thewashingtonexaminer--2020-08-11--House Democrats take vacation while Trump plows ahead with executive actions

House Democrats have warned of a nefarious plot by Postmaster General Louis DeJoy to slow mail service ahead of the Nov. 3 presidential election so many mail-in ballots do n't get counted .
House Oversight Committee Chairwoman Carolyn Maloney and colleagues will have the chance to grill DeJoy in a hearing on Sept. 18 .
The five-week time lag reflects a gap between what House Democrats say are efforts to thwart illegal and unconstitutional actions by President Trump and their actual schedule for doing so .
Also , Democratic congressional leaders ' plan to recess for the next month came @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hoping both parties could come to an agreement for a new stimulus package in the wake of the economic catastrophe caused by the coronavirus pandemic .
The House will only be in session for just over two weeks in the latter half of September and into early October .
House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer said the chamber could return if a deal is reached on a stimulus package .
“ I continue to urge Republicans to work with us to take immediate action to provide desperately needed relief during this coronavirus pandemic before @ @ @ @ @ @ @ period , ” said Hoyer , a Democrat , Monday .
“ The House continues to be on 24-hours notice to return for votes on COVID-related legislation.
” But Democrats essentially abandoning in-person meetings as the economy continues to falter has given Trump the chance to reposition himself as a leader , especially as Trump 's poll numbers sink and a majority of voters say they trust his rival , former Vice President Joe Biden , to handle the pandemic better than him .
Last week , the president signed four executive orders @ @ @ @ @ @ @ those harmed by the economic toll of the coronavirus , including an extension of enhanced unemployment benefits using money from an untapped federal hurricane fund .
The president also signed an executive order suspending the collection of payroll taxes for people earning less than $ 100,000 .
The Biden campaign and its allies responded to Trump 's order by calling it a danger to entitlement programs , such as Social Security , which in part depend on payroll tax collections to fund their trusts .
`` One order is Donald Trump ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ war on Social Security .
Trump announced a payroll tax plan with no protections or guarantees — like the ones the Obama-Biden administration enforced a decade ago — that the Social Security Trust Fund will be made whole , '' Biden wrote in a statement to the press .
`` And , Trump specifically stated today that if re-elected , he plans to undermine the entire financial footing of Social Security . ''
Trump also attempted to get ahead of Democrats by looking into providing eviction protections for tenants who can not make @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the month , due to either unemployment or significantly cut back wages .
Eviction protections have been at the top of the list for progressive activists , who warn that millions of people are at risk of being effectively homeless at the end of the month .
Trump 's actions also relieved pressure on Republicans in the Senate , whose current bill contains nothing for rent relief .
House Democrats passed a bill in May that extended eviction protections for one year and provided $ 100 billion for emergency rental assistance .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ reluctance in passing another stimulus bill in the trillions , citing concerns about the deficit .
On Sunday , the president 's reelection campaign sent out a text message to supporters boasting of the move as Biden has largely been confined to his Wilmington , Delaware , home .
“ I signed 4 Exec Orders to help the American People .
What did the Swamp do ?
NOTHING . ''
the text read .
`` Show them where YOU stand .
Act Now for 5X-MATCH .
”

House Democrats have warned of a nefarious plot by Postmaster General Louis DeJoy to slow mail service ahead of the Nov. 3 presidential election so many mail-in ballots don't get counted. House Oversight Committee Chairwoman Carolyn Maloney and colleagues will have the chance to grill DeJoy in a hearing on Sept. 18.
The five-week time lag reflects a gap between what House Democrats say are efforts to thwart illegal and unconstitutional actions by President Trump and their actual schedule for doing so.
Also, Democratic congressional leaders' plan to recess for the next month came as a surprise to many who were hoping both parties could come to an agreement for a new stimulus package in the wake of the economic catastrophe caused by the coronavirus pandemic.
The House will only be in session for just over two weeks in the latter half of September and into early October.
House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer said the chamber could return if a deal is reached on a stimulus package.
“I continue to urge Republicans to work with us to take immediate action to provide desperately needed relief during this coronavirus pandemic before we can begin the August district work period,” said Hoyer, a Democrat, Monday. “The House continues to be on 24-hours notice to return for votes on COVID-related legislation.”
But Democrats essentially abandoning in-person meetings as the economy continues to falter has given Trump the chance to reposition himself as a leader, especially as Trump's poll numbers sink and a majority of voters say they trust his rival, former Vice President Joe Biden, to handle the pandemic better than him.
Last week, the president signed four executive orders and memorandums to help provide relief to those harmed by the economic toll of the coronavirus, including an extension of enhanced unemployment benefits using money from an untapped federal hurricane fund. The president also signed an executive order suspending the collection of payroll taxes for people earning less than $100,000.
The Biden campaign and its allies responded to Trump's order by calling it a danger to entitlement programs, such as Social Security, which in part depend on payroll tax collections to fund their trusts.
"One order is Donald Trump’s first shot in a new, reckless war on Social Security. Trump announced a payroll tax plan with no protections or guarantees — like the ones the Obama-Biden administration enforced a decade ago — that the Social Security Trust Fund will be made whole," Biden wrote in a statement to the press. "And, Trump specifically stated today that if re-elected, he plans to undermine the entire financial footing of Social Security."
Trump also attempted to get ahead of Democrats by looking into providing eviction protections for tenants who cannot make rent or mortgage payments at the end of the month, due to either unemployment or significantly cut back wages. Eviction protections have been at the top of the list for progressive activists, who warn that millions of people are at risk of being effectively homeless at the end of the month.
Trump's actions also relieved pressure on Republicans in the Senate, whose current bill contains nothing for rent relief. House Democrats passed a bill in May that extended eviction protections for one year and provided $100 billion for emergency rental assistance. Many Republicans in the Senate have expressed reluctance in passing another stimulus bill in the trillions, citing concerns about the deficit.
On Sunday, the president's reelection campaign sent out a text message to supporters boasting of the move as Biden has largely been confined to his Wilmington, Delaware, home.
“I signed 4 Exec Orders to help the American People. What did the Swamp do? NOTHING." the text read. "Show them where YOU stand. Act Now for 5X-MATCH.”


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-08-11--'Some people would say that men are insulted': Trump questions Biden vow to pick female vice preside

'Some people would say that men are insulted': Trump questions Biden vow to pick female vice president

President Trump said that some men might be `` insulted '' by Joe Biden 's decision to limit his vice-presidential pool to only women .
Trump told Outkick the Coverage on Tuesday that he believes by vowing to choose a woman early in his campaign .
He said he `` roped himself '' into a narrow candidate field by limiting his search based on gender .
`` I think that I would be inclined to go a different route than what he 's done , you know , doing it the way he 's done .
First of all , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of people , which is fine .
He said that [ he would pick a woman . ]
Some people would say that men are insulted by that , and some people would say it 's fine , '' Trump said .
The president noted that he does n't typically believe that vice-presidential nominees influence that many votes in the general election .
He said that 2020 might be different because he believes that Biden `` has some things going on '' with his cognitive health , an attack since Biden announced his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seem to vote for the vice president , '' Trump said .
`` Now , in this case , you know , because Joe 's got some things going on .
Let 's not kid ourselves ... but Joe 's got some pretty big things going on .
So this is going to be a very important pick , and it 'll be interesting to see who he chooses .
I 'm interested to see also . ''
`` In the end , I do n't think it will really matter .
Joe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his own two feet .
And we 're going very well , '' he added .

President Trump said that some men might be "insulted" by Joe Biden's decision to limit his vice-presidential pool to only women.
Trump told Outkick the Coverage on Tuesday that he believes Biden made a mistake by vowing to choose a woman early in his campaign. He said he "roped himself" into a narrow candidate field by limiting his search based on gender.
"I think that I would be inclined to go a different route than what he's done, you know, doing it the way he's done. First of all, he roped himself into a certain group of people, which is fine. He said that [he would pick a woman.] Some people would say that men are insulted by that, and some people would say it's fine," Trump said.
The president noted that he doesn't typically believe that vice-presidential nominees influence that many votes in the general election. He said that 2020 might be different because he believes that Biden "has some things going on" with his cognitive health, an attack Trump has continued to float since Biden announced his candidacy.
"They just don't seem to vote for the vice president," Trump said. "Now, in this case, you know, because Joe's got some things going on. Let's not kid ourselves ... but Joe's got some pretty big things going on. So this is going to be a very important pick, and it'll be interesting to see who he chooses. I'm interested to see also."
"In the end, I don't think it will really matter. Joe's going to have to stand on his own two feet. And we're going very well," he added.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-08-11--Republican ends congressional bid after being arrested hours before primary polls open

A Republican candidate for Congress dropped out of the race after being arrested on the eve of election day .
Thomas Gilmer of Madison , Connecticut , was arrested late Monday and charged with first-degree unlawful restraint and second-degree strangulation , the Hartford Courant reported .
Gilmer is accused of being involved in a violent fight with a former girlfriend , an incident that police first began investigating in July .
“ Now I find myself in a position where I must put my family and our shared Republican values before my own interests , ” Gilmer said in a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ good conscience move forward in this campaign while I am simultaneously forced to clear my name .
And clear my name I will.
” J.R. Romano , chairman of the state ’ s GOP , said that Gilmer ’ s primary challenger , Justin Anderson , told him months ago that there was a video of the fight .
Romano said he told Anderson to contact law enforcement about the matter .
Gilmer was released on $ 5,000 bond and is expected to make a court appearance on Tuesday .
“ When someone @ @ @ @ @ @ @ encouraged them to go to the authorities , ” Romano said .
“ While we believe in the due process of the law , the severity and the nature of this is disheartening.
” The seat Gilmer was running for , the state ’ s 2nd Congressional District , is held by Democratic Rep. Joe Courtney and encompasses much of the eastern part of the state .
Courtney has won the district by nearly 30-point margins during the past two election cycles .
Given the proximity to Tuesday ’ s primary election , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the ballot .

