shareblue--2020-08-09--Voters keep choosing to expand Obamacare under Trump

Donald Trump is still trying to overturn `` Obamacare , '' but his predecessor 's health care law keeps gaining ground in places where it was once unwelcome .
Missouri voters this week approved Medicaid expansion by a 53 % to 47 % margin , making the conservative state the seventh to do so under Trump .
The Republican readily carried Missouri in 2016 , but the Medicaid vote comes as more people have been losing workplace health insurance in a treacherous coronavirus economy .
That leaves only a dozen states opposed to using the federal-state health program for low-income @ @ @ @ @ @ @ adults , mainly people in jobs that do n't provide health care .
Medicaid expansion is a central feature of former President Barack Obama 's Affordable Care Act , covering about 12 million people , while nearly 10 million others get subsidized private insurance .
If present trends continue , it 's only a matter of time until all states expand Medicaid , acknowledged Brian Blase , a former health care adviser in the Trump White House , who remains opposed to the expansion .
`` Medicaid expansion is terrible policy , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's almost all federal spending and the insurance companies and hospitals get lots of dollars when a state expands Medicaid , '' he said .
The federal government pays 90 % of the cost of covering people through the expansion , a much higher matching share than for low-income disabled and elderly people traditionally covered by Medicaid .
Blase argues that 's an incentive to waste federal dollars .
Before the ACA most low-income adults could n't get Medicaid unless they were caring for children .
`` There 's lots of political pressure @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` Eventually all states are going to expand unless the enhanced ( federal ) match rate changes . ''
Voters in another conservative state — Oklahoma — approved a Medicaid expansion earlier this year , although the margin was much closer than in Missouri .
Of the seven states that have expanded Medicaid in the Trump years , six have done so by referendum , said Rachel Garfield , a senior policy expert with the nonpartisan Kaiser Family Foundation .
`` This is an indication that there is large popular support for providing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and it is quite possible that this support has increased given what 's going on with the pandemic , '' Garfield said .
The six states where voters have approved Medicaid expansion in the Trump years are Idaho , Maine , Missouri , Nebraska , Oklahoma and Utah .
In Virginia , the legislature passed a Medicaid expansion after Democrats made political gains .
`` That has been an interesting feature of the Trump administration , that momentum among the states to expand Medicaid has not slowed down , '' said Jesse Cross-Call @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Budget and Policy Priorities , which advocates for low-income people .
Trump is trying to persuade the Supreme Court to toss out `` Obamacare , '' but as long as it remains the law his administration has to carry out expansions that states approve .
Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden would ask Congress to provide coverage where states have refused .
In Missouri , support for Medicaid expansion in cities and suburbs overcame opposition in rural communities .
Supporters used the coronavirus pandemic to highlight the need for health care , especially @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of employer-provided insurance .
The Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry , one of the state 's most influential business groups , also pushed for expansion as a way of helping the economy recover after COVID-19 .
Cindy Mann , who ran Medicaid under Obama , argues that there 's also a strong fairness argument for expansion .
About 4.5 million poor adults live in states that have resisted expanding Medicaid .
But because of the way the Obama health law is written , they do n't qualify for subsidized private insurance through @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in a coverage gap .
`` Those people have no access to coverage , '' said Mann , now with the Manatt Health consultancy .
`` Those are a lot of the so-called essential workers , if we think about it through the COVID lens .
It 's a really inequitable story and one that increasingly ca n't be tolerated by the public . ''
No other state referendum votes on Medicaid expansion are scheduled this political season .
But Mann expects the debate will percolate through legislative elections in the 12 states @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have refused .
The biggest prizes are Texas , Florida and Georgia .
`` Now they are surrounded by states that have expanded , '' she said .

Donald Trump is still trying to overturn “Obamacare,” but his predecessor’s health care law keeps gaining ground in places where it was once unwelcome.
Missouri voters this week approved Medicaid expansion by a 53% to 47% margin, making the conservative state the seventh to do so under Trump. The Republican readily carried Missouri in 2016, but the Medicaid vote comes as more people have been losing workplace health insurance in a treacherous coronavirus economy.
That leaves only a dozen states opposed to using the federal-state health program for low-income people as a vehicle for covering more adults, mainly people in jobs that don’t provide health care. Medicaid expansion is a central feature of former President Barack Obama’s Affordable Care Act, covering about 12 million people, while nearly 10 million others get subsidized private insurance.
If present trends continue, it’s only a matter of time until all states expand Medicaid, acknowledged Brian Blase, a former health care adviser in the Trump White House, who remains opposed to the expansion.
“Medicaid expansion is terrible policy, but it is attractive to states because it’s almost all federal spending and the insurance companies and hospitals get lots of dollars when a state expands Medicaid,” he said.
The federal government pays 90% of the cost of covering people through the expansion, a much higher matching share than for low-income disabled and elderly people traditionally covered by Medicaid. Blase argues that’s an incentive to waste federal dollars. Before the ACA most low-income adults couldn’t get Medicaid unless they were caring for children.
“There’s lots of political pressure to expand,” said Blase. “Eventually all states are going to expand unless the enhanced (federal) match rate changes.”
Voters in another conservative state — Oklahoma — approved a Medicaid expansion earlier this year, although the margin was much closer than in Missouri. Of the seven states that have expanded Medicaid in the Trump years, six have done so by referendum, said Rachel Garfield, a senior policy expert with the nonpartisan Kaiser Family Foundation.
“This is an indication that there is large popular support for providing health care coverage for low-income people, and it is quite possible that this support has increased given what’s going on with the pandemic,” Garfield said.
The six states where voters have approved Medicaid expansion in the Trump years are Idaho, Maine, Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma and Utah. In Virginia, the legislature passed a Medicaid expansion after Democrats made political gains.
“That has been an interesting feature of the Trump administration, that momentum among the states to expand Medicaid has not slowed down,” said Jesse Cross-Call, a policy expert with the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, which advocates for low-income people.
Trump is trying to persuade the Supreme Court to toss out “Obamacare,” but as long as it remains the law his administration has to carry out expansions that states approve. Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden would ask Congress to provide coverage where states have refused.
In Missouri, support for Medicaid expansion in cities and suburbs overcame opposition in rural communities. Supporters used the coronavirus pandemic to highlight the need for health care, especially in the wake of joblessness and loss of employer-provided insurance. The Missouri Chamber of Commerce and Industry, one of the state’s most influential business groups, also pushed for expansion as a way of helping the economy recover after COVID-19.
Cindy Mann, who ran Medicaid under Obama, argues that there’s also a strong fairness argument for expansion. About 4.5 million poor adults live in states that have resisted expanding Medicaid. But because of the way the Obama health law is written, they don’t qualify for subsidized private insurance through marketplaces like HealthCare.gov and they’re stuck in a coverage gap.
“Those people have no access to coverage,” said Mann, now with the Manatt Health consultancy. “Those are a lot of the so-called essential workers, if we think about it through the COVID lens. It’s a really inequitable story and one that increasingly can’t be tolerated by the public.”
No other state referendum votes on Medicaid expansion are scheduled this political season. But Mann expects the debate will percolate through legislative elections in the 12 states, mainly in the South, that have refused. The biggest prizes are Texas, Florida and Georgia.
“Now they are surrounded by states that have expanded,” she said.


shareblue--2020-08-10--Cartoon: If Biden Wins

Cartoon: If Biden Wins

Clay Jones is a nationally syndicated political cartoonist .
He has worked for the Honolulu Star-Bulletin and The Free Lance-Star @ @ @ @ @ draws a weekly cartoon for CNN Opinion .
He lives in the Washington suburbs of @ @ @

A decade after Sandy Hook, grief remains but hope grows
December, the anniversary of the worst grade school mass shooting in the U.S. is a difficult month for many in Newton. But in the face of heartbreak and grief, some survivors and families of victims feel hope for a brighter future.
By Associated Press - December 22, 2022


shareblue--2020-08-10--White House locked down after shooting outside abruptly ends Trump briefing

Donald Trump was abruptly escorted by a U.S. Secret Service agent out of the White House briefing room as he was beginning a coronavirus briefing Monday afternoon .
He returned minutes later , saying there was a `` shooting '' outside the White House that was `` under control . ''
`` There was an actual shooting and somebody 's been taken to the hospital , '' Trump said .
He said the shots were fired by law enforcement , saying he believed the individual who was shot was armed .
`` It was the suspect who was shot , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was escorted to the Oval Office by the agent .
The White House was placed on lockdown following the incident .
The shooting took place near 17th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue just blocks from the White House , according to two sources with knowledge of the situation who were not authorized to speak publicly about it .
Law enforcement officials were still trying to determine the suspect 's motive .
The suspect was transferred to a local hospital , and the District of Columbia fire department said the man suffered serious or possibly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the individual has a history of mental illness .
Trump praised the work of Secret Service personnel for their work in keeping him safe .
Asked if he was shaken by the incident , Trump asked reporters : `` I do n't know .
Do I seem rattled ? ''

