hotair--2020-12-15--NFL ratings have tanked and they're not coming back

The pandemic has been taking a toll on everyone this year and it turns out that professional football isn ’ t exempt from this effect .
Fewer people are tuning in for the games this season than we ’ ve seen in a long time .
This isn ’ t just bad news for the league , of course , though it definitely eats into their revenue .
The networks that carry the games are having to adjust their advertising prices downward to make up for the advertisers ’ anticipated numbers .
In some cases , they ’ re just @ @ @ @ @ @ @ other compensation .
And despite most of the games having been played , the audience levels still aren ’ t showing any signs of rebounding with only a few weeks left in the regular season .
( Wall Street Journal , subscription required ) TV networks are feeling the strains of disappointing NFL ratings , as they are forced to restructure deals with advertisers to make up for the smaller audience , and their opportunity to make money off remaining games during the lucrative holiday season narrows .
NBC made the unusual move @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that already had committed to run in a Baltimore Ravens vs. Pittsburgh Steelers game planned for Thanksgiving night after a Covid-19 outbreak on the Ravens forced the game ’ s postponement to the following Wednesday .
Some networks also have considered letting advertisers pay less for commercials during NFL games and other programming than they originally pledged .
I ’ m honestly having a hard time wrapping my head around this .
The NFL traditionally pulls fairly strong ratings and advertising slots are sold at a premium .
What ’ s more , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ staying home and you ’ d think that they would be looking for fresh entertainment options wherever they can find them .
Heck , I ’ m still watching all of the New York Jets ’ games and they ’ re in the process of proving that they probably couldn ’ t beat a halfway decent high school varsity team .
( The Jets are 0-13 in case you hadn ’ t heard . )
On top of that , most of the stadiums are still either empty of fans or limited to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ social distancing .
If anything , there should be literally hundreds of thousands of more people having to stay home and watch the games on television because they can ’ t go see them live .
Shouldn ’ t the ratings actually be higher this year instead of lower ?
So what ’ s driving people away ?
That ’ s tough to say , really .
I have no doubt that the league lost some of its audience after they allowed their sport to become so overtly politicized both on and off @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been going on at a brisk clip ever since Colin Kaepernick started all of his drama .
The ratings were down a bit over the last few seasons , but not nearly this much .
I briefly considered the possibility that there was more competition from other entertainment venues eating into football ’ s share of the market , but that really doesn ’ t make much sense either .
A lot of shows either canceled or postponed their seasons because of COVID restrictions on filming .
This is particularly true of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on a live studio audience as part of their appeal .
And let ’ s face it , there are only so many things you can binge-watch on Netflix and HBO Now before you start going stir crazy .
The WSJ article suggests that at least part of the slump is being caused by games that were postponed due to COVID outbreaks being pushed to less desirable days and time slots .
I suppose that ’ s one factor , but there really haven ’ t been all that many of them pushed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Thanksgiving games was probably a huge hit in the pocketbook , however . )
In the end , I ’ m not coming up with anything really definitive to point to .
After we see what the ratings look like for the post-season and the Super Bowl , we may know a bit more .
But if this continues next fall after we ’ ve theoretically reached herd immunity via the new vaccines , professional football may turn out to be in a long-term state of decline , and that would be really @ @ @ @ @ @ @ consolation to the rest of you , the league is making at least one magnanimous gesture .
They won ’ t be asking for head-of-the-line privileges in terms of getting the vaccine .

The pandemic has been taking a toll on everyone this year and it turns out that professional football isn’t exempt from this effect. Fewer people are tuning in for the games this season than we’ve seen in a long time. This isn’t just bad news for the league, of course, though it definitely eats into their revenue. The networks that carry the games are having to adjust their advertising prices downward to make up for the advertisers’ anticipated numbers. In some cases, they’re just giving away advertising slots in lieu of other compensation. And despite most of the games having been played, the audience levels still aren’t showing any signs of rebounding with only a few weeks left in the regular season. (Wall Street Journal, subscription required)
TV networks are feeling the strains of disappointing NFL ratings, as they are forced to restructure deals with advertisers to make up for the smaller audience, and their opportunity to make money off remaining games during the lucrative holiday season narrows. NBC made the unusual move of lowering the price it charged advertisers that already had committed to run in a Baltimore Ravens vs. Pittsburgh Steelers game planned for Thanksgiving night after a Covid-19 outbreak on the Ravens forced the game’s postponement to the following Wednesday. Some networks also have considered letting advertisers pay less for commercials during NFL games and other programming than they originally pledged.
I’m honestly having a hard time wrapping my head around this. The NFL traditionally pulls fairly strong ratings and advertising slots are sold at a premium. What’s more, the pandemic has a lot more people staying home and you’d think that they would be looking for fresh entertainment options wherever they can find them. Heck, I’m still watching all of the New York Jets’ games and they’re in the process of proving that they probably couldn’t beat a halfway decent high school varsity team. (The Jets are 0-13 in case you hadn’t heard.)
On top of that, most of the stadiums are still either empty of fans or limited to drastically reduced seating capacity to allow for social distancing. If anything, there should be literally hundreds of thousands of more people having to stay home and watch the games on television because they can’t go see them live. Shouldn’t the ratings actually be higher this year instead of lower?
So what’s driving people away? That’s tough to say, really. I have no doubt that the league lost some of its audience after they allowed their sport to become so overtly politicized both on and off the field. But that’s been going on at a brisk clip ever since Colin Kaepernick started all of his drama. The ratings were down a bit over the last few seasons, but not nearly this much.
I briefly considered the possibility that there was more competition from other entertainment venues eating into football’s share of the market, but that really doesn’t make much sense either. A lot of shows either canceled or postponed their seasons because of COVID restrictions on filming. This is particularly true of the programs like game shows that traditionally rely on a live studio audience as part of their appeal. And let’s face it, there are only so many things you can binge-watch on Netflix and HBO Now before you start going stir crazy.
The WSJ article suggests that at least part of the slump is being caused by games that were postponed due to COVID outbreaks being pushed to less desirable days and time slots. I suppose that’s one factor, but there really haven’t been all that many of them pushed back. (Losing one of the Thanksgiving games was probably a huge hit in the pocketbook, however.)
In the end, I’m not coming up with anything really definitive to point to. After we see what the ratings look like for the post-season and the Super Bowl, we may know a bit more. But if this continues next fall after we’ve theoretically reached herd immunity via the new vaccines, professional football may turn out to be in a long-term state of decline, and that would be really sad. If it’s any consolation to the rest of you, the league is making at least one magnanimous gesture. They won’t be asking for head-of-the-line privileges in terms of getting the vaccine.


hotair--2020-12-15--Breaking: FDA authorizes 1st over-the-counter COVID-19 test

Finally .
The biggest hole in the US response to the COVID-19 pandemic has been rapid testing .
It takes days in some cases to get results back from clinic tests , rendering them all but useless unless recipients isolate while waiting for the results .
Now , however , people can find out whether they have the virus within 20 minutes — and can perform the test themselves : The FDA has authorized the first at-home COVID-19 test that doesn ’ t require a prescription and provides results within 20 minutes .
The Ellume COVID-19 Home Test is an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from the SARS-CoV-2 virus on a nasal swab and then reports results to your phone .
… The test “ correctly identified 96 % of positive samples and 100 % of negative samples in individuals with symptoms , ” the FDA said .
“ In people without symptoms , the test correctly identified 91 % of positive samples and 96 % of negative samples.
” That ’ s amazing , especially in an OTC test administered by patients themselves , and a great example of innovation in a crisis .
One well-known epidemiologist @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : That ’ s a lot of tests in terms of numbers , but it ’ s a drop in the bucket in terms of scope .
To compare , we have had something north of 15 million diagnosed cases of COVID-19 in the US so far , and a daily number of over 150,000 over the past month or so .
Everyone who comes in contact with those cases will want a test , which will put tremendous market pressure on three million tests in a month .
Even if only two @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to buy a test , we ’ d run through Ellume ’ s output of tests in ten days .
And that doesn ’ t count the people who want to test themselves even without knowing contact with a carrier in order to plan for family meetings , travel , and so on .
Not to mention the fact that many of those will want more than one test over the next few weeks , too .
So yes , this is very good news , but it ’ s not exactly a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Ellume can ’ t produce enough to effect isn ’ t going to help loosen things up or prevent retransmissions .
When they can and other such tests come to market , that might truly have an impact while we move toward herd immunity .
But the true game-changer came last week and earlier this morning — the vaccines .
The US plans to vaccinate 20 million people in December and perhaps 50 million or more in January , and hundreds of millions by the spring .
That will make the Ellume @ @ @ @ @ @ @ assuming we can keep up the pace on vaccinations .
This is no knock on Ellume , which has done excellent work .
However , the issue is that this effort should have been highly resourced from the very beginning in the US , and given just as much priority as the vaccines in Operation Warp Speed .
If we had given testing that kind of resourcing , we might have had this in place a few months ago in much greater supply , which could have pushed off this second wave of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been our Achilles heel , and it ’ s now almost too late for it to matter much .
Every little bit helps , but this isn ’ t the game changer .
The vaccines have already changed the game — and that ’ s great news .

