washingtontimes--2020-11-08--Chargers bobble away another game in 6th gut-wrenching loss

INGLEWOOD , Calif. ( AP ) - For maybe two blissful minutes after the final whistle , the Los Angeles Chargers actually thought they had something to celebrate .
Justin Herbert had thrown an end-zone fade pass to Donald Parham Jr. , who was inbounds with the ball in his hands before he fell to the turf with no time on the clock .
The officials raised their arms for a touchdown , and the Chargers went nuts .
After a season of historic collapses and heartbreaking defeats , the Bolts had a stunning comeback victory over the Las Vegas @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the sideline , thinking that was it , and we did what we had to do to put the game away , ” Chargers running back Kalen Ballage said Sunday .
“ And out of nowhere , we weren ’ t even paying attention , and we saw them celebrating .
We were , like , ‘ What ?
What are you talking about ?
What ’ s going on ?
’ ” Ballage ’ s existential questions could have been about nearly everything that ’ s happened to the Chargers this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ franchise ’ s propensity for excruciating , histrionic losses has become positively surreal .
One week after giving up the winning touchdown on the final snap in Denver , the Chargers lost by scoring the apparent winning touchdown on the final snap - only to have it taken away .
Parham had bobbled the ball on the way down .
The call on the field was reversed .
The points came off the SoFi Stadium scoreboard , and the Raiders won 31-26 Sunday .
The Chargers had their sixth loss of the season @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ I don ’ t want to find out how many we can take , ” Chargers coach Anthony Lynn said .
The Chargers reacted to the reversal with the miserable resignation that feels like this franchise ’ s default setting now .
Although their talent is undeniable around one of the NFL ’ s most exciting young quarterbacks , the Chargers are also a jaw-dropping 2-15 in one-score games since early last season .
They ’ ve compiled an epic list of blown leads , late-game mistakes and crucial failures in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ two failed fades from the Raiders 4 after a gritty 71-yard drive engineered by Herbert and his gifted receivers .
Herbert ’ s first throw went to Mike Williams , who not only failed to wrestle it free from inexperienced Vegas cornerback Isaiah Johnson , but also got injured on the play , forcing the big wideout to miss the final snap .
Herbert had run-pass options on both final plays .
With 1 second on the clock , he chose to throw basically the same pass to Parham , the 6-foot-8 tight @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been for touchdowns .
Parham had the ball until he didn ’ t , and the officials eventually reversed their call .
Johnson , who had just 30 defensive snaps all season for the Raiders before Sunday , watched the Chargers ’ celebrations with a raised eyebrow .
“ They think it ’ s still complete , so they think they won the game , ” Johnson said .
“ I know in my mind that if that camera shows it , then we won , ( and ) I ’ m going @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , because they were celebrating before they even got the final verdict .
I know what actually happened.
” The Chargers argued the reversal with the halfhearted frustration of a team that feels like it ’ s battling larger cosmic forces than any officiating crew .
“ I don ’ t know if it was the right call or not , ” Lynn said .
“ Certainly I didn ’ t like it .
I thought he caught the ball .
He had a knee and a foot inbounds .
I thought it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ I don ’ t know enough about what ’ s a catch and what ’ s not a catch to make that call , but selfishly I would have loved for that to be a touchdown.
” It ’ s tough to remember that the Chargers ’ season of epic losses actually began with a nail-biting victory : The Bengals missed a 31-yard field goal with 2 seconds to play in Cincinnati , sending LA to a 16-13 win on Sept. 13 .
Since then , the Chargers ’ failures have been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ blew an 11-point lead and lost in overtime to Kansas City in their SoFi Stadium opener .
They had a last-gasp chance to beat Carolina , but messed up a hook-and-ladder play that looked likely to produce a winning touchdown .
The Chargers then blew 16-point leads at Tampa Bay and at New Orleans , failing to close out two solid opponents in painful fashion .
They blew yet another 16-point lead against Jacksonville , but rallied to beat the woeful Jaguars anyway .
And then Los Angeles blew a 21-point lead last @ @ @ @ @ @ @ team in NFL history to waste leads of at least 16 points in four consecutive defeats .
Hey , at least the Chargers didn ’ t blow a late lead in this one : They fell behind by 11 midway through the third quarter and entered the fourth down eight .
Since his debut in Week 2 , Herbert has passed for 2,146 yards with 17 touchdowns and five interceptions .
Because he plays for the Chargers , the rookie ’ s record is 1-6 .
But Herbert isn ’ t giving up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been bent by the weight of his franchise ’ s failures .
“ No one is enjoying this , and everyone is working hard and doing their best , ” Herbert said .
“ Things are going to change .
We ’ re really close .
… There ’ s no magic words that are going to change what ’ s happening .
It ’ s about lining up and getting in the dirt and doing the work , and that ’ s what ’ s going to happen .
”

INGLEWOOD, Calif. (AP) - For maybe two blissful minutes after the final whistle, the Los Angeles Chargers actually thought they had something to celebrate.
Justin Herbert had thrown an end-zone fade pass to Donald Parham Jr., who was inbounds with the ball in his hands before he fell to the turf with no time on the clock.
The officials raised their arms for a touchdown, and the Chargers went nuts. After a season of historic collapses and heartbreaking defeats, the Bolts had a stunning comeback victory over the Las Vegas Raiders.
“We were geeked up on the sideline, thinking that was it, and we did what we had to do to put the game away,” Chargers running back Kalen Ballage said Sunday. “And out of nowhere, we weren’t even paying attention, and we saw them celebrating. We were, like, ‘What? What are you talking about? What’s going on?’”
Ballage’s existential questions could have been about nearly everything that’s happened to the Chargers this year.
In 2020, this long-suffering franchise’s propensity for excruciating, histrionic losses has become positively surreal.
One week after giving up the winning touchdown on the final snap in Denver, the Chargers lost by scoring the apparent winning touchdown on the final snap - only to have it taken away.
Parham had bobbled the ball on the way down. The call on the field was reversed.
The points came off the SoFi Stadium scoreboard, and the Raiders won 31-26 Sunday. The Chargers had their sixth loss of the season - all by a combined 24 points.
“I don’t want to find out how many we can take,” Chargers coach Anthony Lynn said.
The Chargers reacted to the reversal with the miserable resignation that feels like this franchise’s default setting now.
Although their talent is undeniable around one of the NFL’s most exciting young quarterbacks, the Chargers are also a jaw-dropping 2-15 in one-score games since early last season. They’ve compiled an epic list of blown leads, late-game mistakes and crucial failures in pressure-packed moments.
This loss ended with two failed fades from the Raiders 4 after a gritty 71-yard drive engineered by Herbert and his gifted receivers.
Herbert’s first throw went to Mike Williams, who not only failed to wrestle it free from inexperienced Vegas cornerback Isaiah Johnson, but also got injured on the play, forcing the big wideout to miss the final snap.
Herbert had run-pass options on both final plays. With 1 second on the clock, he chose to throw basically the same pass to Parham, the 6-foot-8 tight end whose first two NFL catches had been for touchdowns.
Parham had the ball until he didn’t, and the officials eventually reversed their call.
Johnson, who had just 30 defensive snaps all season for the Raiders before Sunday, watched the Chargers’ celebrations with a raised eyebrow.
“They think it’s still complete, so they think they won the game,” Johnson said. “I know in my mind that if that camera shows it, then we won, (and) I’m going to celebrate before they even know it, because they were celebrating before they even got the final verdict. I know what actually happened.”
The Chargers argued the reversal with the halfhearted frustration of a team that feels like it’s battling larger cosmic forces than any officiating crew.
“I don’t know if it was the right call or not,” Lynn said. “Certainly I didn’t like it. I thought he caught the ball. He had a knee and a foot inbounds. I thought it was a touchdown.”
Added Herbert: “I don’t know enough about what’s a catch and what’s not a catch to make that call, but selfishly I would have loved for that to be a touchdown.”
It’s tough to remember that the Chargers’ season of epic losses actually began with a nail-biting victory: The Bengals missed a 31-yard field goal with 2 seconds to play in Cincinnati, sending LA to a 16-13 win on Sept. 13.
Since then, the Chargers’ failures have been increasingly operatic and increasingly unbelievable.
They blew an 11-point lead and lost in overtime to Kansas City in their SoFi Stadium opener. They had a last-gasp chance to beat Carolina, but messed up a hook-and-ladder play that looked likely to produce a winning touchdown.
The Chargers then blew 16-point leads at Tampa Bay and at New Orleans, failing to close out two solid opponents in painful fashion. They blew yet another 16-point lead against Jacksonville, but rallied to beat the woeful Jaguars anyway.
And then Los Angeles blew a 21-point lead last week at Denver, becoming the first team in NFL history to waste leads of at least 16 points in four consecutive defeats.
Hey, at least the Chargers didn’t blow a late lead in this one: They fell behind by 11 midway through the third quarter and entered the fourth down eight.
Since his debut in Week 2, Herbert has passed for 2,146 yards with 17 touchdowns and five interceptions. Because he plays for the Chargers, the rookie’s record is 1-6.
But Herbert isn’t giving up, and he hasn’t yet been bent by the weight of his franchise’s failures.
“No one is enjoying this, and everyone is working hard and doing their best,” Herbert said. “Things are going to change. We’re really close. … There’s no magic words that are going to change what’s happening. It’s about lining up and getting in the dirt and doing the work, and that’s what’s going to happen.”
___
More AP NFL: https://apnews.com/NFL and https://twitter.com/AP_NFL


washingtontimes--2020-11-08--Joe Biden ramps up transition, coronavirus focus as Trump files legal challenges