Donald Trump was abruptly escorted by a U.S. Secret Service agent out of the White House briefing room as he was beginning a coronavirus briefing Monday afternoon. He returned minutes later, saying there had been a “shooting” outside the White House that was “under control.”
“There was an actual shooting and somebody’s been taken to the hospital,” Trump said. The president said the shots were fired by law enforcement and that he believed the individual who was shot was armed. “It was the suspect who was shot,” Trump said.
Trump said he was escorted to the Oval Office by the agent. The White House was placed on lockdown following the incident.
The shooting occurred just before 6 p.m. after a 51-year-old man approached a uniformed Secret Service officer near 17th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue just blocks from the White House and told the officer he had a weapon, Tom Sullivan, chief of the Secret Service Uniformed Division, said Monday night.
The man then turned around and “ran aggressively toward the officer, and in a drawing motion, removed an object from his clothing,” Sullivan said. The suspect then “crouched into a shooter’s stance, as if about to fire a weapon” before the officer shot the man once in the torso, he said.
Sullivan would not answer any questions at a late-night news conference near the scene and did not say whether the suspect was armed.
Both the suspect and the officer were taken to the hospital. The District of Columbia fire department said the suspect suffered serious or possibly critical injuries. Sullivan released no information about the officer.
Law enforcement officials were still trying to determine the suspect’s motive and authorities were investigating whether he has a history of mental illness. The suspect’s name was not immediately released.
“At no time during this incident was the White House complex breached or were any protectees in danger,” Sullivan said. The shooting has prompted an internal review by the Secret Service and is also being investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department, a standard protocol.
Trump praised the work of Secret Service personnel for their work in keeping him safe. Asked if he was shaken by the incident, Trump asked reporters: “I don’t know. Do I seem rattled?”
This story was updated with additional information from the Secret Service.


shareblue--2020-08-10--Kelly Loeffler says to listen to athletes after repeatedly attacking WNBA players

Sen. Kelly Loeffler ( R-GA ) demanded colleges and universities listen to the voices of athletes about health policy just six days after she criticized WNBA players for speaking out on political issues .
`` College universities and athletic conferences need to put politics aside and come together to find a way to safely play college football this season , '' Loeffler tweeted on Monday .
`` The players want to play .
Should n't their voices be heard too ? ''
College football conferences are currently making decisions about whether to play games in the middle of the pandemic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ year , multiple coronavirus outbreaks hampered the ability of some teams to participate in an already shortened season .
Sources told ESPN that the commissioners of the biggest college football conferences met Sunday to discuss the possibility of canceling or postponing the season .
A number of college football players expressed their desire to play in 2020 late Sunday night .
Loeffler 's stance on Monday was diametrically opposed to the position she took when WNBA players made statements about the race for her Senate seat and in support of Black Lives Matter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ professional basketball players from the Atlanta Dream and the Phoenix Mercury who wore black warm-up shirts bearing the words `` VOTE WARNOCK '' in white block letters before a game .
Other players wore shirts reading `` Black Lives Matter . ''
`` This is just more proof that the out of control cancel culture wants to shut out anyone who disagrees with them , '' Loeffler said Tuesday night in a statement , adding that the league is `` more concerned with playing politics than basketball . ''
Loeffler is a co-owner @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Warnock is a Democrat running against her in the November election .
In July , Loeffler condemned the WNBA 's support for the Black Lives Matter movement , saying it `` sends a message of exclusion . ''
After her comments , the league rejected a request from the WNBA Players ' Association that called for her to be removed as co-owner of the Dream .
`` We are @ wnba players , but like the late , great John Lewis said , we are also ordinary people with extraordinary vision , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Warnock `` has spent his life fighting for the people and we need him in Washington .
Join the movement for a better Georgia at www.Warnockforgeorgia.com , '' she added , posting a photo of herself in a `` VOTE WARNOCK '' shirt .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Sen. Kelly Loeffler (R-GA) demanded colleges and universities listen to the voices of athletes about health policy just six days after she criticized WNBA players for speaking out on political issues.
“College universities and athletic conferences need to put politics aside and come together to find a way to safely play college football this season,” Loeffler tweeted on Monday. “The players want to play. Shouldn’t their voices be heard too?”
College football conferences are currently making decisions about whether to play games in the middle of the pandemic. When professional baseball resumed earlier this year, multiple coronavirus outbreaks hampered the ability of some teams to participate in an already shortened season.
Sources told ESPN that the commissioners of the biggest college football conferences met Sunday to discuss the possibility of canceling or postponing the season. A number of college football players expressed their desire to play in 2020 late Sunday night.
Loeffler’s stance on Monday was diametrically opposed to the position she took when WNBA players made statements about the race for her Senate seat and in support of Black Lives Matter last Tuesday.
Loeffler was critical of professional basketball players from the Atlanta Dream and the Phoenix Mercury who wore black warm-up shirts bearing the words “VOTE WARNOCK” in white block letters before a game. Other players wore shirts reading “Black Lives Matter.”
“This is just more proof that the out of control cancel culture wants to shut out anyone who disagrees with them,” Loeffler said Tuesday night in a statement, adding that the league is “more concerned with playing politics than basketball.”
Loeffler is a co-owner of the Dream; Rev. Raphael Warnock is a Democrat running against her in the November election.
In July, Loeffler condemned the WNBA’s support for the Black Lives Matter movement, saying it “sends a message of exclusion.” After her comments, the league rejected a request from the WNBA Players’ Association that called for her to be removed as co-owner of the Dream.
“We are @wnba players, but like the late, great John Lewis said, we are also ordinary people with extraordinary vision,” Dream center Elizabeth Williams tweeted on Tuesday.
Warnock “has spent his life fighting for the people and we need him in Washington. Join the movement for a better Georgia at www.Warnockforgeorgia.com,” she added, posting a photo of herself in a “VOTE WARNOCK” shirt.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-08-10--6 things Jerry Falwell Jr. got away with before his unzipped pants took him down

