thewashingtonexaminer--2020-01-31--Rand Paul: Election 'chaos' is goal of Democrats, 'they hate the president so much'

President Trump ’ s legal team and his supporters on Capitol Hill are turning their attention to a potential , though still unlikely , scenario should the Senate surprise the public with a conviction on the two impeachment articles he faces .
The new focus is keeping him on 2020 primary and general-election ballots so that he can return to office if he ’ s given the boot — or impeached again this year , as some House Democrats are predicting .
While there is no precedent , officials are conferring with constitutional scholars to determine the president ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ clear , a close political Trump ally said : “ He ’ s going to run no matter what happens.
” In an interview , Republican Sen. Rand Paul said the potential ballot confusion was “ not emphasized enough , ” and he believed that it was one of the key reasons Democrats have pushed impeachment to the cliff .
Their goal , he said , was not protecting democracy , but ruining the GOP ’ s election chances .
“ Do you think [ Democratic impeachment manager ] Adam Schiff is just @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a stand-up citizen ?
Or do you think he cares about damaging people of the opposite political party ?
” Paul asked .
“ Right now , Trump is the presumptive nominee .
The thing is , if convicted , he wouldn ’ t be allowed to run .
This isn ’ t about the 2016 election .
It ’ s not about potential malfeasance in office .
It ’ s about taking him off the ballot and there being chaos on the other side , ” he added .
The rules , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the process .
If convicted , Trump loses his job .
But some experts said that it was up to the Senate to level other punishments , including barring him from getting elected president after that .
Trump ’ s supporters have been circulating a report from PolitiFact that indicated he could run so long as he wasn ’ t erased from the ballots .
In an analysis for the Trump-supporting Heritage Foundation , University of North Carolina constitutional law professor Michael Gerhardt referred to judicial impeachments and suggested that the Senate could @ @ @ @ @ @ @ since there is no model , the current Senate would have to pave the way .
He wrote , “ The debates over censure , like those over the other questions about the appropriate sanctions the Senate may impose for presidential misconduct , are likely to persist until historical practice resolves the matter.
” Paul seemed convinced that if Trump is convicted , removal from the ballot will come next no matter what the president ’ s supporters want .
“ He ’ s going to be removed from the ballot .
Can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s kicked out of the presidency , he ’ s removed from the ballot .
We would have had most of our primaries by the time this happens , ” the senator said .
“ If you get through March before this happens , if we do an investigation , and then all of a sudden , they remove him , and he can ’ t be on the ballot , [ Democrats ] have completely destroyed the 2020 election for the other party .
Which is the ultimate irony of this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the government , they ’ re using the government to go after political enemies , ” Paul added .
He is pushing for more attention to the issue by Trump ’ s team because he fears that the president ’ s supporters do not see the goal of the Democrats .
“ This is the irony .
They want to impute what his motives are , and so the thing is that they say his motives are political .
Well , are not their motives for impeachment political ?
” the senator said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Left in the media is questioning at all the motives of Adam Schiff , but they are all questioning the president ’ s motives , ” he said , then offered a reason for the double standard .
“ They hate the president so much .
”

President Trump’s legal team and his supporters on Capitol Hill are turning their attention to a potential, though still unlikely, scenario should the Senate surprise the public with a conviction on the two impeachment articles he faces.
The new focus is keeping him on 2020 primary and general-election ballots so that he can return to office if he’s given the boot — or impeached again this year, as some House Democrats are predicting.
While there is no precedent, officials are conferring with constitutional scholars to determine the president’s ballot rights, because one thing is clear, a close political Trump ally said: “He’s going to run no matter what happens.”
In an interview, Republican Sen. Rand Paul said the potential ballot confusion was “not emphasized enough,” and he believed that it was one of the key reasons Democrats have pushed impeachment to the cliff.
Their goal, he said, was not protecting democracy, but ruining the GOP’s election chances.
“Do you think [Democratic impeachment manager] Adam Schiff is just doing this because he’s such a stand-up citizen? Or do you think he cares about damaging people of the opposite political party?” Paul asked.
“Right now, Trump is the presumptive nominee. The thing is, if convicted, he wouldn’t be allowed to run. This isn’t about the 2016 election. It’s not about potential malfeasance in office. It’s about taking him off the ballot and there being chaos on the other side,” he added.
The rules, however, aren’t clear on the process. If convicted, Trump loses his job. But some experts said that it was up to the Senate to level other punishments, including barring him from getting elected president after that.
Trump’s supporters have been circulating a report from PolitiFact that indicated he could run so long as he wasn’t erased from the ballots.
In an analysis for the Trump-supporting Heritage Foundation, University of North Carolina constitutional law professor Michael Gerhardt referred to judicial impeachments and suggested that the Senate could vote on the ballot question.
But since there is no model, the current Senate would have to pave the way. He wrote, “The debates over censure, like those over the other questions about the appropriate sanctions the Senate may impose for presidential misconduct, are likely to persist until historical practice resolves the matter.”
Paul seemed convinced that if Trump is convicted, removal from the ballot will come next no matter what the president’s supporters want.
“He’s going to be removed from the ballot. Can you imagine the chaos? If he’s kicked out of the presidency, he’s removed from the ballot. We would have had most of our primaries by the time this happens,” the senator said.
“If you get through March before this happens, if we do an investigation, and then all of a sudden, they remove him, and he can’t be on the ballot, [Democrats] have completely destroyed the 2020 election for the other party. Which is the ultimate irony of this whole thing. They’re using the government, they’re using the government to go after political enemies,” Paul added.
He is pushing for more attention to the issue by Trump’s team because he fears that the president’s supporters do not see the goal of the Democrats.
“This is the irony. They want to impute what his motives are, and so the thing is that they say his motives are political. Well, are not their motives for impeachment political?” the senator said.
“Not one person on the Left in the media is questioning at all the motives of Adam Schiff, but they are all questioning the president’s motives,” he said, then offered a reason for the double standard. “They hate the president so much.”


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-01-31--Zogby: Bloomberg threat real, only Democrat leading Trump

Former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg ’ s million-dollar TV ad campaign for his 2020 presidential bid is working .
While the media has been focused on Monday ’ s Iowa caucus pitting all the other top Democrats against each other , Bloomberg has emerged as the only one beating President Trump in a new national poll .
Zogby Analytics told Secrets exclusively that in a national head-to-head battle , Bloomberg is leading Trump 45 % to 43 % .
Only former Vice President Joe Biden comes closest , at 46 % -46 % .
Sen. Bernie Sanders is next @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 47 % .
“ Bloomberg does surprisingly well against Trump beating the president by two percentage points 45 % to 43 % .
Bloomberg , unlike his Democratic rivals , performs well with independents ( Bloomberg leads 39 % to 35 % ) , suburban voters ( both tied at 43 % ) , suburban women ( Bloomberg leads 42 % to 41 % ) , Catholics ( Bloomberg leads 47 % to 46 % ) , and small city voters ( Bloomberg leads 52 % to 38 % ) .
All of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ upcoming election and to the reelection hopes of the president , ” said Jonathan Zogby in his analysis .
“ Bloomberg also blunts Trump ’ s gains with some younger voters : those aged 25-34 ( Bloomberg leads 50 % to 33 % ) and aged 30-49 ( Bloomberg leads 46 % to 41 % ) , ” he added .
While Bloomberg , dubbed “ mini-Mike ” by Trump , entered the race too late to make a play in the four early primary and caucus states , he is spending $ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a major upset in Super Tuesday elections on March 3 to surge to the front of the race .
He is even planning a major Super Bowl ad , just like Trump .
In the Democratic race , however , Zogby said that Biden and Sanders lead Bloomberg by double digits .
“ When it comes to the 2020 Democratic Primary , Bernie Sanders and Joe Biden have really separated themselves and are in a dead heat with nearly a quarter of primary voters supporting each candidate .
Michael Bloomberg has now jumped @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with Elizabeth Warren ( both 11 % ) .
Pete Buttigieg ( 8 % ) and Andrew Yang ( 6 % ) represent the next tier ; each receives below double-digit support but remains relevant , ” he said .

Former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s million-dollar TV ad campaign for his 2020 presidential bid is working.
While the media has been focused on Monday’s Iowa caucus pitting all the other top Democrats against each other, Bloomberg has emerged as the only one beating President Trump in a new national poll.
Zogby Analytics told Secrets exclusively that in a national head-to-head battle, Bloomberg is leading Trump 45% to 43%.
Only former Vice President Joe Biden comes closest, at 46%-46%. Sen. Bernie Sanders is next at 45% to Trump’s 47%.
“Bloomberg does surprisingly well against Trump beating the president by two percentage points 45% to 43%. Bloomberg, unlike his Democratic rivals, performs well with independents (Bloomberg leads 39% to 35%), suburban voters (both tied at 43%), suburban women (Bloomberg leads 42% to 41%), Catholics (Bloomberg leads 47% to 46%), and small city voters (Bloomberg leads 52% to 38%). All of these voting blocs are important in the upcoming election and to the reelection hopes of the president,” said Jonathan Zogby in his analysis.
“Bloomberg also blunts Trump’s gains with some younger voters: those aged 25-34 (Bloomberg leads 50% to 33%) and aged 30-49 (Bloomberg leads 46% to 41%),” he added.
While Bloomberg, dubbed “mini-Mike” by Trump, entered the race too late to make a play in the four early primary and caucus states, he is spending $100 million on media ads to score a major upset in Super Tuesday elections on March 3 to surge to the front of the race.
He is even planning a major Super Bowl ad, just like Trump.
In the Democratic race, however, Zogby said that Biden and Sanders lead Bloomberg by double digits.
“When it comes to the 2020 Democratic Primary, Bernie Sanders and Joe Biden have really separated themselves and are in a dead heat with nearly a quarter of primary voters supporting each candidate. Michael Bloomberg has now jumped to double-digit support and tied for second with Elizabeth Warren (both 11%). Pete Buttigieg (8%) and Andrew Yang (6%) represent the next tier; each receives below double-digit support but remains relevant,” he said.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-02-03--'You don't know what you’re talking about': Biden snaps at journalist over questions about Hunter

