politicususa--2020-08-09--Opinion: Let Us Count the Ways Trump, GOP Have Created a Death Culture in America

We often define culture as a “ way of life.
” Implicit in this definition is the notion that culture should support and value human life .
It makes sense , right ?
A “ way of life ” promises , in its very language , to support living , not promote dying .
And yet , as I have written about on multiple occasions ( here , here , and here ) since last October when Donald Trump effectively aided and abetted Turkey ’ s President Tayyip Erdogan in a genocide against the Kurdish people in Northern Syria , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ its foreign and domestic policy and practice , can be described as nothing less than genocidal .
When I say his domestic policies and practices are genocidal , I mean to assert quite blatantly that his governing has sought quite actively and hostilely to undermine the lives of Americans .
It isn ’ t just that he ’ s careless and callous with American lives .
He carefully seeks to promote American death .
As I write , over 160,000 Americans have died as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic .
Not only @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , we have also learned that Jared Kushner ’ s coronavirus team strategically chose not to implement a coordinated national strategy to address the pandemic , believing the virus was poised to hurt traditionally blue states disproportionately hard .
In short , the consciously crafted strategy of the Trump administration was to let Americans die .
Trump ’ s fervent push to re-open the economy and to send children back to schools also exemplifies his promotion of American deaths , not American lives .
As we have already witnessed in Indiana , sending @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to schools will certainly lead to more sickness and death .
It ’ s a matter of when , not if .
And , of course , it ’ s not just Trump .
It ’ s the entire GOP .
They have been quite clear .
If there ’ s choice between life or a “ way of life ” that entails death , the GOP opts for the latter .
As an example , consider Republican Representative from Indiana Trey Hollingsworth , who has presented the choice in just this either/or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be re-opened or we will lose our “ way of life.
” He has been rather explicit about his view of these limited options and also about his willingness to sacrifice American lives to sustain his vision of the American way of life : But Trump ’ s facilitation of Erdogan ’ s genocide against the Kurds last October and his administration ’ s handling of the pandemic are really just the tip of iceberg when it comes to his efforts to consciously erode the conditions that support Americans ’ lives .
Let @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and the GOP have behaved with deadly hostility towards their own people : *In doing absolutely nothing in response to the intelligence that Russia has put bounties on the lives of American soldiers in Afghanistan , paying Afghans handsomely to murder them , Trump is basically complicit in this murderous activity , showing no regard for Americans ’ lives .
*The Trump administration , even as the COVID-19 pandemic rages on , has continued its assault on the environment through its agenda of reversing 100 key environmental regulations designed to ensure to Americans @ @ @ @ @ @ @ overall safe environment in which to live .
Trump is making the world toxic for Americans .
As just one example , consider that last January Trump obliterated key provisions of the Clean Water Act legislated in 1972 , threatening Americans ’ access to this most basic life support .
To get a sense of the devastating significance of this act , , consider the actually informed perspective of Blan Holman , a lawyer specializing in federal water policy at the Southern Environmental Law Center .
In Holman ’ s expert judgment , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Affordable Care Act .
If successful , 20 million Americans would lose health insurance altogether and another 130 million would lose their lifesaving protections for their pre-existing conditions .
*And let ’ s not forget Trump ’ s careful rhetoric that has promoted genocide at home .
Even when he doesn ’ t execute policy , he inspires and mobilizes his racist army to action , as we saw both in the mass shootings at the Tree of Life synagogue and in El Paso .
In both cases the shooters deployed Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to rationalize the mass killing of Jewish people and Mexicans , respectively .
And these are just a few ways we can count of the many ways Trump on a daily basis assaults the most basic conditions of life for Americans .
His “ way of life ” for America is the way of death .

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We often define culture as a “way of life.” Implicit in this definition is the notion that culture should support and value human life.
It makes sense, right? A “way of life” promises, in its very language, to support living, not promote dying.
And yet, as I have written about on multiple occasions (here, here, and here) since last October when Donald Trump effectively aided and abetted Turkey’s President Tayyip Erdogan in a genocide against the Kurdish people in Northern Syria, Trump’s administration, both in its foreign and domestic policy and practice, can be described as nothing less than genocidal.
When I say his domestic policies and practices are genocidal, I mean to assert quite blatantly that his governing has sought quite actively and hostilely to undermine the lives of Americans.
It isn’t just that he’s careless and callous with American lives. He carefully seeks to promote American death.
As I write, over 160,000 Americans have died as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Not only had Trump refused to address the virus, we have also learned that Jared Kushner’s coronavirus team strategically chose not to implement a coordinated national strategy to address the pandemic, believing the virus was poised to hurt traditionally blue states disproportionately hard.
In short, the consciously crafted strategy of the Trump administration was to let Americans die.
Trump’s fervent push to re-open the economy and to send children back to schools also exemplifies his promotion of American deaths, not American lives. As we have already witnessed in Indiana, sending children, teachers, and staff back to schools will certainly lead to more sickness and death. It’s a matter of when, not if.
And, of course, it’s not just Trump. It’s the entire GOP.
They have been quite clear. If there’s choice between life or a “way of life” that entails death, the GOP opts for the latter.
As an example, consider Republican Representative from Indiana Trey Hollingsworth, who has presented the choice in just this either/or way when arguing that the economy must be re-opened or we will lose our “way of life.”
He has been rather explicit about his view of these limited options and also about his willingness to sacrifice American lives to sustain his vision of the American way of life:
“Both of these decisions will lead to harm for individuals, whether that’s dramatic economic harm or whether that’s the loss of life. But it is always the American government’s position to say, in the choice between the loss of our way of life as Americans and the loss of life of American lives, we have to always choose the latter.”
But Trump’s facilitation of Erdogan’s genocide against the Kurds last October and his administration’s handling of the pandemic are really just the tip of iceberg when it comes to his efforts to consciously erode the conditions that support Americans’ lives.
Let us count just a few ways Trump and the GOP have behaved with deadly hostility towards their own people:
*In doing absolutely nothing in response to the intelligence that Russia has put bounties on the lives of American soldiers in Afghanistan, paying Afghans handsomely to murder them, Trump is basically complicit in this murderous activity, showing no regard for Americans’ lives.
*The Trump administration, even as the COVID-19 pandemic rages on, has continued its assault on the environment through its agenda of reversing 100 key environmental regulations designed to ensure to Americans have clean air and water and an overall safe environment in which to live. Trump is making the world toxic for Americans. As just one example, consider that last January Trump obliterated key provisions of the Clean Water Act legislated in 1972, threatening Americans’ access to this most basic life support. To get a sense of the devastating significance of this act,, consider the actually informed perspective of Blan Holman, a lawyer specializing in federal water policy at the Southern Environmental Law Center. In Holman’s expert judgment,
“This will be the biggest loss of clean water protection the country has ever seen. This puts drinking water for millions of Americans at risk of contamination from unregulated pollution. This is not just undoing the Obama rule. This is stripping away protections that were put in place in the ’70s and ’80s that Americans have relied on for their health.”
*Trump has continued to try to destroy the Affordable Care Act. If successful, 20 million Americans would lose health insurance altogether and another 130 million would lose their lifesaving protections for their pre-existing conditions.
*And let’s not forget Trump’s careful rhetoric that has promoted genocide at home. Even when he doesn’t execute policy, he inspires and mobilizes his racist army to action, as we saw both in the mass shootings at the Tree of Life synagogue and in El Paso. In both cases the shooters deployed Trump’s language of “invasion” to rationalize the mass killing of Jewish people and Mexicans, respectively.
And these are just a few ways we can count of the many ways Trump on a daily basis assaults the most basic conditions of life for Americans.
His “way of life” for America is the way of death.


