thetennesseestar--2020-10-06--Virginia’s Great Gun Grab

Virginia’s Great Gun Grab

In recent months , seven localities throughout Virginia have now passed gun ordinances restricting where citizens can carry , openly possess and transport firearms or any components of a gun .
So far , Arlington and Fairfax counties and the cities of Alexandria , Falls Church , Charlottesville , Newport News and Richmond have passed gun ordinances .
Those regulations are all similar , if not exactly the same .
They prohibit citizens from carrying firearms in publicly-owned buildings , publicly-owned parks and other public spaces as well as adjacent to certain special events with permits .
The version passed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ July has a specific exemption for concealed carry permit holders , however .
After voting to pass the ordinance in mid September , Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Chairman Jeffrey McKay issued a statement on the decision .
“ Ending gun violence is not a simple problem with simple solutions , ” McKay said .
“ We must attack this issue from many angles including widely supported restrictions .
Our Board ’ s decision to ban guns from government property takes us one more step in the right direction.
” Loudoun County Board @ @ @ @ @ @ @ restrictions after telling county staff to develop an ordinance in early September , according to the Loudoun Times-Mirror .
After going into effect , violations in the different localities would be punishable as a class 1 misdemeanor , which can carry up to a year in prison and a $ 2,500 fine in the Commonwealth .
In August , Norfolk City Council temporarily withdrew its proposed gun ordinance after massive blowback from gun rights supporters over the plan .
Virginia state law used to bar localities from imposing restrictions on gun owners , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ law earlier this year which allows localities to regulate firearm possession .
Gun rights organizations and proponents strongly oppose the action taken by the local governmental bodies , arguing the ordinances impact the safety of law abiding citizens and infringe upon people ’ s constitutional rights .
“ These localities are putting [ out ] a feel good , do nothing measure that will endanger the lives of Virginians , ” Erich Pratt , Gun Owners of America senior vice president , said in a statement .
“ When good people are prevented @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people to carry out their evil deeds .
“ Consider the tragic story of Kate Nixon , who worked for the city of Virginia Beach and was prohibited from carrying a firearm .
She had considered taking a gun to work because she was worried that a disgruntled employee might try to harm her fellow workers .
But not wanting to break the law and lose her job , Kate left her gun at home .
Sadly , she became a victim of a mass shooting.
” A federal liaison for the National @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Star the group opposes all local level gun bans and believes law abiding citizens should have the right to legally carry a firearm .
Mike Dickinson , a candidate for Richmond City Council 1st district , is one of many gun rights proponents speaking out against the gun ordinances .
“ I think it ’ s absolutely an intrusion of the 2nd Amendment and of the U.S. Constitution , ” Dickinson said in an interview with The Star .
“ I spoke out at both of the [ Richmond City Council ] hearings @ @ @ @ @ @ @ both times to try to educate our city council on it .
They ’ re under the influence and dead set on thinking that people ’ s rights are the problem and not the criminal behavior.
” Jacob Taylor is a reporter at The Virginia Star and the Star News Digital Network .
Follow Jacob on ‘ https : //twitter.com/jacob_staylor ” target= ” _blank ” rel= ” noopener noreferrer ” > Twitter Email tips to href= ” mailto : [ email protected ] [ email protected ]

In recent months, seven localities throughout Virginia have now passed gun ordinances restricting where citizens can carry, openly possess and transport firearms or any components of a gun.
So far, Arlington and Fairfax counties and the cities of Alexandria, Falls Church, Charlottesville, Newport News and Richmond have passed gun ordinances.
Those regulations are all similar, if not exactly the same. They prohibit citizens from carrying firearms in publicly-owned buildings, publicly-owned parks and other public spaces as well as adjacent to certain special events with permits.
The version passed by the Newport News City Council in July has a specific exemption for concealed carry permit holders, however.
After voting to pass the ordinance in mid September, Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Chairman Jeffrey McKay issued a statement on the decision.
“Ending gun violence is not a simple problem with simple solutions,” McKay said. “We must attack this issue from many angles including widely supported restrictions. Our Board’s decision to ban guns from government property takes us one more step in the right direction.”
Loudoun County Board of Supervisors is also considering passing similar restrictions after telling county staff to develop an ordinance in early September, according to the Loudoun Times-Mirror.
After going into effect, violations in the different localities would be punishable as a class 1 misdemeanor, which can carry up to a year in prison and a $2,500 fine in the Commonwealth.
In August, Norfolk City Council temporarily withdrew its proposed gun ordinance after massive blowback from gun rights supporters over the plan.
Virginia state law used to bar localities from imposing restrictions on gun owners, but Governor Ralph Northam signed legislation into law earlier this year which allows localities to regulate firearm possession.
Gun rights organizations and proponents strongly oppose the action taken by the local governmental bodies, arguing the ordinances impact the safety of law abiding citizens and infringe upon people’s constitutional rights.
“These localities are putting [out] a feel good, do nothing measure that will endanger the lives of Virginians,” Erich Pratt, Gun Owners of America senior vice president, said in a statement. “When good people are prevented from defending themselves, it allows evil people to carry out their evil deeds.
“Consider the tragic story of Kate Nixon, who worked for the city of Virginia Beach and was prohibited from carrying a firearm. She had considered taking a gun to work because she was worried that a disgruntled employee might try to harm her fellow workers. But not wanting to break the law and lose her job, Kate left her gun at home. Sadly, she became a victim of a mass shooting.”
A federal liaison for the National Association for Gun Rights told The Virginia Star the group opposes all local level gun bans and believes law abiding citizens should have the right to legally carry a firearm.
Mike Dickinson, a candidate for Richmond City Council 1st district, is one of many gun rights proponents speaking out against the gun ordinances.
“I think it’s absolutely an intrusion of the 2nd Amendment and of the U.S. Constitution,” Dickinson said in an interview with The Star. “I spoke out at both of the [Richmond City Council] hearings online, I signed up and spoke both times to try to educate our city council on it. They’re under the influence and dead set on thinking that people’s rights are the problem and not the criminal behavior.”
– – –
Jacob Taylor is a reporter at The Virginia Star and the Star News Digital Network. Follow Jacob on ‘https://twitter.com/jacob_staylor” target=”_blank” rel=”noopener noreferrer”> Twitter Email tips to href=”mailto:[email protected] [email protected]


thetennesseestar--2020-10-06--Vote Fraud? Richmond Metro Area Mailboxes Broken into, USPIS Investigating

The United State Postal Investigative Service ( USPIS ) has launched an investigation after a group or individual forcefully opened and stole mail from collection boxes throughout the Richmond metro area between Saturday afternoon and Monday morning , according to the U.S .
Postal Service .
“ This morning we received several calls from some of our local post offices as they opened up that they believed their blue collection boxes , out front of their post offices , had been tampered with or vandalized , ” Michael J. Romano , U.S .
Postal inspector team leader , said in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ It would appear that the boxes themselves were pried open and entry was gained.
” Investigators from the USPIS , the federal law enforcement arm of the US Postal Service , do not yet know if election ballots were inside the targeted mailboxes , according to Romano .
“ Obviously , [ election ballots ] are a concern , ” Romano said .
“ I won ’ t say that it ’ s not , but , ultimately , we would target this investigation the same way we would for any mail @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are six post office locations where boxes were tampered with : one in Richmond city , two in Chesterfield County and three in Henrico County .
Those locations are as followed : When asked if this incident could have been a coordinated effort by a group or multiple individuals , Romano said it was too early in the investigation to make a determination .
Henrico Police officers went to the Glen Allen post office Monday morning to record that the incident took place , but are not handling the actual investigation , Lieutenant @ @ @ @ @ @ @ officer , told The Star .
In a press release on Monday , Del .
Rodney Willett ( D-Henrico County ) commented on the situation .
“ I am extremely concerned and dismayed at the apparent thievery from mailboxes in the region , ” Willett said .
“ Particularly , during this pandemic , people depend on the postal service for goods and services , for legal documents , to receive and pay bills and for communications from distanced loved ones .
“ Moreover , with an election a month away and people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ counting on mail-in ballots .
Their right to participate in a critical election should not be abrogated by egregious and illegal acts.
” Republican Party of Virginia Chairman Rich Anderson also commented on the mail theft .
“ Although authorities don ’ t know what the specific target of these mailboxes break ins were – were it election ballots , were it negotiable checks or cash , or other things of value that transit the mail service – it takes on a special significance this time of the year because everyone knows that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ balance [ for the election ] , ” Anderson said in an interview with The Star .
Anderson also said the incident raises concerns over the safety of the ballot drop boxes approved by the General Assembly during the 2020 special session .
The last pick ups for the broken-into mailboxes took place at varying times on Saturday , so the theft must have happened between Saturday afternoon and Monday morning at 7 a.m. when USPIS was alerted , according to Romano .
“ If anybody mailed anything from those boxes specifically outfront @ @ @ @ @ @ @ period in question , we ’ re asking them to contact us to report it , ” Romano said .
People can call the USPIS hotline at 877-876-2455 or go online to uspis.gov to report that their mail may have been lost , stolen or tampered with .
Romano reiterated that theft from blue mailboxes is extremely low and it is not a common occurrence .
Romano also recommended that going into the post offices and dropping mail at the counter or through the deposit box attached to the buildings as well as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ if possible , can be more secure than collection boxes .
As of Sunday , 282,251 ballots have already been cast through the mail in Virginia , according to the Virginia Public Access project early voting dashboard .
Jacob Taylor is a reporter at The Virginia Star and the Star News Digital Network .
Follow Jacob on Twitter .
Email tips to [ email protected ]

