powerlineblog--2020-12-21--Remembering the conservatives we lost in 2020

Tevi Troy writes about prominent conservatives who died in the past twelve months .
Even taking the pandemic into account , I was surprised by how many conservatives we lost .
Here is the list .
It ’ s eclectic .
To see what each person on it contributed to conservatism and to America , check out Tevi ’ s column : Farber was a talk radio guy .
Talkers magazine ranked him the 9th greatest radio talk show host of all time .
Farber began hosting a talk show in New York City in the early 1960s .
At @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
However , as the 60s wore painfully on , he moved to the right .
My New York cousins used to talk about Farber , but I never had the opportunity to listen to him during this period .
Eventually , Farber went national , and for a few years in the late 1970s , I listened to him fairly regularly late at night .
Farber was an immense talent and a very clear thinker .
I admit , however , that I remember him best for the commercials he delivered , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the day , the top radio hosts all were excellent pitch men , and Farber was one of the two best I ever heard .
The other was Steve Allison , whose show on WWDC in Washington I listened to religiously in the early and mid 60s .
( The award for excellence in a single commercial goes to Ken Beatrice , a D.C. sports talk host , for his Arby ’ s spot ) .
Farber ran for Congress in 1970 against left-wing icon Bella Abzug .
Later he ran against Ed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Both efforts were unsuccessful .
However , as Tevi notes , Farber scored a moral victory against Abzug , holding her to only 52 percent of the vote in her heavily Democratic district .
Against Koch , Farber came in second , running on the Conservative Party ticket .
He outpolled the Republican candidate .
I recall Farber being asked on his show whether his unsuccessful campaigns were his biggest career disappointments .
He scoffed at the idea .
His biggest disappointment , Farber said , was not making it on television .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t .
Farber was a helluva lot better than Larry King .

Tevi Troy writes about prominent conservatives who died in the past twelve months. Even taking the pandemic into account, I was surprised by how many conservatives we lost.
Here is the list. It’s eclectic. To see what each person on it contributed to conservatism and to America, check out Tevi’s column:
Gertrude Himmelfarb (died December 30, 2019)
Owen Harries
Sir Roger Scruton
Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks
Roger Jepsen
Dr. Tom Coburn
Herman Cain
Barry Farber
Charlie Daniels
Walter Williams
Abigail Thernstrom
Bruce Herschensohn
Ed Lazear
Farber was a talk radio guy. Talkers magazine ranked him the 9th greatest radio talk show host of all time.
Farber began hosting a talk show in New York City in the early 1960s. At first, he was a liberal anti-Communist. However, as the 60s wore painfully on, he moved to the right.
My New York cousins used to talk about Farber, but I never had the opportunity to listen to him during this period. Eventually, Farber went national, and for a few years in the late 1970s, I listened to him fairly regularly late at night.
Farber was an immense talent and a very clear thinker. I admit, however, that I remember him best for the commercials he delivered, especially for Prevention Magazine.
Back in the day, the top radio hosts all were excellent pitch men, and Farber was one of the two best I ever heard. The other was Steve Allison, whose show on WWDC in Washington I listened to religiously in the early and mid 60s. (The award for excellence in a single commercial goes to Ken Beatrice, a D.C. sports talk host, for his Arby’s spot).
Farber ran for Congress in 1970 against left-wing icon Bella Abzug. Later he ran against Ed Koch for mayor of New York. Both efforts were unsuccessful.
However, as Tevi notes, Farber scored a moral victory against Abzug, holding her to only 52 percent of the vote in her heavily Democratic district. Against Koch, Farber came in second, running on the Conservative Party ticket. He outpolled the Republican candidate.
I recall Farber being asked on his show whether his unsuccessful campaigns were his biggest career disappointments. He scoffed at the idea. His biggest disappointment, Farber said, was not making it on television.
It’s too bad he didn’t. Farber was a helluva lot better than Larry King.


Georgia, again

Within a few days after the November election , it became clear that control of the U.S. Senate would hinge on the outcome of the two Georgia runoff races .
But with that election two months away , I decided not to obsess over it , for two reasons .
First , I had spent several months obsessing over the November election and thought I could use a break .
Second , I was fairly confident that at least one of the Republicans running in Georgia , and probably both , would prevail .
I still believe this .
However @ @ @ @ @ @ @ doubt and we are now just two weeks away from the Georgia runoffs .
It ’ s time to take another look .
The polls show both Republican incumbents , David Perdue and Kelly Loeffler , in the lead , albeit narrowly .
Perdue leads Democrat Jon Ossoff in four of the five most recent polls reported by Real Clear Politics and in all three of those taken in December .
He leads in the RCP poll average by 1.6 .
He leads in the Trafalgar poll by 2 points .
Trafalgar ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the recent elections .
Loeffler leads Democrat Raphael Warnock in four of the most recent polls cited by RCP — the same ones that Perdue leads in .
Her lead in the RCP poll average is only 0.8 , but that number is unduly influenced by a Survey USA poll that gave Warnock a 7 point lead .
That result has no credibility with me .
In the Trafalgar poll , Loeffler leads by 6 points .
The poll results , excluding Survey USA ’ s , comport with common sense .
Perdue @ @ @ @ @ @ @ November .
He just missed hitting 50 percent .
The votes that caused him to come up short went to the Libertarian Party candidate , not to a left-winger .
Loeffler ’ s race was a wild “ jungle primary , ” so the November results are more difficult to interpret .
However , Warnock is so far to the left that , for me , he ’ s the underdog in a two-way race with any respectable Republican .
Let ’ s remember that in 2018 , a better year for Democrats @ @ @ @ @ @ @ win the governor ’ s race , although she came close .
Warnock seems like a more radical version of Abrams .
The analysis can ’ t end here , of course .
We have to consider how high the stakes are in these runoffs and all the resources the Democrats have brought to bear .
However , I think Georgia voters are saturated by now , so that the extra dollars the Dems are spending will have no effect .
There ’ s also the question of whether Republican voters will fail @ @ @ @ @ @ @ numbers needed , due to doubts about the legitimacy of November tabulation .
For what it ’ s worth , I discount this possibility .
It seems like something the media likes to write about , rather than something that ’ s likely to happen .
But who knows ?
Finally , there ’ s the possibility that cheating and fraud will carry Ossoff and Warnock to victory .
If both are behind by 2 points , let ’ s say , this amounts to about 100,000 votes .
Could the Democrats make @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ?
Maybe , but I doubt it .
However , if the spread is significantly less than 2 points , I could see fraud making the difference .
These races are now in the home stretch .
We ’ ll be checking in on them again between now and runoff day .

Within a few days after the November election, it became clear that control of the U.S. Senate would hinge on the outcome of the two Georgia runoff races. But with that election two months away, I decided not to obsess over it, for two reasons.
First, I had spent several months obsessing over the November election and thought I could use a break. Second, I was fairly confident that at least one of the Republicans running in Georgia, and probably both, would prevail.
I still believe this. However, the outcome is hardly free from doubt and we are now just two weeks away from the Georgia runoffs. It’s time to take another look.
The polls show both Republican incumbents, David Perdue and Kelly Loeffler, in the lead, albeit narrowly. Perdue leads Democrat Jon Ossoff in four of the five most recent polls reported by Real Clear Politics and in all three of those taken in December. He leads in the RCP poll average by 1.6. He leads in the Trafalgar poll by 2 points. Trafalgar’s polls were among the accurate in the recent elections.
Loeffler leads Democrat Raphael Warnock in four of the most recent polls cited by RCP — the same ones that Perdue leads in. Her lead in the RCP poll average is only 0.8, but that number is unduly influenced by a Survey USA poll that gave Warnock a 7 point lead. That result has no credibility with me. In the Trafalgar poll, Loeffler leads by 6 points.
The poll results, excluding Survey USA’s, comport with common sense. Perdue ran 2 points ahead of Ossoff in November. He just missed hitting 50 percent. The votes that caused him to come up short went to the Libertarian Party candidate, not to a left-winger.
Loeffler’s race was a wild “jungle primary,” so the November results are more difficult to interpret. However, Warnock is so far to the left that, for me, he’s the underdog in a two-way race with any respectable Republican.
Let’s remember that in 2018, a better year for Democrats than 2020, Stacey Abrams failed to win the governor’s race, although she came close. Warnock seems like a more radical version of Abrams.
The analysis can’t end here, of course. We have to consider how high the stakes are in these runoffs and all the resources the Democrats have brought to bear. However, I think Georgia voters are saturated by now, so that the extra dollars the Dems are spending will have no effect.
There’s also the question of whether Republican voters will fail to turn out in the very large numbers needed, due to doubts about the legitimacy of November tabulation. For what it’s worth, I discount this possibility. It seems like something the media likes to write about, rather than something that’s likely to happen. But who knows?
Finally, there’s the possibility that cheating and fraud will carry Ossoff and Warnock to victory. If both are behind by 2 points, let’s say, this amounts to about 100,000 votes. Could the Democrats make up a deficit like that through fraud? Maybe, but I doubt it. However, if the spread is significantly less than 2 points, I could see fraud making the difference.
These races are now in the home stretch. We’ll be checking in on them again between now and runoff day.


powerlineblog--2020-12-21--Tim Jong Walz Is Shutting Us Down

Tim Jong Walz Is Shutting Us Down

“ 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


History Repeats

Respectable people everywhere are scandalized at President Trump ’ s insistence that the election results are not to be taken at face value , and deplore the pressure he has brought on Attorney General Bill Barr and other Republicans to press the matter .
How outrageous !
How unprecedented !
Unprecedented ?
I wonder .
Especially when by accident I ran across a newspaper column from the late and revered journalist Ralph de Toledano from December 6 , 1960 : What began as a “ forlorn hope ” to pick up a few more electoral votes for Vice President Nixon @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The decision to make it so , it can be reliably reported , was made by President Eisenhower , who is in a table-thumping mood about what he believes to be the theft of the election from Vice President Nixon .
As a result , word has gone out from the White House to Attorney General William P. Rogers to get off his above-the-battle pedestal and to do everything federal law allows in order to get an undisputed count in Illinois , Missouri , Texas , Nevada , and New Jersey .
He @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Thurston B. Morton to put the weight of his resources behind state GOP groups battling for a recount .
.
.
Four precincts in Chicago , for example , with some 1,200 qualified voters , cast over 2,000 votes on November 8 .
Yet the tallies from these precincts are included as legitimate in the official city canvas .
Chicago newspaper estimate as many as 100,000 votes were stolen in Cook County .
In Texas , one interesting statistic indicates what a careful investigation of the election might produce .
Vice President Nixon @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in districts using voting machines .
In districts that continue to use paper ballots only—easily destroyed or declared invalid—Mr .
Kennedy ran 85,000 votes ahead of Mr. Nixon .
If [ Kennedy ] sits in the White House , and it is determined that he was not entitled to the electoral college vote which put him there , both his own prestige and that of American democracy will be tarnished .
Democrats spent the last four years charging that Trump was an illegitimate president .
Time to return the favor .