Liberty University announced Friday that Jerry Falwell Jr. would take an `` indefinite leave of absence '' from his positions as chancellor and president , a day after he apologized for sharing a photo on social media showing him with his pants unzipped .
The school 's board of trustees requested he indefinitely step aside over this scandal — a departure from its reactions to his previous questionable behavior .
The latest scandal came on August 2 , when Falwell Jr. posted a photo on social media of himself holding a drink and his wife 's assistant .
Both people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and belly 's partially exposed .
`` More vacation shots .
Lots of good friends visited us on the yacht , '' he wrote in the caption .
`` I promise that 's just black water in my glass .
It was a prop only . ''
Last Thursday , he told a local radio station that the woman in the picture was `` pregnant , so she could n't get her pants up , '' adding , `` I had on pair of jeans that I had n't worn in a long @ @ @ @ @ @ @ zipped either .
And so I just put my belly out like hers . ''
He vowed to `` try to be a good boy from here on out . ''
But has not always been a `` good boy '' before .
Falwell Jr. inherited his position in 2007 as part of a succession plan created by his father and the university 's founder , Rev .
Jerry Falwell Sr .
Since that time he has repeatedly embarrassed the university : April 2009 : Falwell Jr. unilaterally offered a full scholarship to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ against LGBTQ rights .
After then-Miss California USA Carrie Prejean spoke out against same-sex marriage during the Miss USA Pageant , Falwell Jr. hosted her at the university 's convocation .
He then offered to provide a free ride to the then-San Diego Christian College junior if she transferred to Liberty , saying at the convocation , `` I get so tired of Christians getting berated over their beliefs , '' and calling Prejean a `` hero for what she did . ''
Weeks later , Prejean was stripped of her title by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for failure to fulfill contractual obligations .
August 2013 : Falwell Jr. announced that if the federal government attempted to require recipients of its aid to comply with LGBTQ nondiscrimination rules , he would simply forgo the money .
`` We have so far had no interference in our curriculum from the federal government , '' he told World Magazine .
`` We 're now in a financial position that would allow us to simply exit the program .
...
If it became necessary , that 's what we would do . ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ at a mandatory convocation after a mass shooting in San Bernardino , California , that they should become concealed weapon permit holders — so they can shoot Muslim people if necessary .
`` I 've always thought , if more good people had concealed carry permits then we could end those Muslims before they walked in killing , '' he said .
`` Let 's teach them a lesson if they ever show up here . ''
Days later he told a local television station , `` If these terrorists had slapped me @ @ @ @ @ @ @ turned the other cheek , but that 's not what they did .
Jesus in Luke 22:36 said to his disciples if you have to sell your coat to buy a sword , do it , because he knew trouble was coming . ''
September 2019 : Falwell Jr. was accused in media reports of corruption and lying about his private life .
A Politico Magazine report depicted Liberty as a `` dictatorship '' where tuition dollars went to real estate projects that benefited Falwell Jr. 's family and friends .
It also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ existence of photos of him at a Miami nightclub — Liberty University punishes students caught dancing with members of the opposite gender — and that he had asked Donald Trump 's former fixer Michael Cohen to help him deal with other `` personal '' photos .
Three days later , Reuters published Falwell Jr. emails smearing his own students and employees as `` emotionally imbalanced and physically retarded , '' among other things .
March 2020 : As Virginia and much of the nation shut down due to the COVID-19 pandemic , Falwell @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to partially reopen Liberty University — against the wishes of state and local government officials .
`` We think it 's irresponsible for so many universities to just say 'closed , you can ’ t come back , ' push the problem off on other communities and sit there in their ivory towers , '' he told a right-wing radio program .
Within days of the reopening , the first Liberty student tested positive for the coronavirus .
After news outlets published stories critical of his decision to reopen , Falwell Jr. had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' against the reporters .
June 2020 : Falwell Jr. upset Black alumni , students , and faculty with a racist tweet .
Dozens of Black alumni spoke out , multiple Black staff members resigned , and numerous Black student-athletes announced plans to transfer amid concerns about the racial climate on campus .
Some of this was fueled by a May 27 Falwell Jr. tweet of a face mask , depicting Democratic Gov .
Ralph Northam 's racially offensive medical school yearbook page .
After he apologized for the tweet , the university @ @ @ @ @ @ @ announcing , `` We also know him and know him not to be a racist .
Nor do we believe that he has been running Liberty University in a way that discriminates against African Americans . ''
Liberty University did not immediately respond to an inquiry for this story .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Liberty University announced Friday that Jerry Falwell Jr. would take an “indefinite leave of absence” from his positions as chancellor and president, a day after he apologized for sharing a photo on social media showing him with his pants unzipped. The school’s board of trustees requested he indefinitely step aside over this scandal — a departure from its reactions to his previous questionable behavior.
The latest scandal came on August 2, when Falwell posted a photo on social media of himself holding a drink and his wife’s assistant. Both people in the picture had their pants unzipped and belly’s partially exposed. “More vacation shots. Lots of good friends visited us on the yacht,” he wrote in the caption. “I promise that’s just black water in my glass. It was a prop only.”
Last Thursday, he told a local radio station that the woman in the picture was “pregnant, so she couldn’t get her pants up,” adding, “I had on pair of jeans that I hadn’t worn in a long time so I couldn’t get mine zipped either. And so I just put my belly out like hers.” He vowed to “try to be a good boy from here on out.”
But has not always been a “good boy” before.
Falwell inherited his position in 2007 as part of a succession plan created by his father and the university’s founder, the Rev. Jerry Falwell.
Since that time he has repeatedly embarrassed the university:
April 2009: Falwell unilaterally offered a full scholarship to a beauty pageant contestant who spoke out against LGBTQ rights. After then-Miss California USA Carrie Prejean spoke out against same-sex marriage during the Miss USA Pageant, Falwell hosted her at the university’s convocation. He then offered to provide a free ride to the then-San Diego Christian College junior if she transferred to Liberty, saying at the convocation, “I get so tired of Christians getting berated over their beliefs,” and calling Prejean a “hero for what she did.”
Weeks later, Prejean was stripped of her title by Donald Trump and his Miss USA organization for failure to fulfill contractual obligations.
August 2013: Falwell announced that if the federal government attempted to require recipients of its aid to comply with LGBTQ nondiscrimination rules, he would simply forgo the money.
“We have so far had no interference in our curriculum from the federal government,” he told World Magazine. “We’re now in a financial position that would allow us to simply exit the program. … If it became necessary, that’s what we would do.”
December 2015: Falwell told students at a mandatory convocation after a mass shooting in San Bernardino, California, that they should become concealed weapon permit holders — so they can shoot Muslim people if necessary. “I’ve always thought, if more good people had concealed carry permits then we could end those Muslims before they walked in killing,” he said. “Let’s teach them a lesson if they ever show up here.”
Days later he told a local television station, “If these terrorists had slapped me on the cheek, I would have turned the other cheek, but that’s not what they did. Jesus in Luke 22:36 said to his disciples if you have to sell your coat to buy a sword, do it, because he knew trouble was coming.”
September 2019: Falwell was accused in media reports of corruption and lying about his private life. A Politico Magazine report depicted Liberty as a “dictatorship” where tuition dollars went to real estate projects that benefited Falwell’s family and friends.
It also noted that Falwell falsely denied the existence of photos of him at a Miami nightclub — Liberty University punishes students caught dancing with members of the opposite gender — and that he had asked Donald Trump’s former fixer Michael Cohen to help him deal with other “personal” photos.
Three days later, Reuters published Falwell emails smearing his own students and employees as “emotionally imbalanced and physically retarded,” among other things.
March 2020: As Virginia and much of the nation shut down due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Falwell made national news for his decision to partially reopen Liberty University — against the wishes of state and local government officials.
“We think it’s irresponsible for so many universities to just say ‘closed, you can’t come back,’ push the problem off on other communities and sit there in their ivory towers,” he told a right-wing radio program.
Within days of the reopening, the first Liberty student tested positive for the coronavirus. After news outlets published stories critical of his decision to reopen, Falwell had his campus police issue “arrest warrants” against the reporters.
June 2020: Falwell upset Black alumni, students, and faculty with a racist tweet. Dozens of Black alumni spoke out, multiple Black staff members resigned, and numerous Black student-athletes announced plans to transfer amid concerns about the racial climate on campus.
Some of this was fueled by a May 27 Falwell tweet of a face mask, depicting Democratic Gov. Ralph Northam’s racially offensive medical school yearbook page. After he apologized for the tweet, the university’s trustees stood by Falwell, announcing, “We also know him and know him not to be a racist. Nor do we believe that he has been running Liberty University in a way that discriminates against African Americans.”
Liberty University did not immediately respond to an inquiry for this story.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-08-10--10 times Trump bashed Obama for signing executive orders

