hotair--2020-12-16--School named after Dianne "Dixie" Feinstein to be renamed

As the Free Beacon is reporting this week , California Democratic Senator Dianne Feinstein is being canceled in her native city of San Francisco .
The Dianne Feinstein Elementary School in the San Francisco Unified School District is going to be renamed after a lengthy social justice review determined that Feinstein was insufficiently woke at one point in her past .
If this announcement regarding one of the most infamously liberal members of the upper chamber is taking you by surprise , you ’ re not alone .
But it ’ s apparently true .
Read on to find out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Dianne Feinstein Elementary School is 1 of 44 schools that will be renamed because the district deemed their namesakes “ inappropriate ” in October .
Feinstein ’ s cancellable offense was raising a Confederate flag in front of San Francisco City Hall while serving as mayor in 1984 .
The district decided to reevaluate its school names following a summer of racial-justice protests .
Among the schools it plans to rename are those whose namesakes owned slaves , perpetuated human-rights abuses , or oppressed minorities , women , and the LGBT community .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ that “ Dixie ” Feinstein raised a Confederate flag over the San Francisco Civic Center and replaced the flag after racial-justice protesters tore it down .
There ’ s a bit of a history lesson here , I suppose .
This July 6 , 1984 copy of Workers Vanguard carries a blaring headline declaring that “ militants ” had torn down a confederate flag raised by Feinstein over the San Francisco Civic Center , then tearing down the flagpole it was attached to .
Feinstein later had the pole repaired and a new @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The details in this communist publication are pretty hilarious .
The paper refers to Feinstein , who was then the Mayor of the city , alternately as “ Dixie ” Feinstein and “ Jefferson Davis ” Feinstein .
There had reportedly been a running battle taking place between the communist union members in the city and the Mayor over this issue .
The paper reports that Feinstein had raised confederate flags over the Civic Center twice in May of that year , with “ workers ” tearing them down both times .
Then @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mayor Feinstein had confederate flags hoisted twice more .
Her efforts finally came to an end at that point and she replaced the banner with the “ California Hundred ” flag .
What ’ s harder to determine is why Feinstein was so set on flying a confederate banner to begin with .
There ’ s a reference to an interview with the San Francisco Chronicle where Feinstein claimed that the only reason the Stars and Bars were flying was that the California Hundred flag was “ unavailable ” at the time .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ a replacement in such a liberal bastion , though .
Who knew that Feinstein was such a fan of Dixie ?
She can consider herself in good company at least .
Nearly four dozen schools are being renamed in the district .
Other sinners being canceled include Thomas Edison , George Washington , Herbert Hoover , and Abraham Lincoln .
In the case of Honest Abe , he apparently failed to “ demonstrate that Black lives mattered ” to him .
We have to wonder whether anyone will bother telling Feinstein about the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to fight the decision .
More the point , if they do tell her , will she remember the news by the following day ?

As the Free Beacon is reporting this week, California Democratic Senator Dianne Feinstein is being canceled in her native city of San Francisco. The Dianne Feinstein Elementary School in the San Francisco Unified School District is going to be renamed after a lengthy social justice review determined that Feinstein was insufficiently woke at one point in her past. If this announcement regarding one of the most infamously liberal members of the upper chamber is taking you by surprise, you’re not alone. But it’s apparently true. Read on to find out what sin the 87-year-old legislator committed.
Dianne Feinstein Elementary School is 1 of 44 schools that will be renamed because the district deemed their namesakes “inappropriate” in October. Feinstein’s cancellable offense was raising a Confederate flag in front of San Francisco City Hall while serving as mayor in 1984. The district decided to reevaluate its school names following a summer of racial-justice protests. Among the schools it plans to rename are those whose namesakes owned slaves, perpetuated human-rights abuses, or oppressed minorities, women, and the LGBT community. A 1984 copy of Workers Vanguard reported that “Dixie” Feinstein raised a Confederate flag over the San Francisco Civic Center and replaced the flag after racial-justice protesters tore it down.
There’s a bit of a history lesson here, I suppose. This July 6, 1984 copy of Workers Vanguard carries a blaring headline declaring that “militants” had torn down a confederate flag raised by Feinstein over the San Francisco Civic Center, then tearing down the flagpole it was attached to. Feinstein later had the pole repaired and a new confederate flag raised in its place.
The details in this communist publication are pretty hilarious. The paper refers to Feinstein, who was then the Mayor of the city, alternately as “Dixie” Feinstein and “Jefferson Davis” Feinstein. There had reportedly been a running battle taking place between the communist union members in the city and the Mayor over this issue. The paper reports that Feinstein had raised confederate flags over the Civic Center twice in May of that year, with “workers” tearing them down both times. Then in late June and early July, Mayor Feinstein had confederate flags hoisted twice more. Her efforts finally came to an end at that point and she replaced the banner with the “California Hundred” flag.
What’s harder to determine is why Feinstein was so set on flying a confederate banner to begin with. There’s a reference to an interview with the San Francisco Chronicle where Feinstein claimed that the only reason the Stars and Bars were flying was that the California Hundred flag was “unavailable” at the time. That’s a curious choice for a replacement in such a liberal bastion, though. Who knew that Feinstein was such a fan of Dixie?
She can consider herself in good company at least. Nearly four dozen schools are being renamed in the district. Other sinners being canceled include Thomas Edison, George Washington, Herbert Hoover, and Abraham Lincoln. In the case of Honest Abe, he apparently failed to “demonstrate that Black lives mattered” to him.
We have to wonder whether anyone will bother telling Feinstein about the school name change in case she wants to fight the decision. More the point, if they do tell her, will she remember the news by the following day?


hotair--2020-12-16--VIP Gold chat: Police shootings, election rulings, NFL schoolings, Portland foolings -- and you!

Don ’ t miss today ’ s tremendous live , interactive VIP Gold chat with Bearing Arms ’ Cam Edwards @ @ @ @ @ Morrissey !
The duo will take VIP Gold members ’ questions and comments and give @ @ @ @ @ top topics of the day .
If you are not a VIP Gold member , @ @ @ @ @ watch and participate today — and in future chats !
Use LOYALTY for 25 % @ @ @ @ @ his A-game on 2nd Amendment and liberty issues and makes sure to keep it real @ @ @ @ @ keeps pace with developments abroad , at home , and at the local level as @ @ @ @ @ have plenty to discuss and lots of time to take your questions .
The hot @ @ @ @ @ ’ s COVID-19 vaccine approval and what it means • The latest on the runoffs @ @ @ @ @ fast-moving developments , our VIP Gold members can get the latest as it happens from @ @ @ @

Don’t miss today’s tremendous live, interactive VIP Gold chat at 1:30 pm ET with Bearing Arms’ Cam Edwards and HotAir’s Ed Morrissey! The duo will take VIP Gold members’ questions and comments and give an in-depth analysis of the top topics of the day.
If you are not a VIP Gold member, join below so you can watch and participate today — and in future chats! Use LOYALTY for 25% off!


hotair--2020-12-16--Democrat governor caught at wine bar after issuing lockdown orders for state residents

Rhode Island Governor Gina Raimondo , a Democrat , issued lockdown orders to the state ’ s residents and posted a tweet on December 7 .
She told everyone to stay home and if they do go out , to wear a mask .
She relayed the usual kind of we ’ re-all-in-this-together rhetoric in the post .
It ’ s pretty standard wording for a government official trying to slow the outbreak of the coronavirus .
But , then just four days later , Raimondo was captured in a photo doing the opposite of what she was demanding of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at a wine bar with her husband and to add to her hypocrisy , she was not wearing a mask .
Are wine bars – even ones like she patronized that offer painting and wine drinking – considered essential businesses ?
What about the regular bars , the ones who don ’ t offer a painting activity , that are under lockdown orders ?
The photo was taken by her server .
Despite ordering the shut-down of “ bar areas ” and imposing harsh “ social distancing ” edicts , despite her government @ @ @ @ @ @ @ any recreation or entertainment activities and must prevent access to any such areas on site , ” not only did someone in the room capture photos of Raimondo Rex , her excited SERVER posted a photo of the Gov and Hubby , accidentally confirming the hypocrisy .
The State ’ s guidelines call for a ‘ pause , ’ on freedom , and specifically say that restaurants can ’ t offer ‘ recreation or entertainment activities.
’ Restaurants may NOT operate any recreation or entertainment activities and must prevent access to any such @ @ @ @ @ @ @ also supposed to be closed in restaurants as part of these rules .
Here ’ s the kicker – she went out with her husband to the wine bar after learning that a top aide had tested positive for COVID-19 .
Department of Administration Director Brett Smiley also has tested positive and is self-quarantining .
It sure looks like the governor should have been quarantined at home herself .
But despite the fact that she was aware that her health director has COVID , her guidelines tell people only to go out for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ entertainment activities , bar areas have to be closed , businesses are shut down , and you must socially distance yourself from non-family members , Gina went out on Friday night with her husband to a bar called Barnaby ’ s in Providence and was seen sitting at the bar , drinking wine without a mask on as part of a ‘ paint and wine ’ event .
Look , we can all relate to the desire to have a glass of wine and unwind after another crappy day during the pandemic .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ But , she should have done so at home like everyone else is doing .
Elected officials have to lead by example , especially as they demand that ordinary citizens alter their lives so dramatically .
She was clearly not demonstrating that we are all in this together , right ?
She , as others have , shows that she is above the rules that the little people are expected to follow .
It ’ s arrogant and obnoxious behavior .
It isn ’ t the first time that Raimondo ignored public safety @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at least a couple of examples of not following the rules on the record .
And Turtleboy was kind enough to remind readers of just how much Governor Gina loves Black Lives Matter .
She loves BLM so much , she ( SHOCK ! )
defied her own social-distancing , masking , and gathering edicts to march with BLM advocates during the summer .
And she also got caught without her mask in August , at a quaint shop on Block Island , a popular RI tourist destination for those who USED to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ being caught and hassled by Gina ’ s police-state .
The governor is in quarantine now , better late than never , I suppose .
Some have pointed out that she ’ s lost all credibility on the coronavirus lockdowns now .
It sure looks like she ’ s in a vehicle here , too , posted just yesterday .

