thewashingtonexaminer--2020-02-16--Ivanka Trump takes lead in global fight to empower women, could boost GDP $7 trillion

Ivanka Trump Sunday cemented her position as the global spokesperson for women 's economic empowerment , telling a Middle East summit that efforts she and international banks have championed over the past two years could lead to a $ 7 trillion boost in world GDP , $ 600 billion in the region alone .
“ That number represents far more than an economic boom — it represents millions of lives full of promise — mothers who could provide for their children , daughters who could be the first to graduate high school , and young women who could start businesses @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the future we can and must achieve together , ” she said at the Global Women ’ s Forum Dubai and We-Fi MENA Regional Summit in Dubai , United Arab Emirates .
“ We all know that when women are free to succeed , families thrive , communities flourish , and nations are stronger , ” she said in comments shared with Secrets .
Over the past three years , as a senior adviser to President Trump , Ivanka Trump has emerged as the domestic jobs czar and internationally as a champion of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sexual discrimination is often crushing .
Along the way , she has won supporters and helped to free up funding .
In her comments , she cited the United States as an example of how a long fight for economic equality can lead to victories for women .
“ A few decades ago , women could not take out a loan without a man or own a credit card in their name .
They searched for jobs in the female section of employment listings and made up only 25 % of managers in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are leading in every aspect of society .
Last year , there were more women than men in the U.S. workforce , with women securing over 70 % of new jobs , ” she said .
In her efforts , Trump has seen the types of discrimination and belittling that women have faced in the Middle East , Africa , and elsewhere .
She is sometimes mocked , especially by the president ’ s critics , but she brushes off the attacks and sticks to her mission , often winning praise from world @ @ @ @ @ @ @ economic empowerment .
Her giving the keynote address at the Global Women ’ s Forum Dubai and the second annual regional summit of the Women Entrepreneurs Finance Initiative , or We-Fi , is the recognition for her efforts .
“ Since we launched this historic initiative two years ago , with the UAE and United States as founding members , we will have mobilized $ 2.6 billion , of both public and private sector financing , to invest in more than 100,000 women-owned businesses in the developing world , ” she said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ program , the Women ’ s Global Development and Prosperity Initiative , that has a goal of helping 50 million women in the developing world gain economic help .
“ Recently , our White House Economists found that if nations addressed the five legal barriers that W-GDP is focused on reforming — accessing institutions , building credit , owning and managing property , traveling freely , and removing employment restrictions — women ’ s economic activity could increase annual global GDP by about $ 7.7 trillion , ” she said .
“ Imagine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ could be built , the new schools that could open their doors , the children that could be helped — if we come together to make these reforms part of our future , ” Trump concluded in her speech .

Ivanka Trump Sunday cemented her position as the global spokesperson for women's economic empowerment, telling a Middle East summit that efforts she and international banks have championed over the past two years could lead to a $7 trillion boost in world GDP, $600 billion in the region alone.
“That number represents far more than an economic boom — it represents millions of lives full of promise — mothers who could provide for their children, daughters who could be the first to graduate high school, and young women who could start businesses and become job creators. This is the future we can and must achieve together,” she said at the Global Women’s Forum Dubai and We-Fi MENA Regional Summit in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
.@IvankaTrump at #GWFD2020: Last year President @realDonaldTrump launched the Women’s Global Development & Prosperity Initiative, or W-GDP.Our goal is to reach 50 million women across the developing world by 2025,& in our 1st year alone, we have already impacted 12 million women. pic.twitter.com/BRRtTur5jj — Dubai Media Office (@DXBMediaOffice) February 16, 2020
“We all know that when women are free to succeed, families thrive, communities flourish, and nations are stronger,” she said in comments shared with Secrets.
Over the past three years, as a senior adviser to President Trump, Ivanka Trump has emerged as the domestic jobs czar and internationally as a champion of women seeking business funding in nations where sexual discrimination is often crushing.
Along the way, she has won supporters and helped to free up funding.
In her comments, she cited the United States as an example of how a long fight for economic equality can lead to victories for women.
“A few decades ago, women could not take out a loan without a man or own a credit card in their name. They searched for jobs in the female section of employment listings and made up only 25% of managers in 1980. Today, more American women are leading in every aspect of society. Last year, there were more women than men in the U.S. workforce, with women securing over 70% of new jobs,” she said.
In her efforts, Trump has seen the types of discrimination and belittling that women have faced in the Middle East, Africa, and elsewhere. She is sometimes mocked, especially by the president’s critics, but she brushes off the attacks and sticks to her mission, often winning praise from world leaders who also champion women’s economic empowerment.
Her giving the keynote address at the Global Women’s Forum Dubai and the second annual regional summit of the Women Entrepreneurs Finance Initiative, or We-Fi, is the recognition for her efforts.
“Since we launched this historic initiative two years ago, with the UAE and United States as founding members, we will have mobilized $2.6 billion, of both public and private sector financing, to invest in more than 100,000 women-owned businesses in the developing world,” she said.
She also talked about her White House program, the Women’s Global Development and Prosperity Initiative, that has a goal of helping 50 million women in the developing world gain economic help.
“Recently, our White House Economists found that if nations addressed the five legal barriers that W-GDP is focused on reforming — accessing institutions, building credit, owning and managing property, traveling freely, and removing employment restrictions — women’s economic activity could increase annual global GDP by about $7.7 trillion,” she said.
“Imagine the lives transformed — the cities that could be built, the new schools that could open their doors, the children that could be helped — if we come together to make these reforms part of our future,” Trump concluded in her speech.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-02-15--White House Report Card: A week to drain the ‘swamp’ and punish sanctuary states

President Trump had another good policy week , making good on several campaign promises while introducing a budget that made cuts that please conservatives and kind of promises to balance in 15 years .
Conservative grader Jed Babbin highlighted national security adviser Robert O ’ Brien ’ s moves to cut the Obama-era National Security Council from 200 to 130 and also the president ’ s targeting of sanctuary states and cities by the Justice Department .
Democratic pollster John Zogby cited the president ’ s steady approval ratings and his targeting of anti-Trump prosecutors who had hoped to lock @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to nine years .
President Trump had another great week , with the reassignment of a bunch of National Security Council staffers out of the White House , lawsuits against sanctuary states , and the New Hampshire primary .
Ousting about 70 NSC staffers , including impeachment witness Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman , was long overdue .
National security adviser Robert O ’ Brien took an action that should have been taken three years ago by sending those staffers back to the services and agencies from which they had been detailed .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 200 people under the Obama administration , had long been suspected to be the home of anti-Trump leakers and Obama leftovers .
Vindman was the perfect example .
The president sets policy , not some low-ranking officer who ’ d otherwise be fetching a general ’ s coffee in the Pentagon .
Attorney General William Barr announced that the Justice Department was launching several lawsuits against states and cities that were “ sanctuaries ” for illegal aliens .
The suits — which were against California and New Jersey , among others — contend @ @ @ @ @ @ @ federal immigration laws .
Trump also announced that the “ Global Traveler ” applications of people from the state of New York were being canceled because the state , which now gives illegal immigrants driving licenses , has barred U.S. Customs officials from reviewing Department of Motor Vehicles records to determine who is a criminal .
The administration also took further action to fund the border wall , taking another several billion dollars out of the Pentagon budget to accelerate construction before the end of the year .
The 2020 Democratic primary in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fun as the Charlie Foxtrot as Iowa , gave Sen. Bernie Sanders the lead and left Joe Biden and Sen. Elizabeth Warren in the dumpster .
In short , Trump won the primary in the Granite State .
There is an old saying that ‘ the enemy of my enemy is my friend ‘ — except with Democrats this year .
Just enemies and it is hard to see friendships developing in their fights over ideology on the presidential primary stage .
All of that benefits President Trump as his approval ratings averaged @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fortunate for him just as he tweeted intervention in the sentencing of his former adviser Roger Stone .
His criticism of the prosecutor ‘ s recommendation of seven to nine years ' prison time caused an uproar among Democrats , the resignation of all four federal prosecutors , and even a rebuke and warning from his own generally loyal Attorney General William Barr .
Jed Babbin is a Washington Examiner contributor and former deputy undersecretary of defense in the administration of former President George H.W .
Bush .
Follow him on Twitter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Zogby Poll and senior partner at John Zogby Strategies .
His weekly podcast with son and partner Jeremy Zogby can be heard here .
Follow him on Twitter @ TheJohnZogb

