alternet--2020-10-23--Joe Biden just wiped the floor with Trump

In the second and final one-on-one presidential debate of the 2020 race , President Donald Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden both turned in stronger performances than they had in their first , thanks in part to the impressive moderation of NBC News reporter Kristen Welker .
Trump , perhaps because of new rules and advice he 'd received , was much less inclined to interrupt Biden and marginally less combative .
Biden , perhaps because he was n't interrupted constantly , was able to get to many of his key talking point and directly connect with voters on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Though Trump occasionally had a strong or persuasive moment , Biden was undoubtedly the clear victor of the debate .
He cleaned the president 's clock .
That claim is not a mere reflection of personal taste , but a judgment about how each candidate talked about issues that matter to people .
Over and over , Biden made substantive points about public policy , taking the overwhelmingly popular side in these disputes .
Trump would often simply flail in response or back himself into a corner with an unpopular stance .
For @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump clearly opposed raising it as Biden has proposed , saying `` that 's not helping . ''
He said it should be a `` state option . ''
This is a problem for Trump .
Pew Research has found that 67 percent of Americans support raising the federal minimum wage to $ 15 an hour , including 43 percent of Republicans .
His stance also undercuts the appeal he had for many GOP voter in 2016 , based around his image as an unorthodox Republican who actually cared about working men and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Supreme Court to get rid of Obamacare , a view opposed by 58 percent of Americans , including 66 percent of independents , according to the Kaiser Family Foundation .
Trump says he wants to replace Obamacare with a new law , but he has n't presented one in four years .
And according to Gallup , voters trust Biden more on health care by a 13-point margin .
On a related issue , the coronavirus pandemic , Trump was likewise walking on thin ice .
His approval rating on handling of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ around 40 percent of Americans approving of his response and around 58 percent disapproving .
But Trump did little to change anyone 's mind on the matter and continued to insist that it 's not that big a deal .
At one point he , said Americans are `` learning to live with it , '' an opening Biden dove into with a brutal rejoinder : And when Biden pushed Trump on not taking responsibility for his own performance on the pandemic , Trump gave a response that would have seemed too absurd @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that Trump has yet to get another bill passed for COVID relief , another overwhelmingly popular idea .
When Trump blamed House Speaker Nancy Pelosi for the delay , Biden rightly pointed out that the House had already passed the massive HEROES Act , and Senate Republicans oppose it .
Trump trotted out his usual attack on HEROES , calling it a bailout for blue states .
But Biden used this opportunity to call for uniting the country rather than dividing , a point that is likely to be more popular than Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ money .
Biden also expertly used a discussion of immigration to call out the Trump administration 's horrendous immigration policies , which have been highlighted in recent days with reports that more than 500 children who were separated from their parents by the president 's agencies have yet to be reunited years later .
Biden called the policy `` criminal '' and spoke passionately about the abuse the children suffered .
Here , too , Biden was on strong ground — 66 percent of people opposed Trump 's family separation policy , according @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more humane practices of releasing undocumented migrants while they await hearings .
And when Trump hit back at Biden , his answers were inconsistent and hazy .
He repeatedly asked Biden who built the cages that Trump infamously put children in , correctly implying that they were constructed under the Obama administration .
But though this is a popular right-wing gotcha line , it 's hard to see it being persuasive with voters .
People who are unsettled by the inhumane treatment of migrants are unlikely to be convinced by this claim that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
And it 's hard to understand the point Trump was trying to make with it , given that his other argument was that Biden and Obama were too lenient with immigrants .
Without a clear point to make , Trump just comes off as argumentative and a bully .
The exchange also led Trump into one of the most despicable lines of the night , when he attacked the immigrants who show up for trial dates as having low IQs : Later , Biden excelled when he talked about investing and green @ @ @ @ @ @ @ focused on the fact that these investments can support new jobs and that both labor groups and environmental organizations support his plan .
Trump tried to fearmonger about the threat reducing reliance on fossil fuels poses to American industry , but the fact is that most Americans are concerned about climate change and want politicians to take strong action to counter it .
Talking about the transition away from fossil fuels is a positive , enthusiastic way as Biden did makes for a powerful message on this point .
Trump 's strongest moments @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his support for the 1990s crimes bill , which many now argue was far too punitive .
And the president also had a relatively effective line in response to any of Biden 's proposals , arguing that Biden never got them done in his decades in government .
But he probably overused this attack line and had no substantive response to Biden 's point that he has gotten things done but wants to do more , and that he has previously been stymied by GOP opposition .
One part of the debate without @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the candidates delved into dueling accusations of corruption .
Trump fanned the flames of unclear allegations about Biden 's son , Hunter , that have taken off in right-wing circles in recent days .
Biden hit back by pointing to the New York Times ' reporting on Trump 's taxes , particularly the fact that it was recently revealed he had a secret Chinese bank account .
Arguably , Biden got the better of this dispute , as he focused on the fact that Trump has n't released his taxes — which Americans @ @ @ @ @ @ @ off listing a series of fringe allegations that few people outside of the Fox News universe will understand .
But even if you argue that this segment of the debate was a `` draw '' with both candidates coming out looking sullied , that 's probably still good for Biden , who is leading in the polls .
After this dispute , Biden pivoted away from the attacks and spoke directly to the American people .
`` There 's a reason why he 's bringing up all this malarkey , '' Biden said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ family and my family .
It 's about your family .
And your family is hurting badly .
If you 're a middle-class family , you 're getting hurt badly right now . ''
He added : `` We should be talking about your families , but that 's the last thing he wants to talk about . ''
It was an effective moment .
Trump seemed to realize this , too , because he tried to undercut it with a harsh reply .
He dismissed Biden 's plea as pure pandering , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ politician . ''
Perhaps that reply was a good one for some viewers .
But there 's a reason to think it was n't .
Throughout the rest of the debate , Biden was consistently talking about popular policies and ideas that will make families ' lives better .
Trump was rambling and often dismissing these ideas , while providing few alternatives .
So if they were listening to the rest of the debate , many voters will probably think Biden was sincere .

