wnd--2020-08-29--Rand Paul's wife: Attack by mob 'like being in a terrifying dystopian novel'

( WASHINGTON EXAMINER ) Thursday night felt like being in a terrifying dystopian novel .
The mob swarmed me and @ @ @ @ @ Paul , in a tight circle , screaming expletives , threats , and shouting , @ @ @ @ @ '' We rushed up to two police officers , and I believe that is the @ @ @ @ @ from being knocked to the ground .
Even pressed against the officers , we were @ @ @ @ @ mob grew and became more threatening , we literally could not move , and neither @ @ @ @ @ several minutes .
The rioters were inches from us , screaming in our faces .
@ @ @ @ @ .
At first , I attempted to meet the eyes of one of the protesters @ @ @ @ @ Rand authored the Justice for Breonna Taylor Act , but it seemed to just infuriate @ @ @ @ @ called me a `` bitch '' and `` racist wh -- - '' alongside an @ @ @ @ @ -- - yous . ''

(WASHINGTON EXAMINER) Thursday night felt like being in a terrifying dystopian novel. The mob swarmed me and my husband, Sen. Rand Paul, in a tight circle, screaming expletives, threats, and shouting, "Say her name." We rushed up to two police officers, and I believe that is the only thing that kept us from being knocked to the ground. Even pressed against the officers, we were greatly outnumbered.
As the mob grew and became more threatening, we literally could not move, and neither could the two officers for several minutes. The rioters were inches from us, screaming in our faces.
That was the worst part. At first, I attempted to meet the eyes of one of the protesters and tried to explain that Rand authored the Justice for Breonna Taylor Act, but it seemed to just infuriate them more, as they called me a "bitch" and "racist wh---" alongside an endless torrent of "f--- yous."
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wnd--2020-08-29--Top general tells Congress military won't play role in 2020 election

( CNN ) America 's most senior general , Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Mark Milley , @ @ @ @ @ the military will not play a role in November 's election and wo n't help @ @ @ @ @ results are contested .
`` The Constitution and laws of the US and the states @ @ @ @ @ elections , and for resolving disputes over the outcome of elections ...
I do not @ @ @ @ @ part of this process , '' Milley said in a letter released on Friday responding @ @ @ @ @ of the House Armed Services Committee .
`` In the event of a dispute over @ @ @ @ @ , by law U.S. courts and the U.S. Congress are required to resolve any disputes @ @ @ @ @ , '' Milley added .
`` I believe deeply in the principle of an apolitical @ @ @ @ @ wrote .

(CNN) America's most senior general, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Mark Milley, told members of Congress that the military will not play a role in November's election and won't help settle any disputes if the results are contested.
"The Constitution and laws of the US and the states establish procedures for carrying out elections, and for resolving disputes over the outcome of elections ... I do not see the US military as part of this process," Milley said in a letter released on Friday responding to questions from two members of the House Armed Services Committee.
"In the event of a dispute over some aspect of the elections, by law U.S. courts and the U.S. Congress are required to resolve any disputes, not the U.S. Military," Milley added.
"I believe deeply in the principle of an apolitical U.S. military," Milley wrote.
Read the full story ›


wnd--2020-08-29--Lutheran college replaces Mike Pence as commencement apeaker amid Kenosha rioting

In the midst of politicized unrest , the vice president of the United States would have been an ideal commencement speaker .
Of course there are going to be people who do n't agree with him .
This is the whole point of the American experiment , though : We 're a country that needs , more than ever , to listen to one another .
Who better to help foster this sort of dialogue than Vice President Mike Pence ?
Well , he wo n't be doing it , at least not at Wisconsin Lutheran College in Kenosha , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the riot-wracked city said they decided to replace Pence as the speaker two days prior to commencement due to the unrest in the city .
In a statement Thursday , the administration `` announced that after further review with careful consideration of the escalating events in Kenosha , the WLC Board of Regents and the College 's Administration have jointly decided to present a different speaker instead of the Vice President of the United States , Michael R. Pence , at the Saturday , August 29 , 2020 , commencement .
`` The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Mark Jeske of St. Marcus Lutheran Church has agreed to serve as the commencement speaker , '' the statement added .
Pence said he understood the decision , which the college said was a joint call .
“ Vice President Pence understands and supports Wisconsin Lutheran College ’ s decision to prioritize the safety and well-being of their students , and wishes the students well as they celebrate the accomplishment of graduating from college and as they embark on their next journey , '' Pence spokesman Devin M. O'Malley told Milwaukee Journal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ announced last week ; the college said at the time it `` can not '' be seen as a political endorsement .
“ We believe it is possible within our context to leave partisan politics at the door and to celebrate America , our freedoms , Christian servant leadership and our graduates ' immense accomplishments , ” the college said in a statement .
Of course , the establishment media painted the original decision to have Pence speak as a political one , and one that was n't appropriately woke .
`` Though @ @ @ @ @ @ @ speech would have brought Pence to Wisconsin days after the Republican National Convention , where the vice president touted 'law and order , ' '' the Journal Sentinel reported Thursday .
`` Wisconsin is a key state the Republicans are trying to hold on to this November.
`` You also had alumni and current students of the school going as far as to apologize to the students of this year 's graduating class .
`` Your commencement ceremony should not have been infected by toxic politics , '' they wrote in an open @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t ask for this , and you should not have needed to ask for this not to happen .
Controversial political figures need to stay out of our academic celebrations . ''
The letter also called the invitation `` blatantly inappropriate . ''
`` The mere invitation of a Vice President of an incredibly divisive and controversial ticket to speak in a swing state months before an election is ignorant and deceptive , '' it said .
`` Speaking to young adults months before an election is a political move and not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''
All right , then -- what about other politicians who have appeared to give commencement speeches during campaigns ?
Is this a tradition we 're going to suddenly retire ?
Or is this mostly about one particular kind of politician giving a speech ?
Also in question were Pence 's remarks about the violence in Kenosha during his speech accepting the GOP 's vice presidential nomination during the Republican National Convention this past week .
`` President Trump and I will always support the right of Americans to peacefully protest .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ protest .
Tearing down statues is not free speech , '' Pence said , according to a New York Times transcript .
`` Those who do so will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law .
Last week , Joe Biden did n't say one word about the violence and chaos engulfing cities across this country .
So let me be clear .
The violence must stop , whether in Minneapolis , Portland or Kenosha . ''
There is -- or should be -- nothing controversial about these thoughts .
What @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rule of law .
That 's the bare minimum that 's necessary for a society to function .
Anyone who believes that 's divisive has abandoned all pretense of wanting unity .
But then , that 's not what this is about .
At this critical juncture in our history , there would have been few -- if any -- individuals better able to rise to the moment than Mike Pence .
Nobody wanted a speaker who could rise to the moment and bring us together , though .
What the loudest voices @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would loudly declare their vision for America to be orthodoxy .
I have no idea if Rev .
Mark Jeske is that man .
Rest assured if he 's not , he 'll likely find himself uninvited to some other places .
This article appeared originally on The Western Journal .