A Republican candidate for Congress dropped out of the race after being arrested on the eve of election day.
Thomas Gilmer of Madison, Connecticut, was arrested late Monday and charged with first-degree unlawful restraint and second-degree strangulation, the Hartford Courant reported. Gilmer is accused of being involved in a violent fight with a former girlfriend, an incident that police first began investigating in July.
“Now I find myself in a position where I must put my family and our shared Republican values before my own interests,” Gilmer said in a statement. “I cannot in good conscience move forward in this campaign while I am simultaneously forced to clear my name. And clear my name I will.”
This Monday, Aug. 10, 2020 arrest photo provided by the Wethersfield, Conn., Police Department shows Thomas Gilmer. Gilmer, a Connecticut congressional candidate for Congress, abruptly ended his campaign the day he was facing a primary election following his arrest for an alleged domestic assault, the state Republican Party said Tuesday. (Lt. Don Crabtree/AP)
J.R. Romano, chairman of the state’s GOP, said that Gilmer’s primary challenger, Justin Anderson, told him months ago that there was a video of the fight. Romano said he told Anderson to contact law enforcement about the matter.
Gilmer was released on $5,000 bond and is expected to make a court appearance on Tuesday.
“When someone came to us with allegations, we encouraged them to go to the authorities,” Romano said. “While we believe in the due process of the law, the severity and the nature of this is disheartening.”
The seat Gilmer was running for, the state’s 2nd Congressional District, is held by Democratic Rep. Joe Courtney and encompasses much of the eastern part of the state. Courtney has won the district by nearly 30-point margins during the past two election cycles.
Given the proximity to Tuesday’s primary election, Gilmer’s name will still remain on the ballot.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-08-11--Twitter sees Biden landslide with 334 of 270 needed electoral votes

President Trump ’ s favorite platform to communicate on has turned on him .
Big time .
In one of the more unusual 2020 election models , researchers with the George Washington University Graduate School of Political Management have used Twitter data to predict a blowout win for Joe Biden , if the election was now .
At the time , Biden is ahead with 334 electoral votes , with Trump holding states worth 132 votes , according to the school ’ s Public Echoes Of Rhetoric In America Project .
Some 72 are considered toss-ups , including Georgia , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ traditional model , state polls , currently shows Biden winning 272-107 , according to the average from the website 270 to Win .
For comparison , the site FiveThirtyEight had Hillary Rodham Clinton winning 302 electoral votes to 235 for Trump .
The model is focused on Twitter data from the 12 battleground states that are expected to decide the election : Arizona , Colorado , Florida , Michigan , Nevada , North Carolina , Pennsylvania , Wisconsin , Iowa , Georgia , Ohio , and Texas .
The school said its “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the pulse of public conversations about campaign politics . ''
The school plans to release an update every two weeks .
“ Trump has changed the way in which social media , but particularly Twitter , has influenced politics .
We are interested if his use of Twitter can be quantified and used to better explain polling and election results , ” research scientist Meagan O ’ Neill said .
“ Throughout the election cycle , we will be using Twitter data to identify events that reflect changes in support , '' she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ leaders , ” said Associate Professor Michael Cornfield , “ and who and what they are talking about provides clues about what ’ s in voters ’ minds .
”

President Trump’s favorite platform to communicate on has turned on him. Big time.
In one of the more unusual 2020 election models, researchers with the George Washington University Graduate School of Political Management have used Twitter data to predict a blowout win for Joe Biden, if the election was now.
At the time, Biden is ahead with 334 electoral votes, with Trump holding states worth 132 votes, according to the school’s Public Echoes Of Rhetoric In America Project. Some 72 are considered toss-ups, including Georgia, Ohio, and Texas.
A Twitter battleground state election model from George Washington University Graduate School of Political Management shows Joe Biden in a landslide.
The more traditional model, state polls, currently shows Biden winning 272-107, according to the average from the website 270 to Win. For comparison, the site FiveThirtyEight had Hillary Rodham Clinton winning 302 electoral votes to 235 for Trump.
The model is focused on Twitter data from the 12 battleground states that are expected to decide the election: Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Iowa, Georgia, Ohio, and Texas.
The school said its “Tweeterboard” counts because it “measures the pulse of public conversations about campaign politics."
The school plans to release an update every two weeks.
“Trump has changed the way in which social media, but particularly Twitter, has influenced politics. We are interested if his use of Twitter can be quantified and used to better explain polling and election results,” research scientist Meagan O’Neill said. “Throughout the election cycle, we will be using Twitter data to identify events that reflect changes in support," she said.
“Political tweeters are opinion leaders,” said Associate Professor Michael Cornfield, “and who and what they are talking about provides clues about what’s in voters’ minds.”


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-08-11--'Kind of expected to speak': Andrew Yang snubbed by DNC

Former Democratic presidential contender Andrew Yang expected to be a featured speaker at the Democratic National Convention , but he did n't make the cut .
Yang felt slighted by the Democratic National Committee 's decision to exclude him from the speaking lineup despite attracting many young voters with his platform for a universal basic income during the Democratic presidential primary .
He suggested on Tuesday that the committee may have snubbed him because he endorsed primary opponents for some incumbent members of the House and Senate .
`` I ’ ve got to be honest I kind of expected @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` Maybe I endorsed against one too many incumbents . ''
Yang told the Washington Post that he will be involved in a video package during the convention but that he was not offered a chance to speak .
He noted that a high-profile speech would have given him an opportunity to speak to his voters who previously supported Trump .
`` [ Not being offered a speech ] makes my job harder to appeal to the 42 % of my supporters who said they weren ’ t going to vote for Joe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ chose several other previous presidential candidates to speak , including former South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg , California Sen. Kamala Harris , and Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren .
Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders , who identifies as an independent , and former Ohio Gov .
John Kasich , a Republican , will also speak at the convention .
Yang was snubbed several times throughout his campaign .
He was often excluded from polls and largely ignored during the presidential debates despite polling higher than some of the candidates who were included .
Yang was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , as well .
He condemned its decision to exclude Fox News from hosting a debate during the primary .

Former Democratic presidential contender Andrew Yang expected to be a featured speaker at the Democratic National Convention, but he didn't make the cut.
Yang felt slighted by the Democratic National Committee's decision to exclude him from the speaking lineup despite attracting many young voters with his platform for a universal basic income during the Democratic presidential primary. He suggested on Tuesday that the committee may have snubbed him because he endorsed primary opponents for some incumbent members of the House and Senate.
"I’ve got to be honest I kind of expected to speak," Yang tweeted. "Maybe I endorsed against one too many incumbents."
I’ve got to be honest I kind of expected to speak. — Andrew Yang🧢🇺🇸 (@AndrewYang) August 11, 2020
Maybe I endorsed against one too many incumbents. 😀 — Andrew Yang🧢🇺🇸 (@AndrewYang) August 11, 2020
Yang told the Washington Post that he will be involved in a video package during the convention but that he was not offered a chance to speak. He noted that a high-profile speech would have given him an opportunity to speak to his voters who previously supported Trump.
"[Not being offered a speech] makes my job harder to appeal to the 42% of my supporters who said they weren’t going to vote for Joe," Yang said.
Just talked to @AndrewYang about this tweet. He'll be "involved in the convention video package," but said the lack of a higher-profile speech "makes my job harder to appeal to the 42% of my supporters who said they weren’t going to vote for Joe."https://t.co/jr21quTb90 — Dave Weigel (@daveweigel) August 11, 2020
The DNC chose several other previous presidential candidates to speak, including former South Bend Mayor Pete Buttigieg, California Sen. Kamala Harris, and Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren. Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, who identifies as an independent, and former Ohio Gov. John Kasich, a Republican, will also speak at the convention.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-08-12--Dismantling Department of Homeland Security emerges as an election year cause for the Left

The American Civil Liberties Union ’ s sudden call to abolish the Department of Homeland Security is being characterized by opponents as a nonstarter and shameless fundraising attempt , but it is not without support among congressional and other Washington Democrats .
The ACLU , which has taken more than 400 legal actions against the Trump administration since January 2017 , called Monday for the shuttering of the federal government ’ s third-largest department .
DHS is under its fifth leader since President Trump took office — one of the reasons the civil liberties organization described it as having acquired @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Nearly 20 years of abuse , waste , and corruption demonstrate the failure of the DHS experiment .
Many knew DHS to be an ineffective superagency , but President Trump has converted DHS into our government ’ s most notable badge of shame , ” the ACLU wrote in a tweet .
James Carafano , vice president of the Heritage Foundation ’ s Kathryn and Shelby Cullom Davis Institute for National Security , blasted these comments as nothing more than a PR stunt intended to help the organization bring in more donations in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ACLU is doing here is very , very similar with what they did on the Patriot Act , ” said Carafano .
“ The investigative authority already exists and was open to use .
The act said you can use these to investigate terrorism .
But the ACLU protracted it was an expansion of federal authority — power — in another way … We still have the Patriot Act .
We still have our civil liberties.
” Taking apart a 250,000-person department and its more than 20 agencies apart would not be easy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to Debra D ’ Agostino , the founding partner of the Washington-based Federal Law Group .
D ’ Agostino said that Congress ’ role in creating DHS 18 years ago following the September 11th terrorist attacks means the legislative branch would have to close the department or make changes to how it operates .
“ The Homeland Security Act of 2002 created DHS , so just like the Trump Administration found with its attempt to dismantle [ United States Office of Personnel Management ] , which was created by the Civil Service Reform @ @ @ @ @ @ @ act of Congress to dismantle DHS , ” D ’ Agostino wrote in an email .
“ That being said , within the confines of the statute , significant changes could be made to the structures and functions of DHS ’ s sub-agencies.
” Carafano said a Trump White House would not support shuttering the department though the White House did not respond to requests for comment .
However , should the House , Senate , and White House bleed blue in November , it would give Democrats the power necessary to pass @ @ @ @ @ @ @ A win by presumptive Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden would help the chances of gaining support from the executive branch , although it was a bipartisan creation .
David Lapan , the DHS spokesman at the start of the Trump administration and frequent critic of Trump ’ s handling of DHS , said calls to abolish DHS are no different than calls to dismantle Immigration and Customs Enforcement in 2017 and 2018 — “ slogans , not real solutions.
” “ The threats have evolved since the 9/11 terrorist attacks that led to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ department and its component agencies are in need of review and reform to ensure they are trained , equipped and functioning properly under current and expected future conditions , ” Lapan wrote in an email , adding that Congress should focus on a bigger problem within the department .
“ DHS , because it is composed of what were more than 20 separate federal agencies at its creation , requires continuity and strength in leadership , ” Lapan said .
“ The revolving door at the top of DHS and the number of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hindered its effectiveness .
As the only federal department with a mission to protect the homeland , it must be fully and effectively staffed .
Future Administrations and sessions of Congress must ensure DHS is at or near the top of the list of Cabinet agencies with key positions filled by Senate-approved officials , not at the bottom , as it remains today.
” The ACLU ’ s demand comes weeks after DHS deployed federal agents to Portland , Oregon , to assist other federal personnel with defending a federal courthouse from rioters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Two former DHS secretaries said acting DHS Secretary Wolf overstepped his authority by doing so while others have said DHS is being used to implement Trump ’ s agenda .
DHS defended the move in a statement Tuesday .
`` Attempting to burn down federal property and harm federal law enforcement officers is not a 'Constitutional right , ' as the ACLU put it , '' a DHS spokesman wrote in an email .
`` It is appalling that the ACLU , an organization supposedly committed to civil rights and the rule of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ opportunists attempting to destroy a federal courthouse , an institution dedicated to protecting Constitutional rights .
The ACLU ’ s lack of differentiating between violent criminals and legitimate peaceful protestors reveals their brazen political sham . ''
As the department that handles most immigration , national security , and other matters , DHS houses many of the agencies that are affected by White House policy decisions , and thus changes by Trump to immigration , border , and other policies .

