice between himself and Biden. Trump mentioned Biden’s name more than 40 times in his speech Thursday night. Biden never directly mentioned Trump during his speech the week before.
But there was little in the speech that the Trump campaign had not tried before without success.
There are plenty of other reasons the speech’s effect will be limited: The inappropriate use of the White House and lack of social distancing among the Rose Garden crowd will overshadow the speech’s content, and two bigger news stories ― the aftermath of the police shooting of Jacob Blake in Kenosha, Wisconsin, and a major hurricane hitting the Gulf Coast ― may overshadow its existence entirely.
In general, the political effect of conventions has been declining for years as partisanship and polarization has risen, and the Democratic convention provided little boost for Biden’s campaign. Expect the polls, and the voters they survey, to give Trump the same treatment.
At this point, with Biden holding a stable lead and fewer than 70 days until Election Day, Biden wins by not losing.
Here are three more takeaways from the Republican National Convention:
Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden has a long record of moderate positions on crime, including his current opposition to police funding cuts, that Trump wants Americans to forget. OLIVIER DOULIERY/Getty Images
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Trump Lied A Lot
Trump’s address was also peppered with lies, misstatements and distortions about both his record and Biden’s positions, many of which were repeated at other points during the convention. Going over every last lie would require a Herculean effort, but two of them were critical, and Trump is likely to repeat them again and again over the final weeks of the race.
The first is his claim that the “entire Republican Party” would “always, and very strongly, protect patients with preexisting conditions.” This simply isn’t true. The GOP has dedicated dozens of congressional votes over the years to repealing Obamacare, including its protections blocking insurance companies from denying coverage to people with preexisting health conditions. Trump’s Justice Department supports a lawsuit aiming to strike down the entire law that is soon to go before the Supreme Court. Various Republicans have tried to introduce legislation that could replace Obamacare’s protections, but health care experts have consistently said those bills would fall short of the protections the Affordable Care Act offers.
The second major lie was that Biden supports efforts to eliminate police budgets, part of Trump’s efforts to portray Biden ― a veteran politician with a clear center-left ideology and track record ― as a stalking-horse for the left-most elements of the Democratic Party. “If you give power to Joe Biden, the radical left will defund police departments all across America,” Trump said.
Biden does not support defunding the police. Biden has actually proposed increased federal funding for police departments to hire additional officers, while Trump has proposed cutting federal funds for local departments in each of the budgets of his presidency.
Donald Trump, Mike Tyson and other guests at a charity event in New York City in 1989, the year Trump helped whip up public anger against the wrongfully charged "Central Park Five." Ron Galella/Getty Images
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Trump Is Stuck In 1980s New York City
One of the most striking things about the final night of the Republican National Convention was the degree to which speakers singled out New York City as an embodiment of the failures of urban Democratic rule.
A short film of racially diverse residents of New York City’s public housing system denounced the incompetence of Democratic Mayor Bill de Blasio. One speaker even denounced Democrats for putting “illegal immigrants before Black Americans.”
Patrick Lynch, the head of New York City’s largest police union, depicted the city under de Blasio as a lawless hellhole that would not be out of place in a Batman film.
And former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani ― long hailed by conservative Gothamites for his heavy-handed approach to reducing crime in the 1990s ― described de Blasio as a taste of the kind of lawlessness-for-its-own-sake that Democrats supposedly want to visit on America.
“Don’t let Democrats do to America what they’ve done to New York.” - Rudy Giuliani, former New York City mayor
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“Don’t let Democrats do to America what they’ve done to New York,” Giuliani said, declaring that Republicans were the true anti-racists for their vigilance against the ordinary crime that kills so many Black residents of major cities. “For President Trump and for us Republicans, all Black lives matter.”
It’s not hard to see why Republicans would try to cast themselves as guardians against rising crime in some cities ― to say nothing of the rioting that has spilled out from peaceful demonstrations against police misconduct, particularly in cities like Minneapolis, Minnesota, and Kenosha, Wisconsin. That’s because it allows the GOP to shift from the politically inconvenient terrain of dismissing protests against police misconduct and racism, which a majority of Americans support, and turn to the stronger ground of condemning arson and property destruction, which already appear to be turning swing voters against Democrats in the general election battleground state of Wisconsin.
As HuffPost has noted, though, it’s a whole lot harder for Trump to paint himself as the solution to crime and civil unrest-fueled-rioting when those problems have exploded on his watch. He ran in 2016 on a similar platform; now he is asking for a chance to deliver on a promise he couldn’t keep.
In addition, the focus on New York City was bizarre. Notwithstanding an uptick in crime, including shootings and murders in recent months, New York City does not even break the top 25 most crime-ridden big cities. And though the city is in the grips of an uptick in crime that is cause for local concern, the Big Apple is on track to have far fewer violent crimes this year than it did under Giuliani.
Trump is once again trapped in the unique New York City culture wars of the 1980s and ’90s, when he first tried his hand at right-wing demagoguery. In 1989, Trump took out a full-page ad in New York City newspapers calling for the state to revive the death penalty to punish the “Central Park Five” ― a group of Black and Latino teenagers accused of raping a woman in Manhattan. When the young men were exonerated by DNA evidence decades later, Trump declined to apologize for whipping up public sentiment against them.
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Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), right, criticized Joe Biden for signing off on trade deals that cost the U.S. manufacturing jobs. Trump is attacking Biden's trade record as well. Brendan McDermid/Reuters
Trump Sees China As Joe Biden’s Weak Point
While some GOP convention speakers stirred fear over crime and rioting, others, such as Sen. Tom Cotton of Arkansas and Trump himself, framed a win for Biden as tantamount to selling the country out to China.
“Joe Biden aided and abetted China’s rise for 50 years with terrible trade deals that closed our factories and laid off our workers,” Cotton said.
It is indeed true that Biden voted to approve permanent normalized trade relations with China in 2000. Experts estimate that from 1999 to 2011, the U.S. lost between 2 million and 2.4 million manufacturing jobs due to increased competition with China. As a candidate, Sanders also slammed Biden for his vote to open up U.S.-China trade.
But Biden now supports tougher enforcement and public investments as part of a “Buy American” program that he says would generate 5 million new manufacturing jobs. And the United States’ trade deficit with China ― accompanied by the flight of manufacturing jobs ― has continued to climb during Trump’s presidency.
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thehuffingtonpost--2020-08-28--White House Amassing Reporter 'Dossier' After Story On Trump's Business Charging Taxpayers $900,000

The White House has warned The Washington Post that it ’ s collecting a “ dossier ” on one of its journalists after he reported that President Donald Trump ’ s private business , the Trump Organization , has charged taxpayers at least $ 900,000 .
The chilling , Kremlin-esque threat was made in response to a story Thursday by Pulitzer Prize-winning Post reporter David Fahrenthold , Josh Dawsey and Joshua Partlow that the Trump Organization has charged the Secret Service steep fees for agents guarding the president during his multiple trips to his own properties .
The Secret Service @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump ’ s properties even when he is not present , has been charged daily “ resort fees , ” and was once billed $ 1,300 for a mysterious “ furniture removal charge ” during a presidential trip to Trump ’ s golf resort in Turnberry , Scotland , the Post reported , based on multiple interviews and newly obtained bills and emails .
Just two weeks after Trump became president , the Secret Service spent $ 10,666 at Mar-a-Lago for a single weekend while guarding Trump at his Florida resort , according @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was charged $ 17,000 to rent a cottage for a month at Trump ’ s golf resort in Bedminister , New Jersey , the story said .
“ The Washington Post is blatantly interfering with the business relationships of the Trump Organization , and it must stop , ” White House spokesman Judd Deere said in a written statement to the newspaper .
“ Please be advised that we are building up a very large ‘ dossier ’ on the many false David Fahrenthold and others [ sic ] stories as they are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people.
” Breaking precedent with past presidents , Trump has continued to own and profit from his businesses while in the White House , triggering accusations of conflict of interest , as critics charge he is using his job to solicit profits for his businesses .
He has blatantly touted his properties as president and frequently travels to them , not only racking up expenses the government pays but drawing national attention to them on the taxpayers ’ dime .
Deere issued his threat to Fahrenthold when the reporter asked if Trump had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ business and political interests separate .
The White House spokesman , whose salary is paid by taxpayers , notably used his position to defend Trump ’ s private business .
The president ’ s son Eric Trump said in a statement to the Post : “ We have gone to tremendous lengths to avoid even the appearance of a conflict of interest , not due to any legal requirement , but because of the respect we have towards the office of the presidency.
” Taxpayers have paid millions of dollars to fund Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ properties , which highlight the businesses .
But many of those costs — including airfare , and food and lodging for his entourage elsewhere — don ’ t go directly into the Trump Organization coffers .
Trump has visited his own properties 271 times as president , according to a Washington Post tally .
The Trump reelection campaign and Republican National Committee have also paid an estimated $ 17 million to Trump businesses since 2016 for events , including for room and restaurant fees , and catering .
If Trump was trying to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ businesses , as he once promised , he “ wouldn ’ t talk about his business , he wouldn ’ t promote his business , he wouldn ’ t go to his businesses , ” Noah Bookbinder , executive director of the watchdog group Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington , told the Post .