President Trump had another good policy week, making good on several campaign promises while introducing a budget that made cuts that please conservatives and kind of promises to balance in 15 years.
Conservative grader Jed Babbin highlighted national security adviser Robert O’Brien’s moves to cut the Obama-era National Security Council from 200 to 130 and also the president’s targeting of sanctuary states and cities by the Justice Department.
Democratic pollster John Zogby cited the president’s steady approval ratings and his targeting of anti-Trump prosecutors who had hoped to lock up Trump ally Roger Stone for up to nine years.
Jed Babbin
Grade A
President Trump had another great week, with the reassignment of a bunch of National Security Council staffers out of the White House, lawsuits against sanctuary states, and the New Hampshire primary.
Ousting about 70 NSC staffers, including impeachment witness Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman, was long overdue. National security adviser Robert O’Brien took an action that should have been taken three years ago by sending those staffers back to the services and agencies from which they had been detailed. The NSC, which had ballooned to over 200 people under the Obama administration, had long been suspected to be the home of anti-Trump leakers and Obama leftovers. Vindman was the perfect example. The president sets policy, not some low-ranking officer who’d otherwise be fetching a general’s coffee in the Pentagon.
Today at the Louvre Museum Abu Dhabi I met with UAE female ministers & entrepreneurs
Together we seek to advance gender equity throughout the region. 🇺🇸🇦🇪 #WGDP pic.twitter.com/Kp32pq2PhL — Ivanka Trump (@IvankaTrump) February 15, 2020
Attorney General William Barr announced that the Justice Department was launching several lawsuits against states and cities that were “sanctuaries” for illegal aliens. The suits — which were against California and New Jersey, among others — contend that those jurisdictions were unconstitutionally interfering with federal immigration laws. Trump also announced that the “Global Traveler” applications of people from the state of New York were being canceled because the state, which now gives illegal immigrants driving licenses, has barred U.S. Customs officials from reviewing Department of Motor Vehicles records to determine who is a criminal.
Spending time at @TheChildrensInn with the inspiring & beautiful children of @NIH on #ValentinesDay has become a treasured tradition of mine. It was a wonderful day to share love & kindness with these strong warriors! pic.twitter.com/eJrRekWSw3 — Melania Trump (@FLOTUS) February 14, 2020
The administration also took further action to fund the border wall, taking another several billion dollars out of the Pentagon budget to accelerate construction before the end of the year.
The 2020 Democratic primary in New Hampshire, while not as much fun as the Charlie Foxtrot as Iowa, gave Sen. Bernie Sanders the lead and left Joe Biden and Sen. Elizabeth Warren in the dumpster. In short, Trump won the primary in the Granite State.
John Zogby
Grade C
There is an old saying that ‘the enemy of my enemy is my friend ‘— except with Democrats this year. Just enemies and it is hard to see friendships developing in their fights over ideology on the presidential primary stage.
“Ralph Waldo Emerson seemed to foresee the lesson of the Senate Impeachment Trial of President Trump. ‘When you strike at the King, Emerson famously said, “you must kill him.’ Mr. Trump’s foes struck at him but did not take him down. A triumphant Mr.Trump emerges from the..... — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 15, 2020
All of that benefits President Trump as his approval ratings averaged 47% this week. This was fortunate for him just as he tweeted intervention in the sentencing of his former adviser Roger Stone. His criticism of the prosecutor ‘s recommendation of seven to nine years' prison time caused an uproar among Democrats, the resignation of all four federal prosecutors, and even a rebuke and warning from his own generally loyal Attorney General William Barr.
Jed Babbin is a Washington Examiner contributor and former deputy undersecretary of defense in the administration of former President George H.W. Bush. Follow him on Twitter @jedbabbin
John Zogby is the founder of the Zogby Poll and senior partner at John Zogby Strategies. His weekly podcast with son and partner Jeremy Zogby can be heard here. Follow him on Twitter @TheJohnZogb


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-02-16--Topless protesters arrested after leaping on stage at Bernie Sanders Nevada rally

Topless protesters stormed the stage at a Nevada rally for Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders and later found themselves in police custody .
The 2020 Democrat spoke at a presidential campaign rally in Carson City , Nevada , on Sunday ahead of the state 's primary next weekend .
He had just introduced his wife as the `` next first lady of the United States '' when a protester jumped on stage and railed against the agricultural industry .
`` Bernie , I ’ m your biggest supporter , and I ’ m here to ask you to stop propping up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up animal agriculture .
I believe in you , '' the protester shouted as the crowd began to drown out her words with boos .
At least two topless female protesters then joined the other protester on the stage .
The two women poured milk on themselves and walked around shouting until security escorted them offstage , according to footage of the incident , which circulated online .
The crowd continued to make raucous noise while attendees waited for the protesters to get off the stage .
According to local reports , three @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of indecent exposure after the stunt .
Sanders joked about the incident later , saying , `` This is Nevada , there ’ s always a little excitement at no extra cost . ''
In 2016 , another topless woman interrupted a rally for Sanders 's presidential campaign and was arrested for her display , which was in protest of then-Republican candidate Donald Trump .

Topless protesters stormed the stage at a Nevada rally for Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders and later found themselves in police custody.
The 2020 Democrat spoke at a presidential campaign rally in Carson City, Nevada, on Sunday ahead of the state's primary next weekend. He had just introduced his wife as the "next first lady of the United States" when a protester jumped on stage and railed against the agricultural industry.
"Bernie, I’m your biggest supporter, and I’m here to ask you to stop propping up the dairy industry and to stop propping up animal agriculture. I believe in you," the protester shouted as the crowd began to drown out her words with boos.
At least two topless female protesters then joined the other protester on the stage. The two women poured milk on themselves and walked around shouting until security escorted them offstage, according to footage of the incident, which circulated online. The crowd continued to make raucous noise while attendees waited for the protesters to get off the stage.
Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders I-Vt., waits as campaign workers remove protestors from the stage during his campaign event in Carson City, Nev.., Sunday, Feb. 16, 2020. Sanders returned after the demonstrators were removed. (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli) Rich Pedroncelli/AP
According to local reports, three women ended up in handcuffs for suspicion of indecent exposure after the stunt. Sanders joked about the incident later, saying, "This is Nevada, there’s always a little excitement at no extra cost."
In 2016, another topless woman interrupted a rally for Sanders's presidential campaign and was arrested for her display, which was in protest of then-Republican candidate Donald Trump.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-02-16--Michael Bloomberg’s alleged comments show an obsession with sex

Michael Bloomberg has a sexism problem .
And yes , contra Kellyanne Conway , it ’ s as President Trump ’ s .
That doesn ’ t mean it isn ’ t worth discussing , especially considering Bloomberg ’ s surprising surge in the Democratic primaries .
As reports have been circulating about Bloomberg ’ s alleged sexism and mistreatment of female subordinates , the Washington Post a collection of Bloomberg ’ s aphorisms , many of them sexist or simply obsessed with sex .
The Portable Bloomberg : The Wit & Wisdom of Michael Bloomberg was given to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Bloomberg L.P. ’ s former chief marketing officer .
In the introduction , she wrote , “ Yes , these are all actual quotes .
No , nothing has been embellished or exaggerated .
And yes , some things were too outrageous to include.
” Bloomberg has dismissed the contents of the booklet in the past , but he has never denied their veracity outright .
For this latest unearthing , a spokesman told the Washington Post : “ Mike simply did not say the things somebody wrote in this gag gift , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and has been quoted in every previous election Mike has been in.
” The quotes range from advice on business to suggestions for where to get good food in Manhattan .
They exhibit a typical finance type ’ s philosophy of power and success , as well as a weird fascination with lesbians and blow jobs .
Here are just a few of the most jarring quotes : On salesmanship : 'Make the customer think he ’ s getting laid when he ’ s getting f -- -ed . '
On negotiations : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an exclusive , 10-year contract , an automatic extension , and I want you to pay me .
And I want a blow job from [ redacted ] .
Have you seen [ redacted ] ?
Not bad for fifty . '
On the Bloomberg : 'It will do everything , including give you a blowjob .
I guess that puts a lot of you girls out of business . '
On women : 'If women wanted to be appreciated for their brains , they ’ d go to the library instead of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ marriage : 'Whenever my wife catches me eyeing some broad , she ’ s very careful to turn to me and say ‘ That ’ s the most expensive piece of ass in the world !
’ ' Whenever he ’ s told an employee is getting married : 'Are you pregnant ? '
On being asked to name a sport that doesn ’ t use balls : 'Lesbian Sex . '
When DeMarse compiled the booklet for Bloomberg , it appears she was creating a gag gift , not trying to create @ @ @ @ @ @ @ comments .
But the gift would n't work very well if the comments had been made up .
“ At the time , ” to the Washington Post , “ some Bloomberg staffers said , they laughed off the comments in the 32-page booklet , ‘ The Wit and Wisdom of Michael Bloomberg , ’ as a macho side of one of the nerdiest men on Wall Street.
” But these aren ’ t just words .
His supposed comments fit all the allegations that have been lodged against him of inappropriate behavior @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of telling her to “ kill it ” when she told him she was pregnant .
Surely shocked , she asked him to repeat himself and he , undeterred , said again , “ Kill it !
” Bloomberg has also been accused of fixating on the appearances of women , pointing out their gray hair or lack of high heels .
( Perhaps he was musing about Bloomingdale ’ s . )
As far as 2020 goes , there is a danger that Bloomberg 's behavior will be treated much like Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the alleged pay-off of porn star Stormy Daniels — dismissed as `` locker room talk , '' and excused as behavior from the pre- # MeToo era .
But none of that excuses what appears to be a history of blatant sexism and discrimination .
On the campaign trail , Bloomberg should be held to account .

