thewashingtonexaminer--2020-12-19--'Squad' member calls Perdue and Loeffler the 'Bonnie and Clyde of corruption'

Rep. Ayanna Pressley told Georgians to vote for Democrats in the special runoff election and blasted Sens .
Kelly Loeffler and David Perdue , as well as Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell .
Pressley , a Massachusetts member of the “ Squad ” that includes Democratic lawmakers such as Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York and Ilhan Omar of Minnesota , appeared on MSNBC ’ s The ReidOut on Friday evening , in which she discussed the Jan. 5 contest .
“ Georgia , do your thing .
I know we ’ re asking a lot from Georgia , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ what you do .
All eyes are on Georgia , ” she said .
“ Mitch McConnell , Loeffler , Perdue — they are the Bonnie and Clyde of corruption .
They are all the same , ” she continued .
“ We need to regain control of the Senate .
Georgia , do what you do.
” Joy Reid , the host of the show , responded : “ I could not have said it any better , so I ’ m just gon na leave it right there.
” Loeffler and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff , respectively .
A recent poll found that both Loeffler and Perdue lead Warnock and Ossoff with 51 % to 48 % support .
The Jan. 5 contest is a critical one because it will determine who controls the Senate .
Republicans would need to pick up at least one seat to hold a wire-thin majority .

Rep. Ayanna Pressley told Georgians to vote for Democrats in the special runoff election and blasted Sens. Kelly Loeffler and David Perdue, as well as Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell.
Pressley, a Massachusetts member of the “Squad” that includes Democratic lawmakers such as Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York and Ilhan Omar of Minnesota, appeared on MSNBC’s The ReidOut on Friday evening, in which she discussed the Jan. 5 contest.
“Georgia, do your thing. I know we’re asking a lot from Georgia, but do your thing, Georgia. Do what you do. All eyes are on Georgia,” she said.
“Mitch McConnell, Loeffler, Perdue — they are the Bonnie and Clyde of corruption. They are all the same,” she continued. “We need to regain control of the Senate. Georgia, do what you do.”
Joy Reid, the host of the show, responded: “I could not have said it any better, so I’m just gonna leave it right there.”
"Georgia, do your thing. I know we're asking a lot of Georgia. But do your thing, Georgia.
All eyes are on Georgia. Mitch McConnell, Loeffler, Perdue. They are the Bonnie and Clyde of corruption. They are all same."@AyannaPressley on #thereidout. pic.twitter.com/6N8Ox4tDAH — The ReidOut (@thereidout) December 19, 2020
Loeffler and Perdue are facing off against Democratic challengers Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff, respectively. A recent poll found that both Loeffler and Perdue lead Warnock and Ossoff with 51% to 48% support.
The Jan. 5 contest is a critical one because it will determine who controls the Senate. Republicans would need to pick up at least one seat to hold a wire-thin majority.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-12-20--GOP leaders are ready to move on. Trump should do the same

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell acknowledged the reality of the 2020 election on Tuesday , saying that `` the Electoral College has spoken .
So , today , I want to congratulate President-elect Joe Biden . ''
In response , President Trump took to social media , reminding McConnell of his total vote tally and saying that it was `` too soon to give up . ''
Others on the Right lambasted the majority leader for his words , deeply disturbed that he would do such a thing .
These antics from Trump and his most ardent supporters are n't @ @ @ @ @ @ @ As McConnell himself noted on the floor of the Senate , the election did n't turn out the way that many voters wanted .
More than 74 million people hoped that Biden would not be victorious .
That is no small number .
Despite the record turnout for both major parties , the result is that Trump lost .
Recognizing this is neither an embrace of the Democratic Party nor a personal rejection of the current president and his policies .
It 's simply a statement of fact .
McConnell himself is a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ president and helped lead the party to many Trump-era victories .
Yet , some of the loudest voices on the Right claim a `` stolen election '' and assert that he has given up , or worse , betrayed Trump and the GOP .
It 's time that Republicans move on from this election .
It is important for both the short-term and long-term health of the party that its members accept the loss .
These next four years will be led by the Biden-Harris administration .
It will be as left-leaning an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ so than what the country experienced during President Barack Obama 's eight years in office .
To combat this new direction , it requires some amount of unity among Republicans .
Before another presidential victory can occur , the Republican Party will have to endure important midterm elections .
It is useless to focus on the 2020 election , something that can neither be repeated nor undone .
Additionally , there is the everyday business of the country .
The men and women who voted on Nov. 3 , 2020 , will be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of whether Republican politicians spend their time complaining about what they ca n't change or use the time to be a legislative voice for their constituents .
The latter is far more preferable .
At present , it is still the Trump administration , and it will be until Jan. 20 .
There have been dozens of legal failures and even more promises made in an effort to overturn the will of the people .
The outcries from some give the impression that there is still a fight worth having .
Not only @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the end , it will not save his presidency .
Worse than that , it will have a negative effect on the party , which will last far longer than his very public tantrums .
McConnell 's public acceptance of the results was a necessary step forward for the country as a whole .
In a sharply divided political environment , it 's seen as an exceptional act by one side and a premature capitulation by the other .
In reality , it 's nothing more than a standard admission that follows any @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , it would receive little fanfare .
But this year , with the election still being disputed , it is major news .
That it was spoken by the Senate majority leader is an indication that party leadership is ready to move on .
If only Trump and his tireless admirers would do the same .
Kimberly Ross ( @ SouthernKeeks ) is a contributor to the Washington Examiner 's Beltway Confidential blog and a columnist at Arc Digital .

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell acknowledged the reality of the 2020 election on Tuesday, saying that "the Electoral College has spoken. So, today, I want to congratulate President-elect Joe Biden."
In response, President Trump took to social media, reminding McConnell of his total vote tally and saying that it was "too soon to give up." Others on the Right lambasted the majority leader for his words, deeply disturbed that he would do such a thing. These antics from Trump and his most ardent supporters aren't unexpected, but they are unfortunate.
As McConnell himself noted on the floor of the Senate, the election didn't turn out the way that many voters wanted. More than 74 million people hoped that Biden would not be victorious. That is no small number.
Despite the record turnout for both major parties, the result is that Trump lost. Recognizing this is neither an embrace of the Democratic Party nor a personal rejection of the current president and his policies. It's simply a statement of fact.
McConnell himself is a staunch Republican who has worked with the president and helped lead the party to many Trump-era victories. Yet, some of the loudest voices on the Right claim a "stolen election" and assert that he has given up, or worse, betrayed Trump and the GOP.
It's time that Republicans move on from this election. It is important for both the short-term and long-term health of the party that its members accept the loss. These next four years will be led by the Biden-Harris administration. It will be as left-leaning an administration — and most likely even more so than what the country experienced during President Barack Obama's eight years in office.
To combat this new direction, it requires some amount of unity among Republicans. Before another presidential victory can occur, the Republican Party will have to endure important midterm elections. It is useless to focus on the 2020 election, something that can neither be repeated nor undone.
Additionally, there is the everyday business of the country. The men and women who voted on Nov. 3, 2020, will be paying attention. Millions will take note of whether Republican politicians spend their time complaining about what they can't change or use the time to be a legislative voice for their constituents. The latter is far more preferable.
At present, it is still the Trump administration, and it will be until Jan. 20. There have been dozens of legal failures and even more promises made in an effort to overturn the will of the people. The outcries from some give the impression that there is still a fight worth having. Not only is this not true, but in the end, it will not save his presidency. Worse than that, it will have a negative effect on the party, which will last far longer than his very public tantrums.
McConnell's public acceptance of the results was a necessary step forward for the country as a whole. In a sharply divided political environment, it's seen as an exceptional act by one side and a premature capitulation by the other.
In reality, it's nothing more than a standard admission that follows any election defeat. During more normal times, it would receive little fanfare. But this year, with the election still being disputed, it is major news. That it was spoken by the Senate majority leader is an indication that party leadership is ready to move on.
If only Trump and his tireless admirers would do the same.
Kimberly Ross (@SouthernKeeks) is a contributor to the Washington Examiner's Beltway Confidential blog and a columnist at Arc Digital.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-12-21--GOP narrows focus on Pelosi over Eric Swalwell's spot on Intelligence Committee

Republicans do n't believe Rep. Eric Swalwell was the only House Democrat who exercised poor judgment when it comes to suspected Chinese spy Fang Fang .
Following a briefing from the FBI on Fang 's time in the United States , House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy , a Republican , reiterated his call for Swalwell to be removed from the House Intelligence Committee .
McCarthy said his conversation with federal officials led him to conclude that `` the one thing that was fundamentally answered was that [ Swalwell ] should not be on Intel . ''
An individual familiar with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ intelligence officials briefed Swalwell in 2015 , likely after he received his position on the House Intelligence Committee .
That clarity has led Republicans to set their sights on House Speaker Nancy Pelosi , who they say must give an explanation for why Swalwell has not been disciplined .
`` It also brings up concerns about how Democrat leadership handled this serious revelation .
Public reporting shows that Swalwell received a defensive briefing from the FBI back in 2015 , the same year Swalwell was selected to serve as the lead Democrat on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ McCarthy told the Washington Examiner .
`` How did Nancy Pelosi allow him to continue to serve in this role despite knowing he had been spied on for years by the CCP ? ''
On Dec. 15 , 17 GOP lawmakers called on Pelosi to remove Swalwell from the committee , calling his prior relationship with Fang a national security risk .
Swalwell has remained silent on the issue as of late , although he previously called the original Axios report part of a conspiracy by the Trump administration to smear him .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ in overseeing our national effort to counteract our chief global rival 's espionage initiatives ; for one of its members to have had an undisclosed relationship with a foreign asset in the manner described by recent reports in unacceptable and dangerous , '' a letter from the House Republicans reads .
Despite mounting criticism , Pelosi and other Democrats have defended Swalwell .
Earlier this month , she told reporters she does n't have `` any concern '' about Swalwell 's position on the Intelligence Committee and called McCarthy 's rhetoric an effort @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that he has QAnon in his delegation , '' a reference to incoming Republican lawmaker Marjorie Greene of Georgia .
Other Democrats , such as Rep. Debbie Dingell of Michigan , expressed confidence that Swalwell and Fang were not `` in a deep relationship '' and that she trusted Pelosi 's leadership .
But the extent of that relationship remains unclear .
Fang had fundraised for Swalwell 's congressional reelection as late as 2014 , although the two had contact starting in at least 2012 when he was a Dublin City , California @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the two were close enough that Fang placed an intern in his office .
U.S. officials believe Fang had been involved in a domestic spying operation from 2011 to 2015 , when she spontaneously left the country .
Aside from helping fundraise for a number of California Democrats , she is also suspected of entering a romantic relationship with at least two Midwestern mayors .
Swalwell has not commented on whether he and Fang were ever romantically involved .
`` At a time when we should be more vigilant against China ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ security by allowing a compromised individual to oversee the operations of agencies whose mission it is to protect our country ’ s most sensitive information , '' McCarthy said .