Donald Trump on Saturday took a handful of executive actions to try to circumvent Congress and create coronavirus relief measures .
The executive actions — a mixture of executive orders and presidential memoranda — do n't even do what Trump claims .
However , it 's part of a pattern of Trump governing by executive order — something he once accused former President Barack Obama of doing .
In fact , Obama signed far fewer executive orders than Trump has .
Three-and-a-half years into his first term , Trump has signed 177 executive orders , more than the 109 Obama @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as president , according to data from the Federal Register .
Here are 10 times Trump said governing by executive order was the sign of a poor leader who is unable to make deals .
`` Why is @ BarackObama constantly issuing executive orders that are major power grabs of authority ?
This is the latest , '' Trump tweeted .
The link Trump tweeted is no longer live .
However , four days before that tweet , Obama signed an executive order titled `` Assignment of National Security and Emergency Preparedness Communications @ @ @ @ @ @ @ federal government had `` the ability to communicate at all times and under all circumstances to carry out its most critical and time sensitive missions . ''
`` This is how it starts .
Obama is now threatening to use an Executive Order for gun control , '' Trump tweeted , just before Obama was sworn in for his second term in office .
`` Welcome to his 2nd term . ''
The tweet came just a few weeks after the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting in which 20 children and six staff @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Obama , noting that Congress had failed to act on any gun control measures , contemplated taking executive action to get the job done .
`` The president is going to act .
Executive orders , executive action , can be taken , '' then-Vice President Joe Biden said .
`` We have n't decided what this is yet , but we 're compiling it all with the help of the attorney general and all the rest of the Cabinet members . ''
In an interview with Fox Business ' Stuart Varney @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a cop-out .
`` Look at Obama .
He does n't get anything done .
You have Democrats that have been there for years and they 've hardly met him .
You have got to get — you 've got to close the door and get things done without signing your executive orders all the time .
That 's the easy way out . ''
In an interview with Bloomberg News , Trump said of Obama : `` He does n't work the system .
That is why he signs executive orders all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ get his own people to go along . ''
At a campaign event in South Carolina , Trump said of Obama : `` I do n't think he even tries anymore .
I think he just signs executive actions . ''
Trump then said that presidents are not supposed to govern by executive order , and should stick to the system of checks and balances .
`` That 's the way the system is supposed to work .
And then all of a sudden , I hear he tried , he ca n't @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and then another one , boom , '' Trump said .
In January 2016 , when Obama took executive action aimed at reducing gun violence , Trump again assailed his use of such action .
`` You know , it ’ s supposed to be negotiated ; you 're supposed to cajole , get people in a room ; you 're supposed to deal with them , you have Republicans , you have Democrats , you have all these people that get elected to do this stuff , and you 're supposed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' Trump said .
`` [ Obama ] does n't want to do that because it 's too much work .
So he does n't want to work too hard .
He wants to go back and play golf . ''
Of course , when Trump took executive action on coronavirus aid over the weekend , he was at his private golf club in New Jersey .
`` The problem with Washington , they do n't make deals .
It 's all gridlock .
And then you have a president that signs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ anything done .
I 'll get everybody together . ''
During an appearance on MSNBC 's `` Morning Joe '' when he was running for the GOP nomination for president , Trump said : `` We have a president that ca n't get anything done so he just keeps signing executive orders all over the place . ''
`` Obama goes around signing executive orders , '' Trump said at a Republican town hall during the 2016 GOP primary .
`` He ca n't even get along with the Democrats .
He goes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It 's a basic disaster .
You ca n't do it . ''
At a campaign town hall in Wisconsin , Trump said he would make little use of executive orders if elected .
`` I want to not use too many executive orders , folks , '' Trump said .
`` Executive orders sort of came about more recently .
Nobody ever heard of an executive order .
Then all of a sudden Obama , because he could n't get anybody to agree with him , he starts signing them like they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do away with executive orders for the most part . ''
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Donald Trump on Saturday took a handful of executive actions to try to circumvent Congress and create coronavirus relief measures.
The executive actions — a mixture of executive orders and presidential memoranda — don’t even do what Trump claims.
However, it’s part of a pattern of Trump governing by executive order — something he once accused former President Barack Obama of doing.
In fact, Obama signed far fewer executive orders than Trump has. Three-and-a-half years into his first term, Trump has signed 177 executive orders, more than the 109 Obama signed in his first four full years as president, according to data from the Federal Register.
Here are 10 times Trump said governing by executive order was the sign of a poor leader who is unable to make deals.
July 10, 2012
“Why is @BarackObama constantly issuing executive orders that are major power grabs of authority? This is the latest,” Trump tweeted.
The link Trump tweeted is no longer live.
However, four days before that tweet, Obama signed an executive order titled “Assignment of National Security and Emergency Preparedness Communications Functions,” aimed at ensuring the federal government had “the ability to communicate at all times and under all circumstances to carry out its most critical and time sensitive missions.”
Jan. 9, 2013
“This is how it starts. Obama is now threatening to use an Executive Order for gun control,” Trump tweeted, just before Obama was sworn in for his second term in office. “Welcome to his 2nd term.”
The tweet came just a few weeks after the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting in which 20 children and six staff members at the Connecticut school were killed.
Obama, noting that Congress had failed to act on any gun control measures, contemplated taking executive action to get the job done.
“The president is going to act. Executive orders, executive action, can be taken,” then-Vice President Joe Biden said. “We haven’t decided what this is yet, but we’re compiling it all with the help of the attorney general and all the rest of the Cabinet members.”
Oct. 20, 2015
In an interview with Fox Business’ Stuart Varney, Trump said signing executive orders was a cop-out.
“Look at Obama. He doesn’t get anything done. You have Democrats that have been there for years and they’ve hardly met him. You have got to get — you’ve got to close the door and get things done without signing your executive orders all the time. That’s the easy way out.”
Nov. 2, 2015
In an interview with Bloomberg News, Trump said of Obama: “He doesn’t work the system. That is why he signs executive orders all the time, because he can’t get his own people to go along.”
Dec. 12, 2015
At a campaign event in South Carolina, Trump said of Obama: “I don’t think he even tries anymore. I think he just signs executive actions.”
Trump then said that presidents are not supposed to govern by executive order, and should stick to the system of checks and balances.
“That’s the way the system is supposed to work. And then all of a sudden, I hear he tried, he can’t do it, and then, boom, and then another one, boom,” Trump said.
Jan. 4, 2016
In January 2016, when Obama took executive action aimed at reducing gun violence, Trump again assailed his use of such action.
“You know, it’s supposed to be negotiated; you’re supposed to cajole, get people in a room; you’re supposed to deal with them, you have Republicans, you have Democrats, you have all these people that get elected to do this stuff, and you’re supposed to get together and pass a law,” Trump said. “[Obama] doesn’t want to do that because it’s too much work. So he doesn’t want to work too hard. He wants to go back and play golf.”
Of course, when Trump took executive action on coronavirus aid over the weekend, he was at his private golf club in New Jersey.
Jan. 20, 2016
Trump told Fox news of Obama:
“The problem with Washington, they don’t make deals. It’s all gridlock. And then you have a president that signs executive orders because he can’t get anything done. I’ll get everybody together.”
Jan. 26, 2016
During an appearance on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe” when he was running for the GOP nomination for president, Trump said: “We have a president that can’t get anything done so he just keeps signing executive orders all over the place.”
Feb. 19, 2016
“Obama goes around signing executive orders,” Trump said at a Republican town hall during the 2016 GOP primary. “He can’t even get along with the Democrats. He goes around signing all these executive orders. It’s a basic disaster. You can’t do it.”
March 29, 2016
At a campaign town hall in Wisconsin, Trump said he would make little use of executive orders if elected.
“I want to not use too many executive orders, folks,” Trump said. “Executive orders sort of came about more recently. Nobody ever heard of an executive order. Then all of a sudden Obama, because he couldn’t get anybody to agree with him, he starts signing them like they’re butter. So I want to do away with executive orders for the most part.”
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-08-10--Health officials are quitting or getting fired amid outbreak

Vilified , threatened with violence , and in some cases suffering from burnout , dozens of state and local public health officials around the United States have resigned or have been fired amid the coronavirus outbreak , a testament to how politically combustible masks , lockdown , and infection data have become .
The latest departure came Sunday , when California 's public health director , Dr. Sonia Angell , quit without explanation following a technical glitch that caused a delay in reporting virus test results — information used to make decisions about reopening businesses and schools .
Last week @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was replaced after months of friction with the Police Department and City Hall .
A review by the Kaiser Health News service and the Associated Press finds at least 48 state and local public health leaders have resigned , retired , or been fired since April across 23 states .
The list has grown by more than 20 people since the AP and KHN started keeping track in June .
The departures are making a bad situation worse , at a time when the United States needs good public health leadership the most @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the National Association of County and City Health Officials .
`` We 're moving at breakneck speed here to stop a pandemic , and you ca n't afford to hit the pause button and say , 'We 're going to change the leadership around here and we 'll get back to you after we hire somebody , ' '' Freeman said .
As of Monday , confirmed infections in the United States stood at over 5 million , with deaths topping 163,000 , the highest in the world , according to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Many of the firings and resignations have to do with conflicts over mask orders or social distancing shutdowns , Freeman said .
Many politicians and ordinary Americans have argued that such measures are not needed , contrary to the scientific evidence and the advice of public health experts .
`` It 's not a health divide ; it 's a political divide , '' Freeman said .
Some health officials said they were leaving for family reasons , others had planned to retire , and some left for jobs at other health agencies @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Disease Control and Prevention .
Still , many left amid a pressure-cooker environment .
Public health leaders from Dr. Anthony Fauci down to officials in small communities have reported death threats and intimidation .
Some have seen their home addresses published or have been attacked on social media .
Fauci has said his wife and daughters have received serious threats .
In Ohio , the state 's health director , Dr. Amy Acton , resigned in June after months of pressure during which Republican lawmakers tried to strip her of her authority and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
It was on Acton 's advice that GOP Gov .
Mike DeWine became the first governor to shut down schools statewide .
Acton also called off the state 's presidential primary in March just hours before polls were to open , angering those who saw it as an overreaction .
The executive director of Las Animas-Huerfano Counties District Health Department in Colorado found her car vandalized twice , and a group called Colorado Counties for Freedom ran a radio ad demanding that her authority be reduced .
Kim Gonzales has remained on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Jim Justice forced the resignation of Public Health Commissioner Dr. Cathy Slemp in June over what he said were discrepancies in the data .
Slemp said the department 's work had been hurt by outdated technology like fax machines and slow computer networks .
`` We are driving a great aunt 's Pinto when what you need is to be driving a Ferrari , '' Slemp said .
Tom Inglesby , director of the Center for Health Security at Johns Hopkins , was critical of Slemp 's firing and said it was deeply @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` uncomfortable truths '' to political leaders had been removed .
`` That 's terrible for the national response because what we need for getting through this , first of all , is the truth .
We need data and we need people to interpret the data and help political leaders make good judgments , '' Inglesby said .
Since 2010 , spending on state public health departments has dropped 16 % per capita , and the amount devoted to local health departments has fallen 18 % , according to a KHN and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and local public health jobs have disappeared since the 2008 recession , leaving a skeletal workforce for what was once viewed as one of the world 's top public health systems .
In Oklahoma , both the state health commissioner and state epidemiologist have been replaced since the outbreak began in March .
In rural Colorado , Emily Brown was fired in late May as director of the Rio Grande County Public Health Department after clashing with county commissioners over reopening recommendations .
The person who replaced her resigned July 9 .
Brown @ @ @ @ @ @ @ leaders who are considering resigning or retiring because of the strain .
`` I think there 's a leadership gap .
Our elected officials in positions of power , whether presidents , governors or mayors , they are n't supporting staff better or aligning messages , '' forcing public health officials to bear the political pressure , Brown said .
`` It 's really hard to hear that we could be losing that expertise . ''