Rhode Island Governor Gina Raimondo, a Democrat, issued lockdown orders to the state’s residents and posted a tweet on December 7. She told everyone to stay home and if they do go out, to wear a mask. She relayed the usual kind of we’re-all-in-this-together rhetoric in the post.
It’s week two of our pause. I know it's been hard, but I want to thank every Rhode Islander who's following our guidance. Please, stay home except for essential activities & wear a mask anytime you’re with people you don’t live with. Together, we can turn our case numbers around. — Gina Raimondo (@GovRaimondo) December 7, 2020
It’s pretty standard wording for a government official trying to slow the outbreak of the coronavirus. But, then just four days later, Raimondo was captured in a photo doing the opposite of what she was demanding of Rhode Island residents. She was out at a wine bar with her husband and to add to her hypocrisy, she was not wearing a mask. Are wine bars – even ones like she patronized that offer painting and wine drinking – considered essential businesses? What about the regular bars, the ones who don’t offer a painting activity, that are under lockdown orders? The photo was taken by her server.
Despite ordering the shut-down of “bar areas” and imposing harsh “social distancing” edicts, despite her government saying, “Restaurants may NOT operate any recreation or entertainment activities and must prevent access to any such areas on site,” not only did someone in the room capture photos of Raimondo Rex, her excited SERVER posted a photo of the Gov and Hubby, accidentally confirming the hypocrisy. The State’s guidelines call for a ‘pause,’ on freedom, and specifically say that restaurants can’t offer ‘recreation or entertainment activities.’Restaurants may NOT operate any recreation or entertainment activities and must prevent access to any such areas on site.’ Bar areas are also supposed to be closed in restaurants as part of these rules.
Here’s the kicker – she went out with her husband to the wine bar after learning that a top aide had tested positive for COVID-19. Department of Administration Director Brett Smiley also has tested positive and is self-quarantining. It sure looks like the governor should have been quarantined at home herself.
But despite the fact that she was aware that her health director has COVID, her guidelines tell people only to go out for essential services, her mandates require no entertainment activities, bar areas have to be closed, businesses are shut down, and you must socially distance yourself from non-family members, Gina went out on Friday night with her husband to a bar called Barnaby’s in Providence and was seen sitting at the bar, drinking wine without a mask on as part of a ‘paint and wine’ event.
Look, we can all relate to the desire to have a glass of wine and unwind after another crappy day during the pandemic. She was unwinding with her husband. But, she should have done so at home like everyone else is doing. Elected officials have to lead by example, especially as they demand that ordinary citizens alter their lives so dramatically. She was clearly not demonstrating that we are all in this together, right? She, as others have, shows that she is above the rules that the little people are expected to follow. It’s arrogant and obnoxious behavior.
It isn’t the first time that Raimondo ignored public safety guidance during the pandemic. She has at least a couple of examples of not following the rules on the record.
And Turtleboy was kind enough to remind readers of just how much Governor Gina loves Black Lives Matter. She loves BLM so much, she (SHOCK!) defied her own social-distancing, masking, and gathering edicts to march with BLM advocates during the summer. And she also got caught without her mask in August, at a quaint shop on Block Island, a popular RI tourist destination for those who USED to travel freely, before they worried about being caught and hassled by Gina’s police-state.
The governor is in quarantine now, better late than never, I suppose.
Thank you to everyone who has reached out and offered well-wishes. I tested negative again today. I am fortunate to be feeling great and will continue working from home during my self-quarantine. — Gina Raimondo (@GovRaimondo) December 13, 2020
Some have pointed out that she’s lost all credibility on the coronavirus lockdowns now.
I honestly can't believe this. I'm blown away. She should have been in self quarantine on Fri night. Some of us do follow the rules & making sacrifices by not going out but, I guess paint & wine is important for some. Like folks are going to listen to her moving fwd. I think not. — Ana Barboza-Motta (@AnaBarboza617) December 14, 2020
It sure looks like she’s in a vehicle here, too, posted just yesterday.
https://twitter.com/ilana_calderon/status/1338866909555519493
Yikes.


hotair--2020-12-16--Pence to receive COVID vaccine Friday morning on TV, Biden to get it early next week

A good show by the VP , who ’ s the head of the COVID task force and thus a natural candidate to lead by example here .
I ’ m surprised Trump is willing to let him have this spotlight , though .
Pence is going to get nice press for showing leadership and the clip of him being injected will be replayed endlessly on cable news .
You ’ d think the president might covet that for himself .
Doesn ’ t matter which of them ends up doing it , so long as it ’ s done @ @ @ @ @ @ @ too much flak from people complaining that he ’ s cutting the line at a moment when only medical personnel and nursing-home residents are supposed to be receiving the shot .
The entire country has an interest in his health and he ’ ll do far more good in convincing skeptics to take it by subjecting himself to it now than he would by waiting his turn .
Vice President Mike Pence plans to receive his coronavirus vaccine shot on camera Friday morning at the White House to build “ vaccine confidence ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an administration official with direct knowledge of the plans .
Driving the news : Details are still being worked out , but Pence wants the TV networks to carry the moment live in the morning , the source said , to maximize the audience for the vaccination .
The vice president will be joined by second lady Karen Pence and Surgeon General Jerome Adams… Adams plans to appear in a town hall later this week as part of his vaccine outreach to African Americans , the source added .
Including Adams in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s African-American and that group will need a little more convincing to get the shot .
They should invite Ben Carson down from HUD to get it too .
Having one of the country ’ s most respected black doctors demonstrate his faith in the vaccine can only add to the persuasion .
As for Biden , I continue not to understand why vaccinating the 78-year-old president-elect wasn ’ t an urgent national security priority on the first day the vaccine became available , but the wait is almost over .
After having @ @ @ @ @ @ @ few days in Georgia and at his HQ , he ’ s finally getting the shot next week : “ I don ’ t want to get ahead of the line , but I want to make sure we demonstrate to the American people that it is safe to take , ” Biden told reporters Wednesday in Wilmington , Delaware .
“ When I do it , I ’ ll do it publicly , so you can all witness my getting it done , ” the President-elect said .
People familiar with the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his shot next week .
The delay has not been borne out of hesitation , aides say , but rather logistics of administering the shot in a public setting .
I don ’ t know what that last part about “ logistics ” means .
Send a medical team with the vaccine to his home , send CNN out with a camera crew , and do it in his backyard .
Lickety split .
The nice thing about Biden getting the shot is that his age should make the example he ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with senior citizens .
Seniors are already much more eager to get vaccinated than other age groups because of the special threat COVID poses to older people .
They don ’ t need Sleepy Joe to show them it ’ s safe in order to get enthusiastic about being immunized from COVID .
The people who might take an interest in Biden ’ s experience are those in younger age demographics who worry about side effects and want to “ wait and see ” before risking it .
( According to ABC ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Americans in the “ wait and see ” group than the group that ’ s willing to get vaccinated immediately . )
If you ’ re anxious about the vaccine , watching a 78-year-old get it and carry on as normal should go a ways further in persuading you that it ’ s safe than watching younger people in your community do so in April once access become widespread .
Speaking of widespread access , Politico is reporting something this afternoon that feels mildly miraculous .
It ’ s the vaccine version of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vials are supposed to hold five doses , but pharmacists have found they have enough for a sixth or even a seventh dose .
Putting those into use could significantly increase the United States ’ scarce early supply of the shot , reducing the likelihood of a “ vaccine cliff ” this spring as demand outpaces supply .
Manufacturers typically overfill vaccine vials to safeguard against spills and other waste , said Erin Fox , a pharmacy expert at University of Utah who monitors drug shortages .
“ It ’ s pretty unusual @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more though — but it does seem to be there !
” she said in an email .
But many pharmacists , left confused without federal clarity , threw away hundreds of extra doses since vaccinations began on Monday .
This afternoon the FDA gently informed pharmacists to use the extra f***ing doses instead of throwing them out , for cripes sake .
With up to 40 percent extra in each vial , the feared shortage this spring might not be worrisome after all .
There may be an extra 20-40 million shots @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 100 million .
How confident are we that that ’ s a happy accident and not a case of Pfizer slyly filling a small supplemental order for the feds after Trump ’ s administration initially passed on ordering more than 100 million doses ?
I ’ ll leave you with Chris Christie , who ’ s seen the light since his own terrible bout with COVID in October .
He ’ s low priority for the vaccine as a survivor of the disease but he ’ s doing what he can to try @ @ @ @ @ @ @

