thetennesseestar--2020-12-02--Republican National Committeewoman Patti Lyman to GOP Officials: ‘Fight for Trump or We Are Done wit

Republican National Committeewoman Patti Lyman to GOP Officials: ‘Fight for Trump or We Are Done with You’

Live from Georgia Tuesday morning on The John Fredericks Show – weekdays on WNTW AM 820/ FM 92.7 – Richmond , WJFN FM 100.5 – Central Virginia , WMPH AM 1010 / FM 100.1 / FM 96.9 ( 7-9 PM ) Hampton Roads , WBRG AM 1050 / FM 105.1 – Lynchburg/Roanoke and Weekdays 6-10 am and 24/7 Stream – host Fredericks welcomed Republican National Committeewoman for Virginia Patti Lyman to the show .
During the program , Lyman expressed her discontent for the establishment Republicans and urged all to get behind President Trump and the instance of voter fraud @ @ @ @ @ @ @ went on to suggest that there may be some evidence of election tampering in her home state of Virginia .
Fredericks : Joining me now , state committeewoman from Virginia , Republican Patti Lyman .
Patti , great to have you with us .
Lyman : Good morning John .
Thank you for having me .
You sound great today .
Fredericks : Oh thank you , Patti .
I tell you what Patti , I ’ m fired up because and I had Lin Wood on my show yesterday .
And look @ @ @ @ @ @ @ serious attorneys .
These are serious people Patti and both of them are telling me the evidence they have on voter fraud is overwhelming but you can ’ t get it out in the news .
What ’ s going on Patti ?
Lyman : Well they are superb attorneys .
I ’ ve practiced constitutional law myself for quite a number of years and they ’ re both complete rock stars .
They do have the evidence .
We ’ ve seen it .
A lot of it ’ s been published @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and this happened starting with the day of the election , the Democrats and I ’ m sorry to say the establishment Republicans they are building along with the media they are building a Potemkin village .
They ’ re all into the rituals and the titles and the staging and this and that to create this illusion number one that Joe Biden won this .
And secondly to create the illusion that there is no evidence to the contrary when it ’ s all over the place .
I ’ m really @ @ @ @ @ @ @ know couldn ’ t find their way out of a hatbox mocking Sidney Powell and demanding that she has to show more evidence and that she doesn ’ t have evidence .
I mean this is a brilliant brilliant woman with integrity .
and I appreciate the fact that you ’ re highlighting them .
You had Lin Wood on for almost an hour yesterday and I listened to the whole thing .
Lyman : I wish that the only people we were fighting were the Democrats and the media .
But you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I ’ m sorry to say too many elected Republicans are sitting silent and saying nothing .
Every single Republican U.S. senator should be coming out strongly in favor of President Trump fighting for the truth in this election and fighting to protect our votes .
Every elected Republican in Virginia should be doing that .
Every member of the House should be doing that .
And a lot of them are MIA .
And I ’ m going to tell you right now if they ’ re MIA right now when this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ votes , the voters and donors that they want next year are going to be MIA .
Fredericks : You know Patti that is a message .
Now you have a title .
You are the state committeewoman from Virginia and part of the Republican RNC .
Have you told them what you just told me ?
Do they understand that if they don ’ t stand up and fight for this president now and fight for the truth we ’ re simply not going to be there for them ?
Do they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it ’ s safe to say that everybody that I ’ ve talked to any time in our recent history knows exactly where I stand on this .
None of them will be surprised .
I ’ m not going to mention any conversations I ’ ve had with individuals but believe me , I ’ m having them .
Yes , I have a title with the Republican Party .
I ’ m the RNC national committeewoman representing Virginia .
There ’ s a reason I ’ m doing that .
I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Republican Party .
I ’ ve built my life around the things the Republican Party stands for and right now for the most part they ’ re not standing up as they should .
Rudy is .
The president is .
Sidney Powell is .
A handful of other people .
But too few others .
And I think it ’ s time for Republicans that really believe in our creed and really believe in our platform and would actually like to still have a country as of January 20th , I think @ @ @ @ @ @ @ challenge our fellow Republicans to take a stand with this president and what he ’ s doing .
Fredericks : Patti I so agree with what you ’ re saying .
I mean let me just ask you this .
If we don ’ t fight now when ?
If not us who ?
I mean what are they waiting for ?
There ’ s always some other hill to die on .
I mean I was at a round table yesterday and I had a state senator named Steve Gooch from Dahlonega @ @ @ @ @ @ @ don ’ t really need a special session .
They don ’ t want to call it .
We can ’ t do it , three-fifths etcetera .
But you know we ’ re gon na fix all this in the upcoming general assembly and we ’ re gon na fix all these election laws .
Like they ’ re gon na fight that battle then .
It ’ s over !
Biden wins .
The two Democrats win Georgia .
They ’ ve already sent out 900,000 absentee ballots .
They ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ They ’ re going to do the same thing , Patti .
Lyman : Because nobody apparently wants to stop them .
I ’ ll tell you right now , too many people are laboring under the illusion that if Joe Biden takes office on January 20th that after that we ’ re still going to have the freedom to fix the things in our country that we need to fix .
We are not .
We will not after January 20th if Joe Biden is inaugurated .
We will not be getting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Virginia .
We won ’ t be getting to the bottom of the voter fraud anywhere because it ’ s all going to be shut down .
And if we think that we ’ re annoyed and restricted now by COVID restrictions wait until that happens .
We ’ re going to be on steroids with restrictions blamed on COVID and we ’ re moving into a new era in this country that I don ’ t want to think about .
Fredericks : We ’ re live in Dalton , Georgia @ @ @ @ @ @ @ city Georgia tour , and with us Patti Lyman .
Patti is the state committeewoman for the Republican Party in Virginia .
That is a national official with RNC capacity .
She carries a lot of influence there and it sounds like she ’ s had it with this whole thing .
Let ’ s get to Virginia .
Now two times both Rudy Giuliani the president ’ s chief attorney and Sidney Powell have said that there was voter fraud in Virginia .
But we lost Virginia by 450,000 votes .
I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I was the state chair so I don ’ t want to run around and say well I really wondered if it was a fraud .
but if you take that vote on the surface Patti , I mean they got out almost two point five million people .
Our target was two million .
We thought if we got two million the state would be very competitive .
we got two million and we got trounced .
Is Virginia that blue ?
Can we do anything at all to turn the tide @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not that blue .
My campaign slogan all last year was the real Virginia is red .
And it is .
At this point , we don ’ t have any evidence that 400,000 additional actual people voted for Joe Biden and voted for Donald Trump in Virginia .
We don ’ t have that evidence .
I would like to see a full investigation into that .
Otherwise , what ’ s the point of our elections in 2021 if we can ’ t figure out what happened in 2020 .
I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was so inferior to Joe Biden ’ s and that many Virginians had to come out to vote for Joe Biden .
I don ’ t believe it ’ s true at all .
And it ’ s tempting for people to say , move along nothing to see here we ’ ve got to move on to other pastures .
But again we ’ re not going to have the opportunity to move along and keep functioning as free people if we just lay down now and let this kind of fraud @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do it .
We have to stand up .
We have to make noise .
We have to take action .
I think there might be a couple of House seats that we actually won .
You know we ’ ll see what candidates decide to do or not do .
But I want to fight this .
Listen to the full show here :