Presumptive President-elect Joseph R. Biden took the first steps Sunday toward focusing his incoming administration on the COVID-19 pandemic and other priorities such as climate change , while President Trump clung to the hope that his legal team could reverse the election outcome through court challenges of reported illegal votes in several contested states .
A day after major news organizations projected Mr. Biden to be the winner of the presidency , his campaign launched a transition website outlining the Democrat ’ s plans to resolve the nation ’ s health care crisis , promote an economic recovery , address @ @ @ @ @ @ @ toward “ racial equity.
” The former vice president also is preparing to announce Monday a group of what he called “ leading scientists and experts ” as transition advisers to create a COVID-19 “ action blueprint ” to combat the pandemic starting on Inauguration Day , Jan. 20 .
The COVID-19 task force will be co-chaired by former Surgeon General Vivek Murthy , according to multiple media reports .
Mr. Murthy , who has said gun violence is a health care issue , was ousted by Mr. Trump in 2017 .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ control , ” Mr. Biden said in his victory speech Saturday night in Wilmington , Delaware .
“ I will spare no effort — or commitment — to turn this pandemic around.
” The president , who emerged from the White House only for two weekend golf outings at his club in Northern Virginia , prepared for his legal team on Monday “ to start prosecuting our case in court to ensure election laws are fully upheld and the rightful winner is seated.
” “ The American people are entitled to an honest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ballots , and not counting any illegal ballots , ” Mr. Trump said in a statement .
Presidential adviser and son-in-law Jared Kushner broached with Mr. Trump over the weekend the possibility of conceding the race , according to The Associated Press .
But people familiar with the situation said the president is determined not to concede to Mr. Biden because he believes reports of voting and counting irregularities in Nevada , Pennsylvania , Georgia and other states must be aired in court to ensure the integrity of the election .
Recounts are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Biden leads in each state by about 20,000 votes .
He leads by a similar margin in Arizona , which has been called by some but not all news outlets , led by The Associated Press and Fox News , and which the Trump campaign says it will win .
The Trump campaign team briefed Sen. Lindsey Graham , South Carolina Republican , over the weekend about reports of about 15 dead people voting in Pennsylvania , plus election computer software glitches in Michigan and backdating of thousands of mail-in ballots in Pennsylvania @ @ @ @ @ @ @ challenge and change the U.S. election system , there will never be another Republican president elected again , ” Mr. Graham said on Fox Business ’ “ Sunday Morning Futures.
” “ President Trump should not concede .
We ’ re down to less — 10,000 votes in Georgia .
He ’ s going to win North Carolina .
There are allegations of system failure , fraud .
These computers in Michigan do not pass the smell test .
Keep fighting for every legal and live vote.
” South Dakota Gov .
Kristi @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 70 million people who voted for Mr. Trump “ are not moving on just because the media says so.
” The Trump campaign and the Republican National Committee sued Arizona on Saturday over claims that voting machines in Maricopa County incorrectly rejected in-person votes that were cast on Election Day .
The president is pointing to hugely flawed media polls in the weeks before Election Day , and in polls four years ago , to question the propriety of media organizations calling the winners in various states and for the presidency overall .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ call who our next president will be ?
We have all learned a lot in the last two weeks !
” Mr. Trump tweeted Sunday .
Mr. Trump faces the prospect of becoming the first one-term president since Republican George H.W .
Bush lost his bid for reelection to Democrat Bill Clinton in 1992 .
He has 214 electoral votes to Mr. Biden ’ s 290 , according to a count by The Associated Press .
Georgia , North Carolina and Alaska have yet to be called .
A candidate needs 270 electoral @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Biden passed that threshold shortly before noon Saturday , when news organizations projected that the Democrat had won Pennsylvania , with 20 electoral votes .
The former vice president also was declared the winner of Nevada on Saturday .
Biden supporters and Trump opponents spilled into the streets of major cities across the country when the Democrat ’ s win was announced .
Trump supporters held demonstrations in state capitals such as Harrisburg , Pennsylvania , and Austin , Texas , to call for accurate and transparent vote-counting .
Former President George W. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Biden on Sunday to congratulate him on his victory .
He said it was an “ extraordinary political achievement.
” In his victory speech , Mr. Biden said he plans to be a president for all Americans and that he will try to “ heal ” the nation as he claimed a mandate from the American people to govern cooperatively and reach across the aisle .
“ The people of the nation have spoken .
They ’ ve delivered us a clear victory , ” Mr. Biden said .
“ To make progress @ @ @ @ @ @ @ opponents as our enemies .
This is [ the ] time to heal in America.
” The man who will become the 46th U.S. president , the oldest to be inaugurated , said a “ grim era of demonization in America ” needs to end .
“ It ’ s time for our better angels to prevail.
” “ To those who voted for President Trump , I understand your disappointment tonight , ” he said .
“ But now , let ’ s give each other a chance.
” He was introduced @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sen. Kamala D. Harris of California , who will be the first female vice president .
Ms. Harris , who was born in Oakland , California , to a Jamaican father and an Indian mother , also made history as the first woman of color to run on a major-party presidential ticket .
“ While I may be the first woman in this office , I will not be the last because every little girl watching tonight sees that this is a country of possibilities , ” she said .
She described Mr. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a “ uniter ” and “ a tested and steady hand.
” As Mr. Biden turns to governing , he will have to do so with a government divided along party lines and with a Democratic Party balancing centrist and liberal tensions .
Rep. Ilhan Omar , Minnesota Democrat , said Sunday that Ms. Harris was a co-sponsor of the Green New Deal and “ Medicare-for-All ” proposals .
She called on the next president and vice president to deliver on those promises .
“ Her being on top of that ticket did @ @ @ @ @ @ @ actually won us the election , ” Ms. Omar said on “ Inside Politics ” on CNN .
“ Our policies are resonating with the American people , and if our big-tent Democratic Party wants to govern on behalf of all Americans , we should have a seat at the table.
” Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York , the face of the young , liberal vanguard of the Democratic Party , said Sunday that Democrats need to respond to the election with a strong liberal agenda .
“ I think we owe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Black communities , communities of color , immigrant communities a great deal in seeing them and honoring them in our legislation , ” she said on “ State of the Union ” on CNN .
Democrats will control a slimmer majority in the House in the next Congress , and control of the Senate will depend on the outcomes of two runoff elections in Georgia on Jan. 5 .
Sen. Mitt Romney of Utah , one of a handful of Republican lawmakers acknowledging Mr. Biden as the presidential winner , said his party @ @ @ @ @ @ @ won ’ t accept any liberal policies .
“ I think the president-elect recognizes that Republicans gained seats in Congress .
Republicans overall did better than Democrats overall in this election , ” he said on CNN .
“ The American people are more conservative than they are progressive , so to speak .
And any argument to the contrary , I think , is going to be met with a lot of resistance from the American people and from members of Congress .
“ If Joe Biden works with Republicans in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ find that we will be able to find common ground .
After all , he ’ s been there a long time himself .
He knows what it takes to get things done in that chamber , ” he said .

Dave Boyer, Gabriella Muñoz, David Sherfinski and Dave Boyer, David Sherfinski and Gabriella Muñoz

Presumptive President-elect Joseph R. Biden took the first steps Sunday toward focusing his incoming administration on the COVID-19 pandemic and other priorities such as climate change, while President Trump clung to the hope that his legal team could reverse the election outcome through court challenges of reported illegal votes in several contested states.
A day after major news organizations projected Mr. Biden to be the winner of the presidency, his campaign launched a transition website outlining the Democrat’s plans to resolve the nation’s health care crisis, promote an economic recovery, address climate change and help the nation move toward “racial equity.”
The former vice president also is preparing to announce Monday a group of what he called “leading scientists and experts” as transition advisers to create a COVID-19 “action blueprint” to combat the pandemic starting on Inauguration Day, Jan. 20.
The COVID-19 task force will be co-chaired by former Surgeon General Vivek Murthy, according to multiple media reports. Mr. Murthy, who has said gun violence is a health care issue, was ousted by Mr. Trump in 2017.
“Our work begins with getting COVID under control,” Mr. Biden said in his victory speech Saturday night in Wilmington, Delaware. “I will spare no effort — or commitment — to turn this pandemic around.”
The president, who emerged from the White House only for two weekend golf outings at his club in Northern Virginia, prepared for his legal team on Monday “to start prosecuting our case in court to ensure election laws are fully upheld and the rightful winner is seated.”
“The American people are entitled to an honest election: that means counting all legal ballots, and not counting any illegal ballots,” Mr. Trump said in a statement.
Presidential adviser and son-in-law Jared Kushner broached with Mr. Trump over the weekend the possibility of conceding the race, according to The Associated Press. But people familiar with the situation said the president is determined not to concede to Mr. Biden because he believes reports of voting and counting irregularities in Nevada, Pennsylvania, Georgia and other states must be aired in court to ensure the integrity of the election.
Recounts are expected in Wisconsin and Georgia. Mr. Biden leads in each state by about 20,000 votes. He leads by a similar margin in Arizona, which has been called by some but not all news outlets, led by The Associated Press and Fox News, and which the Trump campaign says it will win.
The Trump campaign team briefed Sen. Lindsey Graham, South Carolina Republican, over the weekend about reports of about 15 dead people voting in Pennsylvania, plus election computer software glitches in Michigan and backdating of thousands of mail-in ballots in Pennsylvania.
“If Republicans don’t challenge and change the U.S. election system, there will never be another Republican president elected again,” Mr. Graham said on Fox Business’ “Sunday Morning Futures.” “President Trump should not concede. We’re down to less — 10,000 votes in Georgia. He’s going to win North Carolina. There are allegations of system failure, fraud. These computers in Michigan do not pass the smell test. Keep fighting for every legal and live vote.”
South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem, a Republican, said the 70 million people who voted for Mr. Trump “are not moving on just because the media says so.”
The Trump campaign and the Republican National Committee sued Arizona on Saturday over claims that voting machines in Maricopa County incorrectly rejected in-person votes that were cast on Election Day.
The president is pointing to hugely flawed media polls in the weeks before Election Day, and in polls four years ago, to question the propriety of media organizations calling the winners in various states and for the presidency overall.
“Since when does the Lamestream Media call who our next president will be? We have all learned a lot in the last two weeks!” Mr. Trump tweeted Sunday.
Mr. Trump faces the prospect of becoming the first one-term president since Republican George H.W. Bush lost his bid for reelection to Democrat Bill Clinton in 1992. He has 214 electoral votes to Mr. Biden’s 290, according to a count by The Associated Press. Georgia, North Carolina and Alaska have yet to be called.
A candidate needs 270 electoral votes to win the presidency. Mr. Biden passed that threshold shortly before noon Saturday, when news organizations projected that the Democrat had won Pennsylvania, with 20 electoral votes. The former vice president also was declared the winner of Nevada on Saturday.
Biden supporters and Trump opponents spilled into the streets of major cities across the country when the Democrat’s win was announced. Trump supporters held demonstrations in state capitals such as Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, and Austin, Texas, to call for accurate and transparent vote-counting.
Former President George W. Bush, a Republican, called Mr. Biden on Sunday to congratulate him on his victory. He said it was an “extraordinary political achievement.”
In his victory speech, Mr. Biden said he plans to be a president for all Americans and that he will try to “heal” the nation as he claimed a mandate from the American people to govern cooperatively and reach across the aisle.
“The people of the nation have spoken. They’ve delivered us a clear victory,” Mr. Biden said. “To make progress, we have to stop treating our opponents as our enemies. This is [the] time to heal in America.”
The man who will become the 46th U.S. president, the oldest to be inaugurated, said a “grim era of demonization in America” needs to end. “It’s time for our better angels to prevail.”
Mr. Biden made a direct appeal to Trump voters.
“To those who voted for President Trump, I understand your disappointment tonight,” he said. “But now, let’s give each other a chance.”
He was introduced Saturday night by his running mate, Sen. Kamala D. Harris of California, who will be the first female vice president. Ms. Harris, who was born in Oakland, California, to a Jamaican father and an Indian mother, also made history as the first woman of color to run on a major-party presidential ticket.
“While I may be the first woman in this office, I will not be the last because every little girl watching tonight sees that this is a country of possibilities,” she said.
She described Mr. Biden as a “healer,” a “uniter” and “a tested and steady hand.”
As Mr. Biden turns to governing, he will have to do so with a government divided along party lines and with a Democratic Party balancing centrist and liberal tensions.
Rep. Ilhan Omar, Minnesota Democrat, said Sunday that Ms. Harris was a co-sponsor of the Green New Deal and “Medicare-for-All” proposals. She called on the next president and vice president to deliver on those promises.
“Her being on top of that ticket did not cost us the election. It actually won us the election,” Ms. Omar said on “Inside Politics” on CNN. “Our policies are resonating with the American people, and if our big-tent Democratic Party wants to govern on behalf of all Americans, we should have a seat at the table.”
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York, the face of the young, liberal vanguard of the Democratic Party, said Sunday that Democrats need to respond to the election with a strong liberal agenda.
“I think we owe the poor, middle-class, working-class, Black communities, communities of color, immigrant communities a great deal in seeing them and honoring them in our legislation,” she said on “State of the Union” on CNN.
Democrats will control a slimmer majority in the House in the next Congress, and control of the Senate will depend on the outcomes of two runoff elections in Georgia on Jan. 5.
Sen. Mitt Romney of Utah, one of a handful of Republican lawmakers acknowledging Mr. Biden as the presidential winner, said his party is willing to find common ground but won’t accept any liberal policies.
“I think the president-elect recognizes that Republicans gained seats in Congress. Republicans overall did better than Democrats overall in this election,” he said on CNN. “The American people are more conservative than they are progressive, so to speak. And any argument to the contrary, I think, is going to be met with a lot of resistance from the American people and from members of Congress.
“If Joe Biden works with Republicans in the Senate, he’s going to find that we will be able to find common ground. After all, he’s been there a long time himself. He knows what it takes to get things done in that chamber,” he said.
⦁ Alex Swoyer contributed to this report.
• Dave Boyer can be reached at dboyer@washingtontimes.com. • Gabriella Muñoz can be reached at gmunoz@washingtontimes.com. • David Sherfinski can be reached at dsherfinski@washingtontimes.com.