The American Civil Liberties Union’s sudden call to abolish the Department of Homeland Security is being characterized by opponents as a nonstarter and shameless fundraising attempt, but it is not without support among congressional and other Washington Democrats.
The ACLU, which has taken more than 400 legal actions against the Trump administration since January 2017, called Monday for the shuttering of the federal government’s third-largest department. DHS is under its fifth leader since President Trump took office — one of the reasons the civil liberties organization described it as having acquired a “badge of shame.”
“Nearly 20 years of abuse, waste, and corruption demonstrate the failure of the DHS experiment. Many knew DHS to be an ineffective superagency, but President Trump has converted DHS into our government’s most notable badge of shame,” the ACLU wrote in a tweet.
James Carafano, vice president of the Heritage Foundation’s Kathryn and Shelby Cullom Davis Institute for National Security, blasted these comments as nothing more than a PR stunt intended to help the organization bring in more donations in an election year.
“What the ACLU is doing here is very, very similar with what they did on the Patriot Act,” said Carafano. “The investigative authority already exists and was open to use. The act said you can use these to investigate terrorism. But the ACLU protracted it was an expansion of federal authority — power — in another way … We still have the Patriot Act. We still have our civil liberties.”
Taking apart a 250,000-person department and its more than 20 agencies apart would not be easy or necessarily solve many problems, according to Debra D’Agostino, the founding partner of the Washington-based Federal Law Group. D’Agostino said that Congress’ role in creating DHS 18 years ago following the September 11th terrorist attacks means the legislative branch would have to close the department or make changes to how it operates.
“The Homeland Security Act of 2002 created DHS, so just like the Trump Administration found with its attempt to dismantle [United States Office of Personnel Management], which was created by the Civil Service Reform Act, it will also take an act of Congress to dismantle DHS,” D’Agostino wrote in an email. “That being said, within the confines of the statute, significant changes could be made to the structures and functions of DHS’s sub-agencies.”
Carafano said a Trump White House would not support shuttering the department though the White House did not respond to requests for comment. However, should the House, Senate, and White House bleed blue in November, it would give Democrats the power necessary to pass legislation amending or closing the department. A win by presumptive Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden would help the chances of gaining support from the executive branch, although it was a bipartisan creation.
David Lapan, the DHS spokesman at the start of the Trump administration and frequent critic of Trump’s handling of DHS, said calls to abolish DHS are no different than calls to dismantle Immigration and Customs Enforcement in 2017 and 2018 — “slogans, not real solutions.”
“The threats have evolved since the 9/11 terrorist attacks that led to the creation of DHS, and the department and its component agencies are in need of review and reform to ensure they are trained, equipped and functioning properly under current and expected future conditions,” Lapan wrote in an email, adding that Congress should focus on a bigger problem within the department.
“DHS, because it is composed of what were more than 20 separate federal agencies at its creation, requires continuity and strength in leadership,” Lapan said. “The revolving door at the top of DHS and the number of vacancies and temporary fills throughout have also hindered its effectiveness. As the only federal department with a mission to protect the homeland, it must be fully and effectively staffed. Future Administrations and sessions of Congress must ensure DHS is at or near the top of the list of Cabinet agencies with key positions filled by Senate-approved officials, not at the bottom, as it remains today.”
[Opinion: The ACLU is officially a joke]
The ACLU’s demand comes weeks after DHS deployed federal agents to Portland, Oregon, to assist other federal personnel with defending a federal courthouse from rioters attempting to set it on fire. Two former DHS secretaries said acting DHS Secretary Wolf overstepped his authority by doing so while others have said DHS is being used to implement Trump’s agenda. DHS defended the move in a statement Tuesday.
"Attempting to burn down federal property and harm federal law enforcement officers is not a 'Constitutional right,' as the ACLU put it," a DHS spokesman wrote in an email. "It is appalling that the ACLU, an organization supposedly committed to civil rights and the rule of law, would be supportive of violent opportunists attempting to destroy a federal courthouse, an institution dedicated to protecting Constitutional rights. The ACLU’s lack of differentiating between violent criminals and legitimate peaceful protestors reveals their brazen political sham."
As the department that handles most immigration, national security, and other matters, DHS houses many of the agencies that are affected by White House policy decisions, and thus changes by Trump to immigration, border, and other policies.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-08-12--Pence stumps for Trump in Arizona

Pence stumps for Trump in Arizona

Pence landed at Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport shortly after 10 a.m. and met Gov .
Doug Ducey and other Republican officials on the tarmac before heading to two events .
After speeches from Ducey , Sen. Martha McSally and others , Pence officially accepted the Arizona Police Association ’ s endorsement at their event in Tucson .
“ Law enforcement isn ’ t the problem , ” Pence told supporters .
“ Law enforcement is the solution .
You are , literally , what separates order from chaos and security is the foundation for our prosperity.
” Protesters , some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at Pence when he approached the podium .
He said former Vice President Joe Biden , the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee and Trump ’ s opponent , would foment lawlessness and “ bury our economy under a sea of red tape ” and raise billions of dollars in taxes .
Pence criticized protesters tearing down statues , saying they “ will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.
” He touched on the police officers responsible for the murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis .
“ No one hates bad cops @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
“ There ’ s no excuse for what happened to George Floyd in Minneapolis and justice will be served .
But , there ’ s no excuse for rioting and looting and the arson that took place in the days that followed.
” After Pence ’ s 33-minute speech , the vice president went to Mesa to address a crowd at a Latter Day Saints for Trump event .
A devout Christian , Pence hopes to gin up support for Trump among the LDS community in Arizona .
The thrice-married president @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Pence was introduced by U.S. Rep. Andy Biggs , a Mesa Republican , and member of the LDS church .
The vice president ’ s speech was similar to what he gave to police earlier in the day but with greater emphasis on religious freedom and the Trump administration ’ s efforts to maintain religious landmarks despite court challenges to remove them .
“ We ’ re standing strong for religious liberty , ” he said , touting the more than 200 judges Trump has appointed .
Pence jabbed at Biden ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ new stance on repealing the Hyde Amendment .
Named after Illinois Congressman Henry Hyde , the statute bans federal funds to pay for abortions .
He mentioned Biden ’ s announcement that he ’ d chosen Sen. Kamala Harris , a California Democrat and former attorney general .
“ Congratulations , ” Pence said .
“ I ’ ll see you in Salt Lake City .
”

Vice President Mike Pence rallied support for President Donald Trump’s re-election effort in Arizona Tuesday.
Pence landed at Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport shortly after 10 a.m. and met Gov. Doug Ducey and other Republican officials on the tarmac before heading to two events.
After speeches from Ducey, Sen. Martha McSally and others, Pence officially accepted the Arizona Police Association’s endorsement at their event in Tucson.
“Law enforcement isn’t the problem,” Pence told supporters. “Law enforcement is the solution. You are, literally, what separates order from chaos and security is the foundation for our prosperity.”
Protesters, some wearing Black Lives Matter shirts, shouted at Pence when he approached the podium.
He said former Vice President Joe Biden, the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee and Trump’s opponent, would foment lawlessness and “bury our economy under a sea of red tape” and raise billions of dollars in taxes.
Pence criticized protesters tearing down statues, saying they “will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”
He touched on the police officers responsible for the murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis.
“No one hates bad cops more than good cops,” he said. “There’s no excuse for what happened to George Floyd in Minneapolis and justice will be served. But, there’s no excuse for rioting and looting and the arson that took place in the days that followed.”
After Pence’s 33-minute speech, the vice president went to Mesa to address a crowd at a Latter Day Saints for Trump event.
A devout Christian, Pence hopes to gin up support for Trump among the LDS community in Arizona. The thrice-married president is rarely reported to attend church. Pence was introduced by U.S. Rep. Andy Biggs, a Mesa Republican, and member of the LDS church.
The vice president’s speech was similar to what he gave to police earlier in the day but with greater emphasis on religious freedom and the Trump administration’s efforts to maintain religious landmarks despite court challenges to remove them.
“We’re standing strong for religious liberty,” he said, touting the more than 200 judges Trump has appointed.
Pence jabbed at Biden’s flip-flop on abortion rights, specifically his new stance on repealing the Hyde Amendment. Named after Illinois Congressman Henry Hyde, the statute bans federal funds to pay for abortions.
He mentioned Biden’s announcement that he’d chosen Sen. Kamala Harris, a California Democrat and former attorney general.
“Congratulations,” Pence said. “I’ll see you in Salt Lake City.”


