thehuffingtonpost--2020-02-07--Trump's Acquittal Shows The GOP Senate Acts Like A Cult

President Donald Trump stood in front of a microphone Thursday , gloating about his impeachment trial acquittal and showering his biggest advocates with praise .
After entering the White House East Room to the tune of “ Hail to the Chief , ” he called Sen. Chuck Grassley ( R-Iowa ) an “ incredible guy , ” told Sen. Mike Braun ( R-Ind . )
he did a “ great job ” and led a standing ovation for Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell ( R-Ky. ) .
Trump had good reason to dole out the back slaps .
Since he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to help sabotage his political rivals and blocking the House ’ s attempt to investigate the issue , Republican senators have rallied around him like a fortress wall .
They blocked witnesses from testifying at the Senate trial and used lies , conspiracy theories and acrobatic logic to try to prove his innocence .
Sen. Mitt Romney ( R-Utah ) , the only Republican in the Senate to vote for Trump ’ s removal from office , has been skewered by the president and some members of the GOP over the past few @ @ @ @ @ @ @ two House impeachment witnesses , saying he was “ not happy ” with them .
Many experts and politicians have made the comparison between Trumpism and cults .
Lev Parnas , an associate of Trump ’ s personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani , said there was a “ cult-like ” atmosphere around the president , as did Anthony Scaramucci , Trump ’ s former communications director .
Joe Walsh , the former Illinois congressman who launched a failed bid to challenge Trump ’ s nomination , said point-blank : “ My Republican Party isn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s a cult.
” Though some professors who study groups think this description is overly simplistic , psychology experts say Trump ’ s narcissistic qualities , us-vs.-them mentality and lead-by-fear approach is straight from the textbook of history ’ s most notorious cults .
Republican senators were scared that if they voted to convict Trump of the impeachment charges , he would attack them with nasty nicknames and launch campaigns to discredit them , according to Sen. Sherrod Brown ( D-Ohio ) , who wrote an op-ed for The New York Times .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
In his speech Thursday , Trump referred to the Democrats who tried to remove him from office as “ dirty cops , ” “ leakers ” and “ liars.
” He insulted Romney , saying the senator failed “ so badly when running for president , ” and he tweeted a video that called him a “ Democrat secret asset.
” “ They ’ re afraid to get on his bad side , ” said Lalich of Republican senators .
“ That very much parallels what we see in cults where people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ being caught out in any kind of expression of doubt or mistrust of the leader.
” Protecting Their Leader With Lies And Mental Gymnastics Of course , it ’ s normal for party members to try and keep their leader in power .
The political futures of many Republicans are tied to Trump and they will do whatever it takes to protect their careers , said Timothy Miller , a religious studies professor at the University of Kansas who studies group-think .
He points out that during President Bill Clinton ’ s impeachment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ president .
But there are some key differences as to how senators handled the two impeachments .
Democrats didn ’ t deny what Clinton had done ― they argued that his affair with Monica Lewinsky didn ’ t merit being kicked out of the White House and proposed that he should instead be censured .
While some Republicans have acknowledged , in the face of overwhelming evidence , that Trump is guilty of offering the Ukrainian government a quid pro quo to investigate former Vice President Joe Biden , others have denied that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Sen. Lindsey Graham ( R-S.C. ) said he had already decided the president was not guilty : “ I ’ m not trying to pretend to be a fair juror here , ” he told CNN .
Rep. Debbie Lesko ( R-Ariz. ) denied that Trump asked the Ukrainian president to investigate Biden , his political rival , and Sen. Jim Inhofe ( R-Okla. ) said there was “ no evidence of a quid pro quo.
” This type of denial and close-minded attitude mimics how cult members blindly follow their leaders @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is above the law said Steven Hassan , a mental health counselor and author of “ The Cult of Trump.
” “ If [ Trump ] says ‘ I did nothing wrong , ’ everyone should accept that.
” It ’ s common for members to use outright lies and mental gymnastics to protect their leader , and themselves .
The mentality is that the “ end justifies the means , ” according to Daniel Shaw , a psychotherapist who specializes in cults .
For Republicans , that means keeping Trump in power @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Castor , for example , repeatedly parroted a debunked conspiracy theory that the Ukrainian government had interfered with the 2016 presidential election to stop Trump ’ s victory , and Sen. Tom Cotton ( R-Ark . )
insisted that the claim was true .
Multiple Republican congressmen said Biden could not be considered a political opponent , which is obviously false .
Despite the fact that the Constitution addresses why foreign interference is an impeachable offense , Sen. Mike Lee ( R-Utah ) said , “ This is exactly the sort of thing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do .
”

Illustration: Rebecca Zisser/HuffPost; Photos: Getty Images
President Donald Trump stood in front of a microphone Thursday, gloating about his impeachment trial acquittal and showering his biggest advocates with praise. After entering the White House East Room to the tune of “Hail to the Chief,” he called Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) an “incredible guy,” told Sen. Mike Braun (R-Ind.) he did a “great job” and led a standing ovation for Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.).
Trump had good reason to dole out the back slaps. Since he was charged in December with pressuring Ukraine to help sabotage his political rivals and blocking the House’s attempt to investigate the issue, Republican senators have rallied around him like a fortress wall.
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They blocked witnesses from testifying at the Senate trial and used lies, conspiracy theories and acrobatic logic to try to prove his innocence. Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah), the only Republican in the Senate to vote for Trump’s removal from office, has been skewered by the president and some members of the GOP over the past few days. On Friday, Trump dismissed two House impeachment witnesses, saying he was “not happy” with them.
And though this behavior might seem like dirty politics as usual, psychologists and professors say the extreme measures Republicans took to defend Trump resemble a more sinister phenomenon: the mentality of cult members.
“They’ve just refused to entertain any ideas that go against their leader,” said Janja Lalich, a sociology professor at California State University, Chico, who studies cults and extremist groups. “That kind of closed-mindedness is just so typical of cult members.”
Many experts and politicians have made the comparison between Trumpism and cults. Lev Parnas, an associate of Trump’s personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani, said there was a “cult-like” atmosphere around the president, as did Anthony Scaramucci, Trump’s former communications director. Joe Walsh, the former Illinois congressman who launched a failed bid to challenge Trump’s nomination, said point-blank: “My Republican Party isn’t a party. It’s a cult.”
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Though some professors who study groups think this description is overly simplistic, psychology experts say Trump’s narcissistic qualities, us-vs.-them mentality and lead-by-fear approach is straight from the textbook of history’s most notorious cults. Republican senators were scared that if they voted to convict Trump of the impeachment charges, he would attack them with nasty nicknames and launch campaigns to discredit them, according to Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), who wrote an op-ed for The New York Times.
And they were right to be worried. In his speech Thursday, Trump referred to the Democrats who tried to remove him from office as “dirty cops,” “leakers” and “liars.” He insulted Romney, saying the senator failed “so badly when running for president,” and he tweeted a video that called him a “Democrat secret asset.”
“They’re afraid to get on his bad side,” said Lalich of Republican senators. “That very much parallels what we see in cults where people are terrified of, you know, being caught out in any kind of expression of doubt or mistrust of the leader.”
Protecting Their Leader With Lies And Mental Gymnastics
Of course, it’s normal for party members to try and keep their leader in power. The political futures of many Republicans are tied to Trump and they will do whatever it takes to protect their careers, said Timothy Miller, a religious studies professor at the University of Kansas who studies group-think. He points out that during President Bill Clinton’s impeachment trial, no Democrats voted against the president.
But there are some key differences as to how senators handled the two impeachments. Democrats didn’t deny what Clinton had done ― they argued that his affair with Monica Lewinsky didn’t merit being kicked out of the White House and proposed that he should instead be censured. While some Republicans have acknowledged, in the face of overwhelming evidence, that Trump is guilty of offering the Ukrainian government a quid pro quo to investigate former Vice President Joe Biden, others have denied that reality.
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Before the trial even started, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) said he had already decided the president was not guilty: “I’m not trying to pretend to be a fair juror here,” he told CNN. Rep. Debbie Lesko (R-Ariz.) denied that Trump asked the Ukrainian president to investigate Biden, his political rival, and Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.) said there was “no evidence of a quid pro quo.”
This type of denial and close-minded attitude mimics how cult members blindly follow their leaders after being indoctrinated. Trump thinks he is above the law said Steven Hassan, a mental health counselor and author of “The Cult of Trump.” “If [Trump] says ‘I did nothing wrong,’ everyone should accept that.”
Cult members experience cognitive dissonance when presented with facts that contradict their beliefs, said Lalich. If Republican senators believe that Trump is good for America, they will work hard to ignore information that would shatter their worldview.
“They’ll shut out whatever’s happening in reality,” she said, “to keep themselves safe within this little cocoon that they’ve built around themselves.”
It’s common for members to use outright lies and mental gymnastics to protect their leader, and themselves. The mentality is that the “end justifies the means,” according to Daniel Shaw, a psychotherapist who specializes in cults. For Republicans, that means keeping Trump in power at all costs.
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“Scientology operates in the same way,” he said. “Members are immediately dispersed to deny any wrongdoing and to make false claims.” They create alternate realities to discredit any narrative that attacks a leader.
Republican attorney Steve Castor, for example, repeatedly parroted a debunked conspiracy theory that the Ukrainian government had interfered with the 2016 presidential election to stop Trump’s victory, and Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) insisted that the claim was true. Multiple Republican congressmen said Biden could not be considered a political opponent, which is obviously false. Despite the fact that the Constitution addresses why foreign interference is an impeachable offense, Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah) said, “This is exactly the sort of thing the American people elected President Trump to do.”
Once the trial was done, Trump attacked his opponents and Romney in a way that resembles how cult leaders pit their members against everyone else, said Lalich.
This divisive mentality helps bind group members together and makes everything on the outside seem “horrifying and evil.”
“A healthy organization needs to allow for dissent and for asking questions,” said Hassan. “When any organization treats people like traitors for following their conscience or following an oath, that to me is a telltale sign of a mind control cult.”


