shareblue--2020-11-05--GOP senator thanks Georgia for 'clear' support after finishing second

On Thursday , Sen. Kelly Loeffler ( R-GA ) said Georgia voters sent a `` clear message '' that they want to keep her in the Senate .
But with nearly all of the votes counted , it 's clear that Loeffler came in second to her Democratic challenger , Reverend Raphael Warnock .
`` Georgia voters sent a clear message Tuesday that they want us to continue our hard work in Washington , but our fight is not over .
We need to finish this fight on January 5th ! ''
Loeffler tweeted on Thursday morning .
Warnock received @ @ @ @ @ @ @ special election .
With about 94 % of the votes counted so far , Warnock is ahead by more than 318,000 votes , and most of the remaining uncounted ballots are from reliably Democratic areas .
Warnock won about 32.7 % of the counted ballots to Loeffler 's 26.1 % .
Georgia voters did n't send a clear mandate for Donald Trump on Tuesday , either .
With an estimated 61,367 ballots still to be counted on Thursday , Trump is barely ahead by about 18,500 votes — about 49.6 % to 49.2 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ million votes tallied .
The next hurdle for Loeffler and Warnock after Tuesday will be a January runoff election — a race that could decide which party controls the Senate in 2021 .
Last December , Georgia Gov .
Brian Kemp appointed Loeffler to the Senate after Sen. Johnny Isakson ( R-GA ) retired before the end of his term .
The Republican businesswoman , who is the current wealthiest member of the Senate , ran on her 100 % pro-Trump voting record .
Loeffler has said she has never disagreed with anything @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump 's reckless COVID-19 superspreader events during the campaign .
Last week , Loeffler claimed she was n't aware of Trump infamous Access Hollywood tape , in which he openly bragged about sexually assaulting women .
Loeffler has made headlines for her frequent attacks on the Black Lives Matter movement , and for bizarre ads bragging that she is even `` more conservative '' than Attila the Hun , the brutal fifth century ruler .
She has already started a smear campaign against Warnock ahead of their January runoff .
`` I am @ @ @ @ @ @ @ radical Democrats in the country , '' Loeffler tweeted on Wednesday .
The same day , Warnock released his first runoff ad , in which he predicted Loeffler would falsely accuse him of eating his pizza with a fork and knife , stepping on sidewalk cracks , and hating puppies — rather than talking about `` why she ’ s for getting rid of health care in the middle of a pandemic . ''
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

On Thursday, Sen. Kelly Loeffler (R-GA) said Georgia voters sent a “clear message” that they want to keep her in the Senate. But with nearly all of the votes counted, it’s clear that Loeffler came in second to her Democratic challenger, Reverend Raphael Warnock.
“Georgia voters sent a clear message Tuesday that they want us to continue our hard work in Washington, but our fight is not over. We need to finish this fight on January 5th!” Loeffler tweeted on Thursday morning.
Warnock received the plurality of votes in Tuesday’s special election. With about 94% of the votes counted so far, Warnock is ahead by more than 318,000 votes, and most of the remaining uncounted ballots are from reliably Democratic areas. Warnock won about 32.7% of the counted ballots to Loeffler’s 26.1%.
Georgia voters didn’t send a clear mandate for Donald Trump on Tuesday, either. With an estimated 61,367 ballots still to be counted on Thursday, Trump is barely ahead by about 18,500 votes — about 49.6% to 49.2% — out of more than 4.9 million votes tallied.
The next hurdle for Loeffler and Warnock after Tuesday will be a January runoff election — a race that could decide which party controls the Senate in 2021.
Last December, Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp appointed Loeffler to the Senate after Sen. Johnny Isakson (R-GA) retired before the end of his term. The Republican businesswoman, who is the current wealthiest member of the Senate, ran on her 100% pro-Trump voting record.
Loeffler has said she has never disagreed with anything Trump has done, and even defended Trump’s reckless COVID-19 superspreader events during the campaign. Last week, Loeffler claimed she wasn’t aware of Trump infamous Access Hollywood tape, in which he openly bragged about sexually assaulting women.
Loeffler has made headlines for her frequent attacks on the Black Lives Matter movement, and for bizarre ads bragging that she is even “more conservative” than Attila the Hun, the brutal fifth century ruler.
She has already started a smear campaign against Warnock ahead of their January runoff. “I am now running against one of the most radical Democrats in the country,” Loeffler tweeted on Wednesday.
The same day, Warnock released his first runoff ad, in which he predicted Loeffler would falsely accuse him of eating his pizza with a fork and knife, stepping on sidewalk cracks, and hating puppies — rather than talking about “why she’s for getting rid of health care in the middle of a pandemic.”
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-11-05--Watch Trump campaign official flee when asked for evidence of 'illegal' votes

A Trump campaign official ran away from reporters on Thursday after refusing to answer questions about unfounded allegations he made about `` illegitimate '' ballots cast in Nevada .
Richard Grenell , who served as the Ambassador to Germany and as the acting director of national intelligence in the Trump administration , joined the Trump campaign in May .
He and other Trump campaign officials held a press conference on Thursday , alleging without evidence that `` illegal ballots '' are being counted in Nevada .
In the current count of Nevada 's votes , Vice President Joe Biden leads @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
At the conclusion of the press conference , MSNBC reporter Jacob Soboroff asked Grenell to provide evidence of his allegation , which echoes other unsubstantiated claims that have been made by Trump and his campaign .
`` You should go in and ask the question of the clerk , '' Grenell responded as he walked toward a van .
Soboroff pressed him for an answer , noting that he had made the claim and also falsely alleged that Republicans had not been allowed to place in an election observer in the room @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not respond and instead entered the vehicle .
Another reporter asked for evidence of his claim but was also left unanswered .
Trump and his campaign are engaged in a strategy of attacking the integrity of the election with unfounded claims as Biden accumulates votes and nears a win .
JACOB SOBOROFF , MSNBC : Ric Grenell , we 're live on MSNBC right now , can you talk about the evidence you 're claiming thousands of illegitimate votes here in Nevada .
What 's the evidence ?
RICHARD GRENELL : You should @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the clerk — SOBOROFF : No , no , no , no .
GRENELL : — which you have n't done yet .
SOBOROFF : You guys just made the claim , no in fact you also said there 's no election observers .
There 's Democratic and Republican election observers inside Mr. Grenell .
Former DNI Grenell , acting DNI .
Where 's the evidence of the fraud ?
You have n't presented any evidence of fraud .
SOBOROFF : They 've presented no evidence of fraud .
So , we 're @ @ @ @ @ @ @ thousands of illegitimate ballots— TRUMP CAMPAIGN OFFICIAL : Please leave .
SOBOROFF : Matt Schlapp , where 's the illegitimate ballots ?
Where are the illegitimate ballots ?
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

A Trump campaign official ran away from reporters on Thursday after refusing to answer questions about unfounded allegations he made about “illegitimate” ballots cast in Nevada.
Richard Grenell, who served as the Ambassador to Germany and as the acting director of national intelligence in the Trump administration, joined the Trump campaign in May.
He and other Trump campaign officials held a press conference on Thursday, alleging without evidence that “illegal ballots” are being counted in Nevada.
In the current count of Nevada’s votes, Vice President Joe Biden leads Donald Trump by at least 11,000 votes.
At the conclusion of the press conference, MSNBC reporter Jacob Soboroff asked Grenell to provide evidence of his allegation, which echoes other unsubstantiated claims that have been made by Trump and his campaign.
“You should go in and ask the question of the clerk,” Grenell responded as he walked toward a van.
Soboroff pressed him for an answer, noting that he had made the claim and also falsely alleged that Republicans had not been allowed to place in an election observer in the room where votes were counted.
Grenell would not respond and instead entered the vehicle. Another reporter asked for evidence of his claim but was also left unanswered.
Trump and his campaign are engaged in a strategy of attacking the integrity of the election with unfounded claims as Biden accumulates votes and nears a win.
From Nov. 5 on MSNBC:
JACOB SOBOROFF, MSNBC: Ric Grenell, we’re live on MSNBC right now, can you talk about the evidence you’re claiming thousands of illegitimate votes here in Nevada. What’s the evidence? RICHARD GRENELL: You should go in and ask the question of the clerk — SOBOROFF: No, no, no, no. GRENELL: — which you haven’t done yet. SOBOROFF: You guys just made the claim, no in fact you also said there’s no election observers. There’s Democratic and Republican election observers inside Mr. Grenell. Former DNI Grenell, acting DNI. Where’s the evidence of the fraud? You haven’t presented any evidence of fraud. REPORTER: Where’s the evidence? SOBOROFF: They’ve presented no evidence of fraud. So, we’re live on MSNBC, you’ve said thousands of illegitimate ballots— TRUMP CAMPAIGN OFFICIAL: Please leave. SOBOROFF: Matt Schlapp, where’s the illegitimate ballots? Where are the illegitimate ballots? PROTESTER: Fox News sucks.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-11-05--Supreme Court hears its first big LGBTQ case since adding 6th conservative