In the second and final one-on-one presidential debate of the 2020 race, President Donald Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden both turned in stronger performances than they had in their first, thanks in part to the impressive moderation of NBC News reporter Kristen Welker. Trump, perhaps because of new rules and advice he'd received, was much less inclined to interrupt Biden and marginally less combative. Biden, perhaps because he wasn't interrupted constantly, was able to get to many of his key talking point and directly connect with voters on matters that are important to them.
Though Trump occasionally had a strong or persuasive moment, Biden was undoubtedly the clear victor of the debate. He cleaned the president's clock.
That claim is not a mere reflection of personal taste, but a judgment about how each candidate talked about issues that matter to people. Over and over, Biden made substantive points about public policy, taking the overwhelmingly popular side in these disputes. Trump would often simply flail in response or back himself into a corner with an unpopular stance.
For instance, on the minimum wage, Trump clearly opposed raising it as Biden has proposed, saying "that's not helping." He said it should be a "state option."
This is a problem for Trump. Pew Research has found that 67 percent of Americans support raising the federal minimum wage to $15 an hour, including 43 percent of Republicans. His stance also undercuts the appeal he had for many GOP voter in 2016, based around his image as an unorthodox Republican who actually cared about working men and women.
Trump also said he wanted the Supreme Court to get rid of Obamacare, a view opposed by 58 percent of Americans, including 66 percent of independents, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation. Trump says he wants to replace Obamacare with a new law, but he hasn't presented one in four years. And according to Gallup, voters trust Biden more on health care by a 13-point margin.
On a related issue, the coronavirus pandemic, Trump was likewise walking on thin ice. His approval rating on handling of the crisis is under water, with around 40 percent of Americans approving of his response and around 58 percent disapproving. But Trump did little to change anyone's mind on the matter and continued to insist that it's not that big a deal. At one point he, said Americans are "learning to live with it," an opening Biden dove into with a brutal rejoinder:
And when Biden pushed Trump on not taking responsibility for his own performance on the pandemic, Trump gave a response that would have seemed too absurd for parody:
And Biden pointed out that Trump has yet to get another bill passed for COVID relief, another overwhelmingly popular idea. When Trump blamed House Speaker Nancy Pelosi for the delay, Biden rightly pointed out that the House had already passed the massive HEROES Act, and Senate Republicans oppose it. Trump trotted out his usual attack on HEROES, calling it a bailout for blue states. But Biden used this opportunity to call for uniting the country rather than dividing, a point that is likely to be more popular than Trump blaming Democrats for wanting too much stimulus money.
Biden also expertly used a discussion of immigration to call out the Trump administration's horrendous immigration policies, which have been highlighted in recent days with reports that more than 500 children who were separated from their parents by the president's agencies have yet to be reunited years later. Biden called the policy "criminal" and spoke passionately about the abuse the children suffered. Here, too, Biden was on strong ground — 66 percent of people opposed Trump's family separation policy, according to one poll. Biden also defended more humane practices of releasing undocumented migrants while they await hearings.
And when Trump hit back at Biden, his answers were inconsistent and hazy. He repeatedly asked Biden who built the cages that Trump infamously put children in, correctly implying that they were constructed under the Obama administration. But though this is a popular right-wing gotcha line, it's hard to see it being persuasive with voters. People who are unsettled by the inhumane treatment of migrants are unlikely to be convinced by this claim that Biden would be more harsh on immigrants. And it's hard to understand the point Trump was trying to make with it, given that his other argument was that Biden and Obama were too lenient with immigrants. Without a clear point to make, Trump just comes off as argumentative and a bully.
The exchange also led Trump into one of the most despicable lines of the night, when he attacked the immigrants who show up for trial dates as having low IQs:
Later, Biden excelled when he talked about investing and green energy to combat climate change. He focused on the fact that these investments can support new jobs and that both labor groups and environmental organizations support his plan. Trump tried to fearmonger about the threat reducing reliance on fossil fuels poses to American industry, but the fact is that most Americans are concerned about climate change and want politicians to take strong action to counter it. Talking about the transition away from fossil fuels is a positive, enthusiastic way as Biden did makes for a powerful message on this point.
Trump's strongest moments came when he was hitting Biden on his support for the 1990s crimes bill, which many now argue was far too punitive. And the president also had a relatively effective line in response to any of Biden's proposals, arguing that Biden never got them done in his decades in government. But he probably overused this attack line and had no substantive response to Biden's point that he has gotten things done but wants to do more, and that he has previously been stymied by GOP opposition.
One part of the debate without a clear "winner" came when the candidates delved into dueling accusations of corruption. Trump fanned the flames of unclear allegations about Biden's son, Hunter, that have taken off in right-wing circles in recent days. Biden hit back by pointing to the New York Times' reporting on Trump's taxes, particularly the fact that it was recently revealed he had a secret Chinese bank account. Arguably, Biden got the better of this dispute, as he focused on the fact that Trump hasn't released his taxes — which Americans want to see — while Trump went off listing a series of fringe allegations that few people outside of the Fox News universe will understand. But even if you argue that this segment of the debate was a "draw" with both candidates coming out looking sullied, that's probably still good for Biden, who is leading in the polls.
After this dispute, Biden pivoted away from the attacks and spoke directly to the American people.
"There's a reason why he's bringing up all this malarkey," Biden said. "It's not about his family and my family. It's about your family. And your family is hurting badly. If you're a middle-class family, you're getting hurt badly right now."
He added: "We should be talking about your families, but that's the last thing he wants to talk about."
It was an effective moment. Trump seemed to realize this, too, because he tried to undercut it with a harsh reply. He dismissed Biden's plea as pure pandering, saying that he sounded like a "politician."
Perhaps that reply was a good one for some viewers. But there's a reason to think it wasn't. Throughout the rest of the debate, Biden was consistently talking about popular policies and ideas that will make families' lives better. Trump was rambling and often dismissing these ideas, while providing few alternatives. So if they were listening to the rest of the debate, many voters will probably think Biden was sincere.


