thewashingtonexaminer--2020-01-06--Irish unity group mourns Qassem Soleimani: 'May his faithful soul be at the right hand of God'

A political party supporting Irish unity through armed action lamented the death of Iranian military commander Qassem Soleimani , who was killed by an American drone strike , and suggested he is now in heaven .
Republican Sinn Fein , a radical party formed after a 1986 split with Sinn Fein , the political wing of the Irish Republican Army , rejects the partition of Ireland and other compromises such as the Good Friday Agreement .
Although the party denies any links to armed groups , its members have supported actions by dissident groups such as the Continuity IRA and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the United States killing Soleimani , whom the U.S. government has said was responsible for the deaths of 608 American troops in Iraq , by posting a picture of him on Twitter .
There have long been links between Irish republicanism and Iranian radicalism .
After the 1979 Iranian revolution , the new regime renamed the Tehran street where the British embassy was situated after the IRA hunger striker Bobby Sands .
He is depicted in his military uniform with a faint smile alongside Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps logos .
At the bottom @ @ @ @ @ @ @ faithful soul be at the right hand of God ” is written in English along with both Irish and Farsi .
The Irish and Iranian flags are also included along with the political party ’ s website , which declares : `` We advocate neutrality in respect to military alliances and power blocs and we feel a sense of solidarity with all peoples who are struggling for freedom and justice.
” Soleimani , 62 , was killed last week in a U.S. airstrike near Baghdad International Airport along with Abu Mahdi al Muhandis @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Forces .
Soleimani was the longtime head of the Quds Force , a branch of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps responsible for special operations in other countries .
U.S. Special Representative for Iran Brian Hook said that the U.S. drone strike against Soleimani and Muhandis prevented the deaths of `` hundreds of Americans . ''
Democratic front-runner Joe Biden and other Democratic presidential candidates criticized the drone strike .
The former vice president said that the attack against Soleimani could lead to `` multiple Iranian attacks by multiple means on multiple targets .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ that the United States would conduct a `` major retaliation '' if Iranian leaders take action against Soleimani ’ s death .

A political party supporting Irish unity through armed action lamented the death of Iranian military commander Qassem Soleimani, who was killed by an American drone strike, and suggested he is now in heaven.
Republican Sinn Fein, a radical party formed after a 1986 split with Sinn Fein, the political wing of the Irish Republican Army, rejects the partition of Ireland and other compromises such as the Good Friday Agreement. Although the party denies any links to armed groups, its members have supported actions by dissident groups such as the Continuity IRA and Real IRA.
The group reacted to the United States killing Soleimani, whom the U.S. government has said was responsible for the deaths of 608 American troops in Iraq, by posting a picture of him on Twitter. There have long been links between Irish republicanism and Iranian radicalism. After the 1979 Iranian revolution, the new regime renamed the Tehran street where the British embassy was situated after the IRA hunger striker Bobby Sands.
He is depicted in his military uniform with a faint smile alongside Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps logos. At the bottom of the picture, “May his faithful soul be at the right hand of God” is written in English along with both Irish and Farsi.
The Irish and Iranian flags are also included along with the political party’s website, which declares: "We advocate neutrality in respect to military alliances and power blocs and we feel a sense of solidarity with all peoples who are struggling for freedom and justice.”
Soleimani, 62, was killed last week in a U.S. airstrike near Baghdad International Airport along with Abu Mahdi al Muhandis, leader of the Iranian-backed Popular Mobilization Forces. Soleimani was the longtime head of the Quds Force, a branch of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps responsible for special operations in other countries.
U.S. Special Representative for Iran Brian Hook said that the U.S. drone strike against Soleimani and Muhandis prevented the deaths of "hundreds of Americans."
Democratic front-runner Joe Biden and other Democratic presidential candidates criticized the drone strike. The former vice president said that the attack against Soleimani could lead to "multiple Iranian attacks by multiple means on multiple targets."
President Trump warned Iran on Sunday that the United States would conduct a "major retaliation" if Iranian leaders take action against Soleimani’s death.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-01-06--Hollywood proved Ricky Gervais's point

Hollywood proved Ricky Gervais's point

As usual , Ricky Gervais scored a humorous victory on Sunday night .
His partners , albeit inadvertently , were the very same Hollywood A-listers he had just admonished .
They made his joke for him .
Hosting the Golden Globe Awards , Gervais warned the assembled celebrities not to become politicians .
`` If you do win an award tonight , '' he said , `` do n't use it as a platform to make a political speech .
You 're in no position to lecture the public about anything .
You know nothing about the real world .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ school than Greta Thunberg . ''
Predictably , this message fell on deaf ears .
Tom Hanks was far from amused , but it 's Tom Hanks so we 'll let him off .
Then came the award speeches .
Patricia Arquette utterly proved Gervais 's point .
Here 's a quick hint for future Hollywood pundits : if you want to sound serious while discussing foreign policy towards Iran , you might not want to wear pink sunglasses indoors .
In a rambling 45-second speech , Arquette warned about war with Iran @ @ @ @ @ @ @ need for everyone to vote in 2020 .
Arquette did not suggest who she wants Americans to vote for .
Regardless , I 'm not wholly convinced that her sunglasses speech will move the needle .
Other celebrities echoed the same political agenda .
Through Jennifer Aniston , Russell Crowe used the admittedly tragic Australian wildfires to call for the ending of millions of blue-collar jobs .
`` We need to act based on science , '' Crowe argued , `` move our global workforce to renewable energy and respect our planet for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
That way , we all have a future . ''
I get why this green energy revolution rhetoric sounds good to many .
And I share the belief that the environment is something to treasure and protect .
But it must be done in the right way , and Crowe 's way is n't the right one .
[ Read more : ‘ If ISIS started a streaming service , you would call your agent ’ : Ricky Gervais roasts Golden Globe actors ] Read between the lines and it quickly becomes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ energy prices to soar for those least able to afford it ( not Hollywood , then ) , and would end millions of well-paying jobs in return for fewer jobs of greater inefficiency and marginal cost .
To be clear , this is not obviously moral .
Want to reduce carbon emissions ?
Stop giving China a free pass .
Sadly , many in the media do n't seem to have realized it .
Los Angeles Times culture writer Lorraine Ali complained that `` The last thing anyone needed was for the smirking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ A-listers ] for having hope , or taunt the room for trying to use their influence to change things for the better . ''
Gervais , Ali says , should have been `` brave enough to drop the tired agitator shtick and , for once , read the room . ''
No , he really should n't have .
At Vox , Constance Grady celebrates Arquette 's message as `` one that viewers are talking about . ''
The simple truth here is that too many in Hollywood are just too self-absorbed to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ learning about history and the news before lecturing millions of others about it .
Adorned by great wealth and assuaged by their fans , they believe they have all the answers .
And that it is their duty to provide those answers to the masses of those who know less .
But their boring reaction to Gervais also speaks to something else .
They just do n't seem to get that his humor is designed to be uncomfortable .
This is the British tradition of humor , one that finds its roots in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Note , for example , the long and unashamed British tradition of Nazi jokes .
It 's humor , judging by the social media reaction to Gervais 's speech , that many choose to laugh at .
Credit to those in the audience who found the courage to laugh with the rest of us .

As usual, Ricky Gervais scored a humorous victory on Sunday night. His partners, albeit inadvertently, were the very same Hollywood A-listers he had just admonished.
They made his joke for him.
Hosting the Golden Globe Awards, Gervais warned the assembled celebrities not to become politicians. "If you do win an award tonight," he said, "don't use it as a platform to make a political speech. You're in no position to lecture the public about anything. You know nothing about the real world. Most of you spent less time in school than Greta Thunberg."
Predictably, this message fell on deaf ears. Tom Hanks was far from amused, but it's Tom Hanks so we'll let him off.
Then came the award speeches.
Patricia Arquette utterly proved Gervais's point. Here's a quick hint for future Hollywood pundits: if you want to sound serious while discussing foreign policy towards Iran, you might not want to wear pink sunglasses indoors. In a rambling 45-second speech, Arquette warned about war with Iran, the Australian wildfires, and the need for everyone to vote in 2020. Arquette did not suggest who she wants Americans to vote for. Regardless, I'm not wholly convinced that her sunglasses speech will move the needle.
Other celebrities echoed the same political agenda.
Through Jennifer Aniston, Russell Crowe used the admittedly tragic Australian wildfires to call for the ending of millions of blue-collar jobs. "We need to act based on science," Crowe argued, "move our global workforce to renewable energy and respect our planet for the unique and amazing place it is. That way, we all have a future."
I get why this green energy revolution rhetoric sounds good to many. And I share the belief that the environment is something to treasure and protect. But it must be done in the right way, and Crowe's way isn't the right one.
[Read more: ‘If ISIS started a streaming service, you would call your agent’: Ricky Gervais roasts Golden Globe actors]
Read between the lines and it quickly becomes clear that the green revolution would cause energy prices to soar for those least able to afford it (not Hollywood, then), and would end millions of well-paying jobs in return for fewer jobs of greater inefficiency and marginal cost. To be clear, this is not obviously moral. Want to reduce carbon emissions? Stop giving China a free pass.
In short, Gervais won the day.
Sadly, many in the media don't seem to have realized it. Los Angeles Times culture writer Lorraine Ali complained that "The last thing anyone needed was for the smirking master of ceremonies to reprimand [the A-listers] for having hope, or taunt the room for trying to use their influence to change things for the better." Gervais, Ali says, should have been "brave enough to drop the tired agitator shtick and, for once, read the room."
No, he really shouldn't have.
At Vox, Constance Grady celebrates Arquette's message as "one that viewers are talking about."
Really?
The simple truth here is that too many in Hollywood are just too self-absorbed to recognize that they might be better off learning about history and the news before lecturing millions of others about it. Adorned by great wealth and assuaged by their fans, they believe they have all the answers. And that it is their duty to provide those answers to the masses of those who know less.
But their boring reaction to Gervais also speaks to something else. They just don't seem to get that his humor is designed to be uncomfortable. This is the British tradition of humor, one that finds its roots in a legacy of wars and constant rain. Note, for example, the long and unashamed British tradition of Nazi jokes. It's humor, judging by the social media reaction to Gervais's speech, that many choose to laugh at.
Credit to those in the audience who found the courage to laugh with the rest of us.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-01-03--Liberals hate Karlie Kloss for the same reason they love George Conway

