freebeacon--2020-11-18--Senate Republicans Urge White House to Expand ‘Made in Israel’ Policy

Senate Republicans wrote a letter this week urging the White House to expand its `` Made in Israel '' customs policy to include the West Bank .
The letter , signed by Sens .
Tom Cotton ( R. , Ark . )
, Marco Rubio ( R. , Fla. ) , Ted Cruz ( R. , Texas ) , and Kelly Loeffler ( R. , Ga. ) , asks the administration to reverse a Clinton-era customs policy that requires Israeli goods produced in the area to have `` Made in West Bank '' labels .
Although the Obama administration republished @ @ @ @ @ @ @ recognizes trade items from the region as `` articles of Israel '' for commercial purposes .
In their letter , the senators said the `` Made in West Bank '' labels make Israeli goods from the region `` prime targets '' for anti-Israel boycotts .
`` Unfortunately , the United Nations and some prominent members of the Democratic Party are working to oppose Israel and to support the anti-Semitic Boycott , Divestment , and Sanctions movement , which seeks to isolate and damage Israel economically , '' the letter reads .
`` Your @ @ @ @ @ @ @ policy changes by undoing these misguided Clinton-era guidelines , thereby allowing Israeli goods produced in Judea and Samaria [ West Bank ] to be labeled as ‘ Made in Israel . '
'' Opposition to Washington 's continued recognition of Israeli trade rights remains strong .
In February , a United Nations directive blacklisted more than 100 American , Israeli , and international companies for their operations in the West Bank .
In 2018 , Cotton and Cruz also worked on a resolution that urged Washington to recognize Israel 's sovereignty over the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , which faced continued aggression from Iran-backed terror group Hezbollah .
In 2019 , the White House officially recognized the Jewish state 's sovereignty over the region .

Senate Republicans wrote a letter this week urging the White House to expand its "Made in Israel" customs policy to include the West Bank.
The letter, signed by Sens. Tom Cotton (R., Ark.), Marco Rubio (R., Fla.), Ted Cruz (R., Texas), and Kelly Loeffler (R., Ga.), asks the administration to reverse a Clinton-era customs policy that requires Israeli goods produced in the area to have "Made in West Bank" labels. Although the Obama administration republished the directives in 2016, Washington still recognizes trade items from the region as "articles of Israel" for commercial purposes. In their letter, the senators said the "Made in West Bank" labels make Israeli goods from the region "prime targets" for anti-Israel boycotts.
"Unfortunately, the United Nations and some prominent members of the Democratic Party are working to oppose Israel and to support the anti-Semitic Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions movement, which seeks to isolate and damage Israel economically," the letter reads. "Your administration should continue its string of pro-Israel policy changes by undoing these misguided Clinton-era guidelines, thereby allowing Israeli goods produced in Judea and Samaria [West Bank] to be labeled as 'Made in Israel.'"
Opposition to Washington's continued recognition of Israeli trade rights remains strong. In February, a United Nations directive blacklisted more than 100 American, Israeli, and international companies for their operations in the West Bank.
In 2018, Cotton and Cruz also worked on a resolution that urged Washington to recognize Israel's sovereignty over the Golan Heights on Israel's northern border, which faced continued aggression from Iran-backed terror group Hezbollah. In 2019, the White House officially recognized the Jewish state's sovereignty over the region.


freebeacon--2020-11-18--New Photos Reveal Newsom Lied About Posh Napa Valley Dinner

New photos reveal California governor Gavin Newsom ( D. ) lied this month when he said he followed coronavirus safety guidelines while he dined with a sizable group at a French restaurant in Napa Valley .
In photos published Wednesday by Fox 11 Los Angeles , Newsom is seen at the French Laundry without a mask , not observing social-distancing guidelines , and apparently dining indoors .
The witness who took the photos also said the birthday party for Newsom 's longtime adviser Jason Kinney was `` very loud , '' enough so that sliding glass doors had to be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said , the party could still be heard .
The photos appear to disprove the governor 's statement last week that he `` followed public health guidelines and the restaurant ’ s health protocols '' and cast doubt on his claim that the dinner was outdoors .
Newsom has not said how many households attended , but California 's guidelines prohibit gatherings of more than three households and stipulate that `` seating must provide six feet of distance '' and diners must limit the removal of face coverings .
Newsom apologized on Tuesday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ apology with qualifications .
He said he had `` early reservations '' and the dinner was at an `` outdoor restaurant . ''
`` You can quibble about the guidelines , but the spirit of what I 'm preaching all the time was contradicted , '' he said .
`` We 're all human .
We all fall short sometimes . ''
On Monday , Newsom blamed his state 's increasing coronavirus caseload on private gatherings where people are `` letting their guard down . ''
`` They ’ re taking their masks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ get together outside of their household cohorts , '' he said in a news conference .

New photos reveal California governor Gavin Newsom (D.) lied this month when he said he followed coronavirus safety guidelines while he dined with a sizable group at a French restaurant in Napa Valley.
In photos published Wednesday by Fox 11 Los Angeles, Newsom is seen at the French Laundry without a mask, not observing social-distancing guidelines, and apparently dining indoors. The witness who took the photos also said the birthday party for Newsom's longtime adviser Jason Kinney was "very loud," enough so that sliding glass doors had to be closed. Even then, the witness said, the party could still be heard.
EXCLUSIVE: We've obtained photos of Governor Gavin Newsom at the Napa dinner party he's in hot water over. The photos call into question just how outdoors the dinner was. A witness who took photos tells us his group was so loud, the sliding doors had to be closed. 10pm on @FOXLA pic.twitter.com/gtOVEwa864 — Bill Melugin (@BillFOXLA) November 18, 2020
The photos appear to disprove the governor's statement last week that he "followed public health guidelines and the restaurant’s health protocols" and cast doubt on his claim that the dinner was outdoors. Newsom has not said how many households attended, but California's guidelines prohibit gatherings of more than three households and stipulate that "seating must provide six feet of distance" and diners must limit the removal of face coverings.
Newsom apologized on Tuesday for attending the party but peppered the apology with qualifications. He said he had "early reservations" and the dinner was at an "outdoor restaurant."
"You can quibble about the guidelines, but the spirit of what I'm preaching all the time was contradicted," he said. "We're all human. We all fall short sometimes."
Gov. Gavin Newsom apologizes for attending party at French Laundry: "We're all human. We all fall short sometimes." pic.twitter.com/GPegzxt0dl — The Hill (@thehill) November 17, 2020
On Monday, Newsom blamed his state's increasing coronavirus caseload on private gatherings where people are "letting their guard down."
"They’re taking their masks off. They’re starting to get together outside of their household cohorts," he said in a news conference.


freebeacon--2020-11-18--U.S. Targets al Shabaab Leaders With Sanctions

The U.S. State Department hit East African al Qaeda affiliate group al Shabaab with a series of sanctions to hold the group accountable for recent terrorist attacks .
The State Department announced on Tuesday that it issued sanctions on two members of al Shabaab 's senior leadership , classifying them as `` specially designated global terrorists . ''
The action freezes any assets the two have in the United States and prohibits commercial transactions between the leaders and Americans , according to the Associated Press .
The two newly sanctioned terrorists are Abdullahi Osman Mohamed and Maalim Ayman .
Mohamed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ propagandist , senior explosives expert , and special adviser to the organization 's so-called emir .
Ayman leads an al Shabaab unit that killed an American soldier and two U.S. contractors during an attack on a Kenyan military base in January .
Designated a foreign terrorist organization in 2008 , al Shabaab has operated for years in Somalia , Kenya , and Uganda as an extremely violent wing of al Qaeda .
Despite several American counterterrorism operations in East Africa , the group presents one of the most significant challenges to American regional @ @ @ @ @ @ @ its 2013 attack on a shopping mall in Nairobi , Kenya , that killed 67 , and is suspected to be responsible for bombings in Mogadishu , Somalia , in 2017 that killed nearly 600 people .
The sanctions come as the Trump administration considers pulling all American troops from Somalia .
U.S. African Command ( AFRICOM ) houses over 700 American troops in Somalia , largely focused on countering al Shabaab operations .
`` The U.S. approach and commitment to degrading al Shabaab remains strong , '' AFRICOM spokeswoman Lt. Christina Gibson @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` We remain committed to supporting our African partners to enhance regional security and stability . ''

The U.S. State Department hit East African al Qaeda affiliate group al Shabaab with a series of sanctions to hold the group accountable for recent terrorist attacks.
The State Department announced on Tuesday that it issued sanctions on two members of al Shabaab's senior leadership, classifying them as "specially designated global terrorists." The action freezes any assets the two have in the United States and prohibits commercial transactions between the leaders and Americans, according to the Associated Press.
The two newly sanctioned terrorists are Abdullahi Osman Mohamed and Maalim Ayman. Mohamed works as al Shabaab’s chief propagandist, senior explosives expert, and special adviser to the organization's so-called emir. Ayman leads an al Shabaab unit that killed an American soldier and two U.S. contractors during an attack on a Kenyan military base in January.
Designated a foreign terrorist organization in 2008, al Shabaab has operated for years in Somalia, Kenya, and Uganda as an extremely violent wing of al Qaeda. Despite several American counterterrorism operations in East Africa, the group presents one of the most significant challenges to American regional interests.
Al Shabaab is notorious for its 2013 attack on a shopping mall in Nairobi, Kenya, that killed 67, and is suspected to be responsible for bombings in Mogadishu, Somalia, in 2017 that killed nearly 600 people.
The sanctions come as the Trump administration considers pulling all American troops from Somalia. U.S. African Command (AFRICOM) houses over 700 American troops in Somalia, largely focused on countering al Shabaab operations.
"The U.S. approach and commitment to degrading al Shabaab remains strong," AFRICOM spokeswoman Lt. Christina Gibson said in a statement earlier this month. "We remain committed to supporting our African partners to enhance regional security and stability."


freebeacon--2020-11-18--Israel Strikes Iranian Bases in Syria After IED Fears

Israel Defense Forces ( IDF ) struck Iranian and Syrian military installations after militants placed improvised explosive devices near the Israeli border , the IDF announced Wednesday .
Militants associated with Iran 's Quds Force had placed IEDs against the border fence separating Israel and Syria , which prompted Israel 's counterattack .
The episode recalls a back-and-forth between Syria and Israel in August , in which Israeli troops dispatched helicopters , fighter jets , and drones to take out four terrorists in southern Syria and the Gaza Strip .
Israeli forces were responding to similar reports of aggression from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ group .
IDF spokesman Lt. Col. Jonathan Conricus mentioned the August operation in a statement about this week 's attacks , according to the Wall Street Journal .
`` Since it was apparent that the message that we wanted to convey last time was n't clear enough , not to the Iranians and not to the Syrian regime … we struck military targets belonging to the Quds Force as well as the Syrian Armed Forces , '' Conricus said .
`` We hope now that the message is clear that it is unacceptable @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and facilitates the use by Iranian forces of Syria as a launchpad for attacks against Israel . ''
Conricus said that Israeli aircraft targeted and hit Iran 's military headquarters in Syria , surface-to-air missile batteries , a secret military site that hosted Iranian military envoys in Syria , and the headquarters of Syria 's Golan Heights armed forces .
The Quds Force uses the Syrian headquarters as a base of operations , Conricus noted .
The attacks come as the Trump administration continues to strengthen ties with Israel .
Last month , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Jerusalem to list their birthplace as Israel .
The administration also assured Israeli defense officials that it would continue to protect the Jewish state 's military comparative strength while selling fighter jets to the United Arab Emirates .