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The White House has warned The Washington Post that it’s collecting a “dossier” on one of its journalists after he reported that President Donald Trump’s private business, the Trump Organization, has charged taxpayers at least $900,000.
The chilling, Kremlin-esque threat was made in response to a story Thursday by Pulitzer Prize-winning Post reporter David Fahrenthold, Josh Dawsey and Joshua Partlow that the Trump Organization has charged the Secret Service steep fees for agents guarding the president during his multiple trips to his own properties.
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The Secret Service has had to pay for rooms at Trump’s properties even when he is not present, has been charged daily “resort fees,” and was once billed $1,300 for a mysterious “furniture removal charge” during a presidential trip to Trump’s golf resort in Turnberry, Scotland, the Post reported, based on multiple interviews and newly obtained bills and emails.
Just two weeks after Trump became president, the Secret Service spent $10,666 at Mar-a-Lago for a single weekend while guarding Trump at his Florida resort, according to the Post. The Secret Service was charged $17,000 to rent a cottage for a month at Trump’s golf resort in Bedminister, New Jersey, the story said.
“The Washington Post is blatantly interfering with the business relationships of the Trump Organization, and it must stop,” White House spokesman Judd Deere said in a written statement to the newspaper. “Please be advised that we are building up a very large ‘dossier’ on the many false David Fahrenthold and others [sic] stories as they are a disgrace to journalism and the American people.”
Deere did not refute any of the figures in the new piece.
We asked: did @realdonaldtrump break his promise to keep the White House and his business separate?
White House spokesman responds by...defending Trump’s private business. pic.twitter.com/n2vy5DA1dc — David Fahrenthold (@Fahrenthold) August 28, 2020
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Breaking precedent with past presidents, Trump has continued to own and profit from his businesses while in the White House, triggering accusations of conflict of interest, as critics charge he is using his job to solicit profits for his businesses. He has blatantly touted his properties as president and frequently travels to them, not only racking up expenses the government pays but drawing national attention to them on the taxpayers’ dime.
Deere issued his threat to Fahrenthold when the reporter asked if Trump had broken his one-time promise to keep his business and political interests separate. The White House spokesman, whose salary is paid by taxpayers, notably used his position to defend Trump’s private business.
The president’s son Eric Trump said in a statement to the Post: “We have gone to tremendous lengths to avoid even the appearance of a conflict of interest, not due to any legal requirement, but because of the respect we have towards the office of the presidency.”
He did not address the profits the Trump Organization collects from the president’s activities.
Taxpayers have paid millions of dollars to fund Trump’s frequent trips to his own properties, which highlight the businesses. But many of those costs — including airfare, and food and lodging for his entourage elsewhere — don’t go directly into the Trump Organization coffers. Trump has visited his own properties 271 times as president, according to a Washington Post tally.
The Trump reelection campaign and Republican National Committee have also paid an estimated $17 million to Trump businesses since 2016 for events, including for room and restaurant fees, and catering.
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If Trump was trying to “completely isolate” himself from his businesses, as he once promised, he “wouldn’t talk about his business, he wouldn’t promote his business, he wouldn’t go to his businesses,” Noah Bookbinder, executive director of the watchdog group Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, told the Post.
Instead, he added, “his businesses have been a constant presence in his presidency.”
Read the entire Washington Post story here.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-08-27--Heart-Wrenching Vet Video Features Gold Star Dad Pleading With Voters: Don't Trust Trump

A scathing video from the progressive PAC VoteVets released online Thursday features the father of a decorated Navy SEAL killed in Yemen in which he warns Americans : “ Don ’ t trust Donald Trump.
” Trump ordered a raid on Yemen during dinner at his Mar-a-Lago golf resort just days after he became president .
( He commented months later that he ate the “ most beautiful piece of chocolate cake ” at his club ’ s restaurant after ordering a missile strike on Syria . )
Trump “ wanted to play the big man going to war , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the VoteVets spot .
His son , William Ryan Owens , was the first combat death in the Trump administration in what was widely regarded as a poorly planned raid .
Owens ’ s son was the only American killed in the raid , which targeted al Qaeda leader Qasim al-Raymi .
As many as 30 civilians and 14 al Qaeda fighters also died .
NEW – PREBUTTAL TO TRUMP RNC SPEECH : The first combat death under Trump happened when he ordered a Navy SEAL team into Yemen while at a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ big-man-going-to-war .
The Gold Star dad of the hero lost has some BRUTAL words for Trump.
# DontTrustTrump pic.twitter.com/qg2Z8XdPmV — VoteVets ( @ votevets ) August 27 , 2020 “ Just five days into his presidency , Trump ordered Ryan ’ s SEAL team into Yemen — not from the Situation Room with all the intelligence assembled , but sitting across a dinner table from Steve Bannon , ” Owens said .
( Bannon was indicted on fraud charges last week in a “ build the wall ” scheme . )
There was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Owens added .
“ And when it went horribly wrong .
Donald Trump demeaned my son ’ s sacrifice to play to the crowd.
” Trump blamed anyone he could think of — generals , the military , even former President Barack Obama — for the tragedy after the hastily ordered operation .
“ When Russia put bounties on our troops ’ heads , Trump defended [ Russian President Vladimir ] Putin instead of our military , ” he added .
“ He kneecapped the Postal Service to undermine our right to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ throughout the pandemic ; 200,000 Americans will have died before we vote.
” Owens concluded : “ They and Ryan have one thing in common : It didn ’ t have to be but for Donald Trump .
If you hear one thing , let it be this : Don ’ t trust Donald Trump with your kid ’ s life — or your own .
”

A scathing video from the progressive PAC VoteVets released online Thursday features the father of a decorated Navy SEAL killed in Yemen in which he warns Americans: “Don’t trust Donald Trump.”
The spot was pitched as a “pre-rebuttal” to Trump’s Republican National Convention address Thursday night.
Trump ordered a raid on Yemen during dinner at his Mar-a-Lago golf resort just days after he became president. (He commented months later that he ate the “most beautiful piece of chocolate cake” at his club’s restaurant after ordering a missile strike on Syria.)
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Trump “wanted to play the big man going to war,” lamented Gold Star dad Bill Owens in the VoteVets spot. His son, William Ryan Owens, was the first combat death in the Trump administration in what was widely regarded as a poorly planned raid.
Owens’s son was the only American killed in the raid, which targeted al Qaeda leader Qasim al-Raymi. As many as 30 civilians and 14 al Qaeda fighters also died.
NEW – PREBUTTAL TO TRUMP RNC SPEECH:
The first combat death under Trump happened when he ordered a Navy SEAL team into Yemen while at a dinner party.
He wanted to play big-man-going-to-war.
The Gold Star dad of the hero lost has some BRUTAL words for Trump.#DontTrustTrump pic.twitter.com/qg2Z8XdPmV — VoteVets (@votevets) August 27, 2020
“Just five days into his presidency, Trump ordered Ryan’s SEAL team into Yemen — not from the Situation Room with all the intelligence assembled, but sitting across a dinner table from Steve Bannon,” Owens said. (Bannon was indicted on fraud charges last week in a “build the wall” scheme.)
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There was “no vital interest in play,” Owens added. “And when it went horribly wrong. Donald Trump demeaned my son’s sacrifice to play to the crowd.” Trump blamed anyone he could think of — generals, the military, even former President Barack Obama — for the tragedy after the hastily ordered operation.
Trump has “assailed our country’s core values” for nearly four years, Owens declared.
“When Russia put bounties on our troops’ heads, Trump defended [Russian President Vladimir] Putin instead of our military,” he added. “He kneecapped the Postal Service to undermine our right to vote. He’s misled us throughout the pandemic; 200,000 Americans will have died before we vote.”
Owens concluded: “They and Ryan have one thing in common: It didn’t have to be but for Donald Trump. If you hear one thing, let it be this: Don’t trust Donald Trump with your kid’s life — or your own.”