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-08-12--National anthem vs. normalcy: Trump’s mixed messaging on return to sports

President Trump has a message for professional and college athletes contemplating whether to suit up amid the coronavirus : Play ball — but only after the closing lines of the `` Star-Spangled Banner . ''
`` So , college football , get out there and play football .
People want to see it .
And stand for your American flag , stand for your national anthem because people are not happy when that does n't happen , '' Trump told reporters at the White House on Tuesday.
`` You look at the NBA and what 's happening with the NBA @ @ @ @ @ @ @ n't know ; ca n't imagine why .
But they did n't stand , they did n't show respect to our flag . ''
When it comes to the resumption of college and professional sports , Trump has an ostensible conflict between normalcy — one GOP operative said that `` Make America normal again '' would be his best possible reelection campaign slogan — and the national anthem .
`` The NFL had its problems , two years ago , when that happened .
They went way down in their ratings and their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' Trump said of the national anthem protests , which had dissipated but resumed following the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis police custody .
Despite his continued public advocacy for the return of sports as a sign that the pandemic is under control , Trump told Fox Sports that he was n't interested in seeing professional football if people knelt during the national anthem .
`` Well , they want to open , and they want to open badly , and they 've been working with government , '' Trump said of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ say this , if they do n't stand for the national anthem , I hope they do n't open .
But other than that , I want to see them open , and we 're doing everything possible for getting them open , and they can protest in other ways .
They should n't protest our flag or our country . ''
Trump also told Hugh Hewitt on Tuesday that he would rather consult New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick than most generals if he had a battle to win .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the importance of sports .
The president , press secretary Kayleigh McEnany told reporters on Monday , would `` very much would like to see college football safely resume their sport . ''
`` And , as he mentioned in that tweet , a lot of these college athletes , you know , work their whole lives to get , you know , four years — sometimes they 're redshirted an extra year if they 're lucky , '' she said .
`` They work their whole lives for this moment , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ them have a chance to live out their dreams . ''
Trump celebrated major league baseball 's opening day on the White House lawn with Little Leaguers and former New York Yankees pitcher Mariano Rivera , though plans to throw out the ceremonial first pitch at a game this month were postponed .
`` I want fans back in the arenas , '' Trump said back in April .
`` By whenever they 're ready , as soon as we can .
And fans want to be back , too . ''
But @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to see athletes who engaged in national anthem protests punished .
He told rallygoers in Alabama , `` Would n't you love to see one of these NFL owners , when someone disrespects our flag , say , 'Get that son of a bitch off the field right now .
Out .
He 's fired .
He 's fired . '
'' Some players kneel during the anthem or the Pledge of Allegiance to protest racial injustice in America .
The Patriots ' owner Robert Kraft and the team 's then quarterback Tom @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , criticized his statements as divisive .
Still , many see no contradiction between wanting to watch professional sports and avoid political controversy at the same time .
Conservative commentator Laura Ingraham 's Shut Up And Sing has become to some fans `` Shut up and dribble . ''
“ From LeBron ’ s hypocrisy on China to woke slogans on the back of NBA jerseys to kneeling during the national anthem , Americans , by and large , prefer to keep their politics and sports separate irrespective of their political leanings , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ strategist .
`` These are trying times .
We are in the midst of a global pandemic , and sports , whether professional or amateur , are a form of escapism from the hard realities we face .
So , President Trump is saying what many , even those who disagree with him politically , are thinking , 'play ball , ' but please leave the politics in the locker room.
” Professional baseball , basketball , and hockey have already resumed , while football teams have begun training camp .
But major @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .

President Trump has a message for professional and college athletes contemplating whether to suit up amid the coronavirus: Play ball — but only after the closing lines of the "Star-Spangled Banner."
"So, college football, get out there and play football. People want to see it. And stand for your American flag, stand for your national anthem, because people are not happy when that doesn't happen," Trump told reporters at the White House on Tuesday. "You look at the NBA and what's happening with the NBA and their poor ratings. I don't know; can't imagine why. But they didn't stand, they didn't show respect to our flag."
When it comes to the resumption of college and professional sports, Trump has an ostensible conflict between normalcy — one GOP operative said that "Make America normal again" would be his best possible reelection campaign slogan — and the national anthem.
"The NFL had its problems, two years ago, when that happened. They went way down in their ratings and their fans, and they struggled back," Trump said of the national anthem protests, which had dissipated but resumed following the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis police custody. Despite his continued public advocacy for the return of sports as a sign that the pandemic is under control, Trump told Fox Sports that he wasn't interested in seeing professional football if people knelt during the national anthem.
"Well, they want to open, and they want to open badly, and they've been working with government," Trump said of the NFL. "And I would say this, if they don't stand for the national anthem, I hope they don't open. But other than that, I want to see them open, and we're doing everything possible for getting them open, and they can protest in other ways. They shouldn't protest our flag or our country."
Trump also told Hugh Hewitt on Tuesday that he would rather consult New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick than most generals if he had a battle to win. The White House has echoed Trump's message on the importance of sports. The president, press secretary Kayleigh McEnany told reporters on Monday, would "very much would like to see college football safely resume their sport."
"And, as he mentioned in that tweet, a lot of these college athletes, you know, work their whole lives to get, you know, four years — sometimes they're redshirted an extra year if they're lucky," she said. "They work their whole lives for this moment, and he’d like to see them have a chance to live out their dreams."
Trump celebrated major league baseball's opening day on the White House lawn with Little Leaguers and former New York Yankees pitcher Mariano Rivera, though plans to throw out the ceremonial first pitch at a game this month were postponed.
"I want fans back in the arenas," Trump said back in April. "By whenever they're ready, as soon as we can. And fans want to be back, too."
But in 2018, Trump said he wanted to see athletes who engaged in national anthem protests punished. He told rallygoers in Alabama, "Wouldn't you love to see one of these NFL owners, when someone disrespects our flag, say, 'Get that son of a bitch off the field right now. Out. He's fired. He's fired.'" Some players kneel during the anthem or the Pledge of Allegiance to protest racial injustice in America. The Patriots' owner Robert Kraft and the team's then quarterback Tom Brady, both friends of Trump's, criticized his statements as divisive.
Still, many see no contradiction between wanting to watch professional sports and avoid political controversy at the same time. Conservative commentator Laura Ingraham's Shut Up And Sing has become to some fans "Shut up and dribble."
“From LeBron’s hypocrisy on China to woke slogans on the back of NBA jerseys to kneeling during the national anthem, Americans, by and large, prefer to keep their politics and sports separate irrespective of their political leanings," said Ford O'Connell, a Republican strategist. "These are trying times. We are in the midst of a global pandemic, and sports, whether professional or amateur, are a form of escapism from the hard realities we face. So, President Trump is saying what many, even those who disagree with him politically, are thinking, 'play ball,' but please leave the politics in the locker room.”
Professional baseball, basketball, and hockey have already resumed, while football teams have begun training camp. But major college football programs have already been postponed.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-08-12--GOP House candidate in dead heat for Will Hurd's district: Poll

The race to succeed GOP Rep. Will Hurd in a Texas district straddling the U.S.-Mexico border is effectively tied , a poll by the Republican candidate Tony Gonzales shows .
Gonzales is not yet the official Republican nominee against the Democratic candidate , Gina Ortiz Jones , in the sprawling district Hurd is retiring from after six years in office .
A recount looms over his primary runoff tally against Raul Reyes , whom the initial count showed Gonzales beat by 45 votes out of nearly 25,000 cast the in the race .
Recanvassing of the three biggest counties in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ But assuming Navy veteran Gonzales does emerge as the Republican nominee , he 'll start the 11-week sprint to the Nov. 3 election in a dead heat with Ortiz Jones , a former Air Force intelligence officer who narrowly lost to Hurd in 2018 .
According to the poll , both candidates remain in a dead heat , with 40 % of the 400 voters polled in the district supporting Gonzales and 41 % backing Ortiz Jones .
The Remington Research Group found similar results in a poll released June 1 , with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ points , within the survey 's margin of error .
One source informed the Washington Examiner that Internal RNC data confirms a Gonzales-Ortiz Jones matchup is within a percentage point .
The battle to keep the West Texas district red is a fierce one for the GOP , as the House seat is considered high on the list for Democrats to flip blue this election cycle .
The Cook Political Report rates the district as R+1 .
More broadly in Texas , the campaign of presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden is eyeing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has gone Republican in every White House race since 1980 .
Republican Sen. John Cornyn is also likely to face his toughest race since first being elected in 2002 , against Afghanistan War veteran MJ Hegar .
Hurd eked out his reelection in 2018 against Ortiz Jones with 49.2 % of the vote to her 48.7 % .
A new poll released by the Gonzales campaign , conducted by Public Opinion Strategies on their behalf , shows a similarly tight race if Gonzales is declared the winner at the end of the week @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Republican endorsements backing their candidacies .
President Trump supported Gonzales while Texas Sen. Ted Cruz backed Reyes .
Both Republicans are far behind the Democrat in terms of campaign fundraising .
According to Federal Election Campaign records , Ortiz Jones has over $ 3 million in cash on hand , while Gonzales and Reyes trail with over $ 390,000 and $ 24,000 , respectively , cash on hand .
Gonzales campaign spokesman Matt Mackowiak , in a statement to the Washington Examiner , argued the majority of Ortiz Jones 's donors are not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ uniting behind their campaign .
“ In the second quarter of 2020 , Gina Jones raised 0.65 % of her money in the district and 80 % from donors outside of Texas .
She ’ s raised millions from left-wing donors from California and New York .
Tony is earning support from Texans because he will fight for Texas .
Tony has raised $ 1M+ so far , and we have some ground to make up , but since the runoff , the party is quickly unifying behind Tony because we must win @ @ @ @ @ @ @