washingtontimes--2020-11-08--Pat Toomey: 'Woke left had a major setback'

Democrats framed the 2020 election as a referendum on President Trump , but Sen. Pat Toomey said Sunday that the Democratic fizzle in down-ballot races represented a repudiation of progressivism .
“ I will tell you unambiguously this was a rejection of the radicalism that has increasingly been the driving force in the Democratic Party , ” said the Pennsylvania Republican on CBS ’ s “ Face the Nation.
” “ The woke left had a major setback.
” He cited the blue wave that wasn ’ t .
Democrats have so far picked up a net of one Senate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , as well as the New Hampshire House and Senate and the Montana governorship .
Even some Republicans were surprised at how well they did on Tuesday in state and congressional races .
“ I mean , nobody thought we were going to pick up seats in the House , nobody thought we were going to hold the Senate , which I think is likely , ” Mr. Toomey said .
“ We didn ’ t lose a single legislative body across the country.
” He credited the strong economy and foreign policy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the Democratic Party ’ s leftward lurch .
Former Vice President Joseph R. Biden has been projected the winner of the presidential contest by major news outlets , including the Associated Press and the television networks , while the Trump campaign is contesting the vote in key states .
“ There ’ s no question that personality traits and character traits of the president rubbed a lot of people the wrong way , and that was probably problematic for the president , ” Mr. Toomey said .
“ It certainly was , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ successful with economic outcomes , with foreign policy.
” The result was that “ the policies have been accepted , and the broad Republican victories down ballot suggest that , ” he said .
Mr. Toomey announced last month that he will not seek reelection in 2022 nor run for Pennsylvania governor , saying he wanted to spend more time with his family .

Democrats framed the 2020 election as a referendum on President Trump, but Sen. Pat Toomey said Sunday that the Democratic fizzle in down-ballot races represented a repudiation of progressivism.
“I will tell you unambiguously this was a rejection of the radicalism that has increasingly been the driving force in the Democratic Party,” said the Pennsylvania Republican on CBS’s “Face the Nation.” “The woke left had a major setback.”
He cited the blue wave that wasn’t. Democrats have so far picked up a net of one Senate seat and lost a half-dozen House seats, as well as the New Hampshire House and Senate and the Montana governorship.
Even some Republicans were surprised at how well they did on Tuesday in state and congressional races.
“I mean, nobody thought we were going to pick up seats in the House, nobody thought we were going to hold the Senate, which I think is likely,” Mr. Toomey said. “We didn’t lose a single legislative body across the country.”
He credited the strong economy and foreign policy successes under the Trump administration in addition to the Democratic Party’s leftward lurch.
Former Vice President Joseph R. Biden has been projected the winner of the presidential contest by major news outlets, including the Associated Press and the television networks, while the Trump campaign is contesting the vote in key states.
“The woke Left had a major setback,” Republican @SenToomey tells @margbrennan of Dems losses in #Election2020
On Trump’s loss in #Pennsylvania: Trump’s “personality traits and character traits” “rubbed a lot of people the wrong way and that was probably problematic” pic.twitter.com/KAwTiNE2bo — Face The Nation (@FaceTheNation) November 8, 2020
“There’s no question that personality traits and character traits of the president rubbed a lot of people the wrong way, and that was probably problematic for the president,” Mr. Toomey said. “It certainly was, but the outcomes—this administration has been remarkably successful with economic outcomes, with foreign policy.”
The result was that “the policies have been accepted, and the broad Republican victories down ballot suggest that,” he said.
Mr. Toomey announced last month that he will not seek reelection in 2022 nor run for Pennsylvania governor, saying he wanted to spend more time with his family.
• Valerie Richardson can be reached at vrichardson@washingtontimes.com.


washingtontimes--2020-11-08--Carlos Ortiz gets his first PGA Tour victory at Houston Open

HOUSTON ( AP ) - Carlos Ortiz held off Dustin Johnson and Hideki Matsuyama by closing with a 5-under 65 to win the Houston Open on Sunday , becoming the first Mexican to win on the PGA Tour in 42 years .
He earned every bit of it , caught in a tight battle on the back nine with the world ’ s No .
1 player and Japan ’ s biggest star .
Ortiz delivered the winner with a 6-iron to 8 feet on the par-5 16th .
He had to settle for a two-putt birdie , and it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ missed birdie chances coming in .
Ortiz finished in style .
Needing two putts to win , the 29-year-old holed a 20-foot birdie putt for a two-shot victory that sends him to the Masters next April for the first time .
It was the loudest cheer for a winner since March .
The Houston Open was the first domestic PGA Tour event that allowed spectators , with 2,000 tickets sold daily .
They were treated to a good show .
The last Mexican-born player to win was Victor Regelado , who captured the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was making his first start since the U.S. Open after a positive coronavirus test knocked him out of the CJ Cup at Shadow Creek and the Zozo Championship at Sherwood .
After opening with a 72 , Johnson rallied with two rounds of 66 and a closing 65 .
His one regret would be the 16th hole .
Tied for the lead , Johnson fanned a 7-iron for his second shot on the par 5 , leaving a tough chip to 18 feet and a birdie putt that grazed the left edge of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 63 .
PHOENIX ( AP ) - The PGA Tour Champions season will last at least another day .
The final round of the season-ending Charles Schwab Cup Championship will be played on Monday after Kevin Sutherland and Paul Broadhurst traded pars through six playoff holes in near darkness .
Broadhurst played a superb final round on Sunday , erasing a six-shot deficit with a bogey-free 63 in the season finale for the over-50 tour , which won ’ t crown a champion until next year due to the coronavirus pandemic .
Sutherland @ @ @ @ @ @ @ round to lose an overnight five-shot lead over Wes Short Jr. , but closed with a birdie on the par-5 18th hole to shoot a 2-under 69 .
PAPHOS , Cyprus ( AP ) - Robert MacIntyre of Scotland was inches away from a hole-in-one and followed with a two-putt birdie for a 7-under 64 to win the Cyprus Showdown on Sunday for his first European Tour title .
MacIntyre birdied four of his last six holes at Aphrodite Hills Resort to beat Masahiro Kawamura by one shot .
The format cut the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and then the top 16 and ties going into the final round , with scores reset for the final two rounds .
Jorge Campillo of Spain was another shot behind .
MacIntyre was tied for the lead when the left-handed Scot delivered a pure swing on the par-3 17th , the ball stopping next to the cup .
Kawamura birdied the 18th ahead of him to tie for the lead one last time before MacIntyre drilled his tee shot and set up a solid approach into the par-5 closing hole .
Jiyai @ @ @ @ @ @ @ won the Toto Japan Classic on the Japan LPGA by three shots over Yuka Saso of the Philippines .
… Ondrej Lieser closed with a 5-under 67 for a two-shot victory over Richard Mansell in the Andalucia Challenge of Spain on the European Challenge Tour .
… Na Rin An denied Ha Na Jang a second straight Korean LPGA Tour victory by closing with a 71 to win the Hana Financial Group Championship .
… Ruan Korb closed with a 2-under 70 and held on for a one-shot victory over Anton Haig in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sunshine Tour in South Africa .
… Frida Kinhult of Sweden won her first Symetra Tour title on Friday with a 70 in the final round for a four-shot victory in the Symetra Tour Championship .
… Minjee Lee of Australia won her second Ladies European Tour title with a birdie on the first playoff hole to beat Celine Boutier in the Omega Dubai Moonlight Classic , which ended on Friday .