alternet--2020-10-23--How Europe and America blew it on the pandemic

It is said that times of crisis reveal who we really are .
If this adage works for civilizations as it does for individuals , Europe and America have reasons to worry .
The illusion of getting the new coronavirus under control was short-lived , barely surviving summer .
Europe is seeing infections rising to spring levels ; mortality remains lower but health care systems in parts of Spain and France are on red alert again .
Meanwhile , the United States has successfully curbed several major outbreaks , most notably in New York , but remains the worst affected @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at the end of the tunnel is rather faint .
But the worst was still to come .
After draconian restrictions brought the infection under control in many countries by the end of spring , governments had the chance to look around , see what was working and determine a reasonable way forward .
Inspiration was easy to come by — if only we had cared to look .
While Western countries reported thousands of victims each day , East Asia handled the pandemic remarkably well .
Despite their proximity and business ties @ @ @ @ @ @ @ China , and despite several strong but localized outbreaks , impact across the region was nowhere near the level of Europe and the U.S. South Korea , Taiwan and Singapore have 80 million inhabitants combined , roughly one-fourth of U.S. population and larger than the populations of Britain or France .
As of Oct. 1 , the total number of fatalities in those three nations together stands at 449 .
That 's less than Florida 's Polk County or the English city of Leeds , with populations of less than 800,000 each .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Asian trio achieved that result without total lockdowns .
OECD expects the South Korean economy to contract by 1 % in 2020 , while Taiwan 's GDP is predicted to grow slightly .
Even Singapore 's 6 % decline , which would be catastrophic in normal circumstances , is better than the European Union 's forecast 8 % downturn — and that was before the second wave of the pandemic hit Europe .
So what was the East Asian recipe for success ?
• Face masks are a must indoors , with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ distancing measures limited the numbers of participants at public events .
• Temperature checks were in place at entry points to most indoor spaces .
• Strict quarantines were enforced on travelers from risk countries , subject to geo tracking and daily checks from officials .
• Production of protective equipment was ramped up , and citizens were informed where to get it .
First and foremost , safety measures were deployed before the pandemic hit hard — and ordinary people respected them .
East Asia 's experience refutes two myths at once @ @ @ @ @ @ @ plague , destined to kill millions no matter what .
There also is no necessary trade-off between public health and economy , as far too many politicians and economists have claimed .
Governments can save lives and jobs at the same time .
You 'd be forgiven for thinking that Taiwan , et al.
, became the blueprint for Western governments to follow .
You could n't be more wrong .
As the first wave of infections in Europe waned , so did precautions .
Borders opened wide in a desperate attempt to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ us to images of crowded beaches and people sharing hugs over a drink .
Both Europe and United States — where the first wave never really ended — wasted a golden opportunity to take a lesson from the Asian approach .
Mask rules were introduced too late , if at all .
Temperature checks are rare and haphazard , testing capacities remain insufficient in many regions , and quarantines are poorly controlled .
It would be tempting to place the blame solely on politicians , and without question the way they failed in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ As time goes by , however , it becomes more and more apparent that elected representatives are but a reflection of the electorate .
While Asians wear masks as a protective standard , big chunks of American and European societies struggle mightily with this idea .
Refusal to wear face coverings became a badge of honor among libertarians and the right : What 's life without the `` freedom '' to infect thy neighbor ?
Esoteric hipsters find masks insufficiently natural , while social media users share hoaxes about children in masks choking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of medical education spread copy-pasted wisdom about the supposed ineffectiveness of protective equipment .
British students complain to the media that restrictions on bars and pubs are damaging for their university experience .
Celebrities refuse to respect public health laws … and on and on .
We may think of ourselves as the children of Enlightenment and the scientific method , yet our reactions to the first big crisis in 75 years made us look like mere children , full stop .
The virus-busting success of East Asian countries is no secret .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ open information sources .
What remains a mystery is why , instead of taking a page from Asia 's book , even sensible people in Western societies are periodically reviving dangerous nonsense about the `` Swedish way '' and `` herd immunity , '' a pair of myths that finally need to be put to sleep and wiped from the face of the Earth .
Sweden — unlike neighboring Norway , Finland and Denmark — rejected a tough lockdown in the spring , in favor of softer and mostly voluntary measures .
This @ @ @ @ @ @ @ far , the fifth wrst per capita in Europe .
Denmark 's death toll , adjusted for population size , is five times lower , and death rates in Norway and Finland are more like 10 times lower .
Translated into the real world , more than 5,000 Swedes would still be alive , in all probability , had they lived across the border in a nearby nation .
Do I hear you saying , Well , at least the Swedish approach saved their economy ?
Not at all .
Sweden 's GDP @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a notably worse result than Denmark 's at 7.4 % , Norway 's at 7.1 % and Finland 's at 3.2 % .
Current infection rates are also worse in Sweden than elsewhere in the region .
All in all , there is n't a single reason why Sweden , a nation that let an astonishing number of its citizens die needlessly without achieving anything in exchange , should serve as an example .
Still , even respected media in the English-speaking world , such as the Guardian and the Washington Post , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , such as Britain , and triumphantly exclaiming that `` in Sweden there has not been the same sharp increase in cases '' ( Guardian ) or alleging that the `` success or failure of [ Swedish ] policy is still being debated '' ( Post ) .
Five thousand Swedes would beg to differ , if they could .
They can not , because they 're dead .
This indifference towards human life , which has been spreading through public space during the pandemic , is most apparent in the `` herd @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prophets — which appear to include Dr. Scott Atlas , a radiologist who serves as President Trump 's virus-whisperer , COVID is unavoidable , so the best option we have is to get enough people infected and create antibodies , until the evil germ runs out of victims .
Herd immunity requires no less than 60 % of population to contract the virus .
Looking at stats from countries with the most diligent testing programs ( Iceland , Bahrain , the United Arab Emirates and Malta ) , COVID-19 's real fatality rate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ higher values in some countries being the result of many undetected infections , especially during the first wave .
Even that relatively low rate would mean 200,000 deaths in Britain , a quarter of a million in Germany , and close to 1 million in the United States , should these countries opt for herd immunity without a vaccine .
Funny how times change .
It seems like yesterday when every single life lost to Islamist terrorism in the West was a sufficient excuse for denying help to millions of refugees and labelling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ adherents as an existential threat to our civilization .
It 's often the same people who consider hundreds of thousands of extra deaths to be an acceptable price for `` getting our lives back . ''
An exorbitant human toll is n't the only reason why the concept of herd immunity is irrelevant .
First and foremost , we have no idea whether herd immunity can be achieved at all .
Just look at the common flu virus , which mutates all the time and requires re-vaccination every year .
Herd immunity usually @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it develops at all — and that 's with widely available vaccines .
Research suggests that the new coronavirus is no stranger to change either , which could easily mean that the only lasting effect of any pre-vaccine attempt at herd immunity would be a gargantuan pile of dead bodies .
Another big problem is that we have extremely limited insight into the long-term health impacts of COVID-19 infection .
We almost certainly have to stop thinking about this disease in binary form .
It 's not only about deaths versus recoveries .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ are far from rare .
Survivors with permanent health damage are no small issues for a plethora of reasons , from quality of life to economic impact .
Until we know more about antibodies and long-term effects , any attempt to allow the spread of this virus for the sake of herd immunity should be considered a crime against humanity , a totally irresponsible gamble using people instead of chips — a Nazi-doctor-style experiment that could destroy millions of lives and achieve nothing .
More than anything , COVID-19 is a game of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ silver bullet we 're hoping for .
We may well have to learn to live with this disease .
Perhaps most of us will eventually catch it .
If that 's the case , every month counts .
Viruses tend to get weaker over time , which helps them spread better .
More experience gives medical staff the knowledge to identify the most efficient care .
Each month can bring improved treatment and more prepared hospitals .
Proper preventive measures limit the quantity of virus spreading around , which can lead to milder @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rates of the second wave , several if not all of these factors are already having an impact .
You are more likely to survive COVID-19 today than you were in April ; odds are that your chances next year will be even better .
Therefore , playing for time is n't delaying the inevitable — it represents an essential part of damage mitigation .
The Asian approach fits this goal like a glove .
It 's not perfect : Singapore mishandled COVID spread among foreign workers , and South Korea struggled to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
But imperfect is nonetheless the best we currently have .
The only reason for our refusal to accept this is cultural arrogance .
It 's not just Donald Trump who sees America as the greatest country in the world .
And it 's not only nationalists who feel that Europe , as the supposed cradle of democracy , is superior to every other part of the world .
It 's a dangerous — and in current circumstances , even lethal — delusion .
The supposed dilemma between economy and health is a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ how to protect both ; the West looked for its own way , which has largely failed on both counts .
There is still time to do things right , but it 's running out .
While Western governments are now moving closer to East Asia 's policies , the public , increasingly distrustful of their elected representatives , is largely drifting in the opposite direction .
Changing this mindset is the greatest challenge that American and European leaders are facing today .

