theguardian--2020-09-20--Will Trump’s ‘law-and-order’ pitch prevail in Pennsylvania?

The wave of rallies for racial justice that swept America this summer arrived in Bethlehem , Pennsylvania , with dueling marches in support of Black Lives Matter and of law enforcement – and dueling online petitions to “ defund the police ” and “ defend the police ” .
Then the local police chief , Mark DiLuzio , shared a racist post on Facebook – not realizing at the time , DiLuzio later said , that the image he shared had objectionable language attached .
The post attacked LeBron James and other basketball players for striking to protest police violence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ players “ anti-white ” and “ spoiled little brats ” .
In the outcry that followed , DiLuzio apologized and resigned .
But the episode laid bare just the kind of local tensions that Donald Trump ’ s “ law-and-order ” re-election campaign seems determined to appeal to – and to exacerbate , the president ’ s critics say .
In less than eight weeks , voters in the Bethlehem area will endorse or reject Trump ’ s message .
And which option they choose could have national , even global , repercussions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of only three counties in the key battleground state of Pennsylvania to have voted for Trump in 2016 after voting twice for Barack Obama .
If Northampton flips back to the Democratic column in November , the state of Pennsylvania and its 20 electoral votes could flip with it , putting Biden on the road to the White House .
But if Trump ’ s law-and-order pitch lands here , Northampton could help deliver Trump four more years .
“ I think the majority of Northampton county voters are very smart and informed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Trump ’ s law-and-order pitch , said city councilperson Paige Van Wirt , a Democrat .
“ They can see that peaceful protests are very different from looters and rioters .
And we ’ ve been able to have both in Bethlehem because we are a peaceful place.
” But that ’ s not the view along all of Main Street , where Joe D ’ Ambrosio has been cutting hair since the Kennedy era .
“ I see it as a landslide and I think ‘ law and order ’ will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ D ’ Ambrosio , an enthusiastic Trump supporter since before the 2016 election .
“ Every time there ’ s another riot or another city burns , that ’ s more votes for Trump.
” Trump ’ s victory in Northampton county in 2016 was fueled by first-time voters and many Democrats who described feeling undecided until the last moment , disliking Hillary Clinton – and then pulling the lever for Trump .
This time around , Democrat Joe Biden , who grew up in the state , holds a small , single-digit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ meaning the race could go either way .
But potentially working against Trump this time is the relative scarcity of undecided voters , with a meager 4 % telling a recent Monmouth University survey that they could not make up their minds .
Meanwhile a roiling summer of turbulent news about the coronavirus , large street protests including some that have witnessed violence , and an endless string of new reports of white police officers killing people of color across the country have shocked and reverberated in Bethlehem as they have elsewhere .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , named for the river valley that cradles Bethlehem and neighboring Allentown , hailed the news of the police chief ’ s resignation in a Facebook post .
“ This is what the power of the people looks like !
” the post said .
“ It was incredibly clear that the police chief was not acting in the best interest of every Bethlehem resident .
“ Let this be a lesson .
Racism and bigotry will not be tolerated by the people .
Whether it ’ s on social media , in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ We are holding you accountable .
And we will replace you.
” But there are many people in Bethlehem who take issue with the Black Lives Matter movement , and some of them subscribe to the Lehigh Valley Good Neighbors Alliance , a Facebook page that was started just this summer .
A recent post described how “ the left is gaslighting you ” by denying violence at protests , an “ urban crime wave ” and an “ immigration inundation ” .
“ When we call this destruction of our cities riots @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the post reads in part .
“ So we ask ourselves , am I crazy ?
No , you ’ re being gaslighted.
” A separate petition on change.org to “ defend the police ” , with thousands of signatories , echoed Trump ’ s warnings at the recent Republican national convention that “ quiet neighborhoods ” were threatened by “ urban chaos ” .
“ If we continue to remain silent , our hometown is in danger of experiencing the same skyrocketing chaos , violence and lawlessness already plaguing Philadelphia , New @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Portland , ” the post read .
“ Our families ’ safety and the very social fabric of our community is now at stake.
” Then came the Facebook post by DiLuzio , who did not reply to a request for comment left at his former office .
He told local media that he thought the post that led to his resignation was funny because it featured Wayne Knight , an actor on Seinfeld , which he said was a favorite show .
“ I do agree that it compromised my position .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ – I ’ ll just retire now , ” DiLuzio , who was chief six years , told the local Morning Call newspaper .
“ I served honorably , and the people that truly know me know that I have no regrets about my career and no regrets about my retirement.
” Van Wirt , the city council member , said “ the resignation of chief DiLuzio was painful for Bethlehem.
” “ But it wasn ’ t just a Facebook post , ” Van Wirt said .
“ It started when the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ first statement put out by the chief never acknowledged the word ‘ racism ’ , or that there was institutionalized racism in police departments .
It was more of the ‘ bad apple ’ theory .
“ And I think that his own response to the changes that are happening around us unfortunately remain mired in a 1950s style of policing , and that was a very law-and-order message.
” Back in the 1950s , D ’ Ambrosio , who used to be a Democrat , had not yet opened his barbershop in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was home to Bethlehem Steel , a global icon of American industry .
Now , D ’ Ambrosio said , he knew some Trump supporters who would not put out a yard sign because they were afraid of retaliation .
“ There ’ s an underlying fear of this group of people going around the country causing all this trouble , ” he said .
“ This isn ’ t the way it used to be , but these people have turned it into – I don ’ t even know what this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is.
” Van Wirt said that a lot of the old-school , industry-rooted Democrats in the Lehigh Valley who voted for Trump could come home to their blue roosts in November .
“ They ’ re not looking for a miracle , ” she said .
“ They ’ re looking for peace , they ’ re looking for prosperity .
“ Our voters – they ’ re not so stuck in their ways that they can ’ t see a path forward .
”

The wave of rallies for racial justice that swept America this summer arrived in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, with dueling marches in support of Black Lives Matter and of law enforcement – and dueling online petitions to “defund the police” and “defend the police”.
Then the local police chief, Mark DiLuzio, shared a racist post on Facebook – not realizing at the time, DiLuzio later said, that the image he shared had objectionable language attached. The post attacked LeBron James and other basketball players for striking to protest police violence against people of color, calling the players “anti-white” and “spoiled little brats”.
In the outcry that followed, DiLuzio apologized and resigned. But the episode laid bare just the kind of local tensions that Donald Trump’s “law-and-order” re-election campaign seems determined to appeal to – and to exacerbate, the president’s critics say.
In less than eight weeks, voters in the Bethlehem area will endorse or reject Trump’s message. And which option they choose could have national, even global, repercussions. The surrounding Northampton county is one of only three counties in the key battleground state of Pennsylvania to have voted for Trump in 2016 after voting twice for Barack Obama.
If Northampton flips back to the Democratic column in November, the state of Pennsylvania and its 20 electoral votes could flip with it, putting Biden on the road to the White House. But if Trump’s law-and-order pitch lands here, Northampton could help deliver Trump four more years.
“I think the majority of Northampton county voters are very smart and informed, and they can see right through” Trump’s law-and-order pitch, said city councilperson Paige Van Wirt, a Democrat. “They can see that peaceful protests are very different from looters and rioters. And we’ve been able to have both in Bethlehem because we are a peaceful place.”
But that’s not the view along all of Main Street, where Joe D’Ambrosio has been cutting hair since the Kennedy era.
Trump supporter Joe D’Ambrosio, who has has been cutting hair since the Kennedy era. ‘Every time there’s another riot or another city burns, that’s more votes for Trump.’ Photograph: Mark Makela
“I see it as a landslide and I think ‘law and order’ will prevail in this election,” said D’Ambrosio, an enthusiastic Trump supporter since before the 2016 election. “Every time there’s another riot or another city burns, that’s more votes for Trump.”
Trump’s victory in Northampton county in 2016 was fueled by first-time voters and many Democrats who described feeling undecided until the last moment, disliking Hillary Clinton – and then pulling the lever for Trump.
This time around, Democrat Joe Biden, who grew up in the state, holds a small, single-digit lead in polling averages of Pennsylvania, meaning the race could go either way. But potentially working against Trump this time is the relative scarcity of undecided voters, with a meager 4% telling a recent Monmouth University survey that they could not make up their minds.
Meanwhile a roiling summer of turbulent news about the coronavirus, large street protests including some that have witnessed violence, and an endless string of new reports of white police officers killing people of color across the country have shocked and reverberated in Bethlehem as they have elsewhere.
The activist group Lehigh Valley Stands Up, named for the river valley that cradles Bethlehem and neighboring Allentown, hailed the news of the police chief’s resignation in a Facebook post. “This is what the power of the people looks like!” the post said. “It was incredibly clear that the police chief was not acting in the best interest of every Bethlehem resident.
“Let this be a lesson. Racism and bigotry will not be tolerated by the people. Whether it’s on social media, in policy, or in private conversation. We are holding you accountable. And we will replace you.”
But there are many people in Bethlehem who take issue with the Black Lives Matter movement, and some of them subscribe to the Lehigh Valley Good Neighbors Alliance, a Facebook page that was started just this summer.
A recent post described how “the left is gaslighting you” by denying violence at protests, an “urban crime wave” and an “immigration inundation”.
“When we call this destruction of our cities riots, we are called racists,” the post reads in part. “So we ask ourselves, am I crazy? No, you’re being gaslighted.”
There are many people in Bethlehem who take issue with the Black Lives Matter movement. ‘When we call this destruction of our cities riots, we are called racists,’ a Facebook post read. Photograph: Mark Makela/The Guardian
A separate petition on change.org to “defend the police”, with thousands of signatories, echoed Trump’s warnings at the recent Republican national convention that “quiet neighborhoods” were threatened by “urban chaos”.
“If we continue to remain silent, our hometown is in danger of experiencing the same skyrocketing chaos, violence and lawlessness already plaguing Philadelphia, New York City, Seattle, Minneapolis and Portland,” the post read. “Our families’ safety and the very social fabric of our community is now at stake.”
Then came the Facebook post by DiLuzio, who did not reply to a request for comment left at his former office. He told local media that he thought the post that led to his resignation was funny because it featured Wayne Knight, an actor on Seinfeld, which he said was a favorite show.
“I do agree that it compromised my position. I figured, the hell with it – I’ll just retire now,” DiLuzio, who was chief six years, told the local Morning Call newspaper. “I served honorably, and the people that truly know me know that I have no regrets about my career and no regrets about my retirement.”
Van Wirt, the city council member, said “the resignation of chief DiLuzio was painful for Bethlehem.”
“But it wasn’t just a Facebook post,” Van Wirt said. “It started when the George Floyd murder occurred. The very first statement put out by the chief never acknowledged the word ‘racism’, or that there was institutionalized racism in police departments. It was more of the ‘bad apple’ theory.
“And I think that his own response to the changes that are happening around us unfortunately remain mired in a 1950s style of policing, and that was a very law-and-order message.”
Back in the 1950s, D’Ambrosio, who used to be a Democrat, had not yet opened his barbershop in Bethlehem, which in its postwar heyday was home to Bethlehem Steel, a global icon of American industry.
Now, D’Ambrosio said, he knew some Trump supporters who would not put out a yard sign because they were afraid of retaliation. “There’s an underlying fear of this group of people going around the country causing all this trouble,” he said. “This isn’t the way it used to be, but these people have turned it into – I don’t even know what this group is – antifa or whatever it is.”
Van Wirt said that a lot of the old-school, industry-rooted Democrats in the Lehigh Valley who voted for Trump could come home to their blue roosts in November.
“They’re not looking for a miracle,” she said. “They’re looking for peace, they’re looking for prosperity.
“Our voters – they’re not so stuck in their ways that they can’t see a path forward.”