The race to succeed GOP Rep. Will Hurd in a Texas district straddling the U.S.-Mexico border is effectively tied, a poll by the Republican candidate Tony Gonzales shows.
Gonzales is not yet the official Republican nominee against the Democratic candidate, Gina Ortiz Jones, in the sprawling district Hurd is retiring from after six years in office. A recount looms over his primary runoff tally against Raul Reyes, whom the initial count showed Gonzales beat by 45 votes out of nearly 25,000 cast the in the race.
Recanvassing of the three biggest counties in the 23rd Congressional District began Tuesday. But assuming Navy veteran Gonzales does emerge as the Republican nominee, he'll start the 11-week sprint to the Nov. 3 election in a dead heat with Ortiz Jones, a former Air Force intelligence officer who narrowly lost to Hurd in 2018.
According to the poll, both candidates remain in a dead heat, with 40% of the 400 voters polled in the district supporting Gonzales and 41% backing Ortiz Jones. The Remington Research Group found similar results in a poll released June 1, with Ortiz Jones leading Gonzalez by 2 percentage points, within the survey's margin of error.
One source informed the Washington Examiner that Internal RNC data confirms a Gonzales-Ortiz Jones matchup is within a percentage point.
The battle to keep the West Texas district red is a fierce one for the GOP, as the House seat is considered high on the list for Democrats to flip blue this election cycle. The Cook Political Report rates the district as R+1. More broadly in Texas, the campaign of presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden is eyeing playing hard in the state, which has gone Republican in every White House race since 1980. Republican Sen. John Cornyn is also likely to face his toughest race since first being elected in 2002, against Afghanistan War veteran MJ Hegar.
Hurd eked out his reelection in 2018 against Ortiz Jones with 49.2% of the vote to her 48.7%. The new poll released by the Gonzales campaign, conducted by Public Opinion Strategies on their behalf, shows a similarly tight race if Gonzales is declared the winner at the end of the week.
Both Gonzales and Reyes have major Republican endorsements backing their candidacies. President Trump supported Gonzales while Texas Sen. Ted Cruz backed Reyes.
Both Republicans are far behind the Democrat in terms of campaign fundraising. According to Federal Election Campaign records, Ortiz Jones has over $3 million in cash on hand, while Gonzales and Reyes trail with over $390,000 and $24,000, respectively, cash on hand.
Gonzales campaign spokesman Matt Mackowiak, in a statement to the Washington Examiner, argued the majority of Ortiz Jones's donors are not from Texas, and Republicans are now uniting behind their campaign.
“In the second quarter of 2020, Gina Jones raised 0.65% of her money in the district and 80% from donors outside of Texas. She’s raised millions from left-wing donors from California and New York. Tony is earning support from Texans because he will fight for Texas. Tony has raised $1M+ so far, and we have some ground to make up, but since the runoff, the party is quickly unifying behind Tony because we must win this race,” he said.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-08-12--Joe Biden owes steelworkers a straight answer

While Joe Biden ’ s limited public appearances may help his campaign hide some of his gaffes , his invite-only campaign also serves to hide something far more dangerous to American workers : his desire to reverse President Trump ’ s tariffs on steel and aluminum .
In May , the Biden campaign answered a series of questions posed by the United Steel Workers .
Despite leading decades of failed trade policy in the Senate and as vice president , Biden has learned nothing .
Most of his answers could have been written by the Hillary Clinton campaign that American @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was Biden ’ s answer on whether he would continue the tariffs on steel and aluminum , which spurred a manufacturing resurgence prior to the pandemic and allowed U.S. Steel in Gary , Indiana , to invest nearly a billion dollars into its facilities in the Hoosier State .
When asked if he would keep these tariffs in place , Biden declined to answer directly , stating that he will “ review ” them .
This is just unacceptable .
American workers deserve a straight answer about Biden ’ s real plans .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ this week , Biden has yet to take a position on this issue , which is central to so many Hoosiers ’ livelihoods .
Contrast Biden ’ s disregard for steelworkers with Trump .
By June 2016 , candidate Donald Trump had already outlined his seven-point plan on trade , and once in the White House , he kept his word .
He promised to appoint tough trade negotiators and renegotiate the failed NAFTA agreement .
Check and check .
He promised to label China a currency manipulator and strictly enforce U.S. trade @ @ @ @ @ @ @ promised to take a hard line toward China on trade and use new authorities to tackle unfair trade practices across the globe .
Check and check .
And finally , Trump promised to withdraw the United States from the failed Obama/Biden Trans-Pacific Partnership , or TPP .
Trump fulfilled that promise on day one .
Trump stood up to the failed Biden trade doctrine that filled our shelves with Chinese goods and loaded our ships with American jobs headed overseas .
During their convention this week , Biden and the Democrats will have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they plan to dismantle the steel protections that have saved thousands of American jobs .
Biden ’ s non-answer to that question so far speaks volumes .

While Joe Biden’s limited public appearances may help his campaign hide some of his gaffes, his invite-only campaign also serves to hide something far more dangerous to American workers: his desire to reverse President Trump’s tariffs on steel and aluminum.
In May, the Biden campaign answered a series of questions posed by the United Steel Workers. Despite leading decades of failed trade policy in the Senate and as vice president, Biden has learned nothing. Most of his answers could have been written by the Hillary Clinton campaign that American workers rejected in 2016.
Most troubling was Biden’s answer on whether he would continue the tariffs on steel and aluminum, which spurred a manufacturing resurgence prior to the pandemic and allowed U.S. Steel in Gary, Indiana, to invest nearly a billion dollars into its facilities in the Hoosier State. When asked if he would keep these tariffs in place, Biden declined to answer directly, stating that he will “review” them.
This is just unacceptable. American workers deserve a straight answer about Biden’s real plans. As the Democratic National Convention kicks off this week, Biden has yet to take a position on this issue, which is central to so many Hoosiers’ livelihoods.
Contrast Biden’s disregard for steelworkers with Trump. By June 2016, candidate Donald Trump had already outlined his seven-point plan on trade, and once in the White House, he kept his word.
He promised to appoint tough trade negotiators and renegotiate the failed NAFTA agreement. Check and check.
He promised to label China a currency manipulator and strictly enforce U.S. trade laws. Check and check.
He promised to take a hard line toward China on trade and use new authorities to tackle unfair trade practices across the globe. Check and check.
And finally, Trump promised to withdraw the United States from the failed Obama/Biden Trans-Pacific Partnership, or TPP. Trump fulfilled that promise on day one.
Trump stood up to the failed Biden trade doctrine that filled our shelves with Chinese goods and loaded our ships with American jobs headed overseas.
During their convention this week, Biden and the Democrats will have plenty of opportunities to tell people if they plan to dismantle the steel protections that have saved thousands of American jobs. Biden’s non-answer to that question so far speaks volumes.
Mike Braun, a Republican, is Indiana's junior U.S. senator.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-08-12--Democrats see over $10M pour in after Biden announces Harris as VP pick

Democrats saw a lot of money pour in after Sen. Kamala Harris was announced as presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe @ @ @ @ @ The Biden campaign said Tuesday prompted the biggest online fundraising hour and the biggest overall @ @ @ @ @ with more than $ 10.8 million coming into ActBlue within four hours .
ActBlue is @ @ @ @ @ Democrats , which raised that amount between 4 p.m. and 8 p.m. , according to @ @ @ @ @ Just one day before , ActBlue processed $ 2.3 million in the same time frame @

Democrats saw a lot of money pour in after Sen. Kamala Harris was announced as presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden's running mate.
The Biden campaign said Tuesday prompted the biggest online fundraising hour and the biggest overall grassroots fundraising day yet, with more than $10.8 million coming into ActBlue within four hours.
ActBlue is the main donation-processing platform for Democrats, which raised that amount between 4 p.m. and 8 p.m., according to the New York Times.
Just one day before, ActBlue processed $2.3 million in the same time frame.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-08-13--Banned from Twitter, bound for the House? Laura Loomer says she can win in Trump's backyard