Leave it to politics to turn a show as mundane as Project Runway into the subject of a brief scandal .
During the latest episode of the long-running show , in which aspiring designers compete against each other , one of them took criticism of his boring design as a chance to get a little salty .
“ I can not see Karlie wearing it anywhere , honestly , ” one judge said of the outfit , referring to host and judge Karlie Kloss .
To that , contestant Tyler Neasloney responded , “ Not even to dinner with the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s husband is Joshua Kushner , brother to Jared Kushner , who is a senior adviser to his father-in-law , President Trump .
Kloss , however , had been dating Kushner since 2012 , long before Trump 's campaign .
The couple is also vocally liberal .
Kloss is pro-Hillary Clinton , pro-Planned Parenthood , and pro-gun control .
to reports , the rest of the Kushners don ’ t like her very much .
So after Neasloney ’ s comment , Kloss looked understandably shocked .
“ That ’ s your @ @ @ @ @ @ @ if the comment weren ’ t politically charged .
“ Keep it to the challenge , ” Kloss responded .
The clip went viral , with plenty of liberals on social media applauding Neasloney for his snark .
“ The way he ended her , ” one commenter gushed .
Apparently , it doesn ’ t matter that Kloss is a Democrat who appears to be estranged from the Trump-y side of the family .
“ It ’ s been hard ” to marry into the Kushner family , she said this summer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the values that I share with my husband , and those are the same liberal values that I was raised with and that have guided me throughout my life.
” So why don ’ t liberals love her ?
Because she doesn ’ t spend every waking moment trashing her pro-Trump family , à la George Conway .
Conway ’ s public sparring with wife and presidential counselor Kellyanne Conway has made him something of a resistance hero , and it ’ s even inspired Saturday Night Live .
Liberals accept Conway @ @ @ @ @ @ @ family loyalty for loyalty to their political orthodoxy .
Until Kloss starts trashing the Kushners on Twitter , she will be loathed for prioritizing her family over her liberal ideals .

Leave it to politics to turn a show as mundane as Project Runway into the subject of a brief scandal.
During the latest episode of the long-running show, in which aspiring designers compete against each other, one of them took criticism of his boring design as a chance to get a little salty.
“I cannot see Karlie wearing it anywhere, honestly,” one judge said of the outfit, referring to host and judge Karlie Kloss.
To that, contestant Tyler Neasloney responded, “Not even to dinner with the Kushners?”
“I cannot see Karlie wearing it anywhere, honestly.”
“Not even to dinner with the Kushners?”#ProjectRunway pic.twitter.com/O9qJbrC2ZN — Ξvan Ross Katz (@evanrosskatz) January 3, 2020
For context, Kloss’s husband is Joshua Kushner, brother to Jared Kushner, who is a senior adviser to his father-in-law, President Trump.
Kloss, however, had been dating Kushner since 2012, long before Trump's campaign. The couple is also vocally liberal. Kloss is pro-Hillary Clinton, pro-Planned Parenthood, and pro-gun control. According to reports, the rest of the Kushners don’t like her very much.
So after Neasloney’s comment, Kloss looked understandably shocked. “That’s your husband,” Neasloney noted, as if the comment weren’t politically charged.
“Keep it to the challenge,” Kloss responded.
The clip went viral, with plenty of liberals on social media applauding Neasloney for his snark. “The way he ended her,” one commenter gushed.
Apparently, it doesn’t matter that Kloss is a Democrat who appears to be estranged from the Trump-y side of the family. “It’s been hard” to marry into the Kushner family, she said this summer. “But I choose to focus on the values that I share with my husband, and those are the same liberal values that I was raised with and that have guided me throughout my life.”
So why don’t liberals love her? Because she doesn’t spend every waking moment trashing her pro-Trump family, à la George Conway. Conway’s public sparring with wife and presidential counselor Kellyanne Conway has made him something of a resistance hero, and it’s even inspired a Saturday Night Live skit . Liberals accept Conway because he’s willing to sacrifice family loyalty for loyalty to their political orthodoxy.
Until Kloss starts trashing the Kushners on Twitter, she will be loathed for prioritizing her family over her liberal ideals.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-01-03--'Ready for any scenario': De Blasio says New York to heighten security after death of Soleimani

New York Mayor Bill de Blasio said that while there is no specific threat to the city following the death of Qassem Soleimani , security has been heightened , and police are “ ready for any scenario.
” De Blasio , 58 , said in a Friday afternoon tweet thread that the New York Police Department is in coordination with federal and security and intelligence agencies in the case that a credible threat does arise .
“ We are in an unprecedented situation today , but the NYPD is ready for any scenario .
New Yorkers will see heightened security @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there is NO credible and specific threat at this time .
If you see something , say something , ” the mayor said .
[ Click here for more Soleimani coverage ] “ The NYPD has a strong relationship with our security and intelligence partners around the country and the world , ” he continued .
“ They will be working together non-stop to keep New Yorkers safe , and I have absolute faith in them .
Everyone should go about their lives unafraid.
” De Blasio , who pursued a widely panned @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , also took a jab at President Trump and his authorization of the drone attack that killed the Iranian military commander .
De Blasio warned that the United States should not pursue a new war in the Middle East .
“ The United States should not go to war with Iran .
We are in completely uncharted territory , and no one knows what the consequences of this attack will be in the coming weeks , months and years .
This decision can ONLY be made by Congress , speaking for the American @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Soleimani , 62 , was the commander of the Quds Force , a branch of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps .
Iran ’ s leader warned that America will face “ severe revenge ” for the attack .

New York Mayor Bill de Blasio said that while there is no specific threat to the city following the death of Qassem Soleimani, security has been heightened, and police are “ready for any scenario.”
De Blasio, 58, said in a Friday afternoon tweet thread that the New York Police Department is in coordination with federal and security and intelligence agencies in the case that a credible threat does arise.
“We are in an unprecedented situation today, but the NYPD is ready for any scenario. New Yorkers will see heightened security at locations around the city, but there is NO credible and specific threat at this time. If you see something, say something,” the mayor said.
[Click here for more Soleimani coverage]
We are in an unprecedented situation today, but the NYPD is ready for any scenario. New Yorkers will see heightened security at locations around the city, but there is NO credible and specific threat at this time. If you see something, say something. — Mayor Bill de Blasio (@NYCMayor) January 3, 2020
“The NYPD has a strong relationship with our security and intelligence partners around the country and the world,” he continued. “They will be working together non-stop to keep New Yorkers safe, and I have absolute faith in them. Everyone should go about their lives unafraid.”
De Blasio, who pursued a widely panned and unsuccessful presidential campaign earlier this year, also took a jab at President Trump and his authorization of the drone attack that killed the Iranian military commander. De Blasio warned that the United States should not pursue a new war in the Middle East.
“The United States should not go to war with Iran. We are in completely uncharted territory, and no one knows what the consequences of this attack will be in the coming weeks, months and years. This decision can ONLY be made by Congress, speaking for the American people,” de Blasio said.
The United States should not go to war with Iran. We are in completely uncharted territory, and no one knows what the consequences of this attack will be in the coming weeks, months and years. This decision can ONLY be made by Congress, speaking for the American people. — Mayor Bill de Blasio (@NYCMayor) January 3, 2020
Soleimani, 62, was the commander of the Quds Force, a branch of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. Iran’s leader warned that America will face “severe revenge” for the attack.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-01-03--'Long gone by then': Judge presses Democrats who want former White House counsel to testify in impea

'Long gone by then': Judge presses Democrats who want former White House counsel to testify in impeachment