In the midst of politicized unrest, the vice president of the United States would have been an ideal commencement speaker.
Of course there are going to be people who don't agree with him. This is the whole point of the American experiment, though: We're a country that needs, more than ever, to listen to one another.
Who better to help foster this sort of dialogue than Vice President Mike Pence?
Well, he won't be doing it, at least not at Wisconsin Lutheran College on the border of Milwaukee and Wauwatosa, Wisconsin. Officials at the school said they decided to replace Pence as the speaker two days prior to commencement due to the unrest in the nearby city of Kenosha.
In a statement Thursday, the administration "announced that after further review with careful consideration of the escalating events in Kenosha, the WLC Board of Regents and the College's Administration have jointly decided to present a different speaker instead of the Vice President of the United States, Michael R. Pence, at the Saturday, August 29, 2020, commencement.
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"The College is pleased to announce that Rev. Mark Jeske of St. Marcus Lutheran Church has agreed to serve as the commencement speaker," the statement added.
Pence said he understood the decision, which the college said was a joint call.
“Vice President Pence understands and supports Wisconsin Lutheran College’s decision to prioritize the safety and well-being of their students, and wishes the students well as they celebrate the accomplishment of graduating from college and as they embark on their next journey," Pence spokesman Devin M. O'Malley told Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
Pence's appearance had been announced last week; the college said at the time it "cannot" be seen as a political endorsement.
“We believe it is possible within our context to leave partisan politics at the door and to celebrate America, our freedoms, Christian servant leadership and our graduates' immense accomplishments,” the college said in a statement.
Of course, the establishment media painted the original decision to have Pence speak as a political one, and one that wasn't appropriately woke.
"Though not an official campaign stop, the speech would have brought Pence to Wisconsin days after the Republican National Convention, where the vice president touted 'law and order,'" the Journal Sentinel reported Thursday.
"Wisconsin is a key state the Republicans are trying to hold on to this November. "
You also had alumni and current students of the school going as far as to apologize to the students of this year's graduating class.
"Your commencement ceremony should not have been infected by toxic politics," they wrote in an open letter on Medium.
"You didn’t ask for this, and you should not have needed to ask for this not to happen. Controversial political figures need to stay out of our academic celebrations."
The letter also called the invitation "blatantly inappropriate."
"The mere invitation of a Vice President of an incredibly divisive and controversial ticket to speak in a swing state months before an election is ignorant and deceptive," it said.
"Speaking to young adults months before an election is a political move and not one that WLC can decide is apolitical."
All right, then -- what about other politicians who have appeared to give commencement speeches during campaigns? Is this a tradition we're going to suddenly retire? Or is this mostly about one particular kind of politician giving a speech?
Also in question were Pence's remarks about the violence in Kenosha during his speech accepting the GOP's vice presidential nomination during the Republican National Convention this past week.
"President Trump and I will always support the right of Americans to peacefully protest. But rioting and looting is not peaceful protest. Tearing down statues is not free speech," Pence said, according to a New York Times transcript.
"Those who do so will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. Last week, Joe Biden didn't say one word about the violence and chaos engulfing cities across this country. So let me be clear. The violence must stop, whether in Minneapolis, Portland or Kenosha."
There is -- or should be -- nothing controversial about these thoughts.
What Pence was expressing support for was the rule of law. That's the bare minimum that's necessary for a society to function.
Anyone who believes that's divisive has abandoned all pretense of wanting unity. But then, that's not what this is about.
At this critical juncture in our history, there would have been few -- if any -- individuals better able to rise to the moment than Mike Pence.
Nobody wanted a speaker who could rise to the moment and bring us together, though. What the loudest voices on the left wanted was someone who would loudly declare their vision for America to be orthodoxy.
I have no idea if Rev. Mark Jeske is that man. Rest assured if he's not, he'll likely find himself uninvited to some other places.
This article appeared originally on The Western Journal.


wnd--2020-08-29--Jacob Blake's father: 'Violence and looting and burning' will not heal my son

Jacob Blake 's father rebuked the rioters in Kenosha , Wisconsin , and said `` violence and looting and burning '' will not heal his son or bring back any of the other men and women who have been killed or injured in controversial confrontations with police .
Jacob Blake Sr. told CNN Friday that the riots in Kenosha and across the country wo n't help his son , who was left paralyzed after a police-involved shooting on Sunday .
`` You have to understand that we do n't prescribe to useless and violence , '' Blake told host Alisyn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ burning , that 's not going to bring Trayvon [ Martin ] back .
That 's not going to bring George Floyd back .
That 's not going to bring Tamir Rice back .
I could go on and on .
That 's not going to bring them back . ''
Martin was fatally shot in February 2012 in Florida by neighborhood watch captain George Zimmerman , CNN reported .
Floyd died on May 25 in Minneapolis after a police officer knelt on his neck for roughly nine minutes during an arrest , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Rice , a 12-year-old black child , also became a symbol for the Black Lives Matter movement after a white Cleveland , Ohio , police officer shot and killed him in 2014 , according to The Associated Press .
`` That 's not going to make my son get up out of that bed and walk , '' Blake told CNN in response to the violence and riots in Kenosha .
`` Only God could get him up out of the bed and make him walk .
And if he does not , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ That 's his will .
There 's nothing you can do past his will . ''
He added , `` I ca n't be angry because I still have to be faithful . ''
Blake 's mother , Julia Jackson , made similar comments in an interview earlier this week .
`` My family and I are very hurt -- and quite frankly disgusted , '' she said .
`` And as his mother , please don ’ t burn up property and cause havoc and tear your own homes down in my @ @ @ @ @ @ @ T ] o use my child … our tragedy , to react in that manner , is just not acceptable.
” She added , `` And it 's not helping Jacob .
`` It 's not helping Jacob or any other of the men and women who have suffered in these areas . ''
Blake , who is black , was shot after police responded to a domestic violence call , according to the Kenosha News .
After a video of the altercation went viral , peaceful protests turned violent , the Washington @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his son has been handcuffed to his hospital bed , according to CNN .
This article appeared originally on The Western Journal .

Jacob Blake's father rebuked the rioters in Kenosha, Wisconsin, and said "violence and looting and burning" will not heal his son or bring back any of the other men and women who have been killed or injured in controversial confrontations with police.
Jacob Blake Sr. told CNN Friday that the riots in Kenosha and across the country won't help his son, who was left paralyzed after a police-involved shooting on Sunday.
"You have to understand that we don't prescribe to useless and violence," Blake told host Alisyn Camerota.
"Violence and looting and burning, that's not going to bring Trayvon [Martin] back. That's not going to bring George Floyd back. That's not going to bring Tamir Rice back. I could go on and on. That's not going to bring them back."
Martin was fatally shot in February 2012 in Florida by neighborhood watch captain George Zimmerman, CNN reported.
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Floyd died on May 25 in Minneapolis after a police officer knelt on his neck for roughly nine minutes during an arrest, sparking widespread protests across the country.
Rice, a 12-year-old black child, also became a symbol for the Black Lives Matter movement after a white Cleveland, Ohio, police officer shot and killed him in 2014, according to The Associated Press.
"That's not going to make my son get up out of that bed and walk," Blake told CNN in response to the violence and riots in Kenosha.
"Only God could get him up out of the bed and make him walk. And if he does not, then that's God's will. That's his will. There's nothing you can do past his will."
He added, "I can't be angry because I still have to be faithful."
Blake's mother, Julia Jackson, made similar comments in an interview earlier this week.
"My family and I are very hurt -- and quite frankly disgusted," she said.
"And as his mother, please don’t burn up property and cause havoc and tear your own homes down in my son’s name. … [T]o use my child … our tragedy, to react in that manner, is just not acceptable.”
She added, "And it's not helping Jacob.
"It's not helping Jacob or any other of the men and women who have suffered in these areas."
Blake, who is black, was shot after police responded to a domestic violence call, according to the Kenosha News.
After a video of the altercation went viral, peaceful protests turned violent, the Washington Examiner reported.
Blake's father said his son has been handcuffed to his hospital bed, according to CNN.
This article appeared originally on The Western Journal.


wnd--2020-08-28--State bill reduces assault of police officer to misdemeanor

Along strict party lines , the Democratic-majority Virginia General Assembly has advanced a bill that would allow an assault against a law enforcement officer to be a misdemeanor if the officer is not hurt .
The Virginia Senate voted 21-15 on Wednesday to pass Senate Bill 5032 , WSLS-TV reported .
The bill was approved despite the strong objection of Republicans who argue it disrespects police at a time when they are the targets of nationwide protests .
The measure now heads to the House of Delegates , where Democrats are also in the majority .
The law would eliminate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for an assault and battery committed against a judge ; magistrate ; law-enforcement officer ; correctional officer ; person directly involved in the care , treatment , or supervision of inmates ; firefighter ; or volunteer firefighter or any emergency medical services personnel and provides that such crime can no longer be committed as a simple assault and must result in a bodily injury . ''
The bill also removes a mandatory minimum six-month jail sentence for assaulting a police officer .
Democratic state Sen. Scott Surovell , who proposed the bill , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ involve no injury to the officer , reported WTKR-TV .
`` They involve slight contact .
They should n't be felonies , '' he said .
Democrats said serious cases would still be felonies , WTKR reported .
`` We 've got to be smart about felonies .
We ca n't just be handing these things out like candy , '' said Demoratic state Sen. David Marsden .
Republicans were outraged about the timing .
`` What in the world are we doing here ?
Have you watched television for the last couple @ @ @ @ @ @ @ police are going through ?
Have you seen the attacks on our police officers ? ''
said Republican state Sen. John Cosgrove .
Republican state Sen. Tommy Norment , WTKR reported , said it `` is creating a perception among law enforcement that we are backing up and diminishing the consequences . ''
Democrats have promised to pass a series of law enforcement reforms during the current special session .
Another controversial bill that would make it easier to sue police has been tabled by a by a Senate committee for further study @

