hotair--2020-07-11--Ann Coulter: C'mon, let's take out Mitch McConnell in November

I won ’ t be participating in the effort but I think it ’ s a fine idea to start the post-election party bloodletting early .
Until something changes meaningfully about the pandemic and/or Trump ’ s approach to it , there ’ s nothing to say about November .
Trump ’ s on track to lose , probably badly .
And if he does , there ’ ll be an unholy cyclone of recriminations followed by a power struggle over what a post-Trump GOP should look like .
Why wait ?
Start the purges now .
Coulter ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s the one trying to purge Kris Kobach by spending big money against him in the Kansas Senate primary .
He tried to recruit Kansas native Mike Pompeo to run for that seat but Pompeo ended up passing .
Kobach is the biggest name left in the field , with his only real competition coming from GOP Rep. Roger Marshall .
Cocaine Mitch has at least three reasons to dislike him .
One is that Kobach ’ s a populist , a stalwart border hawk who wasn ’ t above taking a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ birth certificate back in the day .
People like that aren ’ t as easily controlled by McConnell inside the caucus as establishmentarians are .
Two is that Kobach ’ s proved he ’ s capable of losing a big statewide race against a Democrat , falling five points short in the gubernatorial election in 2018 — in Kansas .
He ’ s not Roy Moore but he ’ s Moore-ish in the sense that he seems to have already alienated enough of his state ’ s Republican majority to make what should @ @ @ @ @ @ @ state needlessly competitive .
Three is that McConnell knows what the GOP is up against this fall .
Even Kansas isn ’ t safe from turning blue if you believe Republican internal polling .
Kobach is an especially risky choice in a climate like that .
The GOP may still have a modicum of influence over the Senate next year if Democrats end up with a narrow majority since centrists like Joe Manchin and Kyrsten Sinema will be wary of left-wing policy programs , but every seat that ’ s added to Schumer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Biden more room for defections .
So … why not turn Kentucky blue too by electing Democrat Amy McGrath and let ’ em go hog wild ?
Three million dollars is a big ad buy in a rural state like Kansas : After CNN reported on the effort Monday night , [ Plains PAC ] publicly announced its plans on Tuesday morning , attacking Kobach ’ s record and saying his loss in the 2018 gubernatorial race means he can ’ t win a Senate race in November .
The group said it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ $ 3 million — with its first ad emphasizing Kobach ’ s “ ties to white nationalists.
” “ Kris Kobach gave Kansans the most liberal governor in our history , ” Plains PAC Executive Director CJ Grover said in a statement .
“ Kansas Republicans support President Trump and his positive vision for America , but not Kobach ’ s consistent affiliation with a toxic ideology explicitly rejected by the President and Kansans of all stripes .
Plains PAC ’ s mission is to remind primary voters why a vote for Kobach @ @ @ @ @ @ @ future.
” … The group ’ s media buyer , Mentzer Media Services , has worked on behalf of Republicans , including Senate candidates and the Senate Leadership Fund , a super PAC affiliated with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky .
Kobach ’ s campaign called the “ white nationalist ” charge garbage , stressing that they immediately severed ties with an independent contractor when they found out he held those views .
Coulter ’ s probably right that the only way to teach establishment dark-money groups to stay out of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one of their heroes .
If McConnell gets to scalp-hunt , populists get to scalp-hunt too .
An obvious distinction is that Plains PAC is hunting in a primary whereas Coulter ’ s going nuclear by hunting in a general election , with a Democrat the direct beneficiary of the “ Stop Mitch ” push .
But a Democrat will benefit indirectly in Kansas from the PAC ’ s gambit against Kobach if he emerges as the nominee anyway , since the “ white nationalist ” stuff might stick to him in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ attacks on him work and Marshall ends up winning the primary , it ’ s an open question how many disgruntled Kobach fans will turn out for Marshall in the fall after their guy was savaged .
Seems like a clusterfark in the making no matter what happens , which is very on-brand for the GOP in 2020 .
As for Trump , he ’ s been quiet about this race as far as I ’ m aware .
No doubt he ’ d prefer Kobach over Marshall , but ( a ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s dismal showing in 2018 and doesn ’ t want to gamble any of his own political cred on him and ( b ) McConnell ’ s doubtless begging him to hold off on endorsing , knowing that Trump declaring his support for Kobach might decide the primary .
If anything , Mitch probably has Trump lined up to campaign for Marshall in case he defeats Kobach , as maybe only POTUS has the juice to convince Kobach voters not to hold a grudge against the nominee .
Given the way things @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I wonder if Marshall would even want that endorsement .
Better to keep his distance , run his own race , and trust that Kansas Republicans who turn out for Trump against Biden will pull the lever for him too , however reluctantly .
Anyway , before the purges begin , I think it ’ s heartwarming that ardent populists like Coulter are capable of aligning with ardent anti-Trumpers like the folks at the Lincoln Project ( George Conway , Rick Wilson ) in a common cause .
The LP is trying to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ punishment for their years of loyalty to the president .
Now here ’ s Coulter trying to sink McConnell as punishment for his years of machinations against populists .
Together , the sky ’ s the limit on the number of red Senate seats these two rascally factions might potentially flip this fall .
Two ads here for your enjoyment .
Our unity is our strength .

I won’t be participating in the effort but I think it’s a fine idea to start the post-election party bloodletting early. Until something changes meaningfully about the pandemic and/or Trump’s approach to it, there’s nothing to say about November. Trump’s on track to lose, probably badly. And if he does, there’ll be an unholy cyclone of recriminations followed by a power struggle over what a post-Trump GOP should look like.
Why wait? Start the purges now.
Coulter’s effort is actually a counter-purge. McConnell’s the one trying to purge Kris Kobach by spending big money against him in the Kansas Senate primary. He tried to recruit Kansas native Mike Pompeo to run for that seat but Pompeo ended up passing. Kobach is the biggest name left in the field, with his only real competition coming from GOP Rep. Roger Marshall. Cocaine Mitch has at least three reasons to dislike him. One is that Kobach’s a populist, a stalwart border hawk who wasn’t above taking a sustained interest in Barack Obama’s birth certificate back in the day. People like that aren’t as easily controlled by McConnell inside the caucus as establishmentarians are.
Two is that Kobach’s proved he’s capable of losing a big statewide race against a Democrat, falling five points short in the gubernatorial election in 2018 — in Kansas. He’s not Roy Moore but he’s Moore-ish in the sense that he seems to have already alienated enough of his state’s Republican majority to make what should be an easy victory in a red state needlessly competitive.
Three is that McConnell knows what the GOP is up against this fall. Even Kansas isn’t safe from turning blue if you believe Republican internal polling. Kobach is an especially risky choice in a climate like that. The GOP may still have a modicum of influence over the Senate next year if Democrats end up with a narrow majority since centrists like Joe Manchin and Kyrsten Sinema will be wary of left-wing policy programs, but every seat that’s added to Schumer’s margin gives a would-be President Biden more room for defections.
So … why not turn Kentucky blue too by electing Democrat Amy McGrath and let ’em go hog wild?
Sen. Mitch McConnell is spending millions of dollars on ads in Kansas to defeat the greatest living Republican — because the Chamber of Commerce is afraid Kris Kobach will cut off their supply of cheap foreign labor. — Ann Coulter (@AnnCoulter) July 10, 2020
Mitch McConnell, senate majority leader of the REPUBLICANS, is spending $3 million dollars in ads calling a fellow Republican a "white supremacist" for opposing mass immigration. PLEASE REPUBLICANS, VOTE AGAINST MCCONNELL AND NEVER GIVE HIM ANOTHER DIME.#VoteKobach — Ann Coulter (@AnnCoulter) July 10, 2020
The latest National Republican Senatorial Committee shows the MAGA candidate, Kris Kobach, beating the open borders candidate, Roger Marshall. So Mitch McConnell zoomed in with millions in dollars of ads DEFAMING Kobach as a "white supremacist."#DefeatMcConnell — Ann Coulter (@AnnCoulter) July 10, 2020
The lovely Amy McGrath is a Marine Corps veteran. The average donation to her campaign is $36. Mitch McConnell is a broken-down old man owed by cheap labor lobbyists.#DefeatMcConnell — Ann Coulter (@AnnCoulter) July 10, 2020
KRIS KOBACH: Harvard, Yale, Oxford — and a real midwesterner, who loves his country.#VoteKobach https://t.co/FIFyUcijcz — Ann Coulter (@AnnCoulter) July 10, 2020
Mitch McConnell is running this year in a CLOSE ELECTION. If we do not teach these betraying RINOs a lesson, we will be Charlie Brown with the football for our remaining time on earth. KENTUCKIANS: STAY HOME ON NOV 3! — Ann Coulter (@AnnCoulter) July 10, 2020
Three million dollars is a big ad buy in a rural state like Kansas:
After CNN reported on the effort Monday night, [Plains PAC] publicly announced its plans on Tuesday morning, attacking Kobach’s record and saying his loss in the 2018 gubernatorial race means he can’t win a Senate race in November. The group said it will launch a multimedia campaign — worth $3 million — with its first ad emphasizing Kobach’s “ties to white nationalists.” “Kris Kobach gave Kansans the most liberal governor in our history,” Plains PAC Executive Director CJ Grover said in a statement. “Kansas Republicans support President Trump and his positive vision for America, but not Kobach’s consistent affiliation with a toxic ideology explicitly rejected by the President and Kansans of all stripes. Plains PAC’s mission is to remind primary voters why a vote for Kobach is too big a risk for our future.”… The group’s media buyer, Mentzer Media Services, has worked on behalf of Republicans, including Senate candidates and the Senate Leadership Fund, a super PAC affiliated with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky.
Kobach’s campaign called the “white nationalist” charge garbage, stressing that they immediately severed ties with an independent contractor when they found out he held those views.
Coulter’s probably right that the only way to teach establishment dark-money groups to stay out of primaries is to take a scalp from one of their heroes. If McConnell gets to scalp-hunt, populists get to scalp-hunt too. An obvious distinction is that Plains PAC is hunting in a primary whereas Coulter’s going nuclear by hunting in a general election, with a Democrat the direct beneficiary of the “Stop Mitch” push. But a Democrat will benefit indirectly in Kansas from the PAC’s gambit against Kobach if he emerges as the nominee anyway, since the “white nationalist” stuff might stick to him in the general election campaign. And if the attacks on him work and Marshall ends up winning the primary, it’s an open question how many disgruntled Kobach fans will turn out for Marshall in the fall after their guy was savaged. Seems like a clusterfark in the making no matter what happens, which is very on-brand for the GOP in 2020.
As for Trump, he’s been quiet about this race as far as I’m aware. No doubt he’d prefer Kobach over Marshall, but (a) he’s probably spooked by Kobach’s dismal showing in 2018 and doesn’t want to gamble any of his own political cred on him and (b) McConnell’s doubtless begging him to hold off on endorsing, knowing that Trump declaring his support for Kobach might decide the primary. If anything, Mitch probably has Trump lined up to campaign for Marshall in case he defeats Kobach, as maybe only POTUS has the juice to convince Kobach voters not to hold a grudge against the nominee.
Given the way things are going for Trump right now, I wonder if Marshall would even want that endorsement. Better to keep his distance, run his own race, and trust that Kansas Republicans who turn out for Trump against Biden will pull the lever for him too, however reluctantly.
Anyway, before the purges begin, I think it’s heartwarming that ardent populists like Coulter are capable of aligning with ardent anti-Trumpers like the folks at the Lincoln Project (George Conway, Rick Wilson) in a common cause. The LP is trying to sink McConnell and other Republican senators as punishment for their years of loyalty to the president. Now here’s Coulter trying to sink McConnell as punishment for his years of machinations against populists. Together, the sky’s the limit on the number of red Senate seats these two rascally factions might potentially flip this fall. Two ads here for your enjoyment. Our unity is our strength.


