powerlineblog--2020-11-06--Thoughts from the ammo line

Thoughts from the ammo line

Ammo Grrrll advises : NEVER , NEVER , NEVER GIVE UP .
She writes : Okay , friends .
It isn ’ t over yet because I haven ’ t even sung .
I was completely confident that Trump would win and I was right .
But , I “ misunderestimated ” the MASSIVE amount of cheating that had to go on to try to prevent our victory .
Can the Left pull that off in broad daylight ?
Why not ?
“ Mostly peaceful ” Antifa Democrats attempt to set fire to an apartment building with PEOPLE in it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cops or Trump supporters in broad daylight .
No consequences for looting or arson right on camera .
Why not steal votes in plain sight ?
If you can get a dolly to transport your loot out of a Walmart , why can ’ t your fellow Democrats get a flashdrive with over 20,000 votes on it – miraculously ALL , yes , ALL– for Joe “ Hairy Legs ” Biden .
The odds against that happening must be astronomical .
If the Forces of Evil prevail , we would have an Executive @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pathological liar , and influence peddler with a bad temper .
Imagine if Hunter Biden really IS the “ smartest person ” Joe knows , as he claims .
A drug addict who leaves a crack pipe and his ID in a rental car !
Genius !
On the other hand , I never figured out how to get $ 83,000 a month for nonexistent expertise in Ukrainian utilities , so how smart can I be ?
Crime Boss Joey “ Hairy Legs ” Biden chose a Vice President who is a light @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the political ranks by attaching herself in various ways to a married politician .
In addition to that stellar accomplishment , she could become the first woman President to do a spot-on impression of Butterfly McQueen in Gone With the Wind .
Though a California girl raised in Montreal , as the campaign wore on , she developed the speech pattern of a little black girl from Mississippi .
Kamala came just an inch from shrieking “ I don ’ know nuthin ’ bout birthin ’ babies , Mizz Scarlett ” in her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Kamala ’ s mother is from the highest of the high caste of Brahmins in India and she has never spoken like that in her life .
Her Mama should have named her Kamille-eon .
Kamala is a terrible Senator and , depending on how this theft in plain sight plays out , she would be the proverbial heartbeat away from the Presidency .
On the bright side , Hillary ’ s currency as a “ First Woman ” prop would be effectively ended , so we got that goin ’ for us @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hate Kamala with the white-hot heat of a thousand suns .
She probably voted for Trump just to keep her chances alive .
The Third Obama Term fizzled out with Hillary ’ s stunning failure to beat Trump .
Now the same sleazebag players would all be back there in a new Cabinet .
Okay .
So , if the win is snatched from President Trump , let us recall the inspiring words of Rachel Maddow on election night 2016 : “ You haven ’ t died and gone to Hell .
This @ @ @ @ @ @ @ perspective might be in order .
Just in case .
Because what ACTUALLY happened in Maddow ’ s version of Hell ?
Not a single harmful thing .
They can ’ t name one .
Blacks , Hispanics and women got jobs at unprecedented levels .
Anyone with any amount of money in the stock market did great .
No new wars .
Entry-level workers had their jobs protected from the invasion of migrants willing to work for even less .
A fabulous tax cut that the Democrats promise to claw back .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Black felons were given second chances .
Not a single bad thing happened to gay people .
Not a single bad thing happened to women .
Abortion rolled on undisturbed .
Birth control did not become illegal .
No , you bonnet-wearing lunatics , women were NOT thrown into some dystopian future with silly hats and dowdy clothes .
Gay black liars were not attacked by MAGA guys in 30 below zero weather .
Black race car drivers were not lynched with teeny tiny nooses .
It was all manufactured hysteria .
Many @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of mine who was smart , spoiled and dramatic , was told the grownups were going to watch a few home movies , but that it was past her bedtime .
She threw herself on the floor , sobbing , “ Oh Mother !
This is the end !
The living end !
” It became legend in our family and was invoked often for a good laugh .
Let ’ s avoid those kind of histrionics .
We won ’ t knit vagina hats or clog up freeways , blocking traffic .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ buildings , pulling innocent truck drivers from cabs to beat them half to death , or looting Targets .
Or going topless to pretend to “ protest ” whatever , but really just to advertise , “ Hey , look at my impressive tatas !
” That is not our way .
But we will certainly resist the Left by any means necessary .
More importantly , let us remember that life is so much more than politics .
We have faith , family , and friends .
Most leftists have only misery @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Maybe the occasional pet guppy or ferret .
They don ’ t even have real friends , just co-conspirators .
ESPN racist ninny Jemele Hill Twittted out that she had just unfriended ALL her white “ friends ” because white people were to blame for reelecting Trump .
“ That ’ s on YOU , white people ” she texted .
Speaking for all white people , thank you for the credit , and confidence that Bad Orange Man will be reelected , but thousands of black and brown people helped too .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ out there in public ?
Collective punishment based on skin color for people who THOUGHT they were her “ friends ” ?
On the plus side , Joe Biden has promised to singlehandedly stop Wuhan Flu when every head of state has failed , no matter the approach .
AND cure cancer in his spare time .
Also , in the Kamala version of Paradise , though we are endowed with different talents , aversion to risk , intelligence , and most important , EFFORT , we must all end up “ in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Left cheats its way into the White House , at LEAST this will finally be the chance for a 4 ’ 11 ” elderly woman to be in the NBA !
I must hie me to a tattoo artist at once just in case .
And get in touch with Dennis Rodman for advice on a hiphop hairdo .

Ammo Grrrll advises: NEVER, NEVER, NEVER GIVE UP. She writes:
Okay, friends. It isn’t over yet because I haven’t even sung. I was completely confident that Trump would win and I was right. But, I “misunderestimated” the MASSIVE amount of cheating that had to go on to try to prevent our victory.
Can the Left pull that off in broad daylight? Why not? “Mostly peaceful” Antifa Democrats attempt to set fire to an apartment building with PEOPLE in it. No arrests. No problem attacking cops or Trump supporters in broad daylight. No consequences for looting or arson right on camera. Why not steal votes in plain sight? If you can get a dolly to transport your loot out of a Walmart, why can’t your fellow Democrats get a flashdrive with over 20,000 votes on it – miraculously ALL, yes, ALL– for Joe “Hairy Legs” Biden. The odds against that happening must be astronomical.
If the Forces of Evil prevail, we would have an Executive Branch run by a senile kleptocrat, pathological liar, and influence peddler with a bad temper. Imagine if Hunter Biden really IS the “smartest person” Joe knows, as he claims. A drug addict who leaves a crack pipe and his ID in a rental car! Genius! On the other hand, I never figured out how to get $83,000 a month for nonexistent expertise in Ukrainian utilities, so how smart can I be?
Crime Boss Joey “Hairy Legs” Biden chose a Vice President who is a light tan Indian woman. She rose through the political ranks by attaching herself in various ways to a married politician. In addition to that stellar accomplishment, she could become the first woman President to do a spot-on impression of Butterfly McQueen in Gone With the Wind.
Though a California girl raised in Montreal, as the campaign wore on, she developed the speech pattern of a little black girl from Mississippi. Kamala came just an inch from shrieking “I don’ know nuthin’ bout birthin’ babies, Mizz Scarlett” in her final speeches to 15 honking cars. Kamala’s mother is from the highest of the high caste of Brahmins in India and she has never spoken like that in her life. Her Mama should have named her Kamille-eon.
Kamala is a terrible Senator and, depending on how this theft in plain sight plays out, she would be the proverbial heartbeat away from the Presidency. On the bright side, Hillary’s currency as a “First Woman” prop would be effectively ended, so we got that goin’ for us, which is nice. Hillary must hate Kamala with the white-hot heat of a thousand suns. She probably voted for Trump just to keep her chances alive.
The Third Obama Term fizzled out with Hillary’s stunning failure to beat Trump. Now the same sleazebag players would all be back there in a new Cabinet.
Okay. So, if the win is snatched from President Trump, let us recall the inspiring words of Rachel Maddow on election night 2016: “You haven’t died and gone to Hell. This is your life now.” A little perspective might be in order. Just in case. Because what ACTUALLY happened in Maddow’s version of Hell?
Not a single harmful thing. They can’t name one. Blacks, Hispanics and women got jobs at unprecedented levels. Anyone with any amount of money in the stock market did great. No new wars. Entry-level workers had their jobs protected from the invasion of migrants willing to work for even less. A fabulous tax cut that the Democrats promise to claw back.
Historically black colleges were funded generously. Black felons were given second chances. Not a single bad thing happened to gay people. Not a single bad thing happened to women. Abortion rolled on undisturbed. Birth control did not become illegal. No, you bonnet-wearing lunatics, women were NOT thrown into some dystopian future with silly hats and dowdy clothes. Gay black liars were not attacked by MAGA guys in 30 below zero weather. Black race car drivers were not lynched with teeny tiny nooses. It was all manufactured hysteria.
Many decades ago, a little four-year-old cousin of mine who was smart, spoiled and dramatic, was told the grownups were going to watch a few home movies, but that it was past her bedtime. She threw herself on the floor, sobbing, “Oh Mother! This is the end! The living end!” It became legend in our family and was invoked often for a good laugh.
Let’s avoid those kind of histrionics. We won’t knit vagina hats or clog up freeways, blocking traffic. You won’t find us torching buildings, pulling innocent truck drivers from cabs to beat them half to death, or looting Targets. Or going topless to pretend to “protest” whatever, but really just to advertise, “Hey, look at my impressive tatas!” That is not our way. But we will certainly resist the Left by any means necessary.
More importantly, let us remember that life is so much more than politics. We have faith, family, and friends. Most leftists have only misery, rage, and mental illness. Maybe the occasional pet guppy or ferret. They don’t even have real friends, just co-conspirators.
ESPN racist ninny Jemele Hill Twittted out that she had just unfriended ALL her white “friends” because white people were to blame for reelecting Trump. “That’s on YOU, white people” she texted. Speaking for all white people, thank you for the credit, and confidence that Bad Orange Man will be reelected, but thousands of black and brown people helped too. Can you IMAGINE putting something that stupid out there in public? Collective punishment based on skin color for people who THOUGHT they were her “friends”?
On the plus side, Joe Biden has promised to singlehandedly stop Wuhan Flu when every head of state has failed, no matter the approach. AND cure cancer in his spare time. Also, in the Kamala version of Paradise, though we are endowed with different talents, aversion to risk, intelligence, and most important, EFFORT, we must all end up “in the same place.”
Woohoo! If the Left cheats its way into the White House, at LEAST this will finally be the chance for a 4’11” elderly woman to be in the NBA! I must hie me to a tattoo artist at once just in case. And get in touch with Dennis Rodman for advice on a hiphop hairdo.


