freebeacon--2020-11-05--Claire McCaskill Apologizes for Use of Term ‘Transsexual’

MSNBC contributor and former Democratic Missouri senator Claire McCaskill apologized to angry Twitter users for using the term `` transsexual '' Wednesday night .
McCaskill said she was `` tired '' and did not mean to use the `` hurtful term '' while discussing challenges the Democratic Party faces in appealing to working-class voters .
`` That ’ s not what I meant obviously , '' McCaskill wrote Wednesday night on Twitter .
`` Look at my record .
I ’ m tired and was trying to say we need to also focus on the economic issues we champion .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ I used hurtful term last night , '' she said .
`` I was tired , but never a good excuse . ''
McCaskill used the term while discussing the reasons Democrats could be losing working-class voters .
`` The Republican Party very adroitly adopted cultural issues as part of their main theme , whether you are talking guns or issues surrounding the right to abortion in this country or things like gay marriage and the right for transsexuals and other people who we as a party have tried to quote unquote look @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fairly , '' McCaskill said .
Left-wing Twitter users jumped on McCaskill for using the word , which they consider outdated .
`` Ma ’ am , you still said the word , '' said a former Tom Steyer staffer , who uses the pronouns he/they .
`` The fact that you haven ’ t updated your vocabulary from 1996 is telling of where your pulse is . ''
`` You said what you said on national television to millions of viewers , '' a former Bernie Sanders surrogate said .
`` You @ @ @ @ @ @ @ moment .
You carried on like you said nothing wrong . ''

MSNBC contributor and former Democratic Missouri senator Claire McCaskill apologized to angry Twitter users for using the term "transsexual" Wednesday night.
McCaskill said she was "tired" and did not mean to use the "hurtful term" while discussing challenges the Democratic Party faces in appealing to working-class voters.
"That’s not what I meant obviously," McCaskill wrote Wednesday night on Twitter. "Look at my record. I’m tired and was trying to say we need to also focus on the economic issues we champion."
She apologized more fully Thursday morning.
"I’m so sorry I used hurtful term last night," she said. "I was tired, but never a good excuse."
I’m so sorry I used hurtful term last night.I was tired,but never a good excuse.People have misinterpreted what I was trying to say.Our party should never leave behind our fight 4 equality for trans people or anyone else who has been marginalized by hate. My record reflects that. — Claire McCaskill (@clairecmc) November 5, 2020
McCaskill used the term while discussing the reasons Democrats could be losing working-class voters.
"The Republican Party very adroitly adopted cultural issues as part of their main theme, whether you are talking guns or issues surrounding the right to abortion in this country or things like gay marriage and the right for transsexuals and other people who we as a party have tried to quote unquote look after and make sure they are treated fairly," McCaskill said.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QdS3lIYZzmc
Left-wing Twitter users jumped on McCaskill for using the word, which they consider outdated.
"Ma’am, you still said the word," said a former Tom Steyer staffer, who uses the pronouns he/they. "The fact that you haven’t updated your vocabulary from 1996 is telling of where your pulse is."
"You said what you said on national television to millions of viewers," a former Bernie Sanders surrogate said. "You didn’t correct yourself in the moment. You carried on like you said nothing wrong."


freebeacon--2020-11-06--The New York Times Didn’t Learn Its Lesson

We know now that the New York Times ’ s letter to its readers in the wake of President Donald Trump ’ s surprise 2016 victory was a non-apology apology .
Blindsided by Trump ’ s surprise victory , the Times pledged to examine whether it had underestimated the depth and breadth of his support , and to rededicate itself to understanding and reflecting `` all political perspectives and life experiences . ''
As the kids say , LOL .
The paper ’ s coverage of the 2020 presidential election was not only as misleading as it was four years @ @ @ @ @ @ @ same way , overstating the odds of Democrats everywhere thanks , at least in part , to a belief in race and gender as the defining features of American politics .
Identity politics has come to define the New York Times , but the country isn ’ t so monolithic .
Four years ago , the paper wrote not one but two pieces arguing Hillary Clinton and the Democrats were making major inroads in Texas thanks to the state ’ s growing minority population .
Clinton , reporters Matt Flegenheimer and Jonathan Martin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ offensive aimed at extending her growing advantage over Donald J. Trump while bolstering down-ballot candidates in what party leaders increasingly suggest could be a sweeping victory for Democrats at every level . ''
Trump went on to trounce Clinton by nine points .
Fast forward to last month , when Martin promised that this time , Texas was `` a true presidential battleground , and either candidate could prevail . ''
The result : Trump by six .
The fake news wasn ’ t limited to one state .
The Times covered Susan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Collins Hasn ’ t Changed Much , but Maine Has .
Collins won by nine .
They claimed Republicans were botching the Senate race in deep red South Carolina , where Democratic challenger Jaime Harrison was alleged to have a real shot at unseating Republican senator Lindsey Graham thanks to the state ’ s growing diversity— '' surprisingly competitive , '' a `` remarkable feat . ''
That kind of credulous reporting helped Harrison raise nearly $ 100 million for his campaign .
The result : Graham won by 14 points , just @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gave his last challenger in 2014 .
The paper ’ s doomsday predictions for Trump were the flip side of the false hope it offered Democrats .
Hidden Trump voters could never carry the president to victory , they told us last time .
This year , reporter Jeremy Peters snidely mocked those arguing that a shy Trump vote could help the president outperform expectations : For Trump loyalists , the idea that they should discount the news media ’ s pessimistic reporting was `` merely an appealing story '' and there are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shy vote made a difference .
The president ’ s efforts to woo women , whose support for Trump increased over 2016 margins , were similarly futile .
At the heart of these errors was the core tenet of modern progressivism : A majority-minority America and the alleged systematic racism and misogyny of the GOP guarantees the inevitable realignment of the electorate and the death of the GOP .
Victories in the party ’ s heartland of South Carolina and Texas would be delivered by black and Hispanic and female voters who , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in college , could never vote for a Republican .
The results of the 2020 election gave the lie to all that , but the Times has an explanation that you will be surprised to learn shifts the blame entirely from their shoddy and misleading reporting : `` Whiteness , '' star Times magazine writer Nikole Hannah-Jones wrote on Wednesday , `` is expandable when necessary .
A lot of folks we don ’ t think of as white think of themselves as white because the lines have never been entirely clear .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ supremacy—it is extremely adaptable . ''
As Joe Biden might say : If you don ’ t vote Democrat , you ain ’ t black .

We know now that the New York Times's letter to its readers in the wake of President Donald Trump's surprise 2016 victory was a non-apology apology.
Blindsided by Trump's surprise victory, the Times pledged to examine whether it had underestimated the depth and breadth of his support, and to rededicate itself to understanding and reflecting "all political perspectives and life experiences."
As the kids say, LOL. The paper's coverage of the 2020 presidential election was not only as misleading as it was four years ago, it was misleading in the same way, overstating the odds of Democrats everywhere thanks, at least in part, to a belief in race and gender as the defining features of American politics. Identity politics has come to define the New York Times, but the country isn't so monolithic.
Four years ago, the paper wrote not one but two pieces arguing Hillary Clinton and the Democrats were making major inroads in Texas thanks to the state's growing minority population. Clinton, reporters Matt Flegenheimer and Jonathan Martin wrote, was leading "a new offensive aimed at extending her growing advantage over Donald J. Trump while bolstering down-ballot candidates in what party leaders increasingly suggest could be a sweeping victory for Democrats at every level." Trump went on to trounce Clinton by nine points.
Fast forward to last month, when Martin promised that this time, Texas was "a true presidential battleground, and either candidate could prevail." The result: Trump by six.
The fake news wasn't limited to one state. The Times covered Susan Collins's impending demise: Susan Collins Hasn't Changed Much, but Maine Has. Collins won by nine. They claimed Republicans were botching the Senate race in deep red South Carolina, where Democratic challenger Jaime Harrison was alleged to have a real shot at unseating Republican senator Lindsey Graham thanks to the state's growing diversity—"surprisingly competitive," a "remarkable feat." That kind of credulous reporting helped Harrison raise nearly $100 million for his campaign. The result: Graham won by 14 points, just 3 points weaker than the pummeling he gave his last challenger in 2014.
The paper's doomsday predictions for Trump were the flip side of the false hope it offered Democrats. Hidden Trump voters could never carry the president to victory, they told us last time. This year, reporter Jeremy Peters snidely mocked those arguing that a shy Trump vote could help the president outperform expectations: For Trump loyalists, the idea that they should discount the news media's pessimistic reporting was "merely an appealing story" and there are "few confirmed examples" where that shy vote made a difference. The president's efforts to woo women, whose support for Trump increased over 2016 margins, were similarly futile.
At the heart of these errors was the core tenet of modern progressivism: A majority-minority America and the alleged systematic racism and misogyny of the GOP guarantees the inevitable realignment of the electorate and the death of the GOP. Victories in the party's heartland of South Carolina and Texas would be delivered by black and Hispanic and female voters who, the Times's writers had learned in college, could never vote for a Republican.
The results of the 2020 election gave the lie to all that, but the Times has an explanation that you will be surprised to learn shifts the blame entirely from their shoddy and misleading reporting: "Whiteness," star Times magazine writer Nikole Hannah-Jones wrote on Wednesday, "is expandable when necessary. A lot of folks we don't think of as white think of themselves as white because the lines have never been entirely clear. That's the beauty of white supremacy—it is extremely adaptable."
As Joe Biden might say: If you don't vote Democrat, you ain't black.


