alternet--2020-11-08--How Trump campaign lawyers may have violated Privacy Act and USPS rules in Nevada voter fraud lawsui

How Trump campaign lawyers may have violated Privacy Act and USPS rules in Nevada voter fraud lawsuit

Two law firms representing the Trump campaign may have violated U.S .
Postal Service ( USPS ) regulations and privacy law in the course of advocating for a voter fraud case in the state of Nevada .
Its electoral hopes dwindling , the Trump campaign shifted strategies on Thursday to attempting to litigate its way to a victory .
The campaign filed three lawsuits , two of which were tossed within hours , and announced a fourth in Nevada which would allege `` thousands '' of cases of criminal voter fraud , including allegedly deceased people .
When that suit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump campaign nor the Republican Party were attached .
Instead , it was brought in a Nevada federal court by a state resident , a `` credentialed member '' of the media ( who also described himself to right-wing One America News as a senior advisor to the Nevada Republican Party ) and the congressional campaigns for Nevada Republicans Dan Rodimer and Jim Marchant .
While the lawsuit mentioned `` over 3,000 instances of ineligible individuals casting ballots , '' that is not included among the actual legal charges .
Instead , those @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and observer access to ballot tabulations .
However , that evening , Trump campaign chief spokesperson Tim Murtaugh posted a criminal referral which campaign lawyers had sent Attorney General William Barr alleging `` fraudulent voting by non-residents of Nevada . ''
The letter , written by Las Vegas corporate law , estate planning and real estate attorney Shana Weir in conjunction with a Washington-area firm , called Barr 's attention to `` criminal voter fraud '' in Nevada .
On its merits , the suit appears thin .
Nevada residents do not need @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Service address in order to register to vote .
Clark County Voter Registrar Joseph Gloria told USA Today that while the county would look into the allegations , there was no evidence of abnormalities .
`` Their [ complaint ] is based on something that happens regularly , '' he said .
`` You do n't have to live here to be eligible to vote here . ''
Nonetheless , the Department of Justice is reviewing the referral , an agency official told USA Today .
At the same time , Weir 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ how the campaign had accessed the official Postal Service change-of-address database , known as NCOALink , which may be a violation of federal law .
`` Specifically , we have identified 3,062 individuals who appear to have improperly cast mail ballots in the election , '' Weir wrote , echoing the federal suit .
`` We verified this by cross-referencing the names and addresses of voters with the National Change of Address database . ''
The NCOALink database is designed to reduce undeliverable mail , but the Postal Service makes good money selling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ direct mail advertisers , who can then rent the list to customers .
Anyone who accesses the data is required by law to sign a Processing Acknowledgement Form ( PAF ) promising the U.S. government that they will use the data exclusively for mailing purposes .
The Postal Service explains that as the custodian of this personal information , the agency must account for all disclosures : `` Data for any company/person who is handling a mailing list between the LICENSEE and LIST OWNER must be provided to the USPS to comply with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ data can result in the Termination of your license . ''
Unauthorized users may run afoul of the Privacy Act of 1974 , specifically 5 U.S. Code § 552a , according to the the Postal Service : It is not immediately clear how Weir or her co-signer , Jesse Binnall , came across the NCOA data .
It is also not apparent from the content of their criminal referral to Barr that the `` sole purpose '' of accessing this data was to prepare for mailings .
While it is possible the campaign @ @ @ @ @ @ @ preparing to notify these voters by mail , the language of the letter suggests the lawyers ' sole purpose was simply to compare information : `` We verified this by cross-referencing the names and addresses of voters with the National Change of Address database . ''
A 10-year postal industry veteran , who citing concern for his current government position spoke to Salon on condition of anonymity , said election officials rely on NCOALink to identify voters who may have moved or changed locations so they can mail registration information .
A third-party @ @ @ @ @ @ @ run a cross-check on the database , the person said .
That would violate the agreement , and it could cost the licensee their license — which can run into the hundreds of thousands of dollars — as well as incur criminal penalties for violating the Privacy Act .
Data marketing firms and mail houses take this seriously , the individual said , because a single breach has the potential to bring down their business .
A number of other unexplained elements surround the letter to Barr .
For instance , it is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on to the Nevada suit , as it said it would .
It is also unclear why the letter , which is not a legal document , focused on the specific allegation of registration fraud , when that charge was left out of the lawsuit .
It is also unclear what action , if any , the campaign expects of Barr , and why it felt compelled to take a state-level issue to the federal government .
In a similar letter to the Clark County District Attorney , Weir only specified a cross-check @ @ @ @ @ @ @ records '' — not the NCOA .
`` Indeed , we have initially identified 3,062 voters who moved from Nevada before the election but still cast ballots in this election , '' the letter read .
`` We have verified this by cross-referencing the list of general election voters with publicly available change of address records .
For instance , demographic experts agree that the National Change of Address database only captures about one-third of relocations .
Consequently , this number will likely grow by 6,000 voters , at a minimum . ''
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ a defense motion calling the Republican allegations of fraud `` too late , rife with procedural deficiencies and meritless . ''
The motion pointed to mirror complaints about voter lists from a suit thrown out of Clark County District Court back in September .
Then there are questions about the lawyers themselves .
`` Real lawyers would n't file this junk , so the campaign had to find new ones who would , '' campaign finance expert Brett Kappel told Salon , pointing out that the Trump campaign already retained Las Vegas representation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up on the post-general election report , although it 's also possible that they were hired by the Nevada Republican Party , '' he added .
The firm on the letterhead , Weir Law Group , appears to be a one-woman shop in Las Vegas operated by Shana Weir .
According to her LinkedIn page , Weir opened the firm nine months ago .
The Weir Law Group 's Twitter account is currently set to `` private , '' and the website in its bio has not been set up .
Weir is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Nevada Republican Party .
Her delegate bio claims that she `` began to advise the Nevada Trump campaign on legal issues throughout the primary ; and then into the general election . ''
It further claims that she oversaw and `` legally advised '' poll watchers , as well as filed a suit on behalf of the campaign to halt vote counts on Election Day .
( That suit was dismissed . )
However , despite those months of advisory work , FEC searches conducted by Salon found no immediately available record of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Binnall , a partner at HarveyBinnall , the Washington-area firm specializing in political law .
Binnall 's experience includes his 2016 defense of Dimitri Kesar , the deputy campaign manager for Sen. Ron Paul , R-Ky. , who landed in prison after pleading guilty to hiding campaign payments through a third-party vendor — an arrangement which also poses serious legal questions for the Trump campaign .
Weir , Binnall and a Trump campaign spokesperson did not reply to Salon 's requests for comment .
A Postal Service spokesperson declined to comment .