Republicans don't believe Rep. Eric Swalwell was the only House Democrat who exercised poor judgment when it comes to suspected Chinese spy Fang Fang.
Following a briefing from the FBI on Fang's time in the United States, House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, a Republican, reiterated his call for Swalwell to be removed from the House Intelligence Committee. McCarthy said his conversation with federal officials led him to conclude that "the one thing that was fundamentally answered was that [Swalwell] should not be on Intel."
An individual familiar with the matter told the Washington Examiner that intelligence officials briefed Swalwell in 2015, likely after he received his position on the House Intelligence Committee. That clarity has led Republicans to set their sights on House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who they say must give an explanation for why Swalwell has not been disciplined.
"It also brings up concerns about how Democrat leadership handled this serious revelation. Public reporting shows that Swalwell received a defensive briefing from the FBI back in 2015, the same year Swalwell was selected to serve as the lead Democrat on a subcommittee overseeing the CIA," McCarthy told the Washington Examiner. "How did Nancy Pelosi allow him to continue to serve in this role despite knowing he had been spied on for years by the CCP?"
On Dec. 15, 17 GOP lawmakers called on Pelosi to remove Swalwell from the committee, calling his prior relationship with Fang a national security risk. Swalwell has remained silent on the issue as of late, although he previously called the original Axios report part of a conspiracy by the Trump administration to smear him.
"The House Intelligence Committee is instrumental in overseeing our national effort to counteract our chief global rival's espionage initiatives; for one of its members to have had an undisclosed relationship with a foreign asset in the manner described by recent reports in unacceptable and dangerous," a letter from the House Republicans reads.
Despite mounting criticism, Pelosi and other Democrats have defended Swalwell. Earlier this month, she told reporters she doesn't have "any concern" about Swalwell's position on the Intelligence Committee and called McCarthy's rhetoric an effort "to deflect attention from the fact that he has QAnon in his delegation," a reference to incoming Republican lawmaker Marjorie Greene of Georgia. Other Democrats, such as Rep. Debbie Dingell of Michigan, expressed confidence that Swalwell and Fang were not "in a deep relationship" and that she trusted Pelosi's leadership.
But the extent of that relationship remains unclear. Fang had fundraised for Swalwell's congressional reelection as late as 2014, although the two had contact starting in at least 2012 when he was a Dublin City, California, councilman. At some point, the two were close enough that Fang placed an intern in his office.
U.S. officials believe Fang had been involved in a domestic spying operation from 2011 to 2015, when she spontaneously left the country. Aside from helping fundraise for a number of California Democrats, she is also suspected of entering a romantic relationship with at least two Midwestern mayors. Swalwell has not commented on whether he and Fang were ever romantically involved.
"At a time when we should be more vigilant against China’s ongoing threats, Democrats jeopardized our national security by allowing a compromised individual to oversee the operations of agencies whose mission it is to protect our country’s most sensitive information," McCarthy said.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-12-21--Chris Christie leaves open possibility of 2024 presidential run, even against Trump

Put Chris Christie firmly on the list of potential 2024 Republican presidential contenders .
The former New Jersey governor declined to rule out another presidential run in the next campaign cycle , regardless of whether President Trump mounts another White House bid .
`` If President Trump decides to run in 2024 , are you ruling out running against him ? ''
radio host Hugh Hewitt asked Christie in a Monday morning interview .
`` I would not , no , '' Christie responded .
`` You would not rule it out , or you would not run ? ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ rule it out , '' Christie said .
`` Well , that would be interesting .
That 's interesting , '' Hewitt said .
Earlier this month , Christie started running television ads encouraging people to wear face masks in order to slow the spread of the coronavirus , in a break in tone from Trump .
Christie was hospitalized after contracting the virus in October .
`` I was wrong not to wear a mask at the Amy Coney Barrett announcement .
And I was wrong not to wear a mask at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ president and the rest of the team , ” Christie said in the ad .
The 58-year-old , who was a two-term New Jersey governor from 2010 to 2018 , also sought the Republican presidential nomination in 2016 but lost to Trump .
Christie was then tasked with running Trump 's transition effort in 2016 but was fired just weeks after the election after butting heads with Trump 's son-in-law and adviser , Jared Kushner .
Earlier this year , Christie prepared Trump for debates against now-President-elect Joe Biden .
He said that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and interrupted Biden in the first debate .
`` All of us said , 'If Joe Biden interrupts you , do n't let him interrupt you , ' but not to be interrupting nearly as much as he did that night , '' Christie said .
`` That was really almost polar opposite of what we had been practicing for four days in the White House . ''
Christie added that he was `` trying to '' speak to Trump more , ahead of the transition , but noted that the two disagree @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and accepting the results of the election .
He does not expect Trump to attend Biden 's inauguration .
`` My impression is , I 'm doubtful he will [ attend the inauguration ] , but he 's Donald Trump , which makes him very unpredictable , so you never quite know , '' Christie said .

Put Chris Christie firmly on the list of potential 2024 Republican presidential contenders.
The former New Jersey governor declined to rule out another presidential run in the next campaign cycle, regardless of whether President Trump mounts another White House bid.
"If President Trump decides to run in 2024, are you ruling out running against him?" radio host Hugh Hewitt asked Christie in a Monday morning interview.
"I would not, no," Christie responded.
"You would not rule it out, or you would not run?" Hewitt asked.
"I would not rule it out," Christie said.
"Well, that would be interesting. That's interesting," Hewitt said.
Earlier this month, Christie started running television ads encouraging people to wear face masks in order to slow the spread of the coronavirus, in a break in tone from Trump. Christie was hospitalized after contracting the virus in October.
"I was wrong not to wear a mask at the Amy Coney Barrett announcement. And I was wrong not to wear a mask at my multiple debate prep sessions with the president and the rest of the team,” Christie said in the ad.
The 58-year-old, who was a two-term New Jersey governor from 2010 to 2018, also sought the Republican presidential nomination in 2016 but lost to Trump. Christie was then tasked with running Trump's transition effort in 2016 but was fired just weeks after the election after butting heads with Trump's son-in-law and adviser, Jared Kushner.
Earlier this year, Christie prepared Trump for debates against now-President-elect Joe Biden. He said that Trump disregarded advice when he repeatedly attacked and interrupted Biden in the first debate.
"All of us said, 'If Joe Biden interrupts you, don't let him interrupt you,' but not to be interrupting nearly as much as he did that night," Christie said. "That was really almost polar opposite of what we had been practicing for four days in the White House."
Christie added that he was "trying to" speak to Trump more, ahead of the transition, but noted that the two disagree about election challenges, election fraud, and accepting the results of the election. He does not expect Trump to attend Biden's inauguration.
"My impression is, I'm doubtful he will [attend the inauguration], but he's Donald Trump, which makes him very unpredictable, so you never quite know," Christie said.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-12-22--Texas moves to stop 'defund the police' initiative in Austin