Conservative activist Laura Loomer is no stranger to controversy .
But she believes if she wins the Republican primary to face off against Democratic Rep. Lois Frankel for a November showdown in President Trump 's Palm Beach backyard , she can be a congresswoman .
Loomer , who looks set to capture the Republican nomination on Tuesday , has overcome the hurdle of a ban from virtually every mainstream social media platform to pull in nearly $ 1.2 million since beginning her campaign , according to Federal Election Commission filings .
This so-called deplatforming occurs when users are said to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ service , notably regarding hate speech .
Loomer , 27 , has been banned from Twitter , Facebook , Instagram , and payment processors Paypal , Venmo , and GoFundMe .
Loomer has called Islam `` a cancer on society '' and posted a daylong tirade on social media targeting ride-hailing services Uber and Lyft , in which she called for a `` non Islamic form of Uber or Lyft , '' which was followed by her ban in 2017 .
“ Uber will literally hire an Islamic terrorist , but they will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ safety concerns , ” she protested afterward .
Still , Loomer has outraised Frankel by more than $ 300,000 and is far outpacing her Republican primary opponents .
She is counting on support from independent voters , she told the Washington Examiner in an interview .
`` There 's over 150,000 NPAs , or No Party Affiliates , here in District 21 , '' Loomer said .
`` And so , this is a winnable race if a lot of these independents end up voting Republican . ''
Both candidates are Jewish , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for Israel gives her an edge with voters who find themselves alienated by the Democratic Party 's leftward shift on the Middle East .
Frankel , said Loomer , has failed to sanction the `` vicious anti-Semitism and Jew-hatred and anti-Israel rhetoric fomenting in the halls of Congress . ''
Frankel 's congressional office did not respond to a request for comment .
Among the issues she believes could drive independent voters into her arms are calls for `` defunding '' the police and the Democrats ' association with the official Black Lives @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` Marxist . ''
`` I 've met moderate Democrats who 've told me that they 're absolutely horrified and that they do n't even know if they 're going to vote , '' said Loomer .
`` They said they do n't necessarily like Trump , but they also could never vote for Biden . ''
But Loomer will need a big cash infusion if she wins next week 's primary .
Frankel ran unopposed in 2018 , and her sole challenger in this year 's primary raised less than $ 25,000 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a fall race .
`` It 's a hard pickup no matter what , '' said a veteran Republican operative in South Florida .
`` This has been a tough race , and she 's the one who 's raising the most money and who appears to give you the best shot . ''
Trump lost the district to Hillary Clinton in 2016 by 20 points .
`` All of them are trailing Frankel big time in cash , '' this person said .
Though Loomer has raised more than Frankel , according @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vastly more .
Frankel has more than $ 1 million in cash on hand .
`` If anyone 's willing to do different things and run through a wall , so be it . ''
The major `` wall '' here is the redistricting that carved up Palm Beach after the last census .
Still , this strategist said , `` There 's a press to make sure that everyone who could possibly vote Republican turns out in Florida .
You want to make sure that people are n't depressed by the appearance @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Republican Party Chairman Joe Gruters likened Loomer 's potential to flip Frankel 's seat in November to other South Florida Republicans gaining steam , including Trump-endorsed Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Gimenez , who is running in the 26th District against incumbent Democratic Rep. Debbie Mucarsel-Powell .
`` Once the primary is over , and she 's our candidate , we are going on the offensive , '' said Gruters , a member of the Florida state Senate .
`` I think we have a real opportunity to win some of these races where people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''
`` According to polls , she is looking pretty competitive , '' Gruters added .
An endorsement by Florida Republican Rep. Matt Gaetz , a close Trump ally , over the weekend was `` a huge boost to her campaign , '' said Palm Beach County Republican State Committeewoman Cindy Tindell , who has not taken a position in the primary .
`` Should she be the nominee , I have no doubt she will beat Lois Frankel .
She can win . ''
Loomer has also been endorsed by longtime @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Roger Stone and received maximum donations from Bernie Marcus , a major Republican donor who speaks to the president often .
Enthusiasm for Trump is high in Palm Beach County , said Tindell .
`` If people are doubting his support in Palm Beach County , they are misguided . ''
Loomer , said Tindell , is the `` antidote '' to the group of young , female Democratic lawmakers known as the `` Squad . ''
`` She 's not the nice girl , '' Tindell said .
`` She 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she will be the nominee . ''
Loomer 's closest Republican rivals , Reba Sherrill and Christian Acosta , have raised a fraction of Loomer 's haul .
Of Sherrill 's $ 350,102 total filed with the FEC , all but $ 102 came from a self-administered loan .
Acosta has raised a little over $ 90,000 , with $ 6,115 remaining .
Internal polling for the campaign shows Loomer 9 points ahead of Frankel in her Palm Beach County 21st Congressional District , which leans heavily Democratic , according to team Loomer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ district D+9 .
Frankel beat her last Republican challenger 63 % to 35 % in 2016 .
She beat the same Republican 58 % to 42 % in 2014 .
`` We 've been running a general election campaign since we launched this race , '' Loomer said .
`` There 's a primary , but my opponent from the very beginning has been Lois Frankel . ''

Conservative activist Laura Loomer is no stranger to controversy. But she believes if she wins the Republican primary to face off against Democratic Rep. Lois Frankel for a November showdown in President Trump's Palm Beach backyard, she can be a congresswoman.
Loomer, who looks set to capture the Republican nomination on Tuesday, has overcome the hurdle of a ban from virtually every mainstream social media platform to pull in nearly $1.2 million since beginning her campaign, according to Federal Election Commission filings.
This so-called deplatforming occurs when users are said to have violated a company's terms of service, notably regarding hate speech. Loomer, 27, has been banned from Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and payment processors Paypal, Venmo, and GoFundMe. Loomer has called Islam "a cancer on society" and posted a daylong tirade on social media targeting ride-hailing services Uber and Lyft, in which she called for a "non Islamic form of Uber or Lyft," which was followed by her ban in 2017. “Uber will literally hire an Islamic terrorist, but they will ban a conservative journalist for addressing legitimate safety concerns,” she protested afterward.
Still, Loomer has outraised Frankel by more than $300,000 and is far outpacing her Republican primary opponents.
She is counting on support from independent voters, she told the Washington Examiner in an interview. "There's over 150,000 NPAs, or No Party Affiliates, here in District 21," Loomer said. "And so, this is a winnable race if a lot of these independents end up voting Republican."
Both candidates are Jewish, but Loomer says her own unequivocal support for Israel gives her an edge with voters who find themselves alienated by the Democratic Party's leftward shift on the Middle East. Frankel, said Loomer, has failed to sanction the "vicious anti-Semitism and Jew-hatred and anti-Israel rhetoric fomenting in the halls of Congress."
Frankel's congressional office did not respond to a request for comment.
Among the issues she believes could drive independent voters into her arms are calls for "defunding" the police and the Democrats' association with the official Black Lives Matter organization, which Loomer characterized as "Marxist."
"I've met moderate Democrats who've told me that they're absolutely horrified and that they don't even know if they're going to vote," said Loomer. "They said they don't necessarily like Trump, but they also could never vote for Biden."
But Loomer will need a big cash infusion if she wins next week's primary. Frankel ran unopposed in 2018, and her sole challenger in this year's primary raised less than $25,000, leaving her flush with cash for a fall race.
"It's a hard pickup no matter what," said a veteran Republican operative in South Florida. "This has been a tough race, and she's the one who's raising the most money and who appears to give you the best shot."
Trump lost the district to Hillary Clinton in 2016 by 20 points.
"All of them are trailing Frankel big time in cash," this person said. Though Loomer has raised more than Frankel, according to filings, she has also spent vastly more. Frankel has more than $1 million in cash on hand. "If anyone's willing to do different things and run through a wall, so be it."
The major "wall" here is the redistricting that carved up Palm Beach after the last census.
Still, this strategist said, "There's a press to make sure that everyone who could possibly vote Republican turns out in Florida. You want to make sure that people aren't depressed by the appearance of being left behind."
Florida Republican Party Chairman Joe Gruters likened Loomer's potential to flip Frankel's seat in November to other South Florida Republicans gaining steam, including Trump-endorsed Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Gimenez, who is running in the 26th District against incumbent Democratic Rep. Debbie Mucarsel-Powell.
"Once the primary is over, and she's our candidate, we are going on the offensive," said Gruters, a member of the Florida state Senate. "I think we have a real opportunity to win some of these races where people didn't think we had a chance."
"According to polls, she is looking pretty competitive," Gruters added.
An endorsement by Florida Republican Rep. Matt Gaetz, a close Trump ally, over the weekend was "a huge boost to her campaign," said Palm Beach County Republican State Committeewoman Cindy Tindell, who has not taken a position in the primary. "Should she be the nominee, I have no doubt she will beat Lois Frankel. She can win."
Loomer has also been endorsed by longtime Trump associate, and recent clemency recipient, Roger Stone and received maximum donations from Bernie Marcus, a major Republican donor who speaks to the president often.
Enthusiasm for Trump is high in Palm Beach County, said Tindell. "If people are doubting his support in Palm Beach County, they are misguided."
Loomer, said Tindell, is the "antidote" to the group of young, female Democratic lawmakers known as the "Squad." "She's not the nice girl," Tindell said. "She's the warrior. If that resonates, she will be the nominee."
Loomer's closest Republican rivals, Reba Sherrill and Christian Acosta, have raised a fraction of Loomer's haul. Of Sherrill's $350,102 total filed with the FEC, all but $102 came from a self-administered loan. Acosta has raised a little over $90,000, with $6,115 remaining.
Internal polling for the campaign shows Loomer 9 points ahead of Frankel in her Palm Beach County 21st Congressional District, which leans heavily Democratic, according to team Loomer. The Cook Political Report rates the district D+9. Frankel beat her last Republican challenger 63% to 35% in 2016. She beat the same Republican 58% to 42% in 2014.
"We've been running a general election campaign since we launched this race," Loomer said. "There's a primary, but my opponent from the very beginning has been Lois Frankel."


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-08-12--Kamala Harris takes swipe at Fox News in first speech as presumptive vice presidential nominee

Kamala Harris used her first speech as the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee to take a swipe at Fox News .
In the joint appearance with presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden the day after he announced that Harris was his running mate , the California senator compared the Obama-Biden administration 's response to the Ebola virus outbreak to Trump 's handling of the coronavirus pandemic .
`` Barack Obama and Joe Biden did their job .
Only two people in the United States died .
Two , '' she said .
`` Compare that to the moment we find ourselves @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the science , Trump pushed miracle cures he saw on Fox News . ''
The comment was an apparent reference to hydroxychloroquine , an anti-malarial drug that Trump and some Fox News hosts touted as a promising treatment to the COVID-19 virus .
However , the Food and Drug Administration cautions against using it as a COVID-19 treatment outside of a hospital setting or clinical trials due to the risk of heart rhythm problems .
`` While other countries are flattening the curve .
He said the virus would just poof , go @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Harris said .

