dailysignal--2020-08-04--John Lewis’ Funeral Was a Political Event

Traditionally , funerals are supposed to serve at least three purposes : honor the life of the deceased , comfort those who mourn his passing , and preach a message about eternity and the brevity of life .
Tradition was discarded during John Lewis ’ funeral last week in Atlanta .
Like the memorial service of the late Sen. Paul Wellstone , D-Minn. , in 2008 , the Lewis service was a political event that included veiled denunciations of President Donald Trump .
There were allegations of voter suppression by Republicans and a comparison of Trump by former President Barack @ @ @ @ @ @ @ segregationist , George Wallace .
On that last point , it was Wallace who stood in a schoolhouse door in 1963 in an effort to stop African Americans from entering the University of Alabama .
Today ’ s Democrats have it reversed .
They are blocking poor kids from escaping failed public schools , bowing to the desires of teachers unions that support and contribute campaign money to Democratic politicians .
Obama also criticized Trump for sending federal agents to Portland , Oregon , to help quell violence that had gone on for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Obama would not have been opposed to President Dwight D. Eisenhower ’ s decision in 1957 to send the 101st Airborne Division to Little Rock , Arkansas , to protect nine black students entering Central High School .
Someone should ask the former president if he approved of President John F. Kennedy ’ s decision on May 21 , 1961 , to send 300 federal marshals to Montgomery , Alabama , to keep order after race riots broke out when then-Gov .
John Patterson said he could not guarantee the peace .
Obama @ @ @ @ @ @ @ federal forces were used to achieve a civil rights goal .
On September 20 , 1962 , James Meredith attempted to register as a student at the University of Mississippi .
The entrance was blocked and rioting erupted .
Attorney General Robert Kennedy sent 500 U.S .
Marshals to the school .
John F. Kennedy sent military police , troops from the Mississippi National Guard , and even U.S. Border Patrol officials .
Is Obama OK with Kennedy ’ s decision on June 11 , 1963 , to federalize Alabama National Guard troops @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s blockade of African Americans attempting to enter the University of Alabama ?
On March 20 , 1965 , President Lyndon Johnson federalized the Alabama National Guard to protect the civil rights march from Selma to Montgomery of which Lewis was a notable part .
Obama probably favors that decision .
A reporter should ask him .
Alabama , Mississippi , and Arkansas all had governors at the time who were Democrats and segregationists and yet today ’ s Democrats claim Trump is a racist .
In his “ eulogy , ” Obama @ @ @ @ @ @ @ effort by Democrats ( early voting and no required identification are other efforts ) that many believe could open the door to voter fraud .
One pastor at the Lewis funeral even reached back to the Reagan administration and erroneously blamed the 40th president for the poor housing conditions endured by some African Americans .
Democrats and their media allies consistently ignore the fact that Jim Crow laws , the Ku Klux Klan , and other immoralities were all led by Southern Democrats .
Lewis ’ legacy and his brave fight for civil @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Lewis was also a partisan Democrat , who refused to attend Trump ’ s inauguration in 2017 and believed to the end that the Russians helped Trump beat Hillary Clinton , though that would likely have required the infiltration of every precinct and voting machine in America , something not even Lewis claims was possible .
What was even sadder than the politicized funeral service was the applause from attendees , who apparently believe every word that comes from Obama ’ s mouth , though none of this kind of talk improves a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ why so many African Americans continue to be loyal to the Democratic Party .

Traditionally, funerals are supposed to serve at least three purposes: honor the life of the deceased, comfort those who mourn his passing, and preach a message about eternity and the brevity of life.
Tradition was discarded during John Lewis’ funeral last week in Atlanta. Like the memorial service of the late Sen. Paul Wellstone, D-Minn., in 2008, the Lewis service was a political event that included veiled denunciations of President Donald Trump. There were allegations of voter suppression by Republicans and a comparison of Trump by former President Barack Obama to the late Alabama governor and segregationist, George Wallace.
On that last point, it was Wallace who stood in a schoolhouse door in 1963 in an effort to stop African Americans from entering the University of Alabama. Today’s Democrats have it reversed. They are blocking poor kids from escaping failed public schools, bowing to the desires of teachers unions that support and contribute campaign money to Democratic politicians.
Obama also criticized Trump for sending federal agents to Portland, Oregon, to help quell violence that had gone on for more than 60 days.
Presumably, Obama would not have been opposed to President Dwight D. Eisenhower’s decision in 1957 to send the 101st Airborne Division to Little Rock, Arkansas, to protect nine black students entering Central High School.
Someone should ask the former president if he approved of President John F. Kennedy’s decision on May 21, 1961, to send 300 federal marshals to Montgomery, Alabama, to keep order after race riots broke out when then-Gov. John Patterson said he could not guarantee the peace.
Obama apparently ignored another historical event in which federal forces were used to achieve a civil rights goal.
On September 20, 1962, James Meredith attempted to register as a student at the University of Mississippi. The entrance was blocked and rioting erupted. Attorney General Robert Kennedy sent 500 U.S. Marshals to the school. John F. Kennedy sent military police, troops from the Mississippi National Guard, and even U.S. Border Patrol officials.
Is Obama OK with Kennedy’s decision on June 11, 1963, to federalize Alabama National Guard troops to end then-Gov. George Wallace’s blockade of African Americans attempting to enter the University of Alabama?
On March 20, 1965, President Lyndon Johnson federalized the Alabama National Guard to protect the civil rights march from Selma to Montgomery of which Lewis was a notable part. Obama probably favors that decision. A reporter should ask him.
Alabama, Mississippi, and Arkansas all had governors at the time who were Democrats and segregationists and yet today’s Democrats claim Trump is a racist.
In his “eulogy,” Obama also mentioned mail-in ballots, the latest effort by Democrats (early voting and no required identification are other efforts) that many believe could open the door to voter fraud.
One pastor at the Lewis funeral even reached back to the Reagan administration and erroneously blamed the 40th president for the poor housing conditions endured by some African Americans.
Democrats and their media allies consistently ignore the fact that Jim Crow laws, the Ku Klux Klan, and other immoralities were all led by Southern Democrats.
Lewis’ legacy and his brave fight for civil rights will always remain untarnished. But Lewis was also a partisan Democrat, who refused to attend Trump’s inauguration in 2017 and believed to the end that the Russians helped Trump beat Hillary Clinton, though that would likely have required the infiltration of every precinct and voting machine in America, something not even Lewis claims was possible.
What was even sadder than the politicized funeral service was the applause from attendees, who apparently believe every word that comes from Obama’s mouth, though none of this kind of talk improves a single life. It makes one wonder why so many African Americans continue to be loyal to the Democratic Party.
(C) 2020 TRIBUNE CONTENT AGENCY, LLC.