A good show by the VP, who’s the head of the COVID task force and thus a natural candidate to lead by example here. I’m surprised Trump is willing to let him have this spotlight, though. Pence is going to get nice press for showing leadership and the clip of him being injected will be replayed endlessly on cable news. You’d think the president might covet that for himself.
Doesn’t matter which of them ends up doing it, so long as it’s done.
Hopefully Pence won’t catch too much flak from people complaining that he’s cutting the line at a moment when only medical personnel and nursing-home residents are supposed to be receiving the shot. The entire country has an interest in his health and he’ll do far more good in convincing skeptics to take it by subjecting himself to it now than he would by waiting his turn.
Vice President Mike Pence plans to receive his coronavirus vaccine shot on camera Friday morning at the White House to build “vaccine confidence” among the American people, according to an administration official with direct knowledge of the plans. Driving the news: Details are still being worked out, but Pence wants the TV networks to carry the moment live in the morning, the source said, to maximize the audience for the vaccination. The vice president will be joined by second lady Karen Pence and Surgeon General Jerome Adams… Adams plans to appear in a town hall later this week as part of his vaccine outreach to African Americans, the source added.
Including Adams in the event is smart given that he’s African-American and that group will need a little more convincing to get the shot. They should invite Ben Carson down from HUD to get it too. Having one of the country’s most respected black doctors demonstrate his faith in the vaccine can only add to the persuasion.
As for Biden, I continue not to understand why vaccinating the 78-year-old president-elect wasn’t an urgent national security priority on the first day the vaccine became available, but the wait is almost over. After having interacted with numerous people over the past few days in Georgia and at his HQ, he’s finally getting the shot next week:
“I don’t want to get ahead of the line, but I want to make sure we demonstrate to the American people that it is safe to take,” Biden told reporters Wednesday in Wilmington, Delaware. “When I do it, I’ll do it publicly, so you can all witness my getting it done,” the President-elect said. People familiar with the plans say Biden is likely to get his shot next week. The delay has not been borne out of hesitation, aides say, but rather logistics of administering the shot in a public setting.
I don’t know what that last part about “logistics” means. Send a medical team with the vaccine to his home, send CNN out with a camera crew, and do it in his backyard. Lickety split.
The nice thing about Biden getting the shot is that his age should make the example he’s setting extra influential, and not just with senior citizens. Seniors are already much more eager to get vaccinated than other age groups because of the special threat COVID poses to older people. They don’t need Sleepy Joe to show them it’s safe in order to get enthusiastic about being immunized from COVID. The people who might take an interest in Biden’s experience are those in younger age demographics who worry about side effects and want to “wait and see” before risking it. (According to ABC’s latest poll, there are more Americans in the “wait and see” group than the group that’s willing to get vaccinated immediately.) If you’re anxious about the vaccine, watching a 78-year-old get it and carry on as normal should go a ways further in persuading you that it’s safe than watching younger people in your community do so in April once access become widespread.
Speaking of widespread access, Politico is reporting something this afternoon that feels mildly miraculous. It’s the vaccine version of the loaves and fishes!
The Pfizer vials are supposed to hold five doses, but pharmacists have found they have enough for a sixth or even a seventh dose. Putting those into use could significantly increase the United States’ scarce early supply of the shot, reducing the likelihood of a “vaccine cliff” this spring as demand outpaces supply. Manufacturers typically overfill vaccine vials to safeguard against spills and other waste, said Erin Fox, a pharmacy expert at University of Utah who monitors drug shortages. “It’s pretty unusual to have a full extra dose or more though — but it does seem to be there!” she said in an email. But many pharmacists, left confused without federal clarity, threw away hundreds of extra doses since vaccinations began on Monday.
This afternoon the FDA gently informed pharmacists to use the extra f***ing doses instead of throwing them out, for cripes sake. With up to 40 percent extra in each vial, the feared shortage this spring might not be worrisome after all. There may be an extra 20-40 million shots in Pfizer’s initial supply of 100 million.
How confident are we that that’s a happy accident and not a case of Pfizer slyly filling a small supplemental order for the feds after Trump’s administration initially passed on ordering more than 100 million doses?
I’ll leave you with Chris Christie, who’s seen the light since his own terrible bout with COVID in October. He’s low priority for the vaccine as a survivor of the disease but he’s doing what he can to try to prevent others from being infected.


hotair--2020-12-16--Would-be terrorist took flight lessons to prepare for hijacking and 9/11 style attack on American sk

Would-be terrorist took flight lessons to prepare for hijacking and 9/11 style attack on American skyscraper

His name is Cholo Abdi Abdullah and according to an indictment unsealed today , he spent two years getting a pilot ’ s license so he would be ready to hijack a plane and carry out a terror attack reminiscent of 9/11 .
His activity was being directed by a leader of the terror group “ al Shabaab.
” The indictment , unsealed Wednesday , charges Cholo Abdi Abdullah with six counts which include multiple counts of providing material support to a foreign terrorist organization , conspiracy to commit aircraft piracy and conspiracy to kill U.S. citizens .
Prosecutors allege @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2017 and 2019 in the Philippines and obtained training , “ ultimately completing the tests necessary to obtain his pilot ’ s license.
” They say he also allegedly researched how he could hijack a commercial airliner and breach a cockpit door , and sought “ information about the tallest building in a major U.S. city , and information about how to obtain a U.S. visa.
” None of the reports I ’ ve seen mention which tall building in which city Abdullah was targeting .
But given that he was trying to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would be that he was aiming for New York .
Al Shabaab is a terror group based in Africa which has pledged allegiance to al Qaeda .
The group has been carrying out attacks in protest over the decision to move the U.S. embassy in Israel to Jerusalem : Recently , al Shabaab has embarked on a string of terrorist attacks as part of an operation purportedly in response to the United States ’ decision to move its embassy in Israel to Jerusalem , which the group has dubbed “ Operation Jerusalem Will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ these terrorist attacks perpetrated by al Shabaab include an attack on Jan. 15 , 2019 , at a hotel in Nairobi , Kenya , which resulted in the deaths of approximately 21 people , including a U.S. national and survivor of al Qaeda ’ s 9/11 attack on the World Trade Center in New York , New York ; a Sept. 30 , 2019 , attack on a U.S. military facility in Somalia ; and a Jan. 5 , 2020 , attack on another U.S. facility in Kenya , in which three Americans @ @ @ @ @ @ @ happened because U.S. authorities caught on to the plot before Abdullah could carry it out .
He was arrested in the Philippines last summer after completing flight school .
Just yesterday he was transferred to New York where he will be facing trial in a Manhattan court .
If convicted , he faces “ a maximum sentence of life in prison , and a mandatory minimum sentence of 20 years in prison.
” “ This chilling callback to the horrific attacks of September 11 , 2001 , is a stark reminder that terrorist @ @ @ @ @ @ @ killing U.S. citizens and attacking the United States .
But we remain even more resolute in our dedication to investigating , preventing , and prosecuting such lethal plots , and will use every tool in our arsenal to stop those who would commit acts of terrorism at home and abroad , ” U.S. Attorney Audrey Strauss said .

His name is Cholo Abdi Abdullah and according to an indictment unsealed today, he spent two years getting a pilot’s license so he would be ready to hijack a plane and carry out a terror attack reminiscent of 9/11. His activity was being directed by a leader of the terror group “al Shabaab.”
The indictment, unsealed Wednesday, charges Cholo Abdi Abdullah with six counts which include multiple counts of providing material support to a foreign terrorist organization, conspiracy to commit aircraft piracy and conspiracy to kill U.S. citizens. Prosecutors allege Abdi Abdullah attended a flight school from 2017 and 2019 in the Philippines and obtained training, “ultimately completing the tests necessary to obtain his pilot’s license.” They say he also allegedly researched how he could hijack a commercial airliner and breach a cockpit door, and sought “information about the tallest building in a major U.S. city, and information about how to obtain a U.S. visa.”
None of the reports I’ve seen mention which tall building in which city Abdullah was targeting. But given that he was trying to recreate the 9/11 attack, my guess would be that he was aiming for New York.
Al Shabaab is a terror group based in Africa which has pledged allegiance to al Qaeda. The group has been carrying out attacks in protest over the decision to move the U.S. embassy in Israel to Jerusalem:
Recently, al Shabaab has embarked on a string of terrorist attacks as part of an operation purportedly in response to the United States’ decision to move its embassy in Israel to Jerusalem, which the group has dubbed “Operation Jerusalem Will Never be Judaized.” In particular, these terrorist attacks perpetrated by al Shabaab include an attack on Jan. 15, 2019, at a hotel in Nairobi, Kenya, which resulted in the deaths of approximately 21 people, including a U.S. national and survivor of al Qaeda’s 9/11 attack on the World Trade Center in New York, New York; a Sept. 30, 2019, attack on a U.S. military facility in Somalia; and a Jan. 5, 2020, attack on another U.S. facility in Kenya, in which three Americans were killed.
Fortunately this attack never happened because U.S. authorities caught on to the plot before Abdullah could carry it out. He was arrested in the Philippines last summer after completing flight school. Just yesterday he was transferred to New York where he will be facing trial in a Manhattan court. If convicted, he faces “a maximum sentence of life in prison, and a mandatory minimum sentence of 20 years in prison.”
“This chilling callback to the horrific attacks of September 11, 2001, is a stark reminder that terrorist groups like al Shabaab remain committed to killing U.S. citizens and attacking the United States. But we remain even more resolute in our dedication to investigating, preventing, and prosecuting such lethal plots, and will use every tool in our arsenal to stop those who would commit acts of terrorism at home and abroad,” U.S. Attorney Audrey Strauss said.
Here’s a CBS News report on the charges.


hotair--2020-12-16--MLB: On second thought, the Negro Leagues were also major leagues

A long-overdue correction to a 51-year-old bad decision .
In attempting to unify and regulate the baseball record book in 1969 , Major League Baseball identified and consolidated records from over a half-dozen professional circuits .
The effort resulted in perhaps the most robust and studied set of statistics in professional sports — but left out black players from the era when MLB clubs refused to allow them to play .
Soon , those players will finally get their historical due , at least in part : MLB said Wednesday it was “ correcting a longtime oversight in the game @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Negro Leagues on the centennial of its founding .
The Negro Leagues consisted of seven leagues , and MLB will include records from those circuits between 1920-48 .
The Negro Leagues began to dissolve one year after Jackie Robinson became MLB ’ s first Black player with the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947 .
Those leagues were excluded in 1969 when the Special Committee on Baseball Records identified six official “ major leagues ” dating to 1876 .
“ It is MLB ’ s view that the Committee ’ s 1969 omission of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ error that demands today ’ s designation , ” the league said in a statement .
The league will work with the Elias Sports Bureau to review Negro Leagues statistics and records and figure out how to incorporate them into MLB ’ s history .
There was no standard method of record keeping for the Negro Leagues , but there are enough box scores to stitch together some of its statistical past .
It ’ s great to see the vanguard of black athletes like Robinson , Monte Irvin , and Satchel Paige @ @ @ @ @ @ @ careers .
Josh Gibson was already well known as one of baseball ’ s top sluggers even though he died just before Robinson finally broke the color line in MLB .
But even better , this long-delayed correction to the record allows many other players to become part of the fabric of major-league baseball , and hopefully opens their careers up to more people — as many as 3,400 players , according to the AP .
This is no sop to political correctness , either .
The official Elias records encompass a number @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s not just restricted to the American and National Leagues .
The level of play in the Negro Leagues were arguably on par or better than some or most of those other circuits , including the AL and NL .
MLB made the decision to add in other defunct circuits into the aegis of “ major leagues ” in 1969 .
Why didn ’ t they include the Negro Leagues at that time ?
Given that MLB was still less than a quarter-century past its integration , it would have been an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ around from the segregated era .
Which leagues will get adopted into the records ?
The New York Times gives us the list , which will just about double the number of circuits covered by the official statistics : The leagues that have been elevated to official major league status are the Negro National League ( I ) ( 1920-31 ) ; the Eastern Colored League ( 1923-28 ) ; the American Negro League ( 1929 ) ; the East-West League ( 1932 ) ; the Negro Southern League ( 1932 ) ; @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( 1933-48 ) ; and the Negro American League ( 1937-48 ) .
Those leagues produced 35 members of the Baseball Hall of Fame , including Oscar Charleston , Cool Papa Bell , Paige and Gibson .
The announcement called attention to the work of the historian Larry Lester , a co-founder of the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum , as well as Gary Ashwill , Scott Simkus , Mike Lynch and Kevin Johnson for their construction of the Negro Leagues Database , which is the most complete statistical record of the leagues .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ books will be a thorough review of available information by the Elias Sports Bureau , keeper of M.L.B.
’ s official statistics .
Its findings could result in several records changing , and could affect the career totals for any players who appeared in both the Negro leagues and the National League or the American League — a group that includes players like Jackie Robinson , Willie Mays and Paige .
One potential objection would be the lack of play between the two sets of leagues , but that cuts both ways .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ home runs if he played against the top talent in the Negro Leagues , and would Josh Gibson have hit as many against American and/or National League pitching ?
Both are valid questions , and both are unanswerable .
That doesn ’ t mean that the records of either should be excluded or dismissed , though .
Putting these leagues into the same statistical universe makes sense , and provides fans of all these leagues a sense of solidarity with each other .
This doesn ’ t diminish or erase the historical wrongs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that all of those players belong in the same league , literally .
I ’ m nowhere near as much a fan of baseball as I had been , but it will be fun to see the new record books when Elias finally merges the new data into the record book .
This is one of the better decisions from major-league sports in quite a while .

