alternet--2020-12-11--We asked small business owners how they've weathered the pandemic

In April , a month after the pandemic hit the United States , Cliff Hodges was one of millions of small business owners teetering on the brink .
Hodges , who ran a small outdoor wilderness club in Santa Cruz , California , a beach town 75 miles south of San Francisco , applied for a Paycheck Protection Program ( PPP ) loan to keep his business afloat — but he was denied , by three different banks , because they ran out of funds .
The rejections were n't a result of Hodges bad timing ; he applied for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ day the banks made it available online .
When Salon spoke with him in April , a fourth bank responded and marked his case as `` closing . ''
He did n't know exactly what `` closing '' meant , but he felt skeptical that a loan would actually come through .
Disappointment clung to his voice .
`` I have n't been able to reach anyone , so maybe there is a small chance that I have money coming , but I do n't know , '' he told Salon , nervously @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we last spoke , Hodges is relieved to report that the final bank delivered .
He received a PPP loan and used it for payroll , and he 's already applied for forgiveness for a portion of it .
However , this does n't mean it 's business as usual for him , and he wo n't go as far as saying the worst has passed .
Instead , Hodges is living by a mantra that all small businesses live by — or at least , the ones that are lucky enough to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` We are surviving , I would n't say we 're thriving , but we 're surviving , '' Hodges said .
`` April , May and the first part of June were really tough . ''
Hodges ' business , Adventure Out , offers small-group outdoor activities like surf lessons to wilderness survival training .
Given what we know about how the novel coronavirus is transmitted outside , the services his business provides have been somewhat pandemic-proof .
But as the state of California descends into another stay-at-home order , like @ @ @ @ @ @ @ buckling up for another season full of uncertainty .
`` We 've had a whole slew of cancellations and decreases in business , '' Hodges said .
`` To get through this winter , and I think it 's going to be a really tough winter , another round of stimulus for small business is needed ; I do n't see how we 're going to get through it without some sort of help . ''
In September , business review site Yelp released a quarterly economic impact report with a harrowing statistic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ its platform were permanent .
The demographics of the small businesses that have n't survived mirror the ongoing disparities we 've seen throughout the pandemic .
According to a separate survey by Color Of Change and Main Street Alliance , 46 percent of the Black small businesses polled were forced to close , or are planning to close within the next six months .
And these statistics provide just a small snapshot of what 's happening .
`` I think that we do n't know yet what the actual closure rates are going @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are surviving are surviving on a sort of skeletal operations , racking up a lot of debt , '' Amanda Ballantyne , the executive director of Main Street Alliance , told Salon in an interview .
`` In the beginning of the pandemic , there were so many unknowns , and the federal relief packages were rolled out in ways that I think made it hard for a lot of real , independent small businesses to access them timely . ''
The federal government designed the PPP program to provide small businesses with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their monthly payroll .
The loans could be converted into grants as long as 75 percent of the funds were used to retain employees ; the loans had to be used within eight weeks from the time the loan was distributed in order for it to be forgiven .
That was in April , and small businesses have yet to receive further federal relief since then .
Moreover , providing loans through private banks gave priority to business owners who had relationships with the bank , which exacerbated disparities , experts say .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ private banking system was a big mistake , '' Ballantyne said .
`` It sounds like Congress is going to restart the PPP again , but they should fix what we already know is wrong with the program . ''
Small business advocates like Ballantyne , and John Arensmeyer , CEO of Small Business Majority , a small business research and advocacy organization , tell Salon that grants will be key for `` true '' small businesses — meaning those that have fewer than 20 employees — to survive .
`` We 've @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' Arensmeyer said .
`` We want to see money set aside for lending institutions like CDFI [ the Community Development Financial Institutions Fund ] that serves more low income communities and communities of color , and we want to see loan forgiveness . ''
Shayai Lucero , owner and floral designer of Earth & Sky Floral Designs in New Mexico , is relying on grants for Native American business owners and artists .
She considered applying for the PPP loan , but ultimately given the size of her business and the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said it was n't worth it .
Plus , most of her employees are seasonal .
Lucero said one saving grace that has kept her business afloat is that she was already running her business out of her own home , and does n't have to pay for rent on a storefront .
However , given the nature of her business , providing floral arrangements for life events , fewer celebrations this year means very thin margins .
`` Last month , I operated at 35 percent of what I needed for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' Lucero told me .
`` I look at those numbers and I break down .
.
.
.
being able to be a home-based florist has helped me through the pandemic , but I do n't know how long it 's going to last . ''
In Las Vegas , Nevada , Ron Nelsen , the owner and general manager of Pioneer Overhead Door , told Salon in an interview in April that he received an email stating that his bank no longer had PPP loan funds .
Similar to Hodges , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` what they call the second tranche , '' he explained .
Nelsen said he suspects that not having a personal relationship with the bank pushed him to the end of the line the first time he applied , and that the second tranche was an easier process to endure .
But since then , operating a business that furnishes and installs garage doors , garage door openers , has come with its own set of pandemic-related challenges .
`` There was a while we could n't find any masks , hand sanitizer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ our employees , '' Nelsen said .
`` And then you got the flip side of it , you go to customers houses and some people are COVID deniers , and they do n't want to have anything to do with the masks . ''
Fortunately , he has n't had any employees get sick , but that 's in part due to more honest communication , and less privacy , between him and his seven full-time employees .
`` You ca n't just call in with a tummy ache , you have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''
Nelsen said .
`` Basically if you 're taking off work for any reason other than a hangover , you ca n't come back the next day . ''
As for what 's next , everyone Salon spoke with emphasized that shopping local will definitely help small businesses this holiday season , in addition to a much-needed federal relief package .
`` Support small local businesses because Amazon does n't need any more of our dollars , '' Hodges said .
`` I 'm just really trying to promote that , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also in my personal life . ''