Respectable people everywhere are scandalized at President Trump’s insistence that the election results are not to be taken at face value, and deplore the pressure he has brought on Attorney General Bill Barr and other Republicans to press the matter. How outrageous! How unprecedented!
Unprecedented? I wonder. Especially when by accident I ran across a newspaper column from the late and revered journalist Ralph de Toledano from December 6, 1960:
What began as a “forlorn hope” to pick up a few more electoral votes for Vice President Nixon is now a full-scale Republican operation. The decision to make it so, it can be reliably reported, was made by President Eisenhower, who is in a table-thumping mood about what he believes to be the theft of the election from Vice President Nixon. As a result, word has gone out from the White House to Attorney General William P. Rogers to get off his above-the-battle pedestal and to do everything federal law allows in order to get an undisputed count in Illinois, Missouri, Texas, Nevada, and New Jersey. He has also told Republican National Committee Chairman Thurston B. Morton to put the weight of his resources behind state GOP groups battling for a recount. . . Four precincts in Chicago, for example, with some 1,200 qualified voters, cast over 2,000 votes on November 8. Yet the tallies from these precincts are included as legitimate in the official city canvas. Chicago newspaper estimate as many as 100,000 votes were stolen in Cook County. In Texas, one interesting statistic indicates what a careful investigation of the election might produce. Vice President Nixon ran 40,000 votes ahead of Mr. Kennedy in districts using voting machines. In districts that continue to use paper ballots only—easily destroyed or declared invalid—Mr. Kennedy ran 85,000 votes ahead of Mr. Nixon.
de Toledano added:
If [Kennedy] sits in the White House, and it is determined that he was not entitled to the electoral college vote which put him there, both his own prestige and that of American democracy will be tarnished.
Democrats spent the last four years charging that Trump was an illegitimate president. Time to return the favor.


powerlineblog--2020-12-21--More than a woman, cont’d

More than a woman, cont’d

Maria Bartiromo interviewed House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy yesterday on Sunday Morning Futures just after I posted “ More than @ @ @ @ @ covers the interview in the Fox News story “ McCarthy after FBI briefing : ‘ @ @ @ @ @ serve on intel committee.
” In this interview McCarthy is even more emphatic about the @ @ @ @ @ serve on the House Intelligence Committee than in the interview I posted .
Why did @ @ @ @ @ the committee ?
Why does she defend his continued service on the committee ?
Perhaps @ @ @ @ @ find out .
Swalwell ’ s intimate relationship with a Chinese Communist spy is a @ @ @ @ @ the New York Times has yet to break the news to its readers ( see @ @ @ @ @ ” here ) .
In a December 18 Fox News interview — the interview is @ @ @ @ @ Trey Gowdy explained why : “ They ’ re not about to write a damaging @ @ @ @ @ of their sources .
”

Maria Bartiromo interviewed House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy yesterday on Sunday Morning Futures just after I posted “More than a woman.” Angelica Stabile covers the interview in the Fox News story “McCarthy after FBI briefing: ‘No way’ Swalwell should serve on intel committee.”
In this interview McCarthy is even more emphatic about the unfitness of Eric Swalwell to serve on the House Intelligence Committee than in the interview I posted. Why did Nancy Pelosi place him on the committee? Why does she defend his continued service on the committee? Perhaps some day we’ll find out.
Watch the latest video at foxnews.com
Swalwell’s intimate relationship with a Chinese Communist spy is a rather big story, yet the New York Times has yet to break the news to its readers (see search results on “Swalwell” here). In a December 18 Fox News interview — the interview is posted here — former Rep. Trey Gowdy explained why: “They’re not about to write a damaging story and dry up one of their sources.”


Birx busted

Deborah Birx is the latest official to be found out violating the restrictions she urges the rest of of us live under .
In a long , detailed story the AP busts her here .
RedState ’ s Nick Arama comments here .
Contacted for comment by the AP , Birx pleaded not guilty to the charge of hypocrisy .
I find her guilty with an explanation : After The Associated Press raised questions about her Thanksgiving weekend travels , Birx acknowledged in a statement that she went to her Delaware property .
She declined to be interviewed .
She @ @ @ @ @ @ @ visit was to deal with the winterization of the property before a potential sale — something she says she previously hadn ’ t had time to do because of her busy schedule .
“ I did not go to Delaware for the purpose of celebrating Thanksgiving , ” Birx said in her statement , adding that her family shared a meal together while in Delaware .
Birx said that everyone on her Delaware trip belongs to her “ immediate household , ” even as she acknowledged they live in two different homes .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ 3 generation household ( formerly 4 generations ) .
” White House officials later said it continues to be a four-generation household , a distinction that would include Birx as part of the home .

Deborah Birx is the latest official to be found out violating the restrictions she urges the rest of of us live under. In a long, detailed story the AP busts her here. RedState’s Nick Arama comments here. Contacted for comment by the AP, Birx pleaded not guilty to the charge of hypocrisy. I find her guilty with an explanation:
After The Associated Press raised questions about her Thanksgiving weekend travels, Birx acknowledged in a statement that she went to her Delaware property. She declined to be interviewed.
She insisted the purpose of the roughly 50-hour visit was to deal with the winterization of the property before a potential sale — something she says she previously hadn’t had time to do because of her busy schedule.
“I did not go to Delaware for the purpose of celebrating Thanksgiving,” Birx said in her statement, adding that her family shared a meal together while in Delaware.
Birx said that everyone on her Delaware trip belongs to her “immediate household,” even as she acknowledged they live in two different homes. She initially called the Potomac home a “3 generation household (formerly 4 generations).” White House officials later said it continues to be a four-generation household, a distinction that would include Birx as part of the home.


powerlineblog--2020-12-22--From Mar-a-Lago, a different take

From Mar-a-Lago, a different take

Yesterday , John sent us greetings from Mar-a-Lago .
He was there to attend Turning Point USA ’ s Winter @ @ @ @ @ .
His report on the gathering is here .
Today , the Washington Post reported @ @ @ @ @ Same gathering , very different take .
The Post ’ s report is under the @ @ @ @ @ mingled maskless at Mar-a-Lago and partied with a money cannon.
” This summer , BLM @ @ @ @ @ ” maskless , in many cases , during various protests and anti-police riots .
I @ @ @ @ @ Post tut-tutting about this .
As for the “ money cannon , ” it seems @ @ @ @ @ to smashing windows and setting fires .
What was the Post ’ s point in @ @ @ @ @ report ?
To convince its upscale readers that young conservatives are tacky , I suppose @ @ @ @ @ shows that young conservatives are young .
I ’ ll leave it there .
Perhaps @ @ @ @ @ on the Post ’ s report .

Yesterday, John sent us greetings from Mar-a-Lago. He was there to attend Turning Point USA’s Winter Gala and Student Action Summit. His report on the gathering is here.
Today, the Washington Post reported on the same event. Same gathering, very different take.
The Post’s report is under the title, “Young conservatives mingled maskless at Mar-a-Lago and partied with a money cannon.” This summer, BLM activists and others “mingled” maskless, in many cases, during various protests and anti-police riots. I don’t recall the Post tut-tutting about this.
As for the “money cannon,” it seems like harmless fun and preferable to smashing windows and setting fires. What was the Post’s point in adding this detail to its report? To convince its upscale readers that young conservatives are tacky, I suppose. I think it just shows that young conservatives are young.
I’ll leave it there. Perhaps John will want to comment on the Post’s report.


