shareblue--2020-11-22--GOP's next crop of White House hopefuls rush to grab spotlight in Georgia runoffs

Move over , Iowa .
Step aside , New Hampshire .
Georgia would like a few moments of presidential campaign time .
The state has fast become a stage for the cast of possible Republican presidential candidates after Donald Trump 's defeat .
Even as votes are still being tallied in the last election , Georgia 's two high-profile Senate contests are drawing top GOP politicians to the state to campaign , network , and raise their profiles .
Not for Florida Sen. Marco Rubio , who arrived in Georgia last week to rally Republicans behind Senate colleagues David Perdue @ @ @ @ @ @ @ quash their respective Democratic challengers , Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock .
Fellow Florida Sen. Rick Scott followed last Friday .
Tom Cotton , an Arkansas senator widely viewed as having presidential ambitions , will campaign in central Georgia on Friday .
Vice President Mike Pence is also due in the state on Friday .
Meanwhile , Missouri Sen. Josh Hawley has sent a flurry of fundraising emails coaxing rank-and-file Republicans to bankroll the Georgia runoff campaigns .
Texas Sen. Ted Cruz , a former presidential candidate , has mentioned the contests in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Loeffler 's campaign website homepage features a photo of the senator with former South Carolina Gov .
Nikki Haley .
`` Georgia gives anyone looking at their own run a chance at some action , where they can show some leadership and their campaign ability , '' said Matt Moore , a GOP operative who saw plenty of presidential ambition as leader of the South Carolina Republican Party in 2016 .
To be sure , it 's not unusual to see national political players going all in on Georgia .
Control of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the Jan. 5 runoffs .
Republicans and Democrats are throwing piles of money and resources at the state .
The pitched fight is playing out as Georgia 's election officials conduct a hand tally of votes in the presidential race that has President-elect Joe Biden leading Trump by just 0.3 percentage points .
The Associated Press has not called a winner in the state .
Notably , Trump is the glaring potential 2024 contender who has not yet publicly committed to a Georgia visit .
The defeated Republican has talked about another @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to concede his loss and instead circulated false claims of widespread voter fraud to cast doubt on the legitimacy of the results .
But Trump also won millions more votes than he received four years ago and fueled rural and small-town turnout that helped Republicans pick up House seats , protect several vulnerable GOP senators , and maintain control of key state legislatures , including in Georgia .
That popularity makes it politically risky for Republicans with White House ambitions to call out Trump 's falsehoods .
And it gives them incentives to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ works to undermine a smooth transfer of power .
`` He showed the Republican base is still his base , '' Moore said .
`` That 's the story of 2020 .
It 's not just about raising money and making the rounds in the party .
These candidates want to show they can connect with voters '' the way Trump has .
Rick Tyler , a Trump critic and once a top aide on Cruz 's 2016 presidential campaign , said that 's easier said than done , especially for any Republicans @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the outgoing president .
`` Until there is a cure for Trumpism , the 2024 Republican presidential hopefuls will remain as frozen as a COVID vaccine , '' Tyler quipped .
Scott , speaking to a packed restaurant in the northern edge of metro Atlanta , drew some of his loudest cheers when he mentioned talking `` to the White House '' before he arrived in Georgia and reported that `` the president ... loves Georgia . ''
In suburban Atlanta , Rubio did n't mention Trump as he addressed hundreds of eager @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sporting buttons from Rubio 's 2016 bid but far more of them wearing Trump 's signature `` Make America Great Again '' hats .
After reporters asked Rubio about Trump 's baseless assertions of a stolen election , the senator noted that `` a substantial percentage '' of voters had questions about the vote count .
But Rubio still never mentioned Trump .
`` I think everyone needs to relax , '' Rubio said .
`` We have an election process in this country . ''
In December , he said , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` that president will be sworn in on Jan .
20 . ''
None of the GOP visitors has declared a plan to run .
When Rubio campaigned alongside Loeffler in suburban Cobb County , among his strongest counties as a presidential candidate himself in 2016 , he made no nod to his previous White House bid or the possibility of another one .
Scott , meanwhile , insisted he was in Georgia in his capacity as incoming chair of Senate Republicans ' campaign arm , even though Indiana Sen. Todd Young remains @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will be making key spending decisions about the contests .
Brian Colas , a political adviser to Cotton , noted that the senator campaigned in Georgia before November and was simply reprising his role on Thursday with a rally in Perry for both Perdue and Loeffler .
`` Beyond the importance of Republicans winning the Senate , he really wants Sen. Perdue and Sen. Loeffler to win , '' Colas said , noting legislation that Cotton has worked on with both Georgia colleagues .
On Cotton 's future plans , Colas said , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''
For Democrats , there 's less future presidential intrigue to blend into the Georgia campaign .
With Biden 's election , there 's no scramble yet for a 2024 primary .
Biden could seek reelection as an 81-year-old incumbent , but even if he does n't , such an announcement would n't come until much nearer the election year — and for now , Vice President-elect Kamala Harris would overshadow any other potential party leaders .
Beyond Biden and Harris , Democrats ' most glittering surrogate already has been president for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ when Republicans might start becoming more frank about their futures , Moore , the South Carolina operative , was precise : `` Jan. 21 '' — the day after Biden 's inauguration .
Until then , or at least until Jan. 5 , there 's always Georgia .

Move over, Iowa. Step aside, New Hampshire. Georgia would like a few moments of presidential campaign time.
The state has fast become a stage for the cast of possible Republican presidential candidates after Donald Trump’s defeat. Even as votes are still being tallied in the last election, Georgia’s two high-profile Senate contests are drawing top GOP politicians to the state to campaign, network, and raise their profiles.
Too soon?
Not for Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, who arrived in Georgia last week to rally Republicans behind Senate colleagues David Perdue and Kelly Loeffler as they try to quash their respective Democratic challengers, Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock. Fellow Florida Sen. Rick Scott followed last Friday. Tom Cotton, an Arkansas senator widely viewed as having presidential ambitions, will campaign in central Georgia on Friday. Vice President Mike Pence is also due in the state on Friday.
Meanwhile, Missouri Sen. Josh Hawley has sent a flurry of fundraising emails coaxing rank-and-file Republicans to bankroll the Georgia runoff campaigns. Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, a former presidential candidate, has mentioned the contests in his regular circuit of cable television appearances. Loeffler’s campaign website homepage features a photo of the senator with former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley.
“Georgia gives anyone looking at their own run a chance at some action, where they can show some leadership and their campaign ability,” said Matt Moore, a GOP operative who saw plenty of presidential ambition as leader of the South Carolina Republican Party in 2016.
To be sure, it’s not unusual to see national political players going all in on Georgia. Control of the U.S. Senate hangs on the results of the Jan. 5 runoffs. Republicans and Democrats are throwing piles of money and resources at the state. The pitched fight is playing out as Georgia’s election officials conduct a hand tally of votes in the presidential race that has President-elect Joe Biden leading Trump by just 0.3 percentage points. The Associated Press has not called a winner in the state.
Notably, Trump is the glaring potential 2024 contender who has not yet publicly committed to a Georgia visit. The defeated Republican has talked about another run — even as he has refused to concede his loss and instead circulated false claims of widespread voter fraud to cast doubt on the legitimacy of the results.
But Trump also won millions more votes than he received four years ago and fueled rural and small-town turnout that helped Republicans pick up House seats, protect several vulnerable GOP senators, and maintain control of key state legislatures, including in Georgia.
That popularity makes it politically risky for Republicans with White House ambitions to call out Trump’s falsehoods. And it gives them incentives to align with Trump, even as he works to undermine a smooth transfer of power.
“He showed the Republican base is still his base,” Moore said. “That’s the story of 2020. It’s not just about raising money and making the rounds in the party. These candidates want to show they can connect with voters” the way Trump has. Rick Tyler, a Trump critic and once a top aide on Cruz’s 2016 presidential campaign, said that’s easier said than done, especially for any Republicans trying to establish any identity separate from the outgoing president. “Until there is a cure for Trumpism, the 2024 Republican presidential hopefuls will remain as frozen as a COVID vaccine,” Tyler quipped.
Scott, speaking to a packed restaurant in the northern edge of metro Atlanta, drew some of his loudest cheers when he mentioned talking “to the White House” before he arrived in Georgia and reported that “the president … loves Georgia.”
In suburban Atlanta, Rubio didn’t mention Trump as he addressed hundreds of eager GOP voters, a few of them sporting buttons from Rubio’s 2016 bid but far more of them wearing Trump’s signature “Make America Great Again” hats. After reporters asked Rubio about Trump’s baseless assertions of a stolen election, the senator noted that “a substantial percentage” of voters had questions about the vote count. But Rubio still never mentioned Trump.
“I think everyone needs to relax,” Rubio said. “We have an election process in this country.” In December, he said, the Electoral College will choose a president and “that president will be sworn in on Jan. 20.”
None of the GOP visitors has declared a plan to run. When Rubio campaigned alongside Loeffler in suburban Cobb County, among his strongest counties as a presidential candidate himself in 2016, he made no nod to his previous White House bid or the possibility of another one.
Scott, meanwhile, insisted he was in Georgia in his capacity as incoming chair of Senate Republicans’ campaign arm, even though Indiana Sen. Todd Young remains the National Republican Senatorial Committee chair and will be making key spending decisions about the contests.
Brian Colas, a political adviser to Cotton, noted that the senator campaigned in Georgia before November and was simply reprising his role on Thursday with a rally in Perry for both Perdue and Loeffler.
“Beyond the importance of Republicans winning the Senate, he really wants Sen. Perdue and Sen. Loeffler to win,” Colas said, noting legislation that Cotton has worked on with both Georgia colleagues.
On Cotton’s future plans, Colas said, “The senator remains focused on 2020.”
For Democrats, there’s less future presidential intrigue to blend into the Georgia campaign. With Biden’s election, there’s no scramble yet for a 2024 primary. Biden could seek reelection as an 81-year-old incumbent, but even if he doesn’t, such an announcement wouldn’t come until much nearer the election year — and for now, Vice President-elect Kamala Harris would overshadow any other potential party leaders. Beyond Biden and Harris, Democrats’ most glittering surrogate already has been president for two terms: Barack Obama.
Asked when Republicans might start becoming more frank about their futures, Moore, the South Carolina operative, was precise: “Jan. 21” — the day after Biden’s inauguration.
Until then, or at least until Jan. 5, there’s always Georgia.