Finally. The biggest hole in the US response to the COVID-19 pandemic has been rapid testing. It takes days in some cases to get results back from clinic tests, rendering them all but useless unless recipients isolate while waiting for the results.
Now, however, people can find out whether they have the virus within 20 minutes — and can perform the test themselves:
The FDA has authorized the first at-home COVID-19 test that doesn’t require a prescription and provides results within 20 minutes. The Ellume COVID-19 Home Test is an antigen test that detects fragments of proteins from the SARS-CoV-2 virus on a nasal swab and then reports results to your phone. … The test “correctly identified 96% of positive samples and 100% of negative samples in individuals with symptoms,” the FDA said. “In people without symptoms, the test correctly identified 91% of positive samples and 96% of negative samples.”
That’s amazing, especially in an OTC test administered by patients themselves, and a great example of innovation in a crisis. One well-known epidemiologist declared it a “game changer”:
BREAKING—FDA has granted EUA to the first at-home #COVID19 test, in which "a patient can buy it over the counter, swab their nose, run the test and find out their results in as little as 20 minutes,” @SteveFDA said. Game changer. https://t.co/BqdW96PMGo pic.twitter.com/8YJj6np9aE — Eric Feigl-Ding (@DrEricDing) December 15, 2020
There’s a catch, though:
Ellume expects to produce more than three million tests in January 2021.
That’s a lot of tests in terms of numbers, but it’s a drop in the bucket in terms of scope. To compare, we have had something north of 15 million diagnosed cases of COVID-19 in the US so far, and a daily number of over 150,000 over the past month or so. Everyone who comes in contact with those cases will want a test, which will put tremendous market pressure on three million tests in a month. Even if only two people associated with each diagnosed case wants to buy a test, we’d run through Ellume’s output of tests in ten days. And that doesn’t count the people who want to test themselves even without knowing contact with a carrier in order to plan for family meetings, travel, and so on. Not to mention the fact that many of those will want more than one test over the next few weeks, too.
So yes, this is very good news, but it’s not exactly a game changer … at least for now. Ellume can’t produce enough to effect isn’t going to help loosen things up or prevent retransmissions. When they can and other such tests come to market, that might truly have an impact while we move toward herd immunity. But the true game-changer came last week and earlier this morning — the vaccines. The US plans to vaccinate 20 million people in December and perhaps 50 million or more in January, and hundreds of millions by the spring. That will make the Ellume test and all like it moot, assuming we can keep up the pace on vaccinations.
This is no knock on Ellume, which has done excellent work. However, the issue is that this effort should have been highly resourced from the very beginning in the US, and given just as much priority as the vaccines in Operation Warp Speed. If we had given testing that kind of resourcing, we might have had this in place a few months ago in much greater supply, which could have pushed off this second wave of rapid community transmissions. Testing has always been our Achilles heel, and it’s now almost too late for it to matter much. Every little bit helps, but this isn’t the game changer. The vaccines have already changed the game — and that’s great news.


hotair--2020-12-15--How China 'recruits' labor to pick 20 percent of the world's cotton

China produces nearly a quarter of the world ’ s cotton , with most of that coming from the Xinjiang region of western China .
If Xinjiang sounds familiar that ’ s because it ’ s the place where China has set up a network of re-education camps for ethnic minorities .
The people who are sent to the camps have no choice in the matter .
They are told where to go and once they arrive in the camps they are told they won ’ t be allowed to leave until they comply with the program , including learning @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
At the same time China was developing this system of forced re-education , it was also developing a “ labor transfer ” system in the same region .
A portion of Xinjiang ’ s cotton production has been mechanized but even today about 70 % of the cotton is still being picked by hand .
And every year for about three months , hundreds of thousands of workers are needed to do this work .
And this is where China ’ s unique mix of communism and capitalism comes into play .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ but it ’ s also grueling work that most people aren ’ t eager to do .
Normally in that situation , the price of labor would go up until wages could entice enough people to do the work .
And in the past , producers were able to attract migrant workers from eastern China for the seasonal work , but that meant paying the cost of travel for each worker on top of their wages .
And because China is competing on the world market against the U.S. and other places where @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cheaper , there is significant pressure to keep wages and transportation costs down .
One way to do that is by using locals to do the work .
That ’ s where China ’ s labor transfer system comes in .
It ’ s really more of a labor recruitment system .
It ’ s not slave labor ( workers get paid ) but it ’ s also not a free market .
In fact , this system has developed alongside the re-education camps in Xinjiang as an alternate way to keep minorities @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Center for Global Policy published a paper describing in detail how this works .
Last month , China announced that it had eliminated extreme poverty in the entire country .
One of the ways it did that in Xinjiang was through this “ labor transfer ” system that makes sure everyone has a job of some kind .
But in China the need to meet certain goals outweighs the desires of any particular individual .
So recruitment into this system is highly coercive : In August 2016 , Xinjiang issued a notice about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ including cotton pickers .
It prescribed a process of close supervision and intensified indoctrination of these workers in collaboration with the public security agencies , notably “ thought education and ethnic unity education ” to “ lead all ethnic workers to obey the law and to proactively resist illegal religious activities.
” The recruitment and organization of cotton pickers was to be a top-down , state-controlled process by which local counties coordinate labor needs with cotton planting regions and mobilize the required workforce… A key aspect is transforming the minorities ’ “ backwards @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wanted to work ” to “ I want to work.
” Depending on the training setting and the target group , this training component , which comes prior to any actual vocational training , can last between six days and six months .
In some regions , these vocational training and thought indoctrination efforts were enhanced beyond traditional vocational training settings by making government officials “ sleep , live , work , study and unite thoughts ” with households .
The main purpose of this intensified coercion is to enable the state to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ process sends a strong message that the state is in charge .
In practice , this means that government recruitment officials , who have data on everyone in your household , show up and remain in your house until you agree to show the proper attitude .
And showing the proper attitude means agreeing to become a recruit for the work transfer program .
If you don ’ t agree after the first visit from officials , maybe you ’ ll agree after the second visit .
As mentioned , other members of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ re-education camps .
What happens to those relatives if you refuse to be recruited ?
You don ’ t know .
All you know is that it ’ s all part of one system where information is being shared about who is doing what the government wants and who is not .
And once you get to the job you were coerced into taking , the government “ cadres ” who monitor you day and night will make sure you ’ re getting a full level of indoctrination at the same time : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pick cotton has to be one of the nine circles of hell .
Again , it ’ s not quite slave labor because the people involved are paid but it ’ s also not at-will employment since it ’ s not clear they have much choice about agreeing to do the work in the first place or that they can quit without facing serious repercussions .
This is China ’ s version of top-down capitalism which , like communism itself , puts the good of the collective over the desires of the individual @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a lot more detail in the full report which you can read here .

China produces nearly a quarter of the world’s cotton, with most of that coming from the Xinjiang region of western China. If Xinjiang sounds familiar that’s because it’s the place where China has set up a network of re-education camps for ethnic minorities. The people who are sent to the camps have no choice in the matter. They are told where to go and once they arrive in the camps they are told they won’t be allowed to leave until they comply with the program, including learning Chinese and memorizing loads of communist propaganda.
At the same time China was developing this system of forced re-education, it was also developing a “labor transfer” system in the same region. A portion of Xinjiang’s cotton production has been mechanized but even today about 70% of the cotton is still being picked by hand. And every year for about three months, hundreds of thousands of workers are needed to do this work. And this is where China’s unique mix of communism and capitalism comes into play.
Picking cotton in China is paid work but it’s also grueling work that most people aren’t eager to do. Normally in that situation, the price of labor would go up until wages could entice enough people to do the work. And in the past, producers were able to attract migrant workers from eastern China for the seasonal work, but that meant paying the cost of travel for each worker on top of their wages. And because China is competing on the world market against the U.S. and other places where cotton production is highly mechanized and therefore cheaper, there is significant pressure to keep wages and transportation costs down. One way to do that is by using locals to do the work.
That’s where China’s labor transfer system comes in. It’s really more of a labor recruitment system. It’s not slave labor (workers get paid) but it’s also not a free market. In fact, this system has developed alongside the re-education camps in Xinjiang as an alternate way to keep minorities under constant surveillance and control. The Center for Global Policy published a paper describing in detail how this works.
The replacement of Han labor migrants from eastern China with local ethnic minority laborers who are mobilized through labor transfer schemes is taking place in all cotton-growing regions in Xinjiang. In 2018, of 250,000 cotton pickers in Kashgar Prefecture, 210,900 were locals (via labor transfer policies), 39,100 came from other regions of Xinjiang, and only 6,219 or 2.5 percent hailed from other parts of China… These changes are directly related to Xinjiang’s expanding push to set up intrusive social control mechanisms and to promote local labor training and transfer mechanisms that target every single rural low income household.
Last month, China announced that it had eliminated extreme poverty in the entire country. One of the ways it did that in Xinjiang was through this “labor transfer” system that makes sure everyone has a job of some kind. But in China the need to meet certain goals outweighs the desires of any particular individual. So recruitment into this system is highly coercive:
In August 2016, Xinjiang issued a notice about the state management of seasonal workers, including cotton pickers. It prescribed a process of close supervision and intensified indoctrination of these workers in collaboration with the public security agencies, notably “thought education and ethnic unity education” to “lead all ethnic workers to obey the law and to proactively resist illegal religious activities.” The recruitment and organization of cotton pickers was to be a top-down, state-controlled process by which local counties coordinate labor needs with cotton planting regions and mobilize the required workforce… A key aspect is transforming the minorities’ “backwards” work attitude from “I am wanted to work” to “I want to work.” Depending on the training setting and the target group, this training component, which comes prior to any actual vocational training, can last between six days and six months. In some
regions, these vocational training and thought indoctrination efforts were enhanced beyond traditional vocational training settings by
making government officials “sleep, live, work, study and unite thoughts” with households. The main purpose of this intensified coercion is to enable the state to guarantee labor transfer outcomes. This training process sends a strong message that the
state is in charge.
In practice, this means that government recruitment officials, who have data on everyone in your household, show up and remain in your house until you agree to show the proper attitude. And showing the proper attitude means agreeing to become a recruit for the work transfer program. If you don’t agree after the first visit from officials, maybe you’ll agree after the second visit.
In a village in Jiashi County in Kashgar Prefecture, where locals were discovered to be “unwilling to go out to work,” officials entered every home for a second time and undertook “thought education work” until 60 persons had been mobilized into picking cotton. Many of those shown lining up in front of the labor transfer bus are elderly men and women, because at that time (September 2017) many among the younger population had been sent to internment camps.
As mentioned, other members of these same families may already be in re-education camps. What happens to those relatives if you refuse to be recruited? You don’t know. All you know is that it’s all part of one system where information is being shared about who is doing what the government wants and who is not.
And once you get to the job you were coerced into taking, the government “cadres” who monitor you day and night will make sure you’re getting a full level of indoctrination at the same time:
Another account from 2018 notes that “cadres provide services to cotton pickers 24 hours [per day].” Similarly, a report from Aksu from 2020 states that cotton
pickers are transferred to their work destinations in a “point-to-point transfer” fashion, which the article also refers to as “nanny-style service.” Cadres have different roles, with some acting as “security staff”: Give full play to the front-line [cadres acting as] ‘instructors,’ ‘security staff,’ and ‘service staff.’ Except under special circumstances, these must eat, live study and work together [with the cotton pickers], actively carry out ideological education during cotton picking, carry out epidemic prevention and control work, and assist in solving issues related to wage [payments] or accidental injuries.
Getting ideological education while being forced to pick cotton has to be one of the nine circles of hell. Again, it’s not quite slave labor because the people involved are paid but it’s also not at-will employment since it’s not clear they have much choice about agreeing to do the work in the first place or that they can quit without facing serious repercussions. This is China’s version of top-down capitalism which, like communism itself, puts the good of the collective over the desires of the individual in every case.
There’s a lot more detail in the full report which you can read here.


