bonginoreport--2020-12-03--Congress Teams Up Against Trump on Section 230 Repeal

Lawmakers in both parties are set to defy President Trump ’ s threat to veto a key defense policy bill over military base names and social media liability protection .
Trump tweeted on Monday that he ’ ll veto the 2021 Defense Authorization Act , which sets annual spending levels and policy for the military , unless it includes a new provision to strip a federal liability shield from social media companies , which he believes have worked to silence him and other conservative voices on Twitter , Facebook , and other platforms .
Trump also wants to rid the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ former presidential campaign opponent Sen. Elizabeth Warren calling for the renaming of U.S. military bases that are currently named after Confederate military officers .
But House and Senate lawmakers said that despite Trump ’ s looming opposition , they aren ’ t interested in a partisan battle over the must-pass measure , and the defense bill appears poised to pass , likely this month .
The National Defense Authorization Act is among a trio of priority legislation that includes fiscal 2021 spending and a critical coronavirus aid package lawmakers are rushing to negotiate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Inhofe , an Oklahoma Republican and the chairman of the Armed Services Committee , said the National Defense Authorization Act is poised to pass this month with at least two-thirds support from the Senate , which would provide a veto-proof majority .
“ This is going to pass , ” Inhofe told reporters on Wednesday .
Speaker Nancy Pelosi , a California Democrat , is also ready to bring the defense bill up for a vote in the House , a senior Democratic aide told the Washington Examiner .
While the timing of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Leader Steny Hoyer said he is aiming to complete House business for the year by Dec. 11 .
Trump has threatened to veto the defense bill over the base name change provision .
In July , Trump tweeted that Inhofe assured him the Warren provision would not be included in the bill .
“ Like me , Jim is not a believer in ‘ Cancel Culture , ’ ” Trump tweeted on July 24 .
But Inhofe confirmed on Wednesday that the Warren provision remains in the bill to ensure Democratic support .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ s criticism of the social media liability shield , known as Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act .
But Inhofe said it should remain out of the defense bill because adding it will prompt House Democrats to refuse to draft a critical compromise bill between the House and Senate versions .
“ I feel just as passionate about that as he does , ” Inhofe told reporters .
“ The only difference of opinion that we have is , I do n't want it on this bill … because the Democrats will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ compromise .
Section 230 provides websites and social media sites broad protection from lawsuits while also allowing them to remove or moderate content .
Trump and other Republicans have grown increasingly critical of Section 230 in the wake of incidents involving the removal or editing of content posted by conservatives and the president .
The Senate Judiciary Committee , run by Republicans , summoned the CEOs of Facebook and Twitter prior to the election to explain why they blocked a New York Post story about an alleged trove of Hunter Biden emails that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ its relationship to Joe Biden .
Republicans accused the social media companies of utilizing their platforms to hurt Trump and help Biden .
“ There is growing bipartisan concern with Big Tech and their abuse of power , and Section 230 is in serious need of reform , ” said Sen. Ted Cruz , a Texas Republican .
Republicans said on Wednesday that while they agree the shield law needs to be revised , the work should happen in the Senate Commerce Committee , not the Armed Services Committee .
They are also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , which authorizes spending levels and is critical for military planning .
“ That ’ s probably a more appropriate place to do it , ” Sen. Ron Johnson , a Wisconsin Republican , told the Washington Examiner .
“ Our military deserve to have authorization.
” The Warren provision has already garnered bipartisan support .
In a media call with reporters on Wednesday , Hoyer , a Maryland Democrat , said he would be “ reluctant to put the bill on the floor ” without it .
He called Trump ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ racist position to take , an extraordinarily unfortunate position for the president 's take.
” But some polls show Trump sides with a majority of the public .
An ABC News-Ipsos poll taken in June found 56 % opposed changing Confederate-named military bases , compared to 42 % who backed making the changes .
Among those surveyed , 67 % of black people and 54 % of Hispanics supported renaming those bases .

Lawmakers in both parties are set to defy President Trump’s threat to veto a key defense policy bill over military base names and social media liability protection.
Trump tweeted on Monday that he’ll veto the 2021 Defense Authorization Act, which sets annual spending levels and policy for the military, unless it includes a new provision to strip a federal liability shield from social media companies, which he believes have worked to silence him and other conservative voices on Twitter, Facebook, and other platforms.
Trump also wants to rid the defense bill of a provision authored by former presidential campaign opponent Sen. Elizabeth Warren calling for the renaming of U.S. military bases that are currently named after Confederate military officers.
But House and Senate lawmakers said that despite Trump’s looming opposition, they aren’t interested in a partisan battle over the must-pass measure, and the defense bill appears poised to pass, likely this month.
The National Defense Authorization Act is among a trio of priority legislation that includes fiscal 2021 spending and a critical coronavirus aid package lawmakers are rushing to negotiate by year's end.
Sen. James Inhofe, an Oklahoma Republican and the chairman of the Armed Services Committee, said the National Defense Authorization Act is poised to pass this month with at least two-thirds support from the Senate, which would provide a veto-proof majority.
“This is going to pass,” Inhofe told reporters on Wednesday.
Speaker Nancy Pelosi, a California Democrat, is also ready to bring the defense bill up for a vote in the House, a senior Democratic aide told the Washington Examiner. While the timing of the vote is not set, Majority Leader Steny Hoyer said he is aiming to complete House business for the year by Dec. 11.
Trump has threatened to veto the defense bill over the base name change provision.
In July, Trump tweeted that Inhofe assured him the Warren provision would not be included in the bill.
“Like me, Jim is not a believer in ‘Cancel Culture,’” Trump tweeted on July 24.
But Inhofe confirmed on Wednesday that the Warren provision remains in the bill to ensure Democratic support.
Inhofe said he agrees with Trump’s criticism of the social media liability shield, known as Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act. But Inhofe said it should remain out of the defense bill because adding it will prompt House Democrats to refuse to draft a critical compromise bill between the House and Senate versions.
“I feel just as passionate about that as he does,” Inhofe told reporters. “The only difference of opinion that we have is, I don't want it on this bill … because the Democrats will not appoint conferees” to draft a compromise.
Section 230 provides websites and social media sites broad protection from lawsuits while also allowing them to remove or moderate content.
Trump and other Republicans have grown increasingly critical of Section 230 in the wake of incidents involving the removal or editing of content posted by conservatives and the president.
The Senate Judiciary Committee, run by Republicans, summoned the CEOs of Facebook and Twitter prior to the election to explain why they blocked a New York Post story about an alleged trove of Hunter Biden emails that suggested the family corruptly cashes in on its relationship to Joe Biden.
Republicans accused the social media companies of utilizing their platforms to hurt Trump and help Biden.
“There is growing bipartisan concern with Big Tech and their abuse of power, and Section 230 is in serious need of reform,” said Sen. Ted Cruz, a Texas Republican.
Republicans said on Wednesday that while they agree the shield law needs to be revised, the work should happen in the Senate Commerce Committee, not the Armed Services Committee.
They are also opposed to delaying passage of the bill, which authorizes spending levels and is critical for military planning.
“That’s probably a more appropriate place to do it,” Sen. Ron Johnson, a Wisconsin Republican, told the Washington Examiner. “Our military deserve to have authorization.”
The Warren provision has already garnered bipartisan support.
In a media call with reporters on Wednesday, Hoyer, a Maryland Democrat, said he would be “reluctant to put the bill on the floor” without it.
He called Trump’s reluctance to rename the bases “a racist position to take, an extraordinarily unfortunate position for the president's take.”
But some polls show Trump sides with a majority of the public.
An ABC News-Ipsos poll taken in June found 56% opposed changing Confederate-named military bases, compared to 42% who backed making the changes.
Among those surveyed, 67% of black people and 54% of Hispanics supported renaming those bases.


bonginoreport--2020-12-03--Bob Barr: Education Officials Should Be Held Accountable, Not Adored

There never was evidence or scientific data that in-person schooling presented an elevated virus threat for students , faculty , or staff warranting schools ’ prolonged closure – no evidence whatsoever .
In fact , it was clear even before the traditional school year ’ s start that children and young adults were far less likely to be infected with COVID or to be severely impacted if they became infected .
So , was the response by teachers ’ unions and bureaucratic school administrators to reopen but with common-sense health and safety measures in place , so students were not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and all the other benefits in-school learning provides ?
Of course not .
Their response was to put on blinders , ignore common sense and hard evidence , and remain ... closed .
There does now seem to be a glimmer of hope that this close-mindedness is softening slightly .
The New York City public school system , for example , plans to open soon for in-person classes , at least for elementary students .
The timing of this about-face , and whether it actually will remain in-place , are questions still on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to demand to know why it took the teachers and school administrators so long to admit what everyone else knew months ago .
Even more important , parents should demand accountability , including firing teachers and bureaucrats for the waste of money caused by their bad decisions , and for the damage inflicted on the students as a result .
Waiting for any apology by those self-serving public officials would be a waste of time .
As with other fear-driven public policy decisions made in response to the pandemic , refusals to open @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than partisan footballs to be kicked around by the National Education Association and its state affiliates , hoping President Trump and Republican governors who wanted to open schools sooner rather than later would look foolish .
Students , not politicians , of course , have been the real victims in this debacle , as partisan politics overrode their interests and those of their parents , many of whom struggled to keep their jobs while overseeing children forced to stay at home “ learning ” in front of a computer screen .
The problems @ @ @ @ @ @ @ trivial .
It is estimated that delayed school openings this year will cost the average student seven months of learning ; even more for black students and those from lower socioeconomic backgrounds .
For all the pre-COVID talk about how increased school funding is needed to close the “ educational gap ” between students from poor and wealthy backgrounds , the decision to keep schools closed will cause lasting , if not permanent , damage to students who already are the most disadvantaged .
This problem has been well-known in academic circles , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ignored by Democrat school administrators and unionized teachers because it does not fit their partisan agenda .
Now , when outrage from parents can no longer be easily ignored and scientific evidence has become so obvious it , too , can not be ignored , some Democrats are grudgingly moving to reopen schools – a decision they should have made months ago , yet for which they expect to be lauded by parents and the public at large for finally doing something right .
Of course , the mainstream media rushes to provide @ @ @ @ @ @ @ York Gov .
Cuomo with an Emmy for his objectively bad – if not criminally negligent -- handling of the pandemic when it hit the Empire State earlier this year .
Fawning praise , however , will only encourage these Johnny-come-latelies to continue making decisions based not on hard evidence , common sense , and the best interests of their constituents , but on partisan political calculations masquerading as “ public policy.
” It will be interesting to see whether these public school administrators and teachers will assent to receive a COVID vaccine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the end of this month ) , or will refuse because , after all , the vaccines have been developed in record time thanks to the Trump Administration ’ s project “ Warp Speed.
” Sad it will be , however , if these public “ servants , ” both hired and elected , cause further harm to their fellow citizens by impeding their ability to receive the vaccine .
Bob Barr represented Georgia ’ s 7th District in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1995 to 2003 and was the U.S. Attorney @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1986 to 1990 .
He served as an official with the CIA during the 1970s .