The United State Postal Investigative Service (USPIS) has launched an investigation after a group or individual forcefully opened and stole mail from collection boxes throughout the Richmond metro area between Saturday afternoon and Monday morning, according to the U.S. Postal Service.
“This morning we received several calls from some of our local post offices as they opened up that they believed their blue collection boxes, out front of their post offices, had been tampered with or vandalized,” Michael J. Romano, U.S. Postal inspector team leader, said in an interview with The Virginia Star. “It would appear that the boxes themselves were pried open and entry was gained.”
Investigators from the USPIS, the federal law enforcement arm of the US Postal Service, do not yet know if election ballots were inside the targeted mailboxes, according to Romano.
“Obviously, [election ballots] are a concern,” Romano said. “I won’t say that it’s not, but, ultimately, we would target this investigation the same way we would for any mail theft investigation.”
In total, there are six post office locations where boxes were tampered with: one in Richmond city, two in Chesterfield County and three in Henrico County.
Those locations are as followed:
Westhampton Post Office, 805 Glenburnie Rd, Richmond, VA 23226
Glen Allen Post Office, 4990 Sadler Pl, Glen Allen, VA 23060
Midlothian Main Post Office, 1201 Sycamore Square Dr, Midlothian, VA 23113
Lakeside post office, 2100 E Parham Rd, Henrico, VA 23228
Regency Branch Post Office, 2000 Starling Dr, Henrico, VA 23229
Pocoshock Post Office, 501 Lady Blair Ln, North Chesterfield, VA 23236
When asked if this incident could have been a coordinated effort by a group or multiple individuals, Romano said it was too early in the investigation to make a determination.
Henrico Police officers went to the Glen Allen post office Monday morning to record that the incident took place, but are not handling the actual investigation, Lieutenant Matthew Pecka, Henrico Police public information officer, told The Star.
In a press release on Monday, Del. Rodney Willett (D-Henrico County) commented on the situation.
“I am extremely concerned and dismayed at the apparent thievery from mailboxes in the region,” Willett said. “Particularly, during this pandemic, people depend on the postal service for goods and services, for legal documents, to receive and pay bills and for communications from distanced loved ones.
“Moreover, with an election a month away and people legitimately fearing infection, many folks are counting on mail-in ballots. Their right to participate in a critical election should not be abrogated by egregious and illegal acts.”
Republican Party of Virginia Chairman Rich Anderson also commented on the mail theft.
“Although authorities don’t know what the specific target of these mailboxes break ins were – were it election ballots, were it negotiable checks or cash, or other things of value that transit the mail service – it takes on a special significance this time of the year because everyone knows that the postal service is a wash and balance [for the election],” Anderson said in an interview with The Star.
Anderson also said the incident raises concerns over the safety of the ballot drop boxes approved by the General Assembly during the 2020 special session.
The last pick ups for the broken-into mailboxes took place at varying times on Saturday, so the theft must have happened between Saturday afternoon and Monday morning at 7 a.m. when USPIS was alerted, according to Romano.
“If anybody mailed anything from those boxes specifically outfront of those post offices during the time period in question, we’re asking them to contact us to report it,” Romano said.
People can call the USPIS hotline at 877-876-2455 or go online to uspis.gov to report that their mail may have been lost, stolen or tampered with.
Romano reiterated that theft from blue mailboxes is extremely low and it is not a common occurrence. Romano also recommended that going into the post offices and dropping mail at the counter or through the deposit box attached to the buildings as well as directly handing mail to a carrier, if possible, can be more secure than collection boxes.
As of Sunday, 282,251 ballots have already been cast through the mail in Virginia, according to the Virginia Public Access project early voting dashboard.
– – –
Jacob Taylor is a reporter at The Virginia Star and the Star News Digital Network. Follow Jacob on Twitter. Email tips to [email protected]


thetennesseestar--2020-10-06--In it to Win it: Candidate for Richmond City Council Mike Dickinson Describes His Campaign and the D

In it to Win it: Candidate for Richmond City Council Mike Dickinson Describes His Campaign and the Determination to Save His City

Live from Virginia Monday morning on The John Fredericks Show – weekdays on WNTW AM 820/ FM 92.7 – Richmond , WJFN FM 100.5 – Central Virginia , WMPH AM 1010 / FM 100.1 / FM 96.9 ( 7-9 PM ) Hampton Roads , WBRG AM 1050 / FM 105.1 – Lynchburg/Roanoke and Weekdays 6-10 am and 24/7 Stream – host Fredericks welcomed candidate for the city council of Richmond Mike Dickinson to the show to discuss his campaign and the fight to save his city from the left-wing liberals holding the government to a standard of accountability .
Fredericks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Mike is a candidate for city council in Richmond .
He ’ s going to tell you all about it .
What ward it is and all that good stuff .
And he ’ s already made some headlines by threatening to do a mural of Babies Lives Matter .
And then the Black Lives Matter mural was stopped in its tracks .
And he did that by himself .
And he ’ s joining us now .
Mike Dickinson great to have you , Mike .
Dickinson : Always great to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ respect for you and great respect for your your show and everything you do and stand up for .
Fredericks : Mike tell us about your campaign .
Dickinson : I ’ m running in the First District of Richmond , which is everything to the west pretty much of the Boulevard .
It ’ s the Museum District , Windsor Farms , Mary Mumford , and all the way down to the University of Richmond .
I feel good about it .
We ’ ve been out there talking to people who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of this incompetent government we have here in Richmond .
Sick of a mayor that ’ s not letting the police do their job .
Sick of always the solution as being more government and more taxes and the solution never being accountability .
So it ’ s just , I mean , it ’ s a shame what happened to Richmond in the last four months or five months .
It ’ s turned into a war zone .
It ’ s an embarrassment .
It ’ s not safe .
Fredericks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ taking the positions that you ’ re in and running in a very liberal , very Democratic city in the First District .
How are those going to play out ?
Dickinson : Well , I know President Trump got 4,300 votes here in just this district in 2016 .
So there are votes to be had .
I know that the two people I ’ m running against , there ’ s one guy who ’ s very liberal .
He marched with Black Lives Matter .
He supports all of this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an incumbent , but he ’ s voted to raise taxes .
He said defunding the police is a good idea .
My whole argument is we need to double down and support law enforcement .
We need to support the rule of law .
And we need to get into this idea that more government is not the answer .
Accountability is the answer , not more government .
So going through and talking to people in the First District , a lot of people feel that way .
But a lot @ @ @ @ @ @ @ publicly , or they are afraid to put signs up .
The amount of intimidation that people in the First District are feeling from their liberal neighbors , from the mayor , from these psychotic people on the left .
It ’ s unreal .
People tell me every day I put your sign out , and I put a President Trump sign out , but my neighbors have a problem with me .
I don ’ t want to be a target .
So it ’ s almost , you know , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that way because of these people on the left are acting so nuts .
Fredericks : Mike tell me about you said that President Trump got four 4,300 votes in 2016 in District One .
Offhand , do you know how many of the incumbents ?
Dickinson : I believe , that was a two-way race in 2016 , and there are about 13,000 voters in the district between two people .
They believe Addison got like 7,000 or 8,000 votes .
But that was between two people .
This race is between @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and one conservative .
So if we can pull President Trump and maybe flip a few other people who are upset about this threat to public safety we ’ re going to be in good shape .
Fredericks : So you get 6,000 votes and then the other vote is split .
And then you ’ re able to win .
Is that is it the same as mayor ?
Do you have to get 50 percent plus one or go to runoff or is it a plurality ?
Dickinson : Is this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , it ’ s none .
If you like to break 50 percent to win .
Fredericks : Right ?
So you could be 40-30-30 and the guy with 40 percent or so wins , right ?
Fredericks : It sounds like you got a heck of a shot there because you got two liberals running on the same thing .
One trying to out left-wing the other one .
And you got one person talking reason .
Now , are you knocking on doors ?
Tell us about your campaign .
Dickinson @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
We ’ re putting door hangers out .
We ’ re talking to the people who we see on the street .
We ’ re putting out yard signs .
We ’ re not just campaigning .
We ’ re actually trying to engage the fight before we even get elected .
You know , we pushed back on the plan to paint Black Lives Matter on a public street downtown .
So using the same permit process they use , I filed to have Babies Lives Matter painted in front of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which is in my district using the same , you know , the process that they use .
And they were stopped in their tracks because the mayor and the city council didn ’ t want to allow mine , so they had to stop everybody .
( Fredericks chuckles ) So I ’ m not just campaigning .
I ’ m already trying to put skin in the game and get on the front lines to fight back .
Fredericks : Well that ’ s called activism .
Right ?
So you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ used the same jargon that they do and the same paperwork to file for your own mural Babies Lives Matter in front of Planned Parenthood .
They didn ’ t want that .
They got rid of the Black Lives Matter mural .
We ran that on The Virginia Star as one of our headlines , and I thought it was a fabulous thing that you did .
And it basically shows that you ’ re basically in this thing to win .
Mike Dickinson in this to win it .
No question @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to me you need about 5,500 votes .
I think you , I think you ’ re going to get there .
Your baseline is for 4,300 .
Trump ’ s going to have a bigger turnout .
But I would have to think there ’ s a lot of people in that ward that have got to be upset with what has happened .
I mean kids aren ’ t in school .
Basically , if you ’ re in Richmond , you will not be in school for an entire year @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a child ’ s development Mike .
A year .
Because they went out in the first week in March , and they ’ ve already , he said the school board and Stoney already said that the earliest they are going back is the middle of January earliest .
That ’ s a year .
Dickinson : It ’ s absolutely crazy .
It ’ s absolutely crazy that they ’ ve done this , and they ’ re setting the kids back so far .
These are kids that they need @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a regimen and not only that , it ’ s also an unfair process too .
Many of these parents work , and each parent works a job for the kids that have two parents .
In the kids that are single parents , single parents the mom or dad has to work during the day to support them .
So , you know nobody at the school board or the mayor , nobody thought about the implications on the families and people .
But the thing that ’ s crazy is the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you a higher tax bill this year .
My taxes , my personal property assessment for my house went up 14 percent .
So it ’ s absolutely crazy that the government thinks they can give us fewer and fewer services .
And less quality of services and make us pay more every time .
Fredericks : Yeah , if there isn ’ t any school then why are your property taxes going up ?
They shut down businesses , so they ’ re not getting any tax revenue .
Well , what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ?
I mean these people are more moronic .
They ’ re moronic .
Fredericks : So now do you have any debate schedule any forums ?
How ’ s that work ?
Dickinson : We ’ ve been doing a lot of online forums with community groups .
And I mean , basically , we need a better and bigger Republican and conservative presence in Richmond because every one of these forums that we have is some left-wing organization .
( Fredericks chuckles ) And I get asked a million times about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ?
Should Richmond have , you know , high taxes to support this ?
Should we have more this and that ?
Instead of getting asked questions about really the core of government and what we need to be worrying about , which is delivering goods services at the lowest cost possible and defending our constitutional rights , because that ’ s been something else the mayor of Richmond has been on the warpath against .
Restricting our constitutional rights to defend ourselves .
I never get asked any of that in any @ @ @ @ @ @ @ organization has it , and we can ’ t get anything together for a Republican forum .
We need a stronger presence .
I ’ m trying to do that whether I win , which I hope I will , or lose .
I ’ m trying to be a strong presence and have an organization going forward that can really push back on everything .
And try to be somebody that supports President Trump and supports his plan .
Listen to the full show here :

