alternet--2020-12-04--A pro-Trump lawyer's 'epic fail': Sidney Powell makes a hilarious mistake in election lawsuit

Pro-Trump lawyer Sidney Powell has touted a challenge to the 2020 election in Georgia as her `` Kraken , '' comparing the lawsuit to the mythical beast .
But this supposedly epic legal challenge has a surprisingly gigantic error .
While arguing for the Eleventh Circuit , she pushed her ridiculous and unfounded claim that Dominion Voting Systems switch votes during the election .
But she seems to have gotten her words mixed up , or forgotten which candidate she was supposed to be arguing for mid-sentence .
Because the lawsuit claims that the machines switched the votes from Biden @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a fraudulent conspiracy on the president 's behalf , and one that failed anyway .
The glaring claim is located within the in background arguments for the case filed by Powell and her colleague Lin Wood , as Law & Crime pointed out .
`` [ T ] here were all imaginable varieties of voting fraud , '' appellants said , `` including machine-controlled algorithms deliberately run by Dominion Voting Systems that generally took more than 2.5 % of the votes from Mr. Biden and flipped them to Mr. Trump for a more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Biden . ''
Taken at face values , the first half of the sentence alleges that fraudulent voting activity was favorable for President Donald Trump .
The mishap was not missed by social media and many are yet again criticizing the Trump campaign for its frivolous and sloppy post-election lawsuits .
Now , the president 's campaign legal team is being widely criticized for what is being described as an `` epic fail . ''
`` Whoops .
The latest legal filing from former Trump attorney Sidney Powell in her Georgia lawsuit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from Biden to Trump — which would mean the president gained fraudulent votes .
One GOP attorney calls it an 'epic fail , ' '' said reporter Greg Bluestein .
Late Wednesday night , Powell , Wood and their co-counsel submitted their briefing to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit asking the court to issue a temporary injunctive to decertify the results of the presidential election results in the state .
They are also requesting that defendants Georgia Gov .
Brian Kemp ( R ) and Secretary of State Brad @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all data on the Dominion System '' so `` Republican Electors can audit the Dominion System '' in 10 of the state 's counties .
The state of Georgia said this request would pose a security risk .
The Trump campaign legal team 's latest blunder comes as the president loses legal battle after legal battle .
Despite the president 's attempts to overturn the election , his efforts have fallen gravely short .

Pro-Trump lawyer Sidney Powell has touted a challenge to the 2020 election in Georgia as her "Kraken," comparing the lawsuit to the mythical beast. But this supposedly epic legal challenge has a surprisingly gigantic error. While arguing for the Eleventh Circuit, she pushed her ridiculous and unfounded claim that Dominion Voting Systems switch votes during the election.
But she seems to have gotten her words mixed up, or forgotten which candidate she was supposed to be arguing for mid-sentence. Because the lawsuit claims that the machines switched the votes from Biden and to Trump — which would indicate a fraudulent conspiracy on the president's behalf, and one that failed anyway.
The glaring claim is located within the in background arguments for the case filed by Powell and her colleague Lin Wood, as Law & Crime pointed out.
"[T]here were all imaginable varieties of voting fraud," appellants said, "including machine-controlled algorithms deliberately run by Dominion Voting Systems that generally took more than 2.5% of the votes from Mr. Biden and flipped them to Mr. Trump for a more than 5% fraudulent increase for Mr. Biden."
Taken at face values, the first half of the sentence alleges that fraudulent voting activity was favorable for President Donald Trump.
The mishap was not missed by social media and many are yet again criticizing the Trump campaign for its frivolous and sloppy post-election lawsuits. Now, the president's campaign legal team is being widely criticized for what is being described as an "epic fail."
"Whoops. The latest legal filing from former Trump attorney Sidney Powell in her Georgia lawsuit accuses Dominion voting machines of flipping votes from Biden to Trump — which would mean the president gained fraudulent votes. One GOP attorney calls it an 'epic fail,'" said reporter Greg Bluestein.
Late Wednesday night, Powell, Wood and their co-counsel submitted their briefing to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit asking the court to issue a temporary injunctive to decertify the results of the presidential election results in the state. They are also requesting that defendants Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp (R) and Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger (R) to "preserve all data on the Dominion System" so "Republican Electors can audit the Dominion System" in 10 of the state's counties. The state of Georgia said this request would pose a security risk.
The Trump campaign legal team's latest blunder comes as the president loses legal battle after legal battle. Despite the president's attempts to overturn the election, his efforts have fallen gravely short.


alternet--2020-12-04--Mitt Romney slams Trump for the 'great human tragedy' of his response to the coronavirus

Although President Donald Trump has been voted out office , most Republicans in the U.S. Senate are afraid to publicly say anything critical of him .
GOP Sen. Mitt Romney of Utah is a key exception , vehemently criticiziung Trump 's response to the coronavirus pandemic during a CNN appearance on Thursday .
With the number of COVID-19 infections soaring all over the United States , Dr. Anthony Fauci and other medical experts are warning that the worst of the pandemic is yet to come .
And Romney , interviewed by CNN 's Wolf Blitzer , lamented the fact that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the outgoing president .
Blitzer , discussing the pandemic , told the Utah senator , `` Where is the president 's leadership ?
He 's obsessed with everything else , not with this '' — to which Romney responded , `` This has n't been the focus of his rhetoric , apparently , and I think it 's a great human tragedy , without question .
The extraordinary loss of life is heartbreaking — and in some respects , unnecessary .
Not in all respects . ''
Romney added , `` We 've @ @ @ @ @ @ @ states have n't had mask mandates .
And from Washington , we have not had a constant , consistent plan and plea for people to wear masks , to social-distance , to take all the measures that would reduce the spread of this disease . ''
The Utah senator implied that fellow Republicans should not be politicizing the pandemic .
`` It 's unfortunate that this became a political issue , '' Romney told Blitzer .
`` It 's not political .
This is public health . ''
Blitzer , during the interview @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to concede to President-elect Joe Biden and his claims of widespread voter fraud .
Romney is among the Senate Republicans who has been acknowledging Biden 's victory , and he told Blitzer , `` The courts have all looked at the evidence and said there 's no evidence there… .
The idea of widespread fraud has simply not been shown to us… .
And so , for the president or anyone else to go out and allege widespread fraud and say the election was rigged and the election was stolen , that obviously @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''

Although President Donald Trump has been voted out office, most Republicans in the U.S. Senate are afraid to publicly say anything critical of him. GOP Sen. Mitt Romney of Utah is a key exception, vehemently criticiziung Trump's response to the coronavirus pandemic during a CNN appearance on Thursday.
With the number of COVID-19 infections soaring all over the United States, Dr. Anthony Fauci and other medical experts are warning that the worst of the pandemic is yet to come. And Romney, interviewed by CNN's Wolf Blitzer, lamented the fact that COVID-19 isn't a high priority for the outgoing president.
Blitzer, discussing the pandemic, told the Utah senator, "Where is the president's leadership? He's obsessed with everything else, not with this" — to which Romney responded, "This hasn't been the focus of his rhetoric, apparently, and I think it's a great human tragedy, without question. The extraordinary loss of life is heartbreaking — and in some respects, unnecessary. Not in all respects."
Romney added, "We've relaxed our standards as individuals. Some states haven't had mask mandates. And from Washington, we have not had a constant, consistent plan and plea for people to wear masks, to social-distance, to take all the measures that would reduce the spread of this disease."
The Utah senator implied that fellow Republicans should not be politicizing the pandemic.
"It's unfortunate that this became a political issue," Romney told Blitzer. "It's not political. This is public health."
Blitzer, during the interview, also brought up Trump's refusal to concede to President-elect Joe Biden and his claims of widespread voter fraud. Romney is among the Senate Republicans who has been acknowledging Biden's victory, and he told Blitzer, "The courts have all looked at the evidence and said there's no evidence there…. The idea of widespread fraud has simply not been shown to us…. And so, for the president or anyone else to go out and allege widespread fraud and say the election was rigged and the election was stolen, that obviously strikes at the foundation of democracy here."


alternet--2020-12-04--'Where is the president?': Trump adviser flounders when pressed on White House inaction

Tensions ran high at an outdoor press conference Friday when a reporter asked White House advisor Larry Kudlow , `` @ @ @ @ @ '' and he replied , `` I do n't understand . ''
The reporter said @ @ @ @ @ day are dying of COVID .
Where is the President 's leadership ? ''
CBS @ @ @ @ @ Reid reported from Washington , D.C. Friday and shared the tweet below .
The responses @ @ @ @ @

Tensions ran high at an outdoor press conference Friday when a reporter asked White House advisor Larry Kudlow, "Where is the President?" and he replied, "I don't understand."
The reporter said, "2,000 people a day are dying of COVID. Where is the President's leadership?"
CBS News White House correspondent Paula Reid reported from Washington, D.C. Friday and shared the tweet below. The responses flowed in from there.


alternet--2020-12-04--Welcome to 'Crazytown': An unprecedented frenzy in Georgia shows how democracy breaks down