hotair--2020-12-15--Biden calls for unity as he goes down to Georgia to campaign for two far-left Democrats

Joe Biden is going to Georgia to campaign for Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock .
His goal is to get Georgia Democrats out to vote , in-person early voting having started yesterday .
The common consensus is that the race between Senator Kelly Loeffler and Raphael Warnock will be a close one , as will the race between Senator David Perdue and Jon Ossoff .
The political reality in Georgia perfectly sums up how the Democrat Party is struggling to keep all factions of the party happy .
Biden delivered his second speech declaring victory in the presidential election last @ @ @ @ @ @ @ votes Monday .
Joe Biden ran a campaign from his basement as a unifier , a man with political experience who can work with both Republicans and Democrats .
He tries his best to conjure up visions of the good old days in The Swamp when there was little difference between Republicans and Democrats .
Biden pines for the days when politicians could battle about issues in the Senate and then go out for a drink or dinner at the end of the day .
Those days are long gone and all the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not bring them back , certainly not during his term in the White House .
During his second victory speech , he took the opportunity to praise American democracy and the voters ’ desire to participate in the November election in record numbers .
Then he went on to trash President Trump for exercising his right to pursue his options to contest the election results .
Though plenty of irregularities have been exposed from the November election , Biden says the election process has maintained “ integrity ” .
He calls for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
An assault on our democracy , Joe ?
That is a standard talking point from the left and from Never Trumpers but it ’ s easy to argue that Trump taking advantage of the legal challenges to the election results is democracy in action .
You can criticize the litigious nature of Trump and his lawyers but he exercised his right to challenge the vote totals in important battleground states .
I think Joe Biden should get used to being treated by Trump supporters as Democrats have treated President Trump for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ though the post-election days after the November 2016 presidential election went smoothly is to re-write history .
Hillary Clinton took her sweet time in conceding the election and then led the charge that Trump was a Russian asset , his victory came at the hands of Putin .
The very next day after the election , women in pink pussy hats took to the streets of Washington , D.C. , and in cities across America to proclaim that Donald Trump was not their president .
So , spare us the fuzzy recollections of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ones .
Biden trashed Republican lawmakers who signed on to the Texas lawsuit , a Hail Mary last-ditch attempt on behalf of Trump that the Supreme Court refused to hear .
Biden will not unify the country because he simply doesn ’ t have it in him .
He ’ s old and frail and can only deliver 13-minute speeches from a teleprompter , as this speech was , and even then he garbles his words .
He has to cave to the far-left because he needs their support and he is beholden @ @ @ @ @ @ @ promised the moon to them and now he ’ s expected to pay up .
In order to flip the Senate into Democrat control , he needs both Warnock and Ossoff to win their run-off elections .
Ossoff is a limousine liberal , a trust fund baby who is enamored with socialism .
He is all about total government control and the taxpayers picking up the check .
Warnock is a minister and a far-left radical who supports Louis Farrakhan and calls Republicans “ thugs and murderers ” for passing the 2017 tax @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and registered voters as a top priority in hopes of flipping the state back into a blue state .
Biden was the first Democrat presidential candidate to win Georgia since 1992 .
Biden ’ s campaign , together with the Democratic National Committee , has steered about $ 5 million to Democrats ’ coordinated campaign in the state .
The money is paying for about 50 campaign staffers , including many focused on suburbs and smaller cities where Biden outperformed usual Democratic marks .
The Biden campaign and the national party also have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ossoff and Warnock .
But Biden ’ s biggest impact could be vouching for Ossoff and Warnock .
The general election results show why the two could benefit from riding Biden ’ s coattails .
Biden topped all candidates on Georgia ’ s November ballot with nearly 2,475,000 votes , finishing about 12,000 ahead of Trump out of 5 million ballots cast .
Perdue finished with about the same number of votes as Trump and led Ossoff by about 88,000 votes , meaning Ossoff ran about 100,000 votes behind Biden .
So , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of bomb-throwing radical remarks , how does Joe Biden justify campaigning for them ?
Simple .
It ’ s solely because he is desperate for control of the Senate .
His pledge to unify the country and work with both sides of the aisle is just campaign trail rhetoric .
Remember , Biden was a driving force to push Obamacare through Congress on a one-party vote and then famously was caught on a microphone crowing to Obama that it was a big effing deal at the signing ceremony .
He ’ s as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rest of them .
Will any reporter on the road with Biden today ask questions about comments from either Democrat , especially those of Warnock ?
Of course , they won ’ t because they plan to cover for Status Quo Joe for the next four years .
He ’ s their guy .