theguardian--2020-09-20--US airlines facing ‘Thelma and Louise’ moment as government aid set to expire

US airlines are facing what one leading analyst calls a “ Thelma and Louise ” moment as the industry approaches a government-funding deadline that could decide its future .
On 30 September a government aid packages used to protect workers expires , the airlines have already announced huge layoffs but what comes next could be even worse .
“ I don ’ t think people get the Thelma and Louise analogy here .
The car is up to speed , it ’ s headed toward the cliff and we know what happens next because you ’ ve seen the movie @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Along with leisure and retail , the airline industry has been one of the most direly affected by the Covid-19 pandemic .
Passenger numbers are down 70 % and the loss of business and frequent flyer travelers has pushed revenue down by as as much as 85 % .
In March , airlines were offered two sources of money as part of the US government ’ s coronavirus stimulus package , the Cares Act .
The act gave the industry $ 25bn in loans to cover general costs and $ 25bn to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cash is made up of grants that don ’ t need to be paid back but the loans come with strings attached .
Airlines will have to give the US government some equity stake in return for the loans .
Some airlines , including American , Hawaiian Airlines and Spirit Airlines have agreed to take the cash .
Others including Delta , United and Southwest , have yet to decide whether they will tap the loans .
The situation is dire .
Over the summer , American and Southwest both posted quarterly losses @ @ @ @ @ @ @ % to $ 1.6bn from nearly $ 12bn a year earlier .
Southwest ’ s sales fell to $ 1bn , a drop of 83 % from $ 5.9bn last year .
With passengers avoiding airline travel over the peak summer months , conditions have barely improved .
Delta has warned that it may furlough more than 1,900 pilots , American said in July it could cut up to 19,000 workers and United could furlough 36,000 workers or nearly 40 % of its staff , if enough employees do not accept buyout packages @ @ @ @ @ @ @ subsidized and the activity that is out there is 70 % down and at fares 30 % lower than they used to be , ” said Mann .
“ There are no business travelers out there because companies have told them they ’ re under a travel ban , and if you do then don ’ t come back in the office.
” International travel is down even more dramatically , with carriers operating a reported 2 % to 4 % of their normal number of flights .
As the deadline for accepting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ still arguing over whether or not to extend payroll grants , airlines are facing a difficult proposition .
“ There are two theories , ” says Mann .
“ One is that the industry goes over a cliff in October and it tries to tread water until there is a widely-administered vaccine and business travel comes back.
” The second theory , Mann says , is that there will be some kind of last-minute reprieve and “ governments decide to subsidize the industry until a vaccine is a reality .
While that would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lot of employment and service , which will otherwise be immediately withdrawn starting in October.
” Under a deal agreed with the department of transport , airlines were obligated to maintain their routes but permitted to cut back services .
The obligation to maintain routes will also be withdrawn at the end of the month when support is lifted .
“ The service mandates that will expire will mean cuts in services to smaller communities and services by smaller regional airlines , which are often subsidiaries of the major airlines , ” Mann @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a city that loses service that will have a major impact on your local economy .
The only thing that will change that is the availability of a vaccine.
” Until now , the major carriers have been trying to avoid taking out government loans .
Cash-cushioned Delta Air Lines and Southwest , with around $ 19bn in cash-on-hand , have both declined .
On Monday , Delta announced plans to raise $ 6.5bn in bonds and loans backed by its SkyMiles frequent flier program .
That follows United , which used @ @ @ @ @ @ @ $ 5bn financing deal in June .
Others may be forced to accept the government ’ s offer .
American Airlines , which has raised $ 2bn privately , has said it will use its program to back a $ 4.75bn treasury loan .
Last week , Southwest CEO Gary Kelly told the Dallas Business Journal his guess is the industry will receive more financial support from the government .
“ My guess is that there is a Cares Act II , and I think as long as it has enough room , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ support for the airlines again , ” Kelly said .
The logic for it was simple , he continued : “ The whole idea was to preserve the infrastructure and the jobs to get through this trough .
And I think that that was a good idea .
I think the only mistake was everyone underestimated how long that trough is going to take.
” But without the support of a Cares Act II , Mann says airlines will have to try to summon “ confidence they can continue to burn cash for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ – in revenue terms – to return ” .
“ If you ’ re Southwest with $ 19bn in cash , you can continue to burn $ 20m a day for three years .
But what happens to competitors without that ability ?
What if we ’ re still talking about this in a year ?
We ’ re going to see some kind of industry restructuring , and given how concentrated the industry already is , it ’ s going to be problematic how that evolves.
” As the cliff-edge approaches , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ passengers will feel confident to travel by air again .
New rules – from mask requirements to temperature screenings – have been broadly enacted .
But while some airlines have been keeping middle seats open , others have been packing existing flights .
In March , entrepreneur Mark Cuban noted that how companies treat employees and customers during the pandemic will define their business .
“ Not only is it a safety issue , it ’ s a business issue , ” Cuban said .
“ How companies respond to that very question @ @ @ @ @ @ @ decades .
If you rushed in and somebody got sick , you were that company .
If you didn ’ t take care of your employees or stakeholders and put them first , you were that company , ” he added .
Mann believes for the airlines facing an October crunch , that idea may be more critical now than it was even then .
“ Delta and Southwest have generally treated their customers well .
They ’ ve kept the middle seats open , and tried to make it as comfortable and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ flipside , you ’ ve got airlines packing planes and who have no intention of providing any kind of distancing measures.
” For those carriers , Mann says , it comes down to a fundamental question of aviation safety .
The industry would be a fraction of its current size if people didn ’ t think flying was safe .
That has seldom been more true than in the time of Covid-19 .
“ Perception , ” Mann points out , “ is reality ” .

US airlines are facing what one leading analyst calls a “Thelma and Louise” moment as the industry approaches a government-funding deadline that could decide its future.
On 30 September a government aid packages used to protect workers expires, the airlines have already announced huge layoffs but what comes next could be even worse.
“I don’t think people get the Thelma and Louise analogy here. The car is up to speed, it’s headed toward the cliff and we know what happens next because you’ve seen the movie,” said industry analyst Robert Mann.
Along with leisure and retail, the airline industry has been one of the most direly affected by the Covid-19 pandemic. Passenger numbers are down 70% and the loss of business and frequent flyer travelers has pushed revenue down by as as much as 85%.
In March, airlines were offered two sources of money as part of the US government’s coronavirus stimulus package, the Cares Act. The act gave the industry $25bn in loans to cover general costs and $25bn to keep workers on payroll. The payroll cash is made up of grants that don’t need to be paid back but the loans come with strings attached.
Airlines will have to give the US government some equity stake in return for the loans. Some airlines, including American, Hawaiian Airlines and Spirit Airlines have agreed to take the cash. Others including Delta, United and Southwest, have yet to decide whether they will tap the loans.
Delta has warned that it may furlough more than 1,900 pilots. Photograph: Charlie Riedel/AP
The situation is dire. Over the summer, American and Southwest both posted quarterly losses, with American dropping more than 86% to $1.6bn from nearly $12bn a year earlier. Southwest’s sales fell to $1bn, a drop of 83% from $5.9bn last year. With passengers avoiding airline travel over the peak summer months, conditions have barely improved.
Delta has warned that it may furlough more than 1,900 pilots, American said in July it could cut up to 19,000 workers and United could furlough 36,000 workers or nearly 40% of its staff, if enough employees do not accept buyout packages.
“Travel since March has been subsidized and the activity that is out there is 70% down and at fares 30% lower than they used to be,” said Mann. “There are no business travelers out there because companies have told them they’re under a travel ban, and if you do then don’t come back in the office.”
International travel is down even more dramatically, with carriers operating a reported 2% to 4% of their normal number of flights.
As the deadline for accepting the loans approaches, and additional Congress still arguing over whether or not to extend payroll grants, airlines are facing a difficult proposition.
“There are two theories,” says Mann. “One is that the industry goes over a cliff in October and it tries to tread water until there is a widely-administered vaccine and business travel comes back.”
American reported quarterly losses, dropping more than 86% to $1.6bn from nearly $12bn a year earlier. Photograph: Wilfredo Lee/AP
The second theory, Mann says, is that there will be some kind of last-minute reprieve and “governments decide to subsidize the industry until a vaccine is a reality. While that would be expensive, it would preserve a lot of employment and service, which will otherwise be immediately withdrawn starting in October.”
Under a deal agreed with the department of transport, airlines were obligated to maintain their routes but permitted to cut back services. The obligation to maintain routes will also be withdrawn at the end of the month when support is lifted.
“The service mandates that will expire will mean cuts in services to smaller communities and services by smaller regional airlines, which are often subsidiaries of the major airlines,” Mann said. “If you’re in a city that loses service that will have a major impact on your local economy. The only thing that will change that is the availability of a vaccine.”
Until now, the major carriers have been trying to avoid taking out government loans. Cash-cushioned Delta Air Lines and Southwest, with around $19bn in cash-on-hand, have both declined.
On Monday, Delta announced plans to raise $6.5bn in bonds and loans backed by its SkyMiles frequent flier program. That follows United, which used its MileagePlus program as collateral for a $5bn financing deal in June. Others may be forced to accept the government’s offer. American Airlines, which has raised $2bn privately, has said it will use its program to back a $4.75bn treasury loan.
Last week, Southwest CEO Gary Kelly told the Dallas Business Journal his guess is the industry will receive more financial support from the government.
“My guess is that there is a Cares Act II, and I think as long as it has enough room, my guess is that there will be support for the airlines again,” Kelly said.
The logic for it was simple, he continued: “The whole idea was to preserve the infrastructure and the jobs to get through this trough. And I think that that was a good idea. I think the only mistake was everyone underestimated how long that trough is going to take.”
But without the support of a Cares Act II, Mann says airlines will have to try to summon “confidence they can continue to burn cash for as long as it takes for demand – in revenue terms – to return”.
“If you’re Southwest with $19bn in cash, you can continue to burn $20m a day for three years. But what happens to competitors without that ability? What if we’re still talking about this in a year? We’re going to see some kind of industry restructuring, and given how concentrated the industry already is, it’s going to be problematic how that evolves.”
As the cliff-edge approaches, there remains the crucial question of when passengers will feel confident to travel by air again. New rules – from mask requirements to temperature screenings – have been broadly enacted. But while some airlines have been keeping middle seats open, others have been packing existing flights.
In March, entrepreneur Mark Cuban noted that how companies treat employees and customers during the pandemic will define their business.
“Not only is it a safety issue, it’s a business issue,” Cuban said. “How companies respond to that very question is going to define their brand for decades. If you rushed in and somebody got sick, you were that company. If you didn’t take care of your employees or stakeholders and put them first, you were that company,” he added.
Mann believes for the airlines facing an October crunch, that idea may be more critical now than it was even then. “Delta and Southwest have generally treated their customers well. They’ve kept the middle seats open, and tried to make it as comfortable and safe as they can. On the flipside, you’ve got airlines packing planes and who have no intention of providing any kind of distancing measures.”
For those carriers, Mann says, it comes down to a fundamental question of aviation safety. The industry would be a fraction of its current size if people didn’t think flying was safe. That has seldom been more true than in the time of Covid-19. “Perception,” Mann points out, “is reality”.