hotair--2020-07-11--Judge denies Democrat request to allow online voting in Texas due to COVID-19

Nice try , Texas Democrats .
On Friday a state district judge in Texas denied a request from Harris County Clerk Christopher Hollins to allow thousands of voters to vote online in the July primary run-off elections .
The unusual request was made due to an increase in recent coronavirus cases .
Hollins is a Democrat .
The 33-year old attorney has only been in the office since being sworn in on June 1 .
Harris County has never used online voting and isn ’ t set up for it now .
In 2014 online voting was permitted in North @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the only example of online voting in Texas .
The excuse being given by Hollins for online voting in Harris County is that thousands of new COVID-19 cases leave voters in quarantine and unable to come to the polls to vote on Tuesday .
An emergency telephone hearing was heard by Judge Larry Weiman , also a Democrat .
Weiman sided with the objections presented by the Harris County Republican Party .
Judge Weiman said that Hollins failed to show any injured party – he had “ not produced an example of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus.
” He shared the concerns of the county GOP about security issues with online voting .
We aren ’ t talking about a few voters here , either .
Hollins wanted to allow up to 10,000 voters to vote online in the run-off elections .
Then , once that happened , Hollins intended to do the same for the November election .
The primary elections would have given Democrats a foot in the door for instituting online voting in Texas .
Harris County Attorney Vince Ryan , a Democrat , argued that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ break their quarantine to show up at the polls to vote , thus exposing poll workers and other voters to the virus or voters who have tested positive lose their ability to vote .
So , it is refreshing to see a Democrat judge side with common sense and the Republicans in this case .
Democrats don ’ t get to change Election Code when a mail-in ballot option is available .
The Harris County Republican Party and Texas Attorney General ’ s office argued against the plan .
Assistant Attorney General Anne @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a “ rewrite of the Texas Election Code , ” which already provides ill voters a method to vote by mail after missing the application deadline , so long as they are able to physically produce a doctor ’ s note .
Hollins sought to have that requirement waived in favor of an emailed statement certifying a voter has been exposed to COVID , saying infected residents or members of their household risk infecting county employees by delivering a form to a public building .
“ It ’ s inappropriate to substitute a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Some email voting is allowed for members of the military stationed overseas but it is done with secure email addresses that allow election administrators to verify the identity of the voter .
Judge Weiman said if the Election Code is to be changed , that is a job for the state legislature .
Judge Weiman has been busy lately .
On Friday he denied the Republican Party of Texas ’ request for a temporary restraining order after Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner said the GOP state convention can not proceed .
State Republicans claim @ @ @ @ @ @ @ political gamesmanship by Mayor Turner , a partisan Democrat who supports Joe Biden .
The Republican state chairman said that all the precautions were in place for the convention that mitigates the virus – hand sanitizer , face masks , social distancing .
In other words , state Republicans jumped through all the hoops set by the city and yet the mayor still came in and shut it down .
And , there is the sheer hypocrisy of Mayor Turner welcoming with open arms the public protests of the BLM movement and the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , too .
Mayor Turner did as he usually does – tried to play good cop after acting like a bad cop to the state GOP .
He says he didn ’ t want to be the bad guy and shut it down , but , you know , he had to do it .
Speaking Wednesday , Turner said he directed city lawyers to terminate the contract because he believed the event could not be held safely .
“ No one wanted to step in and be the heavy and to say @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of being accused of being political , ” Turner said .
“ But if after all of that , you still refuse to recognize the public health danger to everyone involved , then I am still the mayor.
” Malarkey .
It ’ s all about the November election .
Even to those of us who are not on board for the in-person convention at this time , the mayor doth protest too much .
And , Judge Weiman ruled in his favor .
The Democrats are doing as they always do – @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .

Nice try, Texas Democrats. On Friday a state district judge in Texas denied a request from Harris County Clerk Christopher Hollins to allow thousands of voters to vote online in the July primary run-off elections. The unusual request was made due to an increase in recent coronavirus cases.
Hollins is a Democrat. The 33-year old attorney has only been in the office since being sworn in on June 1. Harris County has never used online voting and isn’t set up for it now. In 2014 online voting was permitted in North Texas due to an outbreak of Ebola, the only example of online voting in Texas. The excuse being given by Hollins for online voting in Harris County is that thousands of new COVID-19 cases leave voters in quarantine and unable to come to the polls to vote on Tuesday. An emergency telephone hearing was heard by Judge Larry Weiman, also a Democrat. Weiman sided with the objections presented by the Harris County Republican Party.
Judge Weiman said that Hollins failed to show any injured party – he had “not produced an example of a voter being disenfranchised by exposure to coronavirus.” He shared the concerns of the county GOP about security issues with online voting. We aren’t talking about a few voters here, either. Hollins wanted to allow up to 10,000 voters to vote online in the run-off elections. Then, once that happened, Hollins intended to do the same for the November election. The primary elections would have given Democrats a foot in the door for instituting online voting in Texas.
Harris County Attorney Vince Ryan, a Democrat, argued that the choice is either those in quarantine break their quarantine to show up at the polls to vote, thus exposing poll workers and other voters to the virus or voters who have tested positive lose their ability to vote.
“Sick voters, those who have COVID, or have been exposed to COVID, certainly fall into the category of people whose right to vote we need to protect,” Hollins said.
So, it is refreshing to see a Democrat judge side with common sense and the Republicans in this case. Democrats don’t get to change Election Code when a mail-in ballot option is available.
The Harris County Republican Party and Texas Attorney General’s office argued against the plan. Assistant Attorney General Anne Mackin said Hollins’ proposal amounted to a “rewrite of the Texas Election Code,” which already provides ill voters a method to vote by mail after missing the application deadline, so long as they are able to physically produce a doctor’s note. Hollins sought to have that requirement waived in favor of an emailed statement certifying a voter has been exposed to COVID, saying infected residents or members of their household risk infecting county employees by delivering a form to a public building. “It’s inappropriate to substitute a new process,” Mackin said.
Some email voting is allowed for members of the military stationed overseas but it is done with secure email addresses that allow election administrators to verify the identity of the voter. Judge Weiman said if the Election Code is to be changed, that is a job for the state legislature.
Judge Weiman has been busy lately. On Friday he denied the Republican Party of Texas’ request for a temporary restraining order after Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner said the GOP state convention cannot proceed.
After a contentious two-hour hearing, Weiman said he was concerned about Houston hospitals reporting they have exceeded their regular intensive-care capacity, as coronavirus cases and deaths have surged in the state. The arrival next week of as many as 6,000 delegates from across Texas could worsen the situation, he noted. Attorneys for state Republicans indicated they plan to file an appeal.
State Republicans claim it is a move made out of political gamesmanship by Mayor Turner, a partisan Democrat who supports Joe Biden. The Republican state chairman said that all the precautions were in place for the convention that mitigates the virus – hand sanitizer, face masks, social distancing. In other words, state Republicans jumped through all the hoops set by the city and yet the mayor still came in and shut it down. And, there is the sheer hypocrisy of Mayor Turner welcoming with open arms the public protests of the BLM movement and the huge memorial to George Floyd in Houston, too.
The group’s lawsuit filed earlier Thursday accused Turner of discriminating against the convention due to an “ideological viewpoint.” A second lawsuit filed by a group of Republicans accused Turner of bowing to “COVID-19 hysteria.” Both lawsuits accuse Turner of imposing tougher standards on the convention than he did on a June 2 protest following the death of George Floyd, a Houston native. Tens of thousands of people, including Turner, attended the protest.
Mayor Turner did as he usually does – tried to play good cop after acting like a bad cop to the state GOP. He says he didn’t want to be the bad guy and shut it down, but, you know, he had to do it.
Speaking Wednesday, Turner said he directed city lawyers to terminate the contract because he believed the event could not be held safely. “No one wanted to step in and be the heavy and to say no, and then run the risk of being accused of being political,” Turner said. “But if after all of that, you still refuse to recognize the public health danger to everyone involved, then I am still the mayor.”
Malarkey. It’s all about the November election. Even to those of us who are not on board for the in-person convention at this time, the mayor doth protest too much. And, Judge Weiman ruled in his favor. The Democrats are doing as they always do – never let a crisis go to waste.