Israel Defense Forces (IDF) struck Iranian and Syrian military installations after militants placed improvised explosive devices near the Israeli border, the IDF announced Wednesday.
Militants associated with Iran's Quds Force had placed IEDs against the border fence separating Israel and Syria, which prompted Israel's counterattack. The episode recalls a back-and-forth between Syria and Israel in August, in which Israeli troops dispatched helicopters, fighter jets, and drones to take out four terrorists in southern Syria and the Gaza Strip. Israeli forces were responding to similar reports of aggression from Syria and Hezbollah, an Iran-backed terrorist group.
IDF spokesman Lt. Col. Jonathan Conricus mentioned the August operation in a statement about this week's attacks, according to the Wall Street Journal.
"Since it was apparent that the message that we wanted to convey last time wasn't clear enough, not to the Iranians and not to the Syrian regime … we struck military targets belonging to the Quds Force as well as the Syrian Armed Forces," Conricus said. "We hope now that the message is clear that it is unacceptable that the Syrian regime allows and tolerates and facilitates the use by Iranian forces of Syria as a launchpad for attacks against Israel."
Conricus said that Israeli aircraft targeted and hit Iran's military headquarters in Syria, surface-to-air missile batteries, a secret military site that hosted Iranian military envoys in Syria, and the headquarters of Syria's Golan Heights armed forces. The Quds Force uses the Syrian headquarters as a base of operations, Conricus noted.
The attacks come as the Trump administration continues to strengthen ties with Israel. Last month, Washington announced it would allow Americans born in Jerusalem to list their birthplace as Israel. The administration also assured Israeli defense officials that it would continue to protect the Jewish state's military comparative strength while selling fighter jets to the United Arab Emirates.


freebeacon--2020-11-19--Biden Faces Potential Congressional Backlash on China Policy

Joe Biden has been a harsh critic of President Trump 's confrontational approach to China , but congressional leaders on foreign policy say there will be bipartisan resistance to any attempt by an incoming Democratic administration to soften relations with Beijing .
While Biden has repeatedly criticized the U.S.-China trade war , the Biden White House will likely face vocal opposition from Congress if he attempts to reach a hasty end to the trade conflict without heavy concessions from Beijing , according to members of Congress .
`` If the next administration is hesitant to stand up to China , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all the more important , '' Rep. Jim Banks ( R. , Ind . )
, a China Task Force member , told the Washington Free Beacon .
`` My top priority during the 117th Congress … will be preserving the gains we 've made in our relations with China . ''
Biden , who did not respond to request for comment , has downplayed China 's threat to U.S. interests in the past .
He told Iowa voters that China is `` not a competition for us '' in 2019 and frequently @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will be a friendlier president to Beijing .
He has also surrounded himself with advisers and surrogates with pro-China track records .
Former U.S .
Ambassador to China Max Baucus , who advises Biden about China policy , has been a vocal supporter of Beijing , comparing the Trump ' confrontational China policy to Adolf Hitler during a TV appearance on a regime propaganda outlet .
Biden himself railed against the Trump administration ’ s handling of the trade war , calling it a `` shortsighted '' blunder that hurt American farmers and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with shifting the bipartisan consensus about China .
After four years of the president 's tough-on-China agenda , the vast majority of Americans—both Democrats and Republicans—hold an unfavorable view of the Chinese government .
Politicians , lobbyists , and activists on both sides of the aisle support protectionist economic statecraft and a strong response to Chinese human-rights abuses , according to Dean Cheng , a foreign policy expert at the Heritage Foundation .
`` Now , nobody likes China , '' Cheng said .
`` There is no pro-China lobby at this point @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Biden left the Senate 12 years ago , legislators on both sides of the aisle backed greater commercial ties with China .
He faces a different landscape in 2021 .
The Democratic shift toward protectionism is most evident in the 2020 party platform , which pledged to `` take aggressive action against China '' for its unfair economic practices and acknowledged `` the global trading system has failed to keep its promises to American workers . ''
House Republicans in the China Task Force likewise supported the trade war , arguing in a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ theft , excessive state subsidies , and other market manipulation tricks before the United States ends its tariffs regime .
Rep. Liz Cheney ( R. , Wyo . )
, the House Republican Conference Chair and a member of the China Task Force , said addressing China 's unfair economic practices should be part of a larger strategy to contain Chinese influence .
`` In the coming years , America must address such malign activities as China 's nuclear build-up , their years of intellectual property theft , their exploitation of U.S. academia @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Experts predict China could provide one of the few opportunities for bipartisanship in a divided government .
Zack Cooper , a research fellow at the American Enterprise Institute , said bipartisan support for protectionism in Congress might present an opportunity for Biden to implement some form of industrial policy with support from both sides of the aisle .
`` There 's a lot of appetite in both parties for more industrial policy , which is a bit of a surprise , especially on the Republican side , '' Cooper said .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ much more focused on industrial policy because it 's seen as necessary to compete effectively with China . ''
Michael Sobolik , a fellow at the American Foreign Policy Council , expressed concern that the new Democratic administration might offer lopsided concessions to Beijing in exchange for cooperation on progressive agenda items such as climate change .
Such concessions might undermine the leverage America has used to advance its goals on the economic and human-rights fronts .
Despite the unknowns , what is certain is that any Biden White House push to overturn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ China agenda could face intense pushback from congressional Republicans , eager to preserve the gains made in the last four years .
`` The bottom line is this : If you want to treat China like we 've been treating China in the past , that 's going to be a failed strategy , '' said Rep. Adam Kinzinger ( R. , Ill. ) .
`` All we have to do is look at the past . ''

Joe Biden has been a harsh critic of President Trump's confrontational approach to China, but congressional leaders on foreign policy say there will be bipartisan resistance to any attempt by an incoming Democratic administration to soften relations with Beijing.
While Biden has repeatedly criticized the U.S.-China trade war, the Biden White House will likely face vocal opposition from Congress if he attempts to reach a hasty end to the trade conflict without heavy concessions from Beijing, according to members of Congress.
"If the next administration is hesitant to stand up to China, that just makes Congress's foreign policy all the more important," Rep. Jim Banks (R., Ind.), a China Task Force member, told the Washington Free Beacon. "My top priority during the 117th Congress … will be preserving the gains we've made in our relations with China."
Biden, who did not respond to request for comment, has downplayed China's threat to U.S. interests in the past. He told Iowa voters that China is "not a competition for us" in 2019 and frequently signaled on the campaign trail that he will be a friendlier president to Beijing. He has also surrounded himself with advisers and surrogates with pro-China track records. Former U.S. ambassador to China Max Baucus, who advises Biden about China policy, has been a vocal supporter of Beijing, comparing Trump's confrontational China policy to Adolf Hitler during a TV appearance on a regime propaganda outlet. Biden himself railed against the Trump administration’s handling of the trade war, calling it a "shortsighted" blunder that hurt American farmers and workers.
Foreign policy experts credited Trump with shifting the bipartisan consensus about China. After four years of the president's tough-on-China agenda, the vast majority of Americans—both Democrats and Republicans—hold an unfavorable view of the Chinese government. Politicians, lobbyists, and activists on both sides of the aisle support protectionist economic statecraft and a strong response to Chinese human-rights abuses, according to Dean Cheng, a foreign policy expert at the Heritage Foundation.
"Now, nobody likes China," Cheng said. "There is no pro-China lobby at this point in the United States."
When Biden left the Senate 12 years ago, legislators on both sides of the aisle backed greater commercial ties with China. He faces a different landscape in 2021. The Democratic shift toward protectionism is most evident in the 2020 party platform, which pledged to "take aggressive action against China" for its unfair economic practices and acknowledged "the global trading system has failed to keep its promises to American workers."
House Republicans in the China Task Force likewise supported the trade war, arguing in a report that China must end intellectual property theft, excessive state subsidies, and other market manipulation tricks before the United States ends its tariffs regime. Rep. Liz Cheney (R., Wyo.), the House Republican Conference Chair and a member of the China Task Force, said addressing China's unfair economic practices should be part of a larger strategy to contain Chinese influence.
"In the coming years, America must address such malign activities as China's nuclear build-up, their years of intellectual property theft, their exploitation of U.S. academia, and more," Cheney said.
Experts predict China could provide one of the few opportunities for bipartisanship in a divided government. Zack Cooper, a research fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, said bipartisan support for protectionism in Congress might present an opportunity for Biden to implement some form of industrial policy with support from both sides of the aisle.
"There's a lot of appetite in both parties for more industrial policy, which is a bit of a surprise, especially on the Republican side," Cooper said. "So I'm guessing you'll see much more focused on industrial policy because it's seen as necessary to compete effectively with China."
Michael Sobolik, a fellow at the American Foreign Policy Council, expressed concern that the new Democratic administration might offer lopsided concessions to Beijing in exchange for cooperation on progressive agenda items such as climate change. Such concessions might undermine the leverage America has used to advance its goals on the economic and human-rights fronts.
Despite the unknowns, what is certain is that any Biden White House push to overturn key aspects of the Trump administration's China agenda could face intense pushback from congressional Republicans, eager to preserve the gains made in the last four years.
"The bottom line is this: If you want to treat China like we've been treating China in the past, that's going to be a failed strategy," said Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R., Ill.). "All we have to do is look at the past."