theguardian--2020-09-20--Compromised review: Peter Strzok on Trump, Russia and the FBI

The former agent ’ s tell-all doesn ’ t quite tell all , fascinating on collusion but frustratingly coy on his own travails As a deputy assistant director of the FBI ’ s counter-intelligence division , Peter Strzok led the bureau ’ s investigation of Russian interference in the 2016 election .
His criticisms of Donald Trump , sent via a government-issued phone , were leaked together with his affair with Lisa Page , an FBI lawyer .
Strzok became a target for presidential tweets and conservative ire .
Robert Mueller , the special counsel , removed him from his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was fired from the FBI .
Adding insult to injury , the justice department inspector general criticized Strzok in a published report .
At present , Strzok is litigating his termination .
He has an axe to grind , and his book makes compelling reading .
He offers a window into FBI counter-intelligence work , a defense of his conduct , and a scathing indictment of the president and his administration .
Compromised is a significant contribution to the library of Trump tell-alls .
It is not dull .
Under the subtitle “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump ” , Compromised offers a firsthand account by a career FBI agent and former soldier , delivered in the aftermath of the Russia report issued by the Senate intelligence committee , Bob Woodward ’ s Rage , and Michael Schmidt ’ s Donald Trump v the United States .
The Senate committee reported that Paul Manafort , Trump ’ s campaign manager , worked hand-in-glove with a Russian intelligence officer .
Schmidt lets us know that former deputy attorney general Rod Rosenstein killed a counter-intelligence investigation into Trump ’ s relationship with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ former director of national intelligence , musing that Vladimir Putin must have something over the president .
Together , they paint a disturbing portrait .
Compromised goes a step further , and accuses Trump of betraying the US .
“ Our investigations revealed Donald Trump ’ s willingness to further the malign interests of one of our most formidable adversaries , apparently for his own personal gain , ” Strzok writes .
According to Strzok , investigators also demonstrated Trump ’ s apparent “ willingness to accept political assistance from an opponent like @ @ @ @ @ @ @ willingness to subvert everything that America stands for.
” In case anyone forgot , John Ratcliffe , the director of national intelligence , advised that he would no longer personally brief members of Congress on election security and foreign interference .
Ratcliffe has since reversed course , communicating his willingness to brief members of the intelligence committees , but in the same spirit the Department of Homeland Security withheld an intelligence bulletin warning about a Russian misinformation attack on Joe Biden ’ s mental health .
The president and his minions have gone @ @ @ @ @ @ @ story – so far with little success .
As described by Alexander Vindman , a national security aide drummed out of the White House and the military : “ In the army we call this ‘ free chicken ’ , something you don ’ t have to work for .
It just comes to you .
This is what the Russians have in Trump : free chicken.
” Strzok also discusses the FBI investigation of Hillary Clinton ’ s emails .
He is not disturbed by James Comey ’ s recommendation against prosecuting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by an extraordinary team that their peers and the American people should be proud of , ” he writes .
At the same time , he voices displeasure with the stance of some of Clinton ’ s legal team , particularly with regard to Clinton ’ s laptops .
Strzok recalls that requests to interview Jake Sullivan , a senior Clinton adviser , “ met with stonewalling ” , and only the “ threat of a grand jury subpoena broke the logjam ” .
These days , Sullivan advises the Biden campaign .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ White House with Michael Flynn , Trump ’ s first national security adviser .
Strzok remains puzzled .
On the one hand , Compromised describes Flynn as cooperative in demeanor but “ repeatedly and inexplicably ” lying about things “ he knew we knew had the answers to ” .
Even as Flynn “ baldly ” lied about his conversations with the then Russian ambassador , “ he didn ’ t exhibit any of the ‘ tells ’ of people who are lying ” .
Flynn pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI @ @ @ @ @ @ @ air .
Bill Barr ’ s justice department continues to fight for the dismissal of the charges , as the attorney general himself denigrates the department ’ s career attorneys .
Unfortunately , Compromised omits crucial facts and gets small things wrong .
In more than 380 pages , Strzok does not discuss his affair with Page , attempting to gloss over things by referring to his family ’ s expectation of privacy .
Investigators recovered 20,000 messages between the two .
One , sent by Strzok on 21 July 2016 , opined @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I have no idea how destabilizing his presidency would be.
” Three days earlier , Page contended : “ Donald Trump is an enormous douche.
” Strzok was an FBI agent , not a pundit .
Elsewhere , Compromised refers to Trump being interviewed by “ CBS anchor Lester Holt ” , famously admitting that the FBI Russia investigation was a driving force in his dismissal of Comey : “ I said to myself – I said , you know , this Russia thing with Trump and Russia is a made-up story.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Portions of it are a vivid reminder that the cold war between the US and USSR was replaced by rivalry between the US and Russia .
The book begins in 2001 , with Strzok and a team of FBI agents legally breaking into a bank deposit box to obtain information pertaining to a husband-wife Russian spy team posing as a Canadian couple .
The husband attended Harvard ’ s Kennedy School .
The visit yielded a photo-negative that eventually helped blow the couple ’ s cover .
But arrests did not immediately follow @ @ @ @ @ @ @ case dubbed “ Operation Ghost Stories ” by the FBI .
The couple were grabbed in 2010 , together with other Russian assets .
In the end , Compromised is a reminder that law enforcement and politics are a bad mix .
Whether anyone will respect that divide in the future is an open and unfortunate question .