politicususa--2020-08-10--Opinion: Corruption is Not A Second Amendment Right

The law was not kind to corrupt people this week .
The DC Circuit sided with congressional oversight when it said the House could sue Don McGahn if he didn ’ t comply with a subpoena .
We learned that Deutsche Bank gave up Donald Trump ’ s financials to Manhattan prosecutor Cyrus Vance , and the crown jewel came with New York Attorney General Letitia James ’ s announcement of a civil suit against the NRA over its corrupt business practices .
It was pretty much a given that Donald Trump , Wayne LaPierre and the NRA would play @ @ @ @ @ @ @ claiming that NY AG Letitia James was coming for the Second Amendment .
It ’ s never about the fraud or the misappropriation of funds .
It ’ s about all that good charitable work making sure terrorists and people with violent histories can have as many guns as they want .
The NRA is registered as a charitable organization , which means it ’ s supposed to be a non-profit organization that works toward a public good .
However one may feel about guns , there was a time that the NRA @ @ @ @ @ @ @ responsible gun ownership in a manner that benefitted its users and the public at large because actual gun safety was a feature of its activities .
But that NRA is long gone .
Now we have an organization whose only objective is selling guns .
Sell them to terrorists , domestic abusers , white supremacists – disturbed teens who feel like shooting up their classrooms .
Anyone who wants a gun should get one , and as a consequence , gun violence rapidly became an epidemic .
Pre Covid-19 , the frequency of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that we didn ’ t even get through the ritual of dealing with one mass shooting before the next one occurred .
And who can forget that infamous Wayne LaPierre moment when he declared that a good guy with a gun is the best way to deal with a bad guy with a gun .
Dipsy Betsy DeVos declared her support for another NRA policy – guns in the classroom .
This NRA abandoned its membership , whom they only cared about at dues time .
And no wonder , when you use @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to finance a lavish life-style , you need serious money .
The way it got that money is unrelated to the suit at hand , but it is worth noting for the purpose of understanding why Letitia James likely has very solid evidence that corruption is pervasive throughout the NRA organization .
Regardless of how one feels about the NRA , reasonable people can agree that corruption is not a Second Amendment right .
Enter Russia , where citizens do not have the right to gun ownership , but which for some reason @ @ @ @ @ @ @ There is plenty of reporting on this curious relationship , but the bottom line is that the NRA has laundered Russian money .
There was a report by the Republican-controlled Senate published last year that Russia doesn ’ t care about gun rights .
It cares about funneling money to desirable politicians like Donald Trump and it cares about creating mayhem in America .
What better way than to give money to an organization that lobbies for letting as many mass shooters as possible have as many weapons as possible to shoot as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a time as possible ?
The Senate committee revealed a tangle of political issues extending not just to corruption in the NRA but also to an infection of the Republican Party and the Trump campaign .
The lawsuit filed by New York focuses only on corruption by a few in leadership who used the organization ’ s coffers as a personal piggy bank .
They lived as well as Donald Trump and like Donald Trump they did it with someone else ’ s money .
As bad as that is , I raise @ @ @ @ @ @ @ corruption is in the NRA and that it was there long before the organization ’ s enthusiasm for Donald Trump .
Letitia James ’ s suit is a smart way to approach corruption in the NRA because Trump and Barr can ’ t touch it .
This law suit is under New York law and it deals exclusively with the NRA ’ s dealings within the Empire State .
Once Russia is brought into the equation , there can be jurisdictional issues with an unknown outcome .
Knowing what we know about the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it ’ s small wonder he is still feeling burnt from when New York dissolved his fraudulent charitable organization and banned Ivanka and Don Jr. from sitting on boards of charitable organizations there .
Trump lost that income stream , and for the same reason , he will feel the burn of losing the NRA income stream .
The New York Attorney General is doing her job , and she ’ s doing it the way we should expect of all Attorneys-General to .
What Attorney General James may feel about the NRA @ @ @ @ @ @ @ point .
This is not about partisan politics .
The NRA could be lobbying for puppies and the suit would still have merit .
The only issue is whether Wayne LaPierre and others named in the suit misused members ’ donations .
This is why the rule of law is preferable to the rule of a person .
Under the rule of law a criminal act remains criminal regardless of who does it .
Trump knows on some level that the NRA is as corrupt as his foundation was and he probably knows @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
That ’ s why he told the NRA to skip town , right ?
Isn ’ t that the sort of advice you could imagine a typical “ law and order ” president giving ?
While we celebrate the fact that the NRA gravy train is being held to account , the political reality is that gun manufacturers will find a new lobbyist for their narrow , deadly interests .
Hopefully responsible gun owners will also have a voice .

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The law was not kind to corrupt people this week. The DC Circuit sided with congressional oversight when it said the House could sue Don McGahn if he didn’t comply with a subpoena. We learned that Deutsche Bank gave up Donald Trump’s financials to Manhattan prosecutor Cyrus Vance, and the crown jewel came with New York Attorney General Letitia James’s announcement of a civil suit against the NRA over its corrupt business practices.
It was pretty much a given that Donald Trump, Wayne LaPierre and the NRA would play that tattered victim card – this time claiming that NY AG Letitia James was coming for the Second Amendment. It’s never about the fraud or the misappropriation of funds. It’s about all that good charitable work making sure terrorists and people with violent histories can have as many guns as they want.
The NRA is registered as a charitable organization, which means it’s supposed to be a non-profit organization that works toward a public good. However one may feel about guns, there was a time that the NRA did serve a public good by promoting responsible gun ownership in a manner that benefitted its users and the public at large because actual gun safety was a feature of its activities.
But that NRA is long gone. Now we have an organization whose only objective is selling guns. Sell them to terrorists, domestic abusers, white supremacists – disturbed teens who feel like shooting up their classrooms. Anyone who wants a gun should get one, and as a consequence, gun violence rapidly became an epidemic. Pre Covid-19, the frequency of mass shootings was accelerating to the point that we didn’t even get through the ritual of dealing with one mass shooting before the next one occurred.
And who can forget that infamous Wayne LaPierre moment when he declared that a good guy with a gun is the best way to deal with a bad guy with a gun. Dipsy Betsy DeVos declared her support for another NRA policy – guns in the classroom.
This NRA abandoned its membership, whom they only cared about at dues time. And no wonder, when you use a lobbying organization as a piggy bank to finance a lavish life-style, you need serious money. The way it got that money is unrelated to the suit at hand, but it is worth noting for the purpose of understanding why Letitia James likely has very solid evidence that corruption is pervasive throughout the NRA organization.
Regardless of how one feels about the NRA, reasonable people can agree that corruption is not a Second Amendment right.
Enter Russia, where citizens do not have the right to gun ownership, but which for some reason developed a fascination with the NRA. There is plenty of reporting on this curious relationship, but the bottom line is that the NRA has laundered Russian money. There was a report by the Republican-controlled Senate published last year that Russia doesn’t care about gun rights.
It cares about funneling money to desirable politicians like Donald Trump and it cares about creating mayhem in America. What better way than to give money to an organization that lobbies for letting as many mass shooters as possible have as many weapons as possible to shoot as many people as possible in as short a time as possible?
The Senate committee revealed a tangle of political issues extending not just to corruption in the NRA but also to an infection of the Republican Party and the Trump campaign. The lawsuit filed by New York focuses only on corruption by a few in leadership who used the organization’s coffers as a personal piggy bank. They lived as well as Donald Trump and like Donald Trump they did it with someone else’s money.
As bad as that is, I raise the Russia component to convey how pervasive corruption is in the NRA and that it was there long before the organization’s enthusiasm for Donald Trump.
Letitia James’s suit is a smart way to approach corruption in the NRA because Trump and Barr can’t touch it. This law suit is under New York law and it deals exclusively with the NRA’s dealings within the Empire State. Once Russia is brought into the equation, there can be jurisdictional issues with an unknown outcome.
Knowing what we know about the current occupant of the White House, it’s small wonder he is still feeling burnt from when New York dissolved his fraudulent charitable organization and banned Ivanka and Don Jr. from sitting on boards of charitable organizations there.
Trump lost that income stream, and for the same reason, he will feel the burn of losing the NRA income stream. The New York Attorney General is doing her job, and she’s doing it the way we should expect of all Attorneys-General to.
What Attorney General James may feel about the NRA’s political agenda is beside the point. This is not about partisan politics. The NRA could be lobbying for puppies and the suit would still have merit. The only issue is whether Wayne LaPierre and others named in the suit misused members’ donations.
This is why the rule of law is preferable to the rule of a person. Under the rule of law a criminal act remains criminal regardless of who does it.
Trump knows on some level that the NRA is as corrupt as his foundation was and he probably knows the NRA is likely to be dissolved. That’s why he told the NRA to skip town, right? Isn’t that the sort of advice you could imagine a typical “law and order” president giving?
While we celebrate the fact that the NRA gravy train is being held to account, the political reality is that gun manufacturers will find a new lobbyist for their narrow, deadly interests. Hopefully responsible gun owners will also have a voice.


politicususa--2020-08-09--Trump Is Sliding Into Irrelevance And Slowly Fading Away

Trump has increasingly found himself diminished and not listened , as he is a first-term president who is becoming increasingly irrelevant in all areas .
More than 3½ years into his presidency , Trump increasingly finds himself minimized and ignored — as many of his more outlandish or false statements are briefly considered and then , just as quickly , dismissed .
The slide into partial irrelevance could make it even more difficult for Trump as he seeks reelection as the nation ’ s leader amid a pandemic and economic collapse .
The president ’ s own top public health @ @ @ @ @ @ @ him in public .
Speaking on CNN ’ s “ State of the Union ” last Sunday — just one day before Trump claimed the coronavirus was “ receding ” — White House coronavirus response coordinator Deborah Birx warned that the virus was “ extraordinarily widespread ” in “ both rural and urban ” areas .
Similarly , Trump has played only an ancillary role in the ongoing discussions for a pandemic relief package on Capitol Hill .
Senate Republicans almost immediately rejected his desire for another payroll tax cut , never seriously @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Trump ’ s unwillingness , or inability to respond to it , has left him irrelevant .
A president who was never interested in governing or leading is watching as the nation moves on without him .
Instead of learning to live with Trump , the nation has largely figured how to work around and ignore him .
All of the lies both big and small , on issues both meaningful and meaningless have eroded Trump to such a degree that he is nothing more than the carnival barker who is pulling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to get bystanders to come into his tent , as his pitches go unacted upon , Trump gets more outlandish and loud while seemingly oblivious to the growing reality that nation has moved on without him .
For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group .