dailysignal--2020-08-04--How Much Do You Know About COVID-19? Take This  Quiz

1 .
True or False : COVID-19 is now the leading cause of death in the U.S. False .
It ’ s not even close .
As of July 25 , the most recent date for which Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data is available , there were 135,579 deaths related to the contagion , less than 1 % of the more than 1.5 million deaths that have occurred in the U.S. so far this year .
COVID-19 isn ’ t even the leading cause of death among the elderly , although it accounts for more than 9 % @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Cancer and heart disease continue to claim the most lives by far in this age group , while unintentional injuries cause the most deaths among people under 45 .
> > > What ’ s the best way for America to reopen and return to business ?
The National Coronavirus Recovery Commission , a project of The Heritage Foundation , assembled America ’ s top thinkers to figure that out .
So far , it has made more than 260 recommendations .
Learn more here .
2 .
True or False : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rate in the world .
False .
As of Aug. 3 , there were 158,706 COVID-19-related deaths nationally , according to Worldometers data , the most in the world .
But with a population of 330 million , the U.S. is also among the world ’ s most populous .
The more accurate metric of comparison is the COVID-19 death rate per million population .
By that standard , the U.S. ranks eighth among countries with populations of 1 million or more , behind Belgium , the U.K. , Spain , Peru , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 3 .
True or False : The U.S. has more confirmed cases than any other country because it has tested much more extensively than any other country .
False .
As of Aug. 2 , the U.S. had performed nearly 181,000 tests per million population .
That placed us ninth in the world , behind the United Arab Emirates , Bahrain , Denmark , the U.K. , Singapore , Russia , Lithuania , and Israel .
All of those countries except Bahrain reported fewer cases per million population than did the U.S. 4 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ many children under 15 had died with COVID-19 , as of July 25 ?
( a ) Of the 135,579 deaths associated with COVID-19 that the CDC had tallied as of July 25 , 42 were among children under 15 .
That represents about 0.3 % of the deaths in this age group .
COVID-19 is not even among the 10 leading causes of death among school-aged and preschool-aged children .
Ironically , while children under 15 account for less than 1 % of COVID-19 deaths , and the elderly account for 80 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on reopening schools , not on making nursing homes safer .
5 .
True or False : Sweden , the only country in Europe that didn ’ t impose a lockdown , suffered far more COVID-19-related deaths , on a population basis , than any other European country .
False .
Supporters of lockdowns have repeatedly decried Sweden ’ s refusal to impose them on its population , forecasting an epidemic of medieval proportions .
The number of confirmed cases in Sweden peaked on June 24 ( later than in most European lockdown @ @ @ @ @ @ @ since .
Sweden has had fewer COVID-19 deaths per million population than Belgium , the U.K. , Spain , and Italy , all of whom deployed widespread lockdowns .
6 .
True or False : Florida ’ s COVID-19 deaths now rival those of New York .
False .
If you got this one wrong , you ’ re in good company .
White House Coronavirus Task Force head Dr. Deborah Birx recently announced that the Sunshine State , along with Texas and California , was now one of “ three New Yorks.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and the number of COVID-19-related deaths has been rising and will continue to do so .
But as of Aug. 1 , Florida ’ s deaths-per-million population ( 327 ) ranked below the U.S. average ( 475 ) and well below the rates in New York State ( 1,685 ) and the neighboring states of New Jersey ( 1,790 ) and Connecticut ( 1,243 ) .
Equating the conditions in Florida this summer with those that prevailed in New York and the Northeast this past spring is recklessly inaccurate .
In fact @ @ @ @ @ @ @ most coronavirus-related deaths hasn ’ t changed all that much since late April , according to USAFacts.org data .
Eight of the 10 counties that led the U.S. in deaths at the end of April were still on the top 10 list at the end of July .
New York City and surrounding counties in New Jersey and on Long Island , N.Y. , filled eight of the slots on April 30 and still occupied 6 of them on July 31 , including three of the top five .
Only one county from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” —Los Angeles County—made the list .
7 .
Wearing a mask will : a ) Prevent you from getting COVID-19 ; b ) Make you sick ; c ) Both of the above ; or d ) Neither of the above .
( d ) Masks have taken on mythical proportions in the public imagination .
“ I think if we could get everybody to wear a mask now , ” CDC Director Dr. Robert Redfield said on July 15 , “ I think in four , six , eight weeks , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” First , there ’ s the imprecision of his forecast .
( Does he think it ’ s four , six , or eight weeks ?
What does he mean by “ under control ?
” ) Then , there ’ s the utopian nature of the hypothetical ( How would you go about getting everyone to wear a mask ?
All the time ? )
suggests that Redfield was making another of those unsubstantiated , off-the-cuff statements to which public health officials seem prone .
On the other side , social @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the body of oxygen .
So , will wearing a mask prevent you from getting infected or send you into a stupor of hypoxia ?
“ Masks may help prevent people who have COVID-19 from spreading the virus to others , ” according to the CDC .
They don ’ t protect the mask-wearer , but they may protect others from the mask-wearer .
The CDC says that wearing a mask “ may ” have this effect because scientific certainty isn ’ t possible .
You can ’ t conduct a properly controlled @ @ @ @ @ @ @ really help prevent the spread of the coronavirus .
If there ’ s no definitive proof that masks work , why wear them ?
Mostly , commonsense .
Scientists seem fairly certain that COVID-19 is spread by droplets , although there ’ s some evidence it ’ s present in aerosols .
Either way , it ’ s on our breaths .
There also is evidence that people who don ’ t know they ’ re infected can spread the disease to others .
By imposing a physical barrier , masks reduce the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ That ’ s thought to lessen the chance that a person who doesn ’ t know he ’ s shedding virus will spread the infection .
So , it ’ s a good idea to wear one—unless it sends you into a swoon .
8 .
True or False : 20 % of the U.S. population has had the coronavirus .
False .
A survey of 1,000 Americans by the international polling firm KEKST/CNC found that most of us think that the virus has infected 20 % of the population .
As of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tallied nearly 4.7 million cases , or about 1.4 percent of the U.S. population .
Of course , many COVID-19 cases go undiagnosed , so the survey respondents may not be as far off as they seem .
It ’ s also worth noting that Americans aren ’ t alone in overestimating the extent of the pandemic in their country .
The same survey found that people in the U.K. , Germany , France , and Sweden also overestimated the percentage of their countrymen who had contracted the disease .
9 .
True @ @ @ @ @ @ @ age , who gets the coronavirus is equally at risk of serious illness and death .
False .
COVID-19 is a serious disease primarily for the elderly , especially those in nursing homes .
As of July 25 , the CDC ’ s most recent publicly available data reports that people 65 and older account for 80 % of COVID-19 deaths , although they make up less than 17 % of the population .
People under 45 ( 58 % of the population ) account for less than 3 % of coronavirus deaths @ @ @ @ @ @ @ researchers set out to estimate more precisely the age-related mortality risk of coronavirus infection .
The researchers drew on data from studies performed around the world to estimate the number of people who have been infected with the coronavirus .
This group is larger than the number who have tested positive for the contagion .
They found that the infection fatality rate—the percentage of people who have been infected with the virus ( including those who are never tested ) who die—is very different for younger people and older adults .
“ The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ close to zero for children and younger adults , ” they concluded , “ but rises exponentially with age , reaching about 0.3 percent for ages 50-59 , 1 percent for ages 60-69 , 4 percent for ages 70-79 , and 24 percent for ages 80 and above.
” 10 .
True or false : According to those same Syracuse University researchers , a person under 45 who is involved in an accident is three times more likely to die than a person in that same age group who contracts COVID-19 .
True @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of death from accidental injury and infection with the coronavirus .
Its authors estimate that people under 45 who have an accidental injury caused by something other than an automobile accident have 0.03 % ( 3 chances in 10,000 ) of dying from that injury , compared with a 0.01 % ( 1 in 10,000 ) chance of dying if they contract COVID-19 .
Those in that age group who are involved in traffic accidents face a similar 1-in-10,000 risk of death .
0-4 correct : Poor .
Don ’ t blame yourself @ @ @ @ @ @ @ CNN , The New York Times , or similar sources for your COVID-19 information .
5-7 correct : Not bad .
You understand the pandemic better than most .
8-9 correct : Very good .
Getting just one or two questions wrong probably ranks you among the most knowledgeable Americans .
10 correct : Excellent .
If you ’ re not too attached to your day job , you might want to apply to run the White House Coronavirus Task Force .

1. True or False: COVID-19 is now the leading cause of death in the U.S.
False. It’s not even close. As of July 25, the most recent date for which Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data is available, there were 135,579 deaths related to the contagion, less than 10% of the more than 1.5 million deaths that have occurred in the U.S. so far this year.
COVID-19 isn’t even the leading cause of death among the elderly, although it accounts for more than 9% of deaths among those 65 and older. Cancer and heart disease continue to claim the most lives by far in this age group, while unintentional injuries cause the most deaths among people under 45.
>>> What’s the best way for America to reopen and return to business? The National Coronavirus Recovery Commission, a project of The Heritage Foundation, assembled America’s top thinkers to figure that out. So far, it has made more than 260 recommendations. Learn more here.
2. True or False: The U.S. has the highest COVID-19 death rate in the world.
False. As of Aug. 3, there were 158,706 COVID-19-related deaths nationally, according to Worldometer’s data, the most in the world. But with a population of 330 million, the U.S. is also among the world’s most populous.
The more accurate metric of comparison is the COVID-19 death rate per million population. By that standard, the U.S. ranks eighth among countries with populations of 1 million or more, behind Belgium, the U.K., Spain, Peru, Italy, Sweden, and Chile.
3. True or False: The U.S. has more confirmed cases than any other country because it has tested much more extensively than any other country.
False. As of Aug. 2, the U.S. had performed nearly 181,000 tests per million population. That placed us ninth in the world, behind the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Denmark, the U.K., Singapore, Russia, Lithuania, and Israel. All of those countries except Bahrain reported fewer cases per million population than did the U.S.
4. According to the CDC, how many children under 15 had died with COVID-19, as of July 25?
a) 42; b) 420; c) 4,200; d) 42,000
(a) Of the 135,579 deaths associated with COVID-19 that the CDC had tallied as of July 25, 42 were among children under 15. That represents about 0.3% of the deaths in this age group.
COVID-19 is not even among the 10 leading causes of death among school-aged and preschool-aged children. Ironically, while children under 15 account for less than 1% of COVID-19 deaths, and the elderly account for 80% of deaths, public debate centers on reopening schools, not on making nursing homes safer.
5. True or False: Sweden, the only country in Europe that didn’t impose a lockdown, suffered far more COVID-19-related deaths, on a population basis, than any other European country.
False. Supporters of lockdowns have repeatedly decried Sweden’s refusal to impose them on its population, forecasting an epidemic of medieval proportions.
The number of confirmed cases in Sweden peaked on June 24 (later than in most European lockdown countries) and has declined sharply ever since. Sweden has had fewer COVID-19 deaths per million population than Belgium, the U.K., Spain, and Italy, all of whom deployed widespread lockdowns.
6. True or False: Florida’s COVID-19 deaths now rival those of New York.
False. If you got this one wrong, you’re in good company. White House coronavirus task force head Dr. Deborah Birx recently announced that the Sunshine State, along with Texas and California, was now one of “three New Yorks.”
That’s a distortion.
The virus is spreading among Floridians, and the number of COVID-19-related deaths has been rising and will continue to do so. But as of Aug. 1, Florida’s deaths-per-million population (327) ranked below the U.S. average (475) and well below the rates in New York state (1,685) and the neighboring states of New Jersey (1,790) and Connecticut (1,243).
Equating the conditions in Florida this summer with those that prevailed in New York and the Northeast this past spring is recklessly inaccurate.
In fact, the list of counties with the most coronavirus-related deaths hasn’t changed all that much since late April, according to USAFacts.org data. Eight of the 10 counties that led the U.S. in deaths at the end of April were still on the top 10 list at the end of July.
New York City and surrounding counties in New Jersey and on Long Island filled eight of the slots on April 30 and still occupied six of them on July 31, including three of the top five. Only one county from Birx’s “three New Yorks”—Los Angeles County—made the list.
7. Wearing a mask will: a) prevent you from getting COVID-19; b) make you sick; c) both of the above; or d) neither of the above.
(d) Masks have taken on mythical proportions in the public imagination.
“I think if we could get everybody to wear a mask now,” CDC Director Dr. Robert Redfield said July 15, “I think in four, six, eight weeks, we could bring this epidemic under control.”
First, there’s the imprecision of his forecast. (Does he think it’s four, six, or eight weeks? What does he mean by “under control?”)
Then, there’s the utopian nature of the hypothetical (How would you go about getting everyone to wear a mask? All the time?). It suggests that Redfield was making another of those unsubstantiated, off-the-cuff statements to which public health officials seem prone.
On the other side, social media resonate with warnings that masks deprive the body of oxygen. So, will wearing a mask prevent you from getting infected or send you into a stupor of hypoxia?
Neither.
“Masks may help prevent people who have COVID-19 from spreading the virus to others,” according to the CDC. They don’t protect the mask-wearer, but they may protect others from the mask-wearer.
The CDC says that wearing a mask “may” have this effect because scientific certainty isn’t possible. You can’t conduct a properly controlled experiment that yields scientific proof that masks really help prevent the spread of the coronavirus.
If there’s no definitive proof that masks work, why wear them? Mostly, common sense. Scientists seem fairly certain that COVID-19 is spread by droplets, although there’s some evidence it’s present in aerosols. Either way, it’s on our breaths.
There also is evidence that people who don’t know they’re infected can spread the disease to others. By imposing a physical barrier, masks reduce the speed and spread of our breaths. That’s thought to lessen the chance that a person who doesn’t know he’s shedding virus will spread the infection.
So, it’s a good idea to wear one—unless it sends you into a swoon.
8. True or False: 20% of the U.S. population has had the coronavirus.
False. A survey of 1,000 Americans by the international polling firm Kekst CNC found that most of us think that the virus has infected 20% of the population.
As of Aug. 2, Johns Hopkins University had tallied nearly 4.7 million cases, or about 1.4% of the U.S. population. Of course, many COVID-19 cases go undiagnosed, so the survey respondents may not be as far off as they seem.
It’s also worth noting that Americans aren’t alone in overestimating the extent of the pandemic in their country. The same survey found that people in the U.K., Germany, France, and Sweden also overestimated the percentage of their countrymen who had contracted the disease.
9. True or False: Everyone, regardless of age, who gets the coronavirus is equally at risk of serious illness and death.
False. COVID-19 is a serious disease primarily for the elderly, especially those in nursing homes.
As of July 25, the CDC’s most recent publicly available data reports that people 65 and older account for 80% of COVID-19 deaths, although they make up less than 17% of the population.
People under 45 (58% of the population) account for less than 3% of coronavirus deaths.
A recent study by Syracuse University researchers set out to estimate more precisely the age-related mortality risk of coronavirus infection. The researchers drew on data from studies performed around the world to estimate the number of people who have been infected with the coronavirus.
This group is larger than the number who have tested positive for the contagion. They found that the infection fatality rate—the percentage of people who have been infected with the virus (including those who are never tested) who die—is very different for younger people and older adults.
“The estimated [infection fatality rate] is close to zero for children and younger adults,” they concluded, “but rises exponentially with age, reaching about 0.3 percent for ages 50-59, 1 percent for ages 60-69, 4 percent for ages 70-79, and 24 percent for ages 80 and above.”
10. True or false: According to those same Syracuse University researchers, a person under 45 who is involved in an accident is three times more likely to die than a person in that same age group who contracts COVID-19.
True. That study compared the relative risks of death from accidental injury and infection with the coronavirus. Its authors estimate that people under 45 who have an accidental injury caused by something other than an automobile accident have 0.03% (3 chances in 10,000) of dying from that injury, compared with a 0.01% (1 in 10,000) chance of dying if they contract COVID-19. Those in that age group who are involved in traffic accidents face a similar 1-in-10,000 risk of death.
Rate Yourself
0-4 correct: Poor. Don’t blame yourself. You’ve probably relied on CNN, The New York Times, or similar sources for your COVID-19 information.
5-7 correct: Not bad. You understand the pandemic better than most.
8-9 correct: Very good. Getting just one or two questions wrong probably ranks you among the most knowledgeable Americans.
10 correct: Excellent. If you’re not too attached to your day job, you might want to apply to run the White House coronavirus task force.
This article has been corrected to reflect the accurate percentage range of COVID-19 deaths compared to all deaths in the United States this year.