HOUSTON (AP) - Carlos Ortiz held off Dustin Johnson and Hideki Matsuyama by closing with a 5-under 65 to win the Houston Open on Sunday, becoming the first Mexican to win on the PGA Tour in 42 years.
He earned every bit of it, caught in a tight battle on the back nine with the world’s No. 1 player and Japan’s biggest star. Ortiz delivered the winner with a 6-iron to 8 feet on the par-5 16th. He had to settle for a two-putt birdie, and it held up when Johnson and Matsuyama narrowly missed birdie chances coming in.
Ortiz finished in style. Needing two putts to win, the 29-year-old holed a 20-foot birdie putt for a two-shot victory that sends him to the Masters next April for the first time.
It was the loudest cheer for a winner since March. The Houston Open was the first domestic PGA Tour event that allowed spectators, with 2,000 tickets sold daily. They were treated to a good show.
The last Mexican-born player to win was Victor Regelado, who captured the Quad Cities Open in 1978.
Johnson was making his first start since the U.S. Open after a positive coronavirus test knocked him out of the CJ Cup at Shadow Creek and the Zozo Championship at Sherwood.
After opening with a 72, Johnson rallied with two rounds of 66 and a closing 65. His one regret would be the 16th hole. Tied for the lead, Johnson fanned a 7-iron for his second shot on the par 5, leaving a tough chip to 18 feet and a birdie putt that grazed the left edge of the cup. Matsuyama closed with a 63.
Ortiz finished at 13-under 267.
PGA TOUR CHAMPIONS
PHOENIX (AP) - The PGA Tour Champions season will last at least another day.
The final round of the season-ending Charles Schwab Cup Championship will be played on Monday after Kevin Sutherland and Paul Broadhurst traded pars through six playoff holes in near darkness.
Broadhurst played a superb final round on Sunday, erasing a six-shot deficit with a bogey-free 63 in the season finale for the over-50 tour, which won’t crown a champion until next year due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Sutherland stumbled through the early part of the round to lose an overnight five-shot lead over Wes Short Jr., but closed with a birdie on the par-5 18th hole to shoot a 2-under 69.
Broadhurst and Sutherland finished at 15-under 198.
EUROPEAN TOUR
PAPHOS, Cyprus (AP) - Robert MacIntyre of Scotland was inches away from a hole-in-one and followed with a two-putt birdie for a 7-under 64 to win the Cyprus Showdown on Sunday for his first European Tour title.
MacIntyre birdied four of his last six holes at Aphrodite Hills Resort to beat Masahiro Kawamura by one shot.
The format cut the field to 32 players on the weekend, and then the top 16 and ties going into the final round, with scores reset for the final two rounds.
Jorge Campillo of Spain was another shot behind.
MacIntyre was tied for the lead when the left-handed Scot delivered a pure swing on the par-3 17th, the ball stopping next to the cup. Kawamura birdied the 18th ahead of him to tie for the lead one last time before MacIntyre drilled his tee shot and set up a solid approach into the par-5 closing hole.
OTHER TOURS
Jiyai Shin closed with a 6-under 66 and won the Toto Japan Classic on the Japan LPGA by three shots over Yuka Saso of the Philippines. … Ondrej Lieser closed with a 5-under 67 for a two-shot victory over Richard Mansell in the Andalucia Challenge of Spain on the European Challenge Tour. … Na Rin An denied Ha Na Jang a second straight Korean LPGA Tour victory by closing with a 71 to win the Hana Financial Group Championship. … Ruan Korb closed with a 2-under 70 and held on for a one-shot victory over Anton Haig in the Time Sqaure Casino Challenge on the Sunshine Tour in South Africa. … Frida Kinhult of Sweden won her first Symetra Tour title on Friday with a 70 in the final round for a four-shot victory in the Symetra Tour Championship. … Minjee Lee of Australia won her second Ladies European Tour title with a birdie on the first playoff hole to beat Celine Boutier in the Omega Dubai Moonlight Classic, which ended on Friday.


washingtontimes--2020-11-08--Iran, North Korea, Russia mum on Biden win, anticipate return to Obama-era policies

Traditional U.S. allies rushed to congratulate presumptive President-elect Joseph R. Biden over the weekend , but U.S. enemies and geopolitical adversaries were more cautious , with several expressing outright relief at the prospect of no longer having to deal Mr. Trump and his bare-knuckle sanctions and trade policies .
Officials in China , Russia and North Korea were conspicuously tight-lipped as of Sunday night Washington time .
Government leaders in Iran , Venezuela and Cuba suggested that they anticipate a major easing of pressure from Washington if Mr. Biden is inaugurated in January .
Turkey and Saudi Arabia responded cautiously @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , which was attempting to project confidence that Mr. Biden would honor President Trump ’ s promise to withdraw U.S. troops from Afghanistan .
Iran ’ s supreme leader , Ayatollah Ali Khamenei , has been mocking the U.S. by complaining — first in a speech and later on Twitter — about the length of time it took to declare a winner in the presidential race and the charges of fraud as the counting continued .
“ This is an example of the ugly face of liberal democracy in the U.S. , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ account declared after Pennsylvania called its results in Mr. Biden ’ s favor Saturday .
“ Regardless of the outcome , one thing is absolutely clear — the definite political , civil , & moral decline of the U.S. regime.
” Iranian President Hassan Rouhani and Foreign Minister Javad Zarif , meanwhile , expressed hope that a Biden administration could breathe life back into Iran ’ s crippled economy by easing sanctions and the global Iranian crude embargo that the Trump administration imposed after pulling the U.S. out of the 2015 nuclear deal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ believe Mr. Biden will resuscitate the Obama-era accord that Mr. Trump renounced in 2018 , which Mr. Biden has signaled a desire to do , Mr. Rouhani and Mr. Zarif hinted that Tehran expects an easier time with a Biden administration .
“ Now is the time for the next administration of the United States to make up for past mistakes and return to the path of adherence to international obligations and respecting global regulations , ” said Mr. Rouhani , according to the state-controlled Iranian Students ’ News Agency .
Venezuelan President @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been the target of steadily escalating U.S. sanctions under Mr. Trump , struck a similar tone .
Venezuela “ will always be ready for dialogue and understanding with the people and government of the U.S. , ” Mr. Maduro tweeted Sunday .
Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido , whom the U.S. and some 60 other nations have backed in attempts to oust Mr. Maduro from power in recent years , also expressed hope in a prospective Biden administration .
He said he believes the presumptive president-elect will work with him to “ secure @ @ @ @ @ @ @ human rights to the Venezuelan people.
” Mr. Guaido ’ s message included a thank-you to Mr. Trump and Vice President Mike Pence for their “ firmness and determination ” in confronting Mr. Maduro .
In Havana , meanwhile , drivers honked and applause erupted after Mr. Biden and presumptive Vice President-elect Kamala D. Harris were declared winners , according to Reuters .
Mr. Biden was a top adviser when President Obama began an unprecedented detente with Cuba ’ s communist government , one that Mr. Trump has largely reversed .
“ I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Miriam Corrales , 68 , a retired economist , told the Reuters news agency .
“ Biden gives me the impression he will do everything possible to ease sanctions and leave behind the pressures we experienced with Trump.
” Other Latin American leaders stuck to basic congratulations , although Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro , a Trump ally and hard-line conservative , had not sent any public message to Mr. Biden as of Sunday night .
A handful of world leaders offered expressions of gratitude for the Trump administration .
Among them was Israeli @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mr. Trump ’ s closest personal allies overseas .
“ Thank you [ President Trump ] for the friendship you have shown the state of Israel and me personally , for recognizing Jerusalem and the Golan , for standing up to Iran , for the historic peace accords and for bringing the American-Israeli alliance to unprecedented heights , ” Mr. Netanyahu wrote .
However , Mr. Netanyahu also made headlines by recognizing Mr. Biden ’ s victory .
His left-right coalition government has a number of top officials who are likely to be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ Joe , we ’ ve had a long & warm personal relationship for nearly 40 years , and I know you as a great friend of Israel , ” wrote Mr. Netanyahu , who separately opened a video conference Israeli Cabinet meeting Sunday by congratulating Mr. Biden and Ms. Harris .
There was no immediate reaction to Mr. Netanyahu ’ s comments from the White House , where Mr. Trump disputed reports of Mr. Biden ’ s projected victory and had not formally conceded the race .
Major U.S. rivals and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ approach to the presidential transition .
Russia , China and North Korea all remained quiet as of Sunday night .
While Moscow ’ s state-run Tass news agency offered around-the-clock coverage of the bitter U.S. vote-counting battle , Russian President Vladimir Putin , whose intelligence agencies were accused of meddling in the 2016 election to help Mr. Trump win , had not commented .
Opposition leader Alexei Navalny , who is recovering in Germany from a poisoning incident many blame on the Kremlin , offered his congratulations to Mr. Biden Sunday evening .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Mr. Navalny pointedly tweeted , is a “ privilege which is not available to all countries.
” Also keeping a low profile were Chinese President Xi Jinping and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un .
Mr. Trump met personally with Mr. Kim three times over the past three years .
China has clashed with the Trump administration over trade , security , technology and global influence .
Mr. Trump and his top advisers have roundly blamed China for allowing COVID-19 to spread into a pandemic and failing to cooperate with international scientists trying @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that causes it .
Social media users in China have welcomed the news of prospective Biden victory .
A posting on the popular Sina Weibo microblog service , signed Gong Teng Xin Yi , congratulated the Delaware Democrat and called him “ an old friend of Chinese people.
” Responses from several key Middle Eastern players were also cautious .
Syria was silent Sunday , while Saudi Arabia and Turkey offered only muted reactions .
Saudi King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed congratulated Mr. Biden and Ms. Harris , according to the Saudi @ @ @ @ @ @ @ historical deep-rooted relations between the two friendly countries , adding that both countries are keen to develop and enhance these relations in all fields , ” the state-owned news outlet reported .
A statement from Turkish Vice President Fuat Oktay asserted that “ nothing will change for Turkey ” as a result of the U.S. election , according to Reuters .
Although Mr. Trump has maintained positive relations with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan , Ankara ’ s military adventurism of late has raised concern in Washington .
Regional analysts predict Mr. Biden @ @ @ @ @ @ @ first by imposing the sanctions against officials close to Mr. Erdogan over Ankara ’ s recent purchase of an advanced S-400 missile defense system from Russia — a move that angered other NATO countries .
Mr. Erdogan was quiet Sunday , but Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi , who has been known for public displays of bonhomie with Mr. Trump , tweeted a photo of himself with Mr. Biden and offered his congratulations “ on your spectacular victory !
” The tweet triggered amusement among some foreign affairs experts .
“ It ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ your real friends are … and [ President Trump ] is learning that nobody has real friends in politics , ” said Richard Gowan , the U.N. director at the International Crisis Group .
⦁ This article is based in part on wire service reports .