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Trump has increasingly found himself diminished and not listened, as he is a first-term president who is becoming increasingly irrelevant in all areas.
The Washington Post reported:
More than 3½ years into his presidency, Trump increasingly finds himself minimized and ignored — as many of his more outlandish or false statements are briefly considered and then, just as quickly, dismissed. The slide into partial irrelevance could make it even more difficult for Trump as he seeks reelection as the nation’s leader amid a pandemic and economic collapse.
….
The president’s own top public health officials, meanwhile, are increasingly contradicting him in public. Speaking on CNN’s “State of the Union” last Sunday — just one day before Trump claimed the coronavirus was “receding” — White House coronavirus response coordinator Deborah Birx warned that the virus was “extraordinarily widespread” in “both rural and urban” areas.
…..
Similarly, Trump has played only an ancillary role in the ongoing discussions for a pandemic relief package on Capitol Hill. Senate Republicans almost immediately rejected his desire for another payroll tax cut, never seriously entertaining the idea.
The coronavirus, and Trump’s unwillingness, or inability to respond to it, has left him irrelevant. A president who was never interested in governing or leading is watching as the nation moves on without him. Instead of learning to live with Trump, the nation has largely figured how to work around and ignore him.
All of the lies both big and small, on issues both meaningful and meaningless have eroded Trump to such a degree that he is nothing more than the carnival barker who is pulling out all of the stops in trying to get bystanders to come into his tent, as his pitches go unacted upon, Trump gets more outlandish and loud while seemingly oblivious to the growing reality that nation has moved on without him.
For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group.
Follow Jason Easley on Facebook


politicususa--2020-08-09--Opinion: What The Coronavirus Teaches, And What Trump Won’t Learn, About A Free-Market Economy

Republicans continue to block legislation to provide relief to tens of millions of Americans as well as the state and local governments that provide services and employment to them .
Their hand-wringing , it seems , is rooted in the worry that providing relief , such as extending enhanced unemployment benefits , will eliminate any incentive , or coercion , for people to seek employment and return to work .
Yet , we know that for every job opening , there are roughly five people enduring unemployment .
So why do Republicans cling to their strange reasoning in the face @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to know exactly .
But if it ’ s more than pure callousness and maliciousness toward the American people , we might do worse than suggest their stubbornness about passing a relief package rests in their hallmark antipathy to government-run anything and their bedrock commitment to the belief that a free market can solve and address all problems , that private industry , guided by the pursuit of private interests and the profit motive , leads to the most efficient and effective economy to meet human need .
Trump ’ s recent announcement @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tax , which funds Social Security and Medicare , is in line with this school thought , advocated by such free-market zealots as Milton Friedman and his predecessor F.A .
Hayek , who viewed virtually any government intervention or socialization of the economy as leading us , to use the title of his famous book , on The Road to Serfdom .
The coronavirus , however , seems to provide a powerful counter-argument to this school of thought .
The free market seems in this situation to achieve outcomes hostile to the public @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Americans .
If the free market is supposed to offer the most effective and disinterested means of allocating resources effectively to meet need , it is failing abysmally .
First , let ’ s just consider how private industry worked cooperatively with the government with regard to CARES Act funding .
They had no intention of addressing the needs of the people but only with lining their own pockets .
For example , from these relief funds millions , nay billions , of dollars are being distributed to the wealthiest among us @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Kristoff reported in The New York Times that last relief package provided $ 135 billion dollars in “ relief ” for real estate developers , offering retroactive tax breaks for periods that preceded the coronavirus outbreak .
As Jason Easley has reported for PoliticusUsa.com , businesses connected to the families of Donald Trump and Jared Kushner have also received millions , as have businesses of families connected to Mitch McConnell .
It ’ s not at all clear how these companies pursuing their greedy private interests really helps us solve a public health @ @ @ @ @ @ @ desperate needs besetting Americans now .
We have to call bull where we see it .
A for-profit economy , rooted in the belief that the pursuit of private interests , free of government intervention , will inevitably serve the public good most efficiently , just isn ’ t borne out by what we are seeing .
New York Governor Andrew Cuomo has been a powerful spokesman for the virus ’ s position against this worship of a free-market economy .
Consider how he spelled out the problem of the lack of hospital @ @ @ @ @ @ @ You only have 53,000 hospital beds .
You only have 3,000 ICU beds .
Why ?
Because our health care system is basically a private system .
They don ’ t build capacity that they don ’ t need .
They don ’ t build extra ICU beds just in case .
An intensive care bed is very expensive .
They don ’ t build a wing of ICU beds that sit vacant for 10 years on the off-chance that there ’ s going to be a public health emergency and you ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t have them .
We have the capacity that people use day-in and day-out .
And that ’ s not just New York .
That ’ s every state in the United States .
You now have this influx , you can ’ t handle it .
You will have people on gurneys in hallways , ” Cuomo told reporters .
“ That is what is going to happen now if we do nothing .
That is what is going to happen now if we do nothing .
And that , my @ @ @ @ @ @ @ He diagnoses the problem as precisely one of the privatization of public health services , which means these services organize their operations from the economic standpoint of business , not the economic standpoint of meeting human need .
And what has he called for in a letter he wrote to President Trump ?
He called for Trump to send in the Army Corps of Engineers to build temporary medical facilities to meet the surge in patients needing treatment for the coronavirus .
He called for government intervention , for a public sector response @ @ @ @ @ @ @ failed abysmally ; its so-called best business practices , in fact , forecast , inherently entail , the private sector ’ s failure to meet human need .
When it comes to food production in the U.S. , we also see that in fact the operations of private industry greatly depend on the effectiveness of the government public sector .
Kansas Governor Laura Kelly ’ s plea to the White House early last April highlights this point .
According to reporting from The New York Times , “ About a week after the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a meatpacking plant in southwest Kansas in early April .
.
.
Kelly , issued a pointed warning to President Trump : Without test kits to separate the well from the sick , a fast-moving outbreak could idle facilities that produce roughly one-quarter of the nation ’ s meat supply.
” Providing test kits really required a national coordinated effort , meaning one led by the federal government .
But as The New York Times reported : This quote from Governor Kelly sums it up : “ You are using a free-market model @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I ’ m not sure those two go together particularly well.
” As we see tens of millions out of work and unable to meet food , housing , and other basic needs , we have to question this free-market model .
Leaving people in desperate straits , the free-market model seems more clearly to be the road to serfdom .

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Republicans continue to block legislation to provide relief to tens of millions of Americans as well as the state and local governments that provide services and employment to them. Their hand-wringing, it seems, is rooted in the worry that providing relief, such as extending enhanced unemployment benefits, will eliminate any incentive, or coercion, for people to seek employment and return to work.
Yet, we know that for every job opening, there are roughly five people enduring unemployment.
So why do Republicans cling to their strange reasoning in the face of reality?
It’s hard to know exactly. But if it’s more than pure callousness and maliciousness toward the American people, we might do worse than suggest their stubbornness about passing a relief package rests in their hallmark antipathy to government-run anything and their bedrock commitment to the belief that a free market can solve and address all problems, that private industry, guided by the pursuit of private interests and the profit motive, leads to the most efficient and effective economy to meet human need.
Trump’s recent announcement of his intention to end the payroll tax, which funds Social Security and Medicare, is in line with this school thought, advocated by such free-market zealots as Milton Friedman and his predecessor F.A. Hayek, who viewed virtually any government intervention or socialization of the economy as leading us, to use the title of his famous book, on The Road to Serfdom.
The coronavirus, however, seems to provide a powerful counter-argument to this school of thought.
The free market seems in this situation to achieve outcomes hostile to the public good and to the needs and interests of Americans. If the free market is supposed to offer the most effective and disinterested means of allocating resources effectively to meet need, it is failing abysmally.
First, let’s just consider how private industry worked cooperatively with the government with regard to CARES Act funding. They had no intention of addressing the needs of the people but only with lining their own pockets.
For example, from these relief funds millions, nay billions, of dollars are being distributed to the wealthiest among us who are doing just fine. Nicholas Kristoff reported in The New York Times that last relief package provided $135 billion dollars in “relief” for real estate developers, offering retroactive tax breaks for periods that preceded the coronavirus outbreak. As Jason Easley has reported for PoliticusUsa.com, businesses connected to the families of Donald Trump and Jared Kushner have also received millions, as have businesses of families connected to Mitch McConnell.
It’s not at all clear how these companies pursuing their greedy private interests really helps us solve a public health crisis or meet the most urgent and desperate needs besetting Americans now.
We have to call bull where we see it.
A for-profit economy, rooted in the belief that the pursuit of private interests, free of government intervention, will inevitably serve the public good most efficiently, just isn’t borne out by what we are seeing.
New York Governor Andrew Cuomo has been a powerful spokesman for the virus’s position against this worship of a free-market economy. Consider how he spelled out the problem of the lack of hospital capacity to address the pandemic:
“You only have 53,000 hospital beds. You only have 3,000 ICU beds. Why? Because our health care system is basically a private system. They don’t build capacity that they don’t need. They don’t build extra ICU beds just in case. An intensive care bed is very expensive. They don’t build a wing of ICU beds that sit vacant for 10 years on the off-chance that there’s going to be a public health emergency and you’ll need the beds… so we don’t have them. We have the capacity that people use day-in and day-out. And that’s not just New York. That’s every state in the United States. You now have this influx, you can’t handle it.
You will have people on gurneys in hallways,” Cuomo told reporters. “That is what is going to happen now if we do nothing. That is what is going to happen now if we do nothing. And that, my friends, will be a tragedy.”
He diagnoses the problem as precisely one of the privatization of public health services, which means these services organize their operations from the economic standpoint of business, not the economic standpoint of meeting human need.
And what has he called for in a letter he wrote to President Trump? He called for Trump to send in the Army Corps of Engineers to build temporary medical facilities to meet the surge in patients needing treatment for the coronavirus.
He called for government intervention, for a public sector response, precisely because the private sector has failed abysmally; its so-called best business practices, in fact, forecast, inherently entail, the private sector’s failure to meet human need.
When it comes to food production in the U.S., we also see that in fact the operations of private industry greatly depend on the effectiveness of the government public sector.
Kansas Governor Laura Kelly’s plea to the White House early last April highlights this point.
According to reporting from The New York Times, “About a week after the first report of a Covid-19 case at a meatpacking plant in southwest Kansas in early April . . . Kelly, issued a pointed warning to President Trump: Without test kits to separate the well from the sick, a fast-moving outbreak could idle facilities that produce roughly one-quarter of the nation’s meat supply.”
Providing test kits really required a national coordinated effort, meaning one led by the federal government.
But as The New York Times reported:
“On top of all that, the administration has resisted a full-scale national mobilization, instead intervening to allocate scarce equipment on an ad hoc basis and leaving production bottlenecks and shortages largely to market forces. Governors, public health officials and hospital executives say they are still operating in a kind of Wild West economy that has left them scrambling — and competing with one another — to procure the equipment and other materials they need.”
This quote from Governor Kelly sums it up:
“You are using a free-market model in a public health emergency, and I’m not sure those two go together particularly well.”
As we see tens of millions out of work and unable to meet food, housing, and other basic needs, we have to question this free-market model. Leaving people in desperate straits, the free-market model seems more clearly to be the road to serfdom.