dailysignal--2020-08-06--Pence: ‘The Choice We Face Is Whether America Remains America’

TAMPA—Vice President Mike Pence portrayed a stark contrast facing America during a visit Wednesday to the swing state of Florida .
“ We stand at a crossroads of freedom , ” Pence said .
“ Before us lie two paths : One based on the dignity and worth of every individual , and the other on the growing control of the state .
One road leads to greater freedom and opportunity , and the other road leads to socialism and decline.
” He added , “ The choice we face is whether America remains America.
” Pence ’ s words @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gathered in the hotel ballroom .
It was Pence ’ s third and final stop in the Tampa area , where he was greeted with flag-waving and sign-toting supporters along the route of the motorcade .
Pence also visited a women ’ s medical clinic and a Baptist church Wednesday .
Throughout the day , Pence touted the Trump administration ’ s pro-life achievements and commitment to religious freedom while offering a warning to supporters on what the future might hold .
Pence also spoke forcefully in defense of law enforcement and against @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s major cities .
“ President Trump and I know that the men and women who put on the uniform of law enforcement every day are the best people in this country , ” Pence said to applause .
“ With this president and this administration , we will always back the blue .
We will always stand with the men and women on the Thin Blue Line of law enforcement .
We ’ re not going to defund the police—not now , not ever.
” Earlier this week , The Wall Street @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s 50 largest cities have experienced a double-digit rise in homicide rates .
Two cities—Austin and Chicago—have seen homicide rates skyrocket more than 50 % compared to last year .
“ We don ’ t need to choose between supporting law enforcement and supporting our minority communities , ” Pence said .
“ This president has done both every single day , and we will continue to deliver .
We will support law enforcement , we will support our minority communities , with liberty and justice for all.
” The Daily Signal traveled @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a member of the press pool—a point of contention for some journalists in the White House press corps .
The New York Times published a story Wednesday evening , “ Member of Conservative Think Tank Takes On Reporter Duties on Air Force Two.
” Pence ’ s staff invited The Daily Signal after the White House Correspondents Association was unable to find a volunteer to travel with the vice president .
NBC News , The Federalist ’ s Mollie Hemingway , and CBN News ’ David Brody also accompanied Pence on the trip @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Thursday , Pence told CBN News about the importance of the Supreme Court .
He also bluntly stated , “ Chief Justice Roberts has been a disappointment to conservatives.
” Pence cited Trump ’ s appointment of conservative jurists among the administration ’ s top accomplishments , adding other achievements that include protecting the sanctity of life and religious freedom , rebuilding the military , reviving the economy , cutting taxes , reducing red tape , enacting the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement , and creating jobs .
“ President Trump has kept the promises that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people , to the people of Florida , and especially to people of faith , ” Pence said .
Pence ’ s early afternoon visit to a pregnancy center marked the first time a sitting vice president appeared at such a medical clinic , according to the pro-life Susan B. Anthony List .
Afterward , Pence spoke to the organization ’ s Life Wins !
2020 Tour at the nearby Starkey Road Baptist Church .
“ Life is winning in America , ” Pence said .
“ I believe life is winning because @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been shown to women and children.
” Pence spoke about his meeting at the clinic with Kia Farrell and her son Ollie Farrell , who turns 1 next month .
Farrell considered an abortion at Planned Parenthood before turned to A Woman ’ s Place .
Health and Human Services Deputy Secretary Eric Hargan , who preceded Pence ’ s speech , cited the department ’ s Title X family planning services rule as an example of the Trump administration ’ s commitment to protecting the dignity of human life .
“ There @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pro-family administration , ” Hargan said .
Pence said the Declaration of Independence put life at the center of the American experiment .
Yet , 47 years ago , the U.S. Supreme Court made a decision in Roe vs. Wade that fundamentally challenged the right to life .
He warned that decades of pro-life progress could soon be erased .
“ Now more than ever , pro-life Americans need to make our voice heard .
… You need to speak out and become involved , ” he said .
“ The radical left @ @ @ @ @ @ @ later in the day at a “ Faith in Freedom ” rally in Clearwater , Pence said , “ The foundation of America is freedom , but the foundation of freedom is faith.
” He added , “ I ’ m more convinced than ever of two things : America is a freedom-loving nation , and this is a nation of faith.
” With cases of coronavirus still hampering Florida , Pence acknowledged the challenges facing America .
He said the Trump administration was focused on helping all Americans .
“ We ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we ’ re opening up American schools again , ” Pence said to applause .
“ I ’ ll make you a promise—as you in the Sunshine State and people all across the country continue to contend with this pandemic—we will not rest until Florida and America put this coronavirus in the past , and we bring Florida and America back bigger and better than ever before .
”