There never was evidence or scientific data that in-person schooling presented an elevated virus threat for students, faculty, or staff warranting schools’ prolonged closure – no evidence whatsoever. In fact, it was clear even before the traditional school year’s start that children and young adults were far less likely to be infected with COVID or to be severely impacted if they became infected.
So, was the response by teachers’ unions and bureaucratic school administrators to reopen but with common-sense health and safety measures in place, so students were not kept away from teachers, classmates, and all the other benefits in-school learning provides? Of course not. Their response was to put on blinders, ignore common sense and hard evidence, and remain...closed.
There does now seem to be a glimmer of hope that this close-mindedness is softening slightly. The New York City public school system, for example, plans to open soon for in-person classes, at least for elementary students. The timing of this about-face, and whether it actually will remain in-place, are questions still on the table, and parents should continue to demand to know why it took the teachers and school administrators so long to admit what everyone else knew months ago. Even more important, parents should demand accountability, including firing teachers and bureaucrats for the waste of money caused by their bad decisions, and for the damage inflicted on the students as a result.
Waiting for any apology by those self-serving public officials would be a waste of time. As with other fear-driven public policy decisions made in response to the pandemic, refusals to open schools for in-person teaching were nothing more than partisan footballs to be kicked around by the National Education Association and its state affiliates, hoping President Trump and Republican governors who wanted to open schools sooner rather than later would look foolish.
Students, not politicians, of course, have been the real victims in this debacle, as partisan politics overrode their interests and those of their parents, many of whom struggled to keep their jobs while overseeing children forced to stay at home “learning” in front of a computer screen.
The problems resulting from this partisan short-sightedness are not trivial. It is estimated that delayed school openings this year will cost the average student seven months of learning; even more for black students and those from lower socioeconomic backgrounds. For all the pre-COVID talk about how increased school funding is needed to close the “educational gap” between students from poor and wealthy backgrounds, the decision to keep schools closed will cause lasting, if not permanent, damage to students who already are the most disadvantaged. This problem has been well-known in academic circles, but in the current context is simply ignored by Democrat school administrators and unionized teachers because it does not fit their partisan agenda.
Now, when outrage from parents can no longer be easily ignored and scientific evidence has become so obvious it, too, cannot be ignored, some Democrats are grudgingly moving to reopen schools – a decision they should have made months ago, yet for which they expect to be lauded by parents and the public at large for finally doing something right. Of course, the mainstream media rushes to provide that adoration, as in blessing New York Gov. Cuomo with an Emmy for his objectively bad – if not criminally negligent -- handling of the pandemic when it hit the Empire State earlier this year.
Fawning praise, however, will only encourage these Johnny-come-latelies to continue making decisions based not on hard evidence, common sense, and the best interests of their constituents, but on partisan political calculations masquerading as “public policy.”
It will be interesting to see whether these public school administrators and teachers will assent to receive a COVID vaccine when it becomes available (probably before the end of this month), or will refuse because, after all, the vaccines have been developed in record time thanks to the Trump Administration’s project “Warp Speed.” Sad it will be, however, if these public “servants,” both hired and elected, cause further harm to their fellow citizens by impeding their ability to receive the vaccine.
Bob Barr represented Georgia’s 7th District in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1995 to 2003 and was the U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Georgia from 1986 to 1990. He served as an official with the CIA during the 1970s.


bonginoreport--2020-12-03--LA Mayor: Cancel Everything

LA Mayor: Cancel Everything

Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti told Los Angelinos in a public address on Wednesday night that `` …it 's time to cancel everything '' as coronavirus cases continue to climb in the county .
`` Our hospitalizations have more than tripled and are at a new peak .
And , our deaths have nearly doubled , and they continue to rise , '' Garcetti said .
`` These numbers do n't reflect last week 's record breaking numbers , they do n't reflect yet the 'Thanksgiving effect ' of time spent with families , when many people were gathering and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''
The order also states that , with some exceptions such as buying food , obtaining medical care and going to other essential businesses like automobile service `` …all businesses within the City of Los Angeles are ordered to cease operations that require in-person attendance by workers at a workplace . ''
Businesses like Hollywood film production are allowed to remain in operation .
Many of the city 's recreational activities remain open , such as beaches , parks and public golf courses .
The new order also says that travel whether @ @ @ @ @ @ @ motorcycle , car or public transit is prohibited , with exceptions for specific activities .
Garcetti pleaded with his city 's residents to `` just stay home '' and to follow the stay-at-home order that took effect on Monday .
`` My message could n't be simpler : It 's time to hunker down… and if it is n't essential , do n't do it , '' Garcetti said .
`` Do n't meet up with others outside your household , do n't host a gathering , do n't attend a gathering .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ if you 're able to stay home , stay home . ''
The mayor 's strongly worded remarks come as California governor Gavin Newsom warns that the state is on the brink of a wider stay-at-home order .
This after the governor was caught dining with guests including California Health officials indoors without mask at the French Laundry restaurant .
San Francisco Mayor Landon Breed dined at the same restaurant in a group the day after Newsom .
On Tuesday , Los Angeles County health officials confirmed 7,593 new infections .
The daily @ @ @ @ @ @ @ percent , up from 7 percent just over one week ago .
County Health Director Barbara Ferrer reported 5987 new cases on Wednesday , bringing the cumulative total to 414,185 .
There are 2,439 people hospitalized with Covid-19 .
Christina Ghaly , the Los Angles Director of Health and Human Services said that while the local hospital system still has 963 beds available , the number of ICU beds has dwindled to 122 .
However , staffing , not beds , is the crucial issue in the ICU .
More specially-trained nurses and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Given the current numbers and current `` tight '' staffing , Ghaly said the county 's models show that , `` We will have a shortage of ICU beds over the next 2-4 weeks . ''
Forty new coronavirus-related deaths were recorded in the county on Wednesday for a total of 7,740 to date .
Los Angeles recovery rates from the virus remain between 97 percent and 99.75 percent based on age demographics and pre-existing conditions .
Garcetti also announced that out of work restaurant employees would be able to receive a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mayor 's Fund .
Meanwhile , a Los Angeles Superior Court ruling Wednesday said that the LA County health department must present the evidence it used to ban outdoor dining .
Pasadena is continuing outdoor dining , and Beverly Hills is opposing the ban .
According to the Mayor , violating the order is a misdemeanor , subject to fines and imprisonment .
He is asking the Los Angeles Police Department and City Attorney 's Office to enforce it .
The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power can also shut off utility @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on it any agencies intent to enforce the orders .

Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti told Los Angelinos in a public address on Wednesday night that "…it's time to cancel everything" as coronavirus cases continue to climb in the county.
Garcetti tweeted "The new year brings hope—for vaccines and for stopping this pandemic. But here's the truth: we're in for a long, hard winter. As the worst hits up, stay home as much as you can. Cancel any non-essential activities. Hunker down, LA. We'll get through this together."
"Our hospitalizations have more than tripled and are at a new peak. And, our deaths have nearly doubled, and they continue to rise," Garcetti said.
"These numbers don't reflect last week's record breaking numbers, they don't reflect yet the 'Thanksgiving effect' of time spent with families, when many people were gathering and traveling in defiance of public health warnings."
The order also states that, with some exceptions such as buying food, obtaining medical care and going to other essential businesses like automobile service "…all businesses within the City of Los Angeles are ordered to cease operations that require in-person attendance by workers at a workplace."
Businesses like Hollywood film production are allowed to remain in operation. Many of the city's recreational activities remain open, such as beaches, parks and public golf courses.
The new order also says that travel whether by foot, bicycle, scooter, motorcycle, car or public transit is prohibited, with exceptions for specific activities.
Garcetti pleaded with his city's residents to "just stay home" and to follow the stay-at-home order that took effect on Monday. "My message couldn't be simpler: It's time to hunker down… and if it isn't essential, don't do it," Garcetti said. "Don't meet up with others outside your household, don't host a gathering, don't attend a gathering. And following our targeted safer-at-home order, if you're able to stay home, stay home."
The mayor's strongly worded remarks come as California governor Gavin Newsom warns that the state is on the brink of a wider stay-at-home order. This after the governor was caught dining with guests including California Health officials indoors without mask at the French Laundry restaurant. San Francisco Mayor Landon Breed dined at the same restaurant in a group the day after Newsom.
On Tuesday, Los Angeles County health officials confirmed 7,593 new infections. The daily test positivity rate on Wednesday was 12 percent, up from 7 percent just over one week ago. County Health Director Barbara Ferrer reported 5987 new cases on Wednesday, bringing the cumulative total to 414,185. There are 2,439 people hospitalized with Covid-19.
Christina Ghaly, the Los Angles Director of Health and Human Services said that while the local hospital system still has 963 beds available, the number of ICU beds has dwindled to 122. However, staffing, not beds, is the crucial issue in the ICU. More specially-trained nurses and doctors are not easy to come by.
Given the current numbers and current "tight" staffing, Ghaly said the county's models show that, "We will have a shortage of ICU beds over the next 2-4 weeks." Forty new coronavirus-related deaths were recorded in the county on Wednesday for a total of 7,740 to date. Los Angeles recovery rates from the virus remain between 97 percent and 99.75 percent based on age demographics and pre-existing conditions.
Garcetti also announced that out of work restaurant employees would be able to receive a one time $800 payment from the Mayor's Fund. Meanwhile, a Los Angeles Superior Court ruling Wednesday said that the LA County health department must present the evidence it used to ban outdoor dining. Pasadena is continuing outdoor dining, and Beverly Hills is opposing the ban.
According to the Mayor, violating the order is a misdemeanor, subject to fines and imprisonment. He is asking the Los Angeles Police Department and City Attorney's Office to enforce it. The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power can also shut off utility service for violations. No word yet on it any agencies intent to enforce the orders.