freebeacon--2020-11-19--BEASTMODE | Cotton: Leftist Charlatans Are Trying to Redefine Our Nation’s Founding

Observing the 400-year anniversary of the Plymouth Landing , Sen. Tom Cotton ( R. , Ark . )
chastised the @ @ @ @ @ of the Pilgrims and seeking to redefine American history according to the dogma of the @ @ @

Observing the 400-year anniversary of the Plymouth Landing, Sen. Tom Cotton (R., Ark.) chastised the left for disregarding the contribution of the Pilgrims and seeking to redefine American history according to the dogma of the 1619 Project.


freebeacon--2020-11-19--Nikki Haley Jumps Into Georgia Election With Video Tearing Into Warnock

Former ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley put out a video Wednesday airing a litany of Georgia Senate candidate Raphael Warnock 's ( D. ) left-wing views .
The video by Haley 's advocacy group Stand for America highlights Warnock 's praise for anti-American preacher Jeremiah Wright , his connection to communist dictator Fidel Castro , and the policies he has supported that are `` too radical for Georgia . ''
`` Raphael Warnock is an anti-America , anti-police , anti-Israel , anti-Semitic , anti-jobs , anti-taxpayer , pro-socialized medicine , and pro-communist radical , '' the video concludes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reasons to stand against Raphael Warnock .
That 's a lot of reasons to stand for America . ''
Warnock 's career has put him in ministry rather than public office , but his record has still given Republicans plenty of ammunition to paint him as far to the left of Georgia voters .
His campaign has struggled to answer for his support for anti-Semitic statements , his defense of Wright 's infamous `` God Damn America '' sermon , as well as his statements in favor of government-run health care .
Haley @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Carolina , sent the video to her 719,400 followers Wednesday .
Warnock has evaded questions about many of the topics raised in Stand for America 's video .
In 1995 he worked for a church that invited Castro to give a speech to its congregation , and he would n't answer when CNN 's Jake Tapper asked him if he attended .
He also dodged a question about whether Wright is an anti-Semite , although the Chicago preacher blamed `` them Jews '' for driving a wedge between himself and his onetime congregant @ @ @

Former ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley put out a video Wednesday airing a litany of Georgia Senate candidate Raphael Warnock's (D.) left-wing views.
The video by Haley's advocacy group Stand for America highlights Warnock's praise for anti-American preacher Jeremiah Wright, his connection to communist dictator Fidel Castro, and the policies he has supported that are "too radical for Georgia."
"Raphael Warnock is an anti-America, anti-police, anti-Israel, anti-Semitic, anti-jobs, anti-taxpayer, pro-socialized medicine, and pro-communist radical," the video concludes. "That's a lot of reasons to stand against Raphael Warnock. That's a lot of reasons to stand for America."
Warnock's career has put him in ministry rather than public office, but his record has still given Republicans plenty of ammunition to paint him as far to the left of Georgia voters. His campaign has struggled to answer for his support for anti-Semitic statements, his defense of Wright's infamous "God Damn America" sermon, as well as his statements in favor of government-run health care.
Haley, who was governor of neighboring South Carolina, sent the video to her 719,400 followers Wednesday.
Raphael Warnock is too radical for Georgia and for America. This is what we are fighting against. Watch our new video. #gasen #gapol @standamericanow pic.twitter.com/4nk0rUnfAD — Nikki Haley (@NikkiHaley) November 18, 2020
Warnock has evaded questions about many of the topics raised in Stand for America's video. In 1995 he worked for a church that invited Castro to give a speech to its congregation, and he wouldn't answer when CNN's Jake Tapper asked him if he attended. He also dodged a question about whether Wright is an anti-Semite, although the Chicago preacher blamed "them Jews" for driving a wedge between himself and his onetime congregant Barack Obama.


freebeacon--2020-11-19--Pompeo Visits Georgia as Charges of Election Fraud Mount

TBILISI , Georgia—The Georgian government ’ s backslide into authoritarianism was the backdrop for a day-long round of meetings between Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and the country ’ s ruling party , which has increasingly marginalized Tbilisi ’ s more Western-oriented opposition leaders .
The whole spectrum of Georgian opposition parties are refusing to accept the official results of parliamentary elections held on Oct. 31 , claiming widespread fraud and voter intimidation .
The U.S. government-backed International Republican Institute has bolstered those charges , accusing the ruling party of `` voter intimidation , vote buying , the manipulation of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ management process that failed to meet international standards . ''
While U.S. officials who spoke to the Washington Free Beacon expressed concerns about the fairness of Georgia ’ s October elections , they called on opposition leaders to return to the political process .
Pompeo spent Wednesday in meetings with the Georgian president , prime minister , and foreign minister .
The country ’ s ruling Georgian Dream Party is bankrolled and controlled by Bidzina Ivanishvili , a billionaire with deep ties to Moscow and at one time the largest private shareholder of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Dream 's reorientation of the country has sparked concerns among U.S. officials that Ivanishvili ’ s government is undermining the pro-Western consensus in that country and sliding toward authoritarianism .
Bipartisan groups of lawmakers in Congress have raised concerns about what they see as hostility to U.S. interests by the ruling party—and its toleration of a growing Russian influence on the country .
According to State Department officials , during sit downs with Georgian president Salome Zourabichvili and prime minister Giorgi Gakharia , Pompeo delivered a message of support for Georgia ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ occupation , but also emphasized the need for free and fair elections .
While Pompeo ’ s message on free and fair elections has been seen as an important signal during the crisis , the fact that he did not meet with the opposition was seized on by the ruling party .
`` The fact that Secretary Pompeo did not meet the opposition is a clear message , '' said Irakli Kobakhidze , a de-facto spokesman for Ivanishvili , who has frequently called opposition leaders fascists and criminals who should be eradicated .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , from the leader of the free world , we need more articulated support in this process , '' Giga Bokeria , a prominent leader in the Movement for Freedom-European Georgia Party , told the Free Beacon .
`` The trouble with Secretary Pompeo not meeting the opposition is how the authoritarian regime of Ivanishvili interprets that and uses that . ''
The opposition argues that expansive electoral reforms and the freeing of political prisoners offer the only way out of current crisis .
`` We are grateful that Secretary Pompeo visited Georgia @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Bokeria .
`` The message he delivered was very important and the Georgian public is deeply grateful for all the support we have gotten from the United States throughout our independence . ''
Bokeria said that Georgia , as a frontier state , can play a key role in pushing back on Putin ’ s Russia other bad actors who seek to dominate the region .
`` Georgia can be an outpost for projection of legitimate U.S. power but this could be undermined by Ivanishvili ’ s authoritarianism and his alliance with pro-Putin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .

Secretary of state’s visit comes as fallout continues over election marred by allegations of fraud and intimidation
TBILISI, Georgia—The Georgian government’s backslide into authoritarianism was the backdrop for a day-long round of meetings between Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and the country’s ruling party, which has increasingly marginalized Tbilisi’s more Western-oriented opposition leaders.
The whole spectrum of Georgian opposition parties are refusing to accept the official results of parliamentary elections held on Oct. 31, claiming widespread fraud and voter intimidation. The U.S. government-backed International Republican Institute has bolstered those charges, accusing the ruling party of "voter intimidation, vote buying, the manipulation of precinct-level summary protocols, and a result management process that failed to meet international standards."
While U.S. officials who spoke to the Washington Free Beacon expressed concerns about the fairness of Georgia’s October elections, they called on opposition leaders to return to the political process.
Pompeo spent Wednesday in meetings with the Georgian president, prime minister, and foreign minister. The country’s ruling Georgian Dream Party is bankrolled and controlled by Bidzina Ivanishvili, a billionaire with deep ties to Moscow and at one time the largest private shareholder of Russian natural gas giant Gazprom. Georgian Dream's reorientation of the country has sparked concerns among U.S. officials that Ivanishvili’s government is undermining the pro-Western consensus in that country and sliding toward authoritarianism. Bipartisan groups of lawmakers in Congress have raised concerns about what they see as hostility to U.S. interests by the ruling party—and its toleration of a growing Russian influence on the country.
According to State Department officials, during sit downs with Georgian president Salome Zourabichvili and prime minister Giorgi Gakharia, Pompeo delivered a message of support for Georgia’s sovereignty in light of Russian aggression and occupation, but also emphasized the need for free and fair elections.
While Pompeo’s message on free and fair elections has been seen as an important signal during the crisis, the fact that he did not meet with the opposition was seized on by the ruling party. "The fact that Secretary Pompeo did not meet the opposition is a clear message," said Irakli Kobakhidze, a de-facto spokesman for Ivanishvili, who has frequently called opposition leaders fascists and criminals who should be eradicated.
"From our friends in the U.S., from the leader of the free world, we need more articulated support in this process," Giga Bokeria, a prominent leader in the Movement for Freedom-European Georgia Party, told the Free Beacon. "The trouble with Secretary Pompeo not meeting the opposition is how the authoritarian regime of Ivanishvili interprets that and uses that."
The opposition argues that expansive electoral reforms and the freeing of political prisoners offer the only way out of current crisis.
"We are grateful that Secretary Pompeo visited Georgia in this difficult time," said Bokeria. "The message he delivered was very important and the Georgian public is deeply grateful for all the support we have gotten from the United States throughout our independence." Bokeria said that Georgia, as a frontier state, can play a key role in pushing back on Putin’s Russia other bad actors who seek to dominate the region.
"Georgia can be an outpost for projection of legitimate U.S. power but this could be undermined by Ivanishvili’s authoritarianism and his alliance with pro-Putin forces on the ground," Bokeria said.


freebeacon--2020-11-19--Berkeley Prof Compares Trump Supporters to Germans Under Nazi Rule

A visiting professor at the University of California Berkeley compared President Donald Trump 's supporters to Germans who turned a blind eye to the Holocaust .
Joyce Carol Oates , an author and English professor , said Trump 's supporters treat the coronavirus pandemic with `` indifference , '' much like Germans who submitted to Nazi rule , in a tweet on Thursday .
`` [ F ] or many pro-T***p Americans , the pandemic is like the Holocaust to many Germans : they knew what was happening but adjusted to living with it in indifference or , in some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Oates tweeted .
`` [ O ] nly if affected personally do people seem to care . ''
Oates , an outspoken atheist and ardent opponent of religion , came under fire for a 2013 tweet in which she linked the `` predominant religion '' of Egypt—Islam—to the country 's high rates of sexual harassment and rape .
Oates taught at Princeton University from 1978 to 2014 before moving in 2016 to Berkeley , where she 's offered creative writing courses to students .
Over her six-decades-long career , she has written more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ well as short stories and poetry .
She has been a Pulitzer Prize finalist five times .