Live from Georgia Tuesday morning on The John Fredericks Show – weekdays on WNTW AM 820/ FM 92.7 – Richmond, WJFN FM 100.5 – Central Virginia, WMPH AM 1010 / FM 100.1 / FM 96.9 (7-9 PM) Hampton Roads, WBRG AM 1050 / FM 105.1 – Lynchburg/Roanoke and Weekdays 6-10 am and 24/7 Stream – host Fredericks welcomed Republican National Committeewoman for Virginia Patti Lyman to the show.
During the program, Lyman expressed her discontent for the establishment Republicans and urged all to get behind President Trump and the instance of voter fraud. Later in the show, she went on to suggest that there may be some evidence of election tampering in her home state of Virginia.
Fredericks: Joining me now, state committeewoman from Virginia, Republican Patti Lyman. Patti, great to have you with us.
Lyman: Good morning John. Thank you for having me. You sound great today.
Fredericks: Oh thank you, Patti. I tell you what Patti, I’m fired up because and I had Lin Wood on my show yesterday. And look, Lin Wood and Sidney Powell are serious attorneys. These are serious people Patti and both of them are telling me the evidence they have on voter fraud is overwhelming but you can’t get it out in the news. What’s going on Patti?
Lyman: Well they are superb attorneys. I’ve practiced constitutional law myself for quite a number of years and they’re both complete rock stars. They do have the evidence. We’ve seen it. A lot of it’s been published. What I see being built here and this happened starting with the day of the election, the Democrats and I’m sorry to say the establishment Republicans they are building along with the media they are building a Potemkin village. They’re all into the rituals and the titles and the staging and this and that to create this illusion number one that Joe Biden won this.
And secondly to create the illusion that there is no evidence to the contrary when it’s all over the place. I’m really amused when i hear people that you know couldn’t find their way out of a hatbox mocking Sidney Powell and demanding that she has to show more evidence and that she doesn’t have evidence. I mean this is a brilliant brilliant woman with integrity. and I appreciate the fact that you’re highlighting them. You had Lin Wood on for almost an hour yesterday and I listened to the whole thing.
Fredericks: Thank you.
Lyman: I wish that the only people we were fighting were the Democrats and the media. But you mentioned the three stooges in Georgia and I’m sorry to say too many elected Republicans are sitting silent and saying nothing. Every single Republican U.S. senator should be coming out strongly in favor of President Trump fighting for the truth in this election and fighting to protect our votes. Every elected Republican in Virginia should be doing that. Every member of the House should be doing that. And a lot of them are MIA. And I’m going to tell you right now if they’re MIA right now when this president is in this fight for our votes, the voters and donors that they want next year are going to be MIA.
Fredericks: You know Patti that is a message. Now you have a title. You are the state committeewoman from Virginia and part of the Republican RNC. Have you told them what you just told me? Do they understand that if they don’t stand up and fight for this president now and fight for the truth we’re simply not going to be there for them? Do they understand that?
Lyman: I think it’s safe to say that everybody that I’ve talked to any time in our recent history knows exactly where I stand on this. None of them will be surprised. I’m not going to mention any conversations I’ve had with individuals but believe me, I’m having them. Yes, I have a title with the Republican Party. I’m the RNC national committeewoman representing Virginia. There’s a reason I’m doing that. I have not built my life around the Republican Party. I’ve built my life around the things the Republican Party stands for and right now for the most part they’re not standing up as they should. Rudy is.
The president is. Sidney Powell is. A handful of other people. But too few others. And I think it’s time for Republicans that really believe in our creed and really believe in our platform and would actually like to still have a country as of January 20th, I think it’s time for us to challenge our fellow Republicans to take a stand with this president and what he’s doing.
Fredericks: Patti I so agree with what you’re saying. I mean let me just ask you this. If we don’t fight now when? If not us who? I mean what are they waiting for? There’s always some other hill to die on. I mean I was at a round table yesterday and I had a state senator named Steve Gooch from Dahlonega and he said well you know we don’t really need a special session. They don’t want to call it. We can’t do it, three-fifths etcetera. But you know we’re gonna fix all this in the upcoming general assembly and we’re gonna fix all these election laws. Like they’re gonna fight that battle then. It’s over! Biden wins. The two Democrats win Georgia. They’ve already sent out 900,000 absentee ballots. They’ve already mailed them out again. They’re going to do the same thing, Patti.
Lyman: Because nobody apparently wants to stop them. I’ll tell you right now, too many people are laboring under the illusion that if Joe Biden takes office on January 20th that after that we’re still going to have the freedom to fix the things in our country that we need to fix. We are not. We will not after January 20th if Joe Biden is inaugurated. We will not be getting to the bottom of the voter fraud in Virginia.
We won’t be getting to the bottom of the voter fraud anywhere because it’s all going to be shut down. And if we think that we’re annoyed and restricted now by COVID restrictions wait until that happens. We’re going to be on steroids with restrictions blamed on COVID and we’re moving into a new era in this country that I don’t want to think about.
Fredericks: We’re live in Dalton, Georgia day two of our 10-day, 10 city Georgia tour, and with us Patti Lyman. Patti is the state committeewoman for the Republican Party in Virginia. That is a national official with RNC capacity. She carries a lot of influence there and it sounds like she’s had it with this whole thing. Let’s get to Virginia. Now two times both Rudy Giuliani the president’s chief attorney and Sidney Powell have said that there was voter fraud in Virginia. But we lost Virginia by 450,000 votes.
I’m in a difficult position because I was the state chair so I don’t want to run around and say well I really wondered if it was a fraud. but if you take that vote on the surface Patti, I mean they got out almost two point five million people. Our target was two million. We thought if we got two million the state would be very competitive. we got two million and we got trounced. Is Virginia that blue? Can we do anything at all to turn the tide in Virginia?
Lyman: Virginia is not that blue. My campaign slogan all last year was the real Virginia is red. And it is. At this point, we don’t have any evidence that 400,000 additional actual people voted for Joe Biden and voted for Donald Trump in Virginia. We don’t have that evidence. I would like to see a full investigation into that. Otherwise, what’s the point of our elections in 2021 if we can’t figure out what happened in 2020. I refuse to believe that somehow our message was so inferior to Joe Biden’s and that many Virginians had to come out to vote for Joe Biden. I don’t believe it’s true at all.
And it’s tempting for people to say, move along nothing to see here we’ve got to move on to other pastures. But again we’re not going to have the opportunity to move along and keep functioning as free people if we just lay down now and let this kind of fraud go by. We can’t do it. We have to stand up. We have to make noise. We have to take action. I think there might be a couple of House seats that we actually won. You know we’ll see what candidates decide to do or not do. But I want to fight this.
Listen to the full show here:
– – –
Photo “Patti Lyman” by Patti Lyman.


thetennesseestar--2020-12-02--House and Senate Name Legislators for Virginia Redistricting Commission

Party leaders from the Virginia Senate and House of Delegates have appointed the eight legislators that will serve on the newly-formed bipartisan redistricting commission tasked with redrawing the Commonwealth ’ s legislative and congressional lines .
The Senators on the commission will be Steve Newman ( R-Bedford ) , Ryan McDougle ( R-Hanover ) , George Barker ( D-Fairfax County ) and Mamie Locke ( D-Hampton ) , Amigo Wade , acting director of the Virginia Division of Legislative Services , told The Virginia Star .
Appointed from the House are Delegates Delores McQuinn ( D-Richmond City ) , Marcus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Adams ( R-Pittsylvania County ) and Margaret Ransone ( R-Caroline County ) .
On Tuesday , Speaker of the House Eileen Filler-Corn ( D-Fairfax County ) and House Minority Leader Todd Gilbert ( R-Shenandoah ) announced their selections through separate statements .
“ Last month Virginians overwhelmingly voted in support of creating a new panel to ensure that Virginia ’ s legislative mapmaking process isn ’ t subject to political games , ” Gilbert said in the statement .
“ To that end , I have appointed Delegates Les Adams and Margaret Ransone @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of whom supported the creation of the Commission throughout .
“ With their combined knowledge and experience , I have no doubt they will help craft what the voters have demanded — fair maps for every Virginian.
” In her statement , Filler-Corn said : “ Commissioners will need to be committed to inclusion and dedicated to a fair redistricting process that protects the vote of every Virginian , ” according to the Richmond Times-Dispatch .
In a brief email comment sent to The Star , Ransone simply said that she is proud @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a representative of the House .
Simon , who was one of several House Democrats staunchly against the redistricting commission before it was approved by voters on Election Day , said he wasn ’ t necessarily surprised by the appointment and was excited to be one of the first legislators involved with the new process .
“ I look forward to the opportunity to work on creating fair districts for Virginians , ” Simon told The Star .
“ I think it ’ s valuable to be in the room where it ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hope that I will be able to make a positive contribution to the process.
” Additionally , Simon said he expects there will be some contention between the legislative commissioners over what fair drawings of the districts look like .
The Star reached out to several other appointees for comment but did not get responses before press time .
Those legislators only make up half of the commission and will be joined by eight citizen members who apply for the spots .
Monday was the first day for citizens interested in the commission @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and the deadline is December 28 .
The application form and other information can be found on the Division of Legislative Services website at https : //redistricting.dls.virginia.gov .
After the citizen members are selected , the commission will work to redraw the districts ahead of the 2021 elections for governor , lieutenant governor , attorney general and all 100 seats in the House .
Yet , the body can not begin its work before receiving population data from the 2020 U.S. Census , which is expected to be delayed until sometime in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Fair Maps VA , said if the data does not come by May then the existing district lines for the House may have to be used one more time .
Cannon also gave his thoughts on which districts are likely to be changed or adjusted by the commission .
“ Assuming the Census data arrives in a reasonable time frame then I think you ’ re looking at a lot of the suburb districts , ” Cannon told The Star .
“ The suburbs around Richmond and the suburbs in Hampton Roads @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and were highly competitive races this year , and I think that would only continue going forward.
” One aspect of the commission that will be of great interest is whether the body draws completely new maps or if they will work off the old lines and adjust from there .
Either way , nothing can happen until well into 2021 , but the commission intends to hold its first public meeting on February 1 .
Jacob Taylor is a reporter at The Virginia Star and the Star News Digital Network .
Follow @ @ @ @ @ @ @ [ email protected ] Photo “ Virginia Capitol ” by Skip Plitt – C ’ ville Photography .
CC BY-SA 3.0 .