The Supreme Court on Wednesday seemed likely to side with a Catholic social services agency in a dispute with Philadelphia over the agency 's refusal to work with same-sex couples as foster parents .
The case is a big test of religious rights on a more conservative court .
Catholic Social Services , which is affiliated with the Archdiocese of Philadelphia , says its religious views keep it from certifying same-sex couples as foster parents .
And it says it should n't be shut out of a contract with the city to find foster homes for children .
Philadelphia says @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it works with not to discriminate as part of their contract .
With the addition of three appointees of Donald Trump , Justices Neil Gorsuch , Brett Kavanaugh , and Amy Coney Barrett , the court would seem poised to extend protections for religious objections to anti-discrimination laws .
Kavanaugh suggested Wednesday there should be a way for Catholic Social Services to continue to work with foster families .
The case , Kavanaugh said , requires the justices to think about how to balance `` very important rights '' the court has recognized @ @ @ @ @ @ @ same-sex marriage .
`` It seems when those rights come into conflict , all levels of government should be careful and should often , where possible and appropriate , look for ways to accommodate both interests in reasonable ways , '' he said .
Even liberal Justice Sonia Sotomayor seemed to recognize the court was sympathetic to Catholic Social Services .
`` If one wanted to find a compromise in this case , can you suggest one that would n't do real damage to all the various lines of laws that have been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one point .
The justices heard arguments in the case Wednesday morning , as it was still unclear whether Trump or Democratic challenger Joe Biden had won the White House .
Though the case in front of the justices was from Pennsylvania , among the battleground states that could prove crucial in determining who wins the presidency , there was nothing in the arguments acknowledging the ongoing contest .
The justices also said nothing about Trump 's statement early Wednesday that he would take the election to the Supreme Court to stop the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ legal action he might try to pursue .
As they have been doing , the justices heard arguments in the case by telephone because of the coronavirus pandemic .
During nearly two hours of arguments , several justices brought up the fact that there 's no record that any same-sex couple has ever asked to work with Catholic Social Services and been turned away .
If a couple did ask , they 'd be referred to another of the more than two dozen agencies the city works with , Catholic Social Services says @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are Catholic or attended Catholic schools , also asked about other hypothetical contracts officials might make .
Justice Stephen Breyer asked what would happen if a religious organization bidding on a transportation contract wanted men and women to sit separately , or women to wear head scarves .
`` If there 's an agency that refuses to employ women , would the state have to contract with that agency ? ''
Justice Elena Kagan asked at one point .
And Barrett , hearing her third day of arguments at the high court , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ state contract with a private Catholic hospital requires it to perform abortions .
The case is not the first in which a more conservative court has weighed the rights of LGBT individuals .
Earlier this year , before Barrett joined the court , the justices by a 6-3 vote ruled that a landmark civil rights law protects gay , lesbian , and transgender people from discrimination in employment .
The opinion was written by Gorsuch , who said it was not likely to be the court 's last word on a host of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ case before the justices Wednesday began in 2018 after a Philadelphia Inquirer reporter notified city officials that two of the foster care agencies the city contracted with would not work with same-sex couples .
One of the agencies , Bethany Christian Services , changed its policy .
Catholic Social Services did not , and the city stopped placing children with the agency , which sued .
Catholic Social Services says it views certifying a family to be a foster family as an `` endorsement of the relationships of those living in the home @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it from certifying same-sex couples .
It also does n't work with unmarried couples .
The Trump administration has urged the Supreme Court to side with the agency , saying Philadelphia is unconstitutionally discriminating against religion .
The case is Fulton v. City of Philadelphia , 19-123 .

The Supreme Court on Wednesday seemed likely to side with a Catholic social services agency in a dispute with Philadelphia over the agency’s refusal to work with same-sex couples as foster parents.
The case is a big test of religious rights on a more conservative court.
Catholic Social Services, which is affiliated with the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, says its religious views keep it from certifying same-sex couples as foster parents. And it says it shouldn’t be shut out of a contract with the city to find foster homes for children. Philadelphia says it requires all the foster care agencies it works with not to discriminate as part of their contract.
With the addition of three appointees of Donald Trump, Justices Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh, and Amy Coney Barrett, the court would seem poised to extend protections for religious objections to anti-discrimination laws.
Kavanaugh suggested Wednesday there should be a way for Catholic Social Services to continue to work with foster families. The case, Kavanaugh said, requires the justices to think about how to balance “very important rights” the court has recognized: religious rights and the right to same-sex marriage.
“It seems when those rights come into conflict, all levels of government should be careful and should often, where possible and appropriate, look for ways to accommodate both interests in reasonable ways,” he said.
Even liberal Justice Sonia Sotomayor seemed to recognize the court was sympathetic to Catholic Social Services. “If one wanted to find a compromise in this case, can you suggest one that wouldn’t do real damage to all the various lines of laws that have been implicated here?” she asked at one point.
The justices heard arguments in the case Wednesday morning, as it was still unclear whether Trump or Democratic challenger Joe Biden had won the White House. Though the case in front of the justices was from Pennsylvania, among the battleground states that could prove crucial in determining who wins the presidency, there was nothing in the arguments acknowledging the ongoing contest.
The justices also said nothing about Trump’s statement early Wednesday that he would take the election to the Supreme Court to stop the counting. It was unclear exactly what legal action he might try to pursue.
As they have been doing, the justices heard arguments in the case by telephone because of the coronavirus pandemic.
During nearly two hours of arguments, several justices brought up the fact that there’s no record that any same-sex couple has ever asked to work with Catholic Social Services and been turned away. If a couple did ask, they’d be referred to another of the more than two dozen agencies the city works with, Catholic Social Services says.
The justices, seven of whom are Catholic or attended Catholic schools, also asked about other hypothetical contracts officials might make.
Justice Stephen Breyer asked what would happen if a religious organization bidding on a transportation contract wanted men and women to sit separately, or women to wear head scarves.
“If there’s an agency that refuses to employ women, would the state have to contract with that agency?” Justice Elena Kagan asked at one point.
And Barrett, hearing her third day of arguments at the high court, asked about a hypothetical case where a state contract with a private Catholic hospital requires it to perform abortions.
The case is not the first in which a more conservative court has weighed the rights of LGBT individuals. Earlier this year, before Barrett joined the court, the justices by a 6-3 vote ruled that a landmark civil rights law protects gay, lesbian, and transgender people from discrimination in employment. The opinion was written by Gorsuch, who said it was not likely to be the court’s last word on a host of issues revolving around LGBT rights.
The case before the justices Wednesday began in 2018 after a Philadelphia Inquirer reporter notified city officials that two of the foster care agencies the city contracted with would not work with same-sex couples. One of the agencies, Bethany Christian Services, changed its policy.
Catholic Social Services did not, and the city stopped placing children with the agency, which sued. Catholic Social Services says it views certifying a family to be a foster family as an “endorsement of the relationships of those living in the home” and therefore its religious beliefs prevent it from certifying same-sex couples. It also doesn’t work with unmarried couples.
The Trump administration has urged the Supreme Court to side with the agency, saying Philadelphia is unconstitutionally discriminating against religion.
Two lower courts sided with Philadelphia.
The case is Fulton v. City of Philadelphia, 19-123.


shareblue--2020-11-05--Trump campaign demands media stop reporting when Biden wins states

On a press call Thursday morning , the Trump campaign 's senior adviser Jason Miller said that it was irresponsible for the Associated Press and Fox News to call the state of Arizona for Democratic nominee Joe Biden while ballots remain to be counted .
`` It 's critical to point out that folks are coming around to the point that we 've been saying over and over since election night ... that President Trump is on pace to win Arizona , '' Miller said to reporters .
He noted that election forecaster and editor-in-chief of FiveThirtyEight Nate Silver `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and the AP should rescind their calling of the state . ''
He appeared to be referencing recent remarks of Silver on FiveThirtyEight 's liveblog .
`` I do n't know , I guess I 'd say that Biden will win Arizona if you forced me to pick , '' Silver wrote , `` but I sure as heck do n't think the state should have been called by anyone , and I think the calls that were previously made should be retracted now . ''
Silver also said that the AP and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ into looking into this than I have . ''
`` But you never know , and you will get incorrect calls occasionally , '' he added .
Silver also observed that while he did n't think the state should have been called yet , he thought it was `` likely '' that Biden won it .
Miller did not mention Thursday that Silver said the AP 's call for Biden was likely correct .
`` It is notable that all of the other broadcast networks besides Fox have held off on calling the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
He added that `` people from the media '' are saying the AP should `` renounce and rescind calling of the state of Arizona , '' but did not name any specific examples other than Silver .
`` We think it 's completely irresponsible for anyone to call this state for Biden , especially as these ballots are coming in , '' Miller said .
Trump campaign manager Bill Stepien also claimed on the call that `` the race in Arizona gets closer and closer every day . ''
But Biden currently @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Arizona , with 86 % of votes reported .
Donald Trump would need to compensate for Biden 's current lead in the state of nearly 69,000 votes .
Yet despite their professed contempt for calling a state while poll workers are still counting ballots , the Trump campaign had no qualms about claiming victory in the state of Pennsylvania on the call .
`` We are very confident that we will be winning Pennsylvania , '' Miller said .
`` That ’ s why we announced that we have won the state of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''
No news outlet , however , has yet called Pennsylvania .
On the call , Bill Stepien also claimed that Trump was ahead `` by 200,000 votes '' in Pennsylvania , but this number has dwindled to about 118,000 with hundreds of thousands of votes remaining to be counted in key counties .
And 77 % of Pennsylvania 's mail-in votes up till now have been for Biden .
Stepien blamed Kathy Boockvar , Pennsylvania 's Democratic Secretary of State , for election confusion in the state , claiming that Democrats @ @ @ @ @ @ @ running rampant all over this country . ''
He claimed the campaign has received `` countless incoming calls '' of election `` fraud and abuse '' in the state of Pennsylvania .
Every night , added Stepien , `` the president goes to bed with a lead , a sizable lead '' in various states and `` every night , new votes are mysteriously found in a sack . ''
`` It is a disgrace , '' Stepien said .
`` The American people deserve better .
Our democracy deserves better . ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ running an unbiased election , calling her a `` partisan hack '' and a `` disgrace . ''
`` This is why Americans have lost faith in our democracy , '' Stepien said .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

