thewashingtonexaminer--2020-07-29--Liz Cheney jabs Democratic male senator for 'explaining what women need' in Biden endorsement

Wyoming Rep. Liz Cheney mocked Illinois Sen. Dick Durbin after he endorsed Joe Biden 's plan to help women in the United States .
`` Thanks so much @ DickDurbin for explaining what women need .
Here I was thinking we should care about national security , religious freedom , the 2nd Amendment , holding China accountable for COVID , defending American history , and keeping our communities safe .
Silly me , '' wrote Cheney , the highest-ranking woman in the House Republican caucus .
Durbin , a Democrat , caught Cheney 's attention by endorsing Biden 's plan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ areas such as child care and paid family leave as reasons that women should support Biden 's campaign .
`` Women across the country need a champion in the White House .
I fully support @ JoeBiden ’ s agenda for women , including equal pay , health care , paid family leave , child care , and more , '' Durbin wrote .
includes a series of proposals that aim to ensure equal pay for women , expand access to abortion , and bolster the Violence Against Women Act .
The former @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to place women on an equal footing with men .
`` The hard truth is women — and particularly women of color — have never had a fair shot to get ahead in this country , '' Biden wrote .
`` That 's why today , I 'm releasing my plan to make sure women can fully participate in our economy and country . ''

Wyoming Rep. Liz Cheney mocked Illinois Sen. Dick Durbin after he endorsed Joe Biden's plan to help women in the United States.
"Thanks so much @DickDurbin for explaining what women need. Here I was thinking we should care about national security, religious freedom, the 2nd Amendment, holding China accountable for COVID, defending American history, and keeping our communities safe. Silly me," wrote Cheney, the highest-ranking woman in the House Republican caucus.
Durbin, a Democrat, caught Cheney's attention by endorsing Biden's plan for women. He singled out policy areas such as child care and paid family leave as reasons that women should support Biden's campaign.
"Women across the country need a champion in the White House. I fully support @JoeBiden’s agenda for women, including equal pay, health care, paid family leave, child care, and more," Durbin wrote.
Thanks so much @DickDurbin for explaining what women need. Here I was thinking we should care about national security, religious freedom, the 2nd Amendment, holding China accountable for COVID, defending American history, and keeping our communities safe. Silly me. https://t.co/UhodYOsg2V — Liz Cheney (@Liz_Cheney) July 29, 2020
Biden's agenda for women includes a series of proposals that aim to ensure equal pay for women, expand access to abortion, and bolster the Violence Against Women Act. The former vice president said this agenda is necessary to place women on an equal footing with men.
"The hard truth is women — and particularly women of color — have never had a fair shot to get ahead in this country," Biden wrote. "That's why today, I'm releasing my plan to make sure women can fully participate in our economy and country."


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-07-29--Kelly Loeffler faces blowback over attacks on GOP Senate rival Doug Collins for past legal clients

GOP Sen. Kelly Loeffler says voters should reject her leading opponent for the Georgia Senate seat she holds for guilt by association — with his former legal clients .
Polls generally show Loeffler in second place behind Republican Rep. Doug Collins in the Nov. 3 all-party Georgia Senate primary to fill out the remaining years of former Republican Sen. Johnny Isakson 's term .
Isakson stepped down at the end of 2019 due to health reasons , and Georgia 's Republican governor appointed Loeffler , a wealthy Atlanta-based businesswoman , to the seat .
Loeffler and Collins are members of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Should the person in first place fail to secure 50 % of the vote on Nov. 3 , it 'll come down to a run-off contest between the first pair on Jan. 5 .
With Collins ahead in the polls , Loeffler is dissecting Collins 's legal career in a most unflattering way .
Loeffler this month pushed a television ad portraying Collins as a lawyer who marketed himself to objectionable potential clients , including those charged with sex and other serious crimes .
The narrator accuses the former top House Judiciary Republican @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , of assisting `` violent criminals and even gang members get out of jail — some struck again.
” Loeffler also paraded endorsements from Georgia sheriffs critical of Collins for making a “ career out of putting the interests of criminals before the safety of Georgia ’ s families . ''
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell 's political action committee , the Senate Leadership Fund , which backs Loeffler , has amplified the message .
Collins , elected to the House in 2012 after six years as a state representative , served in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ chaplain .
His Senate campaign trashed the Loeffler spot about his legal work , saying the featured defendants were judge-assigned because they could n't afford counsel .
And three of the four were represented by his then-law partner at Collins and Csider .
Consultants and former elected officials doubt the effectiveness of Loeffler 's strategy in targeting Collins 's pre-congressional legal clients .
After all , everybody 's entitled to a defense under the Constitution 's Sixth Amendment .
And anyway , bringing up legal matters gives Collins an opening to dredge up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ closed , into potential violations of insider trading laws by Loeffler .
Chris DeRose , a Republican , described Loeffler 's attacks as `` not only desperate and unfair , but hypocritical . ''
`` Loeffler was represented by attorneys when she was the subject of an investigation , and they helped her resolve the matter with no charges filed .
Why should n't her constituents , particularly the poor , have the same constitutional right of counsel ? ''
the former prosecutor and defense attorney told the Washington Examiner .
`` Whenever @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the political pool , the opponent will seek to mischaracterize the legal work of the candidate .
The concept is to confuse the candidate with the defendant ’ s crimes .
It is silly and a distraction from the actual issues at hand , '' the Cadwalader , Wickersham & Taft LLP partner said .
Three months out from the Nov. 3 primary , the tactics reflect the increasingly acrimonious nature of the race between fellow Republicans Loeffler and Collins .
Collins has swiped at Loeffler , the wife of New York Stock @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for being a `` pretend farmer . ''
And he 's latched onto collaborations between her Atlanta Dream WNBA team , Planned Parenthood , and Everytown for Gun Safety .
But she 's held her own , mocking `` D.C. Doug '' for only playing `` a conservative on TV . ''
She 's touted her work in Congress , for example , against Big Tech .
She 's also chided WNBA players taking part in Black Lives Matter protests on their respective courts .
Collins has released his own ad , in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she dumped $ 20 million in stock after a closed-door Senate COVID-19 briefing in January .
Loeffler maintained she did n't know about the sales because she does n't manage her portfolio .
Even though the Justice Department closed its inquiry into her in May , Collins accuses her of wrongdoing .
“ Kelly ’ s using high-priced lawyers to help her get away with it , ” says a voice-over layered on images such as a Monopoly `` get out of jail free '' card .
“ You can ’ t trust @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Georgia polls conducted so far this cycle have a partisan bent , Spry Strategies found Collins leading the pack last week with 29 % support .
He was followed by Democrat Matt Lieberman ( the son of former Connecticut Democratic and independent Sen. Joe Lieberman ) with 23 % and Loeffler with 19 % .
A Collins-commissioned Battleground Connect survey a week earlier reported the lawmaker with 26 % of the vote , Loeffler with 17 % , Lieberman with 15 % , and Democrat Raphael Warnock ( a pastor ) with 10 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ named Collins and Loeffler the winner when matched with either Lieberman or Warnock in a hypothetical run-off .
That 's an improvement for Loeffler .
Public Policy Polling research earlier that month had Warnock in front of her by 3 percentage points , 43 % to 40 % .