Live from Virginia Monday morning on The John Fredericks Show – weekdays on WNTW AM 820/ FM 92.7 – Richmond, WJFN FM 100.5 – Central Virginia, WMPH AM 1010 / FM 100.1 / FM 96.9 (7-9 PM) Hampton Roads, WBRG AM 1050 / FM 105.1 – Lynchburg/Roanoke and Weekdays 6-10 am and 24/7 Stream – host Fredericks welcomed candidate for the city council of Richmond Mike Dickinson to the show to discuss his campaign and the fight to save his city from the left-wing liberals holding the government to a standard of accountability.
Fredericks: Joining us now is Mike Dickinson. Mike is a candidate for city council in Richmond. He’s going to tell you all about it. What ward it is and all that good stuff. And he’s already made some headlines by threatening to do a mural of Babies Lives Matter. And then the Black Lives Matter mural was stopped in its tracks. And he did that by himself. And he’s joining us now. Mike Dickinson great to have you, Mike.
Dickinson: Always great to be here on your show. Great respect for you and great respect for your your show and everything you do and stand up for.
Fredericks: Mike tell us about your campaign.
Dickinson: I’m running in the First District of Richmond, which is everything to the west pretty much of the Boulevard. It’s the Museum District, Windsor Farms, Mary Mumford, and all the way down to the University of Richmond. I feel good about it. We’ve been out there talking to people who were just sick of this. Sick of this incompetent government we have here in Richmond.
Sick of a mayor that’s not letting the police do their job. Sick of always the solution as being more government and more taxes and the solution never being accountability. So it’s just, I mean, it’s a shame what happened to Richmond in the last four months or five months. It’s turned into a war zone. It’s an embarrassment. It’s not safe.
Fredericks: So running for city council and taking the positions that you’re in and running in a very liberal, very Democratic city in the First District. How are those going to play out?
Dickinson: Well, I know President Trump got 4,300 votes here in just this district in 2016. So there are votes to be had. I know that the two people I’m running against, there’s one guy who’s very liberal. He marched with Black Lives Matter. He supports all of this destruction. The other guy’s an incumbent, but he’s voted to raise taxes.
He said defunding the police is a good idea. My whole argument is we need to double down and support law enforcement. We need to support the rule of law. And we need to get into this idea that more government is not the answer. Accountability is the answer, not more government. So going through and talking to people in the First District, a lot of people feel that way.
But a lot of people won’t tell you publicly, or they are afraid to put signs up. The amount of intimidation that people in the First District are feeling from their liberal neighbors, from the mayor, from these psychotic people on the left. It’s unreal. People tell me every day I put your sign out, and I put a President Trump sign out, but my neighbors have a problem with me. I don’t want to be a target. So it’s almost, you know, a form of intimidation and voter suppression that way because of these people on the left are acting so nuts.
Fredericks: Mike tell me about you said that President Trump got four 4,300 votes in 2016 in District One. Offhand, do you know how many of the incumbents?
Dickinson: I believe, that was a two-way race in 2016, and there are about 13,000 voters in the district between two people. They believe Addison got like 7,000 or 8,000 votes. But that was between two people. This race is between three people. Two fairly liberal people and one conservative. So if we can pull President Trump and maybe flip a few other people who are upset about this threat to public safety we’re going to be in good shape.
Fredericks: So you get 6,000 votes and then the other vote is split. And then you’re able to win. Is that is it the same as mayor? Do you have to get 50 percent plus one or go to runoff or is it a plurality?
Dickinson: Is this the plurality? It’s not, it’s none. If you like to break 50 percent to win.
Fredericks: Right? So you could be 40-30-30 and the guy with 40 percent or so wins, right?
Dickinson: Yes. That’s yeah, right.
Fredericks: It sounds like you got a heck of a shot there because you got two liberals running on the same thing. One trying to out left-wing the other one. And you got one person talking reason. Now, are you knocking on doors? Tell us about your campaign.
Dickinson: We’re knocking on doors. We’re putting door hangers out. We’re talking to the people who we see on the street. We’re putting out yard signs. We’re not just campaigning. We’re actually trying to engage the fight before we even get elected. You know, we pushed back on the plan to paint Black Lives Matter on a public street downtown.
So using the same permit process they use, I filed to have Babies Lives Matter painted in front of Planned Parenthood here on Hamilton Street, which is in my district using the same, you know, the process that they use. And they were stopped in their tracks because the mayor and the city council didn’t want to allow mine, so they had to stop everybody. (Fredericks chuckles) So I’m not just campaigning. I’m already trying to put skin in the game and get on the front lines to fight back.
Fredericks: Well that’s called activism. Right? So you fought back the right way and you used the same jargon that they do and the same paperwork to file for your own mural Babies Lives Matter in front of Planned Parenthood. They didn’t want that. They got rid of the Black Lives Matter mural. We ran that on The Virginia Star as one of our headlines, and I thought it was a fabulous thing that you did.
And it basically shows that you’re basically in this thing to win. Mike Dickinson in this to win it. No question. So you basically need about seems to me you need about 5,500 votes. I think you, I think you’re going to get there. Your baseline is for 4,300. Trump’s going to have a bigger turnout. But I would have to think there’s a lot of people in that ward that have got to be upset with what has happened.
I mean kids aren’t in school. Basically, if you’re in Richmond, you will not be in school for an entire year. Think about what that does to a child’s development Mike. A year. Because they went out in the first week in March, and they’ve already, he said the school board and Stoney already said that the earliest they are going back is the middle of January earliest. That’s a year.
Dickinson: It’s absolutely crazy. It’s absolutely crazy that they’ve done this, and they’re setting the kids back so far. These are kids that they need to be in school. They need a regimen and not only that, it’s also an unfair process too. Many of these parents work, and each parent works a job for the kids that have two parents.
In the kids that are single parents, single parents the mom or dad has to work during the day to support them. So, you know nobody at the school board or the mayor, nobody thought about the implications on the families and people. But the thing that’s crazy is the government of Richmond has no problem sending you a higher tax bill this year. My taxes, my personal property assessment for my house went up 14 percent. So it’s absolutely crazy that the government thinks they can give us fewer and fewer services. And less quality of services and make us pay more every time.
Fredericks: Yeah, if there isn’t any school then why are your property taxes going up? They shut down businesses, so they’re not getting any tax revenue. Well, what do they expect is going to happen? I mean these people are more moronic. They’re moronic.
Dickinson: Yes. Yes.
Fredericks: So now do you have any debate schedule any forums? How’s that work?
Dickinson: We’ve been doing a lot of online forums with community groups. And I mean, basically, we need a better and bigger Republican and conservative presence in Richmond because every one of these forums that we have is some left-wing organization. (Fredericks chuckles) And I get asked a million times about should Richmond have a Green New Deal?
Should Richmond have, you know, high taxes to support this? Should we have more this and that? Instead of getting asked questions about really the core of government and what we need to be worrying about, which is delivering goods services at the lowest cost possible and defending our constitutional rights, because that’s been something else the mayor of Richmond has been on the warpath against.
Restricting our constitutional rights to defend ourselves. I never get asked any of that in any of these forums, because every left-wing organization has it, and we can’t get anything together for a Republican forum. We need a stronger presence. I’m trying to do that whether I win, which I hope I will, or lose. I’m trying to be a strong presence and have an organization going forward that can really push back on everything. And try to be somebody that supports President Trump and supports his plan.
Listen to the full show here:


thetennesseestar--2020-10-06--More Madness in Virginia’s School Systems: Free Speech… Unless We Disagree