Joe Biden fumed at Today co-anchor Savannah Guthrie after she asked him about how a controversy related to his son Hunter Biden has influenced his presidential campaign .
On Monday morning , the show aired an interview between Guthrie , 48 , and Biden , 77 , where the two discussed President Trump ’ s impeachment .
Guthrie noted that Trump ’ s Ukraine-related impeachment intensified scrutiny of Hunter Biden 's high-paying job on the board of a Ukrainian natural gas firm .
She claimed there was a “ certain irony ” about the impeachment that Trump had asked Ukraine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but in the impeachment process , Republicans “ ensured that everyone knows ” about Hunter Biden 's role at Burisma while his father was leading diplomatic efforts in the region as vice president .
“ That ’ s a good thing , ” Joe Biden replied .
“ No one ’ s found anything wrong with his dealings in Ukraine except the said that it ’ s a bad image.
” Joe Biden said he agreed that the optics of his son 's role at Burisma were not good and acknowledged that his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ followed up by asking if Joe Biden thought it was wrong for his son to accept the position with Burisma because the company wanted access to the Obama administration .
“ That ’ s not true , ” Joe Biden said .
“ You ’ re saying things you do not know what you ’ re talking about .
No one said that .
Who said that ?
” Critics say Hunter Biden , 49 , had no experience in the energy sector when he accepted the position at Burisma .
He also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Republicans have suggested that there was no reason for Burisma to hire Hunter Biden if it were not for his familial ties to the vice president , including Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz , who during the House impeachment proceedings .
Guthrie said there were plenty of people who felt it was “ kind of sleazy ” for Hunter Biden to accept the job and wondered why Burisma would hire him .
Joe Biden responded , “ Because he ’ s a very bright guy.
” Joe Biden added that his son should “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was right to accept the job , adding , “ He ’ s a grown man.
” This was likely one of the final nationwide interviews from Joe Biden before the Iowa caucuses take place Monday evening .
According to a RealClearPolitics average of polls , Joe Biden trails Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders in Iowa by 4 percentage points .

Joe Biden fumed at Today co-anchor Savannah Guthrie after she asked him about how a controversy related to his son Hunter Biden has influenced his presidential campaign.
On Monday morning, the show aired an interview between Guthrie, 48, and Biden, 77, where the two discussed President Trump’s impeachment. Guthrie noted that Trump’s Ukraine-related impeachment intensified scrutiny of Hunter Biden's high-paying job on the board of a Ukrainian natural gas firm.
She claimed there was a “certain irony” about the impeachment in the fact that Trump had asked Ukraine for an investigation into the Bidens, but in the impeachment process, Republicans “ensured that everyone knows” about Hunter Biden's role at Burisma while his father was leading diplomatic efforts in the region as vice president.
“That’s a good thing,” Joe Biden replied. “No one’s found anything wrong with his dealings in Ukraine except they say it sets a bad image.”
Joe Biden said he agreed that the optics of his son's role at Burisma were not good and acknowledged that his son made a similar statement. Guthrie followed up by asking Biden if he thought it was wrong for his son to accept the position with Burisma because the company wanted access to the Obama administration.
“That’s not true,” he responded. “You’re saying things you do not know what you’re talking about. No one said that. Who said that?”
Critics say Hunter Biden, 49, had no experience in the energy sector when he accepted the position at Burisma. He also had a well-documented struggle with drug abuse. Several Republicans have suggested that there was no reason for Burisma to hire Hunter Biden if it were not for his familial ties to the vice president, including Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz, who highlighted Hunter Biden’s rocky past during the House impeachment proceedings.
Guthrie said there were plenty of people who felt it was “kind of sleazy” for Hunter Biden to accept the job and wondered why Burisma would hire him. Joe Biden responded, “Because he’s a very bright guy.”
Biden added that his son should “speak for himself” about whether it was right to accept the job, adding, “He’s a grown man.”
This was likely one of the final nationwide interviews from Joe Biden before the Iowa caucuses take place Monday evening. According to a RealClearPolitics average of polls, Biden trails Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders in Iowa by 4 percentage points.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-02-03--Joe Biden: Joni Ernst impeachment warning shows Republicans 'don't want to face me'

2020 Democrat Joe Biden dismissed GOP Iowa Sen. Joni Ernst 's warning that Republicans could impeach him if he wins the presidency .
`` She just reinforces everything that was the reason why the president was being impeached : They very much don ’ t want to face me obviously , '' he told the Des Moines Register on Sunday .
`` I ’ ve never seen a sitting president and his allies this frightened about who may be the nominee . ''
Earlier in the day , Ernst said during an interview that her party could hypothetically waste no @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the former vice president secure the White House in November 's general election .
“ I think this door of impeachable whatever has been opened , ” the Iowa senator said .
“ Joe Biden should be very careful what he ’ s asking for because , you know , we can have a situation where if it should ever be President Biden , that immediately , people , right the day after he would be elected would be saying , ‘ Well , we ’ re going to impeach him.
’ ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ grounds for impeaching Biden , 77 , would be “ for being assigned to take on Ukrainian corruption yet turning a blind eye to Burisma because his son was on the board making over a million dollars a year.
” While Biden said the pair have not personally met , they have been trading shots in recent days .
As Biden prepares for the first-in-the-nation Iowa caucuses on Monday , the state 's senator questioned if President Trump 's impeachment trial would have a negative impact on him with voters because White House @ @ @ @ @ @ @ corrupt .
Afterward , Biden said Ernst `` spilled the beans '' an encouraged Iowans to `` ruin '' her night by caucusing for him .
He repeated a similar line on Sunday , telling voters , `` Why don ’ t you all show Joni Ernst just how smart you are by caucusing for me ? ''
Despite the back-and-forth with Ernst , the 2020 contender said it would n't stop him from trying to work with congressional Republicans if he secures the Oval Office .
`` There is an appetite , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ world , '' he said .
`` There ’ s some that are just beyond the pale , but I think there are at least a dozen Republicans who know we have to do something about health care , at least a dozen of them know we have to do something about keeping prescription drug prices down , know we have to do something about increasing access to education and so on . ''
Biden currently leads the pack of 2020 Democrats in nationwide polls with Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders closely following .

2020 Democrat Joe Biden dismissed GOP Iowa Sen. Joni Ernst's warning that Republicans could impeach him if he wins the presidency.
"She just reinforces everything that was the reason why the president was being impeached: They very much don’t want to face me obviously," he told the Des Moines Register on Sunday. "I’ve never seen a sitting president and his allies this frightened about who may be the nominee."
Earlier in the day, Ernst said during an interview that her party could hypothetically waste no time in attempting to impeach Biden should the former vice president secure the White House in November's general election.
“I think this door of impeachable whatever has been opened,” the Iowa senator said. “Joe Biden should be very careful what he’s asking for because, you know, we can have a situation where if it should ever be President Biden, that immediately, people, right the day after he would be elected would be saying, ‘Well, we’re going to impeach him.’”
Ernst, 49, added that the grounds for impeaching Biden, 77, would be “for being assigned to take on Ukrainian corruption yet turning a blind eye to Burisma because his son was on the board making over a million dollars a year.”
While Biden said the pair have not personally met, they have been trading shots in recent days. As Biden prepares for the first-in-the-nation Iowa caucuses on Monday, the state's senator questioned if President Trump's impeachment trial would have a negative impact on him with voters because White House defense lawyers attempted to paint him as corrupt.
Afterward, Biden said Ernst "spilled the beans" an encouraged Iowans to "ruin" her night by caucusing for him. He repeated a similar line on Sunday, telling voters, "Why don’t you all show Joni Ernst just how smart you are by caucusing for me?"
Despite the back-and-forth with Ernst, the 2020 contender said it wouldn't stop him from trying to work with congressional Republicans if he secures the Oval Office.
"There is an appetite, but not the Joni Ernsts of the world," he said. "There’s some that are just beyond the pale, but I think there are at least a dozen Republicans who know we have to do something about health care, at least a dozen of them know we have to do something about keeping prescription drug prices down, know we have to do something about increasing access to education and so on."
Biden currently leads the pack of 2020 Democrats in nationwide polls with Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders closely following.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-02-03--Trump’s great Alice Johnson Super Bowl ad reminds us he deserves major credit for criminal justice r

Trump’s great Alice Johnson Super Bowl ad reminds us he deserves major credit for criminal justice reform

It was just a short spot during a first-quarter commercial break of Sunday night ’ s Super Bowl , but the criminal justice reform advertisement President Trump ran featuring Alice Johnson was brilliant .
The advertisement touted his criminal justice reform record , a rare bright spot where Trump truly has delivered what no other president in recent history could .
With the landmark , bipartisan criminal justice reform bill the First Step Act signed into law during his tenure , Trump can claim a major accomplishment heading into 2020 .
He ’ s right to make it into a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ because support for criminal justice reform is bipartisan and ranges across voters from all walks of life and backgrounds .
It 's a much better , more unifying issue to focus on for an event like this than a highly-divisive issue such as immigration or abortion .
The president tweeted the advertisement out in real-time as it aired , along with the commentary that `` I promised to restore hope in America .
That includes the least among us . ''
It was a powerful , unifying message and moment .
A rarity @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deserves credit nonetheless .
The commercial focuses on Trump ’ s commutation of Johnson 's sentence .
Johnson is a now-famous prisoner who faced a draconian life sentence for nonviolent drug crimes .
This , unlike some of Trump ’ s other pardons and commutations — Sheriff Joe Arpaio , I ’ m looking at you — was one that deserves praise .
Johnson was featured in the Super Bowl advertisement , and the sheer emotion of it rings true : President Trump truly gave her a second chance at life .
For @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reforms , Trump deserves major credit .