bonginoreport--2020-12-03--Rich Lowry: Joe Biden Looks Bent on Restoring Chaos at the Border

Proving once again that the left irrationally hates everything President ...

One of Joe Biden’s first priorities as president will be to risk stoking a new migrant crisis. After much trial and error, President Trump came up with arrangements with Mexico and Central American countries that drastically diminished the pressure from asylum-seekers on our southern border.
Biden has pledged to overturn these policies, as well as undermine enforcement and boost immigration numbers generally. The lie about Biden is that he is a “moderate,” when the truth is that he has always been smack in the middle of his party, which now bristles with contempt for borders and the agents who police them. Its attitude will color everything Biden does.
The migrant crisis that had Trump adopt, then quickly abandon, a zero-tolerance policy that separated children from their parents wasn’t of his making. President Barack Obama struggled with the same surge at the border, and many of the photos of children in cages used to condemn Trump date from the Obama years.
Trump only got a handle on the border when he secured deals for help. Mexico agreed to allow migrants seeking asylum in this country to remain in Mexico while their claims were adjudicated. Guatemala, El Salvador and Honduras, meanwhile, signed safe-third-country agreements, meaning migrants seeking asylum could be sent to those counties to pursue their claims rather than doing so in the United States.
All of this was necessary to try to close a de facto open border for migrants from Central America. Once they showed up and claimed asylum here, they were waved into the country and rarely, if ever, removed, even if their asylum claims ultimately failed (as the vast majority did).
Biden has said he wants to rip up these agreements. This will create a strong incentive for more migrants to come to the border, at a time when apprehensions of unaccompanied minors have increased to roughly a 1,000 in a six-day period in November, up from about 750 for all of April.
During the pandemic, Trump has relied on an emergency public-health authority to turn migrants around at the border. Biden hasn’t said whether he will repeal this fail-safe, but he will come under intense pressure to scrap it.
Biden will move on all fronts to loosen immigration controls. He has promised a 100-day moratorium on deportations, a measure that would keep us from removing illegal immigrants even when they are released from jails after committing crimes. This is presumably a step toward restoring Team Obama’s policy of gutting interior enforcement.
He will restore DACA, the de facto amnesty for illegal migrants who came here as minors that Obama lawlessly imposed by diktat.
Biden will propose to Congress a broader amnesty for more than 10 million illegal migrants. If the Senate balks, as is likely, Biden will be tempted to follow Obama’s (and Trump’s) example and implement as much as possible through his own authority.
He will boost the number of refugees to more than 100,000 a year, the highest level in 30 years.
Trump’s signature failure on immigration was missing the opportunity to pass significant legislation reflecting his priorities through Congress when Republicans controlled both chambers. But as Steven Camarota of the restrictionist Center for Immigration Studies notes, the net growth of the immigration population still declined markedly.
Despite all of Trump’s incendiary rhetoric on this issue, the upshot up of his approach was entirely reasonable — levels of immigration shouldn’t inexorably increase, and immigration policy should be subject to a rigorous test of national interest.
Biden represents a return to the old status-quo assumption that more immigration is, ipso facto, a good thing, at the same time he leads a party that is more zealous on the issue than ever before.
Democrats aren’t much interested in immigration controls, and it’s entirely possible that, soon enough at the border, it will again be uncontrolled.
Twitter: @RichLowry


bonginoreport--2020-12-03--Bill Allowing Big Tech to Outsource More U.S. Jobs Passes Senate

Every Republican and Democratic senator has let Sen. Mike Lee ( R-UT ) pass a bill through the Senate that will supercharge the outsourcing of the white-collar jobs needed by America ’ s professional class and its college-educated children .
Donald Trump won the presidency in 2016 while promising to curb immigration and the huge H-1B program , said Kevin Lynn , founder of U.S. Tech Workers , a group that opposes the visa worker programs .
He can veto the bill , or he can sign this bill when it is buried in the huge coronavirus bailout bill , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this is what Trump wants to be his legacy , well , good luck with that.
” “ They ’ re going to turn millions of white-collar people into blue-collar people , ” said Jay Palmer , a civil-rights activist working against human trafficking and the corporate displacement of Americans .
The bill hits “ doctors , accounting , insurance people , teachers , graphics designers , pharmacists … [ denies ] college students from ever having an opportunity to get meaningful jobs , it floods the market , draws down wages , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” he said .
“ Ninety percent of the Senators do to know what this bill means , ” he added .
Lee ’ s S.386 bill helps the Fortune 500 and Silicon Valley firms to annually trade green cards to 140,000 mid-skilled foreign workers in exchange for taking the starter jobs and routine jobs needed by U.S. graduates of all ages — especially as the country emerges from the coronavirus crash .
The bill is carefully designed to help the Fortune 500 companies reward their imported workforce of roughly 400,000 Indian @ @ @ @ @ @ @ green cards they expected in exchange for taking jobs from Americans years ago .
Under current rules , U.S. companies can only provide about 70,000 green cards to foreign workers per year , with a maximum of about 11,000 for Indian workers .
But the Lee bill would bump that number up to a maximum of 140,000 cards , including perhaps 100,000 cards for Indians per year .
More importantly , the tenfold increase in green cards for Indians will allow U.S. companies to recruit and import many more lower-wage graduates from India @ @ @ @ @ @ @ OPT ) work permit program .
At least 500,000 additional lower-wage foreign graduates — mostly Indians — have taken mainstream while-collar jobs to help them compete for slots in employer-run H-1B program .
Once in the H-1B program , the lower-wage workers compete to get sponsored green cards and then continue working for additional years until they finally get their green cards , and soon after , their citizenship .
This hidden population of foreigners who are working for green cards is the “ Green Card Workforce ” that is used to undermine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Lee ’ s bill will dramatically increase that Fortune 500 , lower-wage , no-rights , university graduate , sweatshop workforce .
India ’ s government has pushed for the Lee legislation , partly because its economic strategy relies on deal-making with U.S. investors and CEOs to put millions of Indian graduates in white-collar jobs throughout the United States .
In turn , U.S. companies get easier access to India ’ s growing marketplace .
The bill also cements the tech sector ’ s control over technology because it allows CEOs to corral the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and promotion of the U.S. graduates who may later quit to develop rival products .
“ There ’ s collusion within these big tech companies to preserve their monopoly status , ” said Lynn .
“ The best way to do that is to block the sneakernet , you know , one person going from one company to another taking what ’ s between their ears with them.
” That labor policy has already damaged the nation ’ s technology leadership , insiders tell Breitbart News , partly because the foreign workers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ enforce professional standards whenever executives demand more cost-cutting , for example , in the design of passenger aircraft , government software , computer chips , or wireless technology .
Lee used a little-known “ Unanimous Consent ” process to pass the bill , without any hearings or floor debate .
The process is normally used to pass minor uncontroversial bills , and it allows a senator to pass a bill if no other senators stand to object .
During 2020 , Lee ’ s tactic was blocked by single objections from Sen. David @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Paul ( R-KY ) , and Sen. Rick Scott ( R-FL ) .
Each time , Lee negotiated a deal with the objecting senator and returned with another Unanimous Consent motion .
The Senate is akin to a club where the senators quietly offer each other informal favors to get reelected or pass legislation .
That quiet cooperation ensures that Lee could not have passed his outsourcing bill without quiet approval from GOP Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and many GOP senators .
More obviously , if even one Democrat and Republican senator had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have failed .
For example , shortly before Lee spoke on the Senate floor , Sen. Sherrod Brown ( D-OH ) was on the floor denouncing the Trump administration for not protecting the workplace safety of blue-collar meatpackers .
Brown could have blocked Lee ’ s damaging bill but declined to do so .
Activists hoped that Sen. Kelly Loeffler ( R-GA ) or Perdue would block the bill , but both were campaigning in Georgia .
Sen. Josh Hawley ( R-MO ) also declined to block the bill .
McConnell did not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it threatens the GOP ’ s weakening position in states such as Georgia , Texas , and North Carolina where the visa worker programs have imported many Indian , Chinese , and other foreign workers .
The inflow of visa workers has already helped the GOP lose control of Virginia and New Jersey .
Minority Leader Chuck Schumer also allowed the bill to pass even though it will deeply damage the income and professional status of the Democrats ’ core group of college graduate progressives .
Lee ’ s bill may yet be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can also be copied by House Democrats into the pending coronavirus spending bill .
In turn , GOP senators could pretend to oppose its inclusion in the spending bill — but then sent it to the White House for Trump ’ s signature .
Trump may promise to veto the bill — but he too is being pressured by business groups while he considers whether or not to run for the White House in 2024 .
The massive white-collar replacement bill has been quietly marketed by investors and corporations for many years as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in immigration law .
In 2019 , the business groups , for example , slipped it through the House as H.R .
1044 , as the “ Fairness for High-Skilled Immigrants Act.
” This stealth strategy has muffled Hill opposition , partly because it minimizes publicity from white-collar journalists at the pro-diversity New York Times , Jeff Bezos ’ Washington Post , or the corporate ABC , NBC , and CBS TV networks .
The stealth strategy was adopted after the public rejected the high-profile Gang of Eight amnesty in 2013 and 2014 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2014 election .
The stealth strategy is also aided by the investor-funded push to protect the DACA migrants and is also being used to put migrants into skilled blue-collar jobs .
Lee ’ s bill bars the award of green cards to Chinese workers .
That section will give GOP senators something to tout if the legislation is included in a coronavirus bill — even though it will likely later be stripped out by the Supreme Court .
Breitbart News has extensively covered the campaign to pass Lee ’ s S.386 giveaway .

