thetennesseestar--2020-11-23--Michigan Leader: Trump Didn’t Ask for Election Interference

LANSING , Michigan ( AP ) — President Donald Trump did not ask Michigan Republican lawmakers to “ break the law ” or “ interfere ” with the election during a meeting at the White House , a legislative leader said Sunday , a day before canvassers plan to meet about whether to certify Joe Biden ’ s 154,000-vote victory in the battleground state .
House Speaker Lee Chatfield was among seven GOP legislators who met with Trump for about an hour on Friday , amid his longshot efforts to block Biden ’ s win .
“ There was this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ask us to break the law , he was going to ask us to interfere , and that just simply didn ’ t happen , ” he told Fox News of the meeting .
He did not elaborate on what was discussed , except to say the delegation asked for additional federal aid to help Michigan ’ s coronavirus response .
Michigan ’ s elections agency has recommended that the Nov. 3 results — including Biden ’ s 2.8-percentage point victory — be certified by the Board of State Canvassers , which has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Republican National Committee and the state Republican Party want the board to adjourn for 14 days to investigate alleged irregularities in Wayne County , the state ’ s largest and home to Detroit .
Staff for the state elections bureau said that claimed irregularities , even if verified , would not significantly affect the outcome .
The Michigan Democratic Party said the total number of Detroit votes implicated by imbalanced precincts — where the number of ballots does not equal the number of names on the pollbook — is at most 450 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” separating Biden from Trump .
“ The certification process must not be manipulated to serve as some sort of retroactive referendum on the expressed will of the voters .
That is simply not how democracy works , ” chairwoman Lavora Barnes wrote to the board on Sunday .
If the board does not confirm the results and the Michigan Supreme Court does not subsequently order it to do so , Chatfield said “ now we have a constitutional crisis.
” He and other Republicans , however , have indicated that they would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ Michigan election law clearly requires that the state ’ s electors must be those nominated by the party that received the most votes — not the Legislature , ” says a stock email House Republicans are sending in response to people who contact their offices .
Experts on Michigan election law have said the state board ’ s authority is limited in scope and that it must certify the results now that all 83 counties have reported theirs to the state .
There is concern , though , because Trump personally called @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s board last week and they said a day later that they were rescinding their previous vote — following an earlier deadlock — but it was too late .
Senate Majority Leader Mike Shirkey , a Republican who met with Trump , suggested in a Sunday tweet that the state canvassers might “ take the full time allowed by law to perform their duties ” instead of voting Monday and said “ it ’ s inappropriate for anyone to exert pressure on them.
” The deadline is Dec. 13 , but that is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ harbor ” date — when Congress can not challenge any electors named by that date in accordance with state law .
There is no evidence of widespread fraud in the 2020 election .
In fact , election officials from both political parties have stated publicly that the election went well and international observers confirmed that there were no serious irregularities .
The issues Trump ’ s campaign and its allies have pointed to are typical in every election .
Republican U.S. Rep. Fred Upton , Michigan ’ s current longest-serving member of Congress @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the voters spoke ” and the state had no razor-thin presidential race .
“ No one has come up with any evidence of fraud or abuse , ” he said .
He called the request to delay the certification “ out of bounds.
” The trip to the White House has come under heavy scrutiny .
The lawmakers stayed at the luxury Trump International Hotel , and two of them were photographed with expensive drinks at the hotel bar after the meeting .
Spokespeople for Shirkey and Chatfield said the legislators covered their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ used .
However , they did not say if the men paid for the trip themselves or if it was paid for in some other way such as by them tapping into their nonprofit “ administrative ” accounts that can accept contributions from corporate or other donors .
Finding out about who runs such lawmaker-connected organizations , who donates to them and what the money is spent on can be extremely difficult , according to a 2016 joint investigation by MLive and the Michigan Campaign Finance Network .
Such accounts can be used @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Eggert is a reporter with The Associated Press .
About the headline Photo : In this Jan. 30 , 2020 file photo , Senate Majority Leader Mike Shirkey , R-Clarklake , right , and House Speaker Lee Chatfield , R-Levering , left , speak to the media at the Michigan Capitol in Lansing , Mich. Shirkey and Chatfield are headed to the White House on Friday as President Donald Trump made an extraordinary and sure-to-be futile attempt to block Joe Biden ’ s victory in the battleground state and subvert the results of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Photo/David Eggert )


thetennesseestar--2020-11-23--Joe Morrissey Commentary: Electoral Incompetence in Richmond Should Alarm Both Parties

Election Day 2020 has come and gone .
Voters in the United States found out last week that President Donald Trump was defeated by former Vice President Joe Biden .
Counts in numerous states took longer than what many expected , but results were eventually provided nonetheless .
Overall , the election occurred without a hitch .
The same can not be said for the City of Richmond .
Issues that arose included precincts reporting the wrong vote counts , City Council candidates allocated the wrong vote totals , individual voters receiving numerous ballots – the list goes on !
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ due to the incompetence of Richmond Registrar J. Kirk Showalter and Richmond Electoral Board Chairman James Nachman .
As I outlined on the Senate floor during the Special Session , it was reported that many City voters who requested absentee ballots received numerous ballots with incorrect City Council districts listed on said ballots .
For example , City resident John Doe requested an absentee ballot and the City Registrar sent him 3 ballots !
If Ms. Showalter had a firm grip on the office she oversees , then this would not have happened @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , came to Showalter ’ s defense by outlining that this issue affected only five ( 5 ) voters ( so he says ! )
.
Based on past empirical evidence , I have no confidence whatsoever that only 5 voters were affected .
Another City Registrar error involved a precinct in the eighth ( 8th ) district .
Regie Ford , a candidate for City Council running against incumbent Reva Trammell , apparently received 433 votes on election night at precinct 814 – Boushall Middle School .
Come to find out , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Boushall precinct .
One would think that after being the City ’ s Registrar for over 26 years , Ms. Showalter would have realized that since Ford only received an average of 39.6 votes in all other 8th district precincts , 433 votes in precinct 814 was a glaring outlier demanding further scrutiny .
She claimed in an interview with the Richmond Times-Dispatch that “ these mistakes were not due to negligence.
” Really ?
What word describes it best – sloppiness , inattentiveness , incompetence ?
Two City Council races in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s incompetence .
These races included Amy Wentz in the 8th District and Tavarris Spinks in the 2nd District .
Both candidates have publicly admonished the Richmond Registrar both for her lack of transparency during the electoral process as well as for posting inaccurate election results .
In Ms. Wentz ’ s case , one of her campaign ’ s precinct captains was told at 7:00 PM on Election Day that the final vote count at Branch Church ( precinct 812 ) was 638 votes cast .
However , the Registrar reported @ @ @ @ @ @ @ final count from that precinct actually showed 695 votes cast .
When Ms. Wentz tried to politely explain to Ms. Showalter that her final vote tally of 172 was inaccurate , Ms. Showalter was rude , churlish , and dismissive of Ms. Wentz ’ s claims .
Indeed , Showalter told Wentz : “ You should be more politically astute.
” In regard to Mr. Spinks , results posted to the Department of Elections website in the days following the election showed unofficial totals – including all in-person voting and absentee ballots – @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lead over his opponent , Katherine Jordan .
However , on November 10 , Mr. Spinks inexplicably had 1,000 votes removed from his overall count .
Neither Ms. Showalter nor Mr. Nachman has yet to provide any explanation as to why 1,000 votes were taken away from Mr. Spinks .
As I have outlined above , it is abundantly clear that several Richmond City Council vote tallies were fraught with errors .
These issues show a deeply flawed Registrar ’ s Office and an Electoral Board Chairman unwilling to correct these defalcations .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ with these errors and mishaps .
Absent both trust and professionalism in our electoral system , we can not hope to move forward as a functioning democratic city .
Both Nachman and Showalter have woefully failed to fulfill their respective duties and both must go .
Joe Morrissey is a Virginia State Senator representing the people of the 16th district .

Gov. Bill Lee said more than 23,000 Tennesseans have received a free COVID-19 test at one of 67 drive-through testing sites over the past three weekends.
“Testing remains one of the most important tools for gaining more information in our fight against COVID-19, and the 23,000 tests we’ve completed over the last three weekends have provided incredibly valuable data,” Lee said in a statement. “We’re grateful to the thousands who came out to receive a test this weekend and we continue to remind Tennesseans: when in doubt, get a test.”
Last weekend alone, 5,153 Tennesseans received a free COVID-19 test. Lee said the free testing is part of the Unified Command Group’s efforts to widen access to testing regardless of symptoms.
“Our weekend sites have been equipped to meet the demand for free testing across the state,” said Dr. Lisa Piercey, Tennessee Department of Health commissioner. “With ample capacity at our county health departments during the week, we continue to encourage Tennesseans to take advantage of free testing at these locations.”
The Tennessee Department of Health has a map of testing sites published on its website. As of Thursday, Tennessee had completed 236,328 COVID-19 tests. That’s more than double the number of tests performed in states like Minnesota, which claims it has the ability to test up to 20,000 individuals in a day, but has yet to surpass 6,000 daily tests.
Between Wednesday and Thursday, Tennessee tested an additional 9,227 residents, according to the Department of Health.
Tennessee has also performed more than twice as many tests as Kentucky, which had tested 81,391 residents as of Thursday.
Most of Tennessee’s COVID-19 tests have been performed by non-state health labs, which account for 225,427 of the state’s 236,328 total tests.
Tennessee now has 14,096 confirmed COVID-19 cases, 237 deaths, and 6,783 recovered patients.
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Anthony Gockowski is managing editor of The Minnesota Sun and The Ohio Star. Follow Anthony on Twitter. Email tips to [email protected].
Photo “North Carolina National Guard Members” by the National Guard. CC BY 2.0.