It was just a short spot during a first-quarter commercial break during Sunday night’s Super Bowl, but the criminal justice reform advertisement President Trump ran featuring Alice Johnson was brilliant. The commercial touted his criminal justice reform record, a rare bright spot where Trump truly has delivered what no other president in recent history could.
With the landmark, bipartisan criminal justice reform bill, the First Step Act, signed into law during his tenure, Trump can claim a major accomplishment heading into 2020. He’s right to make it into a prime-time Super Bowl advertisement, too, because support for criminal justice reform is bipartisan and spans voters from all walks of life and backgrounds. It's a much better, more unifying issue to focus on for an event such as this than a highly divisive issue such as immigration or abortion.
The president tweeted the advertisement out in real-time as it aired, along with commentary, saying, "I promised to restore hope in America. That includes the least among us." It was a powerful, unifying message and moment. A rarity for Trump, sure, but he deserves credit nonetheless.
Trump Super Bowl commercial on signing Criminal Justice Reform into law. Alice Johnson then protagonist. Smart. — Joe Concha (@JoeConchaTV) February 2, 2020
I promised to restore hope in America. That includes the least among us. Together, let’s KEEP AMERICA GREAT!
Text TRUMP to 88022 if you liked our Super Bowl ad! pic.twitter.com/Lgjt53B7QX — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 2, 2020
The commercial focuses on Trump’s commutation of Johnson's sentence. Johnson is a now-famous prisoner who faced a draconian life sentence for nonviolent drug crimes. This, unlike some of Trump’s other pardons and commutations — Sheriff Joe Arpaio, I’m looking at you — was one that deserves praise. Johnson was featured in the Super Bowl advertisement, and the sheer emotion of it rings true: President Trump truly gave her a second chance at life. For both that and his broader criminal justice reforms, he deserves major credit.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-02-02--Joe Biden wanted to road trip with Obama. Instead, he gets Kerry

DES MOINES , Iowa — Joe Biden ’ s road trip buddy around Iowa is a guy who won an upset here last decade on his way to winning the Democratic nomination .
“ My mom used to say you 're defined by your courage , ” Biden said in Cedar Rapids Saturday , “ and you 're redeemed by your loyalty.
” You 've got to wonder , then , whether Obama is redeemed in Joe Biden 's eyes ?
For eight years , Joe Biden was Obama ’ s vice president .
For two elections , Biden was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ now that Biden is running for president , where is Obama ?
Obama is sitting it out .
Without Obama by his side , Biden is campaigning with John Kerry by his side .
Kerry , like Obama , served with Biden in the Senate .
Kerry , like Obama , won Iowa last decade , on his way to winning the Democratic nomination .
But Kerry , unlike Obama , is willing to endorse Joe Biden and appear onstage with him .
Biden is doing plenty to play up his Obama connections @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Obama along with the line establishing that character is defined by “ who you stand with.
” When Biden defends his support for the Libya War , and even the Iraq War , Biden points to Obama .
When Biden opposes the left-wing base on “ Medicare for all , ” he does so by pointing to his work to pass Obamacare .
But in these Iowa high school gymnasiums and community centers , when Biden appears with Kerry by his side , you have to wonder what sort of arenas he could @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his side .

DES MOINES, Iowa — Joe Biden’s road trip buddy around Iowa is a guy who won an upset here last decade on his way to winning the Democratic nomination.
But it’s not Barack Obama.
“My mom used to say you're defined by your courage,” Biden said in Cedar Rapids Saturday, “and you're redeemed by your loyalty.”
You've got to wonder, then, whether Obama is redeemed in Joe Biden's eyes?
For eight years, Joe Biden was Obama’s vice president. For two elections, Biden was Obama’s running mate. And now that Biden is running for president, where is Obama?
Obama is sitting it out.
Where’s the loyalty?
Without Obama by his side, Biden is campaigning with John Kerry by his side. Kerry, like Obama, served with Biden in the Senate. Kerry, like Obama, won Iowa last decade, on his way to winning the Democratic nomination. But Kerry, unlike Obama, is willing to endorse Joe Biden and appear onstage with him.
Biden is doing plenty to play up his Obama connections. His campaign video includes him hugging Obama along with the line establishing that character is defined by “who you stand with.”
When Biden defends his support for the Libya War, and even the Iraq War, Biden points to Obama. When Biden opposes the left-wing base on “Medicare for all,” he does so by pointing to his work to pass Obamacare.
But in these Iowa high school gymnasiums and community centers, when Biden appears with Kerry by his side, you have to wonder what sort of arenas he could be filling if Biden had Obama by his side.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-02-02--'He’s a communist': Trump trashes Sanders ahead of Iowa caucuses

Fox News personality Sean Hannity asked Trump , 73 , to do a “ lightning round ” interview game on Sunday , during which the president said the first word that came to mind after hearing an individual ’ s name .
When Hannity said Sanders ’ s name , Trump said , “ Communist.
” “ I think he ’ s a communist , ” Trump said .
“ Look , I think of communism when I think of Bernie .
You could say socialist , but didn ’ t he get married in Moscow ?
That ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ He added , “ You don ’ t necessarily think in terms of marriage Moscow , and it ’ s wonderful .
I ’ m not knocking it .
But I think Bernie sort of as a socialist but far beyond a socialist .
At least he ’ s true to what he believes , that ’ s one thing.
” Hannity corrected Trump to explain that Sanders , 78 , married in the United States but after marrying Jane Sanders in 1988 .
The Washington Examiner reported last May on Sanders 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the 1970s and 1980s , Sanders maintained close relationships with various Marxist political parties and littered his mayoral office in Burlington , Vermont , with newspapers and pamphlets from revolutionary organizations .
In 1980 and 1984 , Sanders endorsed SWP presidential candidates Andrew Pulley and Mel Mason .
Their presidential platforms included pledges to abolish the military and a nationalization of `` virtually all private industry . ''
The SWP often pointed to countries such as Nicaragua and Cuba as inspiration for policies the party would like to see in the U.S. Sanders @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his ties to the group , although charges were never brought .
Trump went on to rip several others , including Democratic Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren , whom he deemed a “ fairy tale ” and referenced the “ Pocahontas ” nickname he has given her .
He blasted Michael Bloomberg as “ little ” and claimed he needed a box to stand on to be as tall as other candidates during the upcoming presidential debates , something Bloomberg ’ s campaign .
He also called House Speaker Nancy Pelosi a “ very @ @ @ @ @ @ @ president 's criticism came just one day before the first-in-the-nation Iowa caucuses on Feb. 3 .
Sanders has taken the lead in recent polls in the state , but he still trails former Vice President Joe Biden nationwide .

President Trump called Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders a “communist” during his pre-game Super Bowl interview.
Fox News personality Sean Hannity asked Trump, 73, to do a “lightning round” interview game on Sunday, during which the president said the first word that came to mind after hearing an individual’s name. When Hannity said Sanders’s name, Trump said, “Communist.”
“I think he’s a communist,” Trump said. “Look, I think of communism when I think of Bernie. You could say socialist, but didn’t he get married in Moscow? That’s wonderful. Moscow’s wonderful.”
He added, “You don’t necessarily think in terms of marriage Moscow, and it’s wonderful. I’m not knocking it. But I think Bernie sort of as a socialist but far beyond a socialist. At least he’s true to what he believes, that’s one thing.”
Hannity corrected Trump to explain that Sanders, 78, married in the United States but honeymooned in the Soviet Union after marrying Jane Sanders in 1988.
The Washington Examiner reported last May on Sanders's ties with domestic far-left groups. Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, Sanders maintained close relationships with various Marxist political parties and littered his mayoral office in Burlington, Vermont, with newspapers and pamphlets from revolutionary organizations.
In 1980 and 1984, Sanders endorsed SWP presidential candidates Andrew Pulley and Mel Mason. Their presidential platforms included pledges to abolish the military and a nationalization of "virtually all private industry."
The SWP often pointed to countries such as Nicaragua and Cuba as inspiration for policies the party would like to see in the U.S. Sanders was later investigated by the FBI to his ties to the group, although charges were never brought.
Trump went on to rip several others, including Democratic Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren, whom he deemed a “fairy tale” and referenced the “Pocahontas” nickname he has given her. He blasted Michael Bloomberg as “little” and claimed he needed a box to stand on to be as tall as other candidates during the upcoming presidential debates, something Bloomberg’s campaign passionately denied . He also called House Speaker Nancy Pelosi a “very confused, very nervous woman.”
The president's criticism came just one day before the first-in-the-nation Iowa caucuses on Feb. 3. Sanders has taken the lead in recent polls in the state, but he still trails former Vice President Joe Biden nationwide.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-02-02--Buttigieg says he does not regret claiming Trump supporters ignore racism ‘at best’

2020 Democrat Pete Buttigieg does not regret claiming that President Trump ’ s supporters were “ at best looking the other way on racism.
” In August , Buttigieg , 38 , said that he believes supporting Trump means voters are .
He explained , `` Basically what he ’ s saying is , ‘ All right , I want you to look the other way on the racism , tolerate the negativity , accept the instability of my administration because I ’ m going to deliver for you job growth almost as good as the Obama years.
’ That @ @ @ @ @ @ @ right now , and it ’ s part of the reason why he ’ s unpopular . ''
During a Sunday interview on State of the Union , CNN host Jake Tapper asked if claiming that the 63 million voters who supported Trump were ignoring racism was a “ broad brush ” argument that he regrets .
The former South Bend , Indiana , mayor , however , reinforced his remarks .
“ No , I am very concerned about the racial division that this president has fostered .
And I ’ m @ @ @ @ @ @ @ no longer willing to look the other way on that , looking for a new political home , ” Buttigieg explained .
“ And that is one of the reasons why we have seen so many people , in addition to the die-hard Democrats who are coming to our events , we are seeing the independents and a remarkable number of people who tell me that they are those future , former Republicans that I like to talk about in our campaign.
” He added , “ It 's not that I am @ @ @ @ @ @ @ am .
It ’ s that if we don ’ t agree on everything , we can at least agree on turning the page and moving past what this president has done to this country.
” Buttigieg has from black voters throughout his campaign .
According to RealClearPolitics , he is in third place in Iowa and New Hampshire but slumps to fifth place in South Carolina , which has a higher population of black voters .

2020 Democrat Pete Buttigieg does not regret claiming that President Trump’s supporters were “at best looking the other way on racism.”
In August, Buttigieg, 38, said that he believes supporting Trump means voters are willing to ignore racism . He explained, "Basically what he’s saying is, ‘All right, I want you to look the other way on the racism, tolerate the negativity, accept the instability of my administration because I’m going to deliver for you job growth almost as good as the Obama years.’ That’s what his argument amounts to right now, and it’s part of the reason why he’s unpopular."
During a Sunday interview on State of the Union, CNN host Jake Tapper asked if claiming that the 63 million voters who supported Trump were ignoring racism was a “broad brush” argument that he regrets. The former South Bend, Indiana, mayor, however, reinforced his remarks.
“No, I am very concerned about the racial division that this president has fostered. And I’m meeting a lot of voters who are no longer willing to look the other way on that, looking for a new political home,” Buttigieg explained. “And that is one of the reasons why we have seen so many people, in addition to the die-hard Democrats who are coming to our events, we are seeing the independents and a remarkable number of people who tell me that they are those future, former Republicans that I like to talk about in our campaign.”
He added, “It's not that I am pretending to be more conservative than I am. It’s that if we don’t agree on everything, we can at least agree on turning the page and moving past what this president has done to this country.”