Stalemate 2020

The polls were wrong .
The blue wave was no tsunami .
The Democratic majority did not fully emerge .
Parts of the `` coalition of the ascendant '' drifted to the right .
For a generation , American politics has been closely and bitterly divided between the parties .
There has been high turnover in office , and frequent shifts in power .
Majorities are unstable .
No victory is permanent , no realignment durable .
The stalemate goes on .
If Joe Biden becomes president , he is more likely than not to take office with Republicans in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ n't happened in 116 years .
He will certainly take office with a reduced House majority—the Democrats have a net loss of six seats at the time of writing .
Six of the nine Supreme Court justices are Republican appointees .
The partisan breakdown of state legislatures and governor 's mansions will resemble , almost precisely , the pre-election status quo .
It 's a good thing Biden campaigned as someone willing to work across the aisle .
He 'll have no other choice .
If Trump wins a second term , practically @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , except that both Nancy Pelosi and Mitch McConnell will have fewer votes to work with .
The country remains split .
The New York Times exit poll says 37 percent of voters were Democrats and 35 percent Republicans , with 28 percent identifying as independents `` or something else . ''
The Fox News/AP voter analysis pushed `` leaners '' toward one party over another .
It says that 47 percent of voters were Republican or lean Republican , and 48 percent were Democrats or lean Democrat .
Only 24 percent of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ liberal .
The rest said they were moderate ( 40 percent ) or conservative ( 37 percent ) .
The Fox News voter analysis has similar results , with a slightly higher percentage of liberals ( 30 percent ) and a lower percentage of moderates ( 33 percent ) .
Conservatives were at 38 percent .
The sorting of parties by race , education , marital status , and religious practice has polarized our elites and made politics heated , noisy , and apocalyptic .
Every election is billed as the most important @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of democracy and our ways of life .
For all the fire and fury online and on cable news , however , elections continue to be decided in the middle .
Look at the suburbs , where a lot of those moderates and independents live .
They backed Bush in 2004 , then went for Obama in 2008 .
Two years later , repelled by Obamacare , Republicans won 56 percent of the suburbs and 56 percent of independents .
Obama won reelection in 2012 by erasing those margins .
The electorate in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ like it did in 2010 .
And in 2016 , Trump won the suburbs by 5 points and independents by 6 points .
( He lost moderates by 11 . )
According to the 2020 exit poll , Trump lost the suburbs by 3 , independents by 14 ( a 20-point swing ) , and moderates by 31 .
In the Fox voter analysis , Trump lost suburbs by 10 points , independents by 14 points , and moderates by 25 points .
Both campaigns turned out their supporters .
But the Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to win .
It looks like they were wrong .
If Trump loses , it will be because voters in the middle grew tired of his antics .
The public assessment of Trump 's actions was filtered through its distaste for his comportment , rhetoric , and behavior .
And Trump 's personality often overshadowed or undermined the progress of his own administration .
These dramatic self-owns became most obvious , and most harmful , during the coronavirus pandemic .
The elected officials who demonstrated steadiness , compassion , and concern these past @ @ @ @ @ @ @ numbers rise , no matter the actual status of their communities .
Trump 's scattershot response prevented him from building on the slight uptick in support that he enjoyed last March .
The voters who said the coronavirus was their most important issue went for Biden overwhelmingly .
This rejection of Trump was personal .
It did not extend to the entire Republican Party .
Several GOP senators ran ahead of him .
The gains in the House speak for themselves .
At the moment , the only governor 's mansion to flip @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Republican pickup .
Voters rejected a graduated income tax in Illinois and affirmative action in California .
Even if Democrats sweep the two Georgia Senate runoffs , and Chuck Schumer gets to be majority leader thanks to Kamala Harris 's tie-breaking vote , the chances now that he will abolish the filibuster , pack the Court , and grant statehood to Puerto Rico and Washington , D.C. , are nil .
The Democrats dreamed of legislating the GOP out of existence .
That 's not going to happen .
It 's why they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The Republican challenge today is the mirror image of the party 's dilemma after 2012 .
Then , the GOP needed to retain its support in the suburbs while boosting support among whites without college degrees .
Now , it needs to retain its support among whites without college degrees while boosting support in the suburbs .
And it needs to solidify its gains among black males and Hispanic voters who responded to policies aimed at tight labor markets and economic empowerment .
It 's a tall order .
But , as always @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be Democrats , who like all winners will interpret an electoral victory as an ideological mandate .
Overreach is inevitable .
And so is the backlash .
The vote counting is n't over , but the GOP comeback has already begun .

The polls were wrong. The blue wave was no tsunami. The Democratic majority did not fully emerge. Parts of the "coalition of the ascendant" drifted to the right. For a generation, American politics has been closely and bitterly divided between the parties. There has been high turnover in office, and frequent shifts in power. Majorities are unstable. No victory is permanent, no realignment durable. The stalemate goes on.
If Joe Biden becomes president, he is more likely than not to take office with Republicans in control of the Senate. That hasn't happened in 116 years. He will certainly take office with a reduced House majority—the Democrats have a net loss of six seats at the time of writing. Six of the nine Supreme Court justices are Republican appointees. The partisan breakdown of state legislatures and governor's mansions will resemble, almost precisely, the pre-election status quo. It's a good thing Biden campaigned as someone willing to work across the aisle. He'll have no other choice.
If Trump wins a second term, practically nothing will have changed in American politics, except that both Nancy Pelosi and Mitch McConnell will have fewer votes to work with.
The country remains split. The New York Times exit poll says 37 percent of voters were Democrats and 35 percent Republicans, with 28 percent identifying as independents "or something else." The Fox News/AP voter analysis pushed "leaners" toward one party over another. It says that 47 percent of voters were Republican or lean Republican, and 48 percent were Democrats or lean Democrat.
Only 24 percent of voters in the exit poll identified as liberal. The rest said they were moderate (40 percent) or conservative (37 percent). The Fox News voter analysis has similar results, with a slightly higher percentage of liberals (30 percent) and a lower percentage of moderates (33 percent). Conservatives were at 38 percent.
The sorting of parties by race, education, marital status, and religious practice has polarized our elites and made politics heated, noisy, and apocalyptic. Every election is billed as the most important in our lifetimes, the potential end of democracy and our ways of life. For all the fire and fury online and on cable news, however, elections continue to be decided in the middle.
Look at the suburbs, where a lot of those moderates and independents live. They backed Bush in 2004, then went for Obama in 2008. Two years later, repelled by Obamacare, Republicans won 56 percent of the suburbs and 56 percent of independents. Obama won reelection in 2012 by erasing those margins. The electorate in 2014, however, looked almost exactly like it did in 2010. And in 2016, Trump won the suburbs by 5 points and independents by 6 points. (He lost moderates by 11.)
According to the 2020 exit poll, Trump lost the suburbs by 3, independents by 14 (a 20-point swing), and moderates by 31. In the Fox voter analysis, Trump lost suburbs by 10 points, independents by 14 points, and moderates by 25 points. Both campaigns turned out their supporters. But the Trump campaign assumed its base would be enough to win. It looks like they were wrong.
If Trump loses, it will be because voters in the middle grew tired of his antics. The public assessment of Trump's actions was filtered through its distaste for his comportment, rhetoric, and behavior. And Trump's personality often overshadowed or undermined the progress of his own administration.
These dramatic self-owns became most obvious, and most harmful, during the coronavirus pandemic. The elected officials who demonstrated steadiness, compassion, and concern these past eight months have seen their job approval numbers rise, no matter the actual status of their communities. Trump's scattershot response prevented him from building on the slight uptick in support that he enjoyed last March. The voters who said the coronavirus was their most important issue went for Biden overwhelmingly.
This rejection of Trump was personal. It did not extend to the entire Republican Party. Several GOP senators ran ahead of him. The gains in the House speak for themselves. At the moment, the only governor's mansion to flip is Montana's. It's a Republican pickup. Voters rejected a graduated income tax in Illinois and affirmative action in California. Even if Democrats sweep the two Georgia Senate runoffs, and Chuck Schumer gets to be majority leader thanks to Kamala Harris's tie-breaking vote, the chances now that he will abolish the filibuster, pack the Court, and grant statehood to Puerto Rico and Washington, D.C., are nil. The Democrats dreamed of legislating the GOP out of existence. That's not going to happen. It's why they are so morose about these results.
The Republican challenge today is the mirror image of the party's dilemma after 2012. Then, the GOP needed to retain its support in the suburbs while boosting support among whites without college degrees. Now, it needs to retain its support among whites without college degrees while boosting support in the suburbs. And it needs to solidify its gains among black males and Hispanic voters who responded to policies aimed at tight labor markets and economic empowerment.
It's a tall order. But, as always, the Republicans' best allies will be Democrats, who like all winners will interpret an electoral victory as an ideological mandate. Overreach is inevitable. And so is the backlash. The vote counting isn't over, but the GOP comeback has already begun.


freebeacon--2020-11-07--Alito Orders PA Counties To Set Aside Mail-In Ballots Received After Election Day

Justice Samuel Alito ordered local election officials in Pennsylvania to keep mail-in ballots received after Election Day separate from all other votes in an emergency order Friday night .
The order requires `` that all ballots received by mail after 8:00 p.m. on November 3 be segregated and kept in a secure , safe and sealed container separate from other voted ballots , and that all such ballots , if counted , be counted separately . ''
Pennsylvania plans to count any mail-in votes received by Friday .
Ballots received between Tuesday night and Friday are in a state of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Trump campaign contend they should not be counted .
Pennsylvania secretary of state Kathy Boockvar previously told the High Court she would ask local officials to keep ballots arriving after Election Day segregated .
Keystone State Republicans told the justices Friday that Boockvar technically does not have legal authority to require that step .
Though some Pennsylvania counties have indicated they will follow Boockvar 's order , not all have .
`` The application received today also informs the Court that neither [ Pennsylvania Republicans ] nor the Secretary has been able @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with the secretary ’ s guidance , which , it is alleged , is not legally binding on them , '' Alito wrote .
It 's not clear precisely how many ballots have arrived since Tuesday night in Pennsylvania , but the number is thought to be low .
60,000 late-arriving ballots were tabulated in the commonwealth 's June primary , and Boockvar told reporters they have received just a `` fraction '' of that figure thus far .
What 's more , the majority of those 60,000 ballots arrived the day after @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is believed to have slowed to a trickle on Thursday and Friday .
Alito handles emergency matters that arise from the Third U.S .
Circuit Court of Appeals , which includes Pennsylvania .
The justices seldom take action on serious matters without consulting the rest of the Court , but administrative orders of this nature are not unusual .
Alito said he would refer the matter to the full Court immediately and asked state officials to submit legal papers by 2 p.m. Saturday .
The case is No .
20A84 Republican Party of @ @ @ @

