theguardian--2020-08-30--Kenosha: fears rise that Trump visit could inflame tensions amid protests

Concern was growing on Sunday that a tense but peaceful situation prevailing in Kenosha for the last four days and nights could be inflamed by a planned visit from Donald Trump this week , in the aftermath of the police shooting of Jacob Blake in the city last Sunday .
Blake , a Black 29-year-old father , was shot seven times in the back by a white police officer in the small Wisconsin city , and his family say he is now paralyzed from the waist down .
There was unrest the following night and then largely peaceful marches spiraled @ @ @ @ @ @ @ armed agitators appeared on the streets and , after being praised and given water by police despite being out after curfew , appeared to confront protesters and begin shooting .
A white teenager , Kyle Rittenhouse , 17 , was seen on video walking away after a man was shot , while others stooped to give the victim medical attention , although he later died .
Then Rittenhouse was seen being chased and , as men tried to stop him , shooting again , then subsequently walking through police lines with an assault @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up , without being apprehended .
He turned himself in in Antioch , Illinois , the following day and has been charged with intentional homicide after the alleged shooting death of two white men , and other charges relating to the assault rifle he was carrying , and another shooting where a man ’ s arm was severely injured .
Since Tuesday night , marches and rallies in Kenosha have been calm .
On Saturday , Blake ’ s family spoke at an impassioned , peaceful rally in Kenosha .
“ We ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Blake ’ s father , Jacob Sr , told the crowd .
“ We ’ re still suffering because there are two justice systems .
There ’ s one for that white boy [ Rittenhouse ] that walked down the street and killed two people and blew another man ’ s arm off .
Then there ’ s one for my son.
” He was also critical of the police .
“ What gave them the right to think that my son was an animal ?
” he said .
The US president @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Kenosha on Tuesday .
California Democratic congresswoman Karen Bass said on Sunday that she thought the violence that erupted in Kenosha on Tuesday night was “ absolutely horrible ” , following the police shooting , which was also caught on video .
She said of Rittenhouse : “ The idea that we would see that young man with a rifle walking towards the police and they do nothing and he has killed two people , and the head of law enforcement the following day seemed to blame [ the deaths ] on people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of protests [ in Kenosha ] have been peaceful , ” she said .
The federal government has opened a civil rights investigation into the shooting and , after almost five days of silence , Trump said on Friday that the image of Blake being shot by police “ was not a good sight ” .
But Bass said of Trump ’ s plan to travel to Kenosha : “ I think this visit has one purpose and one purpose only and that ’ s to agitate things.
” Trump has been increasingly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ campaign centered on cracking down on unrest , even as he appeared to egg on Trump supporters who drove in a huge procession into Portland , Oregon , on Saturday night and shot paintballs and pepper spray at protesters , buy retweeting video of the incident .
And he tweeted simply “ Law and order ” on Sunday morning .
In fact , Bass told CNN she thinks “ he is going to do everything to disrupt law and order ” in order to try to win re-election by sowing division and fear @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the wave of protests against police brutality and systemic racism that have swept the US since the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis in May .
Democratic presidential and vice-presidential candidates Joe Biden and Kamala Harris have talked extensively with the family of Jacob Blake and strongly condemned the police shooting .
Miles Taylor , former chief of staff to Kirstjen Nielsen , then homeland security secretary , and now adviser to an anti-Trump group , the Republican Political Alliance for Integrity and Reform ( Repair ) , said that while presidential @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” , he was concerned .
“ My problem is that Donald Trump goes to these places to politicize things…if you go to deliver a unifying message , yes , but I ’ m skeptical , ” he said .
It is unclear whether Trump plans to meet with Blake or his family .
Kenosha is the latest US city where protests against racism and excessive use of force by police are occurring .
In addition to police reforms , the mostly white midwestern community needs to address the fundamental disadvantages Black people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ King , a former president of the local National Association for the Advancement of Colored People ( NAACP ) chapter .
While about 13 % of whites live in poverty in Kenosha , more than a third of Black residents are impoverished .
Kenosha also lacks racial equality in housing , health care , education and within the justice system , King said .
“ We want to address the systemic racism that is running rampant in all of these areas , ” she said .
While most of the protests in Kenosha @ @ @ @ @ @ @ initial damage to property and businesses in the city .
“ We are not the last community that this will happen to , ” one resident , Vickie Kwasny , said as she looked at dozens of torched cars in a parking lot near her home .
“ I hope we can heal .
We have a lot of cleaning up to do.
” Chenesse Brown , a 31-year-old teacher , handed out water and snacks as she held her two-month old godson during a march on Saturday .
“ This morning ... @ @ @ @ @ @ @ just sat on the foot of my bed and cried .
Because this is not the Kenosha that we know , ” she said .
“ It ’ s surreal , overwhelming and saddening , but then I come out and see this and it reminds that ... we have our faith and our hope.
“

Concern was growing on Sunday that a tense but peaceful situation prevailing in Kenosha for the last four days and nights could be inflamed by a planned visit from Donald Trump this week, in the aftermath of the police shooting of Jacob Blake in the city last Sunday.
Blake, a Black 29-year-old father, was shot seven times in the back by a white police officer in the small Wisconsin city, and his family say he is now paralyzed from the waist down.
There was unrest the following night and then largely peaceful marches spiraled into chaos on Tuesday night when white armed agitators appeared on the streets and, after being praised and given water by police despite being out after curfew, appeared to confront protesters and begin shooting.
A white teenager, Kyle Rittenhouse, 17, was seen on video walking away after a man was shot, while others stooped to give the victim medical attention, although he later died.
Then Rittenhouse was seen being chased and, as men tried to stop him, shooting again, then subsequently walking through police lines with an assault rifle around his neck and his hands up, without being apprehended.
He turned himself in in Antioch, Illinois, the following day and has been charged with intentional homicide after the alleged shooting death of two white men , and other charges relating to the assault rifle he was carrying, and another shooting where a man’s arm was severely injured.
Since Tuesday night, marches and rallies in Kenosha have been calm.
On Saturday, Blake’s family spoke at an impassioned, peaceful rally in Kenosha. “We’re not going to stop,” Blake’s father, Jacob Sr, told the crowd. “We’re still suffering because there are two justice systems. There’s one for that white boy [Rittenhouse] that walked down the street and killed two people and blew another man’s arm off. Then there’s one for my son.”
He was also critical of the police. “What gave them the right to think that my son was an animal?” he said.
The US president announced on Saturday a plan to visit Kenosha on Tuesday.
Jacob Blake’s father speaks to crowd gathered at Civic Center Park, in Kenosha, Wisconsin, on Sunday. Photograph: Jim Vondruska/Reuters
The California Democratic congresswoman Karen Bass said on Sunday that she thought the violence that erupted in Kenosha on Tuesday night was “absolutely horrible”, following the police shooting, which was also caught on video.
She said of Rittenhouse: “The idea that we would see that young man with a rifle walking towards the police and they do nothing and he has killed two people, and the head of law enforcement the following day seemed to blame [the deaths] on people being out after curfew … 90% of protests [in Kenosha] have been peaceful,” she said.
The federal government has opened a civil rights investigation into the shooting and, after almost five days of silence, Trump said on Friday that the image of Blake being shot by police “was not a good sight”.
But Bass said of Trump’s plan to travel to Kenosha: “I think this visit has one purpose and one purpose only and that’s to agitate things.”
Trump has been increasingly positioning himself in terms of an election campaign centered on cracking down on unrest, even as he appeared to egg on Trump supporters who drove in a huge procession into Portland, Oregon, on Saturday night and shot paintballs and pepper spray at protesters, buy retweeting video of the incident.
And he tweeted simply “Law and order” on Sunday morning.
In fact, Bass told CNN she thinks “he is going to do everything to disrupt law and order” in order to try to win re-election by sowing division and fear.
The president has been critical of the wave of protests against police brutality and systemic racism that have swept the US since the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis in May.
Democratic presidential and vice-presidential candidates Joe Biden and Kamala Harris have talked extensively with the family of Jacob Blake and strongly condemned the police shooting.
Miles Taylor, former chief of staff to Kirstjen Nielsen, then homeland security secretary, and now adviser to an anti-Trump group, the Republican Political Alliance for Integrity and Reform (Repair), said that while presidential visits can “cool down the rhetoric”, he was concerned.
Jacob Blake was shot seven times in the back by a white police officer in the small Wisconsin city, and his family say he is now paralyzed from the waist down. Photograph: Jim Vondruska/Reuters
“My problem is that Donald Trump goes to these places to politicize things … if you go to deliver a unifying message, yes, but I’m skeptical,” he said.
It is unclear whether Trump plans to meet with Blake or his family.
Kenosha is the latest US city where protests against racism and excessive use of force by police are occurring. In addition to police reforms, the mostly white midwestern community needs to address the fundamental disadvantages Black people face in Kenosha, according to Verona King, a former president of the local National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) chapter.
While about 13% of whites live in poverty in Kenosha, more than a third of Black residents are impoverished. Kenosha also lacks racial equality in housing, healthcare, education and within the justice system, King said.
“We want to address the systemic racism that is running rampant in all of these areas,” she said.
While most of the protests in Kenosha have been peaceful, there was some initial damage to property and businesses in the city.
“We are not the last community that this will happen to,” one resident, Vickie Kwasny, said as she looked at dozens of torched cars in a parking lot near her home. “I hope we can heal. We have a lot of cleaning up to do.”
Chenesse Brown, a 31-year-old teacher, handed out water and snacks as she held her two-month old godson during a march on Saturday.
“This morning … everything caught up to me and I just sat on the foot of my bed and cried. Because this is not the Kenosha that we know,” she said. “It’s surreal, overwhelming and saddening, but then I come out and see this and it reminds that … we have our faith and our hope.”