Joe Biden is going to Georgia to campaign for Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock. His goal is to get Georgia Democrats out to vote, in-person early voting having started yesterday. The common consensus is that the race between Senator Kelly Loeffler and Raphael Warnock will be a close one, as will the race between Senator David Perdue and Jon Ossoff. The political reality in Georgia perfectly sums up how the Democrat Party is struggling to keep all factions of the party happy.
Biden delivered his second speech declaring victory in the presidential election last night after the electoral college held its votes Monday. Joe Biden ran a campaign from his basement as a unifier, a man with political experience who can work with both Republicans and Democrats. He tries his best to conjure up visions of the good old days in The Swamp when there was little difference between Republicans and Democrats. Biden pines for the days when politicians could battle about issues in the Senate and then go out for a drink or dinner at the end of the day. Those days are long gone and all the wishful words delivered by Joe Biden will not bring them back, certainly not during his term in the White House.
During his second victory speech, he took the opportunity to praise American democracy and the voters’ desire to participate in the November election in record numbers. Then he went on to trash President Trump for exercising his right to pursue his options to contest the election results. Though plenty of irregularities have been exposed from the November election, Biden says the election process has maintained “integrity”. He calls for the country to unite and turn the page.
“In this battle for the soul of America, democracy prevailed,” the president-elect declared, in a speech carried live by all of the leading television broadcast networks and the three major national cable TV news networks. “We the People voted. Faith in our institutions held. The integrity of our elections remains intact.” In his most forceful language to date, Biden described the president’s persistent efforts to reverse the election results as an “unprecedented assault on our democracy.”
An assault on our democracy, Joe? That is a standard talking point from the left and from Never Trumpers but it’s easy to argue that Trump taking advantage of the legal challenges to the election results is democracy in action. You can criticize the litigious nature of Trump and his lawyers but he exercised his right to challenge the vote totals in important battleground states. I think Joe Biden should get used to being treated by Trump supporters as Democrats have treated President Trump for the past four years. To act as though the post-election days after the November 2016 presidential election went smoothly is to re-write history. Hillary Clinton took her sweet time in conceding the election and then led the charge that Trump was a Russian asset, his victory came at the hands of Putin. The very next day after the election, women in pink pussy hats took to the streets of Washington, D.C., and in cities across America to proclaim that Donald Trump was not their president. So, spare us the fuzzy recollections of past elections, particularly the most recent ones.
Biden trashed Republican lawmakers who signed on to the Texas lawsuit, a Hail Mary last-ditch attempt on behalf of Trump that the Supreme Court refused to hear.
Biden also mocked the scores of Republican elected officials who supported the president’s efforts to overturn the election. “President Trump was denied no course of action he wanted to take,” Biden said. “He took his case to Republican governors and Republican secretaries of state . . . to Republican state legislatures, to Republican-appointed judges at every level. Even President Trump’s own cybersecurity chief overseeing our elections said it was the most secure election in American history.”
Biden will not unify the country because he simply doesn’t have it in him. He’s old and frail and can only deliver 13-minute speeches from a teleprompter, as this speech was, and even then he garbles his words. He has to cave to the far-left because he needs their support and he is beholden to them for their votes. He promised the moon to them and now he’s expected to pay up. In order to flip the Senate into Democrat control, he needs both Warnock and Ossoff to win their run-off elections.
Ossoff is a limousine liberal, a trust fund baby who is enamored with socialism. He is all about total government control and the taxpayers picking up the check. Warnock is a minister and a far-left radical who supports Louis Farrakhan and calls Republicans “thugs and murderers” for passing the 2017 tax cuts.
Democrats in Georgia have organized and registered voters as a top priority in hopes of flipping the state back into a blue state. Biden was the first Democrat presidential candidate to win Georgia since 1992.
Biden’s campaign, together with the Democratic National Committee, has steered about $5 million to Democrats’ coordinated campaign in the state. The money is paying for about 50 campaign staffers, including many focused on suburbs and smaller cities where Biden outperformed usual Democratic marks. The Biden campaign and the national party also have raised about $10 million directly for Ossoff and Warnock. But Biden’s biggest impact could be vouching for Ossoff and Warnock. The general election results show why the two could benefit from riding Biden’s coattails. Biden topped all candidates on Georgia’s November ballot with nearly 2,475,000 votes, finishing about 12,000 ahead of Trump out of 5 million ballots cast. Perdue finished with about the same number of votes as Trump and led Ossoff by about 88,000 votes, meaning Ossoff ran about 100,000 votes behind Biden.
So, with Ossoff and Warnock’s record of bomb-throwing radical remarks, how does Joe Biden justify campaigning for them? Simple. It’s solely because he is desperate for control of the Senate. His pledge to unify the country and work with both sides of the aisle is just campaign trail rhetoric. Remember, Biden was a driving force to push Obamacare through Congress on a one-party vote and then famously was caught on a microphone crowing to Obama that it was a big effing deal at the signing ceremony. He’s as big of a partisan hack as the rest of them. Will any reporter on the road with Biden today ask questions about comments from either Democrat, especially those of Warnock? Of course, they won’t because they plan to cover for Status Quo Joe for the next four years. He’s their guy.


hotair--2020-12-15--"The electoral college has spoken": McConnell finally says Biden is president-elect

Before you ask , yes , of course there are already insinuations circulating on social media that McConnell himself was involved in The Big Steal .
Why would a guy whose every waking thought is devoted to filling the federal judiciary with conservatives be willing to engage in chicanery to elect Joe Biden ?
He wouldn ’ t , of course .
But believing in The Big Steal has always been a loyalty test , not a rational process .
McConnell failed the loyalty test this morning by acknowledging Biden ’ s victory , so now he ’ s complicit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Day , you ’ d been asked to predict the precise moment he would acknowledge the reality of who won , today is the moment you ’ d have picked .
There was no doubt Trump would spend weeks insisting that he ’ d been cheated and there was no doubt most of the Republican base would indulge him in that , so McConnell had to indulge him too by not contradicting him publicly .
( Privately is another matter .
I ’ d bet good money that he called Biden to congratulate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was also no doubt that at some point Senate Republicans would need to pivot , especially with the Georgia Senate runoffs bearing down .
McConnell wants Georgia Republicans amped to turn out and vote for Loeffler and Perdue , and his strongest message on that point has always been that Biden will have total control of government if Warnock and Ossoff win .
But because of Trump ’ s delicate ego , he was prevented from making that claim forthrightly .
Until now .
The electoral college vote gave him all the political @ @ @ @ @ @ @ execute that pivot .
So he did .
Various Senate Republicans had already spoken out last night , acknowledging Biden ’ s victory , but McConnell ’ s statement will make it easier for stragglers in the caucus to ‘ fess up to reality too .
If the leadership accepts that Biden is president-elect , that ’ ll be good enough for most backbenchers .
Interestingly , certain antagonists of the GOP establishment are also seizing this opportunity to pivot : I wonder if Newsmax would have made the same decision if not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ first blush it makes no sense for them to acknowledge Biden as president-elect .
They ’ re supposed to be the feral populist alternative to Fox News , the sort of network where you might expect them to describe Biden going forward as the “ president-select ” or as the “ alleged president ” or whatever .
But Greg Kelly ’ s surge in the 7 p.m. hour may have Newsmax brass believing that they should make some small nods to credibility as they try to establish themselves as a mainstream news network @ @ @ @ @ @ @ few populist entities want to lead a revolution ; they just want to occupy the lucrative niches that the establishment does .
Newsmax accepting Biden ’ s win is a small concession to that reality .
I regret to report that the president is not taking the result from the electoral college as well as McConnell or Newsmax is : Having committed no crime , neither Brian Kemp nor Brad Raffensperger are going to jail for anything .
That ’ s just the latest evolution of the running scam aimed at Trump voters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ villains responsible for his defeat that will soon be exposed and punished .
( Lin Wood appears to be a fan generally of conspiracy theories in which cabals of evildoers are forever on the brink of being arrested but never actually are . )
Sidney Powell was going to vanquish them with her Kraken lawsuits , then Texas was going to overturn the results in swing states with its SCOTUS lawsuits , now Kemp and Raffensperger are supposedly going to prison .
It ’ s half scam , half descent into fantasy to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s probably still sufficiently tethered to the real world that he knows Wood is wrong , but he ’ s retweeting him anyway because no opportunity to demagogue the Georgia Republicans who refused to block Biden ’ s victory there is too cheap to amplify .
Here ’ s Romney last night reminding the country that just because you lost doesn ’ t mean you were defrauded .
We have exactly 22 more days of conspiracy-mongering to go , with the next round of the scam destined to focus on how Congress @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it meets to record the electoral college ’ s votes on January 6 .
That ’ s effectively impossible since the Democratic House has a de facto veto over the process .
And Mike Pence , who ’ ll preside over the session , isn ’ t so hardcore a MAGA type that he ’ d refuse to accept Congress ’ s verdict or whatever .
But the fantasy will continue because reality is hard .
What the next conspiracy will be between January 6 and January 20 , when Biden is sworn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I ’ m sure Wood and Powell will think of something .

Before you ask, yes, of course there are already insinuations circulating on social media that McConnell himself was involved in The Big Steal. Why would a guy whose every waking thought is devoted to filling the federal judiciary with conservatives be willing to engage in chicanery to elect Joe Biden? He wouldn’t, of course. But believing in The Big Steal has always been a loyalty test, not a rational process. McConnell failed the loyalty test this morning by acknowledging Biden’s victory, so now he’s complicit.
If, the morning after Election Day, you’d been asked to predict the precise moment he would acknowledge the reality of who won, today is the moment you’d have picked. There was no doubt Trump would spend weeks insisting that he’d been cheated and there was no doubt most of the Republican base would indulge him in that, so McConnell had to indulge him too by not contradicting him publicly. (Privately is another matter. I’d bet good money that he called Biden to congratulate him weeks ago.) But there was also no doubt that at some point Senate Republicans would need to pivot, especially with the Georgia Senate runoffs bearing down. McConnell wants Georgia Republicans amped to turn out and vote for Loeffler and Perdue, and his strongest message on that point has always been that Biden will have total control of government if Warnock and Ossoff win. But because of Trump’s delicate ego, he was prevented from making that claim forthrightly.
Until now. The electoral college vote gave him all the political cover he could hope for to finally execute that pivot. So he did.
“Many millions of us had hoped the presidential election would yield a different result. But our system of government has processes to determine who will be sworn in on Jan. 20,” McConnell said https://t.co/PyGvwKqydN pic.twitter.com/zoISxy8x5S — POLITICO (@politico) December 15, 2020
Various Senate Republicans had already spoken out last night, acknowledging Biden’s victory, but McConnell’s statement will make it easier for stragglers in the caucus to ‘fess up to reality too. If the leadership accepts that Biden is president-elect, that’ll be good enough for most backbenchers.
Interestingly, certain antagonists of the GOP establishment are also seizing this opportunity to pivot:
A Newsmax spokesperson to TVNewser just now: "As a result of the Electoral College vote Joe Biden is the president-elect and will be referred to as such on Newsmax. We also recognize President Trump continues to contest the results and we will cover aspects of that news story." — A.J. Katz (@ajkatztv) December 15, 2020
I wonder if Newsmax would have made the same decision if not for their ratings surge lately. At first blush it makes no sense for them to acknowledge Biden as president-elect. They’re supposed to be the feral populist alternative to Fox News, the sort of network where you might expect them to describe Biden going forward as the “president-select” or as the “alleged president” or whatever. But Greg Kelly’s surge in the 7 p.m. hour may have Newsmax brass believing that they should make some small nods to credibility as they try to establish themselves as a mainstream news network to rival Fox. Deep down, few populist entities want to lead a revolution; they just want to occupy the lucrative niches that the establishment does. Newsmax accepting Biden’s win is a small concession to that reality.
I regret to report that the president is not taking the result from the electoral college as well as McConnell or Newsmax is:
Trump, who cannot jail either Gov. Kemp or Secretary of State Raffensperger, is retweeting Lin Wood's call for him (prediction that he will?) jail both of them. Republicans have spent weeks trying to convince the president Wood is a Democratic psy-op, to no obvious avail. pic.twitter.com/DFu53252vm — Jacob Rubashkin (@JacobRubashkin) December 15, 2020
Having committed no crime, neither Brian Kemp nor Brad Raffensperger are going to jail for anything. That’s just the latest evolution of the running scam aimed at Trump voters that there’s some cabal of villains responsible for his defeat that will soon be exposed and punished. (Lin Wood appears to be a fan generally of conspiracy theories in which cabals of evildoers are forever on the brink of being arrested but never actually are.) Sidney Powell was going to vanquish them with her Kraken lawsuits, then Texas was going to overturn the results in swing states with its SCOTUS lawsuits, now Kemp and Raffensperger are supposedly going to prison. It’s half scam, half descent into fantasy to cope with an intolerable reality. Trump’s probably still sufficiently tethered to the real world that he knows Wood is wrong, but he’s retweeting him anyway because no opportunity to demagogue the Georgia Republicans who refused to block Biden’s victory there is too cheap to amplify.
Here’s Romney last night reminding the country that just because you lost doesn’t mean you were defrauded. We have exactly 22 more days of conspiracy-mongering to go, with the next round of the scam destined to focus on how Congress might install Trump as president again when it meets to record the electoral college’s votes on January 6. That’s effectively impossible since the Democratic House has a de facto veto over the process. And Mike Pence, who’ll preside over the session, isn’t so hardcore a MAGA type that he’d refuse to accept Congress’s verdict or whatever. But the fantasy will continue because reality is hard. What the next conspiracy will be between January 6 and January 20, when Biden is sworn in, is unclear for now but I’m sure Wood and Powell will think of something.
https://twitter.com/FirenzeMike/status/1338685378157572099