Two law firms representing the Trump campaign may have violated U.S. Postal Service (USPS) regulations and privacy law in the course of advocating for a voter fraud case in the state of Nevada.
Its electoral hopes dwindling, the Trump campaign shifted strategies on Thursday to attempting to litigate its way to a victory. The campaign filed three lawsuits, two of which were tossed within hours, and announced a fourth in Nevada which would allege "thousands" of cases of criminal voter fraud, including allegedly deceased people.
When that suit was filed, however, neither the Trump campaign nor the Republican Party were attached. Instead, it was brought in a Nevada federal court by a state resident, a "credentialed member" of the media (who also described himself to right-wing One America News as a senior advisor to the Nevada Republican Party) and the congressional campaigns for Nevada Republicans Dan Rodimer and Jim Marchant.
While the lawsuit mentioned "over 3,000 instances of ineligible individuals casting ballots," that is not included among the actual legal charges. Instead, those counts stuck to allegations regarding signature verification and observer access to ballot tabulations.
However, that evening, Trump campaign chief spokesperson Tim Murtaugh posted a criminal referral which campaign lawyers had sent Attorney General William Barr alleging "fraudulent voting by non-residents of Nevada."
The letter, written by Las Vegas corporate law, estate planning and real estate attorney Shana Weir in conjunction with a Washington-area firm, called Barr's attention to "criminal voter fraud" in Nevada.
On its merits, the suit appears thin. Nevada residents do not need to provide an official U.S. Postal Service address in order to register to vote.
Clark County Voter Registrar Joseph Gloria told USA Today that while the county would look into the allegations, there was no evidence of abnormalities.
"Their [complaint] is based on something that happens regularly," he said. "You don't have to live here to be eligible to vote here."
Nonetheless, the Department of Justice is reviewing the referral, an agency official told USA Today.
At the same time, Weir's letter to Barr raised the question of how the campaign had accessed the official Postal Service change-of-address database, known as NCOALink, which may be a violation of federal law.
"Specifically, we have identified 3,062 individuals who appear to have improperly cast mail ballots in the election," Weir wrote, echoing the federal suit. "We verified this by cross-referencing the names and addresses of voters with the National Change of Address database."
The NCOALink database is designed to reduce undeliverable mail, but the Postal Service makes good money selling access to licensed vendors, such as direct mail advertisers, who can then rent the list to customers. Anyone who accesses the data is required by law to sign a Processing Acknowledgement Form (PAF) promising the U.S. government that they will use the data exclusively for mailing purposes.
The Postal Service explains that as the custodian of this personal information, the agency must account for all disclosures: "Data for any company/person who is handling a mailing list between the LICENSEE and LIST OWNER must be provided to the USPS to comply with this law. Failure to capture all data can result in the Termination of your license."
Unauthorized users may run afoul of the Privacy Act of 1974, specifically 5 U.S. Code § 552a, according to the the Postal Service:
"No agency shall disclose any record which is contained in a system of records by any means of communication to any person, or to another agency, except pursuant to a written request by, or with the prior written consent of, the individual to whom the record pertains."
The PAF agreements include these promises:
I also understand that the sole purpose of the NCOALink service is to provide a mailing list correction service for lists that will be used for preparation of mailings. Furthermore, I understand that NCOALink may not be used to create or maintain new movers' lists.
It is not immediately clear how Weir or her co-signer, Jesse Binnall, came across the NCOA data. It is also not apparent from the content of their criminal referral to Barr that the "sole purpose" of accessing this data was to prepare for mailings.
While it is possible the campaign's attorneys could argue that they were preparing to notify these voters by mail, the language of the letter suggests the lawyers' sole purpose was simply to compare information: "We verified this by cross-referencing the names and addresses of voters with the National Change of Address database."
A 10-year postal industry veteran, who citing concern for his current government position spoke to Salon on condition of anonymity, said election officials rely on NCOALink to identify voters who may have moved or changed locations so they can mail registration information.
A third-party firm, however, cannot simply run a cross-check on the database, the person said. That would violate the agreement, and it could cost the licensee their license — which can run into the hundreds of thousands of dollars — as well as incur criminal penalties for violating the Privacy Act. Data marketing firms and mail houses take this seriously, the individual said, because a single breach has the potential to bring down their business.
A number of other unexplained elements surround the letter to Barr. For instance, it is unclear why the campaign did not sign on to the Nevada suit, as it said it would. It is also unclear why the letter, which is not a legal document, focused on the specific allegation of registration fraud, when that charge was left out of the lawsuit.
It is also unclear what action, if any, the campaign expects of Barr, and why it felt compelled to take a state-level issue to the federal government.
In a similar letter to the Clark County District Attorney, Weir only specified a cross-check of "publicly available change of address records" — not the NCOA.
"Indeed, we have initially identified 3,062 voters who moved from Nevada before the election but still cast ballots in this election," the letter read. "We have verified this by cross-referencing the list of general election voters with publicly available change of address records. For instance, demographic experts agree that the National Change of Address database only captures about one-third of relocations. Consequently, this number will likely grow by 6,000 voters, at a minimum."
The Democratic National Committee on Friday filed a defense motion calling the Republican allegations of fraud "too late, rife with procedural deficiencies and meritless." The motion pointed to mirror complaints about voter lists from a suit thrown out of Clark County District Court back in September.
Then there are questions about the lawyers themselves.
"Real lawyers wouldn't file this junk, so the campaign had to find new ones who would," campaign finance expert Brett Kappel told Salon, pointing out that the Trump campaign already retained Las Vegas representation.
"The payments will probably show up on the post-general election report, although it's also possible that they were hired by the Nevada Republican Party," he added.
The firm on the letterhead, Weir Law Group, appears to be a one-woman shop in Las Vegas operated by Shana Weir. According to her LinkedIn page, Weir opened the firm nine months ago. The Weir Law Group's Twitter account is currently set to "private," and the website in its bio has not been set up.
Weir is listed as an official delegate for the Nevada Republican Party. Her delegate bio claims that she "began to advise the Nevada Trump campaign on legal issues throughout the primary; and then into the general election." It further claims that she oversaw and "legally advised" poll watchers, as well as filed a suit on behalf of the campaign to halt vote counts on Election Day. (That suit was dismissed.)
However, despite those months of advisory work, FEC searches conducted by Salon found no immediately available record of any Trump campaign payments to Weir nor Binnall, a partner at HarveyBinnall, the Washington-area firm specializing in political law.
Binnall's experience includes his 2016 defense of Dimitri Kesar, the deputy campaign manager for Sen. Ron Paul, R-Ky., who landed in prison after pleading guilty to hiding campaign payments through a third-party vendor — an arrangement which also poses serious legal questions for the Trump campaign.
Weir, Binnall and a Trump campaign spokesperson did not reply to Salon's requests for comment. A Postal Service spokesperson declined to comment.


alternet--2020-11-08--Foreign leaders rush to congratulate Joe Biden and Kamala Harris

Remember when America was n't constantly standing alone ?
When we were n't the only nation to withdraw from the Paris Agreement ?
When we were n't the only nation to destroy the treaty that prevented Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons ?
When we were n't the absolute worst nation in the world when it comes to our response to the COVID-19 crisis ?
It may seem like something out of the murky mists of time at this point , but there really was a point when America was not just respected around the planet , but where America 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to supporting human rights was cheered .
But after four years of … what was that guy 's name again ?
You know the one .
The guy who did all his diplomacy based on who gave him `` the most beautiful card . ''
The guy who seriously threatened a critical military alliance because he thought people were being mean to him at dinner .
The one who pushed his way into the middle of a group photo , because he always thought he was supposed to be front an center of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , no matter who that other guy was , Joe Biden is now president-elect .
And congratulations are pouring in around the world from leaders eager to resume good relations with a good nation .
This one has to sting for … oh , you know , that guy .
So should this one from the Prime Minister of India .
EU Council President Donald Tusk has an almost familiar name … and a powerful message .
The prime minister of Fiji has his eye on the most important issues , and is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ leadership instead of angry isolation .
Ahem … President of Ukraine .
Maybe Biden could make this his first overseas stop , just for fun .
Of course , not every message is so welcoming .

Remember when America wasn't constantly standing alone? When we weren't the only nation to withdraw from the Paris Agreement? When we weren't the only nation to destroy the treaty that prevented Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons? When we weren't the absolute worst nation in the world when it comes to our response to the COVID-19 crisis?
It may seem like something out of the murky mists of time at this point, but there really was a point when America was not just respected around the planet, but where America's leadership on everything from improving the environment to supporting human rights was cheered. But after four years of … what was that guy's name again? You know the one. The guy who did all his diplomacy based on who gave him "the most beautiful card." The guy who seriously threatened a critical military alliance because he thought people were being mean to him at dinner. The one who pushed his way into the middle of a group photo, because he always thought he was supposed to be front an center of every picture. That guy.
Anyway, no matter who that other guy was, Joe Biden is now president-elect. And congratulations are pouring in around the world from leaders eager to resume good relations with a good nation.
This one has to sting for … oh, you know, that guy.
So should this one from the Prime Minister of India.
Prime Minister of Ireland.
EU Council President Donald Tusk has an almost familiar name … and a powerful message.
President of France.
The mayor of Paris welcomes back America,
The prime minister of Fiji has his eye on the most important issues, and is anxious to see the return of U.S. leadership instead of angry isolation.
So does Portugal.
Prime minister of Belgium.
President of Italy.
Chancellor of Austria.
Ahem … President of Ukraine. Maybe Biden could make this his first overseas stop, just for fun.
Of course, not every message is so welcoming.


alternet--2020-11-09--HHS finally releases documents showing wave of dubious vaccine contracts with big pharmaceutical com

HHS finally releases documents showing wave of dubious vaccine contracts with big pharmaceutical companies

On Saturday , while America slowly came to grips with the joy of breathing again for the first time in years , Donald Trump 's Department of Health and Human Services ( HHS ) released some documents related to its `` Operation Warp Speed '' COVID-19 vaccination initiative .
By `` some , '' I mean a ton of documents .
NPR reports this enormous dump , done while the inevitable end of Donald Trump 's regime was clear to anyone not named Donald Trump , includes all kinds of wild details about billion-dollar deals with big pharmaceutical companies .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ customary protections against potential future price-gouging '' are n't in the contracts .
Trump and his team of ne'er-do-wells have been gaslighting the public with confusing and fact-free information about a coronavirus vaccine for months .
As with everything else Trump has said in his entire life , he 's lied while trying to line his pockets ( or the pockets of people he hopes will line his pockets ) .
This has led to a very real and very understandable wariness on the part of most Americans concerning any announcement by the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ HHS , through a spokesperson , told NPR that `` Operation Warp Speed has long publicly stated its commitment to being as transparent as possible . ''
And then that spokesperson went on to lie some more about how these contracts are totally fine .
However , once again , the issue here is that the Trump administration has created a program that is not simply the opposite of `` transparent , '' but consistently and deliberately created to circumvent any traditional oversight on the use of taxpayer funds .
Advanced Technology International @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has used throughout this project .
News outlets like NPR and Democratic senators like Elizabeth Warren have long warned that the use of this third-party system was a recipe for corruption and mismanagement of resources .
Turns out , they have been 100 % right at every step .
Since the start of the program earlier this year , Operation Warp Speed has been `` issuing billions of dollars ' worth of coronavirus vaccine contracts to companies through '' the unregulated contractor .
While we all agree on the necessity for our country @ @ @ @ @ @ @ effective vaccine for the COVID-19 pandemic as soon as is possible , it is clear that the Republican pro-market strategy of letting private industry profit from this public health service is just a smokescreen for profiteering off a national emergency .
These companies should not need to break the country 's bank to make this happen .
It is worth their while to create a vaccine as soon as possible because without one , everybody 's economy goes down .
But that 's not how big business—and the politicians in their pockets—see it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ thieves can not exit the White House and enter the courthouse fast enough .