by JOSEF BOUSKA
It is said that times of crisis reveal who we really are. If this adage works for civilizations as it does for individuals, Europe and America have reasons to worry.
The illusion of getting the new coronavirus under control was short-lived, barely surviving summer. Europe is seeing infections rising to spring levels; mortality remains lower but health care systems in parts of Spain and France are on red alert again. Meanwhile, the United States has successfully curbed several major outbreaks, most notably in New York, but remains the worst affected country in the world. The light at the end of the tunnel is rather faint.
But the worst was still to come. After draconian restrictions brought the infection under control in many countries by the end of spring, governments had the chance to look around, see what was working and determine a reasonable way forward. Inspiration was easy to come by — if only we had cared to look.
While Western countries reported thousands of victims each day, East Asia handled the pandemic remarkably well. Despite their proximity and business ties to the original epicenter of COVID-19 in China, and despite several strong but localized outbreaks, impact across the region was nowhere near the level of Europe and the U.S.
South Korea, Taiwan and Singapore have 80 million inhabitants combined, roughly one-fourth of U.S. population and larger than the populations of Britain or France. As of Oct. 1, the total number of fatalities in those three nations together stands at 449. That's less than Florida's Polk County or the English city of Leeds, with populations of less than 800,000 each.
To make things even more interesting, the Asian trio achieved that result without total lockdowns. OECD expects the South Korean economy to contract by 1% in 2020, while Taiwan's GDP is predicted to grow slightly. Even Singapore's 6% decline, which would be catastrophic in normal circumstances, is better than the European Union's forecast 8% downturn — and that was before the second wave of the pandemic hit Europe.
So what was the East Asian recipe for success?
Face masks are a must indoors, with huge fines for offenders.
Sophisticated contact tracing systems were in place.
Testing was intensive and easily accessible.
Social distancing measures limited the numbers of participants at public events.
Temperature checks were in place at entry points to most indoor spaces.
Strict quarantines were enforced on travelers from risk countries, subject to geo tracking and daily checks from officials.
Production of protective equipment was ramped up, and citizens were informed where to get it.
First and foremost, safety measures were deployed before the pandemic hit hard — and ordinary people respected them.
Fact vs. fiction
East Asia's experience refutes two myths at once. COVID-19 is not an inevitable biblical plague, destined to kill millions no matter what. There also is no necessary trade-off between public health and economy, as far too many politicians and economists have claimed. Governments can save lives and jobs at the same time.
You'd be forgiven for thinking that Taiwan, et al., became the blueprint for Western governments to follow. You couldn't be more wrong. As the first wave of infections in Europe waned, so did precautions. Borders opened wide in a desperate attempt to save the summer season. Media treated us to images of crowded beaches and people sharing hugs over a drink. Both Europe and United States — where the first wave never really ended — wasted a golden opportunity to take a lesson from the Asian approach. Mask rules were introduced too late, if at all. Temperature checks are rare and haphazard, testing capacities remain insufficient in many regions, and quarantines are poorly controlled.
It would be tempting to place the blame solely on politicians, and without question the way they failed in their duty should get more scrutiny. As time goes by, however, it becomes more and more apparent that elected representatives are but a reflection of the electorate.
While Asians wear masks as a protective standard, big chunks of American and European societies struggle mightily with this idea. Refusal to wear face coverings became a badge of honor among libertarians and the right: What's life without the "freedom" to infect thy neighbor? Esoteric hipsters find masks insufficiently natural, while social media users share hoaxes about children in masks choking on CO2. People without a trace of medical education spread copy-pasted wisdom about the supposed ineffectiveness of protective equipment. British students complain to the media that restrictions on bars and pubs are damaging for their university experience. Celebrities refuse to respect public health laws … and on and on.
We may think of ourselves as the children of Enlightenment and the scientific method, yet our reactions to the first big crisis in 75 years made us look like mere children, full stop.
The virus-busting success of East Asian countries is no secret. Anyone can learn about their situation through open information sources. What remains a mystery is why, instead of taking a page from Asia's book, even sensible people in Western societies are periodically reviving dangerous nonsense about the "Swedish way" and "herd immunity," a pair of myths that finally need to be put to sleep and wiped from the face of the Earth.
Sweden — unlike neighboring Norway, Finland and Denmark — rejected a tough lockdown in the spring, in favor of softer and mostly voluntary measures. This approach resulted in nearly 6,000 deaths so far, the fifth wrst per capita in Europe. Denmark's death toll, adjusted for population size, is five times lower, and death rates in Norway and Finland are more like 10 times lower. Translated into the real world, more than 5,000 Swedes would still be alive, in all probability, had they lived across the border in a nearby nation.
Do I hear you saying, Well, at least the Swedish approach saved their economy? Not at all. Sweden's GDP fell by 8.6% in Q2, a notably worse result than Denmark's at 7.4%,Norway's at 7.1% and Finland's at 3.2%. Current infection rates are also worse in Sweden than elsewhere in the region. All in all, there isn't a single reason why Sweden, a nation that let an astonishing number of its citizens die needlessly without achieving anything in exchange, should serve as an example.
Still, even respected media in the English-speaking world, such as the Guardian and the Washington Post, keep comparing Sweden with the worst-affected countries, such as Britain, and triumphantly exclaiming that "in Sweden there has not been the same sharp increase in cases" (Guardian) or alleging that the "success or failure of [Swedish] policy is still being debated" (Post). Five thousand Swedes would beg to differ, if they could. They cannot, because they're dead.
This indifference towards human life, which has been spreading through public space during the pandemic, is most apparent in the "herd immunity" theory. According to its prophets — which appear to include Dr. Scott Atlas, a radiologist who serves as President Trump's virus-whisperer, COVID is unavoidable, so the best option we have is to get enough people infected and create antibodies, until the evil germ runs out of victims.
Herd immunity requires no less than 60% of population to contract the virus. Looking at stats from countries with the most diligent testing programs (Iceland, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates and Malta), COVID-19's real fatality rate is likely around 0.5%, with higher values in some countries being the result of many undetected infections, especially during the first wave. Even that relatively low rate would mean 200,000 deaths in Britain, a quarter of a million in Germany, and close to 1 million in the United States, should these countries opt for herd immunity without a vaccine.
Funny how times change. It seems like yesterday when every single life lost to Islamist terrorism in the West was a sufficient excuse for denying help to millions of refugees and labelling an entire religion with roughly a billion adherents as an existential threat to our civilization. It's often the same people who consider hundreds of thousands of extra deaths to be an acceptable price for "getting our lives back."
An exorbitant human toll isn't the only reason why the concept of herd immunity is irrelevant. First and foremost, we have no idea whether herd immunity can be achieved at all. Just look at the common flu virus, which mutates all the time and requires re-vaccination every year. Herd immunity usually lasts only a few months, if it develops at all — and that's with widely available vaccines. Research suggests that the new coronavirus is no stranger to change either, which could easily mean that the only lasting effect of any pre-vaccine attempt at herd immunity would be a gargantuan pile of dead bodies.
Another big problem is that we have extremely limited insight into the long-term health impacts of COVID-19 infection. We almost certainly have to stop thinking about this disease in binary form. It's not only about deaths versus recoveries. Several recent studies warn that lasting effects of the disease are far from rare . Survivors with permanent health damage are no small issues for a plethora of reasons, from quality of life to economic impact.
Until we know more about antibodies and long-term effects, any attempt to allow the spread of this virus for the sake of herd immunity should be considered a crime against humanity, a totally irresponsible gamble using people instead of chips — a Nazi-doctor-style experiment that could destroy millions of lives and achieve nothing.
Better late than early
More than anything, COVID-19 is a game of time. Vaccines may not be the silver bullet we're hoping for. We may well have to learn to live with this disease. Perhaps most of us will eventually catch it. If that's the case, every month counts.
Viruses tend to get weaker over time, which helps them spread better. More experience gives medical staff the knowledge to identify the most efficient care. Each month can bring improved treatment and more prepared hospitals. Proper preventive measures limit the quantity of virus spreading around, which can lead to milder infection. Judging by the lower mortality rates of the second wave, several if not all of these factors are already having an impact. You are more likely to survive COVID-19 today than you were in April; odds are that your chances next year will be even better. Therefore, playing for time isn't delaying the inevitable — it represents an essential part of damage mitigation.
The Asian approach fits this goal like a glove. It's not perfect: Singapore mishandled COVID spread among foreign workers, and South Korea struggled to contain outbreaks associated with a religious group. But imperfect is nonetheless the best we currently have.
The only reason for our refusal to accept this is cultural arrogance. It's not just Donald Trump who sees America as the greatest country in the world. And it's not only nationalists who feel that Europe, as the supposed cradle of democracy, is superior to every other part of the world. It's a dangerous — and in current circumstances, even lethal — delusion.
The supposed dilemma between economy and health is a false construct. The East has shown how to protect both; the West looked for its own way, which has largely failed on both counts. There is still time to do things right, but it's running out. While Western governments are now moving closer to East Asia's policies, the public, increasingly distrustful of their elected representatives, is largely drifting in the opposite direction. Changing this mindset is the greatest challenge that American and European leaders are facing today.


alternet--2020-10-23--Trump did it again — the same blackmail scheme that got him impeached