Party leaders from the Virginia Senate and House of Delegates have appointed the eight legislators that will serve on the newly-formed bipartisan redistricting commission tasked with redrawing the Commonwealth’s legislative and congressional lines.
The Senators on the commission will be Steve Newman (R-Bedford), Ryan McDougle (R-Hanover), George Barker (D-Fairfax County) and Mamie Locke (D-Hampton), Amigo Wade, acting director of the Virginia Division of Legislative Services, told The Virginia Star.
Appointed from the House are Delegates Delores McQuinn (D-Richmond City), Marcus Simon (D-Fairfax County), Les Adams (R-Pittsylvania County) and Margaret Ransone (R-Caroline County).
On Tuesday, Speaker of the House Eileen Filler-Corn (D-Fairfax County) and House Minority Leader Todd Gilbert (R-Shenandoah) announced their selections through separate statements.
“Last month Virginians overwhelmingly voted in support of creating a new panel to ensure that Virginia’s legislative mapmaking process isn’t subject to political games,” Gilbert said in the statement. “To that end, I have appointed Delegates Les Adams and Margaret Ransone to the Virginia Redistricting Commission, both of whom supported the creation of the Commission throughout.
“With their combined knowledge and experience, I have no doubt they will help craft what the voters have demanded — fair maps for every Virginian.”
In her statement, Filler-Corn said: “Commissioners will need to be committed to inclusion and dedicated to a fair redistricting process that protects the vote of every Virginian,” according to the Richmond Times-Dispatch.
In a brief email comment sent to The Star, Ransone simply said that she is proud to serve on the redistricting commission as a representative of the House.
Simon, who was one of several House Democrats staunchly against the redistricting commission before it was approved by voters on Election Day, said he wasn’t necessarily surprised by the appointment and was excited to be one of the first legislators involved with the new process.
“I look forward to the opportunity to work on creating fair districts for Virginians,” Simon told The Star. “I think it’s valuable to be in the room where it’s going to happen and so I hope that I will be able to make a positive contribution to the process.”
Additionally, Simon said he expects there will be some contention between the legislative commissioners over what fair drawings of the districts look like.
The Star reached out to several other appointees for comment but did not get responses before press time.
Those legislators only make up half of the commission and will be joined by eight citizen members who apply for the spots. Monday was the first day for citizens interested in the commission to fill out an application online, and the deadline is December 28.
The application form and other information can be found on the Division of Legislative Services website at https://redistricting.dls.virginia.gov.
After the citizen members are selected, the commission will work to redraw the districts ahead of the 2021 elections for governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general and all 100 seats in the House. Yet, the body cannot begin its work before receiving population data from the 2020 U.S. Census, which is expected to be delayed until sometime in the spring.
Brian Cannon, executive director of Fair Maps VA, said if the data does not come by May then the existing district lines for the House may have to be used one more time.
Cannon also gave his thoughts on which districts are likely to be changed or adjusted by the commission.
“Assuming the Census data arrives in a reasonable time frame then I think you’re looking at a lot of the suburb districts,” Cannon told The Star. “The suburbs around Richmond and the suburbs in Hampton Roads, those are going to be redrawn and were highly competitive races this year, and I think that would only continue going forward.”
One aspect of the commission that will be of great interest is whether the body draws completely new maps or if they will work off the old lines and adjust from there. Either way, nothing can happen until well into 2021, but the commission intends to hold its first public meeting on February 1.
– – –
Jacob Taylor is a reporter at The Virginia Star and the Star News Digital Network. Follow Jacob on Twitter. Email tips to [email protected]
Photo “Virginia Capitol” by Skip Plitt – C’ville Photography. CC BY-SA 3.0.


thetennesseestar--2020-12-02--Christmas Likely to See Similar Restrictions, Minnesota Gov. Walz Says

After prohibiting private gatherings over the Thanksgiving weekend , Gov .
Tim Walz said Minnesotans can expect to see “ very similar ” restrictions around Christmas .
“ I went from John Lithgow in Footloose to the Grinch , ” Walz said during a Monday press conference when asked if people should start thinking about canceling their Christmas plans .
“ We will not be into the heart of the vaccine distribution .
That will not happen until the first of the year .
So certainly , at this point in time , with the data that we have and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ making decisions based on where the trends are — I ’ m not going to surprise anybody .
I think the guidance around Thanksgiving is going to be very similar around Christmas , ” he continued .
Minnesotans are currently prohibited from hosting private gatherings with anyone from another household under an executive order issued by Walz .
“ Anecdotally , Minnesotans did a pretty good job staying home , but there ’ s some data on movement , especially the airports and others , that show there was a lot of movement @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Thanksgiving travelers .
“ I would assume that there would be little reason for me to believe that there ’ s going to be a dramatic change in the trajectory of the virus and the virus spread in the next , little less than four weeks , ” he added .
Based on a recent call with Vice President Mike Pence and Dr. Anthony Fauci , Walz said it will probably be the first or second quarter of next year before a vaccine is distributed widely enough to “ start to get the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we need.
” Minnesota is expected to receive its first shipment of vaccines by mid-December , but they will be reserved for health care workers and at-risk seniors .
Anthony Gockowski is Editor-in-Chief of Alpha News .
He previously worked as an editor for The Minnesota Sun and Campus Reform , and reported for The Daily Caller .

by Anthony Gockowski
After prohibiting private gatherings over the Thanksgiving weekend, Gov. Tim Walz said Minnesotans can expect to see “very similar” restrictions around Christmas.
“I went from John Lithgow in Footloose to the Grinch,” Walz said during a Monday press conference when asked if people should start thinking about canceling their Christmas plans.
“We will not be into the heart of the vaccine distribution. That will not happen until the first of the year. So certainly, at this point in time, with the data that we have and the trend — and this is again making decisions based on where the trends are — I’m not going to surprise anybody. I think the guidance around Thanksgiving is going to be very similar around Christmas,” he continued.
Minnesotans are currently prohibited from hosting private gatherings with anyone from another household under an executive order issued by Walz.
“Anecdotally, Minnesotans did a pretty good job staying home, but there’s some data on movement, especially the airports and others, that show there was a lot of movement,” Walz said, referring to Thanksgiving travelers.
“I would assume that there would be little reason for me to believe that there’s going to be a dramatic change in the trajectory of the virus and the virus spread in the next, little less than four weeks,” he added.
Based on a recent call with Vice President Mike Pence and Dr. Anthony Fauci, Walz said it will probably be the first or second quarter of next year before a vaccine is distributed widely enough to “start to get the immunity and start to get the impact we need.”
Minnesota is expected to receive its first shipment of vaccines by mid-December, but they will be reserved for health care workers and at-risk seniors.
– – –
Anthony Gockowski is Editor-in-Chief of Alpha News. He previously worked as an editor for The Minnesota Sun and Campus Reform, and reported for The Daily Caller.


thetennesseestar--2020-12-02--Richmond Releases Public Comment Survey on Potential City Resort Casino