theguardian--2020-08-30--'Two visions of the US':  Trump and Biden offer contrasts on race, Covid and economy

One version told of a president who is callous and cruel .
“ My dad was a healthy 65-year-old , ” said Kristin Urquiza , whose father voted for Donald Trump in 2016 and died from Covid-19 in June .
“ His only pre-existing condition was trusting Donald Trump – and for that he paid with his life.
” The other spoke of a president blessed with compassion .
Kayleigh McEnany recalled taking a phone call as she recovered from a preventative mastectomy .
“ It was President Trump , calling to check on me , ” she said .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ was the leader of the free world caring about me.
” The contrast was enough to induce a sense of whiplash .
But it happened over and over again during the past two weeks during the Democratic and Republican national conventions , held virtually for the first time due to the pandemic .
The primetime television split screen displayed two radically different Americas – and two radically different diagnoses of its ills .
Democrats tore into Trump ’ s character and lack of fitness for office ; Republicans paid tribute to his competence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Democrats hammered away at the pandemic , its death toll and the economic fallout ; Republicans spoke of the virus rarely and preferred to sell optimism , promising a renaissance just around the corner .
Democrats embraced the Black Lives Matter movement and quest for racial justice ; Republicans stoked fear of “ cancel culture ” and suburbs overrun by violent mobs .
John Zogby , an author and pollster , observed : “ We didn ’ t get a portrayal of disagreements ; we got a portrayal of two completely different @ @ @ @ @ @ @ astounding .
If a Martian came down and watched both conventions , they would be puzzled and get back on the ship .
It was amazing , a completely different reality about Covid , about the economy , about Black Lives Matter.
” When the smoke cleared from fireworks at the Washington monument that spelled out “ Trump 2020 ” on the final night , the nation had a clearer idea of where the two armies have drawn battle lines before the November election .
Democrats set out to draw a contrast between @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and experience versus Trump ’ s chronic inability to do a job he treats as a reality show .
Michelle Obama , the former first lady , channeled the anguish of mothers across the country appalled by the 45th president ’ s crass conduct .
“ He is clearly in over his head , ” she said .
“ He can not meet this moment .
He simply can not be who we need him to be for us.
” Democrats prosecuted a case that Trump failed to rise to the historic challenge @ @ @ @ @ @ @ now 180,000 deaths and tens of millions unemployed .
Above all , they warned , Trump threatens America ’ s 244-year-old democratic experiment .
An unusually raw Barack Obama said : “ This administration has shown it will tear our democracy down if that ’ s what it takes to win .
So we have to get busy building it up.
” When their turn came , Republicans spun an elaborate web of fantasy that fact checkers found included dozens of lies per night .
They worked hard to smooth the jagged edges @ @ @ @ @ @ @ him palatable to suburban voters .
A procession of women told how he promoted them to senior positions ; a procession of people of colour sought to deny his racism .
In addition , Trump was seen pardoning an African American man convicted of bank robbery and benevolently welcoming immigrants as they became US citizens .
The pitch appeared to be : do not believe the media caricature of Trump as demonic figure ; you have licence to vote for him again with a clear conscience .
Wendy Schiller , a political science @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Rhode Island , said : “ What was striking was that this convention was designed to appeal to suburban moderate Republicans and independents.
” “ It was really designed to assuage or mollify suburban voters and say , ‘ Listen , I ’ m not that bad , really .
.
’ ” Republicans ’ political plastic surgery included hailing Trump ’ s response to the virus as an epic success , when they mentioned it at all .
The president hyped the promise of a vaccine before the end of the year @ @ @ @ @ @ @ White House where face masks were few and far between in the packed crowd , as if willing a return to normal .
There was one common thread of the conventions : a sense that defeat by the other side would spell something more profound and existential than the mere swing of a political pendulum .
Instead it was a stark choice between American democracy or the American dream – both long seen as inviolable tenets of the American soul .
Zogby commented : “ This is a genuine Armageddon election : if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the end of the United States , the end of our values , the end of democracy.
” The sense that the stakes are higher than ever before was fuelled by another dominant narrative of the year : police killings of unarmed African Americans , the uprising against racial injustice and a minority of protests that led to vandalism and violence .
Again the parties see the issue through opposing prisms .
Democrats gave a platform to the family of George Floyd , whose killing by police in Minneapolis triggered nationwide marches , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ John Lewis and nominated Senator Kamala Harris to be the country ’ s first vice president of colour .
Republicans , by contrast , conjured images of “ violent anarchists , agitators and criminals ” , falsely accused Biden of supporting efforts to defund police departments and implied that America ’ s long march against racism ends with Trump .
“ I say very modestly that I have done more for the African American community than any president since Abraham Lincoln , our first Republican president , ” Trump said .
Speakers included @ @ @ @ @ @ @ white privilege from St Louis , Missouri , who waved guns at Black Lives Matter protesters outside their mansion .
Patricia delivered a message of racial fear reminiscent of apartheid South Africa : “ What you saw happen to us could just as easily happen to any of you who are watching from quiet neighbourhoods around our country .
Make no mistake : No matter where you live , your family will not be safe in the radical Democrats ’ America.
” The messages played out against the backdrop of fresh unrest in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Jacob Blake , an African American man , seven times in the back , leaving him paralysed .
Some demonstrators destroyed buildings and started fires .
A white 17-year-old was charged with intentional homicide after two protesters were shot dead .
Some Democrats worry that such scenes could feed Trump ’ s narrative and boost him at the polls .
Yet whereas a law and order appeal worked for Richard Nixon in 1968 as an insurgent challenger , the current social disorder is happening in an America where Trump is the incumbent .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Republican National Committee , said : “ The ironic twist in that everything Donald Trump was complaining about occurring under a Biden administration was actually happening under his own .
The dissonance that you see in all of this is that he ’ s basically telling you don ’ t believe what you ’ re seeing , it ’ s not happening , but it will happen if you elect this guy .
You ’ re like , wait a minute , we have riots in the streets now.
” He added : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be to get Americans to see that what they fear is already happening , what they fear is already in their suburban communities , what they fear is already on their streets , and that there is as much happening in areas of the country that are run by Republicans as is happening in areas run by Democrats , and his goal as president is to address those concerns , to heal those wounds , not cause more pain or to open up those wounds further.
” Donna Brazile , former interim @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said : “ The race is now being defined by two epic visions of the country .
One is the vision that Joe Biden and Kamala Harris provided , which is a nation that must continue to grow and to reach out to others , especially those who feel like they are left behind .
“ The vision of Donald Trump and Mike Pence was much more of an ‘ us versus them ’ .
It didn ’ t feel as though they were reaching out to anyone .
It felt more like @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the other side is incapable of leading the America that they represent.
” Brazile added : “ I think what we saw this past two weeks is one political party that is still engaged in trying to help the American people through this pandemic , which has caused an economic crisis , versus the other party , which quite honestly don ’ t believe that this crisis exists at all .
”