As a deputy assistant director of the FBI’s counter-intelligence division, Peter Strzok led the bureau’s investigation of Russian interference in the 2016 election. His criticisms of Donald Trump, sent via a government-issued phone, were leaked together with his affair with Lisa Page, an FBI lawyer.
Strzok became a target for presidential tweets and conservative ire. Robert Mueller, the special counsel, removed him from his investigation. In August 2018, Strzok was fired from the FBI. Adding insult to injury, the justice department inspector general criticized Strzok in a published report. At present, Strzok is litigating his termination. He has an axe to grind, and his book makes compelling reading.
He offers a window into FBI counter-intelligence work, a defense of his conduct, and a scathing indictment of the president and his administration. Compromised is a significant contribution to the library of Trump tell-alls. It is not dull.
Under the subtitle “Counterintelligence and the Threat of Donald J Trump”, Compromised offers a firsthand account by a career FBI agent and former soldier, delivered in the aftermath of the Russia report issued by the Senate intelligence committee, Bob Woodward’s Rage, and Michael Schmidt’s Donald Trump v the United States.
The Senate committee reported that Paul Manafort, Trump’s campaign manager, worked hand-in-glove with a Russian intelligence officer. Schmidt lets us know that former deputy attorney general Rod Rosenstein killed a counter-intelligence investigation into Trump’s relationship with Moscow. Woodward quotes Dan Coats, former director of national intelligence, musing that Vladimir Putin must have something over the president.
Investigations revealed Trump’s willingness to further the malign interests of one of our most formidable adversaries Peter Strzok
Together, they paint a disturbing portrait. Compromised goes a step further, and accuses Trump of betraying the US.
“Our investigations revealed Donald Trump’s willingness to further the malign interests of one of our most formidable adversaries, apparently for his own personal gain,” Strzok writes.
According to Strzok, investigators also demonstrated Trump’s apparent “willingness to accept political assistance from an opponent like Russia – and it follows, his willingness to subvert everything that America stands for.”
Strong stuff, but it echoes credibly.
In case anyone forgot, John Ratcliffe, the director of national intelligence, advised that he would no longer personally brief members of Congress on election security and foreign interference. Ratcliffe has since reversed course, communicating his willingness to brief members of the intelligence committees, but in the same spirit the Department of Homeland Security withheld an intelligence bulletin warning about a Russian misinformation attack on Joe Biden’s mental health.
The president and his minions have gone out of their way to push that story – so far with little success.
As described by Alexander Vindman, a national security aide drummed out of the White House and the military: “In the army we call this ‘free chicken’, something you don’t have to work for. It just comes to you. This is what the Russians have in Trump: free chicken.”
Strzok also discusses the FBI investigation of Hillary Clinton’s emails. He is not disturbed by James Comey’s recommendation against prosecuting Clinton. “The investigation was conducted by an extraordinary team that their peers and the American people should be proud of,” he writes.
At the same time, he voices displeasure with the stance of some of Clinton’s legal team, particularly with regard to Clinton’s laptops. Strzok recalls that requests to interview Jake Sullivan, a senior Clinton adviser, “met with stonewalling”, and only the “threat of a grand jury subpoena broke the logjam”. These days, Sullivan advises the Biden campaign.
Strzok also discusses his interview at the White House with Michael Flynn, Trump’s first national security adviser. Strzok remains puzzled. On the one hand, Compromised describes Flynn as cooperative in demeanor but “repeatedly and inexplicably” lying about things “he knew we knew had the answers to”. Even as Flynn “baldly” lied about his conversations with the then Russian ambassador, “he didn’t exhibit any of the ‘tells’ of people who are lying”.
Flynn pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI but his fate remains up in the air. Bill Barr’s justice department continues to fight for the dismissal of the charges, as the attorney general himself denigrates the department’s career attorneys.
Unfortunately, Compromised omits crucial facts and gets small things wrong. In more than 380 pages, Strzok does not discuss his affair with Page, attempting to gloss over things by referring to his family’s expectation of privacy. Investigators recovered 20,000 messages between the two. One, sent by Strzok on 21 July 2016, opined: “Trump is a disaster. I have no idea how destabilizing his presidency would be.” Three days earlier, Page contended: “Donald Trump is an enormous douche.”
Strzok was an FBI agent, not a pundit.
Elsewhere, Compromised refers to Trump being interviewed by “CBS anchor Lester Holt”, famously admitting that the FBI Russia investigation was a driving force in his dismissal of Comey: “I said to myself – I said, you know, this Russia thing with Trump and Russia is a made-up story.”
Holt anchors the news for NBC.
Compromised is not just about Trump. Portions of it are a vivid reminder that the cold war between the US and USSR was replaced by rivalry between the US and Russia.
The book begins in 2001, with Strzok and a team of FBI agents legally breaking into a bank deposit box to obtain information pertaining to a husband-wife Russian spy team posing as a Canadian couple. The husband attended Harvard’s Kennedy School.
The visit yielded a photo-negative that eventually helped blow the couple’s cover. But arrests did not immediately follow. Nearly a decade passed, the case dubbed “Operation Ghost Stories” by the FBI. The couple were grabbed in 2010, together with other Russian assets.
In the end, Compromised is a reminder that law enforcement and politics are a bad mix. Whether anyone will respect that divide in the future is an open and unfortunate question.


theguardian--2020-09-20--Trump is pushing nationalist myths. But Democrats indulge lavish patriotism, too | Cas Mudde

Donald Trump has long openly embraced his nationalism .
But on Thursday he took it to a whole new level .
In his speech at the White House conference on American history , he attacked “ the liberal indoctrination of America ’ s youth ” – a standard trope for any Republican speech these days – and said he would set up a commission to introduce “ patriotic education ” that would develop a “ pro-American curriculum that celebrates the truth about our nation ’ s great history ” .
Still , this is hardly surprising .
Trump is a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and parcel of far-right ideology .
What makes the US so exceptional is that patriotism , and even chauvinism , is shared across the political spectrum .
All US presidents are keen on saying the US is the greatest country in the world , if not in world history .
It is one of the few things Republicans and Democrats tend to agree on .
Like many progressive foreigners who moved to the US , I have been amazed by the patriotism of the left in this country .
Where most west European @ @ @ @ @ @ @ alone chauvinism , many American progressives proudly wrap themselves in the stars and stripes and attack Trump for not being patriotic enough .
In a particularly bizarre twist , the 2016 election involved a uniquely US-critical far-right candidate defeating a proudly patriotic center-left candidate .
Joe Biden is fond of playing the patriotism card .
“ We are by far the greatest , powerful , decent nation in the world , ” he told the audience at his Greensboro rally earlier this week .
This might sound like a harmless campaign strategy , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wrong .
The US is not the greatest country in world history , or even the world at this moment , according to almost all meaningful indicators .
American politicians ( and citizens ) are fond of stressing they are both the oldest and the greatest democracy in the world .
The myth of “ we the people ” is instilled in Americans from an early age .
Yet the US was founded on racism and racial exclusion .
Even if the US was the most democratic country in the late 18th and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the most democratic ” in the way that apartheid South Africa was the “ most democratic ” country in Africa in the early 20th century .
Even today , the US democratic system has many formal and informal flaws that few European countries , among others , share .
I know of no country where the person who loses the popular vote can win the presidency .
And US gerrymandering is not even rivaled by Viktor Orbán ’ s Hungary .
Not to speak of the “ tidal wave of voter suppression ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has affected much of the south since the end of the civil war .
But even in terms of the most basic economic indicators , which are cherished so much by many Americans , the US is not the greatest country in the world .
Luxembourg has the highest GDP per capita , almost twice as high as the US , which ranks eighth .
In terms of its Gini coefficient , an important indicator of economic inequality , the US ranks 51st – sandwiched between Djibouti ( 50 ) and the Ivory @ @ @ @ @ @ @ other indicators of development , like corruption ( 23 ) , education ( 26 ) and healthcare ( 30 ) , the US also scores far below a long list of other countries .
No wonder Americans are only the 19th happiest people in the world .
Democrats feel the need to constantly prove that they love America , in order to pre-empt constant accusations by rightwing media and politicians that the left is unpatriotic or even traitorous .
The irony is that Americans on average seem to be much more realistic than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Republicans think that the US “ stands above all other countries ” , according to a 2017 poll .
This kind of patriotic boosterism doesn ’ t stop when Democrats are in the White House .
Barack Obama was not just the personification of the “ American Dream , ” he went around the world praising “ American exceptionalism ” and calling the US “ the greatest nation on earth ” .
By declaring the US the greatest country in the world , Democratic politicians not only spread misinformation , they also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , many of the struggles of American progressives are for goals long ago achieved in most European countries : healthcare for all , decent abortion provisions , strict gun laws , affordable education , et cetera .
It is exactly because the US is not the greatest country in the world that the task of the Democrats is so vast and so important .
This country needs to finally start to live up to its own promise and propaganda .
But to do so , it doesn ’ t need reform and mere @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a full transformation , including of most of its important cultural , economic and political institutions .
And to achieve this , it is important that people know how much still needs to be done .
In other words , to make America the greatest country in the world , Democrats have to tell the American people they are not , and never have been , the greatest country in the world .
• None Cas Mudde is the Stanley Wade Shelton UGAF professor of international affairs at the University of Georgia , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( 2019 ) , and host of the new podcast Radikaal

Donald Trump has long openly embraced his nationalism. But on Thursday he took it to a whole new level. In his speech at the White House conference on American history, he attacked “the liberal indoctrination of America’s youth” – a standard trope for any Republican speech these days – and said he would set up a commission to introduce “patriotic education” that would develop a “pro-American curriculum that celebrates the truth about our nation’s great history”.
Still, this is hardly surprising. Trump is a far-right politician and chauvinistic nationalism is part and parcel of far-right ideology. What makes the US so exceptional is that patriotism, and even chauvinism, is shared across the political spectrum. All US presidents are keen on saying the US is the greatest country in the world, if not in world history. It is one of the few things Republicans and Democrats tend to agree on.
Like many progressive foreigners who moved to the US, I have been amazed by the patriotism of the left in this country. Where most west European progressives abhor flag-waving and patriotism, let alone chauvinism, many American progressives proudly wrap themselves in the stars and stripes and attack Trump for not being patriotic enough. In a particularly bizarre twist, the 2016 election involved a uniquely US-critical far-right candidate defeating a proudly patriotic center-left candidate.
Joe Biden is fond of playing the patriotism card. “We are by far the greatest, powerful, decent nation in the world,” he told the audience at his Greensboro rally earlier this week. This might sound like a harmless campaign strategy, but it is both politically and strategically wrong. The US is not the greatest country in world history, or even the world at this moment, according to almost all meaningful indicators.
American politicians (and citizens) are fond of stressing they are both the oldest and the greatest democracy in the world. The myth of “we the people” is instilled in Americans from an early age. Yet the US was founded on racism and racial exclusion. Even if the US was the most democratic country in the late 18th and early 19th century, it was “the most democratic” in the way that apartheid South Africa was the “most democratic” country in Africa in the early 20th century.
It is exactly because the US is not the greatest country in the world that the task of the Democrats is so vast and so important
Even today, the US democratic system has many formal and informal flaws that few European countries, among others, share. I know of no country where the person who loses the popular vote can win the presidency. And US gerrymandering is not even rivaled by Viktor Orbán’s Hungary. Not to speak of the “tidal wave of voter suppression” that affects almost every state, and has affected much of the south since the end of the civil war.
But even in terms of the most basic economic indicators, which are cherished so much by many Americans, the US is not the greatest country in the world. Luxembourg has the highest GDP per capita, almost twice as high as the US, which ranks eighth. In terms of its Gini coefficient, an important indicator of economic inequality, the US ranks 51st – sandwiched between Djibouti (50) and the Ivory Coast (52). On many other indicators of development, like corruption (23), education (26) and healthcare (30), the US also scores far below a long list of other countries. No wonder Americans are only the 19th happiest people in the world.
Democrats feel the need to constantly prove that they love America, in order to pre-empt constant accusations by rightwing media and politicians that the left is unpatriotic or even traitorous. The irony is that Americans on average seem to be much more realistic than their leaders. Not even a majority of Republicans think that the US “stands above all other countries”, according to a 2017 poll.
This kind of patriotic boosterism doesn’t stop when Democrats are in the White House. Barack Obama was not just the personification of the “American Dream,” he went around the world praising “American exceptionalism” and calling the US “the greatest nation on earth”.
By declaring the US the greatest country in the world, Democratic politicians not only spread misinformation, they also hinder their own work. In fact, many of the struggles of American progressives are for goals long ago achieved in most European countries: healthcare for all, decent abortion provisions, strict gun laws, affordable education, et cetera.
It is exactly because the US is not the greatest country in the world that the task of the Democrats is so vast and so important. This country needs to finally start to live up to its own promise and propaganda. But to do so, it doesn’t need reform and mere tinkering on the edges; it needs a full transformation, including of most of its important cultural, economic and political institutions. And to achieve this, it is important that people know how much still needs to be done.
In other words, to make America the greatest country in the world, Democrats have to tell the American people they are not, and never have been, the greatest country in the world.