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-02-02--‘His fake hair, his obesity, and his spray-on tan’: Bloomberg campaign mocks Trump while denying deb

‘His fake hair, his obesity, and his spray-on tan’: Bloomberg campaign mocks Trump while denying debate 'box' claim

Michael Bloomberg ’ s presidential campaign accused President Trump of spreading false information about the former New York City mayor wanting to stand on a box at the Democratic debate to make him appear taller .
Bloomberg campaign spokeswoman Julie Wood mocked Trump ’ s appearance in a fiery statement Sunday while denying the claim .
“ The president is lying .
He is a pathological liar who lies about everything : his fake hair , his obesity , and his spray-on tan , ” she told CNN .
Trump , 73 , has made several claims about Bloomberg ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a box for the debates to stand on .
OK.
It ’ s OK.
There ’ s nothing wrong .
You can be short .
Why should he get a box to stand on ?
He wants a box for the debates .
Why should he be entitled to that ?
Really .
Does that mean everyone else gets a box ?
” Trump told Fox News ’ s Sean Hannity in an interview set to air Sunday before the Super Bowl .
In tweets early Sunday , Trump called his potential 2020 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ again that Bloomberg wanted to stand on a box .
Bloomberg , 77 , is reportedly 5 feet , 8 inches tall , about half a foot shorter than Trump .
It ’ s not unusual for candidates to stand on raised platforms behind their lecterns on the debate stage to make all the candidates appear closer to the same height .

Michael Bloomberg’s presidential campaign accused President Trump of spreading false information about the former New York City mayor wanting to stand on a box at the Democratic debate to make him appear taller.
Bloomberg campaign spokeswoman Julie Wood mocked Trump’s appearance in a fiery statement Sunday while denying the claim.
“The president is lying. He is a pathological liar who lies about everything: his fake hair, his obesity, and his spray-on tan,” she told CNN.
Bloomberg campaign spokesperson Julie Wood has now sent me this comment: “The president is lying. He is a pathological liar who lies about everything: his fake hair, his obesity, and his spray-on tan." https://t.co/1EPlZ0sdzs — Daniel Dale (@ddale8) February 2, 2020
Trump, 73, has made several claims about Bloomberg’s height.
“Now he wants a box for the debates to stand on. OK. It’s OK. There’s nothing wrong. You can be short. Why should he get a box to stand on? He wants a box for the debates. Why should he be entitled to that? Really. Does that mean everyone else gets a box?” Trump told Fox News’s Sean Hannity in an interview set to air Sunday before the Super Bowl.
In tweets early Sunday, Trump called his potential 2020 Democratic opponent “mini” while alleging again that Bloomberg wanted to stand on a box. Bloomberg, 77, is reportedly 5 feet, 8 inches tall, about half a foot shorter than Trump.
It’s not unusual for candidates to stand on raised platforms behind their lecterns on the debate stage to make all the candidates appear closer to the same height.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-02-02--'Crazy stuff': Bill Maher rips Warren vow to vet her education secretary using transgender child

Comedian Bill Maher blasted Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren ’ s promise to have her nominee for secretary of education vetted by a transgender child as “ crazy.
” '' Now , Obama said people just do n't want crazy stuff .
Is this not crazy stuff ?
Is she running for president of Berkeley ?
” Maher said during his HBO show on Friday .
Maher was referring to a comment Warren made last week , during which she said , `` I 'm going to have a secretary of education that this young trans person interviews on my behalf @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that our secretary or secretary of education nominee is absolutely committed to creating a welcoming environment , a safe environment , and a full educational curriculum for everyone will that person actually be advanced to be secretary of education . ''
Warren was presumably referring to a 9-year-old she spoke with in October during a CNN presidential candidate forum .
Maher has criticized Warren in the and has made it clear he identifies more with Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders than he does with her .
`` I 'll tell you why Bernie Sanders @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he 's the only Democrat who , like Trump , has an army , who when it gets to this other level .
He 's got a bunch of badass motherf -- -ers who will get in the streets , '' Maher during the same episode .
Warren ’ s poll numbers have been steadily decreasing over the last few weeks .
A poll earlier this week showed her falling to fourth place nationally behind Joe Biden , Sanders , and the surging Michael Bloomberg .
Voters in Iowa will caucus on Monday @

Comedian Bill Maher blasted Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren’s promise to have her nominee for secretary of education vetted by a transgender child as “crazy.”
"Now, Obama said people just don't want crazy stuff. Is this not crazy stuff? Is she running for president of Berkeley?” Maher said during his HBO show on Friday.
Maher was referring to a comment Warren made last week, during which she said, "I'm going to have a secretary of education that this young trans person interviews on my behalf, and only if this person believes that our secretary or secretary of education nominee is absolutely committed to creating a welcoming environment, a safe environment, and a full educational curriculum for everyone will that person actually be advanced to be secretary of education."
Warren was presumably referring to a 9-year-old transgender boy she spoke with in October during a CNN presidential candidate forum.
Maher has criticized Warren in the past and has made it clear he identifies more with Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders than he does with her.
"I'll tell you why Bernie Sanders is attractive to me now — because he's the only Democrat who, like Trump, has an army, who when it gets to this other level. He's got a bunch of badass motherf---ers who will get in the streets," Maher said during the same episode.
Warren’s poll numbers have been steadily decreasing over the last few weeks. A poll published earlier this week showed her falling to fourth place nationally behind Joe Biden, Sanders, and the surging Michael Bloomberg.
Voters in Iowa will caucus on Monday.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-02-02--Book Review: Presidential race once deemed most negative of modern times now looks quaint

There ’ s something about years ending in “ 8 ” and evolving presidential campaign tactics and strategies .
During the 1948 race , television was a novelty , with fewer than 170,000 sets sold .
Four years later , television was an American domestic staple , with more than 50 million sets in Americans ’ homes .
Starting with Republican Dwight Eisenhower 's smashing win in 1952 , helped by the first presidential campaign television ads , candidates have to this day relied on the medium to reach voters .
Six decades later , social media jumped from the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to a must-use tactic four years later .
Facebook , Twitter , and other social media tools were in their infancy , or at least toddler stages , in Barack Obama ’ s first successful presidential race .
By 2012 , President Obama and Republican rival Mitt Romney used social media tools aggressively , and both spent serious campaign resources on it .
For 2020 , Facebook is central to President Trump ’ s reelection strategy .
It , no doubt , will be as well for the eventual Democratic nominee .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tradition as a bridge campaign , as John J. Pitney details masterfully in After Reagan : Bush , Dukakis , and the 1988 Election .
Pitney , professor of American politics at Claremont McKenna College , offers innovative and insightful perspectives on the three-decade-old contest , known until now as one of the most negative and vicious of the modern political era .
But it 's a campaign which , compared to Trump-style win-at-all-cost politics , seems quaint and almost gentlemanly .
Vice President George H.W .
Bush ( then known just as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Gov .
Michael Dukakis in a near-landslide .
It was the last race of the Cold War era , in which us-vs.-them strategies against the Soviet Union took center stage .
And , Pitney notes , it was the last race in which the winner was considered truly legitimate by both sides .
Each of Bush ’ s successors faced questions , some more outlandish than others , about whether they had come by the Oval Office honestly , including the racist conspiracy theory that Obama had been born in Kenya .
Also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ presidential campaign run strictly within the confines of old media .
The three major broadcast networks and a handful of influential national newspapers dominated coverage .
By 1992 , cable television was more ascendant , while candidates increasingly sought ways to bypass the press outright , including Clinton 's saxophone-playing on The Arsenio Hall Show .
Pitney ’ s portrait of the 1988 race smartly sums up the negative touchstones for which it ’ s known .
The Willie Horton ad and the Dukakis photo op in a tank are among the many @ @ @ @ @ @ @ given worthy coverage by the author .
On a lighter note , political junkies will enjoy cameo appearances by future newsworthy figures .
A biographical sketch of Dukakis campaign manager Susan Estrich includes a mention of a future star-crossed Supreme Court nominee .
“ Estrich was Harvard law professor who had been elected the first female president of the institution ’ s law review — a position for which she defeated classmate Merrick Garland , ” Pitney writes .
In that same spirit , readers of a certain age will nod their heads @ @ @ @ @ @ @ politics .
For example , Pitney describes Democrats ’ evolving ideology in the mid-1980s , made necessary through a series of stinging presidential defeats .
“ The neoliberals were enthusiastic about high technology , which is why some called them the Atari Democrats , after the year ’ s top maker of video maker consoles .
( The company later failed and buried many of its unpopular games in a mass grave . )
” Then , there 's 1984 presidential contender Gary Hart ’ s rise from small-town Kansas to U.S. senator @ @ @ @ @ @ @ backing of professional class voters , the kinds currently being fought for vigorously by 2020 Democratic contenders Pete Buttigieg , Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren , and others .
“ Hart ’ s rural boyhood was something he had put behind him , and his core constituency consisted not of peasants with pitchforks but professionals with Peugeot 's , ” a reference to a leading luxury vehicle brand at the time .
Amid the opening rounds of primary voting in the 2020 presidential race , and in the face of acrimonious impeachment proceedings , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ election is a needed refresher on how presidential politics used to work .
In that era , campaigns were run hard and tough , and then the governing began .
That now seems so quaint .