Vilified, threatened with violence, and in some cases suffering from burnout, dozens of state and local public health officials around the United States have resigned or have been fired amid the coronavirus outbreak, a testament to how politically combustible masks, lockdown, and infection data have become.
The latest departure came Sunday, when California’s public health director, Dr. Sonia Angell, quit without explanation following a technical glitch that caused a delay in reporting virus test results — information used to make decisions about reopening businesses and schools.
Last week, New York City’s health commissioner was replaced after months of friction with the Police Department and City Hall.
A review by the Kaiser Health News service and the Associated Press finds at least 48 state and local public health leaders have resigned, retired, or been fired since April across 23 states. The list has grown by more than 20 people since the AP and KHN started keeping track in June.
The departures are making a bad situation worse, at a time when the United States needs good public health leadership the most, said Lori Tremmel Freeman, CEO of the National Association of County and City Health Officials.
“We’re moving at breakneck speed here to stop a pandemic, and you can’t afford to hit the pause button and say, ‘We’re going to change the leadership around here and we’ll get back to you after we hire somebody,'” Freeman said.
As of Monday, confirmed infections in the United States stood at over 5 million, with deaths topping 163,000, the highest in the world, according to the count kept by Johns Hopkins University.
Many of the firings and resignations have to do with conflicts over mask orders or social distancing shutdowns, Freeman said. Many politicians and ordinary Americans have argued that such measures are not needed, contrary to the scientific evidence and the advice of public health experts.
“It’s not a health divide; it’s a political divide,” Freeman said.
Some health officials said they were leaving for family reasons, others had planned to retire, and some left for jobs at other health agencies, such as the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Still, many left amid a pressure-cooker environment.
Public health leaders from Dr. Anthony Fauci down to officials in small communities have reported death threats and intimidation. Some have seen their home addresses published or have been attacked on social media. Fauci has said his wife and daughters have received serious threats.
In Ohio, the state’s health director, Dr. Amy Acton, resigned in June after months of pressure during which Republican lawmakers tried to strip her of her authority and armed protesters showed up at her house.
It was on Acton’s advice that GOP Gov. Mike DeWine became the first governor to shut down schools statewide. Acton also called off the state’s presidential primary in March just hours before polls were to open, angering those who saw it as an overreaction.
The executive director of Las Animas-Huerfano Counties District Health Department in Colorado found her car vandalized twice, and a group called Colorado Counties for Freedom ran a radio ad demanding that her authority be reduced. Kim Gonzales has remained on the job.
West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice forced the resignation of Public Health Commissioner Dr. Cathy Slemp in June over what he said were discrepancies in the data. Slemp said the department’s work had been hurt by outdated technology like fax machines and slow computer networks.
“We are driving a great aunt’s Pinto when what you need is to be driving a Ferrari,” Slemp said.
Tom Inglesby, director of the Center for Health Security at Johns Hopkins, was critical of Slemp’s firing and said it was deeply concerning that public health officials who told “uncomfortable truths” to political leaders had been removed.
“That’s terrible for the national response because what we need for getting through this, first of all, is the truth. We need data and we need people to interpret the data and help political leaders make good judgments,” Inglesby said.
Since 2010, spending on state public health departments has dropped 16% per capita, and the amount devoted to local health departments has fallen 18%, according to a KHN and AP analysis. At least 38,000 state and local public health jobs have disappeared since the 2008 recession, leaving a skeletal workforce for what was once viewed as one of the world’s top public health systems.
In Oklahoma, both the state health commissioner and state epidemiologist have been replaced since the outbreak began in March.
In rural Colorado, Emily Brown was fired in late May as director of the Rio Grande County Public Health Department after clashing with county commissioners over reopening recommendations. The person who replaced her resigned July 9.
Brown said she knows many public health department leaders who are considering resigning or retiring because of the strain.
“I think there’s a leadership gap. Our elected officials in positions of power, whether presidents, governors or mayors, they aren’t supporting staff better or aligning messages,” forcing public health officials to bear the political pressure, Brown said. “It’s really hard to hear that we could be losing that expertise.”


shareblue--2020-08-10--Democrats' chances of retaking the Senate have increased dramatically since January

Republicans currently hold a 53-47 majority in the U.S. Senate , a clear power advantage that 's worked in their favor for the past several years .
Now , however , experts say Democrats are closer than ever to retaking the majority come November .
`` The battleground of legitimate takeover opportunities [ for Democrats ] has expanded since January , '' Nathan Gonzales , editor of Inside Elections , a nonpartisan election analysis organization , said in a phone interview on Wednesday .
In January , Inside Elections considered only three GOP-held seats as toss-ups — Maine , Colorado @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Republican-held seats leaned toward the Democrats .
By July , six Republican-held seats were rated as toss-up ( Iowa , Maine , Montana , and North Carolina ) and two had moved to `` Tilt Democratic '' ( Arizona and Colorado ) .
The only Democratic-held seat currently in danger of flipping to Republican control is Alabama , which has maintained a `` Lean Republican '' rating since January .
Inside Elections uses a rating scale ranging from Solid , Likely , Lean , or Tilt towards one party or the other , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , both Inside Elections and Cook Political Report , another nonpartisan election analysis , moved a total of 11 races between January and July to be more favorable for Democrats .
Gonzales gave four reasons as to why Democrats face better odds now : Donald Trump 's unpopularity , strong fundraising from Democratic candidates , former Vice President Joe Biden 's victory as the Democratic nominee , and the fact that Republicans are defending more seats .
Trump is `` struggling to match his own 2016 performance , '' in many states , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus crisis , the economic downturn , and his handling of race relations have also caused voters to sour on him , Gonzales added , saying `` it is increasingly difficult for a candidate to outperform the top of the ticket . ''
Trump 's lackluster performance is `` pulling other seats into play , such as Georgia , Texas , Iowa '' which were not considered as competitive in 2019 , according to Gonzales .
Texas and the Georgia seat held by Sen. Kelly Loeffler are both rated `` Lean Republican , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sen. David Perdue is rated `` Tilt Republican . ''
Gonzales also said that the ability of Democrats to raise `` ridiculous amounts of money '' has created `` headaches for Republicans . ''
He noted that the fundraising prowess of candidates like Jaime Harrison in South Carolina and Amy McGrath in Kentucky `` is going to force Republicans to spend money defending those seats which should n't really be a part of the conversation . ''
Helen Kalla , a Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee spokesperson , agreed that Democrats have expanded the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the party 's ability to recruit high-quality candidates who have `` shown to be incredibly strong fundraisers and have amassed the resourced that are needed '' to compete .
Kalla noted that in the most recent fundraising quarter , 13 Democratic challengers outraised their Republican counterparts .
Third , Gonzales said Biden 's victory in the Democratic primary `` was critical , '' removing the ability of Republican `` to frame the election as a choice between socialism and capitalism . ''
In the primary , Biden was largely viewed as a more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Bernie Sanders , a democratic socialist from Vermont .
Given the importance of who is at the top of the ticket , Gonzales said Biden 's primary victory helped candidates in states like Georgia , Texas , and Montana , states that have supported Republican presidential nominees in the recent past .
Finally , both Kalla and Gonzales agreed that the 2020 map began favoring Democrats because 2014 was a wave year for Senate Republicans .
That year , Democrats lost a net of eight seats , including in battleground states such as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` There was an imbalance in the battlefield , '' at the start of the 2020 cycle , with Republicans defending 23 seats and Democrats defending only 12 , Gonzales said .
Republicans who were elected six years ago face a much more challenging political environment this year compared to 2014 , Gonzales and Kalla said .
Kalla called the group of Republicans on the November ballot `` particularly weak , '' noting that two of the most vulnerable incumbents — Loeffler and Sen. Matha McSally of Arizona — were appointed , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Campaign did not respond to an interview request .
When asked if there was a single bellwether race to watch in the next three months , Gonzales could not name one .
`` That 's part of the reason why I think Democrats have a pretty good chance of taking control of the Senate , '' he added , `` because there 's not only one path .
They can win some and lose some in order to get there . ''
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Republicans currently hold a 53-47 majority in the U.S. Senate, a clear power advantage that’s worked in their favor for the past several years.
Now, however, experts say Democrats are closer than ever to retaking the majority come November.
“The battleground of legitimate takeover opportunities [for Democrats] has expanded since January,” Nathan Gonzales, editor of Inside Elections, a nonpartisan election analysis organization, said in a phone interview on Wednesday.
In January, Inside Elections considered only three GOP-held seats as toss-ups — Maine, Colorado, and North Carolina — and no Republican-held seats leaned toward the Democrats.
By July, six Republican-held seats were rated as toss-up (Iowa, Maine, Montana, and North Carolina) and two had moved to “Tilt Democratic” (Arizona and Colorado).
The only Democratic-held seat currently in danger of flipping to Republican control is Alabama, which has maintained a “Lean Republican” rating since January.
Inside Elections uses a rating scale ranging from Solid, Likely, Lean, or Tilt towards one party or the other, as well as toss-up.
In total, both Inside Elections and Cook Political Report, another nonpartisan election analysis, moved a total of 11 races between January and July to be more favorable for Democrats.
Gonzales gave four reasons as to why Democrats face better odds now: Donald Trump’s unpopularity, strong fundraising from Democratic candidates, former Vice President Joe Biden’s victory as the Democratic nominee, and the fact that Republicans are defending more seats.
Trump is “struggling to match his own 2016 performance,” in many states, Gonzales said. His response to the coronavirus crisis, the economic downturn, and his handling of race relations have also caused voters to sour on him, Gonzales added, saying “it is increasingly difficult for a candidate to outperform the top of the ticket.”
Trump’s lackluster performance is “pulling other seats into play, such as Georgia, Texas, Iowa” which were not considered as competitive in 2019, according to Gonzales. Texas and the Georgia seat held by Sen. Kelly Loeffler are both rated “Lean Republican,” while the Georgia seat held by Sen. David Perdue is rated “Tilt Republican.”
Gonzales also said that the ability of Democrats to raise “ridiculous amounts of money” has created “headaches for Republicans.”
He noted that the fundraising prowess of candidates like Jaime Harrison in South Carolina and Amy McGrath in Kentucky “is going to force Republicans to spend money defending those seats which shouldn’t really be a part of the conversation.”
Helen Kalla, a Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee spokesperson, agreed that Democrats have expanded the field of competitive states, and credited the party’s ability to recruit high-quality candidates who have “shown to be incredibly strong fundraisers and have amassed the resourced that are needed” to compete.
Kalla noted that in the most recent fundraising quarter, 13 Democratic challengers outraised their Republican counterparts.
Third, Gonzales said Biden’s victory in the Democratic primary “was critical,” removing the ability of Republican “to frame the election as a choice between socialism and capitalism.” In the primary, Biden was largely viewed as a more centrist candidate than others such as Sen. Bernie Sanders, a democratic socialist from Vermont.
Given the importance of who is at the top of the ticket, Gonzales said Biden’s primary victory helped candidates in states like Georgia, Texas, and Montana, states that have supported Republican presidential nominees in the recent past.
Finally, both Kalla and Gonzales agreed that the 2020 map began favoring Democrats because 2014 was a wave year for Senate Republicans. That year, Democrats lost a net of eight seats, including in battleground states such as Colorado, Iowa, and North Carolina.
“There was an imbalance in the battlefield,” at the start of the 2020 cycle, with Republicans defending 23 seats and Democrats defending only 12, Gonzales said.
Republicans who were elected six years ago face a much more challenging political environment this year compared to 2014, Gonzales and Kalla said.
Kalla called the group of Republicans on the November ballot “particularly weak,” noting that two of the most vulnerable incumbents — Loeffler and Sen. Matha McSally of Arizona — were appointed, not elected.
The National Republican Senatorial Campaign did not respond to an interview request.
When asked if there was a single bellwether race to watch in the next three months, Gonzales could not name one.
“That’s part of the reason why I think Democrats have a pretty good chance of taking control of the Senate,” he added, “because there’s not only one path. They can win some and lose some in order to get there.”
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-08-10--RNC chair falsely claims states 'don't have the counting machines' for ballots