hotair--2020-12-15--More on the "Galactic Federation" of space aliens story

When we recently discussed the story of the respected Israeli General who told a reporter about an agreement between the United States and a supposed “ Galactic Federation ” of extraterrestrials , there was a lot to unpack .
Haim Eshed told Raanan Shaked of the Yediot Aharonot newspaper that President Trump had been on the verge of spilling the beans about all of this , but the aliens talked him out of it at the last minute .
He also mentioned that we have a secret federation base in the interior of Mars where American astronauts regularly work in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mostly left to speculate why he would say such things , but I tracked down some social media comments from the author of a recent book about Eshed for further insight .
I concluded that the most likely explanations were that Eshed was either losing his marbles or Shaked had grossly exaggerated some of his comments to make the article more viral .
As it turns out , there ’ s another possible explanation .
As Tim McMillan reports at The Debrief , filmmaker Jeremy Corbell interviewed Shaked over the weekend to gain @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s state of mind and where he was supposedly getting his information .
Assuming the reporter ’ s conclusions are accurate , Eshed is quite sane , but he does have a history of getting his “ information ” from conspiracy theory authors who aren ’ t generally viewed as being terribly reliable sources of hard data .
When it comes to secret pacts between the U.S. Government and extraterrestrials , rather than sharing anything he had first-hand knowledge of , Shaked explained Eshed was citing information long put out in some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Namely , a nearly 40-year-old conspiracy that President Dwight D. Eisenhower secretly met and signed an agreement with extraterrestrials… The majority of sources pin the origins of the Eisenhower story to the “ Granddaddy of American conspiracy theorists ” – William “ Bill ” Cooper .
In his best-known work , “ Behold a Pale Horse ” ( 1991 ) , Cooper claimed in the early 1970s while serving with the Navy ’ s Office of Naval Intelligence , he was granted access to classified documents describing President Eisenhower ’ s meetings @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ Galactic Space Confederation ” made up of eight different extraterrestrials species existed .
Shaked claims that the quotes from Eshed are accurate but they are being taken “ out of context.
” I ’ m not so sure about that , however , for a couple of reasons .
On the surface , it ’ s a reasonable explanation .
I ’ m familiar with the “ Eishenhower negotiated with aliens ” story and much of Bill Cooper ’ s work .
To the best of my knowledge , nobody has ever @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that such a thing ever happened which wasn ’ t eventually shown to be a hoax .
So if Eshed is a big fan and has really taken those stories to heart , it indeed might explain how he came about these beliefs .
But here ’ s the problem with that theory .
Bill Cooper has been dead for almost twenty years .
In the interview , Eshed was talking specifically about President Donald Trump and his supposed interactions with representatives of the nine alien species comprising the Galactic Federation .
He @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Cooper ’ s writings .
Further , I ’ m one of “ those people ” who tend to keep up with all of the hot rumors in the field of ufology and I ’ ve yet to see anyone suggest something like this about Donald Trump , even among the conspiracy theorists who have fallen fully down the rabbit hole .
So where did Eshed obtain this new “ information ?
” Later in the original interview , he admits that he doesn ’ t have first-hand knowledge in the form of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ does tell Shaked that there was “ other information he saw ” during his 30-year career with Israel ’ s space agency , some of which came from counterparts in the American space program .
( But he can ’ t reveal who they were or what they shared yet . )
It ’ s not a direct admission , but it certainly suggests that he was telling the reporter that his claims were credible and evidence exists to back them up .
With all of that in mind , I don ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his comments were “ taken out of context.
” Quite the opposite , in fact .
I ’ m willing to accept that Eshed is still in possession of his faculties and even sincerely believes the things that he ’ s saying .
But he ’ s also going well beyond the old conspiracy theories about Ike and breaking some new ground .
If he didn ’ t make up these stories himself , I ’ d be very curious to know who has been peddling them to him .
Here ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s YouTube channel .
You can decide for yourself .

When we recently discussed the story of the respected Israeli General who told a reporter about an agreement between the United States and a supposed “Galactic Federation” of extraterrestrials, there was a lot to unpack. Haim Eshed told Raanan Shaked of the Yediot Aharonot newspaper that President Trump had been on the verge of spilling the beans about all of this, but the aliens talked him out of it at the last minute. He also mentioned that we have a secret federation base in the interior of Mars where American astronauts regularly work in cooperation with the aliens. We were mostly left to speculate why he would say such things, but I tracked down some social media comments from the author of a recent book about Eshed for further insight. I concluded that the most likely explanations were that Eshed was either losing his marbles or Shaked had grossly exaggerated some of his comments to make the article more viral.
As it turns out, there’s another possible explanation. As Tim McMillan reports at The Debrief, filmmaker Jeremy Corbell interviewed Shaked over the weekend to gain additional details about the interview, Eshed’s state of mind and where he was supposedly getting his information. Assuming the reporter’s conclusions are accurate, Eshed is quite sane, but he does have a history of getting his “information” from conspiracy theory authors who aren’t generally viewed as being terribly reliable sources of hard data.
When it comes to secret pacts between the U.S. Government and extraterrestrials, rather than sharing anything he had first-hand knowledge of, Shaked explained Eshed was citing information long put out in some of the more fringe circles of Ufology. Namely, a nearly 40-year-old conspiracy that President Dwight D. Eisenhower secretly met and signed an agreement with extraterrestrials… The majority of sources pin the origins of the Eisenhower story to the “Granddaddy of American conspiracy theorists” – William “Bill” Cooper. In his best-known work, “Behold a Pale Horse” (1991), Cooper claimed in the early 1970s while serving with the Navy’s Office of Naval Intelligence, he was granted access to classified documents describing President Eisenhower’s meetings with extraterrestrials. Cooper also claimed a “Galactic Space Confederation” made up of eight different extraterrestrials species existed.
Shaked claims that the quotes from Eshed are accurate but they are being taken “out of context.” I’m not so sure about that, however, for a couple of reasons. On the surface, it’s a reasonable explanation. I’m familiar with the “Eishenhower negotiated with aliens” story and much of Bill Cooper’s work. To the best of my knowledge, nobody has ever provided any documentation or other corroborating evidence that such a thing ever happened which wasn’t eventually shown to be a hoax. So if Eshed is a big fan and has really taken those stories to heart, it indeed might explain how he came about these beliefs.
But here’s the problem with that theory. Bill Cooper has been dead for almost twenty years. In the interview, Eshed was talking specifically about President Donald Trump and his supposed interactions with representatives of the nine alien species comprising the Galactic Federation. He couldn’t have gotten that from Cooper’s writings. Further, I’m one of “those people” who tend to keep up with all of the hot rumors in the field of ufology and I’ve yet to see anyone suggest something like this about Donald Trump, even among the conspiracy theorists who have fallen fully down the rabbit hole. So where did Eshed obtain this new “information?”
Later in the original interview, he admits that he doesn’t have first-hand knowledge in the form of seeing the aliens himself, but he does tell Shaked that there was “other information he saw” during his 30-year career with Israel’s space agency, some of which came from counterparts in the American space program. (But he can’t reveal who they were or what they shared yet.) It’s not a direct admission, but it certainly suggests that he was telling the reporter that his claims were credible and evidence exists to back them up.
With all of that in mind, I don’t see how you can say that his comments were “taken out of context.” Quite the opposite, in fact. I’m willing to accept that Eshed is still in possession of his faculties and even sincerely believes the things that he’s saying. But he’s also going well beyond the old conspiracy theories about Ike and breaking some new ground. If he didn’t make up these stories himself, I’d be very curious to know who has been peddling them to him.
Here’s the interview with Shaked from Corbin’s YouTube channel. You can decide for yourself.


hotair--2020-12-15--Angry California restaurant owner confronts inspectors: Why are you fining me for trying to keep my

Angry California restaurant owner confronts inspectors: Why are you fining me for trying to keep my business open?