Along strict party lines, the Democratic-majority Virginia General Assembly has advanced a bill that would allow an assault against a law enforcement officer to be a misdemeanor if the officer is not hurt.
The Virginia Senate voted 21-15 on Wednesday to pass Senate Bill 5032, WSLS-TV reported.
The bill was approved despite the strong objection of Republicans who argue it disrespects police at a time when they are the targets of nationwide protests.
The measure now heads to the House of Delegates, where Democrats are also in the majority.
TRENDING: Is this the 'Final Battle'?
The law would eliminate "the mandatory minimum term of confinement for an assault and battery committed against a judge; magistrate; law-enforcement officer; correctional officer; person directly involved in the care, treatment, or supervision of inmates; firefighter; or volunteer firefighter or any emergency medical services personnel and provides that such crime can no longer be committed as a simple assault and must result in a bodily injury."
The bill also removes a mandatory minimum six-month jail sentence for assaulting a police officer.
Democratic state Sen. Scott Surovell, who proposed the bill, argued that about 70% of cases involve no injury to the officer, reported WTKR-TV.
"They involve slight contact. They shouldn't be felonies," he said.
Democrats said serious cases would still be felonies, WTKR reported.
"We've got to be smart about felonies. We can't just be handing these things out like candy," said Demoratic state Sen. David Marsden.
Republicans were outraged about the timing.
"What in the world are we doing here? Have you watched television for the last couple of weeks? Have you seen what police are going through? Have you seen the attacks on our police officers?" said Republican state Sen. John Cosgrove.
Republican state Sen. Tommy Norment, WTKR reported, said it "is creating a perception among law enforcement that we are backing up and diminishing the consequences."
Democrats have promised to pass a series of law enforcement reforms during the current special session. Another controversial bill that would make it easier to sue police has been tabled by a by a Senate committee for further study.


wnd--2020-08-28--Rioting and looting erupt in Minneapolis after black murder suspect commits suicide

Looting and rioting are , unfortunately , a feature of life in Minneapolis in 2020 ; this is especially true when a black man who was being pursued by police officers dies of a gunshot .
Whether that gunshot was self-inflicted , apparently , is immaterial .
The story began Wednesday , when police found a body on a parking ramp .
The victim was 61-year-old Eddie George Gordon , according to KARE-TV .
`` A preliminary investigation indicates that three people , two men and one woman , were in a dispute that turned physical .
A man pulled @ @ @ @ @ @ @ man .
The shooter and the woman fled the area on foot , '' KSTP-TV reported .
`` Officers at the scene were able to quickly put together a description of the suspects .
According to police , officers located the woman a short time later and took her into custody .
At this time , she is being detained to determine her level of involvement in the shooting .
Police do not believe it was a random attack as the three people appear to have known each other . ''
A few @ @ @ @ @ @ @ located in the area of Nicollet Mall , a strip along Nicollet Avenue in downtown Minneapolis .
When approached by police , the murder suspect turned the gun on himself .
`` He appears to have seen officers approaching .
He turned into a doorway of a building , produced a handgun , put it up underneath his chin .
He then adjusted his stance , and shot himself underneath the chin closer to where it meets the neck , '' Minneapolis police spokesman John Elder told KSTP .
The police released video @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prove it was a suicide .
The video , if you need to view it , is here , but we must warn you it contains extremely graphic imagery .
That did n't exactly mollify the denizens of the city , who seemed to believe the suspect died due to the malfeasance of the Minneapolis Police Department : Well , that 's not too bad , right ?
It got worse , believe you me -- bad enough to turn into a riot situation .
WARNING : The following videos contain vulgar language @ @ @ @ @ @ @ find offensive : But do you know who was to blame for the fact that people incorrectly believed the police killed an alleged murderer who committed suicide , causing a spate of riots ?
The police .
“ MPD did not kill him , but people assuming they did is rooted in a steep distrust , ” liberal Minneapolis City Councilman Jeremiah Ellison said in a tweet .
“ Seeing windows broken and items stolen can be beyond frustrating , especially when all that rage was sparked ( this time ) by misinformation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have themselves been the source of misinformation .
We forfeited our goodwill and this is the ugly cost.
” No .
No it is n't .
People do n't get to destroy property and loot because they believe that institutions have `` forfeited [ their ] goodwill . ''
Would Councilman Ellison feel the same way if this were his home being looted ?
If one of his relatives was the police officer being hit in the head with a metal object , would he say the same thing ?
The facts of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Police Department made them clear -- and people still rioted even though this was a suicide of a man who was accused of killing another person .
This had nothing to do with policing institutions having given misinformation in the past .
Even if it were , the rioting would n't have solved any of it .
The `` ugly cost '' of this is that outsiders realize the left will excuse away violence and destruction if it serves a political end .
This article appeared originally on The Western Journal .

Looting and rioting are, unfortunately, a feature of life in Minneapolis in 2020; this is especially true when a black man who was being pursued by police officers dies of a gunshot.
Whether that gunshot was self-inflicted, apparently, is immaterial.
The story began Wednesday, when police found a body on a parking ramp. The victim was 61-year-old Eddie George Gordon, according to KARE-TV.
"A preliminary investigation indicates that three people, two men and one woman, were in a dispute that turned physical. A man pulled out a gun and shot the other man. The shooter and the woman fled the area on foot," KSTP-TV reported.
"Officers at the scene were able to quickly put together a description of the suspects. According to police, officers located the woman a short time later and took her into custody. At this time, she is being detained to determine her level of involvement in the shooting. Police do not believe it was a random attack as the three people appear to have known each other."
TRENDING: Is this the 'Final Battle'?
A few hours later, the other suspect was located in the area of Nicollet Mall, a strip along Nicollet Avenue in downtown Minneapolis.
When approached by police, the murder suspect turned the gun on himself.
"He appears to have seen officers approaching. He turned into a doorway of a building, produced a handgun, put it up underneath his chin. He then adjusted his stance, and shot himself underneath the chin closer to where it meets the neck," Minneapolis police spokesman John Elder told KSTP.
The police released video of the murder suspect's death to prove it was a suicide. The video, if you need to view it, is here, but we must warn you it contains extremely graphic imagery.
That didn't exactly mollify the denizens of the city, who seemed to believe the suspect died due to the malfeasance of the Minneapolis Police Department:
Police say suspect in earlier homicide killed himself on Nicollet Mall as police closed in. Large crowd here. Police say they will release video soon. Details to come. pic.twitter.com/R1mnlGIwtp — Abby Simons (@AJillSimons) August 27, 2020
Well, that's not too bad, right? It got worse, believe you me -- bad enough to turn into a riot situation.
WARNING: The following videos contain vulgar language and graphic images that some viewers will find offensive:
Looting and violence has erupted in Minneapolis after a man shot himself as police approached him. How is this the fault of the police? pic.twitter.com/hkvYlMIIqv — Ian Miles Cheong (@stillgray) August 27, 2020
Looting is now taking place at the Nicollet Mall in Minneapolis after a man committed suicide while being pursued by police. Any excuse to riot. pic.twitter.com/gWrLpc8eoJ — Ian Miles Cheong (@stillgray) August 27, 2020
BLM rioting broke out again last night in Minneapolis after police were blamed for a black male who committed suicide. Here, they hurled a metal projectile at an officer’s head and knocked him to the ground. #BlackLivesMatter #MinneapolisRiots pic.twitter.com/T9f3vbP5B6 — Andy Ngô (@MrAndyNgo) August 27, 2020
But do you know who was to blame for the fact that people incorrectly believed the police killed an alleged murderer who committed suicide, causing a spate of riots? The police.
“MPD did not kill him, but people assuming they did is rooted in a steep distrust,” liberal Minneapolis City Councilman Jeremiah Ellison said in a tweet.
“Seeing windows broken and items stolen can be beyond frustrating, especially when all that rage was sparked (this time) by misinformation. But so often our policing institutions have themselves been the source of misinformation. We forfeited our goodwill and this is the ugly cost.”
Seeing windows broken and items stolen can be beyond frustrating, especially when all that rage was sparked (this time) by misinformation But so often our policing institutions have themselves been the source of misinformation We forfeited our goodwill and this is the ugly cost — Jeremiah Ellison (@jeremiah4north) August 27, 2020
No. No it isn't. People don't get to destroy property and loot because they believe that institutions have "forfeited [their] goodwill."
Would Councilman Ellison feel the same way if this were his home being looted? If one of his relatives was the police officer being hit in the head with a metal object, would he say the same thing?
The facts of the case were clear. The Minneapolis Police Department made them clear -- and people still rioted even though this was a suicide of a man who was accused of killing another person.
This had nothing to do with policing institutions having given misinformation in the past. Even if it were, the rioting wouldn't have solved any of it.
The "ugly cost" of this is that outsiders realize the left will excuse away violence and destruction if it serves a political end.
This article appeared originally on The Western Journal.


wnd--2020-08-29--Game-changing video of Kenosha shooting turns tables on accusers, has NYT admitting there was anothe

Game-changing video of Kenosha shooting turns tables on accusers, has NYT admitting there was another gunman