House Democrats and the Justice Department took the impeachment fight to court Friday , arguing over former Trump White House counsel Don McGahn 's possible congressional testimony .
At issue is whether it 's the courts ' job to enforce a congressional subpoena .
A district court judge ruled last year that McGahn must comply with the House subpoena , but DOJ lawyers fought for a stay , putting an appeal in front of a three-judge panel in Washington this week .
Attorneys for each side pitted `` unprecedented refusal by the administration to comply '' with subpoenas against the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the conflict .
McGahn , who left the White House in October 2018 , was subpoenaed by the House Judiciary Committee in April , before the impeachment effort over President Trump allegedly pressuring Ukraine to investigate his political rival .
Trump ordered McGahn not to comply with the subpoena and Democrats sued in August , claiming to need his testimony on special counsel Robert Mueller 's report , particularly 10 instances of possible obstruction of justice Mueller outlined in his report .
“ The articles of impeachment are all about the controversy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gone by then , ” said Judge Thomas Griffith , the most vocal of the judges , pressing Megan Barbero , the associate counsel for the Democratic House of Representatives .
“ You ’ re saying there may be yet other articles of impeachment coming ?
” Barbero said the House may still pursue other articles of impeachment , which McGahn might have relevant information about .
“ The second article of impeachment relates to obstruction of Congress in the Ukraine controversy , ” Griffith said .
“ But the article also refers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to undermine investigations into foreign interference , and that pattern of misconduct is relevant , ” Barbero replied .
During the July 25 phone call that led to an August whistleblower complaint spurring the impeachment proceedings , Trump asked Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky `` to do us a favor '' by looking into the CrowdStrike conspiracy theory and allegations of Ukrainian election interference in 2016 .
Trump also urged Zelensky to investigate “ the other thing , ” referring to allegations of corruption related to Joe and Hunter Biden .
Griffith also asked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ authority to intervene to force McGahn to comply with a congressional subpoena , a dispute he said historically has been fought between the political branches .
“ There has been an unprecedented refusal by the administration to comply with validly issued congressional subpoenas , ” Barbero said .
Griffith revisited that argument with Hashim Mooppan , deputy assistant attorney general , who was representing the administration .
“ Has there ever been another instance of such a wide-scale defiance of subpoenas in the history of the Republic ?
” Griffith asked .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ comply — has that ever happened before ?
” “ Not to my knowledge , but I believe the president would say that never before in history has Congress engaged in the sort of illegitimate action that it is , ” Mooppan said .
Mooppan said Congress could instead use political means to force the testimony , such as blocking appropriations or holding up nominations .
But Griffith suggested that impeaching the president over obstructing Congress would be a remedy too .
`` The Supreme Court has repeatedly rejected the president ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he said .
Judge Karen LeCraft Henderson asked if the DOJ was saying that no one , including Congress , had the legal standing to enforce a subpoena like this , and Mooppan said yes .
Mooppan criticized the idea that “ unelected ” judges would rule on a conflict like this .
The panel of judges includes a Democratic appointee and two Republican appointees : Judith Rogers , selected by Bill Clinton ; Henderson , by George H.W .
Bush ; and Griffith , by George W. Bush .
The appeals court @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the month , though it is not known what the status of the Senate impeachment trial will be then , as House Speaker Nancy Pelosi holds onto the articles of impeachment before they are sent to the Senate , run by Majority Leader Mitch McConnell .
If Democrats or the DOJ decide to appeal the ruling by the trio , it could then be looked at by the full 11-member appeals court made up of seven Democratic appointees and four of the GOP ’ s judges .
The DOJ is likely willing to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Rogers and Griffith , joined by Trump-appointee Neomi Rao , also heard oral arguments Friday related to Mueller ’ s investigation , where Democrats are seeking underlying grand jury materials from the Mueller probe to aid in their Senate trial or to pass additional articles of impeachment , while the DOJ argues Democrats have no right to the secret court testimony .
Democrats won the lower district court ruling in that case last year , too .

House Democrats and the Justice Department took the impeachment fight to court Friday, arguing over former Trump White House counsel Don McGahn's possible congressional testimony.
At issue is whether it's the courts' job to enforce a congressional subpoena.
A district court judge ruled last year that McGahn must comply with the House subpoena, but DOJ lawyers fought for a stay, putting an appeal in front of a three-judge panel in Washington this week.
Attorneys for each side pitted "unprecedented refusal by the administration to comply" with subpoenas against the idea “unelected” judges would rule on the conflict.
McGahn, who left the White House in October 2018, was subpoenaed by the House Judiciary Committee in April, before the impeachment effort over President Trump allegedly pressuring Ukraine to investigate his political rival. Trump ordered McGahn not to comply with the subpoena and Democrats sued in August, claiming to need his testimony on special counsel Robert Mueller's report, particularly 10 instances of possible obstruction of justice Mueller outlined in his report.
“The articles of impeachment are all about the controversy about Ukraine, and McGahn was long gone by then,” said Judge Thomas Griffith, the most vocal of the judges, pressing Megan Barbero, the associate counsel for the Democratic House of Representatives. “You’re saying there may be yet other articles of impeachment coming?”
Barbero said the House may still pursue other articles of impeachment, which McGahn might have relevant information about.
“The second article of impeachment relates to obstruction of Congress in the Ukraine controversy,” Griffith said.
“But the article also refers to the president’s previous efforts to undermine investigations into foreign interference, and that pattern of misconduct is relevant,” Barbero replied.
During the July 25 phone call that led to an August whistleblower complaint spurring the impeachment proceedings, Trump asked Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky "to do us a favor" by looking into the CrowdStrike conspiracy theory and allegations of Ukrainian election interference in 2016. Trump also urged Zelensky to investigate “the other thing,” referring to allegations of corruption related to Joe and Hunter Biden.
Griffith also asked Barbero whether the Constitution gives the court authority to intervene to force McGahn to comply with a congressional subpoena, a dispute he said historically has been fought between the political branches.
“There has been an unprecedented refusal by the administration to comply with validly issued congressional subpoenas,” Barbero said.
Griffith revisited that argument with Hashim Mooppan, deputy assistant attorney general, who was representing the administration.
“Has there ever been another instance of such a wide-scale defiance of subpoenas in the history of the Republic?” Griffith asked. “The president has directed everyone not to comply — has that ever happened before?”
“Not to my knowledge, but I believe the president would say that never before in history has Congress engaged in the sort of illegitimate action that it is,” Mooppan said.
Mooppan said Congress could instead use political means to force the testimony, such as blocking appropriations or holding up nominations.
But Griffith suggested that impeaching the president over obstructing Congress would be a remedy too.
"The Supreme Court has repeatedly rejected the president’s claims of absolute testimonial immunity,” he said.
Judge Karen LeCraft Henderson asked if the DOJ was saying that no one, including Congress, had the legal standing to enforce a subpoena like this, and Mooppan said yes.
Mooppan criticized the idea that “unelected” judges would rule on a conflict like this.
The panel of judges includes a Democratic appointee and two Republican appointees: Judith Rogers, selected by Bill Clinton; Henderson, by George H.W. Bush; and Griffith, by George W. Bush.
The appeals court ruling could come by the end of the month, though it is not known what the status of the Senate impeachment trial will be then, as House Speaker Nancy Pelosi holds onto the articles of impeachment before they are sent to the Senate, run by Majority Leader Mitch McConnell. If Democrats or the DOJ decide to appeal the ruling by the trio, it could then be looked at by the full 11-member appeals court made up of seven Democratic appointees and four of the GOP’s judges. The DOJ is likely willing to take the case to the Supreme Court.
Rogers and Griffith, joined by Trump-appointee Neomi Rao, also heard oral arguments Friday related to Mueller’s investigation, where Democrats are seeking underlying grand jury materials from the Mueller probe to aid in their Senate trial or to pass additional articles of impeachment, while the DOJ argues Democrats have no right to the secret court testimony. Democrats won the lower district court ruling in that case last year, too.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-01-07--Endless array of targets: The terrifying possibilities for an Iranian cyberattack

A digital attack by the Iranian government is a terrifying concern for U.S. cybersecurity experts because there is no way to secure an endless array of government and private sector entities .
Adam Levin , founder of CyberScout , a global provider of identity and data defense services , said that 's because Iran is “ highly sophisticated ” in its cyber capabilities .
He said it has the ability to shut down the entire electric grid nationwide , which would impact how 320 million Americans access food and clean water , would shutter financial and communication systems , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ over a potential attack erupted after the U.S. military killed Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani in a drone strike last week .
An Iranian official responded with a threat to “ attack the White House itself , ” prompting concern over how else Iran might go about retaliating .
Levin said while China and Russia are best known for their cyber capabilities , Iran “ is definitely one to watch ” because it is home to a number of independent hackers who are able to wreak havoc if they choose to attack the United @ @ @ @ @ @ @ personal animosity to a Western nation and not on behalf of their government .
Cyberattacks are defined as malicious incidents involving data stored digitally .
They can range in size from something as small as a phishing email sent to one person to gain access to their computer to manipulating results on digital voting machines during an election .
Hackers can take information , erase and replace information , or request information while pretending to be a friend or company the intended victim knows .
Attacks have evolved , and now malware planted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is capable of erasing all stored data .
These types of `` wiper attacks '' would be particularly damaging to financial and healthcare companies , Levin warned .
“ It seems everyone is discussing a large scale attack , but penetrations occur almost every day through phishing attacks similar to the most successful attack against the U.S. government , which was the [ Office of Personnel Management ] attack in 2014/2015 , '' James Norton , a former senior official at the Department of Homeland Security who helped establish the department ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ email .
`` Other possibilities would be a ransomware drop , which has been successful at local levels.
” Ransomware attackers demand money in order to avoid having information wiped or disseminated .
The federal government is not responsible for guarding company data or information outside government databases .
But the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency at the Department of Homeland Security monitors all types of risks across the public and private sectors .
It is the point agency within the government for calculating cyber risks at any given time and educating private @ @ @ @ @ @ @ such as those in the critical infrastructure , financial , and healthcare industries .
Chris Duvall , senior director at the Washington-based Chertoff Group and a former senior DHS official , said he does not think the DHS is “ freaking out '' after last week .
“ I think everyone is in an increased state of wariness , ” he said .
“ Some of our clients have already had emergency security meetings and board meetings , ” Duvall said .
Serious Iranian-backed attacks on the U.S. have already occurred , Levin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were indicted by a federal grand jury in 2018 for deploying ransomware to extort hospitals , local governments , and others in an attack that resulted in $ 30 million in losses .
In 2016 , seven Iranians working for Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps groups were indicted in the U.S. for conducting a 176-day-long attack on 46 major American financial companies .
The interference disrupted business for nearly half a year .
That same year , an Iranian citizen digitally unlocked a dam in upstate New York , an attack similar in type @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shut down .
“ It ’ s not necessarily government against government .
It could be the Iranian government against a big company , against a smaller company , against a network , so you have issues , disruptions of communication , disruption of power , disruptions of finance , disrupting of healthcare systems , ” Levin said .
The U.S. government did not report any Iranian cyberattack as of Monday evening .
President Trump warned on Twitter that Iran “ WILL BE HIT VERY FAST AND VERY HARD ” if it retaliates @ @ @ @ @ @ @