TAMPA—Vice President Mike Pence portrayed a stark contrast facing America during a visit Wednesday to Florida.
“We stand at a crossroads of freedom,” Pence said. “Before us lie two paths: One based on the dignity and worth of every individual, and the other on the growing control of the state. One road leads to greater freedom and opportunity, and the other road leads to socialism and decline.”
He added, “The choice we face is whether America remains America.”
Want to support The Daily Signal? Subscribe to our YouTube channel! Just go here: https://www.youtube.com/dailysignal
Pence’s words drew strong applause from the 250 supporters gathered in the hotel ballroom. It was Pence’s third and final stop in the Tampa area, where he was greeted with flag-waving and sign-toting supporters along the route of the motorcade. Pence also visited a women’s medical clinic and a Baptist church Wednesday.
Throughout the day, Pence touted the Trump administration’s pro-life achievements and commitment to religious freedom while offering a warning to supporters on what the future might hold.
The choice could not be more clear. And I want to make you a promise: This President, this Vice President, and this Administration will ALWAYS stand up for the freedom of speech of every American, and we will always stand for LIFE. pic.twitter.com/BMRBoWrKRG — Mike Pence (@Mike_Pence) August 5, 2020
Pence also spoke forcefully in defense of law enforcement and against efforts to defund police in America’s major cities.
“President Trump and I know that the men and women who put on the uniform of law enforcement every day are the best people in this country,” Pence said to applause. “With this president and this administration, we will always back the blue. We will always stand with the men and women on the Thin Blue Line of law enforcement. We’re not going to defund the police—not now, not ever.”
Earlier this week, The Wall Street Journal reported that 36 of America’s 50 largest cities have experienced a double-digit rise in homicide rates. Two cities—Austin and Chicago—have seen homicide rates skyrocket more than 50% compared to last year.
“We don’t need to choose between supporting law enforcement and supporting our minority communities,” Pence said. “This president has done both every single day, and we will continue to deliver. We will support law enforcement, we will support our minority communities, with liberty and justice for all.”
The Daily Signal traveled with Pence aboard Air Force Two as a member of the press pool—a point of contention for some journalists in the White House press corps. The New York Times published a story Wednesday evening, headlined “Member of Conservative Think Tank Takes On Reporter Duties on Air Force Two.”
Pence’s staff invited The Daily Signal after the White House Correspondents Association was unable to find a volunteer to travel with the vice president. NBC News, The Federalist’s Mollie Hemingway, and CBN News’ David Brody also accompanied Pence on the trip.
In an interview scheduled to air Thursday, Pence told CBN News about the importance of the Supreme Court. He also bluntly stated, “Chief Justice [John] Roberts has been a disappointment to conservatives.”
EXCLUSIVE: Vice President Mike Pence calls out Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts by name. He says, "Chief Justice Roberts has been a disappointment to conservatives." Watch from my interview with @VP in Florida today. Full report on @700club Thursday + clips on @CBNNews pic.twitter.com/z6IANVONr5 — David Brody (@DavidBrodyCBN) August 6, 2020
Pence cited Trump’s appointment of conservative jurists among the administration’s top accomplishments, adding other achievements that include protecting the sanctity of life and religious freedom, rebuilding the military, reviving the economy, cutting taxes, reducing red tape, enacting the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement, and creating jobs.
“President Trump has kept the promises that he’s made to the American people, to the people of Florida, and especially to people of faith,” Pence said.
Pence’s early afternoon visit to a pregnancy center marked the first time a sitting vice president appeared at such a medical clinic, according to the pro-life Susan B. Anthony List. Afterward, Pence spoke to the organization’s Life Wins! 2020 Tour at the nearby Starkey Road Baptist Church.
VP Mike Pence: "President Trump has been standing without apology for the sanctity of human life." pic.twitter.com/B7eQ72xT8u — The Hill (@thehill) August 5, 2020
“Life is winning in America,” Pence said. “I believe life is winning because of the compassion and love that have been shown to women and children.”
Pence spoke about his meeting at the clinic with Kia Farrell and her son Ollie Farrell, who turns 1 next month. Farrell considered an abortion at Planned Parenthood before turned to A Woman’s Place.
When Kia found out she was pregnant, she turned to @FollowNewLife who gave her the care and support she needed.
Today she met Vice President @Mike_Pence during our LIFE WINS! tour to share her story.
Watch Kia's story now: https://t.co/yzyz3aP9oA pic.twitter.com/mww5aaucj9 — Susan B. Anthony List (@SBAList) August 5, 2020
Health and Human Services Deputy Secretary Eric Hargan, who preceded Pence’s speech, cited the department’s Title X family planning services rule as an example of the Trump administration’s commitment to protecting the dignity of human life.
“There has never been a more pro-life and pro-family administration,” Hargan said.
Pence said the Declaration of Independence put life at the center of the American experiment. Yet, 47 years ago, the U.S. Supreme Court made a decision in Roe vs. Wade that fundamentally challenged the right to life. He warned that decades of pro-life progress could soon be erased.
“Now more than ever, pro-life Americans need to make our voice heard. … You need to speak out and become involved,” he said. “The radical left wants to silence pro-life Americans.”
Thank you, Florida! From the first day of this Admin, President @realDonaldTrump kept his promises to people of faith & the people of Florida. We stood for life & religious liberty, rebuilt our military, appointed Conservative Judges & Justices & revived the American economy! pic.twitter.com/BLrAjb33mW — Mike Pence (@Mike_Pence) August 5, 2020
Speaking later in the day at a “Faith in Freedom” rally in Clearwater, Pence said, “The foundation of America is freedom, but the foundation of freedom is faith.”
He added, “I’m more convinced than ever of two things: America is a freedom-loving nation, and this is a nation of faith.”
With cases of coronavirus still hampering Florida, Pence acknowledged the challenges facing America. He said the Trump administration was focused on helping all Americans.
“We’re opening up America again, and we’re opening up American schools again,” Pence said to applause. “I’ll make you a promise—as you in the Sunshine State and people all across the country continue to contend with this pandemic—we will not rest until Florida and America put this coronavirus in the past, and we bring Florida and America back bigger and better than ever before.”


dailysignal--2020-08-05--Without Proper Context, Leaked COVID-19 Data Is Worse Than Misleading

What ’ s the No .
1 coronavirus hot spot in America ?
Is it Los Angeles County , which led the nation with nearly 200,000 confirmed cases on Aug. 2 , according to Johns Hopkins University ?
Is it Miami-Dade County , Florida , which ranked second with more than 121,000 cases ?
Or is it Houston/Harris County , Texas , where nearly 75,000 cases have been recorded ?
The answer , according to a recently leaked Centers for Disease Control and Prevention document : Columbia County , Florida .
> > > What ’ s the best way @ @ @ @ @ @ @ business ?
The National Coronavirus Recovery Commission , a project of The Heritage Foundation , assembled America ’ s top thinkers to figure that out .
So far , it has made more than 260 recommendations .
Learn more here .
If you ’ ve never heard of Columbia County , you ’ re not alone .
It ’ s as obscure as most of the other COVID-19 hot spots identified in the CDC document , as reported in a Yahoo News story headlined “ Nine of the Top 10 U.S. Coronavirus Hot @ @ @ @ @ @ @ A closer look at those so-called “ hot spots ” shows how public health officials too often use statistics to misinform the public about the COVID-19 pandemic .
By presenting a distorted view , those officials have sown confusion and undermined their own credibility with tens of millions of Americans .
In this case , the CDC defined a “ hot spot ” as a county with the most cases per 100,000 population over the most recent two-week period .
The metric is prone to designate sparsely populated counties reporting temporary spikes in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
More importantly , it provides no insight as to the nature of the “ outbreak ” in those counties .
Consider Columbia County , Florida , America ’ s leading coronavirus hot spot .
It ’ s a relatively small county ( population less than 72,000 ) 60 miles west of Jacksonville .
Lake City ( population 12,000 ) is the county ’ s largest jurisdiction .
Being named the country ’ s No .
1 coronavirus hot spot might be the biggest thing to happen to Columbia County since Lake City @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s name from Alligator at his wife ’ s insistence .
At first glance , there ’ s nothing especially remarkable about Columbia County ’ s COVID-19 data .
As of Aug. 1 , it had 2,562 confirmed cases and just 10 deaths .
A closer look shows that the county reported nearly 500 of those cases in a two-day period ( July 20-21 ) .
It turns out that there was an outbreak at the Columbia Correctional Institution , a state facility that can house 1,427 inmates .
That outbreak , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for 54 % of the county ’ s COVID-19 cases .
Thus did Columbia County win the distinction as CDC ’ s hottest hot spot among the nation ’ s 3,141 counties .
A similar pattern prevails in two of the other four Florida “ hot spots ” identified in the CDC document .
Jackson County ( No .
7 ) had reported 1,600 cases as of Aug. 1 .
It attributes its place on the list to a total of nearly 500 cases reported in two days ( July 24 and 28 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 56 % of its cases occurred in its correctional facility ( 41 % ) and nursing homes ( 15 % ) .
Just behind Jackson County is Glades County ( No .
8 ) , situated west of Lake Okeechobee .
The county has logged just three deaths and only 391 cases .
It reported five or fewer cases on 13 of the 14 days between July 19 and Aug. 1 , including five days on which it reported zero cases and two days on which it reported just one .
On July @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cases , propelling it past 3,133 other counties on its way to the No .
8 slot .
Not surprisingly , Glades County is home to a detention center operated by Immigration and Customs Enforcement .
Two-thirds of its COVID-19 cases came from that facility .
Similar distortions are occurring with the data in Texas .
Texas is no New York .
While New York has 167 deaths per 100,000 population , Texas has 24 .
The top three Texas “ hot spots ” on the list are all in rural areas with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ combat access issues , Gov .
Greg Abbott has surged personnel and additional resources as needed to support rural communities with fewer available hospital beds .
Real County , Texas ( No .
3 ) is located more than a two-hour drive northwest from San Antonio with a population just over 3,400 residents .
That community did not see its first COVID-19 case until June 4 and had been exempt from any of Abbott ’ s mandates because the county caseload was less than 20 .
That held true until July 23 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to a significant increase in cases due to an outbreak at a local nursing home .
Fifty positive cases were reported in a single-day spike , but positive cases have returned to one to three per day since the one-day spike , and there have been no deaths in the county to date .
With more than 20,000 residents , DeWitt County , Texas ( No .
4 ) has recorded 604 COVID-19 cases .
Cuero , the county seat , is the self-proclaimed “ Turkey Capital of the World ” and home @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prison .
Offenders and staff so far account for 28 cases .
While cases have been attributed to community spread , a nursing home outbreak increased the total case count .
Of the positive COVID-19 cases currently in DeWitt , only 13 are reportedly hospitalized and 410 have recovered .
At No .
6 , Refugio County is next on the list .
With about 7,000 residents , this county is on the Texas Coastal Bend , sandwiched between the San Antonio , Guadalupe , and Aransas rivers .
Ninety-two of the 209 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ May have already recovered , and no deaths have been reported .
Refugio County has seen some single-day spikes over the past three weeks , but the average daily increase remains at eight cases per day , there have been no deaths reported in the county , and the case trend is falling .
In mid-July , DeWitt and Refugio counties were both host to four Texas Military Department COVID-19 testing sites offering approximately 500 free COVID-19 tests in each county to improve access to testing for rural residents .
Case counts in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in late July after those events .
Abbott and Florida Gov .
Ron DeSantis have been relentlessly criticized for lifting their respective states ’ lockdown orders .
But a closer look at the CDC ’ s top “ hot spots ” shows that most of them involved outbreaks among prisoners and nursing home residents—people who are literally on lockdown .
While we must protect those in congregate settings , such as nursing homes and prisons , as well as the non-institutionalized elderly and those with underlying health conditions , the rest of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ moderate symptoms of COVID-19 , and many others are asymptomatic .
If the data is showing more people are asymptomatic , having milder illness , and recovering at higher rates with fewer complications and hospitalizations , and we know who to protect , why aren ’ t public health officials emphasizing getting this data-driven good news to the public ?
Understanding the current state of the pandemic requires data , but numbers don ’ t always show a clear picture of the situation on the ground .
Context is vital to determine the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Data is only valuable if it ’ s accurately presented .