thetennesseestar--2020-11-23--Mark Green Blasts Democrats for COVID-19 Hypocrisy

U.S. Rep. Mark Green ( R-TN-07 ) last week called out Democratic politicians from around the country for what he called their hypocrisy on how they have enforced the laws and regulated people ’ s behaviors during 2020 .
Green said this in a video he uploaded to his Facebook page .
“ Let ’ s talk about the COVID-19 headlines of the day .
In the political world , the Democrats are out there saying autonomous zones and mass riots , those are OK , but Thanksgiving dinner , don ’ t you dare , ” Green said , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ whiteboard .
“ A few examples , Governor [ Gavin ] Newsom , partying with his buddies and his lobbyists up in Napa .
California , though , [ allows ] no Thanksgiving dinner .
Of course , no church singing .
Mayor [ Lori ] Lightfoot in Chicago parties at a Biden celebration , but , Chicago , no Thanksgiving , no large gatherings .
The hypocrisy and elitism on the Democrats is just unbelievable .
Rules for you but not for them.
” As The Tennessee Star reported in July , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ House of Representatives and said nearly 100,000 Americans would still live among us if China had warned the United States earlier about COVID-19 .
And by that , Green said he meant one week earlier would have made the difference .
“ Researchers at Columbia University , not necessarily a bastion of conservatism , I might add , said that had China notified the world just one week sooner then 61 percent of American deaths could have been prevented .
Think about that , 61 percent of 143,000 is 87,000 plus Americans who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up just one week sooner .
Indicative of their past mercantilist actions , China hoarded PPE in the early days of the virus , despite dominating global PPE manufacturing .
China hoarded the world ’ s PPE , ” Green said .
“ U.S .
exports of PPE to China grew over 1,000 percent in January and February compared with the same period last year .
In their time of need we sent them PPE .
Italy even donated PPE to China .
What did China do ?
Well , they sold them @ @ @ @ @ @ @ them and refused to ship PPE to the United States , decrying regulatory violations to keep PPE away from us during our peak need.
” Green , in text accompanying the Facebook video , wrote that “ Chinese hackers are trying to steal vaccine research.
” As The Star reported in May , White House National Security Adviser Robert O ’ Brien suggested that the Chinese Communist Party would try to steal American developments on a coronavirus vaccine .
O ’ Brien predicted the United States would develop a vaccine for the novel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ government has worked diligently to steal the U.S. government ’ s coronavirus vaccine research — and he “ wouldn ’ t be surprised ” if their espionage efforts succeeded .
Chris Butler is an investigative journalist at The Tennessee Star .
Follow Chris on Facebook .
Email tips to [ email protected ]


thetennesseestar--2020-11-24--Blount County Mayor Shares Comparison of Mask and No-Mask Counties in Tennessee

Mayor of Blount County Ed Mitchell took to Facebook last week sharing a comparison of how Tennessee counties have fared under mask and no-mask mandates .
Blount County , which is not under a mask mandate by Mitchell , has Maryville as its county seat and largest city .
It lies in Tennessee ’ s eastern grand division adjacent to Knox and Sevier counties , both of which have mask mandates in place .
Mitchell ’ s post comes as positive test results for COVID-19 continue to rise around the country and mayors and governors impose increasingly tighter restrictions and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Meanwhile , even under ever-increasing and intense pressure from across the state , Tennessee Governor Bill Lee has maintained that decisions related to mask mandates should be made at the local level and that greater compliance is achieved through voluntary efforts .
Mitchell recognized that Blount County is not alone , as the growth in COVID-19 numbers has been seen across the state , nation and world .
Not having implemented a mask mandate in Blount County , Mitchell said , “ I want to address some of the concerns that I have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ under similar pressure to institute a mask mandate , Mitchell said that people have cited a recent Vanderbilt University School of Medicine study that , “ on average , Tennessee counties without a mask mandate are seeing a death rate twice as high as those with a mandate.
” Mitchell offered with regard to his commitment to handling the coronavirus , “ Since this pandemic began , my office has worked every day to learn more about this virus , review new data , and discuss COVID-19 with both local health officials and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” In light of the Vanderbilt study , Mitchell said they looked at numbers in East Tennessee , using population counts from 2019 Census data and COVID-19 data available on the state ’ s website as of November 18 .
Total COVID cases : 4,727 , or 3.55 % of the County ’ s population Total COVID deaths : 49 , or 0.04 % of the County ’ s population Total COVID cases : 16,716 , or 3.55 % of the County ’ s population Total COVID cases : 4,337 , or 4.41 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Total COVID deaths : 27 , or 0.03 % of the County ’ s population Total COVID cases : 2,510 , or 3.26 % of the County ’ s population Total COVID deaths : 25 , or 0.03 % of the County ’ s population Total COVID cases : 1448 , or 4.13 % of the County ’ s population Total COVID deaths : 26 , or 0.07 % of the County ’ s population Total COVID cases : 2,084 , or 3.85 % of the County ’ s population Total COVID deaths @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the County ’ s population Total COVID cases : 3,109 , or 4.79 % of the County ’ s population Total COVID deaths : 56 , or 0.09 % of the County ’ s population Total COVID cases : 39,122 , or 5.64 % of the County ’ s population Total COVID deaths : 391 , or 0.06 % of the County ’ s population Total COVID cases : 44,102 , or 4.71 % of the County ’ s population Total COVID deaths : 623 , or 0.07 % of the County ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , or 4.19 % of the County ’ s population Total COVID deaths : 69 , or 0.03 % of the County ’ s population Total COVID cases : 15,857 , or 4.77 % of the County ’ s population Total COVID deaths : 139 , or 0.04 % of the County ’ s population While Mitchell drew no conclusions about the data , even the casual observer will note that for the most part counties with mask mandates in place are not faring any better than those without and , instead , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that at a press conference by Lee as well as recent White House calls with state and local officials , colder weather is driving more household gatherings indoors and contributing to rising case counts .
According to Mitchell , “ Contact tracing is showing that these small gatherings at people ’ s private residences are the source of much of Tennessee ’ s recent increase in cases.
” As Mitchell points out , “ Mask mandates and gathering limitations do not prohibit folks from gathering at their own homes.
” And , if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ contributed to an increase in positive tests , that fact belies the usefulness of mask mandates for short and transactional activities in public places .
Mitchell acknowledges the increase in cases and says , “ It is true that many people are relaxing far too much in the face of the growing threat of this pandemic.
” Throughout his Facebook narrative , there is no sense that Mitchell does not take COVID-19 seriously .
In fact , the coronavirus is personal for him , as his wife was reported to have tested positive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Mitchell has expressed concern about executive branches overstepping their power and has encouraged personal responsibility .
He reiterated in his post last week , “ at the end of the day , it is up to each person to embrace personal responsibility and make the wisest decisions that we can.
” Laura Baigert is a senior reporter at The Tennessee Star .
Photo “ Blount County Mayor Ed Mitchell ” by Blount County and “ Blount County Courthouse ” by Brian Stansberry CC3.0 .

The Tennessee Secretary of State’s office now lists 24 individuals as collecting petitions in the campaign for Tennessee’s 5th Congressional District.
There are 16 Republicans, four Democrats, and four Independents collecting qualifying petitions for the TN-5 race.
Candidates of all parties have until noon on April 7 to turn in their qualifying petitions, a deadline which is fast approaching. Candidates must collect 25 valid signatures from registered voters in the district. Those seeking the Republican nomination must be verified as bona fide Republicans by the Tennessee Republican Party in order to appear on the GOP primary ballot.
Challenges have been filed against the bona fide Republican statuses of the three carpetbaggers in the race, Morgan Ortagus, David Vitalli, and Robby Starbuck. Action will occur on those challenges after the April 7 filing deadline.
On the Republican side, Morgan Ortagus, former Speaker of the Tennessee House Beth Harwell of Nashville, businessman Baxter Lee of Nashville, Robby Starbuck of Franklin (listed as Robert Starbuck Newsom), Geni Batchelor of Lebanon, Natisha Brooks of Nashville, Timothy Bruce Lee of Nashville, Annabelle Lee of Madison, Alan Clement Sharp of Nashville, David Vitalli of Brentwood, Stewart Parks of Nashville, Richie Lee of Nashville, General Kurt Winstead of Franklin, Tres Wittum of Nashville, Jeff Beierlein of Nashville, and Maury County Mayor Andy Ogles are listed as collecting petitions.
Former Williamson County GOP Chair Omar Hamada of Franklin is still listed as collecting petitions but he dropped out of the race and endorsed Maury County Mayor Andy Ogles in the GOP primary.
On the Democrat side, Clay Faircloth, Richard H. Harris, Justicia Rizzo, and Joel Michael Hurbert, all from Nashville, are collecting petitions.
Derrick Brantley of Nashville, Patrick O. Halfacre of Hohenwald, Daniel J. Cooper of Spring Hill, and Richard A. Shannon of Franklin are the independents collecting petitions.
The Tennessee Secretary of State’s office has been updating its list on a weekly basis. This list is current as of Friday, April 1.
Reports are expected to be available for the January 1 through March 31, 2022 Federal Election Commission campaign finance first-quarter period in the coming days. Those reports are expected to shed significant light on which candidates are considered viable. The bulk of the field entered the race after the December 31, 2021 reporting deadline.
The primaries are scheduled for August 4, 2022.
The newly-redrawn 5th Congressional District consists of parts of Davidson, Williamson, and Wilson counties, as well as all of Maury, Marshall, and Lewis counties.
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Aaron Gulbransen is a reporter at The Tennessee Star and The Star News Network. Email tips to [email protected] Follow Aaron on GETTR, Twitter, and Parler.
Photo “U.S. Capitol” by Andrew Can Huss.


thetennesseestar--2020-11-24--Victor Davis Hanson Commentary: A Time of Chaos Upon Chaos Atop Chaos