Traditional U.S. allies rushed to congratulate presumptive President-elect Joseph R. Biden over the weekend, but U.S. enemies and geopolitical adversaries were more cautious, with several expressing outright relief at the prospect of no longer having to deal with President Trump and his bare-knuckle sanctions and trade policies.
Officials in China, Russia and North Korea were conspicuously tight-lipped as of Sunday night Washington time. Government leaders in Iran, Venezuela and Cuba suggested that they anticipate a major easing of pressure from Washington if Mr. Biden is inaugurated in January.
Turkey and Saudi Arabia responded cautiously, as did the Taliban in Afghanistan, which was attempting to project confidence that Mr. Biden would honor Mr. Trump’s promise to withdraw U.S. troops from Afghanistan.
Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has been mocking the U.S. by complaining — first in a speech and later on Twitter — about the length of time it took to declare a winner in the presidential race and the charges of fraud as the counting continued.
“This is an example of the ugly face of liberal democracy in the U.S.,” the supreme leader’s English-language Twitter account declared after Pennsylvania called its results in Mr. Biden’s favor Saturday. “Regardless of the outcome, one thing is absolutely clear — the definite political, civil, & moral decline of the U.S. regime.”
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani and Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, meanwhile, expressed hope that a Biden administration could breathe life back into Iran’s crippled economy by easing sanctions and the global Iranian crude embargo that the Trump administration imposed after pulling the U.S. out of the 2015 nuclear deal.
Although neither said explicitly that they believe Mr. Biden will resuscitate the Obama-era accord that Mr. Trump renounced in 2018, which Mr. Biden has signaled a desire to do, Mr. Rouhani and Mr. Zarif hinted that Tehran expects an easier time with a Biden administration.
“Now is the time for the next administration of the United States to make up for past mistakes and return to the path of adherence to international obligations and respecting global regulations,” said Mr. Rouhani, according to the state-controlled Iranian Students’ News Agency.
Venezuela and ‘dialogue’
Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, whose socialist government has been the target of steadily escalating U.S. sanctions under Mr. Trump, struck a similar tone.
Venezuela “will always be ready for dialogue and understanding with the people and government of the U.S.,” Mr. Maduro tweeted Sunday.
Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido, whom the U.S. and some 60 other nations have backed in attempts to oust Mr. Maduro from power in recent years, also expressed hope in a prospective Biden administration. He said he believes the presumptive president-elect will work with him to “secure the restoration of democracy, freedom and human rights to the Venezuelan people.”
Mr. Guaido’s message included a thank-you to Mr. Trump and Vice President Mike Pence for their “firmness and determination” in confronting Mr. Maduro.
In Havana, meanwhile, drivers honked and applause erupted after Mr. Biden and presumptive Vice President-elect Kamala D. Harris were declared winners, according to Reuters. Mr. Biden, as the former vice president, was a top adviser when President Barack Obama began an unprecedented detente with Cuba’s communist government, one that Mr. Trump has largely reversed.
“I’m tremendously happy,” said Miriam Corrales, 68, a retired economist, told the Reuters news agency. “Biden gives me the impression he will do everything possible to ease sanctions and leave behind the pressures we experienced with Trump.”
Other Latin American leaders stuck to basic congratulations, although Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, a Trump ally and hard-line conservative, had not sent any public message to Mr. Biden as of Sunday night.
A handful of world leaders offered expressions of gratitude for the Trump administration. Among them was Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, one of Mr. Trump’s closest personal allies overseas.
“Thank you [President Trump] for the friendship you have shown the state of Israel and me personally, for recognizing Jerusalem and the Golan, for standing up to Iran, for the historic peace accords and for bringing the American-Israeli alliance to unprecedented heights,” Mr. Netanyahu wrote.
However, Mr. Netanyahu also made headlines by recognizing Mr. Biden’s victory. His left-right coalition government has a number of top officials who are likely to be even closer to the coming Democratic administration.
“Joe, we’ve had a long & warm personal relationship for nearly 40 years, and I know you as a great friend of Israel,” wrote Mr. Netanyahu, who separately opened a video conference Israeli Cabinet meeting Sunday by congratulating Mr. Biden and Ms. Harris.
There was no immediate reaction to Mr. Netanyahu’s comments from the White House, where Mr. Trump disputed reports of Mr. Biden’s projected victory and had not formally conceded the race.
Wait and see
Major U.S. rivals and adversaries appeared to be taking a wait-and-see approach to the presidential transition. Russia, China and North Korea all remained quiet as of Sunday night.
While Moscow’s state-run Tass news agency offered around-the-clock coverage of the bitter U.S. vote-counting battle, Russian President Vladimir Putin, whose intelligence agencies were accused of meddling in the 2016 election to help Mr. Trump win, had not commented. Opposition leader Alexei Navalny, who is recovering in Germany from a poisoning incident many blame on the Kremlin, offered his congratulations to Mr. Biden Sunday evening.
A “free and fair election,” Mr. Navalny pointedly tweeted, is a “privilege which is not available to all countries.”
Also keeping a low profile were Chinese President Xi Jinping and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. Mr. Trump met personally with Mr. Kim three times over the past three years.
China has clashed with the Trump administration over trade, security, technology and global influence. Mr. Trump and his top advisers have roundly blamed China for allowing COVID-19 to spread into a pandemic and failing to cooperate with international scientists trying to study the origins of the coronavirus that causes it.
Social media users in China have welcomed the news of prospective Biden victory. A posting on the popular Sina Weibo microblog service, signed Gong Teng Xin Yi, congratulated the Delaware Democrat and called him “an old friend of Chinese people.”
Responses from several key Middle Eastern players were also cautious. Syria was silent Sunday, while Saudi Arabia and Turkey offered only muted reactions.
Saudi King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed congratulated Mr. Biden and Ms. Harris, according to the Saudi Press Agency.
Salman “praised the historical deep-rooted relations between the two friendly countries, adding that both countries are keen to develop and enhance these relations in all fields,” the state-owned news outlet reported.
A statement from Turkish Vice President Fuat Oktay asserted that “nothing will change for Turkey” as a result of the U.S. election, according to Reuters.
Although Mr. Trump has maintained positive relations with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Ankara’s military adventurism of late has raised concern in Washington.
Regional analysts predict Mr. Biden will be tougher on Turkey, likely first by imposing the sanctions against officials close to Mr. Erdogan over Ankara’s recent purchase of an advanced S-400 missile defense system from Russia — a move that angered other NATO countries.
Mr. Erdogan was quiet Sunday, but Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who has been known for public displays of bonhomie with Mr. Trump, tweeted a photo of himself with Mr. Biden and offered his congratulations “on your spectacular victory!”
The tweet triggered amusement among some foreign affairs experts.
“It’s moments like these you learn who your real friends are … and [President Trump] is learning that nobody has real friends in politics,” said Richard Gowan, the U.N. director at the International Crisis Group.
• This article is based in part on wire service reports.
• Guy Taylor can be reached at gtaylor@washingtontimes.com.


washingtontimes--2020-11-08--Police: 2 adults, 2 children shot, wounded in Virginia Beach

VIRGINIA BEACH , Va. ( AP ) - Four people , including two children , were shot and wounded in @ @ @ @ @ evening .
Virginia Beach police said two adults and two children were taken to hospitals @ @ @ @ @ appear to be life-threatening following a shooting near a residential area .
The agency called @ @ @ @ @ ” in a statement posted to Twitter at 6:15 p.m. Police did not immediately identify @ @ @ @ @ , or comment further on what led to the shooting .

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (AP) - Four people, including two children, were shot and wounded in a coastal Virginia city Sunday evening.
Virginia Beach police said two adults and two children were taken to hospitals with wounds that did not appear to be life-threatening following a shooting near a residential area.
The agency called the scene “very active” in a statement posted to Twitter at 6:15 p.m.
Police did not immediately identify the victims or a suspect, or comment further on what led to the shooting.


washingtontimes--2020-11-08--House Democrats trade blame on 2020 election losses

Frustrated by the loss of several seats , House Democrats on opposing wings of the caucus clashed as the party grappled with its shrinking majority .
Moderate Democrats tried to pin the blame on controversial far-left members such as Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez , who said Sunday that her faction was not the root of the problem but leadership ’ s campaigning “ as though it ’ s 2005.
” “ The question that we have is how can we build a more effective Democratic operation that is stronger and more resilient to Republican attacks , ” she said on CNN @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” Ms. Ocasio-Cortez , New York Democrat , gave Republicans credit for their strength on digital campaigning .
House Democrats not only failed to pick up many vulnerable GOP seats but also lost at least seven seats to Republicans .
“ I ’ m furious .
Something went wrong here across the entire political world .
Our polls , Senate polls I want answers , and my team is already planning how we go and get those answers , ” Rep. Cheri Bustos of Illinois , Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee chairwoman , told @ @ @ @ @ @ @ infighting and finger-pointing spilled out into the open last week with moderates lamenting the influence of the far-left .
“ It was a failure .
It was not a success , ” Rep. Abigail Spanberger of Virginia , one of the frontline members who survived the GOP attack , said in a heated , emotional caucus-wide conference call .
“ We lost members who shouldn ’ t have lost .
“ And we need to not use the word ‘ socialist ’ or ‘ socialism ’ ever again.
” An audio recording of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Washington Post .
Ms. Spanberger , who narrowly won reelection in a Virginia district she flipped in 2018 , specifically highlighted how Democrats approached the viral “ defund the police ” rhetoric during the summer , which left members like her vulnerable .
She said Democrats were not clear enough in exactly what they stood for in terms of how they would address social services and community policing .
House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn , South Carolina Democrat , also said the party needed to improve on controversial messaging , as highlighting the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a key part of the GOP ’ s strategy .
He compared the “ defund the police ” movement to the “ Burn Baby Burn ” slogan detracted from the Civil Rights movement of the 1960s .
“ I am against sloganeering , ” he said on CNN .
“ We need to work on what makes headway not what makes headlines.
” Ms. Ocasio-Cortez , along with the other three members of the far-left “ Squad , ” easily won her reelection bid .
But she also was the face of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ moderate members who fell in swing districts .
She argued that while not every Democrat needs to run as a progressive , there were common threads that they could support .
She said it was “ irresponsible to pour gasoline ” on existing tensions within the caucus during a heated private party conference call just 48 hours after Election Day , while data was still coming in .
“ There are , at least in the House caucus , very deep divisions within the party , ” she said .
“ And I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ together and not allow Republican narratives to tear us apart.
” A smaller majority will have consequences for the House .
With fewer centrist Democrats , the leadership will have even less wiggle room to pass bipartisan legislation .
This past caucus , Republicans were able to successfully chip off enough Democratic votes to support motions to recommit , a procedural tool of the minority party — much to the frustrations of Democratic leadership and the liberal wing .
When asked about the contentious call and shifting dynamics , House Speaker Nancy Pelosi @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ Welcome to my world .
We always have had a beautiful dynamism in our caucus , ” the California Democrat said .
“ I would say we have a healthy difference of opinion within our caucus , but not in any way to be problematic in how we legislate .
”

