thetennesseestar--2020-10-19--Commentary: The Habit of Liberal Accommodation Has Precipitated a Crisis

As members of Antifa and Black Lives Matter continue their nightly exercise of kinetic economic redistribution , and protestors assemble outside Walter Reed Hospital , where President Trump is receiving treatment for the Wuhan Flu , to shout anti-Trump slogans , I thought it might be useful to step back and consider this current wave of anti-American sentiment in historical context .
Anti-Americanism is not new , of course .
It was , as many writers have noted , a staple of 1960s ’ radicalism .
What seems novel today , however , is the extent to which radical anti-American @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of many institutions that , until about 15 minutes ago , were pillars of the American establishment .
How odd that ( Democratic ) members of Congress should lament that America is guilty , and has always been guilty , of “ systemic racism , ” etc.
, etc .
Somehow , the fact that Boston Mayor Martin Walsh hoisted the Chinese Communist flag in front of City Hall there epitomizes the rot .
Anti-Americanism is hard to argue with .
I don ’ t mean that there are good arguments in favor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : insofar as arguments enter the arena at all , they usually lean heavily on assertion backed up by belligerence and cliché .
But it is seldom that argument does enter .
Anti-Americanism has always been more a matter of attitude than argument .
It depends on , it draws its strength from , the wells of passion , not reason .
The composition of that passion is complex and shifting .
Envy generally enters into it , as does a congeries of political attitudes that the literary critic Frederick Crews aptly dubbed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of cut-rate Marxism to start with , leavened with a dollop of some trendy academic theory , a dash of utopian fantasy and snobbery , seasoned to taste with resentment and paranoia .
The late Paul Hollander provided a connoisseur ’ s overview of the favored configurations in his classic compendium Anti-Americanism : Irrational & Rational , first published in 1995 .
Reading through Hollander ’ s inventory , one is again and again struck by the combination of virulence and absolutism that fuels expressions of anti-Americanism .
Hollander quotes the Russian writer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Soviet Union to the United States in the late 1970s : Indeed .
What Aksyonov omits is the prevalence of such hatred and hysteria among Europeans and even home-grown American expressions of anti-Americanism .
There may be—in fact , there assuredly are—many things to criticize about the United States .
But anti-Americanism has almost nothing to do with criticism .
It is more of a pathology than a position , operating not by evidence but emotion .
Apparently , it was always thus .
What we might call contemporary anti-Americanism—as distinct from the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it—was born in the aftermath of World War II .
In part , I suppose , it was an illustration of the old adage that “ no good deed goes unpunished.
” As the French novelist and essayist Pascal Bruckner observed in The Tears of the White Man ( 1986 ) , his brilliant anatomy of “ third-worldism ” and “ compassion as contempt , ” “ Western Europe knew that , without the help of the Marines , they would purely and simply have been wiped off the map .
But some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ insult festered in the years following 1945 , a period when Sartre ’ s explosive anti-Americanism set the tone of elite opinion in Europe and , increasingly , in the United States .
Vietnam fanned the smoldering resentment into a raging conflagration .
The image of America as essentially evil was widely taken up and parroted by American intellectuals in the 1950s and 1960s .
More and more , anti-Americanism became a necessary badge of authenticity for writers and intellectuals .
One thinks of Norman Mailer and his excoriation of “ the totalitarian @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The White Negro ” ( 1957 ) or Susan Sontag ’ s unending denunciations of American society as “ inorganic , dead , coercive , authoritarian , ” etc.
, etc .
“ America , ” she wrote in 1969 , “ is a cancerous society with a runaway rate of productivity that inundates the country with increasingly unnecessary commodities , services , gadgets , images , information.
” It is often said that the Vietnam War was the great catalyst for the sudden upsurge of anti-American sentiment in the United States .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ entire climate of elite opinion in the country underwent a startling metamorphosis .
Opinions , like those of Norman Mailer , which hitherto had occupied the fringe suddenly went mainstream .
The ostensible issue was U.S. military involvement in Vietnam .
But it soon became clear that Vietnam was merely the occasion for disruptions and demands that went far beyond any specific government policy .
Vietnam became the banner under which the entire range of radical sentiment congregated .
Michael Lind was right when he observed in Vietnam : The Necessary War ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ uncovered , but did not create , deep divisions in the American body politic.
” Vietnam provided a rallying point , a crusade large enough to submerge all manner of ideological differences .
Susan Sontag spoke for many left-wing intellectuals when she noted that “ Vietnam offered the key to a systematic criticism of America.
” As Paul Hollander put it in Political Pilgrims : Western Intellectuals in Search of the Good Society , Vietnam was “ more a catalyst than a root cause of the rejection of American society in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ put it even more bluntly : “ If there had been no Vietnam war , we would have invented one .
If the Vietnam war ends , we ’ ll find another war.
” As the ’ 60s evolved , it became increasingly clear that what was at stake was not only the war .
The real issue was our way of life : what used to be called without apology “ the American way of life , ” with its social and political institutions , its moral assumptions , its unspoken confidences @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the change wrought by this cultural offensive is the fact that even now , 50 or more years on , it is nearly impossible for anyone with a college education to speak of “ the American way of life ” without irony .
To a large extent , that is because it is now practically taken for granted that going to college involves not so much the “ questioning ” as the repudiation of traditional moral and political values .
( Or to put it another way : the academic “ questioning ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has only one right answer , “ No.
” ) The greater the exposure to higher education , the more thorough the repudiation is likely to be .
Topic for another day : why should taxpayers subsidize and parents pay for such extravagant training in self-hatred ?
Not that such exhibitions of adversarial animus are confined to the academy .
Far from it .
They are part of the air we breathe : implicit as much in our degraded pop culture as they are in our assumptions about our responsibilities as citizens and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ paradoxically : one of the most profound effects of the cultural revolution of the 1960s was to institutionalize the assumption of institutional illegitimacy .
Accordingly , anti-Americanism became less a response to events than a simple reflex—less a matter of cynicism than a rejection of established authority , as if the very fact of being established undermined the legitimacy of an idea or institution .
( This is an idea that one can trace back at least to John Stuart Mill ’ s attack on “ the despotism of custom ” and the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” in On Liberty , but that , too , is a topic for another day . )
One of the most conspicuous and influential bastions of reflexive anti-Americanism in the 1960s ( and since ) has been The New York Review of Books , the highbrow near-weekly review that was started in 1963 .
The Review began to fill a void in American letters for the serious review and discussion of ideas .
This it did with extraordinary energy and success .
But what began as a distinct liberal bias lurched sharply @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the assassination of John F. Kennedy and the escalation of the Vietnam War .
The Review reflected and abetted the growing anti-Americanism of America ’ s cultural elite .
It was in the mid-60s , for example , that Noam Chomsky began contributing his lugubrious diatribes against American foreign policy , replete with such delicacies as his description of the Pentagon ( in a piece called “ On Resistance ” ) as “ the most hideous institution on earth.
” It was then , too , that Mary McCarthy filed her three-part report @ @ @ @ @ @ @ North Vietnam and that I. F. Stone began bludgeoning readers with his interminable essays on the American military establishment ( sample title : “ The War Machine Under Nixon ” ) .
In the mid- ’ 60s , upper-class English dons and trendy American writers were joined by a more demotic element .
Suddenly , political firebrands like Jerry Rubin , Stokely Carmichael , and Tom Hayden began appearing in the paper along with radical fellow-traveler Andrew Kopkind , a refugee from Newsweek .
Of the 10 pieces that Kopkind wrote for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the issue of August 24 , 1967 .
Headlined “ Violence and the Negro , ” the cover announced in outsize type Kopkind ’ s piece on Martin Luther King , Jr. and Black Power and Hayden ’ s report on the riots—what he called “ The Occupation ” —of Newark .
Underneath was a large diagram instructing readers on the exact composition of a Molotov cocktail .
According to former SDS leader Todd Gitlin , a Berkeley commune that habitually trashed neighborhood stores believed that “ massive retaliation might be imminent , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they kept a Molotov cocktail in the basement , designed to the specifications of The New York Review of Books cover of 1967.
” ( Perhaps the thugs destroying Portland , Seattle , and other cities across the country today are using the same recipe . )
It was about this time that even some of The New York Review ’ s ideological allies began having doubts about the direction that the journal was taking .
Irving Howe , himself a socialist and founding editor of Dissent , noted scathingly in 1968 that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a link between campus ‘ leftism ’ and East Side stylishness , the worlds of Tom Hayden and George Plimpton.
” Howe continued : Howe was not the only former contributor to express alarm .
The sociologist Dennis Wrong , who had appeared in The New York Review ’ s inaugural issue , wrote a lengthy and thoughtful piece on the journal for the November 1970 issue of Commentary .
Noting , with basic approval , The New York Review ’ s early campaign against the Vietnam War , Wrong pointed out that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , predicting in a press note that “ from among [ The New York Review ’ s ] authors the next Stalin , and his speechwriters , will emerge.
” As Wrong suggested , although the Vietnam War occasioned much of The New York Review ’ s radicalism , the real target was not America ’ s policy about Vietnam but America itself .
Indeed , anti-Americanism—a prominent feature in almost all countercultural rhetoric—became a major leitmotif , almost a unifying theme , in The New York Review within a few years of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mary McCarthy traveled to Vietnam early in 1967 for The New York Review , she began the first installment of her report—the cover story for April 20—with this acknowledgment : “ I confess that when I went to Vietnam early in February I was looking for material damaging to the American interest and that I found it , though often by accident or in the process of being briefed by an official.
” In the course of her reports , McCarthy naturally places the phrase “ Free World ” in scare quotes and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( When she converses with a CIA agent , his “ lips flexed as he spoke like rubber bands.
” ) Glorifying the industry and pluck of the North Vietnamese , she tells her readers that the “ sense of fair play .
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has atrophied in the Americans here from lack of exercise.
” At the beginning of her second installment , McCarthy famously declared that “ the worst thing that could happen to our country would be to win this war.
” Years later , in 1979 , after the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and similar phenomena consequent on America ’ s losing that war , she was asked if she had changed her views on Vietnam .
Noting that her ideal was still “ socialism with a human face ” ( one might as well wish for wooden iron ) , she nevertheless acknowledged that Liberal Disillusionment Gives Way to Hatred The combination of arrogance and naïveté implicit in Mary McCarthy ’ s retrospective musings about Vietnam was a staple of The New York Review ’ s anti-Americanism .
Jason Epstein provided a truly vertiginous example @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and the Intellectuals ” ( April 20 , 1967 ) .
Following up on the revelation that the CIA had provided covert funding to some student and cultural organizations ( including , most famously , Encounter magazine in England ) , Epstein ’ s piece was a meditation on how “ organized anti-Communism had become as much an industry within New York ’ s intellectual life as Communism itself had been a decade or so earlier.
” Among other things , “ The CIA and the Intellectuals ” was an early masterpiece of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ equivalence.
” In one remarkable passage , Epstein writes that Stalin Epstein concludes sadly that certain radical intellectuals , robbed of their Communist ideals by nasty Joe Stalin , devoted “ the rest of their energies to retribution.
” It ’ s not simply that Epstein transforms a principled rejection of Communism into a psychological tic ; he also insinuates an equivalence between the murderous behavior of Stalin and the activities of the American CIA .
What Epstein does not see is that his friends who turned against Communism did so not because @ @ @ @ @ @ @ because they finally understood that Stalinism was the natural fulfillment of revolutionary Marxism .
Epstein ’ s essay is notable for its exhibition of the way liberal disillusionment can be elevated into a kind of metaphysics of anti-Americanism : Now at last , Epstein concludes , it is clear that “ pursuit of money and power became openly America ’ s main , if not its only , business.
” Which is worse , Epstein ’ s moralism , or his hypocrisy ?
By psychologizing politics and attempting to replace basic political commitments @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is really engaged in a species of moral blackmail .
As Diana Trilling observed in a withering response to “ The CIA and the Intellectuals , ” Epstein would have us believe that “ depending on how we respond to the poisoning of our streams and skies we will take either a Left- or a Right-Wing position on—say—the Vietnam War .
Whoever abhors polluted air and desecrated landscapes will have adequate grounds on which to judge American foreign policy .
He will recognize it in all its ‘ philistine expansionism.
’ What further @ @ @ @ @ @ @ anyone need ?
” In the end , The New York Review ’ s anti-Americanism has to be seen as part of a larger project of political , intellectual , and moral delegitimation .
For example , over the years , the Review has run some distinguished pieces on science .
But it has also been prey to a kind of countercultural technophobia that borders on irrationalism .