thehuffingtonpost--2020-02-07--Here's What Andrew Yang Gets Wrong About Systemic Racism

Friday ’ s Democratic debate in New Hampshire featured some of the most substantive rounds of questioning about racism when compared to recent presidential debates .
In critiquing former South Bend , Indiana , Mayor Pete Buttigieg ’ s response to a question about his controversial handling of racial disparities in his city ’ s criminal justice system , Elizabeth Warren started a deeper discussion about systemic racism .
The senator from Massachusetts called out the fact that race is often mentioned only within the context of criminal justice when , in fact , it affects everything .
“ We @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is the only time that we want to talk about race specifically , ” Warren said , calling for “ race-conscious laws ” on issues like housing , education and employment , in order “ to make this country a country of opportunity for everyone , no matter the color of their skin.
” Yang then touted his signature campaign promise to give every citizen a universal basic income of $ 1,000 a month , citing “ the writings of Martin Luther King.
” “ We can ’ t regulate that away through @ @ @ @ @ @ @ into the hands of African Americans and Latinos , to people of color , to allow businesses to actually flourish and grow in those communities , ” Yang said .
“ The only way that will help is if Black and Latino consumers have buying power.
” Yang ’ s simplistic answer failed to address the larger point of the discussion : Laws have actively contributed to that lack of “ buying power ” in the economy .
The country has a long history of policies that have institutionalized racism , creating discrimination @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and voting , among other aspects of society .
Friday ’ s round of questions on race inadvertently laid bare the glaring lack of diversity on stage and the dwindling number of people of color in the Democratic presidential field .
Yang was the only candidate of color to qualify for Friday ’ s debate after not making the last debate in Iowa , which featured an entirely white field of candidates .
Crucially missing from Friday ’ s debate and its exchange on racism were Sens .
Kamala Harris ( D-Calif. ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as well as former Housing Secretary Julián Castro , who all have dropped out of the race .

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Friday’s Democratic debate in New Hampshire featured some of the most substantive rounds of questioning about racism when compared to recent presidential debates.
In critiquing former South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg’s response to a question about his controversial handling of racial disparities in his city’s criminal justice system, Elizabeth Warren started a deeper discussion about systemic racism. The senator from Massachusetts called out the fact that race is often mentioned only within the context of criminal justice when, in fact, it affects everything.
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“We cannot just say that criminal justice is the only time that we want to talk about race specifically,” Warren said, calling for “race-conscious laws” on issues like housing, education and employment, in order “to make this country a country of opportunity for everyone, no matter the color of their skin.”
But entrepreneur Andrew Yang disagreed, telling Warren: “We can’t regulate away racism with a patchwork of laws that are race-specific.”
Yang then touted his signature campaign promise to give every citizen a universal basic income of $1,000 a month, citing “the writings of Martin Luther King.”
“We can’t regulate that away through any other means except putting money directly into the hands of African Americans and Latinos, to people of color, to allow businesses to actually flourish and grow in those communities,” Yang said. “The only way that will help is if Black and Latino consumers have buying power.”
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Yang’s simplistic answer failed to address the larger point of the discussion: Laws have actively contributed to that lack of “buying power” in the economy. The country has a long history of policies that have institutionalized racism, creating discrimination in housing, education, health care and voting, among other aspects of society.
Friday’s round of questions on race inadvertently laid bare the glaring lack of diversity on stage and the dwindling number of people of color in the Democratic presidential field.
Yang was the only candidate of color to qualify for Friday’s debate after not making the last debate in Iowa, which featured an entirely white field of candidates.
Crucially missing from Friday’s debate and its exchange on racism were Sens. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.) and Cory Booker (D-N.J.), as well as former Housing Secretary Julián Castro, who all have dropped out of the race.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-02-07--Alexander Vindman's Brother Also Booted From White House After Trump Acquittal

Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman , the Army officer who was fired from the National Security Council after testifying in President Donald Trump ’ s impeachment trial , wasn ’ t the only one escorted from the White House on Friday .
His twin brother , Army Lt. Col. Yevgeny Vindman , was also escorted off White House grounds at the same time and apparently dismissed from his post at the National Security Council .
Alexander Vindman was the Ukraine expert for the NSC while Yevgeny Vindman was a senior lawyer and ethics official for the council .
Both are decorated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ attorney for Alexander Vindman , said in a statement to HuffPost that Yevgeny Vindman was escorted from the White House “ suddenly and with no explanation , despite over two decades of loyal service to this country.
” “ He is deeply disappointed that he will not be able to continue his service at the White House , ” Pressman added .
Alexander Vindman testified about his knowledge of the president ’ s July 2019 phone call with the Ukrainian president that triggered a whistleblower complaint and led to Trump ’ s impeachment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Vindman worked for the NSC in the White House .
His term for the council would have ended in July .
The White House planned to inform Vindman that he was being moved into a role at the Pentagon , The Washington Post reported late Thursday night , citing two people familiar with the plan .

Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman, the Army officer who was fired from the National Security Council after testifying in President Donald Trump’s impeachment trial, wasn’t the only one escorted from the White House on Friday.
His twin brother, Army Lt. Col. Yevgeny Vindman, was also escorted off White House grounds at the same time and apparently dismissed from his post at the National Security Council.
Alexander Vindman was the Ukraine expert for the NSC while Yevgeny Vindman was a senior lawyer and ethics official for the council. Both are decorated Army officers.
David Pressman, an attorney for Alexander Vindman, said in a statement to HuffPost that Yevgeny Vindman was escorted from the White House “suddenly and with no explanation, despite over two decades of loyal service to this country.”
“He is deeply disappointed that he will not be able to continue his service at the White House,” Pressman added.
Alexander Vindman testified about his knowledge of the president’s July 2019 phone call with the Ukrainian president that triggered a whistleblower complaint and led to Trump’s impeachment inquiry and proceedings.
Up until Friday, Vindman worked for the NSC in the White House. His term for the council would have ended in July.
The White House planned to inform Vindman that he was being moved into a role at the Pentagon, The Washington Post reported late Thursday night, citing two people familiar with the plan.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-02-07--Amy Klobuchar Whacks Pete Buttigieg: We Already Have 'A Newcomer In The White House'

MANCHESTER , N.H. ― Sen. Amy Klobuchar ( D-Minn. ) unloaded on her fellow 2020 Democratic presidential rival Pete Buttigieg on Friday , calling into question his electability by suggesting he was too inexperienced to take on President Donald Trump .
At the eighth Democratic presidential primary debate here on Friday , Klobuchar gave a shoutout to Sen. Mitt Romney ( R-Utah ) for his vote to convict Trump for abuse of power in the Senate impeachment trial and then criticized Buttigieg for comments he made last week about the proceedings .
“ I don ’ t know about you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , watching the impeachment coverage , watching the Senate is exhausting , ” Buttigieg had said at a campaign stop in Iowa .
“ I live and breathe politics and I find it exhausting , it ’ s just , it gets you down , and makes you want to watch cartoons instead.
” Klobuchar , who was present in Washington for the more than two-week impeachment trial , lambasted that sentiment .
“ You said it was exhausting to watch and that you wanted to turn the channel and watch cartoons , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the remark may have made him look “ like a cool newcomer ” but that it wasn ’ t appropriate .
“ I don ’ t think that ’ s what people want right now .
We have a newcomer in the White House and look what that got us , ” she said .
Buttigieg acknowledged his lack of experience in government but argued that he had more to offer than those who work in the “ big white buildings in Washington , D.C. , ” citing his military service overseas .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ that will finally allow us to leave the politics of the past in the past , turn the page , and bring change to Washington before it ’ s too late , ” he said .
Buttigieg arguably had one of the biggest targets on his back on Friday .
The 38-year-old former mayor of South Bend , Indiana , finished in a near-tie in the Iowa caucuses on Monday night , and several polls have shown him surging in New Hampshire ahead of the state ’ s primary Tuesday night .

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MANCHESTER, N.H. ― Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) unloaded on her fellow 2020 Democratic presidential rival Pete Buttigieg on Friday, calling into question his electability by suggesting he was too inexperienced to take on President Donald Trump.
At the eighth Democratic presidential primary debate here on Friday, Klobuchar gave a shoutout to Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah) for his vote to convict Trump for abuse of power in the Senate impeachment trial and then criticized Buttigieg for comments he made last week about the proceedings.
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“I don’t know about you, but watching the news right now, watching the impeachment coverage, watching the Senate is exhausting,” Buttigieg had said at a campaign stop in Iowa. “I live and breathe politics and I find it exhausting, it’s just, it gets you down, and makes you want to watch cartoons instead.”
Klobuchar, who was present in Washington for the more than two-week impeachment trial, lambasted that sentiment.
“You said it was exhausting to watch and that you wanted to turn the channel and watch cartoons,” Klobuchar said, telling Buttigieg that the remark may have made him look “like a cool newcomer” but that it wasn’t appropriate.
“I don’t think that’s what people want right now. We have a newcomer in the White House and look what that got us,” she said.
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Buttigieg acknowledged his lack of experience in government but argued that he had more to offer than those who work in the “big white buildings in Washington, D.C.,” citing his military service overseas. “We need a perspective right now that will finally allow us to leave the politics of the past in the past, turn the page, and bring change to Washington before it’s too late,” he said.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-02-07--Trump Fires EU Ambassador Gordon Sondland After Impeachment Acquittal

President Donald Trump fired European Union Ambassador Gordon Sondland Friday , in apparent retribution for testifying against him in the congressional impeachment proceedings .
“ I was advised today that the president intends to recall me effective immediately as United States Ambassador to the European Union , ” Sondland said in a statement .
He expressed gratitude to Mr. Trump “ for having given me the opportunity to serve.
” Sondland ’ s dismissal came just hours after Lt .
Colonel Alexander Vindman , the top National Security Council official on Ukraine who also testified against Trump , was fired @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by security .
In November , Sondland provided bombshell testimony , telling the House Intelligence Committee that Trump ’ s attempts to pressure Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to dig up dirt on 2020 Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden and his son Hunter amounted to a “ clear quid pro quo.
” Gordon Sondland , the U.S ambassador to the European Union , waits to testify before the House Intelligence Committee Nov. 20 , 2019 , in Washington , D.C .
He also implicated other top administration officials and Trump allies , including testifying @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to work with his personal attorney Rudy Giuliani , who had been directly engaging with Ukrainian officials in the scheme .
Sondland also testified that he was instructed to brief administration officials about the scheme .
“ Everyone knew .
It was no secret , ” he said .
“ Everyone was in the loop.
” In a largely party-line vote Wednesday , the Senate acquitted Trump on two articles of impeachment .
Ever since , Trump has hailed the acquittal as a victory , repeated his common lines of attack ( such @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hoax ” and “ witch hunt ” ) and gone on a vindictive streak , assailing lawmakers who voted for his impeachment in the House and conviction in the Senate .