Every Republican and Democratic senator has let Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) pass a bill through the Senate that will supercharge the outsourcing of the white-collar jobs needed by America’s professional class and its college-educated children.
Donald Trump won the presidency in 2016 while promising to curb immigration and the huge H-1B program, said Kevin Lynn, founder of U.S. Tech Workers, a group that opposes the visa worker programs. He can veto the bill, or he can sign this bill when it is buried in the huge coronavirus bailout bill, Lynn said, adding, “If this is what Trump wants to be his legacy, well, good luck with that.”
“They’re going to turn millions of white-collar people into blue-collar people,” said Jay Palmer, a civil-rights activist working against human trafficking and the corporate displacement of Americans.
The bill hits “doctors, accounting, insurance people, teachers, graphics designers, pharmacists … [denies] college students from ever having an opportunity to get meaningful jobs, it floods the market, draws down wages, and makes people dependent on big government,” he said.
“Ninety percent of the senators do not know what this bill means,” he added.
Lee’s S.386 bill helps the Fortune 500 and Silicon Valley firms to annually trade green cards to 140,000 mid-skilled foreign workers in exchange for taking the starter jobs and routine jobs needed by U.S. graduates of all ages — especially as the country emerges from the coronavirus crash.
The bill is carefully designed to help the Fortune 500 companies reward their imported workforce of roughly 400,000 Indian workers who are waiting to get the green cards they expected in exchange for taking jobs from Americans years ago.
Under current rules, U.S. companies can only provide about 70,000 green cards to foreign workers per year, with a maximum of about 11,000 for Indian workers. But the Lee bill would bump that number up to a maximum of 140,000 cards, including perhaps 100,000 cards for Indians per year.
More importantly, the tenfold increase in green cards for Indians will allow U.S. companies to recruit and import many more lower-wage graduates from India via the uncapped Occupational Practical Training (OPT) work permit program.
At least 500,000 additional lower-wage foreign graduates — mostly Indians — have taken mainstream while-collar jobs to help them compete for slots in employer-run H-1B program. Once in the H-1B program, the lower-wage workers compete to get sponsored green cards and then continue working for additional years until they finally get their green cards, and soon after, their citizenship.
This hidden population of foreigners who are working for green cards is the “Green Card Workforce” that is used to undermine and sideline millions of American graduates. Lee’s bill will dramatically increase that Fortune 500, lower-wage, no-rights, university graduate, sweatshop workforce.
India’s government has pushed for the Lee legislation, partly because its economic strategy relies on deal-making with U.S. investors and CEOs to put millions of Indian graduates in white-collar jobs throughout the United States. In turn, U.S. companies get easier access to India’s growing marketplace.
The bill also cements the tech sector’s control over technology because it allows CEOs to corral the technology by minimizing the recruitment, training, and promotion of the U.S. graduates who may later quit to develop rival products. “There’s collusion within these big tech companies to preserve their monopoly status,” said Lynn. “The best way to do that is to block the sneakernet, you know, one person going from one company to another taking what’s between their ears with them.”
That labor policy has already damaged the nation’s technology leadership, insiders tell Breitbart News, partly because the foreign workers have no workplace rights and cannot enforce professional standards whenever executives demand more cost-cutting, for example, in the design of passenger aircraft, government software, computer chips, or wireless technology.
Lee used a little-known “Unanimous Consent” process to pass the bill, without any hearings or floor debate.
The process is normally used to pass minor uncontroversial bills, and it allows a senator to pass a bill if no other senators stand to object.
Breaking: Sen. Mike Lee has passed HR1044 w/Lee Amendments without any objections. pic.twitter.com/QchrXPicNp — U.S. Tech Workers (@USTechWorkers) December 2, 2020
During 2020, Lee’s tactic was blocked by single objections from Sen. David Perdue (R-GA), Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY), and Sen. Rick Scott (R-FL). Each time, Lee negotiated a deal with the objecting senator and returned with another Unanimous Consent motion.
The Senate is akin to a club where the senators quietly offer each other informal favors to get reelected or pass legislation. That quiet cooperation ensures that Lee could not have passed his outsourcing bill without quiet approval from GOP Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and many GOP senators.
More obviously, if even one Democrat and Republican senator had objected, Lee’s bill would have failed.
For example, shortly before Lee spoke on the Senate floor, Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) was on the floor denouncing the Trump administration for not protecting the workplace safety of blue-collar meatpackers. Brown could have blocked Lee’s damaging bill but declined to do so.
Activists hoped that Sen. Kelly Loeffler (R-GA) or Perdue would block the bill, but both were campaigning in Georgia. Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO) also declined to block the bill.
McConnell did not stop Lee’s bill even though it threatens the GOP’s weakening position in states such as Georgia, Texas, and North Carolina where the visa worker programs have imported many Indian, Chinese, and other foreign workers. The inflow of visa workers has already helped the GOP lose control of Virginia and New Jersey.
Minority Leader Chuck Schumer also allowed the bill to pass even though it will deeply damage the income and professional status of the Democrats’ core group of college graduate progressives.
Lee’s bill may yet be quietly blocked by McConnell — but it can also be copied by House Democrats into the pending coronavirus spending bill. In turn, GOP senators could pretend to oppose its inclusion in the spending bill — but then sent it to the White House for Trump’s signature.
Trump may promise to veto the bill — but he too is being pressured by business groups while he considers whether or not to run for the White House in 2024.
The massive white-collar replacement bill has been quietly marketed by investors and corporations for many years as a no-fuss correction of a difficult-to-understand quirk in immigration law. In 2019, the business groups, for example, slipped it through the House as H.R. 1044, as the “Fairness for High-Skilled Immigrants Act.”
This stealth strategy has muffled Hill opposition, partly because it minimizes publicity from white-collar journalists at the pro-diversity New York Times, Jeff Bezos’ Washington Post, or the corporate ABC, NBC, and CBS TV networks.
The stealth strategy was adopted after the public rejected the high-profile Gang of Eight amnesty in 2013 and 2014 and ejected five Democratic senators in the 2014 election.
The stealth strategy is also aided by the investor-funded push to protect the DACA migrants and is also being used to put migrants into skilled blue-collar jobs.
Lee’s bill bars the award of green cards to Chinese workers linked to the communist party. That section will give GOP senators something to tout if the outsourcing legislation is included in a coronavirus bill.
Breitbart News has extensively covered the campaign to pass Lee’s S.386 giveaway.


bonginoreport--2020-12-03--Jerry Newcombe: American History Down the Memory Hole?