Michael Bloomberg has a sexism problem. And yes, contra Kellyanne Conway, it’s just as bad as President Trump’s.
That doesn’t mean it isn’t worth discussing, especially considering Bloomberg’s surprising surge in the Democratic primaries.
As reports have been circulating about Bloomberg’s alleged sexism and mistreatment of female subordinates, the Washington Post published a collection of Bloomberg’s aphorisms, many of them sexist or simply obsessed with sex.
The Portable Bloomberg: The Wit & Wisdom of Michael Bloomberg was given to the businessman in 1990 by Elisabeth DeMarse, Bloomberg L.P.’s former chief marketing officer. In the introduction, she wrote, “Yes, these are all actual quotes. No, nothing has been embellished or exaggerated. And yes, some things were too outrageous to include.”
Bloomberg has dismissed the contents of the booklet in the past, but he has never denied their veracity outright. For this latest unearthing, a spokesman told the Washington Post: “Mike simply did not say the things somebody wrote in this gag gift, which has been circulating for 30 years and has been quoted in every previous election Mike has been in.”
The quotes range from advice on business to suggestions for where to get good food in Manhattan. They exhibit a typical finance type’s philosophy of power and success, as well as a weird fascination with lesbians and blow jobs. Here are just a few of the most jarring quotes:
On salesmanship: 'Make the customer think he’s getting laid when he’s getting f---ed.'
On negotiations: 'What do I want? I want an exclusive, 10-year contract, an automatic extension, and I want you to pay me. And I want a blow job from [redacted]. Have you seen [redacted]? Not bad for fifty.'
On the Bloomberg: 'It will do everything, including give you a blowjob. I guess that puts a lot of you girls out of business.'
On women: 'If women wanted to be appreciated for their brains, they’d go to the library instead of to Bloomingdale’s.'
On marriage: 'Whenever my wife catches me eyeing some broad, she’s very careful to turn to me and say ‘That’s the most expensive piece of ass in the world!’'
Whenever he’s told an employee is getting married: 'Are you pregnant?'
On being asked to name a sport that doesn’t use balls: 'Lesbian Sex.'
When DeMarse compiled the booklet for Bloomberg, it appears she was creating a gag gift, not trying to create a dossier of Bloomberg’s incriminating comments. But the gift wouldn't work very well if the comments had been made up.
“At the time,” according to the Washington Post, “some Bloomberg staffers said, they laughed off the comments in the 32-page booklet, ‘The Wit and Wisdom of Michael Bloomberg,’ as a macho side of one of the nerdiest men on Wall Street.”
But these aren’t just words. His supposed comments fit all the allegations that have been lodged against him of inappropriate behavior. One former female employee accused Bloomberg of telling her to “kill it” when she told him she was pregnant. Surely shocked, she asked him to repeat himself and he, undeterred, said again, “Kill it!” Bloomberg has also been accused of fixating on the appearances of women, pointing out their gray hair or lack of high heels. (Perhaps he was musing about Bloomingdale’s.)
As far as 2020 goes, there is a danger that Bloomberg's behavior will be treated much like Trump's history — the Access Hollywood tape, the alleged pay-off of porn star Stormy Daniels — dismissed as "locker room talk," and excused as behavior from the pre-#MeToo era.
But none of that excuses what appears to be a history of blatant sexism and discrimination. On the campaign trail, Bloomberg should be held to account.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-02-16--'Digital blackface': Top Buttigieg adviser accused of running fake Nigerian Twitter account

One of Pete Buttigieg 's top advisers came under fire after she was accused of running a `` sock puppet '' Nigerian Twitter account in support of the former South Bend , Indiana , mayor 's presidential campaign .
The theory unfolded over the weekend and revolved around a now-locked Twitter account , which claimed to belong to a Nigerian woman named `` Chinedu . ''
The woman had noted in her bio that she was a `` Pete Buttigieg supporter from Nigeria '' who loves `` wine and dancing . ''
Another Twitter account run by what appears to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ floated a theory that the account was run by Lis Smith , a senior adviser for the Buttigieg campaign .
In one of the tweets from the account , `` Chinedu '' said , `` Team Pete .
Hey .
It 's Lis .
It 's Phase 4 .
Time to leave it all on the floor .
Phone bankers , we need you . ''
Many Twitter users quickly pounced on the idea that Smith had accidentally revealed her identity .
The conspiracy quickly trended on Twitter with thousands of people tweeting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the claims on Sunday , telling people to `` find better conspiracies . ''
`` Yea guys I totally have the time to be running a sock puppet account from Nigeria , '' Smith said .
The theory comes as Buttigieg continues to struggle connecting with black voters .
Last fall , his campaign was blasted for listing endorsements from black leaders and voters who did not support him .
UPDATE : A Twitter user stepped forward to claim ownership of the account later on Sunday .
Speaking with Buzzfeed News , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ asked for his full identity to be withheld out of doxing concerns , said , `` I read the campaign email regarding Phase 4 and Lis introduced herself like that ( I don ’ t receive campaign emails just to clarify , I just read one on twitter ) .
I was just having a little fun with that .
“ Clearly , I am not Lis Smith , that ’ s the whole point .
I also want to apologize to Pete ’ s campaign and Lis for contributing unintentionally to this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ added .
“ My account is run 100 % by me .
I am not affiliated with Pete Buttigieg 's campaign , ” he said .
“ I just support Pete passionately .
Many others outside the US support Pete as well .
”

One of Pete Buttigieg's top advisers came under fire after she was accused of running a "sock puppet" Nigerian Twitter account in support of the former South Bend, Indiana, mayor's presidential campaign.
The theory unfolded over the weekend and revolved around a now-locked Twitter account, which claimed to belong to a Nigerian woman named "Chinedu." The woman had noted in her bio that she was a "Pete Buttigieg supporter from Nigeria" who loves "wine and dancing."
Another Twitter account run by what appears to be a Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders supporter floated a theory that the account was run by Lis Smith, a senior adviser for the Buttigieg campaign. In one of the tweets from the account, "Chinedu" said, "Team Pete. Hey. It's Lis. It's Phase 4. Time to leave it all on the floor. Phone bankers, we need you."
Many Twitter users quickly pounced on the idea that Smith had accidentally revealed her identity. The conspiracy quickly trended on Twitter with thousands of people tweeting about it.
Totally normal follows for a Nigerian account. (Pete was its first.) pic.twitter.com/LSfajPGyDc — Jonathan Myerson Katz (@KatzOnEarth) February 16, 2020
An interesting thing I just discovered is that Lis Smith used to tweet "y'all" a lot, much like this account does, but stopped after December 2017. I don't have a theory for why that would be, just putting it out there. — 🇳🇬Lagos-based #1 Bernie fan🇳🇬 (@DavidKlion) February 16, 2020
Oddly, the Nigerian Pete Buttigieg superfan who recently tweeted in @lis_smith's voice for some reason just protected their account, so I can't link to this tweet where they promoted an interview with Smith tweeted, so far as I can tell, by only three other accounts pic.twitter.com/XmuEIxOQeO — Tim Marchman (@timmarchman) February 16, 2020
This reddit account linked to Lis Smith’s alleged Nigerian twitter account. They have been all-in for Pete for a few months, but before that they only ever posted about bitcoin and sockpuppet recruiting. pic.twitter.com/yYenqqz1IF — Mt. Obey (@mtobey) February 16, 2020
I mean, this is pretty bad. pic.twitter.com/NAVbK5hvVR — Walker Bragman (@WalkerBragman) February 16, 2020
If there’s really a Nigerian out there who sleeps until 5 pm on Sundays and spends all their time tweeting about Mayor Pete and Lis Smith we need to get their family involved, because that’s the bleakest existence I can imagine. — Tom Ley (@ToLey88) February 16, 2020
The senior adviser responded to the claims on Sunday, telling people to "find better conspiracies."
"Yea guys I totally have the time to be running a sock puppet account from Nigeria," Smith said.
Yea guys I totally have the time to be running a sock puppet account from Nigeria. Find better conspiracies! 😘 https://t.co/0qbTF8Oq3m — Lis Smith (@Lis_Smith) February 16, 2020
The theory comes as Buttigieg continues to struggle connecting with black voters. Last fall, his campaign was blasted for listing endorsements from black leaders and voters who did not support him.
UPDATE: A Twitter user stepped forward to claim ownership of the account later on Sunday. Speaking with Buzzfeed News, the man behind the account, who asked for his full identity to be withheld out of doxing concerns, said, "I read the campaign email regarding Phase 4 and Lis introduced herself like that (I don’t receive campaign emails just to clarify, I just read one on twitter). I was just having a little fun with that.
“Clearly, I am not Lis Smith, that’s the whole point. I also want to apologize to Pete’s campaign and Lis for contributing unintentionally to this new controversy regarding Pete/Lis," he added. “My account is run 100% by me. I am not affiliated with Pete Buttigieg's campaign,” he said. “I just support Pete passionately. Many others outside the US support Pete as well.”


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-02-16--Houston Chronicle snubs Biden for lack of 'fresh vision' and endorses Klobuchar instead

Amy Klobuchar has racked up another newspaper endorsement as her campaign races to compete with her rivals for the Democratic 2020 presidential nomination .
The third-term Minnesota senator , 59 , on Sunday earned the support of the Houston Chronicle , an influential newspaper in the Super Tuesday state of Texas , where Democrats will decide on March 3 how its 228 pledged delegates will be split between the eight White House hopefuls still in contention to become the party 's standard-bearer .
`` It ’ s time for Democrats to look beyond fiery speeches , beyond big ticket promises @ @ @ @ @ @ @ possible , beyond the cinematic beckoning of that billionaire button-down Messiah stalking your smartphone , and ask : Who can really get things done ? ''
the newspaper 's editorial board wrote .
The outlet added , `` In the current field only Klobuchar and Joe Biden have a track record of bipartisan effectiveness in Washington .
Biden , in his third bid for president , hasn ’ t articulated the fresh vision needed . ''
Klobuchar and the former two-term vice president , 77 , this week , were endorsed by the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Feb. 22 caucuses .
`` We remain puzzled at why Biden is not a more effective salesperson for his own policies .
A close read of his policy papers makes it abundantly evident there is a genuine vision for a good and prosperous America there .
Biden just struggles to express it to voters , '' that newspaper 's editorial board wrote .
Both candidates will face different tests during the next three rounds of voting for the Democratic nod .
While Biden has pinned his White House ambitions on Nevada , South @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more diverse members of the electorate will weigh in on the primary , critics have expressed skepticism over whether Klobuchar 's Midwestern appeal will translate outside of Iowa and New Hampshire , where she exceeded expectations by finishing fifth and third , respectively .
In Nevada , Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders leads the pack with an average of 21.5 % support , compared to second-placed Biden with 18.5 % .
Klobuchar trails by a distance with 7 % , behind Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren , Democratic megadonor Tom Steyer , and former South @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , in that order .
Meanwhile , in Texas , Biden 's the front-runner with an average of 28 % support , in contrast to Klobuchar 's 3.3 % .
Klobuchar is edged out in the state by Sanders , Warren , and Buttigieg , as well as billionaire former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg .
At the same time , Klobuchar , who is trying to catch up with her opponent 's more established ground games and touted on the Sunday news shows that she 's raised more than $ 12 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ facing renewed criticism of her eight years as the top prosecutor for Minnesota 's most populous county .