powerlineblog--2020-11-07--Coronavirus in one state (123)

Coronavirus in one state (123)

Life goes on , and that seems to be the problem .
The highly contagious COVID-19 virus continues to spread through human contact .
Yesterday the authorities reported 5,454 new “ cases ” up from about 3,800 the day before .
Hospitalizations are above 1,000 across the state .
In the number that I follow most closely , they reported 36 new deaths .
Please note that 24 of these 36 fatalities occurred among residents of long-term care facilities or in congregate care .
By my count , 23 of the 26 decedents were in their 80 ’ s ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 9 ) , or 100 ’ s ( one ) .
The three Department of Health officials and one guest on yesterday ’ s press briefing ( audio below ) omitted the LTC numbers and age distribution .
Why would they do that ?
The authorities find us blameworthy for not following the public health guidance they repeat in their press briefings .
Yesterday ’ s briefing seemed to me to reach a crescendo in this respect .
In the congregate care settings under their jurisdiction , however , the results they have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s where we come in .
They blame us for transmitting the disease via “ community spread to staff working inside the facilities .
Commissioner Malcolm says she hopes that the dramatic case count numbers and hospitalizations this week will make us realize “ this is serious.
” MDH officials briefing the press didn ’ t mention the LTC numbers , but they did focus on the LTC setting .
Among the speakers were MDH Health Regulation Director Michelle Larson and Annette Greely , president of Jones-Harrison Residence in Minneapolis .
Larson updated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s “ 5-point battle plan ” to fight the disease in the LTC setting .
As I understood Larson , they have done an excellent job with the “ battle plan.
” It ’ s almost funny .
Greely observed that the disease was brought into her facility by asymptomatic employees .
It makes me wonder about the pretense of control over the disease that underlies the edicts and battle plans .
Like me , my friend Kevin Roche listened in and remained unimpressed .
Kevin ’ s comments here .
Malcolm emphasized @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” I take it that we are on the cusp of a new edict or two that purports to do something about it .

Life goes on, and that seems to be the problem. The highly contagious COVID-19 virus continues to spread through human contact. Yesterday the authorities reported 5,454 new “cases” up from about 3,800 the day before. Hospitalizations are above 1,000 across the state. In the number that I follow most closely, they reported 36 new deaths.
Please note that 24 of these 36 fatalities occurred among residents of long-term care facilities or in congregate care. By my count, 23 of the 26 decedents were in their 80’s (13), 90’s (9), or 100’s (one). The three Department of Health officials and one guest on yesterday’s press briefing (audio below) omitted the LTC numbers and age distribution. Why would they do that?
The authorities find us blameworthy for not following the public health guidance they repeat in their press briefings. Yesterday’s briefing seemed to me to reach a crescendo in this respect. In the congregate care settings under their jurisdiction, however, the results they have achieved are not impressive.
That’s where we come in. They blame us for transmitting the disease via “community spread to staff working inside the facilities. Commissioner Malcolm says she hopes that the dramatic case count numbers and hospitalizations this week will make us realize “this is serious.”
MDH officials briefing the press didn’t mention the LTC numbers, but they did focus on the LTC setting. Among the speakers were MDH Health Regulation Director Michelle Larson and Annette Greely, president of Jones-Harrison Residence in Minneapolis. Larson updated the assembled multitude on the department’s “5-point battle plan” to fight the disease in the LTC setting. As I understood Larson, they have done an excellent job with the “battle plan.” It’s almost funny.
Greely observed that the disease was brought into her facility by asymptomatic employees. It makes me wonder about the pretense of control over the disease that underlies the edicts and battle plans. Like me, my friend Kevin Roche listened in and remained unimpressed. Kevin’s comments here.
Malcolm emphasized: “Our behavior is driving this.” I take it that we are on the cusp of a new edict or two that purports to do something about it.


powerlineblog--2020-11-07--The Week in Pictures: Election Overtime Edition

“ Arise and take our stand for freedom as in the olden time.
” Winston Churchill “ Proclaim Liberty throughout @ @ @ @ @ the Inhabitants Thereof.
” Inscription on the Liberty Bell

“Arise and take our stand for freedom as in the olden time.” Winston Churchill
“Proclaim Liberty throughout All the land unto All the Inhabitants Thereof.” Inscription on the Liberty Bell


powerlineblog--2020-11-07--Civil War on the Left (Ch 73): Well, This Didn’t Take Long

The media pixels announcing Joe Biden ’ s putative victory hadn ’ t even faded on the screen before the progressive left began firing on Biden .
From Jacobin magazine : If there was ever a case where the victory of the lesser evil over the greater evil merited busting out a bottle or two of champagne , this was it .
But once you ’ ve sobered up , remember that being less evil than Trump is fully compatible with being an implacable enemy of the working class .
The incoming Joe Biden administration doesn ’ t deserve an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ intentions or a day of progressives patiently waiting to see how it acts before pivoting to a posture of opposition .
.
.
Have fun with these folks , Joe .
The Trump Era Is Over : Our Leaders Want to Take Us Back to 2015 Joe Biden and the Democratic leadership are in thrall to a dangerous illusion that they can take the country back to the political world of 2015 as if nothing happened .
They ’ re about to learn that they ’ ve won a Pyrrhic victory .
.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ will probably appear in the coming weeks , partisans for the Democrats ’ chosen strategy were confidently predicting it would deliver a ’ 72-style blowout only days ago .
“ This may be the biggest landslide possible in this polarized country , ” Democratic pollster Stan Greenberg told the Daily Beast on October 29 .
“ This thing is not going to be close , ” declared James Carville on MSNBC .
Still more effusive about Democratic prospects , one October 21 New York Times report anticipated “ an ambitious and rare electoral @ @ @ @ @ @ @ think “ the Trump Era ” is over ?
My guess is that it is only just beginning .
More on this to come separately , but for the moment see Stacy McCain ( no relation ) , “ Let Not Your Heart Be Troubled.
” Second , we ’ ve got a while to go yet before we know the exact composition of the House and Senate , but already it seems likely that , if Biden is indeed confirmed as the winner by the actual legal process and not by media @ @ @ @ @ @ @ first-term presidential victory in American history .
By a lot .
If you want additional confirmation , just check out the champagne never-Trumper Jennifer Rubin boasts about : Seriously—you celebrate an election that is ( supposedly ) going to remove literal Hitler with $ 9 champagne ?
( I ’ ll pass on making a comment about the 1 % milk for the time being .
.
. )

The media pixels announcing Joe Biden’s putative victory hadn’t even faded on the screen before the progressive left began firing on Biden. From Jacobin magazine:
No Honeymoon for Joe Biden If there was ever a case where the victory of the lesser evil over the greater evil merited busting out a bottle or two of champagne, this was it. But once you’ve sobered up, remember that being less evil than Trump is fully compatible with being an implacable enemy of the working class. The incoming Joe Biden administration doesn’t deserve an ounce of credit for having the right intentions or a day of progressives patiently waiting to see how it acts before pivoting to a posture of opposition. . .
Have fun with these folks, Joe.
Separately Jacobin tells us:
The Trump Era Is Over: Our Leaders Want to Take Us Back to 2015 Joe Biden and the Democratic leadership are in thrall to a dangerous illusion that they can take the country back to the political world of 2015 as if nothing happened. They’re about to learn that they’ve won a Pyrrhic victory. . . Though a fair amount of revisionism will probably appear in the coming weeks, partisans for the Democrats’ chosen strategy were confidently predicting it would deliver a ’72-style blowout only days ago. “This may be the biggest landslide possible in this polarized country,” Democratic pollster Stan Greenberg told the Daily Beast on October 29. “This thing is not going to be close,” declared James Carville on MSNBC. Still more effusive about Democratic prospects, one October 21 New York Times report anticipated “an ambitious and rare electoral blowout.”
First, what makes anyone think “the Trump Era” is over? My guess is that it is only just beginning. More on this to come separately, but for the moment see Stacy McCain (no relation), “Let Not Your Heart Be Troubled.”
Second, we’ve got a while to go yet before we know the exact composition of the House and Senate, but already it seems likely that, if Biden is indeed confirmed as the winner by the actual legal process and not by media acclamation, this will be the weakest first-term presidential victory in American history. By a lot.
If you want additional confirmation, just check out the champagne never-Trumper Jennifer Rubin boasts about:
Seriously—you celebrate an election that is (supposedly) going to remove literal Hitler with $9 champagne? (I’ll pass on making a comment about the 1% milk for the time being. . .)