A visiting professor at the University of California Berkeley compared President Donald Trump's supporters to Germans who turned a blind eye to the Holocaust.
Joyce Carol Oates, an author and English professor, said Trump's supporters treat the coronavirus pandemic with "indifference," much like Germans who submitted to Nazi rule, in a tweet on Thursday.
"[F]or many pro-T***p Americans, the pandemic is like the Holocaust to many Germans: they knew what was happening but adjusted to living with it in indifference or, in some cases, profiting from it," Oates tweeted. "[O]nly if affected personally do people seem to care."
for many pro-T***p Americans, the pandemic is like the Holocaust to many Germans: they knew what was happening but adjusted to living with it in indifference or, in some cases, profiting from it. only if affected personally do people seem to care. https://t.co/bigFUkXMsC — Joyce Carol Oates (@JoyceCarolOates) November 19, 2020
Oates, an outspoken atheist and ardent opponent of religion, came under fire for a 2013 tweet in which she linked the "predominant religion" of Egypt—Islam—to the country's high rates of sexual harassment and rape.
Oates taught at Princeton University from 1978 to 2014 before moving in 2016 to Berkeley, where she's offered creative writing courses to students. Over her six-decades-long career, she has written more than 70 fiction and nonfiction books as well as short stories and poetry. She has been a Pulitzer Prize finalist five times.


freebeacon--2020-11-19--Ossoff Dodges on Warnock’s Praise for Anti-Semitic Pastor

Senate hopeful Jon Ossoff—who has repeatedly referred to himself and fellow Democrat Raphael Warnock as a `` team '' in Georgia 's Senate runoffs—dodged questions on Warnock 's longtime support for anti-Semitic pastor Rev .
Jeremiah Wright .
Ossoff rebuffed multiple questions from the Washington Free Beacon regarding Warnock 's past praise of Wright during a Wednesday campaign event in Marietta .
Ossoff 's campaign also failed to return multiple requests for comment on whether the Democrat considers Wright to be an anti-Semite .
The relationship between the two candidates could hamper Democratic hopes of winning a de facto Senate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Wednesday event , Ossoff told reporters that he and Warnock are running as a `` team , '' calling the pastor an `` inspirational leader . ''
The Democrat also called Warnock a `` moral leader for our state and our country '' at a Sunday campaign stop in Cobb County .
Warnock has come under fire for his role as a vocal defender of Wright 's controversial 2003 `` God Damn America '' sermon , which likened the United States to al Qaeda and accused American officials of `` inventing the HIV @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people of color . ''
Warnock called the oration a `` very fine sermon '' in 2014 .
Wright 's infamous speech returned to national prominence during then-presidential candidate Barack Obama 's 2008 campaign .
Obama—Wright 's onetime congregant at the Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago—quickly rejected the pastor 's remarks , saying they `` rightly offend all Americans '' and `` should be denounced . ''
Warnock , however , refused to retract his past support for Wright during a recent MSNBC appearance and evaded a question about whether Wright @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in 2009 blamed `` them Jews '' for driving a wedge between himself and Obama .
`` Them Jews ai n't going to let him talk to me , '' Wright said .
`` They will not let him talk to somebody who calls a spade what it is . ''
Ossoff 's refusal to address Warnock 's support for Wright comes despite the Democrat 's pledge to face tough questions .
Ossoff on Sunday promised voters that he will always `` answer questions in public '' and `` listen to criticism and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ what public service is all about ? ''
Ossoff said .
Ossoff and Warnock are facing Republican senators David Perdue and Kelly Loeffler , respectively , in a pair of January 5 runoff elections that will determine control of the Senate .
Loeffler has dinged Warnock for his defense of Wright , calling the Georgia Democrat an enabler of `` anti-Semitic , anti-American hate speech . ''
Warnock has faced criticism for his own controversial sermons as senior pastor of Atlanta 's Ebenezer Baptist Church , including one in which the Democrat said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of prey . ''
Warnock in 2019 signed a letter likening Israel 's actions in the West Bank to apartheid in South Africa .
He has also preached that Americans ca n't `` serve God and the military '' and argued that `` America needs to repent for its worship of whiteness '' shortly before President Donald Trump 's 2016 victory over Hillary Clinton .

ATLANTA, GA — Senate hopeful Jon Ossoff, who has repeatedly referred to himself and fellow Democrat Raphael Warnock as a "team" in Georgia's Senate runoffs, dodged questions on Warnock's longtime support for anti-Semitic pastor Rev. Jeremiah Wright.
Ossoff rebuffed multiple questions from the Washington Free Beacon regarding Warnock's past praise of Wright during a Wednesday campaign event in Marietta. Ossoff's campaign also failed to return multiple requests for comment on whether the Democrat considers Wright to be an anti-Semite.
The relationship between the two candidates could hamper Democratic hopes of winning a de facto Senate majority in January. During the same Wednesday event, Ossoff told reporters that he and Warnock are running as a "team," calling the pastor an "inspirational leader." The Democrat also called Warnock a "moral leader for our state and our country" at a Sunday campaign stop in Cobb County.
Warnock has come under fire for his role as a vocal defender of Wright's controversial 2003 "God Damn America" sermon, which likened the United States to al Qaeda and accused American officials of "inventing the HIV virus as a means of genocide against people of color." Warnock called the oration a "very fine sermon" in 2014.
Wright's infamous speech returned to national prominence during then-presidential candidate Barack Obama's 2008 campaign. Obama—Wright's onetime congregant at the Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago—quickly rejected the pastor's remarks, saying they "rightly offend all Americans" and "should be denounced." Warnock, however, refused to retract his past support for Wright during a recent MSNBC appearance and evaded a question about whether Wright is an anti-Semite. The Chicago pastor in 2009 blamed "them Jews" for driving a wedge between himself and Obama.
"Them Jews ain't going to let him talk to me," Wright said. "They will not let him talk to somebody who calls a spade what it is."
Ossoff's refusal to address Warnock's support for Wright comes despite the Democrat's pledge to face tough questions. Ossoff on Sunday promised voters that he will always "answer questions in public" and "listen to criticism and scrutiny."
"Isn't that what public service is all about?" Ossoff said.
Ossoff and Warnock are facing Republican senators David Perdue and Kelly Loeffler, respectively, in a pair of January 5 runoff elections that will determine control of the Senate. Loeffler has dinged Warnock for his defense of Wright, calling the Georgia Democrat an enabler of "anti-Semitic, anti-American hate speech."
Warnock has faced criticism for his own controversial sermons as senior pastor of Atlanta's Ebenezer Baptist Church, including one in which the Democrat said Israel shoots unarmed Palestinians like "birds of prey." Warnock in 2019 signed a letter likening Israel's actions in the West Bank to apartheid in South Africa. He has also preached that Americans can't "serve God and the military" and argued that "America needs to repent for its worship of whiteness" shortly before President Donald Trump's 2016 victory over Hillary Clinton.


freebeacon--2020-11-19--California County to Sue Governor Over Covid Restrictions

Officials in California 's San Bernardino County are suing Gov .
Gavin Newsom ( D. ) over his statewide coronavirus reopening plan , arguing the state ’ s `` one-size-fits-all '' restrictions do n't suit the conditions in many communities .
In a unanimous vote Tuesday , supervisors of the largest county by area in the contiguous 48 states requested county attorneys prepare a lawsuit that would challenge Newsom ’ s restrictions , the San Bernardino Sun reports .
The supervisors said some communities in the sprawling county should be evaluated in light of their lower caseloads and local conditions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the rest of the county .
`` The temperatures are dropping , '' Supervisor Janice Rutherford said .
`` There is snow on the ground in some places , yet according to the governor ’ s orders , people are expected to eat outside .
It ’ s ridiculous . ''
While small-town restaurants struggle to stay afloat , Newsom is under fire for breaking his own virus protocols earlier this month during a birthday party for a lobbyist at the French Laundry , a high-priced Napa Valley establishment .
The governor initially @ @ @ @ @ @ @ social-distancing guidelines , but photos released Wednesday show him violating numerous rules by talking maskless and in close proximity to people from various households , including California Medical Association officials .
Newsom has faced a string of lawsuits over increased restrictions that have forced businesses to close and prohibited churches from gathering .
Churches across the state have challenged those orders on First Amendment grounds .