On Saturday, while America slowly came to grips with the joy of breathing again for the first time in years, Donald Trump's Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) released some documents related to its "Operation Warp Speed" COVID-19 vaccination initiative. By "some," I mean a ton of documents. NPR reports this enormous dump, done while the inevitable end of Donald Trump's regime was clear to anyone not named Donald Trump, includes all kinds of wild details about billion-dollar deals with big pharmaceutical companies. One of those details is that "customary protections against potential future price-gouging" aren't in the contracts.
Trump and his team of ne'er-do-wells have been gaslighting the public with confusing and fact-free information about a coronavirus vaccine for months. As with everything else Trump has said in his entire life, he's lied while trying to line his pockets (or the pockets of people he hopes will line his pockets). This has led to a very real and very understandable wariness on the part of most Americans concerning any announcement by the Trump administration about a safe vaccine.
HHS, through a spokesperson, told NPR that "Operation Warp Speed has long publicly stated its commitment to being as transparent as possible." And then that spokesperson went on to lie some more about how these contracts are totally fine. However, once again, the issue here is that the Trump administration has created a program that is not simply the opposite of "transparent," but consistently and deliberately created to circumvent any traditional oversight on the use of taxpayer funds.
Advanced Technology International is the third-party contractor the Trump administration has used throughout this project. News outlets like NPR and Democratic senators like Elizabeth Warren have long warned that the use of this third-party system was a recipe for corruption and mismanagement of resources. Turns out, they have been 100% right at every step. Since the start of the program earlier this year, Operation Warp Speed has been "issuing billions of dollars' worth of coronavirus vaccine contracts to companies through" the unregulated contractor.
While we all agree on the necessity for our country to research and produce a safe and effective vaccine for the COVID-19 pandemic as soon as is possible, it is clear that the Republican pro-market strategy of letting private industry profit from this public health service is just a smokescreen for profiteering off a national emergency. These companies should not need to break the country's bank to make this happen. It is worth their while to create a vaccine as soon as possible because without one, everybody's economy goes down. But that's not how big business—and the politicians in their pockets—see it.
Johnson & Johnson's Aug. 5 contract for the government's purchase of 100 million doses of its coronavirus vaccine doesn't include the march-in rights that are typical planks in contracts for federally funded inventions. Instead, the contract allows a much narrower window for the government to step in, excluding when COVID-19 stops being a public health emergency and becomes endemic, as is expected.
Donald Trump and his cabal of thieves cannot exit the White House and enter the courthouse fast enough.


alternet--2020-11-09--'Well-connected' GOP donor linked to Rick Santorum scored $65 million in government investment for o

'Well-connected' GOP donor linked to Rick Santorum scored $65 million in government investment for one-person company

It is going to take approximately half of forever to sort out the corruption of the Trump years—presuming we eventually get to that point .
A new scandal of the sort that would in past years result in weeks of televised outrage seems to crop up every few days .
The Associated Press brings us yet another .
A `` well-connected '' Republican donor managed to score up to $ 65 million in government investment for a new method of processing blood plasma , including plasma to be used for treating patients in the COVID-19 pandemic .
That seems unsurprising @ @ @ @ @ @ @ government is interested in investing in technologies that could help fight the pandemic .
But AP reporters dug a little deeper and , as with everything in this new era of Republican cronyism , things are not quite that clear-cut .
The blood plasma company in line to get $ 65 million , Plasma Technologies , does not have any physical facilities .
It is registered at the South Carolina home address of `` connected '' Republican donor Eugene Zurlo , a man who has been attempting to sell his technology for some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ like it has never produced plasma .
And , most curiously , the one-person shadow company appears to have gained the attention of the government solely due to the connections of its most prominent outside investor , ex-senator turned CNN pundit Rick Santorum .
Santorum , it turns out , was one of the prime beneficiaries of Zurlo 's Republican donations , and Zurlo previously `` entertained Santorum and his family '' at his now-sold South Carolina mansion , reports AP .
Santorum later invested his own money in Zurlo 's struggling company @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the company to the FDA and the Department of Health and Human Services ( HHS ) .
Santorum is n't shy about acknowledging that he 'll be getting some coin , either , if government dollars happen to jump-start this tiny , unknown company headed by one of his prior funders .
All of that is beginning to sound a bit familiar at this point .
Prominent conservative TV voice pitches the administration on a new , unproven medical technology mirroring one of Donald Trump 's own most talked-about potential miracle cures .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ company shows that it barely exists , and though government scientists are themselves dubious as to its value , the government is eager to latch on .
It turns out the conservative who pushed the product is himself an investor , and could profit enormously if the contracts go through .
It 's not the My Pillow guy trying to sell Trump new anti-coronavirus nutritional supplements , mind you , but it 's still a bit sketchy looking , eh ?
In this case , although the AP reports that HHS scientists were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pitch , the government is `` latching on '' with $ 750,000 in funding for a proof of concept , with tens of millions for building a company facility from scratch if it works out .
If it does , CNN talking head Santorum will see his sunk investment explode in value ; if it does n't , the government will have devoted another nontrivial bit of COVID-19 management and brainpower to a miracle that was n't .
Still , as far as future scandals go , this one is comfortably familiar .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ that even if this does turn out to be another case of government money being handed out solely because an administration ally is pushing the effort , it 's a bit of old school American institutional corruption , not one of Trump 's own crazy new inventions like `` extort the president of Ukraine '' or `` invite Russian assets to give you a private sales pitch on how to damage your election opponent . ''
Any other year , Santorum would be getting a hard side-eye on this one , but now @ @ @ @ @ @ @ full-up you can barely see his nose peeking up out of the water .
The actions of Trump 's cabinet alone will take the combined attention of every last inspector general and federal investigator during any upcoming Biden term ; they wo n't have a moment to even think about such embarrassingly normal political sketchiness .

It is going to take approximately half of forever to sort out the corruption of the Trump years—presuming we eventually get to that point. A new scandal of the sort that would in past years result in weeks of televised outrage seems to crop up every few days.
The Associated Press brings us yet another. A "well-connected" Republican donor managed to score up to $65 million in government investment for a new method of processing blood plasma, including plasma to be used for treating patients in the COVID-19 pandemic. That seems unsurprising on its face: Of course the government is interested in investing in technologies that could help fight the pandemic. But AP reporters dug a little deeper and, as with everything in this new era of Republican cronyism, things are not quite that clear-cut.
The blood plasma company in line to get $65 million, Plasma Technologies, does not have any physical facilities. It is registered at the South Carolina home address of "connected" Republican donor Eugene Zurlo, a man who has been attempting to sell his technology for some time with no success. It looks like it has never produced plasma.
And, most curiously, the one-person shadow company appears to have gained the attention of the government solely due to the connections of its most prominent outside investor, ex-senator turned CNN pundit Rick Santorum. Santorum, it turns out, was one of the prime beneficiaries of Zurlo's Republican donations, and Zurlo previously "entertained Santorum and his family" at his now-sold South Carolina mansion, reports AP.
Santorum later invested his own money in Zurlo's struggling company, and it was Santorum who pitched the company to the FDA and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Santorum isn't shy about acknowledging that he'll be getting some coin, either, if government dollars happen to jump-start this tiny, unknown company headed by one of his prior funders.
All of that is beginning to sound a bit familiar at this point. Prominent conservative TV voice pitches the administration on a new, unproven medical technology mirroring one of Donald Trump's own most talked-about potential miracle cures. Though even a cursory look at the company shows that it barely exists, and though government scientists are themselves dubious as to its value, the government is eager to latch on. It turns out the conservative who pushed the product is himself an investor, and could profit enormously if the contracts go through.
It's not the My Pillow guy trying to sell Trump new anti-coronavirus nutritional supplements, mind you, but it's still a bit sketchy looking, eh?
In this case, although the AP reports that HHS scientists were not particularly impressed with the company's pitch, the government is "latching on" with $750,000 in funding for a proof of concept, with tens of millions for building a company facility from scratch if it works out. If it does, CNN talking head Santorum will see his sunk investment explode in value; if it doesn't, the government will have devoted another nontrivial bit of COVID-19 management and brainpower to a miracle that wasn't.
Still, as far as future scandals go, this one is comfortably familiar. We can take solace in the fact that even if this does turn out to be another case of government money being handed out solely because an administration ally is pushing the effort, it's a bit of old school American institutional corruption, not one of Trump's own crazy new inventions like "extort the president of Ukraine" or "invite Russian assets to give you a private sales pitch on how to damage your election opponent."
Any other year, Santorum would be getting a hard side-eye on this one, but now? Right now the swamp is so full-up you can barely see his nose peeking up out of the water. The actions of Trump's cabinet alone will take the combined attention of every last inspector general and federal investigator during any upcoming Biden term; they won't have a moment to even think about such embarrassingly normal political sketchiness.