powerlineblog--2020-12-22--What We Teach Our Children

What We Teach Our Children

Is there anything more important than how we raise our children ?
How we educate them , how we tell them what the world is like , who we are , and where we came from ?
I don ’ t think so .
Leftists don ’ t think so , either , which is why they took over our public school systems long ago .
My state , Minnesota , is typical .
Our citizens lean right .
I say that because my organization does quarterly polling on issues , and we have never found an issue where the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than the conservative one .
Nevertheless , the far left is firmly in the saddle , and this is especially true with regard to the public school system .
As in other states , Minnesota law creates a process whereby , periodically , a committee produces standards to be followed by the public schools in each academic discipline .
This year , the social studies standard , which tends to be the most controversial , is up for revision .
As you would expect , leftists dominate the committee that produces the standard @ @ @ @ @ @ @ draft form , and opened for public comment .
My colleague Catrin Wigfall at Center of the American Experiment has published an analysis of the draft social studies standards .
Unsurprisingly , they are light on history–World Wars I and II , the Holocaust , minor events of that sort–and heavy on progressive ( i.e.
, anti-American ) ideology .
There are several key pieces of our world and nation ’ s history that are missing when compared with the 2011 social studies standards .
* World War I—benchmarks on the social , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ; nations involved , major political and military figures , key battles ; political impact ( including formation of the League of Nations ) * World War II—benchmarks on the social , political and economic causes of the war , and main turning points ; nations involved , major political and military figures , key battles ; timeline of key events leading to WWII * The Holocaust ( including references to the Nazi regime and Jews ) * Rise and effects of communism and socialism ; Communist Revolution * American Revolution—benchmarks on timeline @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the revolution , including the involvement of other nations and the reasons for American victory ; identifying historically significant people during the period of the revolution ( Examples : George Washington , Thomas Jefferson , Elizabeth Freeman ) * Civil War—benchmarks on timeline of the key events of the war ; causes of the war ; major political and military events ; main ideas of the debate over slavery and states ’ rights and how they resulted in major political compromises and ultimately war *** The history and culture of Minnesota ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in five benchmarks in the 2011 standards .
Their lives and perspective are important , but now with 15 benchmarks in the 2020 first draft specifically naming these two groups , there is concern this comes at the expense of other people groups and other history .
* The political and social culture of Minnesota during WWI and how it affected Minnesotans * The contributions of Minnesota and its people to World War II ; the impact of the war on the home front and Minnesota society after the war ( Examples : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Fort Snelling ) * How Minnesotans influenced , and were influenced by , the debates over the United States ’ involvement in World War II * The response of Minnesotans to global conflicts and displaced peoples since 1945 * The causes and effects of the United States Secret War in Laos and how Hmong allies were impacted * Norman Bourlaug and the agricultural revolution he pioneered We believe the 2020 first draft benchmark below is science related , not social studies .
* Examine how scientific knowledge of alternative forms of energy , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ changed energy production in the United States over the past 20 years ( 16.8.2 ) * Learn to recognize unfairness , stereotypes , and bias on the individual level ( e.g.
, biased speech ) and injustice at the institutional or systemic level ( e.g.
, discrimination ) ( 22.1.1 ) *Note : this is a 1st grade benchmark * Define freedom and democracy , and examine how different groups have been included or excluded from the ideals over American history ( 18.7.1 ) * Develop a respectful awareness about how ideas and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and how members of the LGBTQ+ community have responded to persecution or marginalization by building coalitions in order to promote gender equality/equity ( 22.9.1 ) *Note : How do you measure “ respectful awareness ” ?
Liberals believe that the principal purpose of the public schools is not to educate our children in a traditional sense , but rather to indoctrinate them and turn them into progressive activists .
This is not the view of most Americans , but most Americans don ’ t run the public schools .
My organization is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about what is going on with the new social studies standards , and to facilitate filing of public comments , etc.
, to force revisions .
This is just one skirmish in the war over America ’ s future .
Wherever you live , you should inform yourself as to what the public schools are up to , and weigh in as a citizen .

Is there anything more important than how we raise our children? How we educate them, how we tell them what the world is like, who we are, and where we came from? I don’t think so. Leftists don’t think so, either, which is why they took over our public school systems long ago.
My state, Minnesota, is typical. Our citizens lean right. I say that because my organization does quarterly polling on issues, and we have never found an issue where the liberal position is supported by more Minnesotans than the conservative one. Nevertheless, the far left is firmly in the saddle, and this is especially true with regard to the public school system.
As in other states, Minnesota law creates a process whereby, periodically, a committee produces standards to be followed by the public schools in each academic discipline. This year, the social studies standard, which tends to be the most controversial, is up for revision. As you would expect, leftists dominate the committee that produces the standard, which has now been published in draft form, and opened for public comment.
My colleague Catrin Wigfall at Center of the American Experiment has published an analysis of the draft social studies standards. Unsurprisingly, they are light on history–World Wars I and II, the Holocaust, minor events of that sort–and heavy on progressive (i.e., anti-American) ideology.
WORLD/U.S. HISTORY There are several key pieces of our world and nation’s history that are missing when compared with the 2011 social studies standards. Missing Benchmarks * World War I—benchmarks on the social, political and economic causes of the war; nations involved, major political and military figures, key battles; political impact (including formation of the League of Nations) * World War II—benchmarks on the social, political and economic causes of the war, and main turning points; nations involved, major political and military figures, key battles; timeline of key events leading to WWII * The Holocaust (including references to the Nazi regime and Jews) * Rise and effects of communism and socialism; Communist Revolution * American Revolution—benchmarks on timeline of the major events and turning points of the revolution, including the involvement of other nations and the reasons for American victory; identifying historically significant people during the period of the revolution (Examples: George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Elizabeth Freeman) * Civil War—benchmarks on timeline of the key events of the war; causes of the war; major political and military events; main ideas of the debate over slavery and states’ rights and how they resulted in major political compromises and ultimately war
*** MINNESOTA HISTORY The history and culture of Minnesota’s Anishinaabe and Dakota peoples were included in five benchmarks in the 2011 standards. Their lives and perspective are important, but now with 15 benchmarks in the 2020 first draft specifically naming these two groups, there is concern this comes at the expense of other people groups and other history. Missing Benchmarks * Civil War—the war-time experiences of Minnesota soldiers (1st Minnesota Infantry Regiment) and civilians * The political and social culture of Minnesota during WWI and how it affected Minnesotans * The contributions of Minnesota and its people to World War II; the impact of the war on the home front and Minnesota society after the war (Examples: Iron Range mining and steel production, Fort Snelling) * How Minnesotans influenced, and were influenced by, the debates over the United States’ involvement in World War II * The response of Minnesotans to global conflicts and displaced peoples since 1945 * The causes and effects of the United States Secret War in Laos and how Hmong allies were impacted * Norman Bourlaug and the agricultural revolution he pioneered *** WIND AND SOLAR We believe the 2020 first draft benchmark below is science related, not social studies. * Examine how scientific knowledge of alternative forms of energy, such as wind and solar, have changed energy production in the United States over the past 20 years (16.8.2) SYSTEMIC RACISM/MARGINALIZATION New Benchmarks * Learn to recognize unfairness, stereotypes, and bias on the individual level (e.g., biased speech) and injustice at the institutional or systemic level (e.g., discrimination) (22.1.1) *Note: this is a 1st grade benchmark * Define freedom and democracy, and examine how different groups have been included or excluded from the ideals over American history (18.7.1) * Develop a respectful awareness about how ideas and norms about gender have changed over time, and how members of the LGBTQ+ community have responded to persecution or marginalization by building coalitions in order to promote gender equality/equity (22.9.1) *Note: How do you measure “respectful awareness”?
Liberals believe that the principal purpose of the public schools is not to educate our children in a traditional sense, but rather to indoctrinate them and turn them into progressive activists. This is not the view of most Americans, but most Americans don’t run the public schools. My organization is mounting a public campaign to inform Minnesotans about what is going on with the new social studies standards, and to facilitate filing of public comments, etc., to force revisions.
This is just one skirmish in the war over America’s future. Wherever you live, you should inform yourself as to what the public schools are up to, and weigh in as a citizen.


powerlineblog--2020-12-23--Poll:  Most Americans don’t want Pelosi to be Speaker

A new poll from Politico/Morning Consult suggests that Americans have restored Nancy Pelosi to her rightful place as the nation ’ s chief villain among its leaders .
According to the survey , only 31 percent of voters think Pelosi should remain as Speaker of the House .
56 percent believe she shouldn ’ t .
President Trump never had numbers this bad — not in any reliable poll .
And I ’ m pretty sure Majority Leader McConnell would poll considerably better than Pelosi did in the Politico/Morning Consult survey .
Throughout most of her time as Speaker , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ With Pelosi as the villain , the GOP was able to raise massive amounts of money , energize its base , and score several impressive electoral victories .
However , things changed when Donald Trump entered office .
Although probably never as unpopular as Pelosi , Trump dwarfed her on the national stage , making her seem irrelevant .
This happened not just because of the office Trump held , but also because of the way he carried himself .
Trump was a lightning rod .
Thus , the past two elections have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ That ’ s a big reason why the same voters who would rather Pelosi not be the Speaker voted in ways that made her that .
But with Trump soon to be out of office , Pelosi will once again be front and center .
If this isn ’ t another reason why Democrats feel gloomy about the state of play , it should be .

A new poll from Politico/Morning Consult suggests that Americans have restored Nancy Pelosi to her rightful place as the nation’s chief villain among its leaders. According to the survey, only 31 percent of voters think Pelosi should remain as Speaker of the House. 56 percent believe she shouldn’t.
President Trump never had numbers this bad — not in any reliable poll. And I’m pretty sure Majority Leader McConnell would poll considerably better than Pelosi did in the Politico/Morning Consult survey.
Throughout most of her time as Speaker, Pelosi was a gift to Republicans. With Pelosi as the villain, the GOP was able to raise massive amounts of money, energize its base, and score several impressive electoral victories.
However, things changed when Donald Trump entered office. Although probably never as unpopular as Pelosi, Trump dwarfed her on the national stage, making her seem irrelevant. This happened not just because of the office Trump held, but also because of the way he carried himself. Trump was a lightning rod.
Thus, the past two elections have been about him, not Pelosi. That’s a big reason why the same voters who would rather Pelosi not be the Speaker voted in ways that made her that.
But with Trump soon to be out of office, Pelosi will once again be front and center. If this isn’t another reason why Democrats feel gloomy about the state of play, it should be.


powerlineblog--2020-12-23--This day in baseball history:  A Minor deal

On December 22 , 2000 , the Baltimore Orioles traded Ryan Minor to the Montreal Expos for Jorge Julio .
Minor has a place in baseball history .
He ’ s the man who started for the Orioles at third base on September 20 , 1998 , the day Cal Ripken voluntarily ended his 2,632 consecutive game streak .
Minor went 1-4 .
The Minor-Julio deal turned out to be a very good one for the Orioles .
Julio was a 21 year-old prospect at the time of the trade .
He made his big league debut in 2001 and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
That season , Julio saved 25 games and pitched to an ERA of 1.99 .
From 2002-04 , he saved 83 games for the Birds .
Julio had little success after that .
He completed his big league career in 2009 , ending up with 99 saves .
In 457 innings of work , the hard throwing Venezuelan stuck out 448 .
Minor came to bat only 95 times for the Expos , batting .158 with an OPS of .476 .
These numbers are in line with his stats as an Oriole @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the majors by 2002 .
Minor had been a tremendous basketball player at the University of Oklahoma .
Standing 6-7 , he averaged 23.6 points per game as a junior and 21.3 per game as a senior .
On the baseball diamond , Minor helped lead the Sooners to the NCAA championship as a sophomore in 1994 .
After college , Minor played both baseball and basketball professionally .
The Philadelphia 76ers took him in the second round of the 1996 NBA draft .
They cut him before the season began .
Minor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Cavalry of the Continental Basketball League .
In 1997 , Minor switched to baseball .
The Orioles called him up in September 1998 , just in time to step in for Cal Ripken at the end of The Streak .
In 2010 , Minor became a manager in Baltimore ’ s minor league system .
He managed the Frederick Keys in 2013 and again in 2018-19 .
( The Keys didn ’ t play in 2020 due to the pandemic and have lost their place as an Orioles affiliate due to the recent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I spoke briefly with Minor on fan appreciation day in 2019 .
I also chatted with Ryan Ripken , the son of the man Minor filled in for on that September day in 1998 and , 21 years later , a member of Minor ’ s team .
Both Ryans , Minor and Ripken , were gracious and easy to talk with .
I commented to Minor about what a great basketball player he was for Oklahoma .
He seemed pleased that someone in this part of the country remembered his hardwood exploits @ @ @ @ @ @