Republican National Committee chairwoman Ronna McDaniel said on Monday that states `` do n't have the counting machines '' or the personnel to tally mail-in ballots for the November election .
McDaniel 's comments were part of the GOP 's ongoing attacks on mail-in voting and echoed similar sentiments Donald Trump has expressed on multiple occasions in a campaign to cast doubt on the results of the election before it is even held .
The Brookings Institution notes in its guide to mail-in voting that votes cast by mail are counted no differently from any other votes , with the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ballots a given state uses .
The website ThoughtCo runs down counting procedures for punch-card voting , electronic voting , paper balloting , and other methods , which can be tallied by hand , by machine , by card reader — but , says Brookings , `` On Election Day , states count the mail ballots and add the results to the votes of those individuals who cast their ballots in person . ''
There are no additional `` counting machines '' needed .
From the Aug. 10 edition of `` Fox & @ @ @ @ @ @ @ way I view it is , it 's like having a wedding for a hundred guests and having 100,000 people show up .
The systems are not prepared for this deluge of mail-in ballots .
They do n't have the counting machines , they do n't have the personnel .
That 's why it took six weeks to get results in New York .
Could you imagine , we have an Election Day and it takes two to three months to get the results ?
What that would do to this country when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ?
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Republican National Committee chairwoman Ronna McDaniel said on Monday that states “don’t have the counting machines” or the personnel to tally mail-in ballots for the November election.
McDaniel’s comments were part of the GOP’s ongoing attacks on mail-in voting and echoed similar sentiments Donald Trump has expressed on multiple occasions in a campaign to cast doubt on the results of the election before it is even held.
The Brookings Institution notes in its guide to mail-in voting that votes cast by mail are counted no differently from any other votes, with the methods used depending on what kind of ballots a given state uses. The website ThoughtCo runs down counting procedures for punch-card voting, electronic voting, paper balloting, and other methods, which can be tallied by hand, by machine, by card reader — but, says Brookings, “On Election Day, states count the mail ballots and add the results to the votes of those individuals who cast their ballots in person.”
There are no additional “counting machines” needed.
From the Aug. 10 edition of “Fox & Friends”:
RONNA McDANIEL: The way I view it is, it’s like having a wedding for a hundred guests and having 100,000 people show up. The systems are not prepared for this deluge of mail-in ballots. They don’t have the counting machines, they don’t have the personnel. That’s why it took six weeks to get results in New York. Could you imagine, we have an Election Day and it takes two to three months to get the results? What that would do to this country when we’re as divided as we are?
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-08-10--Trump threatens Social Security as polls show him losing with older Americans