politicususa--2020-08-09--Peter Navarro Claims Trump Is The Hardest Working President In History

Peter Navarro referred to Trump , who has spent more time golfing than any other president in the last 50 years as the hardest working president in history .
Transcript of Navarro on NBC ’ s Meet The Press : Look , you have to understand this is the hardest working president in history .
He works 24/7 .
He can be in Bedminster , Mar-a-Lago , the Oval Office , or anywhere in between .
He can be at the Whirlpool factory , like we were on Thursday , celebrating working men and women benefiting from tariffs .
He @ @ @ @ @ @ @ here , the problem here is Capitol Hill , the swamp , two houses that are too far apart .
I mean , the Lord and the founding fathers created executive orders because of partisan bickering and divided government .
That ’ s what we have here .
But the president ’ s taken action .
His constituency — let ’ s be clear .
His constituency is mainstream Republicans , blue collar Democrats , and independents who are sick and tired of the swamp .
And he reached out and he took @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t have to — According to the Presidential Golf Tracker , Trump has played twice as much golf as Obama and more than five times more golf than George W. Bush , who preferred visiting his ranch , over hitting the links .
Trump only trails Eisenhower and Woodrow Wilson in the average number of days between rounds .
The American people know that Navarro is lying because Trump ’ s private schedule has been leaked numerous times .
Trump doesn ’ t start his workday until roughly 11 AM .
He @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the day of the week , and throughout the day has time scheduled for watching TV and tweeting .
Trump is a do-nothing president , and no one outside of his supporters is fooled by the false claims of hard work .
For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group .

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Peter Navarro referred to Trump, who has spent more time golfing than any other president in the last 50 years as the hardest working president in history.
Transcript of Navarro on NBC’s Meet The Press:
CHUCK TODD:
Why isn’t he involved?
PETER NAVARRO:
Look, you have to understand this is the hardest working president in history. He works 24/7. He can be in Bedminster, Mar-a-Lago, the Oval Office, or anywhere in between. He can be at the Whirlpool factory, like we were on Thursday, celebrating working men and women benefiting from tariffs. He’s working 24/7. The problem here, the problem here is Capitol Hill, the swamp, two houses that are too far apart. I mean, the Lord and the founding fathers created executive orders because of partisan bickering and divided government. That’s what we have here. But the president’s taken action. His constituency — let’s be clear. His constituency is mainstream Republicans, blue collar Democrats, and independents who are sick and tired of the swamp. And he reached out and he took action. You know, he didn’t have to —
Video:
According to the Presidential Golf Tracker, Trump has played twice as much golf as Obama and more than five times more golf than George W. Bush, who preferred visiting his ranch, over hitting the links. Trump only trails Eisenhower and Woodrow Wilson in the average number of days between rounds.
The American people know that Navarro is lying because Trump’s private schedule has been leaked numerous times. Trump doesn’t start his workday until roughly 11 AM. He is usually done by 4-6 PM depending on the day of the week, and throughout the day has time scheduled for watching TV and tweeting.
Trump is a do-nothing president, and no one outside of his supporters is fooled by the false claims of hard work.
For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group.
Follow Jason Easley on Facebook


politicususa--2020-08-09--Trump Sent His Economic Team Out To Defend His Executive Orders And It Was A Total Disaster

Trump sent his top economic advisers to defend his executive orders and the result was chaos , confusion , and disaster .
Larry Kudlow seemed to have no idea how much money unemployed people would be getting : BASH : You keep saying $ 1,200 per person .
Are you talking about in addition to the unemployment that they ’ re already getting ?
BASH : Where does that number come from ?
KUDLOW : That ’ s the payroll — I ’ m sorry .
I beg your pardon .
The $ 1,200 will come from the payroll tax @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : OK. We ’ re going to get to that .
OK , all right , because this is — there ’ s a lot of numbers here , and it ’ s a little confusing .
KUDLOW : Yes , I ’ m sorry .
It should be… BASH : I want to get to payroll tax in a minute .
Go ahead .
KUDLOW : It should be 800 bucks .
I beg your pardon .
It should be 800 bucks for the unemployment .
KUDLOW : No , it should @ @ @ @ @ @ @ $ 800 .
If the states step up , we ’ re prepared to match .
That should be — come out $ 400 federal , $ 400 states .
BASH : OK. We will move on , because I think this is — that ’ s not what the president said , and it ’ s a bit confusing .
And I think the fact that it ’ s not entirely known is very telling .
Meanwhile , Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin was claiming that it is possible to cut or eliminate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Security and Medicare : On Meet The Press , Trump trade adviser Peter Navarro admitted that the executive orders are guidance and not policy .
The Trump economic team was sent on to the Sunday shows to defend executive orders that they can ’ t explain .
They don ’ t appear to know what the executive orders will do , and they seem to admit that Trump ’ s actions have little ability to change anything .
If this was supposed to be the push to shift the political blame to Democrats @ @ @ @ @ @ @ likely will do nothing to help Trump ’ s terrible polling in his reelection race against Joe Biden .
For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group .

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Trump sent his top economic advisers to defend his executive orders and the result was chaos, confusion, and disaster.
Larry Kudlow seemed to have no idea how much money unemployed people would be getting:
BASH: You keep saying $1,200 per person. Are you talking about in addition to the unemployment that they’re already getting?
KUDLOW: Oh, no.
BASH: Where does that number come from?
KUDLOW: That’s the payroll — I’m sorry. I beg your pardon. The $1,200 will come from the payroll tax deferral on top of this.
BASH: OK. We’re going to get to that. OK, all right, because this is — there’s a lot of numbers here, and it’s a little confusing.
(CROSSTALK)
KUDLOW: Yes, I’m sorry. It should be…
BASH: I want to get to payroll tax in a minute. Go ahead.
KUDLOW: It should be 800 bucks. I beg your pardon. It should be 800 bucks for the unemployment.
BASH: Eight hundred or $400?
KUDLOW: No, it should be $400 — it should be $800.
If the states step up, we’re prepared to match. That should be — come out $400 federal, $400 states.
BASH: OK. We will move on, because I think this is — that’s not what the president said, and it’s a bit confusing. And I think the fact that it’s not entirely known is very telling.
Video:
Larry Kudlow seems to be very confused about how much money unemployed people would actually receive under Trump's proposal pic.twitter.com/KampXT6N7I — Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) August 9, 2020
Meanwhile, Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin was claiming that it is possible to cut or eliminate the payroll tax and not harm Social Security and Medicare:
Steve Mnuchin claims that Trump can cut or eliminate the payroll tax and not harm Social Security and Medicare, which is a total lie. pic.twitter.com/Lc8zzCMHm0 — Sarah Reese Jones (@PoliticusSarah) August 9, 2020
On Meet The Press, Trump trade adviser Peter Navarro admitted that the executive orders are guidance and not policy.
The Trump economic team was sent on to the Sunday shows to defend executive orders that they can’t explain. They don’t appear to know what the executive orders will do, and they seem to admit that Trump’s actions have little ability to change anything.
If this was supposed to be the push to shift the political blame to Democrats, it was a debacle, and likely will do nothing to help Trump’s terrible polling in his reelection race against Joe Biden.
For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group.
Follow Jason Easley on Facebook


politicususa--2020-08-09--Trump Trade Adviser Appears To Admit Executive Orders Are Toothless

Trump ’ s own trade adviser Peter Navarro admitted that Trump ’ s executive orders were guidance to the Executive Branch , not policies to help people .
Navarro when Meet The Press ’ s Chuck Todd asked about the dubious legality of the executive orders : Well , one of the things I learned here , Chuck , at the white house going through a lot of work on executive orders is what we have the statutory authorities to do , and I ’ m confident that every single one of those orders which cleared through the Office of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you look , for example , at the eviction and foreclosure language in your opener there you noted the words shall consider .
That ’ s how you have to write it , but everybody knows in that bureaucracy knows that means that you damn well should do it and you will .
Speaker Pelosi said that the executive orders are unconstitutional slop for a reason .
What Trump signed doesn ’ t do anything .
The states have the option of keeping expanded unemployment benefits in place , and federal will match @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t have the money to extend expanded unemployment , so Trump did nothing on that front .
Trump didn ’ t stop evictions .
He told federal agencies to consider not evicting tenants .
That ’ s not a law .
Trump ’ s executive orders are a joke , and after they fail , Republicans will be painted into a corner and they will probably end up accepting the compromise deal that Pelosi offered last week .
Navarro ’ s interview was a disaster because the highlighted the fact that Trump ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fraud .