A digital attack by the Iranian government is a terrifying concern for U.S. cybersecurity experts because there is no way to secure an endless array of government and private sector entities.
Adam Levin, founder of CyberScout, a global provider of identity and data defense services, said that's because Iran is “highly sophisticated” in its cyber capabilities. He said it has the ability to shut down the entire electric grid nationwide, which would impact how 320 million Americans access food and clean water, would shutter financial and communication systems, and would disrupt the global economy.
Concern over a potential attack erupted after the U.S. military killed Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani in a drone strike last week. An Iranian official responded with a threat to “attack the White House itself,” prompting concern over how else Iran might go about retaliating.
Levin said while China and Russia are best known for their cyber capabilities, Iran “is definitely one to watch” because it is home to a number of independent hackers who are able to wreak havoc if they choose to attack the United States, even if only because of personal animosity to a Western nation and not on behalf of their government.
Cyberattacks are defined as malicious incidents involving data stored digitally. They can range in size from something as small as a phishing email sent to one person to gain access to their computer to manipulating results on digital voting machines during an election. Hackers can take information, erase and replace information, or request information while pretending to be a friend or company the intended victim knows.
Attacks have evolved, and now malware planted on a computer or in a server is capable of erasing all stored data. These types of "wiper attacks" would be particularly damaging to financial and healthcare companies, Levin warned.
“It seems everyone is discussing a large scale attack, but penetrations occur almost every day through phishing attacks similar to the most successful attack against the U.S. government, which was the [Office of Personnel Management] attack in 2014/2015," James Norton, a former senior official at the Department of Homeland Security who helped establish the department’s first cybersecurity team, wrote in an email. "Other possibilities would be a ransomware drop, which has been successful at local levels.” Ransomware attackers demand money in order to avoid having information wiped or disseminated.
The federal government is not responsible for guarding company data or information outside government databases. But the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency at the Department of Homeland Security monitors all types of risks across the public and private sectors. It is the point agency within the government for calculating cyber risks at any given time and educating private groups with the most to lose, such as those in the critical infrastructure, financial, and healthcare industries.
Chris Duvall, senior director at the Washington-based Chertoff Group and a former senior DHS official, said he does not think the DHS is “freaking out" after last week. “I think everyone is in an increased state of wariness,” he said. “Some of our clients have already had emergency security meetings and board meetings,” Duvall said.
Serious Iranian-backed attacks on the U.S. have already occurred, Levin and Duvall said. Two Iranian men were indicted by a federal grand jury in 2018 for deploying ransomware to extort hospitals, local governments, and others in an attack that resulted in $30 million in losses. In 2016, seven Iranians working for Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps groups were indicted in the U.S. for conducting a 176-day-long attack on 46 major American financial companies. The interference disrupted business for nearly half a year. That same year, an Iranian citizen digitally unlocked a dam in upstate New York, an attack similar in type to how a power grid could be shut down.
“It’s not necessarily government against government. It could be the Iranian government against a big company, against a smaller company, against a network, so you have issues, disruptions of communication, disruption of power, disruptions of finance, disrupting of healthcare systems,” Levin said.
The U.S. government did not report any Iranian cyberattack as of Monday evening. President Trump warned on Twitter that Iran “WILL BE HIT VERY FAST AND VERY HARD” if it retaliates against the U.S. in any manner.
[Read more: 'Decisively react': Iran military leader says country is not afraid of war amid tensions with US]


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-01-06--Trump now favors rapid Senate trial after backing down on Biden testimony

The White House has backed down from its demand to call a string of witnesses during President Trump ’ s Senate impeachment trial , according to senior Republican sources , who say a swift resolution is now the favored strategy .
Trump has previously demanded that Joe Biden and his son Hunter give evidence as part of a trial that he said would reveal the extent of the corruption in U.S. politics and confirm the need for him to `` clean the swamp . ''
The issue took on greater significance Monday with Trump ’ s former national security adviser @ @ @ @ @ @ @ appear if he was subpoenaed .
However , with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi having delayed sending articles of impeachment to the Senate and with tensions rising in the Middle East , GOP officials say the White House is in lock step with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell , who has been pushing for a swift resolution .
Although the president had initially pushed for a long , comprehensive trial that would ultimately clear him , a Republican leadership source said the White House had been persuaded of the case for a quick trial @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to get it over with , ” he said , adding that developments in Iran and Iraq , where tensions have escalated during the past week with a U.S. drone strike that killed Tehran ’ s most senior military commander and anti-American demonstrations , made a speedy resolution even more vital .
“ With everything that ’ s going on in the Middle East , it ’ s irresponsible to keep this hanging on.
” White House officials said the decision of how to run the trial was up to the Senate , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ preference was for a quick trial and a fast resolution .
`` The president 's view is that this is a scam and the sooner we get it behind us and on to the real work of the American people , the better , '' said the official .
“ All Republicans are pretty much now on the same page that House Democrats bumbled it , and so the best move for everyone is to start the trial , have each side 's lawyers make the case , and then see at that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ called , ” said a senior Republican figure .
“ But if not , just go right to a final motion.
” That means witnesses might still be called , but that decision will be left to a later stage , if it happens at all .
“ I think it shouldn ’ t be prescribed at the start , ” the source said .
“ That ’ s been a compromise on the White House side from where they ’ d be .
They see the wisdom on that.
” The stance @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as Susan Collins of Maine .
She recently told a local radio station that she was open to hearing from witnesses but added , `` I think it 's premature to decide who should be called until we see the evidence that is presented and get the answers to the questions that we senators can submit through the chief justice to both sides . ''
The rules of the trial will be set by the Senate according to a simple majority vote .
That means Democrats only need four defectors to shape the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ calling witnesses , as well as the time allowed for opening statements and the protocol for asking questions .
The Democratic-controlled House has charged the president with abusing his power by asking Ukraine to announce a corruption investigation into Biden and his son .
Democrats have been pushing for Bolton to give evidence , along with other senior figures , including acting chief of staff Mick Mulvaney .
They hope their testimony would include revelations damaging to Trump .
Nothing can happen until Pelosi sends the two articles of impeachment to the Senate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a trial without the articles , ” said McConnell on Monday .
“ The Senate ’ s own rules don ’ t provide for that .
So , for now , we are content to continue the ordinary business of the Senate while House Democrats continue to flounder .
For now .
”

The White House has backed down from its demand to call a string of witnesses during President Trump’s Senate impeachment trial, according to senior Republican sources, who say a swift resolution is now the favored strategy.
Trump has previously demanded that Joe Biden and his son Hunter give evidence as part of a trial that he said would reveal the extent of the corruption in U.S. politics and confirm the need for him to "clean the swamp."
The issue took on greater significance Monday with Trump’s former national security adviser John Bolton saying he was willing to appear if he was subpoenaed.
However, with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi having delayed sending articles of impeachment to the Senate and with tensions rising in the Middle East, GOP officials say the White House is in lock step with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, who has been pushing for a swift resolution.
Although the president had initially pushed for a long, comprehensive trial that would ultimately clear him, a Republican leadership source said the White House had been persuaded of the case for a quick trial.
“It’s better just to get it over with,” he said, adding that developments in Iran and Iraq, where tensions have escalated during the past week with a U.S. drone strike that killed Tehran’s most senior military commander and anti-American demonstrations, made a speedy resolution even more vital. “With everything that’s going on in the Middle East, it’s irresponsible to keep this hanging on.”
White House officials said the decision of how to run the trial was up to the Senate, but they confirmed that the president's preference was for a quick trial and a fast resolution.
"The president's view is that this is a scam and the sooner we get it behind us and on to the real work of the American people, the better," said the official.
“All Republicans are pretty much now on the same page that House Democrats bumbled it, and so the best move for everyone is to start the trial, have each side's lawyers make the case, and then see at that point if there are witnesses to be called,” said a senior Republican figure. “But if not, just go right to a final motion.”
That means witnesses might still be called, but that decision will be left to a later stage, if it happens at all.
“I think it shouldn’t be prescribed at the start,” the source said. “That’s been a compromise on the White House side from where they’d be. They see the wisdom on that.”
The stance may also placate wavering Republican senators such as Susan Collins of Maine. She recently told a local radio station that she was open to hearing from witnesses but added, "I think it's premature to decide who should be called until we see the evidence that is presented and get the answers to the questions that we senators can submit through the chief justice to both sides."
The rules of the trial will be set by the Senate according to a simple majority vote. That means Democrats only need four defectors to shape the process, such as the procedure for calling witnesses, as well as the time allowed for opening statements and the protocol for asking questions.
The Democratic-controlled House has charged the president with abusing his power by asking Ukraine to announce a corruption investigation into Biden and his son. Democrats have been pushing for Bolton to give evidence, along with other senior figures, including acting chief of staff Mick Mulvaney. They hope their testimony would include revelations damaging to Trump.
Nothing can happen until Pelosi sends the two articles of impeachment to the Senate.
“We can’t hold a trial without the articles,” said McConnell on Monday. “The Senate’s own rules don’t provide for that. So, for now, we are content to continue the ordinary business of the Senate while House Democrats continue to flounder. For now.”