shareblue--2020-11-23--Trump finally sort of admits Biden won 2 weeks after election called for Biden

More than two weeks after major media outlets called the presidential election for Joe Biden , Donald Trump finally announced on Monday night that he is `` recommending '' that the General Services Administration begin the official process of Biden 's transition .
Emily Murphy , the agency 's administrator , has come under intense pressure in recent weeks for her refusal to ascertain that Biden is the winner of the 2020 election .
That refusal has prevented Biden 's team from receiving millions of dollars and other government resources to help with the transition to the incoming administration .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ will keep up the good fight , and I believe we will prevail ! ''
Trump tweeted Monday , not long after Michigan voted to certify its election results .
`` Nevertheless , in the best interest of our Country , I am recommending that Emily and her team do what needs to be done with regard to initial protocols , and have told my team to do the same . ''
In reality , Trump 's case for overturning the election that Biden won by more than 6 million votes has failed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in many courts around the country .
He has refused to concede and has instead spent the weeks since the election tweeting outrageous and repeatedly debunked lies that the election was somehow stolen from him .
It was not — a fact that even his own administration has admitted .
Last week , the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency released a statement that a coalition of federal and state officials had found no evidence of voter fraud and that the Nov. 3 election was the most secure election in American history .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ security of your vote , you should , too , '' wrote Christopher Krebs , the agency 's director .
Days later , Trump fired Krebs on Twitter , apparently for contradicting Trump 's claims of voter `` fraud . ''
White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany defended the firing on Fox News , insisting that Krebs ' assurance to the American people that the election had been secure was `` a partisan attempt to just hit back at the president as he pursues important litigation . ''
Shortly before Trump 's declaration @ @ @ @ @ @ @ official transition to begin , CNN released a letter by Murphy to Biden , in which she said she was finally releasing the funds to Biden for his transition .
She did not explain her delay , but merely said that she was now releasing the funds because of `` recent developments involving legal challenges and certifications of election results . ''
However , nothing has changed since the election nearly three weeks ago , so it remains unclear why Murphy waited until now to release the funds .
In 2016 — a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the popular vote — the agency , under the leadership of an Obama appointee , ascertained the next day that Trump had won the election .
While Trump appears to be claiming credit for Murphy 's decision , she insisted in her letter that she was `` never directly or indirectly pressured by any Executive Branch official '' and that she came to her decision independently .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

More than two weeks after major media outlets called the presidential election for Joe Biden, Donald Trump finally announced on Monday night that he is “recommending” that the General Services Administration begin the official process of Biden’s transition.
Emily Murphy, the agency’s administrator, has come under intense pressure in recent weeks for her refusal to ascertain that Biden is the winner of the 2020 election. That refusal has prevented Biden’s team from receiving millions of dollars and other government resources to help with the transition to the incoming administration.
“Our case STRONGLY continues, we will keep up the good fight, and I believe we will prevail!” Trump tweeted Monday, not long after Michigan voted to certify its election results. “Nevertheless, in the best interest of our Country, I am recommending that Emily and her team do what needs to be done with regard to initial protocols, and have told my team to do the same.”
In reality, Trump’s case for overturning the election that Biden won by more than 6 million votes has failed miserably — nearly three dozen times, in many courts around the country. He has refused to concede and has instead spent the weeks since the election tweeting outrageous and repeatedly debunked lies that the election was somehow stolen from him.
It was not — a fact that even his own administration has admitted. Last week, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency released a statement that a coalition of federal and state officials had found no evidence of voter fraud and that the Nov. 3 election was the most secure election in American history.
“America, we have confidence in the security of your vote, you should, too,” wrote Christopher Krebs, the agency’s director.
Days later, Trump fired Krebs on Twitter, apparently for contradicting Trump’s claims of voter “fraud.”
White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany defended the firing on Fox News, insisting that Krebs’ assurance to the American people that the election had been secure was “a partisan attempt to just hit back at the president as he pursues important litigation.”
Shortly before Trump’s declaration on Twitter that he would permit the official transition to begin, CNN released a letter by Murphy to Biden, in which she said she was finally releasing the funds to Biden for his transition. She did not explain her delay, but merely said that she was now releasing the funds because of “recent developments involving legal challenges and certifications of election results.”
However, nothing has changed since the election nearly three weeks ago, so it remains unclear why Murphy waited until now to release the funds. In 2016 — a much closer election in which Trump lost the popular vote — the agency, under the leadership of an Obama appointee, ascertained the next day that Trump had won the election.
While Trump appears to be claiming credit for Murphy’s decision, she insisted in her letter that she was “never directly or indirectly pressured by any Executive Branch official” and that she came to her decision independently.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-11-23--Biden wants the world to know he's actually taking climate change seriously

President-elect Joe Biden in Monday announced on Monday that former Secretary of State John Kerry will be joining his administration in a newly created role focused on climate change and how it impacts national security .
Kerry will serve as the first special presidential envoy for climate on the National Security Council .
The appointment of Kerry to the new position is indicative that Biden plans to make climate change a top priority of his administration , appointing officials to all agencies who will take climate change and its effects on Americans ' health , economy , and national security @ @ @ @ @ @ @ America will soon have a government that treats the climate crisis as the urgent national security threat it is , '' Kerry tweeted after his new role was announced .
`` I 'm proud to partner with the President-elect , our allies , and the young leaders of the climate movement to take on this crisis as the President 's Climate Envoy . ''
Kerry has been vocal for years about the national security risk posed by climate change .
In a speech in 2015 , Kerry talked about why he viewed it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The reason I have made climate change a priority in my current role as Secretary of State is not simply because climate change is a threat to the environment .
It 's because — by fueling extreme weather events , undermining our military readiness , exacerbating conflicts around the world — climate change is a threat to the security of the United States and , indeed , to the security and stability of countries everywhere . ''
Kerry was instrumental in helping to negotiate the Paris climate agreement , the landmark global climate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ United States in 2015 .
Donald Trump pulled the United States out of the agreement when he took office .
Biden plans to rejoin it after he 's sworn in .
Kerry continued to speak out about the need to tackle climate change after the end of the Obama administration .
During a House Oversight Committee hearing in 2019 , he he slammed the Trump administration for its plan to create a `` Presidential Committee on Climate Security '' specifically to dispute the scientific community 's belief that climate change is a national @ @ @ @ @ @ @ heated moment in which Rep. Thomas Massie ( R-KY ) attacked Kerry by calling his major in college , political science , `` pseudoscience . ''
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

President-elect Joe Biden in Monday announced on Monday that former Secretary of State John Kerry will be joining his administration in a newly created role focused on climate change and how it impacts national security.
Kerry will serve as the first special presidential envoy for climate on the National Security Council.
The appointment of Kerry to the new position is indicative that Biden plans to make climate change a top priority of his administration, appointing officials to all agencies who will take climate change and its effects on Americans’ health, economy, and national security into account in creating policy.
“America will soon have a government that treats the climate crisis as the urgent national security threat it is,” Kerry tweeted after his new role was announced. “I’m proud to partner with the President-elect, our allies, and the young leaders of the climate movement to take on this crisis as the President’s Climate Envoy.”
Kerry has been vocal for years about the national security risk posed by climate change.
In a speech in 2015, Kerry talked about why he viewed it as such an urgent issue: “The reason I have made climate change a priority in my current role as Secretary of State is not simply because climate change is a threat to the environment. It’s because — by fueling extreme weather events, undermining our military readiness, exacerbating conflicts around the world — climate change is a threat to the security of the United States and, indeed, to the security and stability of countries everywhere.”
Kerry was instrumental in helping to negotiate the Paris climate agreement, the landmark global climate pact he signed on behalf of the United States in 2015.
Donald Trump pulled the United States out of the agreement when he took office. Biden plans to rejoin it after he’s sworn in.
Kerry continued to speak out about the need to tackle climate change after the end of the Obama administration.
During a House Oversight Committee hearing in 2019, he he slammed the Trump administration for its plan to create a “Presidential Committee on Climate Security” specifically to dispute the scientific community’s belief that climate change is a national security threat.
The hearing included a heated moment in which Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) attacked Kerry by calling his major in college, political science, “pseudoscience.”
Kerry’s position will not require Senate confirmation, Business Insider reports.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-11-23--White House hosts even more parties despite its latest virus outbreak