thehuffingtonpost--2020-08-28--Tapper: Trump’s Mask-Free White House Speech A Potential ‘Super-Spreader Event’

CNN ’ s Jake Tapper said health experts were disturbed by images from President Donald Trump ’ s speech on Thursday night as a “ potential super-spreader event ” for the coronavirus .
Trump spoke to a crowd of about 1,500 people as he accepted his party ’ s nomination during the Republican National Convention in an ethics-defying political event at the White House .
“ Forget the Hatch Act violations , ” Tapper said , referring to ethics rules against political use of government property .
“ We ’ re getting into a matter of life and death here.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , with no social distancing measures in place , and few masks were seen among the attendees ― most of whom were not tested before entering the event .
“ I ’ ve been talking to health officials across the country who are just abjectly mortified by what they ’ re seeing from the South Lawn , which looks like a potential super-spreader event , ” Tapper said : CNN ’ s @ jaketapper on the lack of social distancing at # RNC2020 : “ It ’ s really alarming .
… Since @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 5 p.m. today ... 3,688 Americans have died of coronavirus … We have had more losses due to this virus than were lost due to 9/11.
” pic.twitter.com/WZDcFbjHWH — The Lead CNN ( @ TheLeadCNN ) August 28 , 2020 Tapper noted that more Americans have died of the coronavirus since the start of the RNC this week than were killed during the Sept. 11 , 2001 , terrorist attacks .
The CNN host also cited Dr. Ashish Jha of the Harvard Global Health Institute as calling the gathering “ deeply irresponsible.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it 's true .
This is irresponsible .
Yes it 's outdoors .
But these folks are together for an extended period of time without masks .
It 's utterly irresponsible .
https : //t.co/Se3j5q2TPV — Ashish K. Jha ( @ ashishkjha ) August 28 , 2020 Have tried to be consistent here Virus does n't care if you 're protesting racial injustice or supporting the President Large gatherings without distancing risky Being outside helps Not being stationary likely helps Wearing masks helps a lot Going outside with others ?
Mask up https @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ashishkjha ) August 28 , 2020

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CNN’s Jake Tapper said health experts were disturbed by images from President Donald Trump’s speech on Thursday night as a “potential super-spreader event” for the coronavirus.
Trump spoke to a crowd of about 1,500 people as he accepted his party’s nomination during the Republican National Convention in an ethics-defying political event at the White House.
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“Forget the Hatch Act violations,” Tapper said, referring to ethics rules against political use of government property. “We’re getting into a matter of life and death here.”
The seats were spaced close together, with no social distancing measures in place, and few masks were seen among the attendees ― most of whom were not tested before entering the event.
“I’ve been talking to health officials across the country who are just abjectly mortified by what they’re seeing from the South Lawn, which looks like a potential super-spreader event,” Tapper said:
CNN’s @jaketapper on the lack of social distancing at #RNC2020: “It’s really alarming. … Since the Republican convention began on Monday until 5 p.m. today ... 3,688 Americans have died of coronavirus … We have had more losses due to this virus than were lost due to 9/11.” pic.twitter.com/WZDcFbjHWH — The Lead CNN (@TheLeadCNN) August 28, 2020
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Tapper noted that more Americans have died of the coronavirus since the start of the RNC this week than were killed during the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.
The CNN host also cited Dr. Ashish Jha of the Harvard Global Health Institute as calling the gathering “deeply irresponsible.”
Jha added on Twitter:
I admit I said this. Because it's true. This is irresponsible. Yes it's outdoors. But these folks are together for an extended period of time without masks.
It's utterly irresponsible. https://t.co/Se3j5q2TPV — Ashish K. Jha (@ashishkjha) August 28, 2020


thehuffingtonpost--2020-08-27--The Extreme Emptiness Of Donald Trump's Promises On Crime

“ I have a message for all of you : The crime and violence that today afflicts our nation will soon come to an end .
Beginning on January 20 , 2017 , safety will be restored , ” Trump said at the time , mentioning the “ recent images of violence in our streets and chaos in our communities.
” Trump talked about the “ attacks on our police ” and the “ terrorism in our cities.
” Michael Flynn , who would go on to become Trump ’ s disgraced national security adviser , said President Barack Obama @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and destruction into our neighborhoods.
” The headlines surrounding the convention this week are bleak .
Protesters have been pouring into the streets of Kenosha , Wisconsin , after a white police officer shot Jacob Blake , a Black man , seven times in the back in front of his three children .
Blake is paralyzed from the waist down .
After the Milwaukee Bucks announced that they would walk off before their playoff game because of the shooting of Blake , a number of other teams in the NBA and other sports @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Despite the fact that violence and unrest did not disappear as Trump promised in 2017 , Republicans are arguing that it will get better ― just as long as Biden and Sen. Kamala Harris ( Calif. ) aren ’ t elected .
“ Biden , Harris and their socialist comrades will fundamentally change this nation .
...
They will defund , dismantle and destroy America ’ s law enforcement .
When you are in trouble and need 911 , don ’ t count on the Democrats , ” Kimberly Guilfoyle , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Jr. , said in her dark speech Monday .
“ They are not satisfied with spreading the chaos and violence into our communities .
They want to abolish the suburbs altogether by ending single-family home zoning , ” Patty said in her speech Monday .
“ These are the policies that are coming to a neighborhood near you .
So make no mistake : No matter where you live , your family will not be safe in the radical Democrats ’ America.
” Trump has been trying to win over white suburban voters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ racist fears to do so .
In 2016 , exit polls showed him winning the suburbs .
But since then , his support has steadily dropped ― particularly with suburban women .
So he has again resorted to fear .
“ If the left gains power , they will demolish the suburbs , confiscate your guns and appoint justices who will wipe away your Second Amendment and other constitutional freedoms , ” Trump said in his convention speech Thursday .
His campaign recently released an ad showing an intruder trying to break into @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , warning , “ You won ’ t be safe in Joe Biden ’ s America.
” And , even though Trump is president , she said the reason there is still violence is that there are still Democrats : “ These are democratically led cities and most with Democratic governors .
...
It ’ s not Donald Trump ’ s watch.
” “ What bothers me the most is that he ’ s pouring gasoline on the racial flames that are burning now ... this is a real problem , and it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Biden said in an MSNBC interview .
The Trump campaign has claimed that Biden wants to defund the police , even though Biden has specifically rejected that call embraced by some on the left .
An overwhelming majority of the country supports some changes to policing .
Georgia state Rep. Vernon Jones , a Democrat who made national headlines for backing Trump in April , applauded the president for signing criminal justice reform legislation , saying , “ He ended ― once and for all ― the policy of mass incarceration of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ communities .
Democrats couldn ’ t do it !
Obama couldn ’ t do it !
Joe Biden and Kamala Harris definitely couldn ’ t do it !
But Donald Trump did .
”