On December 22, 2000, the Baltimore Orioles traded Ryan Minor to the Montreal Expos for Jorge Julio. Minor has a place in baseball history. He’s the man who started for the Orioles at third base on September 20, 1998, the day Cal Ripken voluntarily ended his 2,632 consecutive game streak. Minor went 1-4.
The Minor-Julio deal turned out to be a very good one for the Orioles. Julio was a 21 year-old prospect at the time of the trade. He made his big league debut in 2001 and by 2002 was Baltimore’s closer.
That season, Julio saved 25 games and pitched to an ERA of 1.99. From 2002-04, he saved 83 games for the Birds.
Julio had little success after that. He completed his big league career in 2009, ending up with 99 saves. In 457 innings of work, the hard throwing Venezuelan stuck out 448.
Minor came to bat only 95 times for the Expos, batting .158 with an OPS of .476. These numbers are in line with his stats as an Oriole from 1998-2000. Minor was out of the majors by 2002.
Minor had been a tremendous basketball player at the University of Oklahoma. Standing 6-7, he averaged 23.6 points per game as a junior and 21.3 per game as a senior. On the baseball diamond, Minor helped lead the Sooners to the NCAA championship as a sophomore in 1994.
After college, Minor played both baseball and basketball professionally. The Philadelphia 76ers took him in the second round of the 1996 NBA draft. They cut him before the season began. Minor then played briefly with the Oklahoma City Cavalry of the Continental Basketball League.
In 1997, Minor switched to baseball. The Orioles called him up in September 1998, just in time to step in for Cal Ripken at the end of The Streak.
In 2010, Minor became a manager in Baltimore’s minor league system. He managed the Frederick Keys in 2013 and again in 2018-19. (The Keys didn’t play in 2020 due to the pandemic and have lost their place as an Orioles affiliate due to the recent contraction of minor league ball.)
I spoke briefly with Minor on fan appreciation day in 2019. I also chatted with Ryan Ripken, the son of the man Minor filled in for on that September day in 1998 and, 21 years later, a member of Minor’s team. Both Ryans, Minor and Ripken, were gracious and easy to talk with.
I commented to Minor about what a great basketball player he was for Oklahoma. He seemed pleased that someone in this part of the country remembered his hardwood exploits from almost 25 years ago.


powerlineblog--2020-12-23--WaPo’s Drive-By Smear of Turning Point

WaPo’s Drive-By Smear of Turning Point

The Washington Post takes an interest in conservative organizations like Turning Point USA only when it sees an opportunity to smear them .
As Paul noted this morning , the Post took some drive-by shots at Turning Point ’ s Winter Gala at Mar-a-Lago , which I attended , and its Student Action Summit , which concluded today .
The Post didn ’ t have reporters at these events , of course , and someone who relied on the Post ’ s story would learn virtually nothing about them .
The Post ’ s article is based entirely on random @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cherry-picked to try to make Turning Point look bad .
There is little reason to read the Post ’ s story , as the headline says it all : “ Young conservatives mingled maskless at Mar-a-Lago and partied with a money cannon.
” Seriously .
That is what the Washington Post considers to be news .
Photos posted on social media showed Friday ’ s maskless gala crowd mingling in apparent violation of Palm Bach County ’ s coronavirus protocols , which require that face coverings be worn inside “ all businesses and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people who are eating and drinking , but the county says that — in those cases — masks should be taken off only for “ the shortest practical period of time.
” *** [ L ] ocal governments have urged residents not to attend crowded gatherings such as the one at Mar-a-Lago on Friday .
The town of Palm Beach , for instance , advises residents to “ avoid…crowded spaces with many people nearby and close-contact settings such as close-range conversations.
” I certainly didn ’ t wear a mask .
Those who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to wear a mask or not .
Most didn ’ t , probably because they understand that masks are useless .
But in any event , this is called freedom , something the Post hasn ’ t favored for a long time .
And , of course , no Post reporter or editor would consider it newsworthy if liberals–Nancy Pelosi or Gavin Newsom , for example–decided not to wear masks .
The second part of the Post ’ s headline is more intriguing : “ young conservatives…partied with a money cannon.
” If @ @ @ @ @ @ @ probably are a liberal .
What was going on here ?
The Bang Energy drink company was a sponsor of the Student Action Summit .
As such , they got some time on the stage , and they did indeed have a money cannon that fired $ 1 bills rather than , say , t-shirts , which would have been more valuable .
The kids loved it .
The Post , naturally , hated it : Shocking !
It ’ s hard to say which is worse , the fact that Turning Point @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or that young women were involved .
This is what the Post based its report on : If you are offended by this , there is a strong likelihood that you are a leftist .
One thing about Stalinism : it prohibits fun in pretty much all forms .
So , what did the Post NOT tell its readers about Turning Point ’ s gala and Student Action Summit ?
To begin with , the fact that TPUSA has more than 1,000 college and high school chapters , across the country .
There @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
( Of course , to be fair , the Left doesn ’ t need a volunteer organization , since it controls the universities and high schools themselves . )
The Post doesn ’ t mention that TPUSA scored more than 974,000,000 engagements on social media in 2020 , with 60,000,000 social media followers .
Those would be inconvenient facts for liberal Post subscribers to know , and the Post isn ’ t letting on .
Most important , perhaps , the Post didn ’ t mention that more than 3,500 kids attended @ @ @ @ @ @ @ figure that would have been higher but for coronavirus restrictions .
The Post doesn ’ t note that those kids were wildly enthusiastic , and deeply grateful for the opportunity to escape from the virtual reality to which they have been condemned as a result of irrational corona shutdowns , and actually meet and socialize with their peers .
You will never see enthusiasm , positivity or happiness of the kind that reigned for three days in Palm Beach at any dour left-wing event .
Jealousy , more than anything else , prompts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ like today ’ s in the bitter Washington Post .

The Washington Post takes an interest in conservative organizations like Turning Point USA only when it sees an opportunity to smear them. As Paul noted this morning, the Post took some drive-by shots at Turning Point’s Winter Gala at Mar-a-Lago, which I attended, and its Student Action Summit, which concluded today.
The Post didn’t have reporters at these events, of course, and someone who relied on the Post’s story would learn virtually nothing about them. The Post’s article is based entirely on random social media posts, which the paper cherry-picked to try to make Turning Point look bad. There is little reason to read the Post’s story, as the headline says it all: “Young conservatives mingled maskless at Mar-a-Lago and partied with a money cannon.” Seriously. That is what the Washington Post considers to be news.
Photos posted on social media showed Friday’s maskless gala crowd mingling in apparent violation of Palm Bach County’s coronavirus protocols, which require that face coverings be worn inside “all businesses and establishments.” There is an exception for people who are eating and drinking, but the county says that — in those cases — masks should be taken off only for “the shortest practical period of time.”
***
[L]ocal governments have urged residents not to attend crowded gatherings such as the one at Mar-a-Lago on Friday. The town of Palm Beach, for instance, advises residents to “avoid…crowded spaces with many people nearby and close-contact settings such as close-range conversations.”
I certainly didn’t wear a mask. Those who attended the Turning Point gala chose whether to wear a mask or not. Most didn’t, probably because they understand that masks are useless. But in any event, this is called freedom, something the Post hasn’t favored for a long time. And, of course, no Post reporter or editor would consider it newsworthy if liberals–Nancy Pelosi or Gavin Newsom, for example–decided not to wear masks.
The second part of the Post’s headline is more intriguing: “young conservatives…partied with a money cannon.” If that sounds bad to you, you probably are a liberal.
What was going on here? The Bang Energy drink company was a sponsor of the Student Action Summit. As such, they got some time on the stage, and they did indeed have a money cannon that fired $1 bills rather than, say, t-shirts, which would have been more valuable. The kids loved it. The Post, naturally, hated it:
Inside the convention center, videos show young women, referred to as “Bang Girls” from one of the event’s sponsors, Bang Energy, blasting cash into the cheering crowd of conservative college and high school students. “Yes, that’s a money gun cause we (heart) capitalism!” wrote Emily Sturge, who self-identifies as a Turning Point ambassador, on her Instagram account.
Shocking! It’s hard to say which is worse, the fact that Turning Point and its sponsors endorse free enterprise, or that young women were involved. This is what the Post based its report on:
Looks like there is a money cannon at TPUSA’s winter conference?? pic.twitter.com/OY2XopjjNx — Jared Holt (@jaredlholt) December 20, 2020
If you are offended by this, there is a strong likelihood that you are a leftist. One thing about Stalinism: it prohibits fun in pretty much all forms.
So, what did the Post NOT tell its readers about Turning Point’s gala and Student Action Summit? To begin with, the fact that TPUSA has more than 1,000 college and high school chapters, across the country. There is no comparable organization on the Left. (Of course, to be fair, the Left doesn’t need a volunteer organization, since it controls the universities and high schools themselves.) The Post doesn’t mention that TPUSA scored more than 974,000,000 engagements on social media in 2020, with 60,000,000 social media followers. Those would be inconvenient facts for liberal Post subscribers to know, and the Post isn’t letting on.
Most important, perhaps, the Post didn’t mention that more than 3,500 kids attended this year’s Summit, a figure that would have been higher but for coronavirus restrictions. The Post doesn’t note that those kids were wildly enthusiastic, and deeply grateful for the opportunity to escape from the virtual reality to which they have been condemned as a result of irrational corona shutdowns, and actually meet and socialize with their peers.
You will never see enthusiasm, positivity or happiness of the kind that reigned for three days in Palm Beach at any dour left-wing event. Jealousy, more than anything else, prompts the hatred that drives ill-informed drive-by attacks like today’s in the bitter Washington Post.


powerlineblog--2020-12-22--California’s Dilemma: Latino or Latinx?