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-01-06--Pelosi: Republicans 'have run out of excuses' to block impeachment trial witnesses after Bolton offe

Pelosi: Republicans 'have run out of excuses' to block impeachment trial witnesses after Bolton offer to testify

Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi hailed news that former national security adviser John Bolton said he would testify during President Trump 's impeachment trial by urging Republicans to allow witnesses at the Senate-run event .
`` The President & Sen. McConnell have run out of excuses , '' the California Democrat tweeted Monday .
`` They must allow key witnesses to testify , and produce the documents Trump has blocked , so Americans can see the facts for themselves . ''
She added , `` The Senate can not be complicit in the President 's cover-up . ''
Bolton @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would testify before the Senate in the impeachment trial if he were subpoenaed .
He was Trump 's national security adviser when the events leading to the president 's impeachment occurred .
Bolton had previously declined to comply with impeachment proceedings in the House , and the White House blocked him from testifying .
Pelosi , 79 , has been withholding articles of impeachment from the Senate for weeks because Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has signaled he may not call any witnesses .
The Kentucky Republican said he will not negotiate with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ beyond me how the speaker and Democratic leader in the Senate think withholding the articles of impeachment and not sending them over gives them leverage , '' McConnell said last month .
Sen. Josh Hawley has since announced his intention to introduce a measure to dismiss articles of impeachment because House Democrats have withheld them from GOP Senate leaders .
`` In real world , if prosecution doesn ’ t proceed with case , it gets dismissed , '' the Missouri Republican said last week .
`` I will introduce measure to dismiss @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''

Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi hailed news that former national security adviser John Bolton said he would testify during President Trump's impeachment trial by urging Republicans to allow witnesses at the Senate-run event.
"The President & Sen. McConnell have run out of excuses," the California Democrat tweeted Monday. "They must allow key witnesses to testify, and produce the documents Trump has blocked, so Americans can see the facts for themselves."
She added, "The Senate cannot be complicit in the President's cover-up."
The President & Sen. McConnell have run out of excuses. They must allow key witnesses to testify, and produce the documents Trump has blocked, so Americans can see the facts for themselves.
The Senate cannot be complicit in the President's cover-up. #DefendOurDemocracy https://t.co/TQLJsfn0f5 — Nancy Pelosi (@SpeakerPelosi) January 6, 2020
Bolton, 71, said Monday that he would testify before the Senate in the impeachment trial if he were subpoenaed. He was Trump's national security adviser when the events leading to the president's impeachment occurred. Bolton had previously declined to comply with impeachment proceedings in the House, and the White House blocked him from testifying.
Pelosi, 79, has been withholding articles of impeachment from the Senate for weeks because Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has signaled he may not call any witnesses. The Kentucky Republican said he will not negotiate with the speaker.
"It’s beyond me how the speaker and Democratic leader in the Senate think withholding the articles of impeachment and not sending them over gives them leverage," McConnell said last month.
Sen. Josh Hawley has since announced his intention to introduce a measure to dismiss articles of impeachment because House Democrats have withheld them from GOP Senate leaders.
"In real world, if prosecution doesn’t proceed with case, it gets dismissed," the Missouri Republican said last week. "I will introduce measure to dismiss this bogus impeachment for lack of prosecution."


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-01-06--Soleimani successor vows to 'rid the region of America'

The man chosen to succeed Qassem Soleimani as leader of the Quds Force warned of revenge against the United States after the military leader ’ s death .
Speaking the same day as thousands of Iranians flooded the streets of Tehran as part of Soleimani ’ s funeral , Gen. Esmail Ghaani , the new commander of the Quds Force , called Soleimani a martyr and vowed to “ rid the region of America.
” “ God the Almighty has promised to take martyr Soleimani ’ s revenge , ” Ghaani said , according to Reuters .
“ Certainly , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tehran chanted “ death to America , ” and Iran 's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei wept openly on Monday , days after President Trump said he had a list of 52 Iranian targets , including cultural sites , that might be attacked should Iran retaliate for Soleimani ’ s death .
“ Let this serve as a WARNING that if Iran strikes any Americans , or American assets , we have targeted 52 Iranian sites ( representing the 52 American hostages taken by Iran many years ago ) , some at a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ & the Iranian culture , and those targets , and Iran itself , WILL BE HIT VERY FAST AND VERY HARD .
The USA wants no more threats !
” Trump said on Twitter .
Soleimani , 62 , was killed last week in a U.S. drone strike in Baghdad along with Abu Mahdi al Muhandis , leader of the Iranian-backed Popular Mobilization Forces .
The White House ’ s Iran adviser Brian Hook said that the strike against Soleimani stopped the deaths of “ hundreds of Americans .
”

The man chosen to succeed Qassem Soleimani as leader of the Quds Force warned of revenge against the United States after the military leader’s death.
Speaking the same day as thousands of Iranians flooded the streets of Tehran as part of Soleimani’s funeral, Gen. Esmail Ghaani, the new commander of the Quds Force, called Soleimani a martyr and vowed to “rid the region of America.”
“God the Almighty has promised to take martyr Soleimani’s revenge,” Ghaani said, according to Reuters. “Certainly, actions will be taken.”
Coffins of Gen. Qassem Soleimani and others who were killed in Iraq by a U.S. drone strike, are carried on a truck surrounded by mourners during a funeral procession at the Enqelab-e-Eslami (Islamic Revolution) square in Tehran, Iran, Monday, Jan. 6, 2020. The processions mark the first time Iran honored a single man with a multi-city ceremony. Not even Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, who founded the Islamic Republic, received such a processional with his death in 1989. Soleimani on Monday will lie in state at Tehran's famed Musalla mosque as the revolutionary leader did before him. (Ebrahim Noroozi/AP)
Crowds in Tehran chanted “death to America,” and Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei wept openly on Monday, days after President Trump said he had a list of 52 Iranian targets, including cultural sites, that might be attacked should Iran retaliate for Soleimani’s death.
“Let this serve as a WARNING that if Iran strikes any Americans, or American assets, we have targeted 52 Iranian sites (representing the 52 American hostages taken by Iran many years ago), some at a very high level & important to Iran & the Iranian culture, and those targets, and Iran itself, WILL BE HIT VERY FAST AND VERY HARD. The USA wants no more threats!” Trump said on Twitter.
In this image taken from video, Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, left, openly weeps as he leads a prayer over the coffin of Gen. Qassem Soleimani, who was killed in Iraq in a U.S. drone strike on Friday, at the Tehran University campus, in Tehran, Iran, Monday, Jan. 6, 2020. (Iran Press/AP)
Soleimani, 62, was killed last week in a U.S. drone strike in Baghdad along with Abu Mahdi al Muhandis, leader of the Iranian-backed Popular Mobilization Forces. The White House’s Iran adviser Brian Hook said that the strike against Soleimani stopped the deaths of “hundreds of Americans.”


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-01-06--White House downplays Trump threat to hit Iranian cultural sites

The White House tried to reframe President Trump ’ s threat to attack cultural sites in Iran by saying his comments were simply posing the question about what would come next if America ’ s allies sought to distance themselves from the idea .
On Monday , Trump counselor Kellyanne Conway scolded reporters for their treatment of Trump ’ s words .
`` He did n't say he 's targeting cultural sites , ” Conway said of his Saturday night tweet .
“ He said that he was openly asking the question why in the world they 're allowed to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , kill our people , torture our people ... he said that they identified 52 sites . ''
Tensions have ratcheted up across the Middle East after Trump ordered the killing of Gen. Qassem Soleimani last week following the death of American contractor and demonstrations that at one stage threatened to overrun the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad .
Trump used Twitter on Saturday to promise further action if Iran retaliated .
`` Let this serve as a WARNING that if Iran strikes any Americans , or American assets , we have targeted 52 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hostages taken by Iran many years ago ) , some at a very high level & important to Iran & the Iranian culture , and those targets , and Iran itself , WILL BE HIT VERY FAST AND VERY HARD , ” he wrote .
A day later , he warned Iran of `` major retaliation . ''
He said : `` They ’ re allowed to use roadside bombs and blow up our people .
And we ’ re not allowed to touch their cultural site ?
It doesn ’ t work @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s European allies have called for a de-escalation .
And on Monday , a Downing Street spokesman pointed to laws protecting cultural sites when asked if Prime Minister Boris Johnson supported Trump ’ s comments .
`` There are international conventions in place that prevent the destruction of cultural heritage , '' he said during a briefing .
And UNESCO , the United Nations 's cultural body , also spelled out Trump ’ s international obligations , pointing out said that the United States had signed two conventions that committed it not to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cultural or natural heritage .
Conway said some of the cultural sites might also represent military targets .
`` Secretary Pompeo said yesterday that we will be within the law , and I think that Iran has many military , strategic military sites that you may cite are also cultural sites , '' she said .
She added that the president was confident he could still renegotiate a new nuclear deal with Tehran after Iran announced over the weekend it would retreat further from the 2015 nuclear pact .
`` He said he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ response to a question about talks .
“ If Iran wants to start behaving like a normal country ... sure , absolutely . ''