powerlineblog--2020-11-07--Voter Fraud in Michigan

Voter Fraud in Michigan

Reports of voter fraud , and of barring Republicans from polling places so as to enable voter fraud , continue to pile up .
In Detroit , Republican poll watchers were prevented from carrying out their duties , presumably so they would not be able to observe and document the fraud that was taking place .
John Davidson reports at The Federalist : Trisha Nesbitt , 31 , is the Van Buren County Treasurer in southwest Michigan and has volunteered as an observer in past elections .
When she heard the local GOP needed volunteers in Detroit , she drove @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the Republican meeting room at the convention center , and got her credentials as a poll challenger .
*** Eventually , they managed to get in by tagging along with a large group of union members who were being admitted to the hall where ballots were being counted—despite previous claims the hall had been “ full.
” *** [ W ] hen these Republican poll challengers came into the hall , the ballot-counting stopped .
“ It wasn ’ t too long after I got into the room that it became very @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be counting anything , ” Nesbitt said .
“ For about four hours , over ninety percent of the counting boards had no activity.
” The waiting seemed to work—if only because city election workers would not allow credentialed Republican poll challengers back into the hall if they left for any reason .
“ Once we left we were not allowed to return .
So if you left for a water break or to go get a meal you were not allowed , Republicans were not allowed to be replaced.
” Not only @ @ @ @ @ @ @ replace GOP observers who left , they also began expelling them on trumped-up infractions .
“ The first person I became aware of that was removed , was an attorney who was observing and he adjusted his face mask , ” Nesbitt said .
“ And the election workers cited that as grounds for removal.
” That wasn ’ t all .
When election workers expelled a Republican poll challenger , the ballot counters erupted in cheers .
Nesbitt recorded this video of Democrats cheering as a Republican poll watcher is evicted : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seeing was that when the ballots were scanned and it did not match a voter in the electronic poll book , and it did not match a voter in the supplemental paper poll book , which was provided due to Michigan ’ s law that allows for same-day registration , they were still allowing those ballots to go through and be counted .
And that is when the GOP poll challengers were issuing those challenges .
So they were either being ignored or kicked out when they were doing that .
More at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ drift .
I don ’ t think we have yet posted this Project Veritas video , in which a witness in a Michigan post office describes a scheme to backdate postmarks so that ballots for Joe Biden will be counted : Another Project Veritas informant , who has now gone public , has alleged a similar backdating scheme in Pennsylvania .
That widespread voter fraud occurred in this year ’ s election is plain .
What is not easy , and may be impossible , is quantifying the number of fraudulent ballots in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ available .

Reports of voter fraud, and of barring Republicans from polling places so as to enable voter fraud, continue to pile up. In Detroit, Republican poll watchers were prevented from carrying out their duties, presumably so they would not be able to observe and document the fraud that was taking place. John Davidson reports at The Federalist:
Trisha Nesbitt, 31, is the Van Buren County Treasurer in southwest Michigan and has volunteered as an observer in past elections. When she heard the local GOP needed volunteers in Detroit, she drove to the city after work, went to the Republican meeting room at the convention center, and got her credentials as a poll challenger.
***
Eventually, they managed to get in by tagging along with a large group of union members who were being admitted to the hall where ballots were being counted—despite previous claims the hall had been “full.”
***
[W]hen these Republican poll challengers came into the hall, the ballot-counting stopped. “It wasn’t too long after I got into the room that it became very apparent that there was no rush to be counting anything,” Nesbitt said. “For about four hours, over ninety percent of the counting boards had no activity.” The waiting seemed to work—if only because city election workers would not allow credentialed Republican poll challengers back into the hall if they left for any reason. “Once we left we were not allowed to return. So if you left for a water break or to go get a meal you were not allowed, Republicans were not allowed to be replaced.” Not only did the city election workers refuse to replace GOP observers who left, they also began expelling them on trumped-up infractions. “The first person I became aware of that was removed, was an attorney who was observing and he adjusted his face mask,” Nesbitt said. “And the election workers cited that as grounds for removal.” That wasn’t all. When election workers expelled a Republican poll challenger, the ballot counters erupted in cheers.
Nesbitt recorded this video of Democrats cheering as a Republican poll watcher is evicted:
My wife just sent this video of Detroit election workers cheering every time a @migop attorney is removed from the TCF Center, where absentee ballot counting is happening. She says they do this every time they eject a GOP poll watcher & that Dem watchers outnumber GOP 3:1. pic.twitter.com/Sx1aHCoChY — Aric Nesbitt (@aricnesbitt) November 4, 2020
Nesbitt says:
So what many poll challengers were actually seeing was that when the ballots were scanned and it did not match a voter in the electronic poll book, and it did not match a voter in the supplemental paper poll book, which was provided due to Michigan’s law that allows for same-day registration, they were still allowing those ballots to go through and be counted. And that is when the GOP poll challengers were issuing those challenges. So they were either being ignored or kicked out when they were doing that.
More at the link, but you get the drift.
I don’t think we have yet posted this Project Veritas video, in which a witness in a Michigan post office describes a scheme to backdate postmarks so that ballots for Joe Biden will be counted:
BREAKING: Michigan @USPS Whistleblower Details Directive From Superiors: Back-Date Late Mail-In-Ballots As Received November 3rd, 2020 So They Are Accepted “Separate them from standard letter mail so they can hand stamp them with YESTERDAY'S DATE & put them through"#MailFraud pic.twitter.com/n7AcNwpq80 — James O'Keefe (@JamesOKeefeIII) November 5, 2020
Another Project Veritas informant, who has now gone public, has alleged a similar backdating scheme in Pennsylvania.
That widespread voter fraud occurred in this year’s election is plain. What is not easy, and may be impossible, is quantifying the number of fraudulent ballots in a given state in the short time available.


powerlineblog--2020-11-07--The FOX News Arizona call

The FOX News Arizona call

One of the notable media sidebars to election night is the FOX News call of Arizona for Biden with well over 600,000 votes outstanding , as I recall .
At the time FOX had yet to call Florida , although just about all the votes to be counted were up in the Panhandle .
The Trump folks were not happy .
FOX News called on Arnon Mishkin , the consultant who runs its so-called Decision Desk , to explain ( video below ) .
Why is this man smiling ?
Mishkin explained : “ What I think we ’ ve @ @ @ @ @ @ @ … they need just to get 61 percent of the outstanding vote , and there are 870,000 outstanding votes , and they ’ ll be getting that .
That ’ s not true.
” He added ( my emphasis ) : “ The reality is that they ’ re likely to only get about 44 percent of the outstanding votes that are there .
We ’ re right now sitting on a race that is about Biden at 53 percent , Trump at 46 percent .
I ’ m sorry , the president @ @ @ @ @ @ @ take over and win enough votes to eliminate that 7-point lead that the former vice president has.
” Interviewed by Steve Bannon live on YouTube that night , pollster Rich Baris vehemently disagreed with Mishkin .
He thought that Trump would at least make up substantial ground in the uncounted votes and that he had the chance of overtaking Biden .
Arizona Secretary of State Katie Hobbs announced last night that 173,000 ballots remain to be counted in Arizona .
At this point Trump has narrowed Biden ’ s lead to fewer than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than 1 percent .
The New York Post breaks down the rest of the outstanding vote here .
Whether or not Trump overtakes Biden in the final count , according to Mishkin ’ s analysis , that wasn ’ t supposed to happen .
As of this morning , it appears that the Trump folks and Baris were right and Mishkin wrong — in their analysis , not necessarily in the ultimate outcome .
Nevertheless , unless I have missed something , FOX News isn ’ t looking back for public consumption .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ call .
If I have this right , query who is going to hazard the view that FOX ’ s analysis was egregiously mistaken when just about every respectable conservative pundit is on their payroll as a contributor .
FOX ’ s own Tucker Carlson made his displeasure with the call clear at the time .
Good for him .
I think his monologue on Thursday night needs to be viewed in this context and to be read between the lines .
Tucker urged “ the news media ” in general to “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were directed generally , I ’ m guessing he had the mischievous Mishkin specifically on his mind .

One of the notable media sidebars to election night is the FOX News call of Arizona for Biden with well over 600,000 votes outstanding, as I recall. At the time FOX had yet to call Florida, although just about all the votes to be counted were up in the Panhandle.
The Trump folks were not happy. FOX News called on Arnon Mishkin, the consultant who runs its so-called Decision Desk, to explain (video below). Why is this man smiling?
Mishkin explained: “What I think we’ve heard from the White House is that … they need just to get 61 percent of the outstanding vote, and there are 870,000 outstanding votes, and they’ll be getting that. That’s not true.”
He added (my emphasis): “The reality is that they’re likely to only get about 44 percent of the outstanding votes that are there. We’re right now sitting on a race that is about Biden at 53 percent, Trump at 46 percent. I’m sorry, the president is not going to be able to take over and win enough votes to eliminate that 7-point lead that the former vice president has.”
Interviewed by Steve Bannon live on YouTube that night, pollster Rich Baris vehemently disagreed with Mishkin. He thought that Trump would at least make up substantial ground in the uncounted votes and that he had the chance of overtaking Biden.
Arizona Secretary of State Katie Hobbs announced last night that 173,000 ballots remain to be counted in Arizona. At this point Trump has narrowed Biden’s lead to fewer than 30,000 votes. That’s less than 1 percent. The New York Post breaks down the rest of the outstanding vote here.
Whether or not Trump overtakes Biden in the final count, according to Mishkin’s analysis, that wasn’t supposed to happen. As of this morning, it appears that the Trump folks and Baris were right and Mishkin wrong — in their analysis, not necessarily in the ultimate outcome.
Nevertheless, unless I have missed something, FOX News isn’t looking back for public consumption. They simply “stand by” their call. If I have this right, query who is going to hazard the view that FOX’s analysis was egregiously mistaken when just about every respectable conservative pundit is on their payroll as a contributor.
FOX’s own Tucker Carlson made his displeasure with the call clear at the time. Good for him. I think his monologue on Thursday night needs to be viewed in this context and to be read between the lines. Tucker urged “the news media” in general to “resist hasty calls.” Although his remarks were directed generally, I’m guessing he had the mischievous Mishkin specifically on his mind.