California’s Dilemma: Latino or Latinx?

California ’ s Gov .
Gruesom announced his pick to replace Kamala Harris in the Senate today , and it ’ s going to be the secretary of state Alex Padilla .
There were widespread rumors that Gov .
Gruesom was dreading the appointment , because the various Democratic Party identity factions were pressuring him to pick from among their ranks , as CNN reported a month ago : Prominent African Americans officials would like California Gov .
Gavin Newsom to pick Reps. Karen Bass or Barbara Lee to replace Harris , the only Black woman serving in the Senate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a plurality of Californians , want Newsom to choose the first Latino or Latina senator in the state ’ s history , such as California Secretary of State Alex Padilla , Long Beach Mayor Robert Garcia or state Attorney General Xavier Becerra .
The jockeying among various groups to promote their preferred candidates has already led to a tense fight within the Congressional Hispanic Caucus , as some members privately criticized what they viewed as heavy-handed tactics in its political arm ’ s endorsement of Padilla , several sources involved in the dispute @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s Democratic House delegation having several well-regarded white women among their ranks ( such as Rep. Katie Porter ) , it was simply assumed that the appointment could not go even to a while woman , let alone a white male .
And Biden let Gruesom off the hook to some extent by designating state AG Xavier Becerra to be secretary of HHS .
Becerra and Padilla are rivals in California , and as such whichever one got passed over would create problems for Gruesom .
The choice of Padilla is likely @ @ @ @ @ @ @ considerations as anything else , as California Democrats are panicked by Trump ’ s impoved showing with Latino voters .
If this trend continues , Democrat dominance in California might start to erode .
Most of the news media today is reporting that Padilla will be California ’ s first Latino senator , but there are a few holdouts , such as the Now This Twitter news feed ( with 2.1 million subscribers ) : I hope some brave reporter will ask Padilla : Boxers or briefs ?
Latino or Latinx ?

California’s Gov. Gruesom announced his pick to replace Kamala Harris in the Senate today, and it’s going to be the secretary of state Alex Padilla. There were widespread rumors that Gov. Gruesom was dreading the appointment, because the various Democratic Party identity factions were pressuring him to pick from among their ranks, as CNN reported a month ago:
A cross-country lobbying campaign for Vice President-elect Kamala Harris’ Senate seat has pitted factions divided by race, gender and geography against one another and heightened internal tensions within at least one influential caucus on Capitol Hill.
Prominent African Americans officials would like California Gov. Gavin Newsom to pick Reps. Karen Bass or Barbara Lee to replace Harris, the only Black woman serving in the Senate. But many Latinos, who comprise a plurality of Californians, want Newsom to choose the first Latino or Latina senator in the state’s history, such as California Secretary of State Alex Padilla, Long Beach Mayor Robert Garcia or state Attorney General Xavier Becerra. The jockeying among various groups to promote their preferred candidates has already led to a tense fight within the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, as some members privately criticized what they viewed as heavy-handed tactics in its political arm’s endorsement of Padilla, several sources involved in the dispute told CNN.
Notice that despite California’s Democratic House delegation having several well-regarded white women among their ranks (such as Rep. Katie Porter), it was simply assumed that the appointment could not go even to a white woman, let alone a white male. And Biden let Gruesom off the hook to some extent by designating state AG Xavier Becerra to be secretary of HHS. Becerra and Padilla are rivals in California, and as such whichever one got passed over would create problems for Gruesom.
The choice of Padilla is likely driven as much by Democratic Party political considerations as anything else, as California Democrats are panicked by Trump’s impoved showing with Latino voters. If this trend continues, Democrat dominance in California might start to erode.
Most of the news media today is reporting that Padilla will be California’s first Latino senator, but there are a few holdouts, such as the Now This Twitter news feed (with 2.1 million subscribers):
I hope some brave reporter will ask Padilla: Boxers or briefs? Latino or Latinx?


powerlineblog--2020-12-22--Report: Democrats feel gloomy over election

The Washington Post reports that “ Democrats see grim prospects in final election results despite Biden ’ s win.
” The main reason for Democrats ’ pessimism is Joe Biden ’ s poor performance in precincts the Democrats think they should carry easily .
The Post ’ s Michael Scherer writes : Voters in the once Democratic Ohio county that surrounds the shuttered Lordstown General Motors plant delivered a decisive victory last month to the sitting president who had promised and failed to save their jobs .
In the heavily Hispanic South Bronx , the liberal sanctum of San Francisco @ @ @ @ @ @ @ President Trump also shrank Democratic margins by drawing thousands more to his side .
He even swept the 31 Iowa counties that voted twice for Barack Obama before choosing Trump in 2016. .
.
.
Party strategists now speak privately with a sense of gloom and publicly with a tone of concern as the election results become clearer .
They worry about the potential emergence of a mostly male and increasingly interracial working-class coalition for Republicans that will cut into the demographic advantages Democrats had long counted on .
Biden still outpolled President @ @ @ @ @ @ @ minus whatever one thinks the number of fraudulent votes was ) .
And given the structure of the American economy , the “ working class ” isn ’ t large enough to carry the day for Republicans , at least not as long as Democrats hold the edge with its non-White members .
But Democrats seem to understand that their hold on white collar voters in the suburbs — the group that made the difference this year — is tenuous .
According to Scherer , Democratic strategists “ speculate that the tremendous Democratic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ years might fade when he leaves office.
” The concern is well founded .
Democratic strength in the suburbs was based to a considerable degree on Trump ’ s persona .
It ’ s difficult to overstate how much he is hated by the suburbanites I know , including some who have voted for Republicans in the past .
But many of these same suburbanites — at least those over the age of , say , 50 — are put off by political correctness , identity politics , and over-the-top criticism of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the focus for these voters will shift from Trump to the Democrats .
If the Dems press ahead with the cancel culture , the BLM agenda items , and plans for reducing or neutering police forces , the Trump-driven gains for Democrats among suburbanites will , indeed , fade .
And the Democrats will press ahead .
This is who they are and what they do .
The Post ’ s article shows that Democrats understand the parlous electoral math , but not what is driving it .
For example , here is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of American Bridge which ran a $ 62 million ad campaign intended to hurt Trump among White working-class voters : Oh , okay .
The White working class was poisoned by Trump .
No blame should be attached to the policies and attitudes of the Democrats .
Other Democratic strategists resort to the familiar “ we need to do a better job of messaging ” dodge .
The odious , Mao adoring Anita Dunn , now the co-chair of the Biden transition , says : It doesn ’ t occur to Dunn that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ simply don ’ t like what they hear .
Rep. Tim Ryan of Ohio is more in touch with working-class voters , and with reality .
As he sees it : But recall that Ryan ’ s campaign for the Democratic nomination never achieved lift off .
He was stuck at 1 percent support or less in the polls and dropped out early .
Democratic leaders aren ’ t likely to listen to him .
According to the Post , Ryan wants “ a far more targeted economic message , promising a tax @ @ @ @ @ @ @ spending and a new manufacturing agenda.
” That sounds downright Trumpian , minus the attacks on political correctness .
But disgust with political correctness is an important part of the disconnect Ryan describes between the “ Democratic brand ” and “ workers.
” In the end , it appears from the Post ’ s article that Democrats are hoping that an end to the pandemic and an economic recovery will enable them to keep suburban voters in the fold and to win back alienated members of the working class .
Voters of all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ presides over a strong economy .
However , this doesn ’ t always mean electoral success , particularly in mid-term elections .
Long term success depends on policies and attitudes that don ’ t go against the grain of the key portions of the electorate .
In this regard , Democrats have been depending on a shift in the makeup of the electorate , particularly its racial and ethnic composition .
Thus , perhaps the most ominous aspect of the 2020 election for Democrats was the erosion of support among minority group members @ @ @ @ @ @ @ only warning sign .