GOP Sen. Kelly Loeffler says voters should reject her leading opponent for the Georgia Senate seat she holds for guilt by association — with his former legal clients.
Polls generally show Loeffler in second place behind Republican Rep. Doug Collins in the Nov. 3 all-party Georgia Senate primary to fill out the remaining years of former Republican Sen. Johnny Isakson's term. Isakson stepped down at the end of 2019 due to health reasons, and Georgia's Republican governor appointed Loeffler, a wealthy Atlanta-based businesswoman, to the seat.
Loeffler and Collins are members of a multiparty field of 21 candidates. Should the person in first place fail to secure 50% of the vote on Nov. 3, it'll come down to a run-off contest between the first pair on Jan. 5.
With Collins ahead in the polls, Loeffler is dissecting Collins's legal career in a most unflattering way.
Loeffler this month pushed a television ad portraying Collins as a lawyer who marketed himself to objectionable potential clients, including those charged with sex and other serious crimes. The narrator accuses the former top House Judiciary Republican, who defended President Trump during impeachment, of assisting "violent criminals and even gang members get out of jail — some struck again.”
Loeffler also paraded endorsements from Georgia sheriffs critical of Collins for making a “career out of putting the interests of criminals before the safety of Georgia’s families." Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell's political action committee, the Senate Leadership Fund, which backs Loeffler, has amplified the message.
Collins, elected to the House in 2012 after six years as a state representative, served in Iraq as an Air Force lieutenant colonel chaplain. His Senate campaign trashed the Loeffler spot about his legal work, saying the featured defendants were judge-assigned because they couldn't afford counsel. And three of the four were represented by his then-law partner at Collins and Csider.
Consultants and former elected officials doubt the effectiveness of Loeffler's strategy in targeting Collins's pre-congressional legal clients. After all, everybody's entitled to a defense under the Constitution's Sixth Amendment.
And anyway, bringing up legal matters gives Collins an opening to dredge up a Department of Justice probe, since closed, into potential violations of insider trading laws by Loeffler.
Chris DeRose, a Republican, described Loeffler's attacks as "not only desperate and unfair, but hypocritical."
"Loeffler was represented by attorneys when she was the subject of an investigation, and they helped her resolve the matter with no charges filed. Why shouldn't her constituents, particularly the poor, have the same constitutional right of counsel?" the former prosecutor and defense attorney told the Washington Examiner.
Two-term Maryland Attorney General Douglas Gansler, a Democrat, agreed Loeffler's argument wasn't compelling.
"Whenever a prosecutor or defense lawyer wades into the political pool, the opponent will seek to mischaracterize the legal work of the candidate. The concept is to confuse the candidate with the defendant’s crimes. It is silly and a distraction from the actual issues at hand," the Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft LLP partner said.
Three months out from the Nov. 3 primary, the tactics reflect the increasingly acrimonious nature of the race between fellow Republicans Loeffler and Collins.
Collins has swiped at Loeffler, the wife of New York Stock Exchange owner and chairman Jeffrey Sprecher, for being a "pretend farmer." And he's latched onto collaborations between her Atlanta Dream WNBA team, Planned Parenthood, and Everytown for Gun Safety. But she's held her own, mocking "D.C. Doug" for only playing "a conservative on TV." She's touted her work in Congress, for example, against Big Tech. She's also chided WNBA players taking part in Black Lives Matter protests on their respective courts.
Collins has released his own ad, in which the narrator rips Loeffler over allegations she dumped $20 million in stock after a closed-door Senate COVID-19 briefing in January. Loeffler maintained she didn't know about the sales because she doesn't manage her portfolio. Even though the Justice Department closed its inquiry into her in May, Collins accuses her of wrongdoing.
“Kelly’s using high-priced lawyers to help her get away with it,” says a voice-over layered on images such as a Monopoly "get out of jail free" card. “You can’t trust Kelly Loeffler.”
Though most of the Georgia polls conducted so far this cycle have a partisan bent, Spry Strategies found Collins leading the pack last week with 29% support. He was followed by Democrat Matt Lieberman (the son of former Connecticut Democratic and independent Sen. Joe Lieberman) with 23% and Loeffler with 19%. A Collins-commissioned Battleground Connect survey a week earlier reported the lawmaker with 26% of the vote, Loeffler with 17%, Lieberman with 15%, and Democrat Raphael Warnock (a pastor) with 10%.
A July Gravis Marketing study named Collins and Loeffler the winner when matched with either Lieberman or Warnock in a hypothetical run-off. That's an improvement for Loeffler. Public Policy Polling research earlier that month had Warnock in front of her by 3 percentage points, 43% to 40%.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-07-30--Four men admit to participating in voter fraud scheme in Los Angeles Skid Row

Four California men pleaded no contest to charges that they committed voter fraud by paying homeless people in Los Angeles 's Skid Row for their votes .
The men had been caught bribing homeless people with $ 1 or a cigarette in exchange for their signatures , announced Wednesday .
Richard Howard and Louis Thomas Wise were each charged with a felony count for placing fake names on ballot initiative petitions and voter registration forms .
Christopher Joseph Williams and Nickey Demelvin Huntley were charged for circulating ballot initiative petitions that included fake names .
Howard was issued a suspended @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and three years of formal probation , meaning that he will only serve his prison time if he breaks the terms of his probation .
Wise was similarly issued a 16-month suspended sentence with three years of formal probation .
Huntley and Williams both received three years of probation .
The voter fraud scheme was used in the 2016 and 2018 election cycles and involved nine people in total .
In addition to the four who pleaded no contest , Norman Hall pleaded guilty in February and was sentenced to one year in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and 100 hours of community service .
Four others who have been charged have yet to conclude their cases .
The nine people involved had contracts with various campaigns and ballot initiatives that paid individuals per signature or registration .
According to a report from the Los Angeles Times , contractors can earn between $ 2 and $ 6 per signature or registration .

Four California men pleaded no contest to charges that they committed voter fraud by paying homeless people in Los Angeles's Skid Row for their votes.
The men had been caught bribing homeless people with $1 or a cigarette in exchange for their signatures, the Los Angeles District Attorney's office announced Wednesday.
Richard Howard and Louis Thomas Wise were each charged with a felony count for placing fake names on ballot initiative petitions and voter registration forms. Christopher Joseph Williams and Nickey Demelvin Huntley were charged for circulating ballot initiative petitions that included fake names.
Howard was issued a suspended sentence of three years in state prison and three years of formal probation, meaning that he will only serve his prison time if he breaks the terms of his probation. Wise was similarly issued a 16-month suspended sentence with three years of formal probation. Huntley and Williams both received three years of probation.
The voter fraud scheme was used in the 2016 and 2018 election cycles and involved nine people in total. In addition to the four who pleaded no contest, Norman Hall pleaded guilty in February and was sentenced to one year in jail, three years of probation, and 100 hours of community service. Four others who have been charged have yet to conclude their cases.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-07-30--Reject the partisan arms race to delegitimize our elections

More than anything else that the United States successfully introduced to the world , we became the first modern civilization to ritualize the peaceful and predictable transfer of power from one statesman to another .
Both parties are now threatening that peaceful tradition .
Whereas wars were fought , divorces and beheadings administered , and false pretenders touted all across the world to establish and reroute lines of succession , the founders specifically created an electoral system that could not be subverted , rescheduled , or manipulated by those with power in the pursuit of maintaining their positions .
Of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ attempts to corrupt the legitimacy of our elections .
Be it genuine disputes over vote tallies , as with Bush v. Gore , or persistent , nefarious attempts from American adversaries to influence our elections , the obstacles in the way of our electoral process have luckily proven largely futile in practice .
But an arms race has long been brewing , not in Moscow or its precincts , but in our political parties racing to delegitimize our elections , lest each 's side fail to win .
After months of media fulmination @ @ @ @ @ @ @ results of the 2016 election , the Democratic Party and their media lackeys invented a laundry list of reasons to explain away Hillary Clinton 's loss of the presidency .
First it was sexism , then it was Facebook and Cambridge Analytica , and then , for three years , it was the ridiculous notion not that Russia had attempted to influence our election , which it absolutely did , but that it had succeeded in changing its outcome .
By that logic , the last Republican-appointed Supreme Court Justice Democrats would deem @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Russians robbed the 2016 election , the Supreme Court robbed the 2000 election and granted George W. Bush the benefit of his 2004 incumbency , and Clarence Thomas was smeared as a predator , then you have no reason to view any of the appointments of Republican presidents since 1990 as legitimate .
And now you see why this is dangerous .
As it turned out , Russia did n't rig the election , and instead , Clinton was perhaps the only other politician in America capable of losing to Trump .
Now @ @ @ @ @ @ @ digit lead over him , and Trump is foundering for his own way to explain away a November loss .
In his attempt to distract from the Bureau of Economic Analysis announcing that we suffered our worst GDP loss in recorded history last quarter , Trump teased the notion of postponing Election Day , a feat that the founders ensured he could not do .
Nobody actually thinks Trump is going to try delaying the election , and in the minute chance that he did , absolutely everyone knows the rest of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ But that 's not the point : There is a deliberate push to shift the Overton Window on the legitimacy of our elections .
If the election were held today , Trump would lose in a landslide , and with his self-defeating tweets and lack of direction , it 's not clear he thinks he can win come November .
And so he and his allies are clearly casting their fall guy .
Mail-in ballots will be rigged en masse !
If only Never Trumpers such as — squints — Liz Cheney got @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , we would be blowing out Sleepy Joe in the polls !
So what if the president spends most midnights tweeting conspiracy theories and D.C. burns to the ground ?
The real reason he 's losing is because of the deep state !
It 's not that Trump is attempting to delegitimize elections any more assiduously than Democrats are .
It 's that Democrats did it first , and thus Trump just turned it into an arms race .
For one side to pretend that Stacey Abrams is the rightfully elected governor of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hackery .
For both sides to believe our elections are invalid is a delusion that threatens to subsume the masses and eventually , our nation 's greatest feat .
That belief will make people less likely to accept transfers of power in directions they dislike peacefully .
With antifa burning parts of cities across the country to the ground , the nation has a clear appetite for violence .
From the dregs of the Left , the threat is no longer quite so veiled that if Trump did indeed eke out a win @ @ @ @ @ @ @ down .
The last thing we need is for the Right to follow suit , not if we wish to keep a republic that continues to pass on power peacefully .