Last week we celebrated Thanksgiving , but is this holiday becoming so politically incorrect that one day it will be doomed to be sent down the “ memory hole ” ?
There is a war on American history .
Over the Thanksgiving weekend , Antifa and other leftwing groups toppled more historical statues .
Tyler O ’ Neil of PJ Media describes the extent of this vandalism , which included the spray-painting of anti-Thanksgiving messages and statues torn down in Chicago , Minneapolis , Portland , and Spokane .
Statues that were toppled or defaced included George Washington , Abraham @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is interesting to note , during these anti-Thanksgiving melees , that George Washington was the first president to declare Thanksgiving as a holiday -- -a time for the nation to thank God for us having been able to create the Constitution .
And Lincoln was the first president to make Thanksgiving an annual holiday .
This weekend ’ s vandalism , of course , comes a few months after the toppling of all sorts of American historical statues , including Washington , Thomas Jefferson , Ulysses S. Grant , and even abolitionist Frederick @ @ @ @ @ @ @ founded continues unabated .
One of the emphases in last week ’ s new spate of American history-bashing seemed to focus on a grievance of some Native Americans .
There was a push for what they called “ a national decolonial day of action ” and what they called “ land back.
” O ’ Neil explains : “ ’ Land back ’ seemingly refers to The LANDBACK campaign , a Native American movement supposedly fighting ‘ white supremacy.
’ The campaign calls for the dismantling of the ‘ white supremacy structures ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their lands.
” America has never been perfect .
Injustices have been done .
On the other hand , we have made great strides to address many of these past sins .
Meanwhile , notes O ’ Neil , “ the nefarious message of Marxist critical race theory suggests we should upend society in order to satisfy historical grievances in the name of racial justice .
This toxic vision undermines the very real progress America has made in terms of establishing civil rights regardless of race and in terms of securing broad prosperity @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , I spoke with a Native American pastor to get his thoughts on the Pilgrims and American history for a television documentary .
Rev .
Billy Falling , author of My Cherokee Roots , does not agree with those who denigrate the founding of America for all the bad things that did indeed happen -- -later ( long after the Pilgrims ) -- -to Native Americans .
For example , Rev .
Falling said of the Pilgrims , in whose honor we celebrate Thanksgiving : “ The Pilgrims did have good relations with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the Indians .
They showed them love .
They showed them compassion .
They showed them the godly way to live.
” Falling added , “ As a Native American , I thank God for the Europeans that brought us the Gospel and brought us Western Civilization.
” He said that the Indians need the Gospel as much as any group of people : “ We owe everything to those who brought us civilization and brought us out of the cannibalism and out of all of the sins of the flesh that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the heathen of the world .
It ’ s hard today to find a ‘ sweat ’ where you can go as a Native American and go inside and ‘ smoke out your sins , ’ but it ’ s easy to find Native Americans in any congregation in the United States , worshiping the Lord Jesus Christ because of the Europeans .
And I thank God for that.
” The war on American history does not bode well for our future .
Tens of millions of young Americans are brainwashed into thinking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
In his nightmare vision of a totalitarian future , “ 1984 , ” novelist George Orwell speaks of history constantly being rewritten by the state in order to satisfy those in charge .
That history which was no longer acceptable to the Party was sent down the “ memory holes ” where it was to be burned away in “ the enormous furnaces which were hidden somewhere in the recesses of the building.
” Orwell adds , “ And if all others accepted the lie which the Party imposed -- -if all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the lie passed into history and became truth .
'Who controls the past , ' ran the Party slogan , 'controls the future : who controls the present controls the past . '
” Golda Meir , former prime minister of Israel , once noted , “ One can not and must not try to erase the past merely because it does not fit the present.
” Those of us who appreciate what God has done in the creation of America have a lot of work on our hands to try and convince @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been brainwashed by Marxist assaults on American history in our schools that our history , flawed as it is , is worth preserving .
Abolish Thanksgiving ?
No thanks .
Jerry Newcombe , D.Min.
, is the senior producer and an on-air host for D. James Kennedy Ministries .
He has written/co-written 33 books , e.g.
, The Unstoppable Jesus Christ , American Amnesia : Is American Paying the Price for Forgetting God ?
, What If Jesus Had Never Been Born ?
( w/ D. James Kennedy ) , and the bestseller @ @ @ @ @ @ @ w/ Peter Lillback ) djkm.org @ newcombejerry www.jerrynewcombe.com

Last week we celebrated Thanksgiving, but is this holiday becoming so politically incorrect that one day it will be doomed to be sent down the “memory hole”?
There is a war on American history. Over the Thanksgiving weekend, Antifa and other leftwing groups toppled more historical statues. Tyler O’Neil of PJ Media describes the extent of this vandalism, which included the spray-painting of anti-Thanksgiving messages and statues torn down in Chicago, Minneapolis, Portland, and Spokane.
Statues that were toppled or defaced included George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, and William McKinley.
It is interesting to note, during these anti-Thanksgiving melees, that George Washington was the first president to declare Thanksgiving as a holiday---a time for the nation to thank God for us having been able to create the Constitution. And Lincoln was the first president to make Thanksgiving an annual holiday.
This weekend’s vandalism, of course, comes a few months after the toppling of all sorts of American historical statues, including Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Ulysses S. Grant, and even abolitionist Frederick Douglas. The war on America as founded continues unabated.
One of the emphases in last week’s new spate of American history-bashing seemed to focus on a grievance of some Native Americans. There was a push for what they called “a national decolonial day of action” and what they called “land back.”
O’Neil explains: “’Land back’ seemingly refers to The LANDBACK campaign, a Native American movement supposedly fighting ‘white supremacy.’ The campaign calls for the dismantling of the ‘white supremacy structures’ supposedly responsible for removing Native Americans from their lands.”
America has never been perfect. Injustices have been done. On the other hand, we have made great strides to address many of these past sins. Meanwhile, notes O’Neil, “the nefarious message of Marxist critical race theory suggests we should upend society in order to satisfy historical grievances in the name of racial justice. This toxic vision undermines the very real progress America has made in terms of establishing civil rights regardless of race and in terms of securing broad prosperity through a free market economy.”
Recently, I spoke with a Native American pastor to get his thoughts on the Pilgrims and American history for a television documentary. Rev. Billy Falling, author of My Cherokee Roots, does not agree with those who denigrate the founding of America for all the bad things that did indeed happen---later (long after the Pilgrims)---to Native Americans.
For example, Rev. Falling said of the Pilgrims, in whose honor we celebrate Thanksgiving: “The Pilgrims did have good relations with the Indians. The Pilgrims were kind to the Indians. They showed them love. They showed them compassion. They showed them the godly way to live.”
Falling added, “As a Native American, I thank God for the Europeans that brought us the Gospel and brought us Western Civilization.” He said that the Indians need the Gospel as much as any group of people: “We owe everything to those who brought us civilization and brought us out of the cannibalism and out of all of the sins of the flesh that were practiced in the day just like the heathen of the world. It’s hard today to find a ‘sweat’ where you can go as a Native American and go inside and ‘smoke out your sins,’ but it’s easy to find Native Americans in any congregation in the United States, worshiping the Lord Jesus Christ because of the Europeans. And I thank God for that.”
The war on American history does not bode well for our future. Tens of millions of young Americans are brainwashed into thinking America is evil and always was evil.
In his nightmare vision of a totalitarian future, “1984,” novelist George Orwell speaks of history constantly being rewritten by the state in order to satisfy those in charge. That history which was no longer acceptable to the Party was sent down the “memory holes” where it was to be burned away in “the enormous furnaces which were hidden somewhere in the recesses of the building.”
Orwell adds, “And if all others accepted the lie which the Party imposed---if all records told the
same tale---then the lie passed into history and became truth. 'Who controls the past,' ran the Party slogan, 'controls the future: who controls the present controls the past.'”
Golda Meir, former prime minister of Israel, once noted, “One cannot and must not try to erase the past merely because it does not fit the present.”
Those of us who appreciate what God has done in the creation of America have a lot of work on our hands to try and convince a lot of young Americans who have been brainwashed by Marxist assaults on American history in our schools that our history, flawed as it is, is worth preserving. Abolish Thanksgiving? No thanks.
###
Jerry Newcombe, D.Min., is the senior producer and an on-air host for D. James Kennedy Ministries. He has written/co-written 33 books, e.g., The Unstoppable Jesus Christ, American Amnesia: Is American Paying the Price for Forgetting God?, What If Jesus Had Never Been Born? (w/ D. James Kennedy), and the bestseller, George Washington's Sacred Fire (w/ Peter Lillback) djkm.org @newcombejerry www.jerrynewcombe.com


bonginoreport--2020-12-03--Veronique de Rugy: Speaking up for the Voiceless Victims of the COVID-19 Pandemic

Americans are well versed in the consequences for physical health from COVID-19 .
Newspapers brim daily with scary headlines alarming us of any risk that it might pose , no matter how minor or remote .
But there are other nasty and less often discussed consequences brought on by this pandemic and by our collective reaction to it — whether that 's due to people locking themselves up at home out of fear of encountering others or government-ordered lockdowns .
These consequences deserve our attention .
They are real and poignant , and they disproportionately affect society 's least powerful @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have little political or economic voice .
So , let me speak for them : They are the small-business owners who have seen their businesses destroyed by the lockdowns .
They are the owners of restaurants and small shops that never reopened , even when the lockdowns were partially lifted .
They are the small-business owners who do n't know how long they can survive with so few customers , but they know that they wo n't survive another lockdown .
They are essential workers who have continued to labor hard to provide @ @ @ @ @ @ @ even when their children were stranded at home in spite of overwhelming evidence that schools are not a locus of COVID-19 infection .
They are the countless children who have been dramatically falling behind in school .
They are the children whose math skills are plummeting .
They are the kids with disabilities and the English-language learners whose academic performances are collapsing .
They are the kids who 've dropped out of school entirely .
They are the kindergarteners who sit in front of a screen for hours and have not experienced the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ recess , ever .
They are the college students who are locked in their dorms and `` learning '' online with little contact with peers or professors .
They are all the other college kids who simply drop out of school to take care of their families .
They are all the children whose anxiety levels have dramatically soared .
They have lost hope ; they are depressed .
Many are thinking of suicide .
Some even commit it .
They are the elderly — our parents and grandparents — who have n't @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a year .
My own two children and I have not been able — for the past eight months — to visit their grandparents in France , or even those in California .
Some of these grandparents live alone .
The isolation from family and friends has been particularly brutal .
They are the medical patients dying alone .
They are the patients receiving treatments , or bad news , from their doctors with no family support .
They are the people whose routine health screenings have been suspended — many of whom @ @ @ @ @ @ @ die .
They are the people who do n't get their vaccines , medications , allergy shots or root canals .
They are the people who `` celebrate '' birthdays , holidays and other important milestones alone .
They are people who can not attend loved ones ' funerals .
They are the young couples who have to postpone their weddings or their children 's baptisms .
They are the ones suffering from anxiety whose therapies are suspended .
They are the people of all ages who , as a result , tragically @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are the people who numb the pain of isolation with drugs or alcohol abuse .
They are the people with addictions whose rehab centers are closed .
There are the women and children locked in with their abusers .
They are the ones who have lost jobs and who wait forlornly in long unemployment lines .
They have no idea whether they 'll be employable at the end of this ordeal .
They are the workers who will give up on joining the labor force .
They are today 's young people , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ irresponsible fiscal response to this pandemic , and the unfathomable debt it created .
These victims deserve a voice .
They should be heard .
But sadly , sounds of their plight fall on the deaf ears of some affluent and influential policymakers , many of whom are much less affected .
Avoiding COVID-19 at all costs is a valid path for some , but we can not ignore the suffering that this pandemic and our collective response to it inflict on millions of fellow citizens .
Throwing money at them wo n't @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Veronique de Rugy is a senior research fellow at the Mercatus Center at George Mason University .
To find out more about Veronique de Rugy and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists , visit the Creators Syndicate webpage at www.creators.com .