Frustrated by the loss of several seats, House Democrats on opposing wings of the caucus clashed as the party grappled with its shrinking majority.
Moderate Democrats tried to pin the blame on controversial far-left members such as Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who said Sunday that her faction was not the root of the problem but leadership’s campaigning “as though it’s 2005.”
“The question that we have is how can we build a more effective Democratic operation that is stronger and more resilient to Republican attacks,” she said on CNN’s “State of the Union.”
Ms. Ocasio-Cortez, New York Democrat, gave Republicans credit for their strength on digital campaigning.
House Democrats not only failed to pick up many vulnerable GOP seats but also lost at least seven seats to Republicans.
“I’m furious. Something went wrong here across the entire political world. Our polls, Senate polls I want answers, and my team is already planning how we go and get those answers,” Rep. Cheri Bustos of Illinois, Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee chairwoman, told Democrats on a private call.
The infighting and finger-pointing spilled out into the open last week with moderates lamenting the influence of the far-left.
“It was a failure. It was not a success,” Rep. Abigail Spanberger of Virginia, one of the frontline members who survived the GOP attack, said in a heated, emotional caucus-wide conference call. “We lost members who shouldn’t have lost.
“And we need to not use the word ‘socialist’ or ‘socialism’ ever again.”
An audio recording of the call was first reported by The Washington Post.
Ms. Spanberger, who narrowly won reelection in a Virginia district she flipped in 2018, specifically highlighted how Democrats approached the viral “defund the police” rhetoric during the summer, which left members like her vulnerable.
She said Democrats were not clear enough in exactly what they stood for in terms of how they would address social services and community policing.
House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn, South Carolina Democrat, also said the party needed to improve on controversial messaging, as highlighting the “defund the police” movement was a key part of the GOP’s strategy.
He compared the “defund the police” movement to the “Burn Baby Burn” slogan detracted from the Civil Rights movement of the 1960s.
“I am against sloganeering,” he said on CNN. “We need to work on what makes headway not what makes headlines.”
Ms. Ocasio-Cortez, along with the other three members of the far-left “Squad,” easily won her reelection bid. But she also was the face of the GOP’s attack ads on more moderate members who fell in swing districts.
She argued that while not every Democrat needs to run as a progressive, there were common threads that they could support.
She said it was “irresponsible to pour gasoline” on existing tensions within the caucus during a heated private party conference call just 48 hours after Election Day, while data was still coming in.
“There are, at least in the House caucus, very deep divisions within the party,” she said. “And I believe that we need to really come together and not allow Republican narratives to tear us apart.”
A smaller majority will have consequences for the House.
With fewer centrist Democrats, the leadership will have even less wiggle room to pass bipartisan legislation.
This past caucus, Republicans were able to successfully chip off enough Democratic votes to support motions to recommit, a procedural tool of the minority party — much to the frustrations of Democratic leadership and the liberal wing.
When asked about the contentious call and shifting dynamics, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi projected optimism for keeping her party united.
“Welcome to my world. We always have had a beautiful dynamism in our caucus,” the California Democrat said. “I would say we have a healthy difference of opinion within our caucus, but not in any way to be problematic in how we legislate.”
• Gabriella Muñoz can be reached at gmunoz@washingtontimes.com.


washingtontimes--2020-11-08--Biden backers to blacklist Trump loyalists with 'Trump Accountability Project'

Joseph R. Biden supporters are advocating a reign of shunning and purging President Trump ’ s supporters in Washington .
As Mr. Biden struck a unity theme during his Saturday night speech , some backers espoused another idea : Dox and cancel Trump world .
The “ Trump Accountability Project ” set up a Twitter account and says it will block jobs for , and sham , anyone who worked to elect Mr. Trump , staffed his government or funded his campaign .
Rep. Alexander Ocasio-Cortez , New York Democrat , began the retaliation talk for unspecified crimes by urging @ @ @ @ @ @ @ evidence .
“ Is anyone archiving these Trump sycophants for when they try to downplay or deny their complicity in the future ?
” the socialist tweeted .
“ I foresee decent probability of many deleted Tweets , writings , photos in the future.
” The same day Ms. Ocasio-Cortez spoke of “ complicity ” and the accountability project sprung up , the Washington rumor mill said White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany was deleting tweets from her official government account .
Biden supporters spread the rumor on social media .
“ Sounds @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tweeted journalist Andrew Feinberg , who writes for the British newspaper The Independent .
“ This is fake news , ” responded Ms. McEnany , who also called it a “ defamatory lie.
” “ I have not deleted any tweets , but you should delete this patently false tweet.
” Hari Sevugan , former spokesman for the Barack Obama campaign , called for a Washington jobs boycott for Trump loyalists and threatened anyone who would hire them .
“ Employers considering them should know there are consequences for hiring anyone who helped @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tweeted .
Mr. Sevugan urged anti-Trump people to support the “ Trump Accountability Project ” which announced unspecified plans to zero-out those loyal to the president .
Twitter commenters challenged Mr. Sevugan , comparing him to such Communist dictators as Josef Stalin , Pol Pot and Mao , who engaged in rigged show trials for political ends and routinely purged perceived enemies in murderous rampages such as China ’ s Cultural Revolution and the Soviet Union ’ s Great Terror .
The accountability project ’ s logo is , “ Remember what they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ those who furthered the Trump agenda , ” the group ’ s website says “ Those who took a paycheck from the Trump Administration should not profit from their efforts to tear our democracy apart .
The world should never forget those who , when faced with a decision , chose to put their money , their time , and their reputations behind separating children from their families , encouraging racism and anti-Semitism , and negligently causing the unnecessary loss of life and economic devastation from our country ’ s failed response to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not disclose its leaders .
It asks people to register with names and email addresses .
The project set up a Twitter feed on Nov. 6 , linking to the web page .
The group has almost 4,000 followers as of Sunday evening .
The Twitter account does not identify organizers .
“ Trump officials have already begun the effort to hide their records , ” a Nov. 6 tweet says .
“ We will not let that happen.
” There are no confirmed reports this is happening .
Democratic donor Ben Meiselas @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a Trump associate who remained after the election .
Mr. Meiselas runs the super PAC Meidastouch , which raised $ 2.5 million in 2020 to defeat Mr. Trump , according to the research site Open Secrets.org .
The PAC has over $ 400,000 on hand .
“ If you hire someone who remained with the Trump admin after the election , be on notice you will be held accountable by MeidasTouch and we will ensure you are exposed , ” he tweeted .
Conservative commentator Dan Bongino responded , “ these threats are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ infantile losers struggling to find meaning in their empty lives.
” But the calls for social blacklists , which began to be made some years ago in defense of leftist protesters attacking or refusing to serve Republicans like Sarah Huckabee Sanders and Ted Criz in restaurants , were spreading during election season .
Both MSNBC host Chris Hayes and former Labor Secretary Robert B. Reich have said a post-Trump America needs some kind of “ Truth and Reconciliation Commission , ” the term given to panels that operated in post-Apartheid South Africa .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ lies , comfort those who have been harmed by his hatefulness , and name every official , politician , executive , and media mogul whose greed and cowardice enabled this catastrophe , ” Mr. Reich wrote .
The left-wing webzine Slate came out for imprisoning White House adviser Stephen Miller for the southern border child separation policy .
“ Like all men who commit crimes against humanity , he should be imprisoned by the society he wounded , forever prevented from spreading his pestilence and fear .
In a just world , this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
It won ’ t .
But one way or another , he will have to leave that building and its protection , and it ’ s a day that can not come fast enough , ” wrote Slate ’ s Lowen Liu .
Trump aides have pointed out that the “ cages ” to separate children from adults were first used by the Obama administration in 2014 and liberals did not complain then .
There are also questions about whether the adults were really the children ’ s parents or merely adults @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the smuggling cartels , in order to game the U.S. immigration and asylum systems .