alternet--2020-11-09--Trump squeezes out one more act of sabotage against Obamacare in Georgia

Because he just ca n't help himself , on the Sunday before the election Donald Trump squeezed in one more act of sabotage against Obamacare , one that will create major headaches for the people of Georgia .
Sunday marked the beginning of the 2021 open enrollment period for the Affordable Care Act , and this year the marketplace again promises to be more stable and to offer more coverage options and more affordable plans .
( That is , if the Supreme Court does n't decide early next year to nuke the whole thing . )
The same day @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for Georgia allowing it to scrap the use of the Healthcare.gov website—the marketplace for plans—in the state .
No , the state has n't developed its own online marketplace , like a handful of states have done since the law was passed .
It just does n't want any more people signing up on Obamacare plans , so it will be direct people who need insurance to go through brokers or do their own work on private websites .
Center for Medicaid and Medicare Services Director Seema Verma said in a statement Sunday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ worked for Georgians , leaving them with fewer options and skyrocketing premiums .
[ … ] Today 's approval of the states waiver will usher in a groundswell of healthcare innovation that will deliver lower costs , better care , and more choice to Georgians in the individual market . ''
Which is , of course , not true .
Georgia 's uninsured rate is 13.7 % as of now—the state did n't expand Medicaid—fully 5 points lower than it was in 2013 , before the law took effect .
The Center for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ thousands of Georgians will lose coverage because of this .
They 'll have to `` navigate the type of fragmented insurance system of brokers and insurers the ACA was intended to remedy , '' CBPP predicts .
They wo n't have the simple apples-to-apples experience provided by Healthcare.gov , and will be more susceptible to being duped by Trump 's substandard plans that do n't provide comprehensive coverage .
This does n't expand choice for Georgians in any way , it just makes it a lot harder for them to find the information @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
It will probably keep people who would qualify for Medicaid out of the program , as brokers are going to be a lot less likely to inform them that they 're eligible for that when they can steer them into a private plan , for which they 're probably getting a commission .
Sen. Ron Wyden , who authored the provision in the ACA allowing for these waivers , said the administration and Georgia Republicans `` are using a perverted and illegal interpretation of the law I wrote to push junk insurance @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that states using these waivers have to cover as many people as the ACA , with the same quality and affordability as offered through the Obamacare exchange .
`` Any state—including Georgia—that tries to make health care worse using this waiver is consciously breaking the law and recklessly endangering American families , all to sabotage the Affordable Care Act , '' Wyden said .
`` Distorting black-letter law to suit a political crusade has consequences . ''
The consequences are likely to be another court challenge , like the states that have fought @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to impose work requirements on Medicaid , along with other elements of Obamacare sabotage .

Because he just can't help himself, on the Sunday before the election Donald Trump squeezed in one more act of sabotage against Obamacare, one that will create major headaches for the people of Georgia. Sunday marked the beginning of the 2021 open enrollment period for the Affordable Care Act, and this year the marketplace again promises to be more stable and to offer more coverage options and more affordable plans. (That is, if the Supreme Court doesn't decide early next year to nuke the whole thing.)
The same day enrollment opened, Trump announced a waiver for Georgia allowing it to scrap the use of the Healthcare.gov website—the marketplace for plans—in the state. No, the state hasn't developed its own online marketplace, like a handful of states have done since the law was passed. It just doesn't want any more people signing up on Obamacare plans, so it will be direct people who need insurance to go through brokers or do their own work on private websites.
Center for Medicaid and Medicare Services Director Seema Verma said in a statement Sunday that "The Obamacare Exchanges have not worked for Georgians, leaving them with fewer options and skyrocketing premiums. […] Today's approval of the states waiver will usher in a groundswell of healthcare innovation that will deliver lower costs, better care, and more choice to Georgians in the individual market." Which is ,of course, not true. Georgia's uninsured rate is 13.7% as of now—the state didn't expand Medicaid—fully 5 points lower than it was in 2013, before the law took effect.
The Center for Budget and Policy Priorities estimate tens of thousands of Georgians will lose coverage because of this. They'll have to "navigate the type of fragmented insurance system of brokers and insurers the ACA was intended to remedy," CBPP predicts. They won't have the simple apples-to-apples experience provided by Healthcare.gov, and will be more susceptible to being duped by Trump's substandard plans that don't provide comprehensive coverage. This doesn't expand choice for Georgians in any way, it just makes it a lot harder for them to find the information they need to make an informed choice. It will probably keep people who would qualify for Medicaid out of the program, as brokers are going to be a lot less likely to inform them that they're eligible for that when they can steer them into a private plan, for which they're probably getting a commission.
Sen. Ron Wyden, who authored the provision in the ACA allowing for these waivers, said the administration and Georgia Republicans "are using a perverted and illegal interpretation of the law I wrote to push junk insurance." Wyden's provision explicitly says that states using these waivers have to cover as many people as the ACA, with the same quality and affordability as offered through the Obamacare exchange. "Any state—including Georgia—that tries to make health care worse using this waiver is consciously breaking the law and recklessly endangering American families, all to sabotage the Affordable Care Act," Wyden said. "Distorting black-letter law to suit a political crusade has consequences."
The consequences are likely to be another court challenge, like the states that have fought back against the efforts of the administration to impose work requirements on Medicaid, along with other elements of Obamacare sabotage.


alternet--2020-11-09--Texas surges past California to become state with most COVID-19 cases

s Americans go to the polls and wait in ( hopefully ) socially distant lines , COVID-19 continues to spread mostly unchecked .
The Republican-led localities that wanted to believe major cities , frequently under Democratic leadership , were the only areas dealing with large outbreaks of the virus have been dealing with exponentially growing infection rates .
States considered red are breaking daily records , while many blue states continue to try and keep their numbers manageable .
The Associated Press ( AP ) reports that over the weekend , Texas surpassed California to become the state with the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
This number , of course , is most likely an undercount because testing in our country has continued to lag behind the spread of the virus since the beginning .
And as AP explains , the coronavirus rate in Texas is far worse than California as California has 10 million more people living inside of its boundaries .
States like Texas , Florida , and Georgia 's Republican leadership scoffed at early prevention measures like mask mandates and shutting down indoor businesses .
Since the initial wave of the pandemic hit our @ @ @ @ @ @ @ April , these states have seen exploding numbers .
Over the last two weeks however , Texas has surged to a positivity rate of 10.72 % .
The national average is 6.6 % .
Three days ago , El Paso County Judge Ricardo Samaniego tweeted : `` The County is currently working on creating more space at our Medical Examiner 's Office parking lot so that we can get a 3rd mobile morgue unit .
If that does n't put our situation into perspective I do n't know what will . ''
NPR @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it looks like El Paso has added a fourth `` mobile morgue . ''
This is because as COVID-19 cases surge , death rates go up .
They go up because resources and access for people become stretched thin , and Americans pay for this lack of infrastructure and leadership .
Will this reality have any effect on the close races of Republican duds like Sen. John Cornyn of Texas ?
It remains to be seen , but he has clearly felt the shift in his state from complacency to anger .