Justice Samuel Alito ordered local election officials in Pennsylvania to keep mail-in ballots received after Election Day separate from all other votes in an emergency order Friday night.
The order requires "that all ballots received by mail after 8:00 p.m. on November 3 be segregated and kept in a secure, safe and sealed container separate from other voted ballots, and that all such ballots, if counted, be counted separately."
Pennsylvania plans to count any mail-in votes received by Friday. Ballots received between Tuesday night and Friday are in a state of legal limbo, as Pennsylvania Republicans and the Trump campaign contend they should not be counted.
Pennsylvania secretary of state Kathy Boockvar previously told the High Court she would ask local officials to keep ballots arriving after Election Day segregated. Keystone State Republicans told the justices Friday that Boockvar technically does not have legal authority to require that step. Though some Pennsylvania counties have indicated they will follow Boockvar's order, not all have.
"The application received today also informs the Court that neither [Pennsylvania Republicans] nor the Secretary has been able to verify that all boards are complying with the secretary’s guidance, which, it is alleged, is not legally binding on them," Alito wrote.
It's not clear precisely how many ballots have arrived since Tuesday night in Pennsylvania, but the number is thought to be low. Sixty thousand late-arriving ballots were tabulated in the commonwealth's June primary, and Boockvar told reporters they have received just a "fraction" of that figure thus far.
What's more, the majority of those 60,000 ballots arrived the day after the primary, so the initial stream is believed to have slowed to a trickle on Thursday and Friday.
Alito handles emergency matters that arise from the Third U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, which includes Pennsylvania. The justices seldom take action on serious matters without consulting the rest of the Court, but administrative orders of this nature are not unusual. Alito said he would refer the matter to the full Court immediately and asked state officials to submit legal papers by 2 p.m. Saturday.
The case is No. 20A84 Republican Party of Pennsylvania v. Boockvar.


freebeacon--2020-11-07--With Election Defeat Looming, Trump Admin Axes Senior Jewish Official

On the eve of a likely defeat in the hotly contested presidential election , the Trump administration fired a Jewish official who was set to take over the United States Agency for Intentional Development ( USAID ) , according to internal correspondence obtained by the Washington Free Beacon .
Bonnie Glick , USAID deputy administrator , was informed of her termination late Friday by John McEntee , the administration ’ s director of presidential personnel .
Glick was one of USAID ’ s top remaining officials following the resignation in April of former head Mark Green .
Glick was set @ @ @ @ @ @ @ organization on Friday evening after Acting USAID Administrator John Barsa was forced to step down under the Federal Vacancies Reform Act , which only permits the acting heads of agencies to serve for 210 days .
The law initiated a situation in which only Glick had the power to act as USAID ’ s leader .
It was not immediately clear why Glick was terminated .
McEntee ’ s one-sentence letter to Glick only stated that she was terminated `` effective immediately . ''
She was given just two hours ’ notice , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ matter .
Glick , who is Jewish , was the senior-most Senate confirmed female Republican serving in the administration .
Glick was a stalwart Trump administration foot soldier during her time at USAID .
She pushed developing nations to end their reliance on China and most recently spearheaded efforts to encourage U.S. allies to move away from Beijing ’ s 5G technological services , an effort also backed by the Trump administration State Department .

The surprise firing late Friday evening of a top Trump administration foot soldier has renewed focus on John McEntee, director of the White House Presidential Personnel Office. McEntee is the driving force behind several controversial White House nominations that have driven a wedge between President Donald Trump and Republican allies in Congress.
Late Friday, as Trump was headed toward a historic election defeat, McEntee quietly fired Bonnie Glick, an administration stalwart who was set to take over the United States Agency for Intentional Development (USAID). The mysterious firing, which came just hours before Glick was to takeover USAID, is being viewed as part of an effort by McEntee to purge administration officials he dislikes in the final months of Trump’s tenure in office.
Glick was in line to inherit control of USAID after Acting Administrator John Barsa was forced to step down under the Federal Vacancies Reform Act, which only permits the acting heads of agencies to serve for 210 days. The law initiated a situation in which only Glick had the power to act as USAID’s leader. It is believed McEntee fired Glick in order to allow Barsa to remain in the post.
McEntee, Trump’s onetime bodyman who was terminated in 2018 amid a "financial crime investigation," was rehired in February and is seen as an ally of the isolationist foreign policy community, which has worked with McEntee to forward several controversial nominees that more traditional GOP lawmakers in Congress see as unfit for office.
The firing of Glick, who was one of the most senior Jewish officials serving in the administration, raised eyebrows among many insiders and could be a sign of what’s to come in the administration’s final months. McEntee personally signed off on Glick’s termination, potentially without approval from the president, sources speculated. Just hours after Glick was axed, Defense Secretary Mark Esper offered his resignation, perhaps as a preemptive move to avoid an embarrassing public firing.
McEntee is seen as the architect of several contested nominations, chiefly those of the ambassadorial nominees to Afghanistan and Germany. The Washington Free Beacon first reported in September that Republican Senate leaders refused to confirm the two nominees.
U.S. Army Colonel Douglas Macgregor, who was up for the job in Germany, was viewed as unconfirmable due to his controversial comments about Jewish control in the foreign policy world. William Ruger, a U.S. Navy reserve officer and key figure in Charles Koch's philanthropic empire, was nominated to fill the vacant ambassadorship in Afghanistan. He, too, was rejected by Republicans on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee who objected to his anti-interventionist views and desire to pull U.S. forces out of the region.
Update Nov. 7 5:12 p.m.: This post was updated to reflect further information.


freebeacon--2020-11-06--Chinese Propagandists Bolster Biden

Chinese Propagandists Bolster Biden

A Chinese propagandist signaled on Twitter that he welcomed the prospect of a Biden White House in the days after the U.S. presidential election .
Hu Xijin , the editor-in-chief of the Global Times , shared a forum post from a `` smart netizen '' who said that Beijing is a `` For-Biden City '' that will welcome Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden 's electoral victory .
He also noted in a separate tweet that Chinese netizens are drawn to Biden 's story of overcoming personal and family tragedies .
`` If Biden elected , i really sure relation between @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Because Beijing is For-Biden City , '' the forum post read .
Even as Hu praised Biden , Chinese propaganda organs have used the contentious election as an opportunity for hostile levity against its geopolitical rival since Tuesday .
China Central Television ( CCTV ) , the country 's national broadcaster , brought on commentators to call the United States the `` loser '' of the election , while a state-owned outlet in Hong Kong wrote that `` so-called US-style democracy has descended into a joke . ''
While most of these @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a domestic Chinese audience , Global Times , a nationalist tabloid known for inflammatory coverage even by China 's standards , published an English-language piece that mocked President Donald Trump and said Chinese netizens are watching the election for `` laughs '' and `` comicalness . ''
`` The ongoing neck-and-neck US presidential election has … also become a high-impact topic among curious Chinese netizens , '' the Global Times article read .
`` However , instead of giving birth to division , violence and aguish [ sic ] as it has to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the election has mainly served as entertainment ; a sneak-peek into the US and its chaotic society . ''
The Chinese state outlet 's reports on the U.S. election are in line with its usual behavior , which often highlights a democratic system 's more chaotic and uncertain elements to delegitimize it .
One CCTV story , the `` Calm Before the Storm , '' said the election might lead to widespread riots , while a government-linked Twitter account disseminated videos of boarded-up buildings in the United States .
While official sources @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the outcome is officially settled , Hu 's pro-Biden stance is in line with the county 's leadership , according to an American intelligence analysis .
Chinese propagandists published articles indicating preference for the former vice president in the months leading up to the election , considering him a more `` predictable '' candidate than Trump or Sen. Bernie Sanders ( I. , Vt. ) .
`` Many Chinese analysts predict that … the proposed Democrat platform on foreign policy showed that if Biden wins , the US will remain tough on China @ @ @ @ @ @ @ read .
`` So Beijing should remain vigilant .
But tactically , the US approach would be more predictable , and Biden is much smoother to deal with than Trump — a viewpoint that is shared by many countries . ''

A Chinese propagandist signaled on Twitter that he welcomed the prospect of a Biden White House in the days after the U.S. presidential election.
Hu Xijin, the editor in chief of the Global Times, shared a forum post from a "smart netizen" who said that Beijing is a "For-Biden City" that will welcome Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden's electoral victory. He also noted in a separate tweet that Chinese netizens are drawn to Biden's story of overcoming personal and family tragedies.
"If Biden elected, i really sure relation between China and USA gonna be normalized. Because Beijing is For-Biden City," the forum post read.
Even as Hu praised Biden, Chinese propaganda organs have used the contentious election as an opportunity for hostile levity against its geopolitical rival since Tuesday. China Central Television (CCTV), the country's national broadcaster, brought on commentators to call the United States the "loser" of the election, while a state-owned outlet in Hong Kong wrote that "so-called US-style democracy has descended into a joke."
While most of these mocking stories were written in Mandarin for a domestic Chinese audience, Global Times, a nationalist tabloid known for inflammatory coverage even by China's standards, published an English-language piece that mocked President Donald Trump and said Chinese netizens are watching the election for "laughs" and "comicalness."
"The ongoing neck-and-neck US presidential election has … also become a high-impact topic among curious Chinese netizens," the Global Times article read. "However, instead of giving birth to division, violence and aguish [sic] as it has to many in the US; in China, the election has mainly served as entertainment; a sneak-peek into the US and its chaotic society."
The Chinese state outlet's reports on the U.S. election are in line with its usual behavior, which often highlights a democratic system's more chaotic and uncertain elements to delegitimize it. One CCTV story, the "Calm Before the Storm," said the election might lead to widespread riots, while a government-linked Twitter account disseminated videos of boarded-up buildings in the United States.
While official sources appear to be limiting their commentary until the outcome is officially settled, Hu's pro-Biden stance is in line with the country's leadership, according to an American intelligence analysis. Chinese propagandists published articles indicating preference for the former vice president in the months leading up to the election, considering him a more "predictable" candidate than Trump or Sen. Bernie Sanders (I., Vt.).
"Many Chinese analysts predict that … the proposed Democrat platform on foreign policy showed that if Biden wins, the US will remain tough on China," an August Global Times article read. "So Beijing should remain vigilant. But tactically, the US approach would be more predictable, and Biden is much smoother to deal with than Trump—a viewpoint that is shared by many countries."