Joseph R. Biden supporters are advocating a reign of shunning and purging President Trump’s supporters in Washington.
As the presumptive president-elect struck a unity theme during his Saturday night speech, some backers espoused another idea: Dox and cancel Trump world.
The “Trump Accountability Project” set up a Twitter account and says it will block jobs for, and shame, anyone who worked to elect Mr. Trump, staffed his government or funded his campaign.
Rep. Alexander Ocasio-Cortez, New York Democrat, began the retaliation talk for unspecified crimes by urging followers to create an anti-Trump archive as evidence.
“Is anyone archiving these Trump sycophants for when they try to downplay or deny their complicity in the future?” the socialist tweeted. “I foresee decent probability of many deleted Tweets, writings, photos in the future.”
The same day Ms. Ocasio-Cortez spoke of “complicity” and the accountability project sprung up, the Washington rumor mill said White Housep press secretary Kayleigh McEnany was deleting tweets from her official government account. Biden supporters spread the rumor on social media.
“Sounds like destruction of government records,” tweeted journalist Andrew Feinberg, who writes for the British newspaper The Independent.
“This is fake news,” responded Ms. McEnany, who also called it a “defamatory lie.” “I have not deleted any tweets, but you should delete this patently false tweet.”
Hari Sevugan, former spokesman for the Barack Obama campaign, called for a Washington jobs boycott for Trump loyalists and threatened anyone who would hire them.
“Employers considering them should know there are consequences for hiring anyone who helped Trump attack American values,” he tweeted.
Mr. Sevugan urged anti-Trump people to support the “Trump Accountability Project,” which announced unspecified plans to zero-out those loyal to the president.
Twitter commenters challenged Mr. Sevugan, comparing him to such communist dictators as Josef Stalin, Pol Pot and Mao, who engaged in rigged show trials for political ends and routinely purged perceived enemies in murderous rampages such as China’s Cultural Revolution and the Soviet Union’s Great Terror.
The accountability project’s logo is, “Remember what they did.”
“We must never forget those who furthered the Trump agenda,” the group’s website says “Those who took a paycheck from the Trump Administration should not profit from their efforts to tear our democracy apart. The world should never forget those who, when faced with a decision, chose to put their money, their time, and their reputations behind separating children from their families, encouraging racism and anti-Semitism, and negligently causing the unnecessary loss of life and economic devastation from our country’s failed response to the COVID-19 pandemic.”
The homepage does not disclose its leaders. It asks people to register with names and email addresses.
The project set up a Twitter feed on Nov. 6, linking to the web page. The group has almost 4,000 followers as of Sunday evening. The Twitter account does not identify organizers.
“Trump officials have already begun the effort to hide their records,” a Nov. 6 tweet says. “We will not let that happen.”
There are no confirmed reports this is happening.
Democratic donor Ben Meiselas threatened to retaliate against anyone who hires a Trump associate who remained after the election.
Mr. Meiselas runs the super PAC Meidastouch, which raised $2.5 million in 2020 to defeat Mr. Trump, according to the research site Open Secrets.org. The PAC has more than $400,000 on hand.
“If you hire someone who remained with the Trump admin after the election, be on notice you will be held accountable by MeidasTouch and we will ensure you are exposed,” he tweeted.
Conservative commentator Dan Bongino responded, “These threats are the desperate cries of a class of infantile losers struggling to find meaning in their empty lives.”
But the calls for social blacklists, which began to be made some years ago in defense of leftist protesters attacking or refusing to serve Republicans such as Sarah Huckabee Sanders and Ted Cruz in restaurants, were spreading during election season.
Both MSNBC host Chris Hayes and former Labor Secretary Robert B. Reich have said a post-Trump America needs some kind of “Truth and Reconciliation Commission,” the term given to panels that operated in post-Apartheid South Africa.
“It would erase Trump’s lies, comfort those who have been harmed by his hatefulness, and name every official, politician, executive, and media mogul whose greed and cowardice enabled this catastrophe,” Mr. Reich wrote.
The left-wing webzine Slate came out for imprisoning White House adviser Stephen Miller for the southern border child separation policy.
“Like all men who commit crimes against humanity, he should be imprisoned by the society he wounded, forever prevented from spreading his pestilence and fear. In a just world, this reckoning would happen right on Jan. 21. It won’t. But one way or another, he will have to leave that building and its protection, and it’s a day that cannot come fast enough,” wrote Slate’s Lowen Liu.
Trump aides have pointed out that the “cages” to separate children from adults were first used by the Obama administration in 2014 and liberals did not complain then. There are also questions about whether the adults were really the children’s parents or merely adults posing as that, at the behest of the smuggling cartels, in order to game the U.S. immigration and asylum systems.
On Sunday, Joe Lockhart, former White House press secretary under President Bill Clinton, also called for some type of retaliation and punishment for everyone around President Trump.
“This is not meant to be mean or vindictive,” he tweeted. “But the people around @realDonaldTrump who have enabled him to bring our democracy to the brink have to be held responsible for what they’ve done. They can’t be rewarded for what they’ve done.”
As a CNN anti-Trump pundit, Mr. Lockhart has claimed without evidence that Russia laundered money through the Trump organization. In August, Mr. Lockhart tweeted, “Did @realDonaldTrump have a stroke which he is hiding from the American public.”
The assertion in the form of a question touched off a flood of social media claims that Mr. Trump suffered mini-stokes. There is no evidence, and his doctor denied Mr. Lockhart’s insinuation.
• Rowan Scarborough can be reached at rscarborough@washingtontimes.com.


washingtontimes--2020-11-08--Matt Schlapp says whistleblower saw Biden-Harris van unloading ballots at Nevada vote count

A whistleblower claims to have seen a Biden-Harris van bringing ballots to a counting center in Nevada , according to the Trump campaign .
The whistleblower said he went for a walk on his lunch break around the counting center and spotted a Biden-Harris van unloading boxes of ballots , said conservative activist Matt Schlapp at a press conference organized by the Trump campaign in Las Vegas “ These people who were involved in this activity then decided to create a human shield around what they were doing in the van , ” said Mr. Schlapp , who is chairman @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ballots were filled out and the envelopes were resealed , he said .
It is the latest in a flood of allegations of vote tampering and fraud at the polls that the Trump campaign has pushed forward to contest election results project Democrat Joseph R. Biden will be the next president .
He said another whistleblower said he flagged thousands of votes to his supervisor for issues but was instructed to process them anyway .
“ We now have thousands of examples of voter irregularity , ” said Mr. Schlapp .
Some of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who voted in the state , dead people and underage voters .
Republicans are investigating other claims before exploring what legal avenue to pursue in Nevada , Mr. Schlapp said .
Mr. Schlapp serves as an operative for the Trump campaign .
His wife , former White House communications director Mercedes Schlapp , is a top advisor to the Trump campaign .

A witness claims to have seen a Biden-Harris van bringing ballots to a counting center in Nevada, according to the Trump campaign.
The witness said he went for a walk on his lunch break around the counting center and spotted a Biden-Harris van unloading boxes of ballots, said conservative activist Matt Schlapp at a press conference organized by the Trump campaign in Las Vegas
“These people who were involved in this activity then decided to create a human shield around what they were doing in the van,” said Mr. Schlapp, who is chairman of the American Conservative Union.
The ballots were filled out and the envelopes were resealed, he said.
It is the latest in a flood of allegations of vote tampering and fraud at the polls that the Trump campaign has pushed forward to contest election results project Democrat Joseph R. Biden will be the next president.
He said another witness said he flagged thousands of votes to his supervisor for issues but was instructed to process them anyway.
SEE ALSO: Trump legal team to file lawsuits alleging voter irregularities, fraud
“We now have thousands of examples of voter irregularity,” Mr. Schlapp said.
Some of the irregularities cited were roughly 9,000 non-residents who voted in the state, dead people and underage voters.
Republicans are investigating other claims before exploring what legal avenue to pursue in Nevada, Mr. Schlapp said.
Mr. Schlapp serves as an operative for the Trump campaign. His wife, former White House communications director Mercedes Schlapp, is a top adviser to the Trump campaign.
• Alex Swoyer can be reached at aswoyer@washingtontimes.com.


washingtontimes--2020-11-08--Trump legal team to file lawsuits alleging voter irregularities, fraud

President Trump isn ’ t conceding the November election and is getting ready to unleash a number of lawsuits this week alleging voter fraud and irregularities , as his legal team has already filed disputes in five battleground states .
The increase in litigation comes as Mr. Trump trails President-elect Joseph R. Biden in a handful of swing states by less than 1 % as mail-in ballots continue to be counted .
Several news outlets , however , called the race for Mr. Biden on Saturday .
“ Since when does the Lamestream Media call who our next president will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lot in the last two weeks !
” Mr. Trump tweeted on Sunday .
Rudolph W. Giuliani , the president ’ s personal attorney , noted three of the broader legal issues they ’ re raising in court challenges include backdating of late mail-in ballots , allegations of dead people casting votes and Republican poll watchers denied access to observe tabulations at various locations .
“ I think we have enough to change Pennsylvania , ” Mr. Giuliani said .
“ It would be wrong for [ Mr. Trump ] to concede.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Monday , saying they could target between four to 10 different states .
There ’ s a number of other pending legal battles that have already been launched since Tuesday night ’ s election .
Two of the battleground states have since seen judges toss the complaints and in Nevada , a judge rejected an emergency petition on Friday .
But in Pennsylvania , the president ’ s filings remain alive as ballots continue to be tabulated .
Poll-watcher complaints : Trump ‘ s team claims some counties in Michigan , Nevada and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to observe ballot counting , which is required under state laws .
Officials say observers have been inside the polling places , but the dispute — specifically in Pennsylvania — has been over how close they can be to review the ballots .
The Michigan case was dismissed , but Mr. Trump ‘ s legal team was successful with the legal battle in Pennsylvania , though , Democrats in the state went to court to appeal the order allowing members of the president ’ s campaign to observe the ballot count in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ presidential nominee Joseph R. Biden made up a large share of mail-in votes , catching up to the president ’ s more than 600,000 vote lead after election night .
Nevada lawsuits focus on Clark County : Lawyers appeared before a judge in Nevada on Friday evening on an emergency petition , but the judge rejected their argument .
The GOP-led lawsuit on behalf of two Republican candidates for Congress claimed they have thousands of voters who were ineligible who cast ballots in the state including dead people and that poll watchers weren @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mr. Trump ‘ s campaign has argued Clark County officials have not allowed Republican poll observers into the buildings where ballots are being counted .
There was a settlement between the two to allow poll watchers access , according to KLAS .
The Trump focus is Pennsylvania : Mr. Trump moved to intervene in a Supreme Court challenge brought by Pennsylvania Republicans , arguing the state ’ s Democratic leaders and the state ’ s Democratic secretary of State violated the law by extending the time for counting mail-in ballots to Nov. 6 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Legislature setting the deadline for Election Day .
The lawsuit takes issue with postmarked ballots — if smeared — being presumed to have been mailed before Nov. 3 .
The legal issue returns to the Supreme Court after the justices refused to get involved in the matter last week .
But on Friday , Justice Samuel A. Alito Jr. ordered the late-arriving ballots — after Nov. 3 at 8 p.m. — to be segregated from the others .
Rejected ballots in Arizona : President Trump ‘ s campaign and the Republican National Committee @ @ @ @ @ @ @ machines in Maricopa County rejected votes that were cast in person on Election Day .
The lawsuit alleges poll workers inaccurately instructed voters on how to correct balloting errors and that the campaign has witnesses who saw the problem .
Georgia lawsuit tossed : A judge tossed out one of Mr. Trump ‘ s legal challenges Thursday that had been filed in one county earlier this week over roughly 50 late-arriving absentee ballots being placed next to on-time ballots .