Richmond released a survey for local residents Tuesday asking for feedback on what the city should consider in proposals for a potential resort casino in Virginia ’ s capital .
The online survey will be open until December 14 .
The results will help inform the Request for Qualifications/Proposals ( RFQ/P ) document and outline the expectations of Richmond and its residents for any proposals .
“ A competitive selection process will allow us to assess the best opportunity for Richmond , ” Mayor Levar Stoney said in a statement .
“ This survey is your opportunity to make sure @ @ @ @ @ @ @ such as living-wage jobs , sustainable building practices and investment in the community.
” In the statement , Leonard Sledge , director of economic development , said : “ Our primary objective is to identify a successful proposal that has outstanding economic opportunities and community benefits for Richmonders .
We anticipate receiving multiple submissions , and we want to put a process in place to identify an operator and site that results in a true win for Richmond.
” The survey asks respondents to rank potential community and economic benefits from a casino @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and what elements could be included with the project .
The survey also has optional questions for residents to give their zip code , age , gender and ethnicity .
This is just the first step in a months-long process , however .
In late December the RFQ/P will be opened , officially beginning the start of the city ’ s competitive process to choose a casino operator and site .
At that time , operators can start submitting proposals and will need to give those as well as any other related material @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in late February .
By summer 2021 , the city will have reviewed all proposals with the help of an outside firm and will select one operator , considering public input .
Once the operator is chosen a public announcement will be made .
Lastly , the potential resort casino will be put to a referendum that will appear on election ballots next November for the citizens to make the final decision on whether or not Richmond will have a resort casino .
Earlier this year , Governor Ralph Northam signed a law @ @ @ @ @ @ @ casinos in different cities throughout the Commonwealth , including Richmond .
That law requires Richmond to select a preferred operator and location before having the courts create a casino referendum , which is the reason for the survey , RFQ/P document and competitive process .
So far , two potential operators have shown interest in submitting a bid for a casino project in Richmond : Colonial Downs Group and the Pamunkey Indian Tribe .
“ We ’ re definitely excited about the prospects of a casino in Richmond , but until we see @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and listen more to what the city and citizens want , it ’ s going to be hard for us to make a decision on a proposal , ” Aaron Gomes , chief operating officer of Peninsula Pacific Entertainment and Colonial Downs , told The Virginia Star .
“ We certainly have an interest , but , look , this is the first minute of the first inning , ” Gomes added .
“ There is a lot more that we need to evaluate and look at and a lot more people to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ definitive decision.
” Jay Smith , a spokesperson for the Pamunkey Indian Tribe , told The Star that they are also waiting until the RFQ/P is released later this month to see what it entails before move forward with a specific proposal .
“ The tribe definitely sees itself as a great partner for the City of Richmond , ” Smith said .
“ They believe that [ a casino ] is something that would not only help the tribe , but it would actually help Richmond as well in providing significant new @ @ @ @ @ @ @ jobs and economic opportunity .
So we ’ re interested in partnering with the city.
” Smith also said that the tribe is not necessarily committed to using the property it bought in Manchester earlier this year as the site included in its proposal , and are looking at other locations around the city .
The survey can be found online here .
Jacob Taylor is a reporter at The Virginia Star and the Star News Digital Network .
Follow Jacob on Twitter .
Email tips to [ email protected ]

Richmond released a survey for local residents Tuesday asking for feedback on what the city should consider in proposals for a potential resort casino in Virginia’s capital.
The online survey will be open until December 14. The results will help inform the Request for Qualifications/Proposals (RFQ/P) document and outline the expectations of Richmond and its residents for any proposals.
“A competitive selection process will allow us to assess the best opportunity for Richmond,” Mayor Levar Stoney said in a statement. “This survey is your opportunity to make sure the development proposals reflect your priorities, such as living-wage jobs, sustainable building practices and investment in the community.”
In the statement, Leonard Sledge, director of economic development, said: “Our primary objective is to identify a successful proposal that has outstanding economic opportunities and community benefits for Richmonders. We anticipate receiving multiple submissions, and we want to put a process in place to identify an operator and site that results in a true win for Richmond.”
The survey asks respondents to rank potential community and economic benefits from a casino, what features the location should have and what elements could be included with the project. The survey also has optional questions for residents to give their zip code, age, gender and ethnicity.
This is just the first step in a months-long process, however.
In late December the RFQ/P will be opened, officially beginning the start of the city’s competitive process to choose a casino operator and site. At that time, operators can start submitting proposals and will need to give those as well as any other related material to the city before the RFQ/P closes in late February.
By summer 2021, the city will have reviewed all proposals with the help of an outside firm and will select one operator, considering public input. Once the operator is chosen a public announcement will be made.
Lastly, the potential resort casino will be put to a referendum that will appear on election ballots next November for the citizens to make the final decision on whether or not Richmond will have a resort casino.
Earlier this year, Governor Ralph Northam signed a law that allows for the construction of five casinos in different cities throughout the Commonwealth, including Richmond.
That law requires Richmond to select a preferred operator and location before having the courts create a casino referendum, which is the reason for the survey, RFQ/P document and competitive process.
So far, two potential operators have shown interest in submitting a bid for a casino project in Richmond: Colonial Downs Group and the Pamunkey Indian Tribe.
“We’re definitely excited about the prospects of a casino in Richmond, but until we see what’s included in the RFQ/P and listen more to what the city and citizens want, it’s going to be hard for us to make a decision on a proposal,” Aaron Gomes, chief operating officer of Peninsula Pacific Entertainment and Colonial Downs, told The Virginia Star.
“We certainly have an interest, but, look, this is the first minute of the first inning,” Gomes added. “There is a lot more that we need to evaluate and look at and a lot more people to talk to before we could make a definitive decision.”
Jay Smith, a spokesperson for the Pamunkey Indian Tribe, told The Star that they are also waiting until the RFQ/P is released later this month to see what it entails before move forward with a specific proposal.
“The tribe definitely sees itself as a great partner for the City of Richmond,” Smith said. “They believe that [a casino] is something that would not only help the tribe, but it would actually help Richmond as well in providing significant new revenue to the city as well as jobs and economic opportunity. So we’re interested in partnering with the city.”
Smith also said that the tribe is not necessarily committed to using the property it bought in Manchester earlier this year as the site included in its proposal, and are looking at other locations around the city.
The survey can be found online here.
– – –
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--2020-12-02--Canceled Richmond Coliseum Developers Plan Large Arena in Henrico

Henrico County authorities are selling the former Best Products , Inc. headquarters off East Parham Road and I-95 .
Private developers GreenCity LLC plan to build a complex that would include a mixed-use sports and concert arena that could seat 17,000 people .
The proposed $ 2.3 billion project will include mixed-income housing , workspaces , and outdoor areas , according to a Henrico County press release .
“ The arena will put this region back on the entertainment map , ” County Manager John Vithoulkas said in the press release .
He added , “ It also will provide @ @ @ @ @ @ @ no financial risk to our taxpayers.
” Developers hope the eco-friendly project will attract touring concerts and sports , including ECHL Hockey and G-League Basketball , according to the press release .
The project comes nearly a year after neighboring Richmond ’ s city council killed plans for a coliseum seating 17,500 , according to Richmond BizSense .
Local lawyer Justin Griffin attracted attention for his criticism of the Navy Hill development project championed by Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney .
Griffin said Richmond ’ s plan was not financially responsible and said the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than it would gain in revenue , according to his website nocoliseum.com .
Vithoulkas said Henrico ’ s plan is different from Richmond ’ s because it carries no risk to Henrico taxpayers .
“ GreenCity will be a private development financed with private bonds , ” Vithoulkas said .
“ This is what we do in Henrico .
Smart economic partnerships with no risk and significant benefits to the taxpayer.
” The bonds would repaid over 30 years through taxes to the county under a community development authority , an arrangement that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ county in the past .
Richmond ’ s current coliseum was shuttered in 2019 , and Richmond ’ s leadership has been unable to develop a plan to replace or restore the 13,500-seat facility .
Opposing the monument helped launch the candidacy for mayor of both Griffin and council member Kim Gray .
Stoney won re-election , but questions of what to do with the defunct property remain .
“ Henrico ’ s announcement today shows that this vision had merit – and the Mayor wishes them well and he ’ s glad @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Stoney ’ s Chief of Staff Lincoln Saunders said in a statement posted by reporter Roberto Roldan on Twitter .
Michael Hallmark and Susan Eastridge , two of the developers from the Navy Hill project , are leading the GreenCity project .
“ The former Best Products headquarters , including its iconic Art-Deco eagle statues , would be renovated and repurposed , ” the county press release states .
At a press conference Tuesday , Vithoulkas , Hallmark , and Eastridge said the development would boost Henrico economically while being environmentally conscious and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ formalized plans to the county ; the Board of Supervisors will then need to decide to approve the plans to allow the property sale to go forward .
After that , the developers will need the county to rezone the property .
Once rezoning is approved , the developers will buy the property for $ 6.2 million — the same amount that the county paid to acquire the property in 2011 .
Completion of the arena is expected in 2025 , with completion of the whole development expected by 2033 , according to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Vithoulkas said , “ We are thrilled to endorse this bold , visionary opportunity as it is in sync with everything that Henrico County stands for and has been working hard to achieve – inclusion , resiliency , mobility , innovation and job growth.
” Eric Burk is a reporter at The Virginia Star and the Star News Digital Network .
Email tips to [ email protected ] Photo “ Henrico Development ” by Henrico County .