One version told of a president who is callous and cruel. “My dad was a healthy 65-year-old,” said Kristin Urquiza, whose father voted for Donald Trump in 2016 and died from Covid-19 in June. “His only pre-existing condition was trusting Donald Trump – and for that he paid with his life.”
The other spoke of a president blessed with compassion. Kayleigh McEnany recalled taking a phone call as she recovered from a preventive mastectomy. “It was President Trump, calling to check on me,” she said. “I was blown away. Here was the leader of the free world caring about me.”
The contrast was enough to induce a sense of whiplash.
But it happened over and over again during the past two weeks during the Democratic and Republican national conventions, held virtually for the first time due to the pandemic. The primetime television split screen displayed two radically different Americas – and two radically different diagnoses of its ills.
Democrats tore into Trump’s character and lack of fitness for office; Republicans paid tribute to his competence, common touch and generosity of spirit. Democrats hammered away at the pandemic, its death toll and the economic fallout; Republicans spoke of the virus rarely and preferred to sell optimism, promising a renaissance just around the corner. Democrats embraced the Black Lives Matter movement and quest for racial justice; Republicans stoked fear of “cancel culture” and suburbs overrun by violent mobs.
John Zogby, an author and pollster, observed: “We didn’t get a portrayal of disagreements; we got a portrayal of two completely different realities and that’s kind of astounding. If a Martian came down and watched both conventions, they would be puzzled and get back on the ship. It was amazing, a completely different reality about Covid, about the economy, about Black Lives Matter.”
When the smoke cleared from fireworks at the Washington monument that spelled out “Trump 2020” on the final night, the nation had a clearer idea of where the two armies have drawn battle lines before the November election.
Democrats set out to draw a contrast between their nominee Joe Biden’s empathy and experience versus Trump’s chronic inability to do a job he treats as a reality show. Michelle Obama, the former first lady, channeled the anguish of mothers across the country appalled by the 45th president’s crass conduct. “He is clearly in over his head,” she said. “He cannot meet this moment. He simply cannot be who we need him to be for us.”
Democrats prosecuted a case that Trump failed to rise to the historic challenge of Covid-19, resulting in what are now 180,000 deaths and tens of millions unemployed. Above all, they warned, Trump threatens America’s 244-year-old democratic experiment. An unusually raw Barack Obama said: “This administration has shown it will tear our democracy down if that’s what it takes to win. So we have to get busy building it up.”
It was amazing, a completely different reality about Covid, about the economy, about Black Lives Matter John Zogby
When their turn came, Republicans spun an elaborate web of fantasy that factcheckers found included dozens of lies per night. They worked hard to smooth the jagged edges of Trump’s persona and make him palatable to suburban voters. A procession of women told how he promoted them to senior positions; a procession of people of colour sought to deny his racism.
In addition, Trump was seen pardoning an African American man convicted of bank robbery and benevolently welcoming immigrants as they became US citizens. The pitch appeared to be: do not believe the media caricature of Trump as demonic figure; you have licence to vote for him again with a clear conscience.
Wendy Schiller, a political science professor at Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island, said: “What was striking was that this convention was designed to appeal to suburban moderate Republicans and independents.”
“It was really designed to assuage or mollify suburban voters and say, ‘Listen, I’m not that bad, really..’”
Republicans’ political plastic surgery included hailing Trump’s response to the virus as an epic success, when they mentioned it at all. The president hyped the promise of a vaccine before the end of the year during an acceptance speech delivered at the White House where face masks were few and far between in the packed crowd, as if willing a return to normal.
There was one common thread of the conventions: a sense that defeat by the other side would spell something more profound and existential than the mere swing of a political pendulum. Instead it was a stark choice between American democracy or the American dream – both long seen as inviolable tenets of the American soul. Zogby commented: “This is a genuine Armageddon election: if the other side wins, this is the end of the United States, the end of our values, the end of democracy.”
Democrats are hoping Joe Biden can draw on his long experience in politics to appeal to voters. Photograph: Ronda Churchill/AFP/Getty Images
The sense that the stakes are higher than ever before was fuelled by another dominant narrative of the year: police killings of unarmed African Americans, the uprising against racial injustice and a minority of protests that led to vandalism and violence.
Again the parties see the issue through opposing prisms. Democrats gave a platform to the family of George Floyd, whose killing by police in Minneapolis triggered nationwide marches, celebrated the life of civil rights activist John Lewis and nominated Senator Kamala Harris to be the country’s first vice-president of colour.
Republicans, by contrast, conjured images of “violent anarchists, agitators and criminals”, falsely accused Biden of supporting efforts to defund police departments and implied that America’s long march against racism ends with Trump. “I say very modestly that I have done more for the African American community than any president since Abraham Lincoln, our first Republican president,” Trump said.
Speakers included Mark and Patricia McCloskey, embodiments of white privilege from St Louis, Missouri, who waved guns at Black Lives Matter protesters outside their mansion. Patricia delivered a message of racial fear reminiscent of apartheid South Africa: “What you saw happen to us could just as easily happen to any of you who are watching from quiet neighbourhoods around our country. Make no mistake: no matter where you live, your family will not be safe in the radical Democrats’ America.”
The messages played out against the backdrop of fresh unrest in Kenosha, Wisconsin, where police shot Jacob Blake, an African American man, seven times in the back, leaving him paralysed. Some demonstrators destroyed buildings and started fires. A white 17-year-old was charged with intentional homicide after two protesters were shot dead.
Some Democrats worry that such scenes could feed Trump’s narrative and boost him at the polls. Yet whereas a law-and-order appeal worked for Richard Nixon in 1968 as an insurgent challenger, the current social disorder is happening in an America where Trump is the incumbent.
Michael Steele, former chairman of the Republican National Committee, said: “The ironic twist in that everything Donald Trump was complaining about occurring under a Biden administration was actually happening under his own. The dissonance that you see in all of this is that he’s basically telling you don’t believe what you’re seeing, it’s not happening, but it will happen if you elect this guy. You’re like, wait a minute, we have riots in the streets now.”
He added: “The challenge for Biden is going to be to get Americans to see that what they fear is already happening, what they fear is already in their suburban communities, what they fear is already on their streets, and that there is as much happening in areas of the country that are run by Republicans as is happening in areas run by Democrats, and his goal as president is to address those concerns, to heal those wounds, not cause more pain or to open up those wounds further.”
Donna Brazile, former interim chairwoman of the Democratic National Committee, said: “The race is now being defined by two epic visions of the country. One is the vision that Joe Biden and Kamala Harris provided, which is a nation that must continue to grow and to reach out to others, especially those who feel like they are left behind.
“The vision of Donald Trump and Mike Pence was much more of an ‘us versus them’. It didn’t feel as though they were reaching out to anyone. It felt more like they’re still willing to say the other side is incapable of leading the America that they represent.”
Brazile added: “I think what we saw this past two weeks is one political party that is still engaged in trying to help the American people through this pandemic, which has caused an economic crisis, versus the other party, which quite honestly don’t believe that this crisis exists at all.”


theguardian--2020-08-31--Republican who 'swift boated' John Kerry returns to bring down Joe Biden

The Republican strategist who orchestrated the “ swift boating ” of John Kerry in 2004 is behind a new effort to aid Donald Trump ’ s re-election campaign .
Chris LaCivita will run a Super Pac called Preserve America , beginning with a $ 30m ad campaign in key states , based on Trump ’ s law-and-order message .
According to Politico , the casino mogul Sheldon Adelson and Home Depot co-founder Bernie Marcus are among Republican mega-donors funding the group .
Swift Boat Veterans for Truth was a group that emerged in August 2004 , as Kerry , a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and then a Democratic senator from Massachusetts , challenged George W Bush in the polls .
Swift boats were small river craft used by the US navy in Vietnam .
Kerry , later secretary of state under Barack Obama , captained one .
Reporting for the Guardian , Julian Borger wrote : “ John Kerry ’ s Vietnam war record has been trashed in a series of advertisements and a book by a group … who claim that Kerry inflicted injuries on himself and falsified his field reports to win his medals and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ months of combat.
” He added : “ It is a potentially devastating multi-media assault on a presidential candidate .
It also turns out to be largely untrue.
” The effort achieved sufficient levels of infamy – and was sufficiently successful – that in US politics at least its name became a verb .
As the New York Times put it in 2008 , “ swift boat ” became “ the synonym for the nastiest of campaign smears , a shadow that hangs over the presidential race as pundits wait to proclaim that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ declare that they will not be swift boated.
” LaCivita ’ s website describes him as “ a former Marine who was wounded in combat … a fierce competitor with a proven track record of winning difficult campaigns at every level of the ballot ” .
Politico quoted him and embedded ads accusing Biden of being weak on law and order , a key Republican tactic as the campaign hots up and a president who has watched a pandemic kill more than 180,000 and crater the economy seeks political distraction .
“ The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ our country from within and Joe Biden is too weak to stop them , ” LaCivita said .
“ It ’ s a concern shared by a growing number of Americans and we intend to spread their message far and wide.
” Somewhat ironically , news of the swift boat veteran ’ s return came as Military Times released a poll showing “ a slight but significant preference ” for Biden among US servicemen .
Trump claims strong support in the US military .
The new poll showed Biden up 43 % to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in most national polling averages .
On Saturday , Biden addressed the National Guard Association .
In a shot at Trump ’ s words and actions against protesters in cities including Kenosha , Wisconsin ; Portland , Oregon ; and Washington DC , he said he would “ never put you in the middle of politics , or personal vendettas .
“ I ’ ll never use the military as a prop or as a private militia to violate rights of fellow citizens .
That ’ s not law and order .
You @ @ @ @ @ @ @

The Republican strategist who orchestrated the “swift boating” of John Kerry in 2004 is behind a new effort to aid Donald Trump’s re-election campaign.
Chris LaCivita will run a Super Pac called Preserve America, beginning with a $30m ad campaign in key states, based on Trump’s law-and-order message. According to Politico, the casino mogul Sheldon Adelson and Home Depot co-founder Bernie Marcus are among Republican mega-donors funding the group.
Swift Boat Veterans for Truth was a group that emerged in August 2004, as Kerry, a Vietnam veteran who became an anti-war campaigner and then a Democratic senator from Massachusetts, challenged George W Bush in the polls.
Swift boats were small river craft used by the US navy in Vietnam. Kerry, later secretary of state under Barack Obama, captained one.
Reporting for the Guardian, Julian Borger wrote: “John Kerry’s Vietnam war record has been trashed in a series of advertisements and a book by a group … who claim that Kerry inflicted injuries on himself and falsified his field reports to win his medals and ultimately get out of Vietnam after four months of combat.”
He added: “It is a potentially devastating multi-media assault on a presidential candidate. It also turns out to be largely untrue.”
The effort achieved sufficient levels of infamy – and was sufficiently successful – that in US politics at least its name became a verb.
As the New York Times put it in 2008, “swift boat” became “the synonym for the nastiest of campaign smears, a shadow that hangs over the presidential race as pundits wait to proclaim that the swift boating has begun and candidates declare that they will not be swift boated.”
LaCivita’s website describes him as “a former Marine who was wounded in combat … a fierce competitor with a proven track record of winning difficult campaigns at every level of the ballot”.
Politico quoted him and embedded ads accusing Biden of being weak on law and order, a key Republican tactic as the campaign hots up and a president who has watched a pandemic kill more than 180,000 and crater the economy seeks political distraction.
“The radical leftwing mob is trying to destroy our country from within and Joe Biden is too weak to stop them,” LaCivita said. “It’s a concern shared by a growing number of Americans and we intend to spread their message far and wide.”
Somewhat ironically, news of the swift boat veteran’s return came as Military Times released a poll showing “a slight but significant preference” for Biden among US servicemen.
Trump claims strong support in the US military. The new poll showed Biden up 43% to 37%, slightly below his lead in most national polling averages.
On Saturday, Biden addressed the National Guard Association. In a shot at Trump’s words and actions against protesters in cities including Kenosha, Wisconsin; Portland, Oregon; and Washington DC, he said he would “never put you in the middle of politics, or personal vendettas.
“I’ll never use the military as a prop or as a private militia to violate rights of fellow citizens. That’s not law and order. You don’t deserve that.”