Consider , for example , John McDermott ’ s “ Technology : The Opiate of the Intellectuals , ” a special supplement that appeared in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this long and tedious piece is that the spirit of scientific curiosity and the promotion of technology Truly , it is no accident , either , that this sort of politicized attack on science and technology became a prominent item on the menu of academic radicalism in the decades to come .
Although the Yippie leader Jerry Rubin made only one appearance in The New York Review , his “ Emergency Letter to My Brothers and Sisters in the Movement ” ( February 1969 ) , written while he was in custody , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the kinds of views the Review was willing to countenance in its pages .
Rubin begins by boasting that , although the forces of repression are on the rise , “ We are stealing the youth of America right out of the kindergartens and elementary schools.
” After some remarks about how “ America ’ s courts are colonial courts , ” her jails “ black concentration camps , ” he goes on to declare that “ smoking pot is a political act , and every smoker is an outlaw .
The drug @ @ @ @ @ @ @ [ sic ] .
” Accordingly , Rubin calls for widespread demonstrations near jails and courthouses to “ demand immediate freedom for Huey P. Newton , Eldridge Cleaver , H. Rap Brown , all black prisoners , Timothy Leary , the Oakland Seven , all drug prisoners , all draft resisters , Benjamin Spock , .
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me , ” etc .
Of course , Rubin was always something of a buffoon .
And his later conversion from Yippie freak to Wall Street investment counselor makes his adolescent antics seem even more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , it is tempting to look back on erstwhile countercultural heroes like Jerry Rubin as comic figures , more preposterous than menacing .
But it is a great mistake to believe that the preposterous is the enemy of the malign .
On the contrary , such qualities often feed upon and abet each other .
Anti-Americanism and the War on Terror The malevolence of the preposterous has been reinforced by the upsurge of anti-Americanism in the wake of the terrorist attacks of September 11 .
Thus when the playwright Harold Pinter was granted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , he explained that the attack of 9/11 was “ a predictable and inevitable ” “ act of retaliation against the constant and systematic manifestation of state terrorism on the part of the United States over many years , in all parts of the world.
” Pinterism ( if I may thus eponymize this brand of intellectualizing self-hatred ) is not a new phenomenon .
George Orwell noted something similar in his anatomy of the pacifism that was rampant in English intellectual circles before and during World War II .
The “ unadmitted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , was “ hatred of Western democracy and admiration of totalitarianism.
” Harold Pinter was no John Walker Lindh .
You wouldn ’ t find him joining up with the Taliban .
But you would find him in sympathy with his spiritual colleague-in-rhetoric Susan Sontag , who explained that the assault of September 11 was “ not a ‘ cowardly ’ attack on ‘ civilization ’ or ‘ liberty ’ or ‘ humanity ’ or ‘ the free world ’ but an attack on the world ’ s self-proclaimed superpower , undertaken as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ actions .
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[ W ] hatever may be said of the perpetrators of [ September 11 ’ s ] slaughter , they were not cowards.
” Did she say , then , that they were murderous fanatics ?
Hardly .
Sontag ( like Pinter ) was at once too ambivalent and too admiring for that : too ambivalent about the “ world ’ s self-proclaimed superpower ” ( or “ rogue state , ” as Pinter put it ) and too admiring of the insurrectionists .
In this context , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ observation about the “ processes by which pacifists who have started out with an alleged horror of violence end up with a marked tendency to be fascinated by the successes and power of Nazism.
” Orwell noted that pacifism was “ objectively pro-Nazi ” because it inculcated an attitude that aided England ’ s enemies .
Just so , anti-Americanism is objectively pro-terrorist .
It was not surprising that the Nazis did all they could to encourage pacifism among the English ( just as the Soviets actively aided the anti-war movement in America @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Russians and the Chinese encourage Antifa and BLM today ) .
Similarly , anti-Americanism helps to create a climate where terrorism is excused , rationalized , and explained away .
We deserved it ; we had it coming ; arrogance ; poverty ; the environment ; “ root causes ” .
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Pacifism was built around phrases that sounded pleasant ( peace , love , non-violence ) but that were essentially deceptive because they were unrealistic—that is , untrue to the nature of reality , to the way the world actually works @ @ @ @ @ @ @ might wish that it did ) .
“ To abjure violence , ” Orwell noted , “ it is necessary to have no experience of it.
” Looking back on the Spanish civil war in 1942 , Orwell criticized “ the sentimental belief that it all comes right in the end and the thing you most fear never really happens.
” While pondering that question , let us also step back and ask what America ’ s role in the world has been over the course of the last century .
The British @ @ @ @ @ @ @ London Times on September 23 , 2001 , registered his amazement at the orgy of anti-Americanism that greeted the terrorist attacks of September 11 .
In one sense , he noted , there was nothing new about anti-Americanism .
But the excess of anti-Americanism that followed al-Qaeda ’ s attacks proceeded in a shriller , more virulent register than most earlier examples .
It also seemed less rational .
Appleyard duly noted that America was far from a perfect society .
But what role had Americans actually played in “ that most awful @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ?
There is a sense in which anti-Americanism—certain aspects of it , anyway—is the predictable function of envy , a phenomenon pointed to by the English authors of 1066 and All That when they noted that since the time of World War I America has been the world ’ s top nation .
As political thinkers since Pericles have noticed , distinction breeds envy , envy breeds resentment , and , unchecked , resentment breeds hatred .
But that sort of animus—lavished on Athens in her day , on Rome in hers , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by itself the sort of “ anti ” sentiment with which we need to concern ourselves .
Walter Bagehot came closer when he noted , in Physics and Politics ( 1872 ) , that the enormous benefits that the English had conferred upon India—education , hygiene , the rule of law—were received with distinct ambivalence by the native population .
The benefits were real , but , Bagehot apostrophized , The journalist Henry Fairlie made a cognate point in 1975 in his essay “ Anti-Americanism at Home and Abroad.
” “ The energy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” Fairlie wrote , The unsettling of what Bagehot called “ fixity ” is a great source of cultural anxiety .
It is , I suspect , a much larger ingredient in foreign complaints about the baneful influence of “ vulgar ” American culture than is usually acknowledged .
( Not , I hasten to add , that those complaints are without merit : it is a curious irony , though , that the most effective criticisms of American culture have tended to come from conservative pro-American sources rather than from the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ however accurate , however deep , can take us only so far .
They always bring with them a tendency to dismiss the thing being explained— “ tout comprendre , c ’ est tout pardonner.
” It is wise to take account of illuminating explanations .
But it is a mistake—a mistake to which well-meaning liberals are especially prone—to believe that by understanding why a vicious character came to be that way we thereby purchase immunity from the effects of viciousness .
It has been suggested that the current outbreak of anti-Americanism , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
There may be some truth in that , at least insofar as it applies to European and American anti-Americanism .
Certainly , anti-Americanism comes in several versions and in differing levels of toxicity .
But there is not a lot of comfort to be gleaned from that fact .
Anti-Americanism is like certain infections : it can begin as a minor nuisance and , if untreated , blossom into a life-threatening condition .
Nor is there much comfort to be had from the contention that anti-Americanism in its home-grown versions is synonymous @ @ @ @ @ @ @ merely a vigorous form of self-criticism .
In the first place , it isn ’ t true .
Dissent is one thing ; anti-Americanism is closer to its opposite .
Indeed , anti-Americanism , because of its adversarial moralism , tends to short-circuit self-criticism .
This was a point that Henry Fairlie underscored when he observed that the expression of anti-Americanism is “ not criticism of one ’ s own society ; in fact it prohibits just and effective criticism ” by substituting utopian fantasies for political realities .
One of those realities @ @ @ @ @ @ @ states that wield great power .
It is a lesson that liberal regimes are continuously tempted to forget , to their own peril , and the peril of the societies they influence .
The dissolution of the British Empire—one of the most beneficent and enlightened political forces in history—took place for many reasons , including , it pains me to say , pressure from the United States .
But part of the reason for its dissolution was inner uncertainty , weariness , a failure of nerve .
By the middle of the last @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : it wanted to be liked .
The promiscuous desire to be liked , for states as much as for individuals , is a profound character flaw .
It signals a faltering of courage , what Pericles castigated as μαλακία , “ effeminacy , ” and a dangerous loss of self-confidence .
At the height of the Cold War , the political philosopher James Burnham observed that “ Americans have not yet learned the tragic lesson that the most powerful can not be loved—hated , envied , feared , obeyed , respected , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Have we now , some 50 years on , finally learned that lesson ?
In the immediate aftermath of the terrorist attacks on New York and Washington , we saw plenty of deplorable outbursts of anti-Americanism : the dancing “ Death to America ” multitudes in the Middle East as well as the predictable responses of the Chomsky-Sontag-Pinter brigade .
But we also witnessed a vast outpouring of sympathy .
Some of the sympathy no doubt was genuine ; much of it was oleaginous and depended on the novel spectacle of America @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was that America was not content to remain a victim .
And when a victim fights back , he may earn respect but he forfeits sympathy and kindred sentimentalizing emotions .
When Susan Sontag said that the terrorist assaults on the United States were “ undertaken as a consequence of specific American alliances and actions , ” she offered that observation as a partial justification or extenuation of the attacks , which it most certainly was not .
But there is , I believe , another sense in which growing anti-Americanism , together @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can be seen as a predictable result of American actions or , more to the point , of American inaction .
I am not offering a candidate for the “ cause ” —much less the “ root cause ” —of terrorism .
Determining the cause of terrorism is not a difficult hermeneutical problem .
Jonathan Rauch had it essentially right when he argued that the cause of terrorism is terrorists .
Nevertheless , when we ask what nurtures terrorists , what may be counted on to allow them to flourish and multiply , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ authority , which is the failure to live up to the responsibilities of power .
In the course of his reflections on anti-Americanism , Henry Fairlie observed that “ Anti-Americanism abroad tends to be strongest when America itself seems to have lost confidence in its own idea.
” Some such loss of confidence has repeatedly afflicted the American spirit at least since the end of the Vietnam conflict .
It is by now a familiar litany , but is nonetheless worth reviewing .
From the mid- ’ 70s , the United States has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Whatever the wisdom of our involvement in Vietnam , our way of extricating ourselves was ignominious and an incitement to further violence .
The image of that U.S. helicopter evacuating people from our embassy in Saigon is a badge of failure , not so much of military strategy as of nerve .
Even worse was our response to the hostage crisis in Iran in 1979 and 1980 .
Our hesitation to act decisively was duly noted and found contemptible by our enemies .
And the fiasco of President Carter ’ s botched @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and one of our helicopters collided on the sands of the Iranian desert , was a national humiliation .
President Reagan did effectively face down the Soviet Union , but his halfhearted response to the terrorist bombing of a U.S. Marine barracks in Lebanon in 1983 contributed to the tattered reputation of America as ( in Mao ’ s phrase ) “ a paper tiger.
” The Clinton Administration sharply exacerbated the problem .
From 1993 through 2000 , the United States again and again demonstrated its lack of resolve even as it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Somalia at the end of 1992 , two U.S. helicopters were shot down , several Americans were killed , the body of one was dragged naked through the streets of Mogadishu .
We did nothing—an action , or lack of action , that prompted Osama bin Laden way back then to reflect that his followers were “ surprised at the low morale of the American soldiers and realized more than before that the American soldier was a paper tiger and after a few blows ran in defeat.
” It was the same in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trade Center , killing six people and wounding scores .
It was the same in June 1996 , when a truck bomb exploded outside a U.S. military barracks in Saudi Arabia , killing 19 Americans .
There were some anguished words but we did—nothing .
It was the same in 1998 when our embassies were bombed in Kenya and Tanzania , killing hundreds .
The response was to rearrange some rocks in the Afghan desert with a few cruise missiles .
It was the same in October 2000 , when suicide terrorists blew @ @ @ @ @ @ @ killing seventeen sailors and almost sinking one of the U.S. Navy ’ s most advanced ships .
Like Hamlet , we responded with “ words , words , words , ” and only token military gestures .
The harvest was an increase in contempt and a corresponding increase in terrorist outrage , culminating in the terrible events of September 11 .
My own judgment is that the current orgy of anti-Americanism , fanned to a fever pitch by racialist hooligans who in turn are supported by America ’ s enemies , finds purchase @ @ @ @ @ @ @ accommodation has precipitated a crisis in what one used to be able to call , without apology , manly self-confidence .
The extent to which the word “ manly ” causes discomfort is an index of the depth of our pathology .
Roger Kimball is editor and publisher of The New Criterion and the president and publisher of Encounter Books .
He is the author and editor of many books , including The Fortunes of Permanence : Culture and Anarchy in an Age of Amnesia ( St. Augustine ’ s Press ) , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) , Lives of the Mind : The Use and Abuse of Intelligence from Hegel to Wodehouse ( Ivan R. Dee ) , and Art ’ s Prospect : The Challenge of Tradition in an Age of Celebrity ( Ivan R. Dee ) .
Photo “ Flag Burning ” by Elvert Barnes CC BY-SA 2.0 .