The Loudoun County School Board will vote on a policy silencing employees who disagree with racial equity practices .
The proposal would extend the school ’ s jurisdiction onto off-campus speech , including social media , speeches , and any written forms of communication .
The new policy would govern employee speech “ during and after school or work hours , whether on or off school board property , including the property of any school , office , or facility.
” This proposal then goes on to outline its commitment to “ an equitable and inclusive work and educational environment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and dismantling of white supremacy , systemic racism , and language and actions motivated by race , religion , country of origin , gender identity , sexual orientation , and/or ability.
” Further down , the proposal adds : Nothing in this policy or any other policy shall be interpreted as abridging an employee ’ s First Amendment right to engage in protect speech , however based upon an individualized inquiry , speech , including not limited to via social media , on matters of public concern , may be outweighed by the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ includes ] achieving consistent application of the Board ’ s and Superintendent ’ s stated mission , goals , policies and directives , including protected class equity , racial equity , and the goal to root out systemic racism .
Geary Higgins , Loudoun County Board Supervisor and previous Loudoun School Board member , told the The Virginia Star that the policy is the unfortunate result of people ’ s elected choices .
“ We elected a bunch of people that are extremely liberal in the last round of elections .
We ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ re tearing down history .
But elections have consequences , and I hope people realize they ’ re not doing any favors with the press ahead of elections , ” stated Higgins .
“ How does this not run afoul of the first amendment ?
I perhaps understand on the job site not delving into politics , but how can you not have alternative viewpoints discussed off school property ?
You ’ re not gon na allow that either ?
” Several weeks ago , Loudoun County Public Schools ( LCPS ) apologized @ @ @ @ @ @ @ its hopes for future reparations .
LCPS has also spent $ 422,500 over the past two years training its staff on critical race theory .
Higgins shared that community members are planning to hold a rally protesting the policy on the same day as the board vote .
The board will vote on the policy October 13th .
Corinne Murdock is an author at The Virginia Star and the Star News Network .
Follow her latest on Twitter , or email tips to [ email protected ] .
Photo “ Loudoun Schools ” @ @ @ @ @

The Loudoun County School Board will vote on a policy silencing employees who disagree with racial equity practices. The proposal would extend the school’s jurisdiction onto off-campus speech, including social media, speeches, and any written forms of communication.
The new policy would govern employee speech “during and after school or work hours, whether on or off school board property, including the property of any school, office, or facility.”
This proposal then goes on to outline its commitment to “an equitable and inclusive work and educational environment,” which is “the disruption and dismantling of white supremacy, systemic racism, and language and actions motivated by race, religion, country of origin, gender identity, sexual orientation, and/or ability.”
Further down, the proposal adds:
Nothing in this policy or any other policy shall be interpreted as abridging an employee’s First Amendment right to engage in protect speech, however based upon an individualized inquiry, speech, including not limited to via social media, on matters of public concern, may be outweighed by the school division’s interest… [which includes] achieving consistent application of the Board’s and Superintendent’s stated mission, goals, policies and directives, including protected class equity, racial equity, and the goal to root out systemic racism.
Geary Higgins, Loudoun County Board Supervisor and previous Loudoun School Board member, told the The Virginia Star that the policy is the unfortunate result of people’s elected choices.
“We elected a bunch of people that are extremely liberal in the last round of elections. We’re tearing down statues, we’re tearing down history. But elections have consequences, and I hope people realize they’re not doing any favors with the press ahead of elections,” stated Higgins. “How does this not run afoul of the first amendment? I perhaps understand on the job site not delving into politics, but how can you not have alternative viewpoints discussed off school property? You’re not gonna allow that either?”
Several weeks ago, Loudoun County Public Schools (LCPS) apologized for its segregation in the past and its hopes for future reparations. LCPS has also spent $422,500 over the past two years training its staff on critical race theory.
Higgins shared that community members are planning to hold a rally protesting the policy on the same day as the board vote.
The board will vote on the policy October 13th.
– – –
Corinne Murdock is an author at The Virginia Star and the Star News Network. Follow her latest on Twitter, or email tips to [email protected].
Photo “Loudoun Schools” by Loudoun County Schools.


thetennesseestar--2020-10-06--Enough is Enough: Tim Hugo Announces His Run for Lieutenant Governor and a Campaign of Common Sense

Enough is Enough: Tim Hugo Announces His Run for Lieutenant Governor and a Campaign of Common Sense Conservative Approaches for Virginia

Live from Virginia Monday morning on The John Fredericks Show – weekdays on WNTW AM 820/ FM 92.7 – Richmond , WJFN FM 100.5 – Central Virginia , WMPH AM 1010 / FM 100.1 / FM 96.9 ( 7-9 PM ) Hampton Roads , WBRG AM 1050 / FM 105.1 – Lynchburg/Roanoke and Weekdays 6-10 am and 24/7 Stream – host Fredericks welcomed Northern Virginia ’ s House Delegates member Tim Hugo to the show .
During the show , Hugo described the focus of his campaign for Lieutenant Governor of Virginia and how Virginians are now having buyers remorse @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was passionate about returning back to conservative common sense values to help restore Virginia to its former greatness before Democrats were handed the key to the city .
Fredericks : Joining us now , Tim , you go former House of Delegates member from Northern Virginia .
Now , he ’ s got a big announcement to make .
Tim great to have you , man .
Hugo : John , good to be back , my friend .
Thanks for having us .
Fredericks : Polls are closing in Virginia .
We @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for Trump .
I think it ’ s going to be very close .
Our polls have us down right now by about three .
Plus we got a great ground game .
So I ’ m kind of excited about what ’ s going on , but I understand that you ’ ve got a big announcement to make Tim Hugo .
Hugo : Well , I think the polls are good .
Then we ’ re going to see what happens in November , John .
And I hope if every @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
I think the President ’ s going to do fine .
I believe that .
But now what ?
Fredericks : We ’ re going to shock the world .
Hugo : Well , I think so , I believe so buddy .
I ’ m going to get out in the next year that John you ’ re the first .
The press release is going out right about now .
We ’ re announcing officially that I ’ m running for lieutenant governor in 2021 .
Fredericks : Ah , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s great , Tim .
That is fantastic .
Obviously , if you ’ re running a campaign for lieutenant governor , you ’ re not going to spend the time and the effort 13 months out here to do this if you didn ’ t think it ’ s winnable .
Hugo : It is winnable .
I think Virginians are having a little bit of buyer ’ s remorse .
If you look at what ’ s happened in , John , I think this will be a problem at the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Democrats nationally all three branches , the House the Senate and the presidency like we ’ ve done in Virginia .
We give them the governorship , the House , the Senate , we will be in a jam nationally like we ’ re in a jam in Virginia .
If you look at what they ’ ve done this year in Virginia , whether it ’ s a Second Amendment .
Or whether it ’ s life .
Or whether it ’ s taxes .
Or whether it ’ s business .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ law enforcement , they have taken things so far to the left that I do believe people are having buyer ’ s remorse .
And what we ’ re going to talk about next year , and start talking about right after the election , is common-sense conservative approaches to law enforcement , to business , and to life .
To the things we all believe .
And I ’ m going to get out there and make that case around Fairfax County around Virginia Beach and Hampton Roads and all over the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ think the biggest issue is when you say buyer ’ s remorse ?
Define that for me , Tim Hugo .
Hugo : Well , I think , John , I think one of the things that gets me and one of the things that push me over the edge if you ’ ve been to Richmond lately , it ’ s not just the monuments .
It ’ s not the monuments .
Drive down Broad Street .
It ’ s the people that are making money in Richmond right now .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ paint because Broad Street , which was the thoroughfare of the capital , is boarded up for about two miles .
And it ’ s nothing but graffiti and profanity .
It ’ s , you know , everything from how the police are awful .
Talking about this and that .
And I think that ’ s wrong .
And I ’ ve talked to some of these police officers too , and I think this is where it ’ s going to hit home too .
Some of the police were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we ’ re sitting in our cars because we know the police chief and the politicians aren ’ t going to support us .
So what do you mean ?
We ’ re not doing the proactive policing now .
Some of them are not , and I ’ m not sure I blame them , because they ’ re worried that if they go out there and proactively actively their homes are going to be in jeopardy legally .
They ’ re going to be in jeopardy with their families and I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ got to worry about I think .
John if you want to talk about buyer ’ s remorse talk about what they ’ ve done on business regulation and business taxes .
We had some of the best and Virginia was number one in business .
I can guarantee you next year won ’ t be .
When you talk about what they ’ ve done on business issues and in the business community , I believe didn ’ t think it was going to be as bad .
Now they are sitting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ What have we done ?
I think some of the business community is woken up , and they ’ ve it ’ s like the guy with the hangover and a lampshade on his head .
What did we do last night ?
We gave these guys the keys to Virginia and they ’ ve driven it off the cliff .
And what we ’ re going to do John is come back to common sense things .
Common sense conservative principles that I think makes sense for families .
I ’ m @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people are sitting around their kitchen table .
And it ’ s business and jobs and it ’ s schools and it ’ s education .
It ’ s transportation and taxes .
And you know for 17 years , you know in Fairfax County , the conservatives like me , the business community like me .
That ’ s sometimes that ’ s a difficult road to hold , but we were able to do it .
And that ’ s what I ’ m going to try to bring to Virginia @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a fight .
And if we don ’ t fight John who will ?
We ’ ve got to step up and say this is what ’ s right .
This is what ’ s right for Virginia .
And we believe in it so much that we ’ re going out there and take it to everybody and say what we believe in and fight for it .
And that ’ s why I was here over a year early want to do the right thing .
Fredericks : That has been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ us which is that the Republicans in Richmond really don ’ t fight anything .
They ’ ve been very silent .
And I mean one of the things that Amanda Chase said ’ and she ’ s the favorite right now running for governor .
She ’ s the favorite to be the nominee .
It ’ s not a done deal .
Long time to go .
A lot of people going to get into the race .
But she ’ s the favorite .
She said we needed to change @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to crickets .
So you have to fight .
And I believe that ’ s , you know , part of the message .
Tim , When we ’ re knocking on doors , one of the things that we ’ re hearing is people are very upset and concerned about the special session that ’ s going on in perpetuity .
Because everybody remembers that in Virginia a special session is either for a veto session , or it ’ s to redo a budget .
There ’ s a crisis .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
It ’ s a week max .
Everybody gets out .
Now , it ’ s just going on like Congress .
They ’ re never going to end it .
And the governor ’ s got all these powers .
They won ’ t even talk about that .
And so a lot of people that doors that we ’ re talking to are saying like , why are we there in a special session talking about defunding cops ?
What is your response to that ?
Hugo : Absolutely it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fund employees and they ’ re talking about taking away the tools from police that they need to do .
Are there things proactive we can do to make changes to improve police ?
Sure .
But defunding the police and taking away the tools from the police and basically telling the police , you know , we don ’ t want you going into neighborhoods .
That ’ s outrageous .
And John somebody ’ s going to get hurt .
And it might be , I hope it ’ s not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s not my family .
I hope it ’ s not anybody ’ s family .
But somebody ’ s going to get hurt because when you see what ’ s happening in New York , Minneapolis , and Seattle with the police .
Crime is going up .
And I just ask everybody , if you have a chance , go to Richmond and drive down Broad Street and read the graffiti .
Hugo : Two miles up and down Broad Street .
You know , what has the mayor done ?
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ there and it ’ s a symbol of what they think about the police .
And it ’ s a symbol of what they think about the people .
And I think that ’ s kind of the thing that we ’ ve got to say enough is enough .
And if I ’ ve got one motto that I ’ m going to talk about the next 12 , 13 , 14 months .
It ’ s enough is enough .
We ’ ve had too much .
We got buyer ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ We are going to stop this going to the left .
We are going to come back to the common sense conservatism .
Talk about things that people care about and that ’ s taking care of law enforcement , our families , and our jobs .
And not all this stuff that ’ s gone so far to the left with Bernie Sanders and everybody else .
It ’ s not Bill Clinton ’ s party anymore .
It ’ s AOC ’ s party of the Democrats and I think that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the full segment here :