Officials in California's San Bernardino County are suing Gov. Gavin Newsom (D.) over his statewide coronavirus reopening plan, arguing the state’s "one-size-fits-all" restrictions don't suit the conditions in many communities.
In a unanimous vote Tuesday, supervisors of the largest county by area in the contiguous 48 states requested county attorneys prepare a lawsuit that would challenge Newsom’s restrictions, the San Bernardino Sun reports. The supervisors said some communities in the sprawling county should be evaluated in light of their lower caseloads and local conditions instead of being treated the same as the rest of the county.
"The temperatures are dropping," Supervisor Janice Rutherford said. "There is snow on the ground in some places, yet according to the governor’s orders, people are expected to eat outside. It’s ridiculous."
While small-town restaurants struggle to stay afloat, Newsom is under fire for breaking his own virus protocols earlier this month during a birthday party for a lobbyist at the French Laundry, a high-priced Napa Valley establishment. The governor initially claimed he and his wife had followed social-distancing guidelines, but photos released Wednesday show him violating numerous rules by talking maskless and in close proximity to people from various households, including California Medical Association officials.
Newsom has faced a string of lawsuits over increased restrictions that have forced businesses to close and prohibited churches from gathering. Churches across the state have challenged those orders on First Amendment grounds.


freebeacon--2020-11-19--Ally of Top Illinois Dem Charged in Bribery Scheme

A close ally of Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan ( D. ) was charged Wednesday for coordinating a bribery scheme with an electric utility company .
A federal grand jury charged Michael McClain and three others with bribery after they allegedly coordinated a scheme that provided kickbacks to Madigan 's associates in exchange for the speaker ’ s backing of legislation benefiting Commonwealth Edison , an Illinois utility giant .
Former ComEd CEO Anne Pramaggiore , lobbyist John Hooker , and consultant Jay Doherty were charged along with McClain on Wednesday .
ComEd , Illinois ’ s largest utility provider @ @ @ @ @ @ @ friends and loyalists $ 1.32 million in financial benefits , as well as contracts and jobs .
The defendants also allegedly persuaded ComEd to hire Reyes Kurson , a Madigan-favored law firm , and have a Madigan-selected individual added to the company ’ s board of directors .
McClain worked with Madigan in the Illinois House of Representatives during the 1970s and '80s before leaving public service to lobby for ComEd , among other companies , the Chicago Tribune reported .
Madigan has so far avoided much media scrutiny since the FBI revealed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this summer and has not yet faced criminal charges .
Madigan is the chairman of the Illinois Democratic Party and is the longest-serving state house speaker in the United States .
Democrats in the state house will vote in January to decide whether to reelect Madigan as speaker .

A close ally of Illinois House Speaker Mike Madigan (D.) was charged Wednesday for coordinating a bribery scheme with an electric utility company.
A federal grand jury charged Michael McClain and three others with bribery after they allegedly coordinated a scheme that provided kickbacks to Madigan's associates in exchange for the speaker’s backing of legislation benefiting Commonwealth Edison, an Illinois utility giant.
Former ComEd CEO Anne Pramaggiore, lobbyist John Hooker, and consultant Jay Doherty were charged along with McClain on Wednesday.
ComEd, Illinois’s largest utility provider, allegedly bribed Madigan by giving his friends and loyalists $1.32 million in financial benefits, as well as contracts and jobs. The defendants also allegedly persuaded ComEd to hire Reyes Kurson, a Madigan-favored law firm, and have a Madigan-selected individual added to the company’s board of directors.
McClain worked with Madigan in the Illinois House of Representatives during the 1970s and '80s before leaving public service to lobby for ComEd, among other companies, the Chicago Tribune reported.
Madigan has so far avoided much media scrutiny since the FBI revealed its investigation of the ComEd bribery scheme this summer and has not yet faced criminal charges.
Madigan is the chairman of the Illinois Democratic Party and is the longest-serving state house speaker in the United States. Democrats in the state house will vote in January to decide whether to reelect Madigan as speaker.


freebeacon--2020-11-19--In Historic First for Senior U.S. Official, Pompeo Tours Israel’s Golan Heights

GOLAN HEIGHTS , Israel—Secretary of State Mike Pompeo toured the contested Golan Heights area in northern Israel , marking the first official visit to the region for any senior U.S. official .
Pompeo 's presence in the Golan Heights , on the third leg of a seven-country tour across Europe and the Middle East , was itself a bold diplomatic statement .
No previous presidential administration has taken a position on the area , which is located along the Syrian and Lebanon borders and which Israel seized following a war with Syria in 1967 .
The Trump administration 's top @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fundamentally reshaping U.S. policy towards Israel , including in the decision to move the American embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem , the country 's capital city .
While in the region , Pompeo was briefed by Israeli military officials about the unique security threat posed by terrorist forces stationed in both Lebanon and Syria .
Israeli leaders view the Golan Heights area as a key territory needed to push back terrorist forces angling to launch attacks on northern Israel .
With former vice president Joe Biden set to take office @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Netanyahu and other officials know they are losing staunch allies in Pompeo and Trump .
Pompeo said his visit sends a clear message about America 's commitment to Israel 's security .
`` I told the prime minister that I very much wanted to come here on this trip to tell the world that we have it right , '' Pompeo told reporters traveling with him following his briefings .
`` And that each nation has the right to defend itself and its own sovereignty .
And that the United States of America @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do all that we can to make sure that Israel has what it needs to do just that .
And we will honor your right to defend your own people . ''
Pompeo spoke from Mount Bental , a former military outpost where Israeli soldiers battled Syrian forces in the Yom Kippur War .
The Golan Heights area is largely known these days for producing wine , a product that supporters of the Boycott , Divestment , and Sanctions movement ( BDS ) seek to ban from the international market , depriving many @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the Golan Heights , Pompeo became the first senior official to visit the West Bank , another disputed territory desired by the Palestinians .
While there , he visited the Psagot winery—a business that has emerged as a central flashpoint in the BDS fight—where he announced a new State Department policy of cutting ties with any group supporting BDS activities .
`` As we have made clear , anti-Zionism is anti-Semitism , '' Pompeo said in announcing a policy long backed by the pro-Israel community and Israeli government .
The State Department @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it is not funding any group tied to the BDS movement .
Brooke Goldstein , executive director of the Lawfare Project , a pro-Israel legal group that has defended Israeli businesses against the BDS movement , hailed the decision as `` decisive and necessary '' to ensure that `` Jewish-owned businesses in the West Bank are not discriminated against . ''
`` Psagot Winery and other businesses like it are in fact located in Israel , and they have every right for their products to be labeled as such , '' she said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Israel before departing for meetings in Abu Dhabi .

GOLAN HEIGHTS, Israel—Secretary of State Mike Pompeo toured the contested Golan Heights area in northern Israel, marking the first official visit to the region for any senior U.S. official.
Pompeo's presence in the Golan Heights, on the third leg of a seven-country tour across Europe and the Middle East, was itself a bold diplomatic statement. No previous presidential administration has taken a position on the area, which is located along the Syrian and Lebanon borders and which Israel seized following a war with Syria in 1967.
The Trump administration's top diplomat has played a central role in fundamentally reshaping U.S. policy towards Israel, including in the decision to move the American embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, the country's capital city. While in the region, Pompeo was briefed by Israeli military officials about the unique security threat posed by terrorist forces stationed in both Lebanon and Syria. Israeli leaders view the Golan Heights area as a key territory needed to push back terrorist forces angling to launch attacks on northern Israel.
With former vice president Joe Biden set to take office in January, Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other officials know they are losing staunch allies in Pompeo and Trump.
Pompeo said his visit sends a clear message about America's commitment to Israel's security.
"I told the prime minister that I very much wanted to come here on this trip to tell the world that we have it right," Pompeo told reporters traveling with him following his briefings. "And that each nation has the right to defend itself and its own sovereignty. And that the United States of America and the Trump administration will continue to do all that we can to make sure that Israel has what it needs to do just that. And we will honor your right to defend your own people."
Pompeo spoke from Mount Bental, a former military outpost where Israeli soldiers battled Syrian forces in the Yom Kippur War. The Golan Heights area is largely known these days for producing wine, a product that supporters of the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions movement (BDS) seek to ban from the international market, depriving many Israelis of their livelihoods.
In addition to the Golan Heights, Pompeo became the first senior official to visit the West Bank, another disputed territory desired by the Palestinians. While there, he visited the Psagot winery—a business that has emerged as a central flashpoint in the BDS fight—where he announced a new State Department policy of cutting ties with any group supporting BDS activities.
"As we have made clear, anti-Zionism is anti-Semitism," Pompeo said in announcing a policy long backed by the pro-Israel community and Israeli government. The State Department will initiate a policy review to ensure it is not funding any group tied to the BDS movement.
Brooke Goldstein, executive director of the Lawfare Project, a pro-Israel legal group that has defended Israeli businesses against the BDS movement, hailed the decision as "decisive and necessary" to ensure that "Jewish-owned businesses in the West Bank are not discriminated against."
"Psagot Winery and other businesses like it are in fact located in Israel, and they have every right for their products to be labeled as such," she said.
Pompeo will spend Friday morning in Israel before departing for meetings in Abu Dhabi.


freebeacon--2020-11-19--In Defense of Gavin Newsom’s Barefaced Napa Valley Wine Orgy With Health Care Lobbyists

History 's greatest leaders have always been unfairly maligned for having low moral character .
Genghis Khan , Ivan the Terrible , Henry VIII , Andrew Jackson , Winston Churchill , Augusto Pinochet , John F. Kennedy , Richard M. Nixon , and Donald J. Trump .
The list goes on and on .
Now it 's Gavin Newsom 's turn in the barrel .
The California governor and Democratic Party wunderkind is under attack for being a successful , good-looking man who likes to go to parties with his friends , some of whom happen to be health care @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to catch a break .
During his time as mayor of San Francisco , for example , Newsom was criticized for banging his campaign manager 's wife .
In other words , they hate him because he is free .
Newsom 's alleged `` crime '' —because no real criminal activity has been alleged—was attending a 50th birthday party for his longtime lobbyist friend , Jason Kinney , at one of the finest upscale dining establishments in Napa Valley .
Reports indicate the party was a loud and lively affair .
Newsom 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ own friends are n't as rich and powerful and charismatic .
Some claim the party `` violated '' California 's pandemic guidelines regarding private gatherings .
But Newsom says otherwise .
Since when did we stop giving elected officials the benefit of the doubt ?
Since when do we expect elected officials to abide by the rules they impose on the rest of us ?
Can you imagine if the world actually worked that way ?
The result would be chaos .
The party 's guest list speaks for itself .
Would the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Medical Association attend a party that violated state guidelines in the middle of a pandemic ?
It 's like the media have suddenly decided to forget that Democrats are the ones who believe in science and are refusing to accept that as a perfectly valid excuse .
In any event , wearing protection is overrated .
Sure , it might make sense for powerful politicians to mask up at a grocery store that 's crawling with commoners .
But at a dinner party surrounded by rich lobbyists ?
If politicians and their lobbyist @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the rules , or at least bend them creatively to avoid being personally inconvenienced , then the battle for America 's soul has already been lost .
Seriously , what is the big deal ?
People who matter do n't actually die from COVID , anyway .
Nor should they .
President Trump , for example , cured himself within a matter of days .
Like Newsom , he had more important things to do .
Like Newsom , he was unfairly maligned for trying to have fun with his friends during this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Newsoms , not fewer .
Real Men of Freedom are getting harder and harder to come by these days .
Regrettably , discussions surrounding the concept of `` privilege '' rarely take into account whether or not that `` privilege '' is deserved , whether or not it has been rightfully earned .
The Democratic Party would never have let Newsom come this far unless he deserved it .
Now it 's our turn to shut up and let him enjoy himself .