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President Donald Trump fired European Union Ambassador Gordon Sondland Friday, in apparent retribution for testifying against him in the congressional impeachment proceedings.
“I was advised today that the president intends to recall me effective immediately as United States Ambassador to the European Union,” Sondland said in a statement. He expressed gratitude to Mr. Trump “for having given me the opportunity to serve.”
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Sondland’s dismissal came just hours after Lt. Colonel Alexander Vindman, the top National Security Council official on Ukraine who also testified against Trump, was fired and escorted out of the White House by security.
In November, Sondland provided bombshell testimony, telling the House Intelligence Committee that Trump’s attempts to pressure Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to dig up dirt on 2020 Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden and his son Hunter amounted to a “clear quid pro quo.”
Gordon Sondland, the U.S ambassador to the European Union, waits to testify before the House Intelligence Committee Nov. 20, 2019, in Washington, D.C. Drew Angerer via Getty Images
He also implicated other top administration officials and Trump allies, including testifying that Trump gave “express direction” to work with his personal attorney Rudy Giuliani, who had been directly engaging with Ukrainian officials in the scheme.
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Sondland also testified that he was instructed to brief administration officials about the scheme.
“Everyone knew. It was no secret,” he said. “Everyone was in the loop.”
Trump appointed Sondland, a former hotel executive, ambassador after he donated $1 million to Trump’s 2017 inauguration.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-02-07--Trump Down To A Single Challenger in Republican Primaries

“ It ’ s not good for the United States , ” former Massachusetts Gov .
Bill Weld said about the Trump presidency to the couple of dozen voters who had trekked across the slick roads to hear him at the New London library .
He said Trump suffers from insecurity or possibly instability .
“ That ’ s why he seeks this total power.
” Walsh said Friday it became clear that no one can beat Trump from within the Republican Party when Trump supporters he spoke to insisted that Trump never lied and this critics are all traitors @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Iowa .
It ’ s his party , and it ’ s not a party I belong to .
It ’ s a cult , ” he said , adding that he will continue working to defeat Trump .
“ I would rather have Bernie Sanders as president as Donald Trump .
That ’ s not even a close call.
” Sanford and Walsh had come at the race from opposite directions .
While both said they believed Trump was unfit for the office , Walsh essentially made that the sole rationale for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ exclusively to his concerns about the rapidly increasing federal budget deficit and avoided criticizing Trump ’ s character or leadership style .
Weld has used a blend of both .
During Trump ’ s impeachment proceedings , Weld from the beginning argued that Trump should be removed from office for trying to coerce Ukraine into boosting his reelection campaign by investigating the Democratic candidate he most feared .
But Weld also tries to appeal to traditional moderate Republicans by pointing to his record of tax cuts and balanced budgets in Massachusetts while arguing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seriously and to embrace immigration .
Weld has also spent the bulk of his yearlong campaign on the trail in New Hampshire , hoping to use a better than expected result here to translate into wins in later states .
A New Hampshire-centric strategy was previously used by Pat Buchanan in 1992 , who wound up winning 37 % of the vote against then-President George H.W .
Bush .
He still lost by 15 points , and Bush essentially snuffed out Buchanan ’ s campaign with a strong win in South Carolina , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ weakness led to the independent candidacy of billionaire Ross Perot and , ultimately , the election of Democrat Bill Clinton .
Recent polling , though , shows a Buchanan-like showing is not likely .
In polling from last month , Weld got no more than 9 percentage points in three surveys , with Trump scoring in the mid-80s .
( Walsh got no more than 2 % in any of them . )
What ’ s more , the trajectory of the modern GOP has been to embrace the white Christian nativism that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ declared a “ culture war ” at that summer ’ s nominating convention — over the northeastern , pro-business wing of the party that Weld represents .
The best chances for Weld and others also lay in the possibility that a major scandal or an impeachment effort would damage Trump ’ s standing within the party enough that a critical mass of Republicans would seek an alternative heading into the 2020 election .
But the report of special counsel Robert Mueller into the Trump campaign ’ s ties to Russia and the president @ @ @ @ @ @ @ came and went without much erosion in Trump ’ s GOP support .
And while the subsequent Ukraine scandal hurt Trump with Democrats and independents , Republican voters nevertheless stuck with him .
Trump is scheduled to hold a campaign rally in Manchester on Monday , the evening before the primary , and his campaign announced a roster of surrogates who would come to the state on Tuesday , including his sons Eric Trump and Donald Trump Jr. and campaign manager Brad Parscale .

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NEW LONDON, N.H. — Republican voters who would rather have someone other than incumbent President Donald Trump as their presidential nominee this November are down to a single choice.
“It’s not good for the United States,” former Massachusetts Gov. Bill Weld said about the Trump presidency to the couple of dozen voters who had trekked across the slick roads to hear him at the New London library. He said Trump suffers from insecurity or possibly instability. “That’s why he seeks this total power.”
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The other remaining Trump challenger, former Illinois congressman Joe Walsh, announced earlier Friday that he was ending his campaign just four days prior to the New Hampshire primary.
Walsh said Friday it became clear that no one can beat Trump from within the Republican Party when Trump supporters he spoke to insisted that Trump never lied and this critics are all traitors. “It slapped me hard in Iowa. It’s his party, and it’s not a party I belong to. It’s a cult,” he said, adding that he will continue working to defeat Trump. “I would rather have Bernie Sanders as president as Donald Trump. That’s not even a close call.”
Walsh won 348 votes in the Republican Iowa caucuses, while Weld won 424. Trump won 31,422 — just over 97% of all of those cast, according to the Republican Party of Iowa.
Mark Sanford, a former South Carolina governor and congressman, dropped out in November after only being in the race for two months.
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Sanford and Walsh had come at the race from opposite directions. While both said they believed Trump was unfit for the office, Walsh essentially made that the sole rationale for his run, while Sanford stuck almost exclusively to his concerns about the rapidly increasing federal budget deficit and avoided criticizing Trump’s character or leadership style.
Former Massachusetts Gov. Bill Weld speaks to voters at the New London, New Hampshire, public library on Friday ahead of Tuesday's primary. Weld is the last remaining challenger to President Donald Trump for the 2020 GOP nomination. S.V. Date/HuffPost
Weld has used a blend of both. During Trump’s impeachment proceedings, Weld from the beginning argued that Trump should be removed from office for trying to coerce Ukraine into boosting his reelection campaign by investigating the Democratic candidate he most feared. But Weld also tries to appeal to traditional moderate Republicans by pointing to his record of tax cuts and balanced budgets in Massachusetts while arguing that Republicans need to take climate change seriously and to embrace immigration.
Weld has also spent the bulk of his yearlong campaign on the trail in New Hampshire, hoping to use a better than expected result here to translate into wins in later states.
A New Hampshire-centric strategy was previously used by Pat Buchanan in 1992, who wound up winning 37% of the vote against then-President George H.W. Bush. He still lost by 15 points, and Bush essentially snuffed out Buchanan’s campaign with a strong win in South Carolina, but the incumbent’s appearance of weakness led to the independent candidacy of billionaire Ross Perot and, ultimately, the election of Democrat Bill Clinton.
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Recent polling, though, shows a Buchanan-like showing is not likely. In polling from last month, Weld got no more than 9 percentage points in three surveys, with Trump scoring in the mid-80s. (Walsh got no more than 2% in any of them.)
What’s more, the trajectory of the modern GOP has been to embrace the white Christian nativism that Buchanan pitched that year — he famously declared a “culture war” at that summer’s nominating convention — over the northeastern, pro-business wing of the party that Weld represents.
The best chances for Weld and others also lay in the possibility that a major scandal or an impeachment effort would damage Trump’s standing within the party enough that a critical mass of Republicans would seek an alternative heading into the 2020 election. But the report of special counsel Robert Mueller into the Trump campaign’s ties to Russia and the president’s attempts to stifle the investigation came and went without much erosion in Trump’s GOP support. And while the subsequent Ukraine scandal hurt Trump with Democrats and independents, Republican voters nevertheless stuck with him.
The long odds notwithstanding, Weld appeared to have won over some fans.
“You are fighting an uphill battle, and I want to thank you,” said John McSheffrey, a 52-year-old owner of a firefighting supply company. “I changed my registration from Democrat to unenrolled so I could vote for you.”
“May you increase and multiply,” Weld said, laughing.
Trump is scheduled to hold a campaign rally in Manchester on Monday, the evening before the primary, and his campaign announced a roster of surrogates who would come to the state on Tuesday, including his sons Eric Trump and Donald Trump Jr. and campaign manager Brad Parscale.
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thehuffingtonpost--2020-02-07--Democratic Debate Sheds Little Light On Foreign Policy