A long-overdue correction to a 51-year-old bad decision. In attempting to unify and regulate the baseball record book in 1969, Major League Baseball identified and consolidated records from over a half-dozen professional circuits. The effort resulted in perhaps the most robust and studied set of statistics in professional sports — but left out black players from the era when MLB clubs refused to allow them to play.
Soon, those players will finally get their historical due, at least in part:
MLB said Wednesday it was “correcting a longtime oversight in the game’s history” by elevating the Negro Leagues on the centennial of its founding. The Negro Leagues consisted of seven leagues, and MLB will include records from those circuits between 1920-48. The Negro Leagues began to dissolve one year after Jackie Robinson became MLB’s first Black player with the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947. Those leagues were excluded in 1969 when the Special Committee on Baseball Records identified six official “major leagues” dating to 1876. “It is MLB’s view that the Committee’s 1969 omission of the Negro Leagues from consideration was clearly an error that demands today’s designation,” the league said in a statement. The league will work with the Elias Sports Bureau to review Negro Leagues statistics and records and figure out how to incorporate them into MLB’s history. There was no standard method of record keeping for the Negro Leagues, but there are enough box scores to stitch together some of its statistical past.
It’s great to see the vanguard of black athletes like Robinson, Monte Irvin, and Satchel Paige get a more complete accounting of their careers. Josh Gibson was already well known as one of baseball’s top sluggers even though he died just before Robinson finally broke the color line in MLB. But even better, this long-delayed correction to the record allows many other players to become part of the fabric of major-league baseball, and hopefully opens their careers up to more people — as many as 3,400 players, according to the AP.
This is no sop to political correctness, either. The official Elias records encompass a number of professional baseball leagues already; it’s not just restricted to the American and National Leagues. The level of play in the Negro Leagues were arguably on par or better than some or most of those other circuits, including the AL and NL. MLB made the decision to add in other defunct circuits into the aegis of “major leagues” in 1969. Why didn’t they include the Negro Leagues at that time? Given that MLB was still less than a quarter-century past its integration, it would have been an uncomfortable prospect for owners who were still around from the segregated era.
Which leagues will get adopted into the records? The New York Times gives us the list, which will just about double the number of circuits covered by the official statistics:
The leagues that have been elevated to official major league status are the Negro National League (I) (1920-31); the Eastern Colored League (1923-28); the American Negro League (1929); the East-West League (1932); the Negro Southern League (1932); the Negro National League (II) (1933-48); and the Negro American League (1937-48). Those leagues produced 35 members of the Baseball Hall of Fame, including Oscar Charleston, Cool Papa Bell, Paige and Gibson. The announcement called attention to the work of the historian Larry Lester, a co-founder of the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, as well as Gary Ashwill, Scott Simkus, Mike Lynch and Kevin Johnson for their construction of the Negro Leagues Database, which is the most complete statistical record of the leagues. The first step in merging the record books will be a thorough review of available information by the Elias Sports Bureau, keeper of M.L.B.’s official statistics. Its findings could result in several records changing, and could affect the career totals for any players who appeared in both the Negro leagues and the National League or the American League — a group that includes players like Jackie Robinson, Willie Mays and Paige.
One potential objection would be the lack of play between the two sets of leagues, but that cuts both ways. Would Babe Ruth have hit as many home runs if he played against the top talent in the Negro Leagues, and would Josh Gibson have hit as many against American and/or National League pitching? Both are valid questions, and both are unanswerable.
That doesn’t mean that the records of either should be excluded or dismissed, though. Putting these leagues into the same statistical universe makes sense, and provides fans of all these leagues a sense of solidarity with each other. This doesn’t diminish or erase the historical wrongs, but it does finally remind us that all of those players belong in the same league, literally.
I’m nowhere near as much a fan of baseball as I had been, but it will be fun to see the new record books when Elias finally merges the new data into the record book. This is one of the better decisions from major-league sports in quite a while.


hotair--2020-12-16--CHAZ 2.0: Seattle was supposed to sweep Cal Anderson Park today but it looks like the mayor backed d

CHAZ 2.0: Seattle was supposed to sweep Cal Anderson Park today but it looks like the mayor backed down

Cal Anderson Park in Seattle has been closed for the past six months .
It sits adjacent to the former CHAZ/CHOP zone that was set up on Capitol Hill this summer and has become a staging area for protest gatherings in addition to being a home for quite a few homeless people .
These images show what it looks like as of this week : Instead of providing a benefit to local residents the park has become an eyesore and a source of trouble for neighbors and local businesses who sent letters to Mayor Durkan this week asking for help @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that some of the people in the park are not homeless but “ are treating the park as a base of operations for their occupied protest.
” In other words , Cal Anderson Park is becoming CHAZ 2.0 .
In addition to the problems involving locals , the city itself has been unable to maintain the park because city workers who show up are met with threats , making it unsafe for them to be there without police protection : For all of these reasons , Mayor Durkan authorized a sweep of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up Monday morning warning that it would take place Wednesday , i.e .
this morning at 7:30 am .
A call went out to local anarchists asking them to show up to “ do what ’ s needed.
” Here ’ s one of the signs calling on people to “ stop the sweep.
” Last night a KOMO news crew went to the park to report on the impending sweep and were chased out by people in black bloc : After dark , a reporter did go into the park and spoke @ @ @ @ @ @ @ One homeless person suggested that the black bloc protesters actually make things worse by starting conflicts with police .
Another local report made it clear the occupiers were closing off the park and getting ready for a fight : So this morning finally came and police drove around the area but didn ’ t stop .
No sweep took place .
The city has decided to postpone it : Police never entered the park but black bloc anarchists set a tent on fire anyway : And someone pointed a laser at a news @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more time to set up barricades .
It now looks just like CHAZ did this summer .
All we need now is a new warlord and a few random shootings .
So it appears the mayor saw what was brewing and backed down , just like Mayor Wheeler recently backed down and apologized in a similar confrontation in Portland .
Of course that ’ s only going to reinforce the idea that all it takes to change the Mayor ’ s mind is a show of willingness to battle the police .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a portion of Seattle .

