thetennesseestar--2020-12-03--Gwinnett County Official Confirms Vote Data Was Uploaded to Laptop Via USB Drive – ‘It’s Protocol’

A Gwinnett County , Georgia elections official confirmed that Dominion Voting Systems ( Dominion ) representatives use USB drives to upload vote count data to laptops for external processing .
The USB drives are also known as “ memory sticks , ” “ thumb drives , ” or “ flash drives.
” It is standard protocol for Dominion , as well as for most electronic voting systems .
The county official issued the statement in an emailed response to a viral video claiming that a Dominion representative manipulated vote data .
In the film , a Dominion technician appears to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ onto a USB .
Then , he proceeded to plug the USB into a separate laptop .
“ To clarify , the USB drive was not inserted into a scanner , the scanners are connected to the server through cables .
This would be a Dominion tech producing a data report on the server and saving the report to a Dominion USB thumb drive and then using a laptop to filter requested information , ” the company said .
“ The Dominion servers are not equipped with Excel and counties are not authorized @ @ @ @ @ @ @ these systems [ . ]
” Past examinations of USB drives have revealed that they are vulnerable to malware and hacking , connectable to wireless networks , and accessible to the web .
Each county is responsible for providing their own USB drives , according to the secretary of state ’ s office .
The secretary of state ’ s office also maintained that the USB drive is a safety feature – it is unclear what processes the counties undertake to secure these USBs .
Additionally , the secretary of state ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is auditable through its paper trail , and that tabulation records aren ’ t based solely on software .
Former 8kun administrator Ron Watkins shared the county ’ s response to the video on his Twitter page .
8kun , previously called 8chan , is a website that hosts user-created message boards with minimal administrative interference for content – similarly to Reddit .
8chan has become recently associated as the origins of the QAnon conspiracy theory .
Watkins questioned the necessity of a vulnerable method of transferring vote data .
“ BOOM !
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ to taking data from the Election Management System , plugging it into a laptop , then filtering it with excel [ sic ] .
This circumvents the rules that external software isn ’ t allowed on election machines , ” wrote Watkins .
“ Can someone explain why Gwinnett County is filtering election results from the airgapped [ sic ] Election Management System by transferring results with USB & utilizing an external laptop setup running an online version of Excel and an internet connection with remote viewing enabled ?
” Air-gapped refers to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Another whistleblowers claimed confirmation of Watkin ’ s claims through pictures that the video in the laptop ran an online version of Excel with an internet connection with remote viewing enabled .
The pictured laptop presented a webpage of an Excel spreadsheet labeled as a copy of a ballot manifest .
In September , a laptop and several USB drives were stolen from Philadelphia ’ s city warehouse .
Officials later stated that the theft wasn ’ t motivated by the presidential election – rather , it was an “ attempted property @ @ @ @ @ @ @ investigative reporter entered the warehouse , revealing the ease of gaining access to the election equipment .
Philadelphia elections relied on Elections Systems and Software LLC ( ES & S ) , a system that also uses USB drives and laptops to transmit vote data .
In the second of two press conferences on Tuesday , Voting Systems Manager Gabriel Sterling stated that the man depicted in the video has since received death threats and accusations of committing treason .
Sterling asserted that he was doing his job as assigned .
Secretary of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ conference Wednesday that there exists no widespread evidence of voter fraud .
He also stated that Democratic candidate Joe Biden is President-elect .
Dominion published a statement that they wouldn ’ t comment further about their personnel out of safety concerns .
They categorically denied all accusations of vote switching , vote deletion , hacks , software updates , and glitches .
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 ] .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ by Neon Revolt .

A Gwinnett County, Georgia elections official confirmed that Dominion Voting Systems (Dominion) representatives use USB drives to upload vote count data to laptops for external processing. The USB drives are also known as “memory sticks,” “thumb drives,” or “flash drives.” It is standard protocol for Dominion, as well as for most electronic voting systems.
The county official issued the statement in an emailed response to a viral video claiming that a Dominion representative manipulated vote data. In the film, a Dominion technician appears to load vote count data from county monitors onto a USB. Then, he proceeded to plug the USB into a separate laptop.
“To clarify, the USB drive was not inserted into a scanner, the scanners are connected to the server through cables. This would be a Dominion tech producing a data report on the server and saving the report to a Dominion USB thumb drive and then using a laptop to filter requested information,” the company said. “The Dominion servers are not equipped with Excel and counties are not authorized to install any hardware or software on these systems[.]”
Past examinations of USB drives have revealed that they are vulnerable to malware and hacking, connectable to wireless networks, and accessible to the web. Each county is responsible for providing their own USB drives, according to the secretary of state’s office. The secretary of state’s office also maintained that the USB drive is a safety feature – it is unclear what processes the counties undertake to secure these USBs.
Additionally, the secretary of state’s office asserted that the entire election process is auditable through its paper trail, and that tabulation records aren’t based solely on software.
Former 8kun administrator Ron Watkins shared the county’s response to the video on his Twitter page. 8kun, previously called 8chan, is a website that hosts user-created message boards with minimal administrative interference for content – similarly to Reddit. 8chan has become recently associated as the origins of the QAnon conspiracy theory.
Watkins questioned the necessity of a vulnerable method of transferring vote data.
“BOOM!!!! Gwinnett County Official admits to taking data from the Election Management System, plugging it into a laptop, then filtering it with excel [sic]. This circumvents the rules that external software isn’t allowed on election machines,” wrote Watkins. “Can someone explain why Gwinnett County is filtering election results from the airgapped [sic] Election Management System by transferring results with USB & utilizing an external laptop setup running an online version of Excel and an internet connection with remote viewing enabled?”
Air-gapped refers to controlled systems not accessible to outside connections. Another whistleblowers claimed confirmation of Watkin’s claims through pictures that the video in the laptop ran an online version of Excel with an internet connection with remote viewing enabled. The pictured laptop presented a webpage of an Excel spreadsheet labeled as a copy of a ballot manifest.
In September, a laptop and several USB drives were stolen from Philadelphia’s city warehouse. Officials later stated that the theft wasn’t motivated by the presidential election – rather, it was an “attempted property offense.” Following the theft, an investigative reporter entered the warehouse, revealing the ease of gaining access to the election equipment.
Philadelphia elections relied on Elections Systems and Software LLC (ES&S), a system that also uses USB drives and laptops to transmit vote data.
In the second of two press conferences on Tuesday, Voting Systems Manager Gabriel Sterling stated that the man depicted in the video has since received death threats and accusations of committing treason. Sterling asserted that he was doing his job as assigned.
Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger asserted during another press conference Wednesday that there exists no widespread evidence of voter fraud. He also stated that Democratic candidate Joe Biden is President-elect.
Dominion published a statement that they wouldn’t comment further about their personnel out of safety concerns. They categorically denied all accusations of vote switching, vote deletion, hacks, software updates, and glitches.
– – –
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].
Photo “Dominion Voter Fraud Allegation” by Neon Revolt.


thetennesseestar--2020-12-03--Virginia Could Receive Vaccine Doses by Mid-December, Northam Says

Virginia Governor Ralph Northam said that initial doses of Pfizer ’ s COVID-19 vaccine could arrive in the state as early as mid-December .
During a coronavirus press briefing Wednesday afternoon , the governor shared details on the state ’ s COVID-19 vaccination plan instead of implementing new statewide restrictions .
“ Assuming the Food and Drug Administration ( FDA ) grants Pfizer ’ s emergency-use request , vaccine doses will ship the states immediately .
This could happen as early as mid-December just a couple weeks from now , ” Northam said .
“ Virginia expects to get about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wave , enough to give 70,000 individuals their first dose of the vaccine.
” In a virtual presentation to the House Committee on Health , Welfare and Institutions on Monday , state epidemiologist Dr. Lilian Peake told legislators the allocation of vaccines by the Centers for Disease Control and Protections ( CDC ) is based on population instead of need , and that Virginia will receive 2.6 percent of the initial supply .
The state plans to vaccinate the 8.5 million people in Virginia through a three-phase approach .
However , that process @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Pfizer ’ s emergency-use request and until the CDC Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices ( ACIP ) makes a recommendation for which groups should get the first doses .
Northam said during the briefing that ACIP voted Tuesday night “ to put healthcare workers and residents of long-term care facilities first in line.
” Under the first phase of Virginia ’ s plan , the initial vaccines would be distributed through hospitals and CVS and Walgreens pharmacies , as part of a federal program , to vaccinate those recommended by the ACIP .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ up clinics , called closed points of dispensing , for those targeted groups , according to Peake .
The Virginia Department of Health ( VDH ) estimated that there are roughly 500,000 healthcare workers and long-term care residents in the state .
“ Early on with the vaccine there likely wouldn ’ t be enough for all healthcare workers and so that will have to be broken down into subgroups and we ’ re still working with the Virginia Healthcare and Hospital Association to determine that , ” Peake told lawmakers .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ broken down is going to depend on how much vaccine we have and we don ’ t know that yet.
” To shorten the timeline between FDA approval and vaccinations , Peake said Virginia has identified 16 facilities with ultra-cold freezer capabilities to preposition the first doses of Pfizer ’ s vaccine , which require extremely cold temperatures for storage .
The second phase , intended for just over 3 million Virginians who are medically vulnerable or other priority groups , vaccinations would be administered at pharmacies and open clinics throughout the state @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the general public and those not included in the first two stages , roughly 4.9 million people , will be able to receive doses from pharmacies as well as community vaccination partners .
“ It will take several months to get people vaccinated , ” the governor said .
“ For now and for some months to come we all need to continue doing the things that we know work : wearing a mask in public , washing our hands , staying away from crowds and large groups and trying as best @ @ @ @ @ @ @ terms of a potential vaccine mandate , which made headlines this summer when state health commissioner Dr. Norman Oliver said he would put one in place , Peake said that is not something the VDH is considering at this point in time and that the vast majority of Virginians want to be vaccinated .
“ The vaccine news is extremely , extremely hopeful , ” Northam said .
“ It is the light at the end of this very long and dark tunnel .
It is the only way we can solve this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and get back to a normal way of life.
” Jacob Taylor is a reporter at The Virginia Star and the Star News Digital Network .
Follow Jacob on Twitter .
Email tips to [ email protected ]