Kyle Rittenhouse is facing first-degree intentional homicide charges after he allegedly shot and killed two people and wounded a third on Tuesday , but new footage may shed light on his motive and possibly save him from the most severe charge .
Rittenhouse brought his AR-15-style rifle to the scene of riots in Kenosha , Wisconsin , after police there shot a black man named Jacob Blake during an arrest Sunday , according to USA Today .
Earlier Tuesday evening , the baby-faced 17-year-old from Antioch , Illinois , told Daily Caller journalist Richie McGinniss why he was standing in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a gun .
`` People are getting injured and our job is to protect this business , and part of my job is to also help people , '' Rittenhouse said .
`` If there 's somebody hurt , I 'm running into harm 's way .
That 's why I have my rifle because I have to protect myself , obviously . ''
But the teen would later get into a scuffle with other rioters , and despite video evidence from several sources , the circumstances surrounding the shootings remained unclear .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ first-degree intentional homicide charge that could put him in prison for life under Wisconsin law , according to the Chicago Tribune , but one particular angle showed it could actually be a case of self-defense .
Christiaan Triebert from The New York Times tweeted a thread of clips that captured the events that evening , but the first shooting looked like Rittenhouse may have reacted to gunshots .
WARNING : The following video contains graphic language that some viewers will find offensive .
`` At 23:19 , Rittenhouse is seen in this YouTube @ @ @ @ @ @ @ showing a gunman behind Rittenhouse , who is running .
`` He 's being chased into a parking lot .
While he is being pursued , an unknown gunman fires the first shot into the air . ''
`` Rittenhouse turns toward the sound of the gunfire as another pursuer lunges toward him , '' Triebert continued .
`` He then fires four times with his assault rifle , and appears to shoot the man in the head . ''
If Rittenhouse fired in self-defense , it could nullify the intentional part of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a lesser crime , if any at all .
Of course , it is difficult to determine what actually was going through his mind and ascertain exactly what his motives might have been , but he was quickly demonized by some as a white supremacist .
Rittenhouse was a fan of President Donald Trump and supported police , according to the Daily Beast , which to sane people indicate that he probably idolized and tried to emulate officers , but of course , will be construed as evidence of his bigotry .
He @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the riots that nobody at that time seemed interested in stopping and involved himself in the situation instead .
He was foolish to walk into riots holding a conspicuous weapon and in some ways was asking for trouble .
However , with rioters allowed to prowl the streets for unabashed looting , vandalism and arson , it 's possible that Rittenhouse also felt emboldened to ignore good sense and flout the law as well .
Maybe he was trying to help , or maybe he was out looking for trouble , unafraid @ @ @ @ @ @ @ -- just like the rioters .
These government officials who allow this anarchy to reign should take this as their wake-up call to stop the madness .
This article appeared originally on The Western Journal .

Kyle Rittenhouse is facing first-degree intentional homicide charges after he allegedly shot and killed two people and wounded a third on Tuesday, but new footage may shed light on his motive and possibly save him from the most severe charge.
Rittenhouse brought his AR-15-style rifle to the scene of riots in Kenosha, Wisconsin, after police there shot a black man named Jacob Blake during an arrest Sunday, according to USA Today.
Earlier Tuesday evening, the baby-faced 17-year-old from Antioch, Illinois, told Daily Caller journalist Richie McGinniss why he was standing in front of a burned-out auto dealership with a gun.
"People are getting injured and our job is to protect this business, and part of my job is to also help people," Rittenhouse said.
"If there's somebody hurt, I'm running into harm's way. That's why I have my rifle because I have to protect myself, obviously."
TRENDING: Is this the 'Final Battle'?
I interviewed the alleged shooter before the violence started. Full video coming soon: pic.twitter.com/G3dVOJozN7 — Richie🎥McG🍿 (@RichieMcGinniss) August 26, 2020
But the teen would later get into a scuffle with other rioters, and despite video evidence from several sources, the circumstances surrounding the shootings remained unclear.
Still, Rittenhouse was slapped with the first-degree intentional homicide charge that could put him in prison for life under Wisconsin law, according to the Chicago Tribune, but one particular angle showed it could actually be a case of self-defense.
Christiaan Triebert from The New York Times tweeted a thread of clips that captured the events that evening, but the first shooting looked like Rittenhouse may have reacted to gunshots.
WARNING: The following video contains graphic language that some viewers will find offensive.
"At 23:19, Rittenhouse is seen in this YouTube livestream," Triebert captioned the video showing a gunman behind Rittenhouse, who is running. "He's being chased into a parking lot. While he is being pursued, an unknown gunman fires the first shot into the air."
"Rittenhouse turns toward the sound of the gunfire as another pursuer lunges toward him," Triebert continued. "He then fires four times with his assault rifle, and appears to shoot the man in the head."
Rittenhouse turns toward the sound of the gunfire as another pursuer lunges toward him. He then fires four times with his assault rifle, and appears to shoot the man in the head. — Christiaan Triebert (@trbrtc) August 27, 2020
If Rittenhouse fired in self-defense, it could nullify the intentional part of the homicide charge, meaning he committed a lesser crime, if any at all.
Of course, it is difficult to determine what actually was going through his mind and ascertain exactly what his motives might have been, but he was quickly demonized by some as a white supremacist.
Rittenhouse was a fan of President Donald Trump and supported police, according to the Daily Beast, which to sane people indicate that he probably idolized and tried to emulate officers, but of course, will be construed as evidence of his bigotry.
Rittenhouse eventually leaves the dealership (https://t.co/udrONTtQEY) and is barred by the police from returning, as seen @Ruptly footage, six minutes before the shooting: https://t.co/bxzrk75jk8. pic.twitter.com/AredrTnc9Z — Christiaan Triebert (@trbrtc) August 27, 2020
He lived only 30 minutes from the scene of the riots that nobody at that time seemed interested in stopping and involved himself in the situation instead.
He was foolish to walk into riots holding a conspicuous weapon and in some ways was asking for trouble.
However, with rioters allowed to prowl the streets for unabashed looting, vandalism and arson, it's possible that Rittenhouse also felt emboldened to ignore good sense and flout the law as well.
Maybe he was trying to help, or maybe he was out looking for trouble, unafraid that he would face any serious consequences -- just like the rioters.
These government officials who allow this anarchy to reign should take this as their wake-up call to stop the madness.
This article appeared originally on The Western Journal.


wnd--2020-08-30--Police in Berlin halt anti-coronavirus protest

( THE LOCAL ) Police in Berlin have called off an 18,000-strong protest against coronavirus restrictions , saying protesters had @ @ @ @ @ required by a court .
`` Unfortunately , we have no other option , '' @ @ @ @ @ .
`` We 've approached the leader of the demonstration and informed him that his @ @ @ @ @ the police .
All the measures taken so far have not led to compliance with @ @ @ @

(THE LOCAL) Police in Berlin have called off an 18,000-strong protest against coronavirus restrictions, saying protesters had not worn masks, as required by a court.
"Unfortunately, we have no other option," Berlin police wrote on Twitter. "We've approached the leader of the demonstration and informed him that his assembly will be dissolved by the police. All the measures taken so far have not led to compliance with the conditions."
Read the full story ›


wnd--2020-08-30--Chelsea Clinton: I want 'white children of privilege' to 'erode that privilege' over time

( BREITBART ) Former first daughter Chelsea Clinton said she was teaching her children to “ erode ” their “ @ @ @ @ @ during a national Women for Biden organizing call with Rep. Ayanna Pressley ( D-MA ) @ @ @ @ @ , “ You know , 40 % of Americans with disabilities report that they have @ @ @ @ @ .
And so in states where there haven ’ t been , kind of , @ @ @ @ @ there hasn ’ t been the introduction of early voting yet , you know , @ @ @ @ @ , kind of , easy , fair or equal for many Americans to vote.
” @ @ @ @ @ I think it ’ s really important that my children understand that .
And I @ @ @ @ @ important that they understand that as white children of privilege because I want them to @ @ @ @ @ lives to ensure more people are enfranchised and that equality isn ’ t just an @ @ @

(BREITBART) Former first daughter Chelsea Clinton said she was teaching her children to “erode” their “white privilege” over time during a national Women for Biden organizing call with Rep. Ayanna Pressley (D-MA) Thursday evening.
Clinton said, “You know, 40% of Americans with disabilities report that they have real challenges voting in person. And so in states where there haven’t been, kind of, no-excuse absentee voting or where there hasn’t been the introduction of early voting yet, you know, it still isn’t, kind of, easy, fair or equal for many Americans to vote.”
She continued, “And I think it’s really important that my children understand that. And I think it’s particularly important that they understand that as white children of privilege because I want them to erode that privilege throughout their lives to ensure more people are enfranchised and that equality isn’t just an ideal.”
Read the full story ›


wnd--2020-08-30--LSD microdose trial for acute pain relief reports 'remarkable' results

( NEW ATLAS ) An incredible , first-of-its-kind trial testing the pain-killing properties of LSD microdoses has delivered the compelling @ @ @ @ @ doses of this infamous drug could serve as an effective analgesic .
Back in the @ @ @ @ @ heyday of psychedelic science , one of the more fascinating research areas for LSD was @ @ @ @ @ analgesic .
Researcher Eric Kast was one of the pioneer investigators on the topic , @ @ @ @ @ papers exploring the ways pain perception is influenced by LSD .
Kast ’ s work @ @ @ @ @ doses of LSD , and he consistently found the drug produced effective , and protracted @ @ @ @ @ , Kast ’ s work with LSD ended , as most psychedelic research did , @ @ @ @ @ was restricted in the late 1960s .