theguardian--2020-09-20--Ruth Bader Ginsburg's legacy will survive the bitter battle over her successor | Kenan Malik

When , in 2015 , Time magazine made Ruth Bader Ginsburg one of its 100 most influential people , it was the conservative and fellow supreme court justice Antonin Scalia who observed : “ Ginsburg has had two distinguished legal careers , either one of which would alone entitle her to be one of Time ’ s 100.
” Yet Ginsburg ’ s death on Friday is as likely to be marked by a political firestorm over who should replace her as by any consideration of her legacy .
Of the many undemocratic features of US democracy , one of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the supreme court .
Joan Ruth Bader was born in March 1933 to Jewish immigrants in Brooklyn .
When , in 1956 , Ginsburg became one of nine women accepted to Harvard law school , out of a class of 500 , the dean reportedly asked her to justify taking the place of a man .
After graduating from both Harvard and Columbia law schools , she found that no law firm would employ her .
“ I was Jewish , a woman and a mother , ” she recalled .
In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Civil Liberties Union ( ACLU ) , she pioneered a series of cases that challenged gender inequalities , from equal pay to abortion rights .
In 1960 , Ginsburg was denied a job as a supreme court clerk after one justice Felix Frankfurter , refused to work with a woman .
Thirty-three years later , Bill Clinton appointed her a supreme court justice .
Ginsburg ’ s legal journey was a measure of the transformations in US life that she had helped bring about , while her role as a liberal icon was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the court .
Whatever the outcome of the political shenanigans over the next supreme court judge , the legacy of Ruth Bader Ginsburg stands on its own merits .

When, in 2015, Time magazine made Ruth Bader Ginsburg one of its 100 most influential people, it was the conservative and fellow supreme court justice Antonin Scalia who observed: “Ginsburg has had two distinguished legal careers, either one of which would alone entitle her to be one of Time’s 100.”
Yet Ginsburg’s death on Friday is as likely to be marked by a political firestorm over who should replace her as by any consideration of her legacy. Of the many undemocratic features of US democracy, one of the most egregious is the political nature of the supreme court.
Joan Ruth Bader was born in March 1933 to Jewish immigrants in Brooklyn. When, in 1956, Ginsburg became one of nine women accepted to Harvard law school, out of a class of 500, the dean reportedly asked her to justify taking the place of a man. After graduating from both Harvard and Columbia law schools, she found that no law firm would employ her. “I was Jewish, a woman and a mother,” she recalled.
In the 1970s, working for the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), she pioneered a series of cases that challenged gender inequalities, from equal pay to abortion rights.
In 1960, Ginsburg was denied a job as a supreme court clerk after one justice Felix Frankfurter, refused to work with a woman. Thirty-three years later, Bill Clinton appointed her a supreme court justice. Ginsburg’s legal journey was a measure of the transformations in US life that she had helped bring about, while her role as a liberal icon was a reminder of the politicised nature of the court.
Whatever the outcome of the political shenanigans over the next supreme court judge, the legacy of Ruth Bader Ginsburg stands on its own merits.


theguardian--2020-09-20--Rushing to replace Ruth Bader Ginsburg, McConnell shows power trumps principle | Robert Reich

People in public life tend to fall into one of two broad categories – those motivated by principle , and those motivated by power .
Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg , who died on Friday night at the age of 87 , exemplified the first .
When he nominated her in 1993 , Bill Clinton called her “ the Thurgood Marshall of gender-equality law ” , comparing her advocacy and lower-court rulings in pursuit of equal rights for women to the work of the great jurist who advanced the cause of equal rights for Black people .
Ginsburg persuaded the supreme @ @ @ @ @ @ @ guarantee of equal protection applied not only to racial discrimination but to sex discrimination as well .
For Ginsburg , principle was everything – not only equal rights , but also the integrity of democracy .
Always concerned about the consequences of her actions for the system as a whole , she advised young people “ to fight for the things you care about but do it in a way that will lead others to join you ” .
Mitch McConnell , the Senate majority leader , exemplifies the second category .
He @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
He is motivated entirely by the pursuit of power .
McConnell refused to allow the Senate to vote on Barack Obama ’ s nominee to the supreme court , Merrick Garland , in February 2016 – almost a year before the end of Obama ’ s second term – on the dubious grounds that the “ vacancy should not be filled until we have a new president ” .
McConnell ’ s move was a pure power grab .
No Senate leader had ever before asserted the right to block a vote @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the supreme court .
McConnell ’ s “ principle ” of waiting for a new president disappeared on Friday evening , after Ginsburg ’ s death was announced .
Just weeks before one of the most consequential presidential elections in American history , when absentee voting has already begun in many states ( and will start in McConnell ’ s own state of Kentucky in 25 days ) , McConnell announced : “ President Trump ’ s nominee will receive a vote on the floor of the United States Senate.
” This is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ McConnell who , soon after Trump was elected , ended the age-old requirement that supreme court nominees receive 60 votes to end debate and allow for a confirmation vote , and then , days later , pushed through Trump ’ s first nominee , Neil Gorsuch .
Ginsburg and McConnell represent the opposite poles of public service today .
The distinction doesn ’ t depend on whether someone is a jurist or legislator – I ’ ve known many lawmakers who cared more about principle than power , such as the late congressman @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Ginsburg refused to play power politics .
As she passed her 80th birthday , near the start of Obama ’ s second term , she dismissed calls for her to retire in order to give Obama plenty of time to name her replacement , saying she planned to stay “ as long as I can do the job full steam ” , adding : “ There will be a president after this one , and I ’ m hopeful that that president will be a fine president.
” She hoped others would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Trump .
Just days before her death she said : “ My most fervent wish is that I will not be replaced until a new president is installed.
” Her wish will not be honored .
If McConnell can not muster the Senate votes needed to confirm Trump ’ s nominee before the election , he ’ ll probably try to fill the vacancy in the lame-duck session after the election .
He ’ s that shameless .
Not even with Joe Biden president and control over both the House and Senate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ except , perhaps , by playing power politics themselves : expanding the size of the court or restructuring it so justices on any given case are drawn from a pool of appellate judges .
The deeper question is which will prevail in public life : McConnell ’ s power politics or Ginsburg ’ s dedication to principle ?
The problem for America , as for many other democracies at this point in history , is this is not an even match .
Those who fight for power will bend or break rules to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fight for principle are at an inherent disadvantage because bending or breaking rules undermines the very ideals they seek to uphold .
Over time , the unbridled pursuit of power wears down democratic institutions , erodes public trust and breeds the sort of cynicism that invites despotism .
The only bulwark is a public that holds power accountable – demanding stronger guardrails against its abuses , and voting power-mongers out of office .
Ruth Bader Ginsburg often referred to Justice Louis Brandeis ’ s famous quote , that “ the greatest menace to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Indeed .
• None Robert Reich , a former US secretary of labor , is professor of public policy at the University of California at Berkeley and the author of Saving Capitalism : For the Many , Not the Few and The Common Good .
His new book , The System : Who Rigged It , How We Fix It , is out now .
He is a columnist for Guardian US

People in public life tend to fall into one of two broad categories – those motivated by principle, and those motivated by power.
Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who died on Friday night at the age of 87, exemplified the first.
When he nominated her in 1993, Bill Clinton called her “the Thurgood Marshall of gender-equality law”, comparing her advocacy and lower-court rulings in pursuit of equal rights for women to the work of the great jurist who advanced the cause of equal rights for Black people. Ginsburg persuaded the supreme court that the 14th amendment’s guarantee of equal protection applied not only to racial discrimination but to sex discrimination as well.
For Ginsburg, principle was everything – not only equal rights, but also the integrity of democracy. Always concerned about the consequences of her actions for the system as a whole, she advised young people “to fight for the things you care about but do it in a way that will lead others to join you”.
My most fervent wish is that I will not be replaced until a new president is installed Ruth Bader Ginsburg
Mitch McConnell, the Senate majority leader, exemplifies the second category. He couldn’t care less about principle. He is motivated entirely by the pursuit of power.
McConnell refused to allow the Senate to vote on Barack Obama’s nominee to the supreme court, Merrick Garland, in February 2016 – almost a year before the end of Obama’s second term – on the dubious grounds that the “vacancy should not be filled until we have a new president”.
McConnell’s move was a pure power grab. No Senate leader had ever before asserted the right to block a vote on a president’s nominee to the supreme court.
McConnell’s “principle” of waiting for a new president disappeared on Friday evening, after Ginsburg’s death was announced.
Just weeks before one of the most consequential presidential elections in American history, when absentee voting has already begun in many states (and will start in McConnell’s own state of Kentucky in 25 days), McConnell announced: “President Trump’s nominee will receive a vote on the floor of the United States Senate.”
This is, after all, the same Mitch McConnell who, soon after Trump was elected, ended the age-old requirement that supreme court nominees receive 60 votes to end debate and allow for a confirmation vote, and then, days later, pushed through Trump’s first nominee, Neil Gorsuch.
Ginsburg and McConnell represent the opposite poles of public service today. The distinction doesn’t depend on whether someone is a jurist or legislator – I’ve known many lawmakers who cared more about principle than power, such as the late congressman John Lewis. It depends on values.
Ginsburg refused to play power politics. As she passed her 80th birthday, near the start of Obama’s second term, she dismissed calls for her to retire in order to give Obama plenty of time to name her replacement, saying she planned to stay “as long as I can do the job full steam”, adding: “There will be a president after this one, and I’m hopeful that that president will be a fine president.”
She hoped others would also live by principle, including McConnell and Trump. Just days before her death she said: “My most fervent wish is that I will not be replaced until a new president is installed.”
Her wish will not be honored.
McConnell’s 'principle' of waiting for a new president disappeared on Friday evening
If McConnell cannot muster the Senate votes needed to confirm Trump’s nominee before the election, he’ll probably try to fill the vacancy in the lame-duck session after the election. He’s that shameless.
Not even with Joe Biden president and control over both the House and Senate can Democrats do anything about this – except, perhaps, by playing power politics themselves: expanding the size of the court or restructuring it so justices on any given case are drawn from a pool of appellate judges.
The deeper question is which will prevail in public life: McConnell’s power politics or Ginsburg’s dedication to principle?
The problem for America, as for many other democracies at this point in history, is this is not an even match. Those who fight for power will bend or break rules to give themselves every advantage. Those who fight for principle are at an inherent disadvantage because bending or breaking rules undermines the very ideals they seek to uphold.
Over time, the unbridled pursuit of power wears down democratic institutions, erodes public trust and breeds the sort of cynicism that invites despotism.
The only bulwark is a public that holds power accountable – demanding stronger guardrails against its abuses, and voting power-mongers out of office.
Ruth Bader Ginsburg often referred to Justice Louis Brandeis’s famous quote, that “the greatest menace to freedom is an inert people”. Indeed.