On the eve of the general election , Russ Silva and his family , like many fellow Georgians , watched as the results started slowly pouring across his television set .
It was becoming more and more apparent that Georgia was destined to become a focal point for the entire country , not just because it was a contested battleground state between Donald Trump and Joseph Biden , but also because it was setting the stage for an unprecedented situation .
As election night came to an end with many results still uncertain , Silva let out a sigh as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was inevitable : `` Now I pretty much know I 'm going to be barraged by endless ads . ''
By the time incumbent Senator David Perdue 's slim advantage over challenger Jon Ossoff dipped to 49.9997 percent of the vote on November 5 , it became all but official : a double-header runoff for two Senate seats and ultimately control of the chamber was going to happen in early January .
John Nichols , a veteran journalist , explained to AlterNet that , `` We 've never had a circumstance like this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ two seats are also needed for control of the Senate in two runoff elections before an inauguration with these kinds of stakes at play . ''
Unsurprisingly then , Georgia 's unique double-header runoff has rapidly become ground zero for a legion of political consultants , pollsters and a blizzard of television advertising .
`` There 's a whole industry that does this from Washington and everyone is able to go to their donors and say , 'hey , I need 20 million dollars , ' and then that money will then be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unprecedented spending frenzy led Christian-right activist Ralph Reed to dub Georgia `` crazytown '' to the New York Times .
It became that after Democrats suffered rough defeats in North Carolina ( a race they lost by a mere 1.8 points ) , Iowa ( where various polls showed the Democratic challenger leading through election night ) , Kentucky ( where tons of money was spent in an unsuccessful effort to unseat Sen. Mitch McConnell , the Republican Majority Leader ) and most devastatingly , in Maine ( where the New York Times @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , as being a dinosaur out of touch with more polarized times and quite vulnerable to defeat ) .
Because of this string of defeats , Georgia 's old southern-styled campaign system , which was originally fashioned to advantage white Democratic candidates in the Jim Crow era , wound up having greater relevance than ever before .
No more than a mere percentage point separated the total Democratic and Republican Party votes in both Senate races , with all sides acknowledging that the Democrats are still facing steep odds of sweeping .
By @ @ @ @ @ @ @ only party control of the Senate but also the future path to a potential economic recovery for both the U.S. and to a significant extent , the rest of the world .
While the anticipated record-breaking spending in Georgia 's twin runoffs has gotten a lot of media coverage , the ramifications of so much hinging on contests that will likely be decided by a relative handful of voters is an under-explored aspect of the story .
Leading researchers on politics , campaign finance and the media told AlterNet that the Georgia campaigns @ @ @ @ @ @ @ its core .
The numbers so far have been dizzying , and the campaign has only just gotten underway .
According to AdImpact , by Thanksgiving week , $ 220 million had already been spent between all four campaigns ( Ossoff has spent $ 41.6 million ; Loeffler , $ 40.8 ; Warnock , $ 34.2 and Perdue , $ 30.1 ) while another $ 214 million in future buys had been reserved .
With this rate of spending , the campaigns are collectively on pace to reach a half a billion dollars @ @ @ @ @ @ @ even more , according to Professor Thomas Ferguson , author of The Golden Rule .
`` One private equity investor put a couple of million into the Maine senate race which clearly came during a late influx of money , '' Ferguson said .
As a result , when it comes to Georgia , `` you very well may not see what the real total spending will amount to until the end December . ''
You may be wondering what all of this money is even being spent on .
As Nichols explained @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , leadership PACs [ political action committees ] , special interest PACs , political television advertising and hired gun political consultants and pollsters , '' form the bedrock of what he dubbed , `` the media and election industrial complex , which Bob McChesney and I have written about because the truth of the matter is that there really is a huge industry that is solely dedicated to this . ''
The Atlanta metro area 's television market , where three-fourths of Georgia 's voters reside , is already approaching near total ad @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Day .
Sen. Kelly Loeffler , who has embraced Trump even more than her fellow Republican incumbent , has already spent 23 million of her own personal funds on television advertising and has already reserved an additional 40 million .
Georgian voters have already registered their fatigue with the advertising onslaught .
Echoing the thoughts of many Georgia users in the Twittersphere , one posted , `` Here in Georgia , I ca n't watch anything without being POUNDED with political ads .
I get it , but I 'm sooooooo tired .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ that campaign spending is the equivalent of protected political speech .
As a result , each election year records for campaign spending set in previous cycles routinely fall , according to Gerald Sullivan , the author of Global Electioneering .
`` Overall , more than $ 14 billion will have been spent on all Federal-level campaigns this year , doubling what was spent in 2016 .
The amount of money is abhorrent and disgusting , '' Sullivan told AlterNet , while adding that `` the more professionalization of campaigns intervenes into the electoral @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be . ''
To a whole generation of young people , it has become a fact of life that elections are synonymous with big spending .
But to Sullivan , this is not consistent with a healthy democracy .
`` In the 1950s , things were done on a retail basis as politicians would have district and ward captains and everything was done locally . ''
In modern times , however , `` political consulting firms have centralized the whole process .
Now it 's just left up to the experts and professionals @ @ @ @ @ @ @ n't dominate the process in most democracies , which have relatively short campaign seasons .
He pointed to the United Kingdom 's six-week long election campaigns as a better model .
Ferguson also pointed to the British electoral process .
`` I would like to shorten them , of course .
A British-styled system and election length would be much better , '' especially paired with a robust public campaign finance system .
Nichols told AlterNet that many of the tactics that are part and parcel of the election industry are at direct @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` Polling is n't done to figure out what the voters want and instead , it 's done to help figure out how to 'sell ' candidates most effectively . ''
Pollsters and political consultants are mining for , `` the fodder for negative ads , '' Nichols added .
And indeed , Georgia has already been rife with some of the most brutal negative advertising this election cycle has seen .
`` You have pollsters going in and asking if you 'd vote against someone if you knew this and that , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to figure out how best to manipulate people as opposed to deciphering what they truly want so as to get people to potentially vote against their own interests which is very , very anti-democratic . ''
Ferguson , whose research has shown that candidates who raise more money stand a much greater chance of winning election , added that `` when you get that much money pouring into the election , it means that you have all these investors who decide which election is 'worth it ' and that tends to pull even @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is a somewhat subtle effect but a very real one and clearly an anti-democratic consequence of the system . ''
Much More at Stake than Control of the Senate Because of the worst economic recession to have gripped the world since the Great Depression , and major partisan differences over pandemic policy , what happens in Georgia will have major ripple effects depending on which party ends up controlling the Senate .
This has become a focal point of the campaigns .
Four months after the CARES Act 's enhanced unemployment benefits expired @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the sand over another relief package to such an extent that the New York Times reported that a Democratic-led Senate , even with Trump sticking around in the White House , had a larger chance of passing a robust relief bill than would a Biden administration if Republicans maintain control of the Senate .
Over 120 economists , including a former vice-chairman of the Federal Reserve Board , recently signed off on a letter calling for a second stimulus package to be , `` big , immediate and direct . ''
`` [ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ] everything on stimulus because if there is a Democratic-controlled Senate , they will be able to get a sizable package through reconciliation , '' Heidi Schierholz , the director of the Economic Policy Institute , told Business Insider .
Of the many uncertainties which continue to characterize this unexpectedly extended election season , one thing is clear : Georgia really is `` crazytown '' this cycle .