Via the Daily Caller , which happened to be on the scene interviewing business owner Anton Van Happen when two California health inspectors showed up .
That sounds like an incredible coincidence but it isn ’ t .
He ’ s been trying to organize a little commercial rebellion against the new regional stay-at-home order , which I assume is why the Caller — and the inspectors — wanted to talk to him .
From a KEYT story published Friday : Most of Downtown Ventura is empty following the new regional Stay-At-Home order .
Restaurants were ordered to switch to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ owners are pushing back .
“ I am trying to start something where all restaurant owners are going to wake up , ” said Anton Van Happen , who is the owner of Nick The Greek in Downtown Ventura .
“ My calling is to all the other restaurant owners to open your restaurants , ” said Van Happen .
“ If we all open up they can ’ t do anything.
” “ His outdoor patio was packed Thursday night , ” KEYT notes .
Someone in California ’ s health bureaucracy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and dispatched agents to make an example of him .
If you ’ re reading this and wondering , “ Wait , why is *outdoor* dining dangerous ?
” , that ’ s … a good question .
Other restaurant owners have been asking it , occasionally with great clamor ensuing online .
Local health bureaucrats seem to think it ’ s a simple matter of zero tolerance at a moment when infections are peaking in California and hospital capacity is being strained .
Outdoor dining may be low-risk but it ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ concluded that that risk should be eliminated as a way to further limit community spread .
The L.A. County director of public health , Barbara Ferrer , was asked to respond to Giroir ’ s comments Monday at a news conference .
“ The data is really crystal clear at every single level that you look at it : That wearing a mask is one of the best protections you have from preventing [ coronavirus infections ] , ” Ferrer said .
“ I don ’ t think there ’ s any debate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ proximity with other people , not in their household , not wearing masks and mingling for extended periods of time … there ’ s increased risk of transmission.
” What will lead to fewer infections in the aggregate ?
A zero-tolerance policy for people congregating , even outdoors , in order to send a forceful message that *any* gathering is dangerous at a moment when the virus is spreading unchecked ?
Or a policy in which low-risk gatherings are tolerated in order to give people an outlet for congregating in safe-ish ways , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be more careful about avoiding riskier gatherings as a result ?
Is there a psychological “ pressure valve ” of social interaction that bursts when restrictions become too onerous , leading people to say “ to hell with it ” and throw caution to the wind ?
That ’ s a lot of noncompliance .
Would easing off on the regulations a bit encourage businesses to be stricter about enforcing the remaining regulations ?
Normally the logical way to approach this would be to weigh the risk of infection from outdoor dining , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ against the risk of economic calamity to businesses if they ’ re forced to limit dining options , which is high or even catastrophic .
But the X factor is hospital capacity .
What do you do when you ’ ve reached a degree of contagion in which each new infection brings you closer to a severe regional health-care crisis ?
That is , if forced to choose , would you rather restaurants continue to operate or hospitals ?
I think that ’ s the way health officials in Cali approach this question @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — some restaurants will go under , some will refuse to comply and spread infections , and hospitals will continue to strain as cases grow .
Human misery , everywhere you look .
2020 to its essence .
Three clips here from the Caller , all of which are hard to watch .
This poor guy is trying his best to survive , but so are local ERs .
In lieu of an exit question , read New York magazine on how California is coming apart during the pandemic as residents struggle with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the hypocrisy of officials like Gavin Newsom ( who may soon be facing a serious recall effort ) in flouting them .
Quote : “ Some towns have taken brazen steps to create their own health departments to circumvent the county ’ s public-health rulings entirely , a move dubbed by some as a ‘ mini secession . '
”

Via the Daily Caller, which happened to be on the scene interviewing business owner Anton Van Happen when two California health inspectors showed up. That sounds like an incredible coincidence but it isn’t. He’s been trying to organize a little commercial rebellion against the new regional stay-at-home order, which I assume is why the Caller — and the inspectors — wanted to talk to him. From a KEYT story published Friday:
Most of Downtown Ventura is empty following the new regional Stay-At-Home order. Restaurants were ordered to switch to takeout and delivery only, but some owners are pushing back. “I am trying to start something where all restaurant owners are going to wake up,” said Anton Van Happen, who is the owner of Nick The Greek in Downtown Ventura. On Thursday Van Happen put up signs advertising a protest. “My calling is to all the other restaurant owners to open your restaurants,” said Van Happen. “If we all open up they can’t do anything.”
“His outdoor patio was packed Thursday night,” KEYT notes. Someone in California’s health bureaucracy must have read or heard about it and dispatched agents to make an example of him. If you’re reading this and wondering, “Wait, why is *outdoor* dining dangerous?”, that’s … a good question. Other restaurant owners have been asking it, occasionally with great clamor ensuing online. Local health bureaucrats seem to think it’s a simple matter of zero tolerance at a moment when infections are peaking in California and hospital capacity is being strained. Outdoor dining may be low-risk but it’s not no-risk, so they’ve concluded that that risk should be eliminated as a way to further limit community spread.
The L.A. County director of public health, Barbara Ferrer, was asked to respond to Giroir’s comments Monday at a news conference. “The data is really crystal clear at every single level that you look at it: That wearing a mask is one of the best protections you have from preventing [coronavirus infections],” Ferrer said. “I don’t think there’s any debate: That where people are in close proximity with other people, not in their household, not wearing masks and mingling for extended periods of time … there’s increased risk of transmission.”
What will lead to fewer infections in the aggregate? A zero-tolerance policy for people congregating, even outdoors, in order to send a forceful message that *any* gathering is dangerous at a moment when the virus is spreading unchecked? Or a policy in which low-risk gatherings are tolerated in order to give people an outlet for congregating in safe-ish ways, in the expectation that they’ll be more careful about avoiding riskier gatherings as a result? Is there a psychological “pressure valve” of social interaction that bursts when restrictions become too onerous, leading people to say “to hell with it” and throw caution to the wind?
Relatedly:
Another issue L.A. County officials are seeing is a lack of compliance with pandemic workplace rules. In L.A. County, only 61% of restaurants and bars visited by health inspectors between Nov. 25 and Dec. 3 complied with coronavirus rules. Seventy-one percent of gyms were in compliance, as were 69% of retail stores and indoor malls, 48% of food markets and 46% of hotels. None of the 14 garment manufacturers visited by the county were in full compliance.
That’s a lot of noncompliance. Would easing off on the regulations a bit encourage businesses to be stricter about enforcing the remaining regulations?
Normally the logical way to approach this would be to weigh the risk of infection from outdoor dining, which is low but not zero, against the risk of economic calamity to businesses if they’re forced to limit dining options, which is high or even catastrophic. But the X factor is hospital capacity. What do you do when you’ve reached a degree of contagion in which each new infection brings you closer to a severe regional health-care crisis? That is, if forced to choose, would you rather restaurants continue to operate or hospitals?
I think that’s the way health officials in Cali approach this question. But the likely outcome is chaos — some restaurants will go under, some will refuse to comply and spread infections, and hospitals will continue to strain as cases grow. Human misery, everywhere you look. 2020 to its essence.
Three clips here from the Caller, all of which are hard to watch. This poor guy is trying his best to survive, but so are local ERs. In lieu of an exit question, read New York magazine on how California is coming apart during the pandemic as residents struggle with the byzantine tangle of social-distancing restrictions and the hypocrisy of officials like Gavin Newsom (who may soon be facing a serious recall effort) in flouting them. Quote: “Some towns have taken brazen steps to create their own health departments to circumvent the county’s public-health rulings entirely, a move dubbed by some as a ‘mini secession.'”
"Are you going to pay my rent ? says owner Anton Van Happen of 'Nick The Greek' to public health inspectors issuing him a citation for staying open after being issued a closure order. Things got tense pic.twitter.com/9eKCiAjDaw — Jorge Ventura Media (@VenturaReport) December 15, 2020
"Why aren't you at Costco right now, there's 500 people inside Costco" a customer of 'Nick The Greek' says to public health inspectors issuing a citation to owner Anton Van Happen for remaining open after receving a closure order on Friday. pic.twitter.com/xFNdGNQqF8 — Jorge Ventura Media (@VenturaReport) December 15, 2020


hotair--2020-12-15--Michigan officials: The Ramsland analysis of Antrim County voting nothing more than "a series of uns

Michigan officials: The Ramsland analysis of Antrim County voting nothing more than "a series of unsupported conclusions"