Georgia Update

My source for all things Georgia politics , a Republican insider , filed this report today : Georgia is now the political center of the universe .
Trump ’ s team is here looking into voter irregularities and reports of fraud .
Secretary of State Raffensperger announced today that there was a machine issue from the Friday count in Fulton County that they are now looking into .
Former Governor/AG Secretary Sonny Perdue [ not to be confused with Senator David Perdue ] is taking the lead on the PR side for the Trump Team here , and the state @ @ @ @ @ @ @ next steps .
The state legislature passed a law authorizing risk limiting audits last year , and that began Friday .
This should give us a high level view of any box stuffing .
I don ’ t think this is where the bulk of the fraud lies , but we shall see .
In the primary of 2020 , the Secretary of State investigated 1,000 people who seemingly voted twice ( absentee and in person ) —the data should be in to run the same report this week .
We will have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ potentially a recanvass in certain counties if requested by the campaign and approved by the Secretary of State .
There are also reports of 15 voters registering from the same address and other “ upstream ” voter fraud issues that are being looked into , such as felon voting , etc .
Looking forward , we will have both of our Senate seats up for grabs in January .
As I said before the election , control of the Senate will hinge on this , and we will see $ 500m- $ 1b @ @ @ @ @ @ @ where it gets somewhat absurd .
New residents may “ move ” to Georgia up until Dec 7 to vote in the January runoff .
I ’ ll give you one guess which side is already talking about orchestrating a mass exodus to Georgia .

My source for all things Georgia politics, a Republican insider, filed this report today:
Georgia is now the political center of the universe. Trump’s team is here looking into voter irregularities and reports of fraud. Secretary of State Raffensperger announced today that there was a machine issue from the Friday count in Fulton County that they are now looking into. Former Governor/AG Secretary Sonny Perdue [not to be confused with Senator David Perdue] is taking the lead on the PR side for the Trump Team here, and the state GOP is working in concert to determine next steps.
The state legislature passed a law authorizing risk limiting audits last year, and that began Friday. This should give us a high level view of any box stuffing. I don’t think this is where the bulk of the fraud lies, but we shall see.
In the primary of 2020, the Secretary of State investigated 1,000 people who seemingly voted twice (absentee and in person)—the data should be in to run the same report this week. We will have both a recount by law, and potentially a recanvass in certain counties if requested by the campaign and approved by the Secretary of State.
There are also reports of 15 voters registering from the same address and other “upstream” voter fraud issues that are being looked into, such as felon voting, etc.
Looking forward, we will have both of our Senate seats up for grabs in January. As I said before the election, control of the Senate will hinge on this, and we will see $500m-$1b pour into these races.
Here is where it gets somewhat absurd. New residents may “move” to Georgia up until Dec 7 to vote in the January runoff. I’ll give you one guess which side is already talking about orchestrating a mass exodus to Georgia.


powerlineblog--2020-11-07--Unite behind Joe Biden?  You must be joking.

On my walk today , I encountered an outdoor victory party in honor of Joe Biden being declared our next president by the media .
A huge sign instructed neighbors to “ Celebrate , Unite.
” This is a useful reminder to conservatives and Republicans that we lost this election .
There ’ s no other realistic way to view it .
At the same time , the small number , and fairly subdued nature , of the neighborhood celebrants was more evidence that the election didn ’ t go as well for liberals and Democrats as they had hoped @ @ @ @ @ @ @ welcomed only by those who voted for him .
And even among this group , it will not universally be celebrated .
For the rest of the nation , and certainly for anyone who is right of center , the idea of uniting behind Joe Biden is laughable .
Why , after the way President Trump was treated , should any of his supporters consider uniting behind Biden ?
Indeed , quite apart from the treatment of Trump , how can we be expected to unite around a nasty , corrupt , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ won the votes necessary to make it to the White House under fair voting procedures and honest counting ?
The real question for conservatives is the extent to which we should “ resist ” a Biden presidency .
Specifically , I think the question is whether we should resist it with the same intensity and tactics ( minus the lying ) that Democrats used to resist Trump .
I have offered my preliminary views about resisting Biden ’ s judicial nominees and his selections to staff his administration .
I will have more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the coming days .
In any case , if Joe Biden thinks he can “ unite ” America , his mind is even more addled than I thought .

On my walk today, I encountered an outdoor victory party in honor of Joe Biden being declared our next president by the media. A huge sign instructed neighbors to “Celebrate, Unite.”
This is a useful reminder to conservatives and Republicans that we lost this election. There’s no other realistic way to view it.
At the same time, the small number, and fairly subdued nature, of the neighborhood celebrants was more evidence that the election didn’t go as well for liberals and Democrats as they had hoped.
Biden’s election will be welcomed only by those who voted for him. And even among this group, it will not universally be celebrated.
For the rest of the nation, and certainly for anyone who is right of center, the idea of uniting behind Joe Biden is laughable. Why, after the way President Trump was treated, should any of his supporters consider uniting behind Biden? Indeed, quite apart from the treatment of Trump, how can we be expected to unite around a nasty, corrupt, and dishonest president who might not even have won the votes necessary to make it to the White House under fair voting procedures and honest counting?
The real question for conservatives is the extent to which we should “resist” a Biden presidency. Specifically, I think the question is whether we should resist it with the same intensity and tactics (minus the lying) that Democrats used to resist Trump.
I have offered my preliminary views about resisting Biden’s judicial nominees and his selections to staff his administration. I will have more to say on the question of resistance in the coming days.
In any case, if Joe Biden thinks he can “unite” America, his mind is even more addled than I thought.


Facebook Fact-Checks Me

The establishment is in full protect-Joe mode .
The Left ’ s most important propaganda theme these days is that there is no such thing as voter fraud .
Thus , when I did a post on Power Line titled Massive Voter Fraud In Wisconsin ?
, and linked to it on Facebook , the Facebook lefties were lying in wait .
This is what it looked like : If you followed the link , this is what you saw : So the alleged fact-checker was USA Today , a worthless outlet whom Glenn Reynolds recently fired because they wouldn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Joe Biden scandals .
Great fact-checkers !
The explanation given for Facebook ’ s “ fact check ” is that “ Wisconsin turnout [ is ] in line with past elections , didn ’ t jump 22 % .
” But my Facebook post said nothing about Wisconsin turnout jumping by 22 % .
Neither did my Power Line post , which I doubt anyone from USA Today or Facebook actually read .
According to Wisconsin officials , that state had a record turnout in 2020 , not one that was “ in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Facebook ’ s “ fact check ” is blatantly false .
Also , obviously , it doesn ’ t even attempt to deal with anything I wrote in my Power Line post , which , among other things , explained why some observers have made exaggerated claims relating to Wisconsin ’ s 2020 turnout numbers .
Nor does it try to explain why there is something wrong with what I wrote on Facebook , which was that “ the numbers suggest ” that there was major voter fraud in Wisconsin–a claim that , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unrebutted .
So Facebook is a Democratic Party platform that will do all it can to help Joe Biden cling to his tenuous electoral lead .
No surprise there .
But the extent to which the internet platforms that control most avenues for the distribution of facts and opinions are willing to lie and cheat to support one political party is alarming .
We live in a world that the Founders never contemplated .
It isn ’ t only Facebook , of course .
Earlier today I linked to Rudy Giuliani ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who tried to carry out their statutorily-mandated right to observe and police the vote-counting process in that city were denied any ability to participate by Democrats , who either barred them from the vote-counting rooms entirely , or else stationed them so far away that they couldn ’ t see anything .
This was in obvious violation of Pennsylvania law , and I haven ’ t seen any attempt to defend what the Democrats did as lawful , let alone fair .
Nonetheless , if you watched the YouTube video of the press @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you saw this assurance from Google/YouTube : “ Robust safeguards help ensure the integrity of elections and results.
” That sounds like something Josef Stalin would have said .
To be fair , Stalin knew he was lying– “ It ’ s not the people who vote that count , it ’ s the people who count the votes ” –while God only knows whether the Democratic Party minions at Facebook and Google actually believe what they say .
In any event , what they say is patent bullshit .
No one who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ elections in places like Philadelphia , Milwaukee , Atlanta and Detroit have “ Robust safeguards ” that “ ensure the integrity of elections and results.
” Rather , they are riddled with Democrat Party-inspired voter fraud , more of which comes to light with each day that goes by .
UPDATE : I should add that my Power Line post on voter fraud in Wisconsin , which was fair and balanced , has been read 86,000 times , so it ’ s not as though Facebook ’ s leftists can entirely stifle free @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the free internet , as we are , not beholden to Democratic Party-controlled internet platforms like Facebook , Twitter , YouTube and Google .