Amy Klobuchar has racked up another newspaper endorsement as her campaign races to compete with her rivals for the Democratic 2020 presidential nomination.
The third-term Minnesota senator, 59, on Sunday earned the support of the Houston Chronicle, an influential newspaper in the Super Tuesday state of Texas, where Democrats will decide on March 3 how its 228 pledged delegates will be split between the eight White House hopefuls still in contention to become the party's standard-bearer.
"It’s time for Democrats to look beyond fiery speeches, beyond big ticket promises devoid of price tags, and if possible, beyond the cinematic beckoning of that billionaire button-down Messiah stalking your smartphone, and ask: Who can really get things done?" the newspaper's editorial board wrote.
The outlet added, "In the current field only Klobuchar and Joe Biden have a track record of bipartisan effectiveness in Washington. Biden, in his third bid for president, hasn’t articulated the fresh vision needed."
Klobuchar and the former two-term vice president, 77, this week, were endorsed by the Las Vegas Sun ahead of Nevada's Feb. 22 caucuses.
"We remain puzzled at why Biden is not a more effective salesperson for his own policies. A close read of his policy papers makes it abundantly evident there is a genuine vision for a good and prosperous America there. Biden just struggles to express it to voters," that newspaper's editorial board wrote.
Both candidates will face different tests during the next three rounds of voting for the Democratic nod.
While Biden has pinned his White House ambitions on Nevada, South Carolina, and Super Tuesday, when more diverse members of the electorate will weigh in on the primary, critics have expressed skepticism over whether Klobuchar's Midwestern appeal will translate outside of Iowa and New Hampshire, where she exceeded expectations by finishing fifth and third, respectively.
In Nevada, Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders leads the pack with an average of 21.5% support, compared to second-placed Biden with 18.5%. Klobuchar trails by a distance with 7%, behind Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren, Democratic megadonor Tom Steyer, and former South Bend, Indiana, Mayor Pete Buttigieg, in that order.
Meanwhile, in Texas, Biden's the front-runner with an average of 28% support, in contrast to Klobuchar's 3.3%. Klobuchar is edged out in the state by Sanders, Warren, and Buttigieg, as well as billionaire former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg.
At the same time, Klobuchar, who is trying to catch up with her opponent's more established ground games and touted on the Sunday news shows that she's raised more than $12 million since New Hampshire, is also facing renewed criticism of her eight years as the top prosecutor for Minnesota's most populous county.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-02-16--Will a Bloomberg-Clinton ticket actually happen?

If Michael Bloomberg doesn ’ t want to tank his chances at the presidency , he better squash these rumors immediately .
Bloomberg is considering none other than Hillary Clinton as a running mate , according to a Drudge Report exclusive from Saturday .
And Bloomberg hasn ’ t denied it .
As the Washington Examiner previously , “ Team Bloomberg did not deny the story .
A spokeswoman for Bloomberg declined to comment on the report when the Washington Examiner reached out.
” When Ellen Degeneres asked Clinton earlier this month whether she ’ d end up running as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ responded , “ Well , that ’ s not going to happen .
But no , probably no.
” Probably .
But never underestimate Clinton ’ s aspirations to become .
According to the report , Bloomberg would truly commit to the ticket : “ DRUDGE has learned that Bloomberg himself would go as far as to change his official residence from New York to homes he owns in Colorado or Florida , since the electoral college makes it hard for a POTUS and VPOTUS from the same state.
” But if Bloomberg @ @ @ @ @ @ @ campaign as quickly as her emails , then he better shut this rumor down .
A Bloomberg-Clinton ticket would be the surest way to tank his presidential campaign .
Former New York Mayor Mike Bloomberg was recently at 11 % , surprisingly strong for someone who announced his candidacy as late as last November .
But Bloomberg ’ s , as well as his , won ’ t help him with some voters .
But , considering they ’ re both , at least it would be an appropriate match .
Perhaps the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , further strengthening his image as an egocentric autocrat , would be a tie to Clinton .
Americans voted for Donald Trump to keep Clinton out of office .
What makes Bloomberg think they won ’ t do it again ?

If Michael Bloomberg doesn’t want to tank his chances at the presidency, he better squash these rumors immediately.
Bloomberg is considering none other than Hillary Clinton as a running mate, according to a Drudge Report exclusive from Saturday.
EXCLUSIVE: BLOOMBERG CONSIDERS HILLARY RUNNING MATE
Sources close to Bloomberg campaign tell DRUDGE REPORT that candidate is considering Hillary as running mate, after their polling found the Bloomberg-Clinton combination would be a formidable force... https://t.co/XH3TJA9nas pic.twitter.com/wBwRh1hVJH — MATT DRUDGE (@DRUDGE) February 15, 2020
And Bloomberg hasn’t denied it. As the Washington Examiner previously reported , “Team Bloomberg did not deny the story. A spokeswoman for Bloomberg declined to comment on the report when the Washington Examiner reached out.”
When Ellen Degeneres asked Clinton earlier this month whether she’d end up running as a vice president in 2020, Clinton responded, “Well, that’s not going to happen. But no, probably no.” Probably. But never underestimate Clinton’s aspirations to become the comeback kid .
According to the report, Bloomberg would truly commit to the ticket: “DRUDGE has learned that Bloomberg himself would go as far as to change his official residence from New York to homes he owns in Colorado or Florida, since the electoral college makes it hard for a POTUS and VPOTUS from the same state.”
But if Bloomberg doesn’t want Clinton destroying his campaign as quickly as her emails, then he better shut this rumor down. A Bloomberg-Clinton ticket would be the surest way to tank his presidential campaign.
Former New York Mayor Mike Bloomberg was recently polling at 11%, surprisingly strong for someone who announced his candidacy as late as last November. But Bloomberg’s authoritarian streak , as well as his controversial stop-and-frisk policies , won’t help him with some voters.
But, considering they’re both masters of the political flip-flop , at least it would be an appropriate match.
Perhaps the worst thing that could happen to Bloomberg, further strengthening his image as an egocentric autocrat, would be a tie to Clinton. Americans voted for Donald Trump to keep Clinton out of office. What makes Bloomberg think they won’t do it again?


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-02-16--Kellyanne Conway claims Bloomberg sexist remarks 'far worse' than Trump Access Hollywood tape

White House counselor Kellyanne Conway blasted 2020 Democrat Michael Bloomberg 's alleged sexism while defending her boss from similar accusations .
Joining Fox News Sunday , Conway was asked to weigh in on Bloomberg 's history of disparaging comments about women .
She called the topic `` fair game '' for President Trump , despite facing similar allegations of sexist remarks , because `` we want to know the person behind the half a billion dollars worth of ads . ''
`` Oh , please , first of all , I ’ ve been working by his side for four @ @ @ @ @ @ @ boss I ’ ve ever had , '' the president 's aide said .
“ There are plenty women who would say the same thing about Michael Bloomberg , ” host Chris Wallace responded .
“ Is this any worse than the Access Hollywood tapes ?
” “ It ’ s far worse , ” Conway replied .
`` That was fully litigated ...
The way Michael Bloomberg treated female employees … to have created that kind of culture , that , that unsafe workplace , to feel that you 're being harassed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ problematic , and I think you 're going to hear more of it.
” On Saturday , the Washington Post reported that a booklet was given to Bloomberg in 1990 detailing a collection of sexist remarks he made at the company he founded .
The report also highlighted additional problematic comments and behavior toward women from the former New York City mayor over time .
Just weeks before the 2016 presidential election , Trump found himself in a similar scandal after video from his 2005 conversation with former Access Hollywood host Billy Bush @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about women , including saying he grabs `` them by the pussy . ''

White House counselor Kellyanne Conway blasted 2020 Democrat Michael Bloomberg's alleged sexism while defending her boss from similar accusations.
Joining Fox News Sunday, Conway was asked to weigh in on Bloomberg's history of disparaging comments about women. She called the topic "fair game" for President Trump, despite facing similar allegations of sexist remarks, because "we want to know the person behind the half a billion dollars worth of ads."
"Oh, please, first of all, I’ve been working by his side for four years. He’s the best boss I’ve ever had," the president's aide said.
“There are plenty women who would say the same thing about Michael Bloomberg,” host Chris Wallace responded. “Is this any worse than the Access Hollywood tapes?”
“It’s far worse,” Conway replied. "That was fully litigated ... The way Michael Bloomberg treated female employees … to have created that kind of culture, that, that unsafe workplace, to feel that you're being harassed because of your gender, that is problematic, and I think you're going to hear more of it.”
Kellyanne Conway responds to a new report that Michael Bloomberg has a record of sexism. The former NYC Mayor's candidacy is drawing criticism from President Trump. Will the President take issue with Bloomberg's past sexist comments in his 2020 campaign? #FNS #FoxNews pic.twitter.com/4UQs4l7oQk — FoxNewsSunday (@FoxNewsSunday) February 16, 2020
On Saturday, the Washington Post reported that a booklet was given to Bloomberg in 1990 detailing a collection of sexist remarks he made at the company he founded. The report also highlighted additional problematic comments and behavior toward women from the former New York City mayor over time.
Just weeks before the 2016 presidential election, Trump found himself in a similar scandal after video from his 2005 conversation with former Access Hollywood host Billy Bush showed the then-candidate making several profane remarks about women, including saying he grabs "them by the pussy."