In April, a month after the pandemic hit the United States, Cliff Hodges was one of millions of small business owners teetering on the brink.
Hodges, who ran a small outdoor wilderness club in Santa Cruz, California, a beach town 75 miles south of San Francisco, applied for a Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan to keep his business afloat — but he was denied, by three different banks, because they ran out of funds. The rejections weren't a result of Hodges bad timing; he applied for the loan right away, the first day the banks made it available online. When Salon spoke with him in April, a fourth bank responded and marked his case as "closing." He didn't know exactly what "closing" meant, but he felt skeptical that a loan would actually come through. Disappointment clung to his voice.
"I haven't been able to reach anyone, so maybe there is a small chance that I have money coming, but I don't know," he told Salon, nervously, in April.
Eight months since we last spoke, Hodges is relieved to report that the final bank delivered. He received a PPP loan and used it for payroll, and he's already applied for forgiveness for a portion of it.
However, this doesn't mean it's business as usual for him, and he won't go as far as saying the worst has passed. Instead, Hodges is living by a mantra that all small businesses live by — or at least, the ones that are lucky enough to still hang an "open" sign.
"We are surviving, I wouldn't say we're thriving, but we're surviving," Hodges said. "April, May and the first part of June were really tough."
Hodges' business, Adventure Out, offers small-group outdoor activities like surf lessons to wilderness survival training. Given what we know about how the novel coronavirus is transmitted outside, the services his business provides have been somewhat pandemic-proof. But as the state of California descends into another stay-at-home order, like most of the country, he's buckling up for another season full of uncertainty.
"We've had a whole slew of cancellations and decreases in business," Hodges said. "To get through this winter, and I think it's going to be a really tough winter, another round of stimulus for small business is needed; I don't see how we're going to get through it without some sort of help."
In September, business review site Yelp released a quarterly economic impact report with a harrowing statistic: 60 percent of business closures on its platform were permanent. The demographics of the small businesses that haven't survived mirror the ongoing disparities we've seen throughout the pandemic. According to a separate survey by Color Of Change and Main Street Alliance, 46 percent of the Black small businesses polled were forced to close, or are planning to close within the next six months. And these statistics provide just a small snapshot of what's happening.
"I think that we don't know yet what the actual closure rates are going to be, but the ones that are surviving are surviving on a sort of skeletal operations, racking up a lot of debt," Amanda Ballantyne, the executive director of Main Street Alliance, told Salon in an interview. "In the beginning of the pandemic, there were so many unknowns, and the federal relief packages were rolled out in ways that I think made it hard for a lot of real, independent small businesses to access them timely."
The federal government designed the PPP program to provide small businesses with loans up to two and half times their monthly payroll. The loans could be converted into grants as long as 75 percent of the funds were used to retain employees; the loans had to be used within eight weeks from the time the loan was distributed in order for it to be forgiven.
That was in April, and small businesses have yet to receive further federal relief since then. Moreover, providing loans through private banks gave priority to business owners who had relationships with the bank, which exacerbated disparities, experts say.
"Moving the PPP loans through the private banking system was a big mistake," Ballantyne said. "It sounds like Congress is going to restart the PPP again, but they should fix what we already know is wrong with the program."
Small business advocates like Ballantyne, and John Arensmeyer, CEO of Small Business Majority, a small business research and advocacy organization, tell Salon that grants will be key for "true" small businesses — meaning those that have fewer than 20 employees — to survive.
"We've been calling for grants from day one," Arensmeyer said. "We want to see money set aside for lending institutions like CDFI [the Community Development Financial Institutions Fund] that serves more low income communities and communities of color, and we want to see loan forgiveness."
Shayai Lucero, owner and floral designer of Earth & Sky Floral Designs in New Mexico, is relying on grants for Native American business owners and artists. She considered applying for the PPP loan, but ultimately given the size of her business and the amount she'd qualify for, she said it wasn't worth it. Plus, most of her employees are seasonal. Lucero said one saving grace that has kept her business afloat is that she was already running her business out of her own home, and doesn't have to pay for rent on a storefront. However, given the nature of her business, providing floral arrangements for life events, fewer celebrations this year means very thin margins.
"Last month, I operated at 35 percent of what I needed for the previous month in the previous year," Lucero told me. "I look at those numbers and I break down. . . . being able to be a home-based florist has helped me through the pandemic, but I don't know how long it's going to last."
In Las Vegas, Nevada, Ron Nelsen, the owner and general manager of Pioneer Overhead Door, told Salon in an interview in April that he received an email stating that his bank no longer had PPP loan funds. Similar to Hodges, he eventually secured a PPP loan in "what they call the second tranche," he explained.
Nelsen said he suspects that not having a personal relationship with the bank pushed him to the end of the line the first time he applied, and that the second tranche was an easier process to endure. But since then, operating a business that furnishes and installs garage doors, garage door openers, has come with its own set of pandemic-related challenges.
"There was a while we couldn't find any masks, hand sanitizer, and all that stuff, for our employees," Nelsen said. "And then you got the flip side of it, you go to customers houses and some people are COVID deniers, and they don't want to have anything to do with the masks."
Fortunately, he hasn't had any employees get sick, but that's in part due to more honest communication, and less privacy, between him and his seven full-time employees.
"You can't just call in with a tummy ache, you have to tell me what your symptoms are." Nelsen said. "Basically if you're taking off work for any reason other than a hangover, you can't come back the next day."
As for what's next, everyone Salon spoke with emphasized that shopping local will definitely help small businesses this holiday season, in addition to a much-needed federal relief package.
"Support small local businesses because Amazon doesn't need any more of our dollars," Hodges said. "I'm just really trying to promote that, not just in my professional life but also in my personal life."


alternet--2020-12-11--'There's no pandemic!' Tennessee pastor explodes at CNN reporter asking if he'll take COVID vaccine

In conversation with CNN 's Ellie Reed broadcast on Thursday , Pastor Greg Locke of Global Vision Bible Church in Mount Juliet , Tennessee exploded when asked his position on the COVID-19 vaccine , denying that there even was a pandemic at all .
`` Faith over fear .
I ai n't worried about some fake pandemic , '' said Locke , a pro-Trump preacher who has previously drawn controversy for claiming that history classes in public schools are part of an `` Islamic invasion . ''
`` I 'm not saying the sickness is n't real .
I 'm @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` I do n't understand what you mean when you say the pandemic is not real , '' said Reed .
`` What do you think a pandemic is ? ''
`` Not COVID-19 , '' said Locke , who has defied social distancing guidelines and refused to restrict attendance at his church .
`` But what do you think a pandemic is ? ''
asked Reed .
`` Why ca n't you answer it ? ''
`` There 's no pandemic .
COVID-19 is not a pandemic , '' he shot back @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pandemic then ? ''
repeated Reed .
`` Not what we 're experiencing , '' said Locke .
`` I 'm 44 years old .
We 've not had one in my lifetime so I do n't know .
This is not it . ''
( In fact , there have been several other pandemics besides COVID-19 in Locke 's lifetime . )

In conversation with CNN's Ellie Reed broadcast on Thursday, Pastor Greg Locke of Global Vision Bible Church in Mount Juliet, Tennessee exploded when asked his position on the COVID-19 vaccine, denying that there even was a pandemic at all.
"Faith over fear. I ain't worried about some fake pandemic," said Locke, a pro-Trump preacher who has previously drawn controversy for claiming that history classes in public schools are part of an "Islamic invasion." "I'm not saying the sickness isn't real. I'm saying the pandemic is not."
"I don't understand what you mean when you say the pandemic is not real," said Reed. "What do you think a pandemic is?"
"Not COVID-19," said Locke, who has defied social distancing guidelines and refused to restrict attendance at his church.
"But what do you think a pandemic is?" asked Reed. "Why can't you answer it?"
"There's no pandemic. COVID-19 is not a pandemic," he shot back heatedly.
"But what is a pandemic then?" repeated Reed.
"Not what we're experiencing," said Locke. "I'm 44 years old. We've not had one in my lifetime so I don't know. This is not it." (In fact, there have been several other pandemics besides COVID-19 in Locke's lifetime.)
Watch below:


alternet--2020-12-11--Maybe the best thing a new Attorney General can do is nothing

This week , we 're expecting to hear about a new attorney general nominee with more than average attention on the candidate 's ethnicity and desire for justice .
We know the outlines of the bigger issues .
There will be more emphasis from the Joe Biden administration on civil rights and policing changes than on restoring firing squad executions and attacking so-called sanctuary cities .
What faces any candidate for the Justice job is a long list of challenges toward re-balancing what the department is there to do .
He or she must restore any sense of public trust @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dismissive and even deceitful in public and in court on cases that have had perceived bearing on Donald Trump 's political fortunes , about the work of its professional legal staff and the work of the FBI .
The serving attorney general lied publicly to mislead about the findings of the Mueller Report , tried to defend Trump 's against mpeachment and argued against existing law to denounce Obamacare in federal suits .
Attorney General William P. Barr ultimately may be tossed from his job for failing to find legal grounds to make @ @ @ @ @ @ @ election fraud .
Hearings on the new appointment will force public attention on all that .
What attracts my attention today are actions that new Justice leadership can take toward righting the listing ship by simply standing down .
Here are several examples , that do n't involve some giant legislative or prosecutorial shift : • Against all legal or political logic , Barr decided to commit the Justice Department to intervene in the New York state civil suit over charges of defamation from columnist E. Jean Carroll .
She alleged Trump raped @ @ @ @ @ @ @ long before he was president .
This is a civil complaint that in calling her out , Trump had defamed her .
She claims the truth of the original details and is seeking both a Trump deposition and DNA .
Barr decided that it was the business of the Justice Department to protect the president – despite the fact that this is not in federal court and happened before Trump was in office .
The judge in the case has refused to throw out the complaint , as Trump and Justice asked .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ stop – and butt out of the case .
• The same is true for New York State demands for tax returns from Trump and his companies – all from years preceding the presidency .
The new attorney general should simply get out of the way and let the state courts operate .
Those tax returns would seem evidence for schemes to avoid paying taxes both to the federal government and to the state .
There are other lawsuits pending as well – all of which should proceed without the involvement of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ insist that the White House disregard for law here would be an action worth note .
It applies to policies as well .
• The decision in a federal court in Brooklyn ordering the Trump administration to restore fully restore the DACA Dreamers ( Deferred Action against Childhood Arrivals ) case would be appealed immediately under Barr .
An incoming attorney general can simply let it exist and follow the law .
• Likewise , the incoming attorney general should halt the efforts of the Justice Department in a case accepted for argument @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Medicare and Medicaid statutes .
Trump sees the programs as tools to require efforts to get work – during a pandemic and widespread joblessness – in return for health benefits .
The timing is such that the case likely will proceed , of course , but the point is that the federal solicitor general who argues these cases can stand down in the name of making Trumpism into law .
The Washington Post editorial board pointed at another such case .
Under Trump , the administration `` has thwarted justice at every turn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ accountant shot to death in 2017 by two U.S. Park Police officers following a fender bender near D.C. despite the fact that he posed no threat . ''
The editorial advised the Biden administration could send an early signal that it is committed to accountability when police wrongly kill civilians — even or especially if the police happen to be federal officers – by dropping the case for a negotiated settlement .
Biden himself has said he has little personal interest in pursuing prosecution of Trump administration officials .
He has said forcefully @ @ @ @ @ @ @ protecting his own campaign associates and friends , as illustrated by the pardon for former National Security Adviser Michael T. Flynn .
Yet , in a note of special obsession , Barr has extended the term of U.S. Attorney John Durham by making him a special counsel in continuing to investigate the origins of the Russia investigations growing out of Trump 's 2016 campaign .
That effort is aimed , of course , right at adversary and predecessor Barack Obama and Biden , James Comey and the FBI .
What one side sees @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the other side .
Today 's homily : Maybe doing nothing in these politically tinged cases is sufficient at this point .