On the eve of the general election, Russ Silva and his family, like many fellow Georgians, watched as the results started slowly pouring across his television set. It was becoming more and more apparent that Georgia was destined to become a focal point for the entire country, not just because it was a contested battleground state between Donald Trump and Joseph Biden, but also because it was setting the stage for an unprecedented situation.
As election night came to an end with many results still uncertain, Silva let out a sigh as he bemoaned to AlterNet what he suspected was inevitable: "Now I pretty much know I'm going to be barraged by endless ads."
By the time incumbent Senator David Perdue's slim advantage over challenger Jon Ossoff dipped to 49.9997 percent of the vote on November 5, it became all but official: a double-header runoff for two Senate seats and ultimately control of the chamber was going to happen in early January.
John Nichols, a veteran journalist, explained to AlterNet that, "We've never had a circumstance like this before with two seats up-in-the air while two seats are also needed for control of the Senate in two runoff elections before an inauguration with these kinds of stakes at play."
Unsurprisingly then, Georgia's unique double-header runoff has rapidly become ground zero for a legion of political consultants, pollsters and a blizzard of television advertising.
"There's a whole industry that does this from Washington and everyone is able to go to their donors and say, 'hey, I need 20 million dollars,' and then that money will then be found," says Nichols.
This unprecedented spending frenzy led Christian-right activist Ralph Reed to dub Georgia "crazytown" to the New York Times. It became that after Democrats suffered rough defeats in North Carolina (a race they lost by a mere 1.8 points), Iowa (where various polls showed the Democratic challenger leading through election night), Kentucky (where tons of money was spent in an unsuccessful effort to unseat Sen. Mitch McConnell, the Republican Majority Leader) and most devastatingly, in Maine (where the New York Times profiled the Republican incumbent, Susan Collins, as being a dinosaur out of touch with more polarized times and quite vulnerable to defeat).
Because of this string of defeats, Georgia's old southern-styled campaign system, which was originally fashioned to advantage white Democratic candidates in the Jim Crow era, wound up having greater relevance than ever before. No more than a mere percentage point separated the total Democratic and Republican Party votes in bothSenate races, with all sides acknowledging that the Democrats are still facing steep odds of sweeping. By January, the double-header will decide not only party control of the Senate but also the future path to a potential economic recovery for both the U.S. and to a significant extent, the rest of the world.
While the anticipated record-breaking spending in Georgia's twin runoffs has gotten a lot of media coverage, the ramifications of so much hinging on contests that will likely be decided by a relative handful of voters is an under-explored aspect of the story. Leading researchers on politics, campaign finance and the media told AlterNet that the Georgia campaigns exemplify a system that is anti-democratic to its core.
Consulting and Pollster Industry Descends Upon Georgia
The numbers so far have been dizzying, and the campaign has only just gotten underway. According to AdImpact, by Thanksgiving week, $220 million had already been spent between all four campaigns (Ossoff has spent $41.6 million; Loeffler, $40.8; Warnock, $34.2 and Perdue, $30.1) while another $214 million in future buys had been reserved.
With this rate of spending, the campaigns are collectively on pace to reach a half a billion dollars in spending by Election Day or perhaps even more, according to Professor Thomas Ferguson, author of The Golden Rule.
"One private equity investor put a couple of million into the Maine senate race which clearly came during a late influx of money," Ferguson said. As a result, when it comes to Georgia, "you very well may not see what the real total spending will amount to until the end December."
You may be wondering what all of this money is even being spent on.
As Nichols explained to AlterNet, "party campaign committees, leadership PACs [political action committees], special interest PACs, political television advertising and hired gun political consultants and pollsters," form the bedrock of what he dubbed, "the media and election industrial complex, which Bob McChesney and I have written about because the truth of the matter is that there really is a huge industry that is solely dedicated to this."
The Atlanta metro area's television market, where three-fourths of Georgia's voters reside, is already approaching near total ad saturation well over a month before Election Day. Sen. Kelly Loeffler, who has embraced Trump even more than her fellow Republican incumbent, has already spent 23 million of her own personal funds on television advertising and has already reserved an additional 40 million.
Georgian voters have already registered their fatigue with the advertising onslaught. Echoing the thoughts of many Georgia users in the Twittersphere, one posted, "Here in Georgia, I can't watch anything without being POUNDED with political ads. I get it, but I'm sooooooo tired."
Rich Campaigns, Poor Democracy?
The Supreme Court has consistently ruled that campaign spending is the equivalent of protected political speech. As a result, each election year records for campaign spending set in previous cycles routinely fall, according to Gerald Sussman, the author of Global Electioneering.
"Overall, more than $14 billion will have been spent on all Federal-level campaigns this year, doubling what was spent in 2016. The amount of money is abhorrent and disgusting," Sussman told AlterNet, while adding that "the more professionalization of campaigns intervenes into the electoral process, the less democratic it will be."
To a whole generation of young people, it has become a fact of life that elections are synonymous with big spending. But to Sussman, this is not consistent with a healthy democracy. "In the 1950s, things were done on a retail basis as politicians would have district and ward captains and everything was done locally." In modern times, however, "political consulting firms have centralized the whole process. Now it's just left up to the experts and professionals." Sussman added that spending doesn't dominate the process in most democracies, which have relatively short campaign seasons. He pointed to the United Kingdom's six-week long election campaigns as a better model.
Ferguson also pointed to the British electoral process. "I would like to shorten them, of course. A British-styled system and election length would be much better," especially paired with a robust public campaign finance system.
Nichols told AlterNet that many of the tactics that are part and parcel of the election industry are at direct odds with basic tenants of democracy. "Polling isn't done to figure out what the voters want and instead, it's done to help figure out how to 'sell' candidates most effectively."
Pollsters and political consultants are mining for, "the fodder for negative ads," Nichols added. And indeed, Georgia has already been rife with some of the most brutal negative advertising this election cycle has seen.
"You have pollsters going in and asking if you'd vote against someone if you knew this and that," Nichols explained. "It's to figure out how best to manipulate people as opposed to deciphering what they truly want so as to get people to potentially vote against their own interests which is very, very anti-democratic."
Ferguson, whose research has shown that candidates who raise more money stand a much greater chance of winning election, added that "when you get that much money pouring into the election, it means that you have all these investors who decide which election is 'worth it' and that tends to pull even liberal democrats to the right. It is a somewhat subtle effect but a very real one and clearly an anti-democratic consequence of the system."
Much More at Stake than Control of the Senate
Because of the worst economic recession to have gripped the world since the Great Depression, and major partisan differences over pandemic policy, what happens in Georgia will have major ripple effects depending on which party ends up controlling the Senate. This has become a focal point of the campaigns.
Four months after the CARES Act's enhanced unemployment benefits expired, partisan lines have been drawn in the sand over another relief package to such an extent that the New York Times reported that a Democratic-led Senate, even with Trump sticking around in the White House, had a larger chance of passing a robust relief bill than would a Biden administration if Republicans maintain control of the Senate.
Raising the stakes even higher, according to mainstream economists, both the country's own economic future as well as the world's is at stake with Georgia's outcome. That's because of the strong linkage between the U.S. economy and that of the global economy as a whole.
Over 120 economists, including a former vice-chairman of the Federal Reserve Board, recently signed off on a letter calling for a second stimulus package to be, "big, immediate and direct."
In the meantime, there has been talk in Washington about a possible interim agreement being brokered for a limited stimulus relief package to be passed during Trump's few remaining days in office and the lame-duck session of Congress. But economists don't agree that is even close to what is needed.
"Whatever lame-duck agreement may happen, we already know that it won't be nearly enough, so it's still essential for the Democrats to sweep in Georgia for the kind of stimulus package that economists have a large consensus as being needed, can also be potentially passed," Heidi Schierholz, the director of the Economic Policy Institute, told AlterNet.
Of the many uncertainties which continue to characterize this unexpectedly extended election season and the flailing global pandemic economy, one thing is clear: Georgia really is "crazytown" this cycle.
This post has been updated after publication.


alternet--2020-12-04--Here's why Republicans who are calling for a Trump dictatorship should not be taken lightly — and ar

Here's why Republicans who are calling for a Trump dictatorship should not be taken lightly — and aren’t going away

The United States dodged an authoritarian bullet when former Vice President Joe Biden , a centrist Democrat , became president-elect , winning 306 electoral votes and defeating defeated President Donald Trump by more than 6 million in the popular vote .
But when Republican Lin Wood , a pro-Trump attorney who has been fighting the election results in Georgia , implores Trump to impose martial law and elections officials are receiving death threats for acknowledging Biden as president-elect , it is painfully obvious that there is a strong appetite for fascism in parts of the United States .
And journalist @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by The Nation on December 4 , warns that Republicans who are openly calling for fascism should not be taken lightly .
`` We are less than seven weeks away from the inauguration , and I 'd be lying if I said I was n't counting down the seconds , '' Abramsky writes .
`` For the last spasms of Trumpist rule are truly a sight and sound to behold .
Trumpism is , at this point , nothing more than a blend of cultism and fascism — a violent , nihilistic howl @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in presidential history . ''
Abramsky adds , however , that when `` people surrounding Trump are calling for dictatorship , '' it `` ought to send a chill up all Americans ' spines . ''
And Abramsky cites some specific examples of Trumpistas who have n't been shy about showing their authoritarianism .
`` Trump campaign attorney Joe DiGenova said that Chris Krebs , the election security official whom Trump fired by tweet last month after he defended the integrity of the election , should be 'drawn and quartered ' and 'taken @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' Abramsky observes .
`` Stalin could n't have said it better himself when talking about his perceived enemies in the Soviet bureaucracy .
Former Trump campaign attorney Sidney Powell… .
retweeted a call to invoke the Insurrection Act , suspend the meeting of the Electoral College and set up military tribunals to deal with Trump 's enemies .
The following day , former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn , coming off a recent presidential pardon from Trump , urged his erstwhile boss to declare martial law , suspend the Constitution , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the military . ''
Abramsky adds , `` Far-right media personalities have joined the fascist clamor .
Lou Dobbs of Fox Business recently called for Trump to take unspecified 'drastic action ' against his enemies .
The One America News Network has also suggested that Trump should invoke the Insurrection Act as a way to remain in office . ''
The journalist stresses that `` when a fanatical movement 's hold on power starts to diminish , the extremists have a tendency to eat their own . ''
And Abramsky points to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Barr from the far right as a disturbing example .
Barr has been one of Trump 's most aggressive defenders , often inspiring unflattering comparisons to the late Republican attorney Roy Cohn ( who was an ally of Sen. Joseph McCarthy during the 1950s and represented Trump during the 1970s ) .
But Barr , during an interview with the Associated Press , essentially acknowledged Biden as president-elect and said there was no evidence that widespread voter fraud swung the election in Biden 's favor — and Trumpistas like Dobbs are furious with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ noted that far-right fascists do n't necessarily come to power through a violent coup d'état or golpe de estado ; sometimes , they are voted into office and try to gradually undermine a democracy 's system of checks and balances .
That has happened in Turkey with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and in Hungary with Prime Minister Viktor Orbán , and hopefully , Brazil 's checks and balances will withstand the far-right President Jair Bolsonaro .
Meanwhile , in France , far-right white nationalist Marine Le Pen ( leader of the National Front @ @ @ @ @ @ @ race but is likely to run for president again .
Most Americans rejected fascism in the United States ' 2020 presidential election .
But Abramsky warns that the appetite for fascism in the U.S. has n't gone away .
`` Trump 's fascist yammering and the GOP Senate 's collaborationist behavior is n't just a footnote to the 2020 election campaign , '' Abramsky warns .
`` Rather , it 's a prologue to what could come next… .
The GOP as an institution has entirely abandoned its commitment to the democratic process… @ @ @ @ @ @ @ warning shot as to how the Grand Old Party intends to conduct itself in the months and years ahead . ''