The establishment is in full protect-Joe mode. The Left’s most important propaganda theme these days is that there is no such thing as voter fraud. Thus, when I did a post on Power Line titled Massive Voter Fraud In Wisconsin?, and linked to it on Facebook, the Facebook lefties were lying in wait. This is what it looked like:
If you followed the link, this is what you saw:
So the alleged fact-checker was USA Today, a worthless outlet whom Glenn Reynolds recently fired because they wouldn’t run his column about the Joe Biden scandals. Great fact-checkers!
The explanation given for Facebook’s “fact check” is that “Wisconsin turnout [is] in line with past elections, didn’t jump 22%.” But my Facebook post said nothing about Wisconsin turnout jumping by 22%. Neither did my Power Line post, which I doubt anyone from USA Today or Facebook actually read. According to Wisconsin officials, that state had a record turnout in 2020, not one that was “in line with past elections,” so Facebook’s “fact check” is blatantly false. Also, obviously, it doesn’t even attempt to deal with anything I wrote in my Power Line post, which, among other things, explained why some observers have made exaggerated claims relating to Wisconsin’s 2020 turnout numbers. Nor does it try to explain why there is something wrong with what I wrote on Facebook, which was that “the numbers suggest” that there was major voter fraud in Wisconsin–a claim that, as far as I know, stands unrebutted.
So Facebook is a Democratic Party platform that will do all it can to help Joe Biden cling to his tenuous electoral lead. No surprise there. But the extent to which the internet platforms that control most avenues for the distribution of facts and opinions are willing to lie and cheat to support one political party is alarming. We live in a world that the Founders never contemplated.
It isn’t only Facebook, of course. Earlier today I linked to Rudy Giuliani’s Philadelphia press conference, in which Republicans who tried to carry out their statutorily-mandated right to observe and police the vote-counting process in that city were denied any ability to participate by Democrats, who either barred them from the vote-counting rooms entirely, or else stationed them so far away that they couldn’t see anything. This was in obvious violation of Pennsylvania law, and I haven’t seen any attempt to defend what the Democrats did as lawful, let alone fair. Nonetheless, if you watched the YouTube video of the press conference, or considered watching it, you saw this assurance from Google/YouTube:
“Robust safeguards help ensure the integrity of elections and results.” That sounds like something Josef Stalin would have said. To be fair, Stalin knew he was lying–“It’s not the people who vote that count, it’s the people who count the votes”–while God only knows whether the Democratic Party minions at Facebook and Google actually believe what they say. In any event, what they say is patent bullshit. No one who pays attention could possibly believe that American elections in places like Philadelphia, Milwaukee, Atlanta and Detroit have “Robust safeguards” that “ensure the integrity of elections and results.” Rather, they are riddled with Democrat Party-inspired voter fraud, more of which comes to light with each day that goes by.
UPDATE: I should add that my Power Line post on voter fraud in Wisconsin, which was fair and balanced, has been read 86,000 times, so it’s not as though Facebook’s leftists can entirely stifle free speech. The key is to be on the free internet, as we are, not beholden to Democratic Party-controlled internet platforms like Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Google.


powerlineblog--2020-11-08--Voter Fraud In Pennsylvania

Voter Fraud In Pennsylvania


Biden declares victory

With the support of the garbage media former Vice President Joe Biden declared victory over President Trump last night .
NPR has posted the video and transcript of Biden ’ s statement here .
Honkers for Biden turned out to blow their horns .
We still have questions about the outcome in critical states , but we are instructed that Biden has won .
The counting continues in virtually every one of these states .
Yet the media have declared Biden the winner .
I didn ’ t understand that the power had been delegated to them , but here @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were full of the identity politics and leftist condescension that revolts us .
Having participated in the disparagement , defamation , and vituperation of Trump as a racist and Russian agent , Biden called for unity .
Indeed , serving as Barack Obama ’ s vice president , Biden himself participated in the promulgation of the Russia hoax that dogged Trump in one form or another throughout his presidency .
Why he would expect any response from Trump supporters other than vulgar contempt is beyond me .
“ I sought this office to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he said .
If it has been lost , we thought the restoration was underway with Trump .
We supported the restoration .
That is not how you enlist the support of your opponents .
What Biden has already restored is the Obama baloney : “ [ O ] nce again , America has bent the arc of the moral universe towards justice.
” Because Orange Man Bad .
At the heart of his speech Biden called out : But now , let ’ s give each other a chance .
It ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rhetoric .
To listen to each other again .
To make progress , we must stop treating our opponents as our enemy .
We are not enemies .
We are Americans .
Now he tells us .
The least that can be said is that this is regurgitated pabulum and that Biden has no standing to serve it up .

With the support of the garbage media former Vice President Joe Biden declared victory over President Trump last night. NPR has posted the video and transcript of Biden’s statement here. Honkers for Biden turned out to blow their horns.
We still have questions about the outcome in critical states, but we are instructed that Biden has won. The counting continues in virtually every one of these states. Yet the media have declared Biden the winner. I didn’t understand that the power had been delegated to them, but here we are.
Biden’s remarks were full of the identity politics and leftist condescension that revolts us. Having participated in the disparagement, defamation, and vituperation of Trump as a racist and Russian agent, Biden called for unity. Indeed, serving as Barack Obama’s vice president, Biden himself participated in the promulgation of the Russia hoax that dogged Trump in one form or another throughout his presidency. Why he would expect any response from Trump supporters other than vulgar contempt is beyond me.
“I sought this office to restore the soul of America,” he said. If it has been lost, we thought the restoration was underway with Trump. We supported the restoration. That is not how you enlist the support of your opponents.
What Biden has already restored is the Obama baloney: “[O]nce again, America has bent the arc of the moral universe towards justice.” Because Orange Man Bad.
At the heart of his speech Biden called out:
But now, let’s give each other a chance. It’s time to put away the harsh rhetoric. To lower the temperature. To see each other again. To listen to each other again. To make progress, we must stop treating our opponents as our enemy. We are not enemies. We are Americans.
Now he tells us. The least that can be said is that this is regurgitated pabulum and that Biden has no standing to serve it up.


powerlineblog--2020-11-08--The FOX News factor

The FOX News factor

I missed the early call of five Dem pickups in the House on election night .
Accordingly , I shortchanged my case against the wrongdoing by FOX News that night .
The Federalist ’ s Christopher Gage takes it up in “ Why Hasn ’ t Fox News Retracted Its Wrong Call on the House ?
” Gage makes a devastating case against the bona fides of FOX News in its call on the House races .
I focused on FOX ’ s Arizona call .
This is a restatement and update .
With more than 800,000 votes to be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Biden led Trump by about 90,000 votes .
As I noted yesterday , when FOX called Arizona for Biden , they brought the head of their so-called Decision Desk to explain .
Arnon Mishkin asserted : “ What I think we ’ ve heard from the White House is that … they need just to get 61 percent of the outstanding vote , and there are 870,000 outstanding votes , and they ’ ll be getting that .
That ’ s not true.
” Mishkin added ( my emphasis ) : “ The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to only get about 44 percent of the outstanding votes that are there .
We ’ re right now sitting on a race that is about Biden at 53 percent , Trump at 46 percent .
I ’ m sorry , the president is not going to be able to take over and win enough votes to eliminate that 7-point lead that the former vice president has.
” According to RealClearPolitics and other sites , four percent of the vote remains outstanding .
Mishkin to the contrary notwithstanding , the gap between Biden @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Pollster Rich Baris of People ’ s Pundit Daily asserted that Trump would make up ground against Biden in the outstanding votes on election night .
He vehemently disagreed with FOX ’ s call .
I asked Rich for a comment yesterday .
Responding late yesterday afternoon , he wrote : “ Four days after Election Day , Arizona has shifted significantly to Donald Trump and is now a coin toss .
Regardless of the outcome , the tightness and trend alone have proven FOX News made yet another irresponsible and inexplicable @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Biden .
Most concerning , these blunders by the Fox News Decision Desk are becoming a trend of their own.
” Some explanation is called for .
So far as I can tell , however , FOX News is resting on its right to remain silent and moving on to celebrate the coming regency period .

I missed the early call of five Dem pickups in the House on election night. Accordingly, I shortchanged my case against the wrongdoing by FOX News that night. The Federalist’s Christopher Gage takes it up in “Why Hasn’t Fox News Retracted Its Wrong Call on the House?” Gage makes a devastating case against the bona fides of FOX News in its call on the House races.
I focused on FOX’s Arizona call. This is a restatement and update.
With more than 800,000 votes to be counted in Arizona on election night, Biden led Trump by about 90,000 votes. As I noted yesterday, when FOX called Arizona for Biden, they brought the head of their so-called Decision Desk to explain. Arnon Mishkin asserted: “What I think we’ve heard from the White House is that … they need just to get 61 percent of the outstanding vote, and there are 870,000 outstanding votes, and they’ll be getting that. That’s not true.”
Mishkin added (my emphasis): “The reality is that they’re likely to only get about 44 percent of the outstanding votes that are there. We’re right now sitting on a race that is about Biden at 53 percent, Trump at 46 percent. I’m sorry, the president is not going to be able to take over and win enough votes to eliminate that 7-point lead that the former vice president has.”
According to RealClearPolitics and other sites, four percent of the vote remains outstanding. Mishkin to the contrary notwithstanding, the gap between Biden and Trump has narrowed to 19,000 votes.
Pollster Rich Baris of People’s Pundit Daily asserted that Trump would make up ground against Biden in the outstanding votes on election night. He vehemently disagreed with FOX’s call. I asked Rich for a comment yesterday. Responding late yesterday afternoon, he wrote: “Four days after Election Day, Arizona has shifted significantly to Donald Trump and is now a coin toss. Regardless of the outcome, the tightness and trend alone have proven FOX News made yet another irresponsible and inexplicable decision to call the state for Joe Biden. Most concerning, these blunders by the Fox News Decision Desk are becoming a trend of their own.”
Some explanation is called for. So far as I can tell, however, FOX News is resting on its right to remain silent and moving on to celebrate the coming regency period.


powerlineblog--2020-11-09--Correction on Biden’s judicial nominees

Correction on Biden’s judicial nominees

Last week , I wrote a post about confirming ( or not ) Joe Biden ’ s judicial nominees .
@ @ @ @ @ the GOP retains control of the Senate , Lindsey Graham will be chairman of the @ @ @ @ @ assumption is incorrect .
If the GOP retains control , Chuck Grassley will be the @ @ @ @ @ intends to exercise his “ bumping rights ” to regain the gavel .
Graham has @ @ @ @ @ confirmation of judicial nominees of Democratic presidents .
I think it ’ s fair to @ @ @ @ @ less attached to the idea .
Thus , Grassley ’ s decision might make it @ @ @ @ @ confirm his judicial nominees .
However , unless he reverses his stance on confirmation , @ @ @ @ @ hand to cast the deciding vote in favor of sending these nominees to the floor @ @ @ @ @ to the Committee .