Democratic presidential candidates were given a hypothetical Friday night : If they had been given the opportunity to kill notorious Iranian military leader Qassem Soleimani , as President Donald Trump did in January , would they have gone through with it ?
The responses during the Democratic debate in Manchester , New Hampshire , hinted at some divides in the party on foreign policy — an area where presidents have historically had more power to act even without the involvement of Congress — but did little to clarify how these candidates would actually act as commander in chief .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Buttigieg said , adding he would have to know if there were “ alternatives ” and going on to praise the United States ’ national intelligence community .
Biden , notably , said no , at first , saying there wasn ’ t an “ imminent threat ” ( the Trump administration initially defended their decision to strike Soleimani , without congressional approval , because of an imminent threat ) .
But as Biden continued his response , he said he didn ’ t know how we would have responded to Iran ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ targeting a U.S. base in Iraq that wounded several American soldiers .
“ I don ’ t know what i would have done if my son had still been there , ” Biden said .
“ I would have been so angry .
I don ’ t know what I would have done.
” Those responses sat in clear contrast to Sen. Bernie Sanders ( I-Vt. ) , who was the most unequivocal in his repudiation of Trump ’ s decision to kill Soleimani .
“ There are very bad leaders all over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the debate stage , listing North Korea ’ s Kim Jung-un , Saudi Arabia ’ s Mohammed bin Salman and others .
“ You can not go around saying , you are a bad guy , we are going to assassinate you .
And then you are going to have , you are opening the door to international anarchy .
Every government in the world will be subjected to attacks and assassination.
” Sanders has long advocated for an anti-interventionist foreign policy strategy , though he is not a pacifist — and there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of military force to be appropriate .
In a questionnaire with The New York Times , he said he would consider the use of military force for humanitarian intervention and to to preempt an Iranian or North Korean nuclear or missile test .
Unlike most policy areas like health care , or tax policy , presidents have a lot of discretion on foreign policy , and can define the United States ’ role abroad largely without congressional intervention .
Candidates have repeatedly been pushed to answer hypotheticals about foreign policy , in an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ opinions on the stage .
Trump ’ s decision to kill Soleimani , and bring the United States to the brink of full-blown war with Iran , without congressional approval was overwhelmingly decried by Democrats , though many pointed out that Soleimani had been a longtime target .
Sanders co-sponsored legislation in Congress in January to deny the Pentagon any funds for unauthorized use of military force against Iran .

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Democratic presidential candidates were given a hypothetical Friday night: If they had been given the opportunity to kill notorious Iranian military leader Qassem Soleimani, as President Donald Trump did in January, would they have gone through with it?
The responses during the Democratic debate in Manchester, New Hampshire, hinted at some divides in the party on foreign policy — an area where presidents have historically had more power to act even without the involvement of Congress — but did little to clarify how these candidates would actually act as commander in chief.
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South Bend, Indiana’s former Mayor Pete Buttigieg kept himself open to the idea of the strike.
“It depends on the circumstances,” Buttigieg said, adding he would have to know if there were “alternatives” and going on to praise the United States’ national intelligence community.
Biden, notably, said no, at first, saying there wasn’t an “imminent threat” (the Trump administration initially defended their decision to strike Soleimani, without congressional approval, because of an imminent threat). But as Biden continued his response, he said he didn’t know how we would have responded to Iran’s counterattack — a series of missiles targeting a U.S. base in Iraq that wounded several American soldiers.
“I don’t know what i would have done if my son had still been there,” Biden said. “I would have been so angry. I don’t know what I would have done.”
Those responses sat in clear contrast to Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), who was the most unequivocal in his repudiation of Trump’s decision to kill Soleimani.
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“There are very bad leaders all over the world,” Sanders said on the debate stage, listing North Korea’s Kim Jung-un, Saudi Arabia’s Mohammed bin Salman and others. “You cannot go around saying, you are a bad guy, we are going to assassinate you. And then you are going to have, you are opening the door to international anarchy. Every government in the world will be subjected to attacks and assassination.”
Democratic presidential candidates from left, Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., and businessman Tom Steyer try to be recognized during a Democratic presidential primary debate, Friday, Feb. 7, 2020. ASSOCIATED PRESS
Sanders has long advocated for an anti-interventionist foreign policy strategy, though he is not a pacifist — and there are areas where he sees the use of military force to be appropriate. In a questionnaire with The New York Times, he said he would consider the use of military force for humanitarian intervention and to to preempt an Iranian or North Korean nuclear or missile test.
Unlike most policy areas like health care, or tax policy, presidents have a lot of discretion on foreign policy, and can define the United States’ role abroad largely without congressional intervention. Candidates have repeatedly been pushed to answer hypotheticals about foreign policy, in an effort to show the actual variance in opinions on the stage.
But Soleimani’s killing wasn’t able to reveal those contrasts.
Trump’s decision to kill Soleimani, and bring the United States to the brink of full-blown war with Iran, without congressional approval was overwhelmingly decried by Democrats, though many pointed out that Soleimani had been a longtime target. Sanders co-sponsored legislation in Congress in January to deny the Pentagon any funds for unauthorized use of military force against Iran.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-02-07--Read Live Updates From The New Hampshire Democratic Debate

Democratic presidential hopefuls face off on Friday in Manchester , New Hampshire , for the first debate since the chaotic @ @ @ @ @ s debate is a critical moment as the candidates vie for the primary season ’ @ @ @ @ @ following a virtual tie between former South Bend , Indiana , Mayor Pete Buttigieg and @ @ @ @ @ ) in Monday ’ s caucuses .
Participants in tonight ’ s debate include Sanders @ @ @ @ @ former Vice President Joe Biden , entrepreneur Andrew Yang , billionaire activist Tom Steyer and @ @ @ @ @ Mass . )
and Amy Klobuchar ( Minn. ) .
ABC and WMUR are co-hosting @ @ @ @ @ Stephanopoulos , David Muir and Linsey Davis of ABC and Adam Sexton and Monica Hernandez @ @ @ @ @ the latest updates from the debate below :

Democratic presidential hopefuls face off on Friday in Manchester, New Hampshire, for the first debate since the chaotic Iowa caucuses.
Tonight’s debate is a critical moment as the candidates vie for the primary season’s first clear victory, following a virtual tie between former South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg and Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) in Monday’s caucuses.
Participants in tonight’s debate include Sanders and Buttigieg, along with former Vice President Joe Biden, entrepreneur Andrew Yang, billionaire activist Tom Steyer and Sens. Elizabeth Warren (Mass.) and Amy Klobuchar (Minn.).
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ABC and WMUR are co-hosting the debate, with George Stephanopoulos, David Muir and Linsey Davis of ABC and Adam Sexton and Monica Hernandez of WMUR moderating.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-02-09--Bernie Sanders, Pete Buttigieg Race Across New Hampshire Ahead Of Vote

The rivals , who emerged from last week ’ s Iowa caucuses essentially tied , offer stark alternatives for the top of the Democratic ticket .
Sanders , 78 , is a U.S. senator and an impassioned progressive who has spent almost three decades in Congress , while Buttigieg , 38 , is a moderate military veteran who served two terms as mayor of South Bend , Indiana .
“ The idea that we ’ ve either got to wait for a revolution or wait for the status quo leaves most of us out , ” Buttigieg said at a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ New Hampshire , in thinly veiled references to rivals Sanders and former Vice President Joe Biden .
“ We need a politics that brings all of us in.
” Buttigieg , who would be the nation ’ s first openly gay president , deflected attacks from his more well-known rivals as they jostled to dampen the momentum of a candidate who has surged in New Hampshire polls over the past few days .
Tuesday ’ s primary , the second in a state-by-state nominating contest , also will test the staying power of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ finished third in Iowa , and Biden , who placed fourth .
They joined the field of 11 Democratic candidates for a frantic day of campaigning ahead of the New Hampshire vote .
The senator from Vermont touted his own small-dollar fundraising , saying , “ Because we bring forth an agenda that doesn ’ t ask for approval from Wall Street , or the drug companies , our agenda is the agenda that represents working families.
” Buttigieg , who likes to note he is the least wealthy of the Democratic candidates @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to stand up to industry .
“ I like his moderate political views and the fact that he ’ s trying to bring people together , ” Sterner said while standing in line at Buttigieg ’ s Nashua rally .
“ I am concerned about his lack of experience .
I do think that makes him vulnerable.
” Biden , who had fewer events scheduled Sunday than his rivals , conceded he was out-organized by Sanders and Buttigieg in Iowa .
He reiterated his longstanding belief that he will perform better in states @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and other voters of colour , including upcoming contests in Nevada and South Carolina .
One young woman asked Biden why he performed so poorly in Iowa .
He responded by asking her if she had ever caucused .
When she said she had , Biden responded , “ No , you haven ’ t .
You ’ re a lying dog-faced pony soldier ... Now you got ta be honest .
I ’ m going to be honest with you.
” Her numerous policy proposals have led to the campaign slogan “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ When one man mentioned the cost of prescription drugs , she explained her intention to use executive power to drop the prices of commonly used medications ; another man got a quick summary of her plan to raise Social Security and Medicaid payments by $ 200 a month .
“ Look , we ’ re going to have to bring our party together in order to beat Donald Trump , and the way we do this is not by launching a bunch of attacks on each other and trying to tear each other @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The way we do this is that we talk about the things we can run on together .
”