Americans are well versed in the consequences for physical health from COVID-19. Newspapers brim daily with scary headlines alarming us of any risk that it might pose, no matter how minor or remote. But there are other nasty and less often discussed consequences brought on by this pandemic and by our collective reaction to it — whether that's due to people locking themselves up at home out of fear of encountering others or government-ordered lockdowns.
These consequences deserve our attention. They are real and poignant, and they disproportionately affect society's least powerful. Victims of the current pandemic response have little political or economic voice. So, let me speak for them:
They are the small-business owners who have seen their businesses destroyed by the lockdowns. They are the owners of restaurants and small shops that never reopened, even when the lockdowns were partially lifted.
They are the small-business owners who don't know how long they can survive with so few customers, but they know that they won't survive another lockdown.
They are essential workers who have continued to labor hard to provide our health care and our groceries, even when their children were stranded at home in spite of overwhelming evidence that schools are not a locus of COVID-19 infection.
They are the countless children who have been dramatically falling behind in school. They are the children whose math skills are plummeting. They are the kids with disabilities and the English-language learners whose academic performances are collapsing. They are the kids who've dropped out of school entirely. They are the kindergarteners who sit in front of a screen for hours and have not experienced the joy of playing with other kids during recess, ever.
They are the college students who are locked in their dorms and "learning" online with little contact with peers or professors. They are all the other college kids who simply drop out of school to take care of their families.
They are all the children whose anxiety levels have dramatically soared. They have lost hope; they are depressed. Many are thinking of suicide. Some even commit it.
They are the elderly — our parents and grandparents — who haven't seen their children and grandchildren in almost a year.
My own two children and I have not been able — for the past eight months — to visit their grandparents in France, or even those in California. Some of these grandparents live alone. The isolation from family and friends has been particularly brutal.
They are the medical patients dying alone. They are the patients receiving treatments, or bad news, from their doctors with no family support.
They are the people whose routine health screenings have been suspended — many of whom, as a result, will prematurely die. They are the people who don't get their vaccines, medications, allergy shots or root canals.
They are the people who "celebrate" birthdays, holidays and other important milestones alone. They are people who cannot attend loved ones' funerals. They are the young couples who have to postpone their weddings or their children's baptisms.
They are the ones suffering from anxiety whose therapies are suspended. They are the people of all ages who, as a result, tragically decide to end their lives. They are the people who numb the pain of isolation with drugs or alcohol abuse. They are the people with addictions whose rehab centers are closed. There are the women and children locked in with their abusers.
They are the ones who have lost jobs and who wait forlornly in long unemployment lines. They have no idea whether they'll be employable at the end of this ordeal. They are the workers who will give up on joining the labor force.
They are today's young people, who will shoulder the burden of an irresponsible fiscal response to this pandemic, and the unfathomable debt it created.
These victims deserve a voice. They should be heard. But sadly, sounds of their plight fall on the deaf ears of some affluent and influential policymakers, many of whom are much less affected.
Avoiding COVID-19 at all costs is a valid path for some, but we cannot ignore the suffering that this pandemic and our collective response to it inflict on millions of fellow citizens. Throwing money at them won't change the reality of their current lives.
Veronique de Rugy is a senior research fellow at the Mercatus Center at George Mason University. To find out more about Veronique de Rugy and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate webpage at www.creators.com.


bonginoreport--2020-12-04--General Flynn Explains How He Was Targeted by Obama’s Intel Community

In an exclusive interview on The Dan Bongino Show , General Mike Flynn explained how he was targeted by former President Barack Obama 's intel community .
Conservative radio host Dan Bongino welcomed Flynn , `` an honest to goodness American hero , '' on his podcast to cover Obama ’ s bizarre fascination with the esteemed guest , Flynn ’ s battles to restore the intelligence sphere , and the real reason the former Federal Bureau of Investigation director James Comey targeted him .
President Donald Trump granted a full pardon to his former national security advisor on Nov. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Flynn also served as a senior advisor to the president during his 2016 campaign .
He is beloved by Trump supporters and is widely-regarded as a victim of the Russian collusion investigations .
Bongino asked for Flynn 's thoughts following his complete exoneration .
The retired lieutenant general publicly thanked Trump for the historic presidential `` Pardon of Innocence '' on the following day .
`` This was just a tremendous moment for the country , '' Bongino stated .
`` From the beginning , you had been in our corner , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ professionals like you and letting your audience know that your audience came through for my family , I have many times thanked them for their support , kindness , generosity , and frankly for their inspiration to keep us fighting . ''
Adding that his `` admiration '' for Flynn is `` endless , '' Bongino replied : `` It was an honour to fight the fight .
I knew from the start—as anyone with a sane mind and an IQ in the three digits knew—that you were railroaded .
It was really @ @ @ @ @ @ @ job against Flynn `` one of the most grotesque abuses '' of the `` justice system , '' because `` there was no justice done here . ''
Shortly after he was sworn in as the national security advisor , Flynn resigned when information surfaced that he had purportedly misled Vice President Mike Pence about the nature and content of his communications with Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak .
His tenure was the shortest in the history of the position .
In 2017 , Flynn formalized a deal with Special Counsel Robert Mueller to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` willfully and knowingly '' lying to FBI agents Peter Strzok and Joe Pientka during an interview in the White House about conversations that Flynn had with Kislyak .
Bongino noted that Flynn never viewed that as `` some confrontational interview , '' just `` part of the national security apparatus . ''
Flynn explained that he underwent immense pressure in a `` threatening environment . ''
At the heart of his decision making , `` family is paramount , '' Flynn emphasized .
After a probe launched by the Department of Justice @ @ @ @ @ @ @ exculpatory evidence was withheld from Flynn and his attorneys '' that established that the FBI agents `` did not believe '' Flynn had lied during the interview .
The DOJ announced that it intended to drop all charges against Flynn on May 7 of this year .
Federal district judge Emmet Sullivan ruled the matter to be placed on hold .
In September , FBI Special Agent William Barnett found that Flynn was targeted by the Special Counsel Office to “ get Trump.
” Barnett stated there was no basis for an investigation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's a total fabrication , '' Bongino quipped .
`` It was a real setup .
And of course , I 'm the target , '' Flynn fired on-air .
`` It had nothing to do with crimes or anything that occurred .
It actually had to do with trying to , not only damage , but get Donald Trump out of office—to remove him in some capacity after he defeated Hillary Clinton in 2016 . ''
Flynn noted that he felt bad for Trump because he could not `` stand by his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Following public prodding , Flynn told Bongino : `` [ Trump 's ] not the one who set this up .
It was set up by the previous administration . ''
Then he questioned why Obama focused on him and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un while transition discussions took place .
`` Nobody 's asked Barack Obama that question .
Nobody 's ever pinned him down , '' Flynn declared .
It was later discovered that the collusion scandal was used as a pretext for the Obama administration to spy on the Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the Democratic establishment conjured the impeachment hoax .
`` People were n't coming after Mike Flynn or Donald Trump .
At the end of the day , they were coming after America , '' Flynn asserted .
Flynn ’ s defense team filed an October motion to disqualify Sullivan from his position in the trials after his blatant demonstration of bias against Flynn that began in December 2018 .
In his handling of the case , Flynn 's defense team also alleged that Sullivan `` echoed '' mainstream media talking points from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Judge John Gleeson 's Washington Post op-ed .
“ It was improper for the court to allow extra-judicial media commentary to affect his conduct , ” the document read .
While Sullivan was initially advised by by the court to act with “ appropriate dispatch , ” he sat on the case and refused to recuse himself despite demonstrating personal animus against Flynn in the courtroom setting .
`` It was all political .
It was all about finding ways we can target this guy , '' Flynn said .
`` They dug @ @ @ @ @ @ @ then called those left-wing operatives `` snakes . ''
The `` greatest takeaway '' is that `` the American people are awake , '' Bongino concluded .
`` Even the most jaded eyes of history are going to view you as one of the great American patriots of this time and the people who came after you as the traitors to our republic and the ideas that it stands for .
I will take that to the grave . ''