The Washington Post reports that “Democrats see grim prospects in final election results despite Biden’s win.” The main reason for Democrats’ pessimism is Joe Biden’s poor performance in precincts the Democrats think they should carry easily. The Post’s Michael Scherer writes:
Voters in the once Democratic Ohio county that surrounds the shuttered Lordstown General Motors plant delivered a decisive victory last month to the sitting president who had promised and failed to save their jobs. In the heavily Hispanic South Bronx, the liberal sanctum of San Francisco and the immigrant-rich neighborhoods of Miami, President Trump also shrank Democratic margins by drawing thousands more to his side. He even swept the 31 Iowa counties that voted twice for Barack Obama before choosing Trump in 2016. . . . Party strategists now speak privately with a sense of gloom and publicly with a tone of concern as the election results become clearer. They worry about the potential emergence of a mostly male and increasingly interracial working-class coalition for Republicans that will cut into the demographic advantages Democrats had long counted on.
Biden still outpolled President Trump by around 7 million votes (minus whatever one thinks the number of fraudulent votes was). And given the structure of the American economy, the “working class” isn’t large enough to carry the day for Republicans, at least not as long as Democrats hold the edge with its non-White members.
But Democrats seem to understand that their hold on white collar voters in the suburbs — the group that made the difference this year — is tenuous. According to Scherer, Democratic strategists “speculate that the tremendous Democratic gains in the suburbs during the Trump years might fade when he leaves office.”
The concern is well founded. Democratic strength in the suburbs was based to a considerable degree on Trump’s persona. It’s difficult to overstate how much he is hated by the suburbanites I know, including some who have voted for Republicans in the past.
But many of these same suburbanites — at least those over the age of, say, 50 — are put off by political correctness, identity politics, and over-the-top criticism of the police. Once Biden takes office, the focus for these voters will shift from Trump to the Democrats. If the Dems press ahead with the cancel culture, the BLM agenda items, and plans for reducing or neutering police forces, the Trump-driven gains for Democrats among suburbanites will, indeed, fade.
And the Democrats will press ahead. This is who they are and what they do.
The Post’s article shows that Democrats understand the parlous electoral math, but not what is driving it. For example, here is the takeaway of Bradley Beychok, president of American Bridge which ran a $62 million ad campaign intended to hurt Trump among White working-class voters:
We just need to acknowledge that Trump’s poison was deeper in the bloodstream of the American electorate than we thought.
Oh, okay. The White working class was poisoned by Trump. No blame should be attached to the policies and attitudes of the Democrats.
Other Democratic strategists resort to the familiar “we need to do a better job of messaging” dodge. The odious, Mao adoring Anita Dunn, now the co-chair of the Biden transition, says:
It’s a challenge for the Democratic Party to communicate with voters who don’t want to listen to us right now.
It doesn’t occur to Dunn that voters have been listening to Democrats and simply don’t like what they hear.
Rep. Tim Ryan of Ohio is more in touch with working-class voters, and with reality. As he sees it:
You move Biden aside for half a second and you have a Democratic brand that is completely disconnected from workers. . .White, Black and Brown.
But recall that Ryan’s campaign for the Democratic nomination never achieved lift off. He was stuck at 1 percent support or less in the polls and dropped out early. Democratic leaders aren’t likely to listen to him.
According to the Post, Ryan wants “a far more targeted economic message, promising a tax cut for the middle class, infrastructure spending and a new manufacturing agenda.” That sounds downright Trumpian, minus the attacks on political correctness. But disgust with political correctness is an important part of the disconnect Ryan describes between the “Democratic brand” and “workers.”
In the end, it appears from the Post’s article that Democrats are hoping that an end to the pandemic and an economic recovery will enable them to keep suburban voters in the fold and to win back alienated members of the working class. Voters of all sorts tend to reward a party that presides over a strong economy. However, this doesn’t always mean electoral success, particularly in mid-term elections.
Long term success depends on policies and attitudes that don’t go against the grain of the key portions of the electorate. In this regard, Democrats have been depending on a shift in the makeup of the electorate, particularly its racial and ethnic composition.
Thus, perhaps the most ominous aspect of the 2020 election for Democrats was the erosion of support among minority group members. But that’s hardly the only warning sign.


Trump Pardons Papadopoulos

Yesterday President Trump pardoned George Papadopoulos , the minor campaign aide who was swept up in the Russia collusion hoax and pled guilty to one count of lying to the FBI .
Trump said : Mr. Papadopoulos was charged with a process-related crime , one count of making false statements , in connection with Special Counsel Robert Mueller ’ s investigation into possible Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election .
Today ’ s pardon helps correct the wrong that Mueller ’ s team inflicted on so many people .
It certainly does .
Trump also pardoned a less well-known @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s probe , Alex van der Zwaan .
And , of course , he pardoned Michael Flynn at the beginning of the month .
These pardons are all appropriate , and if there are others who suffered convictions in connection with the Russia collusion hoax , they should be pardoned as well .
The FBI ’ s investigation and Bob Mueller ’ s politicized prosecutions were outrageous violations of the victims ’ civil rights , including Trump ’ s .
This reminds me , though : has anyone seen John Durham lately ?
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ issued another 26 pardons , including Paul Manafort and Roger Stone .
I think this is the last of the Russia hoax defendants , but if there are any left , Trump should pardon them too .

Yesterday President Trump pardoned George Papadopoulos, the minor campaign aide who was swept up in the Russia collusion hoax and pled guilty to one count of lying to the FBI. Trump said:
Mr. Papadopoulos was charged with a process-related crime, one count of making false statements, in connection with Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation into possible Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election. Today’s pardon helps correct the wrong that Mueller’s team inflicted on so many people.
It certainly does. Trump also pardoned a less well-known figure who was entangled in Mueller’s probe, Alex van der Zwaan. And, of course, he pardoned Michael Flynn at the beginning of the month.
These pardons are all appropriate, and if there are others who suffered convictions in connection with the Russia collusion hoax, they should be pardoned as well. The FBI’s investigation and Bob Mueller’s politicized prosecutions were outrageous violations of the victims’ civil rights, including Trump’s.
This reminds me, though: has anyone seen John Durham lately?
UPDATE: Moments ago, President Trump issued another 26 pardons, including Paul Manafort and Roger Stone. I think this is the last of the Russia hoax defendants, but if there are any left, Trump should pardon them too.


powerlineblog--2020-12-23--Trump balks at pandemic relief bill

Trump balks at pandemic relief bill

President Trump has denounced the stimulus bill Congress passed this week in response to the Wuhan coronavirus pandemic .
The bill provides nearly $ 900 billion of “ relief.
” Most of the roughly $ 900 billion provides basic relief in the form of small-business aid ( $ 325 billion ) , $ 600 checks for most Americans ( $ 166 billion ) , and expanded unemployment benefits ( $ 120 billion ) .
Much of the remainder goes to things such as help for schools ( $ 82 billion ) , health care ( $ 63 billion ) , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Trump objects to the “ ridiculously low ” $ 600 stimulus checks .
He wants checks in the amount of $ 2,000 .
I think sending stimulus checks in any amount to most Americans is ridiculous .
The money should go where it is most needed .
Many Americans who don ’ t need a government check , whether for $ 600 or $ 2,000 , would receive one under the stimulus bill .
Trump does have support for doling out $ 2,000 checks , though .
Tellingly , it comes from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ immediately responded to Trump , saying : Trump also objected to non-pandemic related spending Congress has appropriated .
He stated : The last six words are delusional .
As for the wasteful and unnecessary items in the legislation , they are to be found mainly in a massive omnibus appropriations package and , to a far lesser degree , in a measure authorizing around $ 10 billion for water projects .
They are not contained in the COVID relief deal itself .
These three pieces of legislation ( and a few others ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to Rep. Adam Kinzinger , a Republican , Trump ’ s team blessed the combining of these bills .
Moreover , as Jim Geraghty points out , the spending in the omnibus appropriation bill to which Trump objects isn ’ t much different from provisions in previous omnibus bills he signed into law .
That doesn ’ t mean he can ’ t object to them now , but it raises questions as to whether he should hold the relief package hostage to excising these provisions .
Geraghty also notes that the omnibus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ government open past December 29 .
If the president doesn ’ t sign it , and Congress doesn ’ t put together some short-term government-funding bill , the government shuts down .
Kinzinger says that Trump ’ s belated opposition to the legislation Congress passed is due to Twitter .
“ Since twitter erupted , [ Trump ] erupted , ” Kinzinger claims .
This might very well be the case .
On Sunday , Ben Williamson , a spokesman for White House chief of staff Mark Meadows , stated that Trump supported @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I think Trump should sign it , for the reasons presented in this National Review editorial .

President Trump has denounced the stimulus bill Congress passed this week in response to the Wuhan coronavirus pandemic. The bill provides nearly $900 billion of “relief.”
Most of the roughly $900 billion provides basic relief in the form of small-business aid ($325 billion), $600 checks for most Americans ($166 billion), and expanded unemployment benefits ($120 billion). Much of the remainder goes to things such as help for schools ($82 billion), health care ($63 billion), and transportation ($45 billion).
Trump objects to the “ridiculously low” $600 stimulus checks. He wants checks in the amount of $2,000.
I think sending stimulus checks in any amount to most Americans is ridiculous. The money should go where it is most needed. Many Americans who don’t need a government check, whether for $600 or $2,000, would receive one under the stimulus bill.
Trump does have support for doling out $2,000 checks, though. Tellingly, it comes from Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer. Pelosi immediately responded to Trump, saying:
Republicans repeatedly refused to say what amount the President wanted for direct checks. At last, the President has agreed to $2,000. Democrats are ready to bring this to the Floor this week by unanimous consent. Let’s do it?
Let’s not.
Trump also objected to non-pandemic related spending Congress has appropriated. He stated:
I am also asking Congress to immediately get rid of the wasteful and unnecessary items from this legislation, and to send me a suitable bill, or else the next administration will have to deliver a covid relief package, and maybe that administration will be me.
The last six words are delusional.
As for the wasteful and unnecessary items in the legislation, they are to be found mainly in a massive omnibus appropriations package and, to a far lesser degree, in a measure authorizing around $10 billion for water projects. They are not contained in the COVID relief deal itself. These three pieces of legislation (and a few others) were ushered through Congress together.
According to Rep. Adam Kinzinger, a Republican, Trump’s team blessed the combining of these bills. Moreover, as Jim Geraghty points out, the spending in the omnibus appropriation bill to which Trump objects isn’t much different from provisions in previous omnibus bills he signed into law. That doesn’t mean he can’t object to them now, but it raises questions as to whether he should hold the relief package hostage to excising these provisions.
Geraghty also notes that the omnibus bill includes funding to keep the federal government open past December 29. If the president doesn’t sign it, and Congress doesn’t put together some short-term government-funding bill, the government shuts down.
Kinzinger says that Trump’s belated opposition to the legislation Congress passed is due to Twitter. “Since twitter erupted, [Trump] erupted,” Kinzinger claims.
This might very well be the case. On Sunday, Ben Williamson, a spokesman for White House chief of staff Mark Meadows, stated that Trump supported the legislation and would sign it.
I think Trump should sign it, for the reasons presented in this National Review editorial.