There’s something about years ending in “8” and evolving presidential campaign tactics and strategies.
During the 1948 race, television was a novelty, with fewer than 170,000 sets sold. Four years later, television was an American domestic staple, with more than 50 million sets in Americans’ homes. Starting with Republican Dwight Eisenhower's smashing win in 1952, helped by the first presidential campaign television ads, candidates have to this day relied on the medium to reach voters.
Six decades later, social media jumped from the tech fringes in the 2008 race, to a must-use tactic four years later. Facebook, Twitter, and other social media tools were in their infancy, or at least toddler stages, in Barack Obama’s first successful presidential race. By 2012, President Obama and Republican rival Mitt Romney used social media tools aggressively, and both spent serious campaign resources on it. For 2020, Facebook is central to President Trump’s reelection strategy. It, no doubt, will be as well for the eventual Democratic nominee.
The 1988 presidential race falls squarely in this tradition as a bridge campaign, as John J. Pitney details masterfully in After Reagan: Bush, Dukakis, and the 1988 Election. Pitney, professor of American politics at Claremont McKenna College, offers innovative and insightful perspectives on the three-decade-old contest, known until now as one of the most negative and vicious of the modern political era. But it's a campaign which, compared to Trump-style win-at-all-cost politics, seems quaint and almost gentlemanly.
Vice President George H.W. Bush (then known just as George Bush) that year beat Massachusetts Gov. Michael Dukakis in a near-landslide. It was the last race of the Cold War era, in which us-vs.-them strategies against the Soviet Union took center stage.
And, Pitney notes, it was the last race in which the winner was considered truly legitimate by both sides. Each of Bush’s successors faced questions, some more outlandish than others, about whether they had come by the Oval Office honestly, including the racist conspiracy theory that Obama had been born in Kenya.
Also, the 1988 race was the final presidential campaign run strictly within the confines of old media. The three major broadcast networks and a handful of influential national newspapers dominated coverage. By 1992, cable television was more ascendant, while candidates increasingly sought ways to bypass the press outright, including Clinton's saxophone-playing on The Arsenio Hall Show.
Pitney’s portrait of the 1988 race smartly sums up the negative touchstones for which it’s known. The Willie Horton ad and the Dukakis photo op in a tank are among the many episodes in the lore of negative campaigning given worthy coverage by the author.
On a lighter note, political junkies will enjoy cameo appearances by future newsworthy figures. A biographical sketch of Dukakis campaign manager Susan Estrich includes a mention of a future star-crossed Supreme Court nominee.
“Estrich was Harvard law professor who had been elected the first female president of the institution’s law review — a position for which she defeated classmate Merrick Garland,” Pitney writes.
In that same spirit, readers of a certain age will nod their heads at several cultural references enmeshed with presidential politics. For example, Pitney describes Democrats’ evolving ideology in the mid-1980s, made necessary through a series of stinging presidential defeats.
“The neoliberals were enthusiastic about high technology, which is why some called them the Atari Democrats, after the year’s top maker of video maker consoles. (The company later failed and buried many of its unpopular games in a mass grave.)”
Then, there's 1984 presidential contender Gary Hart’s rise from small-town Kansas to U.S. senator and White House prospect — with the backing of professional class voters, the kinds currently being fought for vigorously by 2020 Democratic contenders Pete Buttigieg, Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren, and others.
“Hart’s rural boyhood was something he had put behind him, and his core constituency consisted not of peasants with pitchforks but professionals with Peugeot's,” a reference to a leading luxury vehicle brand at the time.
Amid the opening rounds of primary voting in the 2020 presidential race, and in the face of acrimonious impeachment proceedings, Pitney’s portrait of the 1988 election is a needed refresher on how presidential politics used to work. In that era, campaigns were run hard and tough, and then the governing began. That now seems so quaint.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-02-02--'Ego blinds her': 2020 Democrats disown Hillary Clinton

DES MOINES , Iowa — Hillary Clinton is finding out what it 's like to be on the long list of Democratic also-rans .
The party has , for years , discarded losing presidential candidates such as George McGovern , Walter Mondale , and Michael Dukakis , among others — to the point that they 're often treated as contagious diseases , seen at best as cautionary tales about how not to campaign for the White House .
Fair or not , Clinton has , in many ways , had that dishonor bestowed on her .
Having lost the 2016 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the biggest political upsets in American history , the former first lady , senator , and secretary of state , 72 , is a pariah among some Democrats as the party 's nominating season kicks off Monday with the Iowa caucuses .
Democratic Michigan Rep. Rashida Tlaib on Friday night , for example , booed Clinton from the stage of a campaign event for Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders , the runner-up in the 2016 Democratic contest .
Onstage in Clive , Iowa , a panel discussion Tlaib was participating in turned to Clinton @ @ @ @ @ @ @ House candidate , 78 .
`` You all know I ca n't be quiet .
No , we 're gon na boo , '' Tlaib said .
`` That 's all right .
The haters will shut up on Monday when we win . ''
Clinton angered Democrats when she said in an interview promoting a Hulu documentary , she would be reluctant to support 2016 nemesis Sanders should he secure the 2020 nod .
The pushback against Clinton is now in full force after she 's been on the national stage for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Bill and Hillary Clinton were fresh political faces and the object of considerable fascination .
As President Bill Clinton 's eight years in the White House wound down , Hillary Clinton ran and won a New York Senate seat , then served as President Barack Obama 's secretary of state during his first term .
She never really disappeared from the spotlight , though , within a couple of years , launching her second presidential campaign , which ended up in surprise defeat at Trump 's hands .
After two losing bids , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about hearing from her anymore .
On Jan. 21 , Tommy Vietor — a Pod Save America co-host and former Obama administration official who worked on the 2008 Obama campaign that dashed Clinton ’ s White House hopes that cycle — lashed out at her for her `` inexcusable '' remarks about Sanders .
`` If Bernie wins the nomination , we all need to work our asses off to help him win .
If someone else is the nominee , we all do the same for them .
Do n't kick up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after complaining about Bernie 's lack of support in 2016 , '' .
Democratic strategist Brad Bannon blasted Clinton ’ s “ popping off ” at Sanders “ as uncalled for ” given “ the main goal of Democrats is to beat Donald Trump.
” Bannon also slammed Clinton for prioritizing herself over “ party unity , ” suggesting she heed President Ronald Reagan ’ s “ 11th commandment , which was don ’ t speak ill of fellow Republicans.
” “ It may be bad for Democrats , but it may be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ documentary , ” he told the Washington Examiner .
“ There may be a part of this where there are definitely some resemblances between the Democratic race in 2016 and 2020 .
She may see that and may be having 2016 flashbacks.
” Bannon suspected “ she still wants to be relevant , ” but recommended Clinton instead make the case against Trump rather than dredge up old grievances with Sanders , who claimed the Democratic National Committee `` rigged '' the 2016 primary against him .
“ If she keeps on this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is just going to dig a deeper hole for herself , ” he said .
“ Hillary ’ s ego blinds her to the fact that nobody in either party wants to hear from her , and the fact that criticizing Bernie just reminds his supporters that the Democratic machine is out to get him , ” he told the Washington Examiner in an email .
Clinton has been omnipresent during the 2020 campaign , fueling speculation she herself was weighing a third stab at the White House until she missed a host @ @ @ @ @ @ @ even had her and 2020 front-runner , former Vice President Joe Biden , 77 , for the nomination .
“ Maybe there does need to be a rematch .
I mean , obviously I can beat him again , '' Clinton said of Trump at the time .
The chatter irked liberal activists such as Michael Brooks , a Democratic analyst and left-wing radio show host , given the ascendancy of Sanders and , to a lesser extent , his ideological ally Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren , 70 .
“ You got like @ @ @ @ @ @ @ saying , 'Don ’ t tempt me to run again . '
What are you talking about ?
You lost , ” Brooks Washington Examiner .
Jitters regarding the rise of Sanders have resurfaced before the Feb. 3 Iowa caucuses as he continues to match center-left Biden in the polls .
“ Don ’ t underestimate the fact that Bernie , a lot of what he says , the messages , basically , 'You can live your life for free , we 'll have free college tuition , we 'll have free this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ debts , ' it 's a powerful message , '' Jim Messina , Obama 's 2012 campaign manager , said in late January .
Yet , Messina added , “ In the general election , it 's a message that I think is going to get him killed .
I think he ’ s the worst candidate in a general election for exactly that reason.
” Clinton has also been , a Sanders ally who is suing Clinton for defamation after she asserted last October that the Hawaii congresswoman and White House hopeful @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Gabbard could be persuaded to announce a third-party bid for the Oval Office , boosting Trump ’ s chances of reelection as a spoiler .
Gabbard enjoyed a spike in Google searches and fundraising amid the spat , helping her qualify for the November debate in Atlanta , her last appearance at the forums so far .
`` It should have been for $ 50 billion , '' Gabbard said .
`` What is your life worth to you ?
What is your honor and loyalty and your identity worth to you ?
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ authentic , unvarnished views !
” .
“ But to be serious , the number one priority for our country and world is retiring Trump , and , as I always have , I will do whatever I can to support our nominee.
” The damage , however , may have already been done .