Last week, I wrote a post about confirming (or not) Joe Biden’s judicial nominees. My post assumed that if the GOP retains control of the Senate, Lindsey Graham will be chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee.
The assumption is incorrect. If the GOP retains control, Chuck Grassley will be the Judiciary Committee chairman. Grassley intends to exercise his “bumping rights” to regain the gavel.
Graham has a long record of supporting confirmation of judicial nominees of Democratic presidents. I think it’s fair to say that Grassley has been less attached to the idea.
Thus, Grassley’s decision might make it more difficult for Biden to confirm his judicial nominees. However, unless he reverses his stance on confirmation, Graham will still be on hand to cast the deciding vote in favor of sending these nominees to the floor — assuming they make it to the Committee.


America in 2020

In 2020 , America elected a president who slithered his way up the greasy pole and a vice president who slept her way up .
The election that will bring this pair to power was rife was practices that enabled cheating on their behalf .
For example , a fair system of poll watching is a sine qua non of fair elections .
That ’ s why the international community sends poll watchers to countries suspected of wanting to hold unfair elections .
In America , we don ’ t use outside observers .
We rely on poll watchers from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of ballots .
If only one party has people present when votes are counted , the counting can ’ t be trusted .
The vote counting can be halted for no reason other than the desire to figure out how many votes the favored candidate still needs .
Large tranches of ballots can suddenly appear , all or virtually all of which are for that candidate .
Alleged computer glitches can flip votes into the favored candidate ’ s column .
It appears that all of these things occurred in America in 2020 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The excluded poll workers were Republicans .
One thing that ’ s striking about the victors is how little they were ever able to impress even Democrats .
Until Barack Obama elevated him , Joe Biden had failed to register with Democratic voters in his two bids for the presidency ( 1988 and 2008 ) .
Kamala Harris , even with massive funding and non-stop media adulation , failed dismally in her attempt to win Democratic primary votes .
Biden ’ s lack of distinction is also stunning in a president-elect .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ last four presidents graduated : University of Pennsylvania , Columbia , Yale , and Georgetown .
The last four presidents with law degrees got them from Harvard , Yale , Yale , and Duke .
Biden got his undergraduate degree from the University of Delaware .
His law degree is from Syracuse where he graduated near the bottom of his class ( and later lied about his class standing ) .
Harris ’ degrees are from Howard University and UC Hastings Law School ( where she might well have benefitted from a a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ degrees and academic accomplishments are hardly the be-all and end-all for a president .
Many people still achieve high distinction on merit alone without strong academic credentials .
Some of these people have accomplishments befitting a president .
Joe Biden isn ’ t one of them .
He never accomplished anything in the private sector — unless one counts enriching himself and his family by peddling influence to China ( among other countries ) , which Biden denies doing .
Biden never had ultimate responsibility for running a governmental or bureaucratic entity .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the state of Texas , Bill Clinton ran Arkansas , George H.W .
Bush ran the CIA , Jimmy Carter ran Georgia , and Ronald Reagan ran California .
Joe Biden ran his mouth .
Endlessly and often incoherently .
And let ’ s not forget Biden ’ s multiple instances of plagiarism — so emblematic of the intersection of his mediocrity and lack of character .
By rights , this brazen behavior during a presidential campaign should have ended his national political career .
It ’ s embarrassing to live in a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Speaking of character , Biden is a nasty piece of work .
He ’ s amicable enough , in a glad-handing style , until he isn ’ t .
Say or do something he doesn ’ t like , and the Biden temper kicks in .
Along with his penchant for bullying .
It ’ s also likely that Biden sexually harassed and assaulted one of his aides .
Under Biden ’ s approach to evaluating harassment claims ( other than those against him ) , we should conclude that Biden is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s approach , there is enough evidence from the time of the alleged assault and the few years that immediately followed to conclude that , more likely than not , Biden sexually harassed Tara Reade in non-trivial ways .
That ’ s America in 2020 .
We can no longer trust the integrity of our system of electing presidents .
And our system has given us a nasty , corrupt , dishonest , and thoroughly mediocre president .

In 2020, America elected a president who slithered his way up the greasy pole and a vice president who slept her way up.
The election that will bring this pair to power was rife was practices that enabled cheating on their behalf. For example, a fair system of poll watching is a sine qua non of fair elections. That’s why the international community sends poll watchers to countries suspected of wanting to hold unfair elections.
In America, we don’t use outside observers. We rely on poll watchers from the two parties to monitor the counting of ballots. If only one party has people present when votes are counted, the counting can’t be trusted.
The vote counting can be halted for no reason other than the desire to figure out how many votes the favored candidate still needs. Large tranches of ballots can suddenly appear, all or virtually all of which are for that candidate. Alleged computer glitches can flip votes into the favored candidate’s column.
It appears that all of these things occurred in America in 2020. The favored candidate was Joe Biden. The excluded poll workers were Republicans.
One thing that’s striking about the victors is how little they were ever able to impress even Democrats. Until Barack Obama elevated him, Joe Biden had failed to register with Democratic voters in his two bids for the presidency (1988 and 2008). Kamala Harris, even with massive funding and non-stop media adulation, failed dismally in her attempt to win Democratic primary votes.
Biden’s lack of distinction is also stunning in a president-elect. Here are the colleges from which our last four presidents graduated: University of Pennsylvania, Columbia, Yale, and Georgetown. The last four presidents with law degrees got them from Harvard, Yale, Yale, and Duke.
Biden got his undergraduate degree from the University of Delaware. His law degree is from Syracuse where he graduated near the bottom of his class (and later lied about his class standing). Harris’ degrees are from Howard University and UC Hastings Law School (where she might well have benefitted from a a racially preferential admissions policy).
Fancy degrees and academic accomplishments are hardly the be-all and end-all for a president. Many people still achieve high distinction on merit alone without strong academic credentials. Some of these people have accomplishments befitting a president.
Joe Biden isn’t one of them. He never accomplished anything in the private sector — unless one counts enriching himself and his family by peddling influence to China (among other countries), which Biden denies doing.
Biden never had ultimate responsibility for running a governmental or bureaucratic entity. By contrast, George W. Bush ran the state of Texas, Bill Clinton ran Arkansas, George H.W. Bush ran the CIA, Jimmy Carter ran Georgia, and Ronald Reagan ran California.
Joe Biden ran his mouth. Endlessly and often incoherently.
And let’s not forget Biden’s multiple instances of plagiarism — so emblematic of the intersection of his mediocrity and lack of character. By rights, this brazen behavior during a presidential campaign should have ended his national political career. It’s embarrassing to live in a country that elected a plagiarist its president.
Speaking of character, Biden is a nasty piece of work. He’s amicable enough, in a glad-handing style, until he isn’t. Say or do something he doesn’t like, and the Biden temper kicks in. Along with his penchant for bullying.
It’s also likely that Biden sexually harassed and assaulted one of his aides. Under Biden’s approach to evaluating harassment claims (other than those against him), we should conclude that Biden is guilty.
And even apart from Biden’s approach, there is enough evidence from the time of the alleged assault and the few years that immediately followed to conclude that, more likely than not, Biden sexually harassed Tara Reade in non-trivial ways.
That’s America in 2020. We can no longer trust the integrity of our system of electing presidents. And our system has given us a nasty, corrupt, dishonest, and thoroughly mediocre president.


powerlineblog--2020-11-09--Facebook Fact-Checks Me [Updated]

Facebook Fact-Checks Me [Updated]


powerlineblog--2020-11-10--Let’s not leave court of appeals judgeships on the table

The presidential race is all over but the shouting ( and long may the shouting continue ) .
President Trump is now a lame duck .
But this doesn ’ t mean Trump is without power .
He has the power , for example , to nominate federal judges .
And with the GOP in control of the Senate , he ought to be able to have them confirmed .
As I understand it , there are three vacant court of appeals positions — two on the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals and one on the First Circuit .
Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the Seventh Circuit vacancies — the seat Justice Barrett filled until recently .
In all likelihood , Kirsch will be confirmed before the new administration takes over .
However , there is no nominee for either of the other two vacancies .
Is there enough time left for Trump to fill these spots ?
My understanding is that there is enough time , but only if ( a ) the White House announces the nominations this week and ( b ) Chairman Graham agrees to move them .
I can think of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) and ( b ) shouldn ’ t happen .
But do I trust that both will ?
No .
I didn ’ t dub Lindsey Graham “ the Arlen Specter of the South ” for nothing .
It will be a pity if Republicans leave court of appeals judgeships on the table .
But I believe there ’ s at least a 50 percent chance of that happening .

The presidential race is all over but the shouting (and long may the shouting continue). President Trump is now a lame duck.
But this doesn’t mean Trump is without power. He has the power, for example, to nominate federal judges. And with the GOP in control of the Senate, he ought to be able to have them confirmed.
As I understand it, there are three vacant court of appeals positions — two on the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals and one on the First Circuit. Trump has already nominated Thomas Kirsch for one of the Seventh Circuit vacancies — the seat Justice Barrett filled until recently. In all likelihood, Kirsch will be confirmed before the new administration takes over.
However, there is no nominee for either of the other two vacancies. Is there enough time left for Trump to fill these spots?
My understanding is that there is enough time, but only if (a) the White House announces the nominations this week and (b) Chairman Graham agrees to move them.
I can think of no good reason why events (a) and (b) shouldn’t happen. But do I trust that both will? No. I didn’t dub Lindsey Graham “the Arlen Specter of the South” for nothing.
It will be a pity if Republicans leave court of appeals judgeships on the table. But I believe there’s at least a 50 percent chance of that happening.


powerlineblog--2020-11-10--How About a Special Counsel?