Henrico County authorities are selling the former Best Products, Inc. headquarters off East Parham Road and I-95. Private developers GreenCity LLC plan to build a complex that would include a mixed-use sports and concert arena that could seat 17,000 people. The proposed $2.3 billion project will include mixed-income housing, workspaces, and outdoor areas, according to a Henrico County press release.
“The arena will put this region back on the entertainment map,” County Manager John Vithoulkas said in the press release.
He added, “It also will provide tremendous benefits to our county while creating no financial risk to our taxpayers.”
Developers hope the eco-friendly project will attract touring concerts and sports, including ECHL Hockey and G-League Basketball, according to the press release.
The project comes nearly a year after neighboring Richmond’s city council killed plans for a coliseum seating 17,500, according to Richmond BizSense. Local lawyer Justin Griffin attracted attention for his criticism of the Navy Hill development project championed by Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney. Griffin said Richmond’s plan was not financially responsible and said the taxpayer-funded project would cost the city more than it would gain in revenue, according to his website nocoliseum.com.
Vithoulkas said Henrico’s plan is different from Richmond’s because it carries no risk to Henrico taxpayers. “GreenCity will be a private development financed with private bonds,” Vithoulkas said. “This is what we do in Henrico. Smart economic partnerships with no risk and significant benefits to the taxpayer.”
The bonds would repaid over 30 years through taxes to the county under a community development authority, an arrangement that Vithoulkas said had worked well for the county in the past.
Richmond’s current coliseum was shuttered in 2019, and Richmond’s leadership has been unable to develop a plan to replace or restore the 13,500-seat facility. Opposing the monument helped launch the candidacy for mayor of both Griffin and council member Kim Gray. Stoney won re-election, but questions of what to do with the defunct property remain.
“Henrico’s announcement today shows that this vision had merit – and the Mayor wishes them well and he’s glad that the region will benefit,” Stoney’s Chief of Staff Lincoln Saunders said in a statement posted by reporter Roberto Roldan on Twitter.
Michael Hallmark and Susan Eastridge, two of the developers from the Navy Hill project, are leading the GreenCity project.
“The former Best Products headquarters, including its iconic Art-Deco eagle statues, would be renovated and repurposed,” the county press release states.
At a press conference Tuesday, Vithoulkas, Hallmark, and Eastridge said the development would boost Henrico economically while being environmentally conscious and socially inclusive.
The developers will submit formalized plans to the county; the Board of Supervisors will then need to decide to approve the plans to allow the property sale to go forward. After that, the developers will need the county to rezone the property. Once rezoning is approved, the developers will buy the property for $6.2 million — the same amount that the county paid to acquire the property in 2011. Completion of the arena is expected in 2025, with completion of the whole development expected by 2033, according to a timeline tweeted by reporter Tyler Thrasher.
Vithoulkas said, “We are thrilled to endorse this bold, visionary opportunity as it is in sync with everything that Henrico County stands for and has been working hard to achieve – inclusion, resiliency, mobility, innovation and job growth.”
– – –
Eric Burk is a reporter at The Virginia Star and the Star News Digital Network. Email tips to [email protected]
Photo “Henrico Development” by Henrico County.


thetennesseestar--2020-12-02--Ohio Gov. DeWine Signs Bill Expanding School Choice to Low-Income Students

Legislation to expand Ohio ’ s school choice eligibility was signed into law by Gov .
Mike DeWine on Friday .
Senate Bill 89 will expand the state ’ s EdChoice Program , which allows students to apply for vouchers for private schools if they are in low-performing schools or low-income districts .
Supporters say this bill provides more opportunities for students and parents , but opponents say it diverts potential public resources away from public schools and toward private schools .
Under the bill , sponsored by Sen. Matt Huffman , R-Lima , parents can apply for the vouchers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ranked in the bottom 30 % according to the performance index rankings .
It also expands eligibility for all students who are in districts that have 20 % or more low-income students .
The legislation also increases the income-based voucher program so students are eligible if they are at 250 % of the poverty level .
Previous law only provided eligibility to students at 200 % of the poverty level .
“ Thank you to [ Gov .
Mike DeWine ] !
, ” School Choice Ohio Tweeted on Friday .
“ The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ expanding EdChoice Scholarships for low-income students .
Performance-based EdChoice will now focus on the lowest-achieving 20 % of schools.
” Both chambers of the Ohio legislature passed an agreed-upon version of the legislation last week after adopting compromise language through a conference committee .
Tyler Arnold reports on Virginia and West Virginia for The Center Square .
He previously worked for the Cause of Action Institute and has been published in Business Insider , USA TODAY College , National Review Online and the Washington Free Beacon .

by Tyler Arnold
Legislation to expand Ohio’s school choice eligibility was signed into law by Gov. Mike DeWine on Friday.
Senate Bill 89 will expand the state’s EdChoice Program, which allows students to apply for vouchers for private schools if they are in low-performing schools or low-income districts. Supporters say this bill provides more opportunities for students and parents, but opponents say it diverts potential public resources away from public schools and toward private schools.
Under the bill, sponsored by Sen. Matt Huffman, R-Lima, parents can apply for the vouchers if their students are enrolled in schools ranked in the bottom 30% according to the performance index rankings. It also expands eligibility for all students who are in districts that have 20% or more low-income students.
The legislation also increases the income-based voucher program so students are eligible if they are at 250% of the poverty level. Previous law only provided eligibility to students at 200% of the poverty level.
“Thank you to [Gov. Mike DeWine]!,” School Choice Ohio Tweeted on Friday. “The [governor] just signed SB 89 expanding EdChoice Scholarships for low-income students. Performance-based EdChoice will now focus on the lowest-achieving 20% of schools.”
Thank you to @GovMikeDeWine! The Gov just signed SB 89 expanding EdChoice Scholarships for low-income students. Performance-based EdChoice will now focus on the lowest-achieving 20% of schools. #schoolchoicenow — School Choice Ohio (@SchoolChoiceOH) November 27, 2020
Both chambers of the Ohio legislature passed an agreed-upon version of the legislation last week after adopting compromise language through a conference committee.
– – –
Tyler Arnold reports on Virginia and West Virginia for The Center Square. He previously worked for the Cause of Action Institute and has been published in Business Insider, USA TODAY College, National Review Online and the Washington Free Beacon.


thetennesseestar--2020-12-03--Despite No COVID-19 Case Clusters Since June, Nashville Limits Restaurants to 50 Percent Capacity

Nashville ’ s restaurants are limited to 50 % capacity and subject to a 10 p.m. curfew on food and beverage service despite no record of COVID-19 case clusters being connected to a restaurant since June .
The new restrictions by Nashville ’ s Metro Public Health Department , which were announced last week by Mayor John Cooper , went into effect Monday .
According to a new case clusters report released by the Metro Public Health Department , the department has not traced any cluster of more than 10 cases to any restaurant since June 26 .
A total @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cases have been traced by the department since March .
Clusters of below 10 cases are not reported by the department .
Only one cluster has been tied to a bar since June .
The department traced 15 cases to a cluster at Miss Kelli ’ s on Oct. 1 .
A total of eight case clusters have been connected to bars by the department since March .
Despite few cases being tied to bars and restaurants , both continue to face restrictions on how they are allowed to operate in the city @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s limitation on gatherings of more than eight people in public or private , which went into effect last week .
One state legislator has introduced a bill that would limit the lawmaking powers of Tennessee ’ s six metro health departments , giving the power to issue public health rules to the county mayors instead of unelected health department bureaucrats .
The Nashville Public Health Department did not respond to a request for comment .
Vivian Jones reports on Tennessee and South Carolina for The Center Square .
Her writing has appeared @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and publications of The Heartland Institute .

by Vivian Jones
Nashville’s restaurants are limited to 50% capacity and subject to a 10 p.m. curfew on food and beverage service despite no record of COVID-19 case clusters being connected to a restaurant since June.
The new restrictions by Nashville’s Metro Public Health Department, which were announced last week by Mayor John Cooper, went into effect Monday.
According to a new case clusters report released by the Metro Public Health Department, the department has not traced any cluster of more than 10 cases to any restaurant since June 26. A total of four clusters of more than 10 cases have been traced by the department since March. Clusters of below 10 cases are not reported by the department.
Only one cluster has been tied to a bar since June. The department traced 15 cases to a cluster at Miss Kelli’s on Oct. 1. A total of eight case clusters have been connected to bars by the department since March.
Despite few cases being tied to bars and restaurants, both continue to face restrictions on how they are allowed to operate in the city.
These restrictions add to Cooper’s limitation on gatherings of more than eight people in public or private, which went into effect last week.
One state legislator has introduced a bill that would limit the lawmaking powers of Tennessee’s six metro health departments, giving the power to issue public health rules to the county mayors instead of unelected health department bureaucrats.
The Nashville Public Health Department did not respond to a request for comment.
– – –
Vivian Jones reports on Tennessee and South Carolina for The Center Square. Her writing has appeared in the Detroit News, The Hill, and publications of The Heartland Institute.


thetennesseestar--2020-12-03--Commentary: Billionaire’s Row Buys Big, Beautiful, Biden Cabinet