thetennesseestar--2020-10-19--Kentucky State’s New ‘W.O.K.E.’ Task Force Distributes Black Lives Matter Shirts

Kentucky State University is encouraging students to wear Black Lives Matter t-shirts as part of their “ W.O.K.E.
” task force initiative .
After no officers were charged directly related to the death of Breonna Taylor , the school announced on September 24 that it would create a task force to help students understand Black issues and fight against perceived injustice .
“ We will remain WOKE… wielding our Wisdom , owning our Opportunities , knowing the importance of true Knowledge , and engaging in the Empowerment of marginalized people , ” the statement read .
The task force ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to wear and take photographs in BLM shirts , which are being provided by the university , and to encourage students to register to vote , creating “ Direct Action Training opportunities on campus , ” to create “ safe spaces ” on campus , and to continue to offer “ on-going and relevant development for students encouraging community action and involvement.
” “ Encourage students to take a photo with a Black Lives Matter t-shirt being distributed by the University on Thursday and Friday .
These photos will be printed and displayed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that members of our community can hear our pain and see our greatness .
Students will also be provided with an opportunity to register to vote , ” the statement read .
Following the Sept. 23 decision on the charges in the Breonna Taylor case , university President M. Christopher Brown II held a university-wide Zoom meeting to discuss how to comfort students who were disappointed in the decision .
“ Kentucky State University students understand Black lives matter and Black colleges ’ power and purpose , and recognize the need for their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to eliminate and dismantle systems that oppress our communities , ” President Brown said .
“ Kentucky State University mourns for Breonna Taylor and her family , as well as the countless lives that have been taken unjustly , ” the statement read .
The university hopes that by creating this task force , there will be a lasting impact on race relations in America .
“ Kentucky State University stands committed to taking action every day to make the world a better place , ” the statement read .
“ Our students @ @ @ @ @ @ @ freedom fighters like our distinguished alumnus , Whitney M. Young .
Our campus will be a sacred place that endeavors to lift every voice and encourages real change.
” The W.O.K.E .
Task Force did not respond to Campus Reform ’ s requests for comment in time for publication .
Dean Barker is a Virginia Campus Correspondent , reporting on liberal bias and abuse for Campus Reform .
He is a Senior at Bridgewater College , where he majors in Professional Writing and minors in Communications .
He is the sports editor for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and also frequently discusses politics on the BC Voice radio show .
Photo “ BLM Shirt ” by Elvert Barnes CC BY-SA 2.0 .

by Bethany Blankley
Nineteen attorneys general, led by Indiana, have filed an amicus brief with the U.S. Supreme Court in support of a lawsuit filed by Texas and Missouri against the Biden administration.
They’re asking the Supreme Court to uphold a lower court’s order instructing the Biden administration to follow the law to fully reinstate the Migrant Protection Protocols (MPP), otherwise known as the “Remain in Mexico” policy.
“No one is above the law in America, and we are simply insisting that the Biden administration follow the law,” Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita said (pictured above).
“The rule of law is the framework that enables American liberty to survive and thrive,” he added. “The situation at our southern border provides the perfect example of how going soft on the rule of law gives rise to anarchy, chaos, and ultimately the erosion of our freedom and safety.”
In January 2021, President Joe Biden announced via executive order that he was terminating MPP. Months later, Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas began dismantling it and other immigration policies. Southern border encounters then surged to historic levels. In Biden’s first year in office, Customs and Border Protection and Border Patrol agents encountered or apprehended roughly 2 million people entering the southern border illegally. This number excludes the several hundred thousand who are estimated to have evaded law enforcement.
At the same time, Mayorkas implemented a wide range of policy changes to effectively halt most deportations. CBP and Border Patrol agents were directed to release illegal immigrants into the U.S. en masse instead of sending them back to Mexico to go through the immigration process.
Texas and Missouri sued, District Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk of the Northern District of Texas granted their request for a permanent injunction and ordered the administration to reinstate the MPP. He ruled the administration violated the Administrative Procedure Act when it halted the MPP.
The administration appealed to the Fifth Circuit and U.S. Supreme Court and lost. Both courts denied its request to stay Kacsmaryk’s ruling.
After its Supreme Court loss, the administration said it was appealing Kacsmaryk’s ruling, vowing to “vigorously challenge it.” In a statement, it said, “As the appeal process continues, however, DHS will comply with the order in good faith. Alongside interagency partners, DHS has begun to engage with the Government of Mexico in diplomatic discussions surrounding the Migrant Protection Protocols.”
But compliance hasn’t happened, as evidenced by the flood of illegal immigrants the administration is releasing into the U.S. and by the tactics it’s used in court to circumvent the law, the AGs argue.
“From the beginning of this Administration, the United States has been forthright about its intention to terminate MPP simply because it did not like the program, and its conduct demonstrates its readiness to do anything – including ignore the APA’s requirements – to accomplish that objective,” they argue in the brief.
“The Administration’s ‘act now, justify later’ approach began on Inauguration Day, when it summarily paused MPP,” they add.
Throughout the appeals process, “the Fifth Circuit correctly concluded that the United States’ efforts to avoid judicial review violated basic principles of procedure,” they argue.
An unprecedented number of people are expected to come through the southern border after the administration ends the Title 42 public health authority May 23, the attorneys general have argued, necessitating the urgency for the Supreme Court to weigh in.
Implemented under President Donald Trump in January 2019, the MPP led to a reduction in the number of people entering the U.S. illegally. The Trump administration also invoked Title 42 to enable CBP and Border Patrol agents to quickly expel illegal immigrants and prevent entry to a greater number of people during a public health emergency.
Current law requires those not authorized to enter the U.S. to be detained, to stay in Mexico, or be “paroled” into the U.S. based on narrowly defined case-by-case circumstances including “urgent humanitarian reasons or significant public benefit.”
The Biden administration has been issuing paroles en masse to release illegal immigrants into the U.S., the attorneys general argue, violating the law.
The administration maintains it’s inherited a flawed system, and its policies are more humane than the previous administration’s. White House press secretary Jen Psaki told reporters last December after the administration lost another court battle in the case, “it is not our preference to be reimplementing and reinstituting the Migrant Protection program. … we still feel that the program is inefficient, inhumane, and we are not – we weren’t, we were – did not eagerly reimplement it.”
– – –
Bethany Blankley is a regular contributor to The Center Square.
Photo “AG Todd Rokita” by AG Todd Rokita.