theguardian--2020-08-31--Democrats push to register voters in attempt to rip Texas from Trump

As the United States barrels toward the presidential election in November , could Democrats possibly come out on top simply through a massive effort on voter registration ?
They think they can , and Texas is key .
“ Absolutely , yes , ” said Luke Warford , voter expansion director for the Texas Democratic party .
Although Donald Trump is still favored to win the Lone Star state , a number of recent polls show Democratic nominee Joe Biden not only in the running but pulling ahead , fanning long-held leftist ambitions of turning the famously red stronghold blue @ @ @ @ @ @ @ path to the White House for Donald Trump without winning Texas , ” Warford said .
“ So yes , we think we can register [ enough ] folks and flip the state for Joe Biden , and yes , that would secure a Biden presidency.
” With Texas ’ s 38 electoral college votes seemingly in play , Monday marks the launch of Texas Voter Registration Week for Democrats , an inaugural event pioneered by the state party in collaboration with major political campaigns and other groups that register young people .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ million unregistered voters – the most extensive weeklong voter registration push in Texas Democratic party history .
“ We ’ re excited our volunteers are working across Texas to register so many new voters , ” MJ Hegar , the Democratic nominee challenging incumbent Republican Senator John Cornyn , said in a statement .
“ By mobilizing millions of Texans this November we will elect servant leaders up and down the ballot who embody Texas values.
” This week , a legion of phone and text “ bank ” operators – telephonic campaigners @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , focusing especially on communities of color and young people .
Unregistered voters in Texas skew disproportionately Democratic , said Warford ; according to the party ’ s internal modeling , there are an estimated 2.6 million to 3.5 million unregistered Democrats statewide .
“ I think the rate that the state of Texas is changing is just , like , really hard for anyone outside of Texas to understand , ” said Warford .
“ If the electorate was reflective of the diversity of the state today , Democrats would be in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , when Beto O ’ Rourke , from El Paso , the border city in the west of the state , lost a US Senate seat by fewer than 215,000 votes , the state ’ s electoral rolls have picked up around 600,000 voters , according to the Houston Chronicle .
Texas Democrats have mounted their largest voter registration program to date , and committees dedicated to electing Democrats are funneling unprecedented investments into the state as it becomes noticeably competitive .
“ We ’ re in the battle basically for the soul @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mosley , a senior Texas operative in the Biden campaign .
“ The election ’ s gon na belong to those who show up.
” Texas has a record of low voter participation ; in 2016 , only 51.4 % of the voting-eligible population cast a ballot , according to the United States Elections Project , one of the most deflated turnouts across the country .
During the 2018 midterms , Texas still ranked among the bottom 10 states in terms of the turnout rate among eligible voters , despite a double-digit spike @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also encounter elevated barriers to voting , according to a Guardian analysis .
Before even going to the polls , constituents are supposed to procure an acceptable form of identification and register to vote at least a month in advance .
Voters either have to register in-person or by mail , despite a recent judicial ruling that lack of access to voter registration while renewing a Texas driver ’ s license online violates the National Voter Registration Act .
The state ’ s stringent voting protocols have become even more germane amid the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the US Postal Service .
Despite the public health crisis , attempts by Texas Democrats to expand eligibility for mail-in voting ahead of Election Day have proved unsuccessful , and meanwhile , critics believe Trump is intentionally handicapping a faltering USPS to sabotage mail-in ballots .
“ I think ‘ early ’ is the theme of the 2020 election , right ?
” Warford said .
“ We ’ re really just encouraging people to try to do everything early , just to make sure there ’ s enough time.
” Even @ @ @ @ @ @ @ House , the race will be tight in Texas this year , Mosley predicted , and reaching out to eligible voters could help to shore up victories for Democrats .
Texans are eager to get registered , according to Warford , and a lot of people want to register others as well .
“ They ’ re ready to go to the polls , ” he said , “ and try to defeat Donald Trump ” .

As the United States barrels toward the presidential election in November, could Democrats possibly come out on top simply through a massive effort on voter registration? They think they can, and Texas is key.
“Absolutely, yes,” said Luke Warford, voter expansion director for the Texas Democratic party.
Although Donald Trump is still favored to win the Lone Star state, a number of recent polls show the Democratic nominee, Joe Biden, not only in the running but pulling ahead, fanning long-held leftist ambitions of turning the famously red stronghold blue.
“There literally is not a path to the White House for Donald Trump without winning Texas,” Warford said. “So yes, we think we can register [enough] folks and flip the state for Joe Biden, and yes, that would secure a Biden presidency.”
With Texas’s 38 electoral college votes seemingly in play, Monday marks the launch of Texas Voter Registration Week for Democrats, an inaugural event pioneered by the state party in collaboration with major political campaigns and other groups that register young people.
Their combined goal is to contact a million unregistered voters – the most extensive weeklong voter registration push in Texas Democratic party history.
“We’re excited our volunteers are working across Texas to register so many new voters,” MJ Hegar, the Democratic nominee challenging incumbent Republican Senator John Cornyn, said in a statement.
“By mobilizing millions of Texans this November we will elect servant leaders up and down the ballot who embody Texas values.”
This week, a legion of phone and text “bank” operators – telephonic campaigners – are reaching out to likely Democrats, focusing especially on communities of color and young people. Unregistered voters in Texas skew disproportionately Democratic, said Warford; according to the party’s internal modeling, there are an estimated 2.6 million to 3.5 million unregistered Democrats statewide.
“I think the rate that the state of Texas is changing is just, like, really hard for anyone outside of Texas to understand,” said Warford. “If the electorate was reflective of the diversity of the state today, Democrats would be in power in Texas.”
Since November 2018, when Beto O’Rourke, from El Paso, the border city in the west of the state, lost a US Senate seat by fewer than 215,000 votes, the state’s electoral rolls have picked up about 600,000 voters, according to the Houston Chronicle.
Texas Democrats have mounted their largest voter registration program to date, and committees dedicated to electing Democrats are funneling unprecedented investments into the state as it becomes noticeably competitive.
“We’re in the battle basically for the soul of America,” said Brooklynne Roulette Mosley, a senior Texas operative in the Biden campaign. “The election’s gonna belong to those who show up.”
Texas has a record of low voter participation; in 2016, only 51.4% of the voting-eligible population cast a ballot, according to the United States Elections Project, one of the most deflated turnouts across the country.
During the 2018 midterms, Texas still ranked among the bottom 10 states in terms of the turnout rate among eligible voters, despite a double-digit spike compared with four years earlier.
Texans also encounter elevated barriers to voting, according to a Guardian analysis. Before even going to the polls, constituents are supposed to procure an acceptable form of identification and register to vote at least a month in advance. Voters either have to register in-person or by mail, despite a recent judicial ruling that lack of access to voter registration while renewing a Texas driver’s license online violates the National Voter Registration Act.
The state’s stringent voting protocols have become even more germane amid the coronavirus pandemic and concerns about the efficacy of the US Postal Service. Despite the public health crisis, attempts by Texas Democrats to expand eligibility for mail-in voting ahead of election day have proved unsuccessful, and meanwhile, critics believe Trump is intentionally handicapping a faltering USPS to sabotage mail-in ballots.
“I think ‘early’ is the theme of the 2020 election, right?” Warford said. “We’re really just encouraging people to try to do everything early, just to make sure there’s enough time.”
Even with an uphill climb to the White House, the race will be tight in Texas this year, Mosley predicted, and reaching out to eligible voters could help to shore up victories for Democrats. Texans are eager to get registered, according to Warford, and a lot of people want to register others as well.
“They’re ready to go to the polls,” he said, “and try to defeat Donald Trump.”


theguardian--2020-08-31--‘It’s a coin toss here’: will swing voters in this Wisconsin county stick by Trump?