(NEW ATLAS) An incredible, first-of-its-kind trial testing the pain-killing properties of LSD microdoses has delivered the compelling suggestion that tiny, non-psychedelic doses of this infamous drug could serve as an effective analgesic.
Back in the 1960s, during the original heyday of psychedelic science, one of the more fascinating research areas for LSD was its unexpected efficacy as an analgesic. Researcher Eric Kast was one of the pioneer investigators on the topic, publishing over a dozen key papers exploring the ways pain perception is influenced by LSD.
Kast’s work was primarily with active psychedelic doses of LSD, and he consistently found the drug produced effective, and protracted, analgesic effects. Unfortunately, Kast’s work with LSD ended, as most psychedelic research did, when access to the drug was restricted in the late 1960s.
Read the full story ›


wnd--2020-08-29--City's controversial land-use tool shuts down rental of vacation home

Peg and David Schroeder purchased a vacation home in Wilmington , North Carolina , to use during their retirement .
They needed some income from it when they were not there , so they worked with a lawyer to make sure it would qualify as a vacation rental .
They went ahead and invested another $ 75,000 in renovations .
Then the city changed the rules .
A new ordinance requires that no more than 2 % of the residential properties in the city be vacation rentals , and no two can be within 400 feet of the next one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rental , the Schroeders went through a city lottery and lost .
The Institute for Justice has taken up their case .
`` Using a highly controversial land-use tool called 'amortization , ' the city gave the Schroeders one year to supposedly recoup their entire investment in their property , including the cost of the renovation .
After that , they would have to cease renting it , '' IJ said .
`` Before we bought the property , we did everything right , '' Peg Schroeder said .
`` We had a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be offered as vacation rentals , and before we purchased , we even had an attorney look into the applicable zoning and housing restrictions .
It took us eight months and about $ 75,000 to renovate the home , and just as we put it on the market to rent , the city pulled the rug out from under us . ''
Because the city 's ordinance strips the Schroeders of a property right – the right to rent – without compensating them , it will be up to a court to decide @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Schroeders are compensated .
`` By capping the number of vacation rentals , Wilmington is effectively changing the rules in the middle of the game , '' said Institute for Justice Senior Attorney Robert Frommer .
`` The city ’ s decision to regulate vacation rentals violates state law , and its use of a controversial tool called amortization to put a ticking time bomb on Peg and David ’ s rights violates the North Carolina constitution . ''
IJ said virtually every state requires that cities compensate property owners if the municipality @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The case focuses on the Schroeders ' loss of the right to rent as well as the lottery system the city uses .
`` Property rights can not be simply raffled off for the benefit of one small class of people at the expense of everyone else , '' said IJ constitutional fellow Adam Griffin .
`` By establishing a two-percent cap and squeezing out all other property owners via a lottery , that is precisely what the city of Wilmington has done here .
That violates the North Carolina Constitution . ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Justice , Superior Division .

Peg and David Schroeder purchased a vacation home in Wilmington, North Carolina, to use during their retirement.
They needed some income from it when they were not there, so they worked with a lawyer to make sure it would qualify as a vacation rental. They went ahead and invested another $75,000 in renovations.
Then the city changed the rules.
A new ordinance requires that no more than 2% of the residential properties in the city be vacation rentals, and no two can be within 400 feet of the next one.
TRENDING: Is this the 'Final Battle'?
Since their neighbor also had a rental, the Schroeders went through a city lottery and lost.
The Institute for Justice has taken up their case.
"Using a highly controversial land-use tool called 'amortization,' the city gave the Schroeders one year to supposedly recoup their entire investment in their property, including the cost of the renovation. After that, they would have to cease renting it," IJ said.
So the Schroeders sued.
"Before we bought the property, we did everything right," Peg Schroeder said. "We had a realtor show us only listings that could be offered as vacation rentals, and before we purchased, we even had an attorney look into the applicable zoning and housing restrictions. It took us eight months and about $75,000 to renovate the home, and just as we put it on the market to rent, the city pulled the rug out from under us."
Because the city's ordinance strips the Schroeders of a property right – the right to rent – without compensating them, it will be up to a court to decide whether the ordinance is allowed or the Schroeders are compensated.
"By capping the number of vacation rentals, Wilmington is effectively changing the rules in the middle of the game," said Institute for Justice Senior Attorney Robert Frommer. "The city’s decision to regulate vacation rentals violates state law, and its use of a controversial tool called amortization to put a ticking time bomb on Peg and David’s rights violates the North Carolina constitution."
IJ said virtually every state requires that cities compensate property owners if the municipality takes property or reduces its value.
The case focuses on the Schroeders' loss of the right to rent as well as the lottery system the city uses.
"Property rights cannot be simply raffled off for the benefit of one small class of people at the expense of everyone else," said IJ constitutional fellow Adam Griffin. "By establishing a two-percent cap and squeezing out all other property owners via a lottery, that is precisely what the city of Wilmington has done here. That violates the North Carolina Constitution."
The case is in New Hanover Court of Justice, Superior Division.