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Trump’s own trade adviser Peter Navarro admitted that Trump’s executive orders were guidance to the Executive Branch, not policies to help people.
Navarro when Meet The Press’s Chuck Todd asked about the dubious legality of the executive orders:
Well, one of the things I learned here, Chuck, at the white house going through a lot of work on executive orders is what we have the statutory authorities to do, and I’m confident that every single one of those orders which cleared through the Office of Legal Counsel will stand up.
If you look, for example, at the eviction and foreclosure language in your opener there you noted the words shall consider. That’s how you have to write it, but everybody knows in that bureaucracy knows that means that you damn well should do it and you will.
Video:
Trump trade adviser Peter Navarro appears to admit that Trump's executive orders are guidelines for what can be done, not real action. pic.twitter.com/24Kl08TexZ — Sarah Reese Jones (@PoliticusSarah) August 9, 2020
Speaker Pelosi said that the executive orders are unconstitutional slop for a reason. What Trump signed doesn’t do anything. The states have the option of keeping expanded unemployment benefits in place, and federal will match the funds, but states don’t have the money to extend expanded unemployment, so Trump did nothing on that front. Trump didn’t stop evictions. He told federal agencies to consider not evicting tenants. That’s not a law.
Trump’s executive orders are a joke, and after they fail, Republicans will be painted into a corner and they will probably end up accepting the compromise deal that Pelosi offered last week.
Navarro’s interview was a disaster because the highlighted the fact that Trump’s executive orders are more Oval Office fraud.


politicususa--2020-08-09--Trump Will Blow A Gasket After Pelosi Goes On Fox and Calls His EOs Unconstitutional Slop

Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi went on Fox News Sunday and called Trump ’ s executive orders unconstitutional slop that doesn ’ t do anything .
No , in fact with the president did I would agree with the Republican senator , it was unconstitutional slop while it has the illusion of saying were going to have a moratorium on evictions , it says I ’ , going to ask the folks in charge to study if that ’ s feasible .
He says he ’ s going to cut the payroll tax , what he ’ s doing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ these are illusions , and they really do not — what he calls in our bill unnecessary .
Let ’ s just review the difference .
First of all , millions of children in our country are food insecure .
Our bill addresses that with tens of billions of dollars .
Feed the children .
The Republican bill has $ 250,000 while our bill addresses those who are on the brink of eviction , we use the numbers from the Princeton Eviction Lab and the low-income housing coalition to show how many people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are and that could come to tens of billions of dollars .
Of the Republican bill has nothing .
Speaker Pelosi was right .
Trump ’ s executive orders are slop .
The Democrats don ’ t have to sue .
The American people will soon see that there is no extra money in their unemployment , and they are not safe from eviction .
The executive orders were a Trump publicity stunt , but he doesn ’ t understand that they don ’ t do what he thinks they will do .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Republicans aren ’ t going to blame their way out of their failure on the pandemic .
For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group .

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Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi went on Fox News Sunday and called Trump’s executive orders unconstitutional slop that doesn’t do anything.
Speaker Pelosi said:
No, in fact with the president did I would agree with the Republican senator, it was unconstitutional slop while it has the illusion of saying were going to have a moratorium on evictions, it says I’, going to ask the folks in charge to study if that’s feasible. He says he’s going to cut the payroll tax, what he’s doing is undermining Social Security an Medicare so these are illusions, and they really do not — what he calls in our bill unnecessary.
Let’s just review the difference. First of all, millions of children in our country are food insecure. Our bill addresses that with tens of billions of dollars. Feed the children. The Republican bill has $250,000 while our bill addresses those who are on the brink of eviction, we use the numbers from the Princeton Eviction Lab and the low-income housing coalition to show how many people will be evicted and what their needs are and that could come to tens of billions of dollars. Of the Republican bill has nothing.
Video:
Pelosi suggests that either Trump doesn't know what he's talking about or there is something very wrong with Trump's executive orders. pic.twitter.com/X1Q4ck0gH0 — Sarah Reese Jones (@PoliticusSarah) August 9, 2020
Speaker Pelosi was right. Trump’s executive orders are slop. The Democrats don’t have to sue. The American people will soon see that there is no extra money in their unemployment, and they are not safe from eviction.
The executive orders were a Trump publicity stunt, but he doesn’t understand that they don’t do what he thinks they will do.
The executive orders will backfire, and Republicans aren’t going to blame their way out of their failure on the pandemic.
For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group.
Follow Jason Easley on Facebook


politicususa--2020-08-10--Bill Barr Humiliates Himself By Slobbering All Over Trump

The Attorney General of the United States , Bill Barr , claimed that Trump always makes well-vetted decisions , has tons of energy , and is always working .
Barr said , “ He ’ s an excellent executive and president .
There ’ s robust conversation .
He calls on people for their ideas and so forth .
I feel that the decisions that we make are well-vetted in the White House and my colleagues in the cabinet are I think high caliber individuals so that part of it has been good….I ’ ve never seen such energy .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ is the second member of the Trump administration in a day to point out how “ hard-working ” Trump is .
Trump trade adviser Peter Navarro called Trump the hardest working president in history .
Never has an attorney general gushed over a president the way that William Barr did .
It is humiliating for the Department of Justice and the nation as a whole to have an attorney general who so openly grovels at the feet of a failed president .
The Trump administration is clearly worried about Trump ’ s constant @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as president .
The Barr interview was disgraceful because it reveals how the Executive Branch of the federal government has been warped to fit Trump ’ s cult of personality .
For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group .

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The Attorney General of the United States, Bill Barr, claimed that Trump always makes well-vetted decisions, has tons of energy, and is always working.
Barr said, “He’s an excellent executive and president. There’s robust conversation. He calls on people for their ideas and so forth. I feel that the decisions that we make are well-vetted in the White House and my colleagues in the cabinet are I think high caliber individuals so that part of it has been good….I’ve never seen such energy. He’s always working.”
Video of Barr:
Bill Barr says that Trump "is an excellent executive" whose White House makes "well-vetted" decisions. He adds that that "I've never seen such energy. He's always working." pic.twitter.com/Hd8x4VQURt — John Whitehouse (@existentialfish) August 10, 2020
Barr is the second member of the Trump administration in a day to point out how “hard-working” Trump is. Trump trade adviser Peter Navarro called Trump the hardest working president in history.
Never has an attorney general gushed over a president the way that William Barr did. It is humiliating for the Department of Justice and the nation as a whole to have an attorney general who so openly grovels at the feet of a failed president.
The Trump administration is clearly worried about Trump’s constant golfing and his refusal to his job as president.
The Barr interview was disgraceful because it reveals how the Executive Branch of the federal government has been warped to fit Trump’s cult of personality.
For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group.
Follow Jason Easley on Facebook


politicususa--2020-08-10--Former Trump Voter To Speak At Joe Biden’s Convention

Former Vice President Joe Biden ’ s convention will be the opposite of Trump ’ s as he will feature regular Americans , including a former Trump voter .
The list of speakers , which was provided to The Washington Post , includes a former Trump voter from Pennsylvania who is supporting Biden , a paramedic and immigrant from Mexico City on the front lines of the pandemic in Florida , a bus driver from Atlanta and an autoworker from Lake Orion , Mich. “ There are people from all parts of the country , all walks of life — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all dealing with similar things .
It ’ s really the story of what ’ s happening across America right now , ” Stephanie Cutter , the program executive for the convention , said in an interview .
While Trump is going to use his convention to celebrate himself , the Democratic convention will focus on the American people , and the contrast in the two events will hammer home the idea that while Democrats are focused on America , Trump is only capable of thinking of himself .
Democrats have an opportunity @ @ @ @ @ @ @ story of a unique time in American history .
The Biden convention will go beyond the standard party politics and focusing on the crisis that is the coronavirus pandemic .
The visuals might be a little different than what Americans are used to , but different is what the country needs after nearly four years of Donald Trump .
For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group .

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Former Vice President Joe Biden’s convention will be the opposite of Trump’s as he will feature regular Americans, including a former Trump voter.
The Washington Post reported:
The list of speakers, which was provided to The Washington Post, includes a former Trump voter from Pennsylvania who is supporting Biden, a paramedic and immigrant from Mexico City on the front lines of the pandemic in Florida, a bus driver from Atlanta and an autoworker from Lake Orion, Mich.
“There are people from all parts of the country, all walks of life — different professions, different financial situations — all dealing with similar things. It’s really the story of what’s happening across America right now,” Stephanie Cutter, the program executive for the convention, said in an interview.
While Trump is going to use his convention to celebrate himself, the Democratic convention will focus on the American people, and the contrast in the two events will hammer home the idea that while Democrats are focused on America, Trump is only capable of thinking of himself.
Democrats have an opportunity with the virtual convention to tell the story of a unique time in American history. The Biden convention will go beyond the standard party politics and focusing on the crisis that is the coronavirus pandemic.
The visuals might be a little different than what Americans are used to, but different is what the country needs after nearly four years of Donald Trump.
For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group.
Follow Jason Easley on Facebook


politicususa--2020-08-10--WATCH: Beto O’Rourke Predicts Biden Will Win Texas

Texas , especially during the 8 year run of George W. Bush , has been a ruby red Republican stronghold .
There have been cracks over the last 10 years with Democrats winning house seats and Beto O ’ Rourke coming within 3 points of defeating Ted Cruz .
There have been a number of recent polls that show Joe Biden coming close or even leading Donald Trump .
When recently asked about the state and those polls numbers , O ’ Rourke predicted that the former Vice President would win the state .
The former Texas Congressman made the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ He told host Kaisie Hunt , “ Texas is not a red state , nor is it a blue state .
It is a non-voting state .
It had ranked , until 2018 , 50th in voter turnout .
Not because we love democracy less .
But it is the result of decades of voter suppression , focused on black voters and brown voters in this state.
” O ’ Rourke continued , “ What ’ s changed since 2018 is that this is a Presidential cycle which favors Democratic voter turnout .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ wreck if the Trump presidency which has killed 162,000 of our fellow Americans.
” The former Preisdential candidate closed , “ When you match that with a Democratic nominee like Joe Biden who is focused on bringing this deeply divided country together again .
He will become the first Democratic nominee since 1976 to collect the 38 electoral votes in this state.
” Watch a clip of the segment below , courtesy of MSNBC :

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Texas, especially during the 8 year run of George W. Bush, has been a ruby red Republican stronghold. There have been cracks over the last 10 years with Democrats winning house seats and Beto O’Rourke coming within 3 points of defeating Ted Cruz.
There have been a number of recent polls that show Joe Biden coming close or even leading Donald Trump. When recently asked about the state and those polls numbers, O’Rourke predicted that the former Vice President would win the state.
The former Texas Congressman made the comments during an appearance on MSNBC. He told host Kaisie Hunt, “Texas is not a red state, nor is it a blue state. It is a non-voting state. It had ranked, until 2018, 50th in voter turnout. Not because we love democracy less. But it is the result of decades of voter suppression, focused on black voters and brown voters in this state.”
O’Rourke continued, “What’s changed since 2018 is that this is a Presidential cycle which favors Democratic voter turnout. Two, you have the absolute train wreck if the Trump presidency which has killed 162,000 of our fellow Americans.”
The former Preisdential candidate closed, “When you match that with a Democratic nominee like Joe Biden who is focused on bringing this deeply divided country together again. He will become the first Democratic nominee since 1976 to collect the 38 electoral votes in this state.”
Watch a clip of the segment below, courtesy of MSNBC:


politicususa--2020-08-10--Trump’s Brain Breaks On National TV As He Claims The Spanish Flu Ended World War II