Donald Trump 's recent executive action on payroll taxes could have dire effects on Social Security — at a time when Trump is already losing support from older Americans more broadly .
Over the weekend , Trump directed the Treasury Department to stop collecting the tax , which funds Social Security , through the end of 2020 for anyone making less than $ 100,000 a year , an attempt to go around Congress and buff up his own electoral chances this November .
Trump promised that if he wins reelection , he will `` extend it beyond the end of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' Around 63 million people benefit from the Social Security program each year .
According to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities , `` older Americans make up about 4 in 5 '' of those beneficiaries .
Economists who spoke to the Washington Post on Saturday warned that Trump 's actions could have `` catastrophic fiscal effects '' on Social Security because the federal program is already facing financial hardship .
`` By having a permanent cut , that immediately makes you ask the question on what ’ s going to happen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ make it worse if you didn ’ t have a source of revenue to backfill [ the cut ] , '' said Garrett Watson , senior policy analyst at the Tax Foundation .
Chye-Ching Huang , senior director of economic policy at the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities , told the outlet that the payroll tax holiday also offered zero benefit to Americans impacted by coronavirus-related layoffs , or those who are already retired .
`` The people who would be seeing the biggest increase in their paychecks still have jobs , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ jobs or retired or get income from other sources would see no help from this , '' she said .
North Carolina Rep. G.K. Butterfield ( D ) also warned Sunday that retirement benefits could be reduced dramatically in the next 10 years without funding from the payroll tax .
Trump 's executive action `` will endanger the long-term stability of the Social Security Trust Fund , '' Butterfield said in a statement .
`` The Fund was facing a revenue shortfall prior to the Pandemic and now Trump 's actions will further @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` It is foreseeable that the Social Security Trust Fund could run out of money within ten years which would reduce retirements payments by 31 % . ''
Trump 's attack on Social Security may further endanger his 2020 reelection bid , as he struggles to maintain support among older Americans .
Trump won 56 % of voters aged 65 and older in 2016 .
An average of nine polls since June , however , shows his support among the same group at only 45 % currently , according to NBC News @ @ @ @ @ @ @ meanwhile , has the support of 50 % of seniors , 9 percentage points more than Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton received in 2016 .
Three of the five states with the largest population of retired Americans — Florida , Texas , and Pennsylvania — are considered battleground states in the 2020 election .
Biden currently leads in Florida and Pennsylvania , according to a RealClearPolitics aggregate , and trails Trump by just 2 percentage points in Texas .
Trump won all three states in 2016 .
Trump had threatened programs like Social Security @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a January CNBC interview , Trump was asked if he would ever consider cutting entitlement programs and replied that he would `` take a look at that . ''
`` At the right time , we will take a look at that , '' he said at the time , calling such programs `` the easiest of all '' to get rid of because they made up a large percentage of the government 's total budget .
Trump 's announcement to defund Social Security `` exacerbates people 's already-heightened fears and concerns about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Nancy LeaMond , executive vice president of AARP , said in a statement on Saturday responding to the payroll tax holiday .
Nancy Altman , president of the Social Security advocacy group Social Security Works , went a step further , accusing Trump on Saturday of wanting to `` destroy '' the program .
`` Social Security is the foundation of everyone 's retirement security , '' she said in a statement .
`` At a time when pensions are vanishing and 401ks have proven inadequate , Trump 's plan to eliminate Social @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the one source of retirement income that people can count on . ''
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Donald Trump’s recent executive action on payroll taxes could have dire effects on Social Security — at a time when Trump is already losing support from older Americans more broadly.
Over the weekend, Trump directed the Treasury Department to stop collecting the tax, which funds Social Security, through the end of 2020 for anyone making less than $100,000 a year, an attempt to go around Congress and buff up his own electoral chances this November.
Trump promised that if he wins reelection, he will “extend it beyond the end of the year and terminate the tax.”
Around 63 million people benefit from the Social Security program each year. According to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, “older Americans make up about 4 in 5” of those beneficiaries.
Economists who spoke to the Washington Post on Saturday warned that Trump’s actions could have “catastrophic fiscal effects” on Social Security because the federal program is already facing financial hardship.
“By having a permanent cut, that immediately makes you ask the question on what’s going to happen on the benefits side. That would make it worse if you didn’t have a source of revenue to backfill [the cut],” said Garrett Watson, senior policy analyst at the Tax Foundation.
Chye-Ching Huang, senior director of economic policy at the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, told the outlet that the payroll tax holiday also offered zero benefit to Americans impacted by coronavirus-related layoffs, or those who are already retired.
“The people who would be seeing the biggest increase in their paychecks still have jobs, still have earnings … People who lost jobs or retired or get income from other sources would see no help from this,” she said.
North Carolina Rep. G.K. Butterfield (D) also warned Sunday that retirement benefits could be reduced dramatically in the next 10 years without funding from the payroll tax.
Trump’s executive action “will endanger the long-term stability of the Social Security Trust Fund,” Butterfield said in a statement.
“The Fund was facing a revenue shortfall prior to the Pandemic and now Trump’s actions will further deplete the fund,” he added. “It is foreseeable that the Social Security Trust Fund could run out of money within ten years which would reduce retirements payments by 31%.”
Trump’s attack on Social Security may further endanger his 2020 reelection bid, as he struggles to maintain support among older Americans.
Trump won 56% of voters aged 65 and older in 2016. An average of nine polls since June, however, shows his support among the same group at only 45% currently, according to NBC News.
Presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden, meanwhile, has the support of 50% of seniors, 9 percentage points more than Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton received in 2016.
Three of the five states with the largest population of retired Americans — Florida, Texas, and Pennsylvania — are considered battleground states in the 2020 election. Biden currently leads in Florida and Pennsylvania, according to a RealClearPolitics aggregate, and trails Trump by just 2 percentage points in Texas.
Trump won all three states in 2016.
Trump had threatened programs like Social Security before his most recent action. During a January CNBC interview, Trump was asked if he would ever consider cutting entitlement programs and replied that he would “take a look at that.”
“At the right time, we will take a look at that,” he said at the time, calling such programs “the easiest of all” to get rid of because they made up a large percentage of the government’s total budget.
Trump’s announcement to defund Social Security “exacerbates people’s already-heightened fears and concerns about their financial and retirement security,” Nancy LeaMond, executive vice president of AARP, said in a statement on Saturday responding to the payroll tax holiday.
Nancy Altman, president of the Social Security advocacy group Social Security Works, went a step further, accusing Trump on Saturday of wanting to “destroy” the program.
“Social Security is the foundation of everyone’s retirement security,” she said in a statement. “At a time when pensions are vanishing and 401ks have proven inadequate, Trump’s plan to eliminate Social Security’s revenue stream would destroy the one source of retirement income that people can count on.”
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-08-10--Mnuchin admits the Trump administration low-balled aid for hungry kids

Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin on Monday admitted the coronavirus relief package Republicans released in late July as an initial offer to House Democrats did not include enough aid for food assistance programs , even as children go hungry in the United States .
Mnuchin made the comment on CNBC after host Jim Cramer asked whether there was any room for the Trump administration to increase their coronavirus aid offer to reach a deal with Democrats , as negotiations in Congress are currently stalled .
`` I listened to the speaker over the weekend .
She 's right .
We started @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's a lot of kids out there that — there 's an issue , '' Mnuchin said , saying that adding more aid for food programs could be a `` compromise '' the Trump administration is willing to make .
The coronavirus relief package Democrats passed on May 15 includes a 15 % increase in the maximum food stamp allowance in the midst of the devastating coronavirus-fueled economic crisis .
But the bill Senate Republicans unveiled in late July did not include any added funding for food stamps .
Instead , it included @ @ @ @ @ @ @ meal expenses , known colloquially as the `` three-martini lunch . ''
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has made adding funding for food assistance programs one of her sticking points in negotiating a coronavirus relief package .
`` Children are food insecure , families are at the risk of being evicted , the virus is moving like a freight train , even though the president has ignored and delayed and distorted what that is , '' Pelosi said on `` Fox News Sunday , '' adding that that the executive actions Trump took on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ country is facing .
Meanwhile , even as Republicans did not offer any added funding for food , the Trump administration has been using the argument that food insecurity is a reason why children need to be sent back to school in-person during the raging COVID-19 pandemic .
Since 2017 , the Trump administration has made multiple attempts to cut food assistance to Americans with lower incomes , including proposing cuts to meals on wheels and changes to food stamp eligibility that would kick nearly 1 million kids off of free school lunch @ @ @ @ @ @ @ American Independent Foundation .

Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin on Monday admitted the coronavirus relief package Republicans released in late July as an initial offer to House Democrats did not include enough aid for food assistance programs, even as children go hungry in the United States.
Mnuchin made the comment on CNBC after host Jim Cramer asked whether there was any room for the Trump administration to increase their coronavirus aid offer to reach a deal with Democrats, as negotiations in Congress are currently stalled.
“I listened to the speaker over the weekend. She’s right. We started low on food, we realized there’s a lot of kids out there that — there’s an issue,” Mnuchin said, saying that adding more aid for food programs could be a “compromise” the Trump administration is willing to make.
The coronavirus relief package Democrats passed on May 15 includes a 15% increase in the maximum food stamp allowance in the midst of the devastating coronavirus-fueled economic crisis.
But the bill Senate Republicans unveiled in late July did not include any added funding for food stamps. Instead, it included a bigger tax break for businesses on meal expenses, known colloquially as the “three-martini lunch.”
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has made adding funding for food assistance programs one of her sticking points in negotiating a coronavirus relief package.
“Children are food insecure, families are at the risk of being evicted, the virus is moving like a freight train, even though the president has ignored and delayed and distorted what that is,” Pelosi said on “Fox News Sunday,” adding that that the executive actions Trump took on Saturday do not solve the crisis the country is facing.
Meanwhile, even as Republicans did not offer any added funding for food, the Trump administration has been using the argument that food insecurity is a reason why children need to be sent back to school in-person during the raging COVID-19 pandemic.
Since 2017, the Trump administration has made multiple attempts to cut food assistance to Americans with lower incomes, including proposing cuts to meals on wheels and changes to food stamp eligibility that would kick nearly 1 million kids off of free school lunch programs.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-08-10--Schools charge ahead with reopening as 97,000 kids test positive for virus