This week, we're expecting to hear about a new attorney general nominee with more than average attention on the candidate's ethnicity and desire for justice.
We know the outlines of the bigger issues. There will be more emphasis from the Joe Biden administration on civil rights and policing changes than on restoring firing squad executions and attacking so-called sanctuary cities.
What faces any candidate for the Justice job is a long list of challenges toward re-balancing what the department is there to do. He or she must restore any sense of public trust in an agency that has been openly dismissive and even deceitful in public and in court on cases that have had perceived bearing on Donald Trump's political fortunes, about the work of its professional legal staff and the work of the FBI.
What faces any new candidate for the Justice job is re-balancing what the department is there to do and restoring any sense of public trust.
The serving attorney general lied publicly to mislead about the findings of the Mueller Report, tried to defend Trump's against mpeachment and argued against existing law to denounce Obamacare in federal suits. Attorney General William P. Barr ultimately may be tossed from his job for failing to find legal grounds to make criminal filings about Trump's fantasies about election fraud.
Hearings on the new appointment will force public attention on all that.
What attracts my attention today are actions that new Justice leadership can take toward righting the listing ship by simply standing down.
Just Stand Down
Here are several examples, that don't involve some giant legislative or prosecutorial shift:
Against all legal or political logic, Barr decided to commit the Justice Department to intervene in the New York state civil suit over charges of defamation from columnist E. Jean Carroll. She alleged Trump raped her in a Bergdorf Goodman department store long before he was president. This is a civil complaint that in calling her out, Trump had defamed her. She claims the truth of the original details and is seeking both a Trump deposition and DNA. Barr decided that it was the business of the Justice Department to protect the president – despite the fact that this is not in federal court and happened before Trump was in office. The judge in the case has refused to throw out the complaint, as Trump and Justice asked. But a new attorney general should simply stop – and butt out of the case.
The same is true for New York State demands for tax returns from Trump and his companies – all from years preceding the presidency. The new attorney general should simply get out of the way and let the state courts operate. Those tax returns would seem evidence for schemes to avoid paying taxes both to the federal government and to the state. There are other lawsuits pending as well – all of which should proceed without the involvement of the Justice Department. Just doing nothing to insist that the White House disregard for law here would be an action worth note. It applies to policies as well.
The decision in a federal court in Brooklyn ordering the Trump administration to restore fully restore the DACA Dreamers (Deferred Action against Childhood Arrivals) case would be appealed immediately under Barr. An incoming attorney general can simply let it exist and follow the law.
Likewise, the incoming attorney general should halt the efforts of the Justice Department in a case accepted for argument before the U.S. Supreme Court over-interpreting the Medicare and Medicaid statutes. Trump sees the programs as tools to require efforts to get work – during a pandemic and widespread joblessness – in return for health benefits. The timing is such that the case likely will proceed, of course, but the point is that the federal solicitor general who argues these cases can stand down in the name of making Trumpism into law.
Attitudes on Political Prosecution
The Washington Post editorial board pointed at another such case. Under Trump, the administration "has thwarted justice at every turn for Bijan Ghaisar, the unarmed 25-year-old accountant shot to death in 2017 by two U.S. Park Police officers following a fender bender near D.C. despite the fact that he posed no threat." The editorial advised the Biden administration could send an early signal that it is committed to accountability when police wrongly kill civilians — even or especially if the police happen to be federal officers – by dropping the case for a negotiated settlement.
Biden himself has said he has little personal interest in pursuing prosecution of Trump administration officials. He has said forcefully that Trump is abusing pardon powers by protecting his own campaign associates and friends, as illustrated by the pardon for former National Security Adviser Michael T. Flynn.
Yet, in a note of special obsession, Barr has extended the term of U.S. Attorney John Durham by making him a special counsel in continuing to investigate the origins of the Russia investigations growing out of Trump's 2016 campaign. That effort is aimed, of course, right at adversary and predecessor Barack Obama and Biden, James Comey and the FBI.
What one side sees as political prosecution apparently doesn't apply to the other side.
Today's homily: Maybe doing nothing in these politically tinged cases is sufficient at this point.


alternet--2020-12-11--Kelly Loeffler sides with Trump against 'Big Tech' — after building a massive fortune in the industr

Kelly Loeffler sides with Trump against 'Big Tech' — after building a massive fortune in the industry

Earlier this week , the House approved a $ 740 billion defense spending bill by an overwhelming margin , in defiance of President Trump 's threat to veto if Congress did n't use the opportunity to strip internet platforms of a special legal shield — an unrelated issue that Trump has shoehorned into the debate under the guise of a national security risk .
The Senate , which already passed an earlier version of the annual resolution — the National Defense Authorization Act ( NDAA ) — will now have to take up the measure again , setting up a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on a pair of Georgia Republicans headed for runoff elections : They can side with the military and risk Trump 's wrath , just weeks before the Jan. 5 election , or give Trump the votes he needs to ensure his veto stands .
Georgia itself has skin in the game : The bill funds upgrades to Robins Air Force Base , for instance , and includes a provision to help modernize combat equipment .
Both of the above provisions were requested by Georgia 's unelected multimillionaire Sen. Kelly Loeffler , former CEO @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who has recently chosen to side with Trump on the Big Tech issue , apparently against the military 's immediate funding interests .
In July , Loeffler was touting her own contributions to the bill on her official Senate page , including an amendment `` to further solidify our support for the security of Israel '' and a bipartisan bill to help `` enhance the VA 's capacity to provide care to veterans through telehealth . ''
She voted to pass the bill last month .
But with the January runoff approaching , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Doug Collins , her Georgia GOP rival , she has apparently aligned herself with Trump on the internet liability protections issue .
This play to his base , however , is apparently at odds with Loeffler 's recent position as CEO of a cryptocurrency startup , not to mention her marriage to Jeffrey Sprecher , chairman of the New York Stock Exchange .
In fact , Loeffler , who sold her individual stocks earlier this year amid questions about well-timed trades made ahead of the coronavirus pandemic , still appears to hold stakes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to her financial disclosures .
Despite her claims that she does not take money from Big Tech , Loeffler 's campaign has accepted tens of thousands of dollars from major internet platforms , including Google and Facebook .
`` HOLD BIG TECH ACCOUNTABLE ! ''
Loeffler tweeted on Dec. 3 , quoting a Trump tweet that targeted her GOP colleagues ahead of the NDAA vote .
`` Looks like certain Republican Senators are getting cold feet with respect to the termination of Big Tech 's Section 230 , a National Security and Election @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , in reference to the liability protections .
`` For years , all talk , no action .
Termination must be put in Defense Bill !
!
! ''
But for years , Loeffler and Sprecher , invested heavily in that sector : Together , they held up to $ 10 million in tech stocks , including at least hundreds of thousands , and possibly millions — required financial disclosures do not offer exact dollar amounts — in Facebook , Apple , Amazon and Alphabet , the parent company of Google .
Before @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Loeffler ran a startup called Bakkt , a joint cryptocurrency venture between tech giant Microsoft , Starbucks and her husband 's corporation , Intercontinental Exchange ( ICE ) , which was Bakkt 's parent company .
Bakkt converts digital holdings such as crypto and rewards points into cash , and offers a bitcoin futures market .
When Loeffler left Bakkt , ICE awarded her an unusually structured golden parachute estimated at some $ 9 million .
The package also included a compensation agreement involving stakes in Bakkt .
Three months after Loeffler @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after her final flurry of stock sales in February and March , which involved tech companies engaged in crypto — the company received a $ 300 million Series B injection from Microsoft and other companies .
Loeffler still held that compensation agreement at the time , which according to her financial disclosures will vest her shares for any `` future liquidity events . ''
The NYSE , her husband 's company 's flagship subsidiary , also lists a number of tech companies , such as Verizon , Pinterest , Uber , Spotify and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with social media platform TikTok , which Trump has repeatedly advocated .
According to NYSE data , following ICE 's 2013 acquisition , 75 % of all tech IPO proceeds have been raised on that high-profile exchange .
Despite publicly vowing not to take money from Big Tech , and criticizing Collins during the 2020 campaign for accepting such contributions , Loeffler received tens of thousands of dollars from tech firms .
Those contributions included $ 5,000 from a Google PAC before she even took office , as well as money from the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — the PAC allows employees to combine resources in support of candidates that share the company 's `` common values . ''
Still , in August , Loeffler told a small Georgia audience that she does not take money from big tech , but `` speaks out against it . ''
`` Our freedom of expression is what makes us free as a country , allows us to have the important debate and conversations about important topics that we need to discuss , '' she said .
This was perhaps paradoxical , since @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with shield internet platforms from direct liability for content shared by users , and are widely seen as empowering free expression .
`` I will never be silenced by the swamp and the fake news that want to attack conservative speech , '' Loeffler added .
`` That 's why I 've spoken out against Big Tech .
I do n't take money from Big Tech , I speak out against it . ''
The next month , a lobbyist for Facebook made the maximum allowable donation to her campaign .