Did Dominion Systems defraud voters in Antrim County , Michigan — and by extension the entire nation ?
A court ordered the release of an outside analysis of the election operation yesterday , and its conclusions have Donald Trump and his supporters claiming to have the smoking gun that should overturn the election .
Dominion ’ s system has intentional design errors “ to create systemic fraud and influence election results , ” declares Russell Ramsland .
Not so fast , say Michigan election officials and Dominion : State officials are disputing a report on Antrim County ’ s voting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ confused Michigan and Minnesota voting districts in an earlier election analysis — that says the county ’ s equipment “ is intentionally and purposefully designed with inherent errors to create systemic fraud and influence election results.
” Michigan Elections Director Jonathan Brater said in a weekend court filing the report “ makes a series of unsupported conclusions , ascribes motives of fraud and obfuscation to processes that are easily explained as routine election procedures or error corrections , and suggests without explanation that elements of election software not used in Michigan are somehow @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are either nonexistent or easily explained.
” And Dominion Voting Systems , the company whose equipment is used in Antrim , issued a statement saying it is the subject of a “ continuing malicious and widespread disinformation campaign ” intended to undermine confidence in the Nov. 3 election .
Contrary to the impression some have , this report is not an independent analysis .
Ramsland has been working on Team Trump ’ s legal challenges for some time .
This appears to be a more formal version of the affidavits that Ramsland and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ And , as the Detroit Free Press points out , Ramsland ’ s efforts have not been entirely credible — especially in Michigan .
His first attempt to prove Dominion was corrupt in Michigan analyzed the results in nearly two dozen towns and cities , but it turned out that all of them were in Minnesota , not Michigan .
Despite this error , Ramsland and Team Trump allowed that affidavit to continue uncorrected for at least a week .
Before it got corrected , Sidney Powell was still basing her claims in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s erroneous initial affidavit .
That matters when it comes to weighing credibility in court , as John Hinderaker explained at the time that he uncovered the errors : Evidently a researcher , either Mr. Ramsland or someone working for him , was working with a database and confused “ MI ” for Minnesota with “ MI ” for Michigan .
( The postal code for Minnesota is MN , while Michigan is MI , so one can see how this might happen . )
So the affidavit , which addresses “ anomalies @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is based largely , and mistakenly , on data from Minnesota .
This is a catastrophic error , the kind of thing that causes a legal position to crash and burn .
Trump ’ s lawyers are fighting an uphill battle , to put it mildly , and confusing Michigan with Minnesota will at best make the hill steeper .
Credibility once lost is hard to regain .
Possibly Trump ’ s lawyers have already discovered this appalling error , and have undertaken to correct it .
But the Ramsland Affidavit was filed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the point , Ramsland ’ s claims had been heard already in challenges to the election in Michigan .
They didn ’ t convince courts at that time , nor does it appear that the court is yet convinced now .
This challenge actually relates to a down-ballot county election , not the presidential election itself , although it ’ s clearly intended as a political argument for the latter .
Don ’ t forget , too , that the Department of Homeland Security has specifically rejected Ramsland ’ s theory about Dominion @ @ @ @ @ @ @ test is how the claims fare in court .
To put it mildly , they have not produced a track record of success .
Dominion and the state of Georgia point — with good reason — to the hand recounts performed in that state as affirmative rebuttals to Ramsland ’ s claims .
As has been explained ad nauseam , the Dominion systems produce a paper ballot that voters check before submitting them to the precinct .
If Ramsland ’ s analysis were correct , either the hand recount would have shown a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hundreds of thousands of voters would have testified as to getting an incorrect ballot from the machine .
Neither happened ; the recounts have all corroborated the original election results .
In Michigan , election officials testified to the incorrect assumptions and hearsay qualities of this and other affidavits in support of Trump ’ s desire to throw out the results .
In all cases , courts have dismissed the cases as unsupported by actual evidence .
Dominion should make their rebuttal public too , if for no other reason than to help @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as courts have .
That would certainly be helpful to people who keep hearing claims like Ramsland ’ s but aren ’ t clear on what the responses have been .
They should be clear , however , about Ramsland ’ s track record and the track record in courts on these claims .
Update : There were a number of problems with Ramsland ’ s affidavit in Michigan even after correcting the city data , as Politifact pointed out three weeks ago : For instance , Ramsland claims that Detroit saw a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s official results show that turnout in the city was actually 50.88 % of registered voters .
… It is difficult to imagine that a turnout rate above 100 % — let alone 782 % in the City of North Muskegon or 461 % In Zeeland Charter Township — would have escaped election officials compiling the statement of votes cast .
But beyond the implausible turnout rates Ramsland alleges , there are other glaring problems with the list .
Shelby Township is named twice .
So is Zeeland Charter Township , with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ % and 460.51 % .
Ramsland lists “ Fenton ” without specifying Fenton City or Fenton Township .
But the turnout Ramsland lists for Fenton does not match the turnout in either jurisdiction .
The actual turnout statistics reveal the inaccuracy of Ramsland ’ s numbers .
His figure for North Muskegon is off by a factor of 10 : The actual number is 78.11 % , not 781.91 % .
For Zeeland Charter Township , he inflated the turnout nearly sixfold .
For Grout Township and the City of Muskegon , his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ number .
And there is more besides that .
Ramsland is at best very sloppy at his tradecraft .
Adjust your estimations of credibility of this analysis accordingly .

Did Dominion Systems defraud voters in Antrim County, Michigan — and by extension the entire nation? A court ordered the release of an outside analysis of the election operation yesterday, and its conclusions have Donald Trump and his supporters claiming to have the smoking gun that should overturn the election. Dominion’s system has intentional design errors “to create systemic fraud and influence election results,” declares Russell Ramsland.
Not so fast, say Michigan election officials and Dominion:
State officials are disputing a report on Antrim County’s voting equipment — signed by a consultant who confused Michigan and Minnesota voting districts in an earlier election analysis — that says the county’s equipment “is intentionally and purposefully designed with inherent errors to create systemic fraud and influence election results.” Michigan Elections Director Jonathan Brater said in a weekend court filing the report “makes a series of unsupported conclusions, ascribes motives of fraud and obfuscation to processes that are easily explained as routine election procedures or error corrections, and suggests without explanation that elements of election software not used in Michigan are somehow responsible for tabulation or reporting errors that are either nonexistent or easily explained.” And Dominion Voting Systems, the company whose equipment is used in Antrim, issued a statement saying it is the subject of a “continuing malicious and widespread disinformation campaign” intended to undermine confidence in the Nov. 3 election.
Contrary to the impression some have, this report is not an independent analysis. Ramsland has been working on Team Trump’s legal challenges for some time. This appears to be a more formal version of the affidavits that Ramsland and attorneys have been submitting all along. And, as the Detroit Free Press points out, Ramsland’s efforts have not been entirely credible — especially in Michigan. His first attempt to prove Dominion was corrupt in Michigan analyzed the results in nearly two dozen towns and cities, but it turned out that all of them were in Minnesota, not Michigan.
Despite this error, Ramsland and Team Trump allowed that affidavit to continue uncorrected for at least a week. Before it got corrected, Sidney Powell was still basing her claims in several states in part on Ramsland’s erroneous initial affidavit. That matters when it comes to weighing credibility in court, as John Hinderaker explained at the time that he uncovered the errors:
Evidently a researcher, either Mr. Ramsland or someone working for him, was working with a database and confused “MI” for Minnesota with “MI” for Michigan. (The postal code for Minnesota is MN, while Michigan is MI, so one can see how this might happen.) So the affidavit, which addresses “anomalies and red flags” in Michigan, is based largely, and mistakenly, on data from Minnesota. This is a catastrophic error, the kind of thing that causes a legal position to crash and burn. Trump’s lawyers are fighting an uphill battle, to put it mildly, and confusing Michigan with Minnesota will at best make the hill steeper. Credibility once lost is hard to regain. Possibly Trump’s lawyers have already discovered this appalling error, and have undertaken to correct it. But the Ramsland Affidavit was filed in Georgia just yesterday.
More to the point, Ramsland’s claims had been heard already in challenges to the election in Michigan. They didn’t convince courts at that time, nor does it appear that the court is yet convinced now. This challenge actually relates to a down-ballot county election, not the presidential election itself, although it’s clearly intended as a political argument for the latter. Don’t forget, too, that the Department of Homeland Security has specifically rejected Ramsland’s theory about Dominion.
As with all affidavits, the test is how the claims fare in court. To put it mildly, they have not produced a track record of success. Dominion and the state of Georgia point — with good reason — to the hand recounts performed in that state as affirmative rebuttals to Ramsland’s claims. As has been explained ad nauseam, the Dominion systems produce a paper ballot that voters check before submitting them to the precinct. If Ramsland’s analysis were correct, either the hand recount would have shown a massive shift in the results, or hundreds of thousands of voters would have testified as to getting an incorrect ballot from the machine. Neither happened; the recounts have all corroborated the original election results. In Michigan, election officials testified to the incorrect assumptions and hearsay qualities of this and other affidavits in support of Trump’s desire to throw out the results. In all cases, courts have dismissed the cases as unsupported by actual evidence.
Dominion should make their rebuttal public too, if for no other reason than to help people balance the two claims, just as courts have. That would certainly be helpful to people who keep hearing claims like Ramsland’s but aren’t clear on what the responses have been. They should be clear, however, about Ramsland’s track record and the track record in courts on these claims.
Update: There were a number of problems with Ramsland’s affidavit in Michigan even after correcting the city data, as Politifact pointed out three weeks ago:
For instance, Ramsland claims that Detroit saw a turnout of 139.29%. The city’s official results show that turnout in the city was actually 50.88% of registered voters. … It is difficult to imagine that a turnout rate above 100% — let alone 782% in the City of North Muskegon or 461% In Zeeland Charter Township — would have escaped election officials compiling the statement of votes cast. But beyond the implausible turnout rates Ramsland alleges, there are other glaring problems with the list. Shelby Township is named twice. So is Zeeland Charter Township, with two vastly different turnout rates: 90.59% and 460.51%. Ramsland lists “Fenton” without specifying Fenton City or Fenton Township. But the turnout Ramsland lists for Fenton does not match the turnout in either jurisdiction. The actual turnout statistics reveal the inaccuracy of Ramsland’s numbers. His figure for North Muskegon is off by a factor of 10: The actual number is 78.11%, not 781.91%. For Zeeland Charter Township, he inflated the turnout nearly sixfold. For Grout Township and the City of Muskegon, his number is more than triple the correct number.
And there is more besides that. Ramsland is at best very sloppy at his tradecraft. Adjust your estimations of credibility of this analysis accordingly.


hotair--2020-12-16--Teeing it up: Did Congress reach a breakthrough overnight on COVID-19 relief bill?