Joe Biden has blown his chance to win over Kristen , to be found selling home-baked cakes and pies at a farmer ’ s market in Forest county , northern Wisconsin .
The 46-year-old was once a fan of Barack Obama , voting for him twice before switching her allegiance to Donald Trump four years ago .
Kristen , who doesn ’ t want her last name used , was minded to back Trump again in November but was holding off to see who Biden chose as his vice-presidential running mate .
“ The person I think should be the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to do with her gender , nothing to do with her skin colour .
I could care less .
She could be purple .
But I think she ’ s got a solid head on her shoulders .
She ’ s not reactionary .
She ’ s thoughtful .
I don ’ t think she rushes to judgment , ” she said .
Ultimately , Kristen wants to see Michelle Obama as president .
She was not happy that Biden chose Kamala Harris , saying the decision was influenced by “ the racial @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to stick with Trump even if she struggles to offer a persuasive reason to vote for him again .
“ When you don ’ t have a good choice , you go with the least worst choice .
Trump versus Clinton , he was the least worst option and it wasn ’ t saying much .
When you ’ re the least worst option , that doesn ’ t mean you ’ re the pretty girl at the prom .
It just means there wasn ’ t anyone else showing up to dance @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Same with Biden .
When dumb and dumber are running , it doesn ’ t matter who wins .
I don ’ t think Trump is going to up his game but Biden , I just don ’ t think he has the tools in his chest to handle anything.
” Kristen votes in a county that swung heavily to Trump in 2016 along with large parts of rural Wisconsin .
That delivered the state to the president by fewer than 23,000 votes , a margin of just 0.77 % , and with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ extremely close victories in Michigan and Pennsylvania , to put him in the White House .
Opinion polls give Biden a clear but not insurmountable lead in Wisconsin .
A Marquette University law school survey shows the gap narrowing slightly in recent weeks , with the Democrat six points ahead of Trump among registered voters even as the president records the second-lowest net job approval rating of his tenure at -10 points ( 44 % approving , 54 % disapproving ) .
The poll also found Democrats as likely as Republicans to vote @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of each saying they are certain to turn out .
That is bad news for Trump , who won the state in 2016 in part because of a significant fall in Democrats voting .
In Wisconsin ’ s largest city , Milwaukee , about 40,000 people who voted for Obama failed to turn out for Clinton .
The president ’ s challenge in November is not only to hold on to those who supported him last time but to win over new voters to offset the increased determination by Democrats in the Wisconsin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ time and a shift away from him in some conservative suburbs .
Trump has his work cut out in rural Forest county , in the upper reaches of rural Wisconsin , which has consistently backed presidential election winners of either party in recent times .
His support remains soft in the county among some of those who voted for him before , such as Kristen , and who have long criticised his erratic leadership , confrontational tweets and outright lies but who remained loyal because they said the economy was strong .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ little evidence of widespread enthusiasm for Biden .
Terri Burl , the Republican county chair until last month , concedes that Trump is struggling .
“ It ’ s a coin toss here with Wisconsin .
Things are a little more ominous now for us .
But I ’ m not a pessimist .
I ’ m an optimist .
The word out there is that we just have to stay positive , we have to get a positive message out , ” said Burl , a former social worker .
But it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the middle of a pandemic , mass unemployment and a tanking economy .
Kristen has not been impressed by Trump ’ s handling of coronavirus , particularly when she looks at other countries .
But she pins responsibility on the culture as well as the president .
“ I don ’ t think we acted quick enough .
I think we were a little proud of what we thought our capabilities were versus what they were in reality .
Overseas when they said stay home , they meant stay the hell home @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been privileged and a bit spoiled , we ’ ve decided that we don ’ t have to listen , ” she said .
“ There ’ s also a lot of conspiracy theories to the effect of hospitals bumping up the coronavirus numbers so they can get higher stipends from the government .
You hear that around here.
” Burl acknowledges that Trump ’ s handling of the pandemic has not been his finest hour , particularly in questioning the advice of his own medical experts .
“ There were mixed messages @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be safe , you want to social distance as well as you can , wear masks if you can .
But the whole notion of requiring this of freedom-loving people who don ’ t like the government telling them what to do , and who happen to be Republicans most of the time , he didn ’ t want to turn off his base because his base elected him , ” she said .
For all of Trump ’ s problems , local Democrats are not bubbling with confidence that they can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , vice-chair of the Forest county Democrats , put the odds at about 50/50 .
“ It ’ s very common to see people wearing Trump 2020 hats and flying a Trump flag underneath the American flag in their yard .
It almost seems fashionable for younger people to be Trump supporters for the past couple of years , ” he said .
“ A lot of it has to do with social media and the misinformation that gets spread on Facebook .
They hear that scare word the Republicans like to use @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s changing a bit now once they ’ re seeing the lack of leadership and the unemployment.
” Lowery , who was a public school teacher for 32 years and a professional musician , said the election would boil down to a referendum on Trump ’ s handling of the pandemic but that longstanding culture war issues continued to play a role .
“ People around this part of the state are gun owners and they ’ re under the impression that Democrats want to take away people ’ s guns .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Democrat who ’ s ever taken anyone ’ s gun away but it ’ s still a big issue , ” he said .
“ There ’ s a lot of misinformation .
One of the things that I see quite often posted on social media is that students in our public schools don ’ t say the Pledge of Allegiance any more .
I visited 18 different high schools last year and every single one of them says the Pledge of Allegiance.
” Still , the divide on cultural issues is not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ failed to get Wisconsin ’ s Republican party to endorse same-sex marriage a few years ago , which she said created a lot of backlash .
And she is unequivocal in her view of the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis in May , even as her own state faces protests over the shooting of Jacob Blake , an unarmed African American man , seven times in the back by a police officer .
But then she questions the extent of the reaction .
“ That thing with George Floyd , getting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was murdered by that cop – I think we can all agree it was not necessary that he did that , ” she said .
“ I think there are going to be positive changes because of that but even with positive changes , you can take it too far .
Like they ’ re gon na get rid of Aunt Jemima pancakes and now football teams are trying to change their names again .
I suppose if it ’ s time , it ’ s time .
I just think there ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that there are hidden Trump voters who are embarrassed to say they still support the president alongside those who do not want to admit they made a mistake .
“ I think a lot of them jumped on the bandwagon of Trump ’ s rhetoric and I think at this point some of them would be embarrassed to say that they were wrong to support President Trump , ” he said .
“ There are also people who people who just won ’ t talk politics any more because the atmosphere is so @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the 2016 election .
But I think it ’ s much , much worse now .
I never saw it before 2016.
” One military veteran said he had been an enthusiastic Trump supporter four years ago and liked the president for keeping the US out of conflicts .
“ Now I think he ’ s betrayed his country , but I ’ m not going to say that in public .
It would cost me friends and it will cause problems in my family , ” said the veteran .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but the final straw was the Russians paying the Taliban bounties on Americans .
I believe Trump knew about that and he ’ s lying .
Doing nothing about the bounties was the final straw for me.
” So why won ’ t he say this in public ?
“ Not around here .
The Trumpers are angry because he ’ s going to lose .
Lots of anger and lots of guns don ’ t mix , ” he said .

Chris McGreal in Forest county, Wisconsin

Joe Biden has blown his chance to win over Kristen, to be found selling home-baked cakes and pies at a farmer’s market in Forest county, northern Wisconsin.
The 46-year-old was once a fan of Barack Obama, voting for him twice before switching her allegiance to Donald Trump four years ago. Kristen, who doesn’t want her last name used, was minded to back Trump again in November but was holding off to see who Biden chose as his vice-presidential running mate.
“The person I think should be the vice-presidential candidate is Michelle Obama. Nothing to do with her gender, nothing to do with her skin colour. I could care less. She could be purple. But I think she’s got a solid head on her shoulders. She’s not reactionary. She’s thoughtful. I don’t think she rushes to judgment,” she said.
Ultimately, Kristen wants to see Michelle Obama as president. She was not happy that Biden chose Kamala Harris, saying the decision was influenced by “the racial climate”.
So Kristen is likely to stick with Trump even if she struggles to offer a persuasive reason to vote for him again.
“When you don’t have a good choice, you go with the least worst choice. Trump versus Clinton, he was the least worst option and it wasn’t saying much. When you’re the least worst option, that doesn’t mean you’re the pretty girl at the prom. It just means there wasn’t anyone else showing up to dance with,” she said.
“Same with Biden. When dumb and dumber are running, it doesn’t matter who wins. I don’t think Trump is going to up his game but Biden, I just don’t think he has the tools in his chest to handle anything.”
Kristen votes in a county that swung heavily to Trump in 2016 along with large parts of rural Wisconsin. That delivered the state to the president by fewer than 23,000 votes, a margin of just 0.77%, and with it the electoral college votes, alongside extremely close victories in Michigan and Pennsylvania, to put him in the White House.
Crandon, located in Forest county, voted for Barack Obama in 2008 and 2012 and then pivoted to vote for Trump in the 2016 election. Photograph: Lauren Justice/The Guardian
Opinion polls give Biden a clear but not insurmountable lead in Wisconsin. A Marquette University law school survey shows the gap narrowing slightly in recent weeks, with the Democrat six points ahead of Trump among registered voters even as the president records the second-lowest net job approval rating of his tenure at -10 points (44% approving, 54% disapproving).
The poll also found Democrats as likely as Republicans to vote in November, with about 87% of each saying they are certain to turn out. That is bad news for Trump, who won the state in 2016 in part because of a significant fall in Democrats voting. In Wisconsin’s largest city, Milwaukee, about 40,000 people who voted for Obama failed to turn out for Clinton.
The president’s challenge in November is not only to hold on to those who supported him last time but to win over new voters to offset the increased determination by Democrats in the Wisconsin’s larger cities to vote this time and a shift away from him in some conservative suburbs.
Trump has his work cut out in rural Forest county, in the upper reaches of rural Wisconsin, which has consistently backed presidential election winners of either party in recent times.
His support remains soft in the county among some of those who voted for him before, such as Kristen, and who have long criticised his erratic leadership, confrontational tweets and outright lies but who remained loyal because they said the economy was strong. The only plus for Trump is there is little evidence of widespread enthusiasm for Biden.
Terri Burl, the Republican county chair until last month, concedes that Trump is struggling.
“It’s a coin toss here with Wisconsin. Things are a little more ominous now for us. But I’m not a pessimist. I’m an optimist. The word out there is that we just have to stay positive, we have to get a positive message out,” said Burl, a former social worker.
But it’s hard to push the positive in the middle of a pandemic, mass unemployment and a tanking economy.
Terri Burl, chair of the Forest county Republican party, right, and her husband, Randy, at home in Crandon. Photograph: Lauren Justice/The Guardian
Kristen has not been impressed by Trump’s handling of coronavirus, particularly when she looks at other countries. But she pins responsibility on the culture as well as the president.
“I don’t think we acted quick enough. I think we were a little proud of what we thought our capabilities were versus what they were in reality. Overseas when they said stay home, they meant stay the hell home. Here, because we’ve been privileged and a bit spoiled, we’ve decided that we don’t have to listen,” she said. “There’s also a lot of conspiracy theories to the effect of hospitals bumping up the coronavirus numbers so they can get higher stipends from the government. You hear that around here.”
Burl acknowledges that Trump’s handling of the pandemic has not been his finest hour, particularly in questioning the advice of his own medical experts.
“There were mixed messages. On the one hand you want to be safe, you want to social distance as well as you can, wear masks if you can. But the whole notion of requiring this of freedom-loving people who don’t like the government telling them what to do, and who happen to be Republicans most of the time, he didn’t want to turn off his base because his base elected him,” she said.
For all of Trump’s problems, local Democrats are not bubbling with confidence that they can take back the county. Pat Lowery, vice-chair of the Forest county Democrats, put the odds at about 50/50.
“It’s very common to see people wearing Trump 2020 hats and flying a Trump flag underneath the American flag in their yard. It almost seems fashionable for younger people to be Trump supporters for the past couple of years,” he said.
“A lot of it has to do with social media and the misinformation that gets spread on Facebook. They hear that scare word the Republicans like to use, socialism. But I think that’s changing a bit now once they’re seeing the lack of leadership and the unemployment.”
Signs in Reedsburg, Wisconsin, on 16 August. Photograph: Kamil Krzaczyński/AFP/Getty Images
Lowery, who was a public school teacher for 32 years and a professional musician, said the election would boil down to a referendum on Trump’s handling of the pandemic but that longstanding culture war issues continued to play a role.
“People around this part of the state are gun owners and they’re under the impression that Democrats want to take away people’s guns. I don’t know of any Democrat who’s ever taken anyone’s gun away but it’s still a big issue,” he said. “There’s a lot of misinformation. One of the things that I see quite often posted on social media is that students in our public schools don’t say the Pledge of Allegiance any more. I visited 18 different high schools last year and every single one of them says the Pledge of Allegiance.”
Still, the divide on cultural issues is not cut and dried. Burl tried and failed to get Wisconsin’s Republican party to endorse same-sex marriage a few years ago, which she said created a lot of backlash. And she is unequivocal in her view of the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis in May, even as her own state faces protests over the shooting of Jacob Blake, an unarmed African American man, seven times in the back by a police officer.
But then she questions the extent of the reaction. “That thing with George Floyd, getting murdered like that – really, he was murdered by that cop – I think we can all agree it was not necessary that he did that,” she said. “I think there are going to be positive changes because of that but even with positive changes, you can take it too far. Like they’re gonna get rid of Aunt Jemima pancakes and now football teams are trying to change their names again. I suppose if it’s time, it’s time. I just think there’s too much unrest.”
Lowery calculates that there are hidden Trump voters who are embarrassed to say they still support the president alongside those who do not want to admit they made a mistake.
“I think a lot of them jumped on the bandwagon of Trump’s rhetoric and I think at this point some of them would be embarrassed to say that they were wrong to support President Trump,” he said. “There are also people who people who just won’t talk politics any more because the atmosphere is so nasty. I saw some of it in the 2016 election. But I think it’s much, much worse now. I never saw it before 2016.”
One military veteran said he had been an enthusiastic Trump supporter four years ago and liked the president for keeping the US out of conflicts.
“Now I think he’s betrayed his country, but I’m not going to say that in public. It would cost me friends and it will cause problems in my family,” said the veteran. “It’s not just one thing but the final straw was the Russians paying the Taliban bounties on Americans. I believe Trump knew about that and he’s lying. Doing nothing about the bounties was the final straw for me.”
So why won’t he say this in public?
“Not around here. The Trumpers are angry because he’s going to lose. Lots of anger and lots of guns don’t mix,” he said.