Cal Anderson Park in Seattle has been closed for the past six months. It sits adjacent to the former CHAZ/CHOP zone that was set up on Capitol Hill this summer and has become a staging area for protest gatherings in addition to being a home for quite a few homeless people. These images show what it looks like as of this week:
Cal Anderson Park Seattle pic.twitter.com/1vrSY0PsLP — Dr. Murphy/ Biden Border Crisis Advisor🍇 (@Redx49) December 16, 2020
STROLL THROUGH THE PARK: Cal Anderson used to be one of the Crown Jewels of Seattle. This is what it looks like now. On the eve of an anticipated sweep, neighbors and business owners remain cautiously optimistic, because they have seen this play out before with the same results. pic.twitter.com/voRFPLolgz — Jonathan Choe Journalist KOMO News (@choeshow) December 15, 2020
Instead of providing a benefit to local residents the park has become an eyesore and a source of trouble for neighbors and local businesses who sent letters to Mayor Durkan this week asking for help:
“The situation within the park grows worse and more unsafe by the day,” one key letter — sent to Mayor Jenny Durkan December 14th and provided to CHS this week — reads. “The park has now morphed into a safety concern for both the individuals within the park and the neighboring community. Violence, drugs, vandalism, and other harmful activities in Cal Anderson are adversely affecting our community members to the point where any park activation efforts cannot make any lasting impact.”
The letter went on to say that some of the people in the park are not homeless but “are treating the park as a base of operations for their occupied protest.” In other words, Cal Anderson Park is becoming CHAZ 2.0.
In addition to the problems involving locals, the city itself has been unable to maintain the park because city workers who show up are met with threats, making it unsafe for them to be there without police protection:
“Recent regular (Seattle Parks & Recreation) maintenance efforts have been met with threats of physical violence which is why SPR has had to request the assistance of the Seattle Police Department to ensure the safety of park maintenance and other City employees,” a Seattle Parks Department spokesperson said. “Individuals have barricaded a portion of the park and intentionally set a fire to a tent. SFD has reported five fires in the last month.”
For all of these reasons, Mayor Durkan authorized a sweep of the park this week. Signs were put up Monday morning warning that it would take place Wednesday, i.e. this morning at 7:30 am. A call went out to local anarchists asking them to show up to “do what’s needed.”
Autonomous groups are calling for a community mobilization in response to expected anti-houseless sweeps of Cal Anderson Park in Seattle tomorrow. #Seattle pic.twitter.com/LlNgReoiGW — It's Going Down (@IGD_News) December 16, 2020
Here’s one of the signs calling on people to “stop the sweep.”
Last night a KOMO news crew went to the park to report on the impending sweep and were chased out by people in black bloc:
ABANDONING LIVE SHOT: A group of people in all black emerged out of Cal Anderson Park just before my 4:30pm live shot. They started throwing rocks at us. Now I know how @SeattlePD feels. My crew is safe. @SeattleParks will have hands full during Wed sweep. Update 6pm @komonews pic.twitter.com/3A9sExBGyf — Jonathan Choe Journalist KOMO News (@choeshow) December 16, 2020
After dark, a reporter did go into the park and spoke to some of the people there. One homeless person suggested that the black bloc protesters actually make things worse by starting conflicts with police.
WHAT HAPPENED TO SWEEP? IS THIS NEW #CHOP? My colleague @mattmarkovich went in to the Cal Anderson Park encampment Tues night. Some of the homeless say they don't want the black bloc protestors there since that group usually brings violence. Hot mess.#SEATTLE #Seattleprotest pic.twitter.com/QRb9hvbFQ5 — Jonathan Choe Journalist KOMO News (@choeshow) December 16, 2020
Another local report made it clear the occupiers were closing off the park and getting ready for a fight:
THEY'RE HERE: Dozens of people dressed in all black have arrived to Cal Anderson Park. On the eve of Wednesday's planned homeless sweep, this group and others living at the park say they aren't leaving without a fight. #Seattle #CalAndersonPark #seattleprotest pic.twitter.com/7E8vxUg0JB — Jonathan Choe Journalist KOMO News (@choeshow) December 16, 2020
So this morning finally came and police drove around the area but didn’t stop. No sweep took place. The city has decided to postpone it:
The City of Seattle has postponed their expected sweep to clear homeless campers out of Cal Anderson Park in Seattle’s Capitol Hill neighborhood. A Seattle Parks spokesperson told KOMO News they still plan to eventually reopen the park but the sweep that had been scheduled to begin at 7:30 a.m. would be postponed.
Police never entered the park but black bloc anarchists set a tent on fire anyway:
BREAKING: A fire has been set in Seattle's Cal Anderson Park as @SeattlePD move in to clear a homeless camp.
Developments unfolding now on @KING5Seattle. pic.twitter.com/VsvKaoTvpW — Jake Whittenberg 🎥 (@jwhittenbergK5) December 16, 2020
And someone pointed a laser at a news chopper:
These people were mad that the media was covering the situation at Cal Anderson Park this morning, so they decided to point a laser at our chopper and endanger the lives of the two people on board. pic.twitter.com/PNJwMxqfCA — Kendra Gilbert (@KLGnews) December 16, 2020
The delay gave the occupiers more time to set up barricades. It now looks just like CHAZ did this summer. All we need now is a new warlord and a few random shootings.
Antifa and activists are hunkering down at Cal Anderson Park in anticipation of SPD clearning the encampment.
Yesterday, they were just protecting their staging area for riots. Now it seems like they are making an effort to barricade the whole park pic.twitter.com/Akt88iQyaE — Ari Hoffman (@thehoffather) December 16, 2020
So it appears the mayor saw what was brewing and backed down, just like Mayor Wheeler recently backed down and apologized in a similar confrontation in Portland. Of course that’s only going to reinforce the idea that all it takes to change the Mayor’s mind is a show of willingness to battle the police. The occupiers are once again in charge of a portion of Seattle.


hotair--2020-12-16--Worried Biden donors want campaign chief to apologize for calling GOP "f***ers"

It was reeeeeally dumb of her to put a dent in President Norms ’ s “ heal the nation ” pitch by gratuitously insulting the opposition .
But I think it ’ d also be reeeeeally dumb of Sleepy Joe to force her to apologize , knowing how that ’ ll piss off some of his own voters .
“ But they are f***ers !
Trump ’ s been trying to stage a coup for the past month and hardly any of them have uttered a peep !
” As a member of a group whom the president once described @ @ @ @ @ @ @ think we all should try to insult each other less but also try to roll with it when it inevitably happens .
Some advisers close to President-elect Joe Biden are frustrated over a Glamour magazine interview in which incoming White House deputy chief of staff Jen O ’ Malley Dillon referred to Republicans on Capitol Hill as “ f*ckers.
” … Some donors want O ’ Malley Dillon , his campaign manager , to apologize — to Biden and perhaps to congressional Republicans… “ For those of us who , from Day One @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for civility and a return to normalcy , this isn ’ t just beyond the pale — it ’ s plain stupid , ” said one Biden donor… Biden confidants don ’ t necessarily disagree with O ’ Malley Dillon ’ s darker sentiments ; they disagree with her decision to say them for public consumption .
“ They *are* f***ers but no one should be saying so on the record ” is an … interesting approach to restoring the soul of America .
On the other hand , if Ted Cruz could @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the 2016 primaries and offer to commit a little light sedition on his behalf , we should probably expect Cocaine Mitch to pull himself together after O ’ Malley Dillon ’ s insult and huddle with Biden on some things .
Biden has been quite optimistic this week about convincing some Senate Republicans to work with him : In a meeting on Monday , Biden insisted to supporters that he could work with Republicans , despite the continued refusal of some GOP senators even to acknowledge his victory .
“ I may eat @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you : As Donald Trump ’ s shadow fades away , you ’ re going to see an awful lot change , ” Biden said on a call with grass-roots supporters… “ You ’ re going to be surprised , ” Biden promised .
“ We ’ re going to have a lot of people wanting to work with us.
” … Biden told supporters Monday that he believed he could find common ground on areas such as an infrastructure program and relations with China , particularly with the senators he has spoken @ @ @ @ @ @ @ includes Sen. Lindsey O. Graham ( R-S.C. ) , one of Trump ’ s closest allies in the Senate , The Post has learned .
Others include Sens .
Susan Collins ( R-Maine ) , Patrick J. Toomey ( R-Pa. ) and Sen. Mitt Romney ( R-Utah ) , who was the Republicans ’ 2012 presidential standard-bearer .
Graham , Collins , Toomey , and Romney make four .
Biden will need another six to beat a filibuster even if Warnock and Ossoff come through for him in the Georgia runoffs .
Where @ @ @ @ @ @ @ good news for him is that the post-MAGA nationalist GOP shouldn ’ t be as staunchly opposed in “ principle ” to Democratic initiatives as the tea-party-era GOP was .
Obama wanted to expand government in various ways , the tea party wanted to shrink it .
Not a lot of common ground there .
But the post-MAGA GOP wants to reposition itself as a working-class party , one much more willing to spend money to help average Americans than the tea party was .
Witness the unlikely alliance this week between Bernie @ @ @ @ @ @ @ checks as part of the new COVID relief package .
If President Sleepy Joe floated a trillion-dollar infrastructure plan , promising lots of new jobs in the process , which way would Hawley go on that ?
Tom Cotton ?
Other Republican senators with an eye on 2024 or 2028 ?
One last point about O ’ Malley Dillon .
Although her insult to Republicans was foolish given Biden ’ s campaign message and the hard reality of Senate math , her underlying point was useful in a hyperpartisan era .
Namely , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the opposition to work with them .
“ In the primary , people would mock him , like , ‘ You think you can work with Republicans ?
’ I ’ m not saying they ’ re not a bunch of f***ers .
Mitch McConnell is terrible .
But this sense that you couldn ’ t wish for that , you couldn ’ t wish for this bipartisan ideal ?
He rejected that , ” she said of Biden .
She ’ s worried , rightly , about antipathy between the parties ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their elected leaders to take a rejectionist approach to legislation .
You can think McConnell or Biden is a f***er and still vote for an infrastructure bill they support , she ’ s saying .
That ’ s true , and it ’ d be nice if that logic applied on bills besides must-pass stuff like COVID relief .
Proposal : Both sides get to call each other f***ers openly so long as they ’ re allowed to compromise on bills of mutual benefit .

It was reeeeeally dumb of her to put a dent in President Norms’s “heal the nation” pitch by gratuitously insulting the opposition.
But I think it’d also be reeeeeally dumb of Sleepy Joe to force her to apologize, knowing how that’ll piss off some of his own voters. “But they are f***ers! Trump’s been trying to stage a coup for the past month and hardly any of them have uttered a peep!”
As a member of a group whom the president once described as “human scum,” I think we all should try to insult each other less but also try to roll with it when it inevitably happens.
Some advisers close to President-elect Joe Biden are frustrated over a Glamour magazine interview in which incoming White House deputy chief of staff Jen O’Malley Dillon referred to Republicans on Capitol Hill as “f*ckers.”… Some donors want O’Malley Dillon, his campaign manager, to apologize — to Biden and perhaps to congressional Republicans… “For those of us who, from Day One, bought into Biden’s calls for civility and a return to normalcy, this isn’t just beyond the pale — it’s plain stupid,” said one Biden donor… Biden confidants don’t necessarily disagree with O’Malley Dillon’s darker sentiments; they disagree with her decision to say them for public consumption.
“They *are* f***ers but no one should be saying so on the record” is an … interesting approach to restoring the soul of America. On the other hand, if Ted Cruz could look past Trump insulting his wife during the 2016 primaries and offer to commit a little light sedition on his behalf, we should probably expect Cocaine Mitch to pull himself together after O’Malley Dillon’s insult and huddle with Biden on some things.
Biden has been quite optimistic this week about convincing some Senate Republicans to work with him:
In a meeting on Monday, Biden insisted to supporters that he could work with Republicans, despite the continued refusal of some GOP senators even to acknowledge his victory. “I may eat these words, but I predict to you: As Donald Trump’s shadow fades away, you’re going to see an awful lot change,” Biden said on a call with grass-roots supporters… “You’re going to be surprised,” Biden promised. “We’re going to have a lot of people wanting to work with us.”… Biden told supporters Monday that he believed he could find common ground on areas such as an infrastructure program and relations with China, particularly with the senators he has spoken to in recent weeks. That list includes Sen. Lindsey O. Graham (R-S.C.), one of Trump’s closest allies in the Senate, The Post has learned. Others include Sens. Susan Collins (R-Maine), Patrick J. Toomey (R-Pa.) and Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah), who was the Republicans’ 2012 presidential standard-bearer.
Graham, Collins, Toomey, and Romney make four. Biden will need another six to beat a filibuster even if Warnock and Ossoff come through for him in the Georgia runoffs. Where does he get those votes? The good news for him is that the post-MAGA nationalist GOP shouldn’t be as staunchly opposed in “principle” to Democratic initiatives as the tea-party-era GOP was. Obama wanted to expand government in various ways, the tea party wanted to shrink it. Not a lot of common ground there. But the post-MAGA GOP wants to reposition itself as a working-class party, one much more willing to spend money to help average Americans than the tea party was. Witness the unlikely alliance this week between Bernie Sanders and Josh Hawley on including stimulus checks as part of the new COVID relief package. If President Sleepy Joe floated a trillion-dollar infrastructure plan, promising lots of new jobs in the process, which way would Hawley go on that? Tom Cotton? Other Republican senators with an eye on 2024 or 2028?
One last point about O’Malley Dillon. Although her insult to Republicans was foolish given Biden’s campaign message and the hard reality of Senate math, her underlying point was useful in a hyperpartisan era. Namely, you don’t need to like the opposition to work with them. “In the primary, people would mock him, like, ‘You think you can work with Republicans?’ I’m not saying they’re not a bunch of f***ers. Mitch McConnell is terrible. But this sense that you couldn’t wish for that, you couldn’t wish for this bipartisan ideal? He rejected that,” she said of Biden. She’s worried, rightly, about antipathy between the parties (particularly the parties’ bases) steering their elected leaders to take a rejectionist approach to legislation. You can think McConnell or Biden is a f***er and still vote for an infrastructure bill they support, she’s saying. That’s true, and it’d be nice if that logic applied on bills besides must-pass stuff like COVID relief. Proposal: Both sides get to call each other f***ers openly so long as they’re allowed to compromise on bills of mutual benefit.


hotair--2020-12-16--Will the media make Donald Trump the "shadow president" of 2021?