In what could be a future model for other red states with deep-blue cities , Texas is prepared to change radically how the city of Austin conducts its law enforcement .
Republican Gov .
Greg Abbott is moving forward with a plan to wrestle control away of the Austin Police Department from local authorities .
The move comes after the Austin City Council passed a resolution in August to cut the police department 's budget by $ 150 million , citing the shootings of unarmed minorities and alleged brutality by the force .
The Austin bill constituted one of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ law enforcement 's budget by roughly a third .
Much of that money was reallocated to civilian departments and the creation of the `` Reimagine Safety Fund , '' which is tasked with `` alternative forms of public safety and community support through the yearlong reimagining process . ''
“ Extreme , anti-civil rights voices will try to send us backward and are already working ( to ) mislead people about this vote , ” Austin Councilman Gregorio Casar said on Twitter after the new police budget passed .
“ But today , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ achieved for safety , racial justice , and democracy.
” Its passage immediately sparked backlash from Republicans in the state , including Abbott , who called the bill a threat to public safety .
Four months later , the governor has opted to flex his muscle and begun working with the Texas Legislative Council on a bill to transfer all control of the Austin Police to the state 's Department of Public Safety .
The body has yet to pass the bill , but an individual familiar with the legislation said a vote @ @ @ @ @ @ @ most Republicans prepared to support it .
“ The state will fix this , ” Abbott wrote on Twitter this week .
“ Texas will pass a law this session supporting law enforcement and defunding cities that defund the police.
” The state 's lieutenant governor , Dan Patrick , called Austin `` a disaster '' and `` one of the most dangerous cities in America '' in October and backed Abbott 's proposal .
Austin council members have pushed back on the move , calling it `` authoritarian '' and a distraction @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ Austin is the safest big city in Texas and one of the safest in the country , ” Austin Mayor Steve Adler said in a statement to a local outlet .
“ Not surprising the President ’ s rhetoric is finding its way to Texas as we get closer to November.
” Several other cities , including Los Angeles , New York , and Minneapolis , cut police budgets following a summer of social unrest sparked by the death of George Floyd , an unarmed black man killed by a Minneapolis police @ @ @ @ @ @ @ experienced a wave of rising crime , which conservative critics blame on left-wing prosecutors and city governments hellbent on demoralizing law enforcement .
Despite Democrats in the city pointing to Austin 's slightly lower overall crime rate in 2020 ( a 1 % decrease from 2019 ) rising homicides have led to scrutiny from federal officials .
New data from the U.S. Attorney 's Office found that homicides in the city have increased 54 % from the previous year , with aggravated assaults up 13 % .
Last week , U.S. Attorney Gregg @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Department of Justice called Operation Undaunted , which will increase cooperation between local law enforcement and the federal government to root out gun violence .
“ When you defund the police , relax enforcement of existing criminal law , and release repeat offenders and violent criminals into our streets , increased violence is exactly what you can expect , ” said U.S. Attorney Sofer in a statement .
“ Despite the challenges of the coronavirus and the unfair vilification of the entire law enforcement community , we remain undaunted in our commitment to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Texas.
” Outside of wrestling control of the city 's police department , Abbott has proposed stopping the city 's ability to raise property taxes should it not reverse its budget cuts to the police department .
Legislatures in the state are expected to take up that initiative in the new year .
“ Any city that defunds police departments will have its property tax revenue frozen at the current level , ” Abbott said in August .
“ Cities that endanger residents by reducing law enforcement should not then be able to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more property-tax dollars from those same residents whose lives the city just endangered .
”

In what could be a future model for other red states with deep-blue cities, Texas is prepared to change radically how the city of Austin conducts its law enforcement.
Republican Gov. Greg Abbott is moving forward with a plan to wrestle control away of the Austin Police Department from local authorities. The move comes after the Austin City Council passed a resolution in August to cut the police department's budget by $150 million, citing the shootings of unarmed minorities and alleged brutality by the force.
The Austin bill constituted one of the most radical in the country, slashing law enforcement's budget by roughly a third. Much of that money was reallocated to civilian departments and the creation of the "Reimagine Safety Fund," which is tasked with "alternative forms of public safety and community support through the yearlong reimagining process."
“Extreme, anti-civil rights voices will try to send us backward and are already working (to) mislead people about this vote,” Austin Councilman Gregorio Casar said on Twitter after the new police budget passed. “But today, we should celebrate what the movement has achieved for safety, racial justice, and democracy.”
Its passage immediately sparked backlash from Republicans in the state, including Abbott, who called the bill a threat to public safety.
Four months later, the governor has opted to flex his muscle and begun working with the Texas Legislative Council on a bill to transfer all control of the Austin Police to the state's Department of Public Safety. The body has yet to pass the bill, but an individual familiar with the legislation said a vote could be held by Christmas, with most Republicans prepared to support it.
“The state will fix this,” Abbott wrote on Twitter this week. “Texas will pass a law this session supporting law enforcement and defunding cities that defund the police.”
The state's lieutenant governor, Dan Patrick, called Austin "a disaster" and "one of the most dangerous cities in America" in October and backed Abbott's proposal.
Austin council members have pushed back on the move, calling it "authoritarian" and a distraction from larger problems in the city.
“Austin is the safest big city in Texas and one of the safest in the country,” Austin Mayor Steve Adler said in a statement to a local outlet. “Not surprising the President’s rhetoric is finding its way to Texas as we get closer to November.”
Several other cities, including Los Angeles, New York, and Minneapolis, cut police budgets following a summer of social unrest sparked by the death of George Floyd, an unarmed black man killed by a Minneapolis police officer. All of those cities have experienced a wave of rising crime, which conservative critics blame on left-wing prosecutors and city governments hellbent on demoralizing law enforcement.
Despite Democrats in the city pointing to Austin's slightly lower overall crime rate in 2020 (a 1% decrease from 2019) rising homicides have led to scrutiny from federal officials. New data from the U.S. Attorney's Office found that homicides in the city have increased 54% from the previous year, with aggravated assaults up 13%.
Last week, U.S. Attorney Gregg Sofer announced a new initiative from the Department of Justice called Operation Undaunted, which will increase cooperation between local law enforcement and the federal government to root out gun violence.
“When you defund the police, relax enforcement of existing criminal law, and release repeat offenders and violent criminals into our streets, increased violence is exactly what you can expect,” said U.S. Attorney Sofer in a statement. “Despite the challenges of the coronavirus and the unfair vilification of the entire law enforcement community, we remain undaunted in our commitment to protect the residents of central and west Texas.”
Outside of wrestling control of the city's police department, Abbott has proposed stopping the city's ability to raise property taxes should it not reverse its budget cuts to the police department. Legislatures in the state are expected to take up that initiative in the new year.
“Any city that defunds police departments will have its property tax revenue frozen at the current level,” Abbott said in August. “Cities that endanger residents by reducing law enforcement should not then be able to turn around and go back and get more property-tax dollars from those same residents whose lives the city just endangered.”


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-12-22--Rudy Giuliani: 'Big revelations' coming about Georgia voting machines

Rudy Giuliani said he expects `` big revelations '' about voting machines in Georgia in the coming days .
The former New York City mayor , who is spearheading President Trump 's legal challenge to the 2020 election results , made the prediction on Steve Bannon ’ s War Room podcast on Monday .
`` I happen to know we have one or two , my fingers crossed , big revelations for Georgia within the next day or two with regard to the machines that we 've had some more information about , '' he said .
`` So , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the fraud and the cheating would be enough to push this over the top . ''
Georgia is one of several states Trump lost to President-elect Joe Biden in which Giuliani and his allies claim the election was `` stolen '' from the president and have fought to get the election results decertified .
Giuliani previously appeared before Georgia state lawmakers to make claims of voting fraud .
Over the weekend , Giuliani said the Trump team will refocus its strategy on claiming that voting machines in several battleground states that Trump lost @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
These allegations have not held up in court .
Federal and state officials said they have not seen evidence of widespread voter fraud , and the electronic voting machine companies targeted by the allegations are threatening litigation .
In addition , Trump huddled at the White House on Monday with conservative lawmakers who plan to contest Biden ’ s Electoral College victory when the new session of Congress meets to certify the Electoral College vote on Jan. 6 .
The Georgia House Governmental Affairs Committee is set to hold a virtual hearing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ state on Wednesday .

Rudy Giuliani said he expects "big revelations" about voting machines in Georgia in the coming days.
The former New York City mayor, who is spearheading President Trump's legal challenge to the 2020 election results, made the prediction on Steve Bannon’s War Room podcast on Monday.
"I happen to know we have one or two, my fingers crossed, big revelations for Georgia within the next day or two with regard to the machines that we've had some more information about," he said. "So, maybe a little more additional information about the fraud and the cheating would be enough to push this over the top."
Georgia is one of several states Trump lost to President-elect Joe Biden in which Giuliani and his allies claim the election was "stolen" from the president and have fought to get the election results decertified. Giuliani previously appeared before Georgia state lawmakers to make claims of voting fraud.
Over the weekend, Giuliani said the Trump team will refocus its strategy on claiming that voting machines in several battleground states that Trump lost were used to flip votes to Biden. These allegations have not held up in court. Federal and state officials said they have not seen evidence of widespread voter fraud, and the electronic voting machine companies targeted by the allegations are threatening litigation.
In addition, Trump huddled at the White House on Monday with conservative lawmakers who plan to contest Biden’s Electoral College victory when the new session of Congress meets to certify the Electoral College vote on Jan. 6.
The Georgia House Governmental Affairs Committee is set to hold a virtual hearing on voting processes and elections in the state on Wednesday.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-12-23--Andrew Yang enters race for New York City mayor

Former presidential candidate Andrew Yang decided what his next political venture will be : entering the 2021 New York City mayoral race , according to records filed with the city 's Campaign Finance Board .
New York 's mayoral election is scheduled for 2021 , and the winner will replace Mayor Bill de Blasio , whose own 2020 White House bid failed to gain traction in a crowded Democratic field .
De Blasio will not be able to seek reelection after serving two terms .
The tech entrepreneur championed a universal basic income during his White House bid , pitching @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the United States , and stressed the importance of a changing economy brought on by technological automation .
The contest to be the Big Apple 's next mayor already has two other candidates .
Shaun Donovan , who served in the Obama administration as the secretary of Housing and Urban Development from 2009 to 2014 and then later as the director of Office of Management and Budget , filed the papers to run , according to the Associated Press .
He is a native New Yorker but has not held elected office @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and former head of the city 's Department of Veterans ' Services Loree Sutton declared her candidacy in November 2019 .
Yang will also likely face off against city comptroller Scott Stringer and City Council Speaker Corey Johnson .