theguardian--2020-08-31--The right's culture war is no longer a sideshow to our politics – it is our politics | Nesrine Malik

It is hard to pick out one highlight from last week ’ s bizarre Republican national convention .
But the Florida Congressman Matt Gaetz managed to distil into one chilling sentence the essence of rightwing politics today .
Joe Biden , Gaetz explained , “ would empty the prisons , lock you in your homes , and invite MS-13 to live next door .
And the defunded police aren ’ t on their way.
” The only mercy in this grotesque US election – which will only get uglier – is that the fearmongering is totally naked .
It ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ again ” again , or the plight of the little guy .
It is about order .
The threats to order are always present , and always held at bay , just barely , by conservative leaders valiantly fighting the imminent deluge .
This authoritarian populist strategy is founded on an essential fiction : the pretence of powerlessness among politicians , and their voters , who are very much in charge .
The weak and the marginalised , and especially their fragile movements for racial and economic equality , are cast as a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ – a shadow regime that will bloom into tyranny the instant the Democrats are elected .
In Britain , we watch this American political horror from behind our fingers , with the bewildered bemusement of a country far from this madness .
But we are there too .
The right in the UK now is following the same playbook .
The approach is just as calculated , but the presentation is slightly less crude , and therefore more difficult to challenge .
Over here , fearmongering is altogether more refined .
Instead of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ migrant gangs , there are subtle and insidious threats to British values .
Consider the latest attack on our national pride : thinly sourced reports that Rule , Britannia !
and Land of Hope and Glory might be axed from “ BBC ’ s ‘ Black Lives Matter Proms ’ ” .
Much like Biden ’ s secret plot to set criminals loose , the Proms scandal isn ’ t true : there was no demand that the songs be dropped .
There will be an orchestral version online this year because there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there will be no audience to sing along .
A vocal version is “ fully expected to return next year ” .
This dubious tale wasn ’ t invented by a Fox News-style propaganda network : it was carried by the Sunday Times and the Times and followed up by all the other papers .
But it wasn ’ t an innocent misunderstanding : it was the result of a desire to exaggerate the threat to “ our culture ” from the unnamed vandals set on destroying it .
Once it was out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ media ran with the story .
Even the BBC itself rang to ask me to come on for a debate on “ the importance of our traditions ” – amplifying fears and threats even as its own news site hosted a report explaining that the decision was pandemic-related , and nothing to do with subverting tradition .
There ’ s nothing new about these concoctions .
Two years ago , the Daily Telegraph frightened its readers with a front page falsely reporting that Cambridge was being “ forced to drop white authors ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ publication of whose picture on the front page brought her abuse and harassment , even as the newspaper soon retracted its story .
But there is something new and significant about the fake Proms scandal .
It is a fabrication in plain sight , a trick performed by lazy magicians who don ’ t bother with sleight of hand because they know how badly the audience wants to believe the illusion .
Before long , the story was given the imprimatur of truth by the prime minister – who supposedly defied the restraint @ @ @ @ @ @ @ against the dangerous “ wetness ” stalking the land .
By the end of the week , parts of the public had been whipped into a frenzy , as seen in several polls helpfully asking how they felt about the BBC ’ s craven surrender to rampant wokeness .
Land of Hope and Glory raced up the charts as a rebuke to the imaginary censors .
The reason that these made-up stories preoccupy journalists , politicians and the public is that culture-war skirmishes are no longer a sideshow to our politics – they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rightwing electoral prospects are now advanced ; not through policies or promises of a better life , but by fostering a sense of threat , a fantasy that something profoundly pure and British is constantly at risk of extinction .
What our most successful politicians understand is the insatiable public appetite for these falsehoods , the wish for these lies to be true – for Britain to be a precious damsel in distress rather than a battered country impoverished by the misrule of its governing class .
For all the clear appetite and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , we are terrible at defending against them .
Either we accept their premise , and start debating the pros and cons of cancelling the lyrics , or we think it ’ s clever to rise above them and not give the right the culture war that it wants .
Either way we fall into the trap of promoting fake culture-war stories by engaging in them , or allowing them to grow unchallenged because there is more serious real politics to attend to .
This is the serious real politics .
It is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ siege mentality that can be easily converted , as Gaetz did , into fear of the other lot getting in and establishing an anarchic regime that vandalises history , opens the borders and embraces the thugs and vandals of Black Lives Matter .
The main challenge that faces any progressive forces over the next few years isn ’ t in convincing the electorate of the mendacity or incompetence of the Conservative party , it ’ s exposing the vast complex of lies that it is being sold every day , and those who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that , or we can continue to stumble , out of credulity or cowardice , into culture-war traps as they pave the way to the next rightwing election victory .
• Nesrine Malik is a Guardian columnist and the author of We Need New Stories : Challenging the Toxic Myths Behind Our Age of Discontent