But the tensions and furor are reminiscent of the last generations of the Roman Republic .
In its last century , Romans began to adjudicate politics by obsequious partisan town criers ( their version of our media ) , mass demonstrations , and freelance street gangs .
Looters , arsonists , and demonstrators did pretty much as they pleased in the streets of Rome without fear of legal consequences .
In our time , the media has now vanished – kaput , no more , ended .
Within a few hours , it goes from a Ministry-of-Truth love session with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the president ’ s press secretary – without a shred of awareness how ridiculous they appear in their passive-aggressive schizophrenia .
The only constant is that reporters unapologetically seem to jettison their principles and professionalism to calibrate what they say and do by whose politics they support .
They would prefer to be entirely discredited under a Biden presidency than be real journalists during a Trump Administration .
The current unspoken subtext of the media-progressive party fusion line is the following : It would be a felonious crime should conservatives now dare @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that the Left did in 2016 .
They should not dare to sue about voting machines in key states as did the Clinton surrogate Jill Stein .
They would never attempt , in 2016 fashion , to sabotage the Electoral College voting by appealing to constitutionally appointed electors , or surveille top Biden campaign and transition officials and coordinate such monitoring inside the Trump Oval Office .
The point of the Steele dossier , the Russian collusion hoax , the calls for future impeachment even during the Trump transition , the abuse of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ weaponization of the FBI , CIA , and Justice Department was to weaken the Trump campaign , to disrupt the Trump transition , and to wound fatally the Trump presidency .
For the architects , abettors , and enablers of those past efforts now to accuse Trump officials of adhering to what they created on a massive scale is comic .
Even more importantly , the media poorly prepared the nation for their envisioned Biden presidency .
To foster that agenda , journalists have done enormous damage to the country .
The bias @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the internet and social media communications was poorly disguised in efforts to aid the progressive effort .
It is a matter now of only when , not if , these trusts and monopolies will be regulated and broken up .
There will still be half-hearted defenses of episodic accurate polling at the national or state level .
But these pleas will be in vain , given that by and large , pollsters , as in 2016 , did not just get the critical state voting wrong but predictably wrong in a predictable @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of short-term gain , pollsters irrevocably ruined their reputations .
A frail Joe Biden was never fully vetted .
Rather , he was protected and sheltered by the media .
Now 330 million Americans will see whether cognitively he is up to impromptu press conferences , 18-hour days , tough negotiations with opportunistic foreign leaders , and the demands of traversing the country to rally both the country and his party adherents .
A media that fed 25th Amendment hysterias during the Trump administration will have to pivot , and now declare any @ @ @ @ @ @ @ subjected to the same sort of Montreal Cognitive Assessment Test that Trump aced .
The disturbing revelations about the Bidens and Burisma in October were never covered .
As a result , for the duration of the Biden Administration , Hunter Biden will remain an object of scrutiny and investigation , along with many of his now angry associates who feel betrayed and are ready either to talk of their misplaced loyalty or broker ways out of their complicity .
Who knows how long the media , without their ratings propped up by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ buzz of a Biden familial syndicate – with a Kamala Harris always waiting in the wings .
So no one knows to what degree further revelations will emerge about Biden family corruption – only that all these allegations have heretofore not just been ignored but deliberately smothered by the media .
And that is not a sustainable effort .
The smell of scandal will linger throughout the Biden presidency .
After the 2017 machinations to lever Robert Mueller and his dream team into power , few on the Left can ever credibly decry @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prosecutor to look into Hunter Biden and familial associates .
If Trump were to follow in the spirit of his enemies ’ own protocols , what should he do – appoint a special counsel to look into the Bidens , with a Trumpian twist of pardoning the incoming president in advance for any crimes that emerge ?
But most importantly , Americans have no idea of what the latest incarnation of Joe Biden will bring .
Biden gave only scripted and teleprompted bromides from his basement .
The media never pressed him to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reset , the Middle-East recalibration , fracking , the Green New Deal , reparations , the wall and open borders , proposed tax increases , and on and on .
So the country has little warning whether the Biden Administration will be guided by the hard Left agenda of Kamala Harris , “ the squad , ” or Senators Elizabeth Warren ( D-Mass . )
and Bernie Sanders ( I-Vt. ) – or stung by the rejection of progressive extremism in the congressional elections and the close presidential race enough to move to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ give up notions of ending the Electoral College , packing the court , admitting in new states , ending the Senate filibuster , neutering the Second Amendment , and other assorted radical promises ?
Whatever he decides will disappoint his leftwing BLM/socialist base , swing-state terrified congressional Democrats – and likely the bewildered American people .
What About the GOP ?
The Republicans , too , are in disarray , at least for a few weeks .
First , the good news is that they picked up a dozen or so House seats @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at least five more .
They are in position , with luck and work , to hold the Senate .
Conservatives saw Trump come within a few thousand strategically placed votes of winning the Electoral College on election night .
Add all that up—along with the MAGA inclusion of a new middle-class Republican constituency that seeks to transcend race , and the quiet but growing public disgust at the lawlessness , violence , and racism of Antifa and BLM – and 2022 could see a repeat of the prairie-fire shake up of 2010 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would have better chances of institutionalized rather than transitory advantage .
But there are fissures in the party .
The NeverTrumpers feel their efforts to sabotage Trump changed minds among white males with college degrees – the one key constituency that Trump seems to have done less well with than in 2016 .
And emboldened by this tiny supposed triumph , they are trying to recapture the Republican Party for an ossified McCain-Romney-Bush establishment .
As they gyrate from snark to whine , they never have had any self-awareness that their case for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ conservatives as their prior pitying admissions of irrelevance .
Meanwhile Trump ’ s once-solid ranks may be in danger of fracturing .
Half believe that not just his long-term legacy , but also his short-term utility in winning Georgia are endangered by unsubstantiated claims of a stolen “ landslide ” victory of a 70 percent majority and 400-some Electoral College votes .
Of course , Trump supporters are furious over the weaponization of polling , and the violations of the voting laws of state legislatures that led to irregularities , controversies , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ voting .
But they are not assured that either episodic or systematic skullduggery automatically translates into a provable case that Trump won the election , much less won by historical proportions involving fraud of the sort never witnessed in past elections .
The other half is convinced of just such a “ landslide ” victory taken from Trump by computerized trickery and engineered through a vast coverup and conspiracy , again the greatest political scandal in American history .
The challenge is not only that many of the advocates of this vast corruption @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was needed to overturn small Biden margins in the swing states – have so far not produced evidence at all commensurate with their astounding claims .
Rather , the rub is also that to do so requires implicit trust that their allegations will eventually be proven accurate over weeks if not months of litigation and media frenzy – a bridge too far for most Trump supporters .
But in the world of politics and perceptions , if the Kraken is really not to be birthed as a canary , overwhelming data should be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not just electoral and legal but now political .
Then there remains the rendezvous with reality on January 5 in Georgia .
The Republicans , despite likely being outspent , so often censored on social media , on the receiving end of traditional media and polling biases , and suspicions about the integrity of Georgia ’ s glitchy computerized voting systems and recent mass new registrations , can still win the two Senate races and hold the Senate , the last redoubt against the resurgence of neo-socialism .
But that hardscrabble effort will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ achieved , first , by the base ’ s support for Trump ’ s three weeks of initial legitimate complaints about the will of legislatures being unconstitutionally overturned that might have had ramifications in close-call states .
Yet , second , the people will also harbor simultaneous reluctance to join the current furor of his self-appointed legal team , without overwhelming evidence that a conspiracy robbed Trump of a gigantic victory , supposedly due to computer hackers , coders , leftists , foreign meddlers , corporate renegades , corrupt bureaucrats , and progressive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sum , only Trump , the Jacksonian fighter and aggrieved victim of quarantine-induced new voting protocols and often unconstitutional changes in voting protocols and methods of transparent tabulation , can rally the base to come out in January to match big money , big tech , big media , and big bureaucracy .
If Trump can do that , hold the Senate , reunite the MAGA ranks , and abort crazy ideas about packing the court and ending the Electoral College , then he will be a virtual kingmaker for the foreseeable future @ @ @ @ @ @ @ whether he wants to pursue a Grover Cleveland-like second term , or institutionalize his recalibration of the Republican Party throughout future Senate , House , and local elections – or both .
But again , all that is jeopardized , if Trump ’ s ad hoc legal team does not produce overwhelming evidence early within a day or two of fraud unmatched in U.S. history , and instead seeks to win through elector reselection and congressional intervention – and thereby loses the people .
That is not a partisan , but an empirical @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that it will not please many fellow Trump supporters .
Nonetheless , the American people are trending toward the Trump agenda that is winning despite the overwhelming odds against it .
Even the combined efforts of Wall Street , academia , the media , Silicon Valley , the corporate boardrooms , the Washington government establishment , entertainment , and professional sports can not beat an angry and mistreated people–if they are united .
The Trump base has won without all of the above , and will win without emulating the Left ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , looting , and arson .
Nor has it sought to undermine the federal courts , abuse the intelligence services , warp the Justice Department , or welcome the help of the retired officer corps or anonymous sleeper opponents within the bureaucracy .
It was the self-righteous Obama , not the much pilloried Trump , who sought extra-legal means to monitor his opponents , weaponize the government , and likely violate the law .
There is a series of battles to come in January 2021 , in 2022 , and in 2024 .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ be definitive , if the chaos of 2020 does not become even more chaotic .
Victor Davis Hanson is an American military historian , columnist , former classics professor , and scholar of ancient warfare .
He was a professor of classics at California State University , Fresno , and is currently the Martin and Illie Anderson Senior Fellow at Stanford University ’ s Hoover Institution .
He has been a visiting professor at Hillsdale College since 2004 .


thetennesseestar--2020-11-24--Carol Swain Says Williamson County Risks Increasing Racial Tension with Cultural Competency Program

Members of the Williamson County School System are reportedly looking to implement a cultural competency program , but former Nashville mayoral candidate Carol Swain said it will likely divide different categories of people even further .
“ Their reasoning for adopting the program is that somehow there is a cultural competency that will somehow eradicate racism .
What I have seen from the diversity , equity and inclusion programs have been almost always a very divisive type of approach that results in accentuating rather than decreasing racial and ethnic tension , ” Swain said .
“ And my concern is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The last thing students need is another indoctrination program where minorities are made to feel like victims and then white people are told how they are responsible for all of the sins of the world .
That takes us nowhere.
” “ The right approach looks at the equal protection clause of the Constitution that protects everyone as well as [ looking at ] the Civil Rights Act .
It would include the historical component , but there would be more focus on our responsibilities toward one another .
Blacks and people of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people , and the most important thing we need to do is to learn how to live together and get along .
The white people today are not responsible for what took place in the past .
The things that minorities label as discrimination are not always discrimination .
Some of the problems that people of color have is because of the choices that they make and how they have chosen to interpret the world around them , ” Swain told The Star .
“ I believe that the right approach to unity @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unique characteristics and contributions of individuals , and it ’ s based around the Judeo Christian worldview where we show love .
We show compassion .
We show respect for one other , but we don ’ t assume that one group because of their skin color is somehow privileged above another group or that one group is inferior because of the situation their ancestors may have been in in the past .
I think the best approach is to focus on team building , teaching mutual respect and going back to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you would have them do unto you .
If we went back to the Golden Rule that would solve all of our problems.
” As reported last year , Golden ’ s predecessor , Mike Looney , initially pushed for — but decided to never again show — a series of controversial Cultural Competency videos to teachers in the school district .
As reported , the Cultural Competency videos preached “ white privilege ” and America ’ s supposed dysfunctional history .
Williamson County parents and members of the public , as reported @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Cultural Competency videos that preached white privilege .
This , according to what Looney told a group of about 20 people at a meeting with parents .
Only teachers were supposed to see the videos , Looney said .
“ A lot of the people who push it are well-intentioned , but they will never get what they want to accomplish by using the approaches that are out there because those approaches are grounded in critical race theory , which itself is grounded in Marxism , ” Swain said .
Chris Butler is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Follow Chris on Facebook .
Email tips to [ email protected ]


thetennesseestar--2020-11-24--Metro Nashville Schools Sending All Students to Distance-Learning After Thanksgiving