s Americans go to the polls and wait in (hopefully) socially distant lines, COVID-19 continues to spread mostly unchecked. The Republican-led localities that wanted to believe major cities, frequently under Democratic leadership, were the only areas dealing with large outbreaks of the virus have been dealing with exponentially growing infection rates. States considered red are breaking daily records, while many blue states continue to try and keep their numbers manageable.
The Associated Press (AP) reports that over the weekend, Texas surpassed California to become the state with the highest number of coronavirus cases at 938,503. This number, of course, is most likely an undercount because testing in our country has continued to lag behind the spread of the virus since the beginning. And as AP explains, the coronavirus rate in Texas is far worse than California as California has 10 million more people living inside of its boundaries.
States like Texas, Florida, and Georgia's Republican leadership scoffed at early prevention measures like mask mandates and shutting down indoor businesses. Since the initial wave of the pandemic hit our country in February, March, and April, these states have seen exploding numbers. Over the last two weeks however, Texas has surged to a positivity rate of 10.72%. The national average is 6.6%.
More than 29 million people live in Texas. The state's cases per 100,000 population is 3,269.84. By comparison, California—home to more than 39 million people—has a rate of 2,371.56 cases per 100,000.
Three days ago, El Paso County Judge Ricardo Samaniego tweeted: "The County is currently working on creating more space at our Medical Examiner's Office parking lot so that we can get a 3rd mobile morgue unit. If that doesn't put our situation into perspective I don't know what will." NPR reports that as of Nov. 3, it looks like El Paso has added a fourth "mobile morgue." This is because as COVID-19 cases surge, death rates go up. They go up because resources and access for people become stretched thin, and Americans pay for this lack of infrastructure and leadership.
Will this reality have any effect on the close races of Republican duds like Sen. John Cornyn of Texas? It remains to be seen, but he has clearly felt the shift in his state from complacency to anger.


alternet--2020-11-09--George W. Bush congratulates President-elect Joe Biden on his victory: The 'outcome is clear'

Former President George W. Bush congratulated President-elect Joe Biden on Sunday , sending a clear signal to other Republicans , including President Donald Trump , who are questioning the election results .
`` Though we have political differences , I know Joe Biden to be a good man who has won his opportunity to lead and unify our country , '' Bush said in a statement .
`` The President-elect reiterated that while he ran as a Democrat , he will govern for all Americans .
I offered him the same thing I offered Presidents Trump and Obama : my @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pledge to help in any way I can . ''
Bush , a Republican who also served as Texas ' governor , said he had spoken with the Democratic president-elect and had thanked Biden for `` the patriotic message he delivered last night '' in his acceptance speech .
He also said he called Vice President-elect Kamala Harris .
Bush said that Biden `` earned the votes of more than 70 million Americans , '' but noted that Trump had the right to `` request recounts and pursue legal challenges '' '' The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ election was fundamentally fair , its integrity will be upheld and its outcome is clear , '' Bush said .
`` The challenges that face our country will demand the best of President-elect Biden and Vice President-elect Harris – and the best of us all .
We must come together for the sake of our families and neighbors , and for our nation and its future . ''
Trump has refused to concede , saying the election was stolen and making unsubstantiated claims of widespread voter fraud .
The president 's campaign has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ election results in battleground states .
Judges in two of those cases — in Michigan and Georgia — tossed out the lawsuits because the campaign failed to provide evidence that laws were broken .
A federal judge also denied the campaign 's request to stop counting votes in Philadelphia , but ordered election officials to expand the number of people allowed in the room .

Former President George W. Bush congratulated President-elect Joe Biden on Sunday, sending a clear signal to other Republicans, including President Donald Trump, who are questioning the election results.
"Though we have political differences, I know Joe Biden to be a good man who has won his opportunity to lead and unify our country," Bush said in a statement. "The President-elect reiterated that while he ran as a Democrat, he will govern for all Americans. I offered him the same thing I offered Presidents Trump and Obama: my prayers for his success, and my pledge to help in any way I can."
Bush, a Republican who also served as Texas' governor, said he had spoken with the Democratic president-elect and had thanked Biden for "the patriotic message he delivered last night" in his acceptance speech. He also said he called Vice President-elect Kamala Harris. Bush said that Biden "earned the votes of more than 70 million Americans," but noted that Trump had the right to "request recounts and pursue legal challenges"
"The American people can have confidence that this election was fundamentally fair, its integrity will be upheld and its outcome is clear," Bush said. "The challenges that face our country will demand the best of President-elect Biden and Vice President-elect Harris – and the best of us all. We must come together for the sake of our families and neighbors, and for our nation and its future."
Trump has refused to concede, saying the election was stolen and making unsubstantiated claims of widespread voter fraud. The president's campaign has filed several legal challenges to contest the election results in battleground states. Judges in two of those cases — in Michigan and Georgia — tossed out the lawsuits because the campaign failed to provide evidence that laws were broken. A federal judge also denied the campaign's request to stop counting votes in Philadelphia, but ordered election officials to expand the number of people allowed in the room.


alternet--2020-11-09--'Concede and get the hell out': Anger mounts as Trump refuses to accept defeat

Mixing with the jubilation shared by tens of millions across the U.S. and the world generated by President-elect Joe Biden 's declared victory this weekend , increasing levels of anger and frustration were voiced Sunday as President Donald Trump continued his refusal to accept the election results that show he was soundly defeated .
Even as Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris delivered acceptance speeches Saturday night , Trump bucked the tradition of congratulating the winners and instead spent the evening tweeting out false claims that he `` won the election '' and making evidence-free allegations of fraud .
On @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by the president continued , many Trump critics began to lose their patience .
`` It is obscene for a president of the United States to talk of a stolen election when he has not put up any meaningful evidence of anyone stealing the election , '' said Steven Greenhouse , former labor reporter for the New York Times in a Sunday morning tweet .
`` The President needs to stop putting his narcissistic selfishness over what is good for our nation and our democracy . ''
Stephen King , the famed novelist @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more blunt in his proclamation .
`` You lost , you miserable self-entitled infantile fucker , '' King declared .
`` Concede and get the hell out . ''
In a letter to editor at the Guardian on Sunday , reader Pete Dorey in the U.K. said he fears that Trump 's `` disputing of the validity of the election result is much more insidious than him simply being a bad loser . ''
Dorey wrote : Ahead of Biden being declared the projected winner by nearly every major news outlet in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Andrew Bates on Friday said their team was not ultimately worried if Trump—when defeated—refused to leave the White House voluntarily .
`` The United States government , '' said Bates , `` is perfectly capable of escorting trespassers out of the White House . ''

Mixing with the jubilation shared by tens of millions across the U.S. and the world generated by President-elect Joe Biden's declared victory this weekend, increasing levels of anger and frustration were voiced Sunday as President Donald Trump continued his refusal to accept the election results that show he was soundly defeated.
Even as Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris delivered acceptance speeches Saturday night, Trump bucked the tradition of congratulating the winners and instead spent the evening tweeting out false claims that he "won the election" and making evidence-free allegations of fraud.
As CNNreports:
Trump so far has refused to accept the election results, waging a legal strategy to contest them in courts and issuing false allegations of fraud. There are currently no plans to invite Biden to the Oval Office for the traditional meeting between the incoming and outgoing presidents, a historic sign of the peaceful transfer of power. Aides instead are working to craft ways for the President to feel validated even in loss, including through more rallies.
But after claiming publicly and falsely that he won the election, sources say Trump is not denying the outcome privately. And two people said Jared Kushner, the President's son-in-law and senior adviser who oversaw his campaign from the White House, has approached Trump about conceding the election.
On Sunday, as the lies and deceit by the president continued, many Trump critics began to lose their patience.
"It is obscene for a president of the United States to talk of a stolen election when he has not put up any meaningful evidence of anyone stealing the election," said Steven Greenhouse, former labor reporter for the New York Times in a Sunday morning tweet. "The President needs to stop putting his narcissistic selfishness over what is good for our nation and our democracy."
Stephen King, the famed novelist and an avowed Democrat, was even more blunt in his proclamation. "You lost, you miserable self-entitled infantile fucker," King declared. "Concede and get the hell out."
In a letter to editor at the Guardian on Sunday, reader Pete Dorey in the U.K. said he fears that Trump's "disputing of the validity of the election result is much more insidious than him simply being a bad loser." Dorey wrote:
By repeatedly denouncing the accuracy of the outcome, even before it has been confirmed, [Trump] is giving his supporters a green light to spend the next four years blatantly defying a Biden government, and generally causing public mayhem, on the grounds that the Democrats "stole" the election from Trump, and that the new government thus has no democratic authority of mandate.
As such, I fear that mass protests, the occupation of public buildings, and intimidation (especially of black communities) by gun-toting Trump supporters, will become a routine occurrence, justified on the grounds that ignoring the "undemocratic" Biden government is the duty of true "American patriots."
If tough punitive action is taken against them, they will claim that democracy and liberty are being suppressed by "radical leftists" in Washington. But if their mayhem is ignored, they will claim that law and order is being undermined due a weak government in thrall to "political correctness" and "snowflake liberals."
Or am I just paranoid?
Ahead of Biden being declared the projected winner by nearly every major news outlet in the country on Saturday, his campaign spokeperson Andrew Bates on Friday said their team was not ultimately worried if Trump—when defeated—refused to leave the White House voluntarily.
"The United States government," said Bates, "is perfectly capable of escorting trespassers out of the White House."