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NASHUA/PLYMOUTH, N.H. (Reuters) - Democratic presidential candidates Bernie Sanders and Pete Buttigieg traded jabs over money and message on Sunday, two days before New Hampshire voters pick their choice to take on Republican President Donald Trump in November.
The rivals, who emerged from last week’s Iowa caucuses essentially tied, offer stark alternatives for the top of the Democratic ticket. Sanders, 78, is a U.S. senator and an impassioned progressive who has spent almost three decades in Congress, while Buttigieg, 38, is a moderate military veteran who served two terms as mayor of South Bend, Indiana.
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“The idea that we’ve either got to wait for a revolution or wait for the status quo leaves most of us out,” Buttigieg said at a packed middle school gymnasium in Nashua, New Hampshire, in thinly veiled references to rivals Sanders and former Vice President Joe Biden. “We need a politics that brings all of us in.”
Buttigieg, who would be the nation’s first openly gay president, deflected attacks from his more well-known rivals as they jostled to dampen the momentum of a candidate who has surged in New Hampshire polls over the past few days.
Tuesday’s primary, the second in a state-by-state nominating contest, also will test the staying power of U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren, who finished third in Iowa, and Biden, who placed fourth. They joined the field of 11 Democratic candidates for a frantic day of campaigning ahead of the New Hampshire vote.
Here is what is happening on the campaign trail on Sunday:
Democratic presidential candidate Senator Bernie Sanders speaks to supporters at a campaign stop in Plymouth, New Hampshire, February 9, 2020. (REUTERS/Mike Segar) Mike Segar / Reuters
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‘VULNERABLE’
Buttigieg told a crowd of 1,800 in Nashua that Democrats needs a unifying voice to take on Trump.
Sanders, speaking in Plymouth, criticized Buttigieg for taking money from “40 billionaires.”
The senator from Vermont touted his own small-dollar fundraising, saying, “Because we bring forth an agenda that doesn’t ask for approval from Wall Street, or the drug companies, our agenda is the agenda that represents working families.”
Buttigieg, who likes to note he is the least wealthy of the Democratic candidates, countered that he has never hesitated to stand up to industry.
“Bernie’s pretty rich, and I would happily accept a contribution from him,” Buttigieg said on CNN.
Brian Sterner, 59, who works in the chemical industry, said he was leaning toward Buttigieg but had concerns whether a small-city former mayor can beat Trump.
“I like his moderate political views and the fact that he’s trying to bring people together,” Sterner said while standing in line at Buttigieg’s Nashua rally. “I am concerned about his lack of experience. I do think that makes him vulnerable.”
Pete Buttigieg, Democratic presidential candidate and former mayor of South Bend, Indiana, attends a campaign event in Lebanon, New Hampshire, February 8, 2020. (REUTERS/Eric Thayer) ERIC THAYER / Reuters
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‘DOG-FACED PONY SOLDIER’
Biden, speaking in Hampton, seemed ready to move on to other states that may be more favourable to him.
“No matter what happens in this state ... I’m going to keep moving,” Biden said in response to a question about his poor showing in Iowa.
Biden, who had fewer events scheduled Sunday than his rivals, conceded he was out-organized by Sanders and Buttigieg in Iowa. He reiterated his longstanding belief that he will perform better in states with a greater number of African Americans and other voters of colour, including upcoming contests in Nevada and South Carolina.
Democrats have complained about the outsize impact of Iowa and New Hampshire - rural states that do not represent the diversity of the party or country.
One young woman asked Biden why he performed so poorly in Iowa. He responded by asking her if she had ever caucused. When she said she had, Biden responded, “No, you haven’t. You’re a lying dog-faced pony soldier ... Now you gotta be honest. I’m going to be honest with you.”
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The crowd laughed, but a video of the exchange began circulating on Twitter. Biden has used the line before, one he attributes to a John Wayne movie, “Hondo.”
Biden has been critical of the Iowa caucuses as unrepresentative of the party, saying that they skew too liberal.
Democratic 2020 presidential candidate and Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) speaks to volunteers outside a campaign canvass kickoff in Manchester, New Hampshire, February 8, 2020. (REUTERS/Brian Snyder) Brian Snyder / Reuters
‘A PLAN FOR THAT’
Warren made the rounds at Blake’s, a Manchester restaurant, posing for selfies and asking diners to tell her their No. 1 concern.
Her numerous policy proposals have led to the campaign slogan “Warren has a plan for that.” When one man mentioned the cost of prescription drugs, she explained her intention to use executive power to drop the prices of commonly used medications; another man got a quick summary of her plan to raise Social Security and Medicaid payments by $200 a month.
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Democratic 2020 presidential candidate and former Vice President Joe Biden looks at a teleprompter as he speaks during a campaign event in Manchester, New Hampshire, February 8, 2020. (REUTERS/Carlos Barria) Carlos Barria / Reuters
Katie Straw, 30, told Warren her biggest worry is her lingering student debt.
“So you know about my plan to cancel student loan debt?” Warren asked, explaining she would erase debt for 43 million Americans.
Straw later said she planned to vote for Sanders, who has proposed canceling all student loan debt.
“I really like Warren,” said Straw, an occupational therapist. “However, Bernie’s going to offer me a lot more.”
At a campaign stop in Concord, Warren told reporters that she did not intend to go negative on fellow front-runners.
“Look, we’re going to have to bring our party together in order to beat Donald Trump, and the way we do this is not by launching a bunch of attacks on each other and trying to tear each other down,” she said. “The way we do this is that we talk about the things we can run on together.”
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thehuffingtonpost--2020-02-09--Lindsey Graham Defends Trump Firing Impeachment Witnesses

Graham , one of Trump ’ s loudest supporters in Congress , told CBS ’ “ Face The Nation ” that the president was “ justified ” in ousting Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman from the National Security Council , where he served as an expert on Ukrainian affairs .
After being subpoenaed by Congress , Vindman , a decorated Iraq War veteran , testified that he believed Trump ’ s efforts to get Ukraine to investigate political rival Joe Biden were “ improper.
” He said he expressed his concerns to senior officials .
Vindman ’ s testimony drew outrage @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and ultimately dismissed him from his NSC position on Friday , just two days after the impeachment trial ended in an acquittal for the president .
He also claimed members of Congress were forbidden from asking Vindman about his connection to the alleged whistleblower who filed a complaint about Trump ’ s dealings with Ukraine officials last summer .
But host Margaret Brennan noted that Vindman was , in fact , asked about the whistleblower during his House testimony and that he denied knowing the person ’ s identity .
What ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s twin brother , Lt. Col. Yevgeny Vindman was also dismissed from his job at the White House on Friday , where he had served as a lawyer for the NSC .
He had no connection to the impeachment case , Brennan added .
Graham did not address Yevgeny Vindman ’ s ouster .
He instead attacked Alexander Vindman ’ s reputation and attempted to steer the conversation to a discussion about the FBI ’ s investigation into Trump ’ s 2016 campaign .
“ Is this retaliation ?
” Brennan asked , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s controversial firings .
“ Because the president has tweeted basically saying that Vindman was forced out not because of any kind of policy issue , not because of anything else , except for what he said was listening in on his phone calls ― ” Graham , failing to directly respond to the question , said Republicans are “ not going to be intimidated against asking questions to the whistleblower.
” “ Should Gordon Sondland have been fired as well ?
” Brennan asked , referring to the U.S. ambassador to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ impeachment proceedings and was also dismissed by Trump on Friday .
Sondland , a businessman who donated $ 1 million to Trump ’ s inaugural committee , was appointed by the president to the ambassadorship in 2018 despite having zero diplomatic experience .
He testified during the impeachment inquiry that Trump engaged in a “ quid pro quo ” by conditioning U.S. aid to Ukraine on officials from the European country opening the president ’ s requested investigations .
″We ’ re not going to live in a world where the Department of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can cut corners and go after Trump and nobody gives a damn , ” he said .
“ President Trump is impeached forever , ” Pelosi said in a statement .
“ The shameful firing of Col. Vindman was a clear and brazen act of retaliation that showcases the President ’ s fear of the truth .
... History will remember Lt. Col. Vindman as an American hero.
” Some Republican senators , including Sens .
Susan Collins of Maine and Thom Tillis of North Carolina , urged Trump not to fire Sondland @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The senators reportedly told the White House that it would be best to avoid political backlash by letting Sondland leave on his own terms .
He was apparently preparing to make an exit after the impeachment trial wrapped up anyway .
When State Department officials told him he had to resign on Friday , Sondland reportedly said no .
So Trump fired him .