One-trick pony

Peter Doocy had the temerity to ask Joe Biden about the smartest man he knows — Hunter Biden .
Hunter @ @ @ @ @ became a millionaire with no visible talent to sell .
I seriously doubt that Joe @ @ @ @ @ to evaluate the relative intellectual capacity of the men he knows .
Doocy has asked @ @ @ @ @ two before without much success , but Biden really doesn ’ t appreciate the effort @ @ @ @ @ as a “ one-horse pony.
” Speaking of one-trick ponies , Biden is sticking with @ @ @ @ @ below via David Marcus/Federalist ) .
Anyway , this is how the song goes : @ @ @ @ @ only / It ’ s the principal source of his revenue .
”

Peter Doocy had the temerity to ask Joe Biden about the smartest man he knows — Hunter Biden. Hunter is so smart that he became a millionaire with no visible talent to sell. I seriously doubt that Joe Biden is in a position to evaluate the relative intellectual capacity of the men he knows.
Doocy has asked the question a time or two before without much success, but Biden really doesn’t appreciate the effort. Biden called out Doocy as a “one-horse pony.” Speaking of one-trick ponies, Biden is sticking with the Russia angle (tweet below via David Marcus/Federalist).
Joe Biden laughs when Fox News' Peter Doocy asks if he still thinks the allegations against Hunter Biden are Russian disinformation: "Yes, yes, yes. God love you, man. You're a one horse pony." pic.twitter.com/x8HEvPjpFn — Daily Caller (@DailyCaller) December 22, 2020
Anyway, this is how the song goes: “He does one trick only / It’s the principal source of his revenue.”


Relieve this

Congress passed a 5,600 page monstrosity of a spending bill yesterday doling out $ 2.3 trillion in total .
Included in the $ 2.3 trillion is $ 900 billion in COVID-19 relief that gives $ 600 to most Americans struggling to cope with the epidemic .
What ’ s $ 600 got to do with it ?
I don ’ t know .
The relief bill also expands the Paycheck Protection Program for various businesses .
I hope the alleged COVID-19 relief is as advertised and that someone out there is verifying it .
The omnibus spending provisions include a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and worse to which we have grown accustomed .
Happy days are apparently here again .
The New York Post ’ s Steven Nelson itemizes a few examples plucked from the omnibus spending provisions : • $ 4 billion for New York ’ s MTA as part of bailouts for mass-transit systems .
• $ 15 billion earmarked toward grant programs for live entertainment venues such as Broadway .
• A rule saying the US Postal Service can no longer deliver e-cigarettes .
• New museums on the National Mall that will focus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sen. Robert Menendez ( D-NJ ) and Rep. Carolyn Maloney ( D-NY ) .
• A declaration condemning a possible role by the Chinese Communist Party in the selection of Tibet ’ s next Dalai Lama .
The current Tibetan Buddhist religious leader is 85 .
• $ 250 million over five years for Palestinian economic aid , which was pushed by New York Democratic Rep. Nita Lowey .
• $ 101 million to combat “ the transnational threat of wildlife poaching and trafficking.
” • $ 10 million for “ gender programs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and start businesses in Pakistan .
Nelson itemized $ 1.4 billion for a construction of a wall on the southern US border .
We support the wall .
We hope the appropriated money is spent to build it .
Nelson also itemized $ 500 million earmarked for Israeli defense purchases , including the Iron Dome missile defense system .
We support the aid to Israel .
Jonathan Tobin takes it up in this column .
Details on the $ 250 million in Palestinian aid are discussed here .
Jim Geraghty considers President Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ here .
Geraghty ’ s column is helpful .
It ain ’ t easy .
Below is a tweet with a video of the monstrosity making its way through Congress via Robby Soave/Reason , with a list that only partially duplicates Nelson ’ s .
We are bound to discover more and perhaps worse in the next few days .

Congress passed a 5,600 page monstrosity of a spending bill yesterday doling out $2.3 trillion in total. Included in the $2.3 trillion is $900 billion in COVID-19 relief that gives $600 to most Americans struggling to cope with the epidemic. What’s $600 got to do with it? I don’t know. The relief bill also expands the Paycheck Protection Program for various businesses. I hope the alleged COVID-19 relief is as advertised and that someone out there is verifying it.
The omnibus spending provisions include a panoply of the traditional money for nothing and worse to which we have grown accustomed. Happy days are apparently here again. The New York Post’s Steven Nelson itemizes a few examples plucked from the omnibus spending provisions:
• $4 billion for New York’s MTA as part of bailouts for mass-transit systems. • $15 billion earmarked toward grant programs for live entertainment venues such as Broadway. • $7 billion toward expanding broadband access. • A rule saying the US Postal Service can no longer deliver e-cigarettes. • New museums on the National Mall that will focus on Latinos and women — pushed by Sen. Robert Menendez (D-NJ) and Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-NY). • A declaration condemning a possible role by the Chinese Communist Party in the selection of Tibet’s next Dalai Lama. The current Tibetan Buddhist religious leader is 85. • $250 million over five years for Palestinian economic aid, which was pushed by New York Democratic Rep. Nita Lowey. • $101 million to combat “the transnational threat of wildlife poaching and trafficking.” • $2.5 million for “Internet freedom programs in closed societies” • $10 million for “gender programs” meant to help women get education and start businesses in Pakistan.
Nelson itemized $1.4 billion for a construction of a wall on the southern US border. We support the wall. We hope the appropriated money is spent to build it. Nelson also itemized $500 million earmarked for Israeli defense purchases, including the Iron Dome missile defense system. We support the aid to Israel. Jonathan Tobin takes it up in this column. Details on the $250 million in Palestinian aid are discussed here.
Jim Geraghty considers President Trump’s possible responses to the bill here. Geraghty’s column is helpful. It ain’t easy.
Below is a tweet with a video of the monstrosity making its way through Congress via Robby Soave/Reason, with a list that only partially duplicates Nelson’s. We are bound to discover more and perhaps worse in the next few days.


CDC gone woke

Earlier this week in an important New York Post column Betsy McCaughey took up the “ racialization ” of vaccine distribution by the public health authorities .
Now comes the Washington Free Beacon ’ s Aaron Sibarium to follow up in “ How the Centers for Disease Control Went Woke.
” Sibarium shows in devastating fashion how the epidemic of racism that runs rampant throughout our institutions has now manifested in the CDC .
Sibarium goes in for close analysis : [ T ] he CDC ’ s framework adopted different priorities [ than the elderly ] .
Of its @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , equity , justice , fairness , and transparency—two explicitly mention racial health disparities .
“ The equity principle , ” [ CDC epidemiologist Sara ] Oliver said , according to meeting notes , will “ make sure that vaccine allocation reduces , rather than increases , health disparities , ” while the “ fairness principle includes a commitment to … not exacerbating existing disparities in health outcomes.
” The result was a kind of moral double counting , in which closing disparities promoted two separate values , whereas saving lives promoted just @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fairness sound like they are at odds with harm reduction : If vaccinating by age minimized deaths across all racial groups , but widened the gap between racial death rates , the principles seem to rule out that strategy , since it would increase racial disparities overall .
The Washington Free Beacon asked 13 members of the CDC advisory committee whether this was an accurate reading of its framework .
Not a single one answered the question , though Kathy Kinlaw , the group ’ s sole “ ethics consultant , ” said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would “ minimize harm—and maximize benefits—for all.
” The CDC committee thus took two statements that championed the interests of the elderly and used them to justify a plan that would disproportionately kill senior citizens—implying that age-conscious alternatives were discriminatory , even as the race-conscious plan passed with unanimous support at a subsequent meeting .
All of this—the exclusions , the contradictions , the moral redundancies—helped disguise the agenda that it justified , giving unscientific value judgments an air of scientific assuredness .
The backlash against those judgments hasn ’ t contained the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Marcella Nunez-Smith , a co-chair of Joe Biden ’ s COVID-19 advisory board , commended the experts at the CDC for “ taking political interference out of the process ” and for “ their grounding in inequity.
” Like them , she seems not to have realized the irony .

Earlier this week in an important New York Post column Betsy McCaughey took up the “racialization” of vaccine distribution by the public health authorities. Now comes the Washington Free Beacon’s Aaron Sibarium to follow up in “How the Centers for Disease Control Went Woke.” Sibarium shows in devastating fashion how the epidemic of racism that runs rampant throughout our institutions has now manifested in the CDC. Sibarium goes in for close analysis:
[T]he CDC’s framework adopted different priorities [than the elderly]. Of its five proposed principles—maximize benefits and minimize harms, equity, justice, fairness, and transparency—two explicitly mention racial health disparities.
“The equity principle,” [CDC epidemiologist Sara] Oliver said, according to meeting notes, will “make sure that vaccine allocation reduces, rather than increases, health disparities,” while the “fairness principle includes a commitment to … not exacerbating existing disparities in health outcomes.”
The result was a kind of moral double counting, in which closing disparities promoted two separate values, whereas saving lives promoted just one. As phrased, equity and fairness sound like they are at odds with harm reduction: If vaccinating by age minimized deaths across all racial groups, but widened the gap between racial death rates, the principles seem to rule out that strategy, since it would increase racial disparities overall.
The Washington Free Beacon asked 13 members of the CDC advisory committee whether this was an accurate reading of its framework. Not a single one answered the question, though Kathy Kinlaw, the group’s sole “ethics consultant,” said she thought “mitigating health inequities” would “minimize harm—and maximize benefits—for all.”
* * * * *
The CDC committee thus took two statements that championed the interests of the elderly and used them to justify a plan that would disproportionately kill senior citizens—implying that age-conscious alternatives were discriminatory, even as the race-conscious plan passed with unanimous support at a subsequent meeting.
All of this—the exclusions, the contradictions, the moral redundancies—helped disguise the agenda that it justified, giving unscientific value judgments an air of scientific assuredness.
The backlash against those judgments hasn’t contained the ideology that gave rise to them. Marcella Nunez-Smith, a co-chair of Joe Biden’s COVID-19 advisory board, commended the experts at the CDC for “taking political interference out of the process” and for “their grounding in inequity.” Like them, she seems not to have realized the irony.


powerlineblog--2020-12-24--The Geek in Pictures: MP on the Loose Edition

Time for another Geek in Pictures roundup of notable charts and graphs that are worth the proverbial 1,000-word article .
Turns out a lot of them are taken from our great pal Mark Perry , who is the Michael Jordan of chart-making .
Let ’ s start with the Feel Good Story of the Week : I know some sensitive readers will say it is wrong to celebrate people losing their livelihoods , but I think , like a restaurant that makes its customers sick with bad food , the media deserves this .
Speaking of media cluelessness , this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ District and most of its suburbs , for reasons no one can definitively pinpoint , auto thefts this year have increased sharply , especially the “ jump-in ” type .
.
.
More worrisome for police , violent carjackings , in which vehicles are stolen by force , are also way up in the Washington area — including one last week that left a motorist dead from a gunshot wound .
“ The golden question is why is this going on , ” said Assistant D.C. Police Chief Lamar Greene .
“ And @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , I don ’ t know.
” Same thing happening in New York : Related : Illinois has dusted off the Great Society Playbook : Next , the spending bill Congress just passed : Remember the supposed wage gap between men and women ?
How come feminists and New York Times editorial writers ( is there is a difference ? )
never talk about these disparities ?
I wonder if electric trucks/SUVs will work ?