History's greatest leaders have always been unfairly maligned for having low moral character. Genghis Khan, Ivan the Terrible, Henry VIII, Andrew Jackson, Winston Churchill, Augusto Pinochet, John F. Kennedy, Richard M. Nixon, and Donald J. Trump. The list goes on and on.
Now it's Gavin Newsom's turn in the barrel. The California governor and Democratic Party wunderkind is under attack for being a successful, good-looking man who likes to go to parties with his friends, some of whom happen to be health care lobbyists. The guy can't seem to catch a break. During his time as mayor of San Francisco, for example, Newsom was criticized for banging his campaign manager's wife.
In other words, they hate him because he is free.
Newsom's alleged "crime"—because no real criminal activity has been alleged—was attending a 50th birthday party for his longtime lobbyist friend, Jason Kinney, at one of the finest upscale dining establishments in Napa Valley. Reports indicate the party was a loud and lively affair. Newsom's critics are presumably just jealous because their own friends aren't as rich and powerful and charismatic.
Some claim the party "violated" California's pandemic guidelines regarding private gatherings. But Newsom says otherwise. Since when did we stop giving elected officials the benefit of the doubt? Since when do we expect elected officials to abide by the rules they impose on the rest of us? Can you imagine if the world actually worked that way? The result would be chaos.
The party's guest list speaks for itself. Would the CEO and top lobbyist of the California Medical Association attend a party that violated state guidelines in the middle of a pandemic? It's like the media have suddenly decided to forget that Democrats are the ones who believe in science and are refusing to accept that as a perfectly valid excuse.
In any event, wearing protection is overrated. Sure, it might make sense for powerful politicians to mask up at a grocery store that's crawling with commoners. But at a dinner party surrounded by rich lobbyists? If politicians and their lobbyist friends can't be trusted to follow the rules, or at least bend them creatively to avoid being personally inconvenienced, then the battle for America's soul has already been lost.
Seriously, what is the big deal? People who matter don't actually die from COVID, anyway. Nor should they. President Trump, for example, cured himself within a matter of days. Like Newsom, he had more important things to do. Like Newsom, he was unfairly maligned for trying to have fun with his friends during this difficult time.
America needs more Gavin Newsoms, not fewer. Real Men of Freedom are getting harder and harder to come by these days. Regrettably, discussions surrounding the concept of "privilege" rarely take into account whether or not that "privilege" is deserved, whether or not it has been rightfully earned. The Democratic Party would never have let Newsom come this far unless he deserved it. Now it's our turn to shut up and let him enjoy himself.


freebeacon--2020-11-19--Dem Student Loan-Cancellation Plan a Bad Call, Experts Say

Democrats are pushing for Joe Biden to make one of his first acts as president the cancellation of trillions of dollars in student debt , a policy that would hand billions to the nation 's wealthiest with little benefit to the overall economy , experts say .
In an Election Day interview , Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer ( D. , N.Y. ) called on Biden to enact a plan , authored by himself and Sen. Elizabeth Warren ( D. , Mass . )
, to drop up to $ 50,000 in borrowers ' student loan debt by executive order @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bevy of congressional progressives have renewed the push ; on Tuesday , Biden said that he 'd like to see up to $ 10,000 forgiven but that Congress should take the lead .
The enthusiasm among left-leaning Democrats mirrors support among the party 's base , which in the Trump era has drawn in more and more college-educated Americans .
Advocates also argue that debt relief , which would run to over $ 1 trillion , would be a major stimulus for a nation still stuck in the coronavirus recession .
But education @ @ @ @ @ @ @ forgiveness would `` enrich the already privileged in this country while leaving behind , or perhaps even draining from , the neediest . ''
New research agrees , having shown that forgiveness would bring little economic relief to anyone but the most educated .
Warren and Schumer 's proposal calls on Biden to exercise his authority under the 1965 Higher Education Act and cancel up to $ 50,000 dollars of student-loan debt per borrower .
That would trim roughly $ 1 trillion off of the $ 1.5 trillion in outstanding federally owned student @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an education fellow at the right-leaning Foundation for Research on Equal Opportunity .
`` I understand that it 's a pandemic and there 's a case for generous economic relief spending , '' Cooper said .
`` But I question whether student debt forgiveness is really the best use of the money . ''
That 's because student-debt holders are on average well-off : More than half of debt is held by the top 40 percent of wage earners .
Among Americans ages 25 to 40 , half of debt is held by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that the wealthiest young adults also have the most debt .
Having a degree can add over a million dollars to a person 's lifetime earnings , swamping the costs of bearing debt .
In other words , the Manhattan Institute 's Beth Akers told the Free Beacon , debt cancellation would amount to a major transfer from the poor to the rich .
`` Any way you look at it , the plight of student borrowers with college degrees is surely preferable to the plight of those scraping by on the wages @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Akers said .
`` Yet they 'll have to participate in absorbing the financial toll that comes along with canceling student debt anyway .
The reality is that each dollar spent on loan relief is a dollar that is raised in taxes , from a tax base where far less than half of taxpayers have a four-year degree . ''
Perhaps recognizing these objections , progressives have pushed another argument for relief : It would flood the economy with much-needed stimulus dollars .
Citing a team of Brandeis University economists , Schumer and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ debt would also help boost our struggling economy through a consumer-driven economic stimulus . ''
But other economics experts disagree .
Jason Furman , who served as chairman of Barack Obama 's Council of Economic Advisers , wrote that the stimulus effects of forgiveness on GDP were likely `` close to zero , '' calling the payout `` not a great idea . ''
An analysis released Thursday by the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget ( CRFB ) , a deficit watchdog , estimated that the multiplier effect of full , tax-free @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
That , CRFB senior policy director Marc Goldwein told the Free Beacon , means that `` for every dollar the federal government spends and adds to our deficits , we get between somewhere less than a dime and less than a quarter of [ added ] economic output . ''
By comparison , another round of $ 1,200 checks would net 60 cents of GDP per dollar of government spending .
There are two reasons for the weak effect of forgiveness on the economy .
One is that $ 1.5 trillion in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ added to the economy right away but only about $ 90 billion , which would be in annual payments on loan debt .
The money would also flow disproportionately to the well-off , who are `` not the people who are most likely to spend it , '' Goldwein said .
That 's in part because the payments would target those who have been least harmed by the recession : Unemployment levels for those with college degrees have largely rebounded to pre-crisis levels .
It all raises the question : Why are Democrats @ @ @ @ @ @ @ well-off ?
The answer may say something about the shape of the American electorate .
As controversial Marxist economist Thomas Piketty has noted , after controlling for demographic factors Democrats have been winning the college-educated vote since 1990 .
They won the group decisively in 2016 , and in 2020 , they performed even better with white college grads , Democratic political scientist David Shor recently told New York magazine .
In short , student loan forgiveness may not be good economics .
But it is good politics for a party whose 2020 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ urban , college-educated professionals—a group only likely to grow in coalitional power in the next four years .

Democrats are pushing for Joe Biden to make one of his first acts as president the cancellation of trillions of dollars in student debt, a policy that would hand billions to the nation's wealthiest with little benefit to the overall economy, experts say.
In an Election Day interview, Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer (D., N.Y.) called on Biden to enact a plan, authored by himself and Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D., Mass.), to drop up to $50,000 in borrowers' student loan debt by executive order. This week, Warren and a bevy of congressional progressives have renewed the push; on Tuesday, Biden said that he'd like to see up to $10,000 forgiven but that Congress should take the lead.
The enthusiasm among left-leaning Democrats mirrors support among the party's base, which in the Trump era has drawn in more and more college-educated Americans. Advocates also argue that debt relief, which would run to over $1 trillion, would be a major stimulus for a nation still stuck in the coronavirus recession.
But education experts told the Washington Free Beacon that forgiveness would "enrich the already privileged in this country while leaving behind, or perhaps even draining from, the neediest." New research agrees, having shown that forgiveness would bring little economic relief to anyone but the most educated.
Warren and Schumer's proposal calls on Biden to exercise his authority under the 1965 Higher Education Act and cancel up to $50,000 dollars of student-loan debt per borrower. That would trim roughly $1 trillion off of the $1.5 trillion in outstanding federally owned student debt, according to Preston Cooper, an education fellow at the right-leaning Foundation for Research on Equal Opportunity.
"I understand that it's a pandemic and there's a case for generous economic relief spending," Cooper said. "But I question whether student debt forgiveness is really the best use of the money."
That's because student-debt holders are on average well-off: More than half of debt is held by the top 40 percent of wage earners. Among Americans ages 25 to 40, half of debt is held by the top 40 percent of asset holders—meaning that the wealthiest young adults also have the most debt.
Having a degree can add over a million dollars to a person's lifetime earnings, swamping the costs of bearing debt. In other words, the Manhattan Institute's Beth Akers told the Free Beacon, debt cancellation would amount to a major transfer from the poor to the rich.
"Any way you look at it, the plight of student borrowers with college degrees is surely preferable to the plight of those scraping by on the wages paid to less educated workers," Akers said. "Yet they'll have to participate in absorbing the financial toll that comes along with canceling student debt anyway. The reality is that each dollar spent on loan relief is a dollar that is raised in taxes, from a tax base where far less than half of taxpayers have a four-year degree."
Perhaps recognizing these objections, progressives have pushed another argument for relief: It would flood the economy with much-needed stimulus dollars. Citing a team of Brandeis University economists, Schumer and Warren claimed that "canceling student loan debt would also help boost our struggling economy through a consumer-driven economic stimulus."
But other economics experts disagree. Jason Furman, who served as chairman of Barack Obama's Council of Economic Advisers, wrote that the stimulus effects of forgiveness on GDP were likely "close to zero," calling the payout "not a great idea."
An analysis released Thursday by the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget (CRFB), a deficit watchdog, estimated that the multiplier effect of full, tax-free forgiveness would be between 0.08 and 0.23. That, CRFB senior policy director Marc Goldwein told the Free Beacon, means that "for every dollar the federal government spends and adds to our deficits, we get between somewhere less than a dime and less than a quarter of [added] economic output." By comparison, another round of $1,200 checks would net 60 cents of GDP per dollar of government spending.
There are two reasons for the weak effect of forgiveness on the economy. One is that $1.5 trillion in relief would not mean $1.5 trillion added to the economy right away but only about $90 billion, which would be in annual payments on loan debt. The money would also flow disproportionately to the well-off, who are "not the people who are most likely to spend it," Goldwein said.
That's in part because the payments would target those who have been least harmed by the recession: Unemployment levels for those with college degrees have largely rebounded to pre-crisis levels. It all raises the question: Why are Democrats so focused on a handout for the well-off?
The answer may say something about the shape of the American electorate. As controversial Marxist economist Thomas Piketty has noted, after controlling for demographic factors Democrats have been winning the college-educated vote since 1990. They won the group decisively in 2016, and in 2020, they performed even better with white college grads, Democratic political scientist David Shor recently told New York magazine.
In short, student loan forgiveness may not be good economics. But it is good politics for a party whose 2020 agenda reflected the interests of young, urban, college-educated professionals—a group only likely to grow in coalitional power in the next four years.