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Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) on Sunday defended President Donald Trump’s decision to fire two key witnesses from the House’s impeachment inquiry against criticism from Democrats and some GOP lawmakers.
Graham, one of Trump’s loudest supporters in Congress, told CBS’ “Face The Nation” that the president was “justified” in ousting Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman from the National Security Council, where he served as an expert on Ukrainian affairs.
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“I think his reassignment was justified,” Graham said. “I don’t think he could be effective at the NSC.”
After being subpoenaed by Congress, Vindman, a decorated Iraq War veteran, testified that he believed Trump’s efforts to get Ukraine to investigate political rival Joe Biden were “improper.” He said he expressed his concerns to senior officials.
Vindman’s testimony drew outrage from Trump, who attacked his credibility and ultimately dismissed him from his NSC position on Friday, just two days after the impeachment trial ended in an acquittal for the president.
Graham said he supports “military people telling the truth when asked,” and then accused intelligence officials of acting on a “political agenda.”
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He also claimed members of Congress were forbidden from asking Vindman about his connection to the alleged whistleblower who filed a complaint about Trump’s dealings with Ukraine officials last summer.
But host Margaret Brennan noted that Vindman was, in fact, asked about the whistleblower during his House testimony and that he denied knowing the person’s identity.
.@LindseyGrahamSC on Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman's ouster from the White House: "I think his reassignment was justified. I don't think he could be effective as the NSC." https://t.co/Bu1zxgliQV pic.twitter.com/p1wsI0Sojd — Face The Nation (@FaceTheNation) February 9, 2020
What’s more, Brennan continued, Vindman’s twin brother, Lt. Col. Yevgeny Vindman was also dismissed from his job at the White House on Friday, where he had served as a lawyer for the NSC. He had no connection to the impeachment case, Brennan added.
Graham did not address Yevgeny Vindman’s ouster. He instead attacked Alexander Vindman’s reputation and attempted to steer the conversation to a discussion about the FBI’s investigation into Trump’s 2016 campaign.
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“Is this retaliation?” Brennan asked, putting the focus back on Trump’s controversial firings. “Because the president has tweeted basically saying that Vindman was forced out not because of any kind of policy issue, not because of anything else, except for what he said was listening in on his phone calls ―”
Graham, failing to directly respond to the question, said Republicans are “not going to be intimidated against asking questions to the whistleblower.”
“Should Gordon Sondland have been fired as well?” Brennan asked, referring to the U.S. ambassador to the European Union who testified before the House impeachment proceedings and was also dismissed by Trump on Friday.
Sondland, a businessman who donated $1 million to Trump’s inaugural committee, was appointed by the president to the ambassadorship in 2018 despite having zero diplomatic experience. He testified during the impeachment inquiry that Trump engaged in a “quid pro quo” by conditioning U.S. aid to Ukraine on officials from the European country opening the president’s requested investigations.
″He’s a political appointee,” Graham said of Sondland. “He serves at the pleasure of the president.”
“Of course, but it was retaliation?” Brennan pressed.
Graham would not say.
″We’re not going to live in a world where the Department of Justice, the CIA and the FBI can cut corners and go after Trump and nobody gives a damn,” he said.
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House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) condemned Vindman’s dismissal on Friday as a “brazen act of retaliation.”
“President Trump is impeached forever,” Pelosi said in a statement. “The shameful firing of Col. Vindman was a clear and brazen act of retaliation that showcases the President’s fear of the truth. ... History will remember Lt. Col. Vindman as an American hero.”
Some Republican senators, including Sens. Susan Collins of Maine and Thom Tillis of North Carolina, urged Trump not to fire Sondland, The New York Times reported. The senators reportedly told the White House that it would be best to avoid political backlash by letting Sondland leave on his own terms. He was apparently preparing to make an exit after the impeachment trial wrapped up anyway. When State Department officials told him he had to resign on Friday, Sondland reportedly said no. So Trump fired him.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-02-10--Trump’s First 3 Years Created 1.5 Million Fewer Jobs Than Obama’s Last 3

MANCHESTER , N.H. – As President Donald Trump takes the stage at his reelection rally here Monday and boasts of his economic record , there is one statistic he is likely to omit : He created 1.5 million fewer jobs in his first three years in office than predecessor Barack Obama did in his final three .
Newly revised figures from Trump ’ s own Department of Labor show that 6.6 million new jobs were created in the first 36 months of Trump ’ s tenure , compared with 8.1 million in the final 36 months of Obama ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump , according to a HuffPost analysis .
Economists say that the slowing of job creation is not surprising .
There are fewer empty jobs and fewer unemployed people available to fill them as the economy gets closer to full employment .
“ I ’ m not a big fan of jobs numbers as a metric of success , ” said Douglas Holtz-Eakin , once the top economic adviser to the late Arizona Sen. John McCain ’ s 2008 presidential campaign .
He added , though , that Trump ’ s “ hyperbole @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the labor market has been nothing short of stunning.
” David Rothschild , an economist with Microsoft Research , said Trump is presiding over a decent job market ― the same as his Democratic predecessor did .
“ The economy is basically humming along for the last three years , just as it was for the last year several years of the Obama administration , ” Rothschild said .
The White House would not respond to the new statistics , but spokesman Judd Deere told HuffPost : “ President Obama presided over one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ President Trump has smashed expectations with 5 million more jobs grown than forecasted by the ( Congressional Budget Office ) , a record setting stock market , strong wage growth for blue collar workers , and historically low unemployment rates .
Because of the strength of the Trump economy more and more Americans are coming off the sidelines to find work many of whom were left out of the so-called Obama recovery.
” During his State of the Union speech last week to Congress , Trump said : “ If we hadn ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the previous administration , the world would not now be witnessing this great economic success.
” The economy is just one of several areas where Trump repeatedly claims credit for conditions or policies implemented under his predecessors .
He has bragged about reductions in air and water pollution that were the result of presidents going back decades .
He has claimed credit for a reduction in lung cancer deaths based on a decades-long study that ended the year he took office .
Perhaps most famously , he has repeatedly ― and falsely ― @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Act , ” which allows veterans to get medical care at private facilities if wait times are too long at Veteran Affairs clinics , even though it was signed into law by Obama .
But the economy is the one issue that could determine whether Trump succeeds or fails in his attempt to win a second term ― and his boasts about it are consistently misleading and , at times , simply false .
Trump repeatedly brags that unemployment among African Americans is at historic lows .
While that was correct in August @ @ @ @ @ @ @ risen since then , according to federal statistics .
More broadly , the trend lines for both African Americans and Latinos show a steady decrease from the end of the 2008-09 recession , through the Obama presidency and to the present day , with no significant change in the slope of those graphs when Trump took office in January 2017 .
Bernstein and other economists pointed out that the nation ’ s gross domestic product , after showing higher growth rates immediately after the passage of Republican-backed tax cuts in late 2017 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ― a figure that Trump and others called weak during the Obama years .
And that , Holtz-Eakin and Rothschild agreed , could be attributed to the trade war Trump picked with China starting in mid-2018 , and from which the president has only recently started to back down .
“ There are markets we ’ re probably not going to get back , and we ’ re going to have nothing to show for it , ” Rothschild said .
“ The economy is moving along pretty well despite the best efforts @ @ @ @ @

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MANCHESTER, N.H. – As President Donald Trump takes the stage at his reelection rally here Monday and boasts of his economic record, there is one statistic he is likely to omit: He created 1.5 million fewer jobs in his first three years in office than predecessor Barack Obama did in his final three.
Newly revised figures from Trump’s own Department of Labor show that 6.6 million new jobs were created in the first 36 months of Trump’s tenure, compared with 8.1 million in the final 36 months of Obama’s ― a decline of 19% under Trump, according to a HuffPost analysis.
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Economists say that the slowing of job creation is not surprising. There are fewer empty jobs and fewer unemployed people available to fill them as the economy gets closer to full employment.
“I’m not a big fan of jobs numbers as a metric of success,” said Douglas Holtz-Eakin, once the top economic adviser to the late Arizona Sen. John McCain’s 2008 presidential campaign. He added, though, that Trump’s “hyperbole” notwithstanding, “the performance of the labor market has been nothing short of stunning.”
David Rothschild, an economist with Microsoft Research, said Trump is presiding over a decent job market ― the same as his Democratic predecessor did. “The economy is basically humming along for the last three years, just as it was for the last year several years of the Obama administration,” Rothschild said.
Nevertheless, the statistics belie Trump’s frequent claims that he turned around Obama’s poor management of the economy.
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The White House would not respond to the new statistics, but spokesman Judd Deere told HuffPost: “President Obama presided over one of the slowest recoveries in history while President Trump has smashed expectations with 5 million more jobs grown than forecasted by the (Congressional Budget Office), a record setting stock market, strong wage growth for blue collar workers, and historically low unemployment rates. Because of the strength of the Trump economy more and more Americans are coming off the sidelines to find work many of whom were left out of the so-called Obama recovery.”
During his State of the Union speech last week to Congress, Trump said: “If we hadn’t reversed the failed economic policies of the previous administration, the world would not now be witnessing this great economic success.”
Trump has repeatedly disparaged Obama’s stewardship of the economy while claiming he has done a far superior job. ASSOCIATED PRESS
The economy is just one of several areas where Trump repeatedly claims credit for conditions or policies implemented under his predecessors. He has bragged about reductions in air and water pollution that were the result of presidents going back decades. He has claimed credit for a reduction in lung cancer deaths based on a decades-long study that ended the year he took office. Perhaps most famously, he has repeatedly ― and falsely ― boasted about passing the “VA Choice Act,” which allows veterans to get medical care at private facilities if wait times are too long at Veteran Affairs clinics, even though it was signed into law by Obama.
But the economy is the one issue that could determine whether Trump succeeds or fails in his attempt to win a second term ― and his boasts about it are consistently misleading and, at times, simply false.
Advertisement
Trump repeatedly brags that unemployment among African Americans is at historic lows. While that was correct in August and September, the unemployment figure has risen since then, according to federal statistics. More broadly, the trend lines for both African Americans and Latinos show a steady decrease from the end of the 2008-09 recession, through the Obama presidency and to the present day, with no significant change in the slope of those graphs when Trump took office in January 2017.
“He’s largely riding trends he inherited,” said Jared Bernstein, once the chief economist to former Vice President Joe Biden.
Bernstein and other economists pointed out that the nation’s gross domestic product, after showing higher growth rates immediately after the passage of Republican-backed tax cuts in late 2017, have now dropped closer to 2% ― a figure that Trump and others called weak during the Obama years.
And that, Holtz-Eakin and Rothschild agreed, could be attributed to the trade war Trump picked with China starting in mid-2018, and from which the president has only recently started to back down.
“There are markets we’re probably not going to get back, and we’re going to have nothing to show for it,” Rothschild said. “The economy is moving along pretty well despite the best efforts of Donald Trump.”
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thehuffingtonpost--2020-02-10--Florida Police Arrest Man Accused Of Driving Through Voter Registration Booth

Witnesses say 27-year-old Gregory William Loel Timm slowly pulled up to the tent in a Walmart parking lot , then accelerated into the booth that had been set up by the local Republican Party .
Mark Alfieri , a volunteer in the booth , told WJAX the man was waving and that volunteers thought he was coming over to talk to them .
He accelerated instead .
No one was injured in the incident .
Photos of the aftermath , which the Duval County Republican Party shared on Twitter , show an overturned canopy tent and table , along with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The Jacksonville Sheriff ’ s Office didn ’ t immediately respond to a request for comment from HuffPost .
It told told FirstCoastNews that detectives aren ’ t sure if the crime was politically motivated but that they are investigating the possibility .
“ We ’ re obviously going to follow that up and we take that very seriously , ” JSO Lt. Larry Gayle told the station .
“ Anybody who interrupts a political process in this country needs to be taken very seriously.
” “ No one ’ s life should @ @ @ @ @ @ @ First Amendment rights , ” the statement read .
“ As Democrats but more importantly residents of this great city of Jacksonville , we call on our fellow citizens to act with dignity , civility and respect for one another during this election cycle and beyond.
” # JSO has arrested the suspect who drove through the voter registration tent in the area of 11900 Atlantic Boulevard .
Gregory Timm has been charged with Aggravated Assault , Criminal Mischief , and Driving While Driver ’ s License Suspended .
pic.twitter.com/zGKbR2VTg0 — Jax Sheriff @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 9 , 2020 Timm is being held on a $ 500,000 bond and has been charged with two counts of aggravated assault on a person 65 years of age or older , one count of criminal mischief , and driving with a suspended license .