Live from Virginia Monday morning on The John Fredericks Show – weekdays on WNTW AM 820/ FM 92.7 – Richmond, WJFN FM 100.5 – Central Virginia, WMPH AM 1010 / FM 100.1 / FM 96.9 (7-9 PM) Hampton Roads, WBRG AM 1050 / FM 105.1 – Lynchburg/Roanoke and Weekdays 6-10 am and 24/7 Stream – host Fredericks welcomed Northern Virginia’s House Delegates member Tim Hugo to the show.
During the show, Hugo described the focus of his campaign for Lieutenant Governor of Virginia and how Virginians are now having buyers remorse with their current elected officials. He was passionate about returning back to conservative common sense values to help restore Virginia to its former greatness before Democrats were handed the key to the city.
Fredericks: Joining us now, Tim, you go former House of Delegates member from Northern Virginia. Now, he’s got a big announcement to make. Tim great to have you, man.
Hugo: John, good to be back, my friend. Thanks for having us.
Fredericks: Polls are closing in Virginia. We actually have a shot to carry it for Trump. I think it’s going to be very close. Our polls have us down right now by about three. Plus we got a great ground game. So I’m kind of excited about what’s going on, but I understand that you’ve got a big announcement to make Tim Hugo.
Hugo: Well, I think the polls are good. Then we’re going to see what happens in November, John. And I hope if every all your listeners get out and vote. I think the President’s going to do fine. I believe that. But now what?
Fredericks: We’re going to shock the world.
Hugo: Well, I think so, I believe so buddy. I’m going to get out in the next year that John you’re the first. The press release is going out right about now. We’re announcing officially that I’m running for lieutenant governor in 2021.
Fredericks: Ah, that’s great! That’s great, Tim. That is fantastic. Obviously, if you’re running a campaign for lieutenant governor, you’re not going to spend the time and the effort 13 months out here to do this if you didn’t think it’s winnable.
Hugo: It is winnable. I think Virginians are having a little bit of buyer’s remorse. If you look at what’s happened in, John, I think this will be a problem at the national level. If we give the Democrats nationally all three branches, the House the Senate and the presidency like we’ve done in Virginia. We give them the governorship, the House, the Senate, we will be in a jam nationally like we’re in a jam in Virginia. If you look at what they’ve done this year in Virginia, whether it’s a Second Amendment.
Or whether it’s life. Or whether it’s taxes. Or whether it’s business. Or whether it’s police and law enforcement, they have taken things so far to the left that I do believe people are having buyer’s remorse. And what we’re going to talk about next year, and start talking about right after the election, is common-sense conservative approaches to law enforcement, to business, and to life. To the things we all believe. And I’m going to get out there and make that case around Fairfax County around Virginia Beach and Hampton Roads and all over the state.
Fredericks: What do you think the biggest issue is when you say buyer’s remorse? Define that for me, Tim Hugo.
Hugo: Well, I think, John, I think one of the things that gets me and one of the things that push me over the edge if you’ve been to Richmond lately, it’s not just the monuments. It’s not the monuments. Drive down Broad Street. It’s the people that are making money in Richmond right now. The people who sell plywood and spray paint because Broad Street, which was the thoroughfare of the capital, is boarded up for about two miles.
And it’s nothing but graffiti and profanity. It’s, you know, everything from how the police are awful. Talking about this and that. And I think that’s wrong. And I’ve talked to some of these police officers too, and I think this is where it’s going to hit home too. Some of the police were saying they’re like, Tim we’re sitting in our cars because we know the police chief and the politicians aren’t going to support us.
So what do you mean? We’re not doing the proactive policing now. Some of them are not, and I’m not sure I blame them, because they’re worried that if they go out there and proactively actively their homes are going to be in jeopardy legally. They’re going to be in jeopardy with their families and I think these are things we’ve got to worry about I think. John if you want to talk about buyer’s remorse talk about what they’ve done on business regulation and business taxes. We had some of the best and Virginia was number one in business. I can guarantee you next year won’t be.
When you talk about what they’ve done on business issues and in the business community, I believe didn’t think it was going to be as bad. Now they are sitting there saying, oh my gosh. What have we done? I think some of the business community is woken up, and they’ve it’s like the guy with the hangover and a lampshade on his head. What did we do last night? We gave these guys the keys to Virginia and they’ve driven it off the cliff.
And what we’re going to do John is come back to common sense things. Common sense conservative principles that I think makes sense for families. I’m talking about things that are important when people are sitting around their kitchen table. And it’s business and jobs and it’s schools and it’s education. It’s transportation and taxes. And you know for 17 years, you know in Fairfax County, the conservatives like me, the business community like me.
That’s sometimes that’s a difficult road to hold, but we were able to do it. And that’s what I’m going to try to bring to Virginia because I think we’ve got a fight. And if we don’t fight John who will? We’ve got to step up and say this is what’s right. This is what’s right for Virginia. And we believe in it so much that we’re going out there and take it to everybody and say what we believe in and fight for it. And that’s why I was here over a year early want to do the right thing.
Fredericks: That has been the one thing aggravating a lot of us which is that the Republicans in Richmond really don’t fight anything. They’ve been very silent. And I mean one of the things that Amanda Chase said’ and she’s the favorite right now running for governor. She’s the favorite to be the nominee. It’s not a done deal. Long time to go. A lot of people going to get into the race. But she’s the favorite. She said we needed to change the Virginia GOP logo from an elephant to crickets. So you have to fight. And I believe that’s, you know, part of the message.
Tim, When we’re knocking on doors, one of the things that we’re hearing is people are very upset and concerned about the special session that’s going on in perpetuity. Because everybody remembers that in Virginia a special session is either for a veto session, or it’s to redo a budget. There’s a crisis. It’s a couple of days. It’s a week max. Everybody gets out. Now, it’s just going on like Congress. They’re never going to end it. And the governor’s got all these powers. They won’t even talk about that. And so a lot of people that doors that we’re talking to are saying like, why are we there in a special session talking about defunding cops? What is your response to that?
Hugo: Absolutely it’s outrageous that were coming to fund employees and they’re talking about taking away the tools from police that they need to do. Are there things proactive we can do to make changes to improve police? Sure. But defunding the police and taking away the tools from the police and basically telling the police, you know, we don’t want you going into neighborhoods.
That’s outrageous. And John somebody’s going to get hurt. And it might be, I hope it’s not your family. I hope it’s not my family. I hope it’s not anybody’s family. But somebody’s going to get hurt because when you see what’s happening in New York, Minneapolis, and Seattle with the police. Crime is going up. And I just ask everybody, if you have a chance, go to Richmond and drive down Broad Street and read the graffiti.
Fredericks: It’s disgusting.
Hugo: Two miles up and down Broad Street. You know, what has the mayor done? Nothing. He’s left it there and it’s a symbol of what they think about the police. And it’s a symbol of what they think about the people. And I think that’s kind of the thing that we’ve got to say enough is enough. And if I’ve got one motto that I’m going to talk about the next 12, 13, 14 months. It’s enough is enough.
We’ve had too much. We got buyer’s remorse. Enough is enough. We are going to stop this going to the left. We are going to come back to the common sense conservatism. Talk about things that people care about and that’s taking care of law enforcement, our families, and our jobs. And not all this stuff that’s gone so far to the left with Bernie Sanders and everybody else. It’s not Bill Clinton’s party anymore. It’s AOC’s party of the Democrats and I think that’s the problem.
Fredericks: Exactly.
Listen to the full segment here:


thetennesseestar--2020-10-07--Davidson County Election Commission Has Not Yet Identified Section of Tennessee Code That Authorizes