alternet--2020-11-09--White House transition staffer refusing to sign letter that begins transfer of power: report

President-elect Joe Biden is launching his official transition team Monday , in which he 'll name the team of medical experts he intends to deploy to lessen the severity of the COVID-19 pandemic .
He 'll also begin the process of announcing nominees for the top cabinet positions .
But the woman at the helm of the White House transition effort wo n't be doing her job in the coming weeks , the Washington Post reported .
As President Donald Trump continues to deny the outcome of the election , he 's taking to the streets to encourage his supporters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ questioning the validity of the electoral outcome .
His troops in the White House are doing their part too .
`` A Trump administration appointee is refusing to sign a letter allowing President-elect Joe Biden 's transition team to formally begin its work this week , in another sign the incumbent president has not acknowledged Biden 's victory and could disrupt the transfer of power , '' said the Post .
The General Services Administration administrator is the person in charge of federal buildings and paperwork required to turn over access to government @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and equipment for the incoming president .
She 's not allowing any of it to move forward .
`` An ascertainment has not yet been made , '' said GSA spokesperson Pamela Pennington .
`` And its Administrator will continue to abide by , and fulfill , all requirements under the law . ''
It has been more than 36 hours since Biden was declared the winner , but the peaceful transition of power does n't seem likely .
`` GSA Administrator Emily Murphy had written no such letter , '' the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to begin the transition .
`` And the Trump administration , in keeping with the president 's failure to concede the election , has no immediate plans to sign one .
This could lead to the first transition delay in modern history , except in 2000 , when the Supreme Court decided a recount dispute between Al Gore and George W. Bush in December . ''
`` No agency head is going to get out in front of the president on transition issues right now , '' one senior White House official explained @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the agencies would be told not to work with or even talk to the incoming administration .
`` Now that the election has been independently called for Joe Biden , we look forward to the GSA Administrator quickly ascertaining Joe Biden and Kamala Harris as the President-elect and Vice President-elect , '' said the Biden transition spokesman .
`` America 's national security and economic interests depend on the federal government signaling clearly and swiftly that the United States government will respect the will of the American people and engage in a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' Read the full report at the Washington Post .

President-elect Joe Biden is launching his official transition team Monday, in which he'll name the team of medical experts he intends to deploy to lessen the severity of the COVID-19 pandemic. He'll also begin the process of announcing nominees for the top cabinet positions.
But the woman at the helm of the White House transition effort won't be doing her job in the coming weeks, the Washington Post reported.
As President Donald Trump continues to deny the outcome of the election, he's taking to the streets to encourage his supporters to follow him into a legal battle questioning the validity of the electoral outcome. His troops in the White House are doing their part too.
"A Trump administration appointee is refusing to sign a letter allowing President-elect Joe Biden's transition team to formally begin its work this week, in another sign the incumbent president has not acknowledged Biden's victory and could disrupt the transfer of power," said the Post.
The General Services Administration administrator is the person in charge of federal buildings and paperwork required to turn over access to government officials, the budget for the transition, and equipment for the incoming president. She's not allowing any of it to move forward.
"An ascertainment has not yet been made," said GSA spokesperson Pamela Pennington. "And its Administrator will continue to abide by, and fulfill, all requirements under the law."
It has been more than 36 hours since Biden was declared the winner, but the peaceful transition of power doesn't seem likely.
"GSA Administrator Emily Murphy had written no such letter," the Post said about the legal documents needed to begin the transition. "And the Trump administration, in keeping with the president's failure to concede the election, has no immediate plans to sign one. This could lead to the first transition delay in modern history, except in 2000, when the Supreme Court decided a recount dispute between Al Gore and George W. Bush in December."
"No agency head is going to get out in front of the president on transition issues right now," one senior White House official explained. The person anticipated that the heads of the agencies would be told not to work with or even talk to the incoming administration.
"Now that the election has been independently called for Joe Biden, we look forward to the GSA Administrator quickly ascertaining Joe Biden and Kamala Harris as the President-elect and Vice President-elect," said the Biden transition spokesman. "America's national security and economic interests depend on the federal government signaling clearly and swiftly that the United States government will respect the will of the American people and engage in a smooth and peaceful transfer of power."
Murphy hasn't budged.
Read the full report at the Washington Post.


alternet--2020-11-09--Donald Trump Jr. and Ivanka are ‘ready to be next in line if their father goes’: report

While President Donald J. Trump 's personal attorney Rudy Giuliani and former White House chief strategist Steve Bannon sue over the vote counts in battleground states such as Nevada and Pennsylvania , the one-term president 's family members are making plans to extend their political stays in Washington , D.C. Trump 's sons , Eric and Donald Jr. , have joined his son-in-law and senior adviser Jared Kushner in convincing the president his defeat was illegal .
However , `` Donny Trump Jr. and Ivanka Trump are sitting there , ready to maybe be next in line if their father @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Rollins , who also co-managed Ross Perot 's 1992 independent presidential bid .
`` The Republican Party has seen George Wallace 's racist movement , Perot 's movement and a tea party movement , and they all faded when they lacked a leader or had a diminished leader , '' Rollins said .
`` Is Trump going to be distracted and just throw rocks at the window ?
Will he be busy dealing with litigation he might face out of office ?
To keep something going , you need discipline . ''
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of millions of Americans , and that 's not going to change anytime soon .
He can do literally do whatever he wants , including running again , '' said Brad Parscale , his former campaign manager .
`` He is without question the most powerful voice in our party .
He will have an enormous impact on our party going forward , '' Sen. Mitt Romney ( R-UT ) said Sunday on NBC 's Meet the Press .
`` I believe the great majority of people who voted for Donald Trump want @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his policies are pursued .
So , yes , he 's not disappearing by any means .
He 's the 900-pound gorilla when it comes to the Republican Party . ''
Former President George W. Bush acknowledged Sunday that Trump `` earned the votes of more than 70 million Americans — an extraordinary political achievement… They have spoken , and their voices will continue to be heard through elected Republicans at every level of government . ''
Former Senator Jeff Flake ( R-AZ ) said Republicans on Capitol Hill `` fear Trump and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ take just about any one of them out . ''
`` They know there 's no future with Trumpism and they aspire to do more when they got to the Senate than defend the President 's tweets and his conduct and behavior .
And they want to legislate and they 're not doing that now , '' Flake said .
`` There 's a lot of fear , but no love . ''
Steve Schmidt , a veteran Republican strategist who co-founded the Lincoln Project , said , `` Trump has been defeated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trumpism is a statist , authoritarian ideology that 's inimical to the American precepts of democracy .
It 's antithetical to America 's ideas and ideals , and it has fascistic markers .
It is a cult of personality … and 70 million-plus people in the country were susceptible to it , to the racial antagonisms , to the assault on institutions and the rule of law , and it 's going to take a long time to deal with it . ''
With Trumpism on the horizon for the foreseeable future , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump offspring train to pull into the station at a fast clip and keep moving as long as Americans allow it to happen .

While President Donald J. Trump's personal attorney Rudy Giuliani and former White House chief strategist Steve Bannon sue over the vote counts in battleground states such as Nevada and Pennsylvania, the one-term president's family members are making plans to extend their political stays in Washington, D.C.
Trump's sons, Eric and Donald Jr., have joined his son-in-law and senior adviser Jared Kushner in convincing the president his defeat was illegal. However, "Donny Trump Jr. and Ivanka Trump are sitting there, ready to maybe be next in line if their father goes," said Trump ally Ed Rollins, who also co-managed Ross Perot's 1992 independent presidential bid.
"The Republican Party has seen George Wallace's racist movement, Perot's movement and a tea party movement, and they all faded when they lacked a leader or had a diminished leader," Rollins said. "Is Trump going to be distracted and just throw rocks at the window? Will he be busy dealing with litigation he might face out of office? To keep something going, you need discipline."
"The president is still loved by tens of millions of Americans, and that's not going to change anytime soon. He can do literally do whatever he wants, including running again," said Brad Parscale, his former campaign manager.
"He is without question the most powerful voice in our party. He will have an enormous impact on our party going forward," Sen. Mitt Romney (R-UT) said Sunday on NBC's Meet the Press. "I believe the great majority of people who voted for Donald Trump want to make sure that his principles and his policies are pursued. So, yes, he's not disappearing by any means. He's the 900-pound gorilla when it comes to the Republican Party."
Former President George W. Bush acknowledged Sunday that Trump "earned the votes of more than 70 million Americans — an extraordinary political achievement… They have spoken, and their voices will continue to be heard through elected Republicans at every level of government."
Former Senator Jeff Flake (R-AZ) said Republicans on Capitol Hill "fear Trump and his base and know that he can take just about any one of them out."
"They know there's no future with Trumpism and they aspire to do more when they got to the Senate than defend the President's tweets and his conduct and behavior. And they want to legislate and they're not doing that now," Flake said. "There's a lot of fear, but no love."
Steve Schmidt, a veteran Republican strategist who co-founded the Lincoln Project, said, "Trump has been defeated, but Trumpism has not. What Trumpism is a statist, authoritarian ideology that's inimical to the American precepts of democracy. It's antithetical to America's ideas and ideals, and it has fascistic markers. It is a cult of personality … and 70 million-plus people in the country were susceptible to it, to the racial antagonisms, to the assault on institutions and the rule of law, and it's going to take a long time to deal with it."
With Trumpism on the horizon for the foreseeable future, it's not unlikely to expect the Trump offspring train to pull into the station at a fast clip and keep moving as long as Americans allow it to happen.