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The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office has arrested a man accused of driving through a voter registration tent Saturday.
Witnesses say 27-year-old Gregory William Loel Timm slowly pulled up to the tent in a Walmart parking lot, then accelerated into the booth that had been set up by the local Republican Party.
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Mark Alfieri, a volunteer in the booth, told WJAX the man was waving and that volunteers thought he was coming over to talk to them. He accelerated instead.
“After he ran over everything, he backed up, took out a cellphone, kind of recorded the damage, made some obscene gestures at us and then proceeded to leave the complex,” Alfieri said.
No one was injured in the incident. Photos of the aftermath, which the Duval County Republican Party shared on Twitter, show an overturned canopy tent and table, along with a handful of downed political signs:
Today in Jacksonville, Florida six Trump Campaign volunteers were intentionally targeted while registering voters. pic.twitter.com/0wzaCYh5ut — Duval County GOP (@DuvalGOP) February 8, 2020
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The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment from HuffPost. It told told FirstCoastNews that detectives aren’t sure if the crime was politically motivated but that they are investigating the possibility.
“We’re obviously going to follow that up and we take that very seriously,” JSO Lt. Larry Gayle told the station. “Anybody who interrupts a political process in this country needs to be taken very seriously.”
The Duval County Democratic Party condemned the “cowardly act of violence” in a statement Saturday night.
“No one’s life should be placed in danger for exercising their First Amendment rights,” the statement read. “As Democrats but more importantly residents of this great city of Jacksonville, we call on our fellow citizens to act with dignity, civility and respect for one another during this election cycle and beyond.”
#JSO has arrested the suspect who drove through the voter registration tent in the area of 11900 Atlantic Boulevard.
Gregory Timm has been charged with Aggravated Assault, Criminal Mischief, and Driving While Driver’s License Suspended. pic.twitter.com/zGKbR2VTg0 — Jax Sheriff's Office (@JSOPIO) February 9, 2020
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thehuffingtonpost--2020-02-10--Bernie Sanders Walks Back Promise To Release 'Comprehensive' Medical Records

“ You can start releasing medical records ― it never ends , ” Sanders told NBC ’ s “ Meet The Press ” when asked whether he planned to release additional medical records after having a heart attack in October .
“ We have released a substantive part of all of our background , ” he added .
“ We have doctors who are cardiologists who are confirming that I am in good health .
I am in good health.
” The 78-year-old Democratic presidential hopeful said in September that he would “ absolutely ” release his medical records ahead @ @ @ @ @ @ @ kicked off with the Iowa caucuses last week .
“ The American people have the right to know whether the person they ’ re going to be voting for for president is healthy , ” Sanders said at the time .
“ And we will certainly release our medical records ... before the first votes are cast.
” Sanders echoed his vow a few weeks after his Oct. 1 heart attack , telling The Associated Press that he planned to release “ comprehensive ” medical records by the end of the year .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ doctors ― one primary care physician and two cardiologists ― in December that declared he was in “ good health currently , ” but he has not released his full medical records .
“ Meet The Press ” host Chuck Todd asked Sanders on Sunday whether voters should be able to see his full medical records before Super Tuesday , which is on March 3 .
But some of his fellow Democratic presidential contenders have released more detailed summaries of their records and , in some cases , results from various medical tests @ @ @ @ @ @ @ D-Mass . )
was the first Democratic presidential candidate to release personal medical records .
The documents provided by her campaign in early December included a doctor ’ s note , which declared the candidate in “ excellent health , ” as well as a two-page hematology report and a three-page chemistry report .
“ Well , look ... no other candidate is doing four or five events a day running all over this country , ” Sanders replied .
Sanders , of course , isn ’ t the only candidate with a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Most of his rivals are participating in several events each day .
When asked what changes his doctors had recommended following his heart attack , Sanders said he has been told walk and sleep more .
“ I am trying to walk a little bit more , but the schedule doesn ’ t allow me , ” he said .
“ We ’ re trying to sleep a little bit better .
Sometimes that ’ s hard .
But I ’ m feeling great .
”

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Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) on Sunday backpedaled on his promise to release comprehensive medical records, saying his doctors have confirmed he’s in “good health.”
“You can start releasing medical records ― it never ends,” Sanders told NBC’s “Meet The Press” when asked whether he planned to release additional medical records after having a heart attack in October.
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“We have released a substantive part of all of our background,” he added. “We have doctors who are cardiologists who are confirming that I am in good health. I am in good health.”
The 78-year-old Democratic presidential hopeful said in September that he would “absolutely” release his medical records ahead of the presidential primary season, which kicked off with the Iowa caucuses last week.
“The American people have the right to know whether the person they’re going to be voting for for president is healthy,” Sanders said at the time. “And we will certainly release our medical records ... before the first votes are cast.”
Sanders echoed his vow a few weeks after his Oct. 1 heart attack, telling The Associated Press that he planned to release “comprehensive” medical records by the end of the year.
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He released three brief letters from his doctors ― one primary care physician and two cardiologists ― in December that declared he was in “good health currently,” but he has not released his full medical records.
“Meet The Press” host Chuck Todd asked Sanders on Sunday whether voters should be able to see his full medical records before Super Tuesday, which is on March 3.
“We have released as much documentation I think as any other candidate,” Sanders said.
But some of his fellow Democratic presidential contenders have released more detailed summaries of their records and, in some cases, results from various medical tests and procedures.
Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) was the first Democratic presidential candidate to release personal medical records. The documents provided by her campaign in early December included a doctor’s note, which declared the candidate in “excellent health,” as well as a two-page hematology report and a three-page chemistry report.
Former Vice President Joe Biden also released a doctor’s report in December, which outlined his surgical history and his current medical conditions.
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When Sanders pushed back on releasing additional medical records Sunday, Todd noted that he’s the only candidate who has had a heart attack.
“Well, look ... no other candidate is doing four or five events a day running all over this country,” Sanders replied. Sanders, of course, isn’t the only candidate with a busy schedule on the campaign trail. Most of his rivals are participating in several events each day.
When asked what changes his doctors had recommended following his heart attack, Sanders said he has been told walk and sleep more.
“I am trying to walk a little bit more, but the schedule doesn’t allow me,” he said. “We’re trying to sleep a little bit better. Sometimes that’s hard. But I’m feeling great.”
He added that winning the election would help him sleep “a lot better.”
A representative for Sanders’ campaign did not immediately respond to HuffPost’s request for comment.
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thehuffingtonpost--2020-02-10--Older Voters Are Getting Worried About Joe Biden

Biden ’ s edge with older voters has been his greatest asset so far in the race for the Democratic presidential nomination .
But with the New Hampshire primary only days away , in a state where he already faces an uphill climb , elderly voters are reconsidering their support for the septuagenarian in favor of some younger blood : namely Pete Buttigieg , the 38-year-old former mayor of South Bend , Indiana , who drew huge crowds up and down the state this weekend .
“ I do think everything is changing in the world , and I think @ @ @ @ @ @ @ over being older , ” said Dick Ellison , 68 , an infectious disease specialist from Massachusetts who showed up to see Buttigieg in Nashua on Sunday .
“ I really like what Biden did in the past , but I think his energy is a limitation.
” Biden and Buttigieg held campaign events within a one-mile vicinity on Sunday , but like the two men themselves , they couldn ’ t have been more different .
Eighteen hundred people showed up to a middle school to see Buttigieg , many of them @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he spoke about “ turning the page ” and bringing the country together to take on Trump .
The crowd ’ s energy was raucous and reflective of Buttigieg ’ s growing momentum in the state .
Biden ’ s event , by contrast , was a very solemn affair .
His first applause line didn ’ t come until 15 minutes into his 1½-hour speech , when he talked about restoring the character of the country , beginning with the occupant in the Oval Office .
The audience of roughly 600 stood @ @ @ @ @ @ @ personal losses .
Some of the attendees prefaced their questions by first offering their condolences to him and his wife , Jill .
“ Like many of you , I ’ ve lost a lot in my lifetime , ” Biden said at one point .
“ Lost a wife and a daughter in a car accident .
Lost my son to cancer .
But I ’ ll be damned if I ’ m going to stand by and lose my country .
It will not happen.
” The line brought the crowd @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the night .
But it also seemed like an acknowledgment that , as much as he and his campaign sought to downplay the effect of the New Hampshire primary , he was facing an uphill climb — especially after his poor performance in the Iowa caucuses .
“ We ’ re surrounded by two states whose two senators are running , ” said Gene Faltus , 67 , a precinct captain for Biden in Keene , New Hampshire .
“ Joe himself admitted he expects not to win in New Hampshire .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ big , big win for him .
And southern states on Super Tuesday.
” Other Biden supporters maintained that concerns about his ability to take on Trump were overblown and that he could go toe-to-toe with him as best as anyone else in the race .
“ I ’ ve been to Africa and I ’ ve seen lions .
His roar may not be as loud as it used to be , but he ’ s still a good , healthy lion , ” Richard Laplant , a postal worker from Manchester @ @ @ @ @ @ @ president ’ s event in Hudson .
“ Basically , it ’ s going to be who I think can beat Donald Trump more than their views on the economy and those kinds of things , ” Gehrich said .
“ I ’ m afraid he [ Biden ] is starting to look a little old , a little weak .
Maybe he can ’ t beat Trump.
” Mark Stevens , 69 , an undecided voter who also showed up to Buttigieg ’ s town hall in Keene on Saturday , said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ efforts to tar the Bidens over his son Hunter ’ s involvement in Ukraine , even if he didn ’ t believe they had truth to them .
The Massachusetts native , who works as a book editor , compared the situation to the 2004 Swift boat attacks against then-Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry .
“ It seems to me so laughable , I can ’ t even take it seriously , ” Stevens said .
“ On the other hand , back in 2004 when John Kerry was running and they came @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and I said that ’ s going to last for 24 hours , but boy it killed him .
It killed him .
It was absurd and outrageous , but it killed him.
” It ’ s clear that Biden ’ s campaign has felt threatened by Buttigieg ’ s growing momentum in the race .
On Saturday , they put out an ad mocking the fact that Buttigieg ’ s only experience in public office is being the mayor of a city with just over 100,000 residents .