In an exclusive interview on The Dan Bongino Show, General Mike Flynn explained how he was targeted by former President Barack Obama's intel community.
Conservative radio host Dan Bongino welcomed Flynn, "an honest to goodness American hero," on his podcast to cover Obama’s bizarre fascination with the esteemed guest, Flynn’s battles to restore the intelligence sphere, and the real reason the former Federal Bureau of Investigation director James Comey targeted him.
President Donald Trump granted a full pardon to his former national security advisor on Nov. 25, just in time for Thanksgiving. Flynn also served as a senior advisor to the president during his 2016 campaign. He is beloved by Trump supporters and is widely-regarded as a victim of the Russian collusion investigations.
Bongino asked for Flynn's thoughts following his complete exoneration. The retired lieutenant general publicly thanked Trump for the historic presidential "Pardon of Innocence" on the following day. "This was just a tremendous moment for the country," Bongino stated.
This “Pardon of Innocence” is historic, sincerely appreciated & should never happen in our country again. I will issue a personal statement later today. My family issued one yesterday.
Thank you America ??
Happy Thanksgiving ? ???
1 Chronicles 16:32–34 ?? pic.twitter.com/6TIN2eh3JE — General Flynn (@GenFlynn) November 26, 2020
"From the beginning, you had been in our corner," Flynn responded. "Speaking with professionals like you and letting your audience know that your audience came through for my family, I have many times thanked them for their support, kindness, generosity, and frankly for their inspiration to keep us fighting."
Adding that his "admiration" for Flynn is "endless," Bongino replied: "It was an honour to fight the fight. I knew from the start—as anyone with a sane mind and an IQ in the three digits knew—that you were railroaded. It was really disgusting."
Bongino called the hit job against Flynn "one of the most grotesque abuses" of the "justice system," because "there was no justice done here."
Shortly after he was sworn in as the national security advisor, Flynn resigned when information surfaced that he had purportedly misled Vice President Mike Pence about the nature and content of his communications with Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak. His tenure was the shortest in the history of the position.
In 2017, Flynn formalized a deal with Special Counsel Robert Mueller to plead guilty to a felony count of "willfully and knowingly" lying to FBI agents Peter Strzok and Joe Pientka during an interview in the White House about conversations that Flynn had with Kislyak.
Bongino noted that Flynn never viewed that as "some confrontational interview," just "part of the national security apparatus." Flynn explained that he underwent immense pressure in a "threatening environment." At the heart of his decision making, "family is paramount," Flynn emphasized.
After a probe launched by the Department of Justice, it was revealed that “substantial exculpatory evidence was withheld from Flynn and his attorneys" that established that the FBI agents "did not believe" Flynn had lied during the interview.
The DOJ announced that it intended to drop all charges against Flynn on May 7 of this year. Federal district judge Emmet Sullivan ruled the matter to be placed on hold.
In September, FBI Special Agent William Barnett found that Flynn was targeted by the Special Counsel Office to “get Trump.” Barnett stated there was no basis for an investigation into the alleged collusion. "It's a total fabrication," Bongino quipped.
"It was a real setup. And of course, I'm the target," Flynn fired on-air. "It had nothing to do with crimes or anything that occurred. It actually had to do with trying to, not only damage, but get Donald Trump out of office—to remove him in some capacity after he defeated Hillary Clinton in 2016."
Flynn noted that he felt bad for Trump because he could not "stand by his side throughout" the takedown saga. Following public prodding, Flynn told Bongino: "[Trump's] not the one who set this up. It was set up by the previous administration."
Then he questioned why Obama focused on him and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un while transition discussions took place. "Nobody's asked Barack Obama that question. Nobody's ever pinned him down," Flynn declared.
It was later discovered that the collusion scandal was used as a pretext for the Obama administration to spy on the Trump campaign. Then after Trump was elected, the Democratic establishment conjured the impeachment hoax.
"People weren't coming after Mike Flynn or Donald Trump. At the end of the day, they were coming after America," Flynn asserted.
Flynn’s defense team filed an October motion to disqualify Sullivan from his position in the trials after his blatant demonstration of bias against Flynn that began in December 2018.
In his handling of the case, Flynn's defense team also alleged that Sullivan "echoed" mainstream media talking points from NBC News host Rachel Maddow and former Judge John Gleeson's Washington Post op-ed. “It was improper for the court to allow extra-judicial media commentary to affect his conduct,” the document read.
While Sullivan was initially advised by the court to act with “appropriate dispatch,” he sat on the case and refused to recuse himself despite demonstrating personal animus against Flynn in the courtroom setting.
"It was all political. It was all about finding ways we can target this guy," Flynn said. "They dug into my entire life." He then called those left-wing operatives "snakes."
The "greatest takeaway" is that "the American people are awake," Bongino concluded. "Even the most jaded eyes of history are going to view you as one of the great American patriots of this time and the people who came after you as the traitors to our republic and the ideas that it stands for. I will take that to the grave."


bonginoreport--2020-12-03--Trump Campaign Outlines Evidence of Fraud in Georgia

Trump legal team representative attorney Ray Smith presented a long list of voter irregularities in Georgia pertaining to the 2020 @ @ @ @ @ announced the exhaustive list of election infractions during a Georgia Senate Committee hearing .
The @ @ @ @ @ voted in Georgia , 66,248 underaged people were registered to vote in the state , @ @ @ @ @ 10,315 dead people voted , among several others , according to Smith .
The President @ @ @ @ @ occurred in Georgia , a message that has largely been muffled by the mainstream press @ @ @ @ @ footage showing suitcases of ballots being revealed from under desks in Georgia vote counting facilities @ @ @ @ @ told to leave the room .

Trump legal team representative attorney Ray Smith presented a long list of voter irregularities in Georgia pertaining to the 2020 election on Thursday.
Smith announced the exhaustive list of election infractions during a Georgia Senate Committee hearing.
The list includes that 2,506 felons voted in Georgia, 66,248 underaged people were registered to vote in the state, 2,423 unregistered people voted, 10,315 dead people voted, among several others, according to Smith.
The President has repeatedly alleged election irregularities occurred in Georgia, a message that has largely been muffled by the mainstream press.
Earlier today, video footage showing suitcases of ballots being revealed from under desks in Georgia vote counting facilities after poll workers were reportedly told to leave the room.


bonginoreport--2020-12-03--Alyssa Farah Resigns as White House Communications Director

In a letter to President Donald Trump Thursday afternoon , White House Communications Director Alyssa Farah resigned from her position .
Her last day is Friday .
`` After three and a half incredible years , I will be leaving the White House to pursue new opportunities .
It 's been the honor of a lifetime to serve in the Trump Administration over the last three and a half years , first as Press Secretary to Vice President Pence , then as Press Secretary for the Department of Defense , and most recently as White House Communications Director .
I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we were able to accomplish to make our country stronger , safer , and more secure , '' Farah wrote .
`` I 'm forever grateful to have had the opportunity to serve my country . ''
`` Under this Administration , the ISIS caliphate was destroyed , American hostages were returned home , NATO is stronger than ever , we 've brokered historic Middle East peace deals , and I was on the ground in Kabul for the announcement of a historic peace deal between the Afghan Government and the Taliban aimed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' she continued .
`` We delivered historic tax cuts , putting money back into the pockets of hard working Americans .
We rebuilt the judiciary with Constitution abiding independent jurists and we worked to create the most inclusive economy in American history -- that gives every citizen a real chance to achieve the American dream .
Finally , I 'm honored to have worked with the entire team on Operation Warp speed who helped usher in a safe and effective COVID-19 vaccine in record time that will save countless thousands of lives @ @

In a letter to President Donald Trump Thursday afternoon, White House Communications Director Alyssa Farah resigned from her position. Her last day is Friday.
"After three and a half incredible years, I will be leaving the White House to pursue new opportunities. It's been the honor of a lifetime to serve in the Trump Administration over the last three and a half years, first as Press Secretary to Vice President Pence, then as Press Secretary for the Department of Defense, and most recently as White House Communications Director. I am deeply proud of the incredible things we were able to accomplish to make our country stronger, safer, and more secure," Farah wrote. "I'm forever grateful to have had the opportunity to serve my country."
"Under this Administration, the ISIS caliphate was destroyed, American hostages were returned home, NATO is stronger than ever, we've brokered historic Middle East peace deals, and I was on the ground in Kabul for the announcement of a historic peace deal between the Afghan Government and the Taliban aimed at ending America's longest war," she continued. "We delivered historic tax cuts, putting money back into the pockets of hard working Americans. We rebuilt the judiciary with Constitution abiding independent jurists and we worked to create the most inclusive economy in American history -- that gives every citizen a real chance to achieve the American dream. Finally, I'm honored to have worked with the entire team on Operation Warp speed who helped usher in a safe and effective COVID-19 vaccine in record time that will save countless thousands of lives."


bonginoreport--2020-12-03--Nevada Haring Reveals Obstruction of Witnesses by USPS, Ballots Cast by Dead People, and More