The White House is still planning indoor holiday gatherings against advice from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , which Donald Trump 's own surgeon general has reinforced , and not long after a third outbreak of coronavirus plagued several of Trump 's closest staffers and Cabinet members .
Amid a still-raging coronavirus pandemic , the CDC noted last week : `` Celebrating virtually or with the people you live with is the safest choice this Thanksgiving . ''
The health and safety guidelines `` apply to the White House '' as well , U.S .
Surgeon General Jerome @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` We want everyone to understand that these holiday celebrations can be super-spreader events , '' he noted .
But the White House is forging ahead with its holiday plans regardless .
At least three formal invitations to holiday celebrations at the White House have been sent out , including in-person holiday receptions on Nov. 30 , Dec. 2 , and a Hanukkah reception on Dec. 9 .
The physical invitations did not appear to mention any public health precautions , though Stephanie Grisham , spokeswoman and chief of staff for first lady @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this year 's events will take place at least partly indoors , which goes against the CDC 's recommendations to host outdoor holiday gatherings when possible .
Grisham did say that this year will include `` smaller guest lists , '' hand sanitation stations , `` required and available '' masks , and recommended social distancing .
`` Guests will enjoy food individually plated by chefs at plexiglass-protected food stations '' and `` all passed beverages will be covered , '' Grisham told the outlet .
`` All service staff will wear masks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''
`` Attending the parties will be a very personal choice , '' she said .
As ABC noted , it was not immediately clear how strictly safety measures would be enforced , however .
The decision to move forward with holiday celebrations also comes weeks after a third outbreak of coronavirus at the White House , in which both Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson and Trump 's chief of staff Mark Meadows , who returned to work last week , were both infected .
Carson and David Bossie , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for COVID-19 around two weeks ago .
Both attended an election night party with few masks or social distancing .
Meadows , four other White House officials , and campaign adviser Nick Trainer also tested positive for the virus around Election Day .
Weeks earlier , in October , multiple aides to Vice President Mike Pence also tested positive for the virus , forcing him to quarantine .
That outbreak followed a September superspreader event in the White House Rose Garden to announce the nomination of Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett where @ @ @ @ @ @ @ distanced .
The White House is powering ahead with its plans despite those outbreaks .
On Monday , Melania Trump welcomed the official White House Christmas tree .
According to CNN , the White House still plans to have in-person volunteers decorate the tree , though the number will be `` dramatically scaled back due to COVID-19 guidelines . ''
`` When volunteers do arrive to begin the work of installing ornaments , wall décor , lights and garlands , they will wear masks and remain socially distant , per White House rules @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' the outlet wrote .
Trump will also move forward with the traditional pardoning of the Thanksgiving turkey at the White House on Tuesday , an annual tradition .
It 's unclear whether that event will include an in-person crowd .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

The White House is still planning indoor holiday gatherings against advice from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which Donald Trump’s own surgeon general has reinforced, and not long after a third outbreak of coronavirus plagued several of Trump’s closest staffers and Cabinet members.
Amid a still-raging coronavirus pandemic, the CDC noted last week: “Celebrating virtually or with the people you live with is the safest choice this Thanksgiving.”
The health and safety guidelines “apply to the White House” as well, U.S. Surgeon General Jerome Adams said Monday on ABC News.
“We want everyone to understand that these holiday celebrations can be super-spreader events,” he noted.
But the White House is forging ahead with its holiday plans regardless.
At least three formal invitations to holiday celebrations at the White House have been sent out, including in-person holiday receptions on Nov. 30, Dec. 2, and a Hanukkah reception on Dec. 9.
The physical invitations did not appear to mention any public health precautions, though Stephanie Grisham, spokeswoman and chief of staff for first lady Melania Trump, told ABC News that this year’s events will take place at least partly indoors, which goes against the CDC’s recommendations to host outdoor holiday gatherings when possible.
Grisham did say that this year will include “smaller guest lists,” hand sanitation stations, “required and available” masks, and recommended social distancing.
“Guests will enjoy food individually plated by chefs at plexiglass-protected food stations” and “all passed beverages will be covered,” Grisham told the outlet. “All service staff will wear masks and gloves to comply with food-safety guidelines.”
“Attending the parties will be a very personal choice,” she said.
As ABC noted, it was not immediately clear how strictly safety measures would be enforced, however.
The decision to move forward with holiday celebrations also comes weeks after a third outbreak of coronavirus at the White House, in which both Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson and Trump’s chief of staff Mark Meadows, who returned to work last week, were both infected.
Carson and David Bossie, Trump’s campaign adviser, tested positive for COVID-19 around two weeks ago. Both attended an election night party with few masks or social distancing. Meadows, four other White House officials, and campaign adviser Nick Trainer also tested positive for the virus around Election Day.
Weeks earlier, in October, multiple aides to Vice President Mike Pence also tested positive for the virus, forcing him to quarantine. That outbreak followed a September superspreader event in the White House Rose Garden to announce the nomination of Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett where attendees were largely unmasked and minimally socially distanced.
The White House is powering ahead with its plans despite those outbreaks.
On Monday, Melania Trump welcomed the official White House Christmas tree. According to CNN, the White House still plans to have in-person volunteers decorate the tree, though the number will be “dramatically scaled back due to COVID-19 guidelines.”
“When volunteers do arrive to begin the work of installing ornaments, wall décor, lights and garlands, they will wear masks and remain socially distant, per White House rules outlined in the volunteer application form,” the outlet wrote.
Trump will also move forward with the traditional pardoning of the Thanksgiving turkey at the White House on Tuesday, an annual tradition. It’s unclear whether that event will include an in-person crowd.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-11-23--Biden picks Janet Yellen as first woman to lead Treasury in its 231-year history

President-elect Joe Biden has chosen former Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen to serve as treasury secretary , a pivotal role in which she would help shape and direct his economic policies , according to a person familiar with the transition plans .
Yellen , who is widely admired in the financial world , would be the first woman to lead the Treasury Department in a line stretching back to Alexander Hamilton in 1789 .
Her nomination was confirmed to the Associated Press by a person who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss Biden 's plans .
A path-breaking figure @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , 74 , was also the first woman to serve as Fed chair , from 2014 to 2018 .
She later became an adviser to Biden 's presidential campaign in an unusual departure for a former Fed leader that thrust her into the political arena .
The treasury post would add another new chapter to Yellen 's broad and varied career in financial policymaking .
As secretary , she would represent the administration in global financial affairs and lead a sprawling department whose responsibilities range from the government 's finances and tax collections @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and the printing of money .
She would also be a key adviser to Biden and a public spokesperson for his economic agenda .
As treasury secretary , Yellen would face a shaky U.S. economy , weakened by the pandemic recession and now in the grip of a surging viral epidemic that is intensifying pressure on businesses and individuals .
Concern is rising that the economy could slide into a `` double-dip '' recession this winter as states and cities reimpose restrictions on businesses and consumers stay at home to avoid contracting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to take on the formidable task of helping negotiate economic policy with Sen. Mitch McConnell , the Kentucky Republican who will remain Senate majority leader if his party wins at least one of two Senate runoff elections in Georgia in early January .
At the same time , she would enjoy the advantage of having already built long-standing ties to many of the Fed 's policymakers , notably Jerome Powell , who worked closely with her on the Fed 's board and later succeeded her as chair .
The health of the economy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ between the Fed , an independent agency , and the Treasury , a presidential Cabinet department , especially during major crises like the pandemic recession that struck in early spring .
Soon after that crisis erupted , the government established a suite of lending programs that were designed to shore up businesses and municipalities and that involve a partnership between the Treasury Department and the Fed .
Before leading the Fed , Yellen was its vice chair for four years and previously was president of the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Bill Clinton , she led the president 's Council of Economic Advisers , after serving a stint on the Fed 's board .
Yellen is well-known on Capitol Hill after years of testifying as Fed chair to Senate committees about the economy and interest rate policy .
During those years , she frequently clashed with Republican lawmakers who accused her of keeping rates too low for too long after the 2008 financial crisis .
Some of them charged that Yellen and her predecessor Ben Bernanke had elevated the risk of runaway inflation and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
None of those fears came to pass .
On the contrary , under Bernanke and Yellen — and later , under Powell — the Fed 's more difficult challenge was raising inflation merely to the Fed 's annual 2 % target level .
It has yet to do so consistently .
Yellen , a Democrat , had served only one four-year term as Fed chair when Donald Trump decided to replace her with Powell , a Republican .
That move broke a four-decade tradition of presidents allowing Fed chairs to serve at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ first been nominated by a president of the opposing party .
Biden had said last week that his choice for treasury secretary would be `` someone who I think will be accepted by all elements of the Democratic Party , progressives through the moderate coalition . ''
Yellen has the support of many progressive groups , said Jeff Hauser , executive director of the Revolving Door Project , a left-leaning organization .
Yellen is a labor economist and an expert on unemployment , an issue that could pose a challenge for the Biden @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 6.9 % as the economy struggles to recover from the pandemic recession .
During her tenure as Fed chair , the central bank began shifting much of its policy focus from fighting inflation , which has been quiescent for decades , to trying to maximize employment , the second of its two congressional mandates .
Yellen won praise for her attention to disadvantaged groups including the long-term unemployed .
She made numerous visits to employment training centers to spotlight the need for training programs to equip people for good jobs .
Having engaged @ @ @ @ @ @ @ change , Yellen has endorsed a carbon tax as a way to reduce the emission of greenhouse gases .
When she stepped down from the Fed in early 2018 , Shawn Sebastian , co-director of the Fed-Up coalition , a collection of progressive groups , called Yellen 's departure `` a loss for working people across the country . ''
He hailed her efforts to take on `` economic inequality , racial disparities in the economy , the role of women in the workplace , and the need for more diversity at the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also criticized Yellen for the Fed 's December 2015 decision to raise its benchmark rate from near zero , where it had been pegged since late 2008 in the midst of the financial crisis .
That rate hike , which caused a sharp increase in the value of the dollar , contributed to a slowdown in U.S. economic growth in 2016 and is now seen by many economists as having been premature .
After leaving the Fed , Yellen became a distinguished fellow in residence at the liberal Brookings Institution in Washington .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's decision not to offer her a second term .
But in a 2019 interview , Yellen said she did n't think Trump had a firm grasp of economic policy `` or even knows the Federal Reserve 's mandates '' to stabilize prices and maximize employment .
Yellen is married to George Akerlof , a Nobel Prize-winning economist whom she met in a Fed cafeteria in 1977 .
They have one son , Robert , who is an economics professor .