Virginia Governor Ralph Northam said that initial doses of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine could arrive in the state as early as mid-December.
During a coronavirus press briefing Wednesday afternoon, the governor shared details on the state’s COVID-19 vaccination plan instead of implementing new statewide restrictions.
“Assuming the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) grants Pfizer’s emergency-use request, vaccine doses will ship the states immediately. This could happen as early as mid-December just a couple weeks from now,” Northam said. “Virginia expects to get about 70,000 doses from Pfizer in the first wave, enough to give 70,000 individuals their first dose of the vaccine.”
In a virtual presentation to the House Committee on Health, Welfare and Institutions on Monday, state epidemiologist Dr. Lilian Peake told legislators the allocation of vaccines by the Centers for Disease Control and Protections (CDC) is based on population instead of need, and that Virginia will receive 2.6 percent of the initial supply.
The state plans to vaccinate the 8.5 million people in Virginia through a three-phase approach. However, that process cannot begin until the FDA approves Pfizer’s emergency-use request and until the CDC Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) makes a recommendation for which groups should get the first doses.
Northam said during the briefing that ACIP voted Tuesday night “to put healthcare workers and residents of long-term care facilities first in line.”
Under the first phase of Virginia’s plan, the initial vaccines would be distributed through hospitals and CVS and Walgreens pharmacies, as part of a federal program, to vaccinate those recommended by the ACIP. Those vaccinations will happen at specifically set up clinics, called closed points of dispensing, for those targeted groups, according to Peake.
The Virginia Department of Health (VDH) estimated that there are roughly 500,000 healthcare workers and long-term care residents in the state.
“Early on with the vaccine there likely wouldn’t be enough for all healthcare workers and so that will have to be broken down into subgroups and we’re still working with the Virginia Healthcare and Hospital Association to determine that,” Peake told lawmakers. “The level to which it’s broken down is going to depend on how much vaccine we have and we don’t know that yet.”
To shorten the timeline between FDA approval and vaccinations, Peake said Virginia has identified 16 facilities with ultra-cold freezer capabilities to preposition the first doses of Pfizer’s vaccine, which require extremely cold temperatures for storage.
The second phase, intended for just over 3 million Virginians who are medically vulnerable or other priority groups, vaccinations would be administered at pharmacies and open clinics throughout the state.
For the third and final phase, the general public and those not included in the first two stages, roughly 4.9 million people, will be able to receive doses from pharmacies as well as community vaccination partners.
“It will take several months to get people vaccinated,” the governor said. “For now and for some months to come we all need to continue doing the things that we know work: wearing a mask in public, washing our hands, staying away from crowds and large groups and trying as best we can to socialize outside.”
In terms of a potential vaccine mandate, which made headlines this summer when state health commissioner Dr. Norman Oliver said he would put one in place, Peake said that is not something the VDH is considering at this point in time and that the vast majority of Virginians want to be vaccinated.
“The vaccine news is extremely, extremely hopeful,” Northam said. “It is the light at the end of this very long and dark tunnel. It is the only way we can solve this health crisis and the resulting economic crisis and get back to a normal way of life.”
– – –
Jacob Taylor is a reporter at The Virginia Star and the Star News Digital Network. Follow Jacob on Twitter. Email tips to [email protected]


thetennesseestar--2020-12-03--Campbell County Passes First Amendment Sanctuary Resolution

Campbell County is a First Amendment Sanctuary , according to a resolution the Board of Supervisors ( BOS ) unanimously passed at a regular meeting on Tuesday .
“ No Campbell County funds will be used to restrict the First Amendment , ” the resolution states .
“ [ No ] County funds shall be expended to aid federal or state agencies in the restriction of said rights , ” the resolution adds .
The document is a version of a no-shutdown resolution similar to one authored by the Virginia Constitutional Conservatives ( VCC ) .
However , the Campbell @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to arrest state authorities enforcing Governor Ralph Northam ’ s executive orders mandating capacity limits and early business closing times .
Instead , the resolution bars county resources from being used to enforce any laws that violate the First Amendment .
“ It ’ s a sad day in the United States of America and the Commonwealth of Virginia when a governor using unlegislated mandates is harassing , fining citizens , business owners and elected officials , forcing compliance through fear and intimidation , ” Supervisor Matt Cline said according to The News @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Anders said the bill was well-intentioned but lacked teeth .
“ While well meaning , the resolution does not call upon the sheriff to arrest and detain anyone attempting to enforce these unconstitutional orders within the borders of Campbell County , ” Anders said in an email to The Star .
“ Therefore in my opinion it is just a resolution of their opinion rather than an actionable act , ” Anders said .
According to The News and Advance , Cline previously said the Board does not have the authority to issue @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s Attorney , an argument also made by supervisors in Bedford County and Appomattox County .
“ The Campbell County Board of Supervisors supports local law enforcement who support the clearly established rights of the People ; and requests its Sheriff to not assist any state law enforcement officer , state health agent or federal agent attempting to enforce the unconstitutional order of the Governor , ” the resolution states .
“ Campbell County employees may not assist in or promote the enforcement of Governor Northam ’ s Executive Orders 63 and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ applaud them for making an effort but it is key that , any county who really wants to do anything besides look good , actually puts in enforcement teeth calling upon the sheriff to arrest and detain anyone attempting to enforce these orders , ” Anders said .
“ Outside of that it is just politicians angling for votes for their next election.
” Two other counties in the Lynchburg area have considered drafting a similar resolution .
Last week , Appomattox Supervisor John Hinkle told The Virginia Star that he expects his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ December .
Northam ’ s capacity limits and restaurant closing times have taken a toll on businesses across Virginia .
Restaurant owners say large percentages of their sales come from late-night food and alcohol sales .
In September , business philanthropist Pete Snyder said Northam ’ s spring and summer shutdown orders created unpredictability that harmed small business .
“ And you know these mandatory shutdowns that are arbitrarily set [ … ] You know they go back and forth and they have just crushed tens of thousands of businesses and small businesses @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on The John Fredericks Show .
In October , Delegate Jason Miyares ( R-Virginia Beach ) said emergency powers were never meant to be used for an undefined period of time , but rather for an immediate , limited crisis .
“ Two-thirds of all new jobs in America are created by small business owners .
They are the economic engine of this country , that ’ s the American entrepreneur .
And nobody is talking about them as victims .
They are victims.
” Miyares added , “ A lot of them @ @ @ @ @ @ @ so they can pursue their dream and open up their retail shop or their restaurant and that ’ s getting wiped out.
” Eric Burk is a reporter at The Virginia Star and the Star News Digital Network .
Email tips to [ email protected ] .
Photo “ Campbell County Courthouse ” by nannetteturner .
CC BY 2.0 .

Campbell County is a First Amendment Sanctuary, according to a resolution the Board of Supervisors (BOS) unanimously passed at a regular meeting on Tuesday.
“No Campbell County funds will be used to restrict the First Amendment,” the resolution states. “[No] County funds shall be expended to aid federal or state agencies in the restriction of said rights,” the resolution adds.
The document is a version of a no-shutdown resolution similar to one authored by the Virginia Constitutional Conservatives (VCC). However, the Campbell resolution has removed language requiring local authorities to arrest state authorities enforcing Governor Ralph Northam’s executive orders mandating capacity limits and early business closing times.
Instead, the resolution bars county resources from being used to enforce any laws that violate the First Amendment.
“It’s a sad day in the United States of America and the Commonwealth of Virginia when a governor using unlegislated mandates is harassing, fining citizens, business owners and elected officials, forcing compliance through fear and intimidation,” Supervisor Matt Cline said according to The News and Advance.
VCC Director S. Chris Anders said the bill was well-intentioned but lacked teeth.
“While well meaning, the resolution does not call upon the sheriff to arrest and detain anyone attempting to enforce these unconstitutional orders within the borders of Campbell County,” Anders said in an email to The Star. “Therefore in my opinion it is just a resolution of their opinion rather than an actionable act,” Anders said.
According to The News and Advance, Cline previously said the Board does not have the authority to issue orders to the Sheriff or the Commonwealth’s Attorney, an argument also made by supervisors in Bedford County and Appomattox County.
“The Campbell County Board of Supervisors supports local law enforcement who support the clearly established rights of the People; and requests its Sheriff to not assist any state law enforcement officer, state health agent or federal agent attempting to enforce the unconstitutional order of the Governor,” the resolution states. “Campbell County employees may not assist in or promote the enforcement of Governor Northam’s Executive Orders 63 and 67, as amended.”
“I applaud them for making an effort but it is key that, any county who really wants to do anything besides look good, actually puts in enforcement teeth calling upon the sheriff to arrest and detain anyone attempting to enforce these orders,” Anders said. “Outside of that it is just politicians angling for votes for their next election.”
Two other counties in the Lynchburg area have considered drafting a similar resolution. Last week, Appomattox Supervisor John Hinkle told The Virginia Star that he expects his county to consider the resolution later in December.
Northam’s capacity limits and restaurant closing times have taken a toll on businesses across Virginia. Restaurant owners say large percentages of their sales come from late-night food and alcohol sales.
In September, business philanthropist Pete Snyder said Northam’s spring and summer shutdown orders created unpredictability that harmed small business. “And you know these mandatory shutdowns that are arbitrarily set […] You know they go back and forth and they have just crushed tens of thousands of businesses and small businesses all across Virginia,” Snyder said on The John Fredericks Show.
In October, Delegate Jason Miyares (R-Virginia Beach) said emergency powers were never meant to be used for an undefined period of time, but rather for an immediate, limited crisis.
“Two-thirds of all new jobs in America are created by small business owners. They are the economic engine of this country, that’s the American entrepreneur. And nobody is talking about them as victims. They are victims.” Miyares added, “A lot of them take out second mortgages on their homes so they can pursue their dream and open up their retail shop or their restaurant and that’s getting wiped out.”
– – –
Eric Burk is a reporter at The Virginia Star and the Star News Digital Network. Email tips to [email protected].
Photo “Campbell County Courthouse” by nannetteturner. CC BY 2.0.