A Nevada hearing has revealed a host of election irregularities including : the obstruction of witnesses by the United States Postal Service ; ballots cast by dead people ; improperly calibrated signature verification machines ; and election inspections where less than one-third of the GOP ’ s demands were met .
Since the election contest case was filed , a host of developments have occurred regarding officials receiving access to inspect voting systems and data revealing the extent of fraud in the swing state .
One such development is that the United States Postal Service ( USPS ) is “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” concerning wide-scale orders for workers to deliver ballots to nearly 8,000 “ undeliverable ” addresses .
The ballots were later “ collected , turned in , and presumably counted.
” “ There are multiple key witnesses who are whistleblowers with matching , independent stories supporting these issues , who USPS is trying to obstruct from testifying , ” the Nevada GOP notes .
The state Republican Party is also putting forward a data scientist testifying to over 100,000 unique cases of illegal ballots .
The findings come from an analysis of over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ files , Nevada Election Day voter files , early voting files , consumer data files , and more .
The findings reveal over 40,000 duplicate ballots and 1,500 deceased voters : • Out of State Voters : Nevada voters had a non-Nevada mailing address ; • Non-existent Addresses : Approximately voters had registered addresses that are physically non-existent ; • USPS Flags on Non-Residential Addresses : approximately voters are registered to vote at either a commercial address or a vacant property ; • National Change of Address Out of State : voters legally @ @ @ @ @ @ @ state or country ; • Deceased Voters : Almost Nevada voters listed as deceased by the Social Security Administration ( SSA ) Master Death File , Consumer Data Vendors , Public Obituary Data Matches , and Credit Bureau Deceased Data voted ; • Duplicate Voter Registrations : voters voted twice and have multiple voter registration numbers associated with substantially the same name , birthdate , and address .
While legal teams in Nevada that sought inspection of the voting machines and systems in Clark County saw their request granted , the Trump campaign @ @ @ @ @ @ @ offered as little more than a “ guided tour.
” The inspection was “ like trying to determine if a car had failed brakes without getting underneath the car ” : “ The judge ’ s order allowed for an inspection .
What we got was a guided tour .
Machines were not usable , and we were not able to make a determination about the accuracy and integrity of the election process based on this inspection .
We are entitled to a computer forensic inspection in accordance with the judge ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one .
This was a digital election and we were not allowed a digital inspection .
The “ inspection ” today was like trying to determine if a car had failed brakes without getting underneath the car ” .
The forensic team requested the following 11 items : • Inspect the memory on the Agilis signature verification machine ; • See a “ test run ” of the Agilis signature verification machine ; • Inspect the memory on the “ adjudicator ” machines ; • Inspect the USB drive for the dominion machines @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Election Management Server ; • Inspect the election results drives in the box from the Accuracy Certification Board ; • Inspect the simulation drives in the box from the Accuracy Certification Board ; Instead , inspectors were only granted four requests : gather machine serial numbers ; witness a voting receipt tabulation for just 42 votes ; inspect reports from the Accuracy Certification Board ; and watch a machine be powered on .
The machines used by the state to certify signatures were also not operated “ in conformance with the manufacturer ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” “ First , the signature images on file with the State which were used by the Agilis machine to compare to the signatures on the outside of the ballot were of a lower image quality than recommended by the manufacturer in order to allow the machines to operate properly .
Second , the signature matching error tolerance was set to a level of 40 , 10 points lower than the manufacturer ’ s recommended level of 50 , thus reducing the accuracy of the machine immensely , ” the report notes .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ image quality , Nevada law stipulates that “ the clerk or an employee in the office of the county clerk shall check the signature used for the mail ballot in accordance with ” detailed procedures , “ which do not include relying on software to verify matching signatures.
” Despite this , Agilis machines independently verified 30 % of the signatures without ever having human eyes inspect those signatures .
The hearing began on Thursday December 3rd at 1:30pm PST at the First Judicial District Court .

A Nevada hearing has revealed a host of election irregularities including: the obstruction of witnesses by the United States Postal Service; ballots cast by dead people; improperly calibrated signature verification machines; and election inspections where less than one-third of the GOP’s demands were met.
Since the election contest case was filed, a host of developments have occurred regarding officials receiving access to inspect voting systems and data revealing the extent of fraud in the swing state.
Obstruction.
One such development is that the United States Postal Service (USPS) is “preventing witnesses and whistleblowers from testifying,” concerning wide-scale orders for workers to deliver ballots to nearly 8,000 “undeliverable” addresses. The ballots were later “collected, turned in, and presumably counted.”
“There are multiple key witnesses who are whistleblowers with matching, independent stories supporting these issues, who USPS is trying to obstruct from testifying,” the Nevada GOP notes.
100,000 Forged Ballots.
The state Republican Party is also putting forward a data scientist testifying to over 100,000 unique cases of illegal ballots.
The findings come from an analysis of over two million records including Nevada state voter files, Nevada Election Day voter files, early voting files, consumer data files, and more.
The findings reveal over 40,000 duplicate ballots and 1,500 deceased voters:
Out of State Voters : A lmost 20,000 Nevada voters had a non-Nevada mailing address;
: Nevada voters had a non-Nevada mailing address; Non-existent Addresses: Approximately 8,000 voters had registered addresses that are physically non-existent;
Approximately voters had registered addresses that are physically non-existent; USPS Flags on Non-Residential Addresses : approximately 15,000 voters are registered to vote at either a commercial address or a vacant property;
: approximately voters are registered to vote at either a commercial address or a vacant property; USPS Flags on Vacant Addresses: Almost 6,000;
Almost 6,000; National Change of Address Out of State: 2,468 voters legally changed their address to another jurisdiction or state or country;
voters legally changed their address to another jurisdiction or state or country; Deceased Voters: Almost 1,500 Nevada voters listed as deceased by the Social Security Administration (SSA) Master Death File, Consumer Data Vendors, Public Obituary Data Matches, and Credit Bureau Deceased Data voted;
Almost Nevada voters listed as deceased by the Social Security Administration (SSA) Master Death File, Consumer Data Vendors, Public Obituary Data Matches, and Credit Bureau Deceased Data voted; Duplicate Voter Registrations: 42,000 voters voted twice and have multiple voter registration numbers associated with substantially the same name, birthdate, and address.
‘Guided Tour’
While legal teams in Nevada that sought inspection of the voting machines and systems in Clark County saw their request granted, the Trump campaign legal team slammed the evidence they were offered as little more than a “guided tour.”
The inspection was “like trying to determine if a car had failed brakes without getting underneath the car”:
“The judge’s order allowed for an inspection. What we got was a guided tour. Machines were not usable, and we were not able to make a determination about the accuracy and integrity of the election process based on this inspection. We are entitled to a computer forensic inspection in accordance with the judge’s order. We were prevented from doing one. This was a digital election and we were not allowed a digital inspection. The “inspection” today was like trying to determine if a car had failed brakes without getting underneath the car”.
The forensic team requested the following 11 items:
Inspect the Tabulation Server;
Inspect the memory on the Agilis signature verification machine;
See a “test run” of the Agilis signature verification machine;
Inspect the memory on the “adjudicator” machines;
Inspect the USB drive for the dominion machines;
Inspect the poll books;
Inspect the memory of the Election Management Server;
Inspect the “mail ballot readers” or “ICC’s”;
Inspect the election results drives in the box from the Accuracy Certification Board;
Inspect the simulation drives in the box from the Accuracy Certification Board;
Inspect any “ballot marking devices”.
Instead, inspectors were only granted four requests: gather machine serial numbers; witness a voting receipt tabulation for just 42 votes; inspect reports from the Accuracy Certification Board; and watch a machine be powered on.
Suspicious Signatures.
The machines used by the state to certify signatures were also not operated “in conformance with the manufacturer’s recommendations in at least two respects.”
“First, the signature images on file with the State which were used by the Agilis machine to compare to the signatures on the outside of the ballot were of a lower image quality than recommended by the manufacturer in order to allow the machines to operate properly. Second, the signature matching error tolerance was set to a level of 40, 10 points lower than the manufacturer’s recommended level of 50, thus reducing the accuracy of the machine immensely,” the report notes.
In addition to improper calibration and low image quality, Nevada law stipulates that “the clerk or an employee in the office of the county clerk shall check the signature used for the mail ballot in accordance with” detailed procedures, “which do not include relying on software to verify matching signatures.”
Despite this, Agilis machines independently verified 30% of the signatures without ever having human eyes inspect those signatures.
The hearing began on Thursday December 3rd at 1:30pm PST at the First Judicial District Court.


bonginoreport--2020-12-03--McConnell Says Coronavirus Stimulus Compromise “Within Reach”

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell spoke Thursday for the first time since at least the 2020 election as Congress scrambles to strike a coronavirus stimulus deal and prevent a government shutdown .
The congressional leaders discussed their `` shared commitment to completing an omnibus [ spending bill ] and COVID relief as soon as possible , '' Pelosi spokesman Drew Hammill said in a tweet .
They have signaled they want to resolve both thorny issues by Dec. 11 , the last day of government funding .
`` Yeah , well we had a good @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the discussion .
`` I think we 're both interested in getting an outcome , both on the omnibus and on a coronavirus package . ''
The phone call comes amid the strongest push in months to break a logjam over how to boost an economy and health-care system weighed down by the pandemic .
Pelosi engaged in a frantic series of aid talks with Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin before the Nov. 3 election , but the discussions did not yield an agreement .
Earlier Thursday , McConnell said he has seen `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deal before the end of the year .
Among other implications if Congress fails to act , about 12 million people could lose unemployment benefits after Christmas .
`` Compromise is within reach .
We know where we agree .
We can do this , '' the Kentucky Republican said on the Senate floor .
Whether Democrats , who lead the House and can hold up any bill in the Senate , will accept McConnell 's vision of compromise remains to be seen .
Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer , D-N.Y. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they embraced a $ 908 billion bipartisan proposal as a starting point for talks with McConnell .

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell spoke Thursday for the first time since at least the 2020 election as Congress scrambles to strike a coronavirus stimulus deal and prevent a government shutdown.
The congressional leaders discussed their "shared commitment to completing an omnibus [spending bill] and COVID relief as soon as possible," Pelosi spokesman Drew Hammill said in a tweet. They have signaled they want to resolve both thorny issues by Dec. 11, the last day of government funding.
"Yeah, well we had a good conversation," McConnell told reporters of the discussion. "I think we're both interested in getting an outcome, both on the omnibus and on a coronavirus package."
The phone call comes amid the strongest push in months to break a logjam over how to boost an economy and health-care system weighed down by the pandemic. Pelosi engaged in a frantic series of aid talks with Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin before the Nov. 3 election, but the discussions did not yield an agreement.
Earlier Thursday, McConnell said he has seen "hopeful signs" for striking a stimulus deal before the end of the year. Among other implications if Congress fails to act, about 12 million people could lose unemployment benefits after Christmas.
"Compromise is within reach. We know where we agree. We can do this," the Kentucky Republican said on the Senate floor.
Whether Democrats, who lead the House and can hold up any bill in the Senate, will accept McConnell's vision of compromise remains to be seen. Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., cut their aid demands Wednesday when they embraced a $908 billion bipartisan proposal as a starting point for talks with McConnell.