On a press call Thursday morning, the Trump campaign’s senior adviser Jason Miller said that it was irresponsible for the Associated Press and Fox News to call the state of Arizona for Democratic nominee Joe Biden while ballots remain to be counted.
“It’s critical to point out that folks are coming around to the point that we’ve been saying over and over since election night … that President Trump is on pace to win Arizona,” Miller said to reporters.
He noted that election forecaster and editor-in-chief of FiveThirtyEight Nate Silver “came out and said that Fox News and the AP should rescind their calling of the state.”
He appeared to be referencing recent remarks of Silver on FiveThirtyEight’s liveblog.
“I don’t know, I guess I’d say that Biden will win Arizona if you forced me to pick,” Silver wrote, “but I sure as heck don’t think the state should have been called by anyone, and I think the calls that were previously made should be retracted now.”
Silver also said that the AP and Fox News likely “put more work into looking into this than I have.”
“But you never know, and you will get incorrect calls occasionally,” he added.
Silver also observed that while he didn’t think the state should have been called yet, he thought it was “likely” that Biden won it.
Miller did not mention Thursday that Silver said the AP’s call for Biden was likely correct.
“It is notable that all of the other broadcast networks besides Fox have held off on calling the state of Arizona,” Miller said.
He added that “people from the media” are saying the AP should “renounce and rescind calling of the state of Arizona,” but did not name any specific examples other than Silver.
“We think it’s completely irresponsible for anyone to call this state for Biden, especially as these ballots are coming in,” Miller said.
Trump campaign manager Bill Stepien also claimed on the call that “the race in Arizona gets closer and closer every day.”
But Biden currently leads 50.5% to 48.1% in Arizona, with 86% of votes reported. Donald Trump would need to compensate for Biden’s current lead in the state of nearly 69,000 votes.
Yet despite their professed contempt for calling a state while poll workers are still counting ballots, the Trump campaign had no qualms about claiming victory in the state of Pennsylvania on the call.
“We are very confident that we will be winning Pennsylvania,” Miller said. “That’s why we announced that we have won the state of Pennsylvania. We are confident of that.”
No news outlet, however, has yet called Pennsylvania.
On the call, Bill Stepien also claimed that Trump was ahead “by 200,000 votes” in Pennsylvania, but this number has dwindled to about 118,000 with hundreds of thousands of votes remaining to be counted in key counties.
And 77% of Pennsylvania’s mail-in votes up till now have been for Biden.
Stepien blamed Kathy Boockvar, Pennsylvania’s Democratic Secretary of State, for election confusion in the state, claiming that Democrats “lying, cheating and stealing is running rampant all over this country.”
He claimed the campaign has received “countless incoming calls” of election “fraud and abuse” in the state of Pennsylvania.
Every night, added Stepien, “the president goes to bed with a lead, a sizable lead” in various states and “every night, new votes are mysteriously found in a sack.”
“It is a disgrace,” Stepien said. “The American people deserve better. Our democracy deserves better.”
He said that Boockvar is incapable of running an unbiased election, calling her a “partisan hack” and a “disgrace.”
“This is why Americans have lost faith in our democracy,” Stepien said.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-11-06--Republicans are lying about election fraud to try to get your money

As Donald Trump continues to make false claims of widespread voter fraud in the 2020 election to discredit his Democratic opponent Joe Biden , the GOP has ramped up pleas asking supporters to help with legal fees to contest the election .
According to the Daily Beast , at midnight on election night the Trump campaign began sending out emails begging for financial help .
By 9:30 a.m. Wednesday , it had sent nine separate requests .
One of them , signed by Vice President Mike Pence , said that Trump was on his way to `` WINNING BIG .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ matter of time before the Democrats try to steal the Election and manipulate the results ... We need your help to ensure we have the proper resources to protect the results , '' it read .
And in an ongoing call to action from Republican fundraising platform WinRed , the Trump campaign presents this message from Trump : `` THE DEMOCRATS WANT TO STEAL THIS ELECTION !
There will be FRAUD like you 've never seen , plain and simple !
We need YOUR HELP to ensure we have the resource to protect @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Election Day .
Do n't wait , step up NOW to DEFEND the integrity of our election ! ''
The request for contributions adds , `` We need YOUR HELP to ensure we have the resources to protect the results .
We ca n't allow the Left-wing MOB to undermine our Election . ''
But while the message purports to ask for money for legal fees to contest the election , the fine print indicates that that only half of each donation will go toward the campaigns `` recount account , '' while @ @ @ @ @ @ @ off the Trump campaign 's debt .
`` 50 % of each contribution , up to a maximum of $ 2,800 ( $ 5,000 ) , to be designated toward DJTFP ’ s 2020 general election account for general election debt retirement until such debt is retired .
50 % of each contribution , up to a maximum of $ 2,800 ( $ 5,000 ) , to be designated toward DJTFP ’ s Recount Account , '' it reads in small letters .
`` Any amount that exceeds the applicable contribution limit for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ any amounts donated to DJTFP after such debt has been retired , will be designated in full toward DJFTP ’ s Recount Account , up to a maximum of $ 2,800 ( $ 5,000 ) . ''
The Trump campaign has filed lawsuits in four states with razor-thin margins to challenge voting practices or halt the counting of validly cast ballots .
According to the nonprofit Center for Responsible Politics , Trump 's campaign has sent out vast numbers of other email blasts asking for Trump supporters to foot the bill for this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the center , one asks supporters to `` protect the election results , '' while another says Democrats are seeking to `` manipulate the results of the election . ''
Other GOP lawmakers have rushed to make money for Trump off of a contested election as well .
Sen. Lindsey Graham ( R-SC ) , took to Fox News Thursday to complain that the city of Philadelphia is `` crooked as a snake '' and brag that he 'd personally donated $ 500,000 to Trump 's legal fees to stop ballot counting .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ 're going to pick up House seats , '' Graham said .
`` I 'm going to donate $ 500,000 tonight to President Trump 's defense legal fund . ''
He added that the `` allegations of wrongdoing are earth-shattering '' in Philadelphia .
Sen. Marsha Blackburn ( R-TN ) has also been stumping for Trump , donating to his campaign and urging Republican voters to do the same .
`` It 's a shame that we have to fight for a fair election in the greatest democracy the world has ever known @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wrote in a statement on her website , accompanied by a link to donate .
`` One of the best ways to do so is by joining me in donating to the President 's legal defense fund .
President Donald Trump has always had our backs , and now , Tennesseans need to have his to make sure every single legally cast ballot is counted. '' No Republican , including Trump , has offered up any concrete evidence of voter fraud occurring in any state , but that has n't stopped them from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The Center for Responsible Politics notes that it is technically permissible for candidates to raise money for legal battles and challenges .
But it cautions that Trump has previously used his legal account in the past to pay for legal bills relating to the Mueller probe .
He 's also spent more on legal services than any other presidential election campaign in history : $ 20.8 million dollars in the past two election cycles .
By contrast , Democratic challenger Joe Biden spent only $ 2.2 million on legal fees during the 2020 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ W. Bush , who previously held the record , spent $ 8.8 million on legal matters during his campaign in 2004 .
Moreover , the Trump campaign is n't the only one profiting off the unfounded conspiracy theories the White House occupant is spinning about mass voter fraud .
A Reuters report noted that nine YouTube channels are monetizing videos promoting conspiracies about voter fraud and Democrats stealing the election .
Google is currently reviewing reports of the channel , according to Reuters .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