What’s the No. 1 coronavirus hot spot in America?
Is it Los Angeles County, which led the nation with nearly 200,000 confirmed cases on Aug. 2, according to Johns Hopkins University? Is it Miami-Dade County, Florida, which ranked second with more than 121,000 cases? Or is it Houston/Harris County, Texas, where nearly 75,000 cases have been recorded?
The answer, according to a recently leaked Centers for Disease Control and Prevention document: Columbia County, Florida.
>>> What’s the best way for America to reopen and return to business? The National Coronavirus Recovery Commission, a project of The Heritage Foundation, assembled America’s top thinkers to figure that out. So far, it has made more than 260 recommendations. Learn more here.
If you’ve never heard of Columbia County, you’re not alone. It’s as obscure as most of the other COVID-19 hot spots identified in the CDC document, as reported in a Yahoo News story headlined “Nine of the Top 10 U.S. Coronavirus Hot Spots Are in Florida and Texas.”
A closer look at those so-called “hot spots” shows how public health officials too often use statistics to misinform the public about the COVID-19 pandemic.
By presenting a distorted view, those officials have sown confusion and undermined their own credibility with tens of millions of Americans.
In this case, the CDC defined a “hot spot” as a county with the most cases per 100,000 population over the most recent two-week period. The metric is prone to designate sparsely populated counties reporting temporary spikes in cases as being hotbeds of coronavirus infection.
More importantly, it provides no insight as to the nature of the “outbreak” in those counties.
Consider Columbia County, Florida, America’s leading coronavirus hot spot. It’s a relatively small county (population less than 72,000) 60 miles west of Jacksonville. Lake City (population 12,000) is the county’s largest jurisdiction.
Being named the country’s No. 1 coronavirus hot spot might be the biggest thing to happen to Columbia County since Lake City’s first mayor changed the town’s name from Alligator at his wife’s insistence.
At first glance, there’s nothing especially remarkable about Columbia County’s COVID-19 data. As of Aug. 1, it had 2,562 confirmed cases and just 10 deaths. A closer look shows that the county reported nearly 500 of those cases in a two-day period (July 20-21).
It turns out that there was an outbreak at the Columbia Correctional Institution, a state facility that can house 1,427 inmates. That outbreak, which involved hundreds of prisoners, accounts for 54% of the county’s COVID-19 cases.
Thus did Columbia County win the distinction as CDC’s hottest hot spot among the nation’s 3,141 counties.
A similar pattern prevails in two of the other four Florida “hot spots” identified in the CDC document.
Jackson County (No. 7) had reported 1,600 cases as of Aug. 1. It attributes its place on the list to a total of nearly 500 cases reported in two days (July 24 and 28). Similar to Columbia County, 56% of its cases occurred in its correctional facility (41%) and nursing homes (15%).
Just behind Jackson County is Glades County (No. 8), situated west of Lake Okeechobee. The county has logged just three deaths and only 391 cases. It reported five or fewer cases on 13 of the 14 days between July 19 and Aug. 1, including five days on which it reported zero cases and two days on which it reported just one.
On July 24, however, it recorded 84 cases, propelling it past 3,133 other counties on its way to the No. 8 slot. Not surprisingly, Glades County is home to a detention center operated by Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Two-thirds of its COVID-19 cases came from that facility.
Similar distortions are occurring with the data in Texas. Texas is no New York. While New York has 167 deaths per 100,000 population, Texas has 24.
The top three Texas “hot spots” on the list are all in rural areas with historically limited health care access. To combat access issues, Gov. Greg Abbott has surged personnel and additional resources as needed to support rural communities with fewer available hospital beds.
Real County, Texas (No. 3) is located more than a two-hour drive northwest from San Antonio with a population just over 3,400 residents. That community did not see its first COVID-19 case until June 4 and had been exempt from any of Abbott’s mandates because the county caseload was less than 20.
That held true until July 23, when Judge Bella Rubio alerted the public to a significant increase in cases due to an outbreak at a local nursing home. Fifty positive cases were reported in a single-day spike, but positive cases have returned to one to three per day since the one-day spike, and there have been no deaths in the county to date.
With more than 20,000 residents, DeWitt County, Texas (No. 4) has recorded 604 COVID-19 cases. Cuero, the county seat, is the self-proclaimed “Turkey Capital of the World” and home to the Stevenson Unit, a state prison. Offenders and staff so far account for 28 cases.
While cases have been attributed to community spread, a nursing home outbreak increased the total case count. Of the positive COVID-19 cases currently in DeWitt, only 13 are reportedly hospitalized and 410 have recovered.
At No. 6, Refugio County is next on the list. With about 7,000 residents, this county is on the Texas Coastal Bend, sandwiched between the San Antonio, Guadalupe, and Aransas rivers.
Ninety-two of the 209 patients testing positive for the virus since May have already recovered, and no deaths have been reported. Refugio County has seen some single-day spikes over the past three weeks, but the average daily increase remains at eight cases per day, there have been no deaths reported in the county, and the case trend is falling.
In mid-July, DeWitt and Refugio counties were both host to four Texas Military Department COVID-19 testing sites offering approximately 500 free COVID-19 tests in each county to improve access to testing for rural residents. Case counts in both counties saw a “spike” in late July after those events.
Abbott and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis have been relentlessly criticized for lifting their respective states’ lockdown orders. But a closer look at the CDC’s top “hot spots” shows that most of them involved outbreaks among prisoners and nursing home residents—people who are literally on lockdown.
While we must protect those in congregate settings, such as nursing homes and prisons, as well as the non-institutionalized elderly and those with underlying health conditions, the rest of the community is generally recovering from mild to moderate symptoms of COVID-19, and many others are asymptomatic.
If the data is showing more people are asymptomatic, having milder illness, and recovering at higher rates with fewer complications and hospitalizations, and we know who to protect, why aren’t public health officials emphasizing getting this data-driven good news to the public?
Understanding the current state of the pandemic requires data, but numbers don’t always show a clear picture of the situation on the ground.
Context is vital to determine the true nature of the COVID-19 crisis. Data is only valuable if it’s accurately presented.


dailysignal--2020-08-06--Nevada Democrats’ Shocking Midnight Run on Election Integrity

Bills that genuinely promote the common good typically don ’ t get rushed to passage under the cover of night on strict party-line votes .
Yet that ’ s what Nevada Democrats have done with an “ election reform ” measure they just pushed through an emergency special session of the state legislature .
Nevada Gov .
Steve Sisolak and his legislative allies claim the 100-page bill—the crux of which is an unprecedented expansion of mail-in voting and an allowance for “ ballot harvesting ” —is a necessary safety precaution in the face of the COVID-19 epidemic .
In reality @ @ @ @ @ @ @ attempt to radically overhaul Nevada ’ s elections in a way that blows the door wide open to widespread voter fraud .
The bill , which the governor signed into law on Monday , includes a number of changes that severely undermine the security of elections in this key swing state .
It requires that all active voters receive a mail ballot , whether they ’ ve requested one or not .
It provides that ballots received by election officials without a postmark for up to three days after Election Day be considered @ @ @ @ @ @ @ harvesting on a broad scale , and for multiple ballots to be submitted in a single envelope with only a single signature required on the envelope , and no signature requirement for the enclosed individual ballots , leaving it to the discretion of election officials to decide whether the votes should count .
It allows for an individual to sign a ballot on another ’ s behalf .
And it allows for drop boxes for collecting ballots with no signature requirement—which is an even more dangerous form of ballot-harvesting , which conventionally at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the same bill also provides for a huge expansion of in-person voting sites—indeed , the greatest number of sites in history for Clark County , the largest county in the state .
As the experiences this year of states such as Wisconsin , Florida , and many others have shown , voting in person can indeed be done safely .
And Nevada ’ s secretary of state has said that Nevada can hold in-person elections safely , while allowing for those who are concerned about health risks to request an absentee ballot .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ voting expansion completely undercuts the Democrats ’ argument for such a huge increase in mail-in voting ; namely , that in-person voting during the COVID-19 crisis creates an unacceptable health hazard .
But consistency in responding to COVID-19 has never been Sisolak ’ s strong suit .
While taking a heavy-handed approach to shutting down economic activity in some industries , and also implementing draconian limitations on church attendance , he has allowed for politically favored construction projects to move forward , for casinos to be packed with visitors , and for restaurants @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and doing nothing to stop the swell of protests that recently broke out across Nevada .
Yet , apparently , it ’ s so crucial for Nevadans to practice social distancing that we need a revolutionary expansion of mail-in voting ?
Which is it , Governor ?
Given how fraught this bill is with problems , and how hypocritical they ’ re proving themselves to be on this issue , it ’ s no wonder Nevada ’ s Democrats—who control not only the governor ’ s office , but also both houses of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bill to either the secretary of state or Republican lawmakers before moving it forward , nor did they allow members of the public to be present for the weekend midnight session .
All of this adds up to strong reason for Nevadans to be gravely concerned about the integrity of their vote this November .
There has been a long-standing , bipartisan recognition that mail-in voting dramatically increases the risk of voter fraud .
A 2005 bipartisan report of the Commission on Federal Election Reform , chaired by Jimmy Carter and James Baker @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , that “ vote-buying schemes are far more difficult to detect when citizens vote by mail.
” And none other than The New York Times acknowledged just a few years ago that “ there is a bipartisan consensus that voting by mail … is more easily abused than other forms.
” Recent cases of mass fraud in North Carolina and other states have only validated those concerns further .
Even in the absence of explicit intent to leverage mail-in voting for fraudulent purposes , there are significant procedural and logistical challenges that would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a dramatic electoral overhaul in a high-stakes presidential election year .
New York state ’ s recent primary debacle , in which the huge influx of mail-in ballots led to disaster in trying to determine the results , should serve as a warning to other states—including Nevada , where the secretary of state ’ s office has fewer than five investigators assigned to protecting our elections—of the kinds of problems that may well ensue this November as a result of taking a similar path .
The more states that go down the mail-in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that the entire nation will be plunged into confusion and chaos this fall .
Yet , for obviously partisan reasons , Nevada Democrats have chosen to spit in the face of history , bipartisan consensus , and even their own citizens—who by a 10-to-1 margin expressed opposition to the bill during the 48-hour window it was being debated by lawmakers—and move forward with their scheme .
The people of Nevada are right on this one .
And the Democrats who dominate our state government today are not only wrong , but reckless .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ a shameful , dangerous , and hyperpartisan assault on election integrity in our state .
This column first appeared on RealClearPolitics.com