thetennesseestar--2020-12-03--Commentary: Illegalities, Irregularities, and Lack of Transparency Have Destroyed Public Confidence

Commentary: Illegalities, Irregularities, and Lack of Transparency Have Destroyed Public Confidence in This Election

It will likely take weeks , or even months , to sort through the mess that Democrats have made of Michigan ’ s elections .
In the meantime , only the Michigan Legislature can legitimately determine the winner of the state ’ s presidential Electors .
Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson , state and local election officials , and private organizations backed by Big Tech money all participated in a pattern of lawless misconduct that marred the election process from start to finish .
It will be difficult to ascertain the full ramifications of their wrongdoing , but it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ actions thoroughly corrupted the process , undermining public confidence and eviscerating the integrity of the reported results .
Benson ’ s brazen disregard for the law is particularly obscene , not least because she occupies such a prominent position in state government .
Without even a hint of statutory authority — and in direct violation of Michigan ’ s election code — Benson flooded the state with absentee ballots in two important ways .
First , she sent out absentee ballot requests to every household in the state , but didn ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ intended recipients were still eligible voters , whether they had moved , or even whether they had died .
This created enormous vulnerabilities , especially in light of Benson ’ s second major transgression : establishing an online system for absentee ballot requests that allowed people to avoid the state ’ s legal requirement that voters provide a signature when requesting an absentee ballot .
It ’ s possible that Benson was simply being overzealous in her desire to maximize absentee voting , which would inevitably boost the prospects of her party ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would represent an illegal abuse of power in and of itself , but the irregularities that occurred during the vote-counting process in Detroit suggest that an even more nefarious scheme was afoot .
Election workers went to great lengths to prevent Republican observers from overseeing the process , torturing the letter of the law to disingenuously claim that they fulfilled their legal obligations because the Republicans were allowed to be inside the arena where votes were being counted , even though the observers were kept at such a great distance as to render @ @ @ @ @ @ @ objected , they were ejected from the counting room and the windows were boarded up to prevent anyone from seeing what took place inside .
And what took place inside was significant .
Ballots that allegedly could not be read by machines , for instance , were “ cured ” by hand — a process that involves election workers filling out new ballots and discarding the originals .
Observers from both parties are supposed to observe and sign off on each ballot , but this requirement was brazenly disregarded .
Numerous affidavits also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ high-speed scanners multiple times .
All of this is meticulously detailed in litigation filed by the Amistad Project of the non-partisan Thomas More Society , which has been conducting intensive , on-the-ground investigations for weeks .
The Amistad filing also introduces another element to the story : improper influence from a Big Tech billionaire .
The Center for Tech and Civic Life ( CTCL ) , a private organization founded and run by Democrat activists , received $ 350 million from Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg , which it doled out primarily to Democrat-dominated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as Michigan , Pennsylvania , and Georgia .
The grants — which came with “ claw back ” provisions allowing CTCL to recoup the money if recipients failed to follow strict conditions — literally paid the salaries of election workers and funded the purchase of election machinery .
For all intents and purposes , Zuckerberg was calling the shots in the very counting rooms where so many egregious irregularities took place .
The American people , meanwhile , weren ’ t even allowed to peek in through the window .
The whole saga @ @ @ @ @ @ @ our democracy to function properly , we need free and fair elections conducted with transparency and in rigorous accordance with the laws put in place to ensure electoral integrity .
That ’ s not what happened in Michigan , and it ’ s not surprising that the public would respond by viewing the reported results with skepticism and suspicion .
Untangling this mess is an urgent priority , but the sort of thorough investigation needed to accomplish that will take quite some time .
The only way for Michigan to assign its presidential @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the Michigan Legislature to step in and exercise its constitutional authority .
Meshawn Maddock was a Michigan delegate for Donald Trump at the 2016 Republican National Convention .
She is also the Co-founder of Michigan Trump Republicans and the wife of Michigan State Representative Matt Maddock .

by Meshawn Maddock
It will likely take weeks, or even months, to sort through the mess that Democrats have made of Michigan’s elections. In the meantime, only the Michigan Legislature can legitimately determine the winner of the state’s presidential Electors.
Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, state and local election officials, and private organizations backed by Big Tech money all participated in a pattern of lawless misconduct that marred the election process from start to finish. It will be difficult to ascertain the full ramifications of their wrongdoing, but it’s easy to establish that their actions thoroughly corrupted the process, undermining public confidence and eviscerating the integrity of the reported results.
Benson’s brazen disregard for the law is particularly obscene, not least because she occupies such a prominent position in state government. Without even a hint of statutory authority — and in direct violation of Michigan’s election code — Benson flooded the state with absentee ballots in two important ways.
First, she sent out absentee ballot requests to every household in the state, but didn’t take the time to verify whether the intended recipients were still eligible voters, whether they had moved, or even whether they had died.
This created enormous vulnerabilities, especially in light of Benson’s second major transgression: establishing an online system for absentee ballot requests that allowed people to avoid the state’s legal requirement that voters provide a signature when requesting an absentee ballot.
It’s possible that Benson was simply being overzealous in her desire to maximize absentee voting, which would inevitably boost the prospects of her party’s nominee, Joe Biden. That would represent an illegal abuse of power in and of itself, but the irregularities that occurred during the vote-counting process in Detroit suggest that an even more nefarious scheme was afoot.
Election workers went to great lengths to prevent Republican observers from overseeing the process, torturing the letter of the law to disingenuously claim that they fulfilled their legal obligations because the Republicans were allowed to be inside the arena where votes were being counted, even though the observers were kept at such a great distance as to render their presence meaningless. When the observers objected, they were ejected from the counting room and the windows were boarded up to prevent anyone from seeing what took place inside.
And what took place inside was significant. Ballots that allegedly could not be read by machines, for instance, were “cured” by hand — a process that involves election workers filling out new ballots and discarding the originals. Observers from both parties are supposed to observe and sign off on each ballot, but this requirement was brazenly disregarded. Numerous affidavits also allege that election workers ran ballots through high-speed scanners multiple times.
All of this is meticulously detailed in litigation filed by the Amistad Project of the non-partisan Thomas More Society, which has been conducting intensive, on-the-ground investigations for weeks.
The Amistad filing also introduces another element to the story: improper influence from a Big Tech billionaire.
The Center for Tech and Civic Life (CTCL), a private organization founded and run by Democrat activists, received $350 million from Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg, which it doled out primarily to Democrat-dominated cities and counties in battleground states such as Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Georgia. The grants — which came with “claw back” provisions allowing CTCL to recoup the money if recipients failed to follow strict conditions — literally paid the salaries of election workers and funded the purchase of election machinery.
For all intents and purposes, Zuckerberg was calling the shots in the very counting rooms where so many egregious irregularities took place. The American people, meanwhile, weren’t even allowed to peek in through the window.
The whole saga is completely unacceptable. In order for our democracy to function properly, we need free and fair elections conducted with transparency and in rigorous accordance with the laws put in place to ensure electoral integrity. That’s not what happened in Michigan, and it’s not surprising that the public would respond by viewing the reported results with skepticism and suspicion.
Untangling this mess is an urgent priority, but the sort of thorough investigation needed to accomplish that will take quite some time. The only way for Michigan to assign its presidential Electors in a democratically legitimate way is for the Michigan Legislature to step in and exercise its constitutional authority.
– – –
Meshawn Maddock was a Michigan delegate for Donald Trump at the 2016 Republican National Convention. She is also the Co-founder of Michigan Trump Republicans and the wife of Michigan State Representative Matt Maddock.


thetennesseestar--2020-12-03--Delegate Jason Miyares Announces Run for Attorney General