Citing the “ the alarming increase in the spread of COVID-19 , ” Metro Nashville Public Schools will move all students to distance-learning after the Thanksgiving break .
The district on Monday evening tweeted , “ Metro Schools is returning to all-virtual learning following the Thanksgiving break on November 30 through the end of the semester , December 17.
” Students with exceptional needs and elementary school students who have attended in-person classes will report to school today .
They will move to distance-learning starting the Monday after Thanksgiving and continue online classes until Christmas break , which starts Dec. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a statement , available here .
“ Our transmission rate , new cases per 100,000 residents , and 7-day positivity rate are at their highest points in months , and the situation may only be getting worse , ” Dr. ( Adrienne ) Battle said .
“ This is a serious and dramatic public health emergency that requires us all to renew our vigilance and take the safety precautions necessary to keep ourselves , our families , our friends , and those we may encounter safe through the wearing of masks , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ – especially indoor – gatherings whenever possible.
” There is a probability , based on trends , that high schoolers won ’ t return to in-person classes , WPLN reported .
Metro Nashville Public Schools said that after Thanksgiving , students ages 5 to 12 and the children of Metro Schools employees can enroll in no-cost-with-verification YMCA Emergency Childcare .
This plan will provide students with supervision and support for virtual learning Nov. 30-Dec. 30 , except for Dec. 24-25 .
Parents who used this option previously will not have to go through @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to register their students for time slots .
Jason M. Reynolds has more than 20 years ’ experience as a journalist at outlets of all sizes .


thetennesseestar--2020-11-24--‘Not Interfering with People’s Thanksgiving Dinners’: New Jersey Police Chief Vows to Limit Enforcem

‘Not Interfering with People’s Thanksgiving Dinners’: New Jersey Police Chief Vows to Limit Enforcement of Governor’s COVID-19 Orders

A New Jersey police chief vowed to limit enforcement of a recent string of coronavirus orders from Democratic Gov .
Phil Murphy ahead of Thanksgiving .
Howell Township Police Chief Andrew Kudrick Jr. said he would rely primarily on community judgment rather than law enforcement intervention in response to Murphy ’ s regulations , according to a statement .
The governor ’ s order limited indoor gatherings to ten people , shuttered restaurants and bars at 10 p.m. and capped the number of attendees at funerals and weddings , among other gathers , NBC Philadelphia reported .
“ Howell Township @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be responsible for their own actions without enforcement intervention as they have done in the past , ” the chief wrote .
“ Of course they will respond to egregious violations such as packed house parties , so please think as you plan any gatherings.
” “ We are not going to be interfering with people ’ s Thanksgiving dinners or their holiday dinners or their social gatherings , unless it ’ s something egregious , ” Kudrick said , according to NBC News .
The New Jersey police boss also criticized Murphy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ activities from the order .
“ When you exempt certain peoples , especially those who are attending political activities , from the executive orders , I think that same courtesy should apply to people who are having friends and family over at their houses , ” he said , according to NBC .
Murphy ; however , maintained that his mandates are life-saving .
“ This is not about some minor infraction , ” he said , according to NBC .
“ These executive orders are about saving people ’ s lives.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ numbers have experienced a resurgence and have surpassed a previous peak in April , according to a New York Times tracking map .
Approximately 4,670 cases were reported on Nov. 21 , the highest on record for the Northeast state , the map revealed .


thetennesseestar--2020-11-24--UVA Student Newspaper Opinion Writer: ‘Stand Up’ to ‘Racist Family’ at Thanksgiving

An opinion columnist at the University of Virginia ’ s student newspaper encouraged her readers to “ stand up ” to “ racist family ” at Thanksgiving .
Emma Camp , who writes a regular opinion column for the Cavalier Daily , asserted that “ white progressives must privilege their principles over personal comfort ” in conversations with family during the holiday season .
In order to fulfill this mandate , they “ need to stand up to their racist loved ones.
” Though Trump , who Camp defines as a “ proto-fascist , ” who has “ been defeated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hateful rhetoric , conspiratorial thinking and virulent racism , xenophobia and sexism he espoused during his tenure remain deeply entrenched in American political discourse.
” “ When we sit silent over our uncle ’ s QAnon rants or our high school friends ’ xenophobic comments , ” she continues , “ it shows that we value our own comfort over what we know to be our ethical duty.
” She again admonishes readers to prove that their “ moral principles ” are more important than their “ relationship with racists.
” “ No @ @ @ @ @ @ @ your principles disrupts the presumption of agreement so often assumed by bigots , ” concludes Camp .
“ Hateful beliefs may continue — but at the very least you can make it clear that they are not welcome to at least one person at the dinner table.
” University of Virginia undergraduate Deven Upadhyay told Campus Reform that “ calling white progressives to action at Thanksgiving turns social activism into a game , eliciting frivolous accusations and burning bridges with loved ones.
” “ Today ’ s progressives have developed a savior complex @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the severity of real instances of xenophobia , sexism , and racism , ” he added .
“ As this piece pins this task on white people , it seems that people of color need to be ‘ saved ’ by our white friends.
” Upadhyay , who is Indian-American , says that he does not “ need to be saved or pandered to .
By playing along with the policing of white progressives , we grant them a position of superiority and false sense of accomplishment.
” “ If the purpose of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ your uncle Steve he ’ s a white supremacist surely won ’ t win you a Nobel prize , ” he added .
Campus Reform reached out to Camp for comment and will update this article accordingly .
Benjamin Zeisloft is a Pennsylvania Senior Campus Correspondent , reporting on liberal bias and abuse for Campus Reform .
He is studying Finance and Marketing at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania .
Benjamin also writes for The UPenn Statesman and the Wharton International Business Review .
Photo “ Emma Camp ” by @ @ @


thetennesseestar--2020-11-24--Harvard Creating New ‘Antiracism’ Librarian Job That Pays up to $240,300 Per Year

Harvard University is creating a new position for its Ivy League campus : an “ Associate University Librarian for Antiracism.
” The salary grade ( 061 ) for the position is listed between $ 133,300 to $ 240,300 per year .
The ideal candidate will have at least 10 years of experience and demonstrate strong data analysis , leadership and administrative skills , according to Harvard officials .
The College Fix reached out to Harvard University media relations to ask what inspired the position ’ s creation and how an antiracism librarian differs from a regular librarian .
A media @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ we ’ re not commenting beyond the information listed in the job posting , ” but added once the person is hired they will release more information .
Harvard ’ s position is part of a growing trend to infuse “ antiracism ” ” into libraries .
An internet search of “ antiracism library librarian ” for the last year returns more than 1,000 hits with libraries touting antiracism statements , programs , reading lists and other resources .
But the results indicate that Harvard ’ s position might be the first @ @ @ @ @ @ @ antiracism ” in its title .
The university announced in early November that it was hiring for the Associate University Librarian for Antiracism to develop Harvard Library into an “ exemplary antiracist research library.
” But it ’ s actually part of a larger effort that ’ s already underway .
The university had announced in September a new “ Library Anti-Racism Team.
” “ This has been a long-standing priority , and the current movement for racial justice in response to violence against Black Americans has underscored the urgency of this work @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The team consists of two people , archivist Jehan Sinclair as Harvard Library ’ s first anti-black racism librarian/archivist and Lori Cawthorne as senior human resources diversity consultant and Title IX coordinator , officials stated .
Sinclair ’ s role consists of engaging “ subject experts across the University to identify and share anti-Black racism resources across all types of Harvard Library collections , especially those that can be shared within and beyond Harvard.
” Additionally , she helps “ organize and develop policies that support the digitization of materials documenting anti-Black racism @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and processing collections to support that digitization , ” according to the news release .
The university ’ s new antiracism librarian will specifically be hired to continue their mission .
Some of the roles the new librarian will fulfill is developing and implementing “ measurable goals and metrics , and use data , research and evidence-based practice to identify and change systems , structures , policies , practices and individual behaviors that perpetuate systemic racism , ” according to the job posting .
Additionally , the new librarian will “ identify and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ education , reconciliation , restoration , and cultural transformation with regard to bias and discrimination against any group or people , including racism in all its forms.
” Maria Lencki is a senior at Franciscan University of Steubenville , double majoring in political science and communication arts .
She enjoys being active in her church by being a cantor and volunteers at her local hospital and soup kitchen .
Photo “ Harvard Library ” by John Phelan CC3.0 .


thetennesseestar--2020-11-24--Crom Carmichael Weighs in on Tenney-Brindisi Race and Notes Big Change in the Republican Party