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A central message of the Republican National Convention this year is that if Donald Trump is reelected president, Americans will finally be safe.
“Let me be clear: The violence must stop ― whether in Minneapolis, Portland or Kenosha. ... We will have law and order on the streets of America,” Vice President Mike Pence said Wednesday night.
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“I have no doubt, and I’m sure you don’t, when President Trump is reelected, the damage will stop,” added former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani on Thursday.
Trump himself said America must never have “mob rule.”
“In the strongest possible terms, the Republican Party condemns the rioting, looting, arson and violence we have seen in Democrat-run cities like Kenosha, Minneapolis, Portland, Chicago and New York,” he said in his speech Thursday night.
But that was the exact same message put forth at the Republican National Convention four years ago, when Trump exaggerated crime data and promised that violence would literally stop once he entered the White House.
“I have a message for all of you: The crime and violence that today afflicts our nation will soon come to an end. Beginning on January 20, 2017, safety will be restored,” Trump said at the time, mentioning the “recent images of violence in our streets and chaos in our communities.”
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Trump talked about the “attacks on our police” and the “terrorism in our cities.” Michael Flynn, who would go on to become Trump’s disgraced national security adviser, said President Barack Obama had “brought continued mayhem, murder and destruction into our neighborhoods.”
“It’s time to make America safe again,” added Giuliani at the time.
Any of those comments would fit right in at this year’s convention. But now, Trump is president. Yet somehow the “crime and violence” isn’t gone.
The headlines surrounding the convention this week are bleak. Protesters have been pouring into the streets of Kenosha, Wisconsin, after a white police officer shot Jacob Blake, a Black man, seven times in the back in front of his three children. Blake is paralyzed from the waist down.
On Wednesday, law enforcement authorities announced they had arrested a 17-year-old, who is white, in the shooting and killing of two people and the wounding of a third at a Kenosha protest of Blake’s shooting.
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After the Milwaukee Bucks announced that they would walk off before their playoff game because of the shooting of Blake, a number of other teams in the NBA and other sports said they would follow suit in solidarity.
“Did Mike Pence forget Donald Trump is president? Is Donald Trump even aware he’s president? These are not images from some imagined ‘Joe Biden’s America’ in the future. These are images from Donald Trump’s America today,” former Vice President Joe Biden said in a statement Thursday night.
Despite the fact that violence and unrest did not disappear as Trump promised in 2017, Republicans are arguing that it will get better ― just as long as Biden and Sen. Kamala Harris (Calif.) aren’t elected.
“Biden, Harris and their socialist comrades will fundamentally change this nation. ... They will defund, dismantle and destroy America’s law enforcement. When you are in trouble and need 911, don’t count on the Democrats,” Kimberly Guilfoyle, the campaign fundraiser and girlfriend of Donald Trump Jr., said in her dark speech Monday.
Mark and Patty McCloskey gained national attention for pointing guns at Black Lives Matter protesters who were walking by their house. They spoke at the Republican National Convention. Laurie Skrivan/St. Louis Post-Dispatch via Getty Images
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Mark and Patty McCloskey were central to this message, supposedly an embodiment of what would happen if Biden wins.
“We’re speaking to you tonight from St. Louis, Missouri, where just weeks ago you may have seen us defending our home as a mob of protesters descended on our neighborhood,” Mark McCloskey said Monday night.
“What you saw happen to us could just as easily happen to any of you who are watching from quiet neighborhoods around our country,” Patty McCloskey added.
In June, the McCloskeys gained national attention for pointing guns at Black Lives Matter protesters who marched by their mansion in St. Louis. The couple now face felony charges of unlawful use of a weapon.
Democratic St. Louis Circuit Attorney Kim Gardner has described the protesters as “peaceful” and “unarmed.” The McCloskeys claim the demonstrators ignored “No trespassing” signs before breaking through a gate to get into the community.
“They are not satisfied with spreading the chaos and violence into our communities. They want to abolish the suburbs altogether by ending single-family home zoning,” Patty said in her speech Monday. “These are the policies that are coming to a neighborhood near you. So make no mistake: No matter where you live, your family will not be safe in the radical Democrats’ America.” Trump has been trying to win over white suburban voters in crucial swing states, playing on racist fears to do so. In 2016, exit polls showed him winning the suburbs. But since then, his support has steadily dropped ― particularly with suburban women. So he has again resorted to fear. “If the left gains power, they will demolish the suburbs, confiscate your guns and appoint justices who will wipe away your Second Amendment and other constitutional freedoms,” Trump said in his convention speech Thursday. His campaign recently released an ad showing an intruder trying to break into the house of an elderly white woman, warning, “You won’t be safe in Joe Biden’s America.”
And in a tweet on July 29, Trump warned suburban voters that low-income housing would be taking over their neighborhoods.
I am happy to inform all of the people living their Suburban Lifestyle Dream that you will no longer be bothered or financially hurt by having low income housing built in your neighborhood... — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 29, 2020
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The Trump campaign has seized on the unrest in Kenosha, believing that the trauma and violence there is basically good news for them.
“The more chaos and anarchy and vandalism and violence reigns, the better it is for the very clear choice on who’s best on public safety and law and order,” outgoing White House adviser Kellyanne Conway said Thursday morning.
And, even though Trump is president, she said the reason there is still violence is that there are still Democrats: “These are democratically led cities and most with Democratic governors. ... It’s not Donald Trump’s watch.”
Trump said Thursday night that if “the radical left takes power, they will apply their disastrous policies to every city, town and suburb in America.”
Biden said Trump is “rooting for more violence.”
“What bothers me the most is that he’s pouring gasoline on the racial flames that are burning now... this is a real problem, and it keeps getting worse under this president,” Biden said in an MSNBC interview.
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The Trump campaign has claimed that Biden wants to defund the police, even though Biden has specifically rejected that call embraced by some on the left. An overwhelming majority of the country supports some changes to policing.
Just like in 2016, Americans are buying into Trump’s tirades about law and order, incorrectly believing that crime is up nationwide. Fifty-seven percent currently say they believe crime has increased over the past decade, according to a HuffPost/YouGov poll from July.
Just 10% of Americans believe, correctly, that crime rates decreased over the past decade. According to FBI statistics, both the violent crime rate and the property crime rate dropped from 2008 to 2018, the last year for which data is available.
While Trump and his allies have tried to tell white voters that Biden and Harris will be too soft on crime, they’ve also tried to convince Black voters that they’ve been too tough.
“In 1994, Biden led the charge on a crime bill that put millions of Black Americans behind bars. President Trump’s criminal justice reform law fixed many of the disparities Biden created and made our system more fair and just for all Americans,” Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.) said in his convention speech.
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Georgia state Rep. Vernon Jones, a Democrat who made national headlines for backing Trump in April, applauded the president for signing criminal justice reform legislation, saying, “He ended ― once and for all ― the policy of mass incarceration of Black people, which has decimated our communities. Democrats couldn’t do it! Obama couldn’t do it! Joe Biden and Kamala Harris definitely couldn’t do it! But Donald Trump did.”


thehuffingtonpost--2020-08-28--Mary Trump Explains Why She's 'Heartbroken' By Her Uncle's RNC Speech

Mary Trump , President Donald Trump ’ s niece , appeared on MSNBC after the Republican National Convention Thursday to react to her uncle ’ s closing speech , which she said left her feeling repulsed and heartbroken .
Mary Trump , whose scorched-earth book about her uncle and his troublesome ascent to the presidency remains high on best-seller lists , said she struggled to make sense of the president ’ s “ bizarrely convoluted messaging , ” but highlighted his blaming of political opponents for his own failures , negligence on coronavirus , disregard for ethics and his divisive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ if he thinks Joe Biden is president now and we have to save the country from Joe Biden , ” she said .
“ If the country is a place of division and decadence as he describes it , then I would think that ’ s down to him , as he ’ s currently in the Oval Office.
” The president ’ s rambling address continued for more than an hour to a crowd of over 1,000 people who did not appear to be social distancing or wearing masks .
The unprecedented @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the White House also raised serious ethics concerns .
Mary Trump says she 's `` repulsed '' and `` heartbroken '' following President Trump 's nomination acceptance speech at # RNC2020 .
`` If the country is a place of division and decadence as he describes it , then I would think that is down to him , as he is currently in the Oval Office . ''
pic.twitter.com/M3SFUSeCd5 — MSNBC ( @ MSNBC ) August 28 , 2020 As a New Yorker who lived through the early stages of the pandemic , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to focus on the event , given how many people were likely to get sick .
The president ’ s only mentions of the coronavirus that has killed more than 180,000 people under his leadership were in praise of his administration ’ s botched response .
She also said the address was a kick in the teeth for anyone wanting to make the country better .
She noted , in particular , her uncle ’ s portrayal of peaceful anti-racism demonstrators .
He sought to cast them as violent mobs while declaring himself @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
An apparent white vigilante who was photographed at a Trump rally in January was charged with shooting three protesters , killing two , but president nevertheless pointed to protesters as the problem .
“ It was a kick in the teeth for peaceful protesters who ’ ve been attacked and provoked by armed militiamen and policemen who act like they ’ re in battle , ” Mary Trump said .