Former presidential candidate Andrew Yang decided what his next political venture will be: entering the 2021 New York City mayoral race, according to records filed with the city's Campaign Finance Board.
New York's mayoral election is scheduled for 2021, and the winner will replace Mayor Bill de Blasio, whose own 2020 White House bid failed to gain traction in a crowded Democratic field. De Blasio will not be able to seek reelection after serving two terms.
The tech entrepreneur championed a universal basic income during his White House bid, pitching $1,000 a month for every adult in the United States, and stressed the importance of a changing economy brought on by technological automation.
The contest to be the Big Apple's next mayor already has two other candidates.
Shaun Donovan, who served in the Obama administration as the secretary of Housing and Urban Development from 2009 to 2014 and then later as the director of Office of Management and Budget, filed the papers to run, according to the Associated Press. He is a native New Yorker but has not held elected office.
Additionally, retired Army brigadier general and former head of the city's Department of Veterans' Services Loree Sutton declared her candidacy in November 2019. Yang will also likely face off against city comptroller Scott Stringer and City Council Speaker Corey Johnson.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-12-23--Voter fraud case hits too close to home for Georgia election manager

Georgia 's outspoken elections manager has clocked hundreds of hours investigating voter fraud and defending the integrity of the state 's election system .
But recently , one case of alleged illegal voting hit a little too close to home for Gabriel Sterling .
Sterling said he received a third-party election flier at his house reminding a voter who lived at the Sandy Spring address to pick up the absentee ballot she requested and to `` return it quickly to ensure your vote is counted , '' according to a report from Fox 5 Atlanta .
The problem is that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to Maryland two years ago after selling her home to Sterling .
That did not sit well with Sterling , who marched down to the Fulton County Elections Division to file an election challenge and prevent Fissha from casting an illegal vote .
`` Not a glitch , she signed an oath stating she lives here to vote , '' Sterling said on social media .
`` That 's a false swearing . ''
Sterling also said he would classify the incident as `` illegal voting '' and not fraud because `` fraud @ @ @ @ @ @ @ other irony is that the group Fair Fight sent Fissha the reminder to vote .
`` The Fulton Elections Board has acted and stated that my challenge to the qualifications of the woman attempting to vote from the house I purchased from her 2 years ago meets probable cause , '' Sterling said .
Georgia has been in the national spotlight since the Nov. 3 general election .
President Trump has claimed that he would have won the battleground state had there not been widespread incidents of election and voter fraud .
Sterling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ three people in the secretary of state 's office who has borne the brunt of criticism by Trump and members of his own party for the way the presidential election played out in Georgia .
He has fiercely defended the state 's multimillion-dollar new voting system and has said there is no evidence of widespread voter fraud in Georgia .

Georgia's outspoken elections manager has clocked hundreds of hours investigating voter fraud and defending the integrity of the state's election system. But recently, one case of alleged illegal voting hit a little too close to home for Gabriel Sterling.
Sterling said he received a third-party election flier at his house reminding a voter who lived at the Sandy Spring address to pick up the absentee ballot she requested and to "return it quickly to ensure your vote is counted," according to a report from Fox 5 Atlanta.
The problem is that the voter, Meron Fissha, moved to Maryland two years ago after selling her home to Sterling.
That did not sit well with Sterling, who marched down to the Fulton County Elections Division to file an election challenge and prevent Fissha from casting an illegal vote.
"Not a glitch, she signed an oath stating she lives here to vote," Sterling said on social media. "That's a false swearing."
https://twitter.com/GabrielSterling/status/1341432313280950276
Sterling also said he would classify the incident as "illegal voting" and not fraud because "fraud implies a greater conspiracy."
The other irony is that the group Fair Fight sent Fissha the reminder to vote.
"The Fulton Elections Board has acted and stated that my challenge to the qualifications of the woman attempting to vote from the house I purchased from her 2 years ago meets probable cause," Sterling said.
Georgia has been in the national spotlight since the Nov. 3 general election. President Trump has claimed that he would have won the battleground state had there not been widespread incidents of election and voter fraud.
Sterling, a conservative, is one of three people in the secretary of state's office who has borne the brunt of criticism by Trump and members of his own party for the way the presidential election played out in Georgia.
He has fiercely defended the state's multimillion-dollar new voting system and has said there is no evidence of widespread voter fraud in Georgia.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-12-23--One of 2020's most accurate pollsters says election 'would have come out differently' if not for lat

One of 2020's most accurate pollsters says election 'would have come out differently' if not for late rule changes

One of this year ’ s most accurate pollsters believes that last-minute changes to election laws had a significant effect on the results of the presidential election .
`` If this election had been run based on the rules of 2016 , it would have come out differently , '' Robert Cahaly , the chief pollster for the Trafalgar Group , told the Washington Examiner .
“ I think those little changes made a tremendous difference.
” Prior to November ’ s election , and Washington , D.C. , made changes to election rules that made casting mail-in ballots easier @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , states eased the requirements to vote absentee and allowed ballot drop box locations , while some states proactively sent voters absentee ballot applications or even the ballots themselves .
Other changes included lifting requirements that voters have witnesses sign their absentee ballots , with Rhode Island and Minnesota doing away with the rule .
North Carolina required only one signature instead of the usual two .
Perhaps most controversially , battleground states that helped push President Trump to victory in 2016 , such as Michigan , Wisconsin , and Pennsylvania , made @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had to be received or postmarked .
Those changes led to late counting that saw early Trump leads evaporate as late-arriving ballots well into the next few days .
Cahaly believes that such rule changes open the door to fraud , but he didn ’ t say fraud was what cost the president reelection .
“ Pennsylvania had voter fraud in 2020 .
Pennsylvania had voter fraud in 2018 , ” Cahaly said , adding that Pennsylvania has had voter fraud “ as far back ” as he can remember .
“ Philadelphia @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” he continued .
“ Did these rule changes make [ potential fraud ] more likely ?
I don ’ t think there ’ s any question they did.
” Trafalgar ’ s final Pennsylvania showed Trump with a slim lead of fewer than 2 percentage points over then-candidate Joe Biden , but Biden ended up winning the state by 1.2 points .
In the lead-up to the election , Cahaly that Trump ’ s lead would have to be closer to 4-5 points to prevail in the state .
Otherwise , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump victory into a Trump defeat .
Cahaly told the Washington Examiner that he always felt that the “ only way '' Trump was going to win Pennsylvania was if every vote had a “ legit postmark ” and a “ verified signature , ” something he said “ did not happen.
” But Cahaly also expressed frustration with Republicans who complained about fraud costing the president reelection , noting that fraud has “ always been there.
” Instead , Cahaly said Republicans should have been more aggressive in fighting the rule changes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It ’ s like being mad there was a designated hitter this year , ” Cahaly said .
“ There ’ s no question it made a difference , but it ’ s a difference everyone saw coming .
You can only cry wolf so much.
” Cahaly said it 's “ easy to complain about the rules after the game ’ s over , but the question is , what did you do to prevent it ?
” He added , “ If you think what was done was n't legit , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ figure it out.
” Cahaly said voter integrity will remain a “ huge issue ” in “ every single red state and quite a few of the purple ones.
” “ If I was a Republican attorney general … I would spend the next two years talking about voter integrity and trying to get the laws changed , ” he said .
“ I think Republicans want to see voter integrity be a big issue.
” Cahaly 's Trafalgar Group has earned a reputation for accuracy during the last three election cycles .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Pennsylvania correctly for Trump in 2016 , even predicting his exact electoral vote count .
That success continued in 2018 , with Trafalgar being the only pollster to predict a victory for Gov .
Ron DeSantis in Florida correctly .
This year ’ s election cycle saw more of the same , with Trafalgar being one of the few pollsters showing a tight race between Trump and Biden .
Nowhere was the disconnect between Trafalgar and other pollsters more obvious than Wisconsin , where Trafalgar 's showed Biden winning by 1 point @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the New York Times/Siena College and ABC News/Washington Post polls , had Biden leading by 11 points and 17 points , respectively .
Biden ended up by less than 1 point .
Internal data provided to the Washington Examiner by Trafalgar showed the pollster with a 91.2 % five-year correct election call rating .
Cahaly provided a glimpse of where Republicans might be leaning in 2024 .
Asked by the Washington Examiner if there was an early front-runner to be at the top of the ticket in the post-Trump era , Cahaly came @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Amazingly , the few times we ’ ve polled that , the name that keeps coming up first … Tucker Carlson , ” Cahaly said .
“ We polled that three times , and every time his name is on the list , he comes in first.
” While Carlson , the host of Fox News ’ s Tucker Carlson Tonight , has gotten the most mentions so far , other early popular candidates are Sens .
Tim Scott , Ben Sasse , and Josh Hawley .
Cahaly said Trafalgar will begin digging @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Senate runoff elections in January are complete .
For now , he ’ ll stay focused on calling two more 2020 races .