Virginia State Delegate Jason Miyares ( R-Virginia Beach ) announced Wednesday that he is running for the GOP nomination of attorney general in 2021 .
Miyares , who has represented the 82nd District of the House of Delegates since 2016 , made the announcement through a video posted to his Facebook profile .
Miyares said he decided to run for attorney general after discussing the prospect with family and friends , and because state political leaders are not working to keep Virginians safe .
“ I think the number one job in the state for attorney general is to make @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and secure Virginia , ” Miyares said in an interview with The Virginia Star .
“ And I think it ’ s clear that right now we have a General Assembly and politicians in Richmond that have next to no concern about keeping us safe.
” “ So , when you look at the fact that politicians simply are not doing their job , which is to make sure we have safe and secure communities , I realized that [ the people ] needed someone to stand up and be a voice for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ safety , ” Miyares added .
Having taken part in the General Assembly special session , Miyares criticized some legislation backed by Democrats such as a bill that changed the earned sentence credits system in prisons allowing some violent offenders to be released early and the push to end qualified immunity for law enforcement – even though the bill was eventually killed .
He also criticized current Attorney General Mark Herring for letting legislation that hurts law enforcement pass through the Assembly .
A former Virginia Beach prosecutor , Miyares said one of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Commonwealth ’ s law enforcement .
“ We need an attorney general who will work with our law enforcement officers , not against them .
I ’ ll defend the police , not defund them , – and give them the tools to do their job , ” Miyares said in his campaign announcement video .
“ We need a conservative attorney general who will protect the rule of law – and that is not Mark Herring.
” The son of an immigrant , Miyares shared that his mother ’ s experience of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a better life in America gave him perspective about the greatness of the United States and taught him what people can achieve living in a democracy .
Miyares is joining fellow Virginia Beach lawyer Chuck Smith , who unsuccessfully ran for attorney general back in 2017 , on the Republican ticket .
Democratic candidates include Herring , who is seeking a third term in the position , and Del .
Jay Jones ( D-Norfolk .
“ My values and my voting record of being a consistent conservative who believes in accountability and transparency @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people the type of attorney general I ’ ll be for them , ” Miyares said .
Jacob Taylor is a reporter at The Virginia Star and the Star News Digital Network .
Follow Jacob on Twitter .
Email tips to [ email protected ] Background Photo “ Virginia State Capitol ” by Ron Cogswell .
CC BY 2.0 .

Virginia State Delegate Jason Miyares (R-Virginia Beach) announced Wednesday that he is running for the GOP nomination of attorney general in 2021.
Miyares, who has represented the 82nd District of the House of Delegates since 2016, made the announcement through a video posted to his Facebook profile.
Miyares said he decided to run for attorney general after discussing the prospect with family and friends, and because state political leaders are not working to keep Virginians safe.
“I think the number one job in the state for attorney general is to make sure we’re building a safe and secure Virginia,” Miyares said in an interview with The Virginia Star. “And I think it’s clear that right now we have a General Assembly and politicians in Richmond that have next to no concern about keeping us safe.”
“So, when you look at the fact that politicians simply are not doing their job, which is to make sure we have safe and secure communities, I realized that [the people] needed someone to stand up and be a voice for the victims, our communities and public safety,” Miyares added.
Having taken part in the General Assembly special session, Miyares criticized some legislation backed by Democrats such as a bill that changed the earned sentence credits system in prisons allowing some violent offenders to be released early and the push to end qualified immunity for law enforcement – even though the bill was eventually killed.
He also criticized current Attorney General Mark Herring for letting legislation that hurts law enforcement pass through the Assembly.
A former Virginia Beach prosecutor, Miyares said one of his top priorities is to support the Commonwealth’s law enforcement.
“We need an attorney general who will work with our law enforcement officers, not against them. I’ll defend the police, not defund them, – and give them the tools to do their job,” Miyares said in his campaign announcement video. “We need a conservative attorney general who will protect the rule of law – and that is not Mark Herring.”
The son of an immigrant, Miyares shared that his mother’s experience of leaving socialist Cuba at 19-years-old to seek a better life in America gave him perspective about the greatness of the United States and taught him what people can achieve living in a democracy.
Miyares is joining fellow Virginia Beach lawyer Chuck Smith, who unsuccessfully ran for attorney general back in 2017, on the Republican ticket.
Democratic candidates include Herring, who is seeking a third term in the position, and Del. Jay Jones (D-Norfolk.
“My values and my voting record of being a consistent conservative who believes in accountability and transparency and always standing with law enforcement shows people the type of attorney general I’ll be for them,” Miyares said.
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Jacob Taylor is a reporter at The Virginia Star and the Star News Digital Network. Follow Jacob on Twitter. Email tips to [email protected]
Background Photo “Virginia State Capitol” by Ron Cogswell. CC BY 2.0.


thetennesseestar--2020-12-03--Ohio Department of Health Releases Vaccine Distribution Plan in Anticipation of FDA Approval

The Ohio Department of Health has released its vaccine distribution plan , even as the state waits for final approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for a vaccine .
Ohio Gov .
Mike DeWine toured a distribution warehouse on Tuesday , saying that he “ really wanted to get a full briefing , ” according to local media .
The governor said the state is expecting its first shipment of the Pfizer vaccine by December 15 , closely followed by Moderna ’ s vaccine .
“ A majority of it will be shipped directly to hospitals , directly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and others , ” DeWine , Fox8 reports .
Although the Pfizer vaccine will be shipped through distribution centers , the Moderna vaccine — once approved — will go straight to hospitals due to a difference in storage requirements , the state said .
Orders of fewer of 975 doses of the Pfizer vaccine will be sent directly to hospitals as supply increases , WHIO said .
The Ohio Department of Health has been running daily drills to prepare for the eventual vaccine approval , using a warehouse to practice repackaging and distributing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be repackaged within two minutes due to the vaccine ’ s requirement to be stored at a low temperature .
Once packaged , the vaccine must be delivered within six hours .
Ohio said the warehouse in central Ohio , operated by the Ohio National Guard , can hold up to 720,000 doses , according to The Columbus Dispatch .
Ohio announced earlier this month that the vaccine is set to be sent to 10 different distribution sites around the state .
“ With all the moving parts , there will be some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reports .
“ There are some that occur .
But I have confidence in the National Guard and what they are doing here to divide this up.
” Neither the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine have yet been approved in the United States , although both companies have applied for emergency authorization for their respective vaccines , which both have efficacy rates above 90 % .
Ohio currently has more than 414,000 confirmed cases of and 6,224 deaths caused by the coronavirus , according to the Ohio Department of Health .
Data from the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a little more than 9,000 new cases on Monday .
Jordyn Pair is a reporter with The Ohio Star .
Follow her on Twitter at @ JordynPair .

The Ohio Department of Health has released its vaccine distribution plan, even as the state waits for final approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for a vaccine.
Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine toured a distribution warehouse on Tuesday, saying that he “really wanted to get a full briefing,” according to local media.
The governor said the state is expecting its first shipment of the Pfizer vaccine by December 15, closely followed by Moderna’s vaccine.
“A majority of it will be shipped directly to hospitals, directly to local health departments, pharmacies, and others,” DeWine, Fox8 reports.
Although the Pfizer vaccine will be shipped through distribution centers, the Moderna vaccine — once approved — will go straight to hospitals due to a difference in storage requirements, the state said. Orders of fewer of 975 doses of the Pfizer vaccine will be sent directly to hospitals as supply increases, WHIO said.
The Ohio Department of Health has been running daily drills to prepare for the eventual vaccine approval, using a warehouse to practice repackaging and distributing the vaccines, which officials said must be repackaged within two minutes due to the vaccine’s requirement to be stored at a low temperature. Once packaged, the vaccine must be delivered within six hours.
Ohio said the warehouse in central Ohio, operated by the Ohio National Guard, can hold up to 720,000 doses, according to The Columbus Dispatch.
Ohio announced earlier this month that the vaccine is set to be sent to 10 different distribution sites around the state.
“With all the moving parts, there will be some glitches,” DeWine said, Fox8 reports. “There are some that occur. But I have confidence in the National Guard and what they are doing here to divide this up.”
Neither the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine have yet been approved in the United States, although both companies have applied for emergency authorization for their respective vaccines, which both have efficacy rates above 90%.
Ohio currently has more than 414,000 confirmed cases of and 6,224 deaths caused by the coronavirus, according to the Ohio Department of Health. Data from the Covid Tracking Project says the state saw a little more than 9,000 new cases on Monday.
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Jordyn Pair is a reporter with The Ohio Star. Follow her on Twitter at @JordynPair.


thetennesseestar--2020-12-03--Organization Founded by Stacey Abrams and Previously Chaired by Warnock Under Investigation for Vote

Organization Founded by Stacey Abrams and Previously Chaired by Warnock Under Investigation for Voter Fraud

Georgia ’ s secretary of state ’ s office is investigating the New Georgia Project for voter fraud connected to registering dead or out-of-state voters .
The organization was founded by Stacey Abrams and chaired previously by Senate Democratic candidate Raphael Warnock .
In a press conference on Monday , Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger confirmed that his office had received substantiated evidence of the organization ’ s involvement in voter fraud .
Raffensperger ’ s office confirmed their evidence on the New Georgia Project included the organization soliciting registration for a dead individual , an ineligible voter , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ I am announcing an investigation into third-party groups working to register people in other states to vote here in Georgia .
We have opened an investigation into a group called ‘ America Votes , ’ who is sending absentee ballot applications to people at addresses where they have not lived since 1994 , ” the secretary of state said .
“ ‘ Vote Forward , ’ who attempted to register a dead Alabama voter .
‘ The New Georgia Project , ’ who sent voter registration applications to New York City .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ’ ( ONVR ) who is telling college students that they can change their residency to Georgia and then change it back after the election .
Let me be very clear again : voting in Georgia when you are not a resident in Georgia is a felony.
” Raffensperger reprimanded the organizations – all of which are founded by Democrats .
“ These third-party groups have a responsibility to not encourage illegal voting .
If they do so , they will be held responsible , ” stated Raffensperger .
Raffensperger added that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 23 investigators looking into them .
One of the charges that he mentioned was an investigation into Gwinnett County regarding the number of absentee ballots outnumbering absentee envelopes .
Neither Abrams or Warnock have issued any statements regarding the investigation .
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 ] .
Photo “ Person Voting ” by Phil Roeder .
CC BY 2.0 .