hotair--2020-07-11--Barkley: Sports are turning into a divisive "circus" and fans might not come back

“ I think we ’ re missing the point , ” Charles Barkley told CNBC yesterday about the role of sports — and the fans — in the current unrest .
Without a doubt , the NBA Hall of Famer said , we need police reform , but that should mean “ good cops out there policing the bad cops .
… My concern is turning this into a circus instead of trying to do some good stuff.
” If professional sports leagues think they ’ ll get there by shoving the argument into fans ’ faces constantly , Barkley @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of a job .
“ They [ the fans ] don ’ t want to see a bunch of rich people talking about stuff all the time , ” Barkley said .
“ These people have lost their jobs , they ’ re struggling financially , they ’ re not going to get their jobs back .
And the last thing they want to do is turn on the television and hear arguments about stuff all the time.
” True .
They can log onto Twitter for that , and it ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I think we ’ re missing the point , ” the former 76ers , Suns and Rockets star told CNBC .
“ We need police reform , we need prison reform .
… My concern is turning this into a circus instead of trying to do some good stuff.
” The media contributes to the “ circus ” by focusing on kneeling and messages on buses and jerseys , he added .
What the country really needs , he said , is “ good cops out there policing the bad cops.
” He @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a divided country , “ sports used to be a place where fans could go get away from reality.
” Barkley may be the only major sports figure in America who does get the point .
I ’ m not a “ shut up and dribble ” guy .
Activist athletes are nothing new , and no better or worse than activist actors , activist authors , or even activist call-center directors .
All that used to stop at the game itself , though ; even the kneeling was pregame .
Now , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ players into walking billboards for lectures at fans , for whom sports would otherwise be a wonderful escape from their own mounting personal and financial woes .
The NFL probably isn ’ t far behind that curve either — if it ’ s not the jerseys , it will be a constant stream of social-justice PSAs in the breaks .
The jersey slogan idea is particularly absurd , though .
Who thought that was a good idea , and what exactly will it accomplish ?
What happens when I Am A Man fouls @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sexist ?
I can ’ t wait to see the brawl between Sí Se Puede and Group Economics .
All this accomplishes is cheap virtue-signaling for millionaire athletes while transforming sports into didactics .
This is precisely what Barkley means about the “ circus.
” On top of all that , heap on the hypocrisy .
At the same time that the professional sports leagues want to climb on their high horses to lecture fans about social justice , their athletes continue to spew anti-Semitism without a peep from their colleagues .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ latest to promote the rabid anti-Semite Louis Farrakhan : Drew Brees got an avalanche of criticism from NFL and NBA athletes just for defending his decision to stand during the national anthem .
Those same outraged athletes that accused Brees of bigotry have been either silent about anti-Semitism or have actually defended it in public .
And let ’ s not forget about the NBA ’ s shameful attacks on their own personnel for daring to criticize China ’ s violations of human rights .
Barkley ’ s right to wonder , “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ interesting to see how the public reacts.
” I suspect that most of them won ’ t bother to react at all , and that these athletes are talking the golden goose to death .
By the way , Barkley has another excellent point to make in this interview about schools .
He ’ s skeptical about the wisdom of reopening , but Barkley points out that this might be an issue on which true social justice activists should want to push for reopening : “ You ’ d have to be a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ safe in school right now , ” he said .
Yet , he worries that keeping kids at home could also deepen the divide between the rich and the poor .
“ A lot of kids who are at home don ’ t have access to the internet .
That really makes the gap between the rich and poor even more so .
This is a critical time in our country , ” he added .
“ I just hope we get some adults who know what they are doing and stop screwing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he said .
True .
And not just in politics , either .

“I think we’re missing the point,” Charles Barkley told CNBC yesterday about the role of sports — and the fans — in the current unrest. Without a doubt, the NBA Hall of Famer said, we need police reform, but that should mean “good cops out there policing the bad cops. … My concern is turning this into a circus instead of trying to do some good stuff.”
If professional sports leagues think they’ll get there by shoving the argument into fans’ faces constantly, Barkley thinks they might just talk themselves out of a job. “They [the fans] don’t want to see a bunch of rich people talking about stuff all the time,” Barkley said. “These people have lost their jobs, they’re struggling financially, they’re not going to get their jobs back. And the last thing they want to do is turn on the television and hear arguments about stuff all the time.”
True. They can log onto Twitter for that, and it’s much more efficient at it:
“I think we’re missing the point,” the former 76ers, Suns and Rockets star told CNBC. “We need police reform, we need prison reform. … My concern is turning this into a circus instead of trying to do some good stuff.” The media contributes to the “circus” by focusing on kneeling and messages on buses and jerseys, he added. What the country really needs, he said, is “good cops out there policing the bad cops.” He pointed out that while the U.S. is a divided country, “sports used to be a place where fans could go get away from reality.”
Barkley may be the only major sports figure in America who does get the point. I’m not a “shut up and dribble” guy. Activist athletes are nothing new, and no better or worse than activist actors, activist authors, or even activist call-center directors. All that used to stop at the game itself, though; even the kneeling was pregame. Now, however, the NBA will turn its players into walking billboards for lectures at fans, for whom sports would otherwise be a wonderful escape from their own mounting personal and financial woes. The NFL probably isn’t far behind that curve either — if it’s not the jerseys, it will be a constant stream of social-justice PSAs in the breaks.
The jersey slogan idea is particularly absurd, though. Who thought that was a good idea, and what exactly will it accomplish? What happens when I Am A Man fouls Say Her Name? Will that be sexist? I can’t wait to see the brawl between Sí Se Puede and Group Economics. All this accomplishes is cheap virtue-signaling for millionaire athletes while transforming sports into didactics. This is precisely what Barkley means about the “circus.”
On top of all that, heap on the hypocrisy. At the same time that the professional sports leagues want to climb on their high horses to lecture fans about social justice, their athletes continue to spew anti-Semitism without a peep from their colleagues. The Packers’ Preston Smith is just the latest to promote the rabid anti-Semite Louis Farrakhan:
Keep seeing athletes promote Louis Farrakhan this week. Preston Smith was great for the Packers on and off the field last season and I’m not accusing him of direct hate but Farrakhan is a noted bigot and I didn’t realize he has so much apparent influence in sports. pic.twitter.com/kYqOPOeI7V — Ryan Glasspiegel (@sportsrapport) July 11, 2020
Drew Brees got an avalanche of criticism from NFL and NBA athletes just for defending his decision to stand during the national anthem. Those same outraged athletes that accused Brees of bigotry have been either silent about anti-Semitism or have actually defended it in public. And let’s not forget about the NBA’s shameful attacks on their own personnel for daring to criticize China’s violations of human rights.
Barkley’s right to wonder, “It’s going to be very interesting to see how the public reacts.” I suspect that most of them won’t bother to react at all, and that these athletes are talking the golden goose to death.
By the way, Barkley has another excellent point to make in this interview about schools. He’s skeptical about the wisdom of reopening, but Barkley points out that this might be an issue on which true social justice activists should want to push for reopening:
“You’d have to be a fool to think your kids will be safe in school right now,” he said. Yet, he worries that keeping kids at home could also deepen the divide between the rich and the poor. “A lot of kids who are at home don’t have access to the internet. That really makes the gap between the rich and poor even more so. This is a critical time in our country,” he added. “I just hope we get some adults who know what they are doing and stop screwing around and dividing our country,” he said.
True. And not just in politics, either.


hotair--2020-07-11--Pelosi: If the community doesn't want the statue, the statue shouldn't be there

One of the lesser-known bits of trivia about House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is that her roots are found in Baltimore , Maryland .
( In fact , her father served as the Mayor of Baltimore in the late 40s . )
As such , when political controversy boils over in Charm City , Pelosi is occasionally called on to comment .
That was the case when a mob of protesters recently tore down the statue of Christopher Columbus in Baltimore on the 4th of July .
It ’ s a bit of an interesting cross-section of political issues since Pelosi @ @ @ @ @ @ @ her family .
So what did she think about this wanton display of destruction of public property ?
Hey… the people are going to do what the people are going to do , amirite ?
( CBS Baltimore ) Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi weighed in on the toppling of Baltimore ’ s Christopher Columbus statue on the Fourth of July , saying at a news conference Thursday that , “ if the community doesn ’ t want the statue there , the statue shouldn ’ t be there.
” The Baltimore native @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t diminish her pride in her Italian American heritage , adding she doesn ’ t care much about statues .
“ I ’ m more interested in what people have accomplished , ” she said .
“ I think that it ’ s up to the communities to decide what statues they want to see.
” When a reporter had the temerity to press Pelosi on the question , asking if it would be better for the City Council to order the removal of the statue rather than having it be torn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at first granted that having the city do it would be better in terms of safety .
But she then went on to cavalierly declare , “ People will do what they do.
” This casual dismissal of vandalism and destruction of public property came to the attention of the state ’ s governor .
Pelosi is trying to dance on the head of a pin here .
She ’ s previously gone on record as saying that it ’ s okay to tear down Confederate statues , but not those of Washington @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the same time , when she was asked about vandals tearing down the statue of Saint Junipero Serra in her own district , her only response was to say that she ’ s too busy dealing with the pandemic to worry over such things .
Pelosi is clearly uncomfortable discussing this subject and for good reason .
She doesn ’ t want to anger the party base during an election year and plenty of them are in the mood to riot .
But overall , such public acts of destruction don ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the country .
A plurality of voters is “ mildly opposed ” to tearing down statues of Confederate generals .
But a serious majority oppose doing that with monuments to former presidents , even if they were slave owners .
I wanted to swing back to Pelosi ’ s comments regarding what happened in Baltimore for a moment , however .
It ’ s fairly easy to say that if “ the community ” doesn ’ t like a particular statue standing in their neighborhoods , then “ it shouldn ’ t be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ least leaves room to imply that the community in question could petition their elected municipal leaders and obtain an order for the monument to be safely removed .
Nothing wrong with that .
But when you say “ People will do what they do , ” all bets are off .
Apparently it ’ s okay to break the law , provided the illegal activity is popular with your base .
But now you ’ ve opened the door to any other mischief people want to get up to .
And by “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and attacking the police .
The Speaker apparently has lost all sight of the requirement that law and order be maintained on our streets .
But hey… it ’ s an election year , right ?
So anything goes until the Bad Orange Man is out of office .