The United States dodged an authoritarian bullet when former Vice President Joe Biden, a centrist Democrat, became president-elect, winning 306 electoral votes and defeating defeated President Donald Trump by more than 6 million in the popular vote. But when Republican Lin Wood, a pro-Trump attorney who has been fighting the election results in Georgia, implores Trump to impose martial law and elections officials are receiving death threats for acknowledging Biden as president-elect, it is painfully obvious that there is a strong appetite for fascism in parts of the United States. And journalist Sasha Abramsky, in an article published by The Nation on December 4, warns that Republicans who are openly calling for fascism should not be taken lightly.
"We are less than seven weeks away from the inauguration, and I'd be lying if I said I wasn't counting down the seconds," Abramsky writes. "For the last spasms of Trumpist rule are truly a sight and sound to behold. Trumpism is, at this point, nothing more than a blend of cultism and fascism — a violent, nihilistic howl against the pillars of American democracy unparalleled in presidential history."
Abramsky adds, however, that when "people surrounding Trump are calling for dictatorship," it "ought to send a chill up all Americans' spines." And Abramsky cites some specific examples of Trumpistas who haven't been shy about showing their authoritarianism.
"Trump campaign attorney Joe DiGenova said that Chris Krebs, the election security official whom Trump fired by tweet last month after he defended the integrity of the election, should be 'drawn and quartered' and 'taken out at dawn and shot,'" Abramsky observes. "Stalin couldn't have said it better himself when talking about his perceived enemies in the Soviet bureaucracy. Former Trump campaign attorney Sidney Powell…. retweeted a call to invoke the Insurrection Act, suspend the meeting of the Electoral College and set up military tribunals to deal with Trump's enemies. The following day, former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn, coming off a recent presidential pardon from Trump, urged his erstwhile boss to declare martial law, suspend the Constitution, and order new presidential elections under the supervision of the military."
Abramsky adds, "Far-right media personalities have joined the fascist clamor. Lou Dobbs of Fox Business recently called for Trump to take unspecified 'drastic action' against his enemies. The One America News Network has also suggested that Trump should invoke the Insurrection Act as a way to remain in office."
The journalist stresses that "when a fanatical movement's hold on power starts to diminish, the extremists have a tendency to eat their own." And Abramsky points to the recent attacks on Attorney General William Barr from the far right as a disturbing example.
Barr has been one of Trump's most aggressive defenders, often inspiring unflattering comparisons to the late Republican attorney Roy Cohn (who was an ally of Sen. Joseph McCarthy during the 1950s and represented Trump during the 1970s). But Barr, during an interview with the Associated Press, essentially acknowledged Biden as president-elect and said there was no evidence that widespread voter fraud swung the election in Biden's favor — and Trumpistas like Dobbs are furious with Barr for it.
It should be noted that far-right fascists don't necessarily come to power through a violent coup d'état or golpe de estado; sometimes, they are voted into office and try to gradually undermine a democracy's system of checks and balances. That has happened in Turkey with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and in Hungary with Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, and hopefully, Brazil's checks and balances will withstand the far-right President Jair Bolsonaro. Meanwhile, in France, far-right white nationalist Marine Le Pen (leader of the National Front) lost the country's 2017 presidential race but is likely to run for president again.
Most Americans rejected fascism in the United States' 2020 presidential election. But Abramsky warns that the appetite for fascism in the U.S. hasn't gone away.
"Trump's fascist yammering and the GOP Senate's collaborationist behavior isn't just a footnote to the 2020 election campaign," Abramsky warns. "Rather, it's a prologue to what could come next…. The GOP as an institution has entirely abandoned its commitment to the democratic process…. It's a hell of a warning shot as to how the Grand Old Party intends to conduct itself in the months and years ahead."


alternet--2020-12-04--The RNC paid $300K for Donald Trump Jr's new book

The Republican National Committee ( RNC ) reportedly shelled out more than $ 300,000 to a company owned by Donald Trump to Jr. for autographed copies of his new , self-published book .
According to The Daily Beast , the RNC 's payment — which totaled $ 303,892.47 — was sent to called Pursuit Venture LLC .
Corporate filings in the state of Delaware indicate that the company 's principal is the president 's oldest son .
It has also been reported that the RNC categorized the payment as `` donor mementos . ''
Republican donors who contributed between $ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's fundraising efforts will receive copies of Trump Jr. 's new book titled , Liberal Privilege , an insider with details about the arrangement revealed .
It has been reported that the promotional exchange ultimately increased fundraising during the last stretch of President Donald Trump 's re-election campaign .
While it is not uncommon for political groups to purchase books written by public figures as gifts for donors and party supporters , the amount paid to Trump Jr. 's company happens to be a relatively rare occurrence .
But the RNC 's payment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was the largest single payment—out of more than 700—that the committee has ever reported for donor `` mementos '' or `` gifts , '' according to Federal Election Commission filings .
It has also been reported that the payment was more than three times the amount the RNC reportedly paid to purchase copies of Trump Jr. 's previous book , Triggered..
In addition to the amount paid out by the RNC for Trump Jr. 's new book , Pursuit Venture also received an $ 11,000 payment for `` supporter gifts '' from Rep. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ campaign .
Although Trump Jr. 's last book ultimately became a bestseller , bulk purchases like the ones outlined above can ultimately `` aggregate sales for the book '' and cause it to `` become artificially inflated , '' according to the publication .
As a result , it `` can help a book 's reputation by elevating it on best seller lists . ''
As Trump Jr. 's previous book made the New York Times bestsellers list , he faced backlash from Democratic leaders .
Biden 's national press secretary TJ Ducklo @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Is there anything more on brand than Donald Trump Jr. trying to cash in on a book filled with disgusting lies and smears about Joe Biden ? ''
The RNC has made no further remarks about the payment made to Pursuit Venture .

The Republican National Committee (RNC) reportedly shelled out more than $300,000 to a company owned by Donald Trump to Jr. for autographed copies of his new, self-published book.
According to The Daily Beast, the RNC's payment — which totaled $303,892.47 — was sent to called Pursuit Venture LLC. Corporate filings in the state of Delaware indicate that the company's principal is the president's oldest son. It has also been reported that the RNC categorized the payment as "donor mementos."
Republican donors who contributed between $50 and $100 to the party's fundraising efforts will receive copies of Trump Jr.'s new book titled, Liberal Privilege, an insider with details about the arrangement revealed. It has been reported that the promotional exchange ultimately increased fundraising during the last stretch of President Donald Trump's re-election campaign.
While it is not uncommon for political groups to purchase books written by public figures as gifts for donors and party supporters, the amount paid to Trump Jr.'s company happens to be a relatively rare occurrence.
The publication reports:
But the RNC's payment to Trump Jr.'s company in October was the largest single payment—out of more than 700—that the committee has ever reported for donor "mementos" or "gifts," according to Federal Election Commission filings.
It has also been reported that the payment was more than three times the amount the RNC reportedly paid to purchase copies of Trump Jr.'s previous book, Triggered.. In addition to the amount paid out by the RNC for Trump Jr.'s new book, Pursuit Venture also received an $11,000 payment for "supporter gifts" from Rep. Matt Gaetz's (R-Fla.) reelection campaign.
Although Trump Jr.'s last book ultimately became a bestseller, bulk purchases like the ones outlined above can ultimately "aggregate sales for the book" and cause it to "become artificially inflated," according to the publication. As a result, it "can help a book's reputation by elevating it on best seller lists."
As Trump Jr.'s previous book made the New York Times bestsellers list, he faced backlash from Democratic leaders. Biden's national press secretary TJ Ducklo fired back posing the question: "Is there anything more on brand than Donald Trump Jr. trying to cash in on a book filled with disgusting lies and smears about Joe Biden?"
The RNC has made no further remarks about the payment made to Pursuit Venture.


alternet--2020-12-04--'What the hell are they doing?' Outrage as GOP tries to adjourn House with millions going hungry and

'What the hell are they doing?' Outrage as GOP tries to adjourn House with millions going hungry and COVID surging