freebeacon--2020-11-06--Lincoln Project’s Senate Flop

Lincoln Project’s Senate Flop

The Lincoln Project received adoring media coverage in 2020 for its fanatical ads targeting Senate Republicans , but it failed @ @ @ @ @ ousting senators Susan Collins ( Maine ) , Thom Tillis ( N.C. ) , Joni @ @ @ @ @ Lindsey Graham ( S.C. ) , and others .
The group of former GOP operatives @ @ @ @ @ its effort to destroy all Republicans this cycle , and its founders enjoyed numerous media @ @ @ @ @

The Lincoln Project received adoring media coverage in 2020 for its fanatical ads targeting Senate Republicans, but it failed in its stated goal of ousting senators Susan Collins (Maine), Thom Tillis (N.C.), Joni Ernst (Iowa), Lindsey Graham (S.C.), and others.
The group of former GOP operatives raised $67 million in its effort to destroy all Republicans this cycle, and its founders enjoyed numerous media profiles and MSNBC appearances.


freebeacon--2020-11-06--Portland Man Charged With Supporting ISIS

The Justice Department on Friday announced charges against a Portland man who allegedly produced propaganda literature for ISIS terrorists .
Hawazen Sameer Mothafar was indicted in a federal court in Portland on three counts of providing material support to ISIS and two counts of making false claims during his immigration application process , according to a Justice Department statement .
For more than five years , Mothafar allegedly created and shared ISIS propaganda , recruiting materials , and guides on how to commit various acts of terror .
He encouraged ISIS-affiliated terrorists abroad to commit terrorism in their home countries @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' stabbing techniques and detonating bombs .
According to the indictment , Mothafar was regularly in contact with ISIS leaders abroad and opened social media accounts on their behalf .
He also allegedly denied involvement with ISIS and other terrorist organizations on immigration paperwork and in statements to government authorities .
Federal authorities in Portland released Mothafar , who is wheelchair-bound , with travel restrictions and limitations on his use of technology .
Another ISIS-affiliated terrorist was indicted on similar charges in September .
Lirim Sylejmani , who was a naturalized U.S. citizen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ provided material support to ISIS .

The Justice Department on Friday announced charges against a Portland man who allegedly produced propaganda literature for ISIS terrorists.
Hawazen Sameer Mothafar was indicted in a federal court in Portland on three counts of providing material support to ISIS and two counts of making false claims during his immigration application process, according to a Justice Department statement.
For more than five years, Mothafar allegedly created and shared ISIS propaganda, recruiting materials, and guides on how to commit various acts of terror. He encouraged ISIS-affiliated terrorists abroad to commit terrorism in their home countries and wrote instructive manuals on "effective" stabbing techniques and detonating bombs. According to the indictment, Mothafar was regularly in contact with ISIS leaders abroad and opened social media accounts on their behalf.
He also allegedly denied involvement with ISIS and other terrorist organizations on immigration paperwork and in statements to government authorities .
Federal authorities in Portland released Mothafar, who is wheelchair-bound, with travel restrictions and limitations on his use of technology.
Another ISIS-affiliated terrorist was indicted on similar charges in September. Lirim Sylejmani, who was a naturalized U.S. citizen from Kosovo, allegedly trained with and provided material support to ISIS.


freebeacon--2020-11-06--State Department Revokes Terror Designation for Pro-Uighur Group

The State Department eliminated the terror designation for a pro-Uighur group within China , according to the Federal Register .
Last month , Secretary of State Mike Pompeo removed the East Turkestan Islamic Movement from federal terror lists .
The group , largely composed of Uighur Muslims , once advocated for a separate country in China 's Xinjiang province for the ethnic population .
Washington listed the East Turkestan Islamic Movement as a terrorist group soon after the 9/11 terror attacks .
Within China , the Chinese Communist Party has used the presence of the allegedly terroristic organization to justify @ @ @ @ @ @ @ persecution of Uighur Muslims .
Experts said the group 's delisting was long overdue given the organization 's tenuous connection to global terrorism .
`` The group has not really existed since the early 2000s , '' James Millward , a professor of Chinese and Central Asian history at Georgetown University , told the Wall Street Journal .
`` Listing [ East Turkestan Islamic Movement ] in the first place was the mistake . ''
Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin rebuked the United States over its decision in a Friday press conference @ @ @ @ @ @ @ approach toward terrorist organizations , '' Wang said .
`` Terrorist organizations are terrorist organizations , period .
… The U.S. should correct its mistake , not whitewash its position . ''
Chinese president Xi Jinping has cited terror concerns as a justification for the labor camps , which now house about 1.8 million Uighur Muslims , according to a congressional report .
The Trump administration has positioned Chinese human rights at the top of its priorities in standing up to Beijing .
In recent months alone , Washington has moved toward declaring @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and continues to impose heavy sanctions on industries and individuals involved in Uighur forced labor .

The State Department eliminated the terror designation for a pro-Uighur group within China, according to the Federal Register.
Last month, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo removed the East Turkestan Islamic Movement from federal terror lists. The group, largely composed of Uighur Muslims, once advocated for a separate country in China's Xinjiang province for the ethnic population.
Washington listed the East Turkestan Islamic Movement as a terrorist group soon after the 9/11 terror attacks. Within China, the Chinese Communist Party has used the presence of the allegedly terroristic organization to justify the use of forced labor camps and persecution of Uighur Muslims.
Experts said the group's delisting was long overdue given the organization's tenuous connection to global terrorism.
"The group has not really existed since the early 2000s," James Millward, a professor of Chinese and Central Asian history at Georgetown University, told the Wall Street Journal. "Listing [East Turkestan Islamic Movement] in the first place was the mistake."
Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin rebuked the United States over its decision in a Friday press conference. Washington has "an ugly two-faced approach toward terrorist organizations," Wang said. "Terrorist organizations are terrorist organizations, period. ... The U.S. should correct its mistake, not whitewash its position."
Chinese president Xi Jinping has cited terror concerns as a justification for the labor camps, which now house about 1.8 million Uighur Muslims, according to a congressional report.
The Trump administration has positioned Chinese human rights at the top of its priorities in standing up to Beijing. In recent months alone, Washington has moved toward declaring China's abuse of Uighurs as genocide and continues to impose heavy sanctions on industries and individuals involved in Uighur forced labor.


freebeacon--2020-11-06--Abortion Groups Pump Millions Into Failed Congressional Races

Top abortion interest groups pumped millions of dollars into big-ticket Democratic House and Senate candidates , only to be met with a large number of defeats across the country .
Emily 's List spent millions of dollars in 2020 attempting to elect pro-abortion candidates but the group 's biggest bets fizzled out on election night .
The group spent more than $ 100,000 a piece on 13 different races , for a total of more than $ 2 million ; 10 of those candidates lost or are projected to lose .
The group had an especially rough night in Senate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Theresa Greenfield in Iowa , MJ Hegar in Texas , and Sara Gideon in Maine were handily defeated despite receiving a combined $ 950,000 in donations .
In the House , incumbent congresswomen Debbie Mucarsel-Powell and Xochitl Torres Small both lost reelection campaigns .
Despite massive efforts to turn Texas blue , with the help of Emily 's List , Democratic House candidates were unable to triumph in their elections .
Gina Ortiz-Jones lost her race in Texas 's 23rd district and Candace Valenzua in Texas 's 24th .
In New York @ @ @ @ @ @ @ both projected to lose their races .
Planned Parenthood announced a major spending initiative targeting nine swing states with $ 45 million in contributions and advertising that met some success .
The Senate race in Arizona was called in favor of Democrat Mark Kelly , flipping the seat for Senate Democrats .
Outside of this spending , the group unsuccessfully backed Gideon , Hegar , and Greenfield with a combined $ 59,000 in spending in the Senate along with $ 22,000 for losing House candidate Wendy Davis in Texas .
One major victory @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Texas candidate Lizzie Fletcher , who defeated Wesley Hunt in Texas 's Seventh Congressional District .
NARAL Pro-Choice America pumped donations into Senate races as well , including $ 10,000 in support for South Carolina candidate Jaime Harrison , to no avail .
Emily 's List , Planned Parenthood , and NARAL did not respond to requests for comment .
Early results from an exit poll indicate that the Supreme Court , which has been pushed in a conservative direction by three of President Trump 's appointees , played an equal role @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pro-choice voters .
Control of the U.S. Senate will come down to two races in Georgia that will draw national attention and significant funding from both sides of the abortion issue .
Abortion rights groups did mark a victory in Colorado , however , where voters rejected a referendum to restrict abortion after 22 weeks with an exception for the health of the mother .
In Louisiana , voters passed a referendum establishing that no constitutional right to an abortion exists .