Bills that genuinely promote the common good typically don’t get rushed to passage under the cover of night on strict party-line votes. Yet that’s what Nevada Democrats have done with an “election reform” measure they just pushed through an emergency special session of the state Legislature.
Nevada Gov. Steve Sisolak and his legislative allies claim the 100-page bill—the crux of which is an unprecedented expansion of mail-in voting and an allowance for “ballot harvesting”—is a necessary safety precaution in the face of the COVID-19 epidemic.
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In reality, it’s a blatantly partisan attempt to radically overhaul Nevada’s elections in a way that blows the door wide open to widespread voter fraud.
The bill, which the governor signed into law on Monday, includes a number of changes that severely undermine the security of elections in this key swing state.
It requires that all active voters receive a mail ballot, whether they’ve requested one or not. It provides that ballots received by election officials without a postmark for up to three days after Election Day be considered valid by default.
It allows ballot harvesting on a broad scale, and for multiple ballots to be submitted in a single envelope with only a single signature required on the envelope, and no signature requirement for the enclosed individual ballots, leaving it to the discretion of election officials to decide whether the votes should count.
It allows for an individual to sign a ballot on another’s behalf. And it allows for drop boxes for collecting ballots with no signature requirement—which is an even more dangerous form of ballot harvesting, which conventionally at least requires a signature.
Curiously, the same bill also provides for a huge expansion of in-person voting sites—indeed, the greatest number of sites in history for Clark County, the largest county in the state.
As the experiences this year of states such as Wisconsin, Florida, and many others have shown, voting in person can indeed be done safely. And Nevada’s secretary of state has said that Nevada can hold in-person elections safely, while allowing for those who are concerned about health risks to request an absentee ballot.
Yet, this bill’s in-person voting expansion completely undercuts the Democrats’ argument for such a huge increase in mail-in voting; namely, that in-person voting during the COVID-19 crisis creates an unacceptable health hazard.
But consistency in responding to COVID-19 has never been Sisolak’s strong suit. While taking a heavy-handed approach to shutting down economic activity in some industries, and also implementing draconian limitations on church attendance, he has allowed for politically favored construction projects to move forward, for casinos to be packed with visitors, and for restaurants to stay busy, while also saying and doing nothing to stop the swell of protests that recently broke out across Nevada.
Yet, apparently, it’s so crucial for Nevadans to practice social distancing that we need a revolutionary expansion of mail-in voting? Which is it, Governor?
Given how fraught this bill is with problems, and how hypocritical they’re proving themselves to be on this issue, it’s no wonder Nevada’s Democrats—who control not only the governor’s office, but also both houses of the Legislature—never showed the contents of the bill to either the secretary of state or Republican lawmakers before moving it forward, nor did they allow members of the public to be present for the weekend midnight session.
All of this adds up to strong reason for Nevadans to be gravely concerned about the integrity of their vote this November.
There has been a long-standing, bipartisan recognition that mail-in voting dramatically increases the risk of voter fraud. A 2005 bipartisan report of the Commission on Federal Election Reform, chaired by Jimmy Carter and James Baker III, concluded, among other things, that “vote-buying schemes are far more difficult to detect when citizens vote by mail.”
And none other than The New York Times acknowledged just a few years ago that “there is a bipartisan consensus that voting by mail … is more easily abused than other forms.”
Recent cases of mass fraud in North Carolina and other states have only validated those concerns further.
Even in the absence of explicit intent to leverage mail-in voting for fraudulent purposes, there are significant procedural and logistical challenges that would come with trying to effectively implement such a dramatic electoral overhaul in a high-stakes presidential election year.
New York state’s recent primary debacle, in which the huge influx of mail-in ballots led to disaster in trying to determine the results, should serve as a warning to other states—including Nevada, where the secretary of state’s office has fewer than five investigators assigned to protecting our elections—of the kinds of problems that may well ensue this November as a result of taking a similar path.
The more states that go down the mail-in road, the more likely it becomes that the entire nation will be plunged into confusion and chaos this fall.
Yet, for obviously partisan reasons, Nevada Democrats have chosen to spit in the face of history, bipartisan consensus, and even their own citizens—who by a 10-to-1 margin expressed opposition to the bill during the 48-hour window it was being debated by lawmakers—and move forward with their scheme.
The people of Nevada are right on this one. And the Democrats who dominate our state government today are not only wrong, but reckless. What they’ve just done constitutes a shameful, dangerous, and hyperpartisan assault on election integrity in our state.
This column first appeared on RealClearPolitics.com


dailysignal--2020-08-06--Barack Obama and His Race Card

Barack Obama and His Race Card

Former President Barack Obama once again pulled out the race card for political gain , consequences be damned .
This time at the funeral of civil rights icon John Lewis , Obama compared President Donald Trump to not one but two racial segregationists—former Birmingham , Alabama , Commissioner of Public Safety Bull Connor and former Alabama Gov .
George Wallace .
The inconvenient truth that Connor and Wallace were Democrats is , apparently , of no relevance to Obama , his fellow Democrats , or most of the media .
About Connor , Obama said , “ Bull Connor may @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , with our own eyes , police officers kneeling on the necks of black Americans.
” Longtime former Bronx Rep. Charles Rangel , whose district included Harlem , also employed the Republicans-are-like-Bull Connor meme .
Rangel , though , used it on then-President George W. Bush , who also spoke at Lewis ’ funeral .
In 2005 , Rangel criticized Bush ’ s response to Hurricane Katrina by saying , “ George Bush is our Bull Connor.
” For those who have forgotten or never knew , Connor is the segregationist Alabama lawman @ @ @ @ @ @ @ turned water hoses and sicced dogs on civil rights protesters .
“ You can never whip these birds if you don ’ t keep you and them separate , ” Connor said in 1963 .
“ I found that out in Birmingham .
You ’ ve got to keep your white and the black separate.
” Yes , Obama just compared Trump to that man .
Never mind that Trump signed the First Step Act that , so far , has allowed more than 3,000 inmates convicted for crack cocaine—mostly black men—to have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Never mind that Trump posthumously pardoned Jack Johnson , the first black heavyweight champion , who was the victim of a racially motivated prosecution .
About Wallace , Obama said , “ George Wallace may be gone , but we can witness our federal government sending agents to use tear gas and batons against peaceful demonstrators.
” In 1963 , Wallace defied federal officers by literally standing in front of the door of the University of Alabama in a failed attempt to prevent the university from integrating .
That same year , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said , “ In the name of the greatest people that have ever trod this earth , I draw a line in the dust and toss the gauntlet before the feet of tyranny , and I say , segregation now , segregation tomorrow , and segregation forever.
” Yes , Obama just compared Trump to Wallace , the governor who tried to stop blacks from getting an education at a public school that blacks qualify to attend .
Never mind that Trump is a proponent of school choice , allowing black students , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dollars to whatever school they qualify for as an alternative to poor urban public schools .
Since Obama compared Trump to two dead racist Democrat segregationists of the 1960s , it is only fair to ask about Obama ’ s relationship with two living racist anti-Semites .
During his first six years , Obama invited the anti-Semitic , race-hustling , Tawana Brawley-lying Rev .
Al Sharpton to the White House 72 times by December 2014 .
( Any visits after that time are not available on public record . )
This would be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , fueled a rage in Brooklyn ’ s Crown Heights , which experienced several days of violent protests in which Jews were attacked by Blacks .
A few days earlier , Sharpton was recorded on tape bellowing , “ If the Jews want to get it on , tell them to pin their yarmulkes back and come over to my house.
” As to Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan , a smiling Sen. Obama , in 2005 , took a photograph with America ’ s most notorious anti-Semite—and segregationist .
( “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
10 on the Nation of Islam official website , reads : “ We believe that intermarriage or race mixing should be prohibited.
” ) Photographer Askia Muhammad admitted that he did not show the photo to the public until 2018 , after Obama left office .
Asked whether the photo would have made a difference in Obama ’ s 2008 presidential race , Muhammad said : “ I insist .
It absolutely would have made a difference.
” If in doubt about whether the Obama-Farrakhan picture would have mattered , consider what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the photo : Democrats , such as Obama , can “ associate ” with racists and bigots like Sharpton and Farrakhan and , with a straight face , denounce Trump ’ s alleged racism and bigotry .
And Obama knows that our left-wing media , of which MSNBC host Sharpton is a part , will not call him out .