The White House tried to reframe President Trump’s threat to attack cultural sites in Iran by saying his comments were simply posing the question about what would come next if America’s allies sought to distance themselves from the idea.
On Monday, Trump counselor Kellyanne Conway scolded reporters for their treatment of Trump’s words.
"He didn't say he's targeting cultural sites,” Conway said of his Saturday night tweet. “He said that he was openly asking the question why in the world they're allowed to maim people, put out roadside bombs, kill our people, torture our people ... he said that they identified 52 sites."
Tensions have ratcheted up across the Middle East after Trump ordered the killing of Gen. Qassem Soleimani last week following the death of American contractor and demonstrations that at one stage threatened to overrun the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad.
Trump used Twitter on Saturday to promise further action if Iran retaliated. "Let this serve as a WARNING that if Iran strikes any Americans, or American assets, we have targeted 52 Iranian sites (representing the 52 American hostages taken by Iran many years ago), some at a very high level & important to Iran & the Iranian culture, and those targets, and Iran itself, WILL BE HIT VERY FAST AND VERY HARD,” he wrote.
A day later, he warned Iran of "major retaliation." He said: "They’re allowed to use roadside bombs and blow up our people. And we’re not allowed to touch their cultural site? It doesn’t work that way.”
[Opinion: Trump shouldn't, can't, and won't bomb Iranian cultural sites]
However, Trump’s European allies have called for a de-escalation. And on Monday, a Downing Street spokesman pointed to laws protecting cultural sites when asked if Prime Minister Boris Johnson supported Trump’s comments. "There are international conventions in place that prevent the destruction of cultural heritage," he said during a briefing.
Critics say targeting cultural sites could constitute a war crime.
And UNESCO, the United Nations's cultural body, also spelled out Trump’s international obligations, pointing out said that the United States had signed two conventions that committed it not to take any deliberate measures that might damage cultural or natural heritage.
Conway said some of the cultural sites might also represent military targets. "Secretary Pompeo said yesterday that we will be within the law, and I think that Iran has many military, strategic military sites that you may cite are also cultural sites," she said.
She added that the president was confident he could still renegotiate a new nuclear deal with Tehran after Iran announced over the weekend it would retreat further from the 2015 nuclear pact. "He said he's open,” she said in response to a question about talks. “If Iran wants to start behaving like a normal country ... sure, absolutely."


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-01-06--House impeachers can hide from a trial, but they can’t run

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is upset .
She let her caucus impeach President Trump on dubious charges with a narrow partisan majority and without taking the time to gather evidence that she now believes must be heard in a Senate trial as it might convince a skeptical public .
And now , huge surprise , the Republican Senate appears poised to send the resulting impeachment articles straight to the circular file .
As of Friday , Pelosi was still withholding the articles of impeachment from the Senate .
She is making demands that the Senate trial be run in a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Democrat is not a senator and has no constitutional role in shaping the trial .
“ Their turn is over , ” said Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell , a Republican from Kentucky .
“ They ’ ve done enough damage .
It ’ s the Senate ’ s turn now to render sober judgment.
” And by that , he means the Senate will hear from impeachment managers like they did during Bill Clinton 's impeachment , and then they will promptly vote to acquit .
Pelosi lashed out in response : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that he will feebly comply with President Trump ’ s cover-up of his abuses of power and be an accomplice to that cover-up . ''
But this is just the voice of the loser .
What is going on between her and McConnell is not a “ standoff ” or an “ impasse , ” as the media would have you believe .
It is a straight-up defeat for House Democrats .
Having hastily impeached without gathering the requisite evidence and testimony that they are now demanding after-the-fact , Democrats are left with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ credible whining that the Senate needs to hear from a bunch of new witnesses — after all , they didn ’ t need any of those witnesses to impeach , did they ?
If House Democrats send the impeachment to the Senate to be voted down , then they will look weak .
Trump will spend the next 10 months running around , claiming that he has been vindicated .
If House Democrats instead chicken out and swallow their own articles of impeachment , then they also lose .
McConnell will shrug and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ months crowing about how they tried to impeach him but lacked the guts to make their case .
Pelosi was initially correct to discourage impeachment .
She recognized that a purely partisan impeachment process , conducted entirely for the sake of obtaining a cheap political boost , would work against her party and probably even strengthen Trump .
But under withering fire from the extreme Left , she ultimately acquiesced .
As a result , House Democrats now find themselves exposed .
They already pulled the trigger , and there are no more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Democrats felt they had a serious case for impeachment that would convince the public , then they would be shoving the articles down McConnell ’ s throat right now with utter glee , excitedly looking forward to a Senate vote that would surely end the careers of multiple Republicans .
Instead , they are despondent , fearful , wondering whether their conspicuous act of political self-gratification did n't just hand Trump a second term .
Meanwhile , support for impeachment has dwindled .
Trump ’ s approval ratings are up — to 45 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nearly the highest point of his presidency .
Reputable state polls suggest that Joe Biden is the only candidate with a prayer of stopping him , but Biden is the one Democrat arguably hurt most by impeachment .
The whole story , after all , revolves around an attempt to have him investigated in connection with the flagrantly corrupt dealings of his out-of-control son .
House Democrats are the dog that caught the car .
Due to the supposedly urgent need to remove Trump from office as soon as possible , they went @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will convince anyone outside of their own partisan fever swamps .
Now that they ’ ve impeached — well , suddenly Trump ’ s removal isn ’ t so urgent after all .
It can wait .
Maybe it will end up waiting five years .

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is upset. She let her caucus impeach President Trump on dubious charges with a narrow partisan majority and without taking the time to gather evidence that she now believes must be heard in a Senate trial as it might convince a skeptical public. And now, huge surprise, the Republican Senate appears poised to send the resulting impeachment articles straight to the circular file.
As of Friday, Pelosi was still withholding the articles of impeachment from the Senate. She is making demands that the Senate trial be run in a particular way, even though the California Democrat is not a senator and has no constitutional role in shaping the trial.
“Their turn is over,” said Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, a Republican from Kentucky. “They’ve done enough damage. It’s the Senate’s turn now to render sober judgment.” And by that, he means the Senate will hear from impeachment managers like they did during Bill Clinton's impeachment, and then they will promptly vote to acquit.
Pelosi lashed out in response: “Today, Leader McConnell made clear that he will feebly comply with President Trump’s cover-up of his abuses of power and be an accomplice to that cover-up."
But this is just the voice of the loser. What is going on between her and McConnell is not a “standoff” or an “impasse,” as the media would have you believe. It is a straight-up defeat for House Democrats.
Having hastily impeached without gathering the requisite evidence and testimony that they are now demanding after-the-fact, Democrats are left with no good choices. They hardly sound credible whining that the Senate needs to hear from a bunch of new witnesses — after all, they didn’t need any of those witnesses to impeach, did they?
If House Democrats send the impeachment to the Senate to be voted down, then they will look weak. Trump will spend the next 10 months running around, claiming that he has been vindicated. If House Democrats instead chicken out and swallow their own articles of impeachment, then they also lose. McConnell will shrug and smirk while Trump spends the next 10 months crowing about how they tried to impeach him but lacked the guts to make their case.
Pelosi was initially correct to discourage impeachment. She recognized that a purely partisan impeachment process, conducted entirely for the sake of obtaining a cheap political boost, would work against her party and probably even strengthen Trump. But under withering fire from the extreme Left, she ultimately acquiesced. As a result, House Democrats now find themselves exposed. They already pulled the trigger, and there are no more bullets left in the gun.
If Democrats felt they had a serious case for impeachment that would convince the public, then they would be shoving the articles down McConnell’s throat right now with utter glee, excitedly looking forward to a Senate vote that would surely end the careers of multiple Republicans.
Instead, they are despondent, fearful, wondering whether their conspicuous act of political self-gratification didn't just hand Trump a second term.
Meanwhile, support for impeachment has dwindled. Trump’s approval ratings are up — to 45% according to the RealClearPolitics average, nearly the highest point of his presidency. Reputable state polls suggest that Joe Biden is the only candidate with a prayer of stopping him, but Biden is the one Democrat arguably hurt most by impeachment. The whole story, after all, revolves around an attempt to have him investigated in connection with the flagrantly corrupt dealings of his out-of-control son.
House Democrats are the dog that caught the car. Due to the supposedly urgent need to remove Trump from office as soon as possible, they went and impeached him without a case that will convince anyone outside of their own partisan fever swamps. Now that they’ve impeached — well, suddenly Trump’s removal isn’t so urgent after all. It can wait. Maybe it will end up waiting five years.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-01-05--WATCH: Iranian lawmakers chant, 'death to America,' in parliament following Soleimani killing

Members of the Iranian parliament are incensed in the wake of top Gen. Qassem Soleimani 's death at the hands of the United States .
U.S. forces killed Soleimani during a drone strike in Baghdad on Thursday following what President Trump called `` very serious '' and credible intelligence that Soleimani was plotting to kill American diplomats and military personnel in the Middle East .
Soleimani is believed to be responsible for the deaths of hundreds of American service members , and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has been deemed an official terrorist organization by the U.S. government .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the 290 members of the Iranian parliament chanted over the weekend .
“ Mr .
Trump !
This is the voice of the Iranian nation .
Listen !
” Parliament speaker Ali Larijani said as lawmakers chanted .
Iran 's foreign ministry and Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has vowed to avenge the Soleimani killing .
One lawmaker even suggested Iranian military forces attack the White House directly .
`` With his departure and with God 's power , his work and path will not cease , and severe revenge awaits those criminals who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ blood and the blood of the other martyrs of last night 's incident , '' Khamenei said .
Trump said on Friday , the American military is ready to neutralize any threat from Iran that puts American lives in danger and threatened to hit 52 Iranian sites if the country seeks revenge on Saturday .