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-02-16--Al Sharpton's failed 2004 presidential campaign still nearly $1M in debt

Rev .
Al Sharpton ’ s former campaign still owes over $ 900,000 more than 15 years after his failed 2004 presidential run .
`` I have asked Andrew Rivera , the finance chair of my 2004 campaign , to set up a meeting with the Federal Election Commission so that I can resolve any campaign debts related to Sharpton 2004 , ” Sharpton told the New York Post over the weekend .
“ I am willing to work out a settlement for all claims with my own money to the degree that I ’ m allowed and will raise @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` Even if I am not legally liable for it , I am certainly morally responsible.
” Sharpton is not personally on the hook for the money 15 years later .
Instead , it ’ s his campaign committee and specifically his campaign treasurer , Andrew Rivera , who are responsible .
“ It does reflect poorly on the people at the helm .
I have worked for candidates who I know have taken great pains to make sure staff and consultants are taken care of , ” Jerri Ann Henry , a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for 15 years , said .
“ Frankly , almost a million dollars , that ’ s a lot of money .
Today ’ s campaigns spend at that level all the time , but that is very significant coming all the way back in 2004.
” Sharpton ’ s campaign previously ran into issues with the Federal Election Commission in 2009 over violating federal campaign laws and agreed to pay $ 285,000 in civil penalties .
The reverend announced his presidential run in 2004 but was defeated by former Secretary of State @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ I 'm not running for a job .
I 'm running for a cause , ” he said when he hit the campaign trail .
Sharpton 2004 is $ 925,713.78 in debt as of Sunday .

Rev. Al Sharpton’s former campaign still owes over $900,000 more than 15 years after his failed 2004 presidential run.
"I have asked Andrew Rivera, the finance chair of my 2004 campaign, to set up a meeting with the Federal Election Commission so that I can resolve any campaign debts related to Sharpton 2004,” Sharpton told the New York Post over the weekend. “I am willing to work out a settlement for all claims with my own money to the degree that I’m allowed and will raise money directly."
He added, "Even if I am not legally liable for it, I am certainly morally responsible.”
Sharpton is not personally on the hook for the money 15 years later. Instead, it’s his campaign committee and specifically his campaign treasurer, Andrew Rivera, who are responsible.
“It does reflect poorly on the people at the helm. I have worked for candidates who I know have taken great pains to make sure staff and consultants are taken care of,” Jerri Ann Henry, a consultant who worked with campaigns and PACs for 15 years, said. “Frankly, almost a million dollars, that’s a lot of money. Today’s campaigns spend at that level all the time, but that is very significant coming all the way back in 2004.”
Sharpton’s campaign previously ran into issues with the Federal Election Commission in 2009 over violating federal campaign laws and agreed to pay $285,000 in civil penalties.
The reverend announced his presidential run in 2004 but was defeated by former Secretary of State John Kerry for the Democratic nomination.
“I'm not running for a job. I'm running for a cause,” he said when he hit the campaign trail.
Sharpton 2004 is $925,713.78 in debt as of Sunday.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-02-16--Biden defends his son: Hunter is an 'honorable guy'

Joe Biden insisted his son Hunter is a good person who does not deserve the attacks President Trump has made toward him .
`` My son 's a brilliant , honorable guy who — who feels so guilty for being put in this spot — that he put me in this spot , '' the former vice president said Sunday in an interview with NBC .
Host Chuck Todd described the attacks on Hunter by the president as `` cruelty . ''
Trump has slammed the 2020 Democrat 's son for taking a position on the board of the Ukrainian @ @ @ @ @ @ @ still vice president .
The president also faced impeachment over his calls for Ukraine to investigation the Bidens but was later acquitted .
The younger Biden admitted in an interview last fall that he had displayed `` poor judgment '' by accepting the position .
Hunter Biden 's private life came under scrutiny recently after he fathered child with a former Washington , D.C. , stripper and was caught up in an ensuing paternity case .
This past summer , he married a South African divorcee , who is now reportedly pregnant herself @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .

Joe Biden insisted his son Hunter is a good person who does not deserve the attacks President Trump has made toward him.
"My son's a brilliant, honorable guy who — who feels so guilty for being put in this spot — that he put me in this spot," the former vice president said Sunday in an interview with NBC. Host Chuck Todd described the attacks on Hunter by the president as "cruelty."
Trump has slammed the 2020 Democrat's son for taking a position on the board of the Ukrainian gas company Burisma while his father was still vice president. The president also faced impeachment over his calls for Ukraine to investigation the Bidens but was later acquitted. The younger Biden admitted in an interview last fall that he had displayed "poor judgment" by accepting the position.
Hunter Biden's private life came under scrutiny recently after he fathered child with a former Washington, D.C., stripper and was caught up in an ensuing paternity case. This past summer, he married a South African divorcee, who is now reportedly pregnant herself, just 10 days after meeting her.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-02-17--Senators want defense secretary’s support in adding “Lost 74” sailors to Vietnam Memorial

A group of senators asked the secretary of defense to meet with them as part of their bipartisan effort to add the names of the “ Lost 74 ” sailors to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall .
The USS Frank E. Evans , a naval destroyer that had just completed a combat tour off Vietnam ’ s coast and was scheduled to return , sank during a training exercise in June 1969 .
Seventy-four sailors drowned , and only one body was recovered .
For decades , survivors and families have fought to add the names of the perished sailors @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , D.C .
But the Pentagon opposes the effort since the incident occurred over 100 miles outside the designated Vietnam War theater .
But a dozen senators from both parties sent a letter to Defense Secretary Mark Esper on Friday asking to meet with him to end the Pentagon ’ s resistance .
“ The Defense Department has a mixed , if not negative , record with regards to honoring the names of those who died in the sinking of the USS Frank E. Evans by adding them to the Vietnam Memorial Wall @ @ @ @ @ @ @ North Dakota , who helped lead the effort as a congressman and now as a freshman senator , told the Washington Examiner .
“ Bureaucrats and middlemen have stood in the way , offering excuses each time .
We hope to personally convey the Lost 74 ’ s case to Secretary Esper and gain his support.
” The letter to Esper was signed by six Republican senators — Cramer , Susan Collins of Maine , Steve Daines of Montana , John Hoeven of North Dakota , Michael Rounds of South Dakota , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ signed on as well : Minority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York , Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut , Kirsten Gillibrand of New York , Maggie Hassan of New Hampshire , Doug Jones of Alabama , and Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire .
“ We write to request a meeting with you to discuss adding the names of the 74 sailors lost aboard the USS Frank E. Evans on June 3 , 1969 to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial .
The legacy of these brave Americans , the ‘ Lost 74 , ’ should no @ @ @ @ @ @ @ line on a map , ” the group told Esper .
“ Last year marked 50 years since we lost these 74 sailors .
Honoring the sacrifice of these 74 sailors alongside the nearly 60,000 other service members who died in Vietnam is long overdue.
” The destroyer participated in numerous Vietnam combat support tours , including during the Tet Offensive .
Following one , the ship was sent to the South China Sea to participate in a Southeast Asia Treaty Organization exercise , where a nighttime training accident resulted in the ship @ @ @ @ @ @ @ HMAS Melbourne .
The USS Frank E. Evans Act , aiming to direct the Pentagon to add the names to the wall , received bipartisan support and passed the House last year as part of the National Defense Authorization Act but was dropped during conference negotiations .
The Senate effort continues .
Last June , senators pressed the Interior Department ’ s National Park Service , which manages D.C. ’ s national monument , over its position , and its representative said they supported the Pentagon .
“ We would defer this bill @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has determined that the names of those who perished on the USS Frank E. Evans do not meet the criteria for inclusion , ” Deputy Director Daniel Smith said .
Smith claimed including the names “ will be hard to accomplish the way the wall is currently constructed ” and “ would necessitate substantial modification , and possibly a wholesale replacement , of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall.
” Smith also pointed to a previous statement by Deputy Secretary of Defense Robert Work .
“ The EVANS was not operating in the defined @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the mishap , ” the Pentagon leader wrote in 2016 .
“ In conformance with these longstanding criteria for inclusion on The Wall , the Department has declined to grant the exception.
” The Pentagon and National Park Service did not immediately respond to a request for comment .
Additional names have been added to the wall before , including hundreds during Ronald Reagan ’ s presidency .
When the memorial was dedicated in 1982 , there were 57,939 names .
By Memorial Day 2017 , that number increased to 58,318 .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Memorial Fund found that due to duplications , miscounts , and other errors , the number should be 58,276 — not 58,318 .
Steve Kraus , one of 199 survivors of the 1969 disaster , was a 22-year-old signalman then and today is president of the USS Frank E. Evans Association .
For three decades , the group has battled the Pentagon .
“ We are not giving up the fight to get the recognition the 74 sailors of the USS Frank E. Evans deserve , ” Kraus told the Washington Examiner .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ water for IRS purposes should not be the reason to exclude their names .
They died in the Vietnam War .
They made the ultimate sacrifice .
”