With mass layoffs persisting at an unprecedented clip , coronavirus deaths surging , and hunger on the rise nationwide , a group of House Republicans on Thursday attempted to pass a motion to adjourn the chamber in what Democratic lawmakers denounced as an `` outrageous '' stunt by members of a party that continues to stand in the way of desperately needed economic relief .
Though the motion , introduced by House Freedom Caucus Chair Rep. Andy Biggs ( R-Ariz. ) , was ultimately defeated by the Democrat-controlled House , the attempt to adjourn was viewed as another telling example @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seriously the coronavirus pandemic and resulting economic crisis .
`` People are going hungry and they 're treating this like a game , '' Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez ( D-N.Y. ) tweeted in response to the motion , which Republicans used to complain about House rules allowing proxy voting to prevent the spread of Covid-19 on Capitol Hill .
`` Leaders do n't abandon people in their time of greatest need . ''
Rep. Eric Swalwell ( D-Calif. ) called the GOP ploy `` batty '' and noted that `` Americans are in dire @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Over the opposition of the chamber 's Republicans , House Democrats in October passed legislation that would send another stimulus check to most Americans , restore the lapsed $ 600-per-week federal unemployment boost , and provide aid to cash-strapped state and local governments .
The Republican-controlled Senate , led by Majority Leader Mitch McConnell ( R-Ky. ) , has refused to consider the measure .
`` More people died yesterday from Covid-19 than any day since , '' Swalwell said Thursday .
`` We have work to do .
Yet , the House @ @ @ @ @ @ @ What the hell are they doing ? ''
`` Is n't this a procedural stunt you ask ?
Sure , '' Swalwell continued .
`` What makes it outrageous is a single vote now takes well over an hour to occur with Covid-19 restrictions in place .
Then the chamber must be sanitized .
These are final days of Congress .
It 's like pulling the fire alarm during a final exam . ''
Other Democratic members voiced similar outrage over the motion , introduced as U.S. coronavirus hospitalizations soared to a record @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a million Americans filed jobless claims last week , a blaring signal that the economic crisis is nowhere near over .
The House GOP 's procedural maneuver came as coronavirus relief negotiations showed signs of life for the first time in weeks , with a possible government shutdown just seven days away and the end of the year rapidly approaching .
Failure to approve additional Covid-19 relief before year 's end would be disastrous , economists have warned , particularly given that more than 13 million Americans are set to lose unemployment benefits @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 26 .
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi ( D-Calif. ) , Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer ( D-N.Y. ) , and President-elect Joe Biden have expressed support for using a $ 908 billion bipartisan compromise proposal unveiled earlier this week as a framework for talks going forward , while acknowledging that the plan—which lacks direct payments and provides just $ 300 per week in additional unemployment benefits—is nowhere near sufficient .
`` The McConnell Senate enabled the Trump administration 's mismanagement of the health crisis and still insists on doing as little as possible @ @ @ @ @ @ @ —Jeremy Funk , Accountable.US '' Of course , we and others will offer improvements , but the need to act is immediate and we believe that with good-faith negotiations we could come to an agreement , '' Pelosi and Schumer said in a joint statement Wednesday .
`` In light of the urgency of meeting the needs of the American people and the hope that the vaccine presents , it 's time for Leader McConnell to sit down with Democrats to finally begin a true , bipartisan effort to meet the needs of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spoke by phone Thursday afternoon for the first time since the presidential election and , according to the Kentucky Republican , had a `` good conversation '' about coronavirus relief and an end-of-year spending package to avert a government shutdown .
`` Compromise is within reach , '' McConnell said in a floor speech Thursday .
`` We know where we agree .
We can do this . ''
The Republican leader 's remarks came just days after he circulated a relief proposal of his own that was immediately dismissed as a non-starter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , who lambasted the plan 's sweeping liability shield for corporations and exclusion of additional weekly unemployment benefits .
Jeremy Funk , spokesperson for government watchdog group Accountable.US , slammed McConnell for `` shilling for special interests '' instead of offering real relief to the tens of millions of Americans struggling to afford basic necessities and possibly facing eviction in the near future .
`` The McConnell Senate enabled the Trump administration 's mismanagement of the health crisis and still insists on doing as little as possible to contain the economic fallout , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ big idea of giving corporations permission to mistreat workers with impunity during a pandemic and giving more handouts to coal CEOs means absolutely nothing to the millions of families who face hunger and homelessness in the Trump recession . ''

With mass layoffs persisting at an unprecedented clip, coronavirus deaths surging, and hunger on the rise nationwide, a group of House Republicans on Thursday attempted to pass a motion to adjourn the chamber in what Democratic lawmakers denounced as an "outrageous" stunt by members of a party that continues to stand in the way of desperately needed economic relief.
Though the motion, introduced by House Freedom Caucus Chair Rep. Andy Biggs (R-Ariz.), was ultimately defeated by the Democrat-controlled House, the attempt to adjourn was viewed as another telling example of the GOP's refusal to take seriously the coronavirus pandemic and resulting economic crisis.
"People are going hungry and they're treating this like a game," Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) tweeted in response to the motion, which Republicans used to complain about House rules allowing proxy voting to prevent the spread of Covid-19 on Capitol Hill. "Leaders don't abandon people in their time of greatest need."
Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.) called the GOP ploy "batty" and noted that "Americans are in dire need of food and paychecks."
Over the opposition of the chamber's Republicans, House Democrats in October passed legislation that would send another stimulus check to most Americans, restore the lapsed $600-per-week federal unemployment boost, and provide aid to cash-strapped state and local governments. The Republican-controlled Senate, led by Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), has refused to consider the measure.
"More people died yesterday from Covid-19 than any day since," Swalwell said Thursday. "We have work to do. Yet, the House GOP just motioned to adjourn Congress. What the hell are they doing?"
"Isn't this a procedural stunt you ask? Sure," Swalwell continued. "What makes it outrageous is a single vote now takes well over an hour to occur with Covid-19 restrictions in place. Then the chamber must be sanitized. These are final days of Congress. It's like pulling the fire alarm during a final exam."
Other Democratic members voiced similar outrage over the motion, introduced as U.S. coronavirus hospitalizations soared to a record high and the Labor Department reported that a million Americans filed jobless claims last week, a blaring signal that the economic crisis is nowhere near over.
The House GOP's procedural maneuver came as coronavirus relief negotiations showed signs of life for the first time in weeks, with a possible government shutdown just seven days away and the end of the year rapidly approaching. Failure to approve additional Covid-19 relief before year's end would be disastrous, economists have warned, particularly given that more than 13 million Americans are set to lose unemployment benefits as emergency federal programs expire on December 26.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), and President-elect Joe Biden have expressed support for using a $908 billion bipartisan compromise proposal unveiled earlier this week as a framework for talks going forward, while acknowledging that the plan—which lacks direct payments and provides just $300 per week in additional unemployment benefits—is nowhere near sufficient.
"The McConnell Senate enabled the Trump administration's mismanagement of the health crisis and still insists on doing as little as possible to contain the economic fallout."
—Jeremy Funk, Accountable.US
"Of course, we and others will offer improvements, but the need to act is immediate and we believe that with good-faith negotiations we could come to an agreement," Pelosi and Schumer said in a joint statement Wednesday. "In light of the urgency of meeting the needs of the American people and the hope that the vaccine presents, it's time for Leader McConnell to sit down with Democrats to finally begin a true, bipartisan effort to meet the needs of the country."
McConnell and Pelosi spoke by phone Thursday afternoon for the first time since the presidential election and, according to the Kentucky Republican, had a "good conversation" about coronavirus relief and an end-of-year spending package to avert a government shutdown.
"Compromise is within reach," McConnell said in a floor speech Thursday. "We know where we agree. We can do this."
The Republican leader's remarks came just days after he circulated a relief proposal of his own that was immediately dismissed as a non-starter by many Senate Democrats and progressive critics, who lambasted the plan's sweeping liability shield for corporations and exclusion of additional weekly unemployment benefits.
Jeremy Funk, spokesperson for government watchdog group Accountable.US, slammed McConnell for "shilling for special interests" instead of offering real relief to the tens of millions of Americans struggling to afford basic necessities and possibly facing eviction in the near future.
"The McConnell Senate enabled the Trump administration's mismanagement of the health crisis and still insists on doing as little as possible to contain the economic fallout," said Funk. "McConnell's big idea of giving corporations permission to mistreat workers with impunity during a pandemic and giving more handouts to coal CEOs means absolutely nothing to the millions of families who face hunger and homelessness in the Trump recession."


alternet--2020-12-04--How centuries of inequality in the America laid the groundwork for 2020 devastation

As the United States sets new records for COVID-19 deaths and hospitalizations , we speak with one of the world @ @ @ @ @ diseases , Dr. Paul Farmer , who says the devastating death toll in the U.S. @ @ @ @ @ public health and centuries of social inequality .
`` All the social pathologies of our @ @ @ @ @ during epidemics , '' says Dr. Farmer , a professor of medicine at Harvard University @ @ @ @ @ and social medicine at Harvard Medical School , and co-founder and chief strategist of Partners @ @ @

Understand the importance of honest news ?
So do we.
The past year has been the most arduous of our lives. The Covid-19 pandemic continues to be catastrophic not only to our health - mental and physical - but also to the stability of millions of people. For all of us independent news organizations, it’s no exception.
We’ve covered everything thrown at us this past year and will continue to do so with your support. We’ve always understood the importance of calling out corruption, regardless of political affiliation.
We need your support in this difficult time. Every reader contribution, no matter the amount, makes a difference in allowing our newsroom to bring you the stories that matter, at a time when being informed is more important than ever. Invest with us.
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alternet--2020-12-04--Trump is promoting violence during this lame duck period — and the GOP is ‘fine’ with it: conservati

Trump is promoting violence during this lame duck period — and the GOP is ‘fine’ with it: conservative

Trumpism was rejected by most Americans in the 2020 presidential election , which found President-elect Joe Biden winning 306 electoral votes , flipping five battleground states that President Donald Trump won in 2016 ( Pennsylvania , Michigan , Wisconsin , Arizona and Georgia ) and defeating the president by more than 6 million in the popular vote .
But Trump has refused to acknowledge Biden as president-elect , firing up his MAGA base with nonsense claims of widespread voter fraud .
Never Trump conservative and CNN pundit Amanda Carpenter , in an article published by The Bulwark on December 4 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and instability during this lame duck period — and she slams all the Republicans who are `` fine '' with it .
`` Why are n't more Republicans standing up and speaking out about Donald Trump 's reprehensible acts ?
, '' Carpenter writes .
`` It 's the eternal question of the Trump era and one that 's been renewed this week after GOP officials in Georgia made public pleas to Republicans to rein in the president 's dangerous election conspiracies .
After four long years , it 's finally time to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ silence and say what the real answer is , which is almost too scary to admit .
They 're fine with it .
All of it .
Really . ''
Carpenter , who formerly served as Sen. Ted Cruz ' communications director and was a speechwriter for Republican ex-Sen. Jim DeMint ( now president of the Heritage Foundation ) , goes on to describe `` the grim circumstances of our current reality . ''
`` The overwhelming majority of Republicans voted for Trump in 2020 — even after witnessing his escalating threats of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ system , '' Carpenter laments .
`` Take your pick of the worst events of the Trump presidency .
Charlottesville , Lafayette Square , kids in cages , Trump 's egging on of militiamen , pipe bombers , mass shooters and vigilantes .
None of it led to a significant break between Trump and elected Republicans . ''
According to Carpenter , `` The only times we 've heard real , vigorous pushback against Trump have been when Republicans found themselves suffering the unpleasant consequences of their party 's decision to cultivate a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ she cites recent events in Georgia as a disturbing example .
Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger , a right-wing Republican , has been receiving death threats from MAGA extremists for acknowledging Biden as president-elect and saying that widespread voter fraud did not occur in the Peach State as Trump and far-right attorneys like Sidney Powell and Lin Wood have been claiming .
Trump has denounced Raffensperger as `` an enemy of the people . ''
Carpenter stresses that Raffensperger was not a Never Trumper — he voted for Trump `` but did @ @ @ @ @ @ @ into his life . ''
And she points out that elections administrator Gabriel Sterling , another Republican , has `` blasted Trump campaign lawyer and former U.S. Attorney Joe diGenova for calling for the execution of Chris Krebs , the federal elections cybersecurity chief recently fired by Trump . ''
But the problem with Raffensperger , Sterling and other Republicans , Carpenter argues , is that they were enabling Trumpism before they were personally affected by it .
`` What are a few death threats , even among supposed GOP friends , when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ power ?
, '' Carpenter writes .
`` They 're fine with it .
Deep down , Sterling is too .
Just as long as it is n't affecting him . ''