Trump claimed that the Spanish Flu pandemic of 1918 happened in 1917 , and it ended World War II , which ended decades later .
Trump said , “ I think it ’ s been amazing what we ’ ve been able to do .
If we didn ’ t close up our country , we would have had 1.5 , 2 million people already done .
We ’ ve called it right .
Now we don ’ t have to close it .
Now we understand the disease .
Nobody understood it , because nobody has seen anything like @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1917 , they say , right ?
The great pandemic certainly was a terrible thing where they lost 50 to 100 million people .
Probably ended the Second World War .
All the soldiers were sick .
It was — that was a terrible situation .
And this is highly contagious .
This one is highly , highly contagious.
” Besides the fact that Trump believes that the Spanish Flu pandemic of 1918 happened in 1917 , the President ’ s brain is also so weak that he can ’ t tell the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ War II .
Trump wanted to campaign on Joe Biden being mentally unfit for the presidency , but it is mental flameouts like this one that should make voters question whether or not something is wrong with Donald Trump ’ s mind .
For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group .

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Trump claimed that the Spanish Flu pandemic of 1918 happened in 1917, and it ended World War II, which ended decades later.
Trump said, “I think it’s been amazing what we’ve been able to do. If we didn’t close up our country, we would have had 1.5, 2 million people already done. We’ve called it right. Now we don’t have to close it. Now we understand the disease. Nobody understood it, because nobody has seen anything like this. The closest thing was in 1917, they say, right? The great pandemic certainly was a terrible thing where they lost 50 to 100 million people. Probably ended the Second World War. All the soldiers were sick. It was — that was a terrible situation. And this is highly contagious. This one is highly, highly contagious.”
Video:
Trump claims the 1918 Spanish Flu pandemic ended World War II, which happened decades later. pic.twitter.com/KpVhWChOLo — Sarah Reese Jones (@PoliticusSarah) August 10, 2020
Besides the fact that Trump believes that the Spanish Flu pandemic of 1918 happened in 1917, the President’s brain is also so weak that he can’t tell the difference between World War I and World War II.
Trump wanted to campaign on Joe Biden being mentally unfit for the presidency, but it is mental flameouts like this one that should make voters question whether or not something is wrong with Donald Trump’s mind.
For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group.
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politicususa--2020-08-10--Trump Admits His Executive Order On Healthcare Is Worthless

Trump admitted that the executive order that he will sign on healthcare is a political statement that is a second Republican platform .
Trump said , “ Just a double safety net and let people know that the Republicans are totally strongly in favor of preexisting conditions , taking care of people with preexisting conditions .
It ’ s a signal to people .
It ’ s a second platform .
We have preexisting conditions that will be taken care of 100 % by Republicans and the Republican Party .
I think it ’ s — I actually think it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump is losing the election , so he is trying to woo voters with empty executive orders that do anything .
Trump is supporting the lawsuit that would kill the Affordable Care Act , and the healthcare plan that he has been promising for years is nowhere in sight .
Another garbage executive order isn ’ t going to move the needle with voters , because Republicans have made it clear that they are the party of taking away healthcare .
Trump is worried that Democrats are going to kill him on healthcare @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is making empty token moves to try to fool voters in believing that their healthcare won ’ t be in jeopardy if they reelect him .
For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group .

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Trump admitted that the executive order that he will sign on healthcare is a political statement that is a second Republican platform.
Trump said, “Just a double safety net and let people know that the Republicans are totally strongly in favor of preexisting conditions, taking care of people with preexisting conditions. It’s a signal to people. It’s a second platform. We have preexisting conditions that will be taken care of 100% by Republicans and the Republican Party. I think it’s — I actually think it’s a very important step.”
Video:
Trump admits that his executive order on healthcare is a meaningless political statement. pic.twitter.com/2XEscwjiWX — Sarah Reese Jones (@PoliticusSarah) August 10, 2020
Trump is losing the election, so he is trying to woo voters with empty executive orders that do anything. Trump is supporting the lawsuit that would kill the Affordable Care Act, and the healthcare plan that he has been promising for years is nowhere in sight.
Another garbage executive order isn’t going to move the needle with voters, because Republicans have made it clear that they are the party of taking away healthcare.
Trump is worried that Democrats are going to kill him on healthcare in the election that is why he is making empty token moves to try to fool voters in believing that their healthcare won’t be in jeopardy if they reelect him.
For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group.
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politicususa--2020-08-10--Trump Proposes New Tax Cut For The Rich As His Pandemic Solution

Trump announced at his supposed coronavirus briefing that he is considering a cut on capital gains taxes that would benefit the richest Americans .
Trump said , “ But the — we ’ re looking at also considering a capital gains tax cut , which would create a lot more jobs .
So we ’ re looking very seriously at the capital gains tax cut .
And also at an income tax cut for middle-income families .
We ’ re looking at expanding the tax cuts that we ’ ve already done , but specifically for middle-income families .
And @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the upcoming few weeks .
And I think it will be very exciting .
So capital gains tax is going to be a lot of people put to work , and it will be a cut in the capital gains tax .
And also a cut in the income tax.
” Republicans already tried this strategy with their first tax cut for the wealthy , and it had no positive impact on jobs .
Capital gains tax cuts only benefit the wealthiest Americans .
They do not help people who are unemployed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
It is also close to an election , so Trump is back to promising a mythical middle-class tax cut , which he has no plan for , and no intention of doing .
House Democrats have passed bills that would cut taxes for the middle class , but Trump and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell have shown no interest in acting on them .
Trump ’ s answer to the pandemic is not to pass a relief package , but to cut taxes for the rich .
For more discussion about this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ group .

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Trump announced at his supposed coronavirus briefing that he is considering a cut on capital gains taxes that would benefit the richest Americans.
Trump said, “But the — we’re looking at also considering a capital gains tax cut, which would create a lot more jobs. So we’re looking very seriously at the capital gains tax cut. And also at an income tax cut for middle-income families. We’re looking at expanding the tax cuts that we’ve already done, but specifically for middle-income families. And you’ll be hearing about that in the upcoming few weeks. And I think it will be very exciting. So capital gains tax is going to be a lot of people put to work, and it will be a cut in the capital gains tax. And also a cut in the income tax.”
Video:
Trump pushes a new tax cut for the wealthy to "create jobs" in the middle of the pandemic. A capital gains tax cut will not create jobs. pic.twitter.com/fY56Z3YNdv — Sarah Reese Jones (@PoliticusSarah) August 10, 2020
Republicans already tried this strategy with their first tax cut for the wealthy, and it had no positive impact on jobs. Capital gains tax cuts only benefit the wealthiest Americans. They do not help people who are unemployed because they don’t create jobs.
It is also close to an election, so Trump is back to promising a mythical middle-class tax cut, which he has no plan for, and no intention of doing. House Democrats have passed bills that would cut taxes for the middle class, but Trump and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell have shown no interest in acting on them.
Trump’s answer to the pandemic is not to pass a relief package, but to cut taxes for the rich.
For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group.
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politicususa--2020-08-10--Robin Williams’ Daughter Zelda Slams Eric Trump After He Shares Video of her Father

There have been a number of musicians that have slammed the Trump administration for using their songs at events .
The latest is Neil Young who filed a suit against Trump last week when the president ’ s campaign repeatedly played his song , Rocking in the Free World against his wishes .
And apparently , musicians are not the only artists that don ’ t use their performances to promote their agenda .
Eric Trump recently drew the ire of Zelda Williams after sharing a clip of her father Robin ’ s comedy on his Twitter feed .
Last @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Williams talking about Joe Biden .
He referred to the former Vice President as Ramblin ’ Joe Biden .
Pretty tame stuff overall .
The message was captioned , “ Robin Williams savages Joe Biden.
” Zelda Williams replied to the message a few days later , writing , “ hile we ’ re ‘ reminiscing ’ ( to further your political agenda ) , you should look up what he said about your Dad .
I did .
Promise you , it ’ s much more ‘ savage ’ .
Gentle @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vote , but the living can.
” Shortly after the beef , a clip of Robin Williams talking about Trump began circulating on Twitter .
Talking about Atlantic City , the comic says , “ And Donald Trump is the Wizard of Oz .
Oh , my .
He plays Monopoly with real f*cking buildings .
This is a scary man .
And he owns all these beauty pagaents….Isn ’ t that a bit like Michael Vick owning a series of pet stores .
”

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There have been a number of musicians that have slammed the Trump administration for using their songs at events. The latest is Neil Young who filed a suit against Trump last week when the president’s campaign repeatedly played his song, Rocking in the Free World against his wishes.
And apparently, musicians are not the only artists that don’t use their performances to promote their agenda. Eric Trump recently drew the ire of Zelda Williams after sharing a clip of her father Robin’s comedy on his Twitter feed.
Last week, Eric Trump tweeted a video of Williams talking about Joe Biden. He referred to the former Vice President as Ramblin’ Joe Biden. Pretty tame stuff overall. The message was captioned, “Robin Williams savages Joe Biden.”
Zelda Williams replied to the message a few days later, writing, “hile we’re ‘reminiscing’ (to further your political agenda), you should look up what he said about your Dad. I did. Promise you, it’s much more ‘savage’. Gentle reminder that the dead can’t vote, but the living can.”
Shortly after the beef, a clip of Robin Williams talking about Trump began circulating on Twitter. Talking about Atlantic City, the comic says, “And Donald Trump is the Wizard of Oz. Oh, my. He plays Monopoly with real f*cking buildings. This is a scary man. And he owns all these beauty pagaents….Isn’t that a bit like Michael Vick owning a series of pet stores.”
Watch the clip below:


politicususa--2020-08-10--Trump May Try To Out Do Lincoln With New Gettysburg Address

Trump has been obsessed with comparing himself favorably to Abraham Lincoln , and he is considering accepting the Republican nomination @ @ @ @ @ been saying that he is the best president for African-Americans with the possible exception of @ @ @ @ @ years .
Trump gave an interview to Fox News in front of the Lincoln Monument @ @ @ @ @ for , and he is considering accepting the Republican nomination at Gettysburg , a civil @ @ @ @ @ with one of the greatest presidential speeches of all time .
Donald Trump is not @ @ @ @ @ main public speaking skills consist of screaming and sweating profusely .
Trump is considering Gettysburg @ @ @ @ @ and only concerned with the visuals that would come out of him accepting the nomination @ @ @ @ @ going to convince voters that his name belongs in the same sentence with Abraham Lincoln @ @ @ @ @ the same soil as Lincoln , but he will never be held in the same @ @ @ @ @ about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group .