How About a Special Counsel?

Paul wrote a little while ago that the Senate should investigate the 2020 election to determine how susceptible our electoral systems are to fraud , and to recommend improvements .
I agree .
A reader offers another suggestion : why doesn ’ t Attorney General Barr appoint a Special Counsel to investigate voter fraud in the election , and bring criminal charges where appropriate ?
The nation is coming out of another close election and the air is full of accusations of malfeasance and chicanery .
Sour grapes are an important part of losing elections , but in 2020 there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ballot creation , ballot backdating and miscounting than there ever was of Russian collusion in 2016 .
And , like 2016 , even if these accusations are true , the time between Election Day and January 20th is insufficient to conduct even a cursory investigation .
Further , like 2016 , if the accusations are true , it would be difficult , if not impossible , to tie the misconduct to specific votes sufficient to overturn the result , whether the present counts hold up or the incumbent prevails .
Moreover , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ party is hobbled by two undeniable realities : 1 ) The investigating party can not expect the cooperation of the other party ( the alleged perpetrator ) ; and , 2 ) The results of the investigation ( however valid and well-documented ) will be discounted by approximately one-half of the population .
There is an important difference between the accusations of 2016 and 2020 .
If there had been any truth to the claims of Russian collusion , it would have been a one-off , an aberration .
Remember , the claim @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump over Clinton ( despite their many investments in various Clinton affairs ) , had actively colluded with the Trump campaign to change the result of the election .
Never before or since has there been such an accusation of foreign cooperation with a Presidential campaign .
So far , in 2020 , there have not even been accusations that the Chinese , Russians or any others colluded with the Biden campaign ( despite their many investments in various Biden affairs ) .
On the other hand , accusations of vote fraud , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ very heart of our democracy .
Not only , if true , could they have affected the outcome of this election ; if undeterred , there is every reason to believe that they will reoccur .
If , in fact , the misconduct affected this election , is is not only not deterred , it is amply rewarded .
Because of state control of election procedures , the current evidence appears to establish probable cause for a number of state crimes .
In jurisdictions controlled by the party benefitting from the claimed offenses @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , in addition to state crimes , the specifics of these acts will usually also constitute mail or wire fraud , which are federal offenses .
Moreover , creation or counting of an illegal ballot for A amounts to the suppression of a legal ballot cast for B , violating the civil rights of B ’ s voter .
The planning for any of these activities would be a conspiracy to violate the civil rights of the opposing voters .
The 2000 Bush vs. Gore litigation established jurisdiction under an Equal Protection rubric @ @ @ @ @ @ @ straightforward than the process crimes pursued by Robert Mueller ’ s team .
The importance of both the claimed misconduct and the resultant discrediting of the electoral process demands a federal investigation .
However , like 2016 , Democrats would argue that it would be inappropriate for Attorney General Barr to oversee such an investigation .
Likewise , if Vice President Biden is elected , his appointed Attorney General would be subject to the converse apparent conflict .
Accordingly , this is the specific type of situation contemplated by the Special Counsel statute @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the current and any future Attorney General , would be the only agency capable of conducting a thorough investigation and establishing whether the claims of ballot fraud and election tampering are true or false .
In either case , the process would restore faith in our electoral system .
If the Special Counsel found no such activity had occurred , Americans would be greatly relieved .
If , in fact , election crimes were committed , whether or not they changed the 2020 election , draconian punishments will deter future such conduct .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ a detailed report to the Attorney General and , via the Attorney General , to Congress outlining or negating the necessity for legislative changes .
Since evidence of events like these is highly transitory , the Attorney General should immediately appoint a Special Counsel to examine claims of election fraud .
The prompt issuance of federal subpoenas will help to preserve evidence and timely investigation will identify witnesses .
The Republicans claim these crimes occurred and would welcome the investigation to punish those involved .
The Democrats claim it never happened and should @ @ @ @ @ @ @ over an incoming Presidency .

Paul wrote a little while ago that the Senate should investigate the 2020 election to determine how susceptible our electoral systems are to fraud, and to recommend improvements. I agree. A reader offers another suggestion: why doesn’t Attorney General Barr appoint a Special Counsel to investigate voter fraud in the election, and bring criminal charges where appropriate?
The nation is coming out of another close election and the air is full of accusations of malfeasance and chicanery. Sour grapes are an important part of losing elections, but in 2020 there is far more evidence of ballot tampering, ballot creation, ballot backdating and miscounting than there ever was of Russian collusion in 2016.
And, like 2016, even if these accusations are true, the time between Election Day and January 20th is insufficient to conduct even a cursory investigation. Further, like 2016, if the accusations are true, it would be difficult, if not impossible, to tie the misconduct to specific votes sufficient to overturn the result, whether the present counts hold up or the incumbent prevails.
Moreover, an investigation by appointees of either political party is hobbled by two undeniable realities:
1) The investigating party cannot expect the cooperation of the other party (the alleged perpetrator); and,
2) The results of the investigation (however valid and well-documented) will be discounted by approximately one-half of the population.
There is an important difference between the accusations of 2016 and 2020. If there had been any truth to the claims of Russian collusion, it would have been a one-off, an aberration. Remember, the claim was that the rascally Russians, preferring Trump over Clinton (despite their many investments in various Clinton affairs), had actively colluded with the Trump campaign to change the result of the election. Never before or since has there been such an accusation of foreign cooperation with a Presidential campaign. So far, in 2020, there have not even been accusations that the Chinese, Russians or any others colluded with the Biden campaign (despite their many investments in various Biden affairs).
On the other hand, accusations of vote fraud, like voter suppression, strike at the very heart of our democracy. Not only, if true, could they have affected the outcome of this election; if undeterred, there is every reason to believe that they will reoccur. If, in fact, the misconduct affected this election, is is not only not deterred, it is amply rewarded.
Because of state control of election procedures, the current evidence appears to establish probable cause for a number of state crimes. In jurisdictions controlled by the party benefitting from the claimed offenses, prosecution will not happen. But, in addition to state crimes, the specifics of these acts will usually also constitute mail or wire fraud, which are federal offenses. Moreover, creation or counting of an illegal ballot for A amounts to the suppression of a legal ballot cast for B, violating the civil rights of B’s voter. The planning for any of these activities would be a conspiracy to violate the civil rights of the opposing voters. The 2000 Bush vs. Gore litigation established jurisdiction under an Equal Protection rubric. These election crimes are much more straightforward than the process crimes pursued by Robert Mueller’s team.
The importance of both the claimed misconduct and the resultant discrediting of the electoral process demands a federal investigation. However, like 2016, Democrats would argue that it would be inappropriate for Attorney General Barr to oversee such an investigation. Likewise, if Vice President Biden is elected, his appointed Attorney General would be subject to the converse apparent conflict.
Accordingly, this is the specific type of situation contemplated by the Special Counsel statute.
A Special Counsel, independent of the current and any future Attorney General, would be the only agency capable of conducting a thorough investigation and establishing whether the claims of ballot fraud and election tampering are true or false. In either case, the process would restore faith in our electoral system. If the Special Counsel found no such activity had occurred, Americans would be greatly relieved. If, in fact, election crimes were committed, whether or not they changed the 2020 election, draconian punishments will deter future such conduct. Further, the Special Counsel could provide a detailed report to the Attorney General and, via the Attorney General, to Congress outlining or negating the necessity for legislative changes.
Since evidence of events like these is highly transitory, the Attorney General should immediately appoint a Special Counsel to examine claims of election fraud. The prompt issuance of federal subpoenas will help to preserve evidence and timely investigation will identify witnesses. The Republicans claim these crimes occurred and would welcome the investigation to punish those involved. The Democrats claim it never happened and should welcome the investigation to remove any cloud over an incoming Presidency.


powerlineblog--2020-11-09--The Senate should investigate this year’s election

If Republicans hold onto the Senate majority , one of their top priorities should be an investigation of the election that just took place .
The purpose of that investigation shouldn ’ t be to relitigate the outcome of the presidential race .
The purpose should be to determine the extent , if any , to which our revised , post-coronavirus election system is susceptible to and/or plagued by fraud .
Stated differently , the purpose should be to determine whether our election procedures can be relied on to produce winners who actually receive the requisite mandate from the electorate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ flaws to the extent they are found .
The investigation shouldn ’ t assume the existence of fraudulent practices on a large scale , only the possibility that they occurred this year .
There is widespread suspicion that fraud played a meaningful role in this election .
That suspicion is at least as widespread as was the view four years ago that the Russians played a meaningful role in the last one .
It was right ( as I argued at the time ) for the Republican Congress to investigate Russian interference in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the Senate to investigate possible widespread fraud in this one .
Nothing is more integral to our democracy than fair elections .
Running second , arguably , is public faith that our elections are fair .
Accordingly , both parties should support an investigation into the election , provided that Senators from both parties can be heard .
I ’ m pretty sure , however , that the Democrats won ’ t support such an investigation .
That ’ s all the more indication that one should take place .
It ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his caucus , of course , to decide whether such an investigation is worthwhile .
Maybe they are fully confident that their colleague Ron Johnson , for example , will get a fair vote count in Wisconsin in 2022 , or confident that the Republican presidential candidate in 2024 ( possibly a current Senator ) will get one .
If so , that confidence is probably misplaced .
If the investigation occurs , it won ’ t lead to a congressional fix .
What it can do , depending on the findings , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ roadmap ) that state officials , campaigns , litigants , and courts can rely on to combat fraud in future elections .