thetennesseestar--2020-10-19--Security Guard to Face 2nd-Degree Murder Charges in Denver Shooting

A private security guard who claimed self-defense will face a second-degree murder charge in connection with the shooting death of a man following political rallies last weekend , the Denver district attorney ’ s office said Thursday .
Matthew Dolloff , 30 , will be charged on Monday for killing Lee Keltner , said Denver District Attorney Beth McCann .
If convicted , Dolloff , faces up to 48 years in prison , ABC News reports .
Dolloff was allegedly hired to protect a KUSA-TV news crew covering opposing protests in Denver ’ s Civic Center Park on Saturday .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Muster , ” while a counterprotest by left-wing organizers was billed as a “ BLM-Antifa Soup Drive.
” According to an arrest warrant , the fatal encounter began around 3:30 p.m. when the victim , Lee John Keltner , 49 , a Navy veteran , was leaving the rally and ran into Dolloff in a courtyard near the Denver Art Museum .
The shooting occurred after a “ verbal altercation , ” police said Saturday .
Photos of the incident taken by a photographer for the Denver Post showed Keltner appearing to strike @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with his hand .
Other photos taken by the Post photographer showed Dolloff drawing a semiautomatic handgun and aiming it at Keltner , who appeared to be spraying a can of pepper spray .
In another photo , Keltner is seen laid out flat on the ground , a can of pepper spray next to his body , as Dolloff continued to point his gun at him .
Police quickly arrived at the scene and immediately took Dolloff into custody at gunpoint .
Keltner was transported to a hospital where he was later @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and a can of mace were recovered at the scene .
Officials declined to say earlier this week to whom the guns belonged .
Keltner ’ s death was ruled a homicide by the Denver Office of the Medical Examiner .
Dolloff claims he feared for his life and opened fire when the victim allegedly reached into his shirt , Dolloff ’ s lawyer told The Associated Press earlier this week .
In a statement released Sunday , KUSA-TV , the NBC affiliate in Denver confirmed Dolloff was a contractor from a third-party @ @ @ @ @ @ @ practice of 9NEWS for a number of months to hire private security to accompany staff at protests , ” KUSA said in the statement .
However , according to Eric Escudero , a spokesman for the city ’ s Department of Excise and Licenses Dolloff is not licensed to be a security guard in Denver .
If Dolloff was operating without a license , he could be fined up to $ 999 or face up to a year in jail and the company could face administrative action if this were the case , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rumors that Dolloff was a member of Antifa , a militant left-wing political movement .
Catherine Smith reports for American Greatness .
Photo “ Dolloff Mugshot ” by Denver Police Department Twitter .
Background Photo “ Courtroom ” by Karen Neoh CC BY 2.0 .


thetennesseestar--2020-10-19--Holocaust Denial Posts Banned on Another Social Media Platform

Twitter will begin removing posts containing Holocaust denial , a Twitter spokeswoman told Bloomberg News just days after Facebook also implemented a policy banning posts that deny the Holocaust .
“ We strongly condemn anti-semitism , and hateful conduct has absolutely no place on our service , ” the spokeswoman told Bloomberg News in a statement .
“ We also have a robust ‘ glorification of violence ’ policy in place and take action against content that glorifies or praises historical acts of violence and genocide , including the Holocaust.
” The announcement comes just days after Facebook implemented a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or denying the holocaust , in an attempt to combat rising anti-semitism .
“ We ’ ve long taken down posts that praise hate crimes or mass murder , including the Holocaust .
But with rising anti-Semitism , we ’ re expanding our policy to prohibit any content that denies or distorts the Holocaust as well , ” Facebook founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg wrote in a post on Monday .
Zuckerberg cited a rise in anti-semitism as one of the reasons behind the new policy and says his thinking has evolved because @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ ve struggled with the tension between standing for free expression and the harm caused by minimizing or denying the horror of the Holocaust .
My own thinking has evolved as I ’ ve seen data showing an increase in anti-Semitic violence , as have our wider policies on hate speech .
Drawing the right lines between what is and isn ’ t acceptable speech isn ’ t straightforward , but with the current state of the world , I believe this is the right balance , ” Zuckerberg continued .
Twitter ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Holocaust , Bloomberg reported , while according to Zuckerberg , Facebook ’ s policy is expressly aimed at posts that deny or downplay the Holocaust .
Matthew Wearp is a reporter at the Daily Caller News Foundation .
Photo “ Holocaust ” by German Federal Archive CC BY-SA 3.0 .


thetennesseestar--2020-10-19--California Voters Are Disinfecting, Microwaving Ballots

Election officials in Sacramento , California are asking voters not to disinfect or microwave mail-in ballots after the state received at least 100 ballots returned with damage , according to Just the News .
California voters are taking extreme measures to ensure their mail-in ballots are COVID germ-free .
The registrar told KCRA News they have received at least 100 ballots damaged by disinfectant and alcohol spray .
In one case , someone even microwaved their ballot in an attempt to get rid of any germs .
“ Voters do not have to worry about contracting COVID from their mail-in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ registrar of voters in Sacramento County .
Authorities warn voters that these actions could make the ballots unreadable to the electronic ballot-counting machines and prevent your vote from being counted .
“ We understand if for the outgoing white envelope that you get that maybe the mail service carrier may have touched , you want to kind of hold that aside for 24 hours , ” Bailey-Kanelos said .
“ Everything inside the pink return envelope , the ballots themselves , they have been inserted by a machine weeks ago , so they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that the virus can stay on some surfaces for up to 28 days , which may further encourage similar drastic measures .
The office is working to issue new ballots to anyone who sent in or dropped off a damaged ballot .
Catherine Smith reports for American Greatness .
Photo “ Sacramento Voting ” by Robert Couse-Baker CC BY 2.0 .


thetennesseestar--2020-10-19--Michigan Court Blocks Two-Week Absentee Ballot Extension

DETROIT , Michigan ( AP ) — Absentee ballots must arrive by Election Day to be counted , the Michigan Court of Appeals said Friday , blocking a 14-day extension that had been ordered by a lower court and embraced by key Democratic officials in a battleground state .
Any changes must rest with the Legislature , not the judiciary , the Republican-appointed appeals court judges said in a 3-0 opinion .
Absentee ballot extensions in Wisconsin and Indiana have also been overturned by higher courts .
Michigan ’ s ability to handle a flood of ballots will be closely @ @ @ @ @ @ @ won by President Donald Trump in 2016 .
Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson last week said 2.7 million people had requested absentee ballots , a result of a change in law that makes them available to any voter .
Michigan law says absentee ballots must be turned in by 8 p.m. on Election Day to be valid .
But Court of Claims Judge Cynthia Stephens had ordered that any ballots postmarked by Nov. 2 could be counted if they arrived within two weeks after the Nov. 3 election .
Stephens said there was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ problems because of the coronavirus pandemic .
She said more than 6,400 ballots arrived too late to be counted in the August primary .
The appeals court , however , said the pandemic and any delivery woes “ are not attributable to the state.
” “ Although those factors may complicate plaintiffs ’ voting process , they do not automatically amount to a loss of the right to vote absentee , ” the court said , noting that hundreds of special boxes have been set up across Michigan .
The court also reversed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which would have allowed a non-family member to deliver a completed ballot in the final days before the election if a voter consented .
“ The constitution is not suspended or transformed even in times of a pandemic , and judges do not somehow become authorized in a pandemic to rewrite statutes or to displace the decisions made by the policymaking branches of government , ” Judge Mark Boonstra said in a separate , 10-page concurring opinion .
Benson and Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel , both Democrats , had declined to appeal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Republican-controlled Legislature to intervene .
“ Happy to see this unanimous ruling to uphold the integrity of our elections process and reject judicial overreach , ” Senate Majority Leader Mike Shirkey tweeted .
“ Voters should not be punished for delays in the U.S .
Postal Service or for unexpected emergencies that could make it a challenge for them to get to the polls on Election Day , ” the party said .
The case was heard by appeals court judges Boonstra , Michael Gadola and Thomas Cameron .
All were appointed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ when he was governor and then subsequently elected .
The lawsuit was filed by a group called Michigan Alliance for Retired Americans .
Ed White is a reporter for The Associated Press .
Photo “ Absentee Ballot ” by frankieleon CC BY 2.0 .


thetennesseestar--2020-10-19--Commentary: They Are Ready This Time – But So Are We