As Donald Trump continues to make false claims of widespread voter fraud in the 2020 election to discredit his Democratic opponent Joe Biden, the GOP has ramped up pleas asking supporters to help with legal fees to contest the election.
According to the Daily Beast, at midnight on election night the Trump campaign began sending out emails begging for financial help. By 9:30 a.m. Wednesday, it had sent nine separate requests.
One of them, signed by Vice President Mike Pence, said that Trump was on his way to “WINNING BIG.”
“But it’s only a matter of time before the Democrats try to steal the Election and manipulate the results… We need your help to ensure we have the proper resources to protect the results,” it read.
And in an ongoing call to action from Republican fundraising platform WinRed, the Trump campaign presents this message from Trump: “THE DEMOCRATS WANT TO STEAL THIS ELECTION! There will be FRAUD like you’ve never seen, plain and simple! We need YOUR HELP to ensure we have the resource to protect the results and keep fighting even after Election Day. Don’t wait, step up NOW to DEFEND the integrity of our election!”
The request for contributions adds, “We need YOUR HELP to ensure we have the resources to protect the results. We can’t allow the Left-wing MOB to undermine our Election.”
But while the message purports to ask for money for legal fees to contest the election, the fine print indicates that that only half of each donation will go toward the campaigns “recount account,” while the other half will go to pay off the Trump campaign’s debt.
“50% of each contribution, up to a maximum of $2,800 ($5,000), to be designated toward DJTFP’s 2020 general election account for general election debt retirement until such debt is retired. 50% of each contribution, up to a maximum of $2,800 ($5,000), to be designated toward DJTFP’s Recount Account,” it reads in small letters. “Any amount that exceeds the applicable contribution limit for 2020 general election debt retirement, including any amounts donated to DJTFP after such debt has been retired, will be designated in full toward DJFTP’s Recount Account, up to a maximum of $2,800 ($5,000).”
The Trump campaign has filed lawsuits in four states with razor-thin margins to challenge voting practices or halt the counting of validly cast ballots.
According to the nonprofit Center for Responsible Politics, Trump’s campaign has sent out vast numbers of other email blasts asking for Trump supporters to foot the bill for this slew of baseless lawsuits.
According to the center, one asks supporters to “protect the election results,” while another says Democrats are seeking to “manipulate the results of the election.”
Other GOP lawmakers have rushed to make money for Trump off of a contested election as well.
Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC), took to Fox News Thursday to complain that the city of Philadelphia is “crooked as a snake” and brag that he’d personally donated $500,000 to Trump’s legal fees to stop ballot counting.
“He helped Senate Republicans, we’re going to pick up House seats,” Graham said. “I’m going to donate $500,000 tonight to President Trump’s defense legal fund.”
He added that the “allegations of wrongdoing are earth-shattering” in Philadelphia.
Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) has also been stumping for Trump, donating to his campaign and urging Republican voters to do the same.
“It’s a shame that we have to fight for a fair election in the greatest democracy the world has ever known, but we do,” Blackburn wrote in a statement on her website, accompanied by a link to donate. “One of the best ways to do so is by joining me in donating to the President’s legal defense fund. President Donald Trump has always had our backs, and now, Tennesseans need to have his to make sure every single legally cast ballot is counted.”
No Republican, including Trump, has offered up any concrete evidence of voter fraud occurring in any state, but that hasn’t stopped them from soliciting donations to tilt at windmills.
The Center for Responsible Politics notes that it is technically permissible for candidates to raise money for legal battles and challenges.
But it cautions that Trump has previously used his legal account in the past to pay for legal bills relating to the Mueller probe. He’s also spent more on legal services than any other presidential election campaign in history: $20.8 million dollars in the past two election cycles.
By contrast, Democratic challenger Joe Biden spent only $2.2 million on legal fees during the 2020 election cycle. And former President George W. Bush, who previously held the record, spent $8.8 million on legal matters during his campaign in 2004.
Moreover, the Trump campaign isn’t the only one profiting off the unfounded conspiracy theories the White House occupant is spinning about mass voter fraud. A Reuters report noted that nine YouTube channels are monetizing videos promoting conspiracies about voter fraud and Democrats stealing the election.
Google is currently reviewing reports of the channel, according to Reuters.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-11-06--Philadelphia mayor: Trump needs to 'put his big boy pants on' and admit he lost

During a press conference Friday , Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney said that Donald Trump needs to accept that the presidential race is over and concede his loss to Democratic contender Joe Biden .
`` I think what the president needs to do is , frankly , put his big boy pants on , '' Kenney said .
`` He needs to acknowledge the fact that he lost and he needs to congratulate the winner , just as Jimmy Carter did , just as George H.W .
Bush did , and frankly , just as Al Gore did . ''
But @ @ @ @ @ @ @ House occupant would listen to his opinion .
Trump has said he has n't prepared a concession speech because `` losing is never easy , '' and his campaign issued a statement Friday saying he will continue to keep fighting the election results .
`` We believe the American people deserve to have full transparency into all vote counting and election certification , '' the statement read in part .
`` This is no longer about any single election .
This is about the integrity of our entire election process . ''
And @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is just beginning : `` I will never give up fighting for you or our nation . ''
But a concession speech by the loser of a presidential election , while a long-standing tradition , is not legally necessary for a peaceful transfer of power .
Election law expert Rick Hasen , a professor at the University of California , Irvine , School of Law , told the American Independent Foundation that a concession `` has no legal consequence . ''
`` It has more of a political consequence , '' Hasen noted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a `` protracted struggle '' if Trump persisted in flinging accusations of voter fraud and filing lawsuits to stop the counting of ballots .
Earlier on Friday , the Trump campaign 's general counsel , Matt Morgan , also said Trump had no intention of conceding , telling the Guardian : `` This election is not over .
The false projection of Joe Biden as the winner is based on results in four states that are far from final . ''
But state government officials are not kowtowing to Trump 's petulant demands @ @ @ @ @ @ @ if they followed the law , their vote will be counted — and no matter who wins , that the final vote count will be legitimate , '' Josh Shapiro , Pennsylvania 's attorney general , wrote in a CNN op-ed published Thursday .
`` This is a commitment made in every state , in every county , in every city and town across America : in states that lean Democrat and in states that lean Republican , on the West Coast and the East Coast , from Hawaii to the heartland .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ that is our law . ''
He added that he would continue to ensure the law was followed in his home state .
`` Over the next few days , we 'll see that our process is followed in Pennsylvania , we 'll see that our process is followed in Pennsylvania , we will see totals add up until 100 % of the ballots are in , winners will be determined and the will of the voters will be heard , '' Shapiro said .
A spokesperson for Ben Raffensperger , Georgia 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ election directors and employees are `` here to do the job of protecting democracy . ''
`` When you go to talk to them , they think about that .
They think about the votes of every person in this room and around the country .
These people are not involved in voter fraud , '' said Gabriel Sterling , Georgia 's voting systems manager .
`` These people are not involved in voter suppression .
I 'm telling you , they are doing their jobs every day .
It is hard , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it , and we are going to work with them to make sure that every legal , lawful ballot is counted . ''
And Nevada Attorney General Aaron Ford told the Nevada Independent on Thursday that Nevadans could rest easy that the election process was safe and secure .
`` Rest assured , again , that we have people here who know how to run fair , safe and secure elections , and voter fraud is a very minimal occurrence , '' Ford said .
The Biden team does n't seem to be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up a concession speech .
`` As we said on July 19th , the American people will decide this election , '' noted Biden campaign spokesman Andrew Bates on Friday .
`` And the United States government is perfectly capable of escorting trespassers out of the White House . ''
Even former Vice President Al Gore , who famously challenged the outcome of the 2000 election , had some thoughts on the matter .
Gore , who offered a gracious concession speech after a Supreme Court decision in Bush v. Gore handed his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , told NBC that there is no evidence of widespread voter fraud in the 2020 election and that Trump should do `` the right thing '' by conceding .
`` The election is over with , the campaign is over with , '' Gore said .
`` All that remains is to count the vote . ''
He added : `` The most important principle that I defended 20 years ago , that Joe Biden and many others are defending tonight is , let 's count every legally cast vote and obey the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ know , I looked at the people standing in line to vote in the middle of a pandemic .
… They 're heroes and they 're redeeming the promise of America . ''
Gore noted : `` I 've heard the president say that if he does n't win , there may be this , that and the other .
Nobody should be inciting violence .
That 's dishonoring the mandate of the American people to make this choice . ''
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