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Mary Trump, President Donald Trump’s niece, appeared on MSNBC after the Republican National Convention Thursday to react to her uncle’s closing speech, which she said left her feeling repulsed and heartbroken.
Mary Trump, whose scorched-earth book about her uncle and his troublesome ascent to the presidency remains high on best-seller lists, said she struggled to make sense of the president’s “bizarrely convoluted messaging,” but highlighted his blaming of political opponents for his own failures, negligence on coronavirus, disregard for ethics and his divisive rhetoric.
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“It’s as if he thinks Joe Biden is president now and we have to save the country from Joe Biden,” she said. “If the country is a place of division and decadence as he describes it, then I would think that’s down to him, as he’s currently in the Oval Office.”
The president’s rambling address continued for more than an hour to a crowd of over 1,000 people who did not appear to be social distancing or wearing masks. The unprecedented move to hold the political event at the White House also raised serious ethics concerns.
“Donald explicitly co-opted the people’s house for his political party, which is beyond disgraceful,” Mary Trump said.
Mary Trump says she's "repulsed" and "heartbroken" following President Trump's nomination acceptance speech at #RNC2020.
"If the country is a place of division and decadence as he describes it, then I would think that is down to him, as he is currently in the Oval Office." pic.twitter.com/M3SFUSeCd5 — MSNBC (@MSNBC) August 28, 2020
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As a New Yorker who lived through the early stages of the pandemic, she said, she found it hard to focus on the event, given how many people were likely to get sick. The president’s only mentions of the coronavirus that has killed more than 180,000 people under his leadership were in praise of his administration’s botched response.
She also said the address was a kick in the teeth for anyone wanting to make the country better. She noted, in particular, her uncle’s portrayal of peaceful anti-racism demonstrators. He sought to cast them as violent mobs while declaring himself the “law and order” president. An apparent white vigilante who was photographed at a Trump rally in January was charged with shooting three protesters, killing two, but president nevertheless pointed to protesters as the problem.
“It was a kick in the teeth for peaceful protesters who’ve been attacked and provoked by armed militiamen and policemen who act like they’re in battle,” Mary Trump said.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-08-27--Wisconsin Christian College Rescinds Mike Pence's Invite To Speak At Commencement

A Christian college in Wisconsin has backtracked on having Vice President Mike Pence deliver its commencement address , citing “ escalating events ” in nearby Kenosha , where protests have been taking place over the police shooting of another Black man .
Lutheran College in Milwaukee announced Thursday that after “ careful consideration , ” it had decided to invite Rev .
Mark Jeske , the pastor of a local church , to speak at Saturday ’ s graduation instead of Pence .
Pence ’ s press secretary , Devin O ’ Malley , told CNN that the vice president @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s decision to “ prioritize the safety and well-being of their students.
” When it announced last week that Pence would speak at commencement , the college insisted it was not endorsing the Republican Party and that the ceremony “ can not ” be viewed as a political event .
“ We believe it is possible within our context to leave partisan politics at the door and to celebrate America , our freedoms , Christian servant leadership and our graduates ’ immense accomplishments , ” the college said in a statement , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Inviting Pence to speak proved to be controversial among the college ’ s community .
More than 260 alumni and current students signed an open letter denouncing the invitation as “ blatantly inappropriate ” and “ deceptive.
” “ Speaking to young adults months before an election is a political move and not one that WLC can decide is apolitical , ” stated the letter , which was written before the recent unrest in Kenosha .
Speaking to graduates of Wisconsin ’ s Lutheran College would have been Pence ’ s second visit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The small private college , located about one hour north of Kenosha , is affiliated with the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod , a theologically conservative denomination .
The school postponed its May graduation ceremony because of the coronavirus pandemic .
Along with canceling Pence ’ s appearance , the college said Thursday that its community is praying for “ justice and peace ” after a police officer shot Jacob Blake in the back seven times earlier this week .
Blake has been paralyzed , according to his family and attorney .
“ WLC @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and recognizes that serious changes need to take place within our country , region , and our cities , ” school president Daniel W. Johnson said in a statement .
“ Racism and systemic inequities in access to education , justice , and other aspects of society are unacceptable.
” Pence did not address systemic racism or police brutality while briefly commenting on the Kenosha protests during his address at the Republican National Convention on Wednesday .
“ Rioting and looting is not peaceful protest ; tearing down statues is not free speech @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who do so will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law .
”

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A Christian college in Wisconsin has backtracked on having Vice President Mike Pence deliver its commencement address, citing “escalating events” in nearby Kenosha, where protests have been taking place over the police shooting of another Black man.
Lutheran College in Milwaukee announced Thursday that after “careful consideration,” it had decided to invite Rev. Mark Jeske, the pastor of a local church, to speak at Saturday’s graduation instead of Pence.
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Pence’s press secretary, Devin O’Malley, told CNN that the vice president “understands and supports” the college’s decision to “prioritize the safety and well-being of their students.”
When it announced last week that Pence would speak at commencement, the college insisted it was not endorsing the Republican Party and that the ceremony “cannot” be viewed as a political event.
“We believe it is possible within our context to leave partisan politics at the door and to celebrate America, our freedoms, Christian servant leadership and our graduates’ immense accomplishments,” the college said in a statement, according to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
Inviting Pence to speak proved to be controversial among the college’s community. More than 260 alumni and current students signed an open letter denouncing the invitation as “blatantly inappropriate” and “deceptive.”
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“Speaking to young adults months before an election is a political move and not one that WLC can decide is apolitical,” stated the letter, which was written before the recent unrest in Kenosha.
The alumni also called President Donald Trump’s administration “divisive and degrading.”
“As a governor and now as the vice president, Mike Pence has failed to promote policies that reflect Christian values,” the alumni wrote.
Speaking to graduates of Wisconsin’s Lutheran College would have been Pence’s second visit to the swing state this month.
President Donald Trump joins Vice President Mike Pence on stage at the Republican National Convention in Baltimore on Wednesday. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)
The small private college, located about one hour north of Kenosha, is affiliated with the Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod, a theologically conservative denomination. The school postponed its May graduation ceremony because of the coronavirus pandemic.
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Along with canceling Pence’s appearance, the college said Thursday that its community is praying for “justice and peace” after a police officer shot Jacob Blake in the back seven times earlier this week. Blake has been paralyzed, according to his family and attorney.
The incident sparked protests across the country. In Kenosha, two anti-racism protesters were fatally shot Tuesday night during a confrontation with armed white vigilantes.
“WLC stands with our community leaders and partners and recognizes that serious changes need to take place within our country, region, and our cities,” school president Daniel W. Johnson said in a statement. “Racism and systemic inequities in access to education, justice, and other aspects of society are unacceptable.”
Pence did not address systemic racism or police brutality while briefly commenting on the Kenosha protests during his address at the Republican National Convention on Wednesday.
“Rioting and looting is not peaceful protest; tearing down statues is not free speech,” he said. “Those who do so will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”
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thehuffingtonpost--2020-08-27--Take Your Son To Work Day: Eric Trump Hangs Out At FEMA Meeting, No One Says Why

