hotair--2020-11-18--Lindsey Graham: Yes, Biden should be getting intelligence briefings from the White House now

It makes me laugh to see some Senate Republicans try to nudge Trump to start the transition this way ( you don ’ t need to concede , Mr. President , just let him have the briefings ) , as if it ’ s 2000 and Florida all over again .
If Trump and Biden were in a good-faith dispute over a ballot question that momentarily placed the outcome of the election in doubt , then sure , it ’ d make sense for the challenger to be briefed just in case he won in court .
But there ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , or wants others to believe , that Biden perpetrated the biggest fraud in American history to win the election illicitly .
Any concession he makes on transitioning risks legitimizing Biden ’ s victory at a moment when he ’ s doing everything he can to delegitimize it .
Why would he grant his opponent the courtesy of intel briefings when he ’ s trying to convince the public that that opponent cheated to put himself in a position to receive them ?
Republicans are in denial about how petulant Trump ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as if seeing states certify their results will jar something loose in the president ’ s mind to get him to back down .
He ’ s not blocking the transition as an act of carefully considered strategy , he ’ s doing it in a fit of narcissistic panic that any gesture he makes to assist Biden ’ s team will be received as a concession that he lost fairly and is destined to lose in court .
Remember , this is a guy who reacted so badly to the notion that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his glorious 2016 victory that his intelligence briefers started briefing him less and less about Russia .
His ego couldn ’ t bear the thought that he didn ’ t deserve exclusive credit for defeating Clinton , to the point that he didn ’ t even want the topic of Russia raised .
Imagine how much more trouble it ’ s having coping with the reality that he was defeated by a figure as uncharismatic as Sleepy Joe .
So no , Lindsey , there ’ s no such thing as a “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ briefings and COVID assistance for Biden ’ s staff while holding back everything else .
He ’ s going to obstruct as much as he can .
Cronies like Graham who worry about national security had better start figuring out what they ’ ll say to get him to change his mind As I say , he ’ s going to obstruct as much as he can : Anthony Fauci was asked today if anyone from Team Biden had reached out to him and he said they hadn ’ t .
No one @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he claimed , but maybe that ’ s now changed per the tweet above .
As for why he thought the incoming administration hadn ’ t contacted him , he gave an interesting reason that I suspect is correct : “ I have tried to the best of my ability to stay out of the political aspects and just focus on my role as a public health person , a physician and a scientist… To be honest with you , I believe the Biden people understand that and don ’ t want to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Right .
If Ron Klain or Biden himself called him up and chatted with him , there ’ s no reason to think Trump wouldn ’ t throw a tantrum and try to fire Fauci once he found out .
He fired Chris Krebs , another public servant who ’ s been praised by both parties for his work , didn ’ t he ?
Krebs ’ s reputation didn ’ t stop Trump so there ’ s no reason to think Fauci ’ s would .
The president has it in for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Fauci counterprogrammed the White House ’ s “ get back to normal ” message on COVID .
Team Biden has probably concluded that the pandemic is dire enough and the progress on vaccines far enough along that it ’ s more important to keep Fauci on the job than to huddle with him about their plans for next year .
If that means keeping their distance from him , so be it .
The question isn ’ t whether Trump will gradually come around on a transition , the question is how far @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he continues to hold out .
Even Trump allies are getting impatient with the lack of evidence to support the claims of mega-fraud : The Wall Street Journal editorial page , normally friendly confines for POTUS , is also in “ put up or shut up ” mode today : President Trump has so far been unwilling to concede to Joe Biden , and his latest argument is that the voting machines must have been rigged .
Where ’ s the evidence ?
Strong claims need strong proof , not rumors and innuendo @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there ’ s no good evidence of voting