theguardian--2020-09-20--Donald Trump pledges to nominate a 'very brilliant' woman to supreme court – video

Speaking at a campaign rally in North Carolina , the US president told supporters he had a duty to nominate @ @ @ @ @ supreme court vacancy created by the death of Ruth Bader Ginsburg .
'It will be @ @ @ @ @ said . '
A very talented , very brilliant woman . '
Democrats including Joe @ @ @ @ @ said Republicans should follow the precedent that GOP legislators set in 2016 by refusing to @ @ @ @ @ in the run-up to an election .
• Trump vows to nominate a woman for @ @ @ @ @ a week • ' I will fight ! '
: mourners ' vow at supreme @ @ @ @ @ Ginsburg

Speaking at a campaign rally in North Carolina, the US president told supporters he had a duty to nominate a candidate to fill the supreme court vacancy created by the death of Ruth Bader Ginsburg. 'It will be a woman,' Trump said. 'A very talented, very brilliant woman.'
Democrats including Joe Biden and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez have said Republicans should follow the precedent that GOP legislators set in 2016 by refusing to consider a supreme court choice in the run-up to an election


theguardian--2020-09-22--Trump says he wants supreme court seat filled 'before the election' – as it happened

One more senator comes out against a Trump supreme court nomination US Senator Joe Manchin , the only Democrat who voted to confirm Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh despite party objections in 2018 , said the vote on a new Supreme Court nominee should be delayed until after the November 2020 presidential election “ for the sake of the integrity of our courts and legal system ” .
“ For Mitch McConnell and my Republican colleagues to rush through this process after refusing to even meet with Judge Merrick Garland in 2016 is hypocrisy in its highest form , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ court is the highest court in the land and it is simply irresponsible to rush the adequate and proper vetting required of any new candidate for the bench.
” The reactions of Manchin and several Republican senators have been closely watched in recent days to see if a justice nominee from Donald Trump would have enough votes to be confirmed before the 2020 elections .
Republican senators Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Susan Collins of Maine have said the next judge should be nominated by whomever is elected in November .
Trump has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the seat and will announce the nomination this week .
It is speculated that US circuit court judge Amy Coney Barrett , who is fervently anti-abortion , is at the top of Trump ’ s list of nominees .