One of the lesser-known bits of trivia about House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is that her roots are found in Baltimore, Maryland. (In fact, her father served as the Mayor of Baltimore in the late 40s.) As such, when political controversy boils over in Charm City, Pelosi is occasionally called on to comment. That was the case when a mob of protesters recently tore down the statue of Christopher Columbus in Baltimore on the 4th of July. It’s a bit of an interesting cross-section of political issues since Pelosi is an Italian-American on both sides of her family. So what did she think about this wanton display of destruction of public property? Hey… the people are going to do what the people are going to do, amirite? (CBS Baltimore)
Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi weighed in on the toppling of Baltimore’s Christopher Columbus statue on the Fourth of July, saying at a news conference Thursday that, “if the community doesn’t want the statue there, the statue shouldn’t be there.” The Baltimore native said the statue’s removal doesn’t diminish her pride in her Italian American heritage, adding she doesn’t care much about statues. “I’m more interested in what people have accomplished,” she said. “I think that it’s up to the communities to decide what statues they want to see.”
When a reporter had the temerity to press Pelosi on the question, asking if it would be better for the City Council to order the removal of the statue rather than having it be torn down by “protesters,” Pelosi at first granted that having the city do it would be better in terms of safety. But she then went on to cavalierly declare, “People will do what they do.”
This casual dismissal of vandalism and destruction of public property came to the attention of the state’s governor.
While efforts towards peaceful change are welcome, there is no place in Maryland for lawlessness, vandalism, and destruction of public property. pic.twitter.com/eXNv5qsCUP — Governor Larry Hogan (@GovLarryHogan) July 9, 2020
Pelosi is trying to dance on the head of a pin here. She’s previously gone on record as saying that it’s okay to tear down Confederate statues, but not those of Washington or the other Founders. But at the same time, when she was asked about vandals tearing down the statue of Saint Junipero Serra in her own district, her only response was to say that she’s too busy dealing with the pandemic to worry over such things.
Pelosi is clearly uncomfortable discussing this subject and for good reason. She doesn’t want to anger the party base during an election year and plenty of them are in the mood to riot. But overall, such public acts of destruction don’t poll well at all with most of the country. A plurality of voters is “mildly opposed” to tearing down statues of Confederate generals. But a serious majority oppose doing that with monuments to former presidents, even if they were slave owners.
I wanted to swing back to Pelosi’s comments regarding what happened in Baltimore for a moment, however. It’s fairly easy to say that if “the community” doesn’t like a particular statue standing in their neighborhoods, then “it shouldn’t be there.” Using the word community at least leaves room to imply that the community in question could petition their elected municipal leaders and obtain an order for the monument to be safely removed. Nothing wrong with that.
But when you say “People will do what they do,” all bets are off. Apparently it’s okay to break the law, provided the illegal activity is popular with your base. But now you’ve opened the door to any other mischief people want to get up to. And by “mischief” I mean looting, arson, and attacking the police. The Speaker apparently has lost all sight of the requirement that law and order be maintained on our streets. But hey… it’s an election year, right? So anything goes until the Bad Orange Man is out of office.


hotair--2020-07-11--Why Trump is continuing to oppose Sessions

While it hasn ’ t been generating all that much heat on cable news , Alabama has an election coming up on Tuesday with at least one race that people have been fretting over .
It ’ s the GOP Senate primary runoff between Jeff Sessions and Tommy Tuberville .
Donald Trump staked out his position relatively early , endorsing Tuberville over his former Attorney General and drawing some ( mild ) rebukes from Sessions in return .
But why ?
Okay , I suppose we all know the primary reason why .
The President has never gotten over his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Russiagate probe .
But that ’ s pretty far in the rearview mirror at this point , or at least it should be .
There was a brief moment recently when it looked like the President might be wavering .
Trump canceled a planned rally to support Tuberville , but that looks more like a decision based on spiking coronavirus numbers and fears of a low turnout as a result , rather than wavering on his support of the former Auburn University football coach .
But aside from the Russiagate recusal issue @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Trump from the earliest days of his presidency .
Tuberville , while having plenty of good things to say about the President , is more of an unknown player .
Also , Sessions was probably the biggest driver of the push to get rid of DACA , and that was one of Trump ’ s big issues over the course of his first term .
Dumping DACA was basically Sessions ’ brand .
Of course , now that the President has gone on Noticias Telemundo and said he was going to handle @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a “ road to citizenship ” for DACA recipients , that might be out the window as well .
Just as a small side note here , I tend to agree with Gabriel Malor ’ s take ( s ) on this one .
Trump ’ s unexpected announcement re : DACA may have been a combination of two things .
One could be that the President knew he was speaking to a primarily Spanish language audience so he just tossed in something off-script that he thought they might like to hear .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ he might have been referring to some other form of legal status .
Either would be a stunning reversal as it is , but I rather doubt full “ citizenship ” was what he had in mind .
Returning to Tuesday ’ s race , there is one other possibility to keep in mind , albeit a more politically crude one .
The President loves backing a winner and as of the end of this week , the first independent poll we ’ ve seen in a while ( as opposed to polls @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ) is showing Tuberville with a lead of as much as sixteen points .
The coach is leading Sessions 47 to 31 .
The 22 % undecided vote this late in the game means that Sessions isn ’ t out of this thing yet , and if the COVID-19 spike seriously depresses turnout , anything can happen .
But for the most part , Sessions looks like he ’ s in trouble and Donald Trump doesn ’ t like backing losers .
What it may just come down to in the end , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and it ’ s pretty solid Trump country .
With the President discarding Sessions in favor of the coach , that may wind up being all it took .
But if Sessions does come storming back for the win and winds up ousting Doug Jones in November , his relationship with President Trump might not be quite as cozy next year , assuming there is a second Trump term .

While it hasn’t been generating all that much heat on cable news, Alabama has an election coming up on Tuesday with at least one race that people have been fretting over. It’s the GOP Senate primary runoff between Jeff Sessions and Tommy Tuberville. Donald Trump staked out his position relatively early, endorsing Tuberville over his former Attorney General and drawing some (mild) rebukes from Sessions in return. But why?
Okay, I suppose we all know the primary reason why. The President has never gotten over his anger at Sessions for recusing himself in the Russiagate probe. But that’s pretty far in the rearview mirror at this point, or at least it should be. There was a brief moment recently when it looked like the President might be wavering. Trump canceled a planned rally to support Tuberville, but that looks more like a decision based on spiking coronavirus numbers and fears of a low turnout as a result, rather than wavering on his support of the former Auburn University football coach.
But aside from the Russiagate recusal issue, Sessions has been an ardent supporter of Trump from the earliest days of his presidency. Tuberville, while having plenty of good things to say about the President, is more of an unknown player. Also, Sessions was probably the biggest driver of the push to get rid of DACA, and that was one of Trump’s big issues over the course of his first term. Dumping DACA was basically Sessions’ brand. Of course, now that the President has gone on Noticias Telemundo and said he was going to handle DACA with an executive order and provide a “road to citizenship” for DACA recipients, that might be out the window as well.
Just as a small side note here, I tend to agree with Gabriel Malor’s take(s) on this one. Trump’s unexpected announcement re: DACA may have been a combination of two things. One could be that the President knew he was speaking to a primarily Spanish language audience so he just tossed in something off-script that he thought they might like to hear. Also, instead of “citizenship” he might have been referring to some other form of legal status. Either would be a stunning reversal as it is, but I rather doubt full “citizenship” was what he had in mind.
Returning to Tuesday’s race, there is one other possibility to keep in mind, albeit a more politically crude one. The President loves backing a winner and as of the end of this week, the first independent poll we’ve seen in a while (as opposed to polls commissioned by either of the two campaigns) is showing Tuberville with a lead of as much as sixteen points. The coach is leading Sessions 47 to 31. The 22% undecided vote this late in the game means that Sessions isn’t out of this thing yet, and if the COVID-19 spike seriously depresses turnout, anything can happen. But for the most part, Sessions looks like he’s in trouble and Donald Trump doesn’t like backing losers.
What it may just come down to in the end, though, is that this is Alabama and it’s pretty solid Trump country. With the President discarding Sessions in favor of the coach, that may wind up being all it took. But if Sessions does come storming back for the win and winds up ousting Doug Jones in November, his relationship with President Trump might not be quite as cozy next year, assuming there is a second Trump term.


hotair--2020-07-12--Sunday morning talking heads

Sunday morning talking heads

The Sunday shows were all set for another round of COVID-19 coverage this morning until Trump threw them a curveball on Friday evening by commuting Roger Stone ’ s sentence .
Luckily for “ State of the Union , ” they already had the Speaker of the House booked .
Nancy Pelosi will be pressed this morning on how she and House Democrats plan to respond to the president ’ s dubious clemency for Stone .
She ’ s not really going with this lamebrained idea , is she ?
Congress can ’ t limit a constitutional power granted to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I ’ ll give Pelosi the benefit of the doubt by assuming that she knows that and is proposing this because it ’ s a useful political ploy , not a serious proposal .
For one thing , it ’ ll ease some pressure on the left to impeach Trump again , which Democrats certainly aren ’ t going to risk doing at a moment when everything ’ s going their way during their campaign .
For another , it gives Dems a way to put pressure on McConnell and Senate Republicans to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is destined to be unpopular with the public .
Do you agree that the president should be allowed to pardon cronies or will you pass our bill ?
Pelosi will say .
We ’ re not passing a bill that ’ s obviously unconstitutional , McConnell will reply .
Aha , so you support the president abusing his power to do favors for lackeys who might be able to incriminate him , she ’ ll answer .
Maybe that ’ s worth something to Dems politically , although I think the public ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the pandemic right now .
Speaking of which , there are plenty of guests scheduled this morning to discuss America ’ s rising case counts and what it means for reopening schools eight weeks from now .
The star guest is education secretary Betsy DeVos , who ’ ll be on “ State of the Union ” and “ Fox News Sunday ” to make the case that schools must reopen wherever feasible so that students don ’ t fall further behind in their educations .
What about Trump ’ s threats to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s too risky to reopen right now , she ’ ll be asked ?
What about him warning the CDC publicly that their safety guidelines for children and staff are too strict ?
Good luck to her on spinning those .
Elsewhere , Surgeon General Jerome Adams and White House testing “ czar ” Brett Giroir will chat with “ Face the Nation ” and “ Meet the Press , ” respectively , about the outlook on schools reopening and the state of the pandemic in the south and California .
Are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in hot spots before hospitals are overwhelmed beyond “ wear a mask ” ?
The full line-up is at the AP .