freebeacon--2020-11-19--Omar Backs Warnock: ‘Nobody Can Serve God and the Military’

Rep. Ilhan Omar ( D. , Minn. ) defended Georgia Democratic Senate candidate Raphael Warnock 's claim that `` nobody can serve God and the military '' on Wednesday , calling criticism of Warnock 's comments `` a disgrace and shameful . ''
Omar—who has her own history of controversial comments about U.S. troops—came to Warnock 's defense , after the Washington Free Beacon reported on his 2011 sermon in which he argued there is a conflict between serving God and the military .
Video of the sermon drew sharp criticism from Republicans this week , including calls for Warnock @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sens .
Tom Cotton ( Ark . )
and Marsha Blackburn ( Tenn. ) .
Omar said in a Twitter post that Warnock was quoting biblical Scripture from `` Mathews [ sic ] 6:24 . ''
`` The lies and smears of the GOP have no boundaries , but this is a disgrace and shameful , '' she wrote .
In his sermon , Warnock , a pastor at Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta , said , `` America , nobody can serve God and the military .
… You ca n't serve @ @ @ @ @ @ @ serve God and mammon at the same time . ''
The passage from the Gospel of Matthew states : `` No one can serve two masters , for either he will hate the one and love the other , or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other .
You can not serve God and money , '' according to the English Standard Version translation .
The passage does not mention the military .
Warnock has also argued that his military comments were taken from the Bible .
`` [ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about how one orders your priority so that you can live a moral life , '' Warnock said during an online press conference on Wednesday .
`` I think it 's unfortunate and shameful that they are trying to distort not only my message but the message of Scripture . ''
Omar came under fire last year after she claimed that U.S. troops killed `` thousands of Somalis '' in the Battle of Mogadishu , a number that experts said was exaggerated .
`` In his selective memory , he forgets to also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the American forces that day !
# NotTodaySatan , '' wrote Omar , in response to another Twitter user who was discussing the U.S. casualties in the battle .
Col. Danny McKnight , who commanded U.S. troops in Mogadishu , told the Washington Examiner last year that he was `` truly offended '' by Omar 's comments and said the military was fighting insurgents to protect civilians .
`` I really am offended , truly offended , by her comment and her thought that thousands were killed by us .
Not true .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
Although the death toll for Somalis is disputed , mainstream sources place it between 133 and less than 1,000 , according to Fox News .
Omar also drew criticism last year after she was seen giggling in the background of a press conference while Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee ( D. , Texas ) was discussing the number of U.S. casualties in Iraq .

Rep. Ilhan Omar (D., Minn.) defended Georgia Democratic Senate candidate Raphael Warnock's claim that "nobody can serve God and the military" on Wednesday, calling criticism of Warnock's comments "a disgrace and shameful."
Omar—who has her own history of controversial comments about U.S. troops—came to Warnock's defense, after the Washington Free Beacon reported on his 2011 sermon in which he argued there is a conflict between serving God and the military. Video of the sermon drew sharp criticism from Republicans this week, including calls for Warnock to drop out of the race from Sens. Tom Cotton (Ark.) and Marsha Blackburn (Tenn.).
Omar said in a Twitter post that Warnock was quoting biblical Scripture from "Mathews [sic] 6:24."
"The lies and smears of the GOP have no boundaries, but this is a disgrace and shameful," she wrote.
In his sermon, Warnock, a pastor at Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta, said, "America, nobody can serve God and the military. … You can't serve God and money. You cannot serve God and mammon at the same time."
The passage from the Gospel of Matthew states: "No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money," according to the English Standard Version translation. The passage does not mention the military.
Warnock has also argued that his military comments were taken from the Bible.
"[The sermon] was about priorities and about how one orders your priority so that you can live a moral life," Warnock said during an online press conference on Wednesday. "I think it's unfortunate and shameful that they are trying to distort not only my message but the message of Scripture."
Omar came under fire last year after she claimed that U.S. troops killed "thousands of Somalis" in the Battle of Mogadishu, a number that experts said was exaggerated.
"In his selective memory, he forgets to also mention the thousands of Somalis killed by the American forces that day! #NotTodaySatan," wrote Omar, in response to another Twitter user who was discussing the U.S. casualties in the battle.
Col. Danny McKnight, who commanded U.S. troops in Mogadishu, told the Washington Examiner last year that he was "truly offended" by Omar's comments and said the military was fighting insurgents to protect civilians.
"I really am offended, truly offended, by her comment and her thought that thousands were killed by us. Not true. Not true at all," McKnight said.
Although the death toll for Somalis is disputed, mainstream sources place it between 133 and less than 1,000, according to Fox News.
Omar also drew criticism last year after she was seen giggling in the background of a press conference while Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (D., Texas) was discussing the number of U.S. casualties in Iraq.


freebeacon--2020-11-19--Feds Bust Cincinnati Dem on Corruption Charges

FBI agents arrested a Democrat serving on Cincinnati 's city council Thursday for accepting bribes in exchange for votes , marking the third arrest on the council this year .
City Councilman P.G .
Sittenfeld faces federal corruption charges , and federal attorneys said more charges stemming from bribery relating to development projects are coming .
Sittenfeld is set to make an appearance in federal court Thursday afternoon .
Sittenfeld was considered a favorite in the 2021 mayoral race , according to Cincinnati.com , having announced his candidacy for the Cincinnati mayoralty last July .
Rising to the city council @ @ @ @ @ @ @ person ever to serve in that position at 27 years of age .
It is not the councilman 's first brush with controversy .
Last year , Sittenfeld was involved in the `` Gang of Five '' scandal , which saw the release of secret text messages between five city council members maneuvering behind the scenes to influence city politics .
The text messages involved accusations that a vice mayor had used his dying wife as a political prop , discussions of undermining the city 's mayor , and coordination regarding the firing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ambitions took him as far as a U.S. Senate run in 2016 , but after a poor showing he focused on city politics .
He is also the brother of Curtis Sittenfeld , who wrote an alternative history of Hillary Clinton where she does not marry Bill Clinton .

FBI agents arrested a Democrat serving on Cincinnati's city council Thursday for accepting bribes in exchange for votes, marking the third arrest on the council this year.
City Councilman P.G. Sittenfeld faces federal corruption charges, and federal attorneys said more charges stemming from bribery relating to development projects are coming. Sittenfeld is set to make an appearance in federal court Thursday afternoon.
Sittenfeld was considered a favorite in the 2021 mayoral race, according to Cincinnati.com, having announced his candidacy for the Cincinnati mayoralty last July. Rising to the city council in 2011, Sittenfeld was the youngest person ever to serve in that position at 27 years of age.
It is not the councilman's first brush with controversy. Last year, Sittenfeld was involved in the "Gang of Five" scandal, which saw the release of secret text messages between five city council members maneuvering behind the scenes to influence city politics. The text messages involved accusations that a vice mayor had used his dying wife as a political prop, discussions of undermining the city's mayor, and coordination regarding the firing of the city manager.
Sittenfeld's ambitions took him as far as a U.S. Senate run in 2016, but after a poor showing he focused on city politics. He is also the brother of Curtis Sittenfeld, who wrote an alternative history of Hillary Clinton where she does not marry Bill Clinton.


freebeacon--2020-11-20--California Sheriffs Tell Newsom They Won’t Enforce COVID Curfew

Several California sheriffs are telling Gov .
Gavin Newsom ( D. ) that they are planning not to enforce the state 's new curfew rules .
`` We ’ re not going to make criminals of normally law-abiding citizens , '' Fresno County sheriff Margaret Mims said .
Officials in four other law-enforcement agencies in the state also said they do not plan to treat gatherings during the coronavirus pandemic as criminal , according to Fox 26 .
Mims argued that the police have higher priorities , including `` taking guns away from gang members , stopping narcotic trafficking , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ '' She also said there is little data showing that activities between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m. play a significant role in spreading the virus .
Newsom has come under fire in recent days for visiting a high-end Napa Valley restaurant for a lobbyist 's birthday .
The governor claimed he and other guests followed social distancing guidelines during the party , but photos circulated online showing the group socializing in close quarters , indoors , and without masks .
Other police officers in the state echoed Mims 's position and said they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about the dangers of the virus 's spread without arresting people .
Sacramento County sheriff Scott Jones said his department would not enforce the curfew , limitations on social gatherings , or masks mandates .
The governor unveiled the new restrictions just ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday and amid a surge in cases across the state .
The restrictions place a ban on nonessential activity between the hours of 10 p.m. and 5 a.m. in counties that contain 94 percent of the state 's population .
Some counties , like Los Angeles County @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of people celebrating the holidays .
In some parts of the Golden State , county officials have taken issue with Newsom 's rules about closing restaurants and businesses .
San Bernardino County supervisors this week announced their intent to sue Newsom on the grounds that `` one-size-fits-all '' coronavirus rules do n't suit the conditions in many communities .