Georgia’s secretary of state’s office is investigating the New Georgia Project for voter fraud connected to registering dead or out-of-state voters. The organization was founded by Stacey Abrams and chaired previously by Senate Democratic candidate Raphael Warnock.
In a press conference on Monday, Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger confirmed that his office had received substantiated evidence of the organization’s involvement in voter fraud. Raffensperger’s office confirmed their evidence on the New Georgia Project included the organization soliciting registration for a dead individual, an ineligible voter, and multiple residents of other states.
“I am announcing an investigation into third-party groups working to register people in other states to vote here in Georgia. We have opened an investigation into a group called ‘America Votes,’ who is sending absentee ballot applications to people at addresses where they have not lived since 1994,” the secretary of state said. “‘Vote Forward,’ who attempted to register a dead Alabama voter. ‘The New Georgia Project,’ who sent voter registration applications to New York City. And ‘Operation New Voter Registration Georgia,’ (ONVR) who is telling college students that they can change their residency to Georgia and then change it back after the election. Let me be very clear again: voting in Georgia when you are not a resident in Georgia is a felony.”
Raffensperger reprimanded the organizations – all of which are founded by Democrats.
“These third-party groups have a responsibility to not encourage illegal voting. If they do so, they will be held responsible,” stated Raffensperger.
Raffensperger added that there are 250 open cases, and 23 investigators looking into them. One of the charges that he mentioned was an investigation into Gwinnett County regarding the number of absentee ballots outnumbering absentee envelopes.
Neither Abrams or Warnock have issued any statements regarding the investigation.
– – –
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].
Photo “Person Voting” by Phil Roeder. CC BY 2.0.


thetennesseestar--2020-12-03--52 Percent of Minnesota Renters Say They’re Likely to be Evicted in Next Two Months

More than half of Minnesota renters surveyed recently by the U.S. Census Bureau say they ’ re either “ somewhat likely ” or “ very likely ” to face eviction in the next two months .
This data comes by way of the bureau ’ s most recent Household Pulse Survey , which regularly collects information about American households .
The bureau cautions that data collected by these surveys are considered “ experimental ” and “ sample sizes may be small and the standard errors may be large.
” The most recent survey of Minnesotans revealed that of 106,112 renters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ not likely at all ” to be evicted during the next two months .
Another 16,889 report that they ’ re “ not very likely ” to lose their homes , while 39,335 and 15,716 report being “ somewhat likely ” or “ very likely ” to experience eviction .
This means that only 32 % of Minnesota renters feel totally secure in their current living accommodations , as indicated by a “ not likely at all ” response to the eviction question .
Even this seemingly low number is better than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ most recent Pulse Survey , which indicates that only about 21 % of American renters are “ not likely at all ” to lose their homes .
However , only 49 % of U.S. citizens say they ’ re “ somewhat ” or “ very likely ” to be evicted , compared to Minnesota ’ s slightly higher 52 % .
About 5.8 million total adult renters in America are at least somewhat likely to be evicted , per the recent Pulse Survey .
This represents roughly 60 % of those who are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , according to a CNN report that said 9.9 million Americans are behind on these payments .
Evictions in Minnesota as a result of unpaid rent are still banned under an executive order from the governor .

More than half of Minnesota renters surveyed recently by the U.S. Census Bureau say they’re either “somewhat likely” or “very likely” to face eviction in the next two months.
This data comes by way of the bureau’s most recent Household Pulse Survey, which regularly collects information about American households. The bureau cautions that data collected by these surveys are considered “experimental” and “sample sizes may be small and the standard errors may be large.”
The most recent survey of Minnesotans revealed that of 106,112 renters, only 34,173 said they’re “not likely at all” to be evicted during the next two months. Another 16,889 report that they’re “not very likely” to lose their homes, while 39,335 and 15,716 report being “somewhat likely” or “very likely” to experience eviction.
This means that only 32% of Minnesota renters feel totally secure in their current living accommodations, as indicated by a “not likely at all” response to the eviction question. Even this seemingly low number is better than the national average, according to the most recent Pulse Survey, which indicates that only about 21% of American renters are “not likely at all” to lose their homes.
However, only 49% of U.S. citizens say they’re “somewhat” or “very likely” to be evicted, compared to Minnesota’s slightly higher 52%.
About 5.8 million total adult renters in America are at least somewhat likely to be evicted, per the recent Pulse Survey. This represents roughly 60% of those who are presently behind on their rent or mortgage, according to a CNN report that said 9.9 million Americans are behind on these payments.
Evictions in Minnesota as a result of unpaid rent are still banned under an executive order from the governor.
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Photo “Eviction Notice” by David Jackmanson. CC BY 2.0.


thetennesseestar--2020-12-03--Warner Coauthored Part of Bipartisan Veterans Mental Health Bill

In October , President Trump signed a bipartisan bill aimed at improving mental health among veterans , according to Congress.gov .
The Commander John Scott Hannon Veterans Mental Health Care Improvement Act of 2019 included an initiative co-written by Senator Mark Warner ( D-VA ) and Senator John Boozman ( R-AR ) .
In a Military Times op-ed , Warner and Boozman said their IMPROVE initiative would help bridge the gap between government resources at the Department of Veterans Affairs ( VA ) and private non-profits .
The legislation provides grants through the VA to qualifying veteran-serving organizations .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which we originally introduced in June 2019 , has been described by [ VA ] Secretary Robert Wilkie as the “ key ” to unlocking the problem of veteran suicide , ” the senators wrote in November .
Their op-ed continues , “ While we ’ re confident that this approach will only bolster veteran suicide prevention efforts and lead to a reduction in veteran suicide , the days of trusting mere funding increases to result in fewer suicides and better mental health care success will also be a thing of the past @ @ @ @ @ @ @ suicide prevention programs will be subject to a measurement tool that will indicate the effectiveness of these efforts.
” Daniel Gade ran against Warner in the 2020 Senate election .
Gade is a veteran , and post-election , he is launching a veterans-advocacy PAC .
Gade told The Virginia Star , “ The bill itself is uncontroversial .
It is a way to get community resources involved to help veterans and other people who are struggling .
And to that end , it makes a lot of sense and I ’ m in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In the op-ed , the senators say 20 veterans a day die of suicide , but Gade said that recent reporting suggests that figure is low .
“ Far too often , members of Congress have no idea what the scope of the problem is , much less how to address it , ” Gade said .
“ In this case , the authors of this bill have no idea what the scope of the problem is .
And that ’ s one of the reasons that I started my PAC , to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ veterans be elected members of Congress.
” Gade said that even before his campaign , he had written and spoken about how to help veterans through government .
He told The Star how to evaluate pro-veteran legislation .
“ Does the bill make veterans dependent on government , or does it help them stand on their own two feet ( or in my case one foot ) ?
” Gade said , “ Does any bill further mental health by making veterans understand their value to themselves , to their families , to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ treat veterans like broken toys ?
” Gade asked .
He said often , legislation fails to treat veterans like important , economically valuable members of society .
“ We ’ re watching out for bills that sort of assume that just because somebody was in the military that they have post-traumatic stress , for example .
Or just because somebody was in the military , they are disabled in some way .
Or just because somebody has a disability , that they can ’ t work or shouldn ’ t be expected @ @ @ @ @ @ @ avoid programs that focus on compensation , a strategy that can create dependency .
“ The two most important things I ’ d say are employment .
So we need to help veterans find and maintain meaningful employment , and number two , any bill that ’ s out there should be a treatment-first bill rather than a compensation-first bill.
” Gade said the IMPROVE bill is an example of legislation that is focused on resources instead of compensation , but it doesn ’ t address the underlying despair that causes mental health @ @ @ @ @ @ @ powerful thing we can do to help veterans thrive is to get them into meaningful employment because it improves their mental health , it improves their physical health , it improves their societal standing , ” Gade said .
“ Suicide is an incredibly complex disorder , ” Gade said .
“ Any bill that people put forth that they say is going to be the magic solution to something as complex as suicide is shortsighted.
” Gade said , “ Veterans who understand veterans are the right ones to be making policy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is a reporter at The Virginia Star and the Star News Digital Network .
Email tips to [ email protected ]