During a press conference Friday, Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney said that Donald Trump needs to accept that the presidential race is over and concede his loss to Democratic contender Joe Biden.
“I think what the president needs to do is, frankly, put his big boy pants on,” Kenney said. “He needs to acknowledge the fact that he lost and he needs to congratulate the winner, just as Jimmy Carter did, just as George H.W. Bush did, and frankly, just as Al Gore did.”
But Kenney admitted that he doubted the White House occupant would listen to his opinion.
Trump has said he hasn’t prepared a concession speech because “losing is never easy,” and his campaign issued a statement Friday saying he will continue to keep fighting the election results.
“We believe the American people deserve to have full transparency into all vote counting and election certification,” the statement read in part. “This is no longer about any single election. This is about the integrity of our entire election process.”
And, the statement adds, the fight is just beginning: “I will never give up fighting for you or our nation.”
But a concession speech by the loser of a presidential election, while a long-standing tradition, is not legally necessary for a peaceful transfer of power.
Election law expert Rick Hasen, a professor at the University of California, Irvine, School of Law, told the American Independent Foundation that a concession “has no legal consequence.”
“It has more of a political consequence,” Hasen noted.
He added that there could be a “protracted struggle” if Trump persisted in flinging accusations of voter fraud and filing lawsuits to stop the counting of ballots.
Earlier on Friday, the Trump campaign’s general counsel, Matt Morgan, also said Trump had no intention of conceding, telling the Guardian: “This election is not over. The false projection of Joe Biden as the winner is based on results in four states that are far from final.”
But state government officials are not kowtowing to Trump’s petulant demands.
“Voters can have confidence that if they followed the law, their vote will be counted — and no matter who wins, that the final vote count will be legitimate,” Josh Shapiro, Pennsylvania’s attorney general, wrote in a CNN op-ed published Thursday. “This is a commitment made in every state, in every county, in every city and town across America: in states that lean Democrat and in states that lean Republican, on the West Coast and the East Coast, from Hawaii to the heartland. That’s our American tradition, and that is our law.”
He added that he would continue to ensure the law was followed in his home state.
“Over the next few days, we’ll see that our process is followed in Pennsylvania, we’ll see that our process is followed in Pennsylvania, we will see totals add up until 100% of the ballots are in, winners will be determined and the will of the voters will be heard,” Shapiro said.
A spokesperson for Ben Raffensperger, Georgia’s Republican secretary of state, said that election directors and employees are “here to do the job of protecting democracy.”
“When you go to talk to them, they think about that. They think about the votes of every person in this room and around the country. These people are not involved in voter fraud,” said Gabriel Sterling, Georgia’s voting systems manager. “These people are not involved in voter suppression. I’m telling you, they are doing their jobs every day. It is hard, and we are thankful to them for it, and we are going to work with them to make sure that every legal, lawful ballot is counted.”
And Nevada Attorney General Aaron Ford told the Nevada Independent on Thursday that Nevadans could rest easy that the election process was safe and secure.
“Rest assured, again, that we have people here who know how to run fair, safe and secure elections, and voter fraud is a very minimal occurrence,” Ford said.
The Biden team doesn’t seem to be losing sleep over whether Trump will offer up a concession speech.
“As we said on July 19th, the American people will decide this election,” noted Biden campaign spokesman Andrew Bates on Friday. “And the United States government is perfectly capable of escorting trespassers out of the White House.”
Even former Vice President Al Gore, who famously challenged the outcome of the 2000 election, had some thoughts on the matter.
Gore, who offered a gracious concession speech after a Supreme Court decision in Bush v. Gore handed his Republican opponent George W. Bush the presidency, told NBC that there is no evidence of widespread voter fraud in the 2020 election and that Trump should do “the right thing” by conceding.
“The election is over with, the campaign is over with,” Gore said. “All that remains is to count the vote.”
He added: “The most important principle that I defended 20 years ago, that Joe Biden and many others are defending tonight is, let’s count every legally cast vote and obey the will of the American people. You know, I looked at the people standing in line to vote in the middle of a pandemic. … They’re heroes and they’re redeeming the promise of America.”
Gore noted: “I’ve heard the president say that if he doesn’t win, there may be this, that and the other. Nobody should be inciting violence. That’s dishonoring the mandate of the American people to make this choice.”
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-11-06--The GOP is all of a sudden very concerned about the national debt again

As it becomes clear that Donald Trump will lose the White House to Joe Biden , Republicans have returned to one of their favorite pastimes : stoking fears about the national debt .
Senate Republicans have resumed their calls to cut government spending despite the U.S. economy 's continued free fall during the coronavirus pandemic .
Last month , Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell warned that the economy 's downward spiral will only continue if the federal government fails to act .
`` The expansion is still far from complete , '' Powell told members of the National Association for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would lead to a weak recovery , creating unnecessary hardship for households and businesses .
Over time , household insolvencies and business bankruptcies would rise , harming the productive capacity of the economy , and holding back wage growth . ''
Powell added : `` The right thing to do and the smart thing to do in the long run is to support those people as they return to their old jobs or find new jobs . ''
Sen. Lindsey Graham ( R-SC ) and his GOP colleagues have ignored economists ' warnings @ @ @ @ @ @ @ somehow cut its way to economic prosperity .
`` If we keep the Senate — which I think we will — and I become budget chairman , I 'd like to create a dialogue about how can we finally begin to address the debt , '' Graham told Roll Call on Friday .
`` You 'll see from me a reliable conservative , vote .
You 'll see from me , stopping an agenda I think is bad for the country . ''
On Thursday , Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ toward recovery .
`` I did think the unemployment figure this morning of 6.9 % is a stunning indication of a dramatic comeback of the economy , '' McConnell ( R-KY ) said at a press conference .
`` That coupled with the Gross Domestic Product growth in third-quarter indicates that our economy is really moving to get back on its feet . ''
With Democrats poised to retake the White House , Republicans in Congress have signaled a return to their strategy of crying wolf about the national debt to refuse any @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the floor .
`` Sadly , instead of crushing the virus , it appears that the Trump administration will use its final moments in office and a desperate last step to destroy every possible protection for American health and wellbeing , '' Pelosi said .
`` While we prepare for the new Biden administration , we must also move swiftly for a new Coronavirus Relief Bill , so we can do that .
We want the Republicans to come back to the table , the White House leadership , whatever .
For two @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cases were reported .
The imperative to act could not be greater . ''
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

As it becomes clear that Donald Trump will lose the White House to Joe Biden, Republicans have returned to one of their favorite pastimes: stoking fears about the national debt.
Senate Republicans have resumed their calls to cut government spending despite the U.S. economy’s continued free fall during the coronavirus pandemic. Last month, Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell warned that the economy’s downward spiral will only continue if the federal government fails to act.
“The expansion is still far from complete,” Powell told members of the National Association for Business Economics. “Too little support would lead to a weak recovery, creating unnecessary hardship for households and businesses. Over time, household insolvencies and business bankruptcies would rise, harming the productive capacity of the economy, and holding back wage growth.”
Powell added: “The right thing to do and the smart thing to do in the long run is to support those people as they return to their old jobs or find new jobs.”
Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) and his GOP colleagues have ignored economists’ warnings, arguing that the U.S. government can somehow cut its way to economic prosperity.
“If we keep the Senate — which I think we will — and I become budget chairman, I’d like to create a dialogue about how can we finally begin to address the debt,” Graham told Roll Call on Friday. “You’ll see from me a reliable conservative, vote. You’ll see from me, stopping an agenda I think is bad for the country.”
On Thursday, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said the U.S. economy is “really moving” toward recovery.
“I did think the unemployment figure this morning of 6.9% is a stunning indication of a dramatic comeback of the economy,” McConnell (R-KY) said at a press conference. “That coupled with the Gross Domestic Product growth in third-quarter indicates that our economy is really moving to get back on its feet.”
With Democrats poised to retake the White House, Republicans in Congress have signaled a return to their strategy of crying wolf about the national debt to refuse any and every Democratic proposal that comes to the floor.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) hit back at Republican officials on Friday.
“Sadly, instead of crushing the virus, it appears that the Trump administration will use its final moments in office and a desperate last step to destroy every possible protection for American health and wellbeing,” Pelosi said.
“While we prepare for the new Biden administration, we must also move swiftly for a new Coronavirus Relief Bill, so we can do that. We want the Republicans to come back to the table, the White House leadership, whatever. For two days in a row, over 100,000 cases were reported. The imperative to act could not be greater.”
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-11-06--Even Fox News is getting pretty tired of Trump's lies about 'election fraud'