Time for another Geek in Pictures roundup of notable charts and graphs that are worth the proverbial 1,000-word article. Turns out a lot of them are taken from our great pal Mark Perry, who is the Michael Jordan of chart-making.
Let’s start with the Feel Good Story of the Week:
I know some sensitive readers will say it is wrong to celebrate people losing their livelihoods, but I think, like a restaurant that makes its customers sick with bad food, the media deserves this.
Speaking of media cluelessness, this from the Washington Post:
In the District and most of its suburbs, for reasons no one can definitively pinpoint, auto thefts this year have increased sharply, especially the “jump-in” type. . . More worrisome for police, violent carjackings, in which vehicles are stolen by force, are also way up in the Washington area — including one last week that left a motorist dead from a gunshot wound. “The golden question is why is this going on,” said Assistant D.C. Police Chief Lamar Greene. “And I have to tell you, honestly, I don’t know.”
Same thing happening in New York:
It’s a total mystery.
Related: Illinois has dusted off the Great Society Playbook:
Related:
Next up: Public schools.
Next, the spending bill Congress just passed:
Remember the supposed wage gap between men and women? How come feminists and New York Times editorial writers (is there is a difference?) never talk about these disparities?
I wonder if electric trucks/SUVs will work?
This is curious:
FWIW:


powerlineblog--2020-12-24--President Trump pardons Stephanie Mohr

President Trump pardons Stephanie Mohr

The mainstream media is trying to make it look like President Trump is doling out pardons almost exclusively to his cronies and former allies .
In this post , I ’ m thrilled to report that Trump has pardoned Stephanie Mohr .
She ’ s neither a crony nor an ally of the president .
She ’ s a former police officer whose lengthy sentence , which she served in full , shocks my conscience .
I wrote about Mohr ’ s case in some detail here .
The White House issued this statement about her pardon : Ms. Mohr @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s County where she achieved the distinction of being the first female canine handler in the Department ’ s history .
She served 10 years in prison for releasing her K-9 partner on a burglary suspect in 1995 , resulting in a bite wound requiring ten stitches .
Officer Mohr was a highly commended member of the police force prior to her prosecution .
Today ’ s action recognizes that service and the lengthy term that Ms. Mohr served in prison .
This statement appears in a longer announcement of 29 pardons @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or former allies — Roger Stone and Paul Manafort .
There ’ s also a pardon for Charles Kushner , Jared ’ s father .
It ’ s possible that a few of the others pardoned have a connection to the president I don ’ t know about .
However , the vast majority of the pardons in this batch are for people who , like Stephanie Mohr , have no connection to Trump .
In most cases , like Stephanie Mohr ’ s , the individual served his or her sentence and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , if not an extraordinary , life .
In some cases , like Mohr ’ s , the person served a considerably longer sentence than seems , at least on the surface , to have been just .
In some cases , like Mohr ’ s , the individual pardoned served the community in a law enforcement capacity .
Except for Mohr ’ s case , I ’ m not in a position to express an opinion on the merits of any particular pardon granted to non-cronies or allies .
Collectively , though @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the president ’ s undeniable power to pardon .
The Mohr pardon is more than that .
It ’ s a partial redress of an injustice .
Congratulations are in order not just to Stephanie Mohr , but to the Law Enforcement Legal Defense Fund ( LELDF ) , which fought on her behalf for 13 years .

The mainstream media is trying to make it look like President Trump is doling out pardons almost exclusively to his cronies and former allies. In this post, I’m thrilled to report that Trump has pardoned Stephanie Mohr. She’s neither a crony nor an ally of the president. She’s a former police officer whose lengthy sentence, which she served in full, shocks my conscience.
I wrote about Mohr’s case in some detail here. The White House issued this statement about her pardon:
Ms. Mohr was a police officer in Prince George’s County where she achieved the distinction of being the first female canine handler in the Department’s history. She served 10 years in prison for releasing her K-9 partner on a burglary suspect in 1995, resulting in a bite wound requiring ten stitches. Officer Mohr was a highly commended member of the police force prior to her prosecution. Today’s action recognizes that service and the lengthy term that Ms. Mohr served in prison.
(Emphasis added)
This statement appears in a longer announcement of 29 pardons. Two of those pardoned are cronies or former allies — Roger Stone and Paul Manafort. There’s also a pardon for Charles Kushner, Jared’s father. It’s possible that a few of the others pardoned have a connection to the president I don’t know about.
However, the vast majority of the pardons in this batch are for people who, like Stephanie Mohr, have no connection to Trump. In most cases, like Stephanie Mohr’s, the individual served his or her sentence and has gone on to lead an exemplary, if not an extraordinary, life. In some cases, like Mohr’s, the person served a considerably longer sentence than seems, at least on the surface, to have been just. In some cases, like Mohr’s, the individual pardoned served the community in a law enforcement capacity.
Except for Mohr’s case, I’m not in a position to express an opinion on the merits of any particular pardon granted to non-cronies or allies. Collectively, though, they look like a reasonable exercise of the president’s undeniable power to pardon.
The Mohr pardon is more than that. It’s a partial redress of an injustice.
Congratulations are in order not just to Stephanie Mohr, but also to the Law Enforcement Legal Defense Fund (LELDF), which fought on her behalf for 13 years.


powerlineblog--2020-12-24--Israel deploys submarine to Persian Gulf

Mohsen Fakhrizadeh , the Iranian nuclear scientist , was assassinated in late November .
Israel is believed to have executed the killing .
Iran certainly believes it did .
As far as I know , Iran hasn ’ t taken any major punitive action against Israel in response to the assassination of Fakhrizadeh .
However , the regime continues to talk publicly about retaliating .
Is this a bluff ?
Is Iran waiting for President Trump ’ s departure before acting ?
Who knows ?
Israel isn ’ t waiting around to find out .
It has sent a submarine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ so with the acquiescence of Egypt .
The move sends a clear warning to Iran that Israel is prepared to respond forcefully if the mullahs engage in hostilities .
The sub ’ s appearance in the Gulf backs up the warning by Lt. Gen. Aviv Kochavi , chief of the general staff of the Israel Defense Forces .
He said yesterday that “ the IDF will attack with force , against anyone who is involved , from near or from far , in attacks against Israel or Israeli targets.
” Israel isn ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a sub to the Persian Gulf .
Yesterday , the USS Georgia , armed with 154 Tomahawk cruise missiles , was spotted in the Gulf .
According to the Washington Post , this is the first time in eight years that an Ohio-class guided-missile submarine was publicly reported to be in that strategic waterway .
Do these move signal anything other than a desire to deter Iran ?
Might Israel and/or the U.S. , unprompted by any aggression by Iran , attack Iranian nuclear facilities ?
If Israel wants to attack , now @ @ @ @ @ @ @ before Joe Biden becomes president and seeks to reengage with the mullahs .
I doubt , though , that Israel intends to launch an unprovoked or preemptive attack .
However , Iran ’ s nuclear facilities — including the underground Fordo uranium-enrichment plant , at which Iran has recently begun new construction — are probably at the top of the list of targets Israel will attack if Iran takes military action against the Jewish state in response to the assassination of Fakhrizadeh .
This reality is Israel ’ s best deterrent .

Mohsen Fakhrizadeh, the Iranian nuclear scientist, was assassinated in late November. Israel is believed to have executed the killing. Iran certainly believes it did.
As far as I know, Iran hasn’t taken any major punitive action against Israel in response to the assassination of Fakhrizadeh. However, the regime continues to talk publicly about retaliating.
Is this a bluff? Is Iran waiting for President Trump’s departure before acting? Who knows?
Israel isn’t waiting around to find out. It has sent a submarine to the Persian Gulf. It did so with the acquiescence of Egypt.
The move sends a clear warning to Iran that Israel is prepared to respond forcefully if the mullahs engage in hostilities. The sub’s appearance in the Gulf backs up the warning by Lt. Gen. Aviv Kochavi, chief of the general staff of the Israel Defense Forces. He said yesterday that “the IDF will attack with force, against anyone who is involved, from near or from far, in attacks against Israel or Israeli targets.”
Israel isn’t the only power to have sent a sub to the Persian Gulf. Yesterday, the USS Georgia, armed with 154 Tomahawk cruise missiles, was spotted in the Gulf. According to the Washington Post, this is the first time in eight years that an Ohio-class guided-missile submarine was publicly reported to be in that strategic waterway.
Do these move signal anything other than a desire to deter Iran? Might Israel and/or the U.S., unprompted by any aggression by Iran, attack Iranian nuclear facilities? If Israel wants to attack, now is the time to do it — before Joe Biden becomes president and seeks to reengage with the mullahs.
I doubt, though, that Israel intends to launch an unprovoked or preemptive attack. However, Iran’s nuclear facilities — including the underground Fordo uranium-enrichment plant, at which Iran has recently begun new construction — are probably at the top of the list of targets Israel will attack if Iran takes military action against the Jewish state in response to the assassination of Fakhrizadeh.
This reality is Israel’s best deterrent.