A group of senators asked the secretary of defense to meet with them as part of their bipartisan effort to add the names of the “Lost 74” sailors to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall.
The USS Frank E. Evans, a naval destroyer that had just completed a combat tour off Vietnam’s coast and was scheduled to return, sank during a training exercise in June 1969. Seventy-four sailors drowned, and only one body was recovered. For decades, survivors and families have fought to add the names of the perished sailors to the iconic granite wall in Washington, D.C. But the Pentagon opposes the effort since the incident occurred over 100 miles outside the designated Vietnam War theater.
But a dozen senators from both parties sent a letter to Defense Secretary Mark Esper on Friday asking to meet with him to end the Pentagon’s resistance.
“The Defense Department has a mixed, if not negative, record with regards to honoring the names of those who died in the sinking of the USS Frank E. Evans by adding them to the Vietnam Memorial Wall,” GOP Sen. Kevin Cramer of North Dakota, who helped lead the effort as a congressman and now as a freshman senator, told the Washington Examiner. “Bureaucrats and middlemen have stood in the way, offering excuses each time. We hope to personally convey the Lost 74’s case to Secretary Esper and gain his support.”
The letter to Esper was signed by six Republican senators — Cramer, Susan Collins of Maine, Steve Daines of Montana, John Hoeven of North Dakota, Michael Rounds of South Dakota, and Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania. Six Democrats signed on as well: Minority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York, Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut, Kirsten Gillibrand of New York, Maggie Hassan of New Hampshire, Doug Jones of Alabama, and Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire.
“We write to request a meeting with you to discuss adding the names of the 74 sailors lost aboard the USS Frank E. Evans on June 3, 1969 to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. The legacy of these brave Americans, the ‘Lost 74,’ should no longer go unrecognized due to an arbitrary line on a map,” the group told Esper. “Last year marked 50 years since we lost these 74 sailors. Honoring the sacrifice of these 74 sailors alongside the nearly 60,000 other service members who died in Vietnam is long overdue.”
The destroyer participated in numerous Vietnam combat support tours, including during the Tet Offensive. Following one, the ship was sent to the South China Sea to participate in a Southeast Asia Treaty Organization exercise, where a nighttime training accident resulted in the ship being cut in half by the Australian HMAS Melbourne.
The USS Frank E. Evans Act, aiming to direct the Pentagon to add the names to the wall, received bipartisan support and passed the House last year as part of the National Defense Authorization Act but was dropped during conference negotiations. The Senate effort continues.
Last June, senators pressed the Interior Department’s National Park Service, which manages D.C.’s national monument, over its position, and its representative said they supported the Pentagon.
“We would defer this bill to the Department of Defense, who has determined that the names of those who perished on the USS Frank E. Evans do not meet the criteria for inclusion,” Deputy Director Daniel Smith said.
Smith claimed including the names “will be hard to accomplish the way the wall is currently constructed” and “would necessitate substantial modification, and possibly a wholesale replacement, of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall.”
Smith also pointed to a previous statement by Deputy Secretary of Defense Robert Work.
“The EVANS was not operating in the defined combat zone of Vietnam at the time of the mishap,” the Pentagon leader wrote in 2016. “In conformance with these longstanding criteria for inclusion on The Wall, the Department has declined to grant the exception.”
The Pentagon and National Park Service did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Additional names have been added to the wall before, including hundreds during Ronald Reagan’s presidency. When the memorial was dedicated in 1982, there were 57,939 names. By Memorial Day 2017, that number increased to 58,318. A 2019 audit by the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund found that due to duplications, miscounts, and other errors, the number should be 58,276 — not 58,318.
Steve Kraus, one of 199 survivors of the 1969 disaster, was a 22-year-old signalman then and today is president of the USS Frank E. Evans Association. For three decades, the group has battled the Pentagon.
“We are not giving up the fight to get the recognition the 74 sailors of the USS Frank E. Evans deserve,” Kraus told the Washington Examiner. “An arbitrary line drawn in the water for IRS purposes should not be the reason to exclude their names. They died in the Vietnam War. They made the ultimate sacrifice.”


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-02-17--Ireland just stepped back from democracy

Ireland has just become the first European Union state to elect a party with an armed wing .
Sinn Féin , which won last week ’ s general election on first-preference votes ( though it is second , by one seat , in parliamentary representation ) has long been shunned by its rivals because of its links to terrorism and organized crime .
During the election , Leo Varadkar , the outgoing prime minister , ruled out a coalition with Sinn Féin because it took instructions from the Republican paramilitary hierarchy .
“ We have seen that in Northern Ireland @ @ @ @ @ @ @ made by the people.
” Micheal Martin , who now leads the largest party , Fianna Fáil , took the same line : “ The parliamentary representatives of Sinn Féin are not in control of the situation … shadowy figures dictate what happens.
” Now , Martin is backpedaling , hoping that drawing the extremists into a coalition will diminish their radical chic while ( conveniently ) allowing him to be in government .
Sinn Féin ’ s supporters play down their party ’ s terrorist links .
In their view , all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in much of Europe , the old parties , and especially those of the traditional Left , have given ground to a more radical alternative .
There is a smidgen of truth in that argument .
In Ireland , as across much of continental Europe , a lot of voters were looking for a populist alternative .
The Irish Labor Party , like most European parties linked to trade unions , was hammered , falling to below 5 % .
True , it was falling from a lower point than continental social democratic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ its decline are the same : In an age when most people expect to work lots of different jobs through their lives , freelancing and reskilling regularly , parties that speak to and for industrialized workforces have little relevance .
As elsewhere , the left-of-center vote went partly to the Greens ( Ireland ’ s Green Party secured its best-ever result , nearly tripling its vote ) and to the hard Left and isolationist Sinn Féin , which in an Irish context might be called a different set of `` greens . ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the IRA ’ s Marxist insurgency , espouses the sort of revolutionary nationalism associated with Hugo Chavez or Fidel Castro .
To young voters , who have no memory of the terrorist bombs that cut down civilian targets across Northern Ireland and Great Britain , it seems almost glamorous .
Sinn Féin ’ s own leaders , although they won ’ t disavow the violence , try to avoid the subject .
Two years ago , Gerry Adams , the Belfast strongman who was always assumed to be speaking for the IRA ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ president of Sinn Féin by Mary Lou McDonald , a winsome Dubliner too young to have been involved in the terror campaigns .
The violence , she would have us believe , was a regrettable if necessary phase , in which all sides did some bad things .
There is no need to talk about it anymore .
Yet , although McDonald herself is removed from the grisly demimonde of the IRA , her party can ’ t quite shake off its vicious tendencies .
When the election was called , a Sinn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that the media would be “ on the phone to Cahill , Stack , Quinn and all and every other waster they can wheel out with a sob story.
” Who are these “ wasters ” ?
Mairia Cahill is a West Belfast Catholic who , in 2014 , went public with the fact that she had been sexually abused as a teenager by an IRA leader .
Austin Stack is the son of a prison officer murdered by the IRA .
Breege Quinn is the mother of Paul Quinn , who was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2007 ; every major bone in his body was broken and his ear was torn off because he had squared up to some local IRA leaders .
He was 21 .
Think , for a moment , about what is implied by having such a party in government .
In my 20 years as an elected representative , I often had fierce arguments with my opponents .
But it never occurred to me that , as we filed out of our committee room , one of them might mutter to me , “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ school.
” If McDonald herself is a cheerful , post-conflict politician , the same is not true of her candidates , who celebrated their victories with IRA songs .
Those songs venerate the core belief that sustained the IRA throughout its bombing campaign , namely , that its mandate did not come from the ballot box , but from its readiness to deploy force in what it chose to interpret as the national interest .
The singers may have won the vote , but that does not make them democrats .

Ireland has just become the first European Union state to elect a party with an armed wing. Sinn Féin, which won last week’s general election on first-preference votes (though it is second, by one seat, in parliamentary representation) has long been shunned by its rivals because of its links to terrorism and organized crime.
During the election, Leo Varadkar, the outgoing prime minister, ruled out a coalition with Sinn Féin because it took instructions from the Republican paramilitary hierarchy. “We have seen that in Northern Ireland, where key decisions are not necessarily made by the people.”
Micheal Martin, who now leads the largest party, Fianna Fáil, took the same line: “The parliamentary representatives of Sinn Féin are not in control of the situation … shadowy figures dictate what happens.” Now, Martin is backpedaling, hoping that drawing the extremists into a coalition will diminish their radical chic while (conveniently) allowing him to be in government.
Sinn Féin’s supporters play down their party’s terrorist links. In their view, all that has happened is that, as in much of Europe, the old parties, and especially those of the traditional Left, have given ground to a more radical alternative.
There is a smidgen of truth in that argument. In Ireland, as across much of continental Europe, a lot of voters were looking for a populist alternative. The Irish Labor Party, like most European parties linked to trade unions, was hammered, falling to below 5%. True, it was falling from a lower point than continental social democratic parties have, but the reasons for its decline are the same: In an age when most people expect to work lots of different jobs through their lives, freelancing and reskilling regularly, parties that speak to and for industrialized workforces have little relevance.
As elsewhere, the left-of-center vote went partly to the Greens (Ireland’s Green Party secured its best-ever result, nearly tripling its vote) and to the hard Left and isolationist Sinn Féin, which in an Irish context might be called a different set of "greens." The party, which grew out of the IRA’s Marxist insurgency, espouses the sort of revolutionary nationalism associated with Hugo Chavez or Fidel Castro. To young voters, who have no memory of the terrorist bombs that cut down civilian targets across Northern Ireland and Great Britain, it seems almost glamorous.
Sinn Féin’s own leaders, although they won’t disavow the violence, try to avoid the subject. Two years ago, Gerry Adams, the Belfast strongman who was always assumed to be speaking for the IRA’s Army Council, was replaced as president of Sinn Féin by Mary Lou McDonald, a winsome Dubliner too young to have been involved in the terror campaigns. The violence, she would have us believe, was a regrettable if necessary phase, in which all sides did some bad things. There is no need to talk about it anymore.
Yet, although McDonald herself is removed from the grisly demimonde of the IRA, her party can’t quite shake off its vicious tendencies. When the election was called, a Sinn Féin activist complained in a WhatsApp group that the media would be “on the phone to Cahill, Stack, Quinn and all and every other waster they can wheel out with a sob story.”
Who are these “wasters”? Mairia Cahill is a West Belfast Catholic who, in 2014, went public with the fact that she had been sexually abused as a teenager by an IRA leader. Austin Stack is the son of a prison officer murdered by the IRA. Breege Quinn is the mother of Paul Quinn, who was tortured to death by the IRA in 2007; every major bone in his body was broken and his ear was torn off because he had squared up to some local IRA leaders. He was 21.
Think, for a moment, about what is implied by having such a party in government. In my 20 years as an elected representative, I often had fierce arguments with my opponents. But it never occurred to me that, as we filed out of our committee room, one of them might mutter to me, “We know where your daughters go to school.”
If McDonald herself is a cheerful, post-conflict politician, the same is not true of her candidates, who celebrated their victories with IRA songs. Those songs venerate the core belief that sustained the IRA throughout its bombing campaign, namely, that its mandate did not come from the ballot box, but from its readiness to deploy force in what it chose to interpret as the national interest. The singers may have won the vote, but that does not make them democrats.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-02-17--US released 375,000 illegal immigrants who entered with family members