One of this year’s most accurate pollsters believes that last-minute changes to election laws had a significant effect on the results of the presidential election.
"If this election had been run based on the rules of 2016, it would have come out differently," Robert Cahaly, the chief pollster for the Trafalgar Group, told the Washington Examiner. “I think those little changes made a tremendous difference.”
Prior to November’s election, at least 30 states and Washington, D.C., made changes to election rules that made casting mail-in ballots easier. Citing concerns over the coronavirus pandemic, states eased the requirements to vote absentee and allowed ballot drop box locations, while some states proactively sent voters absentee ballot applications or even the ballots themselves.
Other changes included lifting requirements that voters have witnesses sign their absentee ballots, with Rhode Island and Minnesota doing away with the rule. North Carolina required only one signature instead of the usual two.
Perhaps most controversially, battleground states that helped push President Trump to victory in 2016, such as Michigan, Wisconsin, and Pennsylvania, made changes to extend the deadline that ballots had to be received or postmarked. Those changes led to late counting that saw early Trump leads evaporate as late-arriving ballots were counted well into the next few days.
Cahaly believes that such rule changes open the door to fraud, but he didn’t say fraud was what cost the president reelection.
“Pennsylvania had voter fraud in 2020. Pennsylvania had voter fraud in 2018,” Cahaly said, adding that Pennsylvania has had voter fraud “as far back” as he can remember.
“Philadelphia has an inherent problem with the system,” he continued. “Did these rule changes make [potential fraud] more likely? I don’t think there’s any question they did.”
Trafalgar’s final Pennsylvania presidential poll showed Trump with a slim lead of fewer than 2 percentage points over then-candidate Joe Biden, but Biden ended up winning the state by 1.2 points. In the lead-up to the election, Cahaly warned that Trump’s lead would have to be closer to 4-5 points to prevail in the state. Otherwise, changes to the rules could turn a Trump victory into a Trump defeat.
Cahaly told the Washington Examiner that he always felt that the “only way" Trump was going to win Pennsylvania was if every vote had a “legit postmark” and a “verified signature,” something he said “did not happen.”
But Cahaly also expressed frustration with Republicans who complained about fraud costing the president reelection, noting that fraud has “always been there.” Instead, Cahaly said Republicans should have been more aggressive in fighting the rule changes before the election took place.
“It’s like being mad there was a designated hitter this year,” Cahaly said. “There’s no question it made a difference, but it’s a difference everyone saw coming. You can only cry wolf so much.”
Cahaly said it's “easy to complain about the rules after the game’s over, but the question is, what did you do to prevent it?”
He added, “If you think what was done wasn't legit, you’ve got two years to figure it out.”
Cahaly said voter integrity will remain a “huge issue” in “every single red state and quite a few of the purple ones.”
“If I was a Republican attorney general … I would spend the next two years talking about voter integrity and trying to get the laws changed,” he said. “I think Republicans want to see voter integrity be a big issue.”
Cahaly's Trafalgar Group has earned a reputation for accuracy during the last three election cycles. Trafalgar was the only polling outfit to call Michigan and Pennsylvania correctly for Trump in 2016, even predicting his exact electoral vote count. That success continued in 2018, with Trafalgar being the only pollster to predict a victory for Gov. Ron DeSantis in Florida correctly.
This year’s election cycle saw more of the same, with Trafalgar being one of the few pollsters showing a tight race between Trump and Biden. Nowhere was the disconnect between Trafalgar and other pollsters more obvious than Wisconsin, where Trafalgar's final poll showed Biden winning by 1 point. More well-known pollsters, such as the New York Times/Siena College and ABC News/Washington Post polls, had Biden leading by 11 points and 17 points, respectively. Biden ended up carrying the state by less than 1 point.
Internal data provided to the Washington Examiner by Trafalgar showed the pollster with a 91.2% five-year correct election call rating.
Cahaly provided a glimpse of where Republicans might be leaning in 2024. Asked by the Washington Examiner if there was an early front-runner to be at the top of the ticket in the post-Trump era, Cahaly came up with a surprising name.
“Amazingly, the few times we’ve polled that, the name that keeps coming up first … Tucker Carlson,” Cahaly said. “We polled that three times, and every time his name is on the list, he comes in first.”
While Carlson, the host of Fox News’s Tucker Carlson Tonight, has gotten the most mentions so far, other early popular candidates are Sens. Tim Scott, Ben Sasse, and Josh Hawley.
Cahaly said Trafalgar will begin digging deeper into that race after the Georgia Senate runoff elections in January are complete. For now, he’ll stay focused on calling two more 2020 races.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-12-23--Georgia GOP and Texas firm challenge eligibility of more than 364K voters ahead of Senate runoffs

A Texas voting rights organization is working with Georgia Republicans to challenge the voter eligibility of more than 364,000 people who may have moved , potentially disqualifying their ballots in the state 's Senate runoff elections .
`` True the Vote announced today it is submitting 364,541 Elector Challenges on behalf of Georgia voters representing all 159 counties , '' the organization wrote in a press release .
An elector challenge is a `` unique feature in Georgia Law '' that allows any voter to `` challenge the eligibility of any other voters in his or her county if probable @ @ @ @ @ @ @ voter does not meet the qualifications legally required to cast a ballot . ''
True the Vote said its analysis of the U.S .
Postal Service 's National Change of Address system and Georgia voter registers identified `` 124,114 registered voters who no longer reside in the county of record '' and another 240,427 who no longer reside in the state at all .
`` Ongoing debates about the November election throughout the country have Americans focused intently on improving the integrity of our elections and restoring the faith of voters .
Today @ @ @ @ @ @ @ taking a stand for the sanctity of every legal vote , '' True the Vote Founder Catherine Engelbrecht said in a statement .
`` It is our hope that this historic challenge marks the beginning of the great awakening of American voters to serve our democracy by getting involved in the process . ''
The organization has submitted challenges in every Georgia county and gained steam in Forsyth County outside of Atlanta and Columbus 's Muscogee County — which together have already filed challenges forcing more than 9,000 voters to use a provisional @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prove their residency , according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution .
An elector challenge does not automatically remove a voter 's name from the registry .
If voters whose eligibility has been challenged are able to provide evidence of their residency , their provisional ballots will be counted in the Jan. 5 election .
Following the 2020 general election , which involved two recounts , lawsuits , and violent threats against election officials and their families , Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger made a number of appeals to restore confidence in the state @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Raffensperger announced Georgia would conduct a `` forward-looking '' statewide audit of mail-in ballot signatures that would inform how the state election board moved forward with conducting elections .
On Wednesday , Raffensperger told the Georgia Assembly that he supported eliminating no-excuse absentee ballot requests after 15 years despite affirming the `` vast majority of claims '' alleging voter fraud `` are simply unfounded , '' according to Fox News .
Asked to explain his stance , Raffensperger said that `` it 's harder to provide confidence '' in the electoral process @ @ @ @ @ @ @ did not respond to the Washington Examiner 's request for comment , but the secretary of state told True the Vote that he supported `` any effort that builds faith in our election system that follows the proper legal procedure . ''
Other voting rights groups have argued that the move is an attempt to disenfranchise voters , calling True the Vote 's reliance on NCAS data `` inexact and unverified . ''
American Civil Liberties Union for Georgia attorney Sean Young called the move `` one of the oldest tricks in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s unsurprising that political operatives would pull this out in the middle of a contentious election , ” Young told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution .
`` There ’ s no shortage of conspiracy theories in this election .
Mass voter challenges attempt to make those conspiracies real and disenfranchise hundreds of thousands of voters in the process . ''
The Brennan Center for Justice , a New York University policy institute , said relying on change-of-address lists `` is n't a reliable way to cull voter registration lists without additional information . ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ on True the Vote 's list of challenges who participated in the Nov. 3 election , which means they showed a photo ID and have already proven their residency .

A Texas voting rights organization is working with Georgia Republicans to challenge the voter eligibility of more than 364,000 people who may have moved, potentially disqualifying their ballots in the state's Senate runoff elections.
"True the Vote announced today it is submitting 364,541 Elector Challenges on behalf of Georgia voters representing all 159 counties," the organization wrote in a press release.
An elector challenge is a "unique feature in Georgia Law" that allows any voter to "challenge the eligibility of any other voters in his or her county if probable cause exists to show that the challenged voter does not meet the qualifications legally required to cast a ballot."
True the Vote said its analysis of the U.S. Postal Service's National Change of Address system and Georgia voter registers identified "124,114 registered voters who no longer reside in the county of record" and another 240,427 who no longer reside in the state at all.
"Ongoing debates about the November election throughout the country have Americans focused intently on improving the integrity of our elections and restoring the faith of voters. Today, we assisted concerned Georgia voters in taking a stand for the sanctity of every legal vote," True the Vote Founder Catherine Engelbrecht said in a statement. "It is our hope that this historic challenge marks the beginning of the great awakening of American voters to serve our democracy by getting involved in the process."
The organization has submitted challenges in every Georgia county and gained steam in Forsyth County outside of Atlanta and Columbus's Muscogee County — which together have already filed challenges forcing more than 9,000 voters to use a provisional ballot when they appear to vote and prove their residency, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
An elector challenge does not automatically remove a voter's name from the registry. If voters whose eligibility has been challenged are able to provide evidence of their residency, their provisional ballots will be counted in the Jan. 5 election.
Following the 2020 general election, which involved two recounts, lawsuits, and violent threats against election officials and their families, Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger made a number of appeals to restore confidence in the state's election system.
Earlier this month, Raffensperger announced Georgia would conduct a "forward-looking" statewide audit of mail-in ballot signatures that would inform how the state election board moved forward with conducting elections.
On Wednesday, Raffensperger told the Georgia Assembly that he supported eliminating no-excuse absentee ballot requests after 15 years despite affirming the "vast majority of claims" alleging voter fraud "are simply unfounded," according to Fox News. Asked to explain his stance, Raffensperger said that "it's harder to provide confidence" in the electoral process without stricter policies.
Raffensperger's office did not respond to the Washington Examiner's request for comment, but the secretary of state told True the Vote that he supported "any effort that builds faith in our election system that follows the proper legal procedure."
Other voting rights groups have argued that the move is an attempt to disenfranchise voters, calling True the Vote's reliance on NCAS data "inexact and unverified."
American Civil Liberties Union for Georgia attorney Sean Young called the move "one of the oldest tricks in the voter suppression playbook."
"It’s unsurprising that political operatives would pull this out in the middle of a contentious election,” Young told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. "There’s no shortage of conspiracy theories in this election. Mass voter challenges attempt to make those conspiracies real and disenfranchise hundreds of thousands of voters in the process."
The Brennan Center for Justice, a New York University policy institute, said relying on change-of-address lists "isn't a reliable way to cull voter registration lists without additional information." The Brennan Center pointed to 2,203 voters on True the Vote's list of challenges who participated in the Nov. 3 election, which means they showed a photo ID and have already proven their residency.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-12-23--Trump's targets for vengeance in Republican primaries push back and get cover