alternet--2020-11-10--Trump's coup attempt is very real — but there are several gaping holes in the plan

As President Donald Trump continues to challenge the result of the Nov. 3 election that every credible media outlet has called in favor of Joe Biden , his attempt to illegitimately hold on to power came clearly into view .
Some observers diminished the significance Trump 's attempts to attack the legitimacy of the election and throw its results into doubt as a mere emotional outburst , and they claimed that those Republicans who offered support for the disinformation campaign were simply mollifying him .
For these people , Trump allegations of voter fraud and rigged elections were nothing more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ when he did n't get the results he wanted , only to move on .
But Trump 's assault on democracy , as emotionally driven as it may be , is also a genuine attempt to overturn the results of the election , even if it is ill-fated and poorly thought out .
Before the election , Trump made his strategy clear .
He repeatedly said he thought that the election would be decided by the Supreme Court , and he used this point as a justification for rushing through the confirmation of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his campaign is launching a series of lawsuits — which many serious legal analysts dismissed as frivolous and baseless — hoping that something will stick and enable him to remain president .
And while it initially seemed other Republicans might not stick by him in this fight , they increasingly fell in line .
Sens .
Ted Cruz and Lindsey Graham appeared on Fox News to support Trump 's refusal to concede .
On Monday , Sens .
David Perdue and Kelly Loeffler of Georgia , both of whom face runoff races against @ @ @ @ @ @ @ letter demanding their own Republican secretary of state step down , lobbing vague and , again , unsupported allegations of misconduct in the state 's election — which Biden appears to have won .
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell , on the chamber 's floor , defended Trump 's refusal to concede and offered support for the president 's effort to pursue lawsuits on Monday .
Within the administration itself , the situation looked even worse , as described by the Associated Press .
A top official in charge of starting the transition @ @ @ @ @ @ @ apparent '' refused to start cooperating with Biden .
Trump fired Defense Secretary Mark Esper , and tried to replace him with Christopher Miller , the director of the National Counterterrorism Center , though it 's not clear he had the legal authority to do so .
Reports indicate other important officials could soon be fired as well .
And on top of all that , Attorney General Bill Barr told prosecutors in a letter released Monday evening that they were authorized to investigate `` substantial allegations '' of voter fraud after the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ credible evidence has emerged of these kinds of crimes .
Some argued that Barr 's message was mostly about placating Trump , and they noted that the investigations can only be carried out if there a `` apparently-credible allegations '' that could impact the outcome of a federal election .
That 's a pretty high threshold to meet .
But regardless of how far the potential investigations go , one major point is served : Undermining voters ' confidence in the election .
`` This is equal parts pathetic and frightening , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The next 72 days may be some of the most perilous this nation has faced . ''
Ben Ginsburg , a Republican attorney for George W. Bush during 2000 recount , argued on `` 60 Minutes '' Sunday night that Trump should give in and that his lawsuits were not going to change the results .
But they are taking the country down a dark path .
`` This could be an instance of trying to slow down counts in individual states , in the hope that those states do n't complete their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the Electoral College to meet , '' Ginsberg said .
`` And then he would go back to something else he 's talked about , which is telling [ state ] legislators to go and vote Trump slates , even in states that were won by Biden . ''
He added : `` Sir , you need to take a step back , look at the results .
It is a democracy .
It is a country that has been very good to you .
And you need to respect the institutions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is our elections that lead to the peaceful transition of power .
And you can not be destructive of that . ''
There are , however , several key problems in the plan that it appears Trump is trying to scramble together .
First , in Pennsylvania , one of the key states Biden won and where Trump has ongoing litigation , the Republican speaker for the state legislature has made clear that he does n't believe the body has the power to appoint an alternative slate of electors to that decided by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ governor may also serve as a roadblock to such a plan .
One potential alternative is to get the judiciary , perhaps the Supreme Court , to throw out a slate of electors for some reason .
But even if the right-wing justices were willing to go along with this scheme — and that 's far from certain , given that their reputations are on the line — it would n't necessarily help Trump .
As has been explained in Verdict , throwing out the electors of say , Pennsylvania , would n't @ @ @ @ @ @ @ even if it were the only state to put him over the top to 270 ( which it 's not ) .
That 's because the constitution requires simply that the president will be the person who gets a majority of the electors that are accepted ; since Trump is on pace to earn far fewer electoral votes than Biden , probably 232 to Biden 's 306 , many states ' electors would have to be thrown out before Trump would win .
That 's very unlikely to happen .
Third , though @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Supreme Court to decide the election , it 's not really up to the judiciary .
It 's Congress that accepts the slates of electors put forward by the states and ratifies the decision .
And on this point , there 's much reason for hope that , whatever chaos Trump tries to stir up , democracy will prevail .
The House is expected to continue to have its majority of Democrats .
While the Senate should still have a Republican majority by January — with two runoff races outstanding in Georgia — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of electors , at least four Republicans have already congratulated Biden and referred to him as president-elect : Sens .
Mitt Romney of Utah , Susan Collins of Maine , Lisa Murkowski of Alaska , and Ben Sasse of Nebraska .
That means that there should be a majority of both the House and the Senate who , at the time when it 's crucial , acknowledge that Biden is the rightful president .