Maybe this time it ’ s different .
I ’ m not holding my breath , though .
Haven ’ t we heard this before ?
Congressional leaders closed in on an agreement to provide a new tranche of coronavirus relief on Tuesday , haggling deep into the night over how to spend hundreds of billions of dollars before adjourning for the year .
“ We ’ re making significant progress and I ’ m optimistic that we are going to be able to complete an understanding some time soon , ” said Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell ( R-Ky. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a day of furious negotiating .
“ We ’ re getting closer.
” Top lawmakers vowed that they would not head home for the year until they pass a coronavirus relief deal , the strongest signal yet that McConnell , Speaker Nancy Pelosi , Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy are on the verge of breaking the months-long stimulus stalemate .
Congress has not passed a significant new round of aid since April .
There was lots of chatter on Twitter about this last night from reporters on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about breakthroughs , concessions , and so on , which sounds exactly like what we heard a few weeks ago after the election .
Remember when the centrists got together and provided a $ 908 billion “ framework ” for negotiations and everyone gushed over it ?
Just like the time in August when the Problem Solvers Caucus in the House produced a $ 1.4 trillion “ framework ” ?
The only thing for sure that ’ s changing is the numbers .
And those are going down , thanks to a supposed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their competing asks : The plan now is to attach the now-skinny Phase 4 bill to the continuing resolution that has to pass by Friday to avoid a government shutdown .
McConnell now says the Senate won ’ t adjourn until both bills pass : Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said Tuesday that the Senate will not leave Washington for the holidays until a coronavirus aid package is passed , saying he supports waiting until next year to tackle the most divisive issues to reach a deal .
Lawmakers are trying to hammer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Congress hits the deadline to pass legislation to keep the government funded .
Leaders from both parties hope to attach the Covid-19 aid package to the government funding bill .
“ We ’ re not leaving , I assure you .
We ’ re not leaving until we finish this package , ” McConnell , R-Ky. , promised .
Doesn ’ t that sound … familiar ?
It should : Nancy Pelosi made the same pledge for the House almost exactly three months ago .
How did that work out ?
In this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ truly a must-pass bill , but there has been nearly no public debate over its contents , either .
That vote looks like a mere formality .
The easy lay-up to split an endless stream of imaginary money ?
Not so much , as it turns out .
Also , it looks again like Congress will punt on a second round of direct stimulus/relief payments again .
That ’ s now an issue in Georgia , where the two Democrats are using the issue as a populist rallying cry against the GOP : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff , are both arguing that Congress needs to include direct payments to Americans in coronavirus relief legislation .
Ossoff in particular is emphasizing the topic , while drawing attention to comments that his opponent , Sen. David Perdue ( R-Ga. ) , has made in the past that are critical of direct payments .
Stimulus payments have been popular with the public , and Democrats are hoping that highlighting the issue could help them with voter turnout .
“ This might be the kind of appeal that might @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” said Charles Bullock , a political science professor at the University of Georgia .
It ’ s amazing to see seasoned politicians blow it so badly on this lay-up with voters .
If you ’ re gon na send cash to businesses and bureaucracies from the Imaginary Treasury , you ’ d better cut voters in on that deal , too .
How tough is it to figure that out ?
Anyway , now that I think it through , I ’ m much more confident that this time we ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Phase 4 goalposts .
Tee that sucker up — here we come …

Maybe this time it’s different. I’m not holding my breath, though. Haven’t we heard this before?
Congressional leaders closed in on an agreement to provide a new tranche of coronavirus relief on Tuesday, haggling deep into the night over how to spend hundreds of billions of dollars before adjourning for the year. “We’re making significant progress and I’m optimistic that we are going to be able to complete an understanding some time soon,” said Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) as he left the Capitol after a day of furious negotiating. “We’re getting closer.” Top lawmakers vowed that they would not head home for the year until they pass a coronavirus relief deal, the strongest signal yet that McConnell, Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy are on the verge of breaking the months-long stimulus stalemate. Congress has not passed a significant new round of aid since April.
There was lots of chatter on Twitter about this last night from reporters on Capitol Hill, too. They wrote about breakthroughs, concessions, and so on, which sounds exactly like what we heard a few weeks ago after the election. Remember when the centrists got together and provided a $908 billion “framework” for negotiations and everyone gushed over it? Just like the time in August when the Problem Solvers Caucus in the House produced a $1.4 trillion “framework”?
The only thing for sure that’s changing is the numbers. And those are going down, thanks to a supposed sorta-agreement by the two sides to drop their competing asks:
While the congressional leaders did not publicly discuss details, their discussions were prompted by a $748 billion proposal from centrist senators to spend on small businesses education, vaccine distribution, health care and beefing up unemployment benefits. Republicans have said they want to jettison talks over a liability shield and $160 billion for state and local government, though Democrats have yet to concede defeat on the local funding issue.
The plan now is to attach the now-skinny Phase 4 bill to the continuing resolution that has to pass by Friday to avoid a government shutdown. McConnell now says the Senate won’t adjourn until both bills pass:
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said Tuesday that the Senate will not leave Washington for the holidays until a coronavirus aid package is passed, saying he supports waiting until next year to tackle the most divisive issues to reach a deal. Lawmakers are trying to hammer out an agreement by Friday, when Congress hits the deadline to pass legislation to keep the government funded. Leaders from both parties hope to attach the Covid-19 aid package to the government funding bill. “We’re not leaving, I assure you. We’re not leaving until we finish this package,” McConnell, R-Ky., promised.
Doesn’t that sound … familiar? It should: Nancy Pelosi made the same pledge for the House almost exactly three months ago. How did that work out? In this case, though, the CR is truly a must-pass bill, but there has been nearly no public debate over its contents, either. That vote looks like a mere formality. The easy lay-up to split an endless stream of imaginary money? Not so much, as it turns out.
Also, it looks again like Congress will punt on a second round of direct stimulus/relief payments again. That’s now an issue in Georgia, where the two Democrats are using the issue as a populist rallying cry against the GOP:
The two Democratic candidates, Rev. Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff, are both arguing that Congress needs to include direct payments to Americans in coronavirus relief legislation. Ossoff in particular is emphasizing the topic, while drawing attention to comments that his opponent, Sen. David Perdue (R-Ga.), has made in the past that are critical of direct payments. Stimulus payments have been popular with the public, and Democrats are hoping that highlighting the issue could help them with voter turnout. “This might be the kind of appeal that might motivate voters to go to the polls,” said Charles Bullock, a political science professor at the University of Georgia.
It’s amazing to see seasoned politicians blow it so badly on this lay-up with voters. If you’re gonna send cash to businesses and bureaucracies from the Imaginary Treasury, you’d better cut voters in on that deal, too. How tough is it to figure that out?
Anyway, now that I think it through, I’m much more confident that this time we’ll get to kick the football through the Phase 4 goalposts. Tee that sucker up — here we come …
Update: Try singing “Don’t Stop Believing” while reading this red-siren update from Politico’s Jake Sherman:
🚨BREAKING … Hill negotiators are on the brink of a $900bn coronavirus rescue package that would include a new round of direct payments, but would leave out state and local aid, and a liability shield. A deal could come as early as early this morning. More on POLITICO shortly — Jake Sherman (@JakeSherman) December 16, 2020
You mean the solution that was obvious in July? Get. Out. And I still won’t buy it until I see a floor vote. This leadership caste could f*** up a wet dream. And have, repeatedly.
Update: Looks like meat’s back on the table, boys! The Washington Post reports that stimulus checks will be a part of a new relief bill. If…
Congressional leaders are near an agreement to add a new round of stimulus checks to a roughly $900 billion relief package as they rush to complete a deal before the end of the week, according to three people familiar with the talks granted anonymity to share internal deliberations. A bipartisan proposal released earlier this week by a group of moderate lawmakers excluded another round of $1,200 stimulus checks. But as congressional leaders tried to resolve differences in recent days, they decided to try and include a round of direct payments in the emerging legislation. The payments under discussion on Wednesday morning could be less than the $1,200 approved in the Cares Act in March, however.
This one’s so easy that’s it’s difficult to believe it wasn’t in there all along.