Several California sheriffs are telling Gov. Gavin Newsom (D.) that they are planning not to enforce the state's new curfew rules.
"We’re not going to make criminals of normally law-abiding citizens," Fresno County sheriff Margaret Mims said. Officials in four other law-enforcement agencies in the state also said they do not plan to treat gatherings during the coronavirus pandemic as criminal, according to Fox 26.
Mims argued that the police have higher priorities, including "taking guns away from gang members, stopping narcotic trafficking, and saving children from internet predators." She also said there is little data showing that activities between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m. play a significant role in spreading the virus.
Newsom has come under fire in recent days for visiting a high-end Napa Valley restaurant for a lobbyist's birthday. The governor claimed he and other guests followed social distancing guidelines during the party, but photos circulated online showing the group socializing in close quarters, indoors, and without masks.
Other police officers in the state echoed Mims's position and said they would encourage compliance and boost education efforts about the dangers of the virus's spread without arresting people. Sacramento County sheriff Scott Jones said his department would not enforce the curfew, limitations on social gatherings, or masks mandates.
The governor unveiled the new restrictions just ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday and amid a surge in cases across the state. The restrictions place a ban on nonessential activity between the hours of 10 p.m. and 5 a.m. in counties that contain 94 percent of the state's population. Some counties, like Los Angeles County, have also imposed limits on gatherings of people celebrating the holidays.
In some parts of the Golden State, county officials have taken issue with Newsom's rules about closing restaurants and businesses. San Bernardino County supervisors this week announced their intent to sue Newsom on the grounds that "one-size-fits-all" coronavirus rules don't suit the conditions in many communities.


freebeacon--2020-11-20--NRA Spending Big in Georgia

NRA Spending Big in Georgia

Gun-rights proponents have started spending big in the Georgia runoff elections that will determine control of the Senate .
The National Rifle Association began pouring hundreds of thousands of dollars into reelecting Republicans David Perdue and Kelly Loeffler over the past five days , according to Federal Election Commission disclosures .
The money has gone to canvassing , mail ads , and door hangers aimed at supporting the Republicans or opposing Democrats Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock .
It has yet to be matched by any spending from gun-control groups such as Michael Bloomberg-backed Everytown for Gun Safety .
Despite @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , both sides have described the stakes of the election as monumental .
If both Democrats win , the party would effectively control the Senate with soon-to-be vice president Kamala Harris casting tie-breaking votes on important issues like Joe Biden 's sweeping gun-control proposals .
Victories from either Perdue or Loeffler would maintain GOP control of the upper chamber and help to block Biden 's agenda , which includes a proposed tax on certain rifles and ammunition magazines that would cost upward of $ 34 billion .
Mark Oliva , a spokesman for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the runoffs will determine if Democrats will have a chance to pass gun-control legislation like universal background checks and assault-weapon bans opposed by Perdue and Loeffler but supported by Ossoff and Warnock .
The group is ramping up its Gun Vote registration and turnout program in the state .
`` The choice in Georgia is the choice of , ‘ Do we preserve our American character and our God-given rights or do we allow the steamrolling of radical ideologies to eradicate our rights ? '
'' Oliva told the Washington Free Beacon .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and the executive all fall under Democratic radical gun-control ideas ?
Or are we able to have a stop , a blocking measure , with Republicans controlling the Senate and making sure that gun-control ideas die on the vine ? ''
Gun-control advocates were just as adamant in their support for Ossoff and Warnock .
`` If we elect a gun-safety majority to the Senate , the Biden-Harris administration will have everything they need to hit the ground running and make tangible change starting on day one , '' gun-control group Brady @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
`` We 're on the cusp of real , lifesaving change . ''
Shannon Watts , founder of Everytown subsidiary Moms Demand Action , said the group 's `` grassroots army of volunteers is ready to get to work '' in a press release .
The group did not respond to a request for comment on whether it planned to try and match NRA spending in the race .
Despite backing from billionaire Michael Bloomberg , Everytown was unable to match the gun-rights group 's spending in the 2020 elections .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 5 , 2021 .

Gun-rights proponents have started spending big in the Georgia runoff elections that will determine control of the Senate.
The National Rifle Association began pouring hundreds of thousands of dollars into reelecting Republicans David Perdue and Kelly Loeffler over the past five days, according to Federal Election Commission disclosures. The money has gone to canvassing, mail ads, and door hangers aimed at supporting the Republicans or opposing Democrats Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock. It has yet to be matched by any spending from gun-control groups such as Michael Bloomberg-backed Everytown for Gun Safety.
Despite the early spending lead from gun-rights activists, both sides have described the stakes of the election as monumental. If both Democrats win, the party would effectively control the Senate with soon-to-be vice president Kamala Harris casting tie-breaking votes on important issues like Joe Biden's sweeping gun-control proposals. Victories from either Perdue or Loeffler would maintain GOP control of the upper chamber and help to block Biden's agenda, which includes a proposed tax on certain rifles and ammunition magazines that would cost upward of $34 billion.
Mark Oliva, a spokesman for the National Shooting Sports Foundation, said the runoffs will determine if Democrats will have a chance to pass gun-control legislation like universal background checks and assault-weapon bans opposed by Perdue and Loeffler but supported by Ossoff and Warnock. The group is ramping up its Gun Vote registration and turnout program in the state.
"The choice in Georgia is the choice of, 'Do we preserve our American character and our God-given rights or do we allow the steamrolling of radical ideologies to eradicate our rights?'" Oliva told the Washington Free Beacon. "Do the House, the Senate, and the executive all fall under Democratic radical gun-control ideas? Or are we able to have a stop, a blocking measure, with Republicans controlling the Senate and making sure that gun-control ideas die on the vine?"
Gun-control advocates were just as adamant in their support for Ossoff and Warnock.
"If we elect a gun-safety majority to the Senate, the Biden-Harris administration will have everything they need to hit the ground running and make tangible change starting on day one," gun-control group Brady United told its supporters in an email. "We're on the cusp of real, lifesaving change."
Shannon Watts, founder of Everytown subsidiary Moms Demand Action, said the group's "grassroots army of volunteers is ready to get to work" in a press release. The group did not respond to a request for comment on whether it planned to try and match NRA spending in the race. Despite backing from billionaire Michael Bloomberg, Everytown was unable to match the gun-rights group's spending in the 2020 elections.
The Georgia runoffs will be held on Jan. 5, 2021.


freebeacon--2020-11-20--Open Letter Calls on Harvard to Create ‘System of Accountability’ for Inviting Trump Admin Alums to

Open Letter Calls on Harvard to Create ‘System of Accountability’ for Inviting Trump Admin Alums to Campus

An open letter circulating at Harvard University demands the school create a `` system of accountability '' for hiring former Trump administration officials or inviting them to speak on campus , the Harvard Crimson reported Thursday .
Inviting Trump White House alumni to teach or speak on campus would legitimize the `` subversion of democratic principles , '' the letter states .
Consequently , it asks school officials to create `` accountability guidelines '' to vet those who worked in the Trump administration .
The letter also requests that the school share the guidelines with students before the year 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Democrats who leave the White House after an election .
But President Donald Trump 's `` attack on truth '' necessitates that Harvard administrators vet potential hires or speakers who worked for the president , according to the letter .
`` The Institute of Politics at [ Harvard Kennedy School ] , or any other center , has the responsibility to boldly confront Trump administration officials who are invited to speak at Harvard about their collaboration or passive acceptance of this attack on truth and fundamental democratic principles—or not invite them to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ says .
It 's unknown whether a student or faculty member first penned the letter or how many have signed it so far , according to the Crimson .
Some Democrats have already targeted Trump officials as they begin to look for work in the final months of the current administration .
In a Nov. 6 tweet , Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez ( D. , N.Y. ) suggested creating a list of Trump White House alumni to hold them responsible for their `` complicity . ''
A new group , the Trump Accountability Project @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , though the website deleted the list `` in the spirit '' of President-elect Joe Biden 's call for unity .

An open letter circulating at Harvard University demands the school create a "system of accountability" for hiring former Trump administration officials or inviting them to speak on campus, the Harvard Crimson reported Thursday.
Inviting Trump White House alumni to teach or speak on campus would legitimize the "subversion of democratic principles," the letter states. Consequently, it asks school officials to create "accountability guidelines" to vet those who worked in the Trump administration. The letter also requests that the school share the guidelines with students before the year's end.
Harvard traditionally employs both Republicans and Democrats who leave the White House after an election. But President Donald Trump's "attack on truth" necessitates that Harvard administrators vet potential hires or speakers who worked for the president, according to the letter.
"The Institute of Politics at [Harvard Kennedy School], or any other center, has the responsibility to boldly confront Trump administration officials who are invited to speak at Harvard about their collaboration or passive acceptance of this attack on truth and fundamental democratic principles—or not invite them to speak at all," the letter says.
It's unknown whether a student or faculty member first penned the letter or how many have signed it so far, according to the Crimson.
Some Democrats have already targeted Trump officials as they begin to look for work in the final months of the current administration. In a Nov. 6 tweet, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D., N.Y.) suggested creating a list of Trump White House alumni to hold them responsible for their "complicity." A new group, the Trump Accountability Project, created a website to do so, though the website deleted the list "in the spirit" of President-elect Joe Biden's call for unity.