The Sunday shows were all set for another round of COVID-19 coverage this morning until Trump threw them a curveball on Friday evening by commuting Roger Stone’s sentence. Luckily for “State of the Union,” they already had the Speaker of the House booked. Nancy Pelosi will be pressed this morning on how she and House Democrats plan to respond to the president’s dubious clemency for Stone. She’s not really going with this lamebrained idea, is she?
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Trump commuting Roger Stone’s sentence: “I’m recommending that we pass a law that presidents cannot issue a pardon if the crime that the person is in jail for is one that is caused by protecting the President, which this was” https://t.co/ZzhLshSw7I pic.twitter.com/WCwCM5Xvq2 — CNN Politics (@CNNPolitics) July 11, 2020
Congress can’t limit a constitutional power granted to the president by passing a statute. I’ll give Pelosi the benefit of the doubt by assuming that she knows that and is proposing this because it’s a useful political ploy, not a serious proposal. For one thing, it’ll ease some pressure on the left to impeach Trump again, which Democrats certainly aren’t going to risk doing at a moment when everything’s going their way during their campaign. For another, it gives Dems a way to put pressure on McConnell and Senate Republicans to defend Trump’s commutation, which is destined to be unpopular with the public. Do you agree that the president should be allowed to pardon cronies or will you pass our bill? Pelosi will say. We’re not passing a bill that’s obviously unconstitutional, McConnell will reply. Aha, so you support the president abusing his power to do favors for lackeys who might be able to incriminate him, she’ll answer. Maybe that’s worth something to Dems politically, although I think the public’s likely to ignore anything unrelated to the pandemic right now.
Speaking of which, there are plenty of guests scheduled this morning to discuss America’s rising case counts and what it means for reopening schools eight weeks from now. The star guest is education secretary Betsy DeVos, who’ll be on “State of the Union” and “Fox News Sunday” to make the case that schools must reopen wherever feasible so that students don’t fall further behind in their educations. What about Trump’s threats to withhold funding from states that conclude it’s too risky to reopen right now, she’ll be asked? What about him warning the CDC publicly that their safety guidelines for children and staff are too strict? Good luck to her on spinning those. Elsewhere, Surgeon General Jerome Adams and White House testing “czar” Brett Giroir will chat with “Face the Nation” and “Meet the Press,” respectively, about the outlook on schools reopening and the state of the pandemic in the south and California. Are there any suggestions for flattening the curve in hot spots before hospitals are overwhelmed beyond “wear a mask”?
The full line-up is at the AP.


hotair--2020-07-12--Ideological fights over Goya/NBA just dumb

The current ideological , virtue-signaling battle over Goya Foods CEO ’ s praise of President Donald Trump set off another flashpoint in the annoying political culture war of 2020 this weekend .
Social media is chock full of posts either decrying Robert Unanue ’ s initial comments and refusal to back down or vows to keep his company ’ s bottom line strong due to his apparent patriotism .
Make no mistake , this # Goyaway v. # BuyGoya debate is dumb .
Immensely dumb .
Much like the ideological debate over the NBA and NFL for their own political @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and the NBA as a whole over their lack of support of Hong Kong notwithstanding .
Public boycotts over political thinking are not necessarily worth the time and effort people and celebrities claim to invest in the long run .
There ’ s certainly nothing illegal with public criticism of a product or person ( nor should it ever be illegal ) but there ’ s a certain kind of ridiculousness in seeking some sort of groveling apology for political reasons .
One has to wonder if those looking for an acknowledgment of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ immediately flock back or take down their pictures of products or jerseys in trash bins .
The public boycott debate brings about another question regarding free speech and whether Unanue ’ s First Amendment rights are being trampled .
The answer is likely no given the right we have as humans , let alone Americans , to decide whether or not we will associate with a company .
There is still a bit of a concern when politicians or those looking to get back in power take a public stance on a particular @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you , Congresswoman Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez and Mr. President ) .
It would be different if a city or state or nation passed ordinances or laws meant to punish Unanue for his support of Trump .
The current # Goyaway boycott push is a version of cancel culture , but not necessarily the one mentioned in “ A Letter on Justice and Open Debate ” at Harper ’ s Magazine this past week .
The signatories of that essay focused on concerns of demagoguery and illiberalness permeating arts , entertainment , education , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Harper ’ s essay rings true in the Goya/NBA/NFL debates .
“ We uphold the value of robust and even caustic counter-speech from all quarters .
But it is now all too common to hear calls for swift and severe retribution in response to perceived transgressions of speech and thought.
” Of course , it ’ s much harder to “ cancel ” an entire sports league or large corporation particularly when there ’ s a large majority of customers who either don ’ t care or ignore political flashpoints .
Robert Unanue @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Foods CEO although it ’ s much more likely to be due to internal strife amidst the Unanue Family versus public pressure for his support of Trump .
NBA Commissioner Adam Silver or NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell might be forced out due to the unhappiness of team owners , declining popularity due to game length or pace , or labor strife .
Public political flashpoints will likely be minor in the grand scheme of things .
A final reminder regarding the public calls for boycotts championed by celebrities or social media .
They @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from their base .
That ’ s it .
No other real reason except for a rather ridiculous form of political posturing with no real substantive debate .
Outside of the typical , “ It ’ s all about the damn jersey , ” permeating politics .

The current ideological, virtue-signaling battle over Goya Foods CEO’s praise of President Donald Trump set off another flashpoint in the annoying political culture war of 2020 this weekend. Social media is chock full of posts either decrying Robert Unanue’s initial comments and refusal to back down or vows to keep his company’s bottom line strong due to his apparent patriotism.
Make no mistake, this #Goyaway v. #BuyGoya debate is dumb. Immensely dumb. Much like the ideological debate over the NBA and NFL for their own political machinations – snarky comments towards LeBron James and the NBA as a whole over their lack of support of Hong Kong notwithstanding.
Public boycotts over political thinking are not necessarily worth the time and effort people and celebrities claim to invest in the long run. There’s certainly nothing illegal with public criticism of a product or person (nor should it ever be illegal) but there’s a certain kind of ridiculousness in seeking some sort of groveling apology for political reasons. One has to wonder if those looking for an acknowledgment of guilt from Unanue or the NBA would immediately flock back or take down their pictures of products or jerseys in trash bins.
The public boycott debate brings about another question regarding free speech and whether Unanue’s First Amendment rights are being trampled. The answer is likely no given the right we have as humans, let alone Americans, to decide whether or not we will associate with a company. There is still a bit of a concern when politicians or those looking to get back in power take a public stance on a particular product or sports league (looking at you, Congresswoman Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez and Mr. President). It would be different if a city or state or nation passed ordinances or laws meant to punish Unanue for his support of Trump.
The current #Goyaway boycott push is a version of cancel culture, but not necessarily the one mentioned in “A Letter on Justice and Open Debate” at Harper’s Magazine this past week. The signatories of that essay focused on concerns of demagoguery and illiberalness permeating arts, entertainment, education, and political discussion.
One part of the Harper’s essay rings true in the Goya/NBA/NFL debates. “We uphold the value of robust and even caustic counter-speech from all quarters. But it is now all too common to hear calls for swift and severe retribution in response to perceived transgressions of speech and thought.”
Of course, it’s much harder to “cancel” an entire sports league or large corporation particularly when there’s a large majority of customers who either don’t care or ignore political flashpoints. Robert Unanue may eventually lose his job as Goya Foods CEO although it’s much more likely to be due to internal strife amidst the Unanue Family versus public pressure for his support of Trump. NBA Commissioner Adam Silver or NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell might be forced out due to the unhappiness of team owners, declining popularity due to game length or pace, or labor strife. Public political flashpoints will likely be minor in the grand scheme of things.
A final reminder regarding the public calls for boycotts championed by celebrities or social media. They’re looking to dredge up support from their base. That’s it. No other real reason except for a rather ridiculous form of political posturing with no real substantive debate. Outside of the typical, “It’s all about the damn jersey,” permeating politics.


hotair--2020-07-12--USA Today faceplants on "fact check" of Trump campaign using Nazi imagery