Frustrated with a lack of political will among Republican officials to overturn the results of the presidential election , President Trump is demanding loyalty and encouraging primary challenges against those who refuse to take further action .
But some of his primary targets are pushing back or getting cover and support from their Republican colleagues .
The president 's latest target : South Dakota Sen. John Thune , who as Senate majority whip is the second-ranking Senate Republican , said earlier this week that attempts to challenge the legitimacy of President-elect Joe Biden in Congress will `` go down like @ @ @ @ @ @ @ just do n't think it makes a lot of sense to put everybody through this when you know what the ultimate outcome is going to be , '' Thune told reporters .
`` Republicans in the Senate so quickly forget .
Right now they would be down 8 seats without my backing them in the last Election , '' Trump said in a tweet on Tuesday night .
`` RINO John Thune , 'Mitch ’ s boy ' , should just let it play out .
South Dakota doesn ’ t like weakness @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , political career over !
!
! ''
A top possibility for a primary challenge against Thune would be South Dakota Gov .
Kristi Noem , a rising star in the Republican Party who has refused to implement strict coronavirus restrictions such as a mask mandate .
But Noem , who is also a possible 2024 presidential contender , quickly shut down the idea of challenging Thune .
`` .
@ johnthune is a friend of mine , and I will not be challenging him , '' Noem said in a tweet on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ honored to be Governor of South Dakota and will ask the people to give me an opportunity to continue serving them as Governor in 2022 . ''
Georgia Gov .
Brian Kemp , another frequent target of Trump 's in the aftermath of the presidential election , is also pushing back on Trump 's attacks and primary threats .
Trump , frustrated with Kemp for not doing more to support his attempts to overturn the razor-thin results of the presidential election in Georgia , has in recent weeks called the state 's governor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' and told his supporters to vote Kemp out of office .
At a rally earlier this month for the Georgia runoff elections in support of Sens .
Kelly Loeffler and David Perdue , Trump suggested that Rep. Doug Collins run against Kemp in the 2022 gubernatorial race .
`` No one 's worked harder down here in Georgia to support this president 's reelection than myself , '' Kemp said in a Fox News interview on Wednesday , adding that he supports the right of any candidate to challenge election results @ @ @ @ @ @ @ responsibility to uphold the law .
“ As far as me getting primaried , I could care less about that right now , '' he said .
`` The biggest thing we all need to do , regardless of what you think about what ’ s been going on in Georgia , we ’ ve got to support David Perdue and Kelly Loeffler . ''
Ohio Gov .
Mike DeWine , another Republican who received public criticism from Trump after saying on Fox News that Biden was the president-elect , took a similar @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ohio governor 's race will be `` hotly contested . ''
`` I intend to run a winning campaign for governor in 2022 , '' DeWine said in a statement last month .
`` I ’ m confident I ’ ll be renominated , '' he later told reporters .
DeWine , though , has n't gotten the same cover from his fellow state Republicans that Noem gave Thune .
Supporters of the president have urged Ohio Rep. Jim Jordan to mount a primary challenge against DeWine , and Jordan ( a critic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not shut down the idea .
Ohio Rep. Warren Davidson , another critic of what he calls `` Orwellian '' coronavirus rules , is another person who Trump supporters suggest may run in a primary against DeWine , though he has not expressed interest in that possibility himself .
`` I do feel because of the unpopularity in his policies broadly in my district , he will have a challenge in a primary , '' Davidson told the Cincinnati Enquirer earlier this month .

Frustrated with a lack of political will among Republican officials to overturn the results of the presidential election, President Trump is demanding loyalty and encouraging primary challenges against those who refuse to take further action.
But some of his primary targets are pushing back or getting cover and support from their Republican colleagues.
The president's latest target: South Dakota Sen. John Thune, who as Senate majority whip is the second-ranking Senate Republican, said earlier this week that attempts to challenge the legitimacy of President-elect Joe Biden in Congress will "go down like a shot dog."
"I just don't think it makes a lot of sense to put everybody through this when you know what the ultimate outcome is going to be," Thune told reporters.
"Republicans in the Senate so quickly forget. Right now they would be down 8 seats without my backing them in the last Election," Trump said in a tweet on Tuesday night. "RINO John Thune, 'Mitch’s boy', should just let it play out. South Dakota doesn’t like weakness. He will be primaried in 2022, political career over!!!"
A top possibility for a primary challenge against Thune would be South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem, a rising star in the Republican Party who has refused to implement strict coronavirus restrictions such as a mask mandate.
But Noem, who is also a possible 2024 presidential contender, quickly shut down the idea of challenging Thune.
".@johnthune is a friend of mine, and I will not be challenging him," Noem said in a tweet on Tuesday night. "I’m honored to be Governor of South Dakota and will ask the people to give me an opportunity to continue serving them as Governor in 2022."
.@johnthune is a friend of mine, and I will not be challenging him. I’m honored to be Governor of South Dakota and will ask the people to give me an opportunity to continue serving them as Governor in 2022. — Kristi Noem (@KristiNoem) December 23, 2020
Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp, another frequent target of Trump's in the aftermath of the presidential election, is also pushing back on Trump's attacks and primary threats.
Trump, frustrated with Kemp for not doing more to support his attempts to overturn the razor-thin results of the presidential election in Georgia, has in recent weeks called the state's governor "hapless," a "fool," and told his supporters to vote Kemp out of office. At a rally earlier this month for the Georgia runoff elections in support of Sens. Kelly Loeffler and David Perdue, Trump suggested that Rep. Doug Collins run against Kemp in the 2022 gubernatorial race.
"No one's worked harder down here in Georgia to support this president's reelection than myself," Kemp said in a Fox News interview on Wednesday, adding that he supports the right of any candidate to challenge election results, but that he also has a responsibility to uphold the law.
“As far as me getting primaried, I could care less about that right now," he said. "The biggest thing we all need to do, regardless of what you think about what’s been going on in Georgia, we’ve got to support David Perdue and Kelly Loeffler."
Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine, another Republican who received public criticism from Trump after saying on Fox News that Biden was the president-elect, took a similar stance after Trump tweeted that the 2022 Ohio governor's race will be "hotly contested."
"I intend to run a winning campaign for governor in 2022," DeWine said in a statement last month. "I’m confident I’ll be renominated," he later told reporters.
DeWine, though, hasn't gotten the same cover from his fellow state Republicans that Noem gave Thune. Supporters of the president have urged Ohio Rep. Jim Jordan to mount a primary challenge against DeWine, and Jordan (a critic of DeWine's coronavirus restrictions) has not shut down the idea. Ohio Rep. Warren Davidson, another critic of what he calls "Orwellian" coronavirus rules, is another person who Trump supporters suggest may run in a primary against DeWine, though he has not expressed interest in that possibility himself.
"I do feel because of the unpopularity in his policies broadly in my district, he will have a challenge in a primary," Davidson told the Cincinnati Enquirer earlier this month.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-12-25--Tea party Senate class of 2010: Where and what are they now?

Ten years on , the tea party class of senators anointed to lead the Republican Party into a glorious future of free markets and small government has splintered .
The populist movement led by President Trump has pushed aside traditional conservatism and become the driving force inside the GOP .
These half dozen Republicans were elected in a midterm backlash against Democratic President Barack Obama and the GOP establishment in Washington .
Broadly , voters revolted against the Affordable Care Act , still referred to as Obamacare , which substantially increased government control of American healthcare .
In Republican primaries @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to return the party to its conservative roots , spurning the more pragmatic , and seemingly more electable , contenders backed by GOP leaders .
Since then , members of the Senate ’ s tea party class of 2010 have taken different paths .
Within two years , there could be just two of them left on Capitol Hill .
Sens .
Marco Rubio of Florida , Mike Lee of Utah , and Rand Paul of Kentucky appear to be planning to run for third terms in 2022 .
But Sen. Ron Johnson @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania already announcing his exit .
Scott Brown , the Massachusetts Republican elevated in a stunning January 2010 special election after liberal stalwart Ted Kennedy died , lasted a bit under three years .
He was ousted in 2012 by Democratic Sen. Elizabeth Warren .
“ It was certainly a new brand of younger , more aggressive Republican , ” recalled Josh Holmes , a confidant of Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and member of his communications staff at the time .
“ The funny thing is , they all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and 10 years later , the ultimate outsider , Trump , has taken over that lane.
” Collectively , the tea party senators advanced to Congress by defeating a sitting governor ( Rubio ) , McConnell ’ s handpicked candidate ( Paul ) , ousting a sitting Republican senator in a primary ( Lee ) , and chasing a veteran Republican senator out of the party ( Toomey ) .
Johnson , a wealthy businessman with a manufacturing firm , had never sought political office before beating a Democratic incumbent .
Yet none @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Republicans saw as the ultimate political outsider .
Republican voters also were more interested in Trump ’ s big-spending populism — the president has bragged that he ’ s the “ king of debt ” — than the government austerity and faith in markets promised by the tea party .
They proposed less spending and less government intervention in the economy ; he vowed not to touch Medicare and Social Security and was unapologetic about using the bully pulpit to strongarm the business community and expanding government authority to regulate the economy and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have generally remained true to their libertarian roots .
They have opposed the excessive spending by their party that has become commonplace .
And they have resisted Trump on fiscal issues .
Toomey , a staunchly fiscal conservative who once piloted the Club for Growth , has joined them .
However , the senator has been more open to compromise with Democrats on some issues , such as gun rights .
Rubio , perhaps the original tea party darling , has veered away from traditional conservatism and toward Trump , a change that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Republican presidential nomination in 2016 .
The senator has adopted “ common good capitalism , ” advocating for a federal government that shapes the national economy to favor certain industries , to pick winners and losers , through regulation and legislation .
Philosophically , Johnson has not changed .
The senator has evolved politically .
The Republicans took a beating in Wisconsin in the 2018 midterm elections , leaving Johnson as the senior , statewide elected official in his party .
The senator responded by embracing his role as a leader of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to elect and reelect Republicans up and down the ballot .
Johnson also has emerged as a key Trump supporter in the Senate .
Senate Republicans entered 2010 deep in the minority , controlling 40 seats , one shy of the threshold to sustain a filibuster .
They began to claw back power that January with Brown ’ s special election victory in deep-blue Massachusetts .
The telegenic state senator mounted a populist campaign centered on opposition to Obamacare and a message that made a point of saying that he was running for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” as opposed to “ Kennedy ’ s seat.
” Republicans flipped six more seats in November .
The GOP fell short of the majority and would not win control of the chamber until 2014 , Obama ’ s second midterm election .
But the freshman class of Senate Republicans from a decade ago , including those who won in reliably red states , signaled the beginning of a changing of the guard in GOP politics and foreshadowed the rise of Trump that would begin five years later with his presidential bid .