More than 375,000 of the 473,682 immigrants who were caught illegally crossing the southern border with a family member in fiscal 2019 were released by federal law enforcement into the interior of the United States , according to data obtained by the Washington Examiner .
From Oct. 1 , 2018 and Sept. 30 , 2019 , Border Patrol agents working along the U.S.-Mexico border arrested 851,508 people who entered the country between ports of entry .
In addition to the 473,682 people who arrived as part of a family , there were 76,000 unaccompanied children , according to previously released @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Examiner its agents released more than 145,000 family members directly from its stations between March and September 2019 , the months that had the highest levels of arrests .
People who were released would have been allowed to go anywhere in the country , including those who were not seeking asylum .
Customs and Border Protection , under which Border Patrol is housed , does not release data on the number of arrestees who go on to seek asylum , though Department of Homeland Security officials shared last year that it was a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unusual move last March of releasing people directly from its custody rather than turning people over to Immigration and Customs Enforcement .
ICE cited two issues that made it difficult to hold families : it lacked the bed space and a 2015 court ruling blocked it from detaining families more than 20 days .
Because the 145,000 family members released by Border Patrol were not transferred to ICE , they were released with a legal document known as a notice to appear .
The document states when they should show up for a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ returned to the county of origin .
An additional 230,000 family members were sent to ICE and then released from ICE facilities , according to an ICE spokesperson .
Border Patrol transferred a total of 373,770 people to ICE .
A second ICE spokesperson told the Washington Examiner the agency does not track the individual outcomes of each of the 373,770 people whom Border Patrol transferred into its custody last year .
ICE deported 267,258 people in 2019 including 5,702 people who arrived with a family member and 6,351 unaccompanied children .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by ICE and single adults arrested at the southern border .
The total 375,000 people released into the country are among 3.2 million who have been released by federal immigration authorities and are awaiting court hearings to decide whether they will removed from the country .
Since the fall , the number of families traveling to the border have dramatically declined as the Trump administration has taken steps to reduce the number of people traveling to the border .

More than 375,000 of the 473,682 immigrants who were caught illegally crossing the southern border with a family member in fiscal 2019 were released by federal law enforcement into the interior of the United States, according to data obtained by the Washington Examiner.
From Oct. 1, 2018 and Sept. 30, 2019, Border Patrol agents working along the U.S.-Mexico border arrested 851,508 people who entered the country between ports of entry. In addition to the 473,682 people who arrived as part of a family, there were 76,000 unaccompanied children, according to previously released data.
Border Patrol told the Washington Examiner its agents released more than 145,000 family members directly from its stations between March and September 2019, the months that had the highest levels of arrests. People who were released would have been allowed to go anywhere in the country, including those who were not seeking asylum. Customs and Border Protection, under which Border Patrol is housed, does not release data on the number of arrestees who go on to seek asylum, though Department of Homeland Security officials shared last year that it was a low percentage.
Border Patrol made the unusual move last March of releasing people directly from its custody rather than turning people over to Immigration and Customs Enforcement. ICE cited two issues that made it difficult to hold families: it lacked the bed space and a 2015 court ruling blocked it from detaining families more than 20 days.
Because the 145,000 family members released by Border Patrol were not transferred to ICE, they were released with a legal document known as a notice to appear. The document states when they should show up for a hearing to determine if they will be returned to the county of origin. An additional 230,000 family members were sent to ICE and then released from ICE facilities, according to an ICE spokesperson.
Border Patrol transferred a total of 373,770 people to ICE. A second ICE spokesperson told the Washington Examiner the agency does not track the individual outcomes of each of the 373,770 people whom Border Patrol transferred into its custody last year.
ICE deported 267,258 people in 2019 including 5,702 people who arrived with a family member and 6,351 unaccompanied children. The remainder were people arrested inside the country by ICE and single adults arrested at the southern border.
The total 375,000 people released into the country are among 3.2 million who have been released by federal immigration authorities and are awaiting court hearings to decide whether they will removed from the country.
Since the fall, the number of families traveling to the border have dramatically declined as the Trump administration has taken steps to reduce the number of people traveling to the border.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-02-17--Trump attends wedding of Stephen Miller and Katie Waldman

President Trump attended the wedding of White House adviser Stephen Miller at his hotel in Washington , D.C. in the evening Sunday .
Upon returning from a weekend in Florida , the president 's motorcade made the trip down Pennsylvania Avenue to Trump International Hotel , where Miller wed Katie Waldman , press secretary for Vice President Mike Pence .
The White House press pool was informed of Trump 's attendance at the private event , but was not immediately informed whether Trump made an address .
The president returned to the White House after a couple of hours .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Priebus shared a photo of himself and the bride and groom , saying , `` Spectacular and very special wedding tonight with new bride and groom Stephen and Katie Miller !
So much fun and still going with  @ realDonaldTrump having fun and the band is going strong ! ''
Earlier in the day Trump attended the Daytona 500 , where he flew over the Daytona International Speedway in Air Force One and taking several laps around the track in his presidential limo .
NASCAR 's season opener was ultimately postponed to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , 34 , has been a senior policy adviser to Trump since the beginning of the administration .
His is the architect of Trump ’ s immigration agenda that has been constantly under fire by Democrats .
He previously was a communications director to then-Sen. Jeff Sessions of Alabama .
Katie Miller , 28 , was spokeswoman for the Homeland Security Department during the tenure of Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen before becoming a press secretary to Pence and special assistant to Trump .
The couple had spoken on the phone for work purposes , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ when introduced by mutual friends , according to the New York Times .
It was reported they were engaged in November .

President Trump attended the wedding of White House adviser Stephen Miller at his hotel in Washington, D.C. in the evening Sunday.
Upon returning from a weekend in Florida, the president's motorcade made the trip down Pennsylvania Avenue to Trump International Hotel, where Miller wed Katie Waldman, press secretary for Vice President Mike Pence.
The White House press pool was informed of Trump's attendance at the private event, but was not immediately informed whether Trump made an address. The president returned to the White House after a couple of hours.
Former White House chief of staff Reince Priebus shared a photo of himself and the bride and groom, saying, "Spectacular and very special wedding tonight with new bride and groom Stephen and Katie Miller! So much fun and still going with @realDonaldTrump having fun and the band is going strong!"
Spectacular and very special wedding tonight with new bride and groom Stephen and Katie Miller! So much fun and still going with @realDonaldTrump having fun and the band is going strong! pic.twitter.com/1LreZhe2pd — Reince Priebus (@Reince) February 17, 2020
Earlier in the day Trump attended the Daytona 500, where he flew over the Daytona International Speedway in Air Force One and taking several laps around the track in his presidential limo. NASCAR's season opener was ultimately postponed to Monday due to rain.
Stephen Miller, 34, has been a senior policy adviser to Trump since the beginning of the administration. His is the architect of Trump’s immigration agenda that has been constantly under fire by Democrats. He previously was a communications director to then-Sen. Jeff Sessions of Alabama.
Katie Miller, 28, was spokeswoman for the Homeland Security Department during the tenure of Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen before becoming a press secretary to Pence and special assistant to Trump.
The couple had spoken on the phone for work purposes, but did not meet in-person until 2018 when introduced by mutual friends, according to the New York Times. It was reported they were engaged in November.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-02-17--What the presidential candidates could learn from George Washington

America 's first president could teach a thing or two to those vying for the presidency today .
That goes for President Trump as much as it does for his Democratic would-be challengers .
Under the most trying circumstances , George Washington repeatedly proved that a president does the most good for his nation and for himself if he places patriotism ahead of his personal interest .
Neither Trump nor any of the Democratic presidential primary field will rise to Washington 's stature .
Washington , after all , led his people to freedom , then endowed them with the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ centuries .
But those who wish to lead America owe it to themselves and to their country to learn two particularly important lessons from Washington 's life .
First , Washington recognized that his legacy would not be defined by his power or accomplishments in any one moment , but rather by the durability of his actions in serving America 's sustaining interest .
Washington 's standout example in this regard is his December 1783 resignation as Continental Army commander in chief .
Having won an arduous war against overwhelming odds , Washington @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to assert effective dictatorship over the new nation .
He did not , and this may be why the nation he founded is still here .
Taking his example from Lucius Quinctius Cincinnatus more than 2,100 years earlier , Washington ensured that control over the republic 's military power would always ultimately rest its with civilian leaders .
It was an extraordinary act of humility , unprecedented in modern world history .
And to this day , the most powerful military in the history of the Earth remains solidly under the dominion of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Trump should see here that the true import of his presidency is a long-term one .
Any short-term deals he makes will be forgotten , whether his term ends in January 2021 or January 2025 , and Trump should consider what historians will say of him if his legacy is marked only by a temporarily strong economy and his celebratory vanquishing of Democratic opponents .
Joe Biden should recognize Washington 's example in that good leaders know when to step aside .
Trailing badly in the primary polls and reverberating between occasional @ @ @ @ @ @ @ oddity , Biden no longer has a path to his party 's nomination .
The more people see of 2020 candidate Biden , the less they seem to want his presidency .
But were Biden to step aside now , he would at least secure his long-term legacy as a two-term vice president and longtime senator who found wide respect across the political spectrum — something rare in our nation today .
Speaking of which , Washington also set an example with his warning that political partisanship and factionalism must never be allowed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Washington 's second term saw the development of an increasingly partisan political landscape , and he even used his farewell address to set a marker .
The president implored his fellow citizens to recognize `` the immense value of your national Union to your collective and individual happiness ... indignantly frowning upon the first dawning of every attempt to alienate any portion of our country from the rest , or to enfeeble the sacred ties which now link together the various parts . ''
Those words would serve the union in the darkest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lesson here is most important for the Democratic field 's left-wing candidates .
Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders , who has a realistic shot at the Democratic nomination , is premised on the idea that one group of people is deliberately acting to harm the rest .
Sanders does not simply complain that businesses and wealthier Americans are successful ; he calls for the destruction of their capital in service of the people .
Both Sanders and Trump must learn not to campaign based on the fear of others — especially not of fellow @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not match up to Washington , no matter how successful he is .
But that does n't mean our first president 's example should n't inspire those who wish to lead us now .
It can , and it always should .