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Trump has been obsessed with comparing himself favorably to Abraham Lincoln, and he is considering accepting the Republican nomination at Gettysburg.
Trump tweeted:
We have narrowed the Presidential Nomination Acceptance Speech, to be delivered on the final night of the Convention (Thursday), to two locations – The Great Battlefield of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, and the White House, Washington, D.C. We will announce the decision soon! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 10, 2020
Trump has been saying that he is the best president for African-Americans with the possible exception of Abraham Lincoln for almost two years. Trump gave an interview to Fox News in front of the Lincoln Monument that he was widely mocked for, and he is considering accepting the Republican nomination at Gettysburg, a civil war battlefield that is synonymous with one of the greatest presidential speeches of all time.
Donald Trump is not a great orator. His main public speaking skills consist of screaming and sweating profusely. Trump is considering Gettysburg, but he is superficial and only concerned with the visuals that would come out of him accepting the nomination there.
Trump is never going to convince voters that his name belongs in the same sentence with Abraham Lincoln. Trump can stand on the same soil as Lincoln, but he will never be held in the same regard.
For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group.
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politicususa--2020-08-10--Trump Wants Credit For Bringing The Country Together To Vote Him Out

Kaleigh McEnany claimed that Trump has done a lot to bring America together , which is true as the nation is united in voting Trump out .
McEnany said , “ I won ’ t get ahead of the president as to what his convention speech will look like , but the president has done a lot to bring to this country together .
We ’ ve faced unprecedented challenges , and he ’ s worked to make sure that the American people are best equipped to rise above the challenges that we face , and he has a strong @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on that day.
” Trump ’ s biggest achievement is unleashing a pandemic that has crashed the economy and united 70 % -80 % of the nation in the belief that the country is on the wrong course .
Trump has done a lot to bring the country together , but what McEnany left out is that he has brought the vast majority of the country together in a shared belief that he must be voted out of office .
Getting rid of Trump is the common bond shared by former Republicans , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Trump has done a lot to unite the country , but none of it is good , and it is all against him .
For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group .

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Kaleigh McEnany claimed that Trump has done a lot to bring America together, which is true as the nation is united in voting Trump out.
McEnany said, “I won’t get ahead of the president as to what his convention speech will look like, but the president has done a lot to bring to this country together. We’ve faced unprecedented challenges, and he’s worked to make sure that the American people are best equipped to rise above the challenges that we face, and he has a strong record that he’ll be touting on that day.”
Video:
"The president has done a lot to bring this country together" — McEnany previews Trump's 2020 RNC message 🙃 pic.twitter.com/OtWQiYJBC9 — Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) August 10, 2020
Trump’s biggest achievement is unleashing a pandemic that has crashed the economy and united 70%-80% of the nation in the belief that the country is on the wrong course. Trump has done a lot to bring the country together, but what McEnany left out is that he has brought the vast majority of the country together in a shared belief that he must be voted out of office.
Getting rid of Trump is the common bond shared by former Republicans, Independents, and Democrats in this election. Trump has done a lot to unite the country, but none of it is good, and it is all against him.
For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group.
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politicususa--2020-08-10--Trump Uses Morning to Attack Dem Leadership Over Virus Relief

President Donald Trump lashed out at House Speaker Nancy Pelosi ( D-Calif. ) and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer ( D-N.Y. ) , accusing them of delaying crucial coronavirus relief legislation .
“ So now Schumer and Pelosi want to meet to make a deal .
Amazing how it all works , isn ’ t it , ” he wrote .
“ Where have they been for the last 4 weeks when they were “ hardliners ” , and only wanted BAILOUT MONEY for Democrat run states and cities that are failing badly ?
They know my phone number !
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ misleading .
The Democrat-led House passed the The Health and Economic Recovery Omnibus Emergency Solutions ( HEROES ) Act in May to supplement an earlier coronavirus relief package .
However , the legislation was never taken up by the Senate , and benefits , including a highly valued $ 600 weekly unemployment bonus , were allowed to expire , throwing millions of people into uncertainty .
The president ’ s remarks come as Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said the Trump administration is open to resuming coronavirus aid talks as well as offer more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ compromise .
“ The president is determined to spend what we need to spend .
… We ’ re prepared to put more money on the table , ” he told CNBC ’ s “ Squawk on the Street ” without specifying when talks would resume .

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President Donald Trump lashed out at House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), accusing them of delaying crucial coronavirus relief legislation.
“So now Schumer and Pelosi want to meet to make a deal. Amazing how it all works, isn’t it,” he wrote. “Where have they been for the last 4 weeks when they were “hardliners”, and only wanted BAILOUT MONEY for Democrat run states and cities that are failing badly? They know my phone number!”
So now Schumer and Pelosi want to meet to make a deal. Amazing how it all works, isn’t it. Where have they been for the last 4 weeks when they were “hardliners”, and only wanted BAILOUT MONEY for Democrat run states and cities that are failing badly? They know my phone number! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 10, 2020
The president’s statements are misleading. The Democrat-led House passed the The Health and Economic Recovery Omnibus Emergency Solutions (HEROES) Act in May to supplement an earlier coronavirus relief package. However, the legislation was never taken up by the Senate, and benefits, including a highly valued $600 weekly unemployment bonus, were allowed to expire, throwing millions of people into uncertainty.
The president’s remarks come as Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said the Trump administration is open to resuming coronavirus aid talks as well as offer more aid money to try to reach a compromise.
“The president is determined to spend what we need to spend. … We’re prepared to put more money on the table,” he told CNBC’s “Squawk on the Street” without specifying when talks would resume.


politicususa--2020-08-11--An Obama Or A Biden Is Scheduled To Close Every Night Of The Democratic Convention

The current Democratic Convention schedule , which is subject to change after the VP pick , has an Obama or a Bien closing each night .
Morning Joe took a look at the current , not written in stone , schedule : “ Morning Joe ” is getting a first look at the headliners .
Monday ’ s lineup includes Bernie Sanders and Katherine Cortez Mastro , Andrew Cuomo , and Gretchen Whitmer .
Former Republican governor John Kasich .
Senators Doug Jones and Amy Klobuchar .
And former first lady Michelle Obama .
Tuesday , we hear from Sally @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez , Lisa Blunt Rochester , Bill Clinton , and Dr. Jill Biden .
Wednesday ’ s headliners are Nancy Pelosi , among many others .
So it ’ s going to be — Elizabeth Warren is going to be there .
Gabby Giffords , and Barack Obama .
Look at Thursday , Cory Booker , Mayor Keisha Lance bottoms .
Kamala Harris , the Biden family , and Joe Biden himself .
Joe Biden ’ s convention is set to look more like who America really is .
Trump ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the older white male presence , but that is the core of his support and the backbone of Trump ’ s shrinking Republican Party .
The message in the tentative schedule is clear .
An Obama or a Biden will closeout , or in Barack Obama ’ s case , nearly closeout because one should expect that Biden ’ s running will speak last on Wednesday night , the Democratic convention .
Some speeches to look out for include , Michelle Obama and Cory Booker who both have a history of giving @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be interesting after her recent Senate testimony .
Bernie Sanders and AOC will represent the progressive wing of the party well , as Democrats should have the country watching as tell the nation in one unified voice that Trump has got to go .
For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group .