Earlier this week, the House approved a $740 billion defense spending bill by an overwhelming margin, in defiance of President Trump's threat to veto if Congress didn't use the opportunity to strip internet platforms of a special legal shield — an unrelated issue that Trump has shoehorned into the debate under the guise of a national security risk.
The Senate, which already passed an earlier version of the annual resolution — the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) — will now have to take up the measure again, setting up a showdown with Trump that puts additional pressure on a pair of Georgia Republicans headed for runoff elections: They can side with the military and risk Trump's wrath, just weeks before the Jan. 5 election, or give Trump the votes he needs to ensure his veto stands.
Georgia itself has skin in the game: The bill funds upgrades to Robins Air Force Base, for instance, and includes a provision to help modernize combat equipment.
Both of the above provisions were requested by Georgia's unelected multimillionaire Sen. Kelly Loeffler, former CEO of a cryptocurrency joint venture with Microsoft who has recently chosen to side with Trump on the Big Tech issue, apparently against the military's immediate funding interests.
In July, Loeffler was touting her own contributions to the bill on her official Senate page, including an amendment "to further solidify our support for the security of Israel" and a bipartisan bill to help "enhance the VA's capacity to provide care to veterans through telehealth." She voted to pass the bill last month.
But with the January runoff approaching, after Loeffler survived a challenge from Rep. Doug Collins, her Georgia GOP rival, she has apparently aligned herself with Trump on the internet liability protections issue. This play to his base, however, is apparently at odds with Loeffler's recent position as CEO of a cryptocurrency startup, not to mention her marriage to Jeffrey Sprecher, chairman of the New York Stock Exchange.
In fact, Loeffler, who sold her individual stocks earlier this year amid questions about well-timed trades made ahead of the coronavirus pandemic, still appears to hold stakes in Georgia-based tech startup funds, according to her financial disclosures. Despite her claims that she does not take money from Big Tech, Loeffler's campaign has accepted tens of thousands of dollars from major internet platforms, including Google and Facebook.
"HOLD BIG TECH ACCOUNTABLE!" Loeffler tweeted on Dec. 3, quoting a Trump tweet that targeted her GOP colleagues ahead of the NDAA vote.
"Looks like certain Republican Senators are getting cold feet with respect to the termination of Big Tech's Section 230, a National Security and Election Integrity MUST," Trump had tweeted, in reference to the liability protections. "For years, all talk, no action. Termination must be put in Defense Bill!!!"
But for years, Loeffler and Sprecher, invested heavily in that sector: Together, they held up to $10 million in tech stocks, including at least hundreds of thousands, and possibly millions — required financial disclosures do not offer exact dollar amounts — in Facebook, Apple, Amazon and Alphabet, the parent company of Google.
Before her appointment to the Senate last December, Loeffler ran a startup called Bakkt, a joint cryptocurrency venture between tech giant Microsoft, Starbucks and her husband's corporation, Intercontinental Exchange (ICE), which was Bakkt's parent company. Bakkt converts digital holdings such as crypto and rewards points into cash, and offers a bitcoin futures market.
When Loeffler left Bakkt, ICE awarded her an unusually structured golden parachute estimated at some $9 million. The package also included a compensation agreement involving stakes in Bakkt.
Three months after Loeffler's departure from Bakkt — and just after her final flurry of stock sales in February and March, which involved tech companies engaged in crypto — the company received a $300 million Series B injection from Microsoft and other companies. Loeffler still held that compensation agreement at the time, which according to her financial disclosures will vest her shares for any "future liquidity events."
The NYSE, her husband's company's flagship subsidiary, also lists a number of tech companies, such as Verizon, Pinterest, Uber, Spotify and Oracle — if it seals the deal with social media platform TikTok, which Trump has repeatedly advocated.
According to NYSE data, following ICE's 2013 acquisition, 75% of all tech IPO proceeds have been raised on that high-profile exchange.
Despite publicly vowing not to take money from Big Tech, and criticizing Collins during the 2020 campaign for accepting such contributions, Loeffler received tens of thousands of dollars from tech firms. Those contributions included $5,000 from a Google PAC before she even took office, as well as money from the tech monolith's current and former lobbyists — the PAC allows employees to combine resources in support of candidates that share the company's "common values."
Still, in August, Loeffler told a small Georgia audience that she does not take money from big tech, but "speaks out against it."
"Our freedom of expression is what makes us free as a country, allows us to have the important debate and conversations about important topics that we need to discuss," she said. This was perhaps paradoxical, since the Section 230 protections Trump is obsessed with shield internet platforms from direct liability for content shared by users, and are widely seen as empowering free expression.
"I will never be silenced by the swamp and the fake news that want to attack conservative speech," Loeffler added. "That's why I've spoken out against Big Tech. I don't take money from Big Tech, I speak out against it."
The next month, a lobbyist for Facebook made the maximum allowable donation to her campaign.


alternet--2020-12-11--GOP lawmaker who said there was 'political agenda' behind COVID coverage prays for a 'miracle' from

GOP lawmaker who said there was 'political agenda' behind COVID coverage prays for a 'miracle' from the hospital

Rep. David Byrd ( R-TN ) made a post on Facebook this Thursday saying that he may be soon placed on a ventilator due to coronavirus , and asked people to pray for him .
`` I really need a miracle today !
! ''
Byrd wrote Thursday .
`` My doctor said if my oxygen level does n't improve then he has no choice but to put me on a ventilator .
So please pray that God will breathe His healing spirit into my lungs !
! ''
Byrd was flown by helicopter from Wayne County Hospital to St. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ remains .
According to the Tennessean , he was among the nearly 70 House Republicans who attended a caucus meeting held in the House chamber on November 24 .
A week and a half later , he was hospitalized with the virus .
Reports say he was seen on the House floor without a mask .
Just days before , he hosted a dinner for dozens of his fellow caucus members at a restaurant .
Byrd is at least the second House Republican to be hospitalized with coronavirus .
As the Tennessean points @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Carter , who was placed in the ICU with coronavirus in August , supported a House resolution stating that `` mainstream media has sensationalized the reporting on COVID-19 in the service of political agendas . ''

Rep. David Byrd (R-TN) made a post on Facebook this Thursday saying that he may be soon placed on a ventilator due to coronavirus, and asked people to pray for him.
"I really need a miracle today!!" Byrd wrote Thursday. "My doctor said if my oxygen level doesn't improve then he has no choice but to put me on a ventilator. So please pray that God will breathe His healing spirit into my lungs!!"
Byrd was flown by helicopter from Wayne County Hospital to St. Thomas in Nashville, where he still remains. According to the Tennessean, he was among the nearly 70 House Republicans who attended a caucus meeting held in the House chamber on November 24. A week and a half later, he was hospitalized with the virus. Reports say he was seen on the House floor without a mask. Just days before, he hosted a dinner for dozens of his fellow caucus members at a restaurant.
Byrd is at least the second House Republican to be hospitalized with coronavirus.
As the Tennessean points out, Byrd and GOP Rep. Mike Carter, who was placed in the ICU with coronavirus in August, supported a House resolution stating that "mainstream media has sensationalized the reporting on COVID-19 in the service of political agendas."