Back in February , Barack Obama shared the same conclusion as any sober observer : The Democratic Party was no longer the party of Joe Biden , but of the progressive wing helmed by Senators Bernie Sanders ( I-Vt. ) and Elizabeth Warren ( D-Mass. )
.
They had it all but sewn up until the Democratic establishment collapsed the field and slow-walked the unlikely Joe Biden to the nomination .
In typical fashion , progressive Democrats capitulated the moment opportunity dressed itself in overalls and looked like work , instead rolling over for a tickle of promises and concessions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ FDR-sized ” progressive administration .
The ceasefire lasted all of six months .
Over the summer , the progressive wing strained major policy concessions through the establishment limestone via the Biden-Sanders Unity Task Force , crafting the most progressive platform since the party ran George McGovern in 1972 .
Progressive Democrats earned a few substantial wins .
U.S. Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez ’ s ( D-N.Y. ) Green New Deal moderated into the Biden Plan , and progressives won accommodations on their criminal justice , education , immigration , healthcare , and economic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who bilked Bernie Sanders in 2016 now revert to their default setting of warmed-over Wall Street-friendly policies and personnel of the sort sympathetic commentators celebrate for its bland surface appeal .
By “ bland ” they mean the return to the status quo President Trump temporarily upended—a coterie of Obama Administration veterans cryogenically frozen since 2017 .
Progressive Democrats have little to shout about , though some commentators varnish Biden ’ s cabinet appointments with apparent progressive approval .
Biden ’ s prospective cabinet is Hillary Clinton ’ s stillborn administration , a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ corporate Democrats .
Antony Blinken heads to secretary of State .
John Kerry , another Obama veteran , comes in as climate czar .
Biden tapped Janet Yellen , a Federal Reserve chair , as treasury secretary , and Cecilia Rouse to head the Council of Economic Advisers , with Jared Bernstein and Heather Boushey , liberal economists , expected to follow .
Biden also named Adewale Adeyemo , an Obama Administration veteran , as deputy treasury secretary .
The legacy media lauds the cabinet ’ s drowsiness , its return to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and trusted.
” They celebrate Jake Sullivan ’ s nod to head national security , airbrushing Sullivan ’ s authorship of the Libyan disaster .
They laud CIA spy chief Avril Haines ’ seat at the head of intelligence , willfully ignorant of Haines ’ history blurring CIA torture techniques and penchant for drone strikes .
The status quo strikes back .
To progressive dismay , Neera Tanden is Biden ’ s pick to head the Office of Management and Budget .
Tanden , a gleeful anti-Sanders critic , worked behind the scenes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2016 Democratic nomination .
During the primaries last year , Sanders sent a rollicking letter to the Center for American Progress which Tanden heads , accusing her of “ maligning ” his staff and supporters , “ belittling ” his cause .
Prominent progressives like Matt Taibbi and David Sirota don ’ t think her appointment is coincidental , more a “ slap in the face ” for the vanquished progressive wing .
Despite Biden ’ s economic brains presenting a progressive hue , most return from an Obama era in which those @ @ @ @ @ @ @ service .
Under Obama , wages for ordinary Americans rose by just $ 11 a month .
Under President Trump ’ s economic nationalism , the average worker saw an extra $ 161 every month , and for the first time in decades , wages at the bottom rose faster than those at the top .
President Trump might invite the ire of the “ woke , ” but he achieved more for the working- and middle-classes than Democrats would like to admit .
The modern Democratic Party cares more for soundbites than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this new party , a “ progressive ” whose very political existence owes itself to “ Billionaire ’ s Row ” the Bay Area neighborhood reputed to be the world ’ s wealthiest stretch of tarmac .
In Biden ’ s cabinet , there is little to detect in the way of the Democratic progressive wing .
No Elizabeth Warren .
No Bernie Sanders .
No Sherrod Brown .
No signs of an “ FDR-sized presidency.
” This should not surprise .
Joe Biden and Kamala Harris enjoyed immense support from America ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ campaign attracted 47 billionaires in its first two months of existence .
Two-thirds of Kamala ’ s donors came from California ’ s ritziest ZIP codes , home to tech titans and Hollywood moguls .
One-third of Kamala ’ s cash came from finance giants , and another quarter from Silicon Valley .
In May 2019 , San Francisco oil billionaires Gordon and Ann Getty held a fundraiser at their Billionaire ’ s Row mansion at $ 28,000 a head .
When Kamala flamed out , the billionaires migrated to Biden .
By @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s richest elites backed Biden—10 times the rest of the Democratic field .
The party for the little guy the Democrats are not .
Since the mid-2000s , blue-collar workers have migrated to the Republican Party , while the college-educated head toward the Democrats .
President Trump won in 2016 with promises to address the modern malaise—the hollowing of the middle class .
Before the genesis of corporate capitalism in the 1980s , American workers could expect their wages to rise with productivity—an American notion if ever there was one—the harder one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ If American wages today matched 1975 norms , the average American worker would make $ 92,000 a year , not $ 50,000 .
Under President Trump ’ s tightened borders and refashioned trade deals , American workers started to redress the imbalance between their work and their pay packets , a problem to which President Obama surrendered .
Democrats used to talk about these issues .
Now they ’ re dominated by woke corporations and virtue-signaling billionaires using Gilded Age employment practices beneath the progressive veneer they present for marketing purposes .
Uber @ @ @ @ @ @ @ aren ’ t really employees , and not entitled to standards like sick leave , or healthcare , yet pledges $ 1 million to “ social justice ” causes to “ support the black community and help fight racial injustice.
” During last summer ’ s George Floyd protests , Uber said it , “ stands in solidarity with the Black community during these difficult times.
” The same company fights legal battles to insist two plus two equals six and that Uber drivers aren ’ t worthy of basic employment standards .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Democratic Party .
Biden ’ s cabinet keenly celebrates its slew of “ firsts , ” that is , “ historic ” appointments of those born with particular melanin counts or genitalia .
For most Americans , such concerns are moot intellectual luxuries of American elites .
Kamala Harris might be “ For The People ” but those people live on Billionaire ’ s Row .
Joe Biden might be “ Lunch Bucket Joe , ” yet he won the richest counties in America .
Meanwhile , Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren look @ @ @ @