wnd--2020-08-29--'Pocketbook voters' reveal reasons to support President Trump

[ Editor 's note : This story originally was published by Real Clear Politics . ]
Democrats are worried .
A centerpiece of their convention last week focused on inspiring personal stories from average working Americans of every color and creed talking about why Trump needs to go .
They projected confidence that they had a lock on everyday , working-class Americans .
They were wrong .
Some of the most poignant and powerful moments of the Republican convention this week have come from Americans from myriad backgrounds offering compelling reasons behind their support for Donald Trump ’ s second @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hail from key presidential battleground states and were there to talk about practical pocketbook issues , keeping their jobs and businesses on the right track .
They weren ’ t as focused on the big racial justice themes that have been grabbing most of the headlines this summer amid violent protests , as so many of the Democrats ’ convention speakers tried to hammer home .
Republicans had plenty of speakers to do that too , a whole list of African Americans , including some Democrats , ready to make the case for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t take the more basic bread-and-butter issues of jobs and the economy off the table .
Even amid race riots and a norms-upending global pandemic , and in some ways because of it , it ’ s still the “ economy , stupid ” for many voters struggling to make ends meet or to maintain their hold on their version of the American Dream .
That was true in 1992 when the message landed Bill Clinton in the White House , and four years ago too , when Trump ’ s appeal to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with his 2016 surprise victory .
It may be more so today amid a jobs-killing pandemic that ’ s drawn a bullseye on small businesses and their employees .
Many of these pocketbook voters believe Democrats are pushing a socialist agenda and will never look after the economic interests of Main Street in their Bernie Sanders-led march to the left .
If small businesses , including farms , are the backbone of the nation ’ s economy , won ’ t their owners and employees play a similarly critical role in determining a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ week showed they are counting on it .
Maine lobsterman Jason Joyce , Wisconsin dairy farmer Cris Peterson , Ohio trucker Geno DiFabrio , and Wisconsin ’ s John Peterson , the owner of Schuette Metals , are just a handful of the carefully selected voters who provided firsthand testimonials of Trump ’ s trade policy and overall handling of the economy .
Joyce , the lobsterman , kicked it off the first night by generally crediting Trump for rolling back regulations , and more specifically for negotiating a deal in which the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on lobsters in exchange for the U.S. cutting duties on some European products .
“ As long as Trump is president , fishing families like mine will have a voice , ” he said .
“ But if Biden wins , he ’ ll be controlled by the environmental extremists who want to circumvent long-standing rules and impose radical changes that hurt our coastal communities . ''
Maine has voted Democratic in the last seven presidential elections , although the 2016 race was much closer than expected , with Hillary Clinton edging Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ over Trump .
It ’ s now viewed as trending purple , with blue portions near the coast and red areas in the inland rural areas .
Sen. Susan Collins , one of the last centrist Republicans , also is running in the election fight of her life against Maine House Speaker Sara Gideon .
Geno DiFabrio , a Youngstown , Ohio , trucker , appeared in a video with Vice President Mike Pence praising President Trump ’ s handling of an area General Motors assembly plant closure .
Pence spoke with DiFabrio @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s boyhood home in Indiana .
“ Geno is a truck driver from Ohio who heard politicians for years make empty promises about defending American jobs only to see those promises broken again and again , ” Pence intoned .
“ But in 2019 , when GM closed its plant in Lordstown , Ohio , President Trump refused to stand by and watch it happen.
” The issue of the GM plant closure is a political sticking point , and one that Joe Biden has already said he plans to focus on as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ohio .
During a 2017 rally in Youngstown , Trump told attendees not to sell their homes because manufacturing work would be coming back to the state ’ s Mahoning Valley .
But the Lordstown plant closed permanently in 2019 , giving Trump ’ s detractors new ammunition that he broke his promise to bring manufacturing jobs back to the Rust Belt .
But Pence and DiFabio stressed that Trump played a critical role in ensuring that GM sold the plant to an electric truck startup , Lordstown Motors , and agreed to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ part of the plant purchase .
The new company has only 70 full-time workers and 100 contractors right now but hopes to build up to 5,000 employees once the plant is fully established .
The GM plant , before it closed last year , had 1,700 workers .
“ There ’ s no other president that could have done it , ” DiFabrio said of the role Trump played in getting GM to help finance the plant ’ s transition .
“ There ’ s no one that has even tried to do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ doer .
He appreciates every one of us , and I know he does .
I ’ ve seen it.
” Trump performed far better than previous Republican candidates for president in the traditionally Democratic , blue-collar Mahoning Valley and the area helped him notch an 8-percentage-point win in the state in 2016 .
Biden currently leads Trump by 2.3 points in Ohio , according to the RealClearPolitics average of polls .
Speaking on the second night of the GOP convention , Cris Peterson , who runs a dairy farm with her husband @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ narrative that Trump ’ s China deal has crushed Midwest farmers .
“ More than any president , he has acknowledged the importance of farmers and agriculture , ” said Peterson ( pictured above ) .
She recalled that when Trump first won the presidency in 2016 , her state was in a “ Great Depression ” for dairy farmers .
Then her barn burned down a year later .
She and her family said they committed to rebuilding the operation in 2018 with confidence that Trump ’ s trade policies would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but thrive .
Peterson also gave Trump high marks for his work to keep the food supply chain up and running amid COVID-19 disruptions .
“ Many people probably don ’ t realize that our country is one of few in the world that produces nearly all of its own food .
Fewer still understand how close our food production and distribution system came to collapsing this past spring , ” she said .
“ But President Trump understood and again took steps to provide the support we needed .
President Trump took @ @ @ @ @ @ @ our backbone and strength , critical to our national security.
” Democrats have countered that the milk-making industry has continued to crater during Trump ’ s term – and they have a point .
Small dairy farmers who have struggled to remain viable have given Wisconsin one of the highest farm bankruptcy rates in the nation .
Nearly 6,000 dairy farmers nationwide have gone out of business in recent years , a 15 % decline .
The RealClearPolitics average of polls shows the race tightening in Wisconsin , with Biden leading Trump by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and that lead closing to just 3.5 points this week .
Polls were notoriously inaccurate in the state in 2016 .
Clinton held a 6.5-point lead over Trump in Wisconsin so took the state for granted and didn ’ t campaign there after the convention .
Team Biden isn ’ t making that mistake again .
Democrats have seized on the fallout from the China trade deal to drive home the point that many dairy farmers are on the ropes .
Exports of U.S. dairy products have been cut nearly in half because @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and there are new fears that China ’ s market is now off the table for U.S. milk and cheese products as tensions between the U.S. and China flare over Beijing ’ s COVID-19 disinformation that helped the virus spread .
That ’ s why Peterson ’ s decision to stand by Trump was so critical during the convention .
Trump and his advisers argue his trade policy appeals to rank-and-file voters , and polls still indicate that Trump ’ s record on handling of the economy is his biggest strength against Biden @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has spotlighted several Wisconsin voters this week .
Another is John Peterson , owner of a Schuette Metals in Rothschild , Wis. Peterson praised Trump for negotiating the U.S.-Mexico-Canada trade agreement , which he said provides “ a more competitive playing field for American companies like ours.
” Trump , he said , “ knows when the game isn ’ t rigged against us , nobody can beat the American worker and the American entrepreneur.
” The convention provided another sign that the Trump campaign is making a play for Minnesota as well @ @ @ @ @ @ @ big lead in the Land of 10,000 Lakes , but the most recent survey by Trafalgar Group shows Minnesota within striking range for Trump , with Biden holding a 6-point lead over Trump .
Minnesotan Bob Vlaisaljevich showed up to speak at the convention , hailing Trump ’ s record on trade .
He ’ s the mayor of Eveleth , a town of about 1,600 on northern Minnesota ’ s Iron Range , an area of iron-ore mining districts around Lake Superior .
Vlaisaljevich praised Trump for imposing tariffs on imported steel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s industry .
“ He lowered our high taxes .
He rolled back the job-killing regulations .
He got rid of the bad trade deals and replaced them with deals that put our interests first , ” Vlaisaljevich said .
“ The Trump administration ’ s policies mean that with the discovery of new mineral deposits , the use of innovative mining processes , and the growth of our domestic and global markets , we have the chance to grow and diversify our economy.
” All of these men and women who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the president and his team for building up a record-setting economy before the coronavirus struck and sent it into a freefall .
The economy has begun to claw its way back in the summer , but Americans are still on edge about their financial futures .
Trump advisers believe that hearing full-throated endorsements from people with similar problems and worries will only help boost Americans ’ confidence in his ability to rebuild .
Looking back on the last four days of virtual political programming and pageantry , which ended in a spectacular @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump campaign communications director Tim Murtaugh said it was the convention ’ s focus on real Americans that would carry them to victory .
“ Our convention was focused on hearing from real people in the real world who have personally benefitted from President Trump ’ s policies .
This was a chance to cement the reality of who Trump supporters are , what they believe , where they come from , and why they support the president , ” he told RealClearPolitics .
Americans , he said , saw clearly that President @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about its future and “ believes fully in its inherent greatness.
” Republicans , he argued , also drew a clear contrast between “ the President ’ s record of accomplishment and Joe Biden ’ s 47 years of failure and dramatic lurch to the left.
” By the third night , the GOP convention speaker lineup had CNN commentator S.E .
Cupp so worried she penned a column telling Democrats to wake up to the fact that real people like Trump , despite what “ I may think are unforgivable and disqualifying @ @ @ @ @ @ @ years , however , we ’ ve seen over and over again that Trump ’ s appeal wasn ’ t merely the result of a fluke or irrelevant procedural mishap , ” she wrote .
“ It was real .
Supported by real people .
For real reasons.
” Cupp is right to be worried .
Democrats don ’ t seem to be following the lessons of 2016 when coal miners in Appalachia and displaced Rust Belt manufacturing workers were instrumental in giving Trump the edge in key states .
Biden ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the Democratic Primary positioned him to win the coasts , but not the heartland , and since then he ’ s only followed Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez further to the left .
Endless debates on MSNBC and CNN about QAnon conspiracists ’ support for Trump or whether Trump fans racism with his inaccurate tweets about NASCAR and the Confederate flag don ’ t reach these types of voters .
These men and women are decidedly not part of the blue-checked Twitterati .
They ’ re spending their time with balance sheets , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ working hard to keep the jobs they have .
Trump made a point this week of giving them a voice .
It ’ s the biggest page out of his 2016 playbook , and right now Democrats aren ’ t positioning themselves to counter it .