Kamala Harris used her first speech as the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee to take a swipe at Fox News.
In the joint appearance with presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden the day after he announced that Harris was his running mate, the California senator compared the Obama-Biden administration's response to the Ebola virus outbreak to Trump's handling of the coronavirus pandemic.
"Barack Obama and Joe Biden did their job. Only two people in the United States died. Two," she said. "Compare that to the moment we find ourselves now. When other countries are following the science, Trump pushed miracle cures he saw on Fox News."
The comment was an apparent reference to hydroxychloroquine, an anti-malarial drug that Trump and some Fox News hosts touted as a promising treatment to the COVID-19 virus. However, the Food and Drug Administration cautions against using it as a COVID-19 treatment outside of a hospital setting or clinical trials due to the risk of heart rhythm problems.
"While other countries are flattening the curve. He said the virus would just poof, go away, like a miracle," Harris said.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-08-12--Kamala Harris blames Trump for unemployment rate

`` Millions of Americans '' would n't be out of work if it were not for President Trump , claimed Kamala Harris during her first public remarks after being chosen as Joe Biden 's running mate .
`` This virus has impacted almost every country , but there 's a reason it has hit America worse than any other advanced nation , '' the California senator said during her Wednesday speech in Wilmington , Delaware .
`` It ’ s because of Trump ’ s failure to take it seriously from the start . ''
She added : `` Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are now unemployed .
He inherited the longest economic expansion in American history from Barack Obama and Joe Biden .
And then , like everything else he inherited , he drove it into the ground . ''
The coronavirus outbreak and the lockdown policies implemented by state governments meant to stop its spread has caused the largest drop in GDP since the Great Depression .
The current unemployment rate currently sits at 10.2 % , down from a high of over 14 % but nowhere near the below 4 % at the start @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as the candidate of `` empathy '' and `` compassion , '' whose own life experiences have prepared him to tackle the coronavirus pandemic , which has left over 150,000 dead and millions more ill. '' Today , he takes his place in the ongoing story of America 's march toward equality and justice as the only one who has served alongside the first black president and has chosen the first black woman as his running mate , '' she said .

"Millions of Americans" wouldn't be out of work if it were not for President Trump, claimed Kamala Harris during her first public remarks after being chosen as Joe Biden's running mate.
"This virus has impacted almost every country, but there's a reason it has hit America worse than any other advanced nation," the California senator said during her Wednesday speech in Wilmington, Delaware. "It’s because of Trump’s failure to take it seriously from the start."
She added: "Trump is also the reason millions of Americans are now unemployed. He inherited the longest economic expansion in American history from Barack Obama and Joe Biden. And then, like everything else he inherited, he drove it into the ground."
The coronavirus outbreak and the lockdown policies implemented by state governments meant to stop its spread has caused the largest drop in GDP since the Great Depression. The current unemployment rate currently sits at 10.2%, down from a high of over 14% but nowhere near the below 4% at the start of the year.
Harris pitched Biden as the candidate of "empathy" and "compassion," whose own life experiences have prepared him to tackle the coronavirus pandemic, which has left over 150,000 dead and millions more ill.
"Today, he takes his place in the ongoing story of America's march toward equality and justice as the only one who has served alongside the first black president and has chosen the first black woman as his running mate," she said.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-08-12--'Kamala Harris, Radical': Trump team sends out talking points to surrogates

The Trump campaign sent out talking points to surrogates , and its message is clear : Kamala Harris is an extremist .
In a PDF obtained by Politico on Wednesday , the Trump team explained to its supporters what messages should be pushed in reaction to Joe Biden picking Harris as his running mate .
Those talking points will be used as a resource for the campaign 's proxies as they make appearances on television , radio , and elsewhere .
At the top of the document , the title reads , `` Kamala Harris , Radical . ''
Further @ @ @ @ @ @ @ number of subcategories including , `` Open Borders , '' `` Pro-Abortion , Anti-Catholic , '' and `` Weak on Crime , Cop Killers , Terrorists . ''
In one portion , the talking points mention that `` Harris raised her hand in support of decriminalizing illegal border crossings . ''
The point under a subsection labeled `` phony '' reads , `` Harris attacked Biden for praising and coddling racist segregationists . ''
Biden announced that Harris , a senator and former attorney general of California , would be his vice presidential @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will be holding their first event together on Wednesday .

The Trump campaign sent out talking points to surrogates, and its message is clear: Kamala Harris is an extremist.
In a PDF obtained by Politico on Wednesday, the Trump team explained to its supporters what messages should be pushed in reaction to Joe Biden picking Harris as his running mate. Those talking points will be used as a resource for the campaign's proxies as they make appearances on television, radio, and elsewhere.
At the top of the document, the title reads, "Kamala Harris, Radical."
Further down, the guidance refers to a number of subcategories including, "Open Borders," "Pro-Abortion, Anti-Catholic," and "Weak on Crime, Cop Killers, Terrorists."
In one portion, the talking points mention that "Harris raised her hand in support of decriminalizing illegal border crossings." The point under a subsection labeled "phony" reads, "Harris attacked Biden for praising and coddling racist segregationists."
The Trump campaign is distributing these Harris talking points to surrogates ahead of her appearance w/Biden (1/2) pic.twitter.com/S4sUzPPnCF — Alex Isenstadt (@politicoalex) August 12, 2020
Biden announced that Harris, a senator and former attorney general of California, would be his vice presidential candidate on Tuesday evening. The two will be holding their first event together on Wednesday.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-08-12--Trump campaign tiptoes around ‘Kamala is a cop’

For law enforcement-loving supporters of President Trump , is `` Kamala is a cop '' a swipe or a compliment ?
The president ’ s campaign is carefully maneuvering around a common criticism of Kamala Harris , Joe Biden ’ s choice of running mate : That her prosecutorial record shows she was authoritarian and strict rather than a liberal reformer , a message that undermines the president ’ s own law-and-order stance .
Following news that the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee chose the California senator on Tuesday to be his running mate , some wings of criminal justice reform-minded @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Harris that also comes from the far-left .
The phrase “ Kamala Harris is a cop ” is now a meme , accusing Harris of having draconian policies as San Francisco ’ s district attorney for eight years and as California ’ s attorney general for six years .
Some conservatives shared a 2019 Democratic debate moment when Hawaii Rep. Tulsi Gabbard sharply attacked Harris ’ s prosecutorial record in perhaps the most defining “ Kamala is a cop ” moment , saying that Harris jailed people for marijuana offenses , denied @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on death row believed by many to be convicted wrongfully ( which Harris later said she feels awful about , but had no direct role in ) , and sought to increase cash bail when she was San Francisco ’ s district attorney ( though she now supports eliminating cash bail ) .
But electorally minded Republicans are carefully trying to reconcile their support for law enforcement in the wake of nationwide riots and protests over race and policing and Trump ’ s law-and-order message , with the popular talking point that implicitly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of police and a strict enforcer of the law .
Trump ’ s campaign appeared to make a reference to the sentiment that she was too forceful of a prosecutor while at the same time refraining from adopting a tone that is critical of police as a whole .
In the campaign ’ s first statement about Biden ’ s running-mate pick , Trump campaign senior adviser Katrina Pierson said that Harris will “ try to bury her record as a prosecutor , in order to appease the anti-police extremists controlling the Democrat @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Harris will pretend that her strict prosecutor record was actually liberal so she will win over left-wing voters .
But Pierson said that there isn ’ t a contradiction when the campaign references Harris ’ s prosecutorial record being criticized for being too strict while at the same time promoting a law-and-order agenda .
“ It 's sort of conflating the issue , ” Pierson told the Washington Examiner Tuesday .
“ I mean , she ’ s a phony .
She was going after the wrong people .
When you 're not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 're going after citizens , for example , black men and marijuana — something that she herself admitted to doing .
It 's really a double standard she 's trying to keep moving forward.
” Democrats are as amused by supporters of Trump accusing Harris of being a draconian cop as they are as the arguments that she is too soft .
“ It ’ s hard , I think , for Donald Trump and others to attack her on that when she 's got a long record of , you know , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said Democratic strategist Mary Anne Marsh .
“ It 's hard to say that Kamala Harris is n't for law and order.
” She cited Harris ’ s widely praised grilling in Senate confirmation hearings of former Attorney General Jeff Sessions and Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh , in addition to Harris ’ s desire as district attorney and attorney general “ to try to fix '' the criminal justice system `` from the inside out.
” “ In this day and age where everyone 's looking for reform in law enforcement , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ got a long record of doing that .
If you think she has n't done enough , well , now she ’ ll have the chance to do more.
” Democratic strategist Jesse Ferguson suggested that Trump ’ s record undermines any attacks on Harris , who ran the last leg of her presidential campaign on being able to “ prosecute the case against Trump.
” '' Donald Trump 's commitment to law and order has always been a talking point — not a reality , ” Ferguson said .
“ His worst @ @ @ @ @ @ @ criminal activities of his administration and indicted conspirators who work for him against a successful former prosecutor and attorney general.
” Recognition that equating Harris to tough law enforcement could be counterproductive may be why most messaging coming from the Trump campaign about Harris this week has ignored the idea that she was too tough as a prosecutor entirely , and instead focuses on leftist aspects of Harris ’ s positions and record of supporting healthcare for illegal immigrants and being a co-sponsor of Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders ’ s “ Green New @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Wednesday said Harris would “ give cop killers a pass , ” a reference to when she declined to seek the death penalty for a gang member who killed a police officer .
The Trump War Room Twitter account hasn ’ t tweeted the word “ prosecutor ” alongside “ Harris ” since before she dropped out of the Democratic primary last year .
Republican Tennessee Sen. Marsha Blackburn suggested in a press call Tuesday that Harris ’ s prosecutor record shows she was not “ tough on hardened criminals .
”