President-elect Joe Biden has chosen former Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen to serve as treasury secretary, a pivotal role in which she would help shape and direct his economic policies, according to a person familiar with the transition plans.
Yellen, who is widely admired in the financial world, would be the first woman to lead the Treasury Department in a line stretching back to Alexander Hamilton in 1789.
Her nomination was confirmed to the Associated Press by a person who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss Biden’s plans.
A path-breaking figure in the male-dominated economics field, Yellen, 74, was also the first woman to serve as Fed chair, from 2014 to 2018. She later became an adviser to Biden’s presidential campaign in an unusual departure for a former Fed leader that thrust her into the political arena.
The treasury post would add another new chapter to Yellen’s broad and varied career in financial policymaking. As secretary, she would represent the administration in global financial affairs and lead a sprawling department whose responsibilities range from the government’s finances and tax collections to global currency markets, bank regulation, and the printing of money. She would also be a key adviser to Biden and a public spokesperson for his economic agenda.
As treasury secretary, Yellen would face a shaky U.S. economy, weakened by the pandemic recession and now in the grip of a surging viral epidemic that is intensifying pressure on businesses and individuals. Concern is rising that the economy could slide into a “double-dip” recession this winter as states and cities reimpose restrictions on businesses and consumers stay at home to avoid contracting the disease.
Yellen would also have to take on the formidable task of helping negotiate economic policy with Sen. Mitch McConnell, the Kentucky Republican who will remain Senate majority leader if his party wins at least one of two Senate runoff elections in Georgia in early January.
At the same time, she would enjoy the advantage of having already built long-standing ties to many of the Fed’s policymakers, notably Jerome Powell, who worked closely with her on the Fed’s board and later succeeded her as chair. The health of the economy hinges in part on a close coordination between the Fed, an independent agency, and the Treasury, a presidential Cabinet department, especially during major crises like the pandemic recession that struck in early spring. Soon after that crisis erupted, the government established a suite of lending programs that were designed to shore up businesses and municipalities and that involve a partnership between the Treasury Department and the Fed.
Before leading the Fed, Yellen was its vice chair for four years and previously was president of the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco for six years. Earlier, under President Bill Clinton, she led the president’s Council of Economic Advisers, after serving a stint on the Fed’s board.
Yellen is well-known on Capitol Hill after years of testifying as Fed chair to Senate committees about the economy and interest rate policy. During those years, she frequently clashed with Republican lawmakers who accused her of keeping rates too low for too long after the 2008 financial crisis. Some of them charged that Yellen and her predecessor Ben Bernanke had elevated the risk of runaway inflation and asset bubbles that could destabilize financial markets.
None of those fears came to pass. On the contrary, under Bernanke and Yellen — and later, under Powell — the Fed’s more difficult challenge was raising inflation merely to the Fed’s annual 2% target level. It has yet to do so consistently.
Yellen, a Democrat, had served only one four-year term as Fed chair when Donald Trump decided to replace her with Powell, a Republican. That move broke a four-decade tradition of presidents allowing Fed chairs to serve at least two terms even if they had first been nominated by a president of the opposing party.
Biden had said last week that his choice for treasury secretary would be “someone who I think will be accepted by all elements of the Democratic Party, progressives through the moderate coalition.”
Yellen has the support of many progressive groups, said Jeff Hauser, executive director of the Revolving Door Project, a left-leaning organization. Yellen is a labor economist and an expert on unemployment, an issue that could pose a challenge for the Biden administration, with unemployment at a still-high 6.9% as the economy struggles to recover from the pandemic recession.
During her tenure as Fed chair, the central bank began shifting much of its policy focus from fighting inflation, which has been quiescent for decades, to trying to maximize employment, the second of its two congressional mandates. Yellen won praise for her attention to disadvantaged groups including the long-term unemployed. She made numerous visits to employment training centers to spotlight the need for training programs to equip people for good jobs.
Having engaged this year on the issue of climate change, Yellen has endorsed a carbon tax as a way to reduce the emission of greenhouse gases.
When she stepped down from the Fed in early 2018, Shawn Sebastian, co-director of the Fed-Up coalition, a collection of progressive groups, called Yellen’s departure “a loss for working people across the country.” He hailed her efforts to take on “economic inequality, racial disparities in the economy, the role of women in the workplace, and the need for more diversity at the Fed.”
Yet some progressives have also criticized Yellen for the Fed’s December 2015 decision to raise its benchmark rate from near zero, where it had been pegged since late 2008 in the midst of the financial crisis. That rate hike, which caused a sharp increase in the value of the dollar, contributed to a slowdown in U.S. economic growth in 2016 and is now seen by many economists as having been premature.
After leaving the Fed, Yellen became a distinguished fellow in residence at the liberal Brookings Institution in Washington. She did not initially comment about Trump’s decision not to offer her a second term. But in a 2019 interview, Yellen said she didn’t think Trump had a firm grasp of economic policy “or even knows the Federal Reserve’s mandates” to stabilize prices and maximize employment.
Yellen is married to George Akerlof, a Nobel Prize-winning economist whom she met in a Fed cafeteria in 1977. They have one son, Robert, who is an economics professor.


shareblue--2020-11-23--GOP congressman wants you to feel 'empowered' to spread COVID this Thanksgiving

Rep. Andy Biggs ( R-AZ ) urged people to feel `` empowered '' to travel for Thanksgiving .
But public health experts are urging the exact opposite , warning hospitals could be overwhelmed by COVID-19 cases .
In a pair of Monday tweets , Biggs wrote : `` This Thanksgiving week , whether you decided to ... .
stay home or visit family ; fly or drive ; social distance or hug your loved ones , You should feel empowered to do whatever is best for you and your loved ones . ''
`` No member of the mainstream media @ @ @ @ @ @ @ birthright of freedom , '' he added .
`` Kudos to all of the Americans making these free decisions this week .
Stay safe , stay well , and stay free . ''
With record-breaking numbers of new coronavirus cases cropping up across the country , and hospitals running out of space and resources , the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention urged Americans to avoid Thanksgiving travel this week .
`` More than 1 million COVID-19 cases were reported in the United States over the last 7 days .
As cases continue @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the safest way to celebrate Thanksgiving is to celebrate at home with the people you live with , '' the agency warned .
`` Postponing travel and staying home is the best way to protect yourself and others this year . ''
Despite these pleas , the Transportation Security Administration reportedly screened more than 3 million passengers over the weekend — a fact shared approvingly by Biggs on Monday .
Travel experts predict that as many as 50 million people will travel by the end of the week — only a slight @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the first time Biggs has contradicted public health experts and opposed steps to curb the pandemic 's spread .
In April , he claimed that people who did not want to reopen the entire economy `` do n't understand rules of economics . ''
He scolded doctors for focusing on death tolls , rather than jobs .
He even suggested that health officials urging social distancing should `` be quarantined without a government paycheck '' to `` see how they like it . ''
Subsequently , he accused the governor of Illinois of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in-person gatherings and House Democrats of bringing about the end of `` representative government '' by letting members temporarily work remotely during the pandemic .
Biggs has mocked mask mandates and praised Donald Trump 's coronavirus adviser Scott Atlas , who has advocated for a dangerous `` herd immunity '' strategy of letting lots more people get sick and hoping enough people become immune to end the pandemic .
He has also tweeted conspiracy theories , baselessly claiming last week that `` to accept at face value the COVID-19 reported positives , hospitalizations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ common sense capabilities . ''
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Rep. Andy Biggs (R-AZ) urged people to feel “empowered” to travel for Thanksgiving. But public health experts are urging the exact opposite, warning hospitals could be overwhelmed by COVID-19 cases.
In a pair of Monday tweets, Biggs wrote: “This Thanksgiving week, whether you decided to…. stay home or visit family; fly or drive; social distance or hug your loved ones, You should feel empowered to do whatever is best for you and your loved ones.”
“No member of the mainstream media or bureaucrat should ever take away your birthright of freedom,” he added. “Kudos to all of the Americans making these free decisions this week. Stay safe, stay well, and stay free.”
With record-breaking numbers of new coronavirus cases cropping up across the country, and hospitals running out of space and resources, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention urged Americans to avoid Thanksgiving travel this week.
“More than 1 million COVID-19 cases were reported in the United States over the last 7 days. As cases continue to increase rapidly across the United States, the safest way to celebrate Thanksgiving is to celebrate at home with the people you live with,” the agency warned. “Postponing travel and staying home is the best way to protect yourself and others this year.”
Despite these pleas, the Transportation Security Administration reportedly screened more than 3 million passengers over the weekend — a fact shared approvingly by Biggs on Monday. Travel experts predict that as many as 50 million people will travel by the end of the week — only a slight drop from 2019.
This is not the first time Biggs has contradicted public health experts and opposed steps to curb the pandemic’s spread.
In April, he claimed that people who did not want to reopen the entire economy “don’t understand rules of economics.” He scolded doctors for focusing on death tolls, rather than jobs. He even suggested that health officials urging social distancing should “be quarantined without a government paycheck” to “see how they like it.”
Subsequently, he accused the governor of Illinois of violating “religious liberty” by limiting in-person gatherings and House Democrats of bringing about the end of “representative government” by letting members temporarily work remotely during the pandemic.
Biggs has mocked mask mandates and praised Donald Trump’s coronavirus adviser Scott Atlas, who has advocated for a dangerous “herd immunity” strategy of letting lots more people get sick and hoping enough people become immune to end the pandemic.
He has also tweeted conspiracy theories, baselessly claiming last week that “to accept at face value the COVID-19 reported positives, hospitalizations, and deaths is beneath anyone’s common sense capabilities.”
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-11-23--Study shows just how much damage Trump's bigoted ban has done to the military