Members of the Iranian parliament are incensed in the wake of top Gen. Qassem Soleimani's death at the hands of the United States.
U.S. forces killed Soleimani during a drone strike in Baghdad on Thursday following what President Trump called "very serious" and credible intelligence that Soleimani was plotting to kill American diplomats and military personnel in the Middle East.
Soleimani is believed to be responsible for the deaths of hundreds of American service members, and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has been deemed an official terrorist organization by the U.S. government.
"Death to America," almost all of the 290 members of the Iranian parliament chanted over the weekend.
“Mr. Trump! This is the voice of the Iranian nation. Listen!” Parliament speaker Ali Larijani said as lawmakers chanted.
Iran's foreign ministry and Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has vowed to avenge the Soleimani killing. One lawmaker even suggested Iranian military forces attack the White House directly.
"With his departure and with God's power, his work and path will not cease, and severe revenge awaits those criminals who have tainted their filthy hands with his blood and the blood of the other martyrs of last night's incident," Khamenei said.
Trump said on Friday, the American military is ready to neutralize any threat from Iran that puts American lives in danger and threatened to hit 52 Iranian sites if the country seeks revenge on Saturday.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-01-05--'Attack the White House': Iranian lawmaker threatens to strike America

A lawmaker in Iran urged his countrymen to attack the White House directly in response to President Trump 's order to kill top Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani .
`` We can attack the White House itself , we can respond to them on the American soil .
We have the power , and God willing we will respond in an appropriate time , '' MP Abolfazl Abutorabi said on Sunday , according to Iranian news agency ILNA .
Soleimani is believed to be responsible for the deaths of hundreds of American service members , and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by the U.S. government since 2014 .
Abutorabi went on to say the Iranians `` should crush America 's teeth '' during an impassioned speech before Parliament .
Trump threatened to ramp up the violence against Iran late Saturday , tweeting , `` Let this serve as a WARNING that if Iran strikes any Americans , or American assets , we have targeted 52 Iranian sites ( representing the 52 American hostages taken by Iran many years ago ) , some at a very high level & important to Iran & the Iranian @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Iran itself , WILL BE HIT VERY FAST AND VERY HARD .
The USA wants no more threats ! ''
U.S. military officials said the missile strike that led to Soleimani 's death was in response to an `` imminent threat '' he and the Guard posed to American lives in the region .
Since the Iranian general 's killing , the State Department and the Pentagon have ordered all U.S. citizens in Baghdad to leave the country immediately .
Trump said Friday he did not order the killing of Soleimani to `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one .

A lawmaker in Iran urged his countrymen to attack the White House directly in response to President Trump's order to kill top Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani.
"We can attack the White House itself, we can respond to them on the American soil. We have the power, and God willing we will respond in an appropriate time," MP Abolfazl Abutorabi said on Sunday, according to Iranian news agency ILNA.
Soleimani is believed to be responsible for the deaths of hundreds of American service members, and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has been deemed an official terrorist organization by the U.S. government since 2014.
Abutorabi went on to say the Iranians "should crush America's teeth" during an impassioned speech before Parliament.
Trump threatened to ramp up the violence against Iran late Saturday, tweeting, "Let this serve as a WARNING that if Iran strikes any Americans, or American assets, we have targeted 52 Iranian sites (representing the 52 American hostages taken by Iran many years ago), some at a very high level & important to Iran & the Iranian culture, and those targets, and Iran itself, WILL BE HIT VERY FAST AND VERY HARD. The USA wants no more threats!"
....targeted 52 Iranian sites (representing the 52 American hostages taken by Iran many years ago), some at a very high level & important to Iran & the Iranian culture, and those targets, and Iran itself, WILL BE HIT VERY FAST AND VERY HARD. The USA wants no more threats! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 4, 2020
U.S. military officials said the missile strike that led to Soleimani's death was in response to an "imminent threat" he and the Guard posed to American lives in the region. Since the Iranian general's killing, the State Department and the Pentagon have ordered all U.S. citizens in Baghdad to leave the country immediately.
Trump said Friday he did not order the killing of Soleimani to "start a war" but to end one.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-01-05--Trump left China's worst trade practices for daunting 'phase two' talks

President Trump will be facing a difficult task when he travels to China later this year to start `` phase two '' of trade negotiations with Beijing .
The talks are expected to cover digital trade , China ’ s business subsidies , and its hacking of U.S. companies , according to White House officials — all of which issues are so tricky that they got excluded from the first round of talks .
Furthermore , Trump now has less room to maneuver because of the promises he made to China in the first round of talks , some of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ China was brought to table on 'phase one ' by tariffs , and we 've just promised not to impose more .
So , we 'd need another set of actions to make 'phase two ' work , ” noted Derek Scissors , a resident scholar at the American Enterprise Institute , a conservative think tank .
The administration would have to punish specific Chinese companies that benefit from hacking or subsidies , among other possibilities , Scissors said .
“ But we have n't taken even the first step in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that a full trade deal may not come before the 2020 election .
He has claimed that China is dragging its heels in the hopes that he loses his reelection bid and a Democratic White House takes over .
He has also said he does n't mind waiting until after the election , but getting a deal before it would be a big boost to his reelection prospects .
The task is also especially daunting because the negotiating items are ones that fell out of `` phase one '' because they proved intractable @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , as you know , those are difficult issues , '' a White House official acknowledged to reporters after `` phase one . ''
`` With China , we ’ re actually planning to address those in future negotiations . ''
Subsidies to Chinese companies and support for state-owned enterprises allow the companies to operate at a loss and thereby undercut foreign competitors .
Addressing the subsidies is difficult because they come in many forms , said William Reinsch of the Center for Strategic and International Studies .
Does , for example , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ electricity constitute a subsidy ?
Another issue is that Chinese companies tend to act in Beijing ’ s interest over their own financial bottom lines even when they don ’ t explicitly have to .
“ A colleague of mine said here are only two types of business in China : the ones that are owned by the government and ones that shut up and do what the government tells them to do , ” Reinsch said .
The United States needs to push China to these privatize companies or let them go @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but the U.S. could prod Beijing to cut loose from specific companies .
“ That would be a way to produce measurable benefits , ” Reinsch said .
The two main digital trade issues are Chinese laws requiring “ important data ” to be stored and processed locally and prohibitions on the data being transferred out of the country .
The data can range from personal information to financial records to trade secrets .
The practice allows China to restrict market access if the localization requirements are not met .
The transfer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from making full use of the info .
U.S. companies want the White House to pressure Beijing to lessen and clarify restrictions that mandate data localization for network owners and operators that maintain critical information infrastructure in China , said a trade association representative who requested anonymity .
Getting it to give up that advantage is another matter entirely , noted Simon Lester , trade policy analyst for the free market Cato Institute .
“ I will be shocked if China agrees to any provisions that would affect its policies related to data @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he said .
Beijing has denied that it hacks into U.S. companies , but the Justice Department has indicted multiple alleged Chinese hackers in 2019 alone .
Reuters reported last month that the National Association of Manufacturers , a trade policy association , was hacked over the summer , and an investigation determined the attack came from China .
Whether hacking is an issue for a trade deal is n't clear , said the ITIC official .
Hacking that is not for economic gain is considered traditional espionage and therefore a criminal matter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ problem for the administration is that many issues involving `` phase one '' still aren ’ t resolved .
The actual text of that deal has not been made public .
That frustrates many trade groups .
“ From a substantive standpoint , want to see what the deal looks like .
If ‘ phase one ’ doesn ’ t address those issues , then we want to make sure that ‘ phase two ’ does , ” said Ed Brzytwa , director of international trade for the American Chemistry Council , a @ @ @