alternet--2020-12-11--Bernie Sanders demands COVID relief include $1,200 checks for the working class

Sen. Bernie Sanders urged his supporters on Thursday to tell congressional leaders that the proposed bipartisan coronavirus relief bill must address the `` extraordinary suffering happening all across the country '' by rejecting austerity and embracing the need for a comprehensive economic stimulus .
In an email from his congressional campaign , the senator said adequate relief would include at least $ 1,200 in cash payments as well as extended supplemental unemployment benefits and sufficient aid for cities and states .
Sanders wrote that `` in Washington , there 's endless amounts of money for war .
Congress is about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spending bill and no one seems to care about the price tag there . ''
`` Tax breaks for billionaires ?
Endless amounts of money .
Corporate welfare ?
Endless amounts of money , '' he wrote .
`` Now when children are going hungry in America and so many families are struggling , suddenly we do n't have enough money ? ''
he continued .
`` Wrong.
`` Beyond the direct payments and employment benefit boost that have been a rallying cry for progressives , Sanders said the bill could `` set @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the Biden administration '' —either one of austerity policies or `` a progressive agenda that meets the needs of the working people of this country . ''
`` If we are concerned about the debt , '' said Sanders , `` we need progressive taxation , we need to end corporate welfare , we need to end the bloated military budget , but we do not need , in the midst of an unprecedented crisis , to punish working families who are hurting so badly today . ''
The email also directed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` send a message to the Republican and Democratic leadership that we must stand tall and fight for the working people of this country , because they need us more than ever . ''
The demands came the same day Sanders gave a speech on the Senate floor urging the body not to adjourn without sufficiently acting to remedy the `` economic desperation facing tens of millions of working families . ''
He pointed to the CARES Act passed in spring , saying the measure `` went a long way toward preventing absolute @ @ @ @ @ @ @ our people . ''
But given that the `` crisis is worse today than it was in March , '' Sanders asked `` why we are not responding accordingly . ''
With new unemployment claims remaining at over 1 million a week for months and roughly 19 million Americans facing possible eviction at the end of the month , Sanders said lawmakers could not simply adjourn for the holidays .
`` To get out of Washington , to turn our backs on the suffering of so many of our people would be immoral @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not be allowed to happen , '' he said .
Sanders also drew attention to the nation 's massive wealth inequality .
The `` middle class is collapsing and poverty is growing . ''
And yet , he continued , `` over the past 9 months , 650 billionaires have seen their wealth go up by over $ 1 trillion and now own over twice as much wealth as the bottom 50 percent of Americans . ''
`` That is the state of the economy in America today , '' said Sanders .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ much richer , while tens of millions of Americans get poorer and poorer and face an unprecedented level of economic desperation . ''
`` Congress can not leave unless we get at least $ 1,200 in direct payments for every working class adult and at least $ 500 for their children .
Not $ 300 .
Not $ 600 .
$ 1,200 at a minimum .
More than that , '' the senator continues , `` we must extend supplemental unemployment benefits and get adequate aid for cities and states . ''

Sen. Bernie Sanders urged his supporters on Thursday to tell congressional leaders that the proposed bipartisan coronavirus relief bill must address the "extraordinary suffering happening all across the country" by rejecting austerity and embracing the need for a comprehensive economic stimulus.
In an email from his congressional campaign, the senator said adequate relief would include at least $1,200 in cash payments as well as extended supplemental unemployment benefits and sufficient aid for cities and states.
Sanders wrote that "in Washington, there's endless amounts of money for war. Congress is about to pass a $740 billion defense spending bill and no one seems to care about the price tag there."
"Tax breaks for billionaires? Endless amounts of money. Corporate welfare? Endless amounts of money," he wrote.
"Now when children are going hungry in America and so many families are struggling, suddenly we don't have enough money?" he continued. "Wrong. "
Beyond the direct payments and employment benefit boost that have been a rallying cry for progressives, Sanders said the bill could "set the agenda for the first two years of the Biden administration"—either one of austerity policies or "a progressive agenda that meets the needs of the working people of this country."
The senator also rejected Republicans' newly-resurged debt concerns.
"If we are concerned about the debt," said Sanders, "we need progressive taxation, we need to end corporate welfare, we need to end the bloated military budget, but we do not need, in the midst of an unprecedented crisis, to punish working families who are hurting so badly today."
The email also directed supporters to a petition he said would "send a message to the Republican and Democratic leadership that we must stand tall and fight for the working people of this country, because they need us more than ever."
The demands came the same day Sanders gave a speech on the Senate floor urging the body not to adjourn without sufficiently acting to remedy the "economic desperation facing tens of millions of working families."
He pointed to the CARES Act passed in spring, saying the measure "went a long way toward preventing absolute misery and destitution for so many of our people." But given that the "crisis is worse today than it was in March," Sanders asked "why we are not responding accordingly."
With new unemployment claims remaining at over 1 million a week for months and roughly 19 million Americans facing possible eviction at the end of the month, Sanders said lawmakers could not simply adjourn for the holidays.
"To get out of Washington, to turn our backs on the suffering of so many of our people would be immoral, would be unconscionable, and cannot be allowed to happen," he said.
Sanders also drew attention to the nation's massive wealth inequality.
The "middle class is collapsing and poverty is growing." And yet, he continued, "over the past 9 months, 650 billionaires have seen their wealth go up by over $1 trillion and now own over twice as much wealth as the bottom 50 percent of Americans."
"That is the state of the economy in America today," said Sanders. "The very rich get much, much richer, while tens of millions of Americans get poorer and poorer and face an unprecedented level of economic desperation."
"Congress cannot leave unless we get at least $1,200 in direct payments for every working class adult and at least $500 for their children. Not $300. Not $600. $1,200 at a minimum. More than that," the senator continues, "we must extend supplemental unemployment benefits and get adequate aid for cities and states."


alternet--2020-12-11--Cruz suggests Senate Republicans will block Biden's Cabinet nominees indefinitely

You may be wondering how long Senate Republicans intend to keep up the fiction that President-elect Joe Biden may not be the true next president of the United States .
The answer appears to be : until the very day of the inauguration , and possibly for longer than that .
On Team Fascism , Sen. Ted Cruz suggested to Axios that the Senate simply wo n't be moving to confirm any of Biden 's Cabinet picks , or even hold hearings on them , anytime in the near future .
`` As long as there 's litigation ongoing , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I do not think you will see the Senate act to confirm any nominee , '' he told Axios .
Given that noted delusionist Donald Trump will be `` disputing '' the results of the election from now until the day he is tucked into his mausoleum , we can presume from this that the Senate will refuse to hold confirmation hearings for Biden 's nominees until at least Jan. 20—meaning that Biden will take office with no national security , intelligence , justice , or pandemic heads in place .
It takes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will continue to cast doubt on the election results for weeks or months after that , meaning there is a nontrivial chance that Cruz and allies will claim the controversy nullifies Biden 's ability to appoint any Senate-confirmable government heads indefinitely .
In prior transitions , the Senate would begin the process of vetting nominees before the new president takes office .
( Axios cites the Center for Presidential Transition on this , which says 95 % of prior Cabinet nominees have been given hearings before the inauguration . )
This is to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ especially as it relates to foreign threats and other national security concerns .
This is not a normal transition , because it comes in the context of numerous Republican elected officials attempting to Do A Treason , demanding that courts reinstall the Republicans by force rather than acknowledging their defeat .
And , to be blunt , Senate Republicans have proven time and time again that national security concerns are negotiable , and public safety questions are absolutely irrelevant when it comes to protecting and expanding party power .
That 's what fascism @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have seized on the nonsensical conspiracy theories of Trump 's fabulists as defense for what they intended to do anyway : Withhold support for pandemic aid , efforts to stabilize the economy , and other crisis measures so as to better paint the Biden administration as ineffective .
It is the Great Recession playbook , but with 300,000 deaths attached and counting .
This is usually the point in the conversation where pedants and nonpedants bicker over the precise versus colloquial definitions of words like `` treason '' and `` sedition . ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ that can force the Republican Party to act on behalf of their country , the debate is largely irrelevant .
At present numerous Republican state attorney generals are demanding that the Supreme Court nullify the election based on transparently fabricated propaganda claims .
Republican senators who have blocked nearly every move to grant emergency pandemic aid to citizens and who have kept their silence as charlatans goad their far-right base into death threats and violence against the movement 's latest enemies are united in a willingness to reinforce the notion that this nation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ therefore , null and void .
They 're saying nothing as their most violent supporters take to the streets based on their claims .
They are willing to do a great deal more than merely foot-drag on key government appointments .
Their intent appears to be to craft as many simultaneous crises as possible so that the most prolific liars of the party have better ammunition with which to attack the party 's enemies .
It is what Sen. Mitch McConnell , in particular , has specialized in for many years now .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ no top national security officials or Cabinet members in place , Republican senators will consider that a win .
If further crisis strikes during that period , Cruz will be on television celebrating it .