Kari Paul, Joan E Greve and Martin Belam

22 Sept 2020 01.15 BST The top news of the evening That’s all for this blog for the night! My colleague Helen Sullivan is blogging Trump’s rally live at the link below: Coronavirus live news: US nears 200,000 deaths as England pubs face curfew Read more Here are the top stories to be aware of going into tomorrow. Chuck Schumer honored Ruth Bader Ginsburg in a Senate floor speech on Monday
US Senator Joe Manchin, a Democrat who has in the past voted in line with Republicans, said the new supreme court justice should not be voted on until after the 2020 elections.
A pre-emptive state of emergency has been declared ahead of an announcement regarding the Breonna Taylor case, leading some to believe her killers will not be charged.
Trump may be investigated for tax fraud, says Manhattan district attorney, after a year battling different courts for permission.
The majority of Trump campaign funds spent in August have been funneled through a Trump-owned LLC and are not traceable.
Trump met with Amy Coney Barrett, one of five women he is considering for a supreme court justice seat, in the White House on Monday. The president said he will announce his choice on Friday or Saturday.
Updated at 01.40 BST
22 Sept 2020 01.01 BST Donald Trump is speaking at a rally in Ohio now. So far he has complained on the stream, which is featured on Bloomberg’s website, that the media does not cover his rallies. You can watch the stream here if you want.
21 Sept 2020 00.39 BST Chuck Grassley may have found your dead pigeon Iowa Senator Chuck Grassley found a dead “pidgin” [sic] in his front yard over the weekend that he clarified in an update on Monday came from a pigeon flying club in Wisconsin and was not, as he initially suggested, a pet. The initial tweet from the 87-year-old lawmaker resembled a bleak haiku poem. If u lost ur pet pidgin / it’s dead in front yard my Iowa farm JUST DISCOVERED here r identifiers Right leg Blue 2020/3089/AU2020 /SHE ///LEFT LEG GREEN BAND NO PRINTED INFO. Sorry for bad news Grassley thanked his followers for helping him solve the mystery of the pigeon’s origins. In actual news, the senator tweeted on Monday he will vote for whatever supreme court nominee Donald Trump nominates “based on her merits”.
Updated at 01.01 BST
21 Sept 2020 00.14 BST The majority of Trump campaign funds spent in August are not accountable More than three-fourths - $46m out of $61m - of the funds spent by the Trump campaign in the month of August is not accounted for, according to nonprofit democracy advocacy group the Campaign Legal Center.
$46M out of $61M spent by the Trump campaign in August went to American Made, the LLC created and managed by senior Trump officials. We don't know where the money ultimately went.
That means over 75% of the Trump campaign's spending last month is basically untraceable. pic.twitter.com/EJ4OL2P8ty — Brendan Fischer (@brendan_fischer) September 21, 2020 The money has been funneled through American Made, the LLC created and managed by senior Trump officials, making it essentially untraceable. The group also found Trump’s campaign had received $10m in donations from Kelcy Warren, CEO of Energy Transfer Partners, which owns the Dakota Access Pipeline and is reportedly hoping for a multi-billion-dollar deal in Ukraine if Trump is reelected.
The revelations are just the latest in transparency concerns surrounding Donald Trump, who is the only president in US history to refuse to release his tax returns.
21 Sept 2020 00.02 BST Republican senator Kelly Loeffler puts out bizarre ‘more conservative than Attila the Hun’ tagline The political strategy of Georgia Republican senator Kelly Loeffler appears to be “compare yourself to a 4th-century barbarian ruler”. Loeffler released an advertisement with the tagline “more conservative than Attila the Hun”, wherein she jokes about firing liberal scribes, seemingly a dig at the “liberal media” conservatives love to hate. Now here's an ad for you: Sen. Kelly Loeffler's new spot is all about how she's "more conservative than Attila the Hun," and includes an actor portraying a grunting Attila who delivers orders to, among other things, "eliminate the liberal scribes." pic.twitter.com/080nIJGwng — Jacob Rubashkin (@JacobRubashkin) September 21, 2020 Loeffler, who is running for reelection in Georgia, is considered “the most conservative senator in America”. During her campaign she has also met with rightwing militia members and Marjorie Taylor Greene, a congresswoman who supports QAnon conspiracy theories.
Updated at 00.13 BST
21 Sept 2020 23.40 BST Trump meets with potential nominees to fill Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s supreme court seat Donald Trump reportedly met with Amy Coney Barrett at the White House on Monday, according to a Reuters report. The circuit court judge is rumored to be a top pick for the supreme court seat left open when Ruth Bader Ginsburg died on Friday. Trump has pledged to fill the seat with a female candidate and reportedly may meet with Barbara Lagoa, a Cuban American Republican judge from Miami, as well. Trump’s attempts to fill Ginsburg’s seat are facing pushback from legislators who believe there is not enough time to vet and confirm a new candidate before the 2020 elections in November. Ginsburg said on her deathbed that her greatest wish was that she would not be replaced until a new president was installed.
Updated at 00.14 BST
21 Sept 2020 23.15 BST Trump may be investigated for tax fraud, says Manhattan district attorney After more than a year-long legal battle with Donald Trump, Manhattan’s district attorney said Monday he could have grounds to investigate the president and his businesses for tax fraud. District attorney Cyrus Vance is seeking to persuade a federal appeals court to let him enforce a subpoena for Trump’s tax returns, four days before it considers Trump’s request to block the August 2019 subpoena to his accounting firm Mazars USA. Lawyers cited in the filing “mountainous” public allegations of misconduct linked to Trump and his businesses to justify a grand jury investigation into tax fraud, insurance fraud and falsifying business records. Vance had previously said the subpoena was also related to possible insurance and bank fraud. Jay Sekulow, a lawyer for Trump, declined to comment on the filing, according to Reuters.
Updated at 00.14 BST
21 Sept 2020 22.39 BST A pre-emptive state of emergency has been declared ahead of an announcement regarding the Breonna Taylor case The police in Louisville, Kentucky, have declared a state of emergency for the department ahead of an announcement from the state’s attorney general in the Breonna Taylor case, regarding police who fatally shot a 26-year-old black woman in her sleep during a drug-related raid. Many have said the declaration seems to anticipate violent protests, suggesting an unfavorable ruling for those seeking justice in the case. Officials have also closed two federal buildings in anticipation of the announcement and the police force has prohibited officers from taking time off work. The family of Taylor has received a settlement from the city of $12m in a civil suit stemming from the incident, in which Taylor was mistaken for a suspect in a drug raid. The incident has called into question “no-knock” warrants, in which police enter a home without announcing or identifying themselves.
Updated at 22.53 BST
21 Sept 2020 22.21 BST One more senator comes out against a Trump supreme court nomination US Senator Joe Manchin, the only Democrat who voted to confirm Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh despite party objections in 2018, said the vote on a new Supreme Court nominee should be delayed until after the November 2020 presidential election “for the sake of the integrity of our courts and legal system”. “For Mitch McConnell and my Republican colleagues to rush through this process after refusing to even meet with Judge Merrick Garland in 2016 is hypocrisy in its highest form,” he said. “The US supreme court is the highest court in the land and it is simply irresponsible to rush the adequate and proper vetting required of any new candidate for the bench.” The reactions of Manchin and several Republican senators have been closely watched in recent days to see if a justice nominee from Donald Trump would have enough votes to be confirmed before the 2020 elections. Republican senators Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Susan Collins of Maine have said the next judge should be nominated by whomever is elected in November. Trump has said he intends to pick a woman for the seat and will announce the nomination this week. It is speculated that US circuit court judge Amy Coney Barrett, who is fervently anti-abortion, is at the top of Trump’s list of nominees.
Updated at 22.55 BST
21 Sept 2020 21.57 BST Chuck Schumer honors the legacy of RBG in Senate speech Chuck Schumer made remarks on the floor of the Senate on Monday honoring the legacy of Ruth Bader Ginsburg days after her death.
Schumer noted that in Jewish tradition only the “most righteous” people die on the eve of Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish new year, calling Ginsburg “a woman of great righteousness and valor”. “She might be the only justice to become a meme,” the New York senator said, citing the “Notorious RBG” meme, which likened the octogenarian judge to the rapper Notorious BIG. “Ruth Bader Ginsburg was, in fact, a rebellious force to be reckoned with.” Sen. Schumer honors RBG’s immense legacy: ‘She might be the only justice to become a meme’ pic.twitter.com/YtwSW1S3l9 — NowThis (@nowthisnews) September 21, 2020 Schumer outlined many of Ginsburg’s life accomplishments, including her making the court enforce the constitutional idea that people cannot be discriminated against on the basis of sex. He said if Donald Trump is able to replace the late supreme court justice, reproductive rights, workers’ rights, and voting rights will be imperiled. He also said RBG’s dying wish was that a justice not be picked until after the 2020 elections.
Updated at 22.56 BST
21 Sept 2020 21.38 BST Hello! Kari Paul here in California taking over for the next few hours. Stay tuned for updates.
21 Sept 2020 21.30 BST Today so far That’s it from me today. My west coast colleague Kari Paul will take over the blog for the next few hours. Here’s where the day stands so far: Trump said he wants to have his supreme court nominee confirmed before election day, on 3 November. In a floor speech this afternoon, Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell signaled the vote would take place “this year” but he did not specify whether it would happen before or after election day.
In a floor speech this afternoon, Senate majority leader signaled the vote would take place “this year” but he did not specify whether it would happen before or after election day. Trump said he would “probably” announce his nominee to replace Ruth Bader Ginsburg on Saturday, following ceremonies honoring the legacy of the late supreme court justice. The president said he has narrowed his list of potential nominees down to five candidates, all of whom are women.
following ceremonies honoring the legacy of the late supreme court justice. The president said he has narrowed his list of potential nominees down to five candidates, all of whom are women. Ginsburg will lie in repose at the supreme court on Wednesday and Thursday. House speaker Nancy Pelosi also announced Ginsburg would lie in state at the Capitol on Friday.
House speaker also announced Ginsburg would lie in state at the Capitol on Friday. House Democrats released their stopgap government funding bill, which would keep the government open until 11 December. But McConnell quickly signaled he would not support the bill because it does not include bailout funds for farmers, which Trump has demanded. The government is currently set to close on 30 September if a bill is not passed.
which would keep the government open until 11 December. But McConnell quickly signaled he would not support the bill because it does not include bailout funds for farmers, which Trump has demanded. The government is currently set to close on 30 September if a bill is not passed. The CDC removed information on the potential airborne transmission of coronavirus from its website. The agency had posted an update on Friday to warn Americans that the virus can spread over a distance beyond six feet, particularly in poorly ventilated areas. The CDC removed the guidance today, claiming the update was posted in error. The news follows reports about Trump administration officials trying to interfere with CDC reports to paint a rosier picture about the pandemic. Kari will have more coming up, so stay tuned.
Updated at 22.57 BST
21 Sept 2020 21.24 BST Senator Lindsey Graham, the Republican chairman of the Senate judiciary committee, said the panel would move “expeditiously” to advance Trump’s supreme court nominee. In a letter to the Democratic members of the committee, Graham said his view of the judicial confirmation process had changed after witnessing the treatment of Justice Brett Kavanaugh, who was accused of sexual assault but was ultimately confirmed by the Senate. “I therefore think it is important that we proceed expeditiously to process any nomination made by President Trump to fill this vacancy,” Graham told his Democratic colleagues. “I am certain if the shoe were on the other foot, you would do the same.”
21 Sept 2020 21.13 BST Trump says he wants supreme court confirmation to happen before election Speaking to reporters before leaving for Ohio, Trump said that he hoped his supreme court nominee will be confirmed before election day, on November 3. “I’d rather see it all take place before the election,” the president said. Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell said moments ago that a confirmation vote would occur “this year,” but he did not specify whether it would take place before or after election day. Trump also confirmed the announcement of his nominee will likely come on Saturday, following this week’s ceremonies honoring Ruth Bader Ginsburg at the supreme court and at the Capitol. Echoing his previous comments to Fox News, the president said he was considering five women for the seat.
Updated at 21.14 BST
21 Sept 2020 21.03 BST Joe Biden has now concluded his speech at an aluminum plant in Manitowoc, Wisconsin. The Democratic nominee criticized the president for previously suggesting the US coronavirus death toll would be much lower if Americans who died in blue states weren’t counted. Biden promised to act as a unifying figure to help bring the country together during this time of national crisis. The presidential candidate also took a moment to address those who voted for Trump in 2016, saying he knows they felt like they weren’t being heard by Democrats. “It will change with me,” Biden said. “You will be seen, heard and respected by me.”
21 Sept 2020 20.51 BST Joe Biden argued Trump had failed in his response to coronavirus because he “panicked” rather than confronting the crisis head-on. “Trump panicked. The virus was too big for him,” Biden said in Wisconsin. “All his life Donald Trump has been bailed out of any problem he faced.” The Democratic nominee dismissed the president’s claim that he downplayed the threat of the virus because he wanted to help Americans remain calm. In reality, Biden said, Trump “just wasn’t up to” the challenge of handling the crisis.
21 Sept 2020 20.43 BST Biden blames coronavirus death toll on Trump's 'lies and incompetence' Joe Biden is delivering remarks on the country’s coronavirus death toll at an aluminum plant in Manitowoc, Wisconsin. The Democratic nominee noted the country is about to hit the “tragic milestone” of recording 200,000 deaths from coronavirus. Biden said that number represented many “empty chairs” for families who had lost loved ones to the virus. 01:50 Joe Biden blames Trump's 'lies and incompetence' for coronavirus death toll – video The presidential candidate emphasized Americans could not allow themselves to become “numb” to the mounting death toll. “We can’t let the numbers become statistics and background noise,” Biden said. Biden specifically blamed Trump’s response to the pandemic for causing tens of thousands of unnecessary deaths in the country. “Due to Donald Trump’s lies and incompetence over the last six months, we have seen one of the greatest losses in American history,” Biden said.
Updated at 23.19 BST


theguardian--2020-09-21--Barbara Lagoa: the Cuban American conservative on Trump’s shortlist

Barbara Lagoa , a 52-year-old Cuban American conservative federal judge from Florida , sits with Amy Coney Barrett of Indiana near the top of Donald Trump ’ s list of possible picks to replace Ruth Bader Ginsburg on the supreme court .
Lagoa is quite new to her position on the Atlanta-based 11th US circuit court of appeals , one step below the supreme court .
She was appointed by Trump in December 2019 , having received overwhelming Senate approval .
Lagoa was appointed to the Florida state supreme court the previous January , by Ron DeSantis , a close @ @ @ @ @ @ @ official act as governor .
She was appointed to her previous state role by Governor Jeb Bush , in 2006 .
Florida is a crucial swing state in the presidential election , the Hispanic vote a target constituency for Trump across the country .
The president trails Democratic challenger Joe Biden among such voters but has been gaining ground .
Speaking to Fox News on Monday morning , Trump was asked if politics was part of his decision-making process .
“ I try not to say so , ” he said .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Lagoa recently joined a major ruling that struck a blow to voting rights in Florida , reversing a decision that struck down a law requiring people with serious criminal convictions to pay all fines and legal debts before regaining the right to vote .
Such laws disproportionately disadvantage Black voters .
Lagoa is a member of Florida ’ s large , influential and largely conservative Cuban American community , her parents having fled Cuba after Fidel Castro ’ s communist revolution .
She grew up near Miami , graduated from Florida International @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Ginsburg ’ s alma mater , in New York , NBC reported .
In 2000 , Lagoa provided free legal services to US-based relatives of Elián González , a Cuban boy whose plight after his mother drowned while fleeing the island became an international story .
Elián was eventually sent back to his father .
If confirmed , Lagoa would be the second Hispanic justice on the supreme court , following the New York liberal Sonia Sotomayor , who was nominated by Barack Obama .