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HUDSON, N.H. ― Older voters love Joe Biden, but lately, they’re having doubts about his ability to take on President Donald Trump in November.
“It’s so sad. I really feel sad,” Laura Norris, 62, said as she watched the former vice president speak at a town hall here on the eve of the New Hampshire primary.
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“You have to be brutal to take Trump on. I think that his time has passed. I wanted him to be good, but I feel sad,” added Norris, who works at a local quarry.
Biden’s edge with older voters has been his greatest asset so far in the race for the Democratic presidential nomination. But with the New Hampshire primary only days away, in a state where he already faces an uphill climb, elderly voters are reconsidering their support for the septuagenarian in favor of some younger blood: namely Pete Buttigieg, the 38-year-old former mayor of South Bend, Indiana, who drew huge crowds up and down the state this weekend.
“I do think everything is changing in the world, and I think having a younger person has some advantages over being older,” said Dick Ellison, 68, an infectious disease specialist from Massachusetts who showed up to see Buttigieg in Nashua on Sunday. “I really like what Biden did in the past, but I think his energy is a limitation.”
Biden and Buttigieg held campaign events within a one-mile vicinity on Sunday, but like the two men themselves, they couldn’t have been more different. Eighteen hundred people showed up to a middle school to see Buttigieg, many of them waving signs and chanting his name while he spoke about “turning the page” and bringing the country together to take on Trump. The crowd’s energy was raucous and reflective of Buttigieg’s growing momentum in the state.
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Members of the audience listen to Democratic presidential candidate Pete Buttigieg speak at a Get Out the Vote rally at Elm Street Middle School on Feb. 9 in Nashua, New Hampshire. Win McNamee via Getty Images
Biden’s event, by contrast, was a very solemn affair. His first applause line didn’t come until 15 minutes into his 1½-hour speech, when he talked about restoring the character of the country, beginning with the occupant in the Oval Office. The audience of roughly 600 stood quietly while Biden spoke of his massive personal losses. Some of the attendees prefaced their questions by first offering their condolences to him and his wife, Jill.
“Like many of you, I’ve lost a lot in my lifetime,” Biden said at one point. “Lost a wife and a daughter in a car accident. Lost my son to cancer. But I’ll be damned if I’m going to stand by and lose my country. It will not happen.”
The line brought the crowd to its feet for the first time of the night. But it also seemed like an acknowledgment that, as much as he and his campaign sought to downplay the effect of the New Hampshire primary, he was facing an uphill climb — especially after his poor performance in the Iowa caucuses.
Biden’s campaign suggests that he ought to do better in the more diverse Nevada and South Carolina primaries, particularly due to his strength with African American voters.
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“We’re surrounded by two states whose two senators are running,” said Gene Faltus, 67, a precinct captain for Biden in Keene, New Hampshire. “Joe himself admitted he expects not to win in New Hampshire. South Carolina is going to be a big, big win for him. And southern states on Super Tuesday.”
Other Biden supporters maintained that concerns about his ability to take on Trump were overblown and that he could go toe-to-toe with him as best as anyone else in the race.
“I’ve been to Africa and I’ve seen lions. His roar may not be as loud as it used to be, but he’s still a good, healthy lion,” Richard Laplant, a postal worker from Manchester, said Sunday at the former vice president’s event in Hudson.
Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden speaks during a campaign event on Feb. 9 in Hudson, New Hampshire. Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
Still, Biden’s performance in Friday night’s debate made other older voters second guess his capacity to go the distance.
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Rick Gehrich, 64, a retiree from Jaffrey who showed up to a Buttigieg event in Keene on Saturday, said he was still deciding whether to support Buttigieg or Biden.
“Basically, it’s going to be who I think can beat Donald Trump more than their views on the economy and those kinds of things,” Gehrich said. “I’m afraid he [Biden] is starting to look a little old, a little weak. Maybe he can’t beat Trump.”
Mark Stevens, 69, an undecided voter who also showed up to Buttigieg’s town hall in Keene on Saturday, said he was worried about Trump’s efforts to tar the Bidens over his son Hunter’s involvement in Ukraine, even if he didn’t believe they had truth to them. The Massachusetts native, who works as a book editor, compared the situation to the 2004 Swift boat attacks against then-Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry.
“It seems to me so laughable, I can’t even take it seriously,” Stevens said. “On the other hand, back in 2004 when John Kerry was running and they came up with that Swift boat thing, and I said that’s going to last for 24 hours, but boy it killed him. It killed him. It was absurd and outrageous, but it killed him.”
It’s clear that Biden’s campaign has felt threatened by Buttigieg’s growing momentum in the race. On Saturday, they put out an ad mocking the fact that Buttigieg’s only experience in public office is being the mayor of a city with just over 100,000 residents.
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“The Vice President’s decision to run this ad speaks more to where he currently stands in this race than it does about Pete’s perspective as a mayor and veteran,” Chris Meagher, a spokesperson for Buttigieg, responded in a statement.
But Larry Phillips, a retired psychologist from Keene, isn’t buying the inexperience argument against Buttigieg.


thehuffingtonpost--2020-02-10--Over 100 U.S. Troops Now Diagnosed With Traumatic Brain Injuries From Iran Attack

WASHINGTON ( Reuters ) ― The U.S. military is preparing to report a more than 50 % jump in cases of traumatic brain injury stemming from Iran ’ s missile attack on a base in Iraq last month , U.S. officials told Reuters on Monday .
The officials , who spoke on condition of anonymity ahead of an announcement , said there were over 100 cases of TBI , up from the 64 previously reported last month .
The Pentagon declined to comment , but in the past had said to expect an increase in numbers in the weeks after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to manifest and troops can sometimes take longer to report them .
No U.S. troops were killed or faced immediate bodily injury when Iran fired missiles at the Ain al-Asad base in Iraq in retaliation for the U.S. killing of Revolutionary Guard General Qassem Soleimani in a drone strike at the Baghdad airport on Jan. 3 .
The missile attacks capped a spiral of violence that had started in late December .
Both sides have refrained from further military escalation , but the mounting number of U.S. casualties could increase pressure on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Army General Mark Milley , chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff , said last month that the service members suffering from traumatic brain injuries had been diagnosed with mild cases .
He added the diagnosis could change as time went on .
Pentagon officials have repeatedly said there has been no effort to minimize or delay information on concussive injuries .
But the disclosures following Tehran ’ s attack has renewed questions over the U.S. military ’ s policy regarding how it internally reports suspected brain injuries and whether they are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ loss of limb or life .
U.S. President Donald Trump appeared to play down the brain injuries last month , saying he “ heard that they had headaches and a couple of other things ” following the attack , prompting criticism from lawmakers and a U.S. veterans group .
Various health and medical groups for years have been trying to raise awareness about the seriousness of brain injuries , including concussions .
Since 2000 , about 408,000 service members have been diagnosed with traumatic brain injury , according to Pentagon data .

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WASHINGTON (Reuters) ― The U.S. military is preparing to report a more than 50% jump in cases of traumatic brain injury stemming from Iran’s missile attack on a base in Iraq last month, U.S. officials told Reuters on Monday.
The officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity ahead of an announcement, said there were over 100 cases of TBI, up from the 64 previously reported last month.
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The Pentagon declined to comment, but in the past had said to expect an increase in numbers in the weeks after the attack because symptoms can take time to manifest and troops can sometimes take longer to report them.
No U.S. troops were killed or faced immediate bodily injury when Iran fired missiles at the Ain al-Asad base in Iraq in retaliation for the U.S. killing of Revolutionary Guard General Qassem Soleimani in a drone strike at the Baghdad airport on Jan. 3.
The missile attacks capped a spiral of violence that had started in late December. Both sides have refrained from further military escalation, but the mounting number of U.S. casualties could increase pressure on the Trump administration to respond, perhaps non-militarily.
Army General Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said last month that the service members suffering from traumatic brain injuries had been diagnosed with mild cases. He added the diagnosis could change as time went on.
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Symptoms of concussive injuries include headaches, dizziness, sensitivity to light and nausea.
Pentagon officials have repeatedly said there has been no effort to minimize or delay information on concussive injuries. But the disclosures following Tehran’s attack has renewed questions over the U.S. military’s policy regarding how it internally reports suspected brain injuries and whether they are treated publicly with the same urgency as loss of limb or life.
U.S. President Donald Trump appeared to play down the brain injuries last month, saying he “heard that they had headaches and a couple of other things” following the attack, prompting criticism from lawmakers and a U.S. veterans group.
Various health and medical groups for years have been trying to raise awareness about the seriousness of brain injuries, including concussions.
Since 2000, about 408,000 service members have been diagnosed with traumatic brain injury, according to Pentagon data.
(Reporting by Idrees Ali and Phil Stewart, Editing by Franklin Paul and Dan Grebler)