Davidson County Election Commission Has Not Yet Identified Section of Tennessee Code That Authorizes Change of Date for Nashville Taxpayer Protection Act Referendum

The Davidson County Election Commission has not yet specified the section of the Tennessee Code Annotated ( the most recent compilation of all of the current statutes of the state ) by which it has the authority to change the “ conditional date ” of the Nashville Taxpayer Protection Act election referendum from December 5–the date specified for the election in the petition signed by 27,000 residents of Davidson County , verified by the commission , and certified by the Metro Clerk ’ s Office–to December 15 .
The Nashville Taxpayer Protection Act referendum , if approved , would roll @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 34 to 37 percent tax increase .
At the September 25 meeting at which the commission voted to seek a declaratory judgment from the Davidson County Chancery Court that the Nashville Taxpayer Protection Act was not legally sufficient and unconstitutional , chose not to set a referendum election date of December 5 , 2020 , as is their ministerial duty under both Tennessee law , the Metro Charter , and Tennessee Supreme Court precedent , but instead chose to set a “ conditional ” election date of December 15 , 2020 , Davidson @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reference to an earlier comment by Davidson County Election Administrator Jeff Reynolds as to the date on which the “ conditional ” election date could be set .
“ You have suggested to us , and this is based on the Tennessee Code , we can set an election date that is not earlier than November 30 and not later than December 15 .
Do you have a recommendation for us to consider ?
” Chairman Reynolds asked “ Yes , we would recommend to the commission December 15 as the date , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ beginning at the 2:05 mark of the tape , which can be viewed below ) A review of the preceding two hours of the videotaped meeting did not immediately reveal Reynolds making that comment , nor of his specifying the relevant portion of the Tennessee Code Annotated used as the basis for Reynolds ’ s comment .
As of late Tuesday , Election Administrator Roberts did not cite which portion of the Tennessee Code Annotated gave Nashville Election commissioners the power to move the date .
Roberts did not respond Tuesday to The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ obtain the citation of the specific section of the Tennessee Code Annotated that was cited by Chairman Reynolds in the September 25 meeting as the authorization for moving the election referendum date to December 15 .
The Star reported extensively on Tuesday about the underlying Metro Charter provisions and Tennessee Code Annotated on the legal requirements for the setting the date of an election referendum : Attorney Jim Roberts and Americans for Prosperity-Tennessee filed more than 20,000 petitions to place the referendum to amend the charter on the ballot on August 27 .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ verified that the petition contained the requisite 11,000 signatures needed to place it on the ballot .
The Davidson County Metro Clerk ’ s Office verified those signatures on September 17 .
Section 19.01 of the Nashville Davidson County Metro Charter describes the legal duties of the Davidson County Election Commission subsequent to that certification : [ U ] pon petition filed with the metropolitan clerk , signed by ten ( 10 ) per cent of the number of the registered voters of Nashville-Davidson County voting in the preceding general election , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by the Davidson County Election Commission and certified to the metropolitan clerk .
Such resolution or petition shall also prescribe a date not less than eighty ( 80 ) [ days ] subsequent to the date of its filing for the holding of a referendum election at which the electorate of the metropolitan government will vote to ratify or to reject the amendments proposed .
The metropolitan clerk shall immediately certify to the county commissioners of election copy of such resolution or petition and it shall thereupon be the duty of said commissioners @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with respect thereto .
The ballot shall be prepared so as to set forth a brief description of the amendment worded so as to convey the meaning of said amendment , said description to be set forth in the original amendatory resolution , that the language of each amendment in full be posted conspicuously in the voting place and be published in a local newspaper , numbered as the same is numbered in the resolution of the council or in the petition , and to provide the voters a choice to vote “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” of each proposed amendment .
The charter clearly states that “ The metropolitan clerk shall immediately certify to the county commissioners of election copy of such resolution or petition , ” a certification that was accomplished on September 17 .
Notably , the petition was in compliance with the charter requirement that it set a date certain for the holding of the referendum election that was “ not less than eighty ( 80 ) days subsequent to the date of its filing.
” The date specified in the petition to hold the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the petition was filed on August 27 , and December 5 is “ not less than eighty days subsequent to ” August 27 , the charter is clear December 5 is the date the election commission should have set for the election .
After that certification , “ it shall thereupon be the duty of said commissioners of election to hold a referendum election with respect thereto.
” But , as The Star reported , the Davidson County Election Commission voted three to two on September 25 not to perform its duty as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hold a referendum election with respect ” to the petition of the Nashville Taxpayer Protection Act : On Monday , Cooper – who served as Tennessee Attorney General from 2006 to 2014 and is a graduate of Yale Law School – issued a legal opinion that said , in part , that “ the proposed charter amendment [ the Nashville Taxpayer Protection Act referendum that would , among other things , repeal the recently enacted 34 percent property tax increase ] is not legal and enforceable ” and is “ defective in form @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and local laws in [ various ] ways.
” Cooper noted that the Davidson County Election Commission decided in a three to two vote at its September 25 meeting to “ seek a declaratory judgment from Davidson County Chancery Court on the proposed amendment ’ s legal validity and set a conditional referendum date for December 15.
” At the September 25 meeting , Election Administrator Jeff Roberts told the election commission that “ based on the Tennessee Code ” it could set the “ conditional date ” for the referendum election between @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2 , Chapter 3 , Part 2 , Section 204 of the Tennessee Code Annotated states the law in Tennessee on place and times of elections , specifically for elections on questions : ( a ) Elections on questions submitted to the people shall be held on dates set by the county election commission but not less than forty-five ( 45 ) days nor more than sixty ( 60 ) days after the county election commission is directed to hold the election under the law authorizing or requiring the election on the question @ @ @ @ @ @ @ held in more than one ( 1 ) county , the county election commissions shall meet and set the date jointly .
( b ) Resolutions , ordinances or petitions requiring the holding of elections on questions submitted to the people which are to be held with the regular August election , the regular November election , any regularly scheduled municipal election or the presidential preference primary shall be filed with the county election commission not less than sixty ( 60 ) days prior to such election .
( c ) If the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , as set by a county election commission or by two ( 2 ) or more commissions jointly , falls within thirty ( 30 ) days of an upcoming regular primary or general election being held in the jurisdiction voting on the question , the commission or commissions may reset the date of the election on a question to coincide with the regular primary or general election , even though this may be outside of the time period established herein .
All dates dependent on the date of the election shall be adjusted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ done by these dates shall be performed timely if done in accordance with the adjusted dates .
September 17 was the date the county election commission was directed to hold the election under Section 19.01 of the Metro Charter , that direction coming in the form of the certification of the petition by the Nashville Davidson County Metro Clerk ’ s Office .
A petition on an election question certified on September 17 in a county that did not specifically state in its charter , as Metro Nashville Davidson County does , that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the election , would , under state law , be required to schedule that election no more than 45 days nor less than 60 days from September 17 , which would be between November 1 and November 16 .
The law authorizing or requiring the election question – Section 19.01 of the Metro Nashville Davidson Charter – specifies that the petition itself must include the date of the election .
In this instance , the petition states December 5 as the date .
As of Tuesday , October 6 – nineteen days after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ directed to hold the referendum election – the commission has yet to perform its legal duty to schedule the referendum election for the Nashville Taxpayer Protection Act According to the Tennessee Secretary of State ’ s website , members of the Tennessee General Assembly appoint seven members to the State Election Commission ( SEC ) .
Members of the State Election Commission , in turn , appoint five county election commissioners for every county in the state , including Davidson .
The SEC has the authority to remove election commissioners who fail to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ State spokeswoman Julia Bruck told The Star in an email Tuesday that “ removal of local election commissioners by the SEC is rare but has occurred.
” “ In one case , a member was removed for creating a hostile work environment , ” Bruck said .
“ In another instance a member was removed for disparaging remarks about a candidate on the ballot .
The comments were made in the capacity of an election commissioner .
There may be other incidents but staff was busy preparing for early voting next week and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ SEC minutes.
” Bruck did not offer more specifics about who State Election Commissioners removed or when .
As The Star reported Tuesday , members of the Davidson County Election Commission cancelled a meeting they had previously scheduled for Tuesday .
Roberts said the agenda for the now cancelled meeting was a light one .
“ The only thing that we had on the agenda for tomorrow ’ s meeting was my report on the status of the November election so we decided to cancel the meeting , ” Roberts said .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ [ report ] around by email.
” Chris Butler is an investigative journalist at The Tennessee Star .
Follow Chris on Facebook .
Email tips to [ email protected ] Photo “ People Voting ” by Wyofile .
CC BY 2.0 .