[Editor's note: This story originally was published by Real Clear Politics.]
By Susan Crabtree
Real Clear Politics
Democrats are worried. A centerpiece of their convention last week focused on inspiring personal stories from average working Americans of every color and creed talking about why Trump needs to go. They projected confidence that they had a lock on everyday, working-class Americans.
They were wrong. Some of the most poignant and powerful moments of the Republican convention this week have come from Americans from myriad backgrounds offering compelling reasons behind their support for Donald Trump’s second term.
TRENDING: Is this the 'Final Battle'?
Many of these GOP speakers hail from key presidential battleground states and were there to talk about practical pocketbook issues, keeping their jobs and businesses on the right track. They weren’t as focused on the big racial justice themes that have been grabbing most of the headlines this summer amid violent protests, as so many of the Democrats’ convention speakers tried to hammer home.
Republicans had plenty of speakers to do that too, a whole list of African Americans, including some Democrats, ready to make the case for Trump, but they also didn’t take the more basic bread-and-butter issues of jobs and the economy off the table.
Even amid race riots and a norms-upending global pandemic, and in some ways because of it, it’s still the “economy, stupid” for many voters struggling to make ends meet or to maintain their hold on their version of the American Dream.
That was true in 1992 when the message landed Bill Clinton in the White House, and four years ago too, when Trump’s appeal to Rust Belt workers was credited in part with his 2016 surprise victory.
It may be more so today amid a jobs-killing pandemic that’s drawn a bullseye on small businesses and their employees. Many of these pocketbook voters believe Democrats are pushing a socialist agenda and will never look after the economic interests of Main Street in their Bernie Sanders-led march to the left.
If small businesses, including farms, are the backbone of the nation’s economy, won’t their owners and employees play a similarly critical role in determining a nation’s president?
Republicans this week showed they are counting on it.
Maine lobsterman Jason Joyce, Wisconsin dairy farmer Cris Peterson, Ohio trucker Geno DiFabrio, and Wisconsin’s John Peterson, the owner of Schuette Metals, are just a handful of the carefully selected voters who provided firsthand testimonials of Trump’s trade policy and overall handling of the economy.
Maine
Joyce, the lobsterman, kicked it off the first night by generally crediting Trump for rolling back regulations, and more specifically for negotiating a deal in which the European Union agreed to lift its tariffs on lobsters in exchange for the U.S. cutting duties on some European products.
“As long as Trump is president, fishing families like mine will have a voice,” he said. “But if Biden wins, he’ll be controlled by the environmental extremists who want to circumvent long-standing rules and impose radical changes that hurt our coastal communities."
Maine has voted Democratic in the last seven presidential elections, although the 2016 race was much closer than expected, with Hillary Clinton edging Trump in the state by just 2.9% over Trump. It’s now viewed as trending purple, with blue portions near the coast and red areas in the inland rural areas. Sen. Susan Collins, one of the last centrist Republicans, also is running in the election fight of her life against Maine House Speaker Sara Gideon.
Ohio
Geno DiFabrio, a Youngstown, Ohio, trucker, appeared in a video with Vice President Mike Pence praising President Trump’s handling of an area General Motors assembly plant closure.
Pence spoke with DiFabrio and five others outside Abraham Lincoln’s boyhood home in Indiana.
“Geno is a truck driver from Ohio who heard politicians for years make empty promises about defending American jobs only to see those promises broken again and again,” Pence intoned. “But in 2019, when GM closed its plant in Lordstown, Ohio, President Trump refused to stand by and watch it happen.”
The issue of the GM plant closure is a political sticking point, and one that Joe Biden has already said he plans to focus on as he sells his own economic agenda in Ohio. During a 2017 rally in Youngstown, Trump told attendees not to sell their homes because manufacturing work would be coming back to the state’s Mahoning Valley. But the Lordstown plant closed permanently in 2019, giving Trump’s detractors new ammunition that he broke his promise to bring manufacturing jobs back to the Rust Belt.
But Pence and DiFabio stressed that Trump played a critical role in ensuring that GM sold the plant to an electric truck startup, Lordstown Motors, and agreed to lend it $40 million to underwrite part of the plant purchase. The new company has only 70 full-time workers and 100 contractors right now but hopes to build up to 5,000 employees once the plant is fully established. The GM plant, before it closed last year, had 1,700 workers.
“There’s no other president that could have done it,” DiFabrio said of the role Trump played in getting GM to help finance the plant’s transition. “There’s no one that has even tried to do it. President Trump’s a doer. He appreciates every one of us, and I know he does. I’ve seen it.”
Trump performed far better than previous Republican candidates for president in the traditionally Democratic, blue-collar Mahoning Valley and the area helped him notch an 8-percentage-point win in the state in 2016. Biden currently leads Trump by 2.3 points in Ohio, according to the RealClearPolitics average of polls.
Wisconsin
Speaking on the second night of the GOP convention, Cris Peterson, who runs a dairy farm with her husband Gary, pushed back on the Democrats’ narrative that Trump’s China deal has crushed Midwest farmers.
“More than any president, he has acknowledged the importance of farmers and agriculture,” said Peterson (pictured above).
She recalled that when Trump first won the presidency in 2016, her state was in a “Great Depression” for dairy farmers. Then her barn burned down a year later. She and her family said they committed to rebuilding the operation in 2018 with confidence that Trump’s trade policies would eventually help it not only survive, but thrive.
Peterson also gave Trump high marks for his work to keep the food supply chain up and running amid COVID-19 disruptions.
“Many people probably don’t realize that our country is one of few in the world that produces nearly all of its own food. Fewer still understand how close our food production and distribution system came to collapsing this past spring,” she said. “But President Trump understood and again took steps to provide the support we needed. President Trump took the necessary action knowing that agriculture is our backbone and strength, critical to our national security.”
Democrats have countered that the milk-making industry has continued to crater during Trump’s term – and they have a point. Small dairy farmers who have struggled to remain viable have given Wisconsin one of the highest farm bankruptcy rates in the nation. Nearly 6,000 dairy farmers nationwide have gone out of business in recent years, a 15% decline.
The RealClearPolitics average of polls shows the race tightening in Wisconsin, with Biden leading Trump by nearly 8 points in late June, and that lead closing to just 3.5 points this week. Polls were notoriously inaccurate in the state in 2016. Clinton held a 6.5-point lead over Trump in Wisconsin so took the state for granted and didn’t campaign there after the convention. Team Biden isn’t making that mistake again.
Democrats have seized on the fallout from the China trade deal to drive home the point that many dairy farmers are on the ropes. Exports of U.S. dairy products have been cut nearly in half because of the trade war with Beijing, and there are new fears that China’s market is now off the table for U.S. milk and cheese products as tensions between the U.S. and China flare over Beijing’s COVID-19 disinformation that helped the virus spread.
That’s why Peterson’s decision to stand by Trump was so critical during the convention. Trump and his advisers argue his trade policy appeals to rank-and-file voters, and polls still indicate that Trump’s record on handling of the economy is his biggest strength against Biden.
In fact, the Republican convention has spotlighted several Wisconsin voters this week. Another is John Peterson, owner of a Schuette Metals in Rothschild, Wis. Peterson praised Trump for negotiating the U.S.-Mexico-Canada trade agreement, which he said provides “a more competitive playing field for American companies like ours.”
Trump, he said, “knows when the game isn’t rigged against us, nobody can beat the American worker and the American entrepreneur.”
Minnesota
The convention provided another sign that the Trump campaign is making a play for Minnesota as well. For months, Biden held a big lead in the Land of 10,000 Lakes, but the most recent survey by Trafalgar Group shows Minnesota within striking range for Trump, with Biden holding a 6-point lead over Trump.
Minnesotan Bob Vlaisaljevich showed up to speak at the convention, hailing Trump’s record on trade. He’s the mayor of Eveleth, a town of about 1,600 on northern Minnesota’s Iron Range, an area of iron-ore mining districts around Lake Superior.
Vlaisaljevich praised Trump for imposing tariffs on imported steel as a way to protect the state’s industry.
“He lowered our high taxes. He rolled back the job-killing regulations. He got rid of the bad trade deals and replaced them with deals that put our interests first,” Vlaisaljevich said. “The Trump administration’s policies mean that with the discovery of new mineral deposits, the use of innovative mining processes, and the growth of our domestic and global markets, we have the chance to grow and diversify our economy.”
All of these men and women who endorsed Trump this week appeared genuinely grateful to the president and his team for building up a record-setting economy before the coronavirus struck and sent it into a freefall. The economy has begun to claw its way back in the summer, but Americans are still on edge about their financial futures.
Trump advisers believe that hearing full-throated endorsements from people with similar problems and worries will only help boost Americans’ confidence in his ability to rebuild.
Looking back on the last four days of virtual political programming and pageantry, which ended in a spectacular fireworks display around the Washington monument, Trump campaign communications director Tim Murtaugh said it was the convention’s focus on real Americans that would carry them to victory.
“Our convention was focused on hearing from real people in the real world who have personally benefitted from President Trump’s policies. This was a chance to cement the reality of who Trump supporters are, what they believe, where they come from, and why they support the president,” he told RealClearPolitics.
Americans, he said, saw clearly that President Trump loves his country, is optimistic about its future and “believes fully in its inherent greatness.”
Republicans, he argued, also drew a clear contrast between “the President’s record of accomplishment and Joe Biden’s 47 years of failure and dramatic lurch to the left.”
By the third night, the GOP convention speaker lineup had CNN commentator S.E. Cupp so worried she penned a column telling Democrats to wake up to the fact that real people like Trump, despite what “I may think are unforgivable and disqualifying transgressions.”
“Over the past four years, however, we’ve seen over and over again that Trump’s appeal wasn’t merely the result of a fluke or irrelevant procedural mishap,” she wrote.
“It was real. Supported by real people. For real reasons.”
Cupp is right to be worried. Democrats don’t seem to be following the lessons of 2016 when coal miners in Appalachia and displaced Rust Belt manufacturing workers were instrumental in giving Trump the edge in key states. Biden’s embrace of the Green New Deal early in the Democratic Primary positioned him to win the coasts, but not the heartland, and since then he’s only followed Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez further to the left.
Endless debates on MSNBC and CNN about QAnon conspiracists’ support for Trump or whether Trump fans racism with his inaccurate tweets about NASCAR and the Confederate flag don’t reach these types of voters. These men and women are decidedly not part of the blue-checked Twitterati. They’re spending their time with balance sheets, worried about meeting their next payrolls or working hard to keep the jobs they have.
Trump made a point this week of giving them a voice. It’s the biggest page out of his 2016 playbook, and right now Democrats aren’t positioning themselves to counter it.