Fox News is calling out Donald Trump 's unfounded election fraud claims and egregious lies .
On Friday morning , Republican National Committee Chair Ronna McDaniel said on Fox News , `` If there is election fraud , which everyone accuses , or says there was n't , or if there were these irregularities , we need to pursue them . ''
`` We need to go down that avenue and make sure that every vote that was legal is counted , but also that were n't attempts to subvert the vote , '' she said .
Fox host Bret @ @ @ @ @ @ @ responding with , `` We agree with you and we want to look into everything as well .
...
But we just have n't seen it . ''
Baier debunked Trump ally Newt Gingrich 's false voter fraud claims , saying , `` We trusted them ( Pennsylvania election authorities ) four years ago , '' and `` What 's different now ? ''
Fox News reporters including Eric Shawn also debunked a list of Trump 's conspiracy theories on election fraud this week .
But the Trump campaign has presented no evidence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ allegations of fraud are all baseless .
Michael Georg Link , who heads the international delegation Organization for Security and Cooperation to monitor the U.S. election , said they looked into postal ballot fraud and found no evidence of mail-in voting fraud .
`` We found no violations in the rules whatsoever , '' he said .
Trump and the GOP have been at war with Fox News for the past days after the network called Arizona for former Vice President Joe Biden .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Fox News is calling out Donald Trump’s unfounded election fraud claims and egregious lies.
On Friday morning, Republican National Committee Chair Ronna McDaniel said on Fox News, “If there is election fraud, which everyone accuses, or says there wasn’t, or if there were these irregularities, we need to pursue them.”
“We need to go down that avenue and make sure that every vote that was legal is counted, but also that weren’t attempts to subvert the vote,” she said.
Fox host Bret Baier didn’t buy the argument, responding with, “We agree with you and we want to look into everything as well. … But we just haven’t seen it.”
Baier debunked Trump ally Newt Gingrich’s false voter fraud claims, saying, “We trusted them (Pennsylvania election authorities) four years ago,” and “What’s different now?”
Fox News reporters including Eric Shawn also debunked a list of Trump’s conspiracy theories on election fraud this week.
But the Trump campaign has presented no evidence of “illegal” votes and the allegations of fraud are all baseless.
Michael Georg Link, who heads the international delegation Organization for Security and Cooperation to monitor the U.S. election, said they looked into postal ballot fraud and found no evidence of mail-in voting fraud.
“We found no violations in the rules whatsoever,” he said.
Trump and the GOP have been at war with Fox News for the past days after the network called Arizona for former Vice President Joe Biden.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-11-06--GOP congressman says election loss means end of the country in truly unhinged video

Rep. Clay Higgins ( R-LA ) posted a bizarre video on Election Night in which he falsely claimed the election had been `` compromised . ''
In the video , Higgins falsely claimed the election was stolen from Donald Trump , and he appeared to try to incite violence from Trump supporters .
Higgins said in the video : Listen , we do n't want a fight , we love our brothers and sisters , disagree though we may , including serious disagreement , none of us want a fight man .
However , I have to tell you , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this election , feel my spirit , I 'm telling you , our president won this election .
And if any American would stand by and allow the total dissolution our our Republic , then you 're not an American .
Higgins first posted the bizarre video to his Facebook page , according to 99.9 KTDY , a Louisiana radio station .
The video was eventually taken down , but only after it had attracted roughly 3,000 reactions and 1,000 comments .
A number of GOP lawmakers have parroted Trump 's dangerous rhetoric @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been rampant fraud in the 2020 election — which Democratic nominee Joe Biden is on the precipice of winning as the last remaining ballots in a handful of states are counted .
Trump and Republicans have claimed that absentee ballots that have broken heavily for Biden should n't be counted because of the fraud , but have yet to provide any evidence of fraud itself .
That lack of evidence has led judges to throw out Trump campaign legal challenges seeking to stop vote counting .
Higgins ' comments went a step further @ @ @ @ @ @ @ claiming he has `` inside data '' that `` this election is compromised '' — a wild claim which he provides absolutely no evidence for .
Higgins has raised eyebrows with his public comments in recent weeks .
On Oct. 23 , Higgins sent a bizarre tweet claiming his wife `` has the gift of premonition , '' and describing a dream she had about Americans losing their freedoms .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

Rep. Clay Higgins (R-LA) posted a bizarre video on Election Night in which he falsely claimed the election had been “compromised.”
In the video, Higgins falsely claimed the election was stolen from Donald Trump, and he appeared to try to incite violence from Trump supporters.
Higgins said in the video:
Listen, we don’t want a fight, we love our brothers and sisters, disagree though we may, including serious disagreement, none of us want a fight man. However, I have to tell you, that this election, our president won this election, feel my spirit, I’m telling you, our president won this election. And if any American would stand by and allow the total dissolution our our Republic, then you’re not an American.
Higgins first posted the bizarre video to his Facebook page, according to 99.9 KTDY, a Louisiana radio station. The video was eventually taken down, but only after it had attracted roughly 3,000 reactions and 1,000 comments.
A number of GOP lawmakers have parroted Trump’s dangerous rhetoric in which he falsely claimed there has been rampant fraud in the 2020 election — which Democratic nominee Joe Biden is on the precipice of winning as the last remaining ballots in a handful of states are counted.
Trump and Republicans have claimed that absentee ballots that have broken heavily for Biden shouldn’t be counted because of the fraud, but have yet to provide any evidence of fraud itself. That lack of evidence has led judges to throw out Trump campaign legal challenges seeking to stop vote counting.
Higgins’ comments went a step further, appearing to call for violence and claiming he has “inside data” that “this election is compromised” — a wild claim which he provides absolutely no evidence for.
Higgins has raised eyebrows with his public comments in recent weeks. On Oct. 23, Higgins sent a bizarre tweet claiming his wife “has the gift of premonition,” and describing a dream she had about Americans losing their freedoms.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-11-06--Counties with the biggest virus surges overwhelmingly voted for Trump

U.S. voters went to the polls starkly divided on how they see Donald Trump 's response to the coronavirus pandemic .
But in places where the virus is most rampant now , Trump enjoyed enormous support .
An Associated Press analysis reveals that in 376 counties with the highest number of new cases per capita , the overwhelming majority — 93 % of those counties — went for Trump , a rate above other less severely hit areas .
Most were rural counties in Montana , the Dakotas , Nebraska , Kansas , Iowa , and Wisconsin — the kinds @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of adherence to social distancing , mask-wearing , and other public health measures , and have been a focal point for much of the latest surge in cases .
Taking note of the contrast , state health officials are pausing for a moment of introspection .
Even as they worry about rising numbers of hospitalizations and deaths , they hope to reframe their messages and aim for a reset on public sentiment now that the election is over .
`` Public health officials need to step back , listen to and understand the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stance '' on mask-wearing and other control measures , said Dr. Marcus Plescia of the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials .
`` I think there 's the potential for things to get less charged and divisive , '' he said , adding that there 's a chance a retooled public health message might unify Americans around lowering case counts so hospitals wo n't get swamped during the winter months .
The electoral divide comes amid an explosion in cases and hospitalizations in the United States and globally .
The U.S. broke @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for daily new cases , hitting nearly 90,000 .
The tally for new cases Thursday was on track for another day above 100,000 , with massive numbers reported all around the country , including a combined nearly 25,000 in Texas , Illinois , and Florida .
Iowa and Indiana each reported more than 4,000 cases as well .
The AP 's analysis was limited to counties in which at least 95 % of precincts had reported results , and grouped counties into six categories based on the rates of COVID-19 cases they 'd @ @ @ @ @ @ @ too , shows voters who split on Republican Trump vs. Democrat Joe Biden differed on whether the pandemic is under control .
A total of 36 % of Trump voters described the pandemic as completely or mostly under control , and another 47 % said it was somewhat under control , according to AP VoteCast , a nationwide survey of more than 110,000 voters conducted for the AP by NORC at the University of Chicago .
Meanwhile , 82 % of Biden voters said the pandemic is not at all under control .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ under control by slim majorities of voters in many red states , including Alabama ( 60 % ) , Missouri ( 54 % ) , Mississippi ( 58 % ) , Kentucky ( 55 % ) , Texas ( 55 % ) , Tennessee ( 56 % ) , and South Carolina ( 56 % ) .
In Wisconsin , where the virus surged just before the election , 57 % said the pandemic was not under control .
In Washington state , where the virus is more in control now compared to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said the same .
Voters in New York and New Hampshire , where the virus is more controlled now after early surges , were roughly divided in their assessments , similar to voters nationwide .
Trump voters interviewed by AP reporters said they value individual freedom and believed the president was doing as well as anyone could in response to the coronavirus .
Michaela Lane , a 25-year-old Republican , dropped her ballot off last week at a polling site at an outdoor mall in Phoenix .
She cast her vote for Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ important issue facing the country as a whole is liberty at large , '' Lane said .
`` Infringing on people 's freedom , government overrule , government overreach , chaos in a lot of issues currently going on and just giving people back their rights . ''
About half of Trump voters called the economy and jobs the top issue facing the nation , roughly twice the percentage who named the pandemic , according to VoteCast .
By contrast , a majority of Biden voters — about 6 in 10 — said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
In Madison , Wisconsin , Eric Engstrom , a 31-year-old investment analyst , and his wife , Gwen , voted absentee by mail in early October .
Trump 's failure to control the pandemic sealed his vote for Biden , Engstrom said , calling the coronavirus the most immediate threat the nation faces .
He and his wife are expecting their first child , a girl , in January and fear `` the potential of one of us or both of us being sick when the baby is born , '' he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the virus abysmal .
`` If there was any chance that I was going to vote for Trump , it was eliminated because of the pandemic , '' he said .
The political temperature has added to the stress of public health officials , Plescia said .
`` Our biggest concern is how long can they sustain this pace ? ''
he said .
Since the start of the pandemic , 74 state and local public health officials in 31 states have resigned , retired , or been fired , according to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Health News .
As the election mood dissipates , rising hospitalizations amid colder weather create `` a really pivotal moment '' in the pandemic , said Sema Sgaier , executive director of the Surgo Foundation , a Washington , D.C.-based nonprofit that worked with Harvard University-affiliated Ariadne Labs to develop a tool for estimating vaccine needs in states .
`` We really need to get our act together .
When I say 'we ' I mean collectively , '' Sgaier said .
Finding common ground may become easier if one or more of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and gains government approval , she said .
`` The vaccine provides the reset button , '' Sgaier said .
Dr. Anthony Fauci may be another unifying force .
According to VoteCast , 73 % of voters nationwide approve of the way Fauci , the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases , has been handling the pandemic .
Even among Trump voters , 53 % approve of Fauci 's performance .
About 9 in 10 Biden voters approve .