You may be wondering how long Senate Republicans intend to keep up the fiction that President-elect Joe Biden may not be the true next president of the United States. The answer appears to be: until the very day of the inauguration, and possibly for longer than that.
On Team Fascism, Sen. Ted Cruz suggested to Axios that the Senate simply won't be moving to confirm any of Biden's Cabinet picks, or even hold hearings on them, anytime in the near future. "As long as there's litigation ongoing, and the election result is disputed, I do not think you will see the Senate act to confirm any nominee," he told Axios. Given that noted delusionist Donald Trump will be "disputing" the results of the election from now until the day he is tucked into his mausoleum, we can presume from this that the Senate will refuse to hold confirmation hearings for Biden's nominees until at least Jan. 20—meaning that Biden will take office with no national security, intelligence, justice, or pandemic heads in place. It takes little imagination to suppose that corrupt Republicans will continue to cast doubt on the election results for weeks or months after that, meaning there is a nontrivial chance that Cruz and allies will claim the controversy nullifies Biden's ability to appoint any Senate-confirmable government heads indefinitely.
In prior transitions, the Senate would begin the process of vetting nominees before the new president takes office. (Axios cites the Center for Presidential Transition on this, which says 95% of prior Cabinet nominees have been given hearings before the inauguration.) This is to ensure the stability of the transition, especially as it relates to foreign threats and other national security concerns. This is not a normal transition, because it comes in the context of numerous Republican elected officials attempting to Do A Treason, demanding that courts reinstall the Republicans by force rather than acknowledging their defeat. And, to be blunt, Senate Republicans have proven time and time again that national security concerns are negotiable, and public safety questions are absolutely irrelevant when it comes to protecting and expanding party power.
That's what fascism is. If anything, Senate Republicans have seized on the nonsensical conspiracy theories of Trump's fabulists as defense for what they intended to do anyway: Withhold support for pandemic aid, efforts to stabilize the economy, and other crisis measures so as to better paint the Biden administration as ineffective. It is the Great Recession playbook, but with 300,000 deaths attached and counting.
This is usually the point in the conversation where pedants and nonpedants bicker over the precise versus colloquial definitions of words like "treason" and "sedition." Given that there will be no court that can force the Republican Party to act on behalf of their country, the debate is largely irrelevant. At present numerous Republican state attorney generals are demanding that the Supreme Court nullify the election based on transparently fabricated propaganda claims. Republican senators who have blocked nearly every move to grant emergency pandemic aid to citizens and who have kept their silence as charlatans goad their far-right base into death threats and violence against the movement's latest enemies are united in a willingness to reinforce the notion that this nation's election was somehow illegitimate and, therefore, null and void. They're saying nothing as their most violent supporters take to the streets based on their claims.
They are willing to do a great deal more than merely foot-drag on key government appointments.
Their intent appears to be to craft as many simultaneous crises as possible so that the most prolific liars of the party have better ammunition with which to attack the party's enemies. It is what Sen. Mitch McConnell, in particular, has specialized in for many years now. If Biden enters the White House with no top national security officials or Cabinet members in place, Republican senators will consider that a win. If further crisis strikes during that period, Cruz will be on television celebrating it.


alternet--2020-12-11--'I don't know how this ends without violence and death': Trump's angry mobs spark terrorism fears

As more than 200 Republican members of Congress ignore their oaths to the Constitution and abet Donald Trump 's fascist attempt to overturn the election results , their cowardly silence is damn near ensuring that someone—or multiple people—will end up dead .
`` I do n't know how this ends without violence and death , '' Clint Watts , a Senior Fellow at the Foreign Policy Research Institute and at the Center for Cyber and Homeland Security at George Washington University , told MSNBC 's Nicolle Wallace Wednesday .
The pattern of threats is unmistakable and it is growing .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ The plot to kidnap the Michigan governor • Armed militia members showing up at the home of Michigan 's secretary of state while she was decorating for Christmas • Violent threats directed at Georgia 's secretary of state , his family , and random election workers • A Georgia election official 's urgent warning that death threats in the state will get someone killed • Death threats made against the Arizona secretary of state and her family • The Arizona Republican Party asking whether people are willing to die for Trump 's cause @ @ @ @ @ @ @ homes of Idaho health officials and terrorizing their families As Watts pointed out , many of the most concerning threats are arising in states where militias and fringe right-wing groups have traditionally thrived—Idaho , Michigan , Arizona , and Georgia .
Watts also believes the worst is yet to come .
The relatively close election , he said , created a delayed response of sorts where people were waiting for an outcome and Trump 's cultists believed he might still prevail .
But , Watts added , `` They now have had time @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do , they have heard continuous false claims—which they want to believe—and now they are being pushed and pointed to places to mobilize . ''
Watts added the dynamic was only going to get worse in the months ahead after Trump is ejected from the White House , the coronavirus starts to be less of a threat , and there 's more public targets as people start returning to public life .
But as the threat of violence grows , the vast majority of GOP lawmakers continue pouring gasoline on the pyre .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ joined a doomed pro-Trump lawsuit seeking to overturn election results and subvert the will of the people in a handful of states .
On Tuesday , GOP leaders Mitch McConnell and Kevin McCarthy torpedoed a symbolic resolution that would have recognized Joe Biden as rightful president-elect for the purposes of the inaugural ceremonies .
And many state GOP lawmakers continue making various legal and rhetorical efforts to push support for Trump 's fascist coup attempt .
Meanwhile , Trump himself is issuing clear calls to violence .
`` We will soon be learning @ @ @ @ @ @ @ saving our Country , '' Trump tweeted Thursday , before spouting more unfounded gibberish claiming that he actually won the election until it was `` FIXED ! ''
The toxic mix of events left MSNBC 's Wallace practically speechless Wednesday on her show Deadline : White House .
How , she wondered , could Republican lawmakers and even conservative media personalities possibly fail to draw the line at stoking violence over an election Trump clearly lost ?
`` That line is in the rear view mirror , '' responded former GOP strategist Steve @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ... We can not be fantastical in wishing that what has happened has not happened in our thinking .
It has happened . ''
Schmidt went on to assert that the Republican party is no longer committed to the American ideal of representative democracy .
`` They all know that Biden has won the election , '' Schmidt said .
`` What they 're doing is for no purpose other than power .
The Republican party is an organized conspiracy for the purposes of maintaining power for self-interest , and the self-interest of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fidelity to the American idea and ideal . ''
Steve Schmidt says the Republican party is `` no longer dedicated to American democracy ''