wnd--2020-08-29--Preparing for a post-Roe world

Preparing for a post-Roe world

[ Editor 's note : This story originally was published by Real Clear Politics . ]
Before any great sporting event begins , teams are chosen , made up of individuals who enthusiasts hope have the skills to win and the will to fight until the game is won .
The same holds true in politics , even in an election year stripped of fanfare .
The ground game of building a winning coalition has never been more important , especially for a pro-life movement well aware that reversing Roe v. Wade and returning the issue of abortion to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the day after Roe , Students for Life Action was formed not only to organize and advocate for life-related legislation as it is introduced but also to become engaged in choosing the team members who will be pivotal for success .
To that end , we made the unusual decision to get involved in primary fights in state legislative races where the margins for defending the preborn are close .
Once Roe is reversed , state legislators will be on the frontlines defending mothers and their pre-born infants .
With more than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Students for Life knew a few people to ask about a Vote Pro-Life First campaign .
Formal ( c4 ) nonprofit structures are being built as 55 SFL captains are in place in 33 states so far .
In this cycle , SFLAction , sometimes partnering with Susan B. Anthony List , has already knocked on more than 50,000 doors and made more than 200,000 calls , fielding hundreds of student and staff .
This week Students for Life is launching a digital campaign , reaching out to a potential audience of 21 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ potential pro-life non-voters nationwide , with a specific focus on 1.2 million in the swing states of Arizona , North Carolina , Florida , Michigan , Wisconsin and Montana .
On campuses , Vote Pro-Life First and Sock the Vote campaigns will be launched , with options for digital engagement only for schools that have not gone back to traditional classrooms .
The goal is not merely to hold a seat , but to hold accountable officeholders who failed to protect mothers and their pre-born children from a predatory abortion franchise , no @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Last year in Arizona , a pro-life bill that would have sent $ 7.5 million to pregnancy resource centers to support mothers experiencing unexpected pregnancies failed because two pro-choice Republicans voted with the abortion lobby .
One , Sen. Heather Carter also has a history of missing key pro-life votes .
Students knocked on 5,000 doors and make 35,000 calls , and when the election night dust had cleared , Carter lost to Rep. Nancy Barto by fewer than 1,500 votes .
In Kansas , SFLAction students organized three lobbying trips and made @ @ @ @ @ @ @ support of the “ Value Them Both ” Amendment , which would have overridden a Kansas Supreme Court ruling granting the legislature authority to regulate abortion again .
After Democrat Gov .
Laura Kelly vetoed the measure , Republicans had the votes to override her actions , but four Republicans refused to do so , including Rep. Jan Kessinger .
So students returned to the state , reaching out to virtually all of the 4,000 voters in the district via text , phone , or at their doors , and Kessinger lost to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In Michigan , supporting a pro-life champion was the goal , and 5,000 voters were contacted in a race in which state Rep. Bradley Slagh handily defeated Mark Northrup .
In defense of the most endangered of species -- anti-abortion Democrats -- SFLAction worked for pro-life Democrats including U.S. Rep. Dan Lipinski , and though victory eluded us in this round , pro-life champions should be confident that help is coming .
In addition , we know that involvement in some of these races , even those that end in defeat , help @ @ @ @ @ @ @ state .
For example , SFLAction ’ s engagement in Virginia last year helped mitigate what could have been an even more tremendous shift .
As I wrote on Townhall.com , consider that “ state senator Bryce Reeves defeated an EMILY ’ s List-backed challenger , Amy Laufer , who received $ 500,000 plus in support from outside groups , compared to an SFLAction investment of $ 14,500 .
Senator Amanda Chase defeated a pro-abortion candidate backed by all the pro-abortion groups as well as Alec Baldwin , with triple digit financial support @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Jen Kiggans defeated Delegate Cheryl Turpin in Virginia Beach.
” With the conventions as a backdrop , the goal must be to build a pro-life team .
As the New York Times notes , the life issue activates voters in greater numbers than the pro-abortion position and cuts through a lot of noise .
Candidates who say they are pro-life must protect mothers and pre-born infants from a predatory abortion industry , advance common-sense health and safety standards , support adoption and foster reforms , work to limit abortions especially after the point @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by abortion .
And once in office , they need to show up to vote .
The Pro-Life Generation , now trained in pro-life conversion techniques and learning the mechanics of political engagement , are genuinely working to change hearts and minds , not just in hanging a piece of literature on someone ’ s door .
With the goal of activating and engaging with first-time and newer voters , SFLAction makes an appeal that goes past partisanship , to the human rights issue of our day , with a clear call to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ much I ’ m willing to vote for a candidate I don ’ t like .
”

[Editor's note: This story originally was published by Real Clear Politics.]
By Kirstan Hawkins
Real Clear Politics
Before any great sporting event begins, teams are chosen, made up of individuals who enthusiasts hope have the skills to win and the will to fight until the game is won. The same holds true in politics, even in an election year stripped of fanfare. The ground game of building a winning coalition has never been more important, especially for a pro-life movement well aware that reversing Roe v. Wade and returning the issue of abortion to the states is within reach.
TRENDING: Is this the 'Final Battle'?
To prepare for the day after Roe, Students for Life Action was formed not only to organize and advocate for life-related legislation as it is introduced but also to become engaged in choosing the team members who will be pivotal for success. To that end, we made the unusual decision to get involved in primary fights in state legislative races where the margins for defending the preborn are close. Once Roe is reversed, state legislators will be on the frontlines defending mothers and their pre-born infants.
With more than 1,240 chapters in all 50 states, Students for Life knew a few people to ask about a Vote Pro-Life First campaign. Formal (c4) nonprofit structures are being built as 55 SFL captains are in place in 33 states so far. In this cycle, SFLAction, sometimes partnering with Susan B. Anthony List, has already knocked on more than 50,000 doors and made more than 200,000 calls, fielding hundreds of student and staff.
This week Students for Life is launching a digital campaign, reaching out to a potential audience of 21 million under-30 "mushy middle" or potential pro-life non-voters nationwide, with a specific focus on 1.2 million in the swing states of Arizona, North Carolina, Florida, Michigan, Wisconsin and Montana.
On campuses, Vote Pro-Life First and Sock the Vote campaigns will be launched, with options for digital engagement only for schools that have not gone back to traditional classrooms. The goal is not merely to hold a seat, but to hold accountable officeholders who failed to protect mothers and their pre-born children from a predatory abortion franchise, no matter what party they call home.
Last year in Arizona, a pro-life bill that would have sent $7.5 million to pregnancy resource centers to support mothers experiencing unexpected pregnancies failed because two pro-choice Republicans voted with the abortion lobby. One, Sen. Heather Carter also has a history of missing key pro-life votes. Students knocked on 5,000 doors and make 35,000 calls, and when the election night dust had cleared, Carter lost to Rep. Nancy Barto by fewer than 1,500 votes.
In Kansas, SFLAction students organized three lobbying trips and made almost 2,000 calls to their legislators in support of the “Value Them Both” Amendment, which would have overridden a Kansas Supreme Court ruling granting the legislature authority to regulate abortion again. After Democrat Gov. Laura Kelly vetoed the measure, Republicans had the votes to override her actions, but four Republicans refused to do so, including Rep. Jan Kessinger. So students returned to the state, reaching out to virtually all of the 4,000 voters in the district via text, phone, or at their doors, and Kessinger lost to Jane Dirks 58%-42%.
In Michigan, supporting a pro-life champion was the goal, and 5,000 voters were contacted in a race in which state Rep. Bradley Slagh handily defeated Mark Northrup. In defense of the most endangered of species -- anti-abortion Democrats -- SFLAction worked for pro-life Democrats including U.S. Rep. Dan Lipinski, and though victory eluded us in this round, pro-life champions should be confident that help is coming. In addition, we know that involvement in some of these races, even those that end in defeat, help hold back even larger margins in a state.
For example, SFLAction’s engagement in Virginia last year helped mitigate what could have been an even more tremendous shift. As I wrote on Townhall.com, consider that “state senator Bryce Reeves defeated an EMILY’s List-backed challenger, Amy Laufer, who received $500,000 plus in support from outside groups, compared to an SFLAction investment of $14,500. Senator Amanda Chase defeated a pro-abortion candidate backed by all the pro-abortion groups as well as Alec Baldwin, with triple digit financial support. And in an upset victory, Jen Kiggans defeated Delegate Cheryl Turpin in Virginia Beach.”
With the conventions as a backdrop, the goal must be to build a pro-life team. As the New York Times notes, the life issue activates voters in greater numbers than the pro-abortion position and cuts through a lot of noise.
Candidates who say they are pro-life must protect mothers and pre-born infants from a predatory abortion industry, advance common-sense health and safety standards, support adoption and foster reforms, work to limit abortions especially after the point in which viable babies suffer horrific deaths by abortion. And once in office, they need to show up to vote.
The Pro-Life Generation, now trained in pro-life conversion techniques and learning the mechanics of political engagement, are genuinely working to change hearts and minds, not just in hanging a piece of literature on someone’s door. With the goal of activating and engaging with first-time and newer voters, SFLAction makes an appeal that goes past partisanship, to the human rights issue of our day, with a clear call to action: “I hate abortion so much I’m willing to vote for a candidate I don’t like.”