Donald Trump ’ s middle son , Eric , hung out awkwardly Thursday during the president ’ s meeting with officials of the Federal Emergency Management Agency — and no one revealed what he was doing there .
The officials discussed Hurricane Laura ’ s path of death and destruction as it barreled across Louisiana Thursday and headed toward Texas .
Eric Trump stood near the door during the meeting , according to reporters .
He was not introduced , nor did he say anything .
He ’ s an officer in his father ’ s company , the Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ management experience , no role in the White House and no experience in politics other than to praise his dad .
A sleepy-looking president , for his part , bizarrely followed up a comment from a FEMA official about hurricane-related “ injuries and deaths ” by enthusiastically praising Vice President Mike Pence , who sat next to him , for his speech the previous night at the Republican National Convention .
“ I just wanted to say Mike did a fantastic job last night , ” Trump suddenly announced to FEMA officials .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ of making your statement right now .
You made a big statement last night , let ’ s make a smaller one now , ” he added inexplicably .
( Check out the video above . )
The White House has not responded to requests to comment about Eric Trump ’ s mysterious presence .
Why was Eric Trump in # HurricaneLaura briefing at FEMA ?
We have asked the WH ( you can see him in this video under the EXIT sign at the end ) .
pic.twitter.com/SmHNZ7b7pI — Paula Reid ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It ’ s “ Bring Your Son to Work Day ” .
For some reason , Eric Trump ( who works for the Trump Organization , and has nothing to do with the White House ) attends President ’ s FEMA briefing on the hurricane .
pic.twitter.com/oegCJVOKvq — Mike Sington ( @ MikeSington ) August 27 , 2020 The president said consideration was given to postponing his nomination acceptance speech that wraps up the Republican National Convention on Thursday night so he could travel to survey hurricane damage , but it was decided @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump said he ’ ll visit Texas and Louisiana over the weekend .
The presence of Eric Trump at the FEMA meeting — especially after former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi ranted in her convention speech about “ nepotism ” when Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden was vice president — was too much for many Twitter users .
One complained about the “ royal ” arrogance of Trump family members ’ unearned access to and influence in government affairs .
Pam Bondi : 'When you look at his [ Joe Biden ] 47-year-career @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are his family members . '
— Reminder that Pres .
Trump 's daughter and son-in-law are his senior advisers with no political experience # RNC2020 pic.twitter.com/PsmRdMsNmR — NowThis ( @ nowthisnews ) August 26 , 2020 Just incredible .
The Trumps are acting like some sort of Royal Family - where the young Princes have full run of the place .
America was founded in a bloody war to rid itself of such regal entitlement .
Eric Trump had no business in this meeting and should have been barred ... — John @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , 2020 You already know why .
You 've seen it enough times to know that they treat the executive branch as a subsidiary of the family business .
— Nick ( @ getyrtrouserson ) August 27 , 2020 The eye of the storm literally passed over my house in the wee hours of the morning .
Laura changed the landscape of my city for years to come .
Today , I find that Eric is on a recovery effort that will affect my property and welfare ?
I am not consoled or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Bayou ( @ Purple2Bluish ) August 27 , 2020 Eric can show up to this meeting and he is not a government employee but can ’ t show up for the subpoena in New York @ NewYorkStateAG — Ana 🇺🇸🇵🇷 ( @ parisiswaiting ) August 27 , 2020

Donald Trump’s middle son, Eric, hung out awkwardly Thursday during the president’s meeting with officials of the Federal Emergency Management Agency — and no one revealed what he was doing there.
The officials discussed Hurricane Laura’s path of death and destruction as it barreled across Louisiana Thursday and headed toward Texas.
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Eric Trump stood near the door during the meeting, according to reporters. He was not introduced, nor did he say anything. He’s an officer in his father’s company, the Trump Organization, and has no known emergency management experience, no role in the White House and no experience in politics other than to praise his dad.
A sleepy-looking president, for his part, bizarrely followed up a comment from a FEMA official about hurricane-related “injuries and deaths” by enthusiastically praising Vice President Mike Pence, who sat next to him, for his speech the previous night at the Republican National Convention.
“I just wanted to say Mike did a fantastic job last night,” Trump suddenly announced to FEMA officials. “I think you deserve the honor of making your statement right now. You made a big statement last night, let’s make a smaller one now,” he added inexplicably. (Check out the video above.)
The White House has not responded to requests to comment about Eric Trump’s mysterious presence.
Why was Eric Trump in #HurricaneLaura briefing at FEMA? We have asked the WH (you can see him in this video under the EXIT sign at the end). pic.twitter.com/SmHNZ7b7pI — Paula Reid (@PaulaReidCBS) August 27, 2020
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Looks like independent businessman Eric Trump doesn't even know why he was at FEMA today. pic.twitter.com/7h9oqqumqH — The Recount (@therecount) August 27, 2020
It’s “Bring Your Son to Work Day”. For some reason, Eric Trump (who works for the Trump Organization, and has nothing to do with the White House) attends President’s FEMA briefing on the hurricane. pic.twitter.com/oegCJVOKvq — Mike Sington (@MikeSington) August 27, 2020
The president said consideration was given to postponing his nomination acceptance speech that wraps up the Republican National Convention on Thursday night so he could travel to survey hurricane damage, but it was decided to continue with the existing plan. Trump said he’ll visit Texas and Louisiana over the weekend.
The presence of Eric Trump at the FEMA meeting — especially after former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi ranted in her convention speech about “nepotism” when Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden was vice president — was too much for many Twitter users. One complained about the “royal” arrogance of Trump family members’ unearned access to and influence in government affairs.
Pam Bondi: 'When you look at his [Joe Biden] 47-year-career in politics, the people who benefitted are his family members.' — Reminder that Pres. Trump's daughter and son-in-law are his senior advisers with no political experience #RNC2020 pic.twitter.com/PsmRdMsNmR — NowThis (@nowthisnews) August 26, 2020
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Just incredible. The Trumps are acting like some sort of Royal Family - where the young Princes have full run of the place. America was founded in a bloody war to rid itself of such regal entitlement. Eric Trump had no business in this meeting and should have been barred... — John Shewchuk (@johnshewchuk) August 27, 2020
You already know why. You've seen it enough times to know that they treat the executive branch as a subsidiary of the family business. — Nick (@getyrtrouserson) August 27, 2020
He's like "oh sh** didn't realize there would be cameras in here. ,😀😀😀😀 — NancyS91 (@mountainmama91) August 27, 2020
He wants to see how funds can be diverted to trump organization!!! — Nancy Hernandez (@nanelvisfan) August 27, 2020
The eye of the storm literally passed over my house in the wee hours of the morning. Laura changed the landscape of my city for years to come.
Today, I find that Eric is on a recovery effort that will affect my property and welfare? I am not consoled or relieved. 🤦♀ — Purple in the Bayou (@Purple2Bluish) August 27, 2020
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Eric can show up to this meeting and he is not a government employee but can’t show up for the subpoena in New York @NewYorkStateAG — Ana 🇺🇸🇵🇷 (@parisiswaiting) August 27, 2020
Also isn’t he running Trump’s businesses so he’s supposed to stay separate? — LHD (@lkhd7) August 27, 2020


thehuffingtonpost--2020-08-28--White Vigilantes Have Always Had A Friend In Police

Fast forward to the Reconstruction Era after the Civil War , Estes said , and you see the emergence of @ @ @ @ @ a white vigilante group that used the Second Amendment to terrorize Black Americans .
Decades @ @ @ @ @ Crow era , armed citizens often attacked Black Americans in Sundown Towns — referring to @ @ @ @ @ the country — with little to no recourse from law enforcement .
These white vigilantes @ @ @ @ @ history .
They ’ re actually upholding the kind of the original intent of the @ @ @ @ @ , professor at the University of New Mexico