Ten years on, the tea party class of senators anointed to lead the Republican Party into a glorious future of free markets and small government has splintered. The populist movement led by President Trump has pushed aside traditional conservatism and become the driving force inside the GOP.
These half dozen Republicans were elected in a midterm backlash against Democratic President Barack Obama and the GOP establishment in Washington. Broadly, voters revolted against the Affordable Care Act, still referred to as Obamacare, which substantially increased government control of American healthcare. In Republican primaries, voters sided with insurgents who promised to return the party to its conservative roots, spurning the more pragmatic, and seemingly more electable, contenders backed by GOP leaders.
Since then, members of the Senate’s tea party class of 2010 have taken different paths. Within two years, there could be just two of them left on Capitol Hill.
Sens. Marco Rubio of Florida, Mike Lee of Utah, and Rand Paul of Kentucky appear to be planning to run for third terms in 2022. But Sen. Ron Johnson of Wisconsin might retire, with Sen. Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania already announcing his exit. Scott Brown, the Massachusetts Republican elevated in a stunning January 2010 special election after liberal stalwart Ted Kennedy died, lasted a bit under three years. He was ousted in 2012 by Democratic Sen. Elizabeth Warren.
“It was certainly a new brand of younger, more aggressive Republican,” recalled Josh Holmes, a confidant of Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and member of his communications staff at the time. “The funny thing is, they all ran as outsiders challenging the establishment — and 10 years later, the ultimate outsider, Trump, has taken over that lane.”
Collectively, the tea party senators advanced to Congress by defeating a sitting governor (Rubio), McConnell’s handpicked candidate (Paul), ousting a sitting Republican senator in a primary (Lee), and chasing a veteran Republican senator out of the party (Toomey). Johnson, a wealthy businessman with a manufacturing firm, had never sought political office before beating a Democratic incumbent. Yet none could compete with Trump, whom grassroots Republicans saw as the ultimate political outsider.
Republican voters also were more interested in Trump’s big-spending populism — the president has bragged that he’s the “king of debt” — than the government austerity and faith in markets promised by the tea party. They proposed less spending and less government intervention in the economy; he vowed not to touch Medicare and Social Security and was unapologetic about using the bully pulpit to strongarm the business community and expanding government authority to regulate the economy and trade.
Throughout, Lee and Paul have generally remained true to their libertarian roots. They have opposed the excessive spending by their party that has become commonplace. And they have resisted Trump on fiscal issues. Toomey, a staunchly fiscal conservative who once piloted the Club for Growth, has joined them. However, the senator has been more open to compromise with Democrats on some issues, such as gun rights.
Rubio, perhaps the original tea party darling, has veered away from traditional conservatism and toward Trump, a change that accelerated after he lost his bid for the Republican presidential nomination in 2016. The senator has adopted “common good capitalism,” advocating for a federal government that shapes the national economy to favor certain industries, to pick winners and losers, through regulation and legislation.
Philosophically, Johnson has not changed. The senator has evolved politically. The Republicans took a beating in Wisconsin in the 2018 midterm elections, leaving Johnson as the senior, statewide elected official in his party. The senator responded by embracing his role as a leader of the GOP establishment in Wisconsin, working to elect and reelect Republicans up and down the ballot. Johnson also has emerged as a key Trump supporter in the Senate.
Senate Republicans entered 2010 deep in the minority, controlling 40 seats, one shy of the threshold to sustain a filibuster. They began to claw back power that January with Brown’s special election victory in deep-blue Massachusetts. The telegenic state senator mounted a populist campaign centered on opposition to Obamacare and a message that made a point of saying that he was running for “the people’s seat,” as opposed to “Kennedy’s seat.”
Republicans flipped six more seats in November. The GOP fell short of the majority and would not win control of the chamber until 2014, Obama’s second midterm election. But the freshman class of Senate Republicans from a decade ago, including those who won in reliably red states, signaled the beginning of a changing of the guard in GOP politics and foreshadowed the rise of Trump that would begin five years later with his presidential bid.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-12-27--Trump supporters' 'favorite Democrat' Tulsi Gabbard works with GOP and plots next move

Rep. Tulsi Gabbard is reaching across the aisle on her way out of Congress , raising speculation that she might have a future outside the Democratic Party .
The Hawaiian proposed two pieces of legislation on abortion .
One would ban abortions on fetuses capable of feeling pain .
The other would protect fetuses from failed abortions by ensuring “ a healthcare practitioner exercises the proper degree of care in the case of a child who survives an abortion or attempted abortion.
” Alexandra Desanctis , a writer for National Review who specializes on these issues , called these proposals @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Democrat.
” Gabbard also teamed up with Rep. Thomas Massie , a Kentucky Republican who was elected with the help of the Tea Party , on a bill that would repeal the Patriot Act .
While more in keeping with her civil libertarian image , she made sure the rollout was bipartisan .
In a video announcement , Gabbard said the legislation `` reexamines how best to strike this balance of protecting our national security interests while also ensuring that the constitutional rights of every single American is preserved.
” It ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ praised by conservatives of a certain stripe .
Former White House chief strategist Steve Bannon her “ beyond a rock star ” and a “ real populist-nationalist.
” A Washington , D.C. , fundraiser for her Democratic presidential campaign earlier this year had plenty of Republicans in attendance .
“ Tulsi has long been Trump supporters ’ favorite Democrat — and not just for absolutely destroying Kamala Harris ” in a debate , said conservative political strategist Chris Barron .
“ Tulsi seems an odd fit in the modern Democratic Party , I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of her if she bolts the party of AOC for the party of Trump .
I certainly hope she does , she ’ s just the kind of voice our movement needs.
” The perception that Gabbard was a closeted conservative hurt her Democratic presidential bid , though as Barron mentioned , her debate exchange with Harris over her record as a prosecutor has been credited with derailing the future vice president-elect ’ s own campaign for the White House .
“ Kamala Harris says she ’ s proud of her record as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a prosecutor president , but I ’ m deeply concerned about this record , ” Gabbard said as Harris looked on .
“ There are too many examples to cite , but she put over 1,500 people in jail for marijuana violations and then laughed about it when she was asked if she ever smoked marijuana.
” Gabbard voted “ present ” on President Trump ’ s impeachment .
Only three Democrats voted no on any articles of impeachment , including one representing a district Trump won by 31 points in 2016 who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this election .
Another switched to the Republican Party afterward .
That would be a difficult path for Gabbard .
Hawaii is a solidly blue state .
Republicans do occasionally win elections there , but she would be a perennial Democratic target if she somehow did so .
This has led some to wonder whether the telegenic 39-year-old is looking outside of electoral politics for her next move .
“ Gabbard is a shameless political opportunist who will do anything to stay in the limelight , ” said Democratic strategist Brad Bannon .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ she fought against gay rights and became a liberal when she wanted to run for Congress in a progressive district .
After getting nowhere in the Democratic presidential campaign , she is shape-shifting again to position herself as a national , right-wing commentator on Fox News or Newsmax.
” She has appeared prominently on Tucker Carlson ’ s show .
Some Democrats go a step further than this .
Hillary Clinton criticized Gabbard in remarks many interpreted as claiming Russia was “ grooming ” the Hawaiian to mount a third-party presidential bid to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and then later dropped , a defamation lawsuit against Clinton .
The former Bernie Sanders backer also called Clinton the “ queen of warmongers.
” Gabbard didn ’ t run for president as a third-party candidate , though operatives in both parties think she might have siphoned votes from Trump if she had .
She endorsed Joe Biden , who is set to be sworn in as president next month .
`` It 's clear that Democratic primary voters have chosen Vice President Joe Biden to be the person who will take @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' she said at the time .
`` I 'm confident that he will lead our country , guided by the spirit of aloha , respect , and compassion , and thus help heal the divisiveness that has been tearing our country apart . ''
As someone relatively young , nonwhite , the first female combat veteran to run for president , and the holder of an eclectic , though generally liberal , set of political views , Gabbard could remain an interesting figure to watch .
“ A lot of her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a Republican strategist in New Hampshire .
“ Even people from our party ” backed her .