Top abortion interest groups pumped millions of dollars into big-ticket Democratic House and Senate candidates, only to be met with a large number of defeats across the country.
Emily's List spent millions of dollars in 2020 attempting to elect pro-abortion candidates but the group's biggest bets fizzled out on election night. The group spent more than $100,000 a piece on 13 different races, for a total of more than $2 million; 10 of those candidates lost or are projected to lose. The group had an especially rough night in Senate elections, as Barbara Bollier in Kansas, Theresa Greenfield in Iowa, MJ Hegar in Texas, and Sara Gideon in Maine were handily defeated despite receiving a combined $950,000 in donations.
In the House, incumbent congresswomen Debbie Mucarsel-Powell and Xochitl Torres Small both lost reelection campaigns. Despite massive efforts to turn Texas blue, with the help of Emily's List, Democratic House candidates were unable to triumph in their elections. Gina Ortiz-Jones lost her race in Texas's 23rd district and Candace Valenzua in Texas's 24th. In New York, Jacqueline Gordon and Lauren Underwood are both projected to lose their races.
Planned Parenthood announced a major spending initiative targeting nine swing states with $45 million in contributions and advertising that met some success. The Senate race in Arizona was called in favor of Democrat Mark Kelly, flipping the seat for Senate Democrats. Outside of this spending, the group unsuccessfully backed Gideon, Hegar, and Greenfield with a combined $59,000 in spending in the Senate along with $22,000 for losing House candidate Wendy Davis in Texas. One major victory for the group came with the backing of Texas candidate Lizzie Fletcher, who defeated Wesley Hunt in Texas's Seventh Congressional District.
NARAL Pro-Choice America pumped donations into Senate races as well, including $10,000 in support for South Carolina candidate Jaime Harrison, to no avail.
Emily's List, Planned Parenthood, and NARAL did not respond to requests for comment.
Early results from an exit poll indicate that the Supreme Court, which has been pushed in a conservative direction by three of President Trump's appointees, played an equal role in determining the votes of pro-life and pro-choice voters. Control of the U.S. Senate will come down to two races in Georgia that will draw national attention and significant funding from both sides of the abortion issue.
Abortion rights groups did mark a victory in Colorado, however, where voters rejected a referendum to restrict abortion after 22 weeks with an exception for the health of the mother. In Louisiana, voters passed a referendum establishing that no constitutional right to an abortion exists.


freebeacon--2020-11-06--‘The Squad’ Defends Socialism After Scuffle With House Democrats

Representatives Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez ( D. , N.Y. ) and Rashida Tlaib ( D. , Mich. ) rushed to defend fellow left-wing Democrats after a colleague blamed their socialist messaging for her near loss in Tuesday 's election .
In a chaotic call with other House Democrats Thursday , Virginia congresswoman Abigail Spanberger , who eked out reelection by less than 5,000 votes , blamed left-leaning Democrats ' push to defund the police and defense of socialism for the closeness of the win .
While Spanberger insisted that Democrats should never again utter the word `` socialism , '' though , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for squabbling with more moderate members of their party , are n't backing down .
Ocasio-Cortez tweeted Friday that she has n't seen `` any compelling evidence '' that her progressive push let Republicans flip 10 House seats on Tuesday .
Instead , she blamed Democrats ' failure to widen their House majority on poor digital messaging .
The Bronx native then claimed that every Democratic representative who had backed her progressive environmental and health care measures won reelection .
In reality , two Democrats who cosigned the Green New Deal , Florida @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Thomas Suozzi , fell to Republican challengers .
After the call , Tlaib declared that she would n't change her messaging .
`` Look , I want to feed the poor , '' Tlaib said Thursday on The Mehdi Hasan Show .
`` I want to make sure that we are not picking corporations over people .
I want to make sure that we have equity in education funding in our school systems… Nothing 's going to change . ''
The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee , whose purpose is to secure congressional victories @ @ @ @ @ @ @ call .
Tensions ran high over Republicans ' upset victories and the forecasted blue wave that `` never materialized . ''
While Spanberger managed to cling to her seat , 10 other House Democrats lost their reelection bids Tuesday , preventing the party from expanding its majority .
Despite polling numbers that forecast Democrats taking the majority in the Senate , they have failed to do so there as well .

Representatives Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D., N.Y.) and Rashida Tlaib (D., Mich.) rushed to defend fellow left-wing Democrats after a colleague blamed their socialist messaging for her near loss in Tuesday's election.
In a chaotic call with other House Democrats Thursday, Virginia congresswoman Abigail Spanberger, who eked out reelection by less than 5,000 votes, blamed left-leaning Democrats' push to defund the police and defense of socialism for the closeness of the win.
While Spanberger insisted that Democrats should never again utter the word "socialism," though, Ocasio-Cortez and Tlaib, two leftists known for squabbling with more moderate members of their party, aren't backing down.
Ocasio-Cortez tweeted Friday that she hasn't seen "any compelling evidence" that her progressive push let Republicans flip 10 House seats on Tuesday. Instead, she blamed Democrats' failure to widen their House majority on poor digital messaging.
There are folks running around on TV blaming progressivism for Dem underperformance. I was curious, so I decided to open the hood on struggling campaigns of candidates who are blaming progressives for their problems. Almost all had awful execution on digital. DURING A PANDEMIC. — Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) November 6, 2020
The Bronx native then claimed that every Democratic representative who had backed her progressive environmental and health care measures won reelection.
In reality, two Democrats who cosigned the Green New Deal, Florida representative Debbie Mucarsel-Powell and New York representative Thomas Suozzi, fell to Republican challengers.
After the call, Tlaib declared that she wouldn't change her messaging.
"Look, I want to feed the poor," Tlaib said Thursday on The Mehdi Hasan Show. "I want to make sure that we are not picking corporations over people. I want to make sure that we have equity in education funding in our school systems… Nothing's going to change."
The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, whose purpose is to secure congressional victories for Democrats, hosted the post-election phone call. Tensions ran high over Republicans' upset victories and the forecasted blue wave that "never materialized."
While Spanberger managed to cling to her seat, 10 other House Democrats lost their reelection bids Tuesday, preventing the party from expanding its majority. Despite polling numbers that forecast Democrats taking the majority in the Senate, they have failed to do so there as well.


freebeacon--2020-11-06--Watchdog Finds 21,000 Dead Registrants on PA Voter Rolls in Final Weeks of Election

An election watchdog has found 21,000 dead individuals still on Pennsylvania voter rolls in the final weeks of the 2020 election .
The Public Interest Legal Foundation , an election integrity group , says 92 percent of the registrants died more than a year ago .
The group also says there is evidence of voting activity after death .
The findings were mentioned in an amended lawsuit against the Pennsylvania Department of State over its failure to maintain accurate voter rolls .
The PILF says that as of October 7 , 9,212 registrants have been dead for five years , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 197 registrants for 20 years .
`` Pennsylvania still left the names of more than 21,000 dead individuals on the voter rolls less than a month before one of the most consequential general elections for federal officeholders in many years , '' the group said .
`` This case is n't complicated , '' said John Christian Adams , the PILF 's president and general counsel .
`` For nearly a year , we 've been offering specific data on deceased registrants to Pennsylvania officials for proper handling ahead of what was expected @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Day .
When you push mail voting , your voter list maintenance mistakes made years ago will come back to haunt in the form of unnecessary recipients and nagging questions about unreturned or outstanding ballots . ''
The complaint further claims 114 individuals registered to vote after death , and hundreds of votes were cast by deceased individuals in the 2016 and 2018 elections .
The amended suit was filed one day before Joe Biden grabbed the lead in Pennsylvania .
Republican lawmakers have echoed concerns about voting irregularities .
`` When you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ orders , counting ballots in secret & threatening to steal the presidency , it 's not ‘ PA 's business . '
It 's America ’ s business , and we have the right to expect votes will be counted ( 1 ) fairly , ( 2 ) w/ transparency & ( 3 ) NOT in secret , '' Sen. Ted Cruz said on Twitter Friday .
Democrats say their expected margin of victory in Pennsylvania will far exceed the number of disputed votes in the state .
The Pennsylvania Department of State @ @ @ @ @ @ @ comment by press time .

An election watchdog has found 21,000 dead individuals still on Pennsylvania voter rolls in the final weeks of the 2020 election.
The Public Interest Legal Foundation, an election integrity group, says 92 percent of the registrants died more than a year ago. The group also says there is evidence of voting activity after death. The findings were mentioned in an amended lawsuit against the Pennsylvania Department of State over its failure to maintain accurate voter rolls.
The PILF says that as of October 7, 9,212 registrants have been dead for five years, 1,990 registrants for 10 years, and 197 registrants for 20 years. "Pennsylvania still left the names of more than 21,000 dead individuals on the voter rolls less than a month before one of the most consequential general elections for federal officeholders in many years," the group said.
"This case isn't complicated," said John Christian Adams, the PILF's president and general counsel. "For nearly a year, we've been offering specific data on deceased registrants to Pennsylvania officials for proper handling ahead of what was expected to be a tight outcome on Election Day. When you push mail voting, your voter list maintenance mistakes made years ago will come back to haunt in the form of unnecessary recipients and nagging questions about unreturned or outstanding ballots."
The complaint further claims 114 individuals registered to vote after death, and hundreds of votes were cast by deceased individuals in the 2016 and 2018 elections.
The amended suit was filed one day before Joe Biden grabbed the lead in Pennsylvania. Republican lawmakers have echoed concerns about voting irregularities. "When you're breaking the law, ignoring court orders, counting ballots in secret & threatening to steal the presidency, it's not 'PA's business.' It's America’s business, and we have the right to expect votes will be counted (1) fairly, (2) w/ transparency & (3) NOT in secret," Sen. Ted Cruz said on Twitter Friday.
Democrats say their expected margin of victory in Pennsylvania will far exceed the number of disputed votes in the state.
The Pennsylvania Department of State did not respond to a request for comment by press time.


freebeacon--2020-11-06--Acting Head of USAID Forced to Resign

Acting Head of USAID Forced to Resign

John Barsa , the acting administrator of the United States Agency for International Development ( USAID ) , was forced to step down on Friday under the Federal Vacancies Reform Act , which only permits the acting heads of agencies to serve for 210 days .
Barsa assumed the office in early April after former USAID head Mark Green stepped down from the post .
Deputy USAID administrator Bonnie Glick will fill in as the agency 's head , according to a legal memo published by the agency and first reported by the Washington Post .
Glick is the only @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to act as the organization 's leader , according to that memo .
USAID 's top ethics attorney notified Barsa of his legal requirements in a memo sent Friday morning .
The agency had reportedly received press requests asking about Barsa 's status .
Barsa will return to his previous position as assistant administrator for USAID 's Bureau for Latin America and the Caribbean .
`` Obviously this is going to be very confusing for the agency and our partners , '' the memo states .
Glick takes the lead at USAID as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the coronavirus pandemic .
Glick has prioritized a push to drive a wedge between developing nations , particularly in Africa , and China , which is trying to get its next-generation 5G technologies adopted by these countries .
The United States views this as a global security risk .