In October, President Trump signed a bipartisan bill aimed at improving mental health among veterans, according to Congress.gov. The Commander John Scott Hannon Veterans Mental Health Care Improvement Act of 2019 included an initiative co-written by Senator Mark Warner (D-VA) and Senator John Boozman (R-AR).
In a Military Times op-ed, Warner and Boozman said their IMPROVE initiative would help bridge the gap between government resources at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and private non-profits. The legislation provides grants through the VA to qualifying veteran-serving organizations.
“The IMPROVE Well-Being for Veterans Act, which we originally introduced in June 2019, has been described by [VA] Secretary Robert Wilkie as the “key” to unlocking the problem of veteran suicide,” the senators wrote in November.
Their op-ed continues, “While we’re confident that this approach will only bolster veteran suicide prevention efforts and lead to a reduction in veteran suicide, the days of trusting mere funding increases to result in fewer suicides and better mental health care success will also be a thing of the past. The IMPROVE provision also ensures that suicide prevention programs will be subject to a measurement tool that will indicate the effectiveness of these efforts.”
Daniel Gade ran against Warner in the 2020 Senate election. Gade is a veteran, and post-election, he is launching a veterans-advocacy PAC.
Gade told The Virginia Star, “The bill itself is uncontroversial. It is a way to get community resources involved to help veterans and other people who are struggling. And to that end, it makes a lot of sense and I’m in support of the bill in concept.”
In the op-ed, the senators say 20 veterans a day die of suicide, but Gade said that recent reporting suggests that figure is low.
“Far too often, members of Congress have no idea what the scope of the problem is, much less how to address it,” Gade said. “In this case, the authors of this bill have no idea what the scope of the problem is. And that’s one of the reasons that I started my PAC, to hire more veterans, to see more veterans be elected members of Congress.”
Gade said that even before his campaign, he had written and spoken about how to help veterans through government. He told The Star how to evaluate pro-veteran legislation.
“Does the bill make veterans dependent on government, or does it help them stand on their own two feet (or in my case one foot)?” Gade said, “Does any bill further mental health by making veterans understand their value to themselves, to their families, to society?”
“Does the bill treat veterans like broken toys?” Gade asked. He said often, legislation fails to treat veterans like important, economically valuable members of society.
“We’re watching out for bills that sort of assume that just because somebody was in the military that they have post-traumatic stress, for example. Or just because somebody was in the military, they are disabled in some way. Or just because somebody has a disability, that they can’t work or shouldn’t be expected to work.”
He said legislators should avoid programs that focus on compensation, a strategy that can create dependency.
“The two most important things I’d say are employment. So we need to help veterans find and maintain meaningful employment, and number two, any bill that’s out there should be a treatment-first bill rather than a compensation-first bill.”
Gade said the IMPROVE bill is an example of legislation that is focused on resources instead of compensation, but it doesn’t address the underlying despair that causes mental health problems for veterans.
“The most powerful thing we can do to help veterans thrive is to get them into meaningful employment because it improves their mental health, it improves their physical health, it improves their societal standing,” Gade said.
“Suicide is an incredibly complex disorder,” Gade said. “Any bill that people put forth that they say is going to be the magic solution to something as complex as suicide is shortsighted.”
Gade said, “Veterans who understand veterans are the right ones to be making policy with respect to veterans.”
– – –
Eric Burk is a reporter at The Virginia Star and the Star News Digital Network. Email tips to [email protected]


thetennesseestar--2020-12-03--Three Nashville Women Charged for Hosting Party on Halloween in Violation of COVID-19 Rules

Metro Nashville charged three women for hosting a Halloween party that officials say violated COVID-19 restrictions .
Charged were Madilyn Dennington , Bailey Mills and Olivia Noe , all 23 , according to a story by WKRN .
They are residents at a house on Boscobel Street that allegedly hosted the party ; authorities received complaints for a loud party there .
The women were charged with violating a board of health regulation , a misdemeanor , but were not arrested , WKRN said .
Metro issued a summons , and the defendants must appear in court on December 16 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ organized a watch party for a football game , NewsChannel 5 said .
When they were told about the alleged health order violation , they ended the party , the station said , citing court documents .
Although the three women were not arrested , others have been , reportedly .
On Halloween , Nashville gatherings were limited to 25 people unless they had health department clearance .
Davidson County is on a Phase Three “ Roadmap For Reopening Nashville.
” The Metro Nashville Health Department has a button on its homepage asking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Cooper tightened the rules to gatherings of no more than eight just before Thanksgiving , The Tennessee Star reported .
Nashville police have arrested 47 people as of mid-November , including 11 accused of hosting large gatherings , The Star reported , citing a story by The Tennessean .
The newspaper said it based its report on its research of court documents and other data .
Reportedly , 79 percent were in violation of Metro Health orders by failing to wear a mask in public .
Some of the hosts allegedly held house @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a time , according to police , which could result in up to a year in jail and a $ 2,500 fine .
WKRN in August reported that Jeffrey Mathews and Christopher “ Shi ” Eubank were arrested for alleged violations of emergency health orders of holding an event of more than 25 people , and not requiring the use of masks or social distancing .
Jason M. Reynolds has more than 20 years ’ experience as a journalist at outlets of all sizes .
Photo “ Football Party Food ” by switz1873 @ @ @ @ @

Metro Nashville charged three women for hosting a Halloween party that officials say violated COVID-19 restrictions.
Charged were Madilyn Dennington, Bailey Mills and Olivia Noe, all 23, according to a story by WKRN. They are residents at a house on Boscobel Street that allegedly hosted the party; authorities received complaints for a loud party there.
The women were charged with violating a board of health regulation, a misdemeanor, but were not arrested, WKRN said. Metro issued a summons, and the defendants must appear in court on December 16.
The three residents told police they organized a watch party for a football game, NewsChannel 5 said. When they were told about the alleged health order violation, they ended the party, the station said, citing court documents.
Although the three women were not arrested, others have been, reportedly.
On Halloween, Nashville gatherings were limited to 25 people unless they had health department clearance.
Davidson County is on a Phase Three “Roadmap For Reopening Nashville.” The Metro Nashville Health Department has a button on its homepage asking people to report violations.
Mayor John Cooper tightened the rules to gatherings of no more than eight just before Thanksgiving, The Tennessee Star reported.
Nashville police have arrested 47 people as of mid-November, including 11 accused of hosting large gatherings, The Star reported, citing a story by The Tennessean.
The newspaper said it based its report on its research of court documents and other data. Reportedly, 79 percent were in violation of Metro Health orders by failing to wear a mask in public. Some of the hosts allegedly held house parties of up to 600 people at a time, according to police, which could result in up to a year in jail and a $2,500 fine.
WKRN in August reported that Jeffrey Mathews and Christopher “Shi” Eubank were arrested for alleged violations of emergency health orders of holding an event of more than 25 people, and not requiring the use of masks or social distancing.
– – –
Jason M. Reynolds has more than 20 years’ experience as a journalist at outlets of all sizes.
Photo “Football Party Food” by switz1873. CC BY 2.0.


thetennesseestar--2020-12-04--Senator Blackburn: Democrats Are Working with Us to Pass COVID-19 Relief

Senator Marsha Blackburn ( R-TN ) shared that the current COVID-19 relief bill is a bipartisan effort closer to $ 1 trillion .
The senator explained in a press conference Thursday that the move is favored by Democratic legislators over efforts by House Leader Nancy Pelosi ( D-CA ) and Minority Leader Chuck Schumer ( D-NY ) .
“ The good thing is that there are Democrats that have said to Speaker Pelosi and Minority Leader Schumer that they think it is wrong to hold out for a $ 3 trillion dollar deal , and saddle our future generations with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ So they ’ re working with some Republicans on a bill that is closer to a trillion dollars .
So , the bill that we as a Republican conference had agreed on was about a $ 600 billion bill.
” Senate Republicans have twice put forward a second pandemic relief bill .
Blackburn explained that the latest bill would reposition unused money from the CARES Act .
The senator added that there is $ 429 billion leftover from the Federal Reserves 13 ( 3 ) Program .
“ [ B ] ear @ @ @ @ @ @ @ money that is left over from the CARES Act , ” she said .
“ There is no reason , no reason not to take these points of agreement with plussing up unemployment insurance , doing a second round of PPP for businesses that are still distressed – there is no reason not to give that money out.
” Blackburn mentioned that her legislation , the EIDL Advance Protection Act , which ensures the $ 10,000 emergency loans for small businesses won ’ t negatively impact their Paycheck Protection Program ( PPP ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are making progress with legislation expanding telehealth .
The efforts are part of the Senate ’ s bipartisan Rural Health Agenda .
The senator mentioned that more than 60 telehealth services were included as part of the annual physician fee schedule , and that Vanderbilt University reported over 200,000 telehealth visits .
“ We got word this week that CMS is going to continue for patients in Medicare .
That ’ s a big win for our seniors .
We hope that it will soon be even more widely available , ” the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that the National Defense Authorization Act ’ s conference report would be signed that same day .
She stated that the legislators expect to have the bill on the floor by next week .
“ [ W ] e do have some big wins in there for our veterans , for Fort Campbell , and after that gets the final passage we look forward to talking more about that , ” she said .
Blackburn mentioned further efforts to hold Big Tech accountable by reforming Section 230 of the 1996 Communications Decency Act @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one of the leading proponents for instituting widespread reform .
Blackburn shared that the legislation would likely appear on the floor next week .
Further pandemic-related measures that Blackburn reported will be advanced include Tennessee ’ s COVID-19 vaccine distribution .
When asked by reporters , Blackburn deferred to Governor Bill Lee ’ s office for a distribution plan .
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 ] .

Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) shared that the current COVID-19 relief bill is a bipartisan effort closer to $1 trillion. The senator explained in a press conference Thursday that the move is favored by Democratic legislators over efforts by House Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY).
“The good thing is that there are Democrats that have said to Speaker Pelosi and Minority Leader Schumer that they think it is wrong to hold out for a $3 trillion dollar deal, and saddle our future generations with that debt,” Blackburn said. “So they’re working with some Republicans on a bill that is closer to a trillion dollars. So, the bill that we as a Republican conference had agreed on was about a $600 billion bill.”
Senate Republicans have twice put forward a second pandemic relief bill. Blackburn explained that the latest bill would reposition unused money from the CARES Act. The senator added that there is $429 billion leftover from the Federal Reserves 13(3) Program.
“[B]ear in mind you’ve got that money that is left over from the CARES Act,” she said. “There is no reason, no reason not to take these points of agreement with plussing up unemployment insurance, doing a second round of PPP for businesses that are still distressed – there is no reason not to give that money out.”
Blackburn mentioned that her legislation, the EIDL Advance Protection Act, which ensures the $10,000 emergency loans for small businesses won’t negatively impact their Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans.
Blackburn also shared that they are making progress with legislation expanding telehealth. The efforts are part of the Senate’s bipartisan Rural Health Agenda. The senator mentioned that more than 60 telehealth services were included as part of the annual physician fee schedule, and that Vanderbilt University reported over 200,000 telehealth visits.
“We got word this week that CMS is going to continue for patients in Medicare. That’s a big win for our seniors. We hope that it will soon be even more widely available,” the senator said.
Then, Blackburn shared that the National Defense Authorization Act’s conference report would be signed that same day. She stated that the legislators expect to have the bill on the floor by next week.
“[W]e do have some big wins in there for our veterans, for Fort Campbell, and after that gets the final passage we look forward to talking more about that,” she said.
Blackburn mentioned further efforts to hold Big Tech accountable by reforming Section 230 of the 1996 Communications Decency Act (CDA). The senator was one of the leading proponents for instituting widespread reform. Blackburn shared that the legislation would likely appear on the floor next week.
Further pandemic-related measures that Blackburn reported will be advanced include Tennessee’s COVID-19 vaccine distribution. When asked by reporters, Blackburn deferred to Governor Bill Lee’s office for a distribution plan.
– – –
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--2020-12-04--Commentary: How Trump Can Make Congress Great Again

Although at the time of this writing it is far from certain , it nevertheless seems likely that President Trump ’ s supporters will be robbed of all the joy from his record-smashing , poll-obliterating electoral performance in November—a performance that inexplicably lifted every “ toss-up ” Republican boat from sea to shining sea except his own .
Despite Trump ’ s garnering nearly 11 million more votes than in 2016 , we are supposed to believe that the country has handed the keys of the Oval Office over to a moribund , provably corrupt , mostly virtual candidate on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ support .
If that happens , it would be a tragedy visited upon this nation by an international criminal conspiracy too cleverly conceived and professionally coordinated for politically fickle district court judges and parochial state legislatures following conventional rules of election certification to fathom .
According to Rasmussen , fully 47 percent of the electorate suspects the election was stolen , mainly because they watched it happen live , one post-election day computer “ glitch , ” ballot box “ discovery , ” and vertical vote spike at a time .
They know @ @ @ @ @ @ @ even without expertise in statistical analysis and despite the media ’ s eagerness to prop up Joe Biden on his last working leg as “ president-elect.
” So the political pros are hastening the certification process to deprive voters of a full examination of Team Trump ’ s mounting body of circumstantial but convincing numerical evidence , sworn eyewitness affidavits alleging fraud , and on-the-record expert testimony of mathematical , military , and cybersecurity specialists .
The contrast between Team Trump ’ s abundance of evidence getting zero media play and the complete @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that drove three years of round-the-clock Trump-Russia collusion mania on all the cable networks , is sharp enough to split the stablest political atoms .
How will that potentially explosive energy be harnessed going forward if Trump is removed from office ?
In spite of that real worry , some commentators on the Right—in the name of realpolitik , of course—are already considering what the MAGA movement “ after Trump ” might look like.The reality , however , is that no matter what career GOP “ strategists ” and pundits think , there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s work is prematurely cut off—particularly if it is gutted so ruthlessly in this Et Tu , Brute ?
fashion , with the approval if not complicity of not a few NeverTrump GOP governors and establishment figures .
The cold , hard reality facing the populist conservative movement within the GOP , is that if Trump is sent packing after every promise he ’ s kept in the face of relentless adversities over the last four years , any one of which would have ended a lesser presidency , the GOP establishment will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pin cushion form .
This will quickly deflate Trump ’ s once fearsome political base , and undo his remarkably successful courtship of the working class and minority voters ordinarily averse to the GOP brand .
And the GOP establishment that was happy to ride his coattails will find them yanked out from under them , too .
The D.C. gravy train designed to benefit its bipartisan duopoly , having been disrupted by Trump ’ s global trade reset and his resolve to rethink and transcend old , outdated international and military alliances @ @ @ @ @ @ @ familiar CO2-belching engine of its endless war and political grift machine .
We will see the return of the status quo ante with a vengeance , under the mumbling , incoherent and very foreign policy of an inept Biden-Harris Administration .
An otherwise hopelessly divided Congress similarly will sputter its way into tens of trillions more in debt , authorizing more “ police actions ” that keep the VA hospitals and cemeteries full of wounded and dead soldiers .
So , whatever happens in the next few weeks as the president ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ state legislators and governors , and a malevolent media to make the compelling case that Biden ’ s “ win ” was really a massive , coordinated election fraud , President Trump must prepare to lead the movement , one way or another , whether from the White House , or from someplace else , when the sound and the fury is over .
Until the swamp is drained , the wall is built , the national economy is decoupled from the whims of foreign dictatorships , and a new generation of candidates @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Trump ’ s derailed reelection is not yet a loss the movement can survive .
Let ’ s not pretend that it is , just because it looks like the handwriting for the election is on the wall .
We can ’ t just dust off our shoes and move on .
Move on to where ?
As Lt. General Michael Flynn said : “ If America falls , there is no place left to go.
” It is therefore prudent ( if , one hopes , premature ) to ask the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” should a former President Trump lead his movement , if not from the White House ?
I would humbly suggest , with some historical precedent , that he set his sights not merely on creating a new Fox News competitor , or , as some have suggested , acting as GOP chairman ( a position for which the main job is groveling for money , not actually doing anything ) , but rather that he move on to something truly consequential—something that , if he pulled it off , would really put @ @ @ @ @ @ @ having been cheated in 2020 : namely , on winning Congress .
More specifically , on winning the Congress and getting elected to the office of Speaker of the House in 2022 .
John Quincy Adams was a president who , after leaving office , entered Congress and led an active political life through several subsequent presidencies .
Some of the most important political figures in American history , including Henry Clay , were House speaker but never president .
Trump could cement his legacy by becoming first president and then House speaker @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Florida district he might easily win , President Trump should spend the next two years holding MAGA rallies and town halls to build an agenda , cultivating promising state legislators and politically active citizen-patriots who emerge during this period into viable candidates to challenge even traditionally safe Democratic and RINO House districts and Senate seats .
Like Newt Gingrich in 1994 , he could frame the 2022 congressional elections as a national referendum on all the issues that have made Congress so despised over the past 50 years , and by winning the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ These are , not coincidentally , the same issues that have made America less great , and made her more vulnerable to subversion , both from abroad and from within , inspiring Trump to run for president in the first place : 1 ) Illegal immigration and the need for merit-based legal immigration , not to mention the border wall ; 2 ) The bipartisan selling out of American jobs to Communist slave labor ; 3 ) Deliberate degradation of election integrity in most of the 50 states ; 4 ) The dangerous @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at the Justice Department and FBI ; 5 ) The metastasis of the bureaucratic “ deep state ” as a cancer in the executive branch , largely created by the encroachments of Congress on executive authority masquerading as giveaways of legislative power ; 6 ) Big Tech tyranny and the assault on the First Amendment ; 7 ) The increasing attacks on religious freedom by secular leadership ; 8 ) The rise of pseudoscience quackery in academia and in government ( climate change , the metaphysics of masks and lockdowns , etc .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ reining in “ fake news ” media without thoughtful libel law reform ; 10 ) Social engineering in our military at a time when we need to focus on threats from existential competitors in both cyberspace and real space .
That ’ s just 10 of about 20 or more I could name off the top of my head .
None of these were challenges that President Trump could resolve in his first term , mainly because the feckless House Republicans abandoned him over the criminally bogus Russian collusion investigation , practically handing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Democrats used the last two years almost exclusively to investigate and impeach him , and otherwise work against his agenda .
Yet who other than Trump could , or would , have any chance of herding the cats of the Republican coalition , and possibly a few stray Democrat “ moderates ” toward victory on these issues ?
It seems quite clear , after everything we ’ ve learned about the man and his restless , seemingly boundless energy and multitasking mindset , that a House Speaker Donald Trump could wheel-and-deal his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with a commanding , maybe even bipartisan majority in both chambers , which candidate Trump and his 73 million ( and likely more ) “ Not Your Father ’ s GOP ” voters in 2020 have more than proven he could win .
Imagine what he could do with the subpoena power current House Speaker Nancy Pelosi ( D-Calif. ) used against him , only instead employed to rein in the coup plotters as well as the tech and media giants ; or with the power of the purse that she wielded like @ @ @ @ @ @ @ defund the administrative state , while fully funding the wall , ICE , the military ( including the new Space Force ) and the police !
Thus , from the perch of the speaker ’ s powerful catbird seat , having pried the gavel from Nancy Pelosi ’ s frozen ice-cream sticky fingers , he could orchestrate one of the most emphatic political comebacks in American history .
Trump could complete his political mission to right the ship of state and restore the Constitution , only this time as the real “ people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ long as he wants—or until at last either Washington , D.C. , is safe for his second , final presidential term , or new leaders are ready to accept the MAGA mantle .
It ’ s still a possible future .
He , and we , should embrace it , and work toward it .
Our alternative , made plain by the surreal results of this election , is to lose it all .
Andrew Cairns is the pen name of a writer and political thinker living in the United States , who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his full-time employment—not to mention the dilution of the First Amendment— can not write under his real name , as he would much prefer to do .