Rep. Tulsi Gabbard is reaching across the aisle on her way out of Congress, raising speculation that she might have a future outside the Democratic Party.
The Hawaiian proposed two pieces of legislation on abortion. One would ban abortions on fetuses capable of feeling pain. The other would protect fetuses from failed abortions by ensuring “a healthcare practitioner exercises the proper degree of care in the case of a child who survives an abortion or attempted abortion.” Alexandra Desanctis, a writer for National Review who specializes on these issues, called these proposals “a bold pro-life move for a Democrat.”
Gabbard also teamed up with Rep. Thomas Massie, a Kentucky Republican who was elected with the help of the Tea Party, on a bill that would repeal the Patriot Act. While more in keeping with her civil libertarian image, she made sure the rollout was bipartisan. In a video announcement, Gabbard said the legislation "reexamines how best to strike this balance of protecting our national security interests while also ensuring that the constitutional rights of every single American is preserved.”
It’s not the first time Gabbard has been praised by conservatives of a certain stripe. Former White House chief strategist Steve Bannon called her “beyond a rock star” and a “real populist-nationalist.” A Washington, D.C., fundraiser for her Democratic presidential campaign earlier this year had plenty of Republicans in attendance.
“Tulsi has long been Trump supporters’ favorite Democrat — and not just for absolutely destroying Kamala Harris” in a debate, said conservative political strategist Chris Barron. “Tulsi seems an odd fit in the modern Democratic Party, I think she has a political career ahead of her if she bolts the party of AOC for the party of Trump. I certainly hope she does, she’s just the kind of voice our movement needs.”
The perception that Gabbard was a closeted conservative hurt her Democratic presidential bid, though as Barron mentioned, her debate exchange with Harris over her record as a prosecutor has been credited with derailing the future vice president-elect’s own campaign for the White House.
“Kamala Harris says she’s proud of her record as a prosecutor and she’ll be a prosecutor president, but I’m deeply concerned about this record,” Gabbard said as Harris looked on. “There are too many examples to cite, but she put over 1,500 people in jail for marijuana violations and then laughed about it when she was asked if she ever smoked marijuana.”
Gabbard voted “present” on President Trump’s impeachment. Only three Democrats voted no on any articles of impeachment, including one representing a district Trump won by 31 points in 2016 who still ended up losing in a landslide this election. Another switched to the Republican Party afterward.
That would be a difficult path for Gabbard. Hawaii is a solidly blue state. Republicans do occasionally win elections there, but she would be a perennial Democratic target if she somehow did so. This has led some to wonder whether the telegenic 39-year-old is looking outside of electoral politics for her next move.
“Gabbard is a shameless political opportunist who will do anything to stay in the limelight,” said Democratic strategist Brad Bannon. “Before she ran for Congress, she fought against gay rights and became a liberal when she wanted to run for Congress in a progressive district. After getting nowhere in the Democratic presidential campaign, she is shape-shifting again to position herself as a national, right-wing commentator on Fox News or Newsmax.” She has appeared prominently on Tucker Carlson’s show.
Some Democrats go a step further than this. Hillary Clinton criticized Gabbard in remarks many interpreted as claiming Russia was “grooming” the Hawaiian to mount a third-party presidential bid to undermine the Democratic ticket. Gabbard filed, and then later dropped, a defamation lawsuit against Clinton. The former Bernie Sanders backer also called Clinton the “queen of warmongers.”
Gabbard didn’t run for president as a third-party candidate, though operatives in both parties think she might have siphoned votes from Trump if she had. She endorsed Joe Biden, who is set to be sworn in as president next month.
"It's clear that Democratic primary voters have chosen Vice President Joe Biden to be the person who will take on President Trump in the general election," she said at the time. "I'm confident that he will lead our country, guided by the spirit of aloha, respect, and compassion, and thus help heal the divisiveness that has been tearing our country apart."
As someone relatively young, nonwhite, the first female combat veteran to run for president, and the holder of an eclectic, though generally liberal, set of political views, Gabbard could remain an interesting figure to watch. “A lot of her supporters here were independents,” said a Republican strategist in New Hampshire. “Even people from our party” backed her.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-12-29--'Things will get worse before they get better': Biden's grim COVID-19 speech offers contrast with Tr

'Things will get worse before they get better': Biden's grim COVID-19 speech offers contrast with Trump

President-elect Joe Biden painted a grim picture of the coronavirus pandemic , saying the worst was yet to come .
Biden also chided his predecessor for the pace of COVID-19 vaccinations , setting up what figures to be months if not years of haggling over who will deserve the credit once the inoculations begin to deliver some sense of normalcy to the public .
`` We need to be honest , ” Biden said in remarks delivered from Wilmington , Delaware .
“ The next few weeks and months are going to be very tough , a very tough period @ @ @ @ @ @ @ during this entire pandemic .
I know it 's hard to hear , but it 's the truth . ''
“ So , we need to steel our spines for what ’ s ahead , ” Biden added .
“ We need to follow even more closely the recommendations to slow the spread of the virus.
” The tone was a sharp contrast with President Trump , who was frequently criticized for offering happy talk about the pandemic .
Trump regularly predicted that there was “ light at the end of the tunnel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out the worst raging fires and need only contend with smoldering “ embers.
” Trump also prioritized economic reopening and pushed for a return to normal as early as Easter , but caseloads and deaths continued to climb .
“ I can see a return to normalcy in the next year , ” Biden said , renewing his pledge to deliver 100 million vaccinations during his first 100 days in office .
Biden urged Trump to “ clearly and unambiguously ” promote both mask-wearing and the vaccine during his final weeks as president @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump has spent much of his time continuing to contest the results of the election , which he has maintained was stolen from him through voter fraud in multiple battleground states .
Trump did sign into law a new COVID-19 stimulus bill after complaining about its contents , and congressional Democrats have taken up his call to increase individual payments to $ 2,000 from $ 600 .
While Biden praised “ companies , doctors , scientists , researchers , and clinical trial participants , and Operation Warp Speed for developing the vaccines quickly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to distribute and administer the vaccine is not progressing as it should .
“ A few weeks ago , the Trump administration suggested that 20 million Americans could be vaccinated by the end of December , ” Biden continued .
“ With only a few days left in December , we have only vaccinated a few million so far.
” During the campaign , Trump said that Biden ’ s solution to COVID-19 was more lockdowns and the cancellations of holidays .
Biden instead took credit for his prescience about the virus .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ alarmist and negative , ” the president-elect declared .
“ But as I ’ ve said all along , I will tell it like it is when it comes to COVID .
... We just crossed 330,000 deaths.
” Biden made Trump ’ s management of the pandemic central to his campaign .
According to exit polls , he won voters who considered the outbreak their top issue by 66 percentage points .
He carried those who thought containing the virus was more important than reopening the economy by 60 points .
Those @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump by 58 points .
“ Things will get worse before they get better , ” Biden said on Tuesday .

President-elect Joe Biden painted a grim picture of the coronavirus pandemic, saying the worst was yet to come.
Biden also chided his predecessor for the pace of COVID-19 vaccinations, setting up what figures to be months if not years of haggling over who will deserve the credit once the inoculations begin to deliver some sense of normalcy to the public.
"We need to be honest,” Biden said in remarks delivered from Wilmington, Delaware. “The next few weeks and months are going to be very tough, a very tough period for our nation, maybe the toughest during this entire pandemic. I know it's hard to hear, but it's the truth."
“So, we need to steel our spines for what’s ahead,” Biden added. “We need to follow even more closely the recommendations to slow the spread of the virus.”
The tone was a sharp contrast with President Trump, who was frequently criticized for offering happy talk about the pandemic. Trump regularly predicted that there was “light at the end of the tunnel,” that the country had put out the worst raging fires and need only contend with smoldering “embers.”
Trump also prioritized economic reopening and pushed for a return to normal as early as Easter, but caseloads and deaths continued to climb. “I can see a return to normalcy in the next year,” Biden said, renewing his pledge to deliver 100 million vaccinations during his first 100 days in office.
Biden urged Trump to “clearly and unambiguously” promote both mask-wearing and the vaccine during his final weeks as president. Left unspoken was the fact that Trump has spent much of his time continuing to contest the results of the election, which he has maintained was stolen from him through voter fraud in multiple battleground states. Trump did sign into law a new COVID-19 stimulus bill after complaining about its contents, and congressional Democrats have taken up his call to increase individual payments to $2,000 from $600.
While Biden praised “companies, doctors, scientists, researchers, and clinical trial participants, and Operation Warp Speed for developing the vaccines quickly,” he also said the effort to distribute and administer the vaccine is not progressing as it should.
“A few weeks ago, the Trump administration suggested that 20 million Americans could be vaccinated by the end of December,” Biden continued. “With only a few days left in December, we have only vaccinated a few million so far.”
During the campaign, Trump said that Biden’s solution to COVID-19 was more lockdowns and the cancellations of holidays. Biden instead took credit for his prescience about the virus. “Critics said I was being too alarmist and negative,” the president-elect declared. “But as I’ve said all along, I will tell it like it is when it comes to COVID. ... We just crossed 330,000 deaths.”
Biden made Trump’s management of the pandemic central to his campaign. According to exit polls, he won voters who considered the outbreak their top issue by 66 percentage points. He carried those who thought containing the virus was more important than reopening the economy by 60 points. Those who preferred rebuilding the economy went for Trump by 58 points.
“Things will get worse before they get better,” Biden said on Tuesday.