Former President Barack Obama once again pulled out the race card for political gain, consequences be damned.
This time at the funeral of civil rights icon John Lewis, Obama compared President Donald Trump to not one but two racial segregationists—former Birmingham, Alabama, Commissioner of Public Safety Bull Connor and former Alabama Gov. George Wallace. The inconvenient truth that Connor and Wallace were Democrats is, apparently, of no relevance to Obama, his fellow Democrats, or most of the media.
About Connor, Obama said, “Bull Connor may be gone, but today we witness, with our own eyes, police officers kneeling on the necks of black Americans.”
Longtime former Bronx Rep. Charles Rangel, whose district included Harlem, also employed the Republicans-are-like-Bull Connor meme. Rangel, though, used it on then-President George W. Bush, who also spoke at Lewis’ funeral. In 2005, Rangel criticized Bush’s response to Hurricane Katrina by saying, “George Bush is our Bull Connor.”
For those who have forgotten or never knew, Connor is the segregationist Alabama lawman who, in the ’60s, turned water hoses and sicced dogs on civil rights protesters. “You can never whip these birds if you don’t keep you and them separate,” Connor said in 1963. “I found that out in Birmingham. You’ve got to keep your white and the black separate.”
Yes, Obama just compared Trump to that man. Never mind that Trump signed the First Step Act that, so far, has allowed more than 3,000 inmates convicted for crack cocaine—mostly black men—to have their sentences reconsidered and over 2,000 released. Never mind that Trump posthumously pardoned Jack Johnson, the first black heavyweight champion, who was the victim of a racially motivated prosecution.
About Wallace, Obama said, “George Wallace may be gone, but we can witness our federal government sending agents to use tear gas and batons against peaceful demonstrators.”
In 1963, Wallace defied federal officers by literally standing in front of the door of the University of Alabama in a failed attempt to prevent the university from integrating. That same year, in his gubernatorial inaugural speech, Wallace said, “In the name of the greatest people that have ever trod this earth, I draw a line in the dust and toss the gauntlet before the feet of tyranny, and I say, segregation now, segregation tomorrow, and segregation forever.”
Yes, Obama just compared Trump to Wallace, the governor who tried to stop blacks from getting an education at a public school that blacks qualify to attend. Never mind that Trump is a proponent of school choice, allowing black students, K-12, to take their public school dollars to whatever school they qualify for as an alternative to poor urban public schools.
Since Obama compared Trump to two dead racist Democrat segregationists of the 1960s, it is only fair to ask about Obama’s relationship with two living racist anti-Semites.
During his first six years, Obama invited the anti-Semitic, race-hustling, Tawana Brawley-lying Rev. Al Sharpton to the White House 72 times by December 2014. (Any visits after that time are not available on public record.)
This would be the same Sharpton who, in 1991, fueled a rage in Brooklyn’s Crown Heights, which experienced several days of violent protests in which Jews were attacked by Blacks. A few days earlier, Sharpton was recorded on tape bellowing, “If the Jews want to get it on, tell them to pin their yarmulkes back and come over to my house.”
As to Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan, a smiling Sen. Obama, in 2005, took a photograph with America’s most notorious anti-Semite—and segregationist. (“What the Muslims Want,” No. 10 on the Nation of Islam official website, reads: “We believe that intermarriage or race mixing should be prohibited.”)
Photographer Askia Muhammad admitted that he did not show the photo to the public until 2018, after Obama left office. Asked whether the photo would have made a difference in Obama’s 2008 presidential race, Muhammad said: “I insist. It absolutely would have made a difference.”
If in doubt about whether the Obama-Farrakhan picture would have mattered, consider what Democratic lawyer Alan Dershowitz said after seeing the photo:
Louis Farrakhan is a virulent anti-Semite. He’s called Judaism a ‘gutter religion.’ He’s anti-American. He is a horrible, horrible human being. And if I had known that the president had posed smilingly with [Farrakhan] when he was a senator, I would not have campaigned for Barack Obama. It would have influenced my decision. Look, I threatened to leave the Democratic Party if Keith Ellison were elected as chairman because of his association with Farrakhan. You don’t associate with a bigot. You don’t associate with an anti-Semite.
Democrats, such as Obama, can “associate” with racists and bigots like Sharpton and Farrakhan and, with a straight face, denounce Trump’s alleged racism and bigotry. And Obama knows that our left-wing media, of which MSNBC host Sharpton is a part, will not call him out.
Hypocrisy, anyone?
COPYRIGHT 2020 LAURENCE A. ELDER
DISTRIBUTED BY CREATORS.COM


dailysignal--2020-08-06--Baseball Season, Our Distorted View of COVID-19, and What the Facts Tell Us

If you ’ re not convinced that Americans have been sold a distorted view of COVID-19 risk , consider Major League Baseball .
Most of the league ’ s players are among the 46 million Americans between ages 25 and 34 .
A total of 992 people in this age group have died with COVID-19 , according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention .
That ’ s a mortality rate of 2 per 100,000 .
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that 5,569 people between 25 and 34 died in traffic accidents in 2018 , suggesting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ likely to die in a bus accident on the way to a game than because of the coronavirus .
Players are tested frequently .
Those who test positive are isolated .
Those with whom they ’ ve come into contact also are tested .
Major League Baseball ’ s COVID-19 manual runs 101 pages and sets forth excruciatingly detailed rules ( for example : no spitting , no high-fiving , no sharing rosin bags ) .
And yet MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred is facing calls to cancel the season because some players have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ extraordinary precautions .
COVID-19 is a highly contagious disease .
It spreads rapidly , even in communities under lockdown orders and in major league clubhouses , where strict rules prevail .
We can ’ t eliminate the risk of infection .
But although everyone is at roughly equal risk of infection , not everyone is at equal risk of serious illness or death with COVID-19 .
COVID-19 is a serious disease primarily for the elderly , especially those in nursing homes , and those with certain medical conditions .
Younger people have gotten @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have died , but the consequences of infection are vastly different for a 75-year-old than for a 25-year-old or a 15-year-old or a 5-year-old .
Consider these data points from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention : • Those under 45 ( 58 % of the U.S. population ) account for less than 3 % of coronavirus deaths .
• Those under 35 ( 45 % of the population ) account for less than 1 % of coronavirus deaths .
• Children under 15 ( 31 % of the population ) account @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) of coronavirus deaths .
• More than 12,500 children have died so far this year ; 99.7 % of them from something other than COVID-19 .
Although the picture is not so bleak for younger people , it is very different for seniors , especially those living in nursing homes .
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that , as of July 25 , those 65 and older had accounted for 80 % of COVID-19 deaths , although they make up less than 17 % of the U.S. population .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ all deaths among the elderly , making it one of the leading causes of death among those 65 and older .
Most of these deaths occurred among nursing home residents .
Indeed , the majority of all COVID-19 deaths are among nursing home residents , according Phil Kerpen of American Commitment , who publishes a daily online tally of COVID-19-related deaths in nursing facilities .
For whatever reason , most public officials and news outlets seem incapable of distinguishing between the risk of getting infected—which affects all age groups more or less equally—and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is predominantly a problem among the elderly .
Not only has this failure needlessly created widespread panic , but it has slowed , and sometimes prevented , the provision of more targeted public health interventions needed by those most at risk .
A recent study by Massachusetts Institute of Technology economists concluded that targeting interventions to those most at risk is the optimal policy approach : Government officials stubbornly have promoted uniform policies of widespread lockdowns , shunning policies tailored to the age-related risk disparities of COVID-19 .
They have perpetrated a distorted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ millions of Americans , stoking a climate of fear instead of rationality .
Major League Baseball so far has resisted demands to cancel its season , preserving the hope that reason may yet prevail in our pandemic response .