Back thousands of years ago , in February of 2020 , Sen. Susan Collins of Maine , a `` moderate '' Republican , justified her vote to acquit Donald Trump at his impeachment trial — despite the mountains of evidence of guilt — by claiming that Trump had learned his lesson .
`` I believe that the president has learned from this case , '' Collins told CBS news anchor Norah O'Donnell at the time .
`` The president has been impeached — that 's a pretty big lesson . ''
That excuse was preposterous at the time , making @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who had his hand in the cookie jar , not a 73-year-old man caught abusing his powers of office to blackmail the Ukrainian president into propping up conspiracy theories about Joe Biden .
But it was also hilariously predictable that Trump , who is incapable of learning or growing as a person , would absorb any moral lessons from being impeached .
Trump did n't learn anything .
In fact , he 's only escalated the very same botched conspiracy that got him impeached , only this time around he 's abusing his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of in a distant nation most Americans could n't find on a map .
Truth told , Trump demonstrated his failure to learn within days of his acquittal , first by bragging about it and then pivoting to lying about the Democrats .
Since then , he 's gone right back to abusing his power to fabricate lies about his opponent .
He and former New York mayor Rudy Giuliani — along with Giuliani 's buddy Andrii Derkach , a Ukrainian legislator with ties to Russian intelligence — eventually returned to the very @ @ @ @ @ @ @ first place : am attempt to counterfeit evidence that Hunter Biden , Joe Biden 's son , had somehow dragged his father into a corrupt scheme .
It 's a claim with literally no evidence to support it , no matter how much Trump and Giuliani repeat the accusation .
On Wednesday evening , Devlin Barrett and Josh Dawsey of the Washington Post reported that Trump has threatened to fire FBI Director Christopher Wray — who , lest we forget , was appointed by Trump after the firing of James Comey — unless @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that Trump can use as last-minute ammunition in the presidential campaign .
`` Trump wants official action similar to the announcement made 11 days before the last presidential election by then-FBI Director James B. Comey , '' Barrett and Dawsey write , referring to Comey 's infamous announcement that `` he had reopened an investigation into [ Hillary ] Clinton 's use of a private email server while she was secretary of state after potential new evidence had been discovered . ''
That investigation resulted in no damning information about Clinton , which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ thoroughly investigated for years without a speck of meaningful dirt turned up on her .
But that announcement did help turn an election Clinton should have won to Trump 's favor : It caused a surge of undecided voters to break for Trump at the last minute , allowing him to win several important swing states by razor-thin margins .
So there 's one thing Trump was capable of learning : The value of fake scandals to distract from serious issues , such as his own corruption and incompetence .
And he 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ why he 's pressuring Wray to pull a Comey against Biden .
But in doing so — and in `` considering '' whether to fire Wray if he does n't — Trump is doing the exact same thing that got him impeached : Pressuring a government official to announce a phony investigation into his opponent , and threatening to use the powers of his office to punish that person if they do n't comply .
This time Trump is targeting a Senate-confirmed official who leads a federal law enforcement agency rather than a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ grown hazy on the details of Trump 's impeachment — which is understandable , since there have been dozens , if not hundreds , of Trump-caused crises since then — a quick recap : In the summer of 2019 , Trump called the newly elected president of Ukraine , Volodymyr Zelensky , and told him that the U.S. would withhold military aid ( which had been authorized by Congress ) unless Zelensky did Trump `` a favor . ''
That favor was to announce an `` investigation '' into Biden aimed at propping @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Biden , a Ukrainian gas company and a fired Ukrainian prosecutor that Giuliani and Trump were trying to push into the mainstream media .
Zelensky clearly felt uneasy participating in a scheme to smear an innocent man 's reputation , but Ukraine desperately needed the military aid to fight Russian aggression .
Luckily for Zelensky , he was spared from this blackmail scheme by a whistleblower and Trump 's eventual impeachment for abusing his office .
Now Trump is doing to Wray what he did to Zelensky .
The only difference is that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ limited : He can dismiss the FBI director at any time , having already done so once , but that 's about it .
With Zelensky , Trump 's threats carried a lot more weight .
Either way , the basic story is the same : Trump is demanding that a government official abuse his powers and launch a completely phony investigation based on made-up charges , for Trump 's political benefit .
In fact , Trump has reportedly made similar threats about Attorney General Bill Barr , because the Justice Department 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ evidently has n't turned up anything Trump can use to bolster his conspiracy theories about the Democrats .
( If Barr , the most dogged and ruthless of Trump 's sycophants , is in trouble , things in the White House are getting really bad . )
There 's a word for all this : Blackmail .
Unfortunately , the media coverage about the attacks on Wray ( and on Barr ) or about the latest ridiculous wrinkles in Rudy Giuliani 's harebrained schemes all too often fails to provide the necessary context @ @ @ @ @ @ @ none of this is new , and that in fact all these developments are part of the same conspiracy that got Trump impeached .
The Washington Post article on the threats against Wray fails to use the word `` impeachment '' or to mention that Trump is treating Wray exactly as he treated Zelensky .
And although mainstream media has emphasized the most important aspects of Giuliani 's efforts to smear Biden — that Giuliani is not credible and is believed by U.S. intelligence to be spreading Russian disinformation — most articles do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the same plot that got his celebrity client ( quite likely his only client ) impeached .
It 's as if G. Gordon Liddy kept burglarizing various Democratic offices after the Watergate break-in , but the reporting on his later crimes failed to mention the first one .
Our national situation is an ongoing catastrophe , no doubt .
But is it really too much to expect journalists to explain that Trump keeps on doing the very thing he was impeached for doing ?
Either way , the situation shows that Trump , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ does n't actually have a lot of tricks in his bag .
The only thing he knows how to do is cheat — and the only way he knows how to cheat is by threatening and blackmailing other people to do the work for him .
Without that , he 's got nothing .

Back thousands of years ago, in February of 2020, Sen. Susan Collins of Maine, a "moderate" Republican, justified her vote to acquit Donald Trump at his impeachment trial — despite the mountains of evidence of guilt — by claiming that Trump had learned his lesson.
"I believe that the president has learned from this case," Collins told CBS news anchor Norah O'Donnell at the time. "The president has been impeached — that's a pretty big lesson."
That excuse was preposterous at the time, making it sound like Trump was a child who had his hand in the cookie jar, not a 73-year-old man caught abusing his powers of office to blackmail the Ukrainian president into propping up conspiracy theories about Joe Biden. But it was also hilariously predictable that Trump, who is incapable of learning or growing as a person, would absorb any moral lessons from being impeached.
Trump didn't learn anything. In fact, he's only escalated the very same botched conspiracy that got him impeached, only this time around he's abusing his power on the home front, instead of in a distant nation most Americans couldn't find on a map.
Truth told, Trump demonstrated his failure to learn within days of his acquittal, first by bragging about it and then pivoting to lying about the Democrats. Since then, he's gone right back to abusing his power to fabricate lies about his opponent. He and former New York mayor Rudy Giuliani — along with Giuliani's buddy Andrii Derkach, a Ukrainian legislator with ties to Russian intelligence — eventually returned to the very scheme that got Trump impeached in the first place: am attempt to counterfeit evidence that Hunter Biden, Joe Biden's son, had somehow dragged his father into a corrupt scheme. It's a claim with literally no evidence to support it, no matter how much Trump and Giuliani repeat the accusation.
On Wednesday evening, Devlin Barrett and Josh Dawsey of the Washington Post reported that Trump has threatened to fire FBI Director Christopher Wray — who, lest we forget, was appointed by Trump after the firing of James Comey — unless Wray announces a phony investigation into Biden that Trump can use as last-minute ammunition in the presidential campaign.
"Trump wants official action similar to the announcement made 11 days before the last presidential election by then-FBI Director James B. Comey," Barrett and Dawsey write, referring to Comey's infamous announcement that "he had reopened an investigation into [Hillary] Clinton's use of a private email server while she was secretary of state after potential new evidence had been discovered."
That investigation resulted in no damning information about Clinton, which was entirely predictable. Clinton had been thoroughly investigated for years without a speck of meaningful dirt turned up on her. But that announcement did help turn an election Clinton should have won to Trump's favor: It caused a surge of undecided voters to break for Trump at the last minute, allowing him to win several important swing states by razor-thin margins.
So there's one thing Trump was capable of learning: The value of fake scandals to distract from serious issues, such as his own corruption and incompetence. And he's hoping for a repeat, which is why he's pressuring Wray to pull a Comey against Biden.
But in doing so — and in "considering" whether to fire Wray if he doesn't — Trump is doing the exact same thing that got him impeached: Pressuring a government official to announce a phony investigation into his opponent, and threatening to use the powers of his office to punish that person if they don't comply. This time Trump is targeting a Senate-confirmed official who leads a federal law enforcement agency rather than a foreign leader.
For those who have grown hazy on the details of Trump's impeachment — which is understandable, since there have been dozens, if not hundreds, of Trump-caused crises since then — a quick recap: In the summer of 2019, Trump called the newly elected president of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, and told him that the U.S. would withhold military aid (which had been authorized by Congress) unless Zelensky did Trump "a favor." That favor was to announce an "investigation" into Biden aimed at propping up the convoluted conspiracy theory about Hunter Biden, a Ukrainian gas company and a fired Ukrainian prosecutor that Giuliani and Trump were trying to push into the mainstream media.
Zelensky clearly felt uneasy participating in a scheme to smear an innocent man's reputation, but Ukraine desperately needed the military aid to fight Russian aggression. Luckily for Zelensky, he was spared from this blackmail scheme by a whistleblower and Trump's eventual impeachment for abusing his office.
Now Trump is doing to Wray what he did to Zelensky. The only difference is that Trump's leverage in this case is limited: He can dismiss the FBI director at any time, having already done so once, but that's about it. With Zelensky, Trump's threats carried a lot more weight.
Either way, the basic story is the same: Trump is demanding that a government official abuse his powers and launch a completely phony investigation based on made-up charges, for Trump's political benefit. In fact, Trump has reportedly made similar threats about Attorney General Bill Barr, because the Justice Department's bogus special-counsel investigation of the Russia investigation evidently hasn't turned up anything Trump can use to bolster his conspiracy theories about the Democrats. (If Barr, the most dogged and ruthless of Trump's sycophants, is in trouble, things in the White House are getting really bad.)
There's a word for all this: Blackmail.
Unfortunately, the media coverage about the attacks on Wray (and on Barr) or about the latest ridiculous wrinkles in Rudy Giuliani's harebrained schemes all too often fails to provide the necessary context. It doesn't remind readers that none of this is new, and that in fact all these developments are part of the same conspiracy that got Trump impeached. The Washington Post article on the threats against Wray fails to use the word "impeachment" or to mention that Trump is treating Wray exactly as he treated Zelensky. And although mainstream media has emphasized the most important aspects of Giuliani's efforts to smear Biden — that Giuliani is not credible and is believed by U.S. intelligence to be spreading Russian disinformation — most articles don't explain that Giuliani is still working the same plot that got his celebrity client (quite likely his only client) impeached.
It's as if G. Gordon Liddy kept burglarizing various Democratic offices after the Watergate break-in, but the reporting on his later crimes failed to mention the first one. Our national situation is an ongoing catastrophe, no doubt. But is it really too much to expect journalists to explain that Trump keeps on doing the very thing he was impeached for doing?
Either way, the situation shows that Trump, despite all his chaotic crazy-uncle ranting, doesn't actually have a lot of tricks in his bag. The only thing he knows how to do is cheat — and the only way he knows how to cheat is by threatening and blackmailing other people to do the work for him. Without that, he's got nothing.