If Republicans hold onto the Senate majority, one of their top priorities should be an investigation of the election that just took place. The purpose of that investigation shouldn’t be to relitigate the outcome of the presidential race. The purpose should be to determine the extent, if any, to which our revised, post-coronavirus election system is susceptible to and/or plagued by fraud.
Stated differently, the purpose should be to determine whether our election procedures can be relied on to produce winners who actually receive the requisite mandate from the electorate — and to recommend measures to correct flaws to the extent they are found.
The investigation shouldn’t assume the existence of fraudulent practices on a large scale, only the possibility that they occurred this year. There is widespread suspicion that fraud played a meaningful role in this election. That suspicion is at least as widespread as was the view four years ago that the Russians played a meaningful role in the last one. It was right (as I argued at the time) for the Republican Congress to investigate Russian interference in the 2016 contest. It is right for the Senate to investigate possible widespread fraud in this one.
Nothing is more integral to our democracy than fair elections. Running second, arguably, is public faith that our elections are fair.
Accordingly, both parties should support an investigation into the election, provided that Senators from both parties can be heard. I’m pretty sure, however, that the Democrats won’t support such an investigation. That’s all the more indication that one should take place.
It’s up to Majority Leader McConnell and his caucus, of course, to decide whether such an investigation is worthwhile. Maybe they are fully confident that their colleague Ron Johnson, for example, will get a fair vote count in Wisconsin in 2022, or confident that the Republican presidential candidate in 2024 (possibly a current Senator) will get one. If so, that confidence is probably misplaced.
If the investigation occurs, it won’t lead to a congressional fix. What it can do, depending on the findings, is create a record (or a roadmap) that state officials, campaigns, litigants, and courts can rely on to combat fraud in future elections.


powerlineblog--2020-11-09--Lee Smith: CNN & the Steele Dossier

Lee Smith: CNN & the Steele Dossier

Lee Smith is the author of The Plot Against the President : The True Story of How Congressman Devin Nunes Uncovered the Biggest Political Scandal in US History .
Lee ’ s book is an invaluable companion to Andrew McCarthy ’ s Ball of Collusion : The Plot to Rig an Election and Destroy a Presidency ; it adds to and amplifies the case McCarthy makes .
One of Lee ’ s principal themes is the role played by the media peddling the Russia hoax .
The passage below from pages 119-121 is illustrative of the theme .
In this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2017 CNN story “ Intel chiefs presented Trump with claims of Russian efforts to compromise him.
” Running under the byline of Evan Perez , Jim Sciutto , Jake Tapper and Carl Bernstein , the story peddled the Russia hoax based on the patently absurd Steele Dossier , which had not yet been made public .
Lee noted that the story referred to the dossier ’ s most serious charge , “ allegations that there was a continuing exchange of information during the campaign between Trump surrogates and intermediaries for the Russian government.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ we first published with Lee ’ s permission last year in connection with the adjacent post : Hours after the CNN story broke , BuzzFeed published what appears to be the full text of the Steele Dossier .
Tapper emailed BuzzFeed editor Ben Smith to complain .
“ I think your move makes the story less serious and credible , ” he wrote .
“ I think you damaged its impact.
” Another media outfit had taken the air out of the CNN investigative team ’ s big breaking news story .
Because @ @ @ @ @ @ @ judge the credibility of the dossier–with its lurid tales of golden showers and outlandish allegations of Trump-Russia conspiracies–for themselves rather than take it on CNN ’ s authority .
Publication of the document undermined the story ’ s credibility .
CNN had not published an account of prostitutes precisely because it wanted to avoid appearing like a tabloid , because it wanted its serious and credible report to have an impact .
With news consumers now given a wider context in which to judge the CNN report , Tapper was angry .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it was you stepping on my dick.
” Tapper thought BuzzFeed was unprofessional .
“ Your guys unlike us don ’ t even seem to know who the former agent i [ s ] , ” he wrote .
Tapper was boasting .
The CNN team was on the inside .
It wasn ’ t until the next day , January 11 , it was reported that Steele had authored the memos .
CNN had been briefed by Steele himself .
Steele ’ s boss , Glenn Simpson , had worked with CNN @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Street Journal .
After he had left the Journal , Perez still socialized with the former journalists who founded Fusion GPS .
CNN did not disclose that Perez was friends with the political operatives who had produced and distributed the Clinton-funded dossier that Clapper discussed with the CNN anchorman and that Comey had briefed the president-elect as a news hook for CNN to break the story .
It was a tightly wrapped package , like a bomb designed to blow up on Trump .
“ No one verified this stuff , ” Tapper @ @ @ @ @ @ @ That was true .
Months before the election , media organizations had sent reporters as far as Moscow to try to verify the dossier .
No one had been able to , which was why CNN needed Comey ’ s briefing [ to Trump ] to report on it .
The CNN anchor was caught in a contradiction .
It was unverified , but CNN ran with it anyway .
CNN published a story about intelligence officials briefing a president on national security issues based on information it knew might not be true @ @ @ @ @ @ @ years ago at a magazine called Talk .
He was a very good journalist .
And yet he missed the real story here–four US intelligence chiefs had briefed unverified information to the president and president-elect .
No one in the press reported it because they couldn ’ t–they were themselves part of it .
But the CNN story found a way around the traditional measures designed to keep disinformation out of the press ; it didn ’ t report the allegations of the dossier directly but rather on the fact that it was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was now out in the open .
And under the guise of “ news , ” the press would unleash half a million fictions engendered by a conspiracy theory .
After CNN ’ s January 10 story , there was no going back to traditional , fact-based journalism .
Reporters had transformed into outright political operatives .
Copyright © 2019 by Lee Smith .
All rights reserved .
Reprinted with the kind permission of Lee Smith .

Lee Smith is the author of The Plot Against the President: The True Story of How Congressman Devin Nunes Uncovered the Biggest Political Scandal in US History. Lee’s book is an invaluable companion to Andrew McCarthy’s Ball of Collusion: The Plot to Rig an Election and Destroy a Presidency; it adds to and amplifies the case McCarthy makes.
One of Lee’s principal themes is the role played by the media peddling the Russia hoax. The passage below from pages 119-121 is illustrative of the theme. In this passage Lee discusses the January 10, 2017 CNN story “Intel chiefs presented Trump with claims of Russian efforts to compromise him.” Running under the byline of Evan Perez, Jim Sciutto, Jake Tapper and Carl Bernstein, the story peddled the Russia hoax based on the patently absurd Steele Dossier, which had not yet been made public. Lee noted that the story referred to the dossier’s most serious charge, “allegations that there was a continuing exchange of information during the campaign between Trump surrogates and intermediaries for the Russian government.” I am reposting this excerpt that we first published with Lee’s permission last year in connection with the adjacent post:
* * * * *
Hours after the CNN story broke, BuzzFeed published what appears to be the full text of the Steele Dossier. Tapper emailed BuzzFeed editor Ben Smith to complain. “I think your move makes the story less serious and credible,” he wrote. “I think you damaged its impact.”
Another media outfit had taken the air out of the CNN investigative team’s big breaking news story. Because of BuzzFeed, American news audiences could judge the credibility of the dossier–with its lurid tales of golden showers and outlandish allegations of Trump-Russia conspiracies–for themselves rather than take it on CNN’s authority.
Publication of the document undermined the story’s credibility. CNN had not published an account of prostitutes precisely because it wanted to avoid appearing like a tabloid, because it wanted its serious and credible report to have an impact.
With news consumers now given a wider context in which to judge the CNN report, Tapper was angry. “Collegiality wise, Tapper wrote, “it was you stepping on my dick.”
Tapper thought BuzzFeed was unprofessional. “Your guys unlike us don’t even seem to know who the former agent i[s],” he wrote.
Tapper was boasting. The CNN team was on the inside. It wasn’t until the next day, January 11, it was reported that Steele had authored the memos. CNN had been briefed by Steele himself. Steele’s boss, Glenn Simpson, had worked with CNN’s Evan Perez at the Wall Street Journal. After he had left the Journal, Perez still socialized with the former journalists who founded Fusion GPS.
CNN did not disclose that Perez was friends with the political operatives who had produced and distributed the Clinton-funded dossier that Clapper discussed with the CNN anchorman and that Comey had briefed the president-elect as a news hook for CNN to break the story. It was a tightly wrapped package, like a bomb designed to blow up on Trump.
“No one verified this stuff,” Tapper wrote to Smith regarding the dossier.
That was true. Months before the election, media organizations had sent reporters as far as Moscow to try to verify the dossier. No one had been able to, which was why CNN needed Comey’s briefing [to Trump] to report on it.
The CNN anchor was caught in a contradiction. It was unverified, but CNN ran with it anyway. CNN published a story about intelligence officials briefing a president on national security issues based on information it knew might not be true.
I worked with Tapper nearly twenty years ago at a magazine called Talk. He was a very good journalist. And yet he missed the real story here–four US intelligence chiefs had briefed unverified information to the president and president-elect.
No one in the press reported it because they couldn’t–they were themselves part of it. But the CNN story found a way around the traditional measures designed to keep disinformation out of the press; it didn’t report the allegations of the dossier directly but rather on the fact that it was briefed to the president-elect.
The dossier was now out in the open. And under the guise of “news,” the press would unleash half a million fictions engendered by a conspiracy theory. After CNN’s January 10 story, there was no going back to traditional, fact-based journalism. Reporters had transformed into outright political operatives.
Copyright © 2019 by Lee Smith. All rights reserved. Reprinted with the kind permission of Lee Smith.


powerlineblog--2020-11-09--Let the healing begin!

Let the healing begin!