If you’re not convinced that Americans have been sold a distorted view of COVID-19 risk, consider Major League Baseball.
Most of the league’s players are among the 46 million Americans between ages 25 and 34. A total of 992 people in this age group have died with COVID-19, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. That’s a mortality rate of 2 per 100,000.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that 5,569 people between 25 and 34 died in traffic accidents in 2018, suggesting that a pro baseball player is more likely to die in a bus accident on the way to a game than because of the coronavirus.
Players are tested frequently. Those who test positive are isolated. Those with whom they’ve come into contact also are tested.
Major League Baseball’s COVID-19 manual runs 101 pages and sets forth excruciatingly detailed rules (for example: no spitting, no high-fiving, no sharing rosin bags).
And yet MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred is facing calls to cancel the season because some players have tested positive for the illness despite these extraordinary precautions.
COVID-19 is a highly contagious disease. It spreads rapidly, even in communities under lockdown orders and in major league clubhouses, where strict rules prevail. We can’t eliminate the risk of infection.
But although everyone is at roughly equal risk of infection, not everyone is at equal risk of serious illness or death with COVID-19.
COVID-19 is a serious disease primarily for the elderly, especially those in nursing homes, and those with certain medical conditions.
Younger people have gotten seriously ill from the disease and some have died, but the consequences of infection are vastly different for a 75-year-old than for a 25-year-old or a 15-year-old or a 5-year-old.
Consider these data points from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:
Those under 45 (58% of the U.S. population) account for less than 3% of coronavirus deaths.
Those under 35 (45% of the population) account for less than 1% of coronavirus deaths.
Children under 15 (31% of the population) account for 0.03% (3 per 10,000) of coronavirus deaths.
More than 12,500 children have died so far this year; 99.7% of them from something other than COVID-19.
Although the picture is not so bleak for younger people, it is very different for seniors, especially those living in nursing homes.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that, as of July 25, those 65 and older had accounted for 80% of COVID-19 deaths, although they make up less than 17% of the U.S. population. COVID-19 accounted for nearly 10% of all deaths among the elderly, making it one of the leading causes of death among those 65 and older.
Most of these deaths occurred among nursing home residents. Indeed, the majority of all COVID-19 deaths are among nursing home residents, according Phil Kerpen of American Commitment, who publishes a daily online tally of COVID-19-related deaths in nursing facilities.
For whatever reason, most public officials and news outlets seem incapable of distinguishing between the risk of getting infected—which affects all age groups more or less equally—and the risk of serious illness and death—which is predominantly a problem among the elderly.
Not only has this failure needlessly created widespread panic, but it has slowed, and sometimes prevented, the provision of more targeted public health interventions needed by those most at risk.
A recent study by Massachusetts Institute of Technology economists concluded that targeting interventions to those most at risk is the optimal policy approach:
We find that optimal policies differentially targeting risk/age groups significantly outperform optimal uniform policies, and most of the gains can be realized by having stricter lockdown policies on the oldest group. … Targeted policies that are combined with measures that reduce interactions between groups and increase testing and isolation of the infected can minimize both economic losses and deaths in our model.
Government officials stubbornly have promoted uniform policies of widespread lockdowns, shunning policies tailored to the age-related risk disparities of COVID-19. They have perpetrated a distorted view of COVID-19 risk on tens of millions of Americans, stoking a climate of fear instead of rationality.
Major League Baseball so far has resisted demands to cancel its season, preserving the hope that reason may yet prevail in our pandemic response.


dailysignal--2020-08-07--Barack Obama’s Filibuster Hypocrisy

Barack Obama’s Filibuster Hypocrisy

In April of 2005 , Sen. Barack Obama took to the floor of the United States Senate and passionately spoke out against Republican efforts to end the filibuster .
Then a rising star in the Democratic Party , Obama noted that despite the pressure partisans might feel , it was imperative to “ rise above an ‘ ends justify the means ’ mentality because we ’ re here to answer to the people—all of the people—not just the ones wearing our party label.
” This week , Obama made precisely the opposite argument during John Lewis ’ funeral , contending @ @ @ @ @ @ @ power was justified as long as Democrats got the policies they desired .
After offering a shamefully dishonest comparison between George Wallace , Bull Connor , and contemporary Republicans , Obama argued that passing a “ voting rights ” bill was worth stripping away counter-majoritarian norms .
“ If all this takes eliminating the filibuster , another Jim Crow relic , in order to secure the God-given rights of every American , ” Obama told the congregants , “ then that ’ s what we should do.
” And by “ we , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ % of Washington should dictate the legislative agenda to the entire country .
Why is it a bad idea ?
Let ’ s turn to Barack Obama of 2005 , who explained that while the American people expected rigorous debate in Congress : What they don ’ t expect is for one party—be it Republican or Democrat—to change the rules in the middle of the game so that they can make all the decisions while the other party is told to sit down and keep quiet .
The American people want less partisanship @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this chamber knows that if the majority chooses to end the filibuster—if they choose to change the rules and put an end to democratic debate—then the fighting and the bitterness and the gridlock will only get worse .
One wonders why Obama felt comfortable using a “ relic of Jim Crow ” —numerous times , in fact—when it suited his political purposes .
Why did the senator claim that allegedly racist institution was an indispensable check on power and a bulwark against assaults on open debate ?
Was this former professor of constitutional @ @ @ @ @ @ @ history ?
Again in 2006 , Obama told ABC News that he supported a filibuster of Samuel Alito because he was not only “ somebody who is contrary to core American values , not just liberal values , ” but had not shown “ himself willing ” to temper executive power .
Considering Obama ’ s subsequent abuse of that very power , the statement reads especially hypocritically .
When it was expedient , Obama claimed to “ regret ” participating in the Alito filibuster .
But even if we allow that President @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t citizen Obama call for the filibuster ’ s end from 2016 to 2019 ?
Because Obama wants Democrats , who believe they will win 2020 , to govern without being encumbered by the minority .
Obama can cloak arguments in grand moralistic terms , as is his wont , but he believes his party is on the cusp of an election victory .
It is transparent and crass partisanship .
It ’ s no coincidence the same politicos clamoring for more direct democracy are the ones who view the Constitution as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Those pushing to undo the filibuster—a long-celebrated ideologically neutral procedure that goes back at least to Cato the Younger—exemplify the “ ends justify the means.
” The filibuster complements the constitutional checks and balances that have historically made American governance effective .
A strong minority has always been a distinguishing feature of the upper house .
Because when thin majorities ram through massive centralized federal laws that affect all states , as Democrats plan to do , it not only undermines political stability but self-governance as well .
The blowback to the heavy-handed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has a lot to do with the exceptionally frayed and acrimonious tone we see in Washington today , should have been instructive .
The more divergent our views become , the more imperative it is to build consensus rather than rely on political domination .
Democrats increasingly favor centralized federal reforms on green energy and single-payer health care and so on .
A minority gums up the works .
It ’ s that simple .
When Harry Reid changed the rules on federal judicial nominees and executive office appointments , he didn ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , either .
He did it for power .
Democrats destroyed a norm so they could name some bureaucrats to run the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau ( which wasn ’ t even created until 2011 ) and the National Labor Relations Board .
They seemed to think they would hold power in perpetuity—a conceit of many politicians and parties .
“ One day Democrats will be in the majority again , and this rule change will be no fairer to a Republican minority than it is to a Democratic minority , ” Obama @ @ @ @ @ @ @ warning still stands .

In April of 2005, Sen. Barack Obama took to the floor of the United States Senate and passionately spoke out against Republican efforts to end the filibuster.
Then a rising star in the Democratic Party, Obama noted that despite the pressure partisans might feel, it was imperative to “rise above an ‘ends justify the means’ mentality because we’re here to answer to the people—all of the people—not just the ones wearing our party label.”
Last week, Obama made precisely the opposite argument during John Lewis’ funeral, contending that eliminating a vital check on partisan power was justified as long as Democrats got the policies they desired.
After offering a shamefully dishonest comparison between George Wallace, Bull Connor, and contemporary Republicans, Obama argued that passing a “voting rights” bill was worth stripping away counter-majoritarian norms.
“If all this takes eliminating the filibuster, another Jim Crow relic, in order to secure the God-given rights of every American,” Obama told the congregants, “then that’s what we should do.”
And by “we,” of course, Obama means 51% of Washington should dictate the legislative agenda to the entire country. Why is it a bad idea? Let’s turn to Barack Obama of 2005, who explained that while the American people expected rigorous debate in Congress:
What they don’t expect is for one party—be it Republican or Democrat—to change the rules in the middle of the game so that they can make all the decisions while the other party is told to sit down and keep quiet. The American people want less partisanship in this town, but everyone in this chamber knows that if the majority chooses to end the filibuster—if they choose to change the rules and put an end to democratic debate—then the fighting and the bitterness and the gridlock will only get worse.
One wonders why Obama felt comfortable using a “relic of Jim Crow”—numerous times, in fact—when it suited his political purposes. Why did the senator claim that allegedly racist institution was an indispensable check on power and a bulwark against assaults on open debate? Was this former professor of constitutional law unaware of the filibuster’s history?
Again in 2006, Obama told ABC News that he supported a filibuster of Samuel Alito because he was not only “somebody who is contrary to core American values, not just liberal values,” but had not shown “himself willing” to temper executive power. Considering Obama’s subsequent abuse of that very power, the statement reads especially hypocritically.
When it was expedient, Obama claimed to “regret” participating in the Alito filibuster. But even if we allow that President Obama changed his mind, why didn’t citizen Obama call for the filibuster’s end from 2016 to 2019? Because Obama wants Democrats, who believe they will win 2020, to govern without being encumbered by the minority.
Obama can cloak arguments in grand moralistic terms, as is his wont, but he believes his party is on the cusp of an election victory. It is transparent and crass partisanship.
It’s no coincidence the same politicos clamoring for more direct democracy are the ones who view the Constitution as the biggest impediment to their goals. Those pushing to undo the filibuster—a long-celebrated ideologically neutral procedure that goes back at least to Cato the Younger—exemplify the “ends justify the means.”
The filibuster complements the constitutional checks and balances that have historically made American governance effective. A strong minority has always been a distinguishing feature of the upper house. Because when thin majorities ram through massive centralized federal laws that affect all states, as Democrats plan to do, it not only undermines political stability but self-governance as well.
The blowback to the heavy-handed passage of Obamacare, an event that has a lot to do with the exceptionally frayed and acrimonious tone we see in Washington today, should have been instructive. The more divergent our views become, the more imperative it is to build consensus rather than rely on political domination.
Democrats increasingly favor centralized federal reforms on green energy and single-payer health care and so on. A minority gums up the works. It’s that simple.
When Harry Reid changed the rules on federal judicial nominees and executive office appointments, he didn’t do it for any extraordinary reason, either. He did it for power. Democrats destroyed a norm so they could name some bureaucrats to run the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (which wasn’t even created until 2011) and the National Labor Relations Board. They seemed to think they would hold power in perpetuity—a conceit of many politicians and parties.
“One day Democrats will be in the majority again, and this rule change will be no fairer to a Republican minority than it is to a Democratic minority,” Obama presciently warned back in 2005. That warning still stands.
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