At some point in these pages , I have had occasion to quote both Walter Scott ’ s famous admonitory couplet ( from his narrative poem Marmion ) : And this excellent completion by J. R. Pope ( “ A Word of Encouragement ” ) : Both main chapters of the anti-Trump fraternity—the to-the-manor-born aristocracy of left-wing political operatives who oppose Republicans reflexively and the life-peers , so to speak , of the NeverTrump gaggle , who just hate Donald Trump—have been practicing assiduously since at least 2016 .
Back then , and for some years following , the forces @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
First , everyone knew that Hillary was going to win , so although Trump was thoroughly disreputable , he was also eminently ignorable since he could never win the election .
When , by some drastic failure of the electorate , Trump did win , the complacency was only partially modified by the ensuing shock , followed soon after by rage .
Robert Mueller would get him , good and hard , and as the dawn raids , indictments , and jail sentences piled up , many confident predictions floated up about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
As victory continued to elude the anti-Trump forces , they gradually lost their complacency .
The preposterous impeachment trial ginned up by the Democrats to punish Trump for talking on the telephone to the Ukrainian president was probably never intended to destroy Trump so much as hobble him in advance of the 2020 election .
But the impeachment trial did reveal the incontinent fanaticism of the Left , their willingness to say anything , to do anything , to get their way .
The coronavirus lockdowns and tyranny of the health police @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about public safety and 99 parts political weaponization of a crisis .
The Antifa and Black Lives Matter riots and the surrounding orgy of racialist intimidation , on one side , and craven public penance , on the other , have been deployed as yet another prop in the campaign against Trump .
Do you want the riots to stop ?
Remove the Bad Orange Man from the public square .
“ Nice little country you have there .
Pity if something were to happen to it.
” And now that we are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ two and a bit weeks to go—we see the full panoply of this fully operational anti-Trump Death Star on view .
The media , in lockstep behind the anti-Trump narrative .
Big Tech , eager to suppress , censor , skew , and dissemble to poison the well of public sentiment against the president .
Recent efforts by Twitter and Facebook to “ slow the spread ” of revelations about Hunter Biden ’ s excellent Ukrainian adventure in influence peddling and self-dealing have been breathtaking and pointless .
They are breathtaking because they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the anti-Trump community .
It ’ s not just that Mark Zuckerberg and his Chinese-American wife have poured $ 250 million into defeating Trump ; he also used Facebook to limit any pro-Trump messaging .
Twitter locked the account of the New York Post , America ’ s oldest newspaper and still the fifth-largest , because the paper had the temerity to publish news damaging to Joe Biden .
The company has also intervened against the president ’ s own Twitter account and that of his press secretary , limiting their reach .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump , involving deceit and the dissemination of disinformation on an industrial scale , has shed its reflexive complacency and evolved into a monolithic , caterwauling tsunami of by-any-means-necessary hatred .
A man who was beneath contempt and who moreover posed an existential threat to their political sinecures and the security of their tribe had been catapulted into the actual seat of power .
Adding injury to the insult , he had also determined to wield that power , rolling back the regulatory state that was responsible for so many of their perquisites @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had , mirabile maledictu , used his constitutional powers to intervene in such cherished Petri dishes as academia .
Imagine !
Trump ’ s secretary of education actually going after institutions like Princeton and Yale for fostering the woke racialist policies of politically correct discrimination even as his foreign policy ended wars and remade the Middle East , an achievement that stands in such embarrassing contrast to their own legacy of failure .
It was simply not to be borne .
Donald Trump is socially and aesthetically impossible .
That is reason enough @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also been assiduous about keeping his promises .
He said he would move our embassy in Israel to Jerusalem .
But presidents have been saying that since at least Bill Clinton .
The Senate even passed a resolution demanding it .
No one dared because , it was said , it would set the Middle East ablaze .
“ The Arab Street ” would explode .
But Trump did it and what happened ?
It turned out to be the prelude not to war , but to peace .
A year or so @ @ @ @ @ @ @ between the United Arab Emirates and Israel , itself the prelude to burgeoning comity among nations in the Middle East .
Trump ’ s economic policies crushed unemployment , especially among blacks and Hispanics ; in the era B.C.—before coronavirus—both groups saw their unemployment numbers at historic lows while wages at the lower end were rising .
The stock market—and the peoples ’ retirement plans—also soared to historic heights even as taxes for the vast majority—something like 85 percent—of taxpayers went down because of Trump ’ s tax cuts .
Trump promised to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Scalia—that is to say , judges who would interpret the law , not use the bench to promulgate social policy ; he has seen some 300 confirmed , not to mention two , soon to be three , Supreme Court justices .
He promised to rebuild the military : he has spent a few trillion dollars doing just that , not only upgrading the nation ’ s arsenal but also investing heavily in increased wages for our military personnel .
Donald Trump , like George Washington , and like every president until Woodrow @ @ @ @ @ @ @ meant trade policies that sought the best deal for American workers—free trade where possible , fair trade as an irreducible demand .
And of course “ America First ” is about more than trade policy .
At its core it is about saying “ yes ” to what used to be called the American creed , the conviction , spelled out in the Declaration of Independence , that , as a matter of moral prerogative , all men are created equal and should be treated as individuals .
This conviction has an historical @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as was signaled both by Trump ’ s executive order banning the teaching of “ critical race theory ” ( i.e.
, Marxist dogma ) in federal agencies and his establishment of the 1776 Commission to celebrate America ’ s founding vision .
The irrefragable truth is that Donald Trump has kept more campaign promises than any president in memory .
It is possible , of course , that you do not want what he promised : peace through strength , prosperity , less burdensome government , pride in America , an impartial @ @ @ @ @ @ @ if you approve of those things then the irresistible conclusion is that Donald Trump has presided over the most successful first term in recent history—maybe ever .
So , given all this , what does the hysterical and monolithic opposition to Donald Trump signify ?
What does the extensive and unremitting erasure of his achievements , of the public record of his words and deeds , mean ?
Partly , it is a matter of power politics .
Trump was elected without the permission and over the strenuous objections of the left-wing commissariat @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the GOP and throughout the world of culture and the media .
But the challenge to the president involves something in addition to the Hobbesian or Machiavellian calculus of political advantage .
It also involves the presumption of an existential election .
Indeed , that presumption seems to me to undergird the grubby jockeying for advantage that is always part of the political process .
Hillary Clinton famously or infamously spoke of a large swath of the American populace as an “ irredeemable ” “ basket of deplorables.
” Armed with that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ merely business as usual , simply the working out of public virtue , to do “ whatever it takes ” to dispose of so tainted an opponent , even if doing so requires their complicity in the destruction of everything that underwrites American strength , freedom , and prosperity .
The good news is that we deplorables have noticed their machinations and are prepared to challenge their assault not only at the ballot box but also on their preferred theater of operation .
I am confident that Donald Trump will win handily on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but the Democrats refuse to acknowledge defeat , do not expect their opponents to go gently into that good night .
Roger Kimball is editor and publisher of The New Criterion and the president and publisher of Encounter Books .
He is the author and editor of many books , including The Fortunes of Permanence : Culture and Anarchy in an Age of Amnesia ( St. Augustine ’ s Press ) , The Rape of the Masters ( Encounter ) , Lives of the Mind : The Use and Abuse of Intelligence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Dee ) , and Art ’ s Prospect : The Challenge of Tradition in an Age of Celebrity ( Ivan R. Dee ) .
Photo “ President Trump ” by Arlington National Cemetery .


thetennesseestar--2020-10-19--Ohio Senate President Tweets Zero Chance of Raising Taxes

An Ohio native , J.D .
Davidson is a veteran journalist with more than 30 years of experience in newspapers @ @ @ @ @ Alabama and Texas .
He has served as a reporter , editor , managing editor @ @ @ @ @ a regional editor for The Center Square .


thetennesseestar--2020-10-19--Think Tanks Square Off Over More Government Oversight of Michigan’s Charter Schools

A report recommending expanded government oversight of Michigan ’ s charter schools has prompted a rebuttal from the Mackinac Center for Public Policy ( MCPP ) .
“ Improving Oversight of Michigan Charter Schools and Their Authorizers ” was issued on Feb. 25 by the Levin Center at Wayne State University Law School , which had commissioned the study from the Citizens Research Council of Michigan ( CRC ) , a Michigan-based think tank .
The MCPP authors take issue with much of the methodology and conclusions presented by the CRC .
The free-market MCPP historically has been an advocate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Research Michael Van Beek and Director of Education Policy Ben DeGrow authored the policy brief , titled “ Evidence Required : A Critical Review of ‘ Improving Oversight of Michigan Charter Schools and Their Authorizers , ’ ” released Thursday .
“ Over more than 50 pages , the [ CRC ] report provides many valuable insights into how charter schools operate , but it fails to justify the core assumptions upon which its arguments are based , ” the MCPP writers said .
The CRC did not respond to requests for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that after more than 25 years of charter schools in Michigan , prominent groups can still get so much about them wrong , ” DeGrow said in a statement .
“ Myths and misinformation about charters should be rejected , not repeated .
K-12 education in our state can ’ t be improved with deceptive arguments that attempt to justify restricting choices for parents , most of which prove a lifeline to families in need of better educational opportunities , ” DeGrow said .
Citing a claim made by the CRC in its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ authorizers across the states , and especially in Michigan , has been lax , ” DeGrow and Van Beek respond : “ The only evidence provided for this statement is that state officials only rarely exercise their power over authorizers and exert control over them .
But no evidence is provided to support this assertion , either.
” The MCPP writers add the CRC researchers might have overlooked the lack of major problems with charter-school authorizers .
“ The report does not consider this possibility , ” they said .
The basis for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and oversight , according to Van Beek and DeGrow , is the CRC comparison of Michigan laws applying to charter schools to similar , more stringent , laws in other states .
Noting the CRC also warned of the harmful impacts of government over-regulation of public charter schools , the MCPP writes , “ should call into question the report ’ s assumption that more regulation of charter schools and their authorizers will lead to better educational outcomes.
” Van Beek and DeGrow also refute a CRC assertion that departmental budget cuts since @ @ @ @ @ @ @ public charter-school oversight .
Referring to statistics provided from the State Fiscal Agency , the Michigan Department of Education increased its staff by 11 % between the Great Recession and 2020 .
The MCPP authors also state the “ MDE received three times more funding from state revenues in fiscal 2020 than it did in fiscal 2010 .
These increases are not simply backfilling cuts in revenue from other sources .
MDE ’ s overall appropriations in 2020 , including federal , local and private funds , was also three times larger than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ inconsistencies in the CRC report , DeGrow and Van Beek concede some policy changes might assist public entities such as charter schools , but conclude the CRC doesn ’ t address the need for the reform it suggests .
“ The Mackinac Center ’ s response is thorough , accurate and extremely well-researched , and it ’ s gratifying to see them set the record straight , ” Buddy Moorehouse , Michigan Association of Public School Academies vice president of public relations and media , told The Center Square .
“ Their response @ @ @ @ @ @ @ public schools in every way , that they must follow all the same rules and regulations , and that they ’ re the most accountable and transparent of all public schools , ” Moorehouse said .
“ Anytime you see an organization intentionally distorting what charter schools are , it ’ s almost always because they have a political axe to grind , ” he continued .
“ Kudos to the Mackinac Center for calling them out for the mistruths and inaccuracies .
We all should be working to do what ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the status quo to benefit adults.
” Bruce Walker is an editor for The Center Square .
Photo “ Charter School Class ” by U.S. Army Corps of Engineers .