Our friend Matt Lewis posted a rather short bit of commentary at the Daily Beast this week addressing the title question .
Matt ’ s no fan of President Trump ( to put it mildly ) but he is bringing up a couple of valid points .
He ’ s asking if the mainstream media will return to some sense of “ normalcy ” after Joe Biden is sworn in or if they will continue to feature Donald Trump on a running basis for the next year , turning him into some sort of “ shadow president.
” And he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ why the President received the volume and type of coverage that he has all through his term .
In short , Donald Trump was very good for business .
There ’ s a dirty little secret between Donald Trump and the media that at this point isn ’ t much of a secret .
A symbiosis exists between us ; we use him and he uses us .
Now that his presidency is mercifully taking its last gasp , can we quit him and return to a modicum of sanity and normalcy ?
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ together a few Trump-free news cycles ?
More to the point : can we quit taking his bait ?
Or are we doomed to cover Trump ’ s antics as a sort of shadow presidency ?
Doing so will be tempting .
Even as Trump has sought to undermine the media as “ fake news ” and “ enemies of the people , ” we have laughed all the way to the bank .
This was true almost from the beginning .
“ It may not be good for America , but it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” admitted Les Moonves , the network ’ s CEO , during the 2016 presidential campaign .
“ Sorry .
It ’ s a terrible thing to say .
But , bring it on , Donald .
Keep going.
” Referring to the quote from Les Moonves , I would argue that there was a significant difference between the “ business ” of covering Donald Trump as a possible president during the 2016 campaign and covering him as an actual president for the past four years .
Examples abound .
One of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ candidate Donald Trump received from the Morning Joe crew on MSNBC .
All through the campaign , they couldn ’ t hide their fascination with him .
Trump had a direct line to Mika and Joe ’ s cell phones and called in several times a week where he was given nearly endless air time .
Then the point came where Trump was suddenly persona non grata on that set .
But that really didn ’ t happen until the reality of President Trump set in and he began flipping over the tables @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Even then , however , it ’ s not as if the MSNBC team could stop talking about him .
After all , how do you not cover the sitting president ?
But the coverage was universally negative and disparaging from that point on .
When it comes to 2021 , I wouldn ’ t expect much to change unless Donald Trump himself wishes for it to do so .
Part of it is the financial incentive that Moonves talked about .
Love him or hate him , Trump coverage means ratings @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that only works if Trump is doing things to make news .
If he launches a tour of the Middle East and is regularly meeting with foreign leaders and giving speeches peppered with hot takes , the MSM will follow along .
And it will be precisely because that ’ s what Trump wants .
But if he returns to his estate in Florida and either goes back to work in his office or hits the links , offering no public comments , what would there be for the press to cover ?
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ he opens ?
If Donald Trump goes the former route he will be a huge thorn in the side of the Biden administration , soaking up news cycles and sucking some of the oxygen out of the room .
If he decides he ’ s done with the swamp , Matt might get his wish for a return to “ normal.
” But I wouldn ’ t expect politics to follow suit .
Even if Donald Trump is done with politics , he ’ s had a blistering effect on the swamp .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ his departure from the stage would create .
I ’ ve said this here before , but it bears repeating .
Donald Trump wasn ’ t the cause of all this disruption .
He was a symptom .

Our friend Matt Lewis posted a rather short bit of commentary at the Daily Beast this week addressing the title question. Matt’s no fan of President Trump (to put it mildly) but he is bringing up a couple of valid points. He’s asking if the mainstream media will return to some sense of “normalcy” after Joe Biden is sworn in or if they will continue to feature Donald Trump on a running basis for the next year, turning him into some sort of “shadow president.” And he quotes a media executive who openly admits why the President received the volume and type of coverage that he has all through his term. In short, Donald Trump was very good for business.
There’s a dirty little secret between Donald Trump and the media that at this point isn’t much of a secret. A symbiosis exists between us; we use him and he uses us. Now that his presidency is mercifully taking its last gasp, can we quit him and return to a modicum of sanity and normalcy? Starting in January, can we string together a few Trump-free news cycles? More to the point: can we quit taking his bait? Or are we doomed to cover Trump’s antics as a sort of shadow presidency? Doing so will be tempting. Even as Trump has sought to undermine the media as “fake news” and “enemies of the people,” we have laughed all the way to the bank. This was true almost from the beginning. “It may not be good for America, but it’s damn good for CBS,” admitted Les Moonves, the network’s CEO, during the 2016 presidential campaign. “Sorry. It’s a terrible thing to say. But, bring it on, Donald. Keep going.”
Referring to the quote from Les Moonves, I would argue that there was a significant difference between the “business” of covering Donald Trump as a possible president during the 2016 campaign and covering him as an actual president for the past four years. Examples abound. One of the easiest to identify was the coverage that candidate Donald Trump received from the Morning Joe crew on MSNBC. All through the campaign, they couldn’t hide their fascination with him. Trump had a direct line to Mika and Joe’s cell phones and called in several times a week where he was given nearly endless air time.
Then the point came where Trump was suddenly persona non grata on that set. But that really didn’t happen until the reality of President Trump set in and he began flipping over the tables of the money changes in the MSM. Even then, however, it’s not as if the MSNBC team could stop talking about him. After all, how do you not cover the sitting president? But the coverage was universally negative and disparaging from that point on.
When it comes to 2021, I wouldn’t expect much to change unless Donald Trump himself wishes for it to do so. Part of it is the financial incentive that Moonves talked about. Love him or hate him, Trump coverage means ratings and ratings mean advertiser dollars. But that only works if Trump is doing things to make news. If he launches a tour of the Middle East and is regularly meeting with foreign leaders and giving speeches peppered with hot takes, the MSM will follow along. And it will be precisely because that’s what Trump wants. But if he returns to his estate in Florida and either goes back to work in his office or hits the links, offering no public comments, what would there be for the press to cover? His golf scores? The next hotel he opens?
If Donald Trump goes the former route he will be a huge thorn in the side of the Biden administration, soaking up news cycles and sucking some of the oxygen out of the room. If he decides he’s done with the swamp, Matt might get his wish for a return to “normal.” But I wouldn’t expect politics to follow suit. Even if Donald Trump is done with politics, he’s had a blistering effect on the swamp. Others will rise to fill the vacuum his departure from the stage would create. I’ve said this here before, but it bears repeating. Donald Trump wasn’t the cause of all this disruption. He was a symptom.


hotair--2020-12-16--What a deal! Corporations can buy their way into the Biden/Harris inauguration ... for a cool millio

What a deal! Corporations can buy their way into the Biden/Harris inauguration ... for a cool million