I suppose someone at USA Today grew bored with blaming Donald Trump for the pandemic , the ensuing economic collapse , racism in America and the creation of New Coke .
Or so it seems , anyway .
Recently , the President ’ s reelection campaign rolled out the latest in their series of new merchandise to raise campaign cash and offer supports a way of showing their appreciation to Donald Trump in public .
One of the items up for sale was a t-shirt with the ( by now ) familiar phrase of “ America First ” emblazoned across @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bald eagle ( our national bird , in case you somehow missed school the day it was covered ) gripping a circle with an American flag in it .
( Picture ) So what ’ s the first thing that comes to mind when you see such an image ?
If you answered “ Nazis !
” then you may be a good fit for a couple of left-wing , NeverTrump agitators who made precisely that claim .
And USA Today found their incredible accusation credible enough to do a fact check of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ?
I somehow doubt you ’ ll be surprised to learn the answer .
That ’ s right , they found the claim to be “ true.
” They did appear to realize how dumb that tweet looked because they followed it up with a couple of caveats .
But let ’ s see where this started and how the USA Today “ fact-checker ” reached his conclusion .
First of all , the complaints were raised on social media by Bend the Arc : Jewish Action , a group of progressive Democrats @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from the Lincoln Project , a group of NeverTrumper Republicans who are essentially indistinguishable from Democrats , at least until after this November .
They both accused the Trump campaign of selling “ straight up nazi propaganda shirts ” or variations on that theme .
Our diligent fact-checker , Will Peebles , then delves into the history of the Nazi Party in Germany , noting that they also used a symbol of an Eagle with its head turned to the viewer ’ s right .
The eagle also grasps something in its talons @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all similarities stop and Peebles even notes this fact and the many differences to be found .
Some examples : – The Nazi symbol shows the eagle holding a circle of oak leaves containing a swastika .
The Trump logo has the bird holding a plain circle containing an American flag .
– The eagle in the Nazi symbol is entirely black .
The eagle in the Trump logo is a standard bald eagle like the ones in most patriotic American imagery .
– The Nazi circle of leaves dangles fully below the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s American flag logo is clutched tightly to the eagles chest .
In other words , besides the fact that both images have “ an eagle ” in them with its head facing to the viewer ’ s right , there are no other similarities .
So how did Peebles wind up rating this “ fact ” to be “ true ?
” I suppose the closest he can get to an explanation is the way he phrases the conclusion .
( Emphasis added ) I see .
So Mr. Peebles is fact-checking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ come under criticism for using a symbol similar to a Nazi eagle.
” Despite spending most of the article exploring the history of the Nazi eagle and the American bald eagle in official imagery , all he was checking was whether or not some troll on the internet complained about it ?
Then why write such a long article ?
All he had to do was retweet the idiotic partisan kvetching from Bend the Arc and the Lincoln Project , clap his hands and yell , “ VERIFIED !
Yep .
Someone definitely @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Mr. Peebles .
But that ’ s still totally dishonest .
We know this because of the tweet I featured above .
USA Today specifically said that the claim they were fact-checking was , “ Trump campaign shirts feature imperial eagle , a Nazi symbol.
” So our fact-checker not only stepped on a rake when it comes to the facts in question but is apparently lying about it as well .
So much for that .
Tim Murtaugh , Trump 2020 communications director , responded to USA Today by calling the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s all that really needs to be said .
By the way , if you ’ d like to order one of these shirts , you can do so here .

I suppose someone at USA Today grew bored with blaming Donald Trump for the pandemic, the ensuing economic collapse, racism in America and the creation of New Coke. Or so it seems, anyway.
Recently, the President’s reelection campaign rolled out the latest in their series of new merchandise to raise campaign cash and offer supports a way of showing their appreciation to Donald Trump in public. One of the items up for sale was a t-shirt with the (by now) familiar phrase of “America First” emblazoned across it. The logo also features a bald eagle (our national bird, in case you somehow missed school the day it was covered) gripping a circle with an American flag in it. (Picture) So what’s the first thing that comes to mind when you see such an image? If you answered “Nazis!” then you may be a good fit for a couple of left-wing, NeverTrump agitators who made precisely that claim. And USA Today found their incredible accusation credible enough to do a fact check of it. And what was their conclusion? I somehow doubt you’ll be surprised to learn the answer.
Clarification: The claim that Trump 2020 has put out a T-shirt with a symbol similar to a Nazi eagle and is being criticized for it is true. Worth noting, the eagle is a longtime US symbol, too. — USA TODAY (@USATODAY) July 12, 2020
That’s right, they found the claim to be “true.” They did appear to realize how dumb that tweet looked because they followed it up with a couple of caveats. But let’s see where this started and how the USA Today “fact-checker” reached his conclusion.
First of all, the complaints were raised on social media by Bend the Arc: Jewish Action, a group of progressive Democrats purportedly representing Jewish voters, and another from the Lincoln Project, a group of NeverTrumper Republicans who are essentially indistinguishable from Democrats, at least until after this November. They both accused the Trump campaign of selling “straight up nazi propaganda shirts” or variations on that theme.
Our diligent fact-checker, Will Peebles, then delves into the history of the Nazi Party in Germany, noting that they also used a symbol of an Eagle with its head turned to the viewer’s right. The eagle also grasps something in its talons. At that point, pretty much all similarities stop and Peebles even notes this fact and the many differences to be found. Some examples:
– The Nazi symbol shows the eagle holding a circle of oak leaves containing a swastika. The Trump logo has the bird holding a plain circle containing an American flag.
– The eagle in the Nazi symbol is entirely black. The eagle in the Trump logo is a standard bald eagle like the ones in most patriotic American imagery.
– The Nazi circle of leaves dangles fully below the bird’s body. Trump’s American flag logo is clutched tightly to the eagles chest.
In other words, besides the fact that both images have “an eagle” in them with its head facing to the viewer’s right, there are no other similarities.
So how did Peebles wind up rating this “fact” to be “true?” I suppose the closest he can get to an explanation is the way he phrases the conclusion. (Emphasis added)
Our ruling: True The claims that a Trump campaign T-shirt has come under criticism for using a symbol similar to a Nazi eagle is TRUE, based on our research. But it is worth noting that the eagle is a common symbol in American politics, and is included in the presidential seal of the U.S., as well as many federal departments.
I see. So Mr. Peebles is fact-checking whether or not the T-shirt “has come under criticism for using a symbol similar to a Nazi eagle.” Despite spending most of the article exploring the history of the Nazi eagle and the American bald eagle in official imagery, all he was checking was whether or not some troll on the internet complained about it? Then why write such a long article? All he had to do was retweet the idiotic partisan kvetching from Bend the Arc and the Lincoln Project, clap his hands and yell, “VERIFIED! Yep. Someone definitely criticized the shirt.” Job well done, Mr. Peebles.
But that’s still totally dishonest. We know this because of the tweet I featured above. USA Today specifically said that the claim they were fact-checking was, “Trump campaign shirts feature imperial eagle, a Nazi symbol.” So our fact-checker not only stepped on a rake when it comes to the facts in question but is apparently lying about it as well. So much for that.
Tim Murtaugh, Trump 2020 communications director, responded to USA Today by calling the accusation “moronic.” I think that’s all that really needs to be said.
By the way, if you’d like to order one of these shirts, you can do so here.


hotair--2020-07-12--HHS Assistant Secretary: Everything on the table regarding coronavirus

It appears all options will be considered by the federal government , including lockdowns , when it comes to the coronavirus pandemic .
Assistant Secretary for Health Admiral Brett Giroir did not necessarily endorse completely re-shutting down the economy to ABC News this morning but said some restrictions are wise .
“ You know , everything should be on the table , ” Giroir told George Stephanopolous on ABC ’ s This Week when directly asked about lockdowns .
“ What we model are the most important interactions , are closing bars .
If you ’ re in a red @ @ @ @ @ @ @ state — red meaning you have a lot of transmission , closing bars is an important thing , limiting the capacity of restaurants is an important thing , these are two measures that really do need to be done .
They really do need to be done.
” Another shutdown likely dooms President Donald Trump ’ s re-election bid although former Vice President Joe Biden ’ s so-called coronavirus plan leaves plenty to be desired from an economic and personal freedom standpoint .
Libertarian presidential nominee Dr. Jo Jorgensen ’ s coronavirus plan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ minimal shutdowns and few restrictions .
Polling on lockdowns appears favorable at the moment , however , the human cost of can not be forgotten .
How quick we are to forget stories from the spring detailing rising domestic violence and child abuse cases , along with suicides due to long periods of isolation .
Another round of lockdowns likely garners more of the same .
Other options remain , including allowing personal responsibility and trusting individuals and businesses to make the best decisions to protect the health of themselves and others , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this .
One thing under consideration is the decreasing death rate , as pointed out by Giroir on This Week and Nick Gillespie on the June 29th Reason Roundtable podcast .
The U.S. mortality rate is 4.2 % , according to Johns Hopkins University , and while not quite the lowest in the world , still a positive .
Part of the reason why the death rate is down , although deaths are up , is due to the ability of doctors to the treat coronavirus with various pharmaceuticals .
Not everyone believes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ isn ’ t that bad .
Dr. Anthony Fauci called it a “ false narrative ” this past week while encouraging people to not get into a state of complacency .
Fauci is why to encourage personal responsibility and caution despite evidence a vast majority of those who catch coronavirus will be fine .
Unfortunately , Giroir ’ s portrait of the rest of 2020 stayed bleak .
“ [ W ] e know 90 percent of our population is still at risk for the coronavirus , ” the pediatrician said while also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in coronavirus cases were merely hope they didn ’ t necessarily count on .
“ [ T ] here ’ s possibility it could be worse in the fall and we are all continuing to increase everything we do .
I do think in the fall , we ’ re going to need tens of millions of more tests a month and we ’ re planning for that , because we have a lot of respiratory viruses like flu circulating .
Very critical that people their flu vaccines because we don ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , yes , there are some data that you can get both at the same time .
And that ’ s not really good.
” Those Mayans may have been off by eight years or those who studied them miscalculated .