thetennesseestar--2020-10-19--Minnesota’s Bonding Bill Includes More Than $11 Million for ‘Response to Civil Unrest’

The $ 1.9 billion bonding bill passed last week by the Minnesota Legislature includes upwards of $ 11 million for “ costs incurred ” during May ’ s Minneapolis riots .
The bill appropriates more than $ 5 million from the trunk highway fund and $ 3.5 million from the general fund to the Department of Public Safety “ for costs incurred related to the response to civil unrest in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area.
” Another $ 2.1 million was appropriated from the general fund to the Department of Natural Resources for its “ response to civil unrest.
” A @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Department of Transportation for “ civil unrest ” expenses .
Together , the four items total $ 11,630,000 During a House floor debate , Rep. Eric Lucero , R-Dayton , called the phrase “ civil unrest ” an “ oxymoron , ” and introduced an amendment to change the language from “ civil unrest ” to “ criminal property destruction and riots.
” “ What we witnessed in Minneapolis earlier this year was not civil , ” he said .
The bill passed the House in a vote of 100-34 , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of 64-3 .
Republicans previously said they wouldn ’ t pass a bonding bill until Gov .
Tim Walz relinquished his emergency powers .
Sen. Jim Abeler , R-Anoka , responded to criticism of the bill during Thursday ’ s Senate floor session .
“ They ’ re calling this a Jacob Frey bailout bill .
Jacob Frey is not getting any money , personally or as a city .
I think if you asked the Minneapolis contingency , they wish they would ’ ve got some to handle those challenges , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bill about statewide , regional infrastructure .
The money that ’ s going to deal with the costs of all the challenges and the riots — it ’ s going to state agencies to pay for the troopers ’ overtime.
” In a press release , Senate Republicans said the bill “ does not provide funds to rebuild businesses that were damaged , ” but reimburses law enforcement agencies for “ their work in quelling the riots.
” It also includes pay raises for the Minnesota State Patrol .
“ After a summer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ State Troopers that have protected the state are certainly deserving of a pay raise , and it ’ s only right that we reimburse the law enforcement partners that walked into a volatile situation this summer , a situation that could have been prevented had the governor acted more decisively , ” said Sen. Warren Limmer , R-Maple Grove .
Gov .
Tim Walz is expected to sign the bill in the coming days .
“ This bonding bill is a smart investment that will create thousands of good-paying jobs , deliver improvements @ @ @ @ @ @ @ make our state a better place to live , ” Walz said in a statement .
“ It ’ s been a long journey .
By finally coming together and working across the aisle , Minnesota proved once again that if Washington won ’ t lead — we will.
” Anthony Gockowski is Editor-in-Chief of Alpha News .
He previously worked as an editor for The Minnesota Sun and Campus Reform , and reported for The Daily Caller .
Photo “ Unrest in Minneapolis ” by Anthony Gockowski .


thetennesseestar--2020-10-19--TRUMPDATE: Latest From the Team Trump Virginia Campaign for October 19

Welcome to the Saturday edition of our daily Virginia Trump campaign update !
We will provide our readers with daily updates on the Trump Virginia campaign from today to November 3 ( and after…if need be ! )
.
It ’ s officially 15 days until the election on November 3 – and 12 days until early voting in Virginia closes .
President Trump meets Joe Biden in the final presidential debate THIS THURSDAY .
The deadline to request a mail-in ballot in Virginia is Friday , October 23 .
While many observe July 4 as America ’ s Independence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ensuing war against Great Britain for independence went on another five years .
It was on this day 239 years ago that General Cornwallis formally surrendered 8,000 British troops in Yorktown , Virginia , bringing an end to the Revolutionary War .
President Trump continues to hit the campaign trail as we approach two weeks before the polls close in the 2020 presidential election .
Early voting is ongoing in states across the country , with some states opening early voting this week .
Early voting opens today in Alaska and Arkansas .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ trail .
He spoke at rallies in Wisconsin and Nevada over the weekend , states the president ’ s re-election campaign views as pivotal to beating Democrat Joe Biden .
Today President Trump will address two rallies in Arizona , on Tuesday he ’ ll speak in Erie , Pennsylvania and on Wednesday he ’ ll speak at a rally in Gastonia , North Carolina .
It all sets the stage for the final presidential debate between President Trump and Joe Biden from Belmont University in Nashville , Tennessee on Thursday night .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ NBC will moderate .
In Virginia the Team Trump Virginia campaign will hold watch parties throughout the commonwealth for the debate .
Keep it tuned to the TRUMPDATE for all the details about where you can go to watch .
But the Team Trump Virginia team continues to make contact with voters , making sure they are going to the polls , whether it be now or on November 3 , and that they ’ re voting for Republicans up and down the ballot .
Check back every day for more Trump Virginia @ @ @ @ @ @ @ join the volunteer team or if you need signs email Fredericks or Justin Rice .
To Donate to our Virginia campaign click here .
For more information , or to sign up to become a volunteer , click here .
The Trump Campaign in Virginia Needs Poll Watchers !
Don ’ t let them steal the election !
Get paid , too !
John Fredericks is the publisher and editor-in-chief of The Virginia Star .
He is also a Trump 2020 delegate and the chairman of the Trump Virginia Delegation .


thetennesseestar--2020-10-19--Virginia Board of Education Adds ‘African American History’ on 1619 and Lynchings to Curriculum

The Virginia Board of Education announced the implementation of new curriculum pertaining to African American studies .
The board ’ s decision reportedly follows recommendations from the Commission on African American History Education in the Commonwealth .
Governor Ralph Northam created this commission last fall .
“ Incorporating additional context about African American history into the larger historical narrative has never been more important , ” stated Board of Education President Daniel Gecker .
“ The approval of these edits to the standards and curriculum framework begins Virginia ’ s effort to change the course of history and social science @ @ @ @ @ @ @ content in all grades and courses.
” According to the press release , fourth grade students will now learn about Old Point Comfort when studying state history .
This addition “ provides more specificity to the standard about the arrival in 1619 of the first African Americans in British North America.
” Old Point Comfort in 1619 marks the arrival of the first documented African American slaves in the colonies .
“ Most importantly , these edits acknowledge and amplify the resistance , resilience , innovation and sacrifices of African Americans and their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ added Gecker .
In an interview with The Virginia Star Director of Media Relations Charles Pyle clarified that this wasn ’ t related to the national focus on the 1619 Project , but rather based on recommendations from Northam ’ s new commission .
“ What you have with the board ’ s action yesterday is the inclusion in our standards of content recommended by the Virginia educators , historians of the state , representatives of institutions such as museums around the Commonwealth.
” Additionally , high schoolers will learn about lynchings that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Virginia ’ s schools operate under “ Standards of Learning , ” which is the curriculum framework establishing the learning expectations for students .
It also provides the skills acquisitions for each subject .
The framework is considered the most essential content for meeting state standards .
These changes are minor ; another process for instituting bigger changes begins in 2021 .
Pyle explained to The Star that state law requires the board to review and revise the Standards of Learning every seven years .
Since the last revisions took place in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ process for 2022 ’ s new revisions next year .
In an interview with The Star , Republican state congressional candidate Leon Benjamin said that the board should consider what approach they ’ re taking in emphasizing these aspects of history .
“ They need to tell the whole truth of what happened .
They don ’ t need to make it political – I think people are intelligent enough to decipher what ’ s important .
To play on a person ’ s pain or their oppression – that ’ s not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it seem like we ’ re back in the days of slavery .
There ’ s too many accomplishments in our history to imply we haven ’ t progressed.
” According to the press release , further revisions will impact courses covering Virginia Studies , U.S. History to 1865 , U.S. History 1865 to Present , and Virginia and U.S. History .
Corinne Murdock is a reporter at The Virginia Star and the Star News Network .
Follow her latest on Twitter , or email tips to [ email protected ] .


thetennesseestar--2020-10-19--Progressive Activist Running For RVA Mayor Wants Equity