U.S. voters went to the polls starkly divided on how they see Donald Trump’s response to the coronavirus pandemic. But in places where the virus is most rampant now, Trump enjoyed enormous support.
An Associated Press analysis reveals that in 376 counties with the highest number of new cases per capita, the overwhelming majority — 93% of those counties — went for Trump, a rate above other less severely hit areas.
Most were rural counties in Montana, the Dakotas, Nebraska, Kansas, Iowa, and Wisconsin — the kinds of areas that often have lower rates of adherence to social distancing, mask-wearing, and other public health measures, and have been a focal point for much of the latest surge in cases.
Taking note of the contrast, state health officials are pausing for a moment of introspection. Even as they worry about rising numbers of hospitalizations and deaths, they hope to reframe their messages and aim for a reset on public sentiment now that the election is over.
“Public health officials need to step back, listen to and understand the people who aren’t taking the same stance” on mask-wearing and other control measures, said Dr. Marcus Plescia of the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials.
“I think there’s the potential for things to get less charged and divisive,” he said, adding that there’s a chance a retooled public health message might unify Americans around lowering case counts so hospitals won’t get swamped during the winter months.
The electoral divide comes amid an explosion in cases and hospitalizations in the United States and globally.
The U.S. broke another record in the 7-day rolling average for daily new cases, hitting nearly 90,000. The tally for new cases Thursday was on track for another day above 100,000, with massive numbers reported all around the country, including a combined nearly 25,000 in Texas, Illinois, and Florida. Iowa and Indiana each reported more than 4,000 cases as well.
The AP’s analysis was limited to counties in which at least 95% of precincts had reported results, and grouped counties into six categories based on the rates of COVID-19 cases they’d experienced per 100,000 residents.
Polling, too, shows voters who split on Republican Trump vs. Democrat Joe Biden differed on whether the pandemic is under control.
A total of 36% of Trump voters described the pandemic as completely or mostly under control, and another 47% said it was somewhat under control, according to AP VoteCast, a nationwide survey of more than 110,000 voters conducted for the AP by NORC at the University of Chicago. Meanwhile, 82% of Biden voters said the pandemic is not at all under control.
The pandemic was considered at least somewhat under control by slim majorities of voters in many red states, including Alabama (60%), Missouri (54%), Mississippi (58%), Kentucky (55%), Texas (55%), Tennessee (56%), and South Carolina (56%).
In Wisconsin, where the virus surged just before the election, 57% said the pandemic was not under control. In Washington state, where the virus is more in control now compared to earlier in the year, 55% said the same. Voters in New York and New Hampshire, where the virus is more controlled now after early surges, were roughly divided in their assessments, similar to voters nationwide.
Trump voters interviewed by AP reporters said they value individual freedom and believed the president was doing as well as anyone could in response to the coronavirus.
Michaela Lane, a 25-year-old Republican, dropped her ballot off last week at a polling site at an outdoor mall in Phoenix. She cast her vote for Trump.
“I feel like the most important issue facing the country as a whole is liberty at large,” Lane said. “Infringing on people’s freedom, government overrule, government overreach, chaos in a lot of issues currently going on and just giving people back their rights.”
About half of Trump voters called the economy and jobs the top issue facing the nation, roughly twice the percentage who named the pandemic, according to VoteCast. By contrast, a majority of Biden voters — about 6 in 10 — said the pandemic was the most important issue.
In Madison, Wisconsin, Eric Engstrom, a 31-year-old investment analyst, and his wife, Gwen, voted absentee by mail in early October.
Trump’s failure to control the pandemic sealed his vote for Biden, Engstrom said, calling the coronavirus the most immediate threat the nation faces. He and his wife are expecting their first child, a girl, in January and fear “the potential of one of us or both of us being sick when the baby is born,” he said.
Engstrom called Trump’s response to the virus abysmal. “If there was any chance that I was going to vote for Trump, it was eliminated because of the pandemic,” he said.
The political temperature has added to the stress of public health officials, Plescia said. “Our biggest concern is how long can they sustain this pace?” he said.
Since the start of the pandemic, 74 state and local public health officials in 31 states have resigned, retired, or been fired, according to an ongoing analysis by AP and Kaiser Health News.
As the election mood dissipates, rising hospitalizations amid colder weather create “a really pivotal moment” in the pandemic, said Sema Sgaier, executive director of the Surgo Foundation, a Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit that worked with Harvard University-affiliated Ariadne Labs to develop a tool for estimating vaccine needs in states.
“We really need to get our act together. When I say ‘we’ I mean collectively,” Sgaier said. Finding common ground may become easier if one or more of the vaccine candidates proves safe and effective and gains government approval, she said.
“The vaccine provides the reset button,” Sgaier said.
Dr. Anthony Fauci may be another unifying force. According to VoteCast, 73% of voters nationwide approve of the way Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, has been handling the pandemic.
Even among Trump voters, 53% approve of Fauci’s performance. About 9 in 10 Biden voters approve.


shareblue--2020-11-06--GOP claims the troops are committing voter fraud — by voting

A legal complaint filed by the Nevada Republican Party alleges that members of the military committed voter fraud by voting legally .
The criminal referral , sent by the party to the U.S. Department of Justice on Thursday , baselessly alleges `` at least 3,062 instances of voter fraud '' in Tuesday 's elections in the state .
`` Thousands of individuals have been identified who appear to have violated the law by casting ballots after they moved from NV , '' the party claimed .
But according to the Washington Post , Nevada law allows many people temporarily residing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in elections .
This includes Nevadans serving in the military and their spouses as well as those attending colleges outside of Nevada .
And as Jon Ralston , founder and editor of the nonprofit Nevada Independent , noted on Friday , a significant number of the names included on the GOP 's list were clearly military service members .
`` Many on list sent to the DOJ have these postal codes : AE , AA and AP : Armed Forces Europe , Armed Forces Americas and Armed Forces Pacific .
That is , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' Ralston tweeted .
`` Incompetence or fraud , gentlemen ?
Why does Team Trump hate NV military personnel ? ''
As signs continue to point to a victory by Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden by a comfortable margin , Donald Trump and his supporters have pushed false claims of voter fraud and election stealing by Democrats .
Trump has pushed to exclude many military votes from the 2020 vote count .
Last year , his administration took steps to make it more expensive for overseas service members to send in ballots @ @ @ @ @ @ @ per ballot .
A week ago , he told reporters : `` It would be very , very proper and very nice if a winner were declared on November 3 .
Instead of counting ballots for two weeks , which is totally inappropriate , and I do n't believe that 's by our laws .
I do n't believe that . ''
Trump 's own state of Florida — like many others— gives extra time for overseas military ballots to be delivered , as long as they are postmarked by Election Day .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ attacking U.S. troops and their families .
He took billions of dollars appropriated by Congress for the military and used it to fund his massive southern border wall ; he refused to ask Vladimir Putin about intelligence showing that the Russian president offered bounties for the killing of American troops in Afghanistan ; and he reportedly called people who died in military service `` losers '' and `` suckers . ''
The results in Nevada have not yet been called by major networks , but Joe Biden as of this writing holds a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The vast majority of uncounted ballots are from Clark County , a heavily Democratic area that includes Las Vegas .
The winner of the state will receive six electoral votes .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