Live from Music Row Monday morning on The Tennessee Star Report with Michael Patrick Leahy – broadcast on Nashville ’ s Talk Radio 98.3 and 1510 WLAC weekdays from 5:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. – host Leahy welcomed the original all-star panelist Crom Carmichael to the studio .
At the end of the second hour , Carmichael weighed in on the House race in Upstate New York between Claudia Tenney and Anthony Brindisi and remarked at how the Republican Party has become more diverse and destined to change .
Leahy : In the studio with me and the original all-star @ @ @ @ @ @ @ know , it ’ s 20 days after the election and a number of races still have not been called .
Let ’ s look at some House races .
If you look at the breakdown according to this all but three have been finalized its 222 for the Democrats to 10 for the Republican ’ s gain of at least 10 perhaps more for the Republicans .
But I used to live in Upstate New York in Madison County , which is right at the center .
It ’ s one of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
In 2016 the Republican Claudia Tenney won that race narrowly against Anthony Brindisi .
In a rematch in 2018 .
He won by 3,000 votes .
Rematch again 2020 .
I ’ ll read this from Syracuse.com .
Brindisi-Tenney House race shrouded in secrecy confusion as campaigns battle over ballots .
Central New Yorkers who voted in one of the most competitive House races in the nation still don ’ t know the results 20 days after the election whether their vote counted since the polls closed on November 3rd the 22nd @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and former representative Claudia Tenney .
It has been shrouded in secrecy as lawyers for the campaigns fight behind the scenes over hundreds of absentee ballots that could tip the election .
So the vote count right now , Tenney leads Brindisi by 300 votes out of more than 300,000 votes that have been cast .
But 60,000 absentee ballots have been returned .
55,000 have been counted .
There are 5,000 absentee ballots to be counted .
absentee ballots almost always go to…Wait for it .
Wait for it…the Democrats .
What @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Carmichael : Well , you know , they had a primary in New York that the judge finally had to throw up our hands because there ’ s two Democrats and the primary try to cheat against each other .
( Leahy laughs ) Now how many votes have been cast so far ?
I ’ m curious .
Carmichael : 312,000 .
Okay .
Now I ’ m going to take that and multiply that times time 435 and 135 million .
That would be a percentage .
If you have 435 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ standpoint .
It would be interesting to know compared to other congressional districts how many you know where that stands in terms of the number of total votes cast .
But the primary vote the dimmer of the judge finally throughout all of the votes that came in after a certain date .
And so you have a court case in New York that should matter in this particular race because you have a New York judge that said according to New York law here is the law .
And that was on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that the same thing would apply .
Leahy : So the way it works in New York and perhaps one of the reasons why I left many years ago .
I left when I was 18 and didn ’ t look back in part because you could get a sense that New York was so encumbered by rules and regulation and an overreaching government that it would be difficult to be a business guy there .
But in New York state every county sets its own rules about election law .
And when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ court .
There are eight counties there .
Broome County , Chenango County , Cortland County , Madison County where I used to live , and several others .
And they ’ re all involved in disputes and so judges are going to determine as was the case in that primary the winner of this case .
Right now with 300 votes separating the two and the Republican leading but with 6,000 absentee ballots not counted , you know , I would say it doesn ’ t look good for the Republican .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Leahy : How can they not be counted ?
Carmichael : How can they not had been counted ?
( Leahy chuckles ) And I mean I can answer my own question because these are absentee ballots that had just only recently shown up .
That is the nature of mail-in voting .
Leahy : Yeah , mail-in voting is just ripe for fraud .
Carmichael : Yeah it is and anyone who disagrees with that is either ignorant or knows it knows that it ’ s a great way to have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ well look how Washington State and Oregon , how great they are .
Leahy : They ’ ve done vote for by mail for some time .
Carmichael : Yeah , but look at the politicians they elect .
Carmichael : Also crazy left Democrats .
So you have no idea whether mail-in voting now has gotten to be so so cleverly disguised out there that this is just the way it goes or whether or not it ’ s legit .
You just don ’ t know .
But what you do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ both said it took them 10 years to correct all the anomalies that they found .
Let me switch gears to a couple of other races .
Do you remember the doctor ?
Trump ’ s first doctor ?
Dr. Ronny Jackson .
You know , he was also Obama ’ s doctor .
So the press assumed I think that Ronny Jackson would come forth after President Trump ’ s first physical and proclaim him physically incapable of holding office .
( Leahy laughs ) And Ronny Jackson surprised the press and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and that he would probably outlive most of the people in that room more or less .
Ronny Jackson was then somehow chased out of Washington and he ’ s now coming back to Washington as a congressman .
Leahy : Well , congratulations .
Which state is he coming from ?
Carmichael : Texas .
But there ’ s another there ’ s there are a number of women and minority candidates as a who won for the first time as Republicans .
One is a guy named Byron Donalds and he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Now Byron Donalds has an enormous smile .
But his arms are as big as my thighs .
This is a very big well-built man .
And he says he looks forward to being a counterweight to Ocasio-Cortez .
Carmichael : He probably did play if you didn ’ t play football but if he didn ’ t play football some coach is crying somewhere .
( Leahy laughs ) He absolutely thinks the black lives matter movement as it constitutes itself is very wrong-headed .
He ’ s going to be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the congressman Burgess Owens out of Utah and then a whole bunch of freshman women .
Carmichael : So the Republican party will be very different .
Listen to the full second hour here : Tune in weekdays from 5:00 – 8:00 a.m. to the Tennessee Star Report with Michael Patrick Leahy on Talk Radio 98.3 FM WLAC 1510 .
Listen online at iHeart Radio .
Photos “ Claudia Tenney ” and “ Anthony Brindisi ” by Claudia Tenney and Anthony Brindisi .


thetennesseestar--2020-11-24--Nevada Governor Orders Indoor Mask Mandate, Limits Private Gatherings Ahead of Thanksgiving

Democratic Nevada Gov .
Steve Sisolak on Sunday strengthened the state ’ s mask mandate and limited attendees in private gatherings ahead of Thanksgiving .
Residents must wear face coverings whether gathering indoors or outside if any member that ’ s not in their household is present , according to a press release from the governor ’ s office .
Private gatherings are limited to 10 people from a maximum of two separate households and public events will be capped at 50 people or 25 % capacity , whichever is less , the order , which will last a total @ @ @ @ @ @ @ As your Governor , I am confident that I did all I could to avoid further restrictions and keep us on the path forward , but now I must act , ” Sisolak said in the release .
“ In this defining moment , I implore Nevadans to tap into their independent spirit and consider their own personal responsibility.
” Restaurants , gyms , bars , arcades , casinos and other service industries will be limited to 25 % capacity , but retail stores will be allowed to admit 50 % of their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The measures take effect on Wednesday , according to the governor .
Sisolak said his state ’ s cases are “ at wildfire levels ” and he indicated Nevada ’ s positivity rate is greater than 16 % in a Sunday tweet thread .
“ Our case rate growth is at wildfire levels – even outpacing neighboring states , such as Arizona , ” the Democrat wrote .
“ All available models indicate that Nevada is in a ‘ red zone ’ and our health experts anticipate continued case growth based on current @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 13 of 17 of our counties are flagged for elevated risk of transmission , ” he continued .
“ In the beginning of October , only 2 counties were flagged .
Our statewide positivity rate is at a record16.5 [ sic ] percent , and as I mentioned , we ’ ve surpassed 2,000 deaths.
” Jake Dima is a reporter at Daily Caller News Foundation .
Photo “ Governor Steve Sisolak ” by Governor Steve Sisolak .


thetennesseestar--2020-11-24--NCAA Relocating Preliminary Round Sites for 2021 Championship Tournament, Discussing Single Host Cit

NCAA Relocating Preliminary Round Sites for 2021 Championship Tournament, Discussing Single Host City

Many die-hard college basketball fans remember the disappointment they felt last spring when the 2020 NCAA Tournament was cancelled because the coronavirus that was , at the time , starting to emerge in the United States .
For 2021 , all signs are pointing to March Madness taking place even while the country continues to live through the pandemic , but the annual spring tradition for college basketball fans will look much different from years past .
The NCAA Division I Men ’ s Basketball Committee announced last week the relocation of 13 already determined preliminary round sites for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ begin on March 16th , 2021 .
“ My committee colleagues and I did not come lightly to the difficult decision to relocate the preliminary rounds of the 2021 tournament , as we understand the disappointment 13 communities will feel to miss out on being part of March Madness next year , ” said Mitch Barnhart , committee chair and University of Kentucky athletics director .
Barnhart continued : “ The committee and staff deeply appreciate the efforts of all the host institutions and conferences , and we look forward to bringing the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ future years.
” The decision was made after the committee – consisting of ten members from different schools and conferences – had been discussing contingency planning and the best way to conduct a safe and healthy 2021 NCAA Tournament .
The body came to a conclusion that having teams travel to 13 sites in places around the country would be too hard to execute during COVID and that the championship tournament should be held in a single city to ensure greater safety for all participants , according to the news release .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ other successful sporting events in the last several months , and it became clear it ’ s not feasible to manage this complex championship in so many different states with the challenges presented by the pandemic , ” said Dan Gavitt , NCAA Senior Vice President of Basketball .
“ However , we are developing a solid plan to present a safe , responsible and fantastic March Madness tournament unlike any other we ’ ve experienced.
” In light of the committee ’ s decision , the NCAA is reportedly in talks with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Indianapolis about potentially hosting the entire 68-team tournament from start to finish , according to the news release .
Having Indianapolis as the sole host city for March Madness would make sense given the city was already scheduled to be the location of the Final Four , and the fact that downtown Indianapolis features many hotels and other sporting venues as well as the large Indiana convention center .
Those 13 sites were supposed to host the tournament ’ s initial play-in games , the first and second rounds and the four @ @ @ @ @ @ @ included cities such as Dayton , San Jose , Dallas , Providence and Lexington , among others .
“ The Board of Governors and my top priorities are to protect the health and well-being of college athletes while also maintaining their opportunity to compete at the highest level , ” said Mark Emmert , NCAA President .
“ These principles have guided the decision-making process as we continue to assess how to have a fair and safe championship experience.
” In other college basketball news , CBS Sports insider Jon Rothstein reported Sunday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the notion of daily COVID-19 testing as a way to give the sport a better shot at making it through the 2020-21 season without interruption .
The Big 10 and Pac-12 conferences have already been conducting daily testing , according to Rothstein .
That testing method could potentially solve the looming issue of players and coaches having to possibly sit out two-weeks and miss several games because of positive cases and contact tracing since the college basketball schedule features contests multiple times per week .
All in all , nobody really knows what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or how it will go with so much uncertainty involved .
The season tips off on Wednesday .
Jacob Taylor is a reporter at The Virginia Star and the Star News Digital Network .
Follow Jacob on Twitter .
Email tips to [ email protected ] Photo “ NCAA College Basketball ” by NCAA .


thetennesseestar--2020-11-24--Biden’s Pick for National Security Adviser Sent Classified Emails on Clinton’s Server, Hyped Fake Tr