It is hard to pick out one highlight from last week’s bizarre Republican national convention. But the Florida Congressman Matt Gaetz managed to distil into one chilling sentence the essence of rightwing politics today. Joe Biden, Gaetz explained, “would empty the prisons, lock you in your homes, and invite MS-13 to live next door. And the defunded police aren’t on their way.”
There's a wish for Britain to be a precious damsel in distress rather than a country impoverished by misrule
The only mercy in this grotesque US election – which will only get uglier – is that the fearmongering is totally naked. It’s not about “making America great again” again, or the plight of the little guy. It is about order. The threats to order are always present, and always held at bay, just barely, by conservative leaders valiantly fighting the imminent deluge. This authoritarian populist strategy is founded on an essential fiction: the pretence of powerlessness among politicians, and their voters, who are very much in charge. The weak and the marginalised, and especially their fragile movements for racial and economic equality, are cast as a terrifying force, influential and deeply embedded – a shadow regime that will bloom into tyranny the instant the Democrats are elected.
In Britain, we watch this American political horror from behind our fingers, with the bewildered bemusement of a country far from this madness. But we are there too. The right in the UK now is following the same playbook. The approach is just as calculated, but the presentation is slightly less crude, and therefore more difficult to challenge.
Over here, fearmongering is altogether more refined. Instead of hyped-up nonsense about emptying prisons and killer migrant gangs, there are subtle and insidious threats to British values. Consider the latest attack on our national pride: thinly sourced reports that Rule, Britannia! and Land of Hope and Glory might be axed from “BBC’s ‘Black Lives Matter Proms’”. Much like Biden’s secret plot to set criminals loose, the Proms scandal isn’t true: there was no demand that the songs be dropped. There will be an orchestral version online this year because there’s a pandemic on, and there will be no audience to sing along. A vocal version is “fully expected to return next year”.
This dubious tale wasn’t invented by a Fox News-style propaganda network: it was carried by the Sunday Times and the Times and followed up by all the other papers. But it wasn’t an innocent misunderstanding: it was the result of a desire to exaggerate the threat to “our culture” from the unnamed vandals set on destroying it.
Once it was out there, the whole of the British media ran with the story. Even the BBC itself rang to ask me to come on for a debate on “the importance of our traditions” – amplifying fears and threats even as its own news site hosted a report explaining that the decision was pandemic-related, and nothing to do with subverting tradition.
There’s nothing new about these concoctions. Two years ago, the Daily Telegraph frightened its readers with a front page falsely reporting that Cambridge was being “forced to drop white authors” by a single black student – the publication of whose picture on the front page brought her abuse and harassment, even as the newspaper soon retracted its story. But there is something new and significant about the fake Proms scandal. It is a fabrication in plain sight, a trick performed by lazy magicians who don’t bother with sleight of hand because they know how badly the audience wants to believe the illusion.
Before long, the story was given the imprimatur of truth by the prime minister – who supposedly defied the restraint of his own minders to speak out against the dangerous “wetness” stalking the land. By the end of the week, parts of the public had been whipped into a frenzy, as seen in several polls helpfully asking how they felt about the BBC’s craven surrender to rampant wokeness. Land of Hope and Glory raced up the charts as a rebuke to the imaginary censors.
The reason that these made-up stories preoccupy journalists, politicians and the public is that culture-war skirmishes are no longer a sideshow to our politics – they are the politics. They are how rightwing electoral prospects are now advanced; not through policies or promises of a better life, but by fostering a sense of threat, a fantasy that something profoundly pure and British is constantly at risk of extinction. What our most successful politicians understand is the insatiable public appetite for these falsehoods, the wish for these lies to be true – for Britain to be a precious damsel in distress rather than a battered country impoverished by the misrule of its governing class.
For all the clear appetite and motivation for concocting and believing these lies, we are terrible at defending against them. Either we accept their premise, and start debating the pros and cons of cancelling the lyrics, or we think it’s clever to rise above them and not give the right the culture war that it wants. Either way we fall into the trap of promoting fake culture-war stories by engaging in them, or allowing them to grow unchallenged because there is more serious real politics to attend to. This is the serious real politics. It is winning elections. It is fostering a siege mentality that can be easily converted, as Gaetz did, into fear of the other lot getting in and establishing an anarchic regime that vandalises history, opens the borders and embraces the thugs and vandals of Black Lives Matter.
The main challenge that faces any progressive forces over the next few years isn’t in convincing the electorate of the mendacity or incompetence of the Conservative party, it’s exposing the vast complex of lies that it is being sold every day, and those who sell them. We can either do that, or we can continue to stumble, out of credulity or cowardice, into culture-war traps as they pave the way to the next rightwing election victory.


theguardian--2020-09-01--Trump fails to denounce an accused killer – which comes as little suprise

Donald Trump has the blind devotion of a rabid sports fan .
His team can do no wrong .
The opposition are liars and cheats .
So maybe no one was surprised on Monday when he appeared to defend an accused murderer .
At the White House press briefing , Trump was asked about Kyle Rittenhouse , a white 17-year-old charged with killing two people and injuring another with an AR-15-style rifle during protests against the police shooting of an African American man in Kenosha , Wisconsin .
Rittenhouse sat in the front row of a Trump rally this year @ @ @ @ @ @ @ media .
Jesse Kelly , a radio host , reportedly said that “ with a couple pelts on the wall ” Rittenhouse “ is gon na have to fight off hot conservative chicks with a bat ” , while the columnist Ann Coulter said she wanted him “ as my president ” .
Such signals from the base ensure that Trump ’ s loyalty is guaranteed .
Asked if he will condemn the actions of vigilantes like Rittenhouse , the president demurred : “ We ’ re looking at all of it .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ You saw the same tape as I saw .
And he was trying to get away from them , I guess ; it looks like .
And he fell , and then they very violently attacked him .
And it was something that we ’ re looking at right now and it ’ s under investigation.
” And in another startling remark , Trump could not bring himself to say political violence is wrong .
“ I guess he was in very big trouble , ” he said .
“ He probably would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ under investigation.
” It was a moment that evoked memories of Charlottesville in 2017 , when Trump drew moral equivalence between white nationalists and civil rights protesters .
It will probably cause less of a stir , given the numbing effect of the past four years ; recently Trump declined to condemn the QAnon conspiracy theory because its followers are on his side .
Eric Swalwell , a Democratic congressman , observed on Twitter : “ Mass shooters finally have a president who speaks for them.
” “ Law and order ” , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s perceived foes , not his supporters nor the half dozen aides to his 2016 campaign who now have criminal convictions .
The president , due to visit Kenosha on Tuesday , is yet to speak to the family of Jacob Blake , who was shot and paralysed from the waist down .
Moments earlier at Monday ’ s briefing , Trump was also asked about his own supporters riding pickup trucks into downtown Portland , Oregon , on Saturday and firing paintball guns and pepper spray .
He said : “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is not bullets.
” A member of a far-right group was killed in the Portland clashes , prompting Trump to tweet a message of condolence : “ Rest in peace Jay.
” CNN ’ s Kaitlan Collins , often a thorn in Trump ’ s side , tried several times to follow up but he refused to answer and moved to the next question .
Monday ’ s briefing also featured a long diatribe against “ leftwing rioters ” and “ antifa ” who share “ the same agenda ” as Democratic nominee @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on law enforcement ” and threatening to “ destroy our suburbs ” .
In what may have been classic projection , Trump said : “ When you surrender to the mob , you don ’ t get freedom ; you get fascism .
That ’ s what happens in all cases .
You take a look at Venezuela .
Look what ’ s going on there and other places .
“ Biden is using mafia talking points : the mob will leave you alone if you give them what you want … In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rule because if the mob rules , America is dead.
” He lambasted Democratic governors and mayors for unrest happening on his own watch .
The divide-and-rule appeal to tribalism is naked and obvious but that doesn ’ t mean it won ’ t work .
Just as in 2016 , when Hillary Clinton was constantly asked to respond to Trump ’ s latest outrage rather than setting out her own agenda , Biden earlier on Monday was forced to issue a rebuttal to the president ’ s Nixonian law-and-order hammer .
That @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pandemic – burning cars and mayhem in streets attract TV cameras more readily than an invisible microbe that has been around for months – and from his attempts to sabotage the postal service and election .
Like a rabid sports fan , Trump is much more comfortable on home turf .

Donald Trump has the blind devotion of a rabid sports fan. His team can do no wrong. The opposition are liars and cheats.
So maybe no one was surprised on Monday when he appeared to defend an accused murderer.
At the White House press briefing, Trump was asked about Kyle Rittenhouse, a white 17-year-old charged with killing two people and injuring another with an AR-15-style rifle during protests against the police shooting of an African American man in Kenosha, Wisconsin.
Rittenhouse sat in the front row of a Trump rally this year and has become a darling of conservative media. Jesse Kelly, a radio host, reportedly said that “with a couple pelts on the wall” Rittenhouse “is gonna have to fight off hot conservative chicks with a bat”, while the columnist Ann Coulter said she wanted him “as my president”.
Such signals from the base ensure that Trump’s loyalty is guaranteed. Asked if he will condemn the actions of vigilantes like Rittenhouse, the president demurred: “We’re looking at all of it. And that was an interesting situation. You saw the same tape as I saw. And he was trying to get away from them, I guess; it looks like. And he fell, and then they very violently attacked him. And it was something that we’re looking at right now and it’s under investigation.”
And in another startling remark, Trump could not bring himself to say political violence is wrong. “I guess he was in very big trouble,” he said. “He probably would have been killed but it’s under investigation.”
It was a moment that evoked memories of Charlottesville in 2017, when Trump drew moral equivalence between white nationalists and civil rights protesters. It will probably cause less of a stir, given the numbing effect of the past four years; recently Trump declined to condemn the QAnon conspiracy theory because its followers are on his side.
Eric Swalwell, a Democratic congressman, observed on Twitter: “Mass shooters finally have a president who speaks for them.”
“Law and order”, it seems, only applies to Trump’s perceived foes, not his supporters nor the half dozen aides to his 2016 campaign who now have criminal convictions. The president, due to visit Kenosha on Tuesday, is yet to speak to the family of Jacob Blake, who was shot and paralysed from the waist down.
Moments earlier at Monday’s briefing, Trump was also asked about his own supporters riding pickup trucks into downtown Portland, Oregon, on Saturday and firing paintball guns and pepper spray. He said: “Paint is a defensive mechanism. Paint is not bullets.”
A member of a far-right group was killed in the Portland clashes, prompting Trump to tweet a message of condolence: “Rest in peace Jay.” CNN’s Kaitlan Collins, often a thorn in Trump’s side, tried several times to follow up but he refused to answer and moved to the next question.
Monday’s briefing also featured a long diatribe against “leftwing rioters” and “antifa” who share “the same agenda” as Democratic nominee Joe Biden, waging a “war on law enforcement” and threatening to “destroy our suburbs”.
In what may have been classic projection, Trump said: “When you surrender to the mob, you don’t get freedom; you get fascism. That’s what happens in all cases. You take a look at Venezuela. Look what’s going on there and other places.
“Biden is using mafia talking points: the mob will leave you alone if you give them what you want … In America we will never surrender to mob rule because if the mob rules, America is dead.”
He lambasted Democratic governors and mayors for unrest happening on his own watch. The divide-and-rule appeal to tribalism is naked and obvious but that doesn’t mean it won’t work. Just as in 2016, when Hillary Clinton was constantly asked to respond to Trump’s latest outrage rather than setting out her own agenda, Biden earlier on Monday was forced to issue a rebuttal to the president’s Nixonian law-and-order hammer.
That meant another day distracting from the coronavirus pandemic – burning cars and mayhem in streets attract TV cameras more readily than an invisible microbe that has been around for months – and from his attempts to sabotage the postal service and election. Like a rabid sports fan, Trump is much more comfortable on home turf.