A legal complaint filed by the Nevada Republican Party alleges that members of the military committed voter fraud by voting legally.
The criminal referral, sent by the party to the U.S. Department of Justice on Thursday, baselessly alleges “at least 3,062 instances of voter fraud” in Tuesday’s elections in the state. “Thousands of individuals have been identified who appear to have violated the law by casting ballots after they moved from NV,” the party claimed.
But according to the Washington Post, Nevada law allows many people temporarily residing out of state to continue to participate in elections. This includes Nevadans serving in the military and their spouses as well as those attending colleges outside of Nevada.
And as Jon Ralston, founder and editor of the nonprofit Nevada Independent, noted on Friday, a significant number of the names included on the GOP’s list were clearly military service members.
“Many on list sent to the DOJ have these postal codes: AE, AA and AP: Armed Forces Europe, Armed Forces Americas and Armed Forces Pacific. That is, Nevadans in the military who sent absentees,” Ralston tweeted. “Incompetence or fraud, gentlemen? Why does Team Trump hate NV military personnel?”
As signs continue to point to a victory by Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden by a comfortable margin, Donald Trump and his supporters have pushed false claims of voter fraud and election stealing by Democrats.
Trump has pushed to exclude many military votes from the 2020 vote count.
Last year, his administration took steps to make it more expensive for overseas service members to send in ballots, raising the cost to $60 per ballot.
A week ago, he told reporters: “It would be very, very proper and very nice if a winner were declared on November 3. Instead of counting ballots for two weeks, which is totally inappropriate, and I don’t believe that’s by our laws. I don’t believe that.”
Trump’s own state of Florida — like many others— gives extra time for overseas military ballots to be delivered, as long as they are postmarked by Election Day.
He also spent much of his term attacking U.S. troops and their families. He took billions of dollars appropriated by Congress for the military and used it to fund his massive southern border wall; he refused to ask Vladimir Putin about intelligence showing that the Russian president offered bounties for the killing of American troops in Afghanistan; and he reportedly called people who died in military service “losers” and “suckers.”
The results in Nevada have not yet been called by major networks, but Joe Biden as of this writing holds a lead of more than 10,000 votes. The vast majority of uncounted ballots are from Clark County, a heavily Democratic area that includes Las Vegas.
The winner of the state will receive six electoral votes.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-11-06--Notoriously wrong Trump adviser predicts 'peaceful transfer of power'

White House chief economic adviser Larry Kudlow said on Friday that `` there will be a peaceful transfer of power '' between Donald Trump and Joe Biden .
`` I think there will be a peaceful transfer of power , '' Kudlow told CNBC , adding , `` This is the greatest democracy in the world , and we abide by the rule of law , and so will this president . ''
Kudlow 's remarks come hours after a defiant tirade by Trump , in which he called on Biden to accept incomplete vote counts that would leave Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Kudlow infamously predicted `` there 's no recession coming '' in 2007 , right before the start of the Great Recession .
More recently , he has made several wrong predictions and statements about the coronavirus .
In June , for example , he insisted there would be no `` second wave '' of cases .
But just this week , the United States has seen a record number of cases , passing 100,000 in one day alone .
Biden currently leads Trump in projections of the electoral college and is near the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Biden also has received over 4 million more votes in the election than Trump .
From the Nov. 6 edition of CNBC 's `` Squawk on the Street '' : SARA EISEN , CNBC : I have to ask , do you believe that a peaceful transfer of power for the presidency in this country is necessary to keep the markets calm and stable ?
LARRY KUDLOW : Well , I think there will be a peaceful transfer of power and I think the markets have been remarkably calm and resilient and actually @ @ @ @ @ @ @ back to , what , the third week of March or so .
So , yeah , look , I think , you know , this is a great country .
This is the greatest democracy in the world , and we abide by the rule of law , and so will this president .
There 's some things to clean up here and again , it 's not my area of expertise , I 'll leave that discussion to the campaign , but yes , we will continue peacefully as we always @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from around the world , offshore , watching this , they should know that .
That America is the greatest democracy , and we abide by the rule of law .
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation .

White House chief economic adviser Larry Kudlow said on Friday that “there will be a peaceful transfer of power” between Donald Trump and Joe Biden.
“I think there will be a peaceful transfer of power,” Kudlow told CNBC, adding, “This is the greatest democracy in the world, and we abide by the rule of law, and so will this president.”
Kudlow’s remarks come hours after a defiant tirade by Trump, in which he called on Biden to accept incomplete vote counts that would leave Trump as the winner of the election.
Kudlow infamously predicted “there’s no recession coming” in 2007, right before the start of the Great Recession. More recently, he has made several wrong predictions and statements about the coronavirus. In June, for example, he insisted there would be no “second wave” of cases. But just this week, the United States has seen a record number of cases, passing 100,000 in one day alone.
Biden currently leads Trump in projections of the electoral college and is near the 270 required to win the presidency. Biden also has received over 4 million more votes in the election than Trump.
From the Nov. 6 edition of CNBC’s “Squawk on the Street”:
SARA EISEN, CNBC: I have to ask, do you believe that a peaceful transfer of power for the presidency in this country is necessary to keep the markets calm and stable? LARRY KUDLOW: Well, I think there will be a peaceful transfer of power and I think the markets have been remarkably calm and resilient and actually rather bullish these past six months going back to, what, the third week of March or so. So, yeah, look, I think, you know, this is a great country. This is the greatest democracy in the world, and we abide by the rule of law, and so will this president. There’s some things to clean up here and again, it’s not my area of expertise, I’ll leave that discussion to the campaign, but yes, we will continue peacefully as we always do and I might add, anybody from around the world, offshore, watching this, they should know that. That America is the greatest democracy, and we abide by the rule of law.
Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.


shareblue--2020-11-06--Eric Trump uses wrong numbers to claim 'voter fraud' in Wisconsin

Posts shared thousands of times on Facebook , Twitter , and Instagram are falsely claiming that the number of people who cast ballots in Wisconsin exceeds the number of registered voters in the state .
A variety of misleading claims about voter turnout in Wisconsin gained traction , generating likes , shares or comments by the hundreds of thousands , after Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden pulled off a narrow win Wednesday in the battleground state .
The posts fueled charges that the vote had been mismanaged in a crucial swing state in the U.S. election .
`` Looks like @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump 's son , wrote in a post shared to his Instagram , Facebook , and Twitter accounts .
The image Eric Trump shared in his post claimed that there was a huge , inexplicable increase in voter turnout in Wisconsin this year .
The image showed voter turnout percentages during presidential elections over the last 20 years in Wisconsin , with voter turnout hitting 89.25 % this year .
But in previous years , the post claimed incorrectly , turnout had only hovered between 67 % to 73 % .
The image @ @ @ @ @ @ @ turnout in the state .
The Wisconsin Elections Commission calculates voter turnout based on the entire voting-age population , not just registered voters .
Any eligible person over the age of 18 can show up at a poll and register to vote on Election Day .
As of Thursday , the number of votes cast looked to be nearly 3.3 million , the highest ever in Wisconsin .
That puts turnout at roughly 72 % of the voting-age population .
In 2004 the turnout was higher , with 73 % of the voting-age @ @ @ @ @ @ @ social media users pushed claims of voter fraud in the state by wrongly suggesting that the number of ballots cast exceeded the number of registered voters .
One Twitter user wrongly claimed `` fraud '' and said that only 3,129,000 people were registered to vote in the state .
That was the voter registration figure right before the 2018 midterm elections .
But as of 7 p.m. on Sunday , the Wisconsin Elections Commission reported 3,684,726 registered voters .
And that figure — well above the 3,239,920 votes that were cast — does @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to vote on Election Day .
In other words , no fraud at play , just social media posts that relied on outdated numbers .
The Wisconsin Elections Commission received `` a lot of calls '' about the false rumors , said the state 's top elections official Meagan Wolfe .
`` Wisconsin does not have more votes than registered voters , '' Wolfe said .
`` Share the facts , rather than speculation or rumors . ''

Posts shared thousands of times on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram are falsely claiming that the number of people who cast ballots in Wisconsin exceeds the number of registered voters in the state.
A variety of misleading claims about voter turnout in Wisconsin gained traction, generating likes, shares or comments by the hundreds of thousands, after Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden pulled off a narrow win Wednesday in the battleground state.
The posts fueled charges that the vote had been mismanaged in a crucial swing state in the U.S. election.
“Looks like fraud!” Eric Trump, Donald Trump’s son, wrote in a post shared to his Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter accounts.
The image Eric Trump shared in his post claimed that there was a huge, inexplicable increase in voter turnout in Wisconsin this year. The image showed voter turnout percentages during presidential elections over the last 20 years in Wisconsin, with voter turnout hitting 89.25% this year. But in previous years, the post claimed incorrectly, turnout had only hovered between 67% to 73%.
The image is based on faulty accounting of voter turnout in the state.
The Wisconsin Elections Commission calculates voter turnout based on the entire voting-age population, not just registered voters. Any eligible person over the age of 18 can show up at a poll and register to vote on Election Day.
As of Thursday, the number of votes cast looked to be nearly 3.3 million, the highest ever in Wisconsin. That puts turnout at roughly 72% of the voting-age population. In 2004 the turnout was higher, with 73% of the voting-age population showing up to vote.
Other social media users pushed claims of voter fraud in the state by wrongly suggesting that the number of ballots cast exceeded the number of registered voters.
One Twitter user wrongly claimed “fraud” and said that only 3,129,000 people were registered to vote in the state. That was the voter registration figure right before the 2018 midterm elections. But as of 7 p.m. on Sunday, the Wisconsin Elections Commission reported 3,684,726 registered voters.
And that figure — well above the 3,239,920 votes that were cast — does not include people who might have registered to vote on Election Day.
In other words, no fraud at play, just social media posts that relied on outdated numbers.
The Wisconsin Elections Commission received “a lot of calls” about the false rumors, said the state’s top elections official Meagan Wolfe.
“Wisconsin does not have more votes than registered voters,” Wolfe said. “Share the facts, rather than speculation or rumors.”