Holy cow , maybe we are getting a return to business as usual .
Thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic and Joe Biden ’ s desire to project a more caring and careful approach , many inauguration traditions will either change significantly or be dropped altogether .
The quadrennial tradition of the Corporation And Big-Ticket Donor Access Sellout will continue enthusiastically , however : Make no mistake — the inaugural committee is definitely and explicitly selling access to Biden and Kamala Harris , including to “ organizations.
” And by that , they mean — as Kenneth Vogel says — “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Jr. ’ s inaugural committee released a menu of perks for donors to his inauguration this week , reflecting an aggressive fund-raising effort , despite plans for a less expensive and mostly virtual event lacking the elaborate balls and concerts that have been staples of past inaugurations .
Corporations and other organizations that donate $ 1 million and individuals who donate $ 500,000 — the maximum donations that the committee has said it will accept from each category of donor — will be listed as chairs of the inaugural committee .
… Top @ @ @ @ @ @ @ opportunities , ” though the brochure does not specify the events , as well as access to virtual briefings with leaders of the inaugural committee and campaign , “ V.I.P .
exclusive merchandise ” and four V.I.P .
tickets to a future in-person event .
Who ’ d they put in charge of this effort … Hunter Biden ?
It ’ s already popular , Vogel reports .
Among the “ organizations ” laying claim to “ Chair ” status are Boeing , Bank of America , and Ford Motor Company .
It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has forbidden the inaugural committee from receiving funds from fossil-fuel companies , so we won ’ t see ExxonMobil on the list .
However , the product lines of both Boeing and Ford rely heavily on fossil fuels , plus all three “ Chairs ” can expect to have plenty of regulatory issues afoot over the next four years .
It ’ s fair to say that Biden ’ s predecessors have raised money in similar ways to fund their inaugural galas .
Barack Obama eschewed corporate cash in 2009 but accepted it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump had no issues with corporate donations at all .
It ’ s also normal to structure these into “ packages ” to make it more attractive to raise funds to cover the enormous costs of these events .
However , there ’ s just one catch — this inauguration won ’ t have those enormous costs .
In fact , the Biden team has gone out of its way to emphasize that this will mostly be a virtual event : President-elect Joe Biden ’ s inaugural committee on Tuesday advised Americans against @ @ @ @ @ @ @ related activities next month , instead rolling out initial public health protocols for the quadrennial event and previewing a “ reimagined ” parade .
The committee said in a news release that it was working “ in close coordination ” with the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies “ to ensure that the inauguration … honors and resembles sacred American traditions while keeping Americans safe and preventing the spread of COVID-19.
” … “ The ceremony ’ s footprint will be extremely limited , and the parade that follows will be reimagined , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it was “ urging the public to refrain from any travel and participate in the inaugural activities from home.
” Bloomberg reports this afternoon that this will look more like a State of the Union event rather than an inauguration , although both Biden and Harris will give speeches as usual .
The JCCIC will only allow members of Congress to give out a little over a thousand tickets , rather than the 200,000-plus it normally disperses to favored constituents : The Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies ( JCCIC ) said invitations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Congress and one guest , meaning that 1,070 invitations will be given to members of Congress .
Absent the pandemic , the committee would have distributed 200,000 tickets for the ceremony and given members of Congress ticket bundles for constituents .
The committee said it would distribute commemorative ticket bundles and programs to congressional offices following the event .
… “ The JCCIC , in consultation with diversified public health and medical experts and the Presidential Inaugural Committee , has determined that this global pandemic and the rise in COVID-19 cases warranted a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 59th Inaugural Ceremonies to a live audience that resembles a State of the Union , ” Sen. Roy Blunt ( R-Mo . )
, who chairs the committee , said .
If that ’ s the case , then why is the inaugural committee raising funds at all , especially from corporations ?
Why are they promising corporate execs special access to Biden and Harris ?
Progressives within the Democratic Party would like answers to those questions too , Vogel reports .
In fact , they think the whole thing looks rather … @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to $ 1 million from each corporation is of particular concern given that this year ’ s inauguration will be predominantly remote , and costs of the event itself will be substantially down , ” wrote a coalition of about 50 progressive groups , led by Demand Progress , which has raised concerns about links between Mr. Biden ’ s team and corporate America .
“ The drive to raise so much money without a clear use for it is perplexing , and the appearance of doing so is disconcerting , as we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ corruption that has defined the Trump era , ” the groups wrote .
It ’ s actually a good question .
Just what do Biden and Harris plan to do with this cash ?
Biden probably couldn ’ t care less about Demand Progress .
He knows he has to find ways to cut deals with Joe Manchin , not Bernie Sanders in order to have any chance to get his agenda through Congress .
But Harris is torching her own credibility with progressives in this process , and they may not forget @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in 2024 .
Whatever they get for selling out to corporate execs , Harris had better hope it ’ s worth what she ’ s surrendering .

Holy cow, maybe we are getting a return to business as usual. Thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic and Joe Biden’s desire to project a more caring and careful approach, many inauguration traditions will either change significantly or be dropped altogether. The quadrennial tradition of the Corporation And Big-Ticket Donor Access Sellout will continue enthusiastically, however:
NEW: For $1M, corporations can be listed as a "chair" of JOE BIDEN's inauguration ($500k for individuals). Donor packages include "virtual signed photos" with Biden, @KamalaHarris & their spouses, plus virtual briefings with inaugural & campaign leaders. https://t.co/phbxMowD6u — Kenneth P. Vogel (@kenvogel) December 16, 2020
Make no mistake — the inaugural committee is definitely and explicitly selling access to Biden and Kamala Harris, including to “organizations.” And by that, they mean — as Kenneth Vogel says — “corporations”:
President-elect Joseph R. Biden Jr.’s inaugural committee released a menu of perks for donors to his inauguration this week, reflecting an aggressive fund-raising effort, despite plans for a less expensive and mostly virtual event lacking the elaborate balls and concerts that have been staples of past inaugurations. Corporations and other organizations that donate $1 million and individuals who donate $500,000 — the maximum donations that the committee has said it will accept from each category of donor — will be listed as chairs of the inaugural committee. … Top donors also will receive “event sponsorship opportunities,” though the brochure does not specify the events, as well as access to virtual briefings with leaders of the inaugural committee and campaign, “V.I.P. exclusive merchandise” and four V.I.P. tickets to a future in-person event.
Who’d they put in charge of this effort … Hunter Biden? It’s already popular, Vogel reports. Among the “organizations” laying claim to “Chair” status are Boeing, Bank of America, and Ford Motor Company. It’s worth pointing out that Biden has forbidden the inaugural committee from receiving funds from fossil-fuel companies, so we won’t see ExxonMobil on the list. However, the product lines of both Boeing and Ford rely heavily on fossil fuels, plus all three “Chairs” can expect to have plenty of regulatory issues afoot over the next four years.
It’s fair to say that Biden’s predecessors have raised money in similar ways to fund their inaugural galas. Barack Obama eschewed corporate cash in 2009 but accepted it in 2013, and of course Donald Trump had no issues with corporate donations at all. It’s also normal to structure these into “packages” to make it more attractive to raise funds to cover the enormous costs of these events. However, there’s just one catch — this inauguration won’t have those enormous costs. In fact, the Biden team has gone out of its way to emphasize that this will mostly be a virtual event:
President-elect Joe Biden’s inaugural committee on Tuesday advised Americans against traveling to attend his swearing-in ceremony and related activities next month, instead rolling out initial public health protocols for the quadrennial event and previewing a “reimagined” parade. The committee said in a news release that it was working “in close coordination” with the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies “to ensure that the inauguration … honors and resembles sacred American traditions while keeping Americans safe and preventing the spread of COVID-19.” … “The ceremony’s footprint will be extremely limited, and the parade that follows will be reimagined,” the committee said, adding that it was “urging the public to refrain from any travel and participate in the inaugural activities from home.”
Bloomberg reports this afternoon that this will look more like a State of the Union event rather than an inauguration, although both Biden and Harris will give speeches as usual. The JCCIC will only allow members of Congress to give out a little over a thousand tickets, rather than the 200,000-plus it normally disperses to favored constituents:
The Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies (JCCIC) said invitations would be limited to each member of Congress and one guest, meaning that 1,070 invitations will be given to members of Congress. Absent the pandemic, the committee would have distributed 200,000 tickets for the ceremony and given members of Congress ticket bundles for constituents. The committee said it would distribute commemorative ticket bundles and programs to congressional offices following the event. … “The JCCIC, in consultation with diversified public health and medical experts and the Presidential Inaugural Committee, has determined that this global pandemic and the rise in COVID-19 cases warranted a difficult decision to limit attendance at the 59th Inaugural Ceremonies to a live audience that resembles a State of the Union,” Sen. Roy Blunt (R-Mo.), who chairs the committee, said.
If that’s the case, then why is the inaugural committee raising funds at all, especially from corporations? Why are they promising corporate execs special access to Biden and Harris? Progressives within the Democratic Party would like answers to those questions too, Vogel reports. In fact, they think the whole thing looks rather … Trumpian:
“The acceptance of up to $1 million from each corporation is of particular concern given that this year’s inauguration will be predominantly remote, and costs of the event itself will be substantially down,” wrote a coalition of about 50 progressive groups, led by Demand Progress, which has raised concerns about links between Mr. Biden’s team and corporate America. “The drive to raise so much money without a clear use for it is perplexing, and the appearance of doing so is disconcerting, as we must strive to stamp out the unfettered corruption that has defined the Trump era,” the groups wrote.
It’s actually a good question. Just what do Biden and Harris plan to do with this cash?
Biden probably couldn’t care less about Demand Progress. He knows he has to find ways to cut deals with Joe Manchin, not Bernie Sanders in order to have any chance to get his agenda through Congress. But Harris is torching her own credibility with progressives in this process, and they may not forget when it comes time to replacing Biden in 2024. Whatever they get for selling out to corporate execs, Harris had better hope it’s worth what she’s surrendering.


hotair--2020-12-16--Report: Trump has told aides he might refuse to leave the White House on Inauguration Day

This is the first idea he ’ s had about resisting the election results that I support , just because it ’ d be fantastically funny watching it play out .
Imagine the news coverage .
“ It ’ s now 8 p.m. eastern time , eight hours since President Joe Biden was inaugurated , and as you can see from our live feed former President Trump is still seated at the Resolute Desk in the Oval Office in the dark with his arms crossed .
Wait , hold on — we ’ re now getting word that the former @ @ @ @ @ @ @ if the election results aren ’ t overturned .
To repeat , he will hold his breath unless he isn ’ t sworn in for a second term immediately .
Back to you , Jim.
” How would they remove him , exactly ?
Would they send out D.C. PD to the White House ?
*Bang bang* “ Police .
We have an eviction notice .
Is there a ‘ Donald John Trump ’ inside ?
” It ’ s the only way the series finale of this show can possibly do justice @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his moments of deepest denial , Trump has told some advisers that he will refuse to leave the White House on Inauguration Day , only to be walked down from that ledge .
The possibility has alarmed some aides , but few believe Trump will actually follow through .
“ He ’ s throwing a f***ing temper tantrum , ” an adviser said .
“ He ’ s going to leave .
He ’ s just lashing out.
” … While Trump had begun to privately accept the reality that he lost the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump has now reversed and dug in deeper — not only spreading misinformation about the election , but ingesting it himself .
“ He ’ s been fed so much misinformation that I think he actually thinks this thing was stolen from him , ” a Trump adviser said of the President .
Lindsey Graham should invite him for an early round of golf on Inauguration Day so that Biden can quietly change the locks while they ’ re out .
The sense of betrayal the president would feel when he returned home @ @ @ @ @ @ @ doorknob would be Shakespearean .
We should probably let him stay in the White House for awhile .
He might have nowhere else to go : Next-door neighbors of Mar-a-Lago , President Trump ’ s private club in Palm Beach , Fla. , that he has called his Winter White House , have a message for the outgoing commander in chief : We don ’ t want you to be our neighbor .
That message was formally delivered Tuesday morning in a demand letter delivered to the town of Palm Beach and also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that Trump lost his legal right to live at Mar-a-Lago because of an agreement he signed in the early 1990s when he converted the storied estate from his private residence to a private club .
The legal maneuver could , at long last , force Palm Beach to publicly address whether Trump can make Mar-a-Lago his legal residence and home , as he has been expected to do , when he becomes an ex-president after the swearing-in of Joe Biden on Jan. 20… The current residency controversy tracks back to a deal Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ foundering , and the cost of maintaining Mar-a-Lago was soaring into the multimillions each year .
Under the agreement , club members are banned from spending more than 21 days a year in the club ’ s guest suites and can not stay there for any longer than seven consecutive days .
Before the arrangement was sealed , an attorney for Trump assured the town council in a public meeting that he would not live at Mar-a-Lago .
He also signed an agreement with the National Trust for Historic Preservation deeding them the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pledged not to use the premises as anything other than a club .
Hmmmm .
Maybe he can live in the pool house in Jared ’ s and Ivanka ’ s new place in “ Billionaire ’ s Bunker.
” Seriously , though , there must be something Ron DeSantis and Florida ’ s Republican-controlled legislature can do for him here .
Yeah , I know , the Constitution ’ s Contract Clause makes that potentially sticky , but if the state government can shut down businesses over COVID , it can probably @ @ @ @ @ @ @ live at his own farking property .
DeSantis is so eager to pander to Trump and Trumpers that he still won ’ t describe Biden as the president-elect .
You think he isn ’ t going to pull some strings on the Mar-a-Lago snafu to try to earn Trump ’ s endorsement in 2024 or 2028 ?