The Davidson County Election Commission has not yet specified the section of the Tennessee Code Annotated (the most recent compilation of all of the current statutes of the state) by which it has the authority to change the “conditional date” of the Nashville Taxpayer Protection Act election referendum from December 5–the date specified for the election in the petition signed by 27,000 residents of Davidson County, verified by the commission, and certified by the Metro Clerk’s Office–to December 15.
The Nashville Taxpayer Protection Act referendum, if approved, would roll back Nashville Mayor John Cooper’s 34 to 37 percent tax increase.
At the September 25 meeting at which the commission voted to seek a declaratory judgment from the Davidson County Chancery Court that the Nashville Taxpayer Protection Act was not legally sufficient and unconstitutional, chose not to set a referendum election date of December 5, 2020, as is their ministerial duty under both Tennessee law, the Metro Charter, and Tennessee Supreme Court precedent, but instead chose to set a “conditional” election date of December 15, 2020, Davidson County Election Commission Chairman Emily Reynolds made reference to an earlier comment by Davidson County Election Administrator Jeff Roberts as to the date on which the “conditional” election date could be set.
“You have suggested to us, and this is based on the Tennessee Code, we can set an election date that is not earlier than November 30 and not later than December 15. Do you have a recommendation for us to consider?” Chairman Reynolds asked
“Yes, we would recommend to the commission December 15 as the date,” Election Administrator Roberts answered. (beginning at the 2:05 mark of the tape, which can be viewed below)
A review of the preceding two hours of the videotaped meeting did not immediately reveal Reynolds making that comment, nor of his specifying the relevant portion of the Tennessee Code Annotated used as the basis for Reynolds’s comment.
As of late Tuesday, Election Administrator Roberts did not cite which portion of the Tennessee Code Annotated gave Nashville Election commissioners the power to move the date.
Roberts did not respond Tuesday to The Tennessee Star’s repeated requests to obtain the citation of the specific section of the Tennessee Code Annotated that was cited by Chairman Reynolds in the September 25 meeting as the authorization for moving the election referendum date to December 15.
The Star reported extensively on Tuesday about the underlying Metro Charter provisions and Tennessee Code Annotated on the legal requirements for the setting the date of an election referendum:
Attorney Jim Roberts and Americans for Prosperity-Tennessee filed more than 20,000 petitions to place the referendum to amend the charter on the ballot on August 27. Subsequently, the Davidson County Election Commission verified that the petition contained the requisite 11,000 signatures needed to place it on the ballot. The Davidson County Metro Clerk’s Office verified those signatures on September 17. Section 19.01 of the Nashville Davidson County Metro Charter describes the legal duties of the Davidson County Election Commission subsequent to that certification: [U]pon petition filed with the metropolitan clerk, signed by ten (10) per cent of the number of the registered voters of Nashville-Davidson County voting in the preceding general election, the verification of the signatures to be made by the Davidson County Election Commission and certified to the metropolitan clerk. Such resolution or petition shall also prescribe a date not less than eighty (80) [days] subsequent to the date of its filing for the holding of a referendum election at which the electorate of the metropolitan government will vote to ratify or to reject the amendments proposed. The metropolitan clerk shall immediately certify to the county commissioners of election copy of such resolution or petition and it shall thereupon be the duty of said commissioners of election to hold a referendum election with respect thereto. The ballot shall be prepared so as to set forth a brief description of the amendment worded so as to convey the meaning of said amendment, said description to be set forth in the original amendatory resolution, that the language of each amendment in full be posted conspicuously in the voting place and be published in a local newspaper, numbered as the same is numbered in the resolution of the council or in the petition, and to provide the voters a choice to vote “For Ratification” and “Against Ratification” of each proposed amendment. The charter clearly states that “The metropolitan clerk shall immediately certify to the county commissioners of election copy of such resolution or petition,” a certification that was accomplished on September 17. Notably, the petition was in compliance with the charter requirement that it set a date certain for the holding of the referendum election that was “not less than eighty (80) days subsequent to the date of its filing.” The date specified in the petition to hold the referendum election was December 5. Since the petition was filed on August 27, and December 5 is “not less than eighty days subsequent to” August 27, the charter is clear December 5 is the date the election commission should have set for the election. After that certification, “it shall thereupon be the duty of said commissioners of election to hold a referendum election with respect thereto.” But, as The Star reported, the Davidson County Election Commission voted three to two on September 25 not to perform its duty as set forth in the charter “to hold a referendum election with respect” to the petition of the Nashville Taxpayer Protection Act: On Monday, Cooper – who served as Tennessee Attorney General from 2006 to 2014 and is a graduate of Yale Law School – issued a legal opinion that said, in part, that “the proposed charter amendment [the Nashville Taxpayer Protection Act referendum that would, among other things, repeal the recently enacted 34 percent property tax increase] is not legal and enforceable” and is “defective in form and conflicts with Tennessee Constitution and state and local laws in [various] ways.” Cooper noted that the Davidson County Election Commission decided in a three to two vote at its September 25 meeting to “seek a declaratory judgment from Davidson County Chancery Court on the proposed amendment’s legal validity and set a conditional referendum date for December 15.” At the September 25 meeting, Election Administrator Jeff Roberts told the election commission that “based on the Tennessee Code” it could set the “conditional date” for the referendum election between November 30 and December 15. Title 2, Chapter 3, Part 2, Section 204 of the Tennessee Code Annotated states the law in Tennessee on place and times of elections, specifically for elections on questions: 2-3-204. Elections on questions. (a) Elections on questions submitted to the people shall be held on dates set by the county election commission but not less than forty-five (45) days nor more than sixty (60) days after the county election commission is directed to hold the election under the law authorizing or requiring the election on the question. If the election is to be held in more than one (1) county, the county election commissions shall meet and set the date jointly. (b) Resolutions, ordinances or petitions requiring the holding of elections on questions submitted to the people which are to be held with the regular August election, the regular November election, any regularly scheduled municipal election or the presidential preference primary shall be filed with the county election commission not less than sixty (60) days prior to such election. (c) If the date for an election on a question, as set by a county election commission or by two (2) or more commissions jointly, falls within thirty (30) days of an upcoming regular primary or general election being held in the jurisdiction voting on the question, the commission or commissions may reset the date of the election on a question to coincide with the regular primary or general election, even though this may be outside of the time period established herein. All dates dependent on the date of the election shall be adjusted accordingly and any acts required to be done by these dates shall be performed timely if done in accordance with the adjusted dates. September 17 was the date the county election commission was directed to hold the election under Section 19.01 of the Metro Charter, that direction coming in the form of the certification of the petition by the Nashville Davidson County Metro Clerk’s Office. A petition on an election question certified on September 17 in a county that did not specifically state in its charter, as Metro Nashville Davidson County does, that the petition must name the date of the election, would, under state law, be required to schedule that election no more than 45 days nor less than 60 days from September 17, which would be between November 1 and November 16. The law authorizing or requiring the election question – Section 19.01 of the Metro Nashville Davidson Charter – specifies that the petition itself must include the date of the election. In this instance, the petition states December 5 as the date. As of Tuesday, October 6 – nineteen days after the Davidson County Election Commission was first directed to hold the referendum election – the commission has yet to perform its legal duty to schedule the referendum election for the Nashville Taxpayer Protection Act
According to the Tennessee Secretary of State’s website, members of the Tennessee General Assembly appoint seven members to the State Election Commission (SEC). Members of the State Election Commission, in turn, appoint five county election commissioners for every county in the state, including Davidson.
The SEC has the authority to remove election commissioners who fail to perform their duties.
Tennessee Secretary of State spokeswoman Julia Bruck told The Star in an email Tuesday that “removal of local election commissioners by the SEC is rare but has occurred.”
“In one case, a member was removed for creating a hostile work environment,” Bruck said.
“In another instance a member was removed for disparaging remarks about a candidate on the ballot. The comments were made in the capacity of an election commissioner. There may be other incidents but staff was busy preparing for early voting next week and did not get to look at the SEC minutes.”
Bruck did not offer more specifics about who State Election Commissioners removed or when.
As The Star reported Tuesday, members of the Davidson County Election Commission cancelled a meeting they had previously scheduled for Tuesday.
Roberts said the agenda for the now cancelled meeting was a light one.
“The only thing that we had on the agenda for tomorrow’s meeting was my report on the status of the November election so we decided to cancel the meeting,” Roberts said.
“I’ll just be sending that [report] around by email.”
– – –
Chris Butler is an investigative journalist at The Tennessee Star. Follow Chris on Facebook. Email tips to [email protected]
Photo “People Voting” by Wyofile. CC BY 2.0.


thetennesseestar--2020-10-07--Commentary: This Campaign, and This President, Are Like No Other