DES MOINES, Iowa — Hillary Clinton is finding out what it's like to be on the long list of Democratic also-rans.
The party has, for years, discarded losing presidential candidates such as George McGovern, Walter Mondale, and Michael Dukakis, among others — to the point that they're often treated as contagious diseases, seen at best as cautionary tales about how not to campaign for the White House.
Fair or not, Clinton has, in many ways, had that dishonor bestowed on her. Having lost the 2016 election to President Trump in one of the biggest political upsets in American history, the former first lady, senator, and secretary of state, 72, is a pariah among some Democrats as the party's nominating season kicks off Monday with the Iowa caucuses.
Democratic Michigan Rep. Rashida Tlaib on Friday night, for example, booed Clinton from the stage of a campaign event for Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, the runner-up in the 2016 Democratic contest. Onstage in Clive, Iowa, a panel discussion Tlaib was participating in turned to Clinton's recent comments bashing the socialist White House candidate, 78.
"You all know I can't be quiet. No, we're gonna boo," Tlaib said. "That's all right. The haters will shut up on Monday when we win."
Clinton angered Democrats when she said in an interview promoting a Hulu documentary, she would be reluctant to support 2016 nemesis Sanders should he secure the 2020 nod.
The pushback against Clinton is now in full force after she's been on the national stage for nearly 30 years. In 1992, Bill and Hillary Clinton were fresh political faces and the object of considerable fascination. As President Bill Clinton's eight years in the White House wound down, Hillary Clinton ran and won a New York Senate seat, then served as President Barack Obama's secretary of state during his first term.
She never really disappeared from the spotlight, though, within a couple of years, launching her second presidential campaign, which ended up in surprise defeat at Trump's hands.
After two losing bids, however, many prominent Democrats are wary about hearing from her anymore.
On Jan. 21, Tommy Vietor — a Pod Save America co-host and former Obama administration official who worked on the 2008 Obama campaign that dashed Clinton’s White House hopes that cycle — lashed out at her for her "inexcusable" remarks about Sanders.
"If Bernie wins the nomination, we all need to work our asses off to help him win. If someone else is the nominee, we all do the same for them. Don't kick up this bullshit right before Iowa, especially after complaining about Bernie's lack of support in 2016," Vietor tweeted .
Democratic strategist Brad Bannon blasted Clinton’s “popping off” at Sanders “as uncalled for” given “the main goal of Democrats is to beat Donald Trump.”
Bannon also slammed Clinton for prioritizing herself over “party unity,” suggesting she heed President Ronald Reagan’s “11th commandment, which was don’t speak ill of fellow Republicans.”
“It may be bad for Democrats, but it may be good for the ratings for her Hulu documentary,” he told the Washington Examiner. “There may be a part of this where there are definitely some resemblances between the Democratic race in 2016 and 2020. She may see that and may be having 2016 flashbacks.”
Bannon suspected “she still wants to be relevant,” but recommended Clinton instead make the case against Trump rather than dredge up old grievances with Sanders, who claimed the Democratic National Committee "rigged" the 2016 primary against him.
“If she keeps on this track of criticizing Bernie Sanders, she is just going to dig a deeper hole for herself,” he said.
Republican strategist Brad Todd put it less diplomatically.
“Hillary’s ego blinds her to the fact that nobody in either party wants to hear from her, and the fact that criticizing Bernie just reminds his supporters that the Democratic machine is out to get him,” he told the Washington Examiner in an email.
Clinton has been omnipresent during the 2020 campaign, fueling speculation she herself was weighing a third stab at the White House until she missed a host of filing deadlines. Polls last fall even had her and 2020 front-runner, former Vice President Joe Biden, 77, neck-and-neck for the nomination.
“Maybe there does need to be a rematch. I mean, obviously I can beat him again," Clinton said of Trump at the time .
The chatter irked liberal activists such as Michael Brooks, a Democratic analyst and left-wing radio show host, given the ascendancy of Sanders and, to a lesser extent, his ideological ally Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren, 70.
“You got like Hillary Clinton getting spicy on Twitter, saying, 'Don’t tempt me to run again.' What are you talking about? You lost,” Brooks told the Washington Examiner.
Jitters regarding the rise of Sanders have resurfaced before the Feb. 3 Iowa caucuses as he continues to match center-left Biden in the polls.
“Don’t underestimate the fact that Bernie, a lot of what he says, the messages, basically, 'You can live your life for free, we'll have free college tuition, we'll have free this, we’ll forgive your student debts,' it's a powerful message," Jim Messina, Obama's 2012 campaign manager, said in late January.
Yet, Messina added, “In the general election, it's a message that I think is going to get him killed. I think he’s the worst candidate in a general election for exactly that reason.”
Clinton has also been a foil for Tulsi Gabbard , a Sanders ally who is suing Clinton for defamation after she asserted last October that the Hawaii congresswoman and White House hopeful was “a favorite of the Russians.” Clinton also said the Kremlin believed Gabbard could be persuaded to announce a third-party bid for the Oval Office, boosting Trump’s chances of reelection as a spoiler. Gabbard enjoyed a spike in Google searches and fundraising amid the spat, helping her qualify for the November debate in Atlanta, her last appearance at the forums so far.
"It should have been for $50 billion," Gabbard said of her $50 million lawsuit . "What is your life worth to you? What is your honor and loyalty and your identity worth to you?"
Sensing she’d misstepped, Clinton walked back her initial Sanders statements.
“I thought everyone wanted my authentic, unvarnished views!” she tweeted . “But to be serious, the number one priority for our country and world is retiring Trump, and, as I always have, I will do whatever I can to support our nominee.”
The damage, however, may have already been done.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-02-03--‘Egregious abuse of power’: Michael Flynn cites FISA report in motion to dismiss case against him

The legal team for retired Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn cited the Justice Department watchdog ’ s bombshell report on Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act abuse as the former Trump national security adviser seeks to have the government ’ s case against him dismissed .
“ Even though the investigation pertains to the abuses of the FISA process , not the FBI and DOJ ’ s misconduct regarding Mr. Flynn , the IG report simultaneously documents at least some of FISA process abuses and misconduct against Mr. Flynn , ” lead defense counsel Sidney Powell told a federal court last week .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ exculpatory evidence that , had it been known to Mr. Flynn , he never would have pled guilty.
” Flynn , 61 , pleaded guilty in December 2017 for lying to investigators about his conversations with then-Russian Ambassador to the U.S. Sergey Kislyak , but last week he told the U.S. District Court in Washington , D.C. , that “ in truth , I never lied ” and “ I am innocent of this crime . ''
Powell , a former federal prosecutor , took over representing Flynn last summer .
Powell said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be dismissed immediately for this egregious abuse of power and trust ” laid out in Inspector General Michael Horowitz ’ s report .
Powell pointed to a revelation that showed the intelligence briefing the FBI gave to Trump ’ s team in August 2016 during the presidential campaign was actually a “ pretext ” to gather evidence to help in the counterintelligence investigation into Trump ’ s campaign .
The FBI agent who led that briefing , known as “ SSA 1 ” in Horowitz ’ s report but believed to be FBI @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the same man who accompanied fired FBI special agent Peter Strzok in their controversial interview of Flynn in January 2017 .
Flynn ’ s defense team considers the January 2017 interview to be a setup by then-FBI Director James Comey and disputes the accuracy of the FBI interview notes from the meeting — claims the DOJ has rejected as “ conspiracy theories.
” “ From the FBI ’ s insertion of SSA 1 into the August 17 , 2016 , presidential briefing of candidate Trump and Mr. Flynn , to the former director @ @ @ @ @ @ @ national television about his own cleverness and violations of FBI/DOJ rules in dispatching agents to the White House to interview the new president ’ s national security adviser , to the still-missing original FBI FD-302 of the January 24 , 2017 , interview — everything about this prosecution has violated long-standing standards and policy for the FBI and the DOJ , ” Powell said .
Horowitz 's 467-page report detailed 17 significant errors and omissions in the DOJ and FBI ’ s use of British ex-spy Christopher Steele ’ s salacious and unverified @ @ @ @ @ @ @ campaign associate Carter Page in 2016 and 2017 .
The FBI says four members of Trump 's campaign , including Flynn , were initially being scrutinized as part of that inquiry .
At the conclusion of his investigation , special counsel Robert Mueller could not establish a criminal conspiracy between the Trump campaign and the Kremlin .
Powell pointed to a recent DOJ finding that the final two FISA warrants against Page were “ not valid , ” and she told the court “ any and all evidence derived from those warrants regarding @ @ @ @ @ @ @ FBI never told Trump ’ s campaign about its fear that Russians might be attempting to infiltrate his campaign , but Horowitz said the bureau used an intelligence briefing to gather evidence against Trump and Flynn , and he criticized the FBI ’ s decision to use a defensive briefing in this way .
Horowitz ’ s report found a `` supervisory special agent was selected to provide the FBI briefings , in part , because Flynn , who was a subject in the ongoing Crossfire Hurricane investigation , would be attending the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the briefing of Trump and his advisers “ as a possible opportunity to collect information potentially relevant to the Crossfire Hurricane and Flynn investigations . ''
“ We concluded that the FBI 's use of this briefing for investigative reasons could potentially interfere with the expectation of trust and good faith among participants in strategic intelligence briefings , thereby frustrating their purpose , ” according to Horowitz ’ s report .
“ SSA 1 was involved in every aspect of the debacle that is Crossfire Hurricane and significant illegal surveillance resulting from it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of his plea deal , Flynn agreed to cooperate with Mueller , admitting and then reaffirming his guilt in 2017 and 2018 .
Flynn filed to withdraw his guilty plea last month after the DOJ asked Judge Emmet Sullivan to sentence Flynn to up to six months in prison in a reversal of its previous request that the former director of the Defense Intelligence Agency receive probation and no jail time .
Prosecutors , led by U.S. Attorney Jessie Liu , wrote in a filing last week that they stand by the zero-to-six-months @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a reasonable sentence , '' too .
Last week , Sullivan said Flynn might have to testify under oath to withdraw his plea deal .
Flynn is scheduled to be sentenced near the end of the month .