More than anything else that the United States successfully introduced to the world, we became the first modern civilization to ritualize the peaceful and predictable transfer of power from one statesman to another. Both parties are now threatening that peaceful tradition.
Whereas wars were fought, divorces and beheadings administered, and false pretenders touted all across the world to establish and reroute lines of succession, the founders specifically created an electoral system that could not be subverted, rescheduled, or manipulated by those with power in the pursuit of maintaining their positions.
Of course, that hasn't stopped ample attempts to corrupt the legitimacy of our elections. Be it genuine disputes over vote tallies, as with Bush v. Gore, or persistent, nefarious attempts from American adversaries to influence our elections, the obstacles in the way of our electoral process have luckily proven largely futile in practice. But an arms race has long been brewing, not in Moscow or its precincts, but in our political parties racing to delegitimize our elections, lest each's side fail to win.
After months of media fulmination that Donald Trump wouldn't accept the results of the 2016 election, the Democratic Party and their media lackeys invented a laundry list of reasons to explain away Hillary Clinton's loss of the presidency. First it was sexism, then it was Facebook and Cambridge Analytica, and then, for three years, it was the ridiculous notion not that Russia had attempted to influence our election, which it absolutely did, but that it had succeeded in changing its outcome.
By that logic, the last Republican-appointed Supreme Court Justice Democrats would deem legitimate is David Souter. If the Russians robbed the 2016 election, the Supreme Court robbed the 2000 election and granted George W. Bush the benefit of his 2004 incumbency, and Clarence Thomas was smeared as a predator, then you have no reason to view any of the appointments of Republican presidents since 1990 as legitimate.
And now you see why this is dangerous.
As it turned out, Russia didn't rig the election, and instead, Clinton was perhaps the only other politician in America capable of losing to Trump. Now Joe Biden has commanded a nearly double digit lead over him, and Trump is foundering for his own way to explain away a November loss. In his attempt to distract from the Bureau of Economic Analysis announcing that we suffered our worst GDP loss in recorded history last quarter, Trump teased the notion of postponing Election Day, a feat that the founders ensured he could not do.
Nobody actually thinks Trump is going to try delaying the election, and in the minute chance that he did, absolutely everyone knows the rest of the government would render his efforts futile. But that's not the point: There is a deliberate push to shift the Overton Window on the legitimacy of our elections.
If the election were held today, Trump would lose in a landslide, and with his self-defeating tweets and lack of direction, it's not clear he thinks he can win come November. And so he and his allies are clearly casting their fall guy. Mail-in ballots will be rigged en masse! If only Never Trumpers such as — squints — Liz Cheney got more in line with the MAGA agenda, we would be blowing out Sleepy Joe in the polls! So what if the president spends most midnights tweeting conspiracy theories and D.C. burns to the ground? The real reason he's losing is because of the deep state!
It's not that Trump is attempting to delegitimize elections any more assiduously than Democrats are. It's that Democrats did it first, and thus Trump just turned it into an arms race. For one side to pretend that Stacey Abrams is the rightfully elected governor of Georgia is a mockable act of partisan hackery. For both sides to believe our elections are invalid is a delusion that threatens to subsume the masses and eventually, our nation's greatest feat. That belief will make people less likely to accept transfers of power in directions they dislike peacefully.
With antifa burning parts of cities across the country to the ground, the nation has a clear appetite for violence. From the dregs of the Left, the threat is no longer quite so veiled that if Trump did indeed eke out a win, they will not take it lying down. The last thing we need is for the Right to follow suit, not if we wish to keep a republic that continues to pass on power peacefully.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-07-30--Obama assails those 'attacking our voting rights' at John Lewis funeral

Former President Barack Obama used his speech at the funeral of John Lewis to issue a stunning rebuke of President Trump and Republicans hours after his successor in the White House floated an Election Day delay .
At the Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta on Thursday , Obama condemned the federal response to violent riots in Portland , Oregon , and said people in power were targeting minorities to prevent voter turnout .
“ George Wallace may be gone , but we can witness our federal government sending agents to use tear gas and batons against peaceful demonstrators , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ no longer have to guess the number of jelly beans in a jar in order to cast a ballot , but even as we sit here , there are those in power who are doing their darndest to discourage people from voting , like closing polling locations , and targeting minorities and students with restrictive ID laws , and attacking our voting rights with surgical precision .
Even undermining the Postal Service in the run-up to an election that ’ s going to be dependent on mail-in ballots so people don ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Obama also called for a renewal of the Voting Rights Act , taking aim at Supreme Court decisions that he said enabled local officials to suppress minority turnout .
`` There 's a better way than a statement calling him a hero .
You want to honor John ?
Let 's honor him by revitalizing the law that he was willing to die for .
Naming it the John Lewis Voting Rights Act .
That is a fine tribute .
But John would n't want us to stop there , just trying to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' Obama said , calling for every U.S. citizen to be automatically registered to vote and to keep protesting .
Both Democrats and Republicans have expressed concerns about voting amid the coronavirus pandemic .
Republicans are skeptical of mail-in voting , with some saying it could allow for voter fraud .
Obama spoke hours after Trump proposed delaying the November election out of concern that mail-in voting would lead to the `` most inaccurate and fraudulent election in history , '' echoing his prior skepticism on universal mail-in voting .
The day @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and requires both houses in Congress to vote in favor of changing it .
Democrats have brushed off those concerns , often stating voters should not risk contracting the coronavirus and be given abilities to vote by mail .
During an appearance before the House Judiciary Committee on Tuesday , Attorney General William Barr said there is a `` high risk '' of potential voter fraud by utilizing universal mail-in voting , though he also said he has no expectation the election will be `` rigged . ''

Former President Barack Obama used his speech at the funeral of John Lewis to issue a stunning rebuke of President Trump and Republicans hours after his successor in the White House floated an Election Day delay.
At the Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta on Thursday, Obama condemned the federal response to violent riots in Portland, Oregon, and said people in power were targeting minorities to prevent voter turnout.
“George Wallace may be gone, but we can witness our federal government sending agents to use tear gas and batons against peaceful demonstrators," the Democrat began.
“We may no longer have to guess the number of jelly beans in a jar in order to cast a ballot, but even as we sit here, there are those in power who are doing their darndest to discourage people from voting, like closing polling locations, and targeting minorities and students with restrictive ID laws, and attacking our voting rights with surgical precision. Even undermining the Postal Service in the run-up to an election that’s going to be dependent on mail-in ballots so people don’t get sick," Obama continued.
Obama also called for a renewal of the Voting Rights Act, taking aim at Supreme Court decisions that he said enabled local officials to suppress minority turnout.
"There's a better way than a statement calling him a hero. You want to honor John? Let's honor him by revitalizing the law that he was willing to die for. Naming it the John Lewis Voting Rights Act. That is a fine tribute. But John wouldn't want us to stop there, just trying to get back to where we already were," Obama said, calling for every U.S. citizen to be automatically registered to vote and to keep protesting.
Both Democrats and Republicans have expressed concerns about voting amid the coronavirus pandemic. Republicans are skeptical of mail-in voting, with some saying it could allow for voter fraud. Obama spoke hours after Trump proposed delaying the November election out of concern that mail-in voting would lead to the "most inaccurate and fraudulent election in history," echoing his prior skepticism on universal mail-in voting. The day of the election is set by law and requires both houses in Congress to vote in favor of changing it.
Democrats have brushed off those concerns, often stating voters should not risk contracting the coronavirus and be given abilities to vote by mail.
During an appearance before the House Judiciary Committee on Tuesday, Attorney General William Barr said there is a "high risk" of potential voter fraud by utilizing universal mail-in voting, though he also said he has no expectation the election will be "rigged."


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-07-30--Poll shows rising voter anger toward China as Trump and Biden try to seize the issue

The American public wants to see tougher action on China over human rights , according to a new survey that found attitudes toward Beijing have hardened to historic levels .
And overall , 73 % of adults said they had an unfavorable view of the country , up 26 percentage points since 2018 and up 7 points since March , as China became a focal point for anger over its handling of the coronavirus .
That is the most negative rating in the 15 years since the Pew Research Center has been surveying views on China .
The Pew findings @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the top election questions facing two candidates who have tussled over who can better play hardball with Beijing .
The Trump campaign took immediate heart that its focus on using China ’ s role as the origin of the coronavirus pandemic and the president ’ s frequent attacks are resonating with voters , even though Joe Biden ’ s team has responded with TV advertisements showing the president playing down COVID-19 and praising China ’ s Xi Jinping for being transparent about the disease .
Either way , both sides see it as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , a trade policy expert and China watcher at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington .
“ This poll is the latest in a series show a trend in the same direction .
This one shows an acceleration .
What that means is that it ’ s good politics to criticize China right now , ” he said .
The results of the telephone poll of more than 1,000 people showed that about 1 in 4 people believe China to be an “ enemy , ” almost double the share @ @ @ @ @ @ @ question was last asked in 2012 .
The Trump administration last week banned 11 Chinese companies from buying American technology without a special license over their alleged complicity in human rights abuses against Uighurs — a Muslim minority .
A week earlier , he sanctioned senior officials responsible for undermining Hong Kong ’ s autonomy .
The poll found that respondents want Washington to go further .
“ As the U.S. imposes sanctions on Chinese companies and officials over Beijing ’ s treatment of Uighurs and other minority groups — after originally resisting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ poised to support a tough stance , ” read the report .
Around three-quarters of respondents said the U.S. should try to promote human rights in China , even if that damaged bilateral economic relations .
The findings will encourage Trump campaign insiders who say China is the “ glue ” that can bind together messaging on trade , immigration , and the economy with attacks on Biden .
“ President Trump is the first president with a backbone to stand up to China and hold them accountable for their nefarious actions while @ @ @ @ @ @ @ appeasing Beijing and expanding American reliance on the communist nation , ” he said .
`` President Xi Jinping ’ s human-rights violations only highlight the need for America to rethink our supply chain dependence on China and make no mistake , President Trump will always fight for Americans first.
” The survey was published on the same day that fresh concerns emerged about the future of Hong Kong .
Twelve pro-democracy activists were barred from standing in September ’ s elections , the latest sign that Beijing is increasing its grip on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one month after Communist Party rulers unveiled a national security law to control dissent , a move critics said undermined the “ one country , two systems ” approach that was supposed to protect basic freedoms when Hong Kong was returned to Chinese rule in 1997 .
The administration ’ s stance was spelled out by Secretary of State Mike Pompeo when he appeared before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee .
He said the international tide was turning .
`` We see the Chinese Communist Party for what it is : the central @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
Reinsch said there were many reasons why China should feature in the campaign but cautioned that Americans rarely put foreign policy at the top of their concerns when it came to voting .
“ You see it in the opinion polls .
People are not happy , ” he said .
“ To what extent they are going to think about it in the voting booth — I ’ m going to vote for Trump because he ’ s tougher on China than Biden — I don ’ t know .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ referendum on the economy generally .
”