by Christopher Gage
Back in February, Barack Obama shared the same conclusion as any sober observer: The Democratic Party was no longer the party of Joe Biden, but of the progressive wing helmed by Senators Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.).
They had it all but sewn up until the Democratic establishment collapsed the field and slow-walked the unlikely Joe Biden to the nomination.
In typical fashion, progressive Democrats capitulated the moment opportunity dressed itself in overalls and looked like work, instead rolling over for a tickle of promises and concessions and Biden’s talk of an “FDR-sized” progressive administration.
The ceasefire lasted all of six months. Over the summer, the progressive wing strained major policy concessions through the establishment limestone via the Biden-Sanders Unity Task Force, crafting the most progressive platform since the party ran George McGovern in 1972.
Progressive Democrats earned a few substantial wins. U.S. Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s (D-N.Y.) Green New Deal moderated into the Biden Plan, and progressives won accommodations on their criminal justice, education, immigration, healthcare, and economic proposals.
Yet, the same brahmins who bilked Bernie Sanders in 2016 now revert to their default setting of warmed-over Wall Street-friendly policies and personnel of the sort sympathetic commentators celebrate for its bland surface appeal.
By “bland” they mean the return to the status quo President Trump temporarily upended—a coterie of Obama Administration veterans cryogenically frozen since 2017.
Hillary’s Stillborn Administration
Progressive Democrats have little to shout about, though some commentators varnish Biden’s cabinet appointments with apparent progressive approval.
Biden’s prospective cabinet is Hillary Clinton’s stillborn administration, a reanimation of Obama White House veterans and corporate Democrats. Antony Blinken heads to secretary of State. John Kerry, another Obama veteran, comes in as climate czar.
Biden tapped Janet Yellen, a Federal Reserve chair, as treasury secretary, and Cecilia Rouse to head the Council of Economic Advisers, with Jared Bernstein and Heather Boushey, liberal economists, expected to follow. Biden also named Adewale Adeyemo, an Obama Administration veteran, as deputy treasury secretary.
The legacy media lauds the cabinet’s drowsiness, its return to the “competence” of the “tried and trusted.” They celebrate Jake Sullivan’s nod to head national security, airbrushing Sullivan’s authorship of the Libyan disaster. They laud CIA spy chief Avril Haines’ seat at the head of intelligence, willfully ignorant of Haines’ history blurring CIA torture techniques and penchant for drone strikes.
The status quo strikes back. To progressive dismay, Neera Tanden is Biden’s pick to head the Office of Management and Budget. Tanden, a gleeful anti-Sanders critic, worked behind the scenes to sink his ascendant bid for the 2016 Democratic nomination.
During the primaries last year, Sanders sent a rollicking letter to the Center for American Progress which Tanden heads, accusing her of “maligning” his staff and supporters, “belittling” his cause. Prominent progressives like Matt Taibbi and David Sirota don’t think her appointment is coincidental, more a “slap in the face” for the vanquished progressive wing.
Despite Biden’s economic brains presenting a progressive hue, most return from an Obama era in which those they champion got little more than lip service. Under Obama, wages for ordinary Americans rose by just $11 a month. Under President Trump’s economic nationalism, the average worker saw an extra $161 every month, and for the first time in decades, wages at the bottom rose faster than those at the top.
President Trump might invite the ire of the “woke,” but he achieved more for the working- and middle-classes than Democrats would like to admit. The modern Democratic Party cares more for soundbites than substance. Kamala Harris is emblematic of this new party, a “progressive” whose very political existence owes itself to “Billionaire’s Row” the Bay Area neighborhood reputed to be the world’s wealthiest stretch of tarmac.
In Biden’s cabinet, there is little to detect in the way of the Democratic progressive wing. No Elizabeth Warren. No Bernie Sanders. No Sherrod Brown. No signs of an “FDR-sized presidency.”
This should not surprise. Joe Biden and Kamala Harris enjoyed immense support from America’s billionaire class. Kamala’s campaign attracted 47 billionaires in its first two months of existence. Two-thirds of Kamala’s donors came from California’s ritziest ZIP codes, home to tech titans and Hollywood moguls. One-third of Kamala’s cash came from finance giants, and another quarter from Silicon Valley.
In May 2019, San Francisco oil billionaires Gordon and Ann Getty held a fundraiser at their Billionaire’s Row mansion at $28,000 a head.
When Kamala flamed out, the billionaires migrated to Biden. By January this year, 66 of America’s richest elites backed Biden—10 times the rest of the Democratic field. The party for the little guy the Democrats are not.
Since the mid-2000s, blue-collar workers have migrated to the Republican Party, while the college-educated head toward the Democrats. President Trump won in 2016 with promises to address the modern malaise—the hollowing of the middle class.
Before the genesis of corporate capitalism in the 1980s, American workers could expect their wages to rise with productivity—an American notion if ever there was one—the harder one worked, the further one got.
If American wages today matched 1975 norms, the average American worker would make $92,000 a year, not $50,000.
Under President Trump’s tightened borders and refashioned trade deals, American workers started to redress the imbalance between their work and their pay packets, a problem to which President Obama surrendered.
Democrats used to talk about these issues. Now they’re dominated by woke corporations and virtue-signaling billionaires using Gilded Age employment practices beneath the progressive veneer they present for marketing purposes.
Uber’s linguistic gymnastics pretends its drivers aren’t really employees, and not entitled to standards like sick leave, or healthcare, yet pledges $1 million to “social justice” causes to “support the black community and help fight racial injustice.”
During last summer’s George Floyd protests, Uber said it, “stands in solidarity with the Black community during these difficult times.” The same company fights legal battles to insist two plus two equals six and that Uber drivers aren’t worthy of basic employment standards.
The same spiritual disconnect animates the modern Democratic Party. Biden’s cabinet keenly celebrates its slew of “firsts,” that is, “historic” appointments of those born with particular melanin counts or genitalia.
For most Americans, such concerns are moot intellectual luxuries of American elites.
Kamala Harris might be “For The People” but those people live on Billionaire’s Row. Joe Biden might be “Lunch Bucket Joe,” yet he won the richest counties in America.
Meanwhile, Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren look on, helpless.
– – –
Christopher Gage is a British political journalist.
Photo “Joe Biden” by Gage Skidmore. CC BY-SA 2.0.


thetennesseestar--2020-12-03--CDC to Shorten COVID-19 Quarantine Period from Two Weeks to 10 Days

The Centers for Disease Control is set to issue new guidelines shortening the advised quarantine for people exposed to COVID-19 , according to multiple administration officials .
The new guidelines call for those exposed to the virus to quarantine for 10 days , down from the original 14-day recommendation .
The officials added that people exposed can end their quarantine after one week if they test negative for the virus , according to Politico .
The updated guidelines were originally presented to the White House Coronavirus Task Force Tuesday afternoon , Politico reported .
Though they were supposed to be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not yet been .
The new guidelines reflect new data which shows the virus ’ s incubation period to be approximately five days , the Associated Press reported .
It follows a previous change in July , when the CDC shortened the window that someone should remain in isolation after experiencing symptoms from two weeks to 10 days , assuming the person was no longer sick .
The CDC did not immediately respond to the Daily Caller News Foundation ’ s request for comment .
The news also comes as the U.S. prepares @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Candidates from Pfizer , Moderna and AstraZeneca have all been at least 90 % effective in their clinical trials , and the first two have applied for emergency use authorization from the FDA .
The coronavirus has infected over 13.7 million Americans and killed over 270,000 , according to a Johns Hopkins University database .
Andrew Trusnky is a reporter for the Daily Caller News Foundation .

by Andrew Trunsky
The Centers for Disease Control is set to issue new guidelines shortening the advised quarantine for people exposed to COVID-19, according to multiple administration officials.
The new guidelines call for those exposed to the virus to quarantine for 10 days, down from the original 14-day recommendation. The officials added that people exposed can end their quarantine after one week if they test negative for the virus, according to Politico.
The updated guidelines were originally presented to the White House Coronavirus Task Force Tuesday afternoon, Politico reported. Though they were supposed to be officially announced Tuesday night, they have not yet been.
The new guidelines reflect new data which shows the virus’s incubation period to be approximately five days, the Associated Press reported.
The CDC plans to shorten its guidance for quarantining after COVID-19 exposure to 10 days, seven with a negative test, a senior administration official says. That’s down from the 14 days recommended since the onset of the pandemic. https://t.co/t4HgIeGb0M — The Associated Press (@AP) December 1, 2020
It follows a previous change in July, when the CDC shortened the window that someone should remain in isolation after experiencing symptoms from two weeks to 10 days, assuming the person was no longer sick.
The CDC did not immediately respond to the Daily Caller News Foundation’s request for comment.
The news also comes as the U.S. prepares to begin widespread distribution of coronavirus vaccines. Candidates from Pfizer, Moderna and AstraZeneca have all been at least 90% effective in their clinical trials, and the first two have applied for emergency use authorization from the FDA.
The coronavirus has infected over 13.7 million Americans and killed over 270,000, according to a Johns Hopkins University database.
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Andrew Trusnky is a reporter for the Daily Caller News Foundation.


thetennesseestar--2020-12-03--Swamp Alert: Host Michael Patrick Leahy and Crom Carmichael Connect the Dots to Georgia’s Unqualifie

Swamp Alert: Host Michael Patrick Leahy and Crom Carmichael Connect the Dots to Georgia’s Unqualified Political Hack, Gabriel Sterling