Longtime progressive activist Alexsis Rodgers says she ’ s running for mayor to bring equity to Richmond ’ s impoverished and minority communities .
Rodgers emphasizes that doesn ’ t mean she ’ ll leave behind other parts of the city in the process .
“ We all thrive and we all succeed when more of us are able to have access to economic opportunity , when more of us are able to be healthy , and lead healthy lives , ” Rodgers told The Virginia Star .
Rodgers ’ parents taught her to work hard , something they modeled @ @ @ @ @ @ @ job in the Great Recession .
“ [ There were ] a lot of young people out of work and willing to work for a lot less than we could afford .
He didn ’ t have a college degree so it was pretty difficult for him to compete in such a crowded job market.
” “ That ’ s when I realized that politics were something we should pay attention to and economic policies could have an impact on working families ’ lives , ” Rodgers said , “ I basically took @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on policies that I believe in , ” Rodgers said .
Since graduating from Virginia Commonwealth University , she ’ s been the Director of Communications for the Virginia branch of Planned Parenthood and the Policy Director for the Office of the Lieutenant Governor .
According to her official bio , she is currently the Director of the Virginia branch of Care In Action , a non-profit helping domestic workers like cleaners and nannies .
Rodgers announced her candidacy for mayor on June 5 , in the immediate aftermath of George Floyd ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ I decided to run for mayor this year because I was really frustrated with the Mayor ’ s response to calls for criminal justice reform , ” Rodgers said .
She said she shares the frustration of police officers concerned with political hirings and firings in the police department .
“ My focus is , we ’ ve got to make sure that our law enforcement are put in situations that they ’ re prepared for and that they ’ re trained to handle.
” Rodgers said officers aren ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ health crises .
As part of her policies she wants to see increased funding and training for mental health response teams and the implementation of a mental health alert system like the General Assembly is considering .
She also wants civilian review boards to examine policies and police tactics .
“ Racial equity also means making sure that we are creating the conditions to make sure everyone has access to green space and grocery stores in their own communities , ” Rodgers said .
“ Because of the way that Richmond has been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ era , there are neighborhoods that overall have concentrated poverty.
” Rodgers advocates for affordable housing , including multi-family units and tax-payer funded programs to keep rent reasonable .
She ’ s calling for school reforms , and recognizes the childcare burden that COVID-19-era virtual learning is putting on low-income families .
Rodgers said inconsistent , politically motivated federal guidance makes school decisions difficult .
She said , “ I do want to make sure we get back in to schools as quickly as possible , but only when it ’ s safe.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ science , ” Rodgers said when asked if she would support another business shut-down if COVID-19 worsened .
“ I certainly don ’ t want us to have to go backwards and shut down business , but we ’ ve got to make sure that we ’ re doing everything to keep Richmonders safe.
” “ I think what most businesses were most frustrated by during [ the ] phased reopening was a lack of coordination and communication , and I think we ’ ve seen that as a recurrent theme in this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has consistently polled around 15 percent , behind incumbent Mayor Levar Stoney at around 36 percent , and behind Councilmember Kim Gray , whose polling has fluctuated from 33 percent to 16 percent .
However , Rodgers said , “ We ’ ve got the most individual contributions from any mayor ’ s race in any election for mayor in the city of Richmond .
We have literally thousands of people , chipping in wherever they can even during an economic crisis.
” “ That shows the grassroots support for our campaign , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ use those supporters to reach the large number of undecided voters .
“ We ’ re seeing that a lot of people are still undecided .
I think that speaks pretty clearly that people are not interested in continuing to support the current administration .
They ’ ve got four years of a record from Mayor Stoney , they have 12 or 15 years of a record from Kim Gray , and they ’ re undecided .
That means they ’ re looking for change , ” Rodgers said .
“ What we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is that Mayor Stoney has lost support over his administration.
” Rodgers said Stoney ’ s policies have been self serving .
“ And this year , when the political tides turned , and all of the sudden there was a popular idea to put forward criminal justice and social justice reform issues , that ’ s when he took initiative.
” Rodgers said , “ We need that kind of energy , that leadership that wants to do best for the city every single day , not on election year when you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lose your seat because you haven ’ t been doing the work for four years.
” Eric Burk is a reporter at The Virginia Star and the Star News Digital Network .
Email tips to [ email protected ] Background Photo “ Richmond City Hall ” by Taber Andrew Bain .
CC BY 2.0 .


thetennesseestar--2020-10-19--VCU To Students: Zoom Time – No In Person Classes

As the fall semester begins to enter its final weeks , Virginia Commonwealth University ( VCU ) announced Thursday that the spring 2021 term will look very similar with most classes online and schoolwide health and safety protocols still enforced .
VCU president Michael Rao published an online message to students Thursday providing an update for the upcoming semester and highlighting some of the changes being made .
“ Based on your responsible behavior , ongoing assessment by VCU ’ s Public Health Response Team , and current pandemic guidance from the Virginia Department of Health and CDC , we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ similar to what you have experienced this fall with slight modifications to our spring semester academic calendar , ” Rao said in the message .
Just like in the fall , students , faculty and staff will return to campus in January following a phased reopening approach , but the official start of the semester is being pushed back a week .
Many of the same COVID safeguards will remain in place , including decreased capacity in residence halls and classrooms , daily health checks and limitations on social gatherings .
One of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is there will be no spring break , an effort to mitigate the risk of COVID being done by many colleges , and students will instead get two reading days – one at the end of February and another at the end of march , according to Rao .
Angelique James , a junior at VCU , was not too happy with some of the changes .
“ I think the spring semester is [ going to be ] really difficult because we don ’ t have breaks .
it ’ s more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is nothing really to look forward to , ” James said in an interview with The Virginia Star .
“ Although we have two reading days next semester , I feel like we need a little more of a mental health break especially with everything related to COVID and being home all the time , it is just a lot [ for students . ]
” James , who has a hybrid schedule this semester , said she enjoys in-person classes more than online and hopes to have a better balance in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ no spring break was the correct decision .
“ I think the fact that they took spring break away was a good idea just given how last spring break went , ” Caitlin Reilly , a senior student , told The Star .
“ Everybody knew there was a pandemic , but everyone still traveled , including myself , because we didn ’ t think it was a big deal .
Given how people are treating things now I think it ’ s the right idea.
” Of the 8,400 classes this fall @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
According to the VCU class registration website , 7,967 classes will be offered in the spring semester , but the amount that will be online versus in-person or hybrid is not clear .
Currently , VCU has had 287 total student cases of COVID-19 out of 4,236 residential students .
There are 23 active student cases with three new ones reported on Friday , according to the VCU COVID-19 dashboard .
Fall 2020 undergraduate enrollment at VCU is down 3.5 percent compared to 2019 .
The enrollment numbers for male and female @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are also down , but there was a 7.6 percent increase for part-time undergraduate students , according to early estimates from the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia .
“ Our highest priority in executing our mission is the safety of students , faculty , staff and the surrounding community , ” Rao said .
“ Flexibility remains critical in addressing evolving situations presented by COVID-19 , including changes in the prevalence of infection in our community , as well as changes in requirements , guidelines and best practices.
” Jacob Taylor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and the Star News Digital Network .
Follow Jacob on Twitter .
Email tips to [ email protected ] Photo “ VCU ” by Taber Andrew Bain CC BY 2.0 .


thetennesseestar--2020-10-19--Commentary: The Exceptional Catalog of Polling Failure

The question looms in nearly every U.S. presidential election , even in this year ’ s race : Could the polls be wrong ?
If they are , they likely will err in unique fashion .
The history of election polling says as much .
That history tells of no greater polling surprise than what happened in 1948 , when President Harry Truman defied the polls , the pundits and the press to defeat Thomas E. Dewey , his heavily favored Republican foe .
Pollsters were certain Truman had no chance .
One of them , Elmo Roper , was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that he announced two months before the election he would release no further survey data unless a political miracle intervened .
Rival pollsters George Gallup and Archibald Crossley largely completed their poll-taking by mid-October – and missed a decisive shift in support to Truman in the campaign ’ s closing days .
As I point out in my latest book , “ Lost in a Gallup : Polling Failure in U.S. Presidential Elections , ” the misfire of 1948 was exceptional .
And that describes most polling failures in presidential elections : They @ @ @ @ @ @ @ polling errors .
When the polls go wrong , they almost always do so in some unanticipated way .
Errors spring from no single template .
This variety helps explain why polling failure is so unpredictable and so jarring .
The epic miscall of 1948 has never been duplicated in U.S. presidential elections – although the shock of Truman ’ s victory may have been rivaled by the profound surprise that accompanied Donald Trump ’ s win in 2016 .
Trump ’ s victory represented polling failure of another kind : Polls in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nationally as they were in states such as Wisconsin , Pennsylvania and Michigan .
If Hillary Clinton had carried those states , as polls had indicated , she would have won the electoral votes to become president .
But errors in state-level polls upset national expectations , in part because those polls tended to include too few white voters without college degrees , a key Trump constituency in 2016 and this year .
Voters changing or making up their minds late in the campaign led in 1980 to another type of polling failure @ @ @ @ @ @ @ year mostly signaled a close race between President Jimmy Carter and Ronald Reagan .
At campaign ’ s end , the race seemed too close to call .
For logistical reasons , poll-taking may not be able to catch up with late-breaking revelations that disrupt the public ’ s perception of a campaign ’ s dynamic , such as the disclosures before the 2000 election about George W. Bush ’ s drunken-driving conviction .
In 1976 , Bush was arrested in Maine and pleaded guilty to a DUI violation that he had never @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Maine pursued a tip in 2000 and reported the details five days before the election .
As the 2000 campaign closed , most polls signaled Bush was ahead by a few percentage points .
In the end , Democrat Al Gore won the popular vote but lost the Electoral College in the disputed outcome of voting in Florida .
Disclosures about Bush ’ s DUI conviction may have been enough to cost him a popular-vote victory .
The 2000 outcome represented another variety of polling failure – pointing to the wrong winner @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s a class of failure that emerged 40 years earlier , in the election between John F. Kennedy and Richard M. Nixon .
Roper ’ s final pre-election poll suggested a two-point win for Nixon .
As I note in “ Lost in a Gallup , ” after Kennedy ’ s razor-thin victory had become clear , Roper ’ s son and business partner , Burns , sent a memorandum to the company ’ s staff , declaring : “ I ’ m not about to take any malarkey about having ‘ picked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s what the Roper poll had done .
It pointed to the wrong winner .
Another type of polling failure is that of the venerable pollster who is singularly and astonishingly in error – as was the Literary Digest in its infamous mail-in survey of 1936 .
The Digest was a weekly magazine whose massive mail-in polls had identified the winner in each of the three presidential elections since 1924 .
Some newspapers acclaimed the Digest ’ s mass-polling technique for its “ uncanny ” accuracy .
In 1936 , the Digest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it so well .
After sending 10 million postcard ballots and tabulating the 2.3 million returned from around the country , the Digest reported that Republican Alf Landon was bound for a comfortable victory over President Franklin D. Roosevelt .
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Landon ended up carrying two states – Maine and Vermont – and lost the popular vote by 24 percentage points .
Roosevelt ’ s victory was one of the most lopsided in presidential election history .
That @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Elmo Roper initiated their election polls , which relied on smaller samples than the Digest .
With varying degrees of accuracy , all three newcomers in 1936 signaled Roosevelt ’ s victory .
The Digest ’ s debacle offers an enduring reminder that the roots of polling failure run deep .
The stunning miscall occurred at the dawn of modern survey research and introduced a nagging sense about polling ’ s potential to mislead .
After all , if the great election oracle of its time could err so spectacularly , why @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ?
The answer : They weren ’ t , and aren ’ t , immune .
W. Joseph Campbell is a Professor of Communication Studies at the American University School of Communication .
He joined the AU faculty in 1997 , after some 20 years as a professional journalist .
Assignments in his award-winning journalism career took him across North America to Europe , West Africa , and parts of Asia .
Campbell is the author of seven books , including most recently Lost in a Gallup : Polling Failure in U.S. Presidential @


thetennesseestar--2020-10-19--Ohio Public Health Advisory System – Indicator Six: Hospitalizations