New research about the effects of Donald Trump 's transgender military ban shows the importance of Joe Biden 's promise to reverse the damaging policy .
In February , Biden promised to reinstate LGBTQ protections rolled back by Trump `` on day one '' of his presidency , including `` ensuring transgender individuals can serve openly in the military . ''
`` It ’ s simple : every American who is qualified to serve , should be able to — and we should all be grateful for their service and courage , '' Biden said back in February , noting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not just the right thing to do , but it ’ s in our national interest . ''
The Palmer Center , a research institute focusing on gender and sexuality in the military , released a study this month demonstrating the veracity of that statement .
The ban has done damage to the military 's recruitment , retention , morale , unit cohesion , reputation , and medical care , and good order and discipline , the study showed , citing in-depth telephone interviews , data analyses , review of scholarly literature , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ members .
By stigmatizing transgender members of the military — an estimated 14,700 people — the policy makes it difficult for them to continue their service , thereby harming retention .
In a survey response , one transgender service member said simply , `` I do n't want to have to fight for my right to exist anymore . ''
According to the study , the ban is bad for recruitment because it discourages transgender and gender-nonconforming people from considering a career in the military in the first place .
But it also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , since recent polls have found an overwhelming majority of young people favor inclusive military policies .
The policy has `` soured some of the top educational institutions on military service , straining a common pipeline for recruitment , especially of officers , '' the study continued .
Numerous law schools have stood against the ban and students have protested networking events involving the military , researchers said .
The ban also hurts unit cohesion because transgender service members concealing their gender undermines trust between service members ; it also encourages anti-transgender harassment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ study explained .
A Navy aviation electronics technician who spoke to the researchers explained , `` Before the ban , the Navy 's stance was that transgender people are real people and they have a status and we 're going to help them transition to what they need to be so they can continue to serve . ''
She added , `` So there was pressure for the leadership to push down , [ from the top ] , acceptance of trans people .
But now that the ban has been reinstated , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ accept us anymore . ''
The policy has made transgender members of the military feel `` devalued '' and that their careers have been `` thrown into uncertainty , '' researchers said .
One transgender service member said of falling morale , `` We ’ re angry and we 're scared .
Every trans service member I know , and I include myself , feels betrayed by this administration and by the flag officers who are going along with it .
I personally have no faith in the Pentagon to do right by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ marginalized group . ''
The ban also makes it difficult for transgender people to have honest conversations with medical providers because sharing some health information could risk a discharge .
In addition to Biden 's vow to reverse anti-LGBTQ Trump administration policies , Biden has said he will make the Equality Act , a federal bill that prohibits discrimination against LGBTQ people in housing , public accommodations , and more , a legislative priority in his first 100 days in office .
Biden 's plan to advance LGBTQ equality additionally includes improving programs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rolling back Defense Department that are discriminatory toward or in any way stigmatize people living with HIV , according to his campaign website .
The transgender military ban is n't the only Trump administration policy that harms LGBTQ service members and is far from the only issue Biden will need to confront upon taking office .
Under the Trump administration , for instance , the Defense Department enacted a policy that excluded the LGBTQ Pride flag from the list of flags allowed on military installations .
House Democrats and LGBTQ military groups say @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Minorities remain vastly underrepresented in commissioned officer and senior leader ranks .
The action by the Department to implicitly ban the LGBTQ Pride flag only serves to create a discriminatory environment for LGBTQ service members and continue to isolate them from their fellow Airmen , Marines , Sailors , and Soldiers , '' read a letter signed by 34 Democratic lawmakers to Defense officials in late July .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

New research about the effects of Donald Trump’s transgender military ban shows the importance of Joe Biden’s promise to reverse the damaging policy.
In February, Biden promised to reinstate LGBTQ protections rolled back by Trump “on day one” of his presidency, including “ensuring transgender individuals can serve openly in the military.”
“It’s simple: every American who is qualified to serve, should be able to — and we should all be grateful for their service and courage,” Biden said back in February, noting that reversing the trans ban was “not just the right thing to do, but it’s in our national interest.”
The Palmer Center, a research institute focusing on gender and sexuality in the military, released a study this month demonstrating the veracity of that statement.
The ban has done damage to the military’s recruitment, retention, morale, unit cohesion, reputation, and medical care, and good order and discipline, the study showed, citing in-depth telephone interviews, data analyses, review of scholarly literature, and a survey of 97 transgender service members.
By stigmatizing transgender members of the military — an estimated 14,700 people — the policy makes it difficult for them to continue their service, thereby harming retention. In a survey response, one transgender service member said simply, “I don’t want to have to fight for my right to exist anymore.”
According to the study, the ban is bad for recruitment because it discourages transgender and gender-nonconforming people from considering a career in the military in the first place. But it also harms recruitment for young people in general, since recent polls have found an overwhelming majority of young people favor inclusive military policies.
The policy has “soured some of the top educational institutions on military service, straining a common pipeline for recruitment, especially of officers,” the study continued. Numerous law schools have stood against the ban and students have protested networking events involving the military, researchers said.
The ban also hurts unit cohesion because transgender service members concealing their gender undermines trust between service members; it also encourages anti-transgender harassment either by commanders or peers, the study explained.
A Navy aviation electronics technician who spoke to the researchers explained, “Before the ban, the Navy’s stance was that transgender people are real people and they have a status and we’re going to help them transition to what they need to be so they can continue to serve.”
She added, “So there was pressure for the leadership to push down, [from the top], acceptance of trans people. But now that the ban has been reinstated, there’s no longer anyone trying to accept us anymore.”
The policy has made transgender members of the military feel “devalued” and that their careers have been “thrown into uncertainty,” researchers said.
One transgender service member said of falling morale, “We’re angry and we’re scared. Every trans service member I know, and I include myself, feels betrayed by this administration and by the flag officers who are going along with it. I personally have no faith in the Pentagon to do right by us, or any member of another marginalized group.”
The ban also makes it difficult for transgender people to have honest conversations with medical providers because sharing some health information could risk a discharge.
In addition to Biden’s vow to reverse anti-LGBTQ Trump administration policies, Biden has said he will make the Equality Act, a federal bill that prohibits discrimination against LGBTQ people in housing, public accommodations, and more, a legislative priority in his first 100 days in office.
Biden’s plan to advance LGBTQ equality additionally includes improving programs to address LGBTQ veterans’ needs and rolling back Defense Department that are discriminatory toward or in any way stigmatize people living with HIV, according to his campaign website.
The transgender military ban isn’t the only Trump administration policy that harms LGBTQ service members and is far from the only issue Biden will need to confront upon taking office.
Under the Trump administration, for instance, the Defense Department enacted a policy that excluded the LGBTQ Pride flag from the list of flags allowed on military installations. House Democrats and LGBTQ military groups say the policy should be reversed.
“Minorities remain vastly underrepresented in commissioned officer and senior leader ranks. The action by the Department to implicitly ban the LGBTQ Pride flag only serves to create a discriminatory environment for LGBTQ service members and continue to isolate them from their fellow Airmen, Marines, Sailors, and Soldiers,” read a letter signed by 34 Democratic lawmakers to Defense officials in late July.
Rep. Anthony Brown (MD), an Army veteran, spearheaded the effort.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-11-23--Republicans turn on each other over Trump's failing attempt to steal the election