Trumpism was rejected by most Americans in the 2020 presidential election, which found President-elect Joe Biden winning 306 electoral votes, flipping five battleground states that President Donald Trump won in 2016 (Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wisconsin, Arizona and Georgia) and defeating the president by more than 6 million in the popular vote. But Trump has refused to acknowledge Biden as president-elect, firing up his MAGA base with nonsense claims of widespread voter fraud. Never Trump conservative and CNN pundit Amanda Carpenter, in an article published by The Bulwark on December 4, warns that Trump is promoting violence and instability during this lame duck period — and she slams all the Republicans who are "fine" with it.
"Why aren't more Republicans standing up and speaking out about Donald Trump's reprehensible acts?," Carpenter writes. "It's the eternal question of the Trump era and one that's been renewed this week after GOP officials in Georgia made public pleas to Republicans to rein in the president's dangerous election conspiracies. After four long years, it's finally time to stop parsing the motivations behind their collective silence and say what the real answer is, which is almost too scary to admit. They're fine with it. All of it. Really."
Carpenter, who formerly served as Sen. Ted Cruz' communications director and was a speechwriter for Republican ex-Sen. Jim DeMint (now president of the Heritage Foundation), goes on to describe "the grim circumstances of our current reality."
"The overwhelming majority of Republicans voted for Trump in 2020 — even after witnessing his escalating threats of violence and direct attacks on our democratic system," Carpenter laments. "Take your pick of the worst events of the Trump presidency. Charlottesville, Lafayette Square, kids in cages, Trump's egging on of militiamen, pipe bombers, mass shooters and vigilantes. None of it led to a significant break between Trump and elected Republicans."
According to Carpenter, "The only times we've heard real, vigorous pushback against Trump have been when Republicans found themselves suffering the unpleasant consequences of their party's decision to cultivate a rabid, unhinged base." And she cites recent events in Georgia as a disturbing example.
Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, a right-wing Republican, has been receiving death threats from MAGA extremists for acknowledging Biden as president-elect and saying that widespread voter fraud did not occur in the Peach State as Trump and far-right attorneys like Sidney Powell and Lin Wood have been claiming. Trump has denounced Raffensperger as "an enemy of the people."
Carpenter stresses that Raffensperger was not a Never Trumper — he voted for Trump "but didn't like it when Trumpism collided directly into his life." And she points out that elections administrator Gabriel Sterling, another Republican, has "blasted Trump campaign lawyer and former U.S. Attorney Joe diGenova for calling for the execution of Chris Krebs, the federal elections cybersecurity chief recently fired by Trump."
But the problem with Raffensperger, Sterling and other Republicans, Carpenter argues, is that they were enabling Trumpism before they were personally affected by it.
"What are a few death threats, even among supposed GOP friends, when it comes to retaining and reclaiming political power?," Carpenter writes. "They're fine with it. Deep down, Sterling is too. Just as long as it isn't affecting him."


alternet--2020-12-04--Trump's possible 2024 presidential bid could leave the GOP hanging in the balance

President Donald Trump may be leaving the White House in January but he may be an intimidating presence for the Republican Party for years to come .
In the near future , the 2024 presidential election appears to be the next looming problem for Republican leaders and lawmaker , according to Politico .
Since Election Day , Trump has waged war against any Republican who refuses to align with his arguments questioning the legitimacy of the presidential election which leaves many officials , lawmakers and wealthy donors in fear of possible repercussions that could arise when the next presidential run @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is n't the only problem .
Reports have already suggested that Trump is mulling over kicking off his next presidential bid during a counterprogram that will likely take place the week of President-elect Joe Biden 's inauguration , according to two people with insight on the president 's conversations .
The publication also reports that the president is also considering the timing of his announcement to align with the upcoming Georgia runoff in an effort to increase voter turnout .
Trump 's hold on his `` ultra-loyal base '' and his defining role @ @ @ @ @ @ @ MAGA ) movement could also determine the future of the Republican Party , which could make it difficult for other lawmakers who aspire to run for the presidency .
Without Trump , future Republican candidates could be fighting an uphill battle to connect with the party 's voter base .
Jon Thompson , a former aide for the president who parted ways with the Trump reelection campaign months ago , recently weighed in on the weight of trump 's presence .
`` If he starts holding grudges against sitting officeholders and donors who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , it is going to put Republicans in a bind , '' said Thompson .
The publication warns also warns that `` it could be a taxing few years for Republicans , with GOP institutions that are expected to remain neutral having to grapple with Trump 's grip on millions of voters , not to mention the insults he hurls at those who fail the loyalty tests . ''

President Donald Trump may be leaving the White House in January but he may be an intimidating presence for the Republican Party for years to come. In the near future, the 2024 presidential election appears to be the next looming problem for Republican leaders and lawmaker, according to Politico.
Since Election Day, Trump has waged war against any Republican who refuses to align with his arguments questioning the legitimacy of the presidential election which leaves many officials, lawmakers and wealthy donors in fear of possible repercussions that could arise when the next presidential run occurs. However, the next election isn't the only problem.
Reports have already suggested that Trump is mulling over kicking off his next presidential bid during a counterprogram that will likely take place the week of President-elect Joe Biden's inauguration, according to two people with insight on the president's conversations.
The publication also reports that the president is also considering the timing of his announcement to align with the upcoming Georgia runoff in an effort to increase voter turnout. Trump's hold on his "ultra-loyal base" and his defining role in the Make America Great Again (MAGA) movement could also determine the future of the Republican Party, which could make it difficult for other lawmakers who aspire to run for the presidency.
Without Trump, future Republican candidates could be fighting an uphill battle to connect with the party's voter base. Jon Thompson, a former aide for the president who parted ways with the Trump reelection campaign months ago, recently weighed in on the weight of trump's presence.
"If he starts holding grudges against sitting officeholders and donors who decline to throw their support behind him, it is going to put Republicans in a bind," said Thompson.
The publication warns also warns that "it could be a taxing few years for Republicans, with GOP institutions that are expected to remain neutral having to grapple with Trump's grip on millions of voters, not to mention the insults he hurls at those who fail the loyalty tests."


alternet--2020-12-04--Rep. Ocasio-Cortez blows up deceitful right-wing Project Veritas for taking more than $500,000 in PP

Rep. Ocasio-Cortez blows up deceitful right-wing Project Veritas for taking more than $500,000 in PPP funds

Racial disparities in society are only accentuated by emergencies like the COVID-19 pandemic .
In fact , all inequities in our society have just been exposed that much more by the current crisis .
Our system is a capitalist one that has relied on racism and concentration of capital and wealth to control a massive population of have nots .
One of the symptoms of this racism is that small businesses owned by Black and Latino Americans have been frozen out of an already rigged process of COVID-19 stimulus relief .
This is due in part to the fact that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have a considerably harder time getting loans from banks .
Not having a relationship with a bank makes getting Paycheck Protection Program ( PPP ) stimulus money considerably harder and as a result , while small businesses in general have been mostly kept out of the Republican , big business-focused package , it has been much harder on businesses of color .
( Disclosure : Kos Media received a Paycheck Protection Program loan . )
Already undercapitalized , Black-owned businesses were n't going to ask for the large amounts that other bigger small @ @ @ @ @ @ @ make bigger fees on bigger loans .
NBC News ' Olivia Solon pointed out that while fiscal conservative , anti- '' welfare '' crusaders like the fake news makers over at Project Veritas decry the big government spending of the CARES package , they did n't seem to have an issue with taking more than half a million of taxpayer money to keep their lights on .
The `` non-profit '' organization , most recently known for hyping up a completely empty and very quickly debunked election fraud `` exclusive , '' received @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to searchppp.com .
The right-wing , make-em-up investigative organization is fronted by James O'Keefe—a sort of older version of pathetic GOP fraudster Jacob Wohl .
He 's best known for hiring people to say they were sexually assaulted in order to discredit real victims of sexual assault .
It 's this kind of dirtbaggery that gets Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas ' ultra right-wing wife to present you with an award at the Trump Hotel in Washington , D.C. ( True story . )
Democratic Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez boosted this story , synthesizing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a holiday season bow .
This led to some right-wingers rubbing their tiny braincells together to attack Rep. Ocasio-Cortez for selling $ 58 `` Tax the Rich '' sweatshirts on her campaign 's website .
Unfortunately , there 's math and the small factor of paying workers living wages .
Not everything can be made for cheap in China , guys who seem to want to have a trade war with China but do n't understand how costs work .