As more than 200 Republican members of Congress ignore their oaths to the Constitution and abet Donald Trump's fascist attempt to overturn the election results, their cowardly silence is damn near ensuring that someone—or multiple people—will end up dead.
"I don't know how this ends without violence and death," Clint Watts, a Senior Fellow at the Foreign Policy Research Institute and at the Center for Cyber and Homeland Security at George Washington University, told MSNBC's Nicolle Wallace Wednesday.
The pattern of threats is unmistakable and it is growing. Here's a brief overview:
The plot to kidnap the Michigan governor
Armed militia members showing up at the home of Michigan's secretary of state while she was decorating for Christmas
Violent threats directed at Georgia's secretary of state, his family, and random election workers
A Georgia election official's urgent warning that death threats in the state will get someone killed
Death threats made against the Arizona secretary of state and her family
The Arizona Republican Party asking whether people are willing to die for Trump's cause
Armed protesters showing up at the homes of Idaho health officials and terrorizing their families
As Watts pointed out, many of the most concerning threats are arising in states where militias and fringe right-wing groups have traditionally thrived—Idaho, Michigan, Arizona, and Georgia. Watts also believes the worst is yet to come. The relatively close election, he said, created a delayed response of sorts where people were waiting for an outcome and Trump's cultists believed he might still prevail. But, Watts added, "They now have had time to think about what they want to do, they have heard continuous false claims—which they want to believe—and now they are being pushed and pointed to places to mobilize." Watts added the dynamic was only going to get worse in the months ahead after Trump is ejected from the White House, the coronavirus starts to be less of a threat, and there's more public targets as people start returning to public life.
But as the threat of violence grows, the vast majority of GOP lawmakers continue pouring gasoline on the pyre. On Wednesday, 17 Republican attorneys general joined a doomed pro-Trump lawsuit seeking to overturn election results and subvert the will of the people in a handful of states. On Tuesday, GOP leaders Mitch McConnell and Kevin McCarthy torpedoed a symbolic resolution that would have recognized Joe Biden as rightful president-elect for the purposes of the inaugural ceremonies. And many state GOP lawmakers continue making various legal and rhetorical efforts to push support for Trump's fascist coup attempt.
Meanwhile, Trump himself is issuing clear calls to violence. "We will soon be learning about the word 'courage', and saving our Country," Trump tweeted Thursday, before spouting more unfounded gibberish claiming that he actually won the election until it was "FIXED!"
The toxic mix of events left MSNBC's Wallace practically speechless Wednesday on her show Deadline: White House. How, she wondered, could Republican lawmakers and even conservative media personalities possibly fail to draw the line at stoking violence over an election Trump clearly lost?
"That line is in the rear view mirror," responded former GOP strategist Steve Schmidt. "They crossed it. ... We cannot be fantastical in wishing that what has happened has not happened in our thinking. It has happened."
Schmidt went on to assert that the Republican party is no longer committed to the American ideal of representative democracy.
"They all know that Biden has won the election," Schmidt said. "What they're doing is for no purpose other than power. The Republican party is an organized conspiracy for the purposes of maintaining power for self-interest, and the self-interest of its donor class. There is no fidelity to the American idea and ideal."
Watch it:


alternet--2020-12-12--Texas GOP actually suggests secession after Trump's Supreme Court election challenge fails

After the Supreme Court decisively shut down a lawsuit attempting to overturn the 2020 election , Texas GOP Chair Allen West issued a disturbing statement floating the idea of possible secession over the result .
The case was brought by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton , though it was widely panned by legal experts .
Some believed that Paxton , currently under investigation by the FBI , was using the lawsuit as a vehicle to win President Donald Trump 's favor and obtain a presidential pardon .
Despite the lack of merits , the president and his allies rallied behind @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it `` the big one '' — apparently trying to distinguish it from the more than 50 additional failed election lawsuits filed on his behalf .
From the start , the lawsuit never had the chance .
Paxton tried to exploit a feature of the constitutional system that allows states to sue each other before the Supreme Court .
But Paxton 's arguments that four key swing states had violated the Constitution in conducting their elections were specious , and there was no reason to take them seriously .
The court concluded , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have the standing to bring a challenge to other states on this ground and rejected the argument without it even being officially filed .
For West , this absolutely predictable and expected result was a galling affront .
“ The Supreme Court , in tossing the Texas lawsuit that was joined by seventeen states and 106 US congressman , have decreed that a state can take unconstitutional actions and violate its own election law , '' he said in a statement .
`` Resulting in damaging effects on other states that abide by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ suffers no consequences .
This decision establishes a precedent that says states can violate the US constitution and not be held accountable . ''
This was mostly just a comical tantrum .
But the ending became deeply disturbing , as he explicitly floated the idea of seceding from the United States .
He continued : `` This decision will have far reaching ramifications for the future of our constitutional republic .
Perhaps law-abiding states should bond together and form a Union of states that will abide by the constitution . ''
This is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's disinformation campaign against the election and attempts to overthrow the result are so dangerous .
While there was no reason to expect the effort to be successful , it would clearly succeed in convincing millions of Americans , perhaps a majority of Republicans , that the constitutional order was fundamentally broken .
That raises the possibility of violence , disorder , and conflict .
There is no legitimate way for an American state or group of states to secede from the rest .
That 's why the American Civil War began .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Republican Rep. Adam Kinzinger of Illinois was sharply critical of the statement :

After the Supreme Court decisively shut down a lawsuit attempting to overturn the 2020 election, Texas GOP Chair Allen West issued a disturbing statement floating the idea of possible secession over the result.
The case was brought by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, though it was widely panned by legal experts. Some believed that Paxton, currently under investigation by the FBI, was using the lawsuit as a vehicle to win President Donald Trump's favor and obtain a presidential pardon. Despite the lack of merits, the president and his allies rallied behind the lawsuit, with Trump himself calling it "the big one" — apparently trying to distinguish it from the more than 50 additional failed election lawsuits filed on his behalf.
From the start, the lawsuit never had the chance. Paxton tried to exploit a feature of the constitutional system that allows states to sue each other before the Supreme Court. But Paxton's arguments that four key swing states had violated the Constitution in conducting their elections were specious, and there was no reason to take them seriously. The court concluded, unsurprisingly, that Texas didn't even have the standing to bring a challenge to other states on this ground and rejected the argument without it even being officially filed.
For West, this absolutely predictable and expected result was a galling affront.
“The Supreme Court, in tossing the Texas lawsuit that was joined by seventeen states and 106 US congressman, have decreed that a state can take unconstitutional actions and violate its own election law," he said in a statement. "Resulting in damaging effects on other states that abide by the law, while the guilty state suffers no consequences. This decision establishes a precedent that says states can violate the US constitution and not be held accountable."
This was mostly just a comical tantrum. But the ending became deeply disturbing, as he explicitly floated the idea of seceding from the United States.
He continued: "This decision will have far reaching ramifications for the future of our constitutional republic. Perhaps law-abiding states should bond together and form a Union of states that will abide by the constitution."
This is exactly why many have argued that Trump's disinformation campaign against the election and attempts to overthrow the result are so dangerous. While there was no reason to expect the effort to be successful, it would clearly succeed in convincing millions of Americans, perhaps a majority of Republicans, that the constitutional order was fundamentally broken. That raises the possibility of violence, disorder, and conflict.
There is no legitimate way for an American state or group of states to secede from the rest. That's why the American Civil War began. Suggesting secession is essentially threatening war.
Republican Rep. Adam Kinzinger of Illinois was sharply critical of the statement:


alternet--2020-12-11--The Supreme Court just threw out the election case Trump called 'the big one' in a humiliating blow

As was expected by countless legal observers , the United States Supreme Court threw out a Texas lawsuit on Friday night that had sought to overturn the 2020 presidential election .
The court said that Texas , which argued that four key swing states that had voted for President-elect Joe Biden had improperly conducted their elections , did n't have standing to bring its case .
`` The State of Texas 's motion for leave to file a bill of complaint is denied for lack of standing under Article III of the Constitution .
Texas has not demonstrated a judicially @ @ @ @ @ @ @ another State conducts its elections , '' it said .
`` All other pending motions are dismissed as moot . ''
`` It 's over , '' said Brad Heath , a legal reporter for Reuters .
`` The court 's decision - that Texas lacks standing to bring this case - means it could not and did not reach the other issues .
But these claims have all been rejected for many , many , many other reasons by other state and federal courts .
Many . ''
In fact , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ even by many conservative legal experts .
While the standing issue proved a key roadblock , the case would have almost certainly failed on the merits had the court agreed to hear it .
But much of the GOP did n't see it that way , or at least pretended not to see it that way .
Seventeen GOP attorneys general signed on to the suit , brought first by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton , who many believe was simply trying to please Trump to get a pardon .
More than 100 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ support for the argument .
Trump himself threw his weight behind the push to overturn the election .
After more than 50 cases brought in an effort to undo Biden 's win had failed , the president said this case was the real deal : This means that while Alito and Thomas thought that though the law would have required the court to let Texas to file its arguments , they would n't have issued any injunction to block the finalization of the election .
The Electoral College is slated to meet on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ votes for Biden .
Despite Trump 's hopes , the Supreme Court has no plan intention of stopping it .