John Barsa, the acting administrator of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), was forced to step down on Friday under the Federal Vacancies Reform Act, which only permits the acting heads of agencies to serve for 210 days.
Barsa assumed the office in early April after former USAID head Mark Green stepped down from the post. Deputy USAID administrator Bonnie Glick will fill in as the agency's head, according to a legal memo published by the agency and first reported by the Washington Post. Glick is the only USAID official who currently has the power to act as the organization's leader, according to that memo.
USAID's top ethics attorney notified Barsa of his legal requirements in a memo sent Friday morning. The agency had reportedly received press requests asking about Barsa's status. Barsa will return to his previous position as assistant administrator for USAID's Bureau for Latin America and the Caribbean.
"Obviously this is going to be very confusing for the agency and our partners," the memo states.
Glick takes the lead at USAID as it faces multiple global challenges, including the coronavirus pandemic. Glick has prioritized a push to drive a wedge between developing nations, particularly in Africa, and China, which is trying to get its next-generation 5G technologies adopted by these countries. The United States views this as a global security risk.


freebeacon--2020-11-06--2020 BIGGEST LOSERS: Brian Fallon, Robby Mook, and Eric Holder

Even if Joe Biden wins the presidency , the Democratic Party can hardly be said to have won the 2020 election .
Trump appears to have lost , but he was not repudiated , and neither was his party .
Democrats lost seats in the House and underperformed in Senate races , making their dream of unified government a long shot , at best .
Efforts to elect Democratic majorities at the state level also flopped .
There is plenty of blame to go around , but three people in particular—two Obama bros and one Hillary bro—were at the center @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in 2020 , and they each deserve to be ruthlessly mocked .
Robby Mook , who managed Hillary Clinton 's failed presidential campaign in 2016 , had hoped to salvage his reputation by taking the helm of the House Majority PAC in 2019 .
Maybe next time .
The Super PAC , whose sole purpose is to elect House Democrats , will have to explain to donors why the party is on track to lose at least six seats in a year when a Democrat won the White House .
Former Obama attorney @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to do .
In 2016 , he founded the National Democratic Redistricting Committee , an organization devoted to electing Democratic majorities in state legislatures .
NDRC and other liberal PACs raised and spent millions to flip state houses in the key states of Florida , North Carolina , and Texas .
They went 0 for 3 .
In fact , it 's now likely that Democrats will fail to take control of a single state legislature in 2020 .
Money well spent !
These Democratic failures also reflect poorly on Holder 's former @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Fallon became executive director of Demand Justice , a Soros-funded dark money group dedicated to opposing Trump 's judicial nominations and advocating radical reforms such as court packing .
Few organizations have failed more epically over the past few years .
Demand Justice could n't stop Brett Kavanaugh or Amy Coney Barrett from joining the Supreme Court , and now it 's quite likely that a President Biden will need Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell 's ( R. , Ky. ) permission to confirm his own judicial nominees .

Even if Joe Biden wins the presidency, the Democratic Party can hardly be said to have won the 2020 election. Trump appears to have lost, but he was not repudiated, and neither was his party. Democrats lost seats in the House and underperformed in Senate races, making their dream of unified government a long shot, at best. Efforts to elect Democratic majorities at the state level also flopped.
There is plenty of blame to go around, but three people in particular—two Obama bros and one Hillary bro—were at the center of the Democratic Party's epic failure in 2020, and they each deserve to be ruthlessly mocked.
Robby Mook, who managed Hillary Clinton's failed presidential campaign in 2016, had hoped to salvage his reputation by taking the helm of the House Majority PAC in 2019. Maybe next time. The Super PAC, whose sole purpose is to elect House Democrats, will have to explain to donors why the party is on track to lose at least six seats in a year when a Democrat won the White House.
Former Obama attorney general Eric Holder also has some explaining to do. In 2016, he founded the National Democratic Redistricting Committee, an organization devoted to electing Democratic majorities in state legislatures. NDRC and other liberal PACs raised and spent millions to flip state houses in the key states of Florida, North Carolina, and Texas. They went 0 for 3. In fact, it's now likely that Democrats will fail to take control of a single state legislature in 2020. Money well spent!
These Democratic failures also reflect poorly on Holder's former spokesman, Brian Fallon. In 2018, Fallon became executive director of Demand Justice, a Soros-funded dark money group dedicated to opposing Trump's judicial nominations and advocating radical reforms such as court packing.
Few organizations have failed more epically over the past few years. Demand Justice couldn't stop Brett Kavanaugh or Amy Coney Barrett from joining the Supreme Court, and now it's quite likely that a President Biden will need Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell's (R., Ky.) permission to confirm his own judicial nominees.
Take a bow, fellas!


freebeacon--2020-11-06--Georgia Dem Senate Candidate Tied to Anti-Israel Letter Comparing West Bank to Apartheid

Georgia Senate candidate Raphael Warnock ( D. ) signed a March 2019 letter criticizing Israel 's actions in the West Bank and likening them to those of apartheid South Africa , Jewish Insider reported Thursday .
Warnock , who will run against incumbent Republican Kelly Loeffler in a January runoff that could potentially decide control of the Senate , attended a faith-group trip to Israel and Palestinian Authority territory in February and March 2019 .
The group released the letter shortly afterwards .
The letter claims that Israel 's control of the West Bank has been `` borrowed and perfected @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that the region 's `` ever-present physical walls '' are `` reminiscent of the Berlin Wall , '' and that the `` heavy militarization of the West Bank '' is reminiscent of `` the military occupation of Namibia by apartheid South Africa . ''
South African apartheid was an almost-50-year system that segregated South Africans by race , denying human rights and basic utilities to the country 's black majority .
Communist forces killed over 100 East Germans trying to escape the Soviet-backed regime over the Berlin Wall .
The group , which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Crow of mass incarceration and militarization of police in our communities , '' said it made the trip to `` better understand the realities on the ground . ''
Prominent American liberal intellectuals jumped in to defend Warnock 's signing of the letter .
Brookings Institution senior fellow Tamara Cofman Wittes applauded a defense of the letter in a Friday Facebook comment , claiming that `` the letter did not explicitly compare Israel to apartheid S Africa . ''
Cofman Wittes did not respond to a request for comment .
Warnock campaign spokesman @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to sign the letter to Jewish Insider .
`` Reverend Warnock has deep respect for the invaluable relationship the United States has with Israel and how Georgia continues to benefit from that friendship , '' Clark said .
`` The reservations he has expressed about settlement activity do not change his strong support for Israel and belief in its security—which is exactly why he opposes ending direct military aid to such a strong ally . ''
`` Raphael Warnock has a history of anti-Israel positions , from embracing anti-Zionist Black Lives Matter and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Jeremiah Wright to calling Israel an ‘ oppressive regime ' for fighting back against terrorism , '' Loeffler spokesman Stephen Lawson said .
Warnock will challenge Loeffler , who beat fellow Republican Rep. Doug Collins in Tuesday 's first round of voting , in the Senate runoff , which will take place January 5 .
Pundits anticipate unprecedented spending and national attention on the race , as it may decide which party takes the Senate majority .
Loeffler touts a strong record on Second Amendment issues and was a leading voice in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Coney Barrett .

Georgia Senate candidate Raphael Warnock (D.) signed a March 2019 letter criticizing Israel's actions in the West Bank and likening them to those of apartheid South Africa, Jewish Insider reported Thursday.
Warnock, who will run against incumbent Republican Kelly Loeffler in a January runoff that could potentially decide control of the Senate, attended a faith-group trip to Israel and Palestinian Authority territory in February and March 2019. The group released the letter shortly afterwards.
The letter claims that Israel's control of the West Bank has been "borrowed and perfected from other previous oppressive regimes," that the region's "ever-present physical walls" are "reminiscent of the Berlin Wall," and that the "heavy militarization of the West Bank" is reminiscent of "the military occupation of Namibia by apartheid South Africa."
South African apartheid was an almost-50-year system that segregated South Africans by race, denying human rights and basic utilities to the country's black majority.
Communist forces killed over 100 East Germans trying to escape the Soviet-backed regime over the Berlin Wall.
The group, which aims to "dismantle the new Jim Crow of mass incarceration and militarization of police in our communities," said it made the trip to "better understand the realities on the ground."
Prominent American liberal intellectuals jumped in to defend Warnock's signing of the letter.
Brookings Institution senior fellow Tamara Cofman Wittes applauded a defense of the letter in a Friday Facebook comment, claiming that "the letter did not explicitly compare Israel to apartheid S Africa."
Cofman Wittes did not respond to a request for comment.
Warnock campaign spokesman Terrence Clark defended the candidate's decision to sign the letter to Jewish Insider.
"Reverend Warnock has deep respect for the invaluable relationship the United States has with Israel and how Georgia continues to benefit from that friendship," Clark said. "The reservations he has expressed about settlement activity do not change his strong support for Israel and belief in its security—which is exactly why he opposes ending direct military aid to such a strong ally."
Loeffler's campaign, however, disagrees.
"Raphael Warnock has a history of anti-Israel positions, from embracing anti-Zionist Black Lives Matter and defending anti-Semitic comments made by Rev. Jeremiah Wright to calling Israel an 'oppressive regime' for fighting back against terrorism," Loeffler spokesman Stephen Lawson said.
Warnock will challenge Loeffler, who beat fellow Republican Rep. Doug Collins in Tuesday's first round of voting, in the Senate runoff, which will take place January 5. Pundits anticipate unprecedented spending and national attention on the race, as it may decide which party takes the Senate majority.
Loeffler touts a strong record on Second Amendment issues and was a leading voice in the fight to confirm Supreme Court justice Amy Coney Barrett.


freebeacon--2020-11-06--Another Kennedy Bites the Dust

Another Kennedy Bites the Dust

America prevailed , again .
For the second time this year , a member of the disgraced Kennedy dynasty lost a congressional election .
Just over two months since Rep. Joe Kennedy III ( D. , Mass . )
made history by becoming the first Kennedy ever to lose an election in the state of Massachusetts , Amy Kennedy lost her bid for Congress in New Jersey .
Amy , who is married to former representative Patrick Kennedy ( D. , R.I. ) , son of the late sexual predator Ted Kennedy , lost to incumbent Rep. Jeff Van Drew @ @ @ @ @ @ @ former Democrat who became a Republican after publicly opposing his party 's efforts to impeach Donald Trump .
As a result , the 117th Congress will include no Kennedys , a sign of a mature nation choosing progress over progeny .
The country is moving forward , but some Democrats are still stuck in the past .
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi ( D. , Calif. ) , who will turn 81 in March , is one of them .
`` I think Joe Biden has a big mandate , '' Pelosi told reporters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than John F. Kennedy when I was in school . ''
Biden does not , in fact , have a big mandate thanks to the woeful performance of Democrats in down-ballot races , especially in the House , where Pelosi could be at risk of losing her job .