As President Donald Trump continues to challenge the result of the Nov. 3 election that every credible media outlet has called in favor of Joe Biden, his attempt to illegitimately hold on to power came clearly into view.
Some observers diminished the significance Trump's attempts to attack the legitimacy of the election and throw its results into doubt as a mere emotional outburst, and they claimed that those Republicans who offered support for the disinformation campaign were simply mollifying him. For these people, Trump allegations of voter fraud and rigged elections were nothing more than his previous attempts to cry foul when he didn't get the results he wanted, only to move on. But Trump's assault on democracy, as emotionally driven as it may be, is also a genuine attempt to overturn the results of the election, even if it is ill-fated and poorly thought out.
Before the election, Trump made his strategy clear. He repeatedly said he thought that the election would be decided by the Supreme Court, and he used this point as a justification for rushing through the confirmation of Justice Amy Coney Barrett. Now, his campaign is launching a series of lawsuits — which many serious legal analysts dismissed as frivolous and baseless — hoping that something will stick and enable him to remain president.
And while it initially seemed other Republicans might not stick by him in this fight, they increasingly fell in line. Sens. Ted Cruz and Lindsey Graham appeared on Fox News to support Trump's refusal to concede. On Monday, Sens. David Perdue and Kelly Loeffler of Georgia, both of whom face runoff races against Democrats in early January, wrote a letter demanding their own Republican secretary of state step down, lobbing vague and, again, unsupported allegations of misconduct in the state's election — which Biden appears to have won. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, on the chamber's floor, defended Trump's refusal to concede and offered support for the president's effort to pursue lawsuits on Monday.
Within the administration itself, the situation looked even worse, as described by the Associated Press. A top official in charge of starting the transition when an Electoral College victor is "apparent" refused to start cooperating with Biden. Trump fired Defense Secretary Mark Esper, and tried to replace him with Christopher Miller, the director of the National Counterterrorism Center, though it's not clear he had the legal authority to do so. Reports indicate other important officials could soon be fired as well.
And on top of all that, Attorney General Bill Barr told prosecutors in a letter released Monday evening that they were authorized to investigate "substantial allegations" of voter fraud after the election, despite the fact that no credible evidence has emerged of these kinds of crimes.
Some argued that Barr's message was mostly about placating Trump, and they noted that the investigations can only be carried out if there a "apparently-credible allegations" that could impact the outcome of a federal election. That's a pretty high threshold to meet. But regardless of how far the potential investigations go, one major point is served: Undermining voters' confidence in the election.
"This is equal parts pathetic and frightening," said Lawfare's Susan Hennessey. "The next 72 days may be some of the most perilous this nation has faced."
Ben Ginsburg, a Republican attorney for George W. Bush during 2000 recount, argued on "60 Minutes" Sunday night that Trump should give in and that his lawsuits were not going to change the results. But they are taking the country down a dark path.
"This could be an instance of trying to slow down counts in individual states, in the hope that those states don't complete their job of certifying election results in time for the Electoral College to meet," Ginsberg said. "And then he would go back to something else he's talked about, which is telling [state] legislators to go and vote Trump slates, even in states that were won by Biden."
He added: "Sir, you need to take a step back, look at the results. It is a democracy. It is a country that has been very good to you. And you need to respect the institutions. And the greatest institution of all is our elections that lead to the peaceful transition of power. And you cannot be destructive of that."
There are, however, several key problems in the plan that it appears Trump is trying to scramble together.
First, in Pennsylvania, one of the key states Biden won and where Trump has ongoing litigation, the Republican speaker for the state legislature has made clear that he doesn't believe the body has the power to appoint an alternative slate of electors to that decided by the election. The state's Democratic governor may also serve as a roadblock to such a plan.
One potential alternative is to get the judiciary, perhaps the Supreme Court, to throw out a slate of electors for some reason. But even if the right-wing justices were willing to go along with this scheme — and that's far from certain, given that their reputations are on the line — it wouldn't necessarily help Trump. As has been explained in Verdict, throwing out the electors of say, Pennsylvania, wouldn't prevent Biden from getting a majority, even if it were the only state to put him over the top to 270 (which it's not). That's because the constitution requires simply that the president will be the person who gets a majority of the electors that are accepted; since Trump is on pace to earn far fewer electoral votes than Biden, probably 232 to Biden's 306, many states' electors would have to be thrown out before Trump would win. That's very unlikely to happen.
Third, though Trump has often said he wants the Supreme Court to decide the election, it's not really up to the judiciary. It's Congress that accepts the slates of electors put forward by the states and ratifies the decision.
And on this point, there's much reason for hope that, whatever chaos Trump tries to stir up, democracy will prevail. The House is expected to continue to have its majority of Democrats. While the Senate should still have a Republican majority by January — with two runoff races outstanding in Georgia — when it meets to accept the slates of electors, at least four Republicans have already congratulated Biden and referred to him as president-elect: Sens. Mitt Romney of Utah, Susan Collins of Maine, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, and Ben Sasse of Nebraska. That means that there should be a majority of both the House and the Senate who, at the time when it's crucial, acknowledge that Biden is the rightful president.


alternet--2020-11-09--'A dangerous attack on our democracy': McConnell backs Trump's refusal to concede to Biden

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell on Monday made his first public remarks since President-elect Joe Biden was declared the winner of the 2020 presidential election , but he made no mention of the Democratic former vice president—instead claiming the election results have not been decided and that President Donald Trump is `` 100 % within his rights '' to refuse to concede .
Despite an absence of any evidence that irregularities or fraud took place during voting or ballot-counting , the president has so far refused to acknowledge that he lost the election .
McConnell ( R-Ky. ) referred to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ election , two days after the Associated Press and other media outlets declared Biden the winner , having won at least 290 electoral votes versus Trump 's 214 , according to the latest counts .
Ellen Weintraub , commissioner of the Federal Election Commission , acknowledged the AP 's call on Saturday .
While suggesting the results of congressional races—in which Republicans , who are expected to retain Senate control , also picked up House seats—were legitimate , McConnell said that Trump 's legal challenges regarding the presidential race denotes that the election @ @ @ @ @ @ @ No states have yet certified their election results , '' McConnell said .
`` We have at least one or two states that are already on track for a recount and I believe the president may have legal challenges underway in at least five states ... All legal ballots must be counted , any illegal ballots must not be counted .
The process should be transparent or observable by all sides and the courts are here to work through concerns . ''
`` President Trump is 100 % within his rights to look @ @ @ @ @ @ @ legal options , '' the majority leader concluded .
`` The defiant rhetoric of Trumpism infused the majority leader 's speech , '' tweeted Washington Post political reporter Robert Costa .
Few Republicans have so far acknowledged Biden 's victory .
On Monday , a coalition of Republican attorneys general filed an amicus brief asking the U.S. Supreme Court to consider a ruling by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court , which allowed the counting of ballots received up to three days after Election Day .
Republican Sens .
Kelly Loeffler and David Perdue of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ elections on January 5 , called on Monday for the resignation of their state 's Republican secretary of state , Brad Raffensperger , after he stated that `` there is no evidence of widespread fraud '' in the election .
Biden is currently leading Trump in the state 's count and is expected to take Georgia 's 16 electoral votes .
Without evidence , Loeffler and Perdue echoed McConnell 's claim that ballots were cast `` illegally '' in the election .
`` Every legal vote cast should be counted .
Any illegal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ senators .
`` And there must be transparency and uniformity in the counting process . ''
A massive voter turnout effort in Georgia , led by voting rights advocates including former gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams , resulted in more than 67 % of eligible voters casting ballots this year , according to the Washington Post .
Just 2 % of eligible voters in the state were unregistered this year .
Journalists immediately objected to the GOP 's allusions to illegal voting , with some pointing out the claims are reminiscent of Trump 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' after the 2016 election .
Costa offered some insight into discussions he had over the weekend with Republican officials regarding the party 's current strategy .
`` Most everything McConnell does from here on is n't about January 20th , '' Costa tweeted , `` but January 5th ( the Georgia runoff elections ) .
To win the latter , [ Republicans ] believe the base must be stoked , especially in a fast-changing state . ''

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell on Monday made his first public remarks since President-elect Joe Biden was declared the winner of the 2020 presidential election, but he made no mention of the Democratic former vice president—instead claiming the election results have not been decided and that President Donald Trump is "100% within his rights" to refuse to concede.
Despite an absence of any evidence that irregularities or fraud took place during voting or ballot-counting, the president has so far refused to acknowledge that he lost the election. McConnell (R-Ky.) referred to the "preliminary results" of the election, two days after the Associated Press and other media outlets declared Biden the winner, having won at least 290 electoral votes versus Trump's 214, according to the latest counts.
Ellen Weintraub, commissioner of the Federal Election Commission, acknowledged the AP's call on Saturday.
While suggesting the results of congressional races—in which Republicans, who are expected to retain Senate control, also picked up House seats—were legitimate, McConnell said that Trump's legal challenges regarding the presidential race denotes that the election has not yet been decided.
"No states have yet certified their election results," McConnell said. "We have at least one or two states that are already on track for a recount and I believe the president may have legal challenges underway in at least five states... All legal ballots must be counted, any illegal ballots must not be counted. The process should be transparent or observable by all sides and the courts are here to work through concerns."
"President Trump is 100% within his rights to look into allegations of irregularities and weigh his legal options," the majority leader concluded.
"The defiant rhetoric of Trumpism infused the majority leader's speech," tweeted Washington Post political reporter Robert Costa.
Few Republicans have so far acknowledged Biden's victory. On Monday, a coalition of Republican attorneys general filed an amicus brief asking the U.S. Supreme Court to consider a ruling by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, which allowed the counting of ballots received up to three days after Election Day.
Republican Sens. Kelly Loeffler and David Perdue of Georgia, both of whom face runoff elections on January 5, called on Monday for the resignation of their state's Republican secretary of state, Brad Raffensperger, after he stated that "there is no evidence of widespread fraud" in the election. Biden is currently leading Trump in the state's count and is expected to take Georgia's 16 electoral votes.
Without evidence, Loeffler and Perdue echoed McConnell's claim that ballots were cast "illegally" in the election.
"Every legal vote cast should be counted. Any illegal vote must not," said the senators. "And there must be transparency and uniformity in the counting process."
A massive voter turnout effort in Georgia, led by voting rights advocates including former gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams, resulted in more than 67% of eligible voters casting ballots this year, according to the Washington Post. Just 2% of eligible voters in the state were unregistered this year.
Journalists immediately objected to the GOP's allusions to illegal voting, with some pointing out the claims are reminiscent of Trump's repeated accusations of so-called "voter fraud" after the 2016 election.
Costa offered some insight into discussions he had over the weekend with Republican officials regarding the party's current strategy.
"Most everything McConnell does from here on isn't about January 20th," Costa tweeted, "but January 5th (the Georgia runoff elections). To win the latter, [Republicans] believe the base must be stoked, especially in a fast-changing state."