President Trump isn’t conceding the November election and is getting ready to unleash a number of lawsuits this week alleging voter fraud and irregularities, as his legal team has already filed disputes in five battleground states.
The increase in litigation comes as Mr. Trump trails President-elect Joseph R. Biden in a handful of swing states by less than 1% as mail-in ballots continue to be counted.
Several news outlets, however, called the race for Mr. Biden on Saturday.
“Since when does the Lamestream Media call who our next president will be? We have all learned a lot in the last two weeks!” Mr. Trump tweeted on Sunday.
Rudolph W. Giuliani, the president’s personal attorney, noted three of the broader legal issues they’re raising in court challenges include backdating of late mail-in ballots, allegations of dead people casting votes and Republican poll watchers denied access to observe tabulations at various locations.
“I think we have enough to change Pennsylvania,” Mr. Giuliani said. “It would be wrong for [Mr. Trump] to concede.”
Mr. Giuliani plans to file more lawsuits Monday, saying they could target between four to 10 different states.
There’s a number of other pending legal battles that have already been launched since Tuesday night’s election.
Two of the battleground states have since seen judges toss the complaints and in Nevada, a judge rejected an emergency petition on Friday. But in Pennsylvania, the president’s filings remain alive as ballots continue to be tabulated.
Poll-watcher complaints: Trump’s team claims some counties in Michigan, Nevada and Pennsylvania have not allowed Republican poll watchers to observe ballot counting, which is required under state laws. Officials say observers have been inside the polling places, but the dispute — specifically in Pennsylvania — has been over how close they can be to review the ballots.
The Michigan case was dismissed, but Mr. Trump’s legal team was successful with the legal battle in Pennsylvania, though, Democrats in the state went to court to appeal the order allowing members of the president’s campaign to observe the ballot count in the Philadelphia area — a region where Democratic presidential nominee Joseph R. Biden made up a large share of mail-in votes, catching up to the president’s more than 600,000 vote lead after election night.
Nevada lawsuits focus on Clark County: Lawyers appeared before a judge in Nevada on Friday evening on an emergency petition, but the judge rejected their argument. The GOP-led lawsuit on behalf of two Republican candidates for Congress claimed they have thousands of voters who were ineligible who cast ballots in the state including dead people and that poll watchers weren’t able to observe tabulation.
Mr. Trump’s campaign has argued Clark County officials have not allowed Republican poll observers into the buildings where ballots are being counted. There was a settlement between the two to allow poll watchers access, according to KLAS.
The Trump focus is Pennsylvania: Mr. Trump moved to intervene in a Supreme Court challenge brought by Pennsylvania Republicans, arguing the state’s Democratic leaders and the state’s Democratic secretary of State violated the law by extending the time for counting mail-in ballots to Nov. 6 at 5 p.m., despite the state Legislature setting the deadline for Election Day.
The lawsuit takes issue with postmarked ballots — if smeared — being presumed to have been mailed before Nov. 3. The legal issue returns to the Supreme Court after the justices refused to get involved in the matter last week. But on Friday, Justice Samuel A. Alito Jr. ordered the late-arriving ballots — after Nov. 3 at 8 p.m. — to be segregated from the others.
Rejected ballots in Arizona: President Trump’s campaign and the Republican National Committee sued Arizona on Saturday, claiming voting machines in Maricopa County rejected votes that were cast in person on Election Day. The lawsuit alleges poll workers inaccurately instructed voters on how to correct balloting errors and that the campaign has witnesses who saw the problem.
Georgia lawsuit tossed: A judge tossed out one of Mr. Trump’s legal challenges Thursday that had been filed in one county earlier this week over roughly 50 late-arriving absentee ballots being placed next to on-time ballots.
— Gabriella Muñoz contributed to this report.
• Alex Swoyer can be reached at aswoyer@washingtontimes.com.


washingtontimes--2020-11-08--Norm Crosby, comic mangler of language, dies at 93

LOS ANGELES ( AP ) - Norm Crosby , the deadpan mangler of the English language who thrived in the 1960s , ’ 70s and ’ 80s as a television , nightclub and casino comedian , has died .
He was 93 .
Crosby ’ s daughter-in-law , Maggie Crosby , told The New York Times that the comic died Saturday of heart failure in Los Angeles .
Early in his career , Crosby had realized he needed a gimmick to differentiate himself from the burgeoning generation of comedians who were achieving fame on the many network TV variety shows @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fresh ideas , and I kept hearing people misuse words , ” he told an interviewer in 1989 .
“ So I started to use it in my act.
” He called the famed baby doctor Benjamin Spock “ Dr .
Spook.
” With straight-faced sincerity , he said people “ should have an apathy for one another ; they should have rappaport for each other.
” Today ’ s kids , he said , “ got ta cut that umbrella cord and split.
” Crosby ’ s first steady work as a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his native Boston , which led to an engagement in the early 1960s at the prestigious Latin Quarter in New York .
In his widely read newspaper column , Walter Winchell gave the comedian a rave , and offers from Johnny Carson and other TV shows and club dates poured in .
Crosby became a favorite at the major Las Vegas and Atlantic City casinos and played theaters , including many times at London ’ s Palladium , and concert halls .
He also was a regular guest on Dean Martin ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he starred in a syndicated TV show , “ Norm Crosby ’ s Comedy Shop.
” For many years he served as co-host with Jerry Lewis on the Labor Day weekend telethon for muscular dystrophy .
As a public performer , Crosby thrived despite having poor hearing .
During World War II , he served aboard a Coast Guard submarine chaser , and concussion from the depth charges damaged his ears .
He wore a hearing aid onstage .
“ I was never shy about my hearing loss , probably because I got @ @ @ @ @ @ @ explained in a 1993 interview .
“ I got thousands of letters from people who had said they would never get a hearing aid but had changed their minds after they saw me being open about it.
” Crosby was a longtime spokesman for the Better Hearing Institute and hosted an annual golf benefit for the cause .
In 2009 , he was among those honored by the Starkey Hearing Foundation , which raised funds to distribute hearing aids to children in need .
Norman Lawrence Crosby was born in Boston in 1927 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was the funny kid in the family and in the neighborhood , ” he explained in 1993 .
“ I was always told I should entertain.
” The war intervened , but after his discharge , he saw the practical value of a steady job over show business and enrolled at the Boston School of Art .
He worked as a commercial artist and for a while ran a small advertising agency .
But he still devoted evenings and weekends to honing his performing skills .
In October 2001 , Crosby appeared at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Aaron Spelling , who had been ailing with cancer .
Instead of his usual word play , the comedian performed a parody of the Gettysburg address in which he praised Spelling .
Crosby married Joan Crane Foley in 1966 .
They had two children .

LOS ANGELES (AP) - Norm Crosby, the deadpan mangler of the English language who thrived in the 1960s, ’70s and ’80s as a television, nightclub and casino comedian, has died. He was 93.
Crosby’s daughter-in-law, Maggie Crosby, told The New York Times that the comic died Saturday of heart failure in Los Angeles.
Early in his career, Crosby had realized he needed a gimmick to differentiate himself from the burgeoning generation of comedians who were achieving fame on the many network TV variety shows.
“I was looking around for fresh ideas, and I kept hearing people misuse words,” he told an interviewer in 1989. “So I started to use it in my act.”
He called the famed baby doctor Benjamin Spock “Dr. Spook.” With straight-faced sincerity, he said people “should have an apathy for one another; they should have rappaport for each other.” Today’s kids, he said, “gotta cut that umbrella cord and split.”
Crosby’s first steady work as a comic came at Blinstrub’s in his native Boston, which led to an engagement in the early 1960s at the prestigious Latin Quarter in New York.
In his widely read newspaper column, Walter Winchell gave the comedian a rave, and offers from Johnny Carson and other TV shows and club dates poured in. Crosby became a favorite at the major Las Vegas and Atlantic City casinos and played theaters, including many times at London’s Palladium, and concert halls. He also was a regular guest on Dean Martin’s celebrity roasts.
Starting in 1978, he starred in a syndicated TV show, “Norm Crosby’s Comedy Shop.” For many years he served as co-host with Jerry Lewis on the Labor Day weekend telethon for muscular dystrophy.
As a public performer, Crosby thrived despite having poor hearing. During World War II, he served aboard a Coast Guard submarine chaser, and concussion from the depth charges damaged his ears. He wore a hearing aid onstage.
“I was never shy about my hearing loss, probably because I got it from military service,” he explained in a 1993 interview. “I got thousands of letters from people who had said they would never get a hearing aid but had changed their minds after they saw me being open about it.”
Crosby was a longtime spokesman for the Better Hearing Institute and hosted an annual golf benefit for the cause. In 2009, he was among those honored by the Starkey Hearing Foundation, which raised funds to distribute hearing aids to children in need.
Norman Lawrence Crosby was born in Boston in 1927. “Like most comedians, I was the funny kid in the family and in the neighborhood,” he explained in 1993. “I was always told I should entertain.”
The war intervened, but after his discharge, he saw the practical value of a steady job over show business and enrolled at the Boston School of Art. He worked as a commercial artist and for a while ran a small advertising agency. But he still devoted evenings and weekends to honing his performing skills.
In October 2001, Crosby appeared at a Friars Club benefit honoring TV producer Aaron Spelling, who had been ailing with cancer. Instead of his usual word play, the comedian performed a parody of the Gettysburg address in which he praised Spelling.
Crosby married Joan Crane Foley in 1966. They had two children.


washingtontimes--2020-11-08--Families displaced after apartment fire outside Birmingham

The fire began sometime before 1:30 p.m. in the Parkway Villa apartments in Center Point , WBRC-TV reports .
The @ @ @ @ @ 30 minutes , Center Point Fire Department officials said .
No injuries have been reported @ @ @ @ @ displaced by the fire .
Eight units were damaged .
Officials on the scene told @ @ @ @ @ has been notified .

CENTER POINT, Ala. (AP) - An apartment fire in Alabama displaced multiple Birmingham-area families Sunday afternoon.
The fire began sometime before 1:30 p.m. in the Parkway Villa apartments in Center Point, WBRC-TV reports. The blaze was under control within 30 minutes, Center Point Fire Department officials said. No injuries have been reported.
Around 15 people were displaced by the fire. Eight units were damaged. Officials on the scene told WBRC that the Red Cross has been notified.