The American public wants to see tougher action on China over human rights, according to a new survey that found attitudes toward Beijing have hardened to historic levels.
And overall, 73% of adults said they had an unfavorable view of the country, up 26 percentage points since 2018 and up 7 points since March, as China became a focal point for anger over its handling of the coronavirus. That is the most negative rating in the 15 years since the Pew Research Center has been surveying views on China.
The Pew findings will cement the issue as one of the top election questions facing two candidates who have tussled over who can better play hardball with Beijing.
The Trump campaign took immediate heart that its focus on using China’s role as the origin of the coronavirus pandemic and the president’s frequent attacks are resonating with voters, even though Joe Biden’s team has responded with TV advertisements showing the president playing down COVID-19 and praising China’s Xi Jinping for being transparent about the disease.
Either way, both sides see it as a winning issue, said Bill Reinsch, a trade policy expert and China watcher at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington.
“This poll is the latest in a series show a trend in the same direction. This one shows an acceleration. What that means is that it’s good politics to criticize China right now,” he said.
The results of the telephone poll of more than 1,000 people showed that about 1 in 4 people believe China to be an “enemy,” almost double the share of those who said this when the question was last asked in 2012.
The Trump administration last week banned 11 Chinese companies from buying American technology without a special license over their alleged complicity in human rights abuses against Uighurs — a Muslim minority. A week earlier, he sanctioned senior officials responsible for undermining Hong Kong’s autonomy.
The poll found that respondents want Washington to go further.
“As the U.S. imposes sanctions on Chinese companies and officials over Beijing’s treatment of Uighurs and other minority groups — after originally resisting these actions — the American public appears poised to support a tough stance,” read the report.
Around three-quarters of respondents said the U.S. should try to promote human rights in China, even if that damaged bilateral economic relations.
The findings will encourage Trump campaign insiders who say China is the “glue” that can bind together messaging on trade, immigration, and the economy with attacks on Biden.
The campaign’s deputy national press secretary, Ken Farnaso, welcomed the survey.
“President Trump is the first president with a backbone to stand up to China and hold them accountable for their nefarious actions while Joe Biden has spent his entire career appeasing Beijing and expanding American reliance on the communist nation,” he said. "President Xi Jinping’s human-rights violations only highlight the need for America to rethink our supply chain dependence on China and make no mistake, President Trump will always fight for Americans first.”
The survey was published on the same day that fresh concerns emerged about the future of Hong Kong. Twelve pro-democracy activists were barred from standing in September’s elections, the latest sign that Beijing is increasing its grip on the former British colony.
It comes one month after Communist Party rulers unveiled a national security law to control dissent, a move critics said undermined the “one country, two systems” approach that was supposed to protect basic freedoms when Hong Kong was returned to Chinese rule in 1997.
The administration’s stance was spelled out by Secretary of State Mike Pompeo when he appeared before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
He said the international tide was turning. "We see the Chinese Communist Party for what it is: the central threat of our times," he said.
Reinsch said there were many reasons why China should feature in the campaign but cautioned that Americans rarely put foreign policy at the top of their concerns when it came to voting.
“You see it in the opinion polls. People are not happy,” he said. “To what extent they are going to think about it in the voting booth — I’m going to vote for Trump because he’s tougher on China than Biden — I don’t know. I think it will be more a referendum on the economy generally.”


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-07-30--Biden seeks vice president who won't vex progressives or moderates

Next week , Joe Biden will announce who he has selected as his running mate .
During the entire course of a rather strange campaign , there has only been a bumbling Biden to represent his brand .
Soon , the second half of the ticket will be revealed , and the addition will have a big impact on the campaign 's trajectory .
The former vice president is fully aware of how a pick can add much to a platform .
As President Barack Obama 's right-hand man for eight years , Biden helped to capture the portion of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for an older politician to join a young , much less experienced but charismatic star .
During a primary debate this March , Biden committed to picking a woman as his running mate .
Since then , some members of his party have encouraged him to pick a woman of color .
Regardless of the final choice , his selection is sure to capture support in ways that he alone simply can not .
Although Biden is nowhere near a conservative , he appears much less threatening than the 2016 Democratic nominee , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ elder statesman gives off an unfocused , out-of-touch vibe .
Questions about his mental state are serious enough to make voters on both sides of the aisle concerned about whether he 's fit enough to run the country .
They ca n't help but think that Biden 's running mate might be called upon to take over one day .
Other than that consideration , a far-left choice who can bring a sense of diversity and perceived stability to the campaign may push away some independents but still ignite the Democratic base .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ overwhelmingly voted for Democrats , selecting a woman of color could help solidify support from a community that is looking for Biden to lead during a time when racial tensions in the country are seemingly at an all-time high .
The Democrats may be very pleased with Biden 's final choice .
While Biden may not be the progressive darling that many in the party were hoping for , his running mate may fit that bill .
However , his selection could also turn into a major advantage for the GOP .
At @ @ @ @ @ @ @ plenty of Trump-weary voters are seeking .
But a Biden administration would n't be his alone .
His vice presidential choice will most likely fulfill the Left 's requirement for a more progressive party , and that is enough to discourage full support from disaffected Republicans .
Trump may exasperate on a daily basis , but his policies are not kind to leftism and the sort of transformation that socialist sympathizers are looking for from the next commander-in-chief .
A radical choice on Biden 's part is sure to embolden the Trump team @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an established , winning brand that includes Vice President Mike Pence .
Of that duo , Trump is unexpected and unorthodox while Pence maintains a pleasant , unruffled tone .
With Biden and his soon-to-be running mate , the opposite will most likely be true .
Biden represents the stable , harmless , and old-school approach .
His selection may be a fiery , controversial politician ( such as his rumored choice , California 's Democratic Sen. Kamala Harris ) in an effort to broaden his appeal .
No matter his choice , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up until now , he has been able to play it safe and alone .
Any addition is sure to excite some , repel others , and change the campaign that we have known until now for good .
Kimberly Ross ( @ SouthernKeeks ) is a contributor to the Washington Examiner 's Beltway Confidential blog and a columnist at Arc Digital .

Next week, Joe Biden will announce who he has selected as his running mate. During the entire course of a rather strange campaign, there has only been a bumbling Biden to represent his brand. Soon, the second half of the ticket will be revealed, and the addition will have a big impact on the campaign's trajectory.
The former vice president is fully aware of how a pick can add much to a platform. As President Barack Obama's right-hand man for eight years, Biden helped to capture the portion of the left-leaning electorate that was perhaps looking for an older politician to join a young, much less experienced but charismatic star. During a primary debate this March, Biden committed to picking a woman as his running mate. Since then, some members of his party have encouraged him to pick a woman of color. Regardless of the final choice, his selection is sure to capture support in ways that he alone simply cannot.
Although Biden is nowhere near a conservative, he appears much less threatening than the 2016 Democratic nominee, Hillary Clinton. In fact, the elder statesman gives off an unfocused, out-of-touch vibe. Questions about his mental state are serious enough to make voters on both sides of the aisle concerned about whether he's fit enough to run the country. They can't help but think that Biden's running mate might be called upon to take over one day.
Other than that consideration, a far-left choice who can bring a sense of diversity and perceived stability to the campaign may push away some independents but still ignite the Democratic base. And while black people have historically and overwhelmingly voted for Democrats, selecting a woman of color could help solidify support from a community that is looking for Biden to lead during a time when racial tensions in the country are seemingly at an all-time high. The Democrats may be very pleased with Biden's final choice. While Biden may not be the progressive darling that many in the party were hoping for, his running mate may fit that bill. However, his selection could also turn into a major advantage for the GOP.
At present, Biden is the alternative that plenty of Trump-weary voters are seeking. But a Biden administration wouldn't be his alone. His vice presidential choice will most likely fulfill the Left's requirement for a more progressive party, and that is enough to discourage full support from disaffected Republicans. Trump may exasperate on a daily basis, but his policies are not kind to leftism and the sort of transformation that socialist sympathizers are looking for from the next commander-in-chief. A radical choice on Biden's part is sure to embolden the Trump team and its enthusiastic supporters.
Trump has an established, winning brand that includes Vice President Mike Pence. Of that duo, Trump is unexpected and unorthodox while Pence maintains a pleasant, unruffled tone. With Biden and his soon-to-be running mate, the opposite will most likely be true. Biden represents the stable, harmless, and old-school approach. His selection may be a fiery, controversial politician (such as his rumored choice, California's Democratic Sen. Kamala Harris) in an effort to broaden his appeal. No matter his choice, with it will come the realization that up until now, he has been able to play it safe and alone. Any addition is sure to excite some, repel others, and change the campaign that we have known until now for good.
Kimberly Ross (@SouthernKeeks) is a contributor to the Washington Examiner's Beltway Confidential blog and a columnist at Arc Digital.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-07-30--'Harmful idea': GOP strategists say Trump raising election delay bruises party