Barbara Lagoa, a 52-year-old Cuban American conservative federal judge from Florida, sits with Amy Coney Barrett of Indiana near the top of Donald Trump’s list of possible picks to replace Ruth Bader Ginsburg on the supreme court.
Lagoa is quite new to her position on the Atlanta-based 11th US circuit court of appeals, one step below the supreme court. She was appointed by Trump in December 2019, having received overwhelming Senate approval.
Lagoa was appointed to the Florida state supreme court the previous January, by Ron DeSantis, a close ally of Trump, as his first official act as governor. She was appointed to her previous state role by Governor Jeb Bush, in 2006.
Florida is a crucial swing state in the presidential election, the Hispanic vote a target constituency for Trump across the country. The president trails Democratic challenger Joe Biden among such voters but has been gaining ground.
Speaking to Fox News on Monday morning, Trump was asked if politics was part of his decision-making process.
“I try not to say so,” he said. “I think, automatically, it is.”
Lagoa recently joined a major ruling that struck a blow to voting rights in Florida, reversing a decision that struck down a law requiring people with serious criminal convictions to pay all fines and legal debts before regaining the right to vote. Such laws disproportionately disadvantage Black voters.
Lagoa is a member of Florida’s large, influential and largely conservative Cuban American community, her parents having fled Cuba after Fidel Castro’s communist revolution. She grew up near Miami, graduated from Florida International University and studied law at Columbia University, Ginsburg’s alma mater, in New York, NBC reported.
In 2000, Lagoa provided free legal services to US-based relatives of Elián González, a Cuban boy whose plight after his mother drowned while fleeing the island became an international story. Elián was eventually sent back to his father.
If confirmed, Lagoa would be the second Hispanic justice on the supreme court, following the New York liberal Sonia Sotomayor, who was nominated by Barack Obama.


theguardian--2020-09-21--Trump says he will nominate Ginsburg replacement on Friday or Saturday

Donald Trump will name his third supreme court nominee on Friday or Saturday , following memorials for Ruth Bader Ginsburg , the liberal justice who died aged 87 on Friday .
Ginsburg will lie in state at the court on Wednesday and Thursday , it was announced .
Her coffin will rest on the Lincoln Catafalque , a platform built after the assassination of the 16th president in 1865 and now loaned to the court by Congress .
Ginsburg ’ s funeral will follow next week , at Arlington national cemetery .
“ I think it will be on Friday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ respect , ” Trump told Fox News in a rambling interview by phone .
“ It looks like we will have services on Thursday or Friday , as I understand it , and I think we should , with all due respect for Justice Ginsburg , wait for services to be over.
” Though Trump claimed to want to show respect , and called Ginsburg a “ legend ” who “ represented something different than you or I ” , he also baselessly cast doubt on a statement Ginsburg is reported to have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ death .
“ My most fervent wish is that I will not be replaced until a new president is installed , ” the statement said .
“ I don ’ t know that she said that , ” the president claimed , “ or was that written out by Adam Schiff or [ Nancy ] Pelosi ?
“ I would be more inclined to the second , OK. You know , that came out of the wind .
That sounds so beautiful , but that sounds like a [ Chuck ] Schumer deal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
So that came out of the wind , let ’ s say .
I mean , maybe she did , and maybe she didn ’ t. ” Schiff , the chair of the House intelligence committee , said of Trump ’ s claim : “ This is low .
Even for you.
” House speaker Pelosi and Senate minority leader Schumer have led Democratic responses to Trump and Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell ’ s promise to put a nomination swiftly to a vote .
With the presidential election just 43 days @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Saturday would narrow even that short window considerably .
Democrats point to McConnell ’ s refusal to grant a hearing to Barack Obama ’ s last nominee , Merrick Garland , in the eight months between the death of Antonin Scalia in February 2016 and the election Trump won .
McConnell and Senate allies say the precedent they set then does not now apply , as the Senate and the White House are now held by the same party .
There is no provision in the constitution on the subject .
On the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was nominated by a Republican president and confirmed by a Democratic Senate .
A successful nomination would tilt the court 6-3 in favour of conservatives , potentially shaping American life for generations to come .
On Sunday , Joe Biden called Republicans ’ actions an “ abuse of power ” and appealed to the conscience of senators not closely bound to the president .
In turn , Trump pointed to the raw power dynamic at play when he told Fox : “ The bottom line is we won the election , we have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ right and act as quickly as possible.
” Polling shows a majority of the public thinks the nomination should be made by the winner of the presidential election .
But McConnell could force a nomination through in the lame duck period before the inauguration on 20 January , even if Democrats retake the White House and the Senate .
Trump told Fox he would accept that .
Two Republicans , Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Susan Collins of Maine , have said they do not support efforts to bring a nomination to a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 51-49 majority – enough to get the confirmation through .
One more defection would produce a tie that would be broken by Vice-President Mike Pence .
Two more would sink the effort .
Lamar Alexander of Tennessee , who is retiring , has said he will back the leadership .
So will Lindsey Graham of South Carolina , the chair of the judiciary committee , who previously said no justice should be confirmed in an election year .
On Monday morning , Graham ’ s house was the site of protests .
In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would be “ hurt very badly ” by their positions .
McConnell ’ s chances appeared to improve late Monday as two other senators who had been closely watched as possible defectors , Cory Gardner of Colorado and Chuck Grassley of Iowa , both indicated they would vote to confirm a nominee .
All eyes remain on Mitt Romney of Utah , who has said he would not release a statement until tomorrow .
Trump has promised to nominate a woman .
Amy Coney Barrett of Indiana and Barbara Lagoa of Florida are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reportedly said of Barrett : “ I ’ m saving her for Ginsburg.
” Political considerations will naturally impinge on the selection .
Barrett is a devout Catholic , leading to fears among pro-choice groups that her confirmation would imperil Roe v Wade , the 1973 ruling which made abortion legal .
On Fox & Friends , Trump praised both women but also said Lagoa was “ excellent , she ’ s Hispanic .
She ’ s a terrific woman from everything I know .
I don ’ t know her .
We @ @ @ @ @ @ @ got a lot of things.
” Trump and Biden are in a tight race in Florida , a key swing state .
The Trump campaign has also been targeting Latino voters in Nevada and Arizona .
Trump also said there were five names under consideration and “ it could be any one of them , they all be great … You like to go young because they ’ re there for a long time.
” Barrett is 48 and Lagoa is 52 .
Allison Jones Rushing , from Virginia , is thought to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is thought by many to be too young .
“ I think I ’ ll stay in this seat , ” she said .

Donald Trump has raced to cement a conservative majority on the US supreme court before the presidential election on 3 November, and Democrats’ hopes of keeping the seat empty have faded as two Republican senators signalled their support for moving quickly.
The president said on Monday he would name his third supreme court nominee on Friday or Saturday, following memorials for Ruth Bader Ginsburg, the liberal justice who died aged 87 on Friday.
Ginsburg will lie in state at the court on Wednesday and Thursday. Her coffin will rest on the Lincoln Catafalque, a platform built after the assassination of the 16th president in 1865 and loaned to the court by Congress. Ginsburg’s funeral will follow next week, at Arlington national cemetery.
“I think it will be on Friday or Saturday and we want to pay respect,” Trump told Fox News in a rambling interview by phone. “It looks like we will have services on Thursday or Friday, as I understand it, and I think we should, with all due respect for Justice Ginsburg, wait for services to be over.”
With the presidential election only 43 days away, an announcement on Friday or Saturday would narrow even that short window considerably.
Polling shows a majority of the public thinks the nomination should be made by the winner of the presidential election. Democrats also point to the precedent of Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell’s refusal to grant a hearing to Barack Obama’s last nominee, Merrick Garland, in the eight months between the death of Antonin Scalia in February 2016 and the election Trump won.
McConnell and Senate allies say the precedent they set then does not apply, as the Senate and the White House are held by the same party. There is no provision in the constitution on the subject. On the current court, the conservative Clarence Thomas was nominated by a Republican president and confirmed by a Democratic Senate.
02:38 Mitch McConnell and Chuck Schumer clash on supreme court nomination – video
A successful nomination would tilt the court 6-3 in favour of conservatives, potentially shaping American life for generations to come.
Two Republicans, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Susan Collins of Maine, have said they do not support efforts to bring a nomination to a vote. That leaves McConnell with a 51-49 majority – enough to get the confirmation through. One more defection would produce a tie that would be broken by the vice-president, Mike Pence. Two more would sink the effort.
Democrats had hoped to get similar support from Cory Gardner, the senator for Colorado, who faces a tough re-election race in Colorado, and the Iowa senator, Chuck Grassley. But both men said on Monday they would vote to confirm a qualified Trump pick.
03:05 Ruth Bader Ginsburg: Republicans and Democrats draw battle lines over replacement – video
The Republican senator Mitt Romney, who has clashed with Trump and is seen by Democrats as a potential holdout, avoided questions about the supreme court seat on Monday.
“Before I have any comment, I’m going to meet with my colleagues, which I’ll be doing tomorrow,” Romney, the party’s 2012 presidential nominee, told reporters.
Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, the Republican chairman of the Senate judiciary committee, told Fox News late on Monday: “We’ve got the votes to confirm Justice Ginsburg’s replacement before the election. We’re going to move forward in the committee. We’re going to report the nomination out of the committee to the floor of the United States Senate so we can vote before the election.”
Trump has promised to nominate a woman. Amy Coney Barrett of Indiana and Barbara Lagoa of Florida are reported to be frontrunners, Trump having reportedly said of Barrett: “I’m saving her for Ginsburg.”
Political considerations will naturally impinge on the selection. Barrett is a devout Catholic, leading to fears among pro-choice groups that her confirmation would imperil Roe v Wade, the 1973 ruling that made abortion legal.
Appearing on Fox & Friends, Trump praised both women but also said Lagoa was “excellent, she’s Hispanic. She’s a terrific woman from everything I know. I don’t know her. We love Florida and so she’s got a lot of things.”
Trump and Joe Biden are in a tight race in Florida, a key swing state. The Trump campaign has also been targeting Latino voters in Nevada and Arizona.
Ginsburg died on Friday of complications from pancreatic cancer at age 87.
The Senate Democratic leader, Chuck Schumer, said any vote should take place next year. “That was Justice Ginsburg’s dying wish. And it may be the Senate’s only, last hope,” Schumer said.
Trump said without evidence that he did not believe the National Public Radio report that Ginsburg had told her granddaughter she did not want the Senate to consider a successor until next year, when either Trump will begin a second term or Democratic rival Joe Biden, who leads in opinion polls, will take office.
“It was just too convenient,” Trump said.
Reuters contributed to this report