It appears all options will be considered by the federal government, including lockdowns, when it comes to the coronavirus pandemic. Assistant Secretary for Health Admiral Brett Giroir did not necessarily endorse completely re-shutting down the economy to ABC News this morning but said some restrictions are wise.
“You know, everything should be on the table,” Giroir told George Stephanopolous on ABC’s This Week when directly asked about lockdowns. “What we model are the most important interactions, are closing bars. If you’re in a red state, I mean like a red state — red meaning you have a lot of transmission, closing bars is an important thing, limiting the capacity of restaurants is an important thing, these are two measures that really do need to be done. They really do need to be done.”
Another shutdown likely dooms President Donald Trump’s re-election bid although former Vice President Joe Biden’s so-called coronavirus plan leaves plenty to be desired from an economic and personal freedom standpoint. Libertarian presidential nominee Dr. Jo Jorgensen’s coronavirus plan appears similar to the Swedish model of minimal shutdowns and few restrictions.
Polling on lockdowns appears favorable at the moment, however, the human cost of cannot be forgotten. How quick we are to forget stories from the spring detailing rising domestic violence and child abuse cases, along with suicides due to long periods of isolation. Another round of lockdowns likely garners more of the same.
Other options remain, including allowing personal responsibility and trusting individuals and businesses to make the best decisions to protect the health of themselves and others, however, politicians are wont to allow this.
One thing under consideration is the decreasing death rate, as pointed out by Giroir on This Week and Nick Gillespie on the June 29th Reason Roundtable podcast. The U.S. mortality rate is 4.2%, according to Johns Hopkins University, and while not quite the lowest in the world, still a positive. Part of the reason why the death rate is down, although deaths are up, is due to the ability of doctors to the treat coronavirus with various pharmaceuticals.
Not everyone believes the lowered death rate is proof coronavirus isn’t that bad. Dr. Anthony Fauci called it a “false narrative” this past week while encouraging people to not get into a state of complacency. Fauci is why to encourage personal responsibility and caution despite evidence a vast majority of those who catch coronavirus will be fine.
Unfortunately, Giroir’s portrait of the rest of 2020 stayed bleak.
“[W]e know 90 percent of our population is still at risk for the coronavirus,” the pediatrician said while also noting the predictions of a summer lull in coronavirus cases were merely hope they didn’t necessarily count on. “[T]here’s possibility it could be worse in the fall and we are all continuing to increase everything we do. I do think in the fall, we’re going to need tens of millions of more tests a month and we’re planning for that, because we have a lot of respiratory viruses like flu circulating. Very critical that people their flu vaccines because we don’t want flu circulating with COVID. And, yes, there are some data that you can get both at the same time. And that’s not really good.”
Those Mayans may have been off by eight years or those who studied them miscalculated.


hotair--2020-07-12--Secret CDC document: Full re-opening of schools puts Americans at highest risk of COVID-19 spread

Every parent in America with school-age children has the same hot topic on their mind as the summer progresses – will their child ’ s school be open in the fall ?
President Trump is strongly encouraging school districts across the country to re-open and get a more normal school year underway .
Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos agrees with the president and she supports his threat of cutting off federal dollars to school districts that do not re-open .
A document meant for internal use only at the CDC was leaked ( shocker ! )
to the New York @ @ @ @ @ @ @ keep making the coronavirus outbreak into a political football .
The 69-page internal document alleges that a full re-opening of schools puts the spread of the coronavirus at the highest risk .
The purpose of the document was to aid federal response teams that were deployed to coronavirus hotspots nationwide .
But the document was circulated the same week that Vice President Mike Pence said that he expected the CDC to revise its guidelines next week so that they wouldn ’ t be ‘ too tough.
’ Pence and Trump have been eager @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that parents would be free of the burden of virtual home instruction and thus could focus on re-entering the workforce and propping up the economy again .
The CDC provided an analysis of plans put forward by some school districts .
Dr. Robert Redfield , Director of the CDC , contradicted Pence when he said that no , there will not be new guidelines or revised guidelines for schools , but only additional information in the guidelines .
Pence said last week that he expected new guidelines to be released after President Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ CDC guidelines for school districts .
The most important opinion from the CDC is the recognition that one size doesn ’ t fit all – local communities must decide what is best for students in their school districts .
That bodes well with a basic Republican tenet – the government closest to the people governs best .
Teachers ’ unions , for example , are voicing opposition to re-opening .
Since teachers ’ unions are Democrat organizations – most have publicly endorsed Joe Biden – it is hard not to think part of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ until after the presidential election , holding the national economy hostage for as long as possible .
Until schools re-open , many parents are unable to go back to work .
This morning on Meet the Press , Alberto Carvalho , Superintendent of Miami-Dade County Public Schools , explained that his school district is using CDC guidelines and is confident in his re-opening plan .
He spoke of a need for more federal money to implement safety measures for students .
His is a hybrid approach – some online classes , some students @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more easily able to come back to school , while older students may be safer using online education .
He expects to open training camps for some sports later this month , using extreme social distancing .
Most importantly , he pointed to the fact that six weeks from now when some schools face re-opening , the situation on the ground may be quite different than it is now , as far as spikes in new cases go .
The effectiveness of the administration ’ s response to the coronavirus was a hot @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Admiral Giroir , member of the White House coronavirus task force and Assistant Secretary of HHS ( and a pediatrician ) encouraged Face the Nation host Chuck Todd to “ look at the data ” as they debated the progress made with the coronavirus .
Giroir defended the administration ’ s response and said they are “ aggressively ” acting with more availability of tests , safety equipment , and that another national shut down isn ’ t necessary .
Also , he pointed out that if people do get sick , doctors @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The Surgeon General , Jerome Adams , was interviewed on Face the Nation .
He pointed to the fact a rise in cases can just as quickly fall .
“ When we learn more , our recommendations change.
” Adams wants more specific guidelines from the CDC on schools re-opening .
In particular , the recommendation that all students bring a lunch to school .
Many students depend on schools supplying lunch so he said that it is important to make sure those students are taken care of as schools re-open .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ dependent so many poor and low-income families are on the federal government ’ s programs in school districts , like school lunch programs .
Some schools offer breakfast , too , and weekend backpack programs with snacks and basic essentials .
No one wants kids to go hungry but it often looks like the situation has gotten out of control .
The coronavirus outbreak has brought these kinds of issues to the surface .
Schools are often used as babysitters for working parents .
If schools are closed , parents have to make @ @ @ @ @ @ @ kids .
The question remains unresolved – do we keep children sheltered and continue to keep them home from school or do we agree that schools should re-open and respond accordingly if problems arise ?
The coronavirus will still be with us when it ’ s time to re-open .
The level of its severity in communities across the country at that time is unknown .
Southern states open before schools on the east coast .
Western states have their own school year schedules , too .
One size doesn ’ t fit @ @

Every parent in America with school-age children has the same hot topic on their mind as the summer progresses – will their child’s school be open in the fall? President Trump is strongly encouraging school districts across the country to re-open and get a more normal school year underway. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos agrees with the president and she supports his threat of cutting off federal dollars to school districts that do not re-open.
A document meant for internal use only at the CDC was leaked (shocker!) to the New York Times. The left is determined to keep making the coronavirus outbreak into a political football. The 69-page internal document alleges that a full re-opening of schools puts the spread of the coronavirus at the highest risk.
The purpose of the document was to aid federal response teams that were deployed to coronavirus hotspots nationwide. But the document was circulated the same week that Vice President Mike Pence said that he expected the CDC to revise its guidelines next week so that they wouldn’t be ‘too tough.’ Pence and Trump have been eager to send students back to school so that parents would be free of the burden of virtual home instruction and thus could focus on re-entering the workforce and propping up the economy again.
The CDC provided an analysis of plans put forward by some school districts.
‘While many jurisdictions and districts mention symptom screening, very few include information as to the response or course of action they would take if student/faculty/staff are found to have symptoms, nor have they clearly identified which symptoms they will include in their screening,’ according to the talking points. ‘In addition, few plans include information regarding school closure in the event of positive tests in the school community.’
Dr. Robert Redfield, Director of the CDC, contradicted Pence when he said that no, there will not be new guidelines or revised guidelines for schools, but only additional information in the guidelines. Pence said last week that he expected new guidelines to be released after President Trump pointed to the expense involved in the CDC guidelines for school districts.
The most important opinion from the CDC is the recognition that one size doesn’t fit all – local communities must decide what is best for students in their school districts. That bodes well with a basic Republican tenet – the government closest to the people governs best. Teachers’ unions, for example, are voicing opposition to re-opening. Since teachers’ unions are Democrat organizations – most have publicly endorsed Joe Biden – it is hard not to think part of their strategy is to oppose re-opening schools until after the presidential election, holding the national economy hostage for as long as possible. Until schools re-open, many parents are unable to go back to work.
And as Mr. Trump and Education Secretary Betsy DeVos were trying to pressure local schools to comply with their reopening vision, the document was expressly saying the federal government should not override local judgment. “These C.D.C. considerations are meant to supplement — not replace — any federal, state, local, territorial, or tribal health and safety laws, rules, and regulations” with which schools must comply, the packet states in bold lettering. “Implementation should be guided by what is feasible, practical, and acceptable and be tailored to the needs of each community.”
This morning on Meet the Press, Alberto Carvalho, Superintendent of Miami-Dade County Public Schools, explained that his school district is using CDC guidelines and is confident in his re-opening plan. He spoke of a need for more federal money to implement safety measures for students. His is a hybrid approach – some online classes, some students in classrooms. Younger kids may be more easily able to come back to school, while older students may be safer using online education. He expects to open training camps for some sports later this month, using extreme social distancing. Most importantly, he pointed to the fact that six weeks from now when some schools face re-opening, the situation on the ground may be quite different than it is now, as far as spikes in new cases go.
The effectiveness of the administration’s response to the coronavirus was a hot topic on Sunday morning political shows. Admiral Giroir, member of the White House coronavirus task force and Assistant Secretary of HHS (and a pediatrician) encouraged Face the Nation host Chuck Todd to “look at the data” as they debated the progress made with the coronavirus. Giroir defended the administration’s response and said they are “aggressively” acting with more availability of tests, safety equipment, and that another national shut down isn’t necessary. Also, he pointed out that if people do get sick, doctors know how to treat patients better now.
The Surgeon General, Jerome Adams, was interviewed on Face the Nation. He pointed to the fact a rise in cases can just as quickly fall. “When we learn more, our recommendations change.” Adams wants more specific guidelines from the CDC on schools re-opening. In particular, the recommendation that all students bring a lunch to school. Many students depend on schools supplying lunch so he said that it is important to make sure those students are taken care of as schools re-open. It is alarming to think of how dependent so many poor and low-income families are on the federal government’s programs in school districts, like school lunch programs. Some schools offer breakfast, too, and weekend backpack programs with snacks and basic essentials. No one wants kids to go hungry but it often looks like the situation has gotten out of control. The coronavirus outbreak has brought these kinds of issues to the surface. Schools are often used as babysitters for working parents. If schools are closed, parents have to make other arrangements or stay home with their kids.
The question remains unresolved – do we keep children sheltered and continue to keep them home from school or do we agree that schools should re-open and respond accordingly if problems arise? The coronavirus will still be with us when it’s time to re-open. The level of its severity in communities across the country at that time is unknown. Southern states open before schools on the east coast. Western states have their own school year schedules, too. One size doesn’t fit all.


hotair--2020-07-12--Question for Surgeon General: Do you regret telling the public early on not to wear masks?