President Trump will be facing a difficult task when he travels to China later this year to start "phase two" of trade negotiations with Beijing.
The talks are expected to cover digital trade, China’s business subsidies, and its hacking of U.S. companies, according to White House officials — all of which issues are so tricky that they got excluded from the first round of talks.
Furthermore, Trump now has less room to maneuver because of the promises he made to China in the first round of talks, some of which limit his leverage over Chinese negotiators.
“China was brought to table on 'phase one' by tariffs, and we've just promised not to impose more. So, we'd need another set of actions to make 'phase two' work,” noted Derek Scissors, a resident scholar at the American Enterprise Institute, a conservative think tank.
The administration would have to punish specific Chinese companies that benefit from hacking or subsidies, among other possibilities, Scissors said. “But we haven't taken even the first step in that direction.”
Trump has repeatedly said that a full trade deal may not come before the 2020 election. He has claimed that China is dragging its heels in the hopes that he loses his reelection bid and a Democratic White House takes over. He has also said he doesn't mind waiting until after the election, but getting a deal before it would be a big boost to his reelection prospects.
The task is also especially daunting because the negotiating items are ones that fell out of "phase one" because they proved intractable. "Digital trade, you know, as you know, those are difficult issues," a White House official acknowledged to reporters after "phase one." "With China, we’re actually planning to address those in future negotiations."
Subsidies to Chinese companies and support for state-owned enterprises allow the companies to operate at a loss and thereby undercut foreign competitors. Addressing the subsidies is difficult because they come in many forms, said William Reinsch of the Center for Strategic and International Studies. Does, for example, a state utility giving a company discounted electricity constitute a subsidy?
Another issue is that Chinese companies tend to act in Beijing’s interest over their own financial bottom lines even when they don’t explicitly have to. “A colleague of mine said here are only two types of business in China: the ones that are owned by the government and ones that shut up and do what the government tells them to do,” Reinsch said.
The United States needs to push China to these privatize companies or let them go bankrupt. China is unlikely to comply, but the U.S. could prod Beijing to cut loose from specific companies. “That would be a way to produce measurable benefits,” Reinsch said.
The two main digital trade issues are Chinese laws requiring “important data” to be stored and processed locally and prohibitions on the data being transferred out of the country. The data can range from personal information to financial records to trade secrets. The practice allows China to restrict market access if the localization requirements are not met. The transfer limitations, meanwhile, prevent U.S. companies from making full use of the info.
U.S. companies want the White House to pressure Beijing to lessen and clarify restrictions that mandate data localization for network owners and operators that maintain critical information infrastructure in China, said a trade association representative who requested anonymity.
Getting it to give up that advantage is another matter entirely, noted Simon Lester, trade policy analyst for the free market Cato Institute. “I will be shocked if China agrees to any provisions that would affect its policies related to data localization and cross-border data transfers,” he said.
Beijing has denied that it hacks into U.S. companies, but the Justice Department has indicted multiple alleged Chinese hackers in 2019 alone. Reuters reported last month that the National Association of Manufacturers, a trade policy association, was hacked over the summer, and an investigation determined the attack came from China.
Whether hacking is an issue for a trade deal isn't clear, said the ITIC official. Hacking that is not for economic gain is considered traditional espionage and therefore a criminal matter, not a trade issue.
Another problem for the administration is that many issues involving "phase one" still aren’t resolved. The actual text of that deal has not been made public. That frustrates many trade groups.
“From a substantive standpoint, want to see what the deal looks like. If ‘phase one’ doesn’t address those issues, then we want to make sure that ‘phase two’ does,” said Ed Brzytwa, director of international trade for the American Chemistry Council, a trade association.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-01-05--Biden starts 2020 as the biggest threat to Trump

President Trump says he does n't fear Joe Biden in a general election , but the former vice president is Trump 's most serious opponent in key battleground states .
`` We need help to beat Sleepy Joe Biden ?
I do n't think so , '' Trump said in November in Bossier City , Louisiana , where he was stumping for the Republican gubernatorial candidate .
Electability is a critical factor among Democratic primary voters , many of whom want nothing more than simply to oust Trump .
And even though Biden is not as far Left as much @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ability to beat the president remains a strong selling point for him .
`` Biden ’ s biggest advantage may be that more Democratic voters see him as electable as say that about any of the other frontrunners , '' the polling website YouGov wrote last month .
`` A majority ( 57 % ) of Democratic voters believe Biden can win the 2020 general election against President Trump , and just 19 percent believe he will lose . ''
And despite Trump 's suggestion to the contrary , `` the White House @ @ @ @ @ @ @ quite some time , '' said one Republican operative .
In a sign of concern , the president has frequently drawn attention to Biden , who remains the front-runner in the Democratic field and is seen as the candidate to beat , as has Trump campaign manager Brad Parscale .
Biden leads all Democrats in a hypothetical match-up against Trump , topping the president in polling late last year among likely voters in key states such as Florida , Michigan , Wisconsin , and Pennsylvania .
In Wisconsin , Trump no longer leads @ @ @ @ @ @ @ according to a Marquette poll .
The RealClearPolitics polling average for Biden against Trump puts the vice president ahead by 4 points .
Nevertheless , in blue Virginia , which Hillary Clinton won handily in 2016 , Biden only leads Trump by four , according to a December Mason-Dixon poll .
Last year , during a trip to the state , Trump instructed Pence to “ tell them we think Virginia is in play and that I ’ m going to be there.
” And nationally , Biden 's lead against Trump has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ average shows support for Biden has fallen falling by half from +9 points in November to +4.5 in December .
“ Joe Biden was a terrible candidate the first two times he ran for president , and there ’ s no reason to believe he has suddenly improved , '' communications director Tim Murtaugh told the Washington Examiner .
The president will need to assuage the concerns of suburban voters `` who may agree with the general direction of many of his policies but are unsettled about how he handles himself personally , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ adviser Karl Rove told the Washington Examiner .
`` They voted for him .
If you look at the exit polls , you 've got 36 % of the electorate that say , 'We like him , he 's qualified , he 's got the right background , the right temperament , and he 's agent of change — we 're for him . '
And 9 % said we do n't like him , 'We do n't think he 's qualified , we do n't think he has the right temperament , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and we hate her more , ' '' Rove said , referring to Clinton .
`` Some have since been convinced by what he has done in office that his is worthy of their support , but he still has some work to do , '' Rove said .
In his annual predictions column on Dec. 31 in the Wall Street Journal , Rove wrote : `` Victory depends on Mr. Trump ’ s discipline and whom the Democrats nominate .
If it ’ s Mr. Biden , Mr. Trump has an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ president wins . ''
Murtaugh said that while it is unclear who will emerge as the Democrat 's nominee , with the president 's record on jobs and the economy , the campaign is indifferent .
`` Democrats will undo all of that success , '' he said , listing Democratic policy positions on healthcare , immigration , and the Green New Deal .
`` The choice will be clear in state after state in November .
”

President Trump says he doesn't fear Joe Biden in a general election, but the former vice president is Trump's most serious opponent in key battleground states.
"We need help to beat Sleepy Joe Biden? I don't think so," Trump said in November in Bossier City, Louisiana, where he was stumping for the Republican gubernatorial candidate.
Electability is a critical factor among Democratic primary voters, many of whom want nothing more than simply to oust Trump. And even though Biden is not as far Left as much of the Democratic base, Biden's ability to beat the president remains a strong selling point for him.
"Biden’s biggest advantage may be that more Democratic voters see him as electable as say that about any of the other frontrunners," the polling website YouGov wrote last month. "A majority (57%) of Democratic voters believe Biden can win the 2020 general election against President Trump, and just 19 percent believe he will lose."
And despite Trump's suggestion to the contrary, "the White House has been thinking about Joe Biden for quite some time," said one Republican operative. In a sign of concern, the president has frequently drawn attention to Biden, who remains the front-runner in the Democratic field and is seen as the candidate to beat, as has Trump campaign manager Brad Parscale.
Biden leads all Democrats in a hypothetical match-up against Trump, topping the president in polling late last year among likely voters in key states such as Florida, Michigan, Wisconsin, and Pennsylvania. In Wisconsin, Trump no longer leads Biden as he did in November, according to a Marquette poll. The RealClearPolitics polling average for Biden against Trump puts the vice president ahead by 4 points.
Nevertheless, in blue Virginia, which Hillary Clinton won handily in 2016, Biden only leads Trump by four, according to a December Mason-Dixon poll. Last year, during a trip to the state, Trump instructed Pence to “tell them we think Virginia is in play and that I’m going to be there.”
And nationally, Biden's lead against Trump has been inconsistent. The RealClearPolitics' polling average shows support for Biden has fallen falling by half from +9 points in November to +4.5 in December. “Joe Biden was a terrible candidate the first two times he ran for president, and there’s no reason to believe he has suddenly improved," communications director Tim Murtaugh told the Washington Examiner.
The president will need to assuage the concerns of suburban voters "who may agree with the general direction of many of his policies but are unsettled about how he handles himself personally," veteran political operative and former Bush adviser Karl Rove told the Washington Examiner. "They voted for him. If you look at the exit polls, you've got 36% of the electorate that say, 'We like him, he's qualified, he's got the right background, the right temperament, and he's agent of change — we're for him.' And 9% said we don't like him, 'We don't think he's qualified, we don't think he has the right temperament, but he's an agent of change, and we hate her more,'" Rove said, referring to Clinton. "Some have since been convinced by what he has done in office that his is worthy of their support, but he still has some work to do," Rove said.
In his annual predictions column on Dec. 31 in the Wall Street Journal, Rove wrote: "Victory depends on Mr. Trump’s discipline and whom the Democrats nominate. If it’s Mr. Biden, Mr. Trump has an uphill fight; if not, the president wins."
Murtaugh said that while it is unclear who will emerge as the Democrat's nominee, with the president's record on jobs and the economy, the campaign is indifferent. "Democrats will undo all of that success," he said, listing Democratic policy positions on healthcare, immigration, and the Green New Deal. "The choice will be clear in state after state in November.”