Live from Music Row Wednesday morning on The Tennessee Star Report with Michael Patrick Leahy – broadcast on Nashville ’ s Talk Radio 98.3 and 1510 WLAC weekdays from 5:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. – host Leahy welcomed the original all-star panelist Crom Carmichael to the studio .
During the second hour , Host Leahy and Crom Carmichael walk through the connections between the so-called IT specialist manager Gabriel Sterling of Georgia , his political aspirations , and ties to now Secretary of State Brad Raffensberger .
Leahy : I ’ m Michael Patrick Leahy with the original all-star panelists @ @ @ @ @ @ @ really fascinated by your review of the news and that you picked up on this Gabriel Sterling political hack .
Carmichael : Well during the break you were explaining why you call him a political hack and I thought that was very interesting very detailed and supports the definition .
So but now I ’ m the only one who knows not our listeners and well , I guess you ’ ve written about it .
So readers do .
Leahy : So here ’ s why I called Gabriel Sterling the guy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s because he wants to cover up and not have reported the incompetence of the secretary of states ’ office .
Carmichael : His failures and the failures of the secretary of state , so , please .
Leahy : So here ’ s his background .
The guy is not an IT professional .
Information Technology .
He has no experience implementing huge new information technology systems across the state .
His experience is as a political hack .
He was from 2005 to 2012 a lobbyist for the biggest political @ @ @ @ @ @ @ called Landmark Communications .
They are lobbyists .
He was a lobbyist for them from 2005 to 2012 .
And oh , by the way , one of their favorite clients who paid them a lot of money was a guy by the name of Brad Raffensbeger .
You know , he served in the legislature from 2000-2018 .
They managed all of his political campaigns .
2018 the run for secretary of state .
He wins .
Landmark Communications manages his campaign .
When Raffensberger becomes secretary of state he names as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ political hack , a Jordan somebody .
Okay .
So there ’ s that connection .
Then this guy Gabriel Sterling has political ambitions of his own in Fulton County , which is you know vast majority Democrat .
This guy then served on the city council of Sandy Springs , which is a little city in the northern part of Fulton County .
In 2017 he runs for the chairman of the Fulton County Commission .
That ’ s a pretty big job .
And he almost wins and he finishes in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ aspirations in Fulton County , that ’ s in Atlanta where all the press is .
So he then gets another lobbying job and when his pal Brad Raffensberger wins secretary of state he names this guy Chief of Staff .
Leahy : Raffensberger names Gabriel Sterling the loudmouth attacking the President before things the print had nothing to do with .
That guy and the one who oversaw this incompetent election and the implementation of the voter the new voter system .
So this guy is a political hack .
All he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ He ’ s the chief of staff for Brad Raffensberger .
When Raffensberger signs this controversial 107 million dollar deal to put Dominion software in all hundred 59 counties of Georgia , who does he pick to implement that system ?
He picks this political hack who has no experience in IT or the implementation of large systems , Gabriel Sterling to do that job .
And by all accounts .
It is a complete and utter failure from any project management stand .
Carmichael : Okay , so so now we can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and why the secretary of state is so defensive .
And why they ’ re not willing to look .
What ’ s interesting is this .
If some politician says there ’ s no evidence of systematic fraud .
What do you have to define ?
What are those words that you have to define ?
Carmichael : Systematic is the key one because systematic can mean anywhere from a 100 to a 100,000 or a million .
So in other words , if I get to define the word systematic then @ @ @ @ @ @ @ don ’ t want systematic fraud then I define systematic to be such a great amount of fraud that it never rises to the definition .
It may be fraud , but it ’ s not systematic fraud .
And systematic fraud is the standard .
And if it ’ s not systematic then we don ’ t investigate it .
Leahy : There you go .
Carmichael : So what I ’ m saying is is it what you have here is somebody who is trying to set the goal post in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ going to be held culpable or responsible .
And the only people who can quite frankly are not just the but the citizens .
and I say that because citizens can speak out .
At least they still can .
They can speak out .
Trump can speak out .
Other people on the media can speak out .
Your publishing organ in Georgia… Carmichael : Can speak out .
And it can show these people , I ’ m not saying that this guy is necessarily dishonest although I haven ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t seen Raffensberger ’ s bank records to see if he got a payoff for the hundred and seven million dollar contract .
Carmichael : So what I ’ m saying is that we can either say he ’ s incompetent .
We might be able to prove that he is dishonest but we don ’ t have the proof of dishonesty .
We do have the proof or evidence of the incompetency .
Leahy : Yeah .
And by the way , I had an article at Breitbart last night .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ now that provides evidence of that .
Carmichael : Was Landmark Communications by any chance the company that lobbied on behalf of Dominion ?
Leahy : I don ’ t know if it was Landmark , but the former Chief of Staff of Governor Brian Kemp who was the secretary of state before Raffensberger , his former Chief of Staff was the top lobbyist for Dominion .
Carmichael : Okay .
So it ’ s very very incestuous here .
And by the way , it would be perfectly ‘ legal ’ for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of dollars to lobby to get that contract .
Carmichael : How that money is spent then is much more difficult .
It goes through the laundry so to speak .
Carmichael : So there ’ s no way to track that down .
What you know is that it ’ s very swampish .
Listen to the second hour here : Tune in weekdays from 5:00 – 8:00 a.m. to the Tennessee Star Report with Michael Patrick Leahy on Talk Radio 98.3 FM WLAC 1510 .
Listen online at iHeart Radio .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ DXR .
CC BY-SA 4.0 .

Live from Music Row Wednesday morning on The Tennessee Star Report with Michael Patrick Leahy – broadcast on Nashville’s Talk Radio 98.3 and 1510 WLAC weekdays from 5:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. – host Leahy welcomed the original all-star panelist Crom Carmichael to the studio.
During the second hour, Host Leahy and Crom Carmichael walk through the connections between the so-called IT specialist manager Gabriel Sterling of Georgia, his political aspirations, and ties to now Secretary of State Brad Raffensberger.
Leahy: I’m Michael Patrick Leahy with the original all-star panelists Crom Carmichael. Crom, I was really fascinated by your review of the news and that you picked up on this Gabriel Sterling political hack.
Carmichael: Well during the break you were explaining why you call him a political hack and I thought that was very interesting very detailed and supports the definition. So but now I’m the only one who knows not our listeners and well, I guess you’ve written about it. So readers do.
Leahy: So here’s why I called Gabriel Sterling the guy who is engaged in misdirection and it’s because he wants to cover up and not have reported the incompetence of the secretary of states’ office.
Carmichael: His failures and the failures of the secretary of state, so, please.
Leahy: Which are glaring.
Carmichael: Go ahead.
Leahy: So here’s his background. The guy is not an IT professional. Information Technology. He has no experience implementing huge new information technology systems across the state. His experience is as a political hack. He was from 2005 to 2012 a lobbyist for the biggest political influence company in Georgia. A group called Landmark Communications. They are lobbyists. He was a lobbyist for them from 2005 to 2012.
And oh, by the way, one of their favorite clients who paid them a lot of money was a guy by the name of Brad Raffensbeger. You know, he served in the legislature from 2000-2018. They managed all of his political campaigns. 2018 the run for secretary of state. He wins. Landmark Communications manages his campaign. When Raffensberger becomes secretary of state he names as the vice president of Landmark Communications a political hack, a Jordan somebody. Okay. So there’s that connection.
Then this guy Gabriel Sterling has political ambitions of his own in Fulton County, which is you know vast majority Democrat. This guy then served on the city council of Sandy Springs, which is a little city in the northern part of Fulton County. In 2017 he runs for the chairman of the Fulton County Commission. That’s a pretty big job. And he almost wins and he finishes in second place. So he had political aspirations in Fulton County, that’s in Atlanta where all the press is. So he then gets another lobbying job and when his pal Brad Raffensberger wins secretary of state he names this guy Chief of Staff.
Carmichael: Raffensberger?
Leahy: Raffensberger names Gabriel Sterling the loudmouth attacking the President before things the print had nothing to do with. That guy and the one who oversaw this incompetent election and the implementation of the voter the new voter system. So this guy is a political hack. All he does is press releases and lobbying. He’s the chief of staff for Brad Raffensberger.
When Raffensberger signs this controversial 107 million dollar deal to put Dominion software in all hundred 59 counties of Georgia, who does he pick to implement that system? He picks this political hack who has no experience in IT or the implementation of large systems, Gabriel Sterling to do that job. And by all accounts. It is a complete and utter failure from any project management stand.
Carmichael: Okay, so so now we can see why Gabriel Sterling is so defensive and why the secretary of state is so defensive. And why they’re not willing to look. What’s interesting is this. If some politician says there’s no evidence of systematic fraud. What do you have to define? What are those words that you have to define?
Leahy: Evidence? Systematic?
Carmichael: Systematic is the key one because systematic can mean anywhere from a 100 to a 100,000 or a million. So in other words, if I get to define the word systematic then there will never be and if I don’t want systematic fraud then I define systematic to be such a great amount of fraud that it never rises to the definition. It may be fraud, but it’s not systematic fraud. And systematic fraud is the standard. And if it’s not systematic then we don’t investigate it.
Leahy: There you go.
Carmichael: So what I’m saying is is it what you have here is somebody who is trying to set the goal post in a place where they’re not going to be held culpable or responsible. And the only people who can quite frankly are not just the but the citizens. and I say that because citizens can speak out. At least they still can. They can speak out. Trump can speak out. Other people on the media can speak out. Your publishing organ in Georgia…
Leahy: The Georgia Star News.
Carmichael: Can speak out. And it can show these people, I’m not saying that this guy is necessarily dishonest although I haven’t seen his bank records. I haven’t seen Raffensberger’s bank records to see if he got a payoff for the hundred and seven million dollar contract.
Leahy: That Texas rejected for security reasons.
Carmichael: So what I’m saying is that we can either say he’s incompetent. We might be able to prove that he is dishonest but we don’t have the proof of dishonesty. We do have the proof or evidence of the incompetency.
Leahy: Yeah. And by the way, I had an article at Breitbart last night. It’s on the homepage right now that provides evidence of that.
Carmichael: Was Landmark Communications by any chance the company that lobbied on behalf of Dominion?
Leahy: I don’t know if it was Landmark, but the former Chief of Staff of Governor Brian Kemp who was the secretary of state before Raffensberger, his former Chief of Staff was the top lobbyist for Dominion.
Carmichael: Okay. So it’s very very incestuous here. And by the way, it would be perfectly ‘legal’ for Dominion to pay a lobbying firm millions of dollars to lobby to get that contract.
Leahy: Sure.
Carmichael: How that money is spent then is much more difficult. It goes through the laundry so to speak.
Leahy: So to speak.
Carmichael: So there’s no way to track that down. What you know is that it’s very swampish.
Leahy: Very swampish.
Listen to the second hour here:
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Tune in weekdays from 5:00 – 8:00 a.m. to the Tennessee Star Report with Michael Patrick Leahy on Talk Radio 98.3 FM WLAC 1510. Listen online at iHeart Radio.
Background Photo “Georgia Capitol” by DXR. CC BY-SA 4.0.