America prevailed, again. For the second time this year, a member of the disgraced Kennedy dynasty lost a congressional election. Just over two months since Rep. Joe Kennedy III (D., Mass.) made history by becoming the first Kennedy ever to lose an election in the state of Massachusetts, Amy Kennedy lost her bid for Congress in New Jersey.
Amy, who is married to former representative Patrick Kennedy (D., R.I.), son of the late sexual predator Ted Kennedy, lost to incumbent Rep. Jeff Van Drew (R., N.J.), a former Democrat who became a Republican after publicly opposing his party's efforts to impeach Donald Trump.
As a result, the 117th Congress will include no Kennedys, a sign of a mature nation choosing progress over progeny. The country is moving forward, but some Democrats are still stuck in the past. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D., Calif.), who will turn 81 in March, is one of them.
"I think Joe Biden has a big mandate," Pelosi told reporters on Friday. "A bigger mandate than John F. Kennedy when I was in school." Biden does not, in fact, have a big mandate thanks to the woeful performance of Democrats in down-ballot races, especially in the House, where Pelosi could be at risk of losing her job.


freebeacon--2020-11-06--Arizona Dem Advances Baseless Ballot Conspiracy Theory

Arizona Democrat Hiral Tipirneni baselessly claimed that Republicans will `` take the reins '' on ballot counting in her prospective district to ensure that Democratic votes are not tallied .
Tipirneni , who is running to unseat Rep. David Schweikert ( R. , Ariz. ) , sent a fundraising email Thursday requesting $ 25,000 to curtail `` ballot counting chaos . ''
The Democrat said that without the money , her campaign will be forced to `` sit on our hands and let Republicans take the reins on counting these final ballots . ''
`` We could do nothing as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their ballots is counted , while ours fall to the wayside , '' the email states .
`` That would be the quickest way to ensure we lose this toss-up race . ''
Tipirneni currently trails Schweikert by roughly 12,000 votes with an estimated 93 percent of ballots recorded , according to the New York Times .
The Republican 's campaign accused Tipirneni of falsely undermining the electoral process in a ploy to raise funds .
`` Hiral Tipirneni 's scheme to raise money by trashing the ballot counting process is despicable , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ consultant , told the Washington Free Beacon .
`` Her comments about the ballot counting were not only a flat out lie , but they also baselessly impugned Arizona and our ballot counting process . ''
Tipirneni 's campaign attempted to distance itself from the fundraising email in a Friday statement , saying the email `` aimed , but unfortunately did not do so clearly , to emphasize the important work '' of reaching out to voters whose ballots have not been counted .
`` In the face of GOP-led efforts to disrupt @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Capitol the last two nights , we wanted to reiterate our steadfast commitment to doing all we can to ensure that every voter gets their ballot counted , '' the campaign said .
`` The dedicated individuals who are working tirelessly to count the ballots are doing a tremendous service to our democracy .
They control the process and are doing an excellent job . ''
Under Arizona law , election officials began counting mail-in ballots on Oct. 20 .
The process includes checking a voter 's affidavit , with officials rejecting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be `` insufficient . ''
Should a mail-in ballot show an `` inconsistent signature , '' county officials are required to `` make reasonable efforts to contact the voter , '' who can then correct the mistake no later than five business days after the election .
Tipirneni 's email came as President Donald Trump chipped away at Democratic nominee Joe Biden 's lead in the Grand Canyon State .
Biden currently leads Trump by less than 44,000 votes in the state , according to the Times .
An estimated 7 percent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The Associated Press called the state for Biden early Wednesday morning .

Arizona Democrat Hiral Tipirneni baselessly claimed that Republicans will "take the reins" on ballot counting in her prospective district to ensure that Democratic votes are not tallied.
Tipirneni, who is running to unseat Rep. David Schweikert (R., Ariz.), sent a fundraising email Thursday requesting $25,000 to curtail "ballot counting chaos." The Democrat said that without the money, her campaign will be forced to "sit on our hands and let Republicans take the reins on counting these final ballots."
"We could do nothing as they make sure every single one of their ballots is counted, while ours fall to the wayside," the email states. "That would be the quickest way to ensure we lose this toss-up race."
Tipirneni currently trails Schweikert by roughly 12,000 votes with an estimated 93 percent of ballots recorded, according to the New York Times. The Republican's campaign accused Tipirneni of falsely undermining the electoral process in a ploy to raise funds.
"Hiral Tipirneni's scheme to raise money by trashing the ballot counting process is despicable," Chris Baker, Schweikert's political consultant, told the Washington Free Beacon. "Her comments about the ballot counting were not only a flat out lie, but they also baselessly impugned Arizona and our ballot counting process."
Tipirneni's campaign attempted to distance itself from the fundraising email in a Friday statement, saying the email "aimed, but unfortunately did not do so clearly, to emphasize the important work" of reaching out to voters whose ballots have not been counted.
"In the face of GOP-led efforts to disrupt the vote-counting process like we saw at the Capitol the last two nights, we wanted to reiterate our steadfast commitment to doing all we can to ensure that every voter gets their ballot counted," the campaign said. "The dedicated individuals who are working tirelessly to count the ballots are doing a tremendous service to our democracy. They control the process and are doing an excellent job."
Under Arizona law, election officials began counting mail-in ballots on Oct. 20. The process includes checking a voter's affidavit, with officials rejecting the ballot if the affidavit is determined to be "insufficient." Should a mail-in ballot show an "inconsistent signature," county officials are required to "make reasonable efforts to contact the voter," who can then correct the mistake no later than five business days after the election.
Tipirneni's email came as President Donald Trump chipped away at Democratic nominee Joe Biden's lead in the Grand Canyon State. Biden currently leads Trump by less than 44,000 votes in the state, according to the Times. An estimated 7 percent of the vote remains to be counted. The Associated Press called the state for Biden early Wednesday morning.


freebeacon--2020-11-07--Woke Faced the Voters—and Lost

Woke Faced the Voters—and Lost

In a week of surprises , California ’ s rejection of a ballot measure that would have allowed the state to resume its affirmative action program was among the most significant .
The measure , known as Proposition 16 , was n't defeated by shy Trump voters .
Polling showed Hispanic and other minority voters evenly split on the measure , and on Tuesday it was defeated in California 's most Latino counties .
California 's result is just one piece of the mounting evidence that voters on Tuesday threw a wrench in the progressive plan to leverage a `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` emerging Democratic majority '' to turn the country into a woke utopia .
The 2020 election was in large part a referendum on Democrats ’ race baiting and pandering , starting with the party ’ s own elevation of Biden to the top of the ticket .
Democrats ’ rejection of Sens .
Elizabeth Warren , Bernie Sanders , and Kamala Harris was a leading indicator that the media missed .
Millions of voters of all races made clear that they instead prefer the old ideals : equality of opportunity , economic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ its citizens not by the color of our skin , but the content of our character .
Beyond that , the president whom Democrats have lambasted for four years as a racist and a xenophobe turned out more minority voters than any Republican candidate in decades .
It 's not just that right-wing Cubans handed Trump a surprise victory in south Florida ; he clinched some of the nation 's most Latino counties , improved his margins with black men and women , and even earned commanding majorities in some Native American counties @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not account for the shy Trump voters , an effect we presume may well be exaggerated among black and Hispanic voters .
Senate races yielded more bad news for the progressive left .
Even if Joe Biden wins the White House , Sen. Mitch McConnell ( R. , Ky. ) , who easily overcame an $ 80 million challenge , will serve as a check on the ascendance of socialists such as Sens .
Bernie Sanders ( I. , Vt. ) and Elizabeth Warren ( D. , Mass . )
to the Biden @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but there 's a whole wing of his party they 'd prefer to do without .
Some House Democrats can see the writing on the wall .
Rep. Abigail Spanberger ( D. , Va. ) reportedly told her caucus that the progressive push to defund the police and embrace `` socialism '' almost cost them the majority .
Rep. Ruben Gallego ( D. , Ariz. ) advised Democrats to drop the woke speak , starting with the bizarre `` Latinx . ''
Tuesday 's results should shatter the Democratic presumption that their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and eternal support of minority voters—but it won ’ t .
The politics fueled by racial grievance and personified by the `` squad '' of Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez , Ilhan Omar , and Rashida Tlaib is a cancer on the Democratic Party that it indulges at its own peril .