Veteran Republican strategists who have learned to appreciate President Trump ’ s mercurial style say there is nothing but political downside for the GOP in Trump 's tweet suggesting the November election should be delayed because of looming problems with mail-in voting .
Republican operatives uncomfortable with Trump ’ s rhetoric recognize value in his ability to control news cycles and manipulate opponents with controversial tweets .
Raising the specter of postponing the general election so that states can prepare to process mail ballots distracted from a devastating report showing the economy shrank 32.9 % in the second quarter .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Thursday morning tweet crossed a line , arguing it undermines the president ’ s campaign and wounds Republicans down ballot .
“ Is it helpful in any way ?
No , of course not , ” a Republican consultant said .
“ To put it another way : If someone set out to be deliberately self-destructive and wipe out a party 100 days before an election , you ’ d be hard-pressed to come up with better ways to do it.
” Ari Fleischer , a White House press secretary under President George @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s Trump coverage , also admonished the president .
“ This is not an idea anyone , especially POTUS , should float , ” he tweeted .
“ Our democracy is based on elections in which everyone knows the rules and they apply to all .
Election Day is and will be Nov 3 , 2020 .
Mr. President — please don ’ t even pretend to mess with this .
It ’ s a harmful idea.
” Soon after the federal government issued its review of how the economy performed in April @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tweeted about the Nov. 3 election .
“ With Universal Mail-In Voting ( not Absentee Voting , which is good ) , 2020 will be the most INACCURATE & FRAUDULENT Election in history .
It will be a great embarrassment to the USA .
Delay the Election until people can properly , securely and safely vote ?
?
?
” he wrote .
Trump is trailing presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden nationally and in most battleground states , and the president ’ s critics accused him of making excuses for losing , or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
In a statement , the Trump campaign said the commander in chief was merely making a point about the challenges associated with the surge in mail-in voting expected in the fall as those fearful of contracting the coronavirus avoid polling places .
“ The president is just raising a question about the chaos Democrats have created with their insistence on all mail-in voting , ” spokesman Hogan Gidley told CNN in a statement .
“ They are using coronavirus as their means to try to institute universal mail-in voting , which … @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , as proven by the New York congressional primary where we still don ’ t know who won after more than a month.
” Trump does not have the authority to delay the election .
The quadrennial presidential contest is enshrined in the Constitution , and any change in the date would require an act of Congress .
Even if Republicans on Capitol Hill entertained the idea , the majority Democratic House certainly would not .
Additionally , elections are run by the states and municipalities , meaning even a president inclined to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do so .
Republican strategists share some of Trump ’ s concerns about the fall elections .
Like the president , some worry that widescale mail-in voting will lead to massive fraud .
Others are concerned that state and local governments are not equipped to count an avalanche of mail ballots accurately or in a timely manner , torpedoing confidence in the results .
But even these Republicans said Trump ’ s comments about delay are incredibly damaging .
“ There ’ s no question we are doing the wrong thing by making @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fraud and raises the prospect that many people will not accept the result , ” said a Republican media strategist .
“ But it ’ s also undeniable that the Constitution requires the election on a fixed date .
It would be a lot more productive to argue that states need to find ways to make voting safe without doing it through the mail.
” Other Republican insiders , supportive of Trump if for no other reason than that his reelection would protect the party ’ s Senate majority , offered a more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It ’ s about as helpful as a hole in the head .
Now , every down-ballot candidate will have to answer for this , ” said a Republican who has advised congressional candidates .
Said another Republican with relationships on Capitol Hill : “ It ’ s crazy .
If it was possible to move up the election , I ’ d be for that .
”

Veteran Republican strategists who have learned to appreciate President Trump’s mercurial style say there is nothing but political downside for the GOP in Trump's tweet suggesting the November election should be delayed because of looming problems with mail-in voting.
Republican operatives uncomfortable with Trump’s rhetoric recognize value in his ability to control news cycles and manipulate opponents with controversial tweets. Raising the specter of postponing the general election so that states can prepare to process mail ballots distracted from a devastating report showing the economy shrank 32.9% in the second quarter. But GOP strategists said Trump’s Thursday morning tweet crossed a line, arguing it undermines the president’s campaign and wounds Republicans down ballot.
“Is it helpful in any way? No, of course not,” a Republican consultant said. “To put it another way: If someone set out to be deliberately self-destructive and wipe out a party 100 days before an election, you’d be hard-pressed to come up with better ways to do it.”
Ari Fleischer, a White House press secretary under President George W. Bush critical of the media’s Trump coverage, also admonished the president. “This is not an idea anyone, especially POTUS, should float,” he tweeted. “Our democracy is based on elections in which everyone knows the rules and they apply to all. Election Day is and will be Nov 3, 2020. Mr. President — please don’t even pretend to mess with this. It’s a harmful idea.”
Soon after the federal government issued its review of how the economy performed in April, May, and June, Trump tweeted about the Nov. 3 election. “With Universal Mail-In Voting (not Absentee Voting, which is good), 2020 will be the most INACCURATE & FRAUDULENT Election in history. It will be a great embarrassment to the USA. Delay the Election until people can properly, securely and safely vote???” he wrote.
Trump is trailing presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden nationally and in most battleground states, and the president’s critics accused him of making excuses for losing, or worse, of exhibiting signs of authoritarianism. In a statement, the Trump campaign said the commander in chief was merely making a point about the challenges associated with the surge in mail-in voting expected in the fall as those fearful of contracting the coronavirus avoid polling places.
“The president is just raising a question about the chaos Democrats have created with their insistence on all mail-in voting,” spokesman Hogan Gidley told CNN in a statement. “They are using coronavirus as their means to try to institute universal mail-in voting, which … invites chaos and severe delays in results, as proven by the New York congressional primary where we still don’t know who won after more than a month.”
Trump does not have the authority to delay the election. The quadrennial presidential contest is enshrined in the Constitution, and any change in the date would require an act of Congress. Even if Republicans on Capitol Hill entertained the idea, the majority Democratic House certainly would not. Additionally, elections are run by the states and municipalities, meaning even a president inclined to strong-arm the process is basically powerless to do so.
Republican strategists share some of Trump’s concerns about the fall elections. Like the president, some worry that widescale mail-in voting will lead to massive fraud. Others are concerned that state and local governments are not equipped to count an avalanche of mail ballots accurately or in a timely manner, torpedoing confidence in the results. But even these Republicans said Trump’s comments about delay are incredibly damaging.
“There’s no question we are doing the wrong thing by making this a mail-in election — it invites fraud and raises the prospect that many people will not accept the result,” said a Republican media strategist. “But it’s also undeniable that the Constitution requires the election on a fixed date. It would be a lot more productive to argue that states need to find ways to make voting safe without doing it through the mail.”
Other Republican insiders, supportive of Trump if for no other reason than that his reelection would protect the party’s Senate majority, offered a more unfettered account of their frustrations.
“It’s about as helpful as a hole in the head. Now, every down-ballot candidate will have to answer for this,” said a Republican who has advised congressional candidates. Said another Republican with relationships on Capitol Hill: “It’s crazy. If it was possible to move up the election, I’d be for that.”