If Trump loses this fall , a what-if for historians will be “ What if his administration had strongly endorsed mask-wearing in February , at the first sign of community spread in the U.S. ?
” For all the ink spilled about his tweeting and impeachment and dubious moves like pardoning Roger Stone , it ’ s conceivable that an emphatic pro-mask message from the feds on day one would have produced a much less severe epidemic in the United States .
And the epidemic is the thing that ’ s blocking his reelection right now .
Change that one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ slight underdog against Biden at worst , possibly even a slight favorite depending on how well the economy weathered the first , much smaller wave of COVID in the “ universal masks ” scenario .
The failure of the president ’ s experts — starting with Jerome Adams but including Fauci ( who was also bearish on masks early ) and of course the CDC — may have doomed Trump to defeat in November more so than anything the president himself has said or done .
But that hypothetical may be too charitable @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Fauci , etc , had gone all-in on masks early , it ’ s hard to imagine Trump himself going along .
All of the now familiar objections to mask-wearing would have remained : They ’ re unmanly , they ’ re a politically correct form of “ social control , ” they ’ re a tacit admission that the virus is a serious threat rather than “ just the flu.
” It took until July 11 , with his polling in the toilet and a second wave of the disease raging through @ @ @ @ @ @ @ agree to be photographed wearing one and only then during a visit to a hospital .
In fact , at Trump campaign headquarters , they ’ re basically anathema even now .
Facing no threat of enforcement , the Trump campaign has continued to make its own rules on coronavirus protections , said the individuals , who requested anonymity to speak freely .
For instance , staff have been told to wear masks outside the office , in case they ’ re spotted by reporters , but they ’ ve been instructed that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the office , the individuals said , adding that staff also publicly joke about the risk of coronavirus and play down the pandemic ’ s threat .
“ You get made fun of , if you wear a mask , ” said one person .
“ There ’ s social pressure not to do it.
” The individuals described an environment where campaign staff have been discouraged from telling colleagues whether they were exposed to the virus , particularly after a series of negative headlines about multiple campaign staff testing positive ahead @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Tulsa , Okla .
Instead , campaign staff have been encouraged by officials to quietly self-quarantine when they are thought to have come in contact with the virus .
Maybe that ’ ll change now .
Some of Trump ’ s fans and deputies , including Brad Parscale , hooted last night on Twitter after the photo of a masked Trump began circulating that Joe Biden ’ s chances of winning this election had just gotten a lot smaller .
That was their way of trying to influence the president , knowing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Nation .
If they can make him feel more comfortable wearing masks by convincing him that he looks bad-ass in them , he ’ ll wear them more often , then maybe his fans will wear them more often , then maybe the pandemic will slow down a bit .
It ’ s the sort of psychology you ’ d use on a kid , but if it works , it works .
Besides , they ’ re not wrong that Biden ’ s chances will be hurt at least a little by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the spread is an absolute prerequisite to him winning a second term .
His cultural influence will make mask-wearing more common and that should help slow the spread .
My guess is that a pro-mask consensus early on by the administration would have improved things somewhat but wouldn ’ t have delivered a durably good outcome for the U.S. like we ’ ve seen in South Korea and Taiwan .
Even in a best-case hypothetical in which Adams and Fauci shout “ MASK UP NOW !
” on February 15 , the public @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in March and April turned out to be a fraction of what they were in reality , we would have ended up victims of our own success .
The economy would have slowed down even absent any stay-at-home orders as frightened consumers began avoiding businesses for awhile , and mask skeptics would have looked at that and at the low case counts and howled : “ We told you this virus was massively overhyped !
Look at the economic damage we ’ ve suffered , and for what ?
There are barely any @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would have taken the masks off and we ’ d be back on the track we ’ re on now .
We were never going to avoid a bad outcome .
Adams and Fauci — and Trump , if he ’ s now willing — can only do so much to correct for the dumber impulses of American culture .
But we shouldn ’ t let fatalism lead us to let Adams off the hook .
He defends his terrible early advice in the clip below by noting that we didn ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in February : We thought it spread mainly through contact with surfaces instead of via the air and we had no hard evidence yet that masks prevented transmission or that asymptomatics were contagious .
Right , but precisely because the virus was novel and our knowledge of it was so thin , why didn ’ t he , Fauci , and others encourage the public to err on the side of caution and take maximum precautions , starting with mask-wearing ?
Adams ’ s analogy to other badly outdated medical advice ( e.g.
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t wash considering that Asian countries like South Korea which have had recent experience with deadly viruses like SARS went all-in on masks early on .
It would have been simple to say , “ We should follow the example of nations that struggled with SARS until we know more about what we ’ re up against.
” Why didn ’ t they ?

If Trump loses this fall, a what-if for historians will be “What if his administration had strongly endorsed mask-wearing in February, at the first sign of community spread in the U.S.?”
For all the ink spilled about his tweeting and impeachment and dubious moves like pardoning Roger Stone, it’s conceivable that an emphatic pro-mask message from the feds on day one would have produced a much less severe epidemic in the United States. And the epidemic is the thing that’s blocking his reelection right now. Change that one variable and he’s probably a slight underdog against Biden at worst, possibly even a slight favorite depending on how well the economy weathered the first, much smaller wave of COVID in the “universal masks” scenario.
The failure of the president’s experts — starting with Jerome Adams but including Fauci (who was also bearish on masks early) and of course the CDC — may have doomed Trump to defeat in November more so than anything the president himself has said or done.
But that hypothetical may be too charitable to him. Even if Adams, Fauci, etc, had gone all-in on masks early, it’s hard to imagine Trump himself going along. All of the now familiar objections to mask-wearing would have remained: They’re unmanly, they’re a politically correct form of “social control,” they’re a tacit admission that the virus is a serious threat rather than “just the flu.” It took until July 11, with his polling in the toilet and a second wave of the disease raging through battleground states, for POTUS to finally agree to be photographed wearing one and only then during a visit to a hospital.
In fact, at Trump campaign headquarters, they’re basically anathema even now.
Facing no threat of enforcement, the Trump campaign has continued to make its own rules on coronavirus protections, said the individuals, who requested anonymity to speak freely. For instance, staff have been told to wear masks outside the office, in case they’re spotted by reporters, but they’ve been instructed that it’s acceptable to remove them in the office, the individuals said, adding that staff also publicly joke about the risk of coronavirus and play down the pandemic’s threat. “You get made fun of, if you wear a mask,” said one person. “There’s social pressure not to do it.” The individuals described an environment where campaign staff have been discouraged from telling colleagues whether they were exposed to the virus, particularly after a series of negative headlines about multiple campaign staff testing positive ahead of last month’s campaign rally in Tulsa, Okla. Instead, campaign staff have been encouraged by officials to quietly self-quarantine when they are thought to have come in contact with the virus.
Maybe that’ll change now. Some of Trump’s fans and deputies, including Brad Parscale, hooted last night on Twitter after the photo of a masked Trump began circulating that Joe Biden’s chances of winning this election had just gotten a lot smaller. That was their way of trying to influence the president, knowing that he follows social-media chatter from MAGA Nation. If they can make him feel more comfortable wearing masks by convincing him that he looks bad-ass in them, he’ll wear them more often, then maybe his fans will wear them more often, then maybe the pandemic will slow down a bit. It’s the sort of psychology you’d use on a kid, but if it works, it works. Besides, they’re not wrong that Biden’s chances will be hurt at least a little by Trump wearing masks more frequently. Slowing the spread is an absolute prerequisite to him winning a second term. His cultural influence will make mask-wearing more common and that should help slow the spread.
My guess is that a pro-mask consensus early on by the administration would have improved things somewhat but wouldn’t have delivered a durably good outcome for the U.S. like we’ve seen in South Korea and Taiwan. Even in a best-case hypothetical in which Adams and Fauci shout “MASK UP NOW!” on February 15, the public follows their advice, and case counts in March and April turned out to be a fraction of what they were in reality, we would have ended up victims of our own success. The economy would have slowed down even absent any stay-at-home orders as frightened consumers began avoiding businesses for awhile, and mask skeptics would have looked at that and at the low case counts and howled: “We told you this virus was massively overhyped! Look at the economic damage we’ve suffered, and for what? There are barely any cases anywhere!”
Then many people would have taken the masks off and we’d be back on the track we’re on now. We were never going to avoid a bad outcome. Adams and Fauci — and Trump, if he’s now willing — can only do so much to correct for the dumber impulses of American culture.
But we shouldn’t let fatalism lead us to let Adams off the hook. He defends his terrible early advice in the clip below by noting that we didn’t know nearly as much about the virus in February: We thought it spread mainly through contact with surfaces instead of via the air and we had no hard evidence yet that masks prevented transmission or that asymptomatics were contagious. Right, but precisely because the virus was novel and our knowledge of it was so thin, why didn’t he, Fauci, and others encourage the public to err on the side of caution and take maximum precautions, starting with mask-wearing? Adams’s analogy to other badly outdated medical advice (e.g., prescribing cigarettes for asthmatics) doesn’t wash considering that Asian countries like South Korea which have had recent experience with deadly viruses like SARS went all-in on masks early on. It would have been simple to say, “We should follow the example of nations that struggled with SARS until we know more about what we’re up against.” Why didn’t they?