Biden’s Pick for National Security Adviser Sent Classified Emails on Clinton’s Server, Hyped Fake Trump-Russia Collusion Story

Joe Biden ’ s likely choice for national security adviser sent more than 200 classified emails found on Hillary Clinton ’ s private email network , and touted a now-debunked allegation before the 2016 election which fueled the conspiracy theory that Donald Trump was in cahoots with Russian leaders .
Biden will select Jake Sullivan to serve in the White House role , The New York Times and Bloomberg reported .
Sullivan , 43 , was one of Clinton ’ s top policy advisers when she served as secretary of state from 2009 through 2013 .
After Clinton left Foggy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ adviser to then-Vice President Joe Biden .
He was a senior foreign policy adviser to both the Clinton and Biden campaigns .
Sullivan was a key figure in the saga surrounding Clinton ’ s use of a private email network for government business .
Clinton exclusively used the private server , eschewing guidance from the State Department to use government networks .
Clinton and her group of top aides , including Sullivan , Huma Abedin and Cheryl Mills , exchanged thousands of emails that the FBI and other agencies found to have contained @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the State Department and FBI had determined that Sullivan sent 215 emails that were deemed to contain classified material .
Politico reported in February 2016 that Sullivan sent emails to Clinton that contained information classified at the “ top secret ” level , the highest classification category .
The FBI investigated whether Clinton mishandled classified information , but declined to recommend charges to the Justice Department .
Sullivan was never accused of any criminal wrongdoing related to his email exchanges with Clinton and other State Department officials .
James Comey admonished Clinton @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on July 5 , 2016 , saying that she was “ extremely careless ” to send and exchange sensitive government documents on a private email network .
Sullivan was involved in another saga related to email servers in the 2016 presidential campaign .
As an advisor to Clinton ’ s campaign , Sullivan hyped a since-debunked story that alleged the existence of a covert email server that connected Trump ’ s real estate company , the Trump Organization , to Alfa Bank , one of Russia ’ s top private banks .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ yet between Donald Trump and Moscow , ” Sullivan said in a statement responding to a story published by Slate on Oct. 31 , 2016 .
“ This secret hotline could be the key to unlocking the mystery of Trump ’ s ties to Moscow.
” The Alfa Bank allegation has since been debunked .
A Justice Department inspector general ’ s report released in December 2019 said that the FBI investigated the allegation but found no evidence of a covert server arrangement between Alfa Bank and the Trump Organization .
Robert Mueller @ @ @ @ @ @ @ links to Russia as special counsel , testified to Congress on July 25 , 2019 that the Alfa Bank allegation was “ not true.
” Undisclosed in the Slate story was that a key source for the article was Michael Sussmann , a lawyer who represented the Clinton campaign and DNC at the law firm Perkins Coie .
Perkins Coie hired the opposition research firm Fusion GPS in April 2016 to investigate Donald Trump ’ s possible links to Russia .
Fusion in turn hired former British spy Christopher Steele , who produced @ @ @ @ @ @ @ later used to obtain warrants to surveil Trump campaign aide Carter Page .
Sussmann shared allegations about Alfa Bank with reporters at The New York Times , then-FBI general counsel James Baker , and Christopher Steele , the author of the infamous dossier alleging collusion between the Trump campaign and Russian government to influence the 2016 election .
John Durham , a U.S. attorney in Connecticut , has reportedly presented evidence to a federal grand jury as part of an investigation into the origins of the inaccurate Alfa Bank allegation .
Attorney General @ @ @ @ @ @ @ investigate the origins of the Trump-Russia investigation .
President-elect Joe Biden has not said whether he will allow the Durham probe to continue once he takes office .
The Biden transition team did not respond to request for comment .


thetennesseestar--2020-11-24--Host Leahy and Carmichael Reflect on JFK’s Presidency 57 Years After His Death

Live from Music Row Monday morning on The Tennessee Star Report with Michael Patrick Leahy – broadcast on Nashville ’ s Talk Radio 98.3 and 1510 WLAC weekdays from 5:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. – host Leahy welcomed the original all-star panelist Crom Carmichael to the studio .
During the second hour , Carmichael and Host Leahy discuss the assassination of Kennedy and his legacy while examining moral dilemmas past presidents ’ faced in foreign policy .
Leahy : We welcome to our microphones a good friend and the original all-star panelist Crom Carmichael .
Crom , good morning .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , sir ?
Leahy : I just wanted to bring this little historical point up today .
Yesterday November 22nd , 2020 was the 57th anniversary of the assassination of John F Kennedy .
Leahy : And you know it was for a period of time that day was I think for at least 40 years it was a huge day that everybody remembered but it ’ s sort of now passed into distant history .
I recall exactly where I was on November 22nd , 1963 when I heard that John F @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sitting in an elementary school building in Dannemora , New York .
The prison town that we talked about .
It ’ s about 60 miles south of Montreal Quebec .
My dad was a principal of this school and I was in third grade sitting in the front right row .
We were doing a social studies class about the Piedmont section of North Carolina .
My teacher was Mrs. Levine who was one of these teachers that you know wore the pointed glasses and was kind of strict .
And over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the president has been shot .
And I remember Mrs. Levine saying oh I feel so sorry .
I ’ m so sorry for his family and his wife .
I certainly hope he ’ s going to be okay .
15 minutes later my dad came on the PA system and he said the president is dead .
Walter Cronkite has announced it .
And you ’ re dismissed and you may all go home .
And I remember thinking , ‘ So now who ’ s going to be President ?
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ ?
’ That ’ s what I recall .
Carmichael : Okay .
Well You know Kennedy is an interesting figure in history .
It ’ s a little bit FDR .
And we ’ ll compare the two just for a bit .
And had it not been for the second world war would probably not have won a third term as president .
And had it not been for the war would have gone down as a very ineffective president from the standpoint of the economy because he inherited a bad @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of 25 percent .
And then throughout the 30s he and the Democrats in Congress continuously raised the top marginal tax rate factories all tax rates .
But the top marginal tax rate ended up close to 90 percent .
And we had another depression in 1937 and 1938 which caused… Carmichael : Caused by Roosevelts politics .
It ’ s kind of like saying that we ’ ve got to get the car from one point to another point and we need to increase its speed .
But while we do that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gasoline out of the gas tank .
This book that I ’ m just about finished with called A Man Called Intrepid really points out some very interesting things about FDR that I did not know .
So mentioning things about moral dilemmas that world leaders had to face during that time .
And in today ’ s woke media deal , if FDR had he been a Donald Trump he would have been impeached many times over for doing some of the things that he did that were really truly in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ And so an example might be the Japanese internment on the West Coast partnering with Stalin ?
Carmichael : No .
Now that might have been a true mistake , but I ’ m talking more about Lend Lease and the different things that Roosevelt knew about that he didn ’ t tell the American people .
It ended up that there were some Americans who died as a result of the secrets that he kept .
But had he told the secrets and save those lives he would have revealed that the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ And the same things true with Hitler .
Hitler had a small town that the Germans had targeted .
He learned about that .
And rather than vacate the town and save the people he didn ’ t announce anything and thousands of people were killed as opposed to if he had saved the thousands of people .
Leahy : Which small town was this ?
Carmichael : I can ’ t remember the name , but it ’ s in England .
Carmichael : Yeah , and so but it but it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the moral dilemmas that you ’ re faced with .
Now , let ’ s fast-forward to Kennedy .
Kennedy ’ s foreign policy was perhaps the worst foreign policy record of anyone any president certainly in my lifetime .
When he came into office the Bay of Pigs operation was planned , but he authorized its execution and then he bailed and left them .
Leahy : Left the guys on the beach .
Carmichael : To die .
And so he ran from that .
And then he allowed the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ history now shows that had he done anything to stop that the Russians wouldn ’ t have continued to build it .
It was a test .
Leahy : And he failed the test .
Carmichael : Yes and Khrushchev saw the Bay of Pigs and said gosh we can get away… Leahy : We can roll this guy .
Carmichael : Yeah , and then he got us started in Vietnam .
He ’ s one that you know that after the assassination of the president in South Vietnam he got far @ @ @ @ @ @ @ obligated to continue .
Leahy : Kennedy apologists say that no , he was not implicated in the assassination but they ’ re a lot of visits that show his fingerprints were there .
Carmichael : Well , okay , it happened .
Carmichael : And it happened while Kennedy was president and our involvement in Vietnam increased while Kennedy was president and Lyndon Johnson inherited that and just continued Kennedy ’ s policies .
And then last but not least is the Cuban missile crisis which built up over time with his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said if you don ’ t stop this , you ’ re not going to win the next election .
So it had much more do about politics than national security and in order to get Khrushchev to pull his missiles out of Cuba , he made a secret deal in regard to our missiles in Turkey .
Leahy : Well the thing about Kennedy ’ s when you look at it you want to talk about sort of journalistic propaganda .
John F. Kennedy had perhaps the very best , you know @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you know , promoting what a wonderful guy he was and how great his policies were .
And they would take basically failures and turned them into successes .
This whole business at the beginning of the war hero thing with PT-109 .
They made a movie out of it and made him into a hero , but there ’ s another way of looking at that and that he was kind of reckless and put his ship and crew at risk .
That really was more the common perception until the PR @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Well and then we , you know , we know that he was an enormous philanderer .
But the one thing he did do and Republicans point to it and Democrats hate it is he cut tax rates .
The top marginal tax rate was 92 percent and he cut it to 70 which sounds still incredibly high but it was a significant marginal tax rate cut .
And the economy improved as a result of that .
But moving at 70 , it will improve but only he so much .
But @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fascinating about Kennedy was that you ’ re right about the press was very much behind Kennedy .
And he was young and kind of vigorous .
He also I think historically now even liberals admit that he stole the election .
Leahy : With the help of Mayor Daley in Chicago and Lyndon Johnson .
And Johnson on the border of Texas .
Carmichael : In Texas .
And so and so it ’ s really quite interesting to kind of look at Kennedy in retrospect his father Joseph Kennedy was a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pro-Hitler , I don ’ t mean he was a Nazi .
What I mean that he believed Great Britain was not going to prevail and would in fact lose the war .
And Joe Kennedy was more interested in protecting his own business interests .
And so Roosevelt ended up having to cut Joe Kennedy out of a lot of the communication .
Leahy : Joe Kennedy was ambassador to the United Kingdom before World War II .
Just before .
It was a political reward for the money he spent helping @ @ @ @ @ @ @ And it was an odd choice because he was you know , Irish and at that time the Irish hated the English .
Hated the English .
Carmichael : Then you know we look at Bobby Kennedy might have been but we don ’ t know because he was also assassinated .
He might have been the best of the bunch .
But Teddy Kennedy was a lousy person .
Just a terrible person on so many different levels .
Carmichael : So it ’ s kind of an interesting mixed bag .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ had a great press operation .
That ’ s for sure .
Carmichael : Oh , they sure did .
Listen to the second hour here : Tune in weekdays from 5:00 – 8:00 a.m. to the Tennessee Star Report with Michael Patrick Leahy on Talk Radio 98.3 FM WLAC 1510 .
Listen online at iHeart Radio .