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-07-30--Partisans hoist themselves atop Herman Cain’s corpse to score political points

It has not even been 12 hours since former GOP presidential candidate Herman Cain was pronounced dead from COVID-19 , and the usual partisans are already using his death as an opportunity to score political points .
“ Herman Cain thought Covid was a hoax , scoffed at wearing a mask .
Died of Covid , ” said CNN ’ s characteristically grotesque Ana Navarro-Cardenas .
“ Bill Montgomery , co-founder of pro-Trump , Turning Point USA , scoffed at virus .
Died of Covid .
Rep. Gohmert refused to wear a mask .
Has Covid . ''
`` See @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` Covid doesn ’ t care about partisanship.
” Cain died from complications brought on by the coronavirus , the late businessman ’ s official website announced Thursday morning .
“ We knew when he was first hospitalized with COVID-19 that this was going to be a rough fight , ” said hermancain.com editor Dan Calabrese .
“ He had trouble breathing and was taken to the hospital by ambulance .
We all prayed that the initial meds they gave him would get his breathing back to normal , but it became clear @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a battle.
” Calabrese adds , “ We didn ’ t release detailed updates on his condition to the public or to the media because neither his family nor we thought there was any reason for that.
” Unfortunately for Cain 's friends and family , left-wing activists and other grave-dancers are already using his death as an occasion to attack both President Trump and those who question social distancing guidelines ( anti-police rioters and protesters excluded , of course ) .
And all this because the late businessman tested positive a little @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wear a mask at a June 20 GOP rally in Tulsa , Oklahoma .
Never mind that it has not been confirmed that Cain indeed caught the disease at the rally .
Don ’ t get hung up on the details , say Cain and Trump 's gleeful detractors .
“ Herman Cain has died , ” said MSNBC ’ s Joy Reid , “ weeks after attending Donald Trump ’ s Tulsa rally , not wearing a mask .
Condolences to his family.
” Her MSNBC colleague Mika Brezinski added , `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the [ Trump ] TULSA SUPERSPREADER rally —no mask .
The campaign squashed people close so the crowd would look bigger .
They cheered for their President for hours .
Cain tested positive for COVID nine days later .
Now Herman Cain is dead . ''
American Independent Executive Editor Kaili Joy Gray declared , “ Donald Trump killed Herman Cain , ” making sure to add the hashtag , “ MAGA.
” “ Trump killed him , ” said Brookings Governance senior fellow Norm Eisen .
“ He has also killed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ He did it intentionally .
It is a high crime .
And his GOP enablers are [ sic ] acessories.
” Failed 2016 presidential candidate Evan McMullin added elsewhere , “ Herman Cain was hospitalized for coronavirus two weeks after he attended Trump ’ s Tulsa rally without a face mask .
He ’ s the first senior casualty of the science denial Trump cult .
The question is whether even that can wake others up about the dangers of Trump and the virus.
” They know Cain ’ s body is not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I did not know better , I would say they are genuinely ecstatic that a political opponent has died .
“ Dear [ Trump ] , ” said author Don Winslow .
“ If this man had not attended your Tulsa rally , he would be alive today .
Think about that real hard .
And then realize Herman Cain is only one of the 150,000 dead because of your failure to have protected this nation from.
” Maybe I am a cynic , but I am not entirely convinced that Winslow is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ death , considering Winslow is the same person who said Monday after the late businessman ’ s conditioned worsened , “ This was the IDIOT who went to Trump 's Tulsa rally without a mask and smiled for photos .
He 's not smiling now .
But remember , it 's just a HOAX , right ?
?
?
” Said author Sady Doyle , “ The first thing this brings to mind is that Herman Cain can not possibly be the only fatality , and that there must be several other , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It goes on .
Never mind that it is unconfirmed whether Cain actually contracted the virus in the state of Oklahoma , let alone in Tulsa .
And never mind that Cain could have caught the disease anywhere , really , including from any of the unmasked counterdemonstrators who showed in person to protest the Tulsa rally .
Then again , when one is the type of person to hoist himself on top of a corpse in service of a political point , details and facts are likely of little or no concern @

It has not even been 12 hours since former GOP presidential candidate Herman Cain was pronounced dead from COVID-19, and the usual partisans are already using his death as an opportunity to score political points.
“Herman Cain thought Covid was a hoax, scoffed at wearing a mask. Died of Covid,” said CNN’s characteristically grotesque Ana Navarro-Cardenas. “Bill Montgomery, co-founder of pro-Trump, Turning Point USA, scoffed at virus. Died of Covid. Rep. Gohmert refused to wear a mask. Has Covid."
"See a pattern?" she asked. "Covid doesn’t care about partisanship.”
Cain died from complications brought on by the coronavirus, the late businessman’s official website announced Thursday morning.
“We knew when he was first hospitalized with COVID-19 that this was going to be a rough fight,” said hermancain.com editor Dan Calabrese. “He had trouble breathing and was taken to the hospital by ambulance. We all prayed that the initial meds they gave him would get his breathing back to normal, but it became clear pretty quickly that he was in for a battle.”
Calabrese adds, “We didn’t release detailed updates on his condition to the public or to the media because neither his family nor we thought there was any reason for that.”
Unfortunately for Cain's friends and family, left-wing activists and other grave-dancers are already using his death as an occasion to attack both President Trump and those who question social distancing guidelines (anti-police rioters and protesters excluded, of course). And all this because the late businessman tested positive a little over a week after he declined to wear a mask at a June 20 GOP rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Never mind that it has not been confirmed that Cain indeed caught the disease at the rally. Don’t get hung up on the details, say Cain and Trump's gleeful detractors.
“Herman Cain has died,” said MSNBC’s Joy Reid, “weeks after attending Donald Trump’s Tulsa rally, not wearing a mask. Condolences to his family.”
Her MSNBC colleague Mika Brezinski added, "Just the facts — Herman Cain went to the [Trump] TULSA SUPERSPREADER rally —no mask. The campaign squashed people close so the crowd would look bigger. They cheered for their President for hours. Cain tested positive for COVID nine days later. Now Herman Cain is dead."
American Independent Executive Editor Kaili Joy Gray declared, “Donald Trump killed Herman Cain,” making sure to add the hashtag, “MAGA.”
“Trump killed him,” said Brookings Governance senior fellow Norm Eisen. “He has also killed tens of thousands of other Americans. He did it intentionally. It is a high crime. And his GOP enablers are [sic] acessories.”
Failed 2016 presidential candidate Evan McMullin added elsewhere, “Herman Cain was hospitalized for coronavirus two weeks after he attended Trump’s Tulsa rally without a face mask. He’s the first senior casualty of the science denial Trump cult. The question is whether even that can wake others up about the dangers of Trump and the virus.”
They know Cain’s body is not even cold yet, right? If I did not know better, I would say they are genuinely ecstatic that a political opponent has died.
Politico contributor Renato Mariotti tweeted:
Herman Cain died today after a long fight with coronavirus.
Below is a photo of Cain in a crowd of people without a mask at Trump's Oklahoma rally last month. pic.twitter.com/5mDe9mznID — Renato Mariotti (@renato_mariotti) July 30, 2020
Vox’s Aaron Rupar likewise tweeted:
Herman Cain's last public appearance was appearing at Trump's Tulsa rally without a mask. He posted an anti-mask tweet the day before that has since been deleted. https://t.co/8Z6MisLzAs — Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) July 30, 2020
“Dear [Trump],” said author Don Winslow. “If this man had not attended your Tulsa rally, he would be alive today. Think about that real hard. And then realize Herman Cain is only one of the 150,000 dead because of your failure to have protected this nation from.”
Maybe I am a cynic, but I am not entirely convinced that Winslow is really broken up about Cain’s death, considering Winslow is the same person who said Monday after the late businessman’s conditioned worsened, “This was the IDIOT who went to Trump's Tulsa rally without a mask and smiled for photos. He's not smiling now. But remember, it's just a HOAX, right???”
Said author Sady Doyle, “The first thing this brings to mind is that Herman Cain cannot possibly be the only fatality, and that there must be several other, less famous people that Trump killed.”
It goes on.
Never mind that it is unconfirmed whether Cain actually contracted the virus in the state of Oklahoma, let alone in Tulsa. And never mind that Cain could have caught the disease anywhere, really, including from any of the unmasked counterdemonstrators who showed in person to protest the Tulsa rally.
Then again, when one is the type of person to hoist himself on top of a corpse in service of a political point, details and facts are likely of little or no concern.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-07-30--Pompeo: Justice Department will determine when elections are held

Mike Pompeo erroneously asserted that the Department of Justice will decide whether the presidential election is held on Nov. 3 .
At the beginning of the Senate hearing on the State Department 's funding requests for next year , the secretary of state was asked to address President Trump 's Thursday tweet suggesting that the presidential election should be moved because of voter fraud related to the enormous amount of mail-in votes that will be issued because of concerns surrounding the coronavirus .
`` Senator , I 'm not going to enter a legal judgment on that on the fly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tim Kaine , a Virginia Democrat , when asked whether the president has the authority to delay an election .
`` In the end , the Department of Justice and others will make that legal determination .
We all should want , and I know you do too , Sen. Kaine , that we have an election we 're all confident in . ''
Pompeo was then pressed by Kaine but dodged answering by saying the election should `` happen lawfully . ''
On Thursday morning , Trump tweeted that `` 2020 will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in history . ''
`` It will be a great embarrassment to the USA .
Delay the Election until people can properly , securely and safely vote ?
?
? ''
he wrote .
Trump has since pinned the tweet to his profile , fueling concern from both Republicans and Democrats that he is prepared to overstep his constitutional authority .
Former vice president and presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden has repeatedly speculated that Trump might try to move the date of the election if he thinks he will be defeated .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ show Biden with a significant lead over the president .
`` Mark my words , '' Biden said in April .
`` I think he is going to try to kick back the election somehow , come up with some rationale why it ca n't be held . ''
The Trump campaign called Biden 's words at the time `` a conspiracy theory , '' and Trump has previously dismissed accusations that he 'd attempt to move Election Day .
“ Those are the incoherent , conspiracy theory ramblings of a lost candidate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” Trump campaign communications director Tim Murtaugh said in April .
“ President Trump has been clear that the election will happen on Nov. 3.
” Virtually no legal scholar believes the president has the authority to move Election Day , which is set by federal law .
Only Congress , according to the Constitution , may `` determine the Time of choosing the Electors , and the Day on which they shall give their votes . ''
And per the Constitution , Trump 's term as president ends on Jan. 20 @ @ @ @ @ @ @