Numerous local school systems around the country are plowing ahead with plans to resume in-person instruction despite growing evidence that children are just as capable of spreading the coronavirus as adults .
Classes were set to begin on Monday in Baker County , Florida .
Masks for students will be optional , not required .
`` It looks like it 's back to normal this morning , honestly , '' a local television reporter observed as parents dropped their kids off in the morning .
Many students wore no face coverings .
The Trump administration and the GOP have pushed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` Schools in our country should be opened ASAP , '' Donald Trump tweeted in May .
`` Much very good information now available . ''
`` SCHOOLS MUST OPEN IN THE FALL !
!
! ''
he reiterated on July 6 .
`` The science and data is clear : children can be safe in schools this fall , and they must be in school this fall , '' demanded Rep. Andy Biggs ( R-AZ ) on Aug. 1 .
`` I believe our schools can , and should rise to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this fall , '' agreed Rep. Andy Harris ( R-MD ) two days later .
`` The CDC and Academy of Pediatrics agree : We can safely get students back in classrooms , '' tweeted House Minority Whip Steve Scalise ( R-LA ) last Tuesday .
But while Scalise , Mike Pence , and Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos have all cited the American Academy of Pediatrics in their arguments for reopening , a new study by the group and the Children 's Hospital Association raises red flags about how safe that will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus cases in children as of July 30 in the United States .
Between July 16 and July 30 , the nation saw a 40 % increase — 97,078 new infected children .
Last week , a high school student in an Atlanta suburb posted a photo online showing few students wearing masks in a crowded school hallway .
Since that time , at least six students and three adult employees in the school have reportedly contracted the coronavirus , and the school temporarily has switched to online classes .
Another Georgia school @ @ @ @ @ @ @ students and staff members test positive since reopening a week ago .
A recent study in South Korea found that children aged 10 and older spread the coronavirus at the same rates adults do .
A separate study in Chicago suggested young kids might also be effective spreaders .
These contradict the false claims made by Trump and his administration that kids have an `` amazing '' near immunity to COVID-19 .
`` If you look at children , children are almost — and I would almost say definitely , but almost immune @ @ @ @ @ @ @ They 've got stronger , hard to believe , and I do n't know how you feel about it , but they have much stronger immune systems than we do somehow for this , '' Trump told Fox News on Wednesday .
`` You got to open the schools .
They have a stronger immune system even than you have or I have , '' he told Barstool Sports on July 23 .
`` It 's amazing .
You look at the percentage , it 's a tiny percentage of 1 % .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ mean , I looked at a couple of cases .
If you have diabetes , if you have , you know , problems with something , but the kids are in great shape . ''
Children have made up nearly 9 % of all cases , even with schools mostly closed .
And DeVos incorrectly said in a July 16 interview , `` More and more studies show that kids are actually stoppers of the disease and they do n't get it and transmit it themselves . ''
In early July , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ guidelines for how schools could operate more safely during the pandemic .
Trump publicly ridiculed the guidelines , dismissing them as `` very tough & expensive '' and `` very impractical . ''
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Numerous local school systems around the country are plowing ahead with plans to resume in-person instruction despite growing evidence that children are just as capable of spreading the coronavirus as adults.
Classes were set to begin on Monday in Baker County, Florida. Masks for students will be optional, not required. “It looks like it’s back to normal this morning, honestly,” a local television reporter observed as parents dropped their kids off in the morning. Many students wore no face coverings.
The Trump administration and the GOP have pushed for full reopening of schools for months.
“Schools in our country should be opened ASAP,” Donald Trump tweeted in May. “Much very good information now available.”
“SCHOOLS MUST OPEN IN THE FALL!!!” he reiterated on July 6.
“The science and data is clear: children can be safe in schools this fall, and they must be in school this fall,” demanded Rep. Andy Biggs (R-AZ) on Aug. 1.
“I believe our schools can, and should rise to the occasion of re-opening for in-person education this fall,” agreed Rep. Andy Harris (R-MD) two days later.
“The CDC and Academy of Pediatrics agree: We can safely get students back in classrooms,” tweeted House Minority Whip Steve Scalise (R-LA) last Tuesday.
But while Scalise, Mike Pence, and Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos have all cited the American Academy of Pediatrics in their arguments for reopening, a new study by the group and the Children’s Hospital Association raises red flags about how safe that will be.
Their report found 338,982 reported coronavirus cases in children as of July 30 in the United States. Between July 16 and July 30, the nation saw a 40% increase — 97,078 new infected children.
Last week, a high school student in an Atlanta suburb posted a photo online showing few students wearing masks in a crowded school hallway. Since that time, at least six students and three adult employees in the school have reportedly contracted the coronavirus, and the school temporarily has switched to online classes.
Another Georgia school district has already seen at least 13 students and staff members test positive since reopening a week ago.
A recent study in South Korea found that children aged 10 and older spread the coronavirus at the same rates adults do. A separate study in Chicago suggested young kids might also be effective spreaders.
These contradict the false claims made by Trump and his administration that kids have an “amazing” near immunity to COVID-19.
“If you look at children, children are almost — and I would almost say definitely, but almost immune from this disease, so few. They’ve got stronger, hard to believe, and I don’t know how you feel about it, but they have much stronger immune systems than we do somehow for this,” Trump told Fox News on Wednesday.
“You got to open the schools. They have a stronger immune system even than you have or I have,” he told Barstool Sports on July 23. “It’s amazing. You look at the percentage, it’s a tiny percentage of 1%. And in that one case, I mean, I looked at a couple of cases. If you have diabetes, if you have, you know, problems with something, but the kids are in great shape.” Children have made up nearly 9% of all cases, even with schools mostly closed.
And DeVos incorrectly said in a July 16 interview, “More and more studies show that kids are actually stoppers of the disease and they don’t get it and transmit it themselves.”
In early July, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued guidelines for how schools could operate more safely during the pandemic.
Trump publicly ridiculed the guidelines, dismissing them as “very tough & expensive” and “very impractical.”
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


Cartoon: Unconstitutional Slop


shareblue--2020-08-11--Trump attacks Kamala Harris 13 days after saying 'she'd be a fine choice'

The Trump campaign attacked Sen. Kamala Harris ( D-CA ) as `` phony '' on Tuesday , moments after she was tapped as Joe Biden 's 2020 running mate , and less than two weeks after Trump himself praised her as a potential vice presidential nominee .
Biden announced Harris as his running mate on Tuesday afternoon , calling her `` a fearless fighter for the little guy , and one of the country 's finest public servants . ''
`` Clearly , Phony Kamala will abandon her own morals , as well as try to bury her record as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the anti-police extremists controlling the Democratic Party , '' Katrina Pierson , a campaign senior adviser , said in a statement .
The campaign also released a video ad painting Harris as a `` phony '' and claiming she had `` rush [ ed ] to the radical left '' in her own bid for president earlier this year .
Trump retweeted the video onto his own personal account .
Trump 's thoughts on Harris were markedly different two weeks ago .
`` I think she 'd be a fine choice , Kamala @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about the California senator during a press availability on July 29 .
`` She 'd be a fine choice . ''
Trump previously criticized Harris as a `` failing presidential candidate , '' tweeting in October last year that the unemployment numbers at that time were the best `` EVER '' and claiming it was `` more than Kamala will EVER be able to do for African Americans ! ''
In January last year , by contrast , Trump suggested Harris was the `` toughest '' of the Democratic candidates , stating in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that the senator , whose name he pronounced as `` Kameela , '' had `` the best opening [ act ] so far . ''
`` I would say , in terms of the opening act , I would say , would be her , '' he said .
`` I think she probably , I just think she seemed to have a little better opening act than others .
I think . ''
Harris responded to her selection on Tuesday in a short statement from her Twitter account .
`` Joe Biden @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's spent his life fighting for us .
And as president , he 'll build an America that lives up to our ideals , '' she wrote .
`` I 'm honored to join him as our party 's nominee for Vice President , and do what it takes to make him our Commander-in-Chief . ''
Harris makes history as the first Black and South Asian woman to run on a major party 's presidential ticket .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

The Trump campaign attacked Sen. Kamala Harris (D-CA) as “phony” on Tuesday, moments after she was tapped as Joe Biden’s 2020 running mate, and less than two weeks after Trump himself praised her as a potential vice presidential nominee.
Biden announced Harris as his running mate on Tuesday afternoon, calling her “a fearless fighter for the little guy, and one of the country’s finest public servants.”
The Trump campaign immediately pushed back.
“Clearly, Phony Kamala will abandon her own morals, as well as try to bury her record as a prosecutor, in order to appease the anti-police extremists controlling the Democratic Party,” Katrina Pierson, a campaign senior adviser, said in a statement.
The campaign also released a video ad painting Harris as a “phony” and claiming she had “rush[ed] to the radical left” in her own bid for president earlier this year. Trump retweeted the video onto his own personal account.
Trump’s thoughts on Harris were markedly different two weeks ago.
“I think she’d be a fine choice, Kamala Harris,” Trump said when asked about the California senator during a press availability on July 29. “She’d be a fine choice.”
Trump previously criticized Harris as a “failing presidential candidate,” tweeting in October last year that the unemployment numbers at that time were the best “EVER” and claiming it was “more than Kamala will EVER be able to do for African Americans!”
In January last year, by contrast, Trump suggested Harris was the “toughest” of the Democratic candidates, stating in an interview with the New York Times that the senator, whose name he pronounced as “Kameela,” had “the best opening [act] so far.”
“I would say, in terms of the opening act, I would say, would be her,” he said. “I think she probably, I just think she seemed to have a little better opening act than others. I think.”
Harris responded to her selection on Tuesday in a short statement from her Twitter account.
“Joe Biden can unify the American people because he’s spent his life fighting for us. And as president, he’ll build an America that lives up to our ideals,” she wrote. “I’m honored to join him as our party’s nominee for Vice President, and do what it takes to make him our Commander-in-Chief.”
Harris makes history as the first Black and South Asian woman to run on a major party’s presidential ticket.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.