Racial disparities in society are only accentuated by emergencies like the COVID-19 pandemic. In fact, all inequities in our society have just been exposed that much more by the current crisis. Our system is a capitalist one that has relied on racism and concentration of capital and wealth to control a massive population of have nots. One of the symptoms of this racism is that small businesses owned by Black and Latino Americans have been frozen out of an already rigged process of COVID-19 stimulus relief. This is due in part to the fact that historically and presently, people of color have a considerably harder time getting loans from banks.
Not having a relationship with a bank makes getting Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) stimulus money considerably harder and as a result, while small businesses in general have been mostly kept out of the Republican, big business-focused package, it has been much harder on businesses of color. (Disclosure: Kos Media received a Paycheck Protection Program loan.) Already undercapitalized, Black-owned businesses weren't going to ask for the large amounts that other bigger small businesses were going to ask for—and banks make bigger fees on bigger loans. NBC News' Olivia Solon pointed out that while fiscal conservative, anti-"welfare" crusaders like the fake news makers over at Project Veritas decry the big government spending of the CARES package, they didn't seem to have an issue with taking more than half a million of taxpayer money to keep their lights on.
The "non-profit" organization, most recently known for hyping up a completely empty and very quickly debunked election fraud "exclusive," received $558,900 in PPP stimulus, according to searchppp.com. The right-wing, make-em-up investigative organization is fronted by James O'Keefe—a sort of older version of pathetic GOP fraudster Jacob Wohl. He's best known for hiring people to say they were sexually assaulted in order to discredit real victims of sexual assault. It's this kind of dirtbaggery that gets Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas' ultra right-wing wife to present you with an award at the Trump Hotel in Washington, D.C. (True story.)
Black-owned small businesses were widely shut out from accessing PPP loans, yet right-wing disinfo org PV took half a million in public money while decrying direct federal assistance as “radical socialism."
Republicanism in a nutshell.
(Also they're based in Mamaroneck?! 👀) https://t.co/JARqvhgBmD
— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) December 3, 2020
Democratic Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez boosted this story, synthesizing the racism and hypocrisy wrapped up in a holiday season bow.
This led to some right-wingers rubbing their tiny braincells together to attack Rep. Ocasio-Cortez for selling $58 "Tax the Rich" sweatshirts on her campaign's website. Unfortunately, there's math and the small factor of paying workers living wages. Not everything can be made for cheap in China, guys who seem to want to have a trade war with China but don't understand how costs work.
Republicans are freaking out bc we don't use slave-wage labor for merch that funds grassroots organizing.
But what's the difference between Trump's merch and ours?
Ours is made in the US. 🇺🇸
(& for GOP who joke that we shld give 👕 for free, we actually do - just volunteer 😉) https://t.co/35DnbFYQyC
— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) December 3, 2020


alternet--2020-12-04--WATCH: Legal expert explains why a Donald Trump self-pardon wouldn't hold up in court

A fascinating scene unfolded Thursday night on MSNBC 's `` The Last Word '' as host Lawrence O'Donnell had one of his assumptions about the Constitution tested by one of America 's leading constitutional law experts .
O'Donnell explained why he believed the president probably has the power to self-pardon , but had his view put to the test by Harvard Law Prof. Laurence Tribe .
Prof .
Tribe noted that Article 3 , Section 2 of the Constitution says the president `` shall have power to grant reprieves and pardons for offenses against the United States , except in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ noted the very next section says the president `` shall take care that the laws be faithfully executed . ''
`` It does n't say `` except the criminal laws . ''
It does n't say 'except when he chooses to violate the criminal laws . '
Now , if it were true , as Donald Trump said in the little segment you played , that the president has the absolute power to grant himself a power of pardon , to grant himself a pardon -- which would be an odd way for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you grant things to other people -- if he had the absolute power to grant himself a pardon , if he knew that throughout his presidency , and if all presidents knew it , what would follow is that presidents do not have to follow the law , '' Tribe explained .
`` They ca n't be , according to the Justice Department , indicted while they 're in office , and if at any time they could pardon themselves ... if that were the case then the president would not be below @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it . ''
`` There would be no limit .
Every president would know from the very moment -- puts his hand on that Bible and takes the oath -- that whatever he does , or she does , during the four-year term of that presidency , could not be criminally prosecuted , either during the presidency or ever in the future because the pardon would cover everything that president had done , '' Tribe explained .
`` Prof. Laurence Tribe , as far as I 'm concerned , the case is now @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ' On this show , the president ca n't pardon himself , '' O'Donnell said at the end of the segment .
`` We 'll find out next year if the Supreme Court has to make a decision about that . ''

A fascinating scene unfolded Thursday night on MSNBC's "The Last Word" as host Lawrence O'Donnell had one of his assumptions about the Constitution tested by one of America's leading constitutional law experts.
O'Donnell explained why he believed the president probably has the power to self-pardon, but had his view put to the test by Harvard Law Prof. Laurence Tribe.
Prof. Tribe noted that Article 3, Section 2 of the Constitution says the president "shall have power to grant reprieves and pardons for offenses against the United States, except in cases of impeachment." But Tribe noted the very next section says the president "shall take care that the laws be faithfully executed."
Tribe explained the significance of Article 2, Section 3.
"It doesn't say "except the criminal laws." It doesn't say 'except when he chooses to violate the criminal laws.' Now, if it were true, as Donald Trump said in the little segment you played, that the president has the absolute power to grant himself a power of pardon, to grant himself a pardon -- which would be an odd way for the framers to have put it, you grant things to other people -- if he had the absolute power to grant himself a pardon, if he knew that throughout his presidency, and if all presidents knew it, what would follow is that presidents do not have to follow the law," Tribe explained. "They can't be, according to the Justice Department, indicted while they're in office, and if at any time they could pardon themselves...if that were the case then the president would not be below the law, he'd be above it."
"There would be no limit. Every president would know from the very moment -- puts his hand on that Bible and takes the oath -- that whatever he does, or she does, during the four-year term of that presidency, could not be criminally prosecuted, either during the presidency or ever in the future because the pardon would cover everything that president had done," Tribe explained.
"Prof. Laurence Tribe, as far as I'm concerned, the case is now settled here at 'The Last Word.' On this show, the president can't pardon himself," O'Donnell said at the end of the segment. "We'll find out next year if the Supreme Court has to make a decision about that."
Watch:


alternet--2020-12-04--Americans are suffering a hidden ‘depression’ and economic hell in 2020 — and it could get even wors

Americans are suffering a hidden ‘depression’ and economic hell in 2020 — and it could get even worse: report

Even in the worst of economic times , some Americans will continue to prosper — for example , the corporatists who made a fortune during the Great Depression of the 1930s while millions of other Americans were out of work .
The coronavirus recession of 2020 has left parts of the U.S. economy unscathed — many online businesses are turning huge profits — while creating economic hell for others .
And the latter is the focus of an article published by Axios on December 4 .
Axios ' Dino Rabouin breaks it down when it comes to who is faring @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who is suffering economic hell .
The journalist explains , `` Big business , investors and the wealthy are thriving .
But restaurant and bar employees , hotel and airline staff and other service workers are in a pretty hopeless situation right now .
A 'depression ' is an apt description of what they 're facing — especially folks in rural and middle America who are parents . ''
Rabouin adds , `` 700,000 Americans have been filing unemployment insurance claims every week for 37 weeks — nine months .
Plus , 20 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unemployment rolls .
That 's unheard of , and incredibly bad . ''
The coronavirus pandemic is the world 's deadliest health crisis since the so-called `` Spanish flu '' pandemic of 1918/1919 .
According to Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore , COVID-19 has killed more than 1.5 people worldwide and over 276,000 in the United States .
And Dr. Anthony Fauci , expert immunologist , is warning that the worst is yet to come as the U.S. moves from late autumn into early winter .
From a business and economic standpoint , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 1918/1919 pandemic — there was no such thing as the `` digital economy '' when Woodrow Wilson was president .
But during the 2020 pandemic , the U.S. has digital-oriented workers who have the ability to earn a great living without leaving home and workers who have to physically go their brick-and-mortar jobs — and those brick-and-mortar jobs might have ceased to exist because of the pandemic .
`` President-elect Biden faces a fragile recovery that could easily fall apart , as the economy remains in worse shape than most people think , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ matters : there is a recovery happening , but it 's helping some people immensely and others not at all .
And it 's that second part that poses a massive risk to the Biden-Harris Administration 's chance of success . ''
In November , the United States ' official unemployment rate was 6.7 % , according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics .
But one thing unemployment figures do n't reflect , as Rabouin points out , is the pandemic 's effect on the gig economy — that is , freelancers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but survive through freelance gigs .
Rabouin reports , `` The official unemployment rate has been dropping , but that 's because : ( 1 ) It never really counted gig economy workers well in the first place .
( 2 ) Its data collection abilities have been severely crimped by the pandemic .
( 3 ) Lots of people are falling out of the labor force — not working and not looking .
What 's next : 13.4 million people are on pandemic unemployment programs that expire at the end of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ . ''