This is the seventh story in an eight-part series on the Ohio Public Health Advisory System ( OPHAS ) .
OPHAS is a tool created to supplement the state ’ s reporting on cases , hospitalizations and deaths .
The color-coded map assigns each of Ohio ’ s 88 counties a color determined by how many of the seven indicators comprising OPHAS are triggered by each county .
The colors : yellow ( 0-1 indicator ) , orange ( 2-3 indicators ) , red ( 4-5 indicators ) and purple ( 6-7 indicators ) .
The seven indicators making up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ per capita , 2 ) -sustained increase in new cases , 3 ) -proportion of cases not in a congregate setting , 4 ) -sustained increase in emergency department ( ED ) visits for COVID-like illness , 5 ) -sustained increase in outpatient visits for COVID-like illness , 6 ) -sustained increase in new COVID hospital admissions , 7 ) -intensive care unit ( ICU ) bed occupancy .
Indicator 6 , sustained increase in new COVID hospitalizations , is flagged if there is an increasing trend of at least 5 consecutive days @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to COVID over the last 3 weeks .
According to the Ohio COVID website , indicator six is an “ important indicator of hospital burden and disease severity.
” However , the measure does not give respect to the population size of the county , it simply flags a county negatively if there is a five-day increase .
From September 21 – September 26 Hamilton County tripped the breaker by logging an increase in hospitalizations from 2.14 to 3.0 – in a county with a population of 817,473 .
Although touting only a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ County provides additional proof of how easy the advisory indicator is triggered – going from .14 on September 20 , to .71 on September 24 to activate indicator six .
Delaware County opens another can of worms– statistical sequencing .
When numbers are reported is as important as the numbers themselves .
This is especially true for indicators that measure “ increases over five consecutive days.
” Delaware was resting at zero COVID hospitalizations September 19 but climbed in hospitalizations , as follows : In order for the above numbers to occur over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Health ( ODH ) had to report for Delaware one COVID hospitalization per day over the five-day interval during which the measure was flagged .
Otherwise , the indicator wouldn ’ t have been flagged .
For example , if one day resulted in zero hospitalizations and the subsequent day two , the indicator wouldn ’ t have triggered because it would not have produced five-day consecutive rise .
Whether the sequencing is correct is uncertain because of conflicting information .
Ohio publishes a comma separated value ( .csv ) file on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is fed by the Ohio Disease Reporting System ( ODRS ) .
The ODRS is the database to which hospitals traditionally report directly , but because of the magnitude of COVID reporting , ODH receives information from hospitals and local health departments and in turn enters the data into ODRS .
The ODRS data shows Delaware County had COVID hospital admissions on September 20 , September 21 and September 24 – not five consecutive days .
The .csv file also shows four additional hospitalizations with unknown onset dates .
It appears , according @ @ @ @ @ @ @ few of those hospitalizations without onset dates were entered into the system to establish the five-day sequence – perhaps inadvertently .
Nonetheless , the incident raised another question regarding the number of hospitalizations without onset dates – how they are produced and how they get assigned .
The Ohio Star followed-up with ODH Press Secretary Melanie Amato over email and learned that over 9 % of Ohio ’ s hospitalizations ( nearly 1,600 ) have unknown admission dates .
The Ohio Department of Health gets this information from the local health departments and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ODRS related to hospitalizations .
One just identifies whether the person was hospitalized and the other captures the date of admission .
For a case to have an unknown date , it means that the record in ODRS doesn ’ t have a date associated with the hospitalization .
Sometimes the date comes in later but there are other times when the date is never reported to ODH so it will remain as unknown .
We do not make changes to the data we receive therefore we must rely on the local health @ @ @ @ @ @ @ update these records .
Approximately 9.4 % of the hospitalized cases have unknown admission dates since the start of the pandemic .
It remains unclear hospitalizations without admission dates are reported in OPHAS and whether there is a constant standard .
An additional issue surrounds the state ’ s reporting of hospitalizations – both on the state dashboard and OPHAS .
In a previous interview with The Star , Dan Tierney , press secretary for Governor Mike DeWine , addressed how Ohio reports deaths and hospitalizations .
Ohio follows CDC guidelines , Tierney @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from COVID and deaths form other causes with COVID in the decedent ’ s system both count as COVID deaths .
Likewise , hospitalizations due to COVID and hospitalizations for other reasons but COVID is found in the patient ’ s system are both counted as COVID hospitalizations .
The situation is ripe for pulling down federal CARES Act money , insurance funds and Medicare 20 % bonus outlays ( which may now require a positive test ) , according to CDC Director Robert Redfield .
Redfield addressed the issue when addressed by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I do think though when it comes to hospital reimbursement issues with individuals who get discharged – there could be some play in there for sure.
” Jack Windsor is Managing Editor and an Investigative Reporter at The Ohio Star .
Windsor is also an Investigative Reporter at WMFD-TV .
Follow Jack on Twitter .
Email tips to [ email protected ] .


thetennesseestar--2020-10-19--Facebook Fact-Checkers Use Old Analysis Written for Another Article to ‘Disprove’ The Tennessee Star

Facebook Fact-Checkers Use Old Analysis Written for Another Article to ‘Disprove’ The Tennessee Star on CDC Data Comparing Mask-Wearing and Infection Rates

Facebook ’ s team of fact-checkers claimed Saturday that The Tennessee Star ’ s article comparing mask-wearing and infection rates is both “ partly false ” and “ factually inaccurate.
” But the social media giant made a judgment based on the content and conclusions of an entirely different article by The Federalist .
The Star based its article on a study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ( CDC ) .
Facebook ’ s fact-checking link led to a “ verdict ” written by Health Feedback .
This organization identifies itself as “ a worldwide network of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and medical media coverage.
” Health Feedback included a link to a screen capture – not the original source – of The Federalist ’ s article .
The right-of-center outlet ’ s article made a different , definitive assessment : Due to this statement , the fact-checker ruled in its “ verdict ” that The Federalist article and other similar articles are guilty of flawed reasoning .
Health Feedback explained that mask effectiveness can ’ t be evaluated by the CDC ’ s data because there are more mask-wearers included in the study @ @ @ @ @ @ @ study pooled from nearly 2,000 individuals who received testing in 11 facilities across 10 different states : California , Washington , Utah , Colorado , Minnesota , Tennessee , Ohio , North Carolina , Maryland , and Massachusetts .
The study selected respondents at random from symptomatic individuals that were either positive or negative for COVID-19 .
Mask-wearing habits weren ’ t a factor in targeting or selecting respondents .
In fact , the randomization and scope suggested a natural majority of mask-wearers and minority of non-mask-wearers .
Thus , Facebook assigned The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ verdict ” given to The Federalist article , despite the wide differences in content and conclusions between the two pieces .
“ An underlying assumption of [ their ] claim is that cloth masks are mainly intended to protect the wearer from infection , ” stated Health Feedback .
However , The Star ’ s article never made this assumption .
Instead , it included one quote from CDC Director Dr. Robert Redfield that face coverings are the most important thing to protect ourselves and others from COVID-19 .
Furthermore , it made @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s statement .
Instead , The Star ’ s article based its claims on CDC data that masks may increase the chance of infection with COVID-19 or other respiratory illnesses .
The CDC ’ s exact data in the study showed a positive correlation between those who wear masks more often and those who fell ill with either COVID-19 or other respiratory illnesses with symptoms similar to COVID-19 .
Of those symptomatic individuals who “ never ” wore masks , 3.9 percent tested positive for COVID-19 and 3.1 percent tested negative .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Rarely ” accounted for 3.9 percent positive , 3.8 percent negative ; “ sometimes ” accounted for 7.2 percent positive , 4.4 percent negative ; “ often ” accounted for 14.4 percent positive , 14.5 percent negative .
Those who “ always ” wore masks accounted for 70.6 percent positive and 74.2 percent negative .
On the basis of this information in the CDC report , The Star called into question the possibility of mask-wearing practices impacting the chances of becoming ill with either COVID-19 or other respiratory illnesses : Mask hygiene implies @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to adjust a mask , retaining or reusing dirtied disposable masks , or wearing unwashed reusable masks .
The Star also addressed the lack of information on mask types used for both types of respondents , as well as the individuals they came into contact with .
On the basis of these aspects of the study , The Star ’ s article called into question the meaning the CDC assigned to the data in their study .
The CDC study explained that those who tested positive for COVID-19 were “ twice as likely @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” than those who tested negative .
Based on this information , the CDC study concluded that dining establishments “ might be important risk factors ” for COVID-19 .
However , the CDC ’ s conclusion didn ’ t address the parallel positive correlations between individuals who wear masks more falling ill with either COVID-19 or other respiratory illnesses .
Unlike the fact-checkers suggested , the article didn ’ t dismiss the helpfulness of face masks in preventing the spread of COVID-19 and other respiratory illnesses .
It simply begged the question : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of mask-wearing and illness rates ?
It is unclear whether the fact-checkers read The Star ’ s article , since there was no mention of the article or the news network anywhere in its “ verdict.
” Corinne Murdock is a reporter at The Tennessee Star and the Star News Network .
Follow her latest on Twitter , or email tips to [ email protected ] .