The legal team for retired Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn cited the Justice Department watchdog’s bombshell report on Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act abuse as the former Trump national security adviser seeks to have the government’s case against him dismissed.
“Even though the investigation pertains to the abuses of the FISA process, not the FBI and DOJ’s misconduct regarding Mr. Flynn, the IG report simultaneously documents at least some of FISA process abuses and misconduct against Mr. Flynn,” lead defense counsel Sidney Powell told a federal court last week. “The IG report is replete with exculpatory evidence that, had it been known to Mr. Flynn, he never would have pled guilty.”
Flynn, 61, pleaded guilty in December 2017 for lying to investigators about his conversations with then-Russian Ambassador to the U.S. Sergey Kislyak, but last week he told the U.S. District Court in Washington, D.C., that “in truth, I never lied” and “I am innocent of this crime." Powell, a former federal prosecutor, took over representing Flynn last summer.
Powell said “the case against Mr. Flynn should be dismissed immediately for this egregious abuse of power and trust” laid out in Inspector General Michael Horowitz’s report.
Powell pointed to a revelation that showed the intelligence briefing the FBI gave to Trump’s team in August 2016 during the presidential campaign was actually a “pretext” to gather evidence to help in the counterintelligence investigation into Trump’s campaign. The FBI agent who led that briefing, known as “SSA 1” in Horowitz’s report but believed to be FBI supervisory special agent Joseph Pientka, was the same man who accompanied fired FBI special agent Peter Strzok in their controversial interview of Flynn in January 2017.
Flynn’s defense team considers the January 2017 interview to be a setup by then-FBI Director James Comey and disputes the accuracy of the FBI interview notes from the meeting — claims the DOJ has rejected as “conspiracy theories.”
“From the FBI’s insertion of SSA 1 into the August 17, 2016, presidential briefing of candidate Trump and Mr. Flynn, to the former director of the FBI bragging and laughing on national television about his own cleverness and violations of FBI/DOJ rules in dispatching agents to the White House to interview the new president’s national security adviser, to the still-missing original FBI FD-302 of the January 24, 2017, interview — everything about this prosecution has violated long-standing standards and policy for the FBI and the DOJ,” Powell said.
Horowitz's 467-page report detailed 17 significant errors and omissions in the DOJ and FBI’s use of British ex-spy Christopher Steele’s salacious and unverified dossier when pursuing FISA warrants against Trump campaign associate Carter Page in 2016 and 2017. The FBI says four members of Trump's campaign, including Flynn, were initially being scrutinized as part of that inquiry. At the conclusion of his investigation, special counsel Robert Mueller could not establish a criminal conspiracy between the Trump campaign and the Kremlin.
Powell pointed to a recent DOJ finding that the final two FISA warrants against Page were “not valid,” and she told the court “any and all evidence derived from those warrants regarding Mr. Flynn must be suppressed.”
The FBI never told Trump’s campaign about its fear that Russians might be attempting to infiltrate his campaign, but Horowitz said the bureau used an intelligence briefing to gather evidence against Trump and Flynn, and he criticized the FBI’s decision to use a defensive briefing in this way.
Horowitz’s report found a "supervisory special agent was selected to provide the FBI briefings, in part, because Flynn, who was a subject in the ongoing Crossfire Hurricane investigation, would be attending the Trump campaign briefing.”
The FBI viewed the briefing of Trump and his advisers “as a possible opportunity to collect information potentially relevant to the Crossfire Hurricane and Flynn investigations."
“We concluded that the FBI's use of this briefing for investigative reasons could potentially interfere with the expectation of trust and good faith among participants in strategic intelligence briefings, thereby frustrating their purpose,” according to Horowitz’s report.
“SSA 1 was involved in every aspect of the debacle that is Crossfire Hurricane and significant illegal surveillance resulting from it,” Powell said.
As part of his plea deal, Flynn agreed to cooperate with Mueller, admitting and then reaffirming his guilt in 2017 and 2018.
Flynn filed to withdraw his guilty plea last month after the DOJ asked Judge Emmet Sullivan to sentence Flynn to up to six months in prison in a reversal of its previous request that the former director of the Defense Intelligence Agency receive probation and no jail time.
Prosecutors, led by U.S. Attorney Jessie Liu, wrote in a filing last week that they stand by the zero-to-six-months recommendation but also noted "probation is a reasonable sentence," too.
Last week, Sullivan said Flynn might have to testify under oath to withdraw his plea deal.
Flynn is scheduled to be sentenced near the end of the month.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-02-03--‘Trump in a wig’: Is Taylor Swift right about Marsha Blackburn?

In her new documentary , Taylor Swift has some harsh words for Tennessee Sen. Marsha Blackburn .
“ She ’ s Trump in a wig , ” Swift laments after Blackburn beats Swift ’ s pick , Democrat Phil Bredesen , for a spot in the Senate .
Swift complains that Blackburn won by being “ the kind of female males want us to be in a horrendous 1950s world.
” It ’ s a less-than-enthusiastic endorsement , but , in Miss Americana , Swift ’ s harsh words for Blackburn don ’ t start there .
When the 2018 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vocal about politics , Swift says she basically has no other choice .
“ It ’ s not that I want to step into this , ” she says .
“ I just — I can ’ t not at this point.
” What exactly is Swift so concerned about ?
She explains : This sounds pretty damning for Blackburn , whom Swift calls “ a homophobic racist , '' but this characterization is not exactly accurate .
When Blackburn voted against the reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act in 2013 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
She voted for the House Republican version but against the Senate version , which she said had been diluted .
She complained that the bill had been changed to divert resources in the Office on Violence Against Women , to gay men and transgender women .
“ When you start to make this about other things , it becomes an ‘ Against Violence Act ’ and not a targeted , focused act that is there to address the issue of violence against women , ” Blackburn at the time on MSNBC .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Act was first passed in 1994 , but it must be renewed every few years to ensure federal funds continue to help women who have been victims of domestic abuse and other forms of violence .
Each year , the act is modified with provisions , to which members of the GOP object .
Last year , the House passed a bill but also including language that would entitle transgender women to .
The Senate has not yet voted on the bill .
As for the rest of Blackburn ’ s record , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Human Rights Campaign , a gay rights group , and by the NAACP for being .
In 2008 , she co-sponsored a bill to define marriage in the Constitution as the union of one man and one woman .
Blackburn ’ s record in Congress may not be one that neatly coincides with Swift ’ s left-wing politics , but it ’ s not at all unusual for a conservative politician .
So , no , Blackburn does not appear to be “ a homophobic racist , ” and if she ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that ’ s just because she ’ s not one of the liberals in Swift ’ s ideological bubble .
Blackburn must have anticipated this treatment in Miss Americana .
A day before the documentary aired , she released a statement .
“ Taylor is an exceptionally gifted artist and songwriter , and Nashville is fortunate to be the center of her creative universe , ” she said , adding , “ I wish Taylor the best — she ’ s earned it.
” With her opposition to Blackburn , Swift argues that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the right side of history , '' but , by slamming a political opponent as a racist and a homophobe , Swift just makes our polarized political climate even worse .

In her new documentary, Taylor Swift has some harsh words for Tennessee Sen. Marsha Blackburn.
“She’s Trump in a wig,” Swift laments after Blackburn beats Swift’s pick, Democrat Phil Bredesen, for a spot in the Senate. Swift complains that Blackburn won by being “the kind of female males want us to be in a horrendous 1950s world.”
It’s a less-than-enthusiastic endorsement, but, in Miss Americana, Swift’s harsh words for Blackburn don’t start there. When the 2018 midterm election convinces Swift to finally grow vocal about politics, Swift says she basically has no other choice.
“It’s not that I want to step into this,” she says. “I just — I can’t not at this point.”
What exactly is Swift so concerned about? She explains:
“[Blackburn] votes against the reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act, which is just basically protecting us from domestic abuse and stalking. Stalking. She thinks that if you’re a gay couple, or even if you look like a gay couple, you should be allowed to be kicked out of a restaurant. It’s really basic human rights, and it’s right and wrong at this point, and I can’t see another commercial and see her disguising these policies behind the words ‘Tennessee Christian values.’ Those aren’t Tennessee Christian values. I live in Tennessee. I am Christian. That’s not what we stand for.”
This sounds pretty damning for Blackburn, whom Swift calls “a homophobic racist," but this characterization is not exactly accurate.
When Blackburn voted against the reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act in 2013, she was in the House of Representatives. She voted for the House Republican version but against the Senate version, which she said had been diluted. She complained that the bill had been changed to divert resources in the Office on Violence Against Women, previously limited to biological women, to gay men and transgender women.
“When you start to make this about other things, it becomes an ‘Against Violence Act’ and not a targeted, focused act that is there to address the issue of violence against women,” Blackburn said at the time on MSNBC.
Despite Blackburn’s disapproval, the bill passed.
For context, the Violence Against Women Act was first passed in 1994, but it must be renewed every few years to ensure federal funds continue to help women who have been victims of domestic abuse and other forms of violence. Each year, the act is modified with provisions, to which members of the GOP object. Last year, the House passed a bill closing the boyfriend loophole but also including language that would entitle transgender women to share shelters with biological women . The Senate has not yet voted on the bill.
As for the rest of Blackburn’s record, she has been rated poorly by the Human Rights Campaign, a gay rights group, and by the NAACP for being anti-affirmative action . In 2008, she co-sponsored a bill to define marriage in the Constitution as the union of one man and one woman.
Blackburn’s record in Congress may not be one that neatly coincides with Swift’s left-wing politics, but it’s not at all unusual for a conservative politician. So, no, Blackburn does not appear to be “a homophobic racist,” and if she’s “Trump in a wig,” that’s just because she’s not one of the liberals in Swift’s ideological bubble.
Blackburn must have anticipated this treatment in Miss Americana. A day before the documentary aired, she released a statement. “Taylor is an exceptionally gifted artist and songwriter, and Nashville is fortunate to be the center of her creative universe,” she said, adding, “I wish Taylor the best — she’s earned it.”
With her opposition to Blackburn, Swift argues that she simply needs “to be on the right side of history," but, by slamming a political opponent as a racist and a homophobe, Swift just makes our polarized political climate even worse.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-02-03--Deputy Veterans Affairs secretary fired after four months on the job

The loss of confidence was swift and unexplained .
James Byrne had served just under four months in the post @ @ @ @ @ Affairs when a nondescript statement was released Feb. 3 from Veterans Affairs Secretary Robert Wilkie @ @ @ @ @ warranted no explanation in the two-line statement from Wilkie , “ Today , I dismissed @ @ @ @ @ due to loss of confidence in Mr. Byrne ’ s ability to carry out his @ @ @ @ @ months for the deputy slot to be filled , with President Trump nominating Byrne in @ @ @ @ @ him 81-11 in September .
Byrne had served in an acting role since August .
@ @ @ @ @ Corps veteran served as the department ’ s general counsel , joining the department from @ @ @ @ @ Thomas Bowman , who resigned in June 2018 .
The VA did not indicate how @ @ @ @ @ vacant .
The VA is responsible for overseeing more than 370,000 employees and the care @ @ @ @ @ at some 1,243 facilities .