In recent days , Ohio 's Gov .
Mike DeWine and other prominent GOP figures have come under fire by fellow Republicans for refusing to participate in Donald Trump 's attempted coup .
Last week , Fox News aired clips from a CNN interview in which DeWine told host Jake Tapper that Biden had won fair and square .
`` We need to consider the former Vice President as the president-elect , '' DeWine told the outlet .
`` Joe Biden is the president-elect . ''
`` Who will be running for Governor of the Great State of Ohio ?
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ tweeted in response .
Other Republicans , too , have been condemned by their own party for refusing to participate in or endorse Trump 's efforts to steal the election .
On Sunday evening , Fox News host Mark Levin seemed to blast fellow Republican Karl Rove , former White House deputy chief of staff under George W. Bush , for his criticism of Trump 's efforts to steal the election .
`` It is frustrating to me to listen and watch people who have no experience in civil litigation , know nothing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , `` or former federal prosecutors and professors who should know better , saying the same thing — or political operatives with whiteboards and without whiteboards — ' I 'm afraid there 's no evidence , we do n't have the evidence , there is no evidence . '
'' Rove , who recently penned an op-ed in the Wall Street Journal suggesting that election results will not be overturned and that Trump should gracefully embrace the transition , is well known for using a whiteboard to make political points in television appearances @ @ @ @ @ @ @ accepting the results of the presidential election : Sen. Mitt Romney ( R-UT ) , Sen. Ben Sasse ( R-NE ) , and Rep. Adam Kinzinger ( R-IL ) .
Once-beloved Fox News host Tucker Carlson also drew ire from former fans on Thursday .
While he promoted broader claims of election fraud , he also criticized Trump lawyer Sidney Powell for having no evidence to back her claim that mass voter fraud had been perpetrated by electronic voting machines .
`` We invited Sidney Powell on the show .
We would have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she never sent us any evidence , despite a lot of requests , polite requests , '' Carlson said on his show .
`` Not a page .
When we kept pressing , she got angry and told us to stop contacting her . ''
He added that Powell `` never demonstrated that a single actual vote was moved illegitimately by software from one candidate to another .
Not one . ''
In response to Carlson 's remarks , Powell and fellow Trump lawyer Rudy Giuliani refused to appear for a scheduled Saturday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been abandoning Fox News since Election Day , as Trump has increasingly criticized the network .
According to a recent Morning Consult Poll , support for the network among Republicans has plunged a full 13 % since the Nov. 3 election .
And , of course , Georgia 's Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger has also been viciously attacked by his own party for repeatedly confirming the fairness of the election in Georgia , which went to Biden .
Raffensperger has faced condemnation by Georgia Sens .
Kelly Loeffler and David Perdue , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Lindsey Graham ( R-SC ) to throw out votes in Georgia counties .
But it 's not just acknowledging Biden 's win that can endanger Republicans ' standing with Donald Trump and the rest of their party — for Trump , it appears not defending him loudly enough is equally offensive .
Lin Wood , the attorney notoriously filing Trump 's frivolous lawsuits and supporting his efforts to steal the election , encouraged fellow Republicans not to vote for Loeffler and Perdue in the Jan. 5 runoff election .
Wood argued that the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their loyalty to Trump or worked hard enough to steal the election .
`` Why are they doing little or nothing to support efforts by GA citizens to address unlawful election & need for @ BrianKempGA to order special session of legislature ?
If not fixed , I will NOT vote in GA runoff .
Will you ? ''
Wood tweeted Saturday .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

In recent days, Ohio’s Gov. Mike DeWine and other prominent GOP figures have come under fire by fellow Republicans for refusing to participate in Donald Trump’s attempted coup.
Last week, Fox News aired clips from a CNN interview in which DeWine told host Jake Tapper that Biden had won fair and square.
“We need to consider the former Vice President as the president-elect,” DeWine told the outlet. “Joe Biden is the president-elect.”
Trump, outraged, took to Twitter.
“Who will be running for Governor of the Great State of Ohio? Will be hotly contested!” he tweeted in response.
Other Republicans, too, have been condemned by their own party for refusing to participate in or endorse Trump’s efforts to steal the election.
On Sunday evening, Fox News host Mark Levin seemed to blast fellow Republican Karl Rove, former White House deputy chief of staff under George W. Bush, for his criticism of Trump’s efforts to steal the election.
“It is frustrating to me to listen and watch people who have no experience in civil litigation, know nothing about civil litigation,” said Levin, “or former federal prosecutors and professors who should know better, saying the same thing — or political operatives with whiteboards and without whiteboards — ‘I’m afraid there’s no evidence, we don’t have the evidence, there is no evidence.'”
Rove, who recently penned an op-ed in the Wall Street Journal suggesting that election results will not be overturned and that Trump should gracefully embrace the transition, is well known for using a whiteboard to make political points in television appearances.
Levin also slammed Republican lawmakers for accepting the results of the presidential election: Sen. Mitt Romney (R-UT), Sen. Ben Sasse (R-NE), and Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-IL).
Once-beloved Fox News host Tucker Carlson also drew ire from former fans on Thursday.
While he promoted broader claims of election fraud, he also criticized Trump lawyer Sidney Powell for having no evidence to back her claim that mass voter fraud had been perpetrated by electronic voting machines.
“We invited Sidney Powell on the show. We would have given her the whole hour, but she never sent us any evidence, despite a lot of requests, polite requests,” Carlson said on his show. “Not a page. When we kept pressing, she got angry and told us to stop contacting her.”
He added that Powell “never demonstrated that a single actual vote was moved illegitimately by software from one candidate to another. Not one.”
In response to Carlson’s remarks, Powell and fellow Trump lawyer Rudy Giuliani refused to appear for a scheduled Saturday appearance on Fox News.
Conservatives have been abandoning Fox News since Election Day, as Trump has increasingly criticized the network.
According to a recent Morning Consult Poll, support for the network among Republicans has plunged a full 13% since the Nov. 3 election.
And, of course, Georgia’s Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger has also been viciously attacked by his own party for repeatedly confirming the fairness of the election in Georgia, which went to Biden.
Raffensperger has faced condemnation by Georgia Sens. Kelly Loeffler and David Perdue, as well as alleged pressure from Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) to throw out votes in Georgia counties.
But it’s not just acknowledging Biden’s win that can endanger Republicans’ standing with Donald Trump and the rest of their party — for Trump, it appears not defending him loudly enough is equally offensive.
Lin Wood, the attorney notoriously filing Trump’s frivolous lawsuits and supporting his efforts to steal the election, encouraged fellow Republicans not to vote for Loeffler and Perdue in the Jan. 5 runoff election.
Wood argued that the pair of Georgia senators haven’t proven their loyalty to Trump or worked hard enough to steal the election.
“Why are they doing little or nothing to support efforts by GA citizens to address unlawful election & need for @BrianKempGA to order special session of legislature? If not fixed, I will NOT vote in GA runoff. Will you?” Wood tweeted Saturday.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-11-23--Nunes: Biden is 'limping' to the White House despite beating Trump by 6 million votes

Rep. Devin Nunes ( R-CA ) on Sunday described President-elect Joe Biden as `` limping '' into office despite his overwhelming election win .
`` This is a guy who 's limping into the presidency , he was the first guy to run a successful campaign from a basement without actually going out and intermingling with the people , '' Nunes told Fox Business .
Nunes 's appearance was focused on promoting Donald Trump 's ongoing — and failing — attempts to steal the election that he lost .
In reality , Biden won the Electoral College with the same @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 306-232 , which Trump then called a `` landslide . ''
And Biden won the popular vote by over 6 million votes .
In fact , Biden 's margin of victory over Trump is the second-largest popular vote margin of the six presidential elections held in the 21st century , and Biden broke former President Barack Obama 's record for receiving the most votes for a president in history .
Nunes also claimed that Democrats were `` destroyed '' at the congressional level , but while the Democrats won fewer seats than had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ majority and recently reelected Rep. Nancy Pelosi ( D-CA ) to another term as speaker of the House .
When Congress reconvenes , Nunes will continue be in the House minority with his fellow Republicans .
From the Nov. 22 edition of Fox Business ' `` Sunday Morning Futures '' : DEVIN NUNES : Look , this is a very close election .
It 's in Joe Biden 's best interests , and his overlord Obama , that sits a mile from the White House like we talked in the last segment , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are asking for every vote to be legally counted .
NUNES : Because you have to remember , the Democrats got smashed in this election , they got destroyed at the state level , the local level , congressional level , and the Senate level , assuming that we win these two seats in Georgia .
NUNES : So this is a guy who 's limping into the presidency , he was the first guy to run a successful campaign from a basement without actually going out and intermingling with the people .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Foundation .