alternet--2020-10-23--Trump threw a temper tantrum over an interview and only humiliated himself

On Tuesday , President Donald Trump made clear he was n't happy with an interview he had given to CBS 's `` 60 Minutes , '' and he threatened to release footage of the discussion himself .
On Thursday , he followed through on the threat — but it did n't help his case .
In fact , it appears to have backfired spectacularly .
He seemed to think the raw footage — apparently taken by the White House , not CBS — would somehow make the case that he was treated unfairly .
He suggested that the version of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to air Sunday night , would be a misrepresentation .
But it 's hard to see how this version is supposed to make Trump look good .
In fact , he came off like petulant child , and the fact that he ca n't even see that — that he thinks the footage will make him look better and attacking `` 60 Minutes '' host Lesley Stahl will make her look worse — only further cements that image .
In the waning days of a presidential campaign that he is , by all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fight and playing the victim this way is hardly a surefire strategy to convince undecided voters .
Trump even started the interview from a place of weakness , despite his efforts to present the image of a strongman .
Stahl asked if he was OK with `` some tough questions , '' and he gave a surprisingly meek answer .
`` No , I 'm not , '' he said .
`` I want you to be fair .
You do n't ask Biden tough questions . ''
It was a whiny response @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would n't have aired .
Trump , instead , chose to make it accessible for everyone to see .
He later attacked Stahl for starting the interview by suggesting she had `` tough questions , '' as if that were necessarily hostile .
It seems he has so accustomed himself to the coddling world of Fox News and conservative radio that he does n't even recognize it 's expected , indeed , demanded , that people like Stahl ask tough questions .
Giving him a warning that they were coming was simply a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Facebook post sharing the video , Trump said Stahl showed `` bias , hatred , and rudeness , '' but in reality , all of that came from him .
Stahl was calm and diplomatic throughout , even if she did n't agree with many of the dubious claims and lies Trump tried to push .
At one point , Trump started spewing his conspiracy theories about Hunter Biden and alleged `` spying '' on his 2016 campaign , and Stahl firmly but politely set him straight .
`` Sir , can I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` You know , this is '60 Minutes . '
And we ca n't put on things that we ca n't verify . ''
`` Lesley , they spied on my campaign ! ''
Trump interjected .
`` Well , we ca n't verify that , '' she said .
`` It 's been verified ! ''
he said .
Releasing the footage was a particularly clumsy and self-destructive move on the eve of Trump 's last debate with Biden because it only gave the former vice president 's team more of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is making in his defense .
If Biden 's team knows what it 's doing , they 've prepared carefully crafted responses for Trump 's assertions .
The video also suggests that , contrary to what many of the president 's supporters are hoping for , Trump is not in a more calm and less combative mood .
His standing in the polls fell after his first debate with Biden , where Trump berated and constantly interrupted his opponent .
It 's hard to imagine we 'll see a gentler Trump this time @ @ @ @ @ @ @ likely that American voters , even many Trump voters , are tired of his incessant fights and feuds .
They 'd prefer a president who tries to get along with the press , even when he has disagreements with them , and is n't always on the attack .
That might be a version of Trump that could more easily win re-election .
If he were more insightful and had more self-control , that 's who he 'd be in the final days of a campaign .
But that version of Trump is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bias , hatred and rudeness on behalf of 60 Minutes and CBS .
Tonight ’ s anchor , Kristen Welker , is far worse !
# MAGA Look at the bias , hatred and rudeness on behalf of 60 Minutes and CBS .
Tonight ’ s anchor , Kristen Welker , is far worse !
# MAGA

On Tuesday, President Donald Trump made clear he wasn't happy with an interview he had given to CBS's "60 Minutes," and he threatened to release footage of the discussion himself. On Thursday, he followed through on the threat — but it didn't help his case. In fact, it appears to have backfired spectacularly.
He seemed to think the raw footage — apparently taken by the White House, not CBS — would somehow make the case that he was treated unfairly. He suggested that the version of the interview produced by CBS, set to air Sunday night, would be a misrepresentation.
But it's hard to see how this version is supposed to make Trump look good. In fact, he came off like petulant child, and the fact that he can't even see that — that he thinks the footage will make him look better and attacking "60 Minutes" host Lesley Stahl will make her look worse — only further cements that image.
In the waning days of a presidential campaign that he is, by all appearances, badly losing, picking a fight and playing the victim this way is hardly a surefire strategy to convince undecided voters.
Trump even started the interview from a place of weakness, despite his efforts to present the image of a strongman. Stahl asked if he was OK with "some tough questions," and he gave a surprisingly meek answer.
"No, I'm not," he said. "I want you to be fair. You don't ask Biden tough questions."
It was a whiny response, and one that CBS itself probably wouldn't have aired. Trump, instead, chose to make it accessible for everyone to see.
He later attacked Stahl for starting the interview by suggesting she had "tough questions," as if that were necessarily hostile. It seems he has so accustomed himself to the coddling world of Fox News and conservative radio that he doesn't even recognize it's expected, indeed, demanded, that people like Stahl ask tough questions. Giving him a warning that they were coming was simply a kindness on her part.
In the Facebook post sharing the video, Trump said Stahl showed "bias, hatred, and rudeness," but in reality, all of that came from him. Stahl was calm and diplomatic throughout, even if she didn't agree with many of the dubious claims and lies Trump tried to push.
At one point, Trump started spewing his conspiracy theories about Hunter Biden and alleged "spying" on his 2016 campaign, and Stahl firmly but politely set him straight.
"Sir, can I say something?" she cut in. "You know, this is '60 Minutes.' And we can't put on things that we can't verify."
"Lesley, they spied on my campaign!" Trump interjected.
"Well, we can't verify that," she said.
"It's been verified!" he said.
She responded simply: "No."
Releasing the footage was a particularly clumsy and self-destructive move on the eve of Trump's last debate with Biden because it only gave the former vice president's team more of a sense of the arguments the president is making in his defense. If Biden's team knows what it's doing, they've prepared carefully crafted responses for Trump's assertions.
The video also suggests that, contrary to what many of the president's supporters are hoping for, Trump is not in a more calm and less combative mood. His standing in the polls fell after his first debate with Biden, where Trump berated and constantly interrupted his opponent. It's hard to imagine we'll see a gentler Trump this time.
More speculatively, it seems pretty likely that American voters, even many Trump voters, are tired of his incessant fights and feuds. They'd prefer a president who tries to get along with the press, even when he has disagreements with them, and isn't always on the attack. That might be a version of Trump that could more easily win re-election. If he were more insightful and had more self-control, that's who he'd be in the final days of a campaign. But that version of Trump is nowhere in sight.
Look at the bias, hatred and rudeness on behalf of 60 Minutes and CBS. Tonight’s anchor, Kristen Welker, is far worse! #MAGA
Look at the bias, hatred and rudeness on behalf of 60 Minutes and CBS. Tonight’s anchor, Kristen Welker, is far worse! #MAGA


alternet--2020-10-23--New filings reveal Kellyanne Conway is still raking in cash on the GOP payroll — but for what?