Before Kyle Rittenhouse allegedly opened fire on anti-racist protesters in Kenosha, Wisconsin, on Tuesday night — killing two and severely injuring another — a video showed police essentially deputizing the 17-year-old.
Rittenhouse had been walking the streets of Kenosha carrying an assault rifle alongside other armed white men, a local self-styled militia formed for the purported purpose of protecting property from protesters.
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“We appreciate you guys, we really do,” a cop can be heard telling the group over a loudspeaker before tossing Rittenhouse a bottle of water.
It was a scene familiar in American history: agents of the state conscripting armed white vigilantes to help violently suppress movements for racial justice and liberation. (“Cops and the Klan go hand in hand,” the common protest chant goes.)
So it wasn’t surprising to see Rittenhouse, in another video published Tuesday, walk toward police after allegedly killing the two protesters — or for him not to be apprehended until the following day, when he was arrested at his home in Illinois.
As historic uprisings against police brutality have swept the country in recent months, antagonistic right-wing vigilantes have been a constant, menacing presence. Often seen patrolling Black Lives Matter protests with the tacit — and very often explicit — support of law enforcement, these vigilantes have shot protesters, attacked them with cars, and beaten them.
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And as political tensions intensify heading into the presidential election this fall — with a president who routinely demonizes anti-racist protesters as “thugs” and terrorists, and with reactionary police forces desperate to beat back calls for their own abolishment — there’s genuine concern that the deadly vigilante violence on display in Kenosha could be replicated elsewhere.
A man pours out an alcoholic beverage where an anti-racism protester was killed in Kenosha, Wisconsin, this week. Brandon Bell via Getty Images
A Wave Of White Vigilante Violence
White vigilantes and far-right actors have shown up to oppose Black Lives Matter protests in the U.S. at least 497 times this year, according to data collected by Alexander Reid Ross, a doctoral fellow at the Center for Analysis of the Radical Right. He started gathering data on May 27, two days after police in Minneapolis killed George Floyd, and continued through this week.
The dataset, which Ross shared with HuffPost, documents a staggering amount of violence directed at protesters by the far-right, including 64 cases of simple assault, 38 incidents of vigilantes driving cars into demonstrators, and nine times shots were fired at protesters.
All told, six protesters were hit by vigilante bullets in this summer’s violence. Three died from their wounds.
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Ross’ dataset also includes 387 incidents of intimidation, such as people using racist slurs, making threats and brandishing firearms.
“There just isn’t really anything to compare it to,” Ross told HuffPost. “I’ve never seen anything like this in my life.”
The data — which Ross gathered from social media posts, news reports and the ACLED US Crisis Monitor with help from Political Research Associates and the Institute for Research and Education on Human Rights — includes some harrowing tales of violence.
A U.S. Army sergeant, who had previously posted tweets about targeting Black Lives Matter activists, shot and killed a protester in Austin, Texas.
Black Lives Matter protesters marching through a rural part of Bedford County, Pennsylvania, say a white man opened fire on them at night, striking one protester in the face.
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A man in Iowa City, Iowa, allegedly drove his car into a crowd of protesters and, according to a criminal complaint, later justified the attack by telling police the protesters needed “an attitude adjustment.”
The steady drumbeat of such stories this summer has coincided with story after story of cops and national guardsmen openly supporting or collaborating with fascists and white vigilantes.
Ross said his dataset includes about two dozen incidents of vigilantes receiving approval or support from law enforcement. A sheriff in Arizona, for example, announced he would form a “civilian posse” to help “suppress lawlessness” during a time of “widespread unrest.”
In California, a sheriff’s deputy was spotted wearing a “III Percenters” militia patch on his uniform while policing a protest. And in Portland, Oregon, cops let the neo-fascist gang the Proud Boys attack protesters in the streets.
Armed members of a militia group gather at Michigan's Capitol building in April ahead of a vote on the extension of Gov. Gretchen Whitmer's emergency declaration/stay-at-home order due to the coronavirus. Seth Herald / Reuters
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Disturbing images also emerged of police cozying up to far-right activists: A cop in Georgia was photographed fist-bumping an armed militia member, and cops in Philadelphia posed for a friendly photo with vigilantes who roamed the city’s streets with baseball bats.
Still more stories emerged this summer of cops themselves relishing violence against protesters.
A police chief in Sioux Rapids, Iowa, was suspended for two weeks after writing a Facebook comment encouraging people to drive their cars through Black Lives Matter demonstrators.
“HIT THE GAS AND HANG ON FOR THE SPEED BUMPS,” he wrote.
And in Wilmington, North Carolina, three white police officers were fired after being caught on camera using racial slurs while discussing massacring Black protesters.
“We are just going to go out and start slaughtering them fucking niggers,” one officer said.
“Wipe ’em off the fucking map,” the same officer said. “That’ll put ’em back about four or five generations.”
A report published this week by former FBI agent Mike German, now a fellow at New York University’s Brennan Center for Justice, documented how police ties to “white supremacist groups or far-right militant activities” have been uncovered in over a dozen states since 2000.
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“In a time when the effort to defund police is getting some salience, the police are behaving in such a way as to justify that argument,” German told The Guardian.
Enforcing A Racial Order
Nick Estes, a professor of American studies at the University of New Mexico and author of the book “Our History Is The Future,” remembers listening to the police scanner earlier this summer when the gun-toting militia group New Mexico Civil Guard turned up to harass and attack anti-racist protesters in Albuquerque.
He said cops could be heard on the scanner referring to this group of vigilantes — founded by a neo-Nazi — as “heavily armed friendlies.”
A short time later, one of those “friendlies” shot and badly injured an anti-racist protester.
Estes argues it’s important to remember the history of white vigilantism in the U.S. in order to understand how these fascist groups operate in our society today, and how they’ve often proven an eager partner with law enforcement.
“The Second Amendment was created specifically to arm white settlers against runaway slaves, enslaved African people, as well as to kill native people on the frontier,” Estes said.
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Fast forward to the Reconstruction Era after the Civil War, Estes said, and you see the emergence of the Ku Klux Klan, a white vigilante group that used the Second Amendment to terrorize Black Americans. Decades later, during the Jim Crow era, armed citizens often attacked Black Americans in Sundown Towns — referring to all-white municipalities or neighborhoods across the country — with little to no recourse from law enforcement.
“These white vigilantes today don’t misinterpret history. They’re actually upholding the kind of the original intent of the Second Amendment.” - Nick Estes, professor at the University of New Mexico
And look at the violence in “border towns” — white majority settlements ringing Native American reservations — where white vigilantes have maimed and murdered Indigenous peoples for generations. Law enforcement has often looked the other way.
“These white vigilantes today don’t misinterpret history,” Estes said. “They’re actually upholding the kind of the original intent of the Second Amendment.”
What’s happening now, he added, is “an intensification of that kind of citizen policing” in response to a growing tide of Black Lives Matter and anti-fascist organizing.
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Steven Gardiner, a research analyst at Political Research Associates, a social justice think tank that monitors the far-right, said there has been a “tremendous increase” in right-wing paramilitary activity this year.
It gained momentum, he said, during protests against lockdown measurers meant to stem the spread of the coronavirus. Armed militias circled — and sometimes even entered — state Capitol buildings, showing the often hands-off approach with which governments often treat white vigilantes.
At Black Lives Matter protests following the police killing of Floyd, disparate paramilitary and vigilante groups — Boogaloo Bois, III Percenters, Oath Keepers, Proud Boys and white nationalists — became a regular fixture of right-wing counterprotests.
A guide to far-right paramilitaries that have turned up to threaten and harass anti-racist protesters in 2020. From "Paramilitaries At Your Protest: An Activist Field Guide To The Armed Far-Right," published by the social justice think tank Political Research Associates. Political Research Associates
“If you get counterprotesters showing up who are armed, cops are almost always facing towards the Black Lives Matter and racial justice protesters, not towards the armed counterprotesters,” Gardiner said.
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This, he argued, has created an atmosphere in which paramilitary groups feel emboldened.
“Going forward, we need to seriously reconsider the permissiveness with which we are allowing armed paramilitaries to roam the streets of our nation’s towns and cities, as if this is normal,” Gardiner said. “There’s nothing normal about this. We don’t want to be living in a war zone.”
A ‘Recipe For Disaster’
The next few months could prove treacherous, as multiple armed factions aligned with the state — including private militias, the National Guard, sheriffs departments and local municipal police — could descend on more cities like Kenosha, where a particularly energetic uprising broke out after the police shooting of Jacob Blake this week.
Moreover, President Donald Trump could send out more federal troops from the Department of Homeland Security, like the ones seen abducting protesters and throwing them into unmarked vans in Portland and Chicago earlier this year.
“This is a recipe for disaster,” Gardiner said. “At a minimum, there needs to be a sorting out of who’s in charge, and some understanding of what the rules of engagement are for law enforcement and the National Guard, and who’s gonna play what role.”
Meanwhile, both right-wing media and the Trump-led GOP appear hellbent on throwing more gasoline on the fire.
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On Wednesday evening, Fox News host Tucker Carlson attempted to justify Rittenhouse allegedly shooting anti-racist protesters in Kenosha.
“How shocked are we that 17-year-olds with rifles decided they had to maintain order when no one else would?” he asked millions of viewers on “Tucker Carlson Tonight.”
The next day, congressional Republicans including Reps. Matt Gaetz (Fla.) and Paul Gosar (Ariz.) made statements appearing to defend Rittenhouse, arguing that he somehow acted in self-defense.
Mark and Patricia McCloskey standing outside their home in St. Louis in June, confronting Black Lives Matter protesters with guns. They were featured speakers at the Republican National Convention this week. Laurie Skrivan/St. Louis Post-Dispatch/Tribune News Service via Getty Images
This right-wing propaganda push was hardly surprising, considering how opposed the MAGAverse is to Black Lives Matter protesters.
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At the Republican National Convention earlier this week, the GOP chose to feature Mark and Patricia McCloskey, the white Trump supporters facing felony charges for pointing guns at Black Lives Matter protesters in St. Louis this summer. They delivered a prime-time speech full of racist dog whistles aimed at white suburban voters.
“You know we’re not the kind of people who back down,” Mark McCloskey said. “Thankfully, neither is Donald Trump. President Trump will defend the God-given right of every American to protect their homes and their families.”
The McCloskeys aren’t the only white vigilantes to have shown enthusiasm for the president this year.
“Trump rally!” read the caption of a TikTok video taken from the front row of a Trump campaign event last month. The video was posted by an account with the words “BLUE LIVES MATTER” and “Trump 2020” in its bio.
The owner of the account, a 17-year-old named Kyle Rittenhouse, is now in jail. He faces charges of first-degree murder.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-08-27--GOP Convention Has Built The Myth Of A Kind, Engaged President. Can Trump Play That Role?