by Andrew Cairns
Although at the time of this writing it is far from certain, it nevertheless seems likely that President Trump’s supporters will be robbed of all the joy from his record-smashing, poll-obliterating electoral performance in November—a performance that inexplicably lifted every “toss-up” Republican boat from sea to shining sea except his own. Despite Trump’s garnering nearly 11 million more votes than in 2016, we are supposed to believe that the country has handed the keys of the Oval Office over to a moribund, provably corrupt, mostly virtual candidate on political, if not actual, life support.
If that happens, it would be a tragedy visited upon this nation by an international criminal conspiracy too cleverly conceived and professionally coordinated for politically fickle district court judges and parochial state legislatures following conventional rules of election certification to fathom.
One hopes that they would embrace their constitutional responsibility to halt or reverse the certification of a blatant, cheat-from-behind Biden victory—but the political headwinds are against it, and such courage is historically rare.
According to Rasmussen, fully 47 percent of the electorate suspects the election was stolen, mainly because they watched it happen live, one post-election day computer “glitch,” ballot box “discovery,” and vertical vote spike at a time. They know something is deeply wrong with these results even without expertise in statistical analysis and despite the media’s eagerness to prop up Joe Biden on his last working leg as “president-elect.”
So the political pros are hastening the certification process to deprive voters of a full examination of Team Trump’s mounting body of circumstantial but convincing numerical evidence, sworn eyewitness affidavits alleging fraud, and on-the-record expert testimony of mathematical, military, and cybersecurity specialists.
The contrast between Team Trump’s abundance of evidence getting zero media play and the complete lack of evidence and anonymously sourced rumors that drove three years of round-the-clock Trump-Russia collusion mania on all the cable networks, is sharp enough to split the stablest political atoms. How will that potentially explosive energy be harnessed going forward if Trump is removed from office?
No MAGA without Trump
In spite of that real worry, some commentators on the Right—in the name of realpolitik, of course—are already considering what the MAGA movement “after Trump” might look like.The reality, however, is that no matter what career GOP “strategists” and pundits think, there is no MAGA movement if Trump’s work is prematurely cut off—particularly if it is gutted so ruthlessly in this Et Tu, Brute? fashion, with the approval if not complicity of not a few NeverTrump GOP governors and establishment figures.
The cold, hard reality facing the populist conservative movement within the GOP, is that if Trump is sent packing after every promise he’s kept in the face of relentless adversities over the last four years, any one of which would have ended a lesser presidency, the GOP establishment will revert like memory foam to its pre-MAGA pin cushion form. This will quickly deflate Trump’s once fearsome political base, and undo his remarkably successful courtship of the working class and minority voters ordinarily averse to the GOP brand. And the GOP establishment that was happy to ride his coattails will find them yanked out from under them, too.
The D.C. gravy train designed to benefit its bipartisan duopoly, having been disrupted by Trump’s global trade reset and his resolve to rethink and transcend old, outdated international and military alliances, will fire up the old, familiar CO2-belching engine of its endless war and political grift machine.
We will see the return of the status quo ante with a vengeance, under the mumbling, incoherent and very foreign policy of an inept Biden-Harris Administration. An otherwise hopelessly divided Congress similarly will sputter its way into tens of trillions more in debt, authorizing more “police actions” that keep the VA hospitals and cemeteries full of wounded and dead soldiers.
So, whatever happens in the next few weeks as the president’s beleaguered attorneys combat reluctant courts, short-sighted state legislators and governors, and a malevolent media to make the compelling case that Biden’s “win” was really a massive, coordinated election fraud, President Trump must prepare to lead the movement, one way or another, whether from the White House, or from someplace else, when the sound and the fury is over.
Until the swamp is drained, the wall is built, the national economy is decoupled from the whims of foreign dictatorships, and a new generation of candidates rises up to lead the MAGA coalition, Trump’s derailed reelection is not yet a loss the movement can survive. Let’s not pretend that it is, just because it looks like the handwriting for the election is on the wall. We can’t just dust off our shoes and move on. Move on to where? As Lt. General Michael Flynn said: “If America falls, there is no place left to go.”
Speaker Trump
It is therefore prudent (if, one hopes, premature) to ask the question: From which “someplace else” should a former President Trump lead his movement, if not from the White House?
I would humbly suggest, with some historical precedent, that he set his sights not merely on creating a new Fox News competitor, or, as some have suggested, acting as GOP chairman (a position for which the main job is groveling for money, not actually doing anything), but rather that he move on to something truly consequential—something that, if he pulled it off, would really put the exclamation point on his claims of having been cheated in 2020: namely, on winning Congress.
More specifically, on winning the Congress and getting elected to the office of Speaker of the House in 2022.
John Quincy Adams was a president who, after leaving office, entered Congress and led an active political life through several subsequent presidencies. Some of the most important political figures in American history, including Henry Clay, were House speaker but never president. Trump could cement his legacy by becoming first president and then House speaker.
While running for Congress from a Florida district he might easily win, President Trump should spend the next two years holding MAGA rallies and town halls to build an agenda, cultivating promising state legislators and politically active citizen-patriots who emerge during this period into viable candidates to challenge even traditionally safe Democratic and RINO House districts and Senate seats. Like Newt Gingrich in 1994, he could frame the 2022 congressional elections as a national referendum on all the issues that have made Congress so despised over the past 50 years, and by winning the majority, also win the speakership.
These are, not coincidentally, the same issues that have made America less great, and made her more vulnerable to subversion, both from abroad and from within, inspiring Trump to run for president in the first place:
1) Illegal immigration and the need for merit-based legal immigration, not to mention the border wall;
2) The bipartisan selling out of American jobs to Communist slave labor;
3) Deliberate degradation of election integrity in most of the 50 states;
4) The dangerous rise of a politically tiered justice system at the Justice Department and FBI;
5) The metastasis of the bureaucratic “deep state” as a cancer in the executive branch, largely created by the encroachments of Congress on executive authority masquerading as giveaways of legislative power;
6) Big Tech tyranny and the assault on the First Amendment;
7) The increasing attacks on religious freedom by secular leadership;
8) The rise of pseudoscience quackery in academia and in government (climate change, the metaphysics of masks and lockdowns, etc.);
9) The impossibility of reining in “fake news” media without thoughtful libel law reform;
10) Social engineering in our military at a time when we need to focus on threats from existential competitors in both cyberspace and real space.
That’s just 10 of about 20 or more I could name off the top of my head. None of these were challenges that President Trump could resolve in his first term, mainly because the feckless House Republicans abandoned him over the criminally bogus Russian collusion investigation, practically handing the House to the Democrats in 2018.
Democrats used the last two years almost exclusively to investigate and impeach him, and otherwise work against his agenda. Yet who other than Trump could, or would, have any chance of herding the cats of the Republican coalition, and possibly a few stray Democrat “moderates” toward victory on these issues?
It seems quite clear, after everything we’ve learned about the man and his restless, seemingly boundless energy and multitasking mindset, that a House Speaker Donald Trump could wheel-and-deal his way to victory on all these issues with a commanding, maybe even bipartisan majority in both chambers, which candidate Trump and his 73 million (and likely more) “Not Your Father’s GOP” voters in 2020 have more than proven he could win.
Imagine what he could do with the subpoena power current House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) used against him, only instead employed to rein in the coup plotters as well as the tech and media giants; or with the power of the purse that she wielded like a weapon, only instead prioritized to defund the administrative state, while fully funding the wall, ICE, the military (including the new Space Force) and the police!
Thus, from the perch of the speaker’s powerful catbird seat, having pried the gavel from Nancy Pelosi’s frozen ice-cream sticky fingers, he could orchestrate one of the most emphatic political comebacks in American history. Trump could complete his political mission to right the ship of state and restore the Constitution, only this time as the real “people’s president” and for as long as he wants—or until at last either Washington, D.C., is safe for his second, final presidential term, or new leaders are ready to accept the MAGA mantle.
It’s still a possible future. He, and we, should embrace it, and work toward it. Our alternative, made plain by the surreal results of this election, is to lose it all.
– – –
Andrew Cairns is the pen name of a writer and political thinker living in the United States, who for reasons related to the terms of his full-time employment—not to mention the dilution of the First Amendment—cannot write under his real name, as he would much prefer to do.