Citing a need to devote time to her family , Kellyanne Conway announced her departure from the Trump administration only one month ago .
Nonetheless , the Republican National Committee is paying the former White House counselor $ 15,000 a month , according to new federal filings .
Conway left the White House in late August amid a publicly unfolding family drama after her daughter declared her intention to seek emancipation over alleged `` trauma and abuse '' in multiple social media posts .
In an exit statement , Conway said she would be stepping down `` gratefully '' and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the attorney George Conway , simultaneously announced that he would withdraw from his role as chief agitator at The Lincoln Project , a big-money group of conservative Trump critics , to `` devote more time to family matters . ''
`` We disagree about plenty , but we are united on what matters most : the kids , '' Kellyanne Conway said of her husband in her statement , adding : `` For now , and for my beloved children , it will be less drama , more mama . ''
Kellyanne Conway @ @ @ @ @ @ @ over the finish line before assuming a role as the administration 's most facile TV sophist , would bring a range of experience and insight in national politics .
But the scope of her Republican National Committee responsibilities is unclear .
The veteran pollster was paid for `` political strategy services , '' according to Federal Election Commission ( FEC ) filings released on Friday .
The monthly amount — $ 15,000 — is the equivalent of a top White House salary .
Indeed , Kellyanne Conway previously earned almost the same amount @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
It 's also a common monthly salary handed out by the GOP to former officials who exit through the Trump administration 's revolving door .
Filings show the RNC still pays $ 15,000 a month to former presidential security chief and Trump bodyguard Keith Schiller — originally for `` security services '' connected to the 2020 Republican National Convention , which has since come and gone .
The new records also show a $ 20,000 Oct. 13 expenditure to Pinkerton , the famed private investigation and protection agency , also for `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that same $ 15,000 monthly stipend to Ric Grennell after he left the Trump administration , but the latest round of filings reveal the chief Republican LGBTQ+ adviser got an unexplained October bump to nearly $ 22,000 .
Former White House adviser Omarosa Manigault-Newman was reportedly offered $ 15,000 for RNC work when she left the administration .
ABC News also reported that the committee paid former Trump campaign manager Brad Parscale in monthly installments of the same amount for strategic development .
The Conways own a New Jersey beach home , as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the posh Kalorama neighborhood of Washington , which their teenage daughter , Claudia , often features in social media videos .
Former White House adviser Omarosa Manigault-Newman was reportedly offered $ 15,000 for RNC work when she left the administration .
ABC News also reported that the committee paid former Trump campaign manager Brad Parscale in monthly installments of the same amount for strategic development .
The Conways own a New Jersey beach home , as well as an $ 8 million mansion in the posh Kalorama neighborhood of Washington , which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ features in social media videos .
`` It 's a violation of basic decency , certainly , if not marital vows , '' she told the outlet , before trying to strike the conversation from the record .
In August , Kellyanne Conway said that she anticipated taking on a `` significant role '' in Trump 's 2020 campaign , according to The Washington Post .
The Republican National Committee awarded Kellyanne Conway a top speaking slot this August at its convention in Washington , which stirred controversy for numerous likely violations of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ federal employees from engaging in political activity .
Conway was accused of violating the Hatch Act more than 50 times before 2019 — on Twitter alone .
In 2018 , the Office of Special Counsel ruled that she had violated the law on two occasions , but the White House let her off the hook .

Citing a need to devote time to her family, Kellyanne Conway announced her departure from the Trump administration only one month ago. Nonetheless, the Republican National Committee is paying the former White House counselor $15,000 a month, according to new federal filings.
Conway left the White House in late August amid a publicly unfolding family drama after her daughter declared her intention to seek emancipation over alleged "trauma and abuse" in multiple social media posts. In an exit statement, Conway said she would be stepping down "gratefully" and "humbly."
Her husband, the attorney George Conway, simultaneously announced that he would withdraw from his role as chief agitator at The Lincoln Project, a big-money group of conservative Trump critics, to "devote more time to family matters."
"We disagree about plenty, but we are united on what matters most: the kids," Kellyanne Conway said of her husband in her statement, adding: "For now, and for my beloved children, it will be less drama, more mama."
Kellyanne Conway, who carried Trump's 2016 campaign over the finish line before assuming a role as the administration's most facile TV sophist, would bring a range of experience and insight in national politics. But the scope of her Republican National Committee responsibilities is unclear. The veteran pollster was paid for "political strategy services," according to Federal Election Commission (FEC) filings released on Friday.
The monthly amount — $15,000 — is the equivalent of a top White House salary. Indeed, Kellyanne Conway previously earned almost the same amount during her time at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. It's also a common monthly salary handed out by the GOP to former officials who exit through the Trump administration's revolving door.
Filings show the RNC still pays $15,000 a month to former presidential security chief and Trump bodyguard Keith Schiller — originally for "security services" connected to the 2020 Republican National Convention, which has since come and gone. The new records also show a $20,000 Oct. 13 expenditure to Pinkerton, the famed private investigation and protection agency, also for "security services."
The GOP paid that same $15,000 monthly stipend to Ric Grennell after he left the Trump administration, but the latest round of filings reveal the chief Republican LGBTQ+ adviser got an unexplained October bump to nearly $22,000.
Former White House adviser Omarosa Manigault-Newman was reportedly offered $15,000 for RNC work when she left the administration. ABC News also reported that the committee paid former Trump campaign manager Brad Parscale in monthly installments of the same amount for strategic development.
The Conways own a New Jersey beach home, as well as an $8 million mansion in the posh Kalorama neighborhood of Washington, which their teenage daughter, Claudia, often features in social media videos.
Former White House adviser Omarosa Manigault-Newman was reportedly offered $15,000 for RNC work when she left the administration. ABC News also reported that the committee paid former Trump campaign manager Brad Parscale in monthly installments of the same amount for strategic development.
The Conways own a New Jersey beach home, as well as an $8 million mansion in the posh Kalorama neighborhood of Washington, which their teenage daughter, Claudia, often features in social media videos.
"It's a violation of basic decency, certainly, if not marital vows," she told the outlet, before trying to strike the conversation from the record.
In August, Kellyanne Conway said that she anticipated taking on a "significant role" in Trump's 2020 campaign, according to The Washington Post.
The Republican National Committee awarded Kellyanne Conway a top speaking slot this August at its convention in Washington, which stirred controversy for numerous likely violations of the Hatch Act, a law prohibiting federal employees from engaging in political activity. Conway was accused of violating the Hatch Act more than 50 times before 2019 — on Twitter alone. In 2018, the Office of Special Counsel ruled that she had violated the law on two occasions, but the White House let her off the hook.