“ The only role he can pretend to play is the tough law-and-order guy who will protect white people from all the brown and Black people , ” said Joe Walsh , a former Republican congressman who ran against Trump for the 2020 presidential nomination .
Republican women who work for him , like presidential counselor Kellyanne Conway , or who are related to him , like wife Melania Trump , portrayed him as caring deeply about women ― even though dozens of other women have accused him of sexual misconduct up to and including rape .
African American speakers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Black community ― despite his decades-long history of racism , including the Justice Department action against him in the 1970s for housing discrimination and his leadership in the “ birther ” movement designed to delegitimize the country ’ s first Black president .
Others portrayed an engaged president leading a forceful and successful response to the pandemic when , in reality , Trump downplayed the threat for seven weeks and then lost interest in dealing with it in a rush to get back to his campaign rallies .
As a consequence , U.S. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they are in Germany , and more than 180,000 Americans have died .
“ The attempt to repackage Donald Trump as a remotely successful leader isn ’ t just dishonest , it utterly fails to grasp the reality that millions of Americans are struggling and over 180,000 have died because of his failure to control the coronavirus , ” said Josh Schwerin , a top strategist with the Democratic super PAC Priorities USA .
Whether Americans will buy the rebranding of an incumbent president more than 3½ years into his term is one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ continue selling it is a more basic one .
Critical to Trump ’ s chances in November may well be whether he can avoid the off-the-cuff statements and tweets that reveal his true thoughts over the final weeks of the campaign and stick to a script that others have written for him .
This was precisely the strategy that top 2016 campaign officials Stephen Bannon and Kellyanne Conway persuaded him to adopt that October .
“ We told him he had to shut the fuck up and only read what was on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ aide said on condition of anonymity .
And over that final month in 2016 , Trump did , in fact , deliver a “ disciplined ” message .
He almost entirely cut out media interviews and , on stage , almost exclusively stuck to the text that his speechwriters had prepared for him that relied heavily on material stolen by Russian intelligence from the Hillary Clinton campaign and on his promises to bring back manufacturing jobs .
Schwerin said he is doubtful Trump can repeat that trick this time .
“ Anyone who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ years and thinks he can be anything other than who we ’ ve seen is delusional .
He can put on an act for a teleprompter speech and bask in the glow of credulous ‘ new tone ’ coverage , but that only lasts until the next tweet or unscripted press availability .
There is no other Donald Trump .
This is it.
” Trump proved that already on the first day of the convention in largely unscripted comments after officially being nominated for a second term by delegates in Charlotte , North @ @ @ @ @ @ @ serious of unfounded attacks against his predecessor , Democrat Barack Obama , and baseless claims that mail-in voting is rife with fraud .
“ But here ’ s a ballot .
It just got to you and you open it , oh , here ’ s a ballot .
What the hell am I going to do with this thing ?
And then they have somebody knocking on your door and they ’ re harvesting , ” he said .

LOADING ERROR LOADING
WASHINGTON ― Over four days, Republicans have painted a portrait of a mythic Donald Trump: one who admires and respects women, who embraces the Black community, who has been deeply engaged in battling the coronavirus pandemic.
Which leaves it now to the president to play that role over the 67 remaining days to the election.
His critics across the political spectrum are optimistically skeptical.
“He will undermine it all with his next utterance,” said Charles Leerhsen, Trump’s ghostwriter for his 1990 book “Surviving at the Top.” In recent years, Leerhsen has said he found Trump’s intellect and business acumen sorely lacking.
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“The only role he can pretend to play is the tough law-and-order guy who will protect white people from all the brown and Black people,” said Joe Walsh, a former Republican congressman who ran against Trump for the 2020 presidential nomination.
And Democratic vice presidential nominee Kamala Harris, in a speech Thursday, said Trump was incapable of change. “The president he has been is the president he will be,” the senator from California said.
This week, largely in pre-taped speeches from the Andrew W. Mellon Auditorium in Washington, D.C., participants in the Republican National Convention have tried to explain to Americans that most don’t really know the real Donald Trump.
Republican women who work for him, like presidential counselor Kellyanne Conway, or who are related to him, like wife Melania Trump, portrayed him as caring deeply about women ― even though dozens of other women have accused him of sexual misconduct up to and including rape.
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African American speakers testified to his great concern for the Black community ― despite his decades-long history of racism, including the Justice Department action against him in the 1970s for housing discrimination and his leadership in the “birther” movement designed to delegitimize the country’s first Black president.
Others portrayed an engaged president leading a forceful and successful response to the pandemic when, in reality, Trump downplayed the threat for seven weeks and then lost interest in dealing with it in a rush to get back to his campaign rallies. As a consequence, U.S. deaths per capita are five times what they are in Germany, and more than 180,000 Americans have died.
Other speakers seemed to push the idea that Trump is a different, more relatable, nicer person than his public statements and actions make him appear.
“I learned that he’s a good man, that he loves his family, that he didn’t need this job, that no one on Earth works harder for the American people,” daughter-in-law Lara Trump said.
“I’ve seen him when the cameras are off,” said Vice President Mike Pence in his re-nomination acceptance speech Wednesday night at Fort McHenry in Baltimore.
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Screens display President Donald Trump speaking Monday during the 2020 Republican National Convention, after he was nominated for a second term. The convention is being held mostly virtually because of the coronavirus pandemic. Liu Jie/Xinhua via Getty Images)
Trump’s detractors were not impressed.
“The attempt to repackage Donald Trump as a remotely successful leader isn’t just dishonest, it utterly fails to grasp the reality that millions of Americans are struggling and over 180,000 have died because of his failure to control the coronavirus,” said Josh Schwerin, a top strategist with the Democratic super PAC Priorities USA.
Whether Americans will buy the rebranding of an incumbent president more than 3½ years into his term is one question, but whether Trump can even continue selling it is a more basic one.
Critical to Trump’s chances in November may well be whether he can avoid the off-the-cuff statements and tweets that reveal his true thoughts over the final weeks of the campaign and stick to a script that others have written for him. This was precisely the strategy that top 2016 campaign officials Stephen Bannon and Kellyanne Conway persuaded him to adopt that October.
“We told him he had to shut the fuck up and only read what was on the prompter,” one former 2016 campaign aide said on condition of anonymity.
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And over that final month in 2016, Trump did, in fact, deliver a “disciplined” message. He almost entirely cut out media interviews and, on stage, almost exclusively stuck to the text that his speechwriters had prepared for him that relied heavily on material stolen by Russian intelligence from the Hillary Clinton campaign and on his promises to bring back manufacturing jobs.
Once, at a rally in Pensacola, Florida, he even caught himself about to go off-script. “Stay on point, Donald, stay on point,” he said, as if repeating his aides’ warning. “No sidetracks, Donald, nice and easy.”
Schwerin said he is doubtful Trump can repeat that trick this time. “Anyone who has watched Trump for the last four years and thinks he can be anything other than who we’ve seen is delusional. He can put on an act for a teleprompter speech and bask in the glow of credulous ‘new tone’ coverage, but that only lasts until the next tweet or unscripted press availability. There is no other Donald Trump. This is it.”