For law enforcement-loving supporters of President Trump, is "Kamala is a cop" a swipe or a compliment?
The president’s campaign is carefully maneuvering around a common criticism of Kamala Harris, Joe Biden’s choice of running mate: That her prosecutorial record shows she was authoritarian and strict rather than a liberal reformer, a message that undermines the president’s own law-and-order stance.
Following news that the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee chose the California senator on Tuesday to be his running mate, some wings of criminal justice reform-minded conservatives and libertarians latched on to criticism of Harris that also comes from the far-left. The phrase “Kamala Harris is a cop” is now a meme, accusing Harris of having draconian policies as San Francisco’s district attorney for eight years and as California’s attorney general for six years.
Some conservatives shared a 2019 Democratic debate moment when Hawaii Rep. Tulsi Gabbard sharply attacked Harris’s prosecutorial record in perhaps the most defining “Kamala is a cop” moment, saying that Harris jailed people for marijuana offenses, denied a new DNA test for a man on death row believed by many to be convicted wrongfully (which Harris later said she feels awful about, but had no direct role in), and sought to increase cash bail when she was San Francisco’s district attorney (though she now supports eliminating cash bail).
But electorally minded Republicans are carefully trying to reconcile their support for law enforcement in the wake of nationwide riots and protests over race and policing and Trump’s law-and-order message, with the popular talking point that implicitly frames Harris as being on the side of police and a strict enforcer of the law.
Trump’s campaign appeared to make a reference to the sentiment that she was too forceful of a prosecutor while at the same time refraining from adopting a tone that is critical of police as a whole.
In the campaign’s first statement about Biden’s running-mate pick, Trump campaign senior adviser Katrina Pierson said that Harris will “try to bury her record as a prosecutor, in order to appease the anti-police extremists controlling the Democrat Party,” an apparent suggestion that Harris will pretend that her strict prosecutor record was actually liberal so she will win over left-wing voters.
But Pierson said that there isn’t a contradiction when the campaign references Harris’s prosecutorial record being criticized for being too strict while at the same time promoting a law-and-order agenda.
“It's sort of conflating the issue,” Pierson told the Washington Examiner Tuesday. “I mean, she’s a phony. She was going after the wrong people. When you're not going after gang members, but you're going after citizens, for example, black men and marijuana — something that she herself admitted to doing. It's really a double standard she's trying to keep moving forward.”
Democrats are as amused by supporters of Trump accusing Harris of being a draconian cop as they are as the arguments that she is too soft.
“It’s hard, I think, for Donald Trump and others to attack her on that when she's got a long record of, you know, prosecuting a lot of crime,” said Democratic strategist Mary Anne Marsh. “It's hard to say that Kamala Harris isn't for law and order.”
She cited Harris’s widely praised grilling in Senate confirmation hearings of former Attorney General Jeff Sessions and Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh, in addition to Harris’s desire as district attorney and attorney general “to try to fix" the criminal justice system "from the inside out.”
“In this day and age where everyone's looking for reform in law enforcement,” Marsh added, “She's got a long record of doing that. If you think she hasn't done enough, well, now she’ll have the chance to do more.”
Democratic strategist Jesse Ferguson suggested that Trump’s record undermines any attacks on Harris, who ran the last leg of her presidential campaign on being able to “prosecute the case against Trump.”
"Donald Trump's commitment to law and order has always been a talking point — not a reality,” Ferguson said. “His worst nightmare is having to defend all the criminal activities of his administration and indicted conspirators who work for him against a successful former prosecutor and attorney general.”
Recognition that equating Harris to tough law enforcement could be counterproductive may be why most messaging coming from the Trump campaign about Harris this week has ignored the idea that she was too tough as a prosecutor entirely, and instead focuses on leftist aspects of Harris’s positions and record of supporting healthcare for illegal immigrants and being a co-sponsor of Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders’s “Green New Deal.”
One Trump campaign video released Wednesday said Harris would “give cop killers a pass,” a reference to when she declined to seek the death penalty for a gang member who killed a police officer.
The Trump War Room Twitter account hasn’t tweeted the word “prosecutor” alongside “Harris” since before she dropped out of the Democratic primary last year. Republican Tennessee Sen. Marsha Blackburn suggested in a press call Tuesday that Harris’s prosecutor record shows she was not “tough on hardened criminals.”


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-08-12--GOP candidate holds narrow lead in Kansas Senate race

A longtime Republican-held seat that could decide who holds a Senate majority after the November election currently tilts towards the GOP , according to a new poll .
Voters in Kansas currently favor the Republican nominee , Rep. Roger Marshall , over Democrat Barbara Bollier by two points , with 46 % and 44 % support respectively .
Despite that slim lead , Marshall is currently underperforming President Trump , whom 48 % of voters in the state plan on voting for compared to 41 % saying the same for Joe Biden , the presumptive Democratic nominee .
The survey @ @ @ @ @ @ @ political enthusiasts known as `` Election Twitter , '' who crowdfunded the poll after complaining about unreliable polling of the state .
The margin of error of the poll is +/- 3.3 % after interviewing 1,675 adults from Aug. 8 through Aug. 9 .
`` Young voters hold the key to whether Kansas elects a Republican to fill the seat being vacated by fixture Pat Roberts , who is not seeking re-election after 24 years , or sends a Democrat to Washington DC for the first time in 88 years , '' the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is inexorably tied to top-of-ticket Republican Donald Trump , whose rising tide would float many red boats , if that tide comes in , but whose current sustained ebb tide is giving Democrats up and down the ballot hope not just in The Sunflower State , but throughout the heartland . ''
A member of Election Twitter who first shared the poll on Twitter did not respond to a request for comment .
Marshall was considered the safest GOP candidate running in the primary , which was held on Aug. 4 .
Kris @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the former Kansas secretary of state who lost his 2018 run for governor against Democrat Laura Kelly , lost the primary by nearly 15 points , earning 26.1 % of the vote .
Democrats need to win three to four Senate races in November to retain a 51-seat majority in the chamber .
The Kansas race has generally not been part of their majority calculations , but in an uncertain political environment due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the ensuing recession , it 's become a target of opportunity .

A longtime Republican-held seat that could decide who holds a Senate majority after the November election currently tilts towards the GOP, according to a new poll.
Voters in Kansas currently favor the Republican nominee, Rep. Roger Marshall, over Democrat Barbara Bollier by two points, with 46% and 44% support respectively. Despite that slim lead, Marshall is currently underperforming President Trump, whom 48% of voters in the state plan on voting for compared to 41% saying the same for Joe Biden, the presumptive Democratic nominee.
The survey was commissioned by a cadre of online political enthusiasts known as "Election Twitter," who crowdfunded the poll after complaining about unreliable polling of the state. The margin of error of the poll is +/- 3.3% after interviewing 1,675 adults from Aug. 8 through Aug. 9.
"Young voters hold the key to whether Kansas elects a Republican to fill the seat being vacated by fixture Pat Roberts, who is not seeking re-election after 24 years, or sends a Democrat to Washington DC for the first time in 88 years," the pollsters wrote. "Marshall's fate is inexorably tied to top-of-ticket Republican Donald Trump, whose rising tide would float many red boats, if that tide comes in, but whose current sustained ebb tide is giving Democrats up and down the ballot hope not just in The Sunflower State, but throughout the heartland."
A member of Election Twitter who first shared the poll on Twitter did not respond to a request for comment.
Marshall was considered the safest GOP candidate running in the primary, which was held on Aug. 4. Kris Kobach, Marshall's biggest opponent and the former Kansas secretary of state who lost his 2018 run for governor against Democrat Laura Kelly, lost the primary by nearly 15 points, earning 26.1% of the vote.
Democrats need to win three to four Senate races in November to retain a 51-seat majority in the chamber. The Kansas race has generally not been part of their majority calculations, but in an uncertain political environment due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the ensuing recession, it's become a target of opportunity.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-08-12--WATCH: Biden and Harris hold first joint campaign event

Joe Biden will be joined by vice presidential running mate Kamala Harris for a campaign event for the first time @ @ @ @ @ expected to speak on Wednesday afternoon for the first time since Biden made his selection @ @ @ @ @ They will be speaking together in Delaware , where Biden 's campaign has been centered @ @ @ @ @ down much of the country .

Joe Biden will be joined by vice presidential running mate Kamala Harris for a campaign event for the first time.
The Democratic duo is expected to speak on Wednesday afternoon for the first time since Biden made his selection known a day earlier. They will be speaking together in Delaware, where Biden's campaign has been centered since the coronavirus pandemic shut down much of the country.


thewashingtonexaminer--2020-08-12--House Republican: 'Pretty cool' for child of immigrants to be selected as presidential running mate

Rep. Tim Burchett and Kamala Harris have a lot of political differences , but he thinks it 's `` pretty cool '' that a child of immigrants can be chosen as a presidential running mate .
The Tennessee Republican explained on Wednesday that he disagrees with most of Harris 's political positions , but expressed his awe at the political system that allowed her to become the vice presidential nominee for a major political party .
`` I rarely agree with @ KamalaHarris on anything .
I think she is wrong on about every Dadgum issue .
But , it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a country where an immigrant couple can have a girl that can have a shot at being the most powerful person in the world , '' Burchett tweeted .
Biden touted Harris 's status as the child of immigrants in his vice presidential announcement .
He credited Harris 's parents for instilling a drive for change in her at a young age .
`` @ KamalaHarris is the daughter of proud immigrants — a mother from India and a father from Jamaica — who raised her to take action , '' Biden @ @ @ @ @ @ @ what this moment calls for : action . ''

Rep. Tim Burchett and Kamala Harris have a lot of political differences, but he thinks it's "pretty cool" that a child of immigrants can be chosen as a presidential running mate.
The Tennessee Republican explained on Wednesday that he disagrees with most of Harris's political positions, but expressed his awe at the political system that allowed her to become the vice presidential nominee for a major political party.
"I rarely agree with @KamalaHarris on anything. I think she is wrong on about every Dadgum issue. But, it’s pretty cool that we live in a country where an immigrant couple can have a girl that can have a shot at being the most powerful person in the world," Burchett tweeted.
I rarely agree with @KamalaHarris on anything. I think she is wrong on about every Dadgum issue. But, it’s pretty cool that we live in a country where an immigrant couple can have a girl that can have a shot at being the most powerful person in the world. — Tim Burchett (@timburchett) August 12, 2020
Biden touted Harris's status as the child of immigrants in his vice presidential announcement. He credited Harris's parents for instilling a drive for change in her at a young age.
"@KamalaHarris is the daughter of proud immigrants — a mother from India and a father from Jamaica — who raised her to take action," Biden tweeted. "That’s exactly what this moment calls for: action."