This is the first idea he’s had about resisting the election results that I support, just because it’d be fantastically funny watching it play out.
Imagine the news coverage. “It’s now 8 p.m. eastern time, eight hours since President Joe Biden was inaugurated, and as you can see from our live feed former President Trump is still seated at the Resolute Desk in the Oval Office in the dark with his arms crossed. Wait, hold on — we’re now getting word that the former president is threatening to hold his breath if the election results aren’t overturned. To repeat, he will hold his breath unless he isn’t sworn in for a second term immediately. Back to you, Jim.”
How would they remove him, exactly? Would they send out D.C. PD to the White House? *Bang bang* “Police. We have an eviction notice. Is there a ‘Donald John Trump’ inside?”
It’s the only way the series finale of this show can possibly do justice to the rest of it.
In his moments of deepest denial, Trump has told some advisers that he will refuse to leave the White House on Inauguration Day, only to be walked down from that ledge. The possibility has alarmed some aides, but few believe Trump will actually follow through. “He’s throwing a f***ing temper tantrum,” an adviser said. “He’s going to leave. He’s just lashing out.”… While Trump had begun to privately accept the reality that he lost the election late last month, advisers say Trump has now reversed and dug in deeper — not only spreading misinformation about the election, but ingesting it himself. “He’s been fed so much misinformation that I think he actually thinks this thing was stolen from him,” a Trump adviser said of the President.
Lindsey Graham should invite him for an early round of golf on Inauguration Day so that Biden can quietly change the locks while they’re out. The sense of betrayal the president would feel when he returned home only to find himself futilely jiggling the doorknob would be Shakespearean.
We should probably let him stay in the White House for awhile. He might have nowhere else to go:
Next-door neighbors of Mar-a-Lago, President Trump’s private club in Palm Beach, Fla., that he has called his Winter White House, have a message for the outgoing commander in chief: We don’t want you to be our neighbor. That message was formally delivered Tuesday morning in a demand letter delivered to the town of Palm Beach and also addressed to the U.S. Secret Service asserting that Trump lost his legal right to live at Mar-a-Lago because of an agreement he signed in the early 1990s when he converted the storied estate from his private residence to a private club. The legal maneuver could, at long last, force Palm Beach to publicly address whether Trump can make Mar-a-Lago his legal residence and home, as he has been expected to do, when he becomes an ex-president after the swearing-in of Joe Biden on Jan. 20… The current residency controversy tracks back to a deal Trump cut in 1993 when his finances were foundering, and the cost of maintaining Mar-a-Lago was soaring into the multimillions each year. Under the agreement, club members are banned from spending more than 21 days a year in the club’s guest suites and cannot stay there for any longer than seven consecutive days. Before the arrangement was sealed, an attorney for Trump assured the town council in a public meeting that he would not live at Mar-a-Lago.
He also signed an agreement with the National Trust for Historic Preservation deeding them the development rights to Mar-a-Lago in which he pledged not to use the premises as anything other than a club. Hmmmm.
Maybe he can live in the pool house in Jared’s and Ivanka’s new place in “Billionaire’s Bunker.”
Seriously, though, there must be something Ron DeSantis and Florida’s Republican-controlled legislature can do for him here. Yeah, I know, the Constitution’s Contract Clause makes that potentially sticky, but if the state government can shut down businesses over COVID, it can probably grant a former president the right to live at his own farking property. DeSantis is so eager to pander to Trump and Trumpers that he still won’t describe Biden as the president-elect. You think he isn’t going to pull some strings on the Mar-a-Lago snafu to try to earn Trump’s endorsement in 2024 or 2028?


hotair--2020-12-16--Minneapolis City Council members warn their plans to dismantle the police are threatened by 'rank an

Minneapolis City Council members warn their plans to dismantle the police are threatened by 'rank and file' officers

Two members of the Minneapolis City Council who led the push to defund the city ’ s police department gave an interview yesterday in which they tried to backtrack on “ defund the police ” language while maintaining that they still want to “ dismantle ” the force .
But council members Steve Fletcher and Phillipe Cunningham warned that their new public safety vision was still threatened by “ rank and file ” officers who haven ’ t embraced the same goals .
“ ‘ Defund ’ is not the framework the council has ever chosen , ” Fletcher said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a wide-ranging interview with 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS .
“ If we ’ re going to look at how we fund different programs , it would be very hard to do that without taking that money from the Minneapolis Police Department.
” … “ Folks will be able to see that pretty quickly here the work that has already been underway now for two years , ” he said .
“ We really do have to co-create the new system of public safety.
” But they believe for that to happen , the Minneapolis @ @ @ @ @ @ @ its current form .
Both Fletcher and Cunningham said they still stand by their statements to dismantle the department .
“ I think the goal is to transform public safety and I think it remains to be seen whether this department is going to come along with us on that , ” Fletcher said .
“ We have not seen an acknowledgment of a problem from the rank and file force and I do have concerns about whether they ’ re going to block the culture change that the mayor and chief are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to distance themselves from the unpopular “ defund the police ” slogan , these council members did commit to defunding and dismantling the police force but those efforts fell apart for two reasons .
First , they didn ’ t have a plan for replacing what they wanted to tear down and second the city has seen a crime wave since this summer which makes the idea of cutting the police budget a harder sell .
Last month , Police Chief Medaria Arradondo begged the council for more resources to hire outside officers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ crime .
These same councilmembers refused to vote for the short term funds and then announced a new plan to defund the police by another $ 8 million .
As you ’ ll see in the interview below , when asked if the city ’ s police chief isn ’ t the local expert on fighting crime , Councilmember Cunningham replied , “ Whoever is running the police department is not the only expert in public safety.
” That ’ s true in the broadest sense but I don ’ t see any @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Initially their goal with the $ 8 million in additional cuts was to reduce the number of officers by making the recent decline in staffing due to resignations and retirements permanent .
The city is supposed to have 888 officers but currently is down to about 750 .
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey rejected the idea of cutting the staffing level permanently and threatened to veto the budget unless it was removed .
The budget cut ultimately passed without the staffing reduction .
Meanwhile , the crime wave persists with murders up 50 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the interview with KSTP 5 .
As you ’ ll see , councilmember Fletcher says the worst that can happen is that the city goes back to the old plan but if crime remains high it will create a lot of new victims .
Going back to the old plan later on won ’ t help the people who ’ ve been shot or killed in the interim .
Councilmember Cunningham is right about one thing thought .
Folks are going to have to see with their own eyes that this works .

Two members of the Minneapolis City Council who led the push to defund the city’s police department gave an interview yesterday in which they tried to backtrack on “defund the police” language while maintaining that they still want to “dismantle” the force. But council members Steve Fletcher and Phillipe Cunningham warned that their new public safety vision was still threatened by “rank and file” officers who haven’t embraced the same goals.
“‘Defund’ is not the framework the council has ever chosen,” Fletcher said, as Cunningham audibly agreed, during a wide-ranging interview with 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS. “If we’re going to look at how we fund different programs, it would be very hard to do that without taking that money from the Minneapolis Police Department.”… “Folks will be able to see that pretty quickly here the work that has already been underway now for two years,” he said. “We really do have to co-create the new system of public safety.” But they believe for that to happen, the Minneapolis Police Department would no longer exist in its current form. Both Fletcher and Cunningham said they still stand by their statements to dismantle the department. “I think the goal is to transform public safety and I think it remains to be seen whether this department is going to come along with us on that,” Fletcher said. “We have not seen an acknowledgment of a problem from the rank and file force and I do have concerns about whether they’re going to block the culture change that the mayor and chief are calling for.”
Contrary to this attempt to distance themselves from the unpopular “defund the police” slogan, these council members did commit to defunding and dismantling the police force but those efforts fell apart for two reasons. First, they didn’t have a plan for replacing what they wanted to tear down and second the city has seen a crime wave since this summer which makes the idea of cutting the police budget a harder sell.
Last month, Police Chief Medaria Arradondo begged the council for more resources to hire outside officers to deal with the steep rise in crime. These same councilmembers refused to vote for the short term funds and then announced a new plan to defund the police by another $8 million. As you’ll see in the interview below, when asked if the city’s police chief isn’t the local expert on fighting crime, Councilmember Cunningham replied, “Whoever is running the police department is not the only expert in public safety.” That’s true in the broadest sense but I don’t see any evidence that these two councilmembers are experts.
Initially their goal with the $8 million in additional cuts was to reduce the number of officers by making the recent decline in staffing due to resignations and retirements permanent. The city is supposed to have 888 officers but currently is down to about 750. Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey rejected the idea of cutting the staffing level permanently and threatened to veto the budget unless it was removed. The budget cut ultimately passed without the staffing reduction. Meanwhile, the crime wave persists with murders up 50% this year.
Here’s the interview with KSTP 5. As you’ll see, councilmember Fletcher says the worst that can happen is that the city goes back to the old plan but if crime remains high it will create a lot of new victims. Going back to the old plan later on won’t help the people who’ve been shot or killed in the interim. Councilmember Cunningham is right about one thing thought. Folks are going to have to see with their own eyes that this works.