America's first president could teach a thing or two to those vying for the presidency today. That goes for President Trump as much as it does for his Democratic would-be challengers.
Under the most trying circumstances, George Washington repeatedly proved that a president does the most good for his nation and for himself if he places patriotism ahead of his personal interest.
Neither Trump nor any of the Democratic presidential primary field will rise to Washington's stature. Washington, after all, led his people to freedom, then endowed them with the political means and institutions to thrive for centuries. But those who wish to lead America owe it to themselves and to their country to learn two particularly important lessons from Washington's life.
First, Washington recognized that his legacy would not be defined by his power or accomplishments in any one moment, but rather by the durability of his actions in serving America's sustaining interest. Washington's standout example in this regard is his December 1783 resignation as Continental Army commander in chief. Having won an arduous war against overwhelming odds, Washington could have easily used his military authority to assert effective dictatorship over the new nation. He did not, and this may be why the nation he founded is still here.
Taking his example from Lucius Quinctius Cincinnatus more than 2,100 years earlier, Washington ensured that control over the republic's military power would always ultimately rest its with civilian leaders. It was an extraordinary act of humility, unprecedented in modern world history. And to this day, the most powerful military in the history of the Earth remains solidly under the dominion of elected civilian leaders.
For his part, Trump should see here that the true import of his presidency is a long-term one. Any short-term deals he makes will be forgotten, whether his term ends in January 2021 or January 2025, and Trump should consider what historians will say of him if his legacy is marked only by a temporarily strong economy and his celebratory vanquishing of Democratic opponents.
Joe Biden should recognize Washington's example in that good leaders know when to step aside. Trailing badly in the primary polls and reverberating between occasional moments of energy and many moments of oddity, Biden no longer has a path to his party's nomination. The more people see of 2020 candidate Biden, the less they seem to want his presidency. But were Biden to step aside now, he would at least secure his long-term legacy as a two-term vice president and longtime senator who found wide respect across the political spectrum — something rare in our nation today.
Speaking of which, Washington also set an example with his warning that political partisanship and factionalism must never be allowed to triumph over the popular unity. Washington's second term saw the development of an increasingly partisan political landscape, and he even used his farewell address to set a marker. The president implored his fellow citizens to recognize "the immense value of your national Union to your collective and individual happiness ... indignantly frowning upon the first dawning of every attempt to alienate any portion of our country from the rest, or to enfeeble the sacred ties which now link together the various parts."
Those words would serve the union in the darkest hours of the Civil War.
The lesson here is most important for the Democratic field's left-wing candidates. Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, who has a realistic shot at the Democratic nomination, is premised on the idea that one group of people is deliberately acting to harm the rest. Sanders does not simply complain that businesses and wealthier Americans are successful; he calls for the destruction of their capital in service of the people. Both Sanders and Trump must learn not to campaign based on the fear of others — especially not of fellow Americans.
The next U.S. president will not match up to Washington, no matter how successful he is. But that doesn't mean our first president's example shouldn't inspire those who wish to lead us now. It can, and it always should.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-02-17--Stacey Abrams 'absolutely' sees herself running for president one day

Failed gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams has eyes for the White House .
Abrams appeared on The View on Monday and spoke about her future career plans in politics .
Abrams has risen within the Democratic Party since she lost the Georgia governor ’ s race to Republican Brian Kemp in 2018 .
Abrams did not concede the election for months afterward , alleging election interference cost her the governor ’ s seat .
Abrams reiterated her interest in being someone ’ s pick for vice president , though no Democratic primary candidate has asked her yet .
`` I would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with the nominee , ” Abrams said on the ABC show , adding that it would be a `` disservice to every woman of color , every woman of ambition '' for her to turn down such an opportunity .
`` Of course , I want it .
Of course , I want to serve America .
Of course , I want to be a patriot and do this work , and so I ’ d say yes , '' Abrams said .
Abrams also said that she could `` absolutely '' see @ @ @ @ @ @ @ United States someday .
`` Why should we not want someone to have the power to fix the problems and the brokenness that we have , '' Abrams said .
`` I want to do good , and there is no stronger platform than president of the United States , and that 's a position I want to one day hold . ''
Speculation has circled around Abrams 's potential White House ambitions after she said she would accept an invitation by the eventual Democratic nominee to run at the bottom of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a primary for second place , so no , for whatever rumors are out there , '' Abrams told an Iowa newspaper in November .
`` However , I ’ m not in the primary , but you can run as second in the general election , and I am happy to do so with the nominee .
That is my answer . ''

Failed gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams has eyes for the White House.
Abrams appeared on The View on Monday and spoke about her future career plans in politics. Abrams has risen within the Democratic Party since she lost the Georgia governor’s race to Republican Brian Kemp in 2018. Abrams did not concede the election for months afterward, alleging election interference cost her the governor’s seat.
Abrams reiterated her interest in being someone’s pick for vice president, though no Democratic primary candidate has asked her yet.
"I would be honored to run for vice president with the nominee,” Abrams said on the ABC show, adding that it would be a "disservice to every woman of color, every woman of ambition" for her to turn down such an opportunity.
"Of course, I want it. Of course, I want to serve America. Of course, I want to be a patriot and do this work, and so I’d say yes," Abrams said.
Abrams also said that she could "absolutely" see herself running to be president of the United States someday.
"Why should we not want someone to have the power to fix the problems and the brokenness that we have," Abrams said. "I want to do good, and there is no stronger platform than president of the United States, and that's a position I want to one day hold."
Speculation has circled around Abrams's potential White House ambitions after she said she would accept an invitation by the eventual Democratic nominee to run at the bottom of the ticket.
"You do not run in a primary for second place, so no, for whatever rumors are out there," Abrams told an Iowa newspaper in November. "However, I’m not in the primary, but you can run as second in the general election, and I am happy to do so with the nominee. That is my answer."


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-02-17--White House trade adviser Peter Navarro is after 'Anonymous'

Peter Navarro is hunting for the mysterious Trump administration official behind the anonymous tell-all book and critical New York Times opinion piece about the White House .
The White House trade adviser initiated his own unofficial investigation to root out `` Anonymous '' alongside several others , according to the Daily Beast .
White House counsel Pat Cipollone is leading the administration ’ s official investigation to comb through the ranks of officials to identify the author .
A group of National Security Council staffers is also conducting a search .
Navarro has compiled writing samples from a number of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ samples compared to Anonymous ’ s column and book , focusing on how the author constructs sentences and uses certain phrases .
Sources familiar with Navarro ’ s investigation said he has identified one suspect and delivered his findings in a report given to Cipollone .
Anonymous is known only as a senior Trump administration official who wrote a critical September 2018 New York Times column , as well as a book titled A Warning .
Both works are critical of the Trump administration and talk of a “ resistance ” inside the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The identity of Anonymous has eluded reporters and government officials since the New York Times opinion piece appeared .
Trump has used the article to bolster allegations that some in his administration , including Obama holdovers , are working against his agenda .
Last week , former U.S. Attorney Joe diGenova , a lawyer whose work has been caught up in the Ukraine-impeachment controversy , said he and his wife , Victoria Toensing , were told by `` a senior government official '' that `` Anonymous '' had been identified as an official @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be removed `` soon . ''
In recent weeks , Trump has taken action to remove multiple officials from his orbit who have been critical of him .
Trump stripped Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman of his National Security Council role and recalled U.S .
Ambassador Gordon Sondland from his post at the European Union after both officials testified against Trump in the House Democrats ' impeachment investigation .

Peter Navarro is hunting for the mysterious Trump administration official behind the anonymous tell-all book and critical New York Times opinion piece about the White House.
The White House trade adviser initiated his own unofficial investigation to root out "Anonymous" alongside several others, according to the Daily Beast. White House counsel Pat Cipollone is leading the administration’s official investigation to comb through the ranks of officials to identify the author. A group of National Security Council staffers is also conducting a search.
Navarro has compiled writing samples from a number of officials in the administration and had the samples compared to Anonymous’s column and book, focusing on how the author constructs sentences and uses certain phrases. Sources familiar with Navarro’s investigation said he has identified one suspect and delivered his findings in a report given to Cipollone.
Anonymous is known only as a senior Trump administration official who wrote a critical September 2018 New York Times column, as well as a book titled A Warning.
Both works are critical of the Trump administration and talk of a “resistance” inside the administration working to thwart President Trump.
The identity of Anonymous has eluded reporters and government officials since the New York Times opinion piece appeared. Trump has used the article to bolster allegations that some in his administration, including Obama holdovers, are working against his agenda.
Last week, former U.S. Attorney Joe diGenova, a lawyer whose work has been caught up in the Ukraine-impeachment controversy, said he and his wife, Victoria Toensing, were told by "a senior government official" that "Anonymous" had been identified as an official working in the White House and would be removed "soon."
In recent weeks, Trump has taken action to remove multiple officials from his orbit who have been critical of him. Trump stripped Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman of his National Security Council role and recalled U.S. Ambassador Gordon Sondland from his post at the European Union after both officials testified against Trump in the House Democrats' impeachment investigation.