thetennesseestar--2020-11-24--COVID-19 Vaccine Temperature Requirements Could Create Logistics Challenge

Many states in the U.S. are hinging their COVID-19 mitigation strategies on the availability of a widely available vaccine .
An issue bound to arise is the extremely cold temperatures the most promising experimental vaccines need to be kept at and the logistics of delivering them across the country .
Moderna ’ s COVID-19 vaccine is estimated to remain stable at standard refrigerator temperatures of 36° to 46°F for 30 days .
Longer storage means a required temperature of mRNA-1273 needs -4°F for up to six months .
Pfizer ’ s most-promising vaccine is even more fickle , requiring a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which the company says will last 10 days in one of their specialized containers .
Dispersing the vaccines across the country while keeping their temperature low is going to prove a monumental challenge in need of business-government cooperation not seen since World War II , said Mike Kucharski , co-owner and vice president of Summit Cold Storage in the Chicago area .
“ It ’ s going to go over the rail , it ’ s going to go over the road , it ’ s going to definitely hit air cargo to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he said .
“ All hands on deck will be needed to get this out to all the people.
” The additional cost , Kucharski said , is likely to be significant .
“ These trucks are delivering other essential goods and Pfizer , to cover these loads , they ’ re going to have to pay more , ” he said .
Gov .
J.B. Pritzker said last week that he expects federal dollars to account for much of the cost of the distribution of the eventual vaccine for COVID-19 .
Cole @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and statewide issues for The Center Square .
He has produced radio shows for stations in Central Illinois and created award-winning programs for Comcast SportsNet Chicago .


thetennesseestar--2020-11-24--Faith and Freedom Rally Protests Mayor Cooper Rule of 8: ‘Make America Godly Again’

NASHVILLE , Tennessee – Monday afternoon in downtown Nashville , a rally of just over 100 people protested the latest gathering limit from Mayor John Cooper .
None of the police were present at the Legislative Plaza steps where everyone gathered .
Cooper coined the term “ Rule of 8 ” for the city ’ s latest pandemic-related order ahead of Thanksgiving .
The event description on Facebook described the rule as “ ridiculous and unconstitutional.
” Pastor Greg Locke hosted the protest .
Locke announced the event during the third “ Stop the Steal ” rally last Saturday – @ @ @ @ @ @ @ weekend until the general election lawsuits are resolved .
“ Here ’ s how you handle American freedoms : people that are concerned about the virus need to stay home , and people that want to go to work , to church , and to school should go , ” stated Locke .
“ In this nation , God is our sovereign , not the government.
” Locke is outspoken about empowering Christians to stand up against current impositions against them .
Facebook banned the pastor temporarily for offering to pay expenses for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ told by their governor that they couldn ’ t attend church .
Featured guests included Christian pop artist Danny Gokey , who sang The National Anthem .
Other speakers included activist Ty Bollinger and Pastor Ken Peters .
Both men asserted the unconstitutionality of the government-enforced lockdowns and mandates , and the need for Christian leaders to fight the culture war coloring modern politics .
“ Paul Revere said , ‘ The British are coming !
The British are coming !
The British are coming ! '
” stated Peters .
“ Ladies @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coming !
The leftists are coming !
The leftists are coming !
” Locke contended that those in attendance should consider a new focus – instead of the usual “ Make America Great Again ” slogan , they should adopt more powerful language .
“ We need to ‘ Make America Godly Again , ” asserted Locke .
“ The church has made this country hell in a handbasket .
Judgment must begin at God ’ s house .
Everyone ’ s bowing down to the golden calf of political correctness.
” The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prayer .
Corinne Murdock is a reporter at The Tennessee Star and the Star News Network .
Follow her latest on Twitter , or email tips to [ email protected ] .


thetennesseestar--2020-11-24--Sidney Powell Makes Explosive Allegations About Dominion; Firm Won $107 Million Contract with State

Sidney Powell Makes Explosive Allegations About Dominion; Firm Won $107 Million Contract with State of Georgia Months After Former Staffer for Gov. Kemp Signed on as Lobbyist

At the center of the pending lawsuits surrounding this general election is the integrity of electronic voting systems and the companies that own them .
One company of particular interest is Dominion Voting Systems ( Dominion ) , referenced by attorney Sidney Powell in multiple press conferences and interviews .
Powell has claimed that Dominion is responsible for switching , losing , and assigning different weights to votes .
The attorney has also claimed that those who awarded contracts to Dominion did so for sweetened deals : guaranteed increased power and massive payouts .
Powell further alleged that Dominion ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Venezuela and the late Hugo Chavez .
Dominion first came into Georgia when Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger awarded the company a near- $ 107 million contract for statewide voting systems last summer .
Georgia is the only state to have Dominion in every single polling precinct because of a state law requirement to implement a uniform voting system .
All of Puerto Rico also uses Dominion ’ s voting systems .
Close seconds are Nevada and Colorado – both use Dominion machines in nearly every county .
And , a majority of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the system is used by Maricopa County .
Georgia ’ s top elected official shares a connection with Dominion .
Governor Brian Kemp ’ s former campaign manager and later Press Secretary and Chief of Staff , Jared Thomas , is a lobbyist for Dominion .
Thomas first registered as their lobbyist last February – several months before Georgia awarded the contract to Dominion .
Election Systems & Software ( ES & S ) and Smartmatic USA both lost out on the contract .
Price factored largely into the state ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Dominion was the most cost-friendly .
Initial analysis of the voting system from Dominion uncovered issues immediately .
The state found that the ballot scanning devices experienced “ memory lockup ” after processing 4500 ballots .
Dominion assured the state that the issue wouldn ’ t affect the ballots ; rather , the system design lacked a memory management unit and was therefore susceptible to memory fragmentation .
The state thereafter reportedly verified Dominion ’ s statement through further testing .
Several months later , the voting systems experienced significant issues during @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reports from voters and the media .
However , the final report issued by Raffensperger ’ s office indicated that these issues comprised a low incident rate and were “ caused by human error or interaction.
” Additionally , the report described how Dominion technicians fixed certain issues by accessing the system through WiFi – the same feature that concerned Texas state officials enough to prohibit the use of Dominion systems in their elections .
Then , during this summer ’ s primaries , the voting systems experienced multiple incidents of delays , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Some of those issues even spilled over into the first days of early voting last month .
It doesn ’ t appear from any statements or reports that Raffensperger considered Texas ’ s decision to not purchase Dominion ’ s voting systems .
In an interview with Newsmax TV on Saturday , Powell claimed that both Kemp and Raffensperger benefitted from the deal with Dominion .
“ Georgia ’ s probably gon na be the first state I ’ m going to blow up .
And Mr. Kemp and the secretary of state @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ re in on the Dominion scam with their last-minute purchase , or award of a contract to Dominion of $ 100 million .
The state bureau of investigation for Georgia ought to be looking into the financial benefits received by Mr. Kemp and the secretary of state ’ s family about that time.
” Powell also affirmed that her legal team had learned of evidence to support her claims .
There hasn ’ t been any indication of an investigation into either Kemp or Raffensperger .
The next day , the Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ statement made by President Trump ’ s attorneys Rudy Giuliani and Jenna Ellis .
“ Sidney Powell is practicing law on her own .
She is not a member of the Trump Legal Team .
She is also not a lawyer for the President in his personal capacity.
” The statement came several days after last Thursday ’ s press conference in which Giuliani , Powell , and Ellis shared a joint preview of their evidence .
Giuliani introduced themselves as the legal representation for the President and his campaign .
Later , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Street Journal .
“ I agree with the statement today .
I will represent # WeThePeople and seek the Truth .
I intend to expose all fraud and let the chips fall where they may .
We will not allow the foundations of this great Republic to be destroyed by abject fraud.
” The same day , Twitter placed a temporary suspension on Powell ’ s account without explanation .
Since the suspension was lifted , Powell hasn ’ t issued any tweets of her own .
Monday evening , U.S. General Services @ @ @ @ @ @ @ White House will begin the formal transition process .
Corinne Murdock is a reporter at The Georgia Star News and the Star News Network .
Follow her latest on Twitter , or email tips to [ email protected ] .
Image “ Attorney Sidney Powell ” by Real News Insights .


thetennesseestar--2020-11-24--Leftists Giddy That Georgia U.S. Senate Race Might Deliver ‘The Green New Deal’