As was expected by countless legal observers, the United States Supreme Court threw out a Texas lawsuit on Friday night that had sought to overturn the 2020 presidential election.
The court said that Texas, which argued that four key swing states that had voted for President-elect Joe Biden had improperly conducted their elections, didn't have standing to bring its case.
"The State of Texas's motion for leave to file a bill of complaint is denied for lack of standing under Article III of the Constitution. Texas has not demonstrated a judicially cognizable interest in the manner in which another State conducts its elections," it said. "All other pending motions are dismissed as moot."
"It's over," said Brad Heath, a legal reporter for Reuters. "The court's decision - that Texas lacks standing to bring this case - means it could not and did not reach the other issues. But these claims have all been rejected for many, many, many other reasons by other state and federal courts. Many."
In fact, the case was largely rejected as a joke even by many conservative legal experts. While the standing issue proved a key roadblock, the case would have almost certainly failed on the merits had the court agreed to hear it.
But much of the GOP didn't see it that way, or at least pretended not to see it that way. Seventeen GOP attorneys general signed on to the suit, brought first by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, who many believe was simply trying to please Trump to get a pardon. More than 100 Republican members of the House also voiced support for the argument.
Trump himself threw his weight behind the push to overturn the election. After more than 50 cases brought in an effort to undo Biden's win had failed, the president said this case was the real deal:
He was wrong.
Conservative Justice Samuel Alito wrote an additional comment, joined by fellow conservative Justice Clarence Thomas:
In my view, we do not have discretion to deny the filing of a bill of complaint in a case that falls within our original jurisdiction. See Arizona v. California, 589 U. S. ___ (Feb. 24, 2020) (Thomas, J., dissenting). I would therefore grant the motion to file the bill of complaint but would not grant other relief, and I express no view on any other issue.
This means that while Alito and Thomas thought that though the law would have required the court to let Texas to file its arguments, they wouldn't have issued any injunction to block the finalization of the election. The Electoral College is slated to meet on Monday to cast a majority of its votes for Biden. Despite Trump's hopes, the Supreme Court has no plan intention of stopping it.


alternet--2020-12-11--House Democrat says a provision in the 14th Amendment means some GOP members shouldn't even be seate

House Democrat says a provision in the 14th Amendment means some GOP members shouldn't even be seated

Democratic Rep. Bill Pascrell on Friday charged that some of his Republican colleagues should n't be sworn in for the next session of Congress , accusing them of violating the U.S. Constitution and attempting to `` demolish democracy '' by backing President Donald Trump 's effort to overturn the November election , which he lost to President-elect Joe Biden .
In a letter to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi ( D-Calif. ) and Rep. Zoe Lofgren ( D-Calif. ) , chair of the Committee on House Administration , the New Jersey congressman specifically condemned the more than 100 House Republicans who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Attorney General Ken Paxton that aims to block the four key battleground states of Georgia , Michigan , Pennsylvania , and Wisconsin—all of which Biden won—from voting in the Electoral College .
Pascrell cites Article 1 , Section 5 of the Constitution , which gives each chamber of Congress final authority over membership , as well as Section 3 of the 14th Amendment , which says : '' Stated simply , men and women who would act to tear the United States government apart can not serve as members of the Congress , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` These lawsuits seeking to obliterate public confidence in our democratic system by invalidating the clear results of the 2020 presidential election attack the text and spirit of the Constitution , which each member swears to support and defend , as well as violate the rules of our House of Representatives , which explicitly forbid members from committing unbecoming acts that reflect poorly on our chamber , '' he adds .
Pascrell urges Pelosi and Lofgren to exercise their power to figure how they can respond to these alleged constitutional violations and , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ members who , in his words , are `` seeking to make Donald Trump an unelected dictator . ''
Their actions `` must be repudiated in the strongest possible terms , '' he argues .
`` The moment we face now may be without parallel since 1860 .
The fate of our democracy depends on us meeting that moment . ''
The congressman was far from alone in condemning the behavior of GOP officials who have rallied around Paxton 's long-shot lawsuit and other legal challenges to Biden 's decisive victory .
Earlier @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) also slammed supporters of Trump 's attempt to sow doubt about the security of the election .
`` House Republicans are spending critical time when people are starving and small businesses are shuttering trying to overturn the results of our election , '' Ocasio-Cortez tweeted , `` but please tell us more about how 'both sides are just as bad . '
'' Fellow Squad member Rep. Ilhan Omar ( D-Minn. ) said Thursday that `` they are attempting a coup in broad daylight and it should not be treated as anything @ @ @

Democratic Rep. Bill Pascrell on Friday charged that some of his Republican colleagues shouldn't be sworn in for the next session of Congress, accusing them of violating the U.S. Constitution and attempting to "demolish democracy" by backing President Donald Trump's effort to overturn the November election, which he lost to President-elect Joe Biden.
In a letter to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-Calif.), chair of the Committee on House Administration, the New Jersey congressman specifically condemned the more than 100 House Republicans who are supporting a lawsuit filed by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton that aims to block the four key battleground states of Georgia, Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin—all of which Biden won—from voting in the Electoral College.
Pascrell cites Article 1, Section 5 of the Constitution, which gives each chamber of Congress final authority over membership, as well as Section 3 of the 14th Amendment, which says:
No person shall be a senator or representative in Congress, or elector of president and vice president, or hold any office, civil or military, under the United States, or under any state, who, having previously taken an oath, as a member of Congress, or as an officer of the United States, or as a member of any state legislature, or as an executive or judicial officer of any state, to support the Constitution of the United States, shall have engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the same, or given aid or comfort to the enemies thereof. But Congress may by a vote of two-thirds of each House, remove such disability.
"Stated simply, men and women who would act to tear the United States government apart cannot serve as members of the Congress," writes the longtime Trump critic.
"These lawsuits seeking to obliterate public confidence in our democratic system by invalidating the clear results of the 2020 presidential election attack the text and spirit of the Constitution, which each member swears to support and defend, as well as violate the rules of our House of Representatives, which explicitly forbid members from committing unbecoming acts that reflect poorly on our chamber," he adds.
Pascrell urges Pelosi and Lofgren to exercise their power to figure how they can respond to these alleged constitutional violations and, if possible, refuse to seat incoming members who, in his words, are "seeking to make Donald Trump an unelected dictator."
Their actions "must be repudiated in the strongest possible terms," he argues. "The moment we face now may be without parallel since 1860. The fate of our democracy depends on us meeting that moment."
The congressman was far from alone in condemning the behavior of GOP officials who have rallied around Paxton's long-shot lawsuit and other legal challenges to Biden's decisive victory. Earlier Friday, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) also slammed supporters of Trump's attempt to sow doubt about the security of the election.
"House Republicans are spending critical time when people are starving and small businesses are shuttering trying to overturn the results of our election," Ocasio-Cortez tweeted, "but please tell us more about how 'both sides are just as bad.'"
Fellow Squad member Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) said Thursday that "they are attempting a coup in broad daylight and it should not be treated as anything less."


alternet--2020-12-11--This scathing Georgia ad nails GOP Sen. Perdue for fighting stimulus checks

Jon Ossoff makes things crystal clear for Georgians in this new ad : Any help coming from this Senate is not going to be for the people who are hurting the most .
`` When this pandemic hit , millions of Georgians like me had to file for unemployment , '' the Georgia worker on camera says .
`` We needed our senator 's help .
But for David Perdue we were n't the priority .
Senator Perdue voted to give hundreds of millions to big corporations , even if if they lay people off .
But he fought against @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and supported cutting our unemployment benefits .
Even at a moment like this , David Perdue is there for his donors but not for us . ''
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell , with the full backing of Perdue , is blocking a COVID relief deal that had support from Senate Democrats , Senate Republicans , and even the White House .
Without his majority , he ca n't hold the nation hostage .
If you want help , if you want a $ 1,200 or $ 2,000 check , make sure Raphael @ @ @ @ @ @ @ If McConnell stays in charge , no money , no help .
If Democrats take the Senate , money .

Jon Ossoff makes things crystal clear for Georgians in this new ad: Any help coming from this Senate is not going to be for the people who are hurting the most. "When this pandemic hit, millions of Georgians like me had to file for unemployment," the Georgia worker on camera says. "We needed our senator's help. But for David Perdue we weren't the priority. Senator Perdue voted to give hundreds of millions to big corporations, even if if they lay people off. But he fought against the $1,200 stimulus check for workers and supported cutting our unemployment benefits. Even at a moment like this, David Perdue is there for his donors but not for us."
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, with the full backing of Perdue, is blocking a COVID relief deal that had support from Senate Democrats, Senate Republicans, and even the White House. Without his majority, he can't hold the nation hostage. If you want help, if you want a $1,200 or $2,000 check, make sure Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff get elected. If McConnell stays in charge, no money, no help. If Democrats take the Senate, money.