Rep. Devin Nunes (R-CA) on Sunday described President-elect Joe Biden as “limping” into office despite his overwhelming election win.
“This is a guy who’s limping into the presidency, he was the first guy to run a successful campaign from a basement without actually going out and intermingling with the people,” Nunes told Fox Business.
Nunes’s appearance was focused on promoting Donald Trump’s ongoing — and failing — attempts to steal the election that he lost.
In reality, Biden won the Electoral College with the same margin as Trump did in 2016, 306-232, which Trump then called a “landslide.” And Biden won the popular vote by over 6 million votes.
In fact, Biden’s margin of victory over Trump is the second-largest popular vote margin of the six presidential elections held in the 21st century, and Biden broke former President Barack Obama’s record for receiving the most votes for a president in history.
Nunes also claimed that Democrats were “destroyed” at the congressional level, but while the Democrats won fewer seats than had been expected, the party retained its majority and recently reelected Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) to another term as speaker of the House.
When Congress reconvenes, Nunes will continue be in the House minority with his fellow Republicans.
From the Nov. 22 edition of Fox Business’ “Sunday Morning Futures”:
DEVIN NUNES: Look, this is a very close election. It’s in Joe Biden’s best interests, and his overlord Obama, that sits a mile from the White House like we talked in the last segment, they ought to be the ones that are asking for every vote to be legally counted. MARIA BARTIROMO, Fox Business: Right. NUNES: Because you have to remember, the Democrats got smashed in this election, they got destroyed at the state level, the local level, congressional level, and the Senate level, assuming that we win these two seats in Georgia. BARTIROMO: Yeah. NUNES: So this is a guy who’s limping into the presidency, he was the first guy to run a successful campaign from a basement without actually going out and intermingling with the people.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-11-23--These 21 GOP senators privately trash Trump but vote with him all the time

Reporter Carl Bernstein tweeted on Sunday that 21 Senate Republicans have privately expressed strong opposition to Donald Trump .
Bernstein , famous for his reporting on the Watergate scandal that brought down the Richard Nixon presidency , noted that the 21 senators had maintained silence about their views in public .
They have also voted with Trump at almost every opportunity .
`` I 'm not violating any pledge of journalistic confidentially in reporting this : 21 Republican Sens–in convos w/ colleagues , staff members , lobbyists , W. House aides–have repeatedly expressed extreme contempt for Trump & his fitness @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` With few exceptions , their craven public silence has helped enable Trump 's most grievous conduct—including undermining and discrediting the US the electoral system . ''
The GOP senators Bernstein , currently an analyst for CNN , said `` privately expressed their disdain for Trump '' are Lamar Alexander ( TN ) , Roy Blunt ( MO ) , Mike Braun ( IN ) , Richard Burr ( NC ) , Susan Collins ( ME ) , John Cornyn ( TX ) , Chuck Grassley ( IA ) , Martha McSally @ @ @ @ @ @ @ KS ) , Lisa Murkowski ( AK ) , Rob Portman ( OH ) , Pat Roberts ( KS ) , Mitt Romney ( UT ) , Marco Rubio ( FL ) , Ben Sasse ( NE ) , Rick Scott ( FL ) , Tim Scott ( SC ) , Richard Shelby ( AL ) , John Thune ( SD ) , Pat Toomey ( PA ) , and Todd Young ( IN ) .
The American Independent Foundation reached out to the offices of each of the named senators for comment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spokesperson for Braun denied the report .
`` This is more false news from a CNN political analyst , as I was one of President Trump 's top defenders during impeachment and strongly support his legal efforts to ensure that every legal vote is counted . ''
A spokesperson for Grassley also dismissed Bernstein 's reporting , emailing a statement saying that his `` sources clearly are n't what they used to be .
This simply is n't true .
Sen. Grassley has been a strong supporter of the president and at the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ when he disagrees with the president .
There is no difference between what Sen. Grassley says publicly and privately . ''
Portman 's spokesperson responded : `` This is absolutely false .
The senator has never talked to Mr. Bernstein and we do n't know where he 's getting his false information .
The senator supported President Trump 's re-election and believes his policies are better for Ohio and the entire country . ''
The others did not immediately respond .
A review of their voting records reveals that even if they were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , they enabled much of it .
Only a handful of the senators have acknowledged that Joe Biden is the president-elect , while others have refused to criticize Trump 's attempts to sow doubt about the integrity of America 's election processes .
According to an analysis of data compiled by the website FiveThirtyEight , the senators voted with Trump an average of more than 89 % of the time during his term in office .
With the exception of Romney , each voted to acquit Trump on all charges during his impeachment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and obstruction of Congress .
The majority of the senators also voted against blocking Trump 's scheme to take billions from military funding to pay for his wall along the U.S.-Mexico border , a wall he had repeatedly promised would be paid for entirely by Mexico .
All or most also backed Trump 's 2017 bill to slash rates for the very rich and big corporations , his failed plan to repeal and replace Obamacare , and his three lifetime appointments of judges to the Supreme Court .
Published with permission of The @ @ @ @

Reporter Carl Bernstein tweeted on Sunday that 21 Senate Republicans have privately expressed strong opposition to Donald Trump.
Bernstein, famous for his reporting on the Watergate scandal that brought down the Richard Nixon presidency, noted that the 21 senators had maintained silence about their views in public.
They have also voted with Trump at almost every opportunity.
“I’m not violating any pledge of journalistic confidentially in reporting this: 21 Republican Sens–in convos w/ colleagues, staff members, lobbyists, W. House aides–have repeatedly expressed extreme contempt for Trump & his fitness to be POTUS,” Bernstein wrote. “With few exceptions, their craven public silence has helped enable Trump’s most grievous conduct—including undermining and discrediting the US the electoral system.”
The GOP senators Bernstein, currently an analyst for CNN, said “privately expressed their disdain for Trump” are Lamar Alexander (TN), Roy Blunt (MO), Mike Braun (IN), Richard Burr (NC), Susan Collins (ME), John Cornyn (TX), Chuck Grassley (IA), Martha McSally (AZ), Jerry Moran (KS), Lisa Murkowski (AK), Rob Portman (OH), Pat Roberts (KS), Mitt Romney (UT), Marco Rubio (FL), Ben Sasse (NE), Rick Scott (FL), Tim Scott (SC), Richard Shelby (AL), John Thune (SD), Pat Toomey (PA), and Todd Young (IN).
The American Independent Foundation reached out to the offices of each of the named senators for comment.
In an emailed statement, a spokesperson for Braun denied the report. “This is more false news from a CNN political analyst, as I was one of President Trump’s top defenders during impeachment and strongly support his legal efforts to ensure that every legal vote is counted.”
A spokesperson for Grassley also dismissed Bernstein’s reporting, emailing a statement saying that his “sources clearly aren’t what they used to be. This simply isn’t true. Sen. Grassley has been a strong supporter of the president and at the same time has made it no secret when he disagrees with the president. There is no difference between what Sen. Grassley says publicly and privately.”
Portman’s spokesperson responded: “This is absolutely false. The senator has never talked to Mr. Bernstein and we don’t know where he’s getting his false information. The senator supported President Trump’s re-election and believes his policies are better for Ohio and the entire country.”
The others did not immediately respond.
A review of their voting records reveals that even if they were privately disdainful of Trump and his presidency, they enabled much of it.
Only a handful of the senators have acknowledged that Joe Biden is the president-elect, while others have refused to criticize Trump’s attempts to sow doubt about the integrity of America’s election processes.
According to an analysis of data compiled by the website FiveThirtyEight, the senators voted with Trump an average of more than 89% of the time during his term in office.
With the exception of Romney, each voted to acquit Trump on all charges during his impeachment trial on charges of abuse of power and obstruction of Congress.
The majority of the senators also voted against blocking Trump’s scheme to take billions from military funding to pay for his wall along the U.S.-Mexico border, a wall he had repeatedly promised would be paid for entirely by Mexico.
All or most also backed Trump’s 2017 bill to slash rates for the very rich and big corporations, his failed plan to repeal and replace Obamacare, and his three lifetime appointments of judges to the Supreme Court.
Updated with a response from Sen. Ron Portman’s office.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-11-23--GOP congressman gets in on Trump's illegal coup attempt in Pennsylvania