The loss of confidence was swift and unexplained.
James Byrne had served just under four months in the post of deputy secretary of Veterans Affairs when a nondescript statement was released Feb. 3 from Veterans Affairs Secretary Robert Wilkie.
Byrne’s firing warranted no explanation in the two-line statement from Wilkie, “Today, I dismissed VA Deputy Secretary James Byrne due to loss of confidence in Mr. Byrne’s ability to carry out his duties.”
The decision was effective immediately.
It took 10 months for the deputy slot to be filled, with President Trump nominating Byrne in April and the Senate confirming him 81-11 in September. Byrne had served in an acting role since August. Before that, the Marine Corps veteran served as the department’s general counsel, joining the department from Lockheed Martin.
Byrne replaced Thomas Bowman, who resigned in June 2018. The VA did not indicate how long the position might remain vacant.
The VA is responsible for overseeing more than 370,000 employees and the care of the nation's veterans at some 1,243 facilities.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-02-03--Despite blowback, Los Angeles ICE chief says support from Trump has not 'made things harder'

ORANGE COUNTY , California — President Trump ’ s unwavering support for Immigration and Customs Enforcement has helped , not hurt , its ability to arrest people who are illegally in the country , even as state efforts make doing so harder , according to a senior ICE official .
David Marin , director of ICE 's Enforcement and Removal Operations in the Los Angeles region , said the blowback against the federal agency over the past three years , including after immigrant family separations at the border , has been significant .
But Marin said it has only prompted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about doing their jobs in a different way , not to stop making arrests of people he said have been determined to be candidates for deportation .
“ I don ’ t think that the administration or the president made things harder , ” Marin said when asked if Trump ’ s support caused more problems than the agency would have had under another president .
“ I think what happened with this administration is they said , ‘ Look , your job is to enforce the law .
You are the experts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ feel is best.
’ ” Under President Barack Obama , the administration directed the Department of Homeland Security entity to focus on arresting the most egregious criminal offenders who were at-large or in local police custody .
The Trump White House expanded ICE ’ s powers to return to the level of the Bush years , making civil offenders and others as much a priority as those convicted of murder or rape .
Since 2017 , California lawmakers have enacted measures to prevent local law enforcement from turning over people in custody to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not their responsibility to do immigration work .
One such law , Assembly Bill 668 , went into effect last month and bans ICE officers from making arrests inside state or local courthouses when someone shows up for a hearing .
Marin instructed his officers to wait outside the building and make the arrest there .
“ It ’ s not going to stop us , ” he said .
A 2017 law blocked local police from directly sharing with ICE information about detainee releases .
In response , Marin said , those @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for anyone to see .
Marin said his officers monitor those databases “ every single day ” and glean much useful information out of them .
He speculated that across the state 's 57 sheriff departments , 50 “ strongly support ” ICE , including a handful around Los Angeles .
Another new state law may eventually force ICE to transport its federal detainees to for-profit detention centers in other states if the ones it uses in California are shuttered , including a GEO Group facility , the Adelanto Detention Center , north @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prisons makes no sense at all , because when you arrest somebody , the person that ’ s being arrested needs to be close to their support system — your family , your attorney .
Local law enforcement is not going to arrest somebody and then send them far away .
We try to do the same thing , ” said Marin .
“ California ’ s taken the step of , ’ Let ’ s just ban them , and then they ca n't keep anybody in custody here.
’ That ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ doing our job.
” Marin said if his office no longer can detain people within the state , those arrested will be processed at existing ICE offices throughout the region and then flown to ICE-operated or private detention centers across the country , which would make family and attorney visits more difficult .
“ For-profit prisons — this isn ’ t going to stop those .
In fact , they ’ re going to probably become more lucrative to fly people to all of those different places , ” he said .
Marin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on permanent solutions for the estimated one million illegal immigrants living in his region , as well as millions throughout the country .
In private meetings with immigration advocacy groups and local faith leaders , Marin said he has urged leaders to tell immigrants to pursue lawful permanent status , even though it requires returning to their home country first .
“ People here illegally need to become a U.S. citizen .
The best thing you can do is help people become U.S. citizens .
Citizens can get 10 DUI 's , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” he said .
“ If Congress wants things changed — they don ’ t want us to do this — then they need to change the laws .
Going after , identifying , apprehending ; that 's what we 've always done .
It ’ s just now it 's gotten more political . ''

ORANGE COUNTY, California — President Trump’s unwavering support for Immigration and Customs Enforcement has helped, not hurt, its ability to arrest people who are illegally in the country, even as state efforts make doing so harder, according to a senior ICE official.
David Marin, director of ICE's Enforcement and Removal Operations in the Los Angeles region, said the blowback against the federal agency over the past three years, including after immigrant family separations at the border, has been significant. But Marin said it has only prompted his more than 500 officers to go about doing their jobs in a different way, not to stop making arrests of people he said have been determined to be candidates for deportation.
“I don’t think that the administration or the president made things harder,” Marin said when asked if Trump’s support caused more problems than the agency would have had under another president. “I think what happened with this administration is they said, ‘Look, your job is to enforce the law. You are the experts — you enforce the law that you feel is best.’”
Under President Barack Obama, the administration directed the Department of Homeland Security entity to focus on arresting the most egregious criminal offenders who were at-large or in local police custody. The Trump White House expanded ICE’s powers to return to the level of the Bush years, making civil offenders and others as much a priority as those convicted of murder or rape.
Since 2017, California lawmakers have enacted measures to prevent local law enforcement from turning over people in custody to ICE on the grounds that it is not their responsibility to do immigration work.
One such law, Assembly Bill 668, went into effect last month and bans ICE officers from making arrests inside state or local courthouses when someone shows up for a hearing. Marin instructed his officers to wait outside the building and make the arrest there. “It’s not going to stop us,” he said.
A 2017 law blocked local police from directly sharing with ICE information about detainee releases. In response, Marin said, those local agencies began posting release information online for anyone to see. Marin said his officers monitor those databases “every single day” and glean much useful information out of them. He speculated that across the state's 57 sheriff departments, 50 “strongly support” ICE, including a handful around Los Angeles.
Another new state law may eventually force ICE to transport its federal detainees to for-profit detention centers in other states if the ones it uses in California are shuttered, including a GEO Group facility, the Adelanto Detention Center, north of Los Angeles.
(Anna Giaritelli/Washington Examiner)
“Banning private prisons makes no sense at all, because when you arrest somebody, the person that’s being arrested needs to be close to their support system — your family, your attorney. Local law enforcement is not going to arrest somebody and then send them far away. We try to do the same thing,” said Marin. “California’s taken the step of, ’Let’s just ban them, and then they can't keep anybody in custody here.’ That’s not going to stop us from doing our job.”
Marin said if his office no longer can detain people within the state, those arrested will be processed at existing ICE offices throughout the region and then flown to ICE-operated or private detention centers across the country, which would make family and attorney visits more difficult.
“For-profit prisons — this isn’t going to stop those. In fact, they’re going to probably become more lucrative to fly people to all of those different places,” he said.
Marin said Congress and the administration should work on permanent solutions for the estimated one million illegal immigrants living in his region, as well as millions throughout the country.
In private meetings with immigration advocacy groups and local faith leaders, Marin said he has urged leaders to tell immigrants to pursue lawful permanent status, even though it requires returning to their home country first.
“People here illegally need to become a U.S. citizen. The best thing you can do is help people become U.S. citizens. Citizens can get 10 DUI's, and they won’t be deported,” he said. “If Congress wants things changed — they don’t want us to do this — then they need to change the laws. Going after, identifying, apprehending; that's what we've always done. It’s just now it's gotten more political."


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-02-03--'That would be great': Kansas City Chiefs open to White House visit following Super Bowl victory

A number of Kansas City Chiefs players and personnel have expressed a willingness to visit President Trump at the White House following their 31-20 Super Bowl victory on Sunday .
Professional and collegiate championship teams have traditionally been invited to and accepted offers to meet the president .
The ritual , which first occurred in 1865 under President Andrew Johnson , became commonplace during President Ronald Reagan 's administration , according to NPR .
Chiefs head coach Andy Reid , 61 , who has led the team since 2013 , told the Kansas City Star , `` I have n't @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I mean , I 'll be there .
So , if they 're inviting us , I 'll be here .
...
It 's quite an honor . ''
Wide receiver Tyreek Hill , one of the team 's most explosive players , said of visiting the White House , `` That would be great , '' adding that he 's never been to Washington , D.C. Safety Tyrann Mathieu said , “ I ’ m here to represent the Kansas City Chiefs .
I think my teammates feel the same way .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ represent Kansas City the right way , represent our teammates the right way , I don ’ t see any wrong in that.
” Chiefs defensive end Frank Clark was not as open to the idea of meeting with the president but did not close the door on the idea entirely .
He acknowledged that there 's `` a lot of stuff going on surrounding the White House '' and noted the tradition behind the visit while adding , `` It ’ s a lot of mixed emotions about stuff going on there.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Chicago Bulls , Jake Arrieta of the Chicago Cubs , Boston Bruins goalie and Tea Party supporter Tim Thomas have all skipped out on their team 's trip to the White House during previous administrations .
More recently , though , a number of teams , including the Philadelphia Eagles and Golden State Warriors , either canceled their visits to the White House or had it nixed for them by the Trump administration .
[ Read more : 'Stone cold idiot ' : Ex-Missouri senator rips Trump for praising Kansas after Chiefs win @ @ @

A number of Kansas City Chiefs players and personnel have expressed a willingness to visit President Trump at the White House following their 31-20 Super Bowl victory on Sunday.
Professional and collegiate championship teams have traditionally been invited to and accepted offers to meet the president. The ritual, which first occurred in 1865 under President Andrew Johnson, became commonplace during President Ronald Reagan's administration, according to NPR.
Chiefs head coach Andy Reid, 61, who has led the team since 2013, told the Kansas City Star, "I haven't thought about [an invitation] ... I mean, I'll be there. So, if they're inviting us, I'll be here. ... It's quite an honor."
Wide receiver Tyreek Hill, one of the team's most explosive players, said of visiting the White House, "That would be great," adding that he's never been to Washington, D.C.
Safety Tyrann Mathieu said, “I’m here to represent the Kansas City Chiefs. I think my teammates feel the same way. Any time we get the opportunity to represent Kansas City the right way, represent our teammates the right way, I don’t see any wrong in that.”
Chiefs defensive end Frank Clark was not as open to the idea of meeting with the president but did not close the door on the idea entirely. He acknowledged that there's "a lot of stuff going on surrounding the White House" and noted the tradition behind the visit while adding, "It’s a lot of mixed emotions about stuff going on there.”
Athletes including Michael Jordan of the Chicago Bulls, Jake Arrieta of the Chicago Cubs, Boston Bruins goalie and Tea Party supporter Tim Thomas have all skipped out on their team's trip to the White House during previous administrations. More recently, though, a number of teams, including the Philadelphia Eagles and Golden State Warriors, either canceled their visits to the White House or had it nixed for them by the Trump administration.
[Read more: 'Stone cold idiot': Ex-Missouri senator rips Trump for praising Kansas after Chiefs win Super Bowl]