Members of a left-leaning environmental group have announced that Georgia ’ s two U.S. Senate races are the key to them and their political allies in Washington , D.C. enacting the Green New Deal into law .
Members of this group , the Sunrise Movement , announced their intentions late last week .
According to an emailed Sunrise Movement newsletter , members think they can use the Georgia U.S. Senate elections “ to transform this country.
” The newsletter did not identify which of the four primary U.S. Senate candidates would help them achieve their goals .
The Green New @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Party initiative .
“ Everyone has got Georgia on their minds .
The power to build a Green New Deal future is in arm ’ s reach .
These races are important to me because I see what Georgia looks like .
For too long , this state has been controlled by people who work with fossil fuel executives and lobbyists—not for the people of Georgia .
But their power is crumbling and Georgia finally has a chance not only to contribute to the growing demand for a fair America and the Green @ @ @ @ @ @ @ power toward a vision that is so much bigger than our state alone , ” according to the Sunrise Movement ’ s newsletter .
“ This is why we need you .
Since these races are going to decide between kicking off decisive Green New Deal action in 2021 or two more years of waiting , corrupt politicians , fossil fuel executives , and lobbyists will put millions of dollars toward stopping us .
We must build this people power in Georgia to stop them instead.
” As reported , U.S. Sen. David @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Kelly Loeffler ( R-GA ) are on the January 5 , 2021 ballot for the U.S. Senate against two Democrats , Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock , respectively .
As The Tennessee Star reported last year , New York Democratic Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez ( D-NY-14 ) released the Green New Deal resolution that ’ s become a central part of the Democratic agenda .
The Green New Deal resolution calls for “ 10-year national mobilizations ” to fight global warming .
A separate fact-sheet claims the plan would “ mobilize every aspect of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ since World War II.
” That includes getting all our energy needs from “ clean , renewable , and zero-emission energy sources ” by “ dramatically expanding and upgrading existing renewable power sources.
” Ocasio-Cortez ’ s non-binding resolution calls for a variety of social justice and welfare state goals , including “ a family-sustaining wage , adequate family and medical leave , paid vacations and retirement security ” and “ high-quality health care ” benefits for Americans .
The resolution also calls for “ repairing historic oppression ” among certain groups , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ low-income workers , indigenous people and youth collectively called “ frontline and vulnerable communities.
” Chris Butler is an investigative journalist at The Tennessee Star .
Follow Chris on Facebook .
Email tips to [ email protected ] Photo “ Sunrise Movement with AOC ” by Sunrise Movement .


thetennesseestar--2020-11-24--As Gov. DeWine Vows to Veto Ohio Bill to Limit Director of Health’s Authority, Lawmakers Eye Overrid

As Gov. DeWine Vows to Veto Ohio Bill to Limit Director of Health’s Authority, Lawmakers Eye Override

Senate Bill 311 ( SB311 ) , a bill to limit the Director of Health order-issuing authority , will be vetoed by Ohio Republican Governor Mike DeWine .
The Governor has 10 days with which to exercise that right – speculation is he will take all 10 .
However , SB311 is not dead .
The Ohio Star reported the prospective law has more support in the Ohio House of Representatives than votes showed last week , according to Ohio State Representative Jon Cross ( R-Kenton ) ( pictured above ) .
In an interview with The Star , Cross @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who didn ’ t cast a ‘ yea ’ or ‘ nay ’ vote last week would have been ‘ yea ’ s – brining the support to 61 votes .
The bill would have only needed 60 to override a veto since it already had veto-proof support in the Senate .
Procedurally , there is no guarantee the bill will make its way back to the House .
SB311 must first go back to its chamber of origin , the Senate .
There it will need three-fifths approval from Ohio ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it is to get back to the House .
On September 24 it received 20 votes , with all 33 Senators voting .
The tally was as follows , according to the Ohio Legislature archive : Republicans Dolan , Kunze , Lehner and Schuring went against the measure to keep healthy Ohioans from mandatory quarantine while 20 other GOP senators went against the grain .
SB3111 also gives the General Assembly power to rescind orders by resolution without the Governor ’ s approval – since a resolution is not a law .
However @ @ @ @ @ @ @ count will be duplicated .
In a phone interview with The Star , State Senator Andrew Brenner , ( R-19 ) said that the bill might make the supermajority mark , but it also might not .
“ I think this one will be decided by one vote either way.
” Before the bill gets a vote on either floor , it will require effort of leaders of both chambers – Speaker of the House Bob Cupp ( R-Lima ) and Senate President Larry Obhof ( R-Medina ) .
The Star contacted Senate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ work the legislation to the floor and whip the necessary votes .
Obhof had not responded before this article published .
Representative Cross told The Star , that the Speaker may keep the vote open in the event SB311 reaches the House and a floor vote again .
This would allow representatives who need extra time to cast their votes to ensure their votes are counted .
Cross also told The Star that Ohio law forbids blocking lawmakers from voting due to quarantine or other measures .
Even if the bill passes the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) would be in charge of captaining SB331 ’ s fate .
The Star is in receipt of a memo sent to the Ohio House of Representatives State and Local Government Committee , the committee from which SB311 emerged before being debated and voted on the floor last week .
The memo is from , among other organizations , the Ohio Hospital Association ( OHA ) and the Ohio Business Roundtable ( OBR ) .
The memo urges the committee to vote down the bill as a matter of public safety .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ charged with lobbying on behalf of the association .
The Ohio Business Roundtable is led by former U.S .
Congressman , Pat Tiberi .
Tiberi is President and CEO of OBR .
Both Borgemenke and Tiberi were present at a meeting earlier in November with Speaker Bob Cupp and Ohio State Representative Bill Seitz ( R-Green Township ) .
Two representatives who are known by this Star reporter asked for anonymity for safety and security reasons .
Both representatives told The Star that Representative Seitz was interested in opposing Cupp for Speaker of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ role that was up for consideration after the November 3 general election .
However , last week Speaker Cupp was re-elected Speaker by the Republican Caucus , running unopposed .
Of Borgemenke , Tiberi , Cupp and Seitz , only Seitz returned a call from The Star .
During the phone interview with Seitz , the Representative was asked why lobbyists were involved in discussions involving the upcoming caucus vote on the Speaker seat .
Seitz said that was not the intent of the meeting .
Rather he had met with Cupp two @ @ @ @ @ @ @ everyone agreed that Borgemenke and Tiberi would mediate ” the discussion .
Seitz said the meeting was held to discuss and achieve three objectives : Seitz said that Cupp is not a “ shoe-pounding personality ” and that people may be concerned that he is in DeWine ’ s corner .
However , Seitz said it is the “ will of the caucus to rectify executive overreach.
” OBR spokesperson Rob Nichols did return a call to The Star and in and was asked why the OBR didn ’ t support SB311 and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ itself.
” Jack Windsor is Managing Editor and an Investigative Reporter at The Ohio Star .
Windsor is also an Investigative Reporter at WMFD-TV .
Follow Jack on Twitter .
Email tips to [ email protected ] .


thetennesseestar--2020-11-24--Ohio Governor Sees Growing Criticism from Fellow Republicans

COLUMBUS , Ohio ( AP ) — For months , Ohio Gov .
Mike DeWine steered cleared of publicly second-guessing President Donald Trump , a fellow Republican , despite their differences in responding to the coronavirus pandemic .
However , following the governor ’ s move to shutdown the state over rising COVID cases and remarks urging a swift conclusion to the challenges to the 2020 election irregularities , President Trump suggested another Republican should challenge him in Ohio ’ s 2022 election .
That was just the start of a rough few days last week for the Ohio governor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he says “ is on fire ” with skyrocketing coronavirus cases , and now finds himself fending off questions about his political future .
DeWine is feeling the heat mostly from within his party .
Statehouse Republicans pushed forward a series of bills last week that would limit his authority to issue orders in response to the pandemic , and they sent a letter criticizing him for telling businesses to act as “ mask police.
” On top of that , a group of anti-abortion organizations announced they no longer had confidence in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the state ’ s health department .
It was another surprising turn against a governor who last year signed one of the most stringent abortion restrictions in the nation .
GOP dissatisfaction with the governor is leading to plenty of talk about who might run in a Republican primary against DeWine , who has been elected to almost every position in Ohio during a 40-year career and could rightly be considered the state ’ s most successful politician in decades .
One name being brought up is U.S. Rep. Jim Jordan , a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s biggest allies in Congress and has the name recognition and fundraising capability needed for a statewide run .
Jordan hasn ’ t said whether he has any interest in running for governor , but several times recently he has poked fun on Twitter at DeWine ’ s mask and curfew orders .
Former Republican U.S. Rep. Jim Renacci , who fell short in a bid for U.S. Senate campaign in 2018 , is thought to be considering a run and at the same time has been unleashing a string of tweets @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pandemic .
DeWine , 73 , said this past week he ’ s “ not spending much time thinking about politics at this point .
We have a pandemic to deal with.
” “ The Mike DeWine that you see today is the same Mike DeWine that got elected , ” he said a day after ordering a statewide curfew .
“ I am pro-life — I ’ m completely pro-life .
And that means I worry about the child before it ’ s born , and I worry about the 80-year-old who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ might get COVID.
” Ohio GOP strategist Terry Casey said it ’ s likely that a Republican will challenge DeWine , but “ the question is whether anybody with name ID and money , who knows who to run a state campaign , will actually file.
” Polling still shows DeWine has strong and broad support despite the frustration and unhappiness stemming from the pandemic , Casey said .
Early during the coronavirus outbreak , DeWine won praise for his aggressive steps to slow the spread , but since then he has encountered @ @ @ @ @ @ @ too far with business shutdowns and believe he backed down from protecting the public .
“ A lot of people around here enjoy their liberties and feel he ’ s infringing on them in a big way , ” said Richard Delzeith , the GOP chair in rural Mercer County , where DeWine won 80 % of the vote two years ago .
“ People have lost their businesses to the shutdown .
They will definitely remember this.
” “ People tell me they will never vote for DeWine ever again , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pretty strong wording.
” The party ’ s leaders in a handful of other rural counties said it ’ s too early to know whether the frustration out there now will last .
Lacie Sims , who owns the Village Family Restaurant in Waynesville , a village in southwestern Ohio , said DeWine “ doesn ’ t have many supporters here.
” She voted for him in 2018 but soured on him after he shut down indoor dining last winter before many counties , including hers , had any confirmed cases .
Her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , she said .
Sims , who wanted it known that she takes the virus seriously , said she would welcome a Republican primary for governor in 2022 .
“ I would be very hard pressed not to support someone who believes in small government , ” Sims said .
“ If that candidate is out there , I hope they run .
They ’ ll have my support.
” The revolt among conservatives stems from Trump ’ s outsized influence over the party , which has displaced the power of more traditional @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an Otterbein University political science professor .
The question for DeWine is whether voters in rural Ohio who overwhelmingly support Trump and remain skeptical of the coronavirus and DeWine ’ s protective measures will still feel that way in less than 18 months when Ohio holds its primary election .
Perhaps DeWine can recover , Washington said , “ but I don ’ t think Donald Trump will be anything less than relentless , and he ’ ll be watching.
” John Seewer and Andrew Welsh-Higgins are reporters with The Associated Press .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ contributed to this report .