Rep. Mike Kelly ( R-PA ) filed a lawsuit on Monday seeking to block Pennsylvania from declaring Joe Biden the winner of the 2020 presidential election hours before the state is set to certify its vote .
Kelly 's emergency request to block the certification comes after he filed a separate lawsuit on Saturday in which he asked a judge to throw out all mail-in ballots in the state .
That suit goes on to request that if the judge wo n't throw out all of the mail-in ballots , that he instead invalidate the entire election result and let @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's electors to the Electoral College to help Donald Trump .
Until now , GOP lawmakers have paid Trump 's coup attempt lip service , saying he has the right to challenge the results in court , but noting that if the courts rule against him , he should go .
But until now , none had officially joined the efforts to overturn the election results by filing lawsuits of their own .
Some GOP lawmakers are calling the Trump campaign 's legal strategy an embarrassment and saying Trump should accept the results @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( R-PA ) said in a statement on Saturday that Trump lost Pennsylvania and should stop holding up the transition : `` With today 's decision by Judge Matthew Brann , a longtime conservative Republican whom I know to be a fair and unbiased jurist , to dismiss the Trump campaign 's lawsuit , President Trump has exhausted all plausible legal options to challenge the result of the presidential race in Pennsylvania . ''
Kelly himself had sent an email to his constituents on Oct. 30 , days before the election , educating @ @ @ @ @ @ @ using ballots he now wants to see tossed out .
`` My offices have received hundreds of calls from residents of Butler County who are concerned because they have yet to receive the absentee ballots they requested , or that they have mailed ballots back to the Bureau of Elections but Pennsylvania 's website tracker says their vote is still pending .
The Butler County Bureau of Elections tells me they are committed to making sure everyone who intends to vote is able to do so , '' Kelly wrote in the email @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , which goes on to explain to his constituents how to receive their mail-in ballots .
Kelly 's office did not immediately return request for comment on why he was joining Trump 's coup attempt , or why he would seek to throw out the results in his own state after educating his constituents how to vote by mail .
Kelly won his own reelection in Pennsylvania 's 16th Congressional District by 19 points .
Kelly 's suit is unlikely to succeed .
Both state and federal judges have thrown out lawsuits filed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the country seeking to overturn the election results .
On Saturday , a federal judge excoriated the campaign 's lawsuit asking him to throw out mail-in ballots in the state , saying the argument lacked evidence or any legal basis .
Biden won Pennsylvania by 80,851 votes — almost double the 44,000-vote margin by which Trump won the state in 2016 .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Rep. Mike Kelly (R-PA) filed a lawsuit on Monday seeking to block Pennsylvania from declaring Joe Biden the winner of the 2020 presidential election hours before the state is set to certify its vote.
Kelly’s emergency request to block the certification comes after he filed a separate lawsuit on Saturday in which he asked a judge to throw out all mail-in ballots in the state. That suit goes on to request that if the judge won’t throw out all of the mail-in ballots, that he instead invalidate the entire election result and let Pennsylvania’s Republican legislature appoint the state’s electors to the Electoral College to help Donald Trump.
Until now, GOP lawmakers have paid Trump’s coup attempt lip service, saying he has the right to challenge the results in court, but noting that if the courts rule against him, he should go.
But until now, none had officially joined the efforts to overturn the election results by filing lawsuits of their own.
Some GOP lawmakers are calling the Trump campaign’s legal strategy an embarrassment and saying Trump should accept the results and move on.
Sen. Pat Toomey (R-PA) said in a statement on Saturday that Trump lost Pennsylvania and should stop holding up the transition: “With today’s decision by Judge Matthew Brann, a longtime conservative Republican whom I know to be a fair and unbiased jurist, to dismiss the Trump campaign’s lawsuit, President Trump has exhausted all plausible legal options to challenge the result of the presidential race in Pennsylvania.”
Toomey congratulated Biden on his win.
Kelly himself had sent an email to his constituents on Oct. 30, days before the election, educating them on how to vote by mail using ballots he now wants to see tossed out.
“My offices have received hundreds of calls from residents of Butler County who are concerned because they have yet to receive the absentee ballots they requested, or that they have mailed ballots back to the Bureau of Elections but Pennsylvania’s website tracker says their vote is still pending. The Butler County Bureau of Elections tells me they are committed to making sure everyone who intends to vote is able to do so,” Kelly wrote in the email, obtained by the American Independent Foundation, which goes on to explain to his constituents how to receive their mail-in ballots.
Kelly’s office did not immediately return request for comment on why he was joining Trump’s coup attempt, or why he would seek to throw out the results in his own state after educating his constituents how to vote by mail.
Kelly won his own reelection in Pennsylvania’s 16th Congressional District by 19 points.
Kelly’s suit is unlikely to succeed.
Both state and federal judges have thrown out lawsuits filed by the Trump campaign and supporters across the country seeking to overturn the election results.
On Saturday, a federal judge excoriated the campaign’s lawsuit asking him to throw out mail-in ballots in the state, saying the argument lacked evidence or any legal basis.
Biden won Pennsylvania by 80,851 votes — almost double the 44,000-vote margin by which Trump won the state in 2016.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-11-25--Trump officials slammed for move that could help GOP senator right before runoff election

Not long after Donald Trump fired Defense Secretary Mark Esper and replaced him with ally Christopher Miller , the Air Force appears to have made moves to place a new fleet of cargo planes in Georgia that could benefit GOP Sen. David Perdue 's runoff campaign .
The Air Force 's `` surprise '' announcement this week happened just over two weeks after Esper 's termination and Miller 's subsequent helming of the Defense Department .
Esper was part of a slew of other top-brass Trump administration exits after Election Day .
It 's unclear whether Miller had a hand @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the timing of it is questionable .
Perdue , a Senate Armed Services Committee member , faces Democrat Jon Ossoff in the Jan. 5 runoff , as neither garnered more than 50 % of the vote in the Nov. 3 election .
The Republican senator on Tuesday applauded the Air Force 's announcement that it would place the new Air National Guard C-130J Super Hercules aircraft at the Georgia Air National Guard Base in Savannah .
Perdue had sent a letter to Air Force Secretary Barbara Barrett earlier this year , urging the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fleet , but it was not one of the final three bases that were selected to receive additional aircraft this year .
Democrats were quick to pounce on the news .
`` I am disappointed that the Air Force rushed today 's announcement , a decision that could mar the service 's historically repeatable , transparent , and deliberate strategic basing process , which until now has helped insulate basing decision from political influence , '' said Rep. Adam Smith ( D-WA ) , chair of the House Armed Services Committee , in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rigor of the strategic basing process may support the selection of these four locations , the timing of the announcement raises serious concerns . ''
Rep. Joe Courtney ( D-CT ) , chair of the House Seapower and Projection Forces Subcommittee , also said in a statement Tuesday that he was `` disappointed '' and noted that the `` critical aircraft '' should be distributed `` in an unbiased way . ''
Smith noted that Congress was briefed on June 25 about the three selected locations , but those did not include the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ appears the Air Force is deviating from the plan to announce an additional location , '' said Smith .
`` Congress has not even decided whether to fund the additional aircraft that would justify a fourth site , and the Air Force is already deviating from their previously articulated preference . ''
The Georgia base was included in the eight originally identified in March .
Officials , including Air National Guard director Lt. Gen. L. Scott Rice , said at the time however that evaluations of the eight bases would allow them to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) states deserve a consistent , impartial , and apolitical process ... and that is not what they got , unfortunately .
As I have relayed to senior Air Force leaders repeatedly in recent months , there have been serious concerns raised from around the country that the Air Force ’ s criteria changed during the latter stages of the evaluation process , '' Courtney said this week .
Retired Col. Pete Hoffman , executive director of Coastal Georgia Military Affairs Coalition , meanwhile , thanked Perdue , stating that the basing decision @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Senator Perdue in his role as a member of the Armed Services Committee . ''
`` This is great news for the 165th Airlift Wing and for Coastal Georgia , '' he said .
`` The Air Force did not need to make this decision now – plain and simple , '' he said .
`` And should delay moving forward with these basing actions until conference negotiations have concluded and the decision is not at risk of being politicized .
If the Air Force plods ahead , the service runs the risk @ @ @ @ @ @ @ may force Congress to take action to protect the basing process from being used to potentially influence congressional action or election outcomes . ''
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Not long after Donald Trump fired Defense Secretary Mark Esper and replaced him with ally Christopher Miller, the Air Force appears to have made moves to place a new fleet of cargo planes in Georgia that could benefit GOP Sen. David Perdue’s runoff campaign.
The Air Force’s “surprise” announcement this week happened just over two weeks after Esper’s termination and Miller’s subsequent helming of the Defense Department. Esper was part of a slew of other top-brass Trump administration exits after Election Day.
It’s unclear whether Miller had a hand in the announcement, but Democrats say the timing of it is questionable.
Perdue, a Senate Armed Services Committee member, faces Democrat Jon Ossoff in the Jan. 5 runoff, as neither garnered more than 50% of the vote in the Nov. 3 election. The Republican senator on Tuesday applauded the Air Force’s announcement that it would place the new Air National Guard C-130J Super Hercules aircraft at the Georgia Air National Guard Base in Savannah.
Perdue had sent a letter to Air Force Secretary Barbara Barrett earlier this year, urging the Georgia base’s selection for the new fleet, but it was not one of the final three bases that were selected to receive additional aircraft this year.
Democrats were quick to pounce on the news.
“I am disappointed that the Air Force rushed today’s announcement, a decision that could mar the service’s historically repeatable, transparent, and deliberate strategic basing process, which until now has helped insulate basing decision from political influence,” said Rep. Adam Smith (D-WA), chair of the House Armed Services Committee, in a statement Tuesday. “While the rigor of the strategic basing process may support the selection of these four locations, the timing of the announcement raises serious concerns.”
Rep. Joe Courtney (D-CT), chair of the House Seapower and Projection Forces Subcommittee, also said in a statement Tuesday that he was “disappointed” and noted that the “critical aircraft” should be distributed “in an unbiased way.”
Smith noted that Congress was briefed on June 25 about the three selected locations, but those did not include the base in Georgia.
“Now it appears the Air Force is deviating from the plan to announce an additional location,” said Smith. “Congress has not even decided whether to fund the additional aircraft that would justify a fourth site, and the Air Force is already deviating from their previously articulated preference.”
The Georgia base was included in the eight originally identified in March. Officials, including Air National Guard director Lt. Gen. L. Scott Rice, said at the time however that evaluations of the eight bases would allow them to select three. “These (eight) states deserve a consistent, impartial, and apolitical process … and that is not what they got, unfortunately. As I have relayed to senior Air Force leaders repeatedly in recent months, there have been serious concerns raised from around the country that the Air Force’s criteria changed during the latter stages of the evaluation process,” Courtney said this week.
Retired Col. Pete Hoffman, executive director of Coastal Georgia Military Affairs Coalition, meanwhile, thanked Perdue, stating that the basing decision was “driven in large part by Senator Perdue in his role as a member of the Armed Services Committee.”
“This is great news for the 165th Airlift Wing and for Coastal Georgia,” he said.
Smith was unconvinced.
“The Air Force did not need to make this decision now – plain and simple,” he said. “And should delay moving forward with these basing actions until conference negotiations have concluded and the decision is not at risk of being politicized. If the Air Force plods ahead, the service runs the risk of undermining the strategic basing process and may force Congress to take action to protect the basing process from being used to potentially influence congressional action or election outcomes.”
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.