The startling revelation that President Trump and his wife have contracted COVID-19 not only contributes another imponderable complexity to this torrid election campaign , it brings forth—amid a general tide of goodwill in favor of the president and his wife—the worst traits of the Trump-haters .
The media response ranged from Joy Reid ’ s piercing aperçu that he was faking the illness to attract sympathy , to the Lemon-Tapper school of Trump-hate at CNN , which saw it as a direct consequence of the president supposedly taking the virus lightly , leading the resistance to it incompetently , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ a hoax.
” The large number of comments on social media , including from a former director of publicity for the Hillary Clinton campaign of 2016 , expressing hopefulness that the president and his wife would die from the illness , shows how far the Trump-haters have decamped from America ’ s preferred self-image confected by Norman Rockwell , Walt Disney , and Grandma Moses .
Whether the president and Mrs. Trump recover quickly and fully from their affliction or it lingers and is a serious or even life-threatening problem for President @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which the Trump-hating media , which is chiefly conducting the Democratic campaign , turned this event into yet another excuse for battering the Trump piñata , may by its vicious hostility finally shock many American voters who have not warmed to the president .
In a civilized society , where the identity of high officeholders is established by elections , it is inexcusable for partisan comments to plumb this depth of depravity and poor taste .
The Democratic presidential nominee , Joe Biden , Speaker Nancy Pelosi ( D-Calif. ) , and former @ @ @ @ @ @ @ goodwill and wished the Trumps good luck .
The unrelenting hatred of most of the national political media will surely , finally , this time be perceived by a great many Americans as a disgrace and as convincing evidence of the maladjustment of most political reporting from Washington .
If COVID proves to be a threat to the president ’ s ability to resume his office , this will shortly cause profound disconcertion in Democratic ranks .
They have no campaign except Trump-hate and spurious claims that he has misjudged the public health @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he had to hand over his position as nominee to Vice President Mike Pence , there would be , at last , a heavy wave of sympathy , and there is almost no hostility to the vice president in the country .
He is well enough known to gain the public ’ s trust and he would win an overwhelming electoral victory .
So even though many of the more fervent Democrats wish the president and even his wife a very nasty or even fatal encounter with the Coronavirus , in monitoring the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are staring at the prospects of their own campaign .
The much more likely scenario and surely the outcome favored by the overwhelming majority of Americans of all political persuasions is the rapid recovery of the president .
Though he is taxed with being slightly overweight , he is a human tornado of stamina and is very active physically .
He should be , as appears from the early stages of the illness , a prime candidate for a full and swift recovery .
As 94.6 percent of Americans above the age of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus survived it , and President Trump from his prodigious vigor and determined character , unless there is some unsuspected vulnerability , should be a prime candidate for the upper percentiles of those people at his age group able to resist this affliction .
If that is the case , he will return imminently to the White House , make it clear each day that he is still working and on-the-job , and he will emerge next week with his reputation fortified not just by his ruggedness but by his stature as the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who he himself has met and conquered .
He will have vastly increased credibility as a leader in this battle not only from the evidence of his own successful resistance to it , but in support of his view that hysteria over the Coronavirus has been exaggerated .
Anyone who has witnessed the last six months impartially is aware that from the first appearance of COVID-19 as a serious threat , the Democrats and their media allies have made unheard-of efforts to frighten the country , provoke a profound economic shutdown , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
It has been one of the most cynical political operations in American history .
It must also be said that it has been more successful than it deserved to be ; the president has paid dearly for his casual comments about the Coronavirus when it was first mentioned , and while he recouped by shutting down direct flights from China promptly at the end of January and from Europe two weeks later , he made a serious tactical error shouldering the vice president aside as chairman of the committee that he struck @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and allowing the almost daily press briefings to degenerate into a lamentable state of indignity by replying to provocations hurled at him by a few Trump hating jackals in the White House press corps .
A quick recovery from the illness—as seemed on Monday afternoon to be likely—will enable the president to address this issue with much enhanced credibility and to enjoy the popularity of those who lead in conflict and share the burdens of the common soldiers : George Washington at Valley Forge , and King George VI and Queen Elizabeth @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The president could even gain from a dashing but not cavalier treatment of the ailment , somewhat as President Reagan did with the wit and sangfroid he showed after the attempt on his life in 1981 .
Coming quickly through the ailment would also strongly reinforce the administration ’ s COVID policy preference of protecting the vulnerable more thoroughly but reopening all the rest of commerce and society as quickly as possible for the 80 percent of Americans beneath the age of 60 , whose chances of dying from it are three @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people wish the president and Mrs. Trump the swift and complete recovery they seem to be enjoying .
If it happens , as a bonus , his prospects of reelection will be substantially enhanced .
Financial markets will be reassured , though they are no longer as impressionable as they were when the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose sharply on the announcement following President Dwight Eisenhower ’ s heart attack in 1955 , by his doctor , Paul Dudley White , that “ The president ’ s stools are firm.
” This president @ @ @ @ @ @ @ only real argument for Biden against Trump is Trump ’ s public personality , which annoys many people .
If he carries off the role of doughty COVID-sufferer with his customary panache , that factor will be reduced .
This campaign , as it enters its last month , continues to be a bouncing football .
This campaign , and this president , are like no other .
Conrad Black reports for American Greatness .
Photo “ Trump Pence ” by The White House .

by Conrad Black
The startling revelation that President Trump and his wife have contracted COVID-19 not only contributes another imponderable complexity to this torrid election campaign, it brings forth—amid a general tide of goodwill in favor of the president and his wife—the worst traits of the Trump-haters. The media response ranged from Joy Reid’s piercing aperçu that he was faking the illness to attract sympathy, to the Lemon-Tapper school of Trump-hate at CNN, which saw it as a direct consequence of the president supposedly taking the virus lightly, leading the resistance to it incompetently, and pretending that it was a fiction, “a hoax.” The large number of comments on social media, including from a former director of publicity for the Hillary Clinton campaign of 2016, expressing hopefulness that the president and his wife would die from the illness, shows how far the Trump-haters have decamped from America’s preferred self-image confected by Norman Rockwell, Walt Disney, and Grandma Moses.
Whether the president and Mrs. Trump recover quickly and fully from their affliction or it lingers and is a serious or even life-threatening problem for President Trump, the speed and tawdriness with which the Trump-hating media, which is chiefly conducting the Democratic campaign, turned this event into yet another excuse for battering the Trump piñata, may by its vicious hostility finally shock many American voters who have not warmed to the president. In a civilized society, where the identity of high officeholders is established by elections, it is inexcusable for partisan comments to plumb this depth of depravity and poor taste. The Democratic presidential nominee, Joe Biden, Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), and former president Obama all issued gracious statements of goodwill and wished the Trumps good luck. The unrelenting hatred of most of the national political media will surely, finally, this time be perceived by a great many Americans as a disgrace and as convincing evidence of the maladjustment of most political reporting from Washington.
If COVID proves to be a threat to the president’s ability to resume his office, this will shortly cause profound disconcertion in Democratic ranks. They have no campaign except Trump-hate and spurious claims that he has misjudged the public health crisis. If at the last minute he had to hand over his position as nominee to Vice President Mike Pence, there would be, at last, a heavy wave of sympathy, and there is almost no hostility to the vice president in the country. He is well enough known to gain the public’s trust and he would win an overwhelming electoral victory. So even though many of the more fervent Democrats wish the president and even his wife a very nasty or even fatal encounter with the Coronavirus, in monitoring the president’s condition, the Democrats are staring at the prospects of their own campaign.
The much more likely scenario and surely the outcome favored by the overwhelming majority of Americans of all political persuasions is the rapid recovery of the president. Though he is taxed with being slightly overweight, he is a human tornado of stamina and is very active physically. He should be, as appears from the early stages of the illness, a prime candidate for a full and swift recovery. As 94.6 percent of Americans above the age of 60 who have been attacked by the coronavirus survived it, and President Trump from his prodigious vigor and determined character, unless there is some unsuspected vulnerability, should be a prime candidate for the upper percentiles of those people at his age group able to resist this affliction. If that is the case, he will return imminently to the White House, make it clear each day that he is still working and on-the-job, and he will emerge next week with his reputation fortified not just by his ruggedness but by his stature as the nation’s leader against this pandemic who he himself has met and conquered.
He will have vastly increased credibility as a leader in this battle not only from the evidence of his own successful resistance to it, but in support of his view that hysteria over the Coronavirus has been exaggerated. Anyone who has witnessed the last six months impartially is aware that from the first appearance of COVID-19 as a serious threat, the Democrats and their media allies have made unheard-of efforts to frighten the country, provoke a profound economic shutdown, and blame every death on the president personally. It has been one of the most cynical political operations in American history.
It must also be said that it has been more successful than it deserved to be; the president has paid dearly for his casual comments about the Coronavirus when it was first mentioned, and while he recouped by shutting down direct flights from China promptly at the end of January and from Europe two weeks later, he made a serious tactical error shouldering the vice president aside as chairman of the committee that he struck to deal with the public health crisis, and allowing the almost daily press briefings to degenerate into a lamentable state of indignity by replying to provocations hurled at him by a few Trump hating jackals in the White House press corps.
A quick recovery from the illness—as seemed on Monday afternoon to be likely—will enable the president to address this issue with much enhanced credibility and to enjoy the popularity of those who lead in conflict and share the burdens of the common soldiers: George Washington at Valley Forge, and King George VI and Queen Elizabeth after Buckingham Palace was bombed in 1941. The president could even gain from a dashing but not cavalier treatment of the ailment, somewhat as President Reagan did with the wit and sangfroid he showed after the attempt on his life in 1981. Coming quickly through the ailment would also strongly reinforce the administration’s COVID policy preference of protecting the vulnerable more thoroughly but reopening all the rest of commerce and society as quickly as possible for the 80 percent of Americans beneath the age of 60, whose chances of dying from it are three thousandths of 1 percent.
All decent people wish the president and Mrs. Trump the swift and complete recovery they seem to be enjoying. If it happens, as a bonus, his prospects of reelection will be substantially enhanced. Financial markets will be reassured, though they are no longer as impressionable as they were when the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose sharply on the announcement following President Dwight Eisenhower’s heart attack in 1955, by his doctor, Paul Dudley White, that “The president’s stools are firm.”
This president has had a successful term and the only real argument for Biden against Trump is Trump’s public personality, which annoys many people. If he carries off the role of doughty COVID-sufferer with his customary panache, that factor will be reduced. This campaign, as it enters its last month, continues to be a bouncing football. This campaign, and this president, are like no other.
– – –
Conrad Black reports for American Greatness.
Photo “Trump Pence” by The White House.