Mike Pompeo erroneously asserted that the Department of Justice will decide whether the presidential election is held on Nov. 3.
At the beginning of the Senate hearing on the State Department's funding requests for next year, the secretary of state was asked to address President Trump's Thursday tweet suggesting that the presidential election should be moved because of voter fraud related to the enormous amount of mail-in votes that will be issued because of concerns surrounding the coronavirus.
"Senator, I'm not going to enter a legal judgment on that on the fly this morning," Pompeo told Sen. Tim Kaine, a Virginia Democrat, when asked whether the president has the authority to delay an election. "In the end, the Department of Justice and others will make that legal determination. We all should want, and I know you do too, Sen. Kaine, that we have an election we're all confident in."
Pompeo was then pressed by Kaine but dodged answering by saying the election should "happen lawfully."
On Thursday morning, Trump tweeted that "2020 will be the most INACCURATE & FRAUDULENT Election in history."
"It will be a great embarrassment to the USA. Delay the Election until people can properly, securely and safely vote???" he wrote. Trump has since pinned the tweet to his profile, fueling concern from both Republicans and Democrats that he is prepared to overstep his constitutional authority.
Former vice president and presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden has repeatedly speculated that Trump might try to move the date of the election if he thinks he will be defeated. Polls both in swing states and nationally show Biden with a significant lead over the president.
"Mark my words," Biden said in April. "I think he is going to try to kick back the election somehow, come up with some rationale why it can't be held."
The Trump campaign called Biden's words at the time "a conspiracy theory," and Trump has previously dismissed accusations that he'd attempt to move Election Day.
“Those are the incoherent, conspiracy theory ramblings of a lost candidate who is out of touch with reality,” Trump campaign communications director Tim Murtaugh said in April. “President Trump has been clear that the election will happen on Nov. 3.”
Virtually no legal scholar believes the president has the authority to move Election Day, which is set by federal law. Only Congress, according to the Constitution, may "determine the Time of choosing the Electors, and the Day on which they shall give their votes." And per the Constitution, Trump's term as president ends on Jan. 20, 2021, at 12 p.m.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-07-30--Biden campaign sets sights on Ohio with new ad buys

It 's a state that President Trump carried by over 8 points in 2016 , but Joe Biden is signaling that he thinks Ohio can be flipped back into the Democratic column this November .
On Thursday , the former vice president 's campaign announced a new , pricey 7-figure ad blitz in Ohio , showcasing new advertisements that highlight his `` Made in America '' and `` Build Back Better '' economic agenda , which includes the federal government investing billions of dollars in spurring domestic manufacturing .
`` Today , Biden for President announced it is expanding the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ into Ohio , marking the ninth battleground state it will be up on the air with ads — and showcasing Joe Biden ’ s multiple paths to 270 electoral votes as the Trump campaign pulls back ads in key states like Michigan that he won in 2016 , '' the campaign said in a statement .
`` The Ohio ad buy will be seven figures across digital and broadcast platforms and run through the Democratic convention . ''
Current polling shows a tight race in the state , with Trump holding a narrow @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of error , according to a CBS News survey released this week , which had Trump leading Biden by a single point with 46 % support .
`` So goes Ohio , so goes the country '' is a refrain commonly heard during presidential election years — and for good reason .
No Republican has ever been elected president without winning Ohio , and the state has been considered central to every national GOP campaign for decades .
Trump 's campaign has committed more ad dollars in the Ohio television market than to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it remains uncertain the campaign has a lock on the state .
Biden , meanwhile , is forcing his opponent to spend more resources in a state he can afford to lose and can still easily surpass the 270 electoral votes necessary to win the election .
Last month , Trump spent nearly $ 1 million in advertising that targeted Cincinnati , Cleveland , Columbus , and Dayton .
He has spent nearly $ 3 million on television ads in Ohio this year , which is part of the $ 95 million the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in six states he won in 2016 .
`` This ad is part of the previously announced $ 14.5 million buy for the week in battleground states , and the campaign will continue making significant investments in its paid media program between now and November , '' Biden 's campaign said .

It's a state that President Trump carried by over 8 points in 2016, but Joe Biden is signaling that he thinks Ohio can be flipped back into the Democratic column this November.
On Thursday, the former vice president's campaign announced a new, pricey 7-figure ad blitz in Ohio, showcasing new advertisements that highlight his "Made in America" and "Build Back Better" economic agenda, which includes the federal government investing billions of dollars in spurring domestic manufacturing.
"Today, Biden for President announced it is expanding the campaign’s offensive paid media efforts into Ohio, marking the ninth battleground state it will be up on the air with ads — and showcasing Joe Biden’s multiple paths to 270 electoral votes as the Trump campaign pulls back ads in key states like Michigan that he won in 2016," the campaign said in a statement. "The Ohio ad buy will be seven figures across digital and broadcast platforms and run through the Democratic convention."
Current polling shows a tight race in the state, with Trump holding a narrow lead over Biden but within the margin of error, according to a CBS News survey released this week, which had Trump leading Biden by a single point with 46% support.
"So goes Ohio, so goes the country" is a refrain commonly heard during presidential election years — and for good reason. No Republican has ever been elected president without winning Ohio, and the state has been considered central to every national GOP campaign for decades.
[Read more: 'Sleepy' Joe Biden's judo campaign]
Trump's campaign has committed more ad dollars in the Ohio television market than to any other state except Florida, signaling it remains uncertain the campaign has a lock on the state. Biden, meanwhile, is forcing his opponent to spend more resources in a state he can afford to lose and can still easily surpass the 270 electoral votes necessary to win the election.
Last month, Trump spent nearly $1 million in advertising that targeted Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus, and Dayton. He has spent nearly $3 million on television ads in Ohio this year, which is part of the $95 million the Trump campaign has committed to television advertising in six states he won in 2016.
"This ad is part of the previously announced $14.5 million buy for the week in battleground states, and the campaign will continue making significant investments in its paid media program between now and November," Biden's campaign said.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-07-30--Pence's motorcade involved in two accidents during Pennsylvania trip

Vice President Mike Pence 's motorcade was involved in two accidents in Allegheny County , Pennsylvania , on Thursday .
@ @ @ @ @ minor , with no injuries reported .
According to reports from the White House press @ @ @ @ @ hit the fender of a dump truck while driving on tight roads .
After the @ @ @ @ @ was moved from the bus to a limousine .
`` I personally saw the driver @ @ @ @ @ and yell in the middle of the street before moving [ to ] a nearby @ @ @ @ @ authorities .
He was NOT happy , '' said Newsweek 's Elizabeth Crisp in a @ @ @ @ @ later , two motorcycles in the motorcade were involved in a separate accident in White @ @ @ @ @ was seen out on the scene .
An ambulance was present , but it appears @ @ @ @ @ just being checked .
Pence , whose motorcade was back in motion soon after , @ @ @ @ @ campaign trip .

Vice President Mike Pence's motorcade was involved in two accidents in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, on Thursday. Both appear to have been minor, with no injuries reported.
According to reports from the White House press pool, Pence's bus hit the fender of a dump truck while driving on tight roads. After the collision, the vice president was moved from the bus to a limousine.
"I personally saw the driver of the truck get out and yell in the middle of the street before moving [to] a nearby parking lot to talk to authorities. He was NOT happy," said Newsweek's Elizabeth Crisp in a tweet.
A short time later, two motorcycles in the motorcade were involved in a separate accident in White Oak.
The vice president was seen out on the scene. An ambulance was present, but it appears that the officers involved were just being checked.
Pence, whose motorcade was back in motion soon after, is in Pennsylvania on a campaign trip.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-07-31--New poll signals tight rematch for Minnesota House seat Republicans flipped in 2018

A Minnesota district that House Republicans flipped in 2018 is at risk of returning to Democratic hands , according to a new internal poll .
A Victoria Research & Consulting poll conducted for Democrats ' House Majority PAC found Thursday that Democratic challenger Dan Feehan was leading GOP incumbent Rep. Jim Hagedorn by two percentage points , 48 % to 46 % .
Hagedorn won the 1st Congressional District in 2018 over Feehan after Democrat Tim Walz left the southern Minnesota seat to run for governor successfully .
Hagedorn 's margin of victory two years ago was razor thin .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ captain and acting assistant secretary of defense , by 0.2 points or 575 votes , despite what pundits described as a `` blue wave '' election cycle .
Thursday 's findings mirror a Garin-Hart-Yang Research Group poll fielded in June that had Feehan ahead by a single point .
But a Harper Polling study released that month gave Hagedorn a 16-point advantage .
Victoria Research & Consulting 's survey also found presumptive 2020 Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden is in front of President Trump in the district , 50 % to 43 % @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in 2016 .
Minnesota , more generally , offers Biden and Trump the opportunity to pick up 10 electoral votes in 2020 .
RealClearPolitics puts Biden ahead by an average of 11.4 points .
Victoria Research & Consulting interviewed 511 active voters registered in Minnesota 's 1st Congressional District between July 19-23 via landlines and cellphones .
The firm 's results have a margin of error of plus or minus 4.4 points .