Even in the worst of economic times, some Americans will continue to prosper — for example, the corporatists who made a fortune during the Great Depression of the 1930s while millions of other Americans were out of work. The coronavirus recession of 2020 has left parts of the U.S. economy unscathed — many online businesses are turning huge profits — while creating economic hell for others. And the latter is the focus of an article published by Axios on December 4.
Axios' Dino Rabouin breaks it down when it comes to who is faring well economically during the coronavirus recession and who is suffering economic hell. The journalist explains, "Big business, investors and the wealthy are thriving. But restaurant and bar employees, hotel and airline staff and other service workers are in a pretty hopeless situation right now. A 'depression' is an apt description of what they're facing — especially folks in rural and middle America who are parents."
Rabouin adds, "700,000 Americans have been filing unemployment insurance claims every week for 37 weeks — nine months. Plus, 20 million people are still on the pre-pandemic unemployment rolls. That's unheard of, and incredibly bad."
The coronavirus pandemic is the world's deadliest health crisis since the so-called "Spanish flu" pandemic of 1918/1919. According to Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, COVID-19 has killed more than 1.5 people worldwide and over 276,000 in the United States. And Dr. Anthony Fauci, expert immunologist, is warning that the worst is yet to come as the U.S. moves from late autumn into early winter.
From a business and economic standpoint, the U.S. was much different during the 1918/1919 pandemic — there was no such thing as the "digital economy" when Woodrow Wilson was president. But during the 2020 pandemic, the U.S. has digital-oriented workers who have the ability to earn a great living without leaving home and workers who have to physically go their brick-and-mortar jobs — and those brick-and-mortar jobs might have ceased to exist because of the pandemic.
"President-elect Biden faces a fragile recovery that could easily fall apart, as the economy remains in worse shape than most people think," Rabouin observes. "Why it matters: there is a recovery happening, but it's helping some people immensely and others not at all. And it's that second part that poses a massive risk to the Biden-Harris Administration's chance of success."
In November, the United States' official unemployment rate was 6.7%, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. But one thing unemployment figures don't reflect, as Rabouin points out, is the pandemic's effect on the gig economy — that is, freelancers who don't have a full-time job, but survive through freelance gigs.
Rabouin reports, "The official unemployment rate has been dropping, but that's because: (1) It never really counted gig economy workers well in the first place. (2) Its data collection abilities have been severely crimped by the pandemic. (3) Lots of people are falling out of the labor force — not working and not looking. What's next: 13.4 million people are on pandemic unemployment programs that expire at the end of the year — 27 days from now."


alternet--2020-12-05--Republicans taunted Gov. Cuomo on Twitter while attending NJ Christmas party with Matt Gaetz

The state of New York is now battling a violent second wave of coronavirus but despite of taking the pandemic seriously , members of the Republican Party still opted to gather for the New York Young Republican Club 's annual Christmas gala .
This year , the gathering was held at an undisclosed location in New Jersey on Thursday , Dec. 3 , and some Republicans opted to use that to their advantage when they shared photos from the event via Twitter .
Multiple posts from those who attended the gala taunted New York Gov .
Andrew Cuomo ( D @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Rep. Matt Gaetz ( R-Fla. ) retweeted two of the mocking posts , according to Newsweek .
The publication noted that one of the tweets read , `` Hey @ NYGovCuomo , I 'm at the @ NYYRC with @ mattgaetz .
Come and get me '' while another also included the same type of taunting dialogue .
The second tweet Gaetz retweeted read , `` Catch us if you can , Commie Cuomo .
The show will always go on for patriots ... '' Here is one photo from the event now @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were deleted shortly after , it did not stop Twitter users from condemning Gaetz and his fellow Republicans ' actions .
The publication reports Twitter users fired back at the Republican Congressman 's retweets with photos of graphs showing the alarming coronavirus statistics including the upticks in daily cases , hospitalizations and the grim , rising death toll .
Dr. Elisa Braver , an epidemiologist and adjunct professor at the University of Maryland , also chimed in with a warned that `` every attendee should assume they may have been exposed to # @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to either quarantine and get tested .
`` Doctors and nurses are overwhelmed with COVID19 hospitalizations , '' she said .
`` Stop the spread . ''
The latest details come just days after AlterNet 's initial report about former Alaska Gov .
Sarah Palin ( R ) headlining the event despite the coronavirus pandemic .
At the time , the event , which Club president Gavin Wax confirmed had `` sold out , '' was set to be held at the The Caldwell Factory in New York .
But just days before @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from the gala 's EventBrite page and the venue details were made private .

The state of New York is now battling a violent second wave of coronavirus but despite of taking the pandemic seriously, members of the Republican Party still opted to gather for the New York Young Republican Club's annual Christmas gala.
This year, the gathering was held at an undisclosed location in New Jersey on Thursday, Dec. 3, and some Republicans opted to use that to their advantage when they shared photos from the event via Twitter. Multiple posts from those who attended the gala taunted New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D). In fact, gala attendant Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) retweeted two of the mocking posts, according to Newsweek.
The publication noted that one of the tweets read, "Hey @NYGovCuomo, I'm at the @NYYRC with @mattgaetz. Come and get me" while another also included the same type of taunting dialogue. The second tweet Gaetz retweeted read, "Catch us if you can, Commie Cuomo. The show will always go on for patriots..."
Here is one photo from the event now circulating on Twitter:
Probably Matt Gaetz'
Hookers galore covid Christmas Party pic.twitter.com/Vfwt7fVoRw
— Christian Latino (@tostig_alvin) December 4, 2020
Although the tweets were deleted shortly after, it did not stop Twitter users from condemning Gaetz and his fellow Republicans' actions. The publication reports Twitter users fired back at the Republican Congressman's retweets with photos of graphs showing the alarming coronavirus statistics including the upticks in daily cases, hospitalizations and the grim, rising death toll.
Dr. Elisa Braver, an epidemiologist and adjunct professor at the University of Maryland, also chimed in with a warned that "every attendee should assume they may have been exposed to #COVID19" and urged those who attend to either quarantine and get tested. "Doctors and nurses are overwhelmed with COVID19 hospitalizations," she said. "Stop the spread."
The latest details come just days after AlterNet's initial report about former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin (R) headlining the event despite the coronavirus pandemic. At the time, the event, which Club president Gavin Wax confirmed had "sold out," was set to be held at the The Caldwell Factory in New York. But just days before the event, that location was removed from the gala's EventBrite page and the venue details were made private.


alternet--2020-12-05--Bernie Sanders mocks claims alleging the 'Deep State' sabotaged his presidential campaign

Sen. Bernie Sanders ' ( I-Vt. ) fired back at President Donald Trump 's continued attempts to undermine the presidential election results with an inference about the previous claims of Russian interference into his own presidential campaign .
On Thursday , Dec. 3 , Sanders tweeted his concerns about Trump 's ongoing actions as he criticized the president 's ploy to overturn the election .
`` Trump 's rants about a `` fraudulent election '' are not a joke .
They are the most significant attack against our democracy in history .
If the election system 's `` rigged , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , '' if federal officials are part of a `` deep state , '' who can you trust ?
You got it .
A dictator . ''
Now , some have rehashed claims about the Democratic establishment and mainstream media outlets being controlled by the so-called `` Deep State . ''
Writer Glenn Greenwald pushed the claim about the `` Deep State '' looming over the United States government despite President Donald Trump being the one in office with ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin .
That a Deep State lurks within and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in establishment liberal circles as if it is some new right-wing conspiratorial concoction rather than what it is : a long-standing reality recognized long before Trump by political science scholarship , left-wing foreign policy critiques , and mainstream journalism .
Greenwald also claimed the Trump era has led to the United States alternating `` between vehemently denying the existence of this well-documented Deep State to celebrating the Deep State 's noble anti-Trump subversions . ''
The writer appeared to project the Republicans ' shortcomings on to the Democratic Party claiming the political party @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who recognizes their undeniable reality . ''
It is now standard Democratic Party agitprop to ridicule anyone who recognizes their undeniable reality and , for whatever reasons , Sanders continues to dutifully recite from that script even now that the transition to Biden/Harris is well underway .
However , its no secret that Trump has lambasted everyone , including members of his own political party , who disagree with his baseless claims about winning the presidential election .
The publication goes on to criticize President-elect Joe Biden and his incoming administration based on @ @ @ @ @ @ @

Sen. Bernie Sanders' (I-Vt.) fired back at President Donald Trump's continued attempts to undermine the presidential election results with an inference about the previous claims of Russian interference into his own presidential campaign.
On Thursday, Dec. 3, Sanders tweeted his concerns about Trump's ongoing actions as he criticized the president's ploy to overturn the election.
"Trump's rants about a "fraudulent election" are not a joke. They are the most significant attack against our democracy in history. If the election system's "rigged," if the media's "fake," if federal officials are part of a "deep state," who can you trust? You got it. A dictator."
Now, some have rehashed claims about the Democratic establishment and mainstream media outlets being controlled by the so-called "Deep State." Writer Glenn Greenwald pushed the claim about the "Deep State" looming over the United States government despite President Donald Trump being the one in office with ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin.
That a Deep State lurks within and over the U.S. Government is now treated in establishment liberal circles as if it is some new right-wing conspiratorial concoction rather than what it is: a long-standing reality recognized long before Trump by political science scholarship, left-wing foreign policy critiques, and mainstream journalism.
Greenwald also claimed the Trump era has led to the United States alternating "between vehemently denying the existence of this well-documented Deep State to celebrating the Deep State's noble anti-Trump subversions."
The writer appeared to project the Republicans' shortcomings on to the Democratic Party claiming the political party has a tendency to "ridicule anyone who recognizes their undeniable reality."
It is now standard Democratic Party agitprop to ridicule anyone who recognizes their undeniable reality and, for whatever reasons, Sanders continues to dutifully recite from that script even now that the transition to Biden/Harris is well underway.
However, its no secret that Trump has lambasted everyone, including members of his own political party, who disagree with his baseless claims about winning the presidential election.
The publication goes on to criticize President-elect Joe Biden and his incoming administration based on the cabinet members Biden is selecting.