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The current Democratic Convention schedule, which is subject to change after the VP pick, has an Obama or a Bien closing each night.
Morning Joe took a look at the current, not written in stone, schedule:
“Morning Joe” is getting a first look at the headliners. Monday’s lineup includes Bernie Sanders and Katherine Cortez Mastro, Andrew Cuomo, and Gretchen Whitmer. Former Republican governor John Kasich. Senators Doug Jones and Amy Klobuchar. And former first lady Michelle Obama. Tuesday, we hear from Sally Yates, Chuck Schumer, John Kerry, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Lisa Blunt Rochester, Bill Clinton, and Dr. Jill Biden.
Wednesday’s headliners are Nancy Pelosi, among many others. So it’s going to be — Elizabeth Warren is going to be there. Gabby Giffords, and Barack Obama. Look at Thursday, Cory Booker, Mayor Keisha Lance bottoms. Kamala Harris, the Biden family, and Joe Biden himself.
Video:
As Donald Trump is scrounging to put on a show for his convention, the Democratic convention is absolutely loaded with great speakers from all parts of the party. pic.twitter.com/4wPjOmDlAs — Sarah Reese Jones (@PoliticusSarah) August 11, 2020
Joe Biden’s convention is set to look more like who America really is. Trump’s convention is certain to be heavy on the older white male presence, but that is the core of his support and the backbone of Trump’s shrinking Republican Party.
The message in the tentative schedule is clear. An Obama or a Biden will closeout, or in Barack Obama’s case, nearly closeout because one should expect that Biden’s running will speak last on Wednesday night, the Democratic convention.
Some speeches to look out for include, Michelle Obama and Cory Booker who both have a history of giving outstanding convention speeches. Sally Yates should be interesting after her recent Senate testimony. Bernie Sanders and AOC will represent the progressive wing of the party well, as Democrats should have the country watching as tell the nation in one unified voice that Trump has got to go.
For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group.
Follow Jason Easley on Facebook


politicususa--2020-08-11--“She Never Called Biden Racist” Watch Fox News Fact Check Trump Statement on Kamala Harris

While there were many candidates to become Joe Biden ’ s running mate , Kamala Harris was long seen as a front-runner .
The Trump campaign had plenty of time to come up with a well-thought out statement about the pick .
Believe it or not , that ’ s not what happened .
Following the announcement of the selection , the campaign released a Trumpian missive through adviser Katrina Pierson .
The statement painted Harris as a “ phony ” and declared , “ Not long ago , Kamala Harris called Joe Biden a racist and asked for an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about the selection on Fox News Tuesday night , host Neil Cavuto and reporter John Roberts corrected the statement .
Roberts told the host , “ As a former prosecutor , if anything , Kamala Harris was getting heat from many African-Americans of the party and others because she was a little too tough on crime and that sort of thing.
” Cavuto then jumped in to note , “ By the way , the quick clarification I want to get — the president seems to be saying that Kamala Harris had called @ @ @ @ @ @ @ did.
” “ No .
And again it wasn ’ t the president who issued this statement it was Katrina Pearson who issued the statement on behalf of the president and the president ’ s campaign .
But clearly , in that confrontation in the debate , it was an uncomfortable moment .
She did demand an apology .
Whether she said the word racist or not , the intonation was there.
” Watch a video of the segment below , courtesy of Fox News :

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While there were many candidates to become Joe Biden’s running mate, Kamala Harris was long seen as a front-runner. The Trump campaign had plenty of time to come up with a well-thought out statement about the pick.
Believe it or not, that’s not what happened. Following the announcement of the selection, the campaign released a Trumpian missive through adviser Katrina Pierson.
The statement painted Harris as a “phony” and declared, “Not long ago, Kamala Harris called Joe Biden a racist and asked for an apology she never recieved.
Trump campaign statement on Kamala Harris pick, via Katrina Pierson, calling her "Phony Kamala" and Biden's "political living will" pic.twitter.com/EsPCw2nJs4 — Tom LoBianco (@tomlobianco) August 11, 2020
While talking about the selection on Fox News Tuesday night, host Neil Cavuto and reporter John Roberts corrected the statement.
Roberts told the host, “As a former prosecutor, if anything, Kamala Harris was getting heat from many African-Americans of the party and others because she was a little too tough on crime and that sort of thing.”
Cavuto then jumped in to note, “By the way, the quick clarification I want to get — the president seems to be saying that Kamala Harris had called Joe Biden a racist. She never did.”
Protecting Trump, Roberts continued:
“No. And again it wasn’t the president who issued this statement it was Katrina Pearson who issued the statement on behalf of the president and the president’s campaign. But clearly, in that confrontation in the debate, it was an uncomfortable moment. She did demand an apology. Whether she said the word racist or not, the intonation was there.”
Watch a video of the segment below, courtesy of Fox News:


politicususa--2020-08-11--Trump Melts Down Into Gibberish Over Biden Picking Kamala Harris

Trump reacted to the news that Biden picked Kamala Harris as his running mate by melting down and spewing nonsense about treason and Pocahontas .
We caught Joe Biden , President Obama , the whole group , you can look at Brennan and Comey and Clapper .
The whole group .
We caught them spying on our campaign .
This was an illegal act like no other .
This was treason .
This was at the highest level of treason .
And Obama and Biden got caught spying on my campaign , using intelligence agencies of the United States government @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after the election .
So before the general election then after I won , they continued .
It ’ s total illegal activity and now we have to see what ’ s happening , but as far as Kamala is concerned , she ’ s a big tax raiser .
She ’ s a big slasher of funds for our military and she ’ s got a lot of difficult things that she ’ s going to have to explain .
Plus , she was very , very nasty to , probably nastier @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Biden .
She said things during the debates during the Democrat primary debates that were horrible .
About Sleepy Joe .
The gibberish rant of some of his favorite conspiracies is a sign that Trump has no idea how to attack or define Biden and Harris .
Trump ’ s response was proof that his campaign is scared of Harris .
They did not want to run against her .
They have no idea how to define her , and Trump ’ s immediate response was to spew nonsense and hope that something @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the seams , nothing is working for him , as he sees another good Biden decision move him closer to defeat .
For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group .

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Trump reacted to the news that Biden picked Kamala Harris as his running mate by melting down and spewing nonsense about treason and Pocahontas.
Trump said:
We caught Joe Biden, President Obama, the whole group, you can look at Brennan and Comey and Clapper. The whole group. We caught them spying on our campaign. This was an illegal act like no other. This was treason. This was at the highest level of treason. And Obama and Biden got caught spying on my campaign, using intelligence agencies of the United States government to do it.
Both before and after the election. So before the general election then after I won, they continued. It’s total illegal activity and now we have to see what’s happening, but as far as Kamala is concerned, she’s a big tax raiser. She’s a big slasher of funds for our military and she’s got a lot of difficult things that she’s going to have to explain. Plus, she was very, very nasty to, probably nastier than Pocahontas, very disrespectful to Joe Biden. She said things during the debates during the Democrat primary debates that were horrible. About Sleepy Joe.
Video:
Trump has a total meltdown, mispronounces Kamala Harris's name, accuses Obama and Joe Biden of treason, and calls Elizabeth Warren "Pocahontas" all in the same rant. Trump is not handling the Harris news well. pic.twitter.com/z0hePzH5oa — Sarah Reese Jones (@PoliticusSarah) August 11, 2020
The gibberish rant of some of his favorite conspiracies is a sign that Trump has no idea how to attack or define Biden and Harris. Trump’s response was proof that his campaign is scared of Harris. They did not want to run against her. They have no idea how to define her, and Trump’s immediate response was to spew nonsense and hope that something sticks.
Trump is coming apart at the seams, nothing is working for him, as he sees another good Biden decision move him closer to defeat.
For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group.
Follow Jason Easley on Facebook


politicususa--2020-08-11--Donald and Ivanka Trump Gave Thousands to Kamala Harris Campaigns in 2010s

Donald Trump has only been a Republican for a few short years .
Prior to that , the current President was a major donor to Democratic candidates and causes .
This was also true of his daughter Ivanka and son-in-law Jared Kushner .
The pair hosted a number of fundraisers aimed at raising money for Liberal candidates.So it comes as no surprise that Trump and his daughter donated to new Kamala Harris in the past .
NBC ’ s Tom Winter reports , “ According to California state records , President Trump — while a private citizen — twice donated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ candidate for state AG .
A total of $ 6,000 in 2011 and 2013 combined.
” Ivanka Trump was also a fan of Harris , giving her $ 2,000 during her California Attorney General race in 2014 .
Steve Mnuchin , the Secretary of the Treasury , gave Harris $ 2,000 during her 2016 senate race .
Interestingly , the California Senator saw fit to return the money given to her by Donald Trump .
According to George Conway , “ Harris didn ’ t use Trump ‘ s donation .
Rather , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had already been reelected and was working toward a Senate run — she gave the $ 6,000 to a nonprofit that works to secure civil rights for Central Americans.
” Whatever his feelings were on Harris back in 2013 , Trump has certainly changed his tune on Harris .
After she was announced as Biden ’ s VP , he shared a video painting her as a tool of the “ radical left .
”

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Donald Trump has only been a Republican for a few short years. Prior to that, the current President was a major donor to Democratic candidates and causes.
This was also true of his daughter Ivanka and son-in-law Jared Kushner. The pair hosted a number of fundraisers aimed at raising money for Liberal candidates.So it comes as no surprise that Trump and his daughter donated to new Kamala Harris in the past.
NBC’s Tom Winter reports, “According to California state records, President Trump — while a private citizen — twice donated to Kamala Harris while she was a candidate for state AG. A total of $6,000 in 2011 and 2013 combined.”
NBC News: According to California state records, President Trump — while a private citizen — twice donated to Kamala Harris while she was a candidate for state AG. A total of $6,000 in 2011 and 2013 combined. Image: pic.twitter.com/rbOiMbdQ4L — Tom Winter (@Tom_Winter) August 11, 2020
Ivanka Trump was also a fan of Harris, giving her $2,000 during her California Attorney General race in 2014.
Steve Mnuchin, the Secretary of the Treasury, gave Harris $2,000 during her 2016 senate race.
Interestingly, the California Senator saw fit to return the money given to her by Donald Trump. According to George Conway, “Harris didn’t use Trump‘s donation. Rather, in 2015 — a year after she had already been reelected and was working toward a Senate run — she gave the $6,000 to a nonprofit that works to secure civil rights for Central Americans.”
“Harris didn't use Trump's donation. Rather, in 2015 — a year after she had already been reelected and was working toward a Senate run — she gave the $6,000 to a nonprofit that works to secure civil rights for Central Americans.”https://t.co/XJ3EbAeU0R — George Conway 🇺🇦 (@gtconway3d) August 11, 2020
Whatever his feelings were on Harris back in 2013, Trump has certainly changed his tune on Harris. After she was announced as Biden’s VP, he shared a video painting her as a tool of the “radical left.”