theguardian--2020-09-01--Trump escalates war of words with Biden over civil rights protests – as it happened

Asked about Kyle Rittenhouse , Trump said he was looking into it .
“ That was an interesting situation , ” Trump said .
Rittenhouse “ was trying to get away from them ...
They very violently attacked him.
” The president also said that Rittenhouse , 17 , who has been charged with homicide in the deaths of two protesters , “ probably would ’ ve been killed ” if he had not been armed .
A few weeks before Rittenhouse arrived , armed , in Kenosha , he attended a Trump rally in Des Moines .
Trump ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is highly misleading .
According to the criminal complaint against Rittenhouse , Joseph Rosenbaum , 36 , who was killed after Rittenhouse shot him , had followed the teen into a lot and attempted to take his weapon .
Rittenhouse was then chased down the street by several people shouting than he was armed and had shot someone .
He shot another man , Anthony Huber , 26 , who was trying to wrest the gun away .
Both Rosenbaum and Huber died .
Rittenhouse has been charged with shooting a third victim @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the arm .
His charges include first-degree reckless homicide , first-degree intentional homicide , attempted first-degree intentional homicide and two counts of first-degree recklessly endangering safety , all while using a deadly weapon .

Maanvi Singh in Oakland (now) and Joan E Greve in Washington (earlier)

1 Sept 2020 01.05 BST Summary From me and Joan E Greve: Donald Trump would not condemn the killings of two protesters in Kenosha. Asked at a news conference about the actions of 17-year-old Kyle Rittenhouse , who has been charged with homicide, Trump said “that was an interesting situation” and said that Rittenhouse “was trying to get away from” protesters. Unwilling to disavow Rittenhouse, who had attended a Trump rally not long before he drew his weapon on demonstrators, the president railed against Joe Biden and falsely accused his political opponent of not speaking out against “leftwing” violence.
Asked at a news conference about the actions of 17-year-old , who has been charged with homicide, Trump said “that was an interesting situation” and said that Rittenhouse “was trying to get away from” protesters. Unwilling to disavow Rittenhouse, who had attended a Trump rally not long before he drew his weapon on demonstrators, the president railed against Joe Biden and falsely accused his political opponent of not speaking out against “leftwing” violence. The president plans to visit Kenosha tomorrow amid protests there over the police shooting of Jacob Blake. Trump said he wouldn’t be meeting with Blake’s family and was put off by their request to have lawyers present. Speaking on CNN, Blake’s father said he was “not going to play politics” with his son’s life.
Trump said he wouldn’t be meeting with Blake’s family and was put off by their request to have lawyers present. Speaking on CNN, Blake’s father said he was “not going to play politics” with his son’s life. Trump continued his threats of action against Portland two days after a reported member of a rightwing group was fatally shot amid a clash with anti-racism protesters, while Democratic leaders in Oregon accused the president of inciting violence.
two days after a reported member of a rightwing group was fatally shot amid a clash with anti-racism protesters, while Democratic leaders in Oregon accused the president of inciting violence. The US surpassed 6 million cases of coronavirus, representing nearly a quarter of all cases confirmed worldwide. The country’s death toll currently stands at 183,355.
representing nearly a quarter of all cases confirmed worldwide. The country’s death toll currently stands at 183,355. A federal appeals court ruled the case against Michael Flynn could continue for now. The justice department has sought to dismiss the charges against Flynn, even though the president’s former national security adviser already pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI.
The justice department has sought to dismiss the charges against Flynn, even though the president’s former national security adviser already pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI. Joe Biden accused Trump of exacerbating the difficult problems facing the country. Speaking in Pittsburgh, the Democratic nominee mocked Trump’s attacks against him, saying, “You know me, you know my heart, you know my story, my family’s story. Ask yourself: do I look like a radical socialist with a soft spot for rioters? Really?”
Updated at 01.27 BST
31 Aug 2020 00.55 BST Here’s some more from Jacob Blake Sr’s interview on CNN, along with the family’s lawyer Ben Crump. Trump said he wouldn’t speak with Blake’s family because they wanted lawyers present. “I don’t know why the President wouldn’t want the family to have their lawyers on the phone. He seems to have lawyers with him when he talks to people,” said Crump. Pres. Trump said he wouldn’t speak with Jacob Blake’s family if lawyers were present. “I don’t know why the President wouldn’t want the family to have their lawyers on the phone. He seems to have lawyers with him when he talks to people,” says Ben Crump, Blake family attorney. pic.twitter.com/0uNqEkgZeN — The Situation Room (@CNNSitRoom) August 31, 2020
31 Aug 2020 00.21 BST Joe Biden has responded to Trump’s refusal to condemn Kyle Rittenhouse: In a statement, he said: Tonight, the President declined to rebuke violence. He wouldn’t even repudiate one of his supporters who is charged with murder because of his attacks on others. He is too weak, too scared of the hatred he has stirred to put an end to it.
So once again, I urge the President to join me in saying that while peaceful protest is a right — a necessity — violence is wrong, period. No matter who does it, no matter what political affiliation they have. Period.
If Donald Trump can’t say that, then he is unfit to be President, and his preference for more violence — not less — is clear.
31 Aug 2020 00.15 BST The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is seeking a communications firm to “defeat despair and inspire hope,” bidding out a $250m contract, Politico reports. Ahead of the elections, with 180,000 Americans dead from coronavirus, HHS wants a firm to help “deliver important public health and economic information the administration can defeat despair, inspire hope and achieve national recovery.” From Politico: Several weeks ago, the department sent out to a number of communications firms a “performance work statement,” which lays out what work will be expected of the winning firm. The document says that the vast majority of the money will be spent from now until January. The document also lists the goals of the contract: “defeat despair and inspire hope, sharing best practices for businesses to operate in the new normal and instill confidence to return to work and restart the economy,” build a “coalition of spokespeople” around the country, provide important public health, therapeutic and vaccine information as the country reopens and give Americans information on the phases of reopening. “By harnessing the power of traditional, digital and social media, the sports and entertainment industries, public health associations, and other creative partners to deliver important public health and economic information the administration can defeat despair, inspire hope and achieve national recovery,” the document also says.
31 Aug 2020 00.04 BST Donald Trump said he’s not planning to meet with the family of Jacob Blake while visiting the city tomorrow. On CNN, Jacob Blake Sr, Blake’s father said, “I’m not going to play politics with my son’s life.” The family has been strained by the scrutiny and spotlight that came after Blake was shot, he said. “It’s sad to me how people don’t understand the kind of pressure this family is under,” he said. His son Jacob Jr, was an individual who, a few weeks ago “was running around laughing. Now that individual cannot move his legs,” he added. After Trump, just moments ago during the news conference that he spoke to the Blakes’ family pastor. Blake Sr noted, “We don’t have a family pastor... I don’t know who he’s talking to.”
Updated at 00.09 BST
31 Aug 2020 23.43 BST Donald Trump also excused police brutality, saying that cops “choke sometimes and that goes on the evening news for weeks.” “The tens of thousands of great things they do, nobody writes about that,” the president continued. It’s an uncomfortable choice of words. The national mobilization against police brutality was sparked by the death of George Floyd, who was literally choked and killed by officers. Following Floyd’s killing, Trump himself took executive actions in June, to establish a federal database on police abuse and set national standards on the use of force. Today, he decried “a war on law enforcement”.
31 Aug 2020 23.14 BST Trump refuses to condemn Kyle Rittenhouse and blames protesters Asked about Kyle Rittenhouse, Trump said he was looking into it. “That was an interesting situation,” Trump said. Rittenhouse “was trying to get away from them ... They very violently attacked him.” The president also said that Rittenhouse, 17, who has been charged with homicide in the deaths of two protesters, “probably would’ve been killed” if he had not been armed. A few weeks before Rittenhouse arrived, armed, in Kenosha, he attended a Trump rally in Des Moines. Trump’s characterization of Rittenhouse’s action is highly misleading. According to the criminal complaint against Rittenhouse, Joseph Rosenbaum, 36, who was killed after Rittenhouse shot him, had followed the teen into a lot and attempted to take his weapon. Rittenhouse was then chased down the street by several people shouting than he was armed and had shot someone. He shot another man, Anthony Huber, 26, who was trying to wrest the gun away. Both Rosenbaum and Huber died. Rittenhouse has been charged with shooting a third victim, Gaige Grosskreutz, 26, in the arm. His charges include first-degree reckless homicide, first-degree intentional homicide, attempted first-degree intentional homicide and two counts of first-degree recklessly endangering safety, all while using a deadly weapon.
Updated at 23.39 BST
31 Aug 2020 23.11 BST Trump is delivering yet another campaign speech, replete with lies, behind the presidential podium during what he’d advertised as a news briefing. FACT CHECK “They want to let everybody vote,” Trump said. “If you’re the Boston bomber, they want you to vote.” It’s unclear who “they” are here, but while some Democrats have advocated for allowing incarcerated people to vote, Biden has said that people should have voting rights restored after they’ve completed their sentences. “I signed an order, it said 10 years in prison” for toppling monuments, Trump said. His executive order emphasizes existing laws that suggest 10 years as a maximum sentence.
Updated at 23.40 BST