The 2020 election was a referendum on the progressive elite, and they were soundly defeated
In a week of surprises, California’s rejection of a ballot measure that would have allowed the state to resume its affirmative action program was among the most significant.
The measure, known as Proposition 16, wasn't defeated by shy Trump voters. Polling showed Hispanic and other minority voters evenly split on the measure, and on Tuesday it was defeated in California's most Latino counties.
California's result is just one piece of the mounting evidence that voters on Tuesday threw a wrench in the progressive plan to leverage a "coalition of the ascendant" and an "emerging Democratic majority" to turn the country into a woke utopia.
The 2020 election was in large part a referendum on Democrats’ race baiting and pandering, starting with the party’s own elevation of Biden to the top of the ticket. Democrats’ rejection of Sens. Elizabeth Warren, Bernie Sanders, and Kamala Harris was a leading indicator that the media missed.
Millions of voters of all races made clear that they instead prefer the old ideals: equality of opportunity, economic freedom, and a society that judges its citizens not by the color of our skin, but the content of our character.
Beyond that, the president whom Democrats have lambasted for four years as a racist and a xenophobe turned out more minority voters than any Republican candidate in decades. It's not just that right-wing Cubans handed Trump a surprise victory in south Florida; he clinched some of the nation's most Latino counties, improved his margins with black men and women, and even earned commanding majorities in some Native American counties. And that exit poll data does not account for the shy Trump voters, an effect we presume may well be exaggerated among black and Hispanic voters.
Senate races yielded more bad news for the progressive left. Even if Joe Biden wins the White House, Sen. Mitch McConnell (R., Ky.), who easily overcame an $80 million challenge, will serve as a check on the ascendance of socialists such as Sens. Bernie Sanders (I., Vt.) and Elizabeth Warren (D., Mass.) to the Biden cabinet. Voters may have wanted Biden, but there's a whole wing of his party they'd prefer to do without.
Some House Democrats can see the writing on the wall. Rep. Abigail Spanberger (D., Va.) reportedly told her caucus that the progressive push to defund the police and embrace "socialism" almost cost them the majority. Rep. Ruben Gallego (D., Ariz.) advised Democrats to drop the woke speak, starting with the bizarre "Latinx."
Tuesday's results should shatter the Democratic presumption that their party is destined to command the overwhelming and eternal support of minority voters—but it won’t. The politics fueled by racial grievance and personified by the "squad" of Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Ilhan Omar, and Rashida Tlaib is a cancer on the Democratic Party that it indulges at its own peril.


freebeacon--2020-11-07--Former Democrat, Mocked for Switching Parties, Wins as Republican in New Jersey

Rep. Jeff Van Drew ( R. , N.J. ) , a former Democrat , switched parties in January 2020 after opposing his party 's effort to impeach President Donald Trump .
He was widely mocked and derided by his former colleagues and other liberals at the time , and most experts predicted he would lose reelection in 2020 .
Van Drew won by 5 percentage points , defeating a member of the disgraced Kennedy dynasty .
`` This is an awful thing to do , '' said Rep. Bill Pascrell ( D. , N.J. ) of Van Drew 's decision @ @ @ @ @ @ @ You make a commitment .
That does n't mean you 've got to vote every way that the majority or the leadership asks you to vote .
Certainly , it means you owe something to the organization who put you where you are . ''
Pascrell also insinuated that Van Drew 's betrayal warranted a violent response .
`` Do you know how we would have handled this back in Paterson ? ''
the congressman said , referring to his hometown .
He added that Van Drew would no longer be welcome to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the House chamber .
Rep. Steve Cohen ( D. , Tenn. ) said at the time that Van Drew was `` making a serious mistake '' by switching parties .
Disgraced former congresswoman Katie Hill ( D. , Calif. ) , who resigned after taking advantage of a staff member , said she was `` incredibly disappointed '' in Van Drew 's decision and hoped he lost the election as a result .
Van Drew 's motivation for joining the Republican Party appeared to threaten the mental stability of prominent libs .
He @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it hard to tackle more pressing legislative issues in the House .
Van Drew also expressed frustration with Democrats for not believing in `` American exceptionalism . ''
This caused liberal filmmaker Rob Reiner , among others , to lose his mind .
`` The guy 's working with the Russians , '' Reiner said during an unhinged rant on MSNBC .
`` Are we now saying that we 're just going to give ourselves over to the Russians ?
We beat them in the Cold War , and they 're beating us @ @ @ @ @ @ @ if we do n't stand up to them , it could be the end of our democracy .
And I 'm sorry if you lose your seat , but we 've got to stand up for democracy . ''
Most professional pundits thought Van Drew would lose , primarily because most of them bought into the narrative of a `` blue wave '' election .
`` Van Drew 's defection to GOP haunts him in tight race , '' read the headline of a Politico report published last week .
The polls showed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the wife of Patrick Kennedy , the former congressman and son of the late sexual predator Ted Kennedy .
Kennedy cited Van Drew 's public pledge of loyalty to Trump as the reason she decided to run .
`` It felt like he was willing to do or say anything to keep his job , '' Kennedy said .
`` There are a lot of people in the district who really respect someone who can be independent-minded , but that 's not what that felt like to them . ''
Democrats ran ads @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Van Drew '' and even mocked him for wearing nice suits .
According to Politico , the Democratic Party was `` eager to win back a seat they thought they had already seized in 2018 '' and was seeking `` revenge for Van Drew 's high-profile defection . ''
But Republicans got the last laugh .
Van Drew prevailed , and the GOP is on track to gain at least six seats in the House in what is shaping up to be an embarrassing failure of an election for Democrats not named Joe @ @

Rep. Jeff Van Drew (R., N.J.), a former Democrat, switched parties in January 2020 after opposing his party's effort to impeach President Donald Trump. He was widely mocked and derided by his former colleagues and other liberals at the time, and most experts predicted he would lose reelection in 2020. Van Drew won by 5 percentage points, defeating a member of the disgraced Kennedy dynasty.
"This is an awful thing to do," said Rep. Bill Pascrell (D., N.J.) of Van Drew's decision to switch parties in 2019. "You make a commitment. That doesn't mean you've got to vote every way that the majority or the leadership asks you to vote. Certainly, it means you owe something to the organization who put you where you are."
Pascrell also insinuated that Van Drew's betrayal warranted a violent response. "Do you know how we would have handled this back in Paterson?" the congressman said, referring to his hometown. He added that Van Drew would no longer be welcome to set foot on the Democratic side of the House chamber.
Rep. Steve Cohen (D., Tenn.) said at the time that Van Drew was "making a serious mistake" by switching parties. Disgraced former congresswoman Katie Hill (D., Calif.), who resigned after taking advantage of a staff member, said she was "incredibly disappointed" in Van Drew's decision and hoped he lost the election as a result.
Van Drew's motivation for joining the Republican Party appeared to threaten the mental stability of prominent libs. He argued that the impeachment inquiry was making it hard to tackle more pressing legislative issues in the House. Van Drew also expressed frustration with Democrats for not believing in "American exceptionalism."
This caused liberal filmmaker Rob Reiner, among others, to lose his mind. "The guy's working with the Russians," Reiner said during an unhinged rant on MSNBC. "Are we now saying that we're just going to give ourselves over to the Russians? We beat them in the Cold War, and they're beating us now in the cyber war. And if we don't stand up to them, it could be the end of our democracy. And I'm sorry if you lose your seat, but we've got to stand up for democracy."
Most professional pundits thought Van Drew would lose, primarily because most of them bought into the narrative of a "blue wave" election. "Van Drew's defection to GOP haunts him in tight race," read the headline of a Politico report published last week. The polls showed him trailing Democratic challenger Amy Kennedy, the wife of Patrick Kennedy, the former congressman and son of the late sexual predator Ted Kennedy.
Kennedy cited Van Drew's public pledge of loyalty to Trump as the reason she decided to run. "It felt like he was willing to do or say anything to keep his job," Kennedy said. "There are a lot of people in the district who really respect someone who can be independent-minded, but that's not what that felt like to them."
Democrats ran ads branding the GOP incumbent as "switcher Van Drew" and even mocked him for wearing nice suits. According to Politico, the Democratic Party was "eager to win back a seat they thought they had already seized in 2018" and was seeking "revenge for Van Drew's high-profile defection."
But Republicans got the last laugh. Van Drew prevailed, and the GOP is on track to gain at least six seats in the House in what is shaping up to be an embarrassing failure of an election for Democrats not named Joe Biden.


freebeacon--2020-11-07--White House Axes Deputy USAID Administrator to Preserve Favored Leadership

Bonnie Glick , top official at USAID , gets ax on eve of inheriting top position The surprise firing late Friday evening of a top Trump administration foot soldier has renewed focus on John McEntee , director of the White House Presidential Personnel Office .
McEntee is the driving force behind several controversial White House nominations that have driven a wedge between President Donald Trump and Republican allies in Congress .
Late Friday , as Trump was headed toward a historic election defeat , McEntee quietly fired Bonnie Glick , an administration stalwart who was set to take over the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ USAID ) .
The mysterious firing , which came just hours before Glick was to takeover USAID , is being viewed as part of an effort by McEntee to purge administration officials he dislikes in the final months of Trump ’ s tenure in office .
Glick was in line to inherit control of USAID after Acting Administrator John Barsa was forced to step down under the Federal Vacancies Reform Act , which only permits the acting heads of agencies to serve for 210 days .
The law initiated a situation in which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as USAID ’ s leader .
It is believed McEntee fired Glick in order to allow Barsa to remain in the post .
McEntee , Trump ’ s onetime bodyman who was terminated in 2018 amid a `` financial crime investigation , '' was rehired in February and is seen as an ally of the isolationist foreign policy community , which has worked with McEntee to forward several controversial nominees that more traditional GOP lawmakers in Congress see as unfit for office .
The firing of Glick , who was one of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ administration , raised eyebrows among many insiders and could be a sign of what ’ s to come in the administration ’ s final months .
McEntee personally signed off on Glick ’ s termination , potentially without approval from the president , sources speculated .
Just hours after Glick was axed , Defense Secretary Mark Esper offered his resignation , perhaps as a preemptive move to avoid an embarrassing public firing .
McEntee is seen as the architect of several contested nominations , chiefly those of the ambassadorial nominees to Afghanistan and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reported in September that Republican Senate leaders refused to confirm the two nominees .
U.S. Army Colonel Douglas Macgregor , who was up for the job in Germany , was viewed as unconfirmable due to his controversial comments about Jewish control in the foreign policy world .
William Ruger , a U.S. Navy reserve officer and key figure in Charles Koch 's philanthropic empire , was nominated to fill the vacant ambassadorship in Afghanistan .
He , too , was rejected by Republicans on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee who objected to his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ forces out of the region .
Update Nov. 7 5:12 p.m. : This post was updated to reflect further information .