A Minnesota district that House Republicans flipped in 2018 is at risk of returning to Democratic hands, according to a new internal poll.
A Victoria Research & Consulting poll conducted for Democrats' House Majority PAC found Thursday that Democratic challenger Dan Feehan was leading GOP incumbent Rep. Jim Hagedorn by two percentage points, 48% to 46%.
Hagedorn won the 1st Congressional District in 2018 over Feehan after Democrat Tim Walz left the southern Minnesota seat to run for governor successfully. Hagedorn's margin of victory two years ago was razor thin. He bested Feehan, a U.S. Army captain and acting assistant secretary of defense, by 0.2 points or 575 votes, despite what pundits described as a "blue wave" election cycle.
Thursday's findings mirror a Garin-Hart-Yang Research Group poll fielded in June that had Feehan ahead by a single point. But a Harper Polling study released that month gave Hagedorn a 16-point advantage.
Victoria Research & Consulting's survey also found presumptive 2020 Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden is in front of President Trump in the district, 50% to 43%. Trump dominated there by 15 points in 2016.
Minnesota, more generally, offers Biden and Trump the opportunity to pick up 10 electoral votes in 2020. RealClearPolitics puts Biden ahead by an average of 11.4 points.
Victoria Research & Consulting interviewed 511 active voters registered in Minnesota's 1st Congressional District between July 19-23 via landlines and cellphones. The firm's results have a margin of error of plus or minus 4.4 points.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-07-31--Republican deficit hawks come off endangered species list

A rare bird thought to be headed toward extinction has been spotted in Washington : the deficit hawk .
Fiscal conservatives are balking at the price tag of the latest coronavirus economic rescue package , likely to exceed $ 1 trillion even if they get their way .
Though only one of the sticking points that has held up the legislation , it exposes a debate within the Republican Party about how to help the lockdown-battered economy ahead of the election and raises the likelihood that conservatives will return to that old-time religion on government spending and debt if Joe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spending package could push the annual federal budget deficit past $ 4 trillion .
It was already projected at $ 2.7 trillion before the latest talks .
Last month , the federal government spent $ 1.1 trillion .
That ’ s more than it has spent in some years .
The previous highest monthly total was less than $ 440 billion .
“ Members are anxious because they know , at some point , we are going to have to raise taxes to pay for all this spending , ” said Republican strategist @ @ @ @ @ @ @ simply believe that more spending leads to more government , which is bad for America and for the American way of life.
” Conservatives are already targeting the presumptive Democratic nominee for what they describe as a big-government agenda that will increase federal taxes , spending , and borrowing .
`` When it comes to Joe Biden claiming to be the most progressive presidential candidate in history , we should take him at his word , ” said Chris Martin , communications director for America Rising , a top political action committee that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ His policies would suffocate American families with higher taxes during an ongoing pandemic and greatly diminish any hope of an economic rebound . ''
But congressional Republicans had appeared to make peace with big deficits and spending .
President Trump , who did not run as a government-cutter in 2016 , was already projecting a $ 1 trillion deficit for the fiscal year even before all the coronavirus spending was necessary — when the economy was still growing and unemployment was low .
The economy at a record 32.9 % rate in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ close to slow the spread of the virus and 1.43 million filed for jobless benefits .
This is not a new development under Republican presidents , either .
The national debt tripled in nominal terms under Ronald Reagan , who presided over the first $ 1 trillion federal budget .
It also tripled under George W. Bush , who was president during the first $ 2 trillion and $ 3 trillion federal budgets .
Unlike Reagan , Bush did not face a Democratic-controlled House of Representatives until the final two years of his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in domestic spending while also boosting the defense budget .
Reagan did propose cuts to federal nondefense discretionary spending .
Trump-era populists have urged the GOP to abandon certain libertarian assumptions about the economy and exercise political power to maintain their hold on Washington and deliver material benefits to the party ’ s constituents like the Democrats do .
This was in a reported Republican conference exchange earlier this month between Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas and Sen. Tom Cotton of Arkansas .
“ What the hell are we doing ?
” Cruz @ @ @ @ @ @ @ while Cotton urged that they spend what it takes to protect the majority , lest Democrats come in and outspend them in the long run .
Sen. Josh Hawley , a Missouri Republican aligned with the populist faction , this spring a refundable payroll tax rebate covering 80 % of employer payroll costs .
“ Because the government has taken the step of closing the economy to protect public health , Congress should in turn protect every single job in this country for the duration of this crisis , ” he in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump loses reelection , this could put Republicans in an awkward position as they pivot to opposing Biden ’ s $ 8 trillion in proposed new spending , including expansions of entitlement programs that already have trillions of dollars in unfunded liabilities .
“ Serious question , folks : Is there a Democratic equivalent of this ?
” Kevin Drum , a liberal blogger for Mother Jones .
“ That is , something where Democrats literally turn on a dime whenever Republicans occupy the White House ?
” “ Doing anything about the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lift , and it gets even heavier when it is perceived as a partisan agenda , ” said Robert Bixby , executive director of the Concord Coalition , an advocacy group that supports budgetary discipline .
“ That could be where we 're heading .
I expect that Republicans will increasingly balk at the rising bill for COVID-19 relief and that they will become even more dug in if they lose the Senate .
”

A rare bird thought to be headed toward extinction has been spotted in Washington: the deficit hawk.
Fiscal conservatives are balking at the price tag of the latest coronavirus economic rescue package, likely to exceed $1 trillion even if they get their way. Though only one of the sticking points that has held up the legislation, it exposes a debate within the Republican Party about how to help the lockdown-battered economy ahead of the election and raises the likelihood that conservatives will return to that old-time religion on government spending and debt if Joe Biden wins in November.
A new spending package could push the annual federal budget deficit past $4 trillion. It was already projected at $2.7 trillion before the latest talks. Last month, the federal government spent $1.1 trillion. That’s more than it has spent in some years. The previous highest monthly total was less than $440 billion.
“Members are anxious because they know, at some point, we are going to have to raise taxes to pay for all this spending,” said Republican strategist John Feehery. “And many members simply believe that more spending leads to more government, which is bad for America and for the American way of life.”
Conservatives are already targeting the presumptive Democratic nominee for what they describe as a big-government agenda that will increase federal taxes, spending, and borrowing. "When it comes to Joe Biden claiming to be the most progressive presidential candidate in history, we should take him at his word,” said Chris Martin, communications director for America Rising, a top political action committee that does opposition research on Democrats. “His policies would suffocate American families with higher taxes during an ongoing pandemic and greatly diminish any hope of an economic rebound."
But congressional Republicans had appeared to make peace with big deficits and spending. President Trump, who did not run as a government-cutter in 2016, was already projecting a $1 trillion deficit for the fiscal year even before all the coronavirus spending was necessary — when the economy was still growing and unemployment was low. The economy contracted at a record 32.9% rate in the second quarter as businesses were forced to close to slow the spread of the virus and 1.43 million filed for jobless benefits just last week .
This is not a new development under Republican presidents, either. The national debt tripled in nominal terms under Ronald Reagan, who presided over the first $1 trillion federal budget. It also tripled under George W. Bush, who was president during the first $2 trillion and $3 trillion federal budgets. Unlike Reagan, Bush did not face a Democratic-controlled House of Representatives until the final two years of his administration, and he actively sought increases in domestic spending while also boosting the defense budget. Reagan did propose cuts to federal nondefense discretionary spending.
Trump-era populists have urged the GOP to abandon certain libertarian assumptions about the economy and exercise political power to maintain their hold on Washington and deliver material benefits to the party’s constituents like the Democrats do. This was highlighted in a reported Republican conference exchange earlier this month between Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas and Sen. Tom Cotton of Arkansas. “What the hell are we doing?” Cruz asked colleagues about spending levels being proposed while Cotton urged that they spend what it takes to protect the majority, lest Democrats come in and outspend them in the long run.
Sen. Josh Hawley, a Missouri Republican aligned with the populist faction, this spring proposed a refundable payroll tax rebate covering 80% of employer payroll costs. “Because the government has taken the step of closing the economy to protect public health, Congress should in turn protect every single job in this country for the duration of this crisis,” he wrote in the Washington Post at the time.
If Trump loses reelection, this could put Republicans in an awkward position as they pivot to opposing Biden’s $8 trillion in proposed new spending, including expansions of entitlement programs that already have trillions of dollars in unfunded liabilities. “Serious question, folks: Is there a Democratic equivalent of this?” asked Kevin Drum, a liberal blogger for Mother Jones. “That is, something where Democrats literally turn on a dime whenever Republicans occupy the White House?”
“Doing anything about the deficit and debt is always a heavy lift, and it gets even heavier when it is perceived as a partisan agenda,” said Robert Bixby, executive director of the Concord Coalition, an advocacy group that supports budgetary discipline. “That could be where we're heading. I expect that Republicans will increasingly balk at the rising bill for COVID-19 relief and that they will become even more dug in if they lose the Senate.”