alternet--2020-10-23--Joe Biden showed he learned the lessons of 2016

The bar was set so low — yet Donald Trump still failed to clear the mark .
In his final debate performance of the 2020 campaign ( and with any luck , his last one ever ) , the president fumbled the one attack line that his campaign had prepared against Joe Biden for years .
It was like he whiffed at tee-ball .
The first time Trump tried to hit the former vice president over his son Hunter Biden 's foreign business dealings , the senior Biden defended Hunter with the compassion and empathy he so often conveys while @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Beau Biden , or of his first wife and infant daughter in a 1972 car accident .
Clearly hesitant to queue up another softball for his opponent , Trump was forced to tread lightly on Thursday night , even though his campaign has revved up its wild Biden-centric conspiracy theories through the right-wing media echo chamber .
Indeed , it was Biden who baited Trump into bringing up Hunter first , illuminating what the Biden campaign — after prepping the nominee extensively for days — thinks of the Trump campaign 's last-minute @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ... the horrible emails of the kind of money that you were raking in , you and your family , '' Trump began .
`` And Joe , you were vice president when some of this was happening .
And it should 've never happened .
I think you owe an explanation to the American people . ''
It 's unclear how many viewers understood any of that .
But apparently , when you launch your re-election campaign as soon as you take office , all you can really come up with is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ emails '' all over again .
Trump 's October surprise is no surprise at all .
This was always his Plan A and Thursday 's performance proves that there was no plan B .
As , this new fake Biden scandal , somehow involving China , is a continuation of the same effort to push a phony scandal in Ukraine that got Trump impeached : `` [ T ] he only thing he knows how to do is cheat — and the only way he knows how to cheat is by threatening and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for him . ''
This entire concoction is several layers of stupid , as demonstrated to perfection by the pre-debate release of a Wall Street Journal editorial alleging that the former vice president allowed Hunter to sell access to him , followed by the post-debate .
It would be comical if it were n't so dangerous .
All of this amounts lukewarm leftovers from the election that shall forever haunt us : 2016 .
Once again Trump attempted to troll his opponent with his debate guest list , this time including a former @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who has claimed that the pair were looking to make a deal in China in 2017 — when Joe Biden was a private citizen .
After characterizing Biden as weak and senile for months , Trump now wants us to think he 's a powerful mob boss , with his fingers in financial pies around the globe .
Although Trump called the latest allegations `` damning , '' Tony Bobulinski , Hunter Biden 's former business partner , has admitted that no Chinese deal was ever happened .
To top it off , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ during the time of these supposedly scandalous dealings , Donald Trump personally opened a secret bank account in China .
Even by the standards of Rudy Giuliani 's sleaze-mongering projects , this one was inept .
Maybe Rudy farmed this particular operation out to Jacob Wohl .
Hunter Biden 's alleged wrongdoing is n't a real story , at least not yet .
But this stuff is never about legitimate evidence .
It 's about creating a distraction and allowing Trump to make egregious claims that the right-wing media regurgitates and amplifies with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , not what can actually be proven or established .
As with Hillary Clinton during the 2016 campaign , there is n't time for an investigation .
( You will notice that Trump has been in charge for nearly four years with the likes of FBI Director Christopher Wray and successive attorneys general Jeff Sessions , Matt Whitaker and Bill Barr at his disposal , and no charges have been filed against Clinton for anything at all ) .
This is just another way to rile up the president 's shrinking base .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ are also the same people who already believe they know the whole story .
( Time for Trump supporters to yell `` Fake news '' followed by chants of , `` Lock him up ! ''
) The incoherent saga of Hunter Biden 's `` laptop from hell '' is a bad story , badly told .
And the Trump campaign did n't even start peddling this nonsense until 50 million people had already voted .
Trump 's team is beginning to craft exit strategies , and the president himself is visibly floundering @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that were remotely necessary — there was a notable shift in Trump 's tenor to kick off the final debate .
But trying to execute that elusive `` presidential pivot '' 12 days before Election Day can hardly be described as a success for an incumbent who is badly trailing in the polls .
Considering that there has been essentially no change in public opinion on this race since the spring , even with everything that 's transpired , it 's preposterous to think that Trump 's lackluster performance can swing a significant @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Yet another night full of unchecked lies from Trump is dangerous but it 's not nearly enough to change this race .
Of course , both Trump 's Department of Justice and the Republican Senate have found no discernible wrongdoing on Biden 's part to date .
Trump fumbled his biggest political play before Election Day , but Biden also did something important .
By simply ignoring the demands to answer the Trump campaign 's wild allegations , Biden shows he may know how to deal with the right-wing smear machine better than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Congress conveys .
Even beyond the personal attacks on his family and character , Biden has shown remarkable savvy by not caving in to pressure to appease conservatives in a manner that might deflate his base in the final days .
For weeks , Biden has refused to outright reject expanding the Supreme Court , and has repeatedly reframed the discussion around Republicans ' remaking of the federal courts through obstruction .
Looks like at least one candidate in this race is n't stuck in 2016 .

The bar was set so low — yet Donald Trump still failed to clear the mark. In his final debate performance of the 2020 campaign (and with any luck, his last one ever), the president fumbled the one attack line that his campaign had prepared against Joe Biden for years.
It was like he whiffed at tee-ball.
The first time Trump tried to hit the former vice president over his son Hunter Biden's foreign business dealings, the senior Biden defended Hunter with the compassion and empathy he so often conveys while recalling the loss of his other son, Beau Biden, or of his first wife and infant daughter in a 1972 car accident. Clearly hesitant to queue up another softball for his opponent, Trump was forced to tread lightly on Thursday night, even though his campaign has revved up its wild Biden-centric conspiracy theories through the right-wing media echo chamber. Indeed, it was Biden who baited Trump into bringing up Hunter first, illuminating what the Biden campaign — after prepping the nominee extensively for days — thinks of the Trump campaign's last-minute gambit.
"All of the emails ... the horrible emails of the kind of money that you were raking in, you and your family," Trump began. "And Joe, you were vice president when some of this was happening. And it should've never happened. I think you owe an explanation to the American people."
It's unclear how many viewers understood any of that. But apparently, when you launch your re-election campaign as soon as you take office, all you can really come up with is, Hey, let's try "emails" all over again. Trump's October surprise is no surprise at all. This was always his Plan A and Thursday's performance proves that there was no plan B. As Salon's Amanda Marcotte points out , this new fake Biden scandal, somehow involving China, is a continuation of the same effort to push a phony scandal in Ukraine that got Trump impeached: "[T]he only thing he knows how to do is cheat — and the only way he knows how to cheat is by threatening and blackmailing other people to do the work for him."
This entire concoction is several layers of stupid, as demonstrated to perfection by the pre-debate release of a Wall Street Journal editorial alleging that the former vice president allowed Hunter to sell access to him, followed by the post-debate debunking of those claims — by the Wall Street Journal's news division . It would be comical if it weren't so dangerous.
All of this amounts lukewarm leftovers from the election that shall forever haunt us: 2016. Once again Trump attempted to troll his opponent with his debate guest list, this time including a former "business partner" of Hunter's who has claimed that the pair were looking to make a deal in China in 2017 — when Joe Biden was a private citizen. After characterizing Biden as weak and senile for months, Trump now wants us to think he's a powerful mob boss, with his fingers in financial pies around the globe. Although Trump called the latest allegations "damning," Tony Bobulinski, Hunter Biden's former business partner, has admitted that no Chinese deal was ever happened. To top it off, the New York Times has reported that during the time of these supposedly scandalous dealings, Donald Trump personally opened a secret bank account in China.
Even by the standards of Rudy Giuliani's sleaze-mongering projects, this one was inept. Maybe Rudy farmed this particular operation out to Jacob Wohl.
Hunter Biden's alleged wrongdoing isn't a real story, at least not yet. But this stuff is never about legitimate evidence. It's about creating a distraction and allowing Trump to make egregious claims that the right-wing media regurgitates and amplifies with massive speculation of what might be there, not what can actually be proven or established. As with Hillary Clinton during the 2016 campaign, there isn't time for an investigation. (You will notice that Trump has been in charge for nearly four years with the likes of FBI Director Christopher Wray and successive attorneys general Jeff Sessions, Matt Whitaker and Bill Barr at his disposal, and no charges have been filed against Clinton for anything at all). This is just another way to rile up the president's shrinking base. The people who claim to want answers are also the same people who already believe they know the whole story. (Time for Trump supporters to yell "Fake news" followed by chants of, "Lock him up!")
The incoherent saga of Hunter Biden's "laptop from hell" is a bad story, badly told. And the Trump campaign didn't even start peddling this nonsense until 50 million people had already voted. Trump's team is beginning to craft exit strategies, and the president himself is visibly floundering.
To be fair — as if that were remotely necessary — there was a notable shift in Trump's tenor to kick off the final debate. But trying to execute that elusive "presidential pivot" 12 days before Election Day can hardly be described as a success for an incumbent who is badly trailing in the polls. Considering that there has been essentially no change in public opinion on this race since the spring, even with everything that's transpired, it's preposterous to think that Trump's lackluster performance can swing a significant number of votes in his favor. Yet another night full of unchecked lies from Trump is dangerous but it's not nearly enough to change this race.
Of course, both Trump's Department of Justice and the Republican Senate have found no discernible wrongdoing on Biden's part to date. Trump fumbled his biggest political play before Election Day, but Biden also did something important. By simply ignoring the demands to answer the Trump campaign's wild allegations, Biden shows he may know how to deal with the right-wing smear machine better than his eagerness to deal with Republicans in Congress conveys.
Even beyond the personal attacks on his family and character, Biden has shown remarkable savvy by not caving in to pressure to appease conservatives in a manner that might deflate his base in the final days. For weeks, Biden has refused to outright reject expanding the Supreme Court, and has repeatedly reframed the discussion around Republicans' remaking of the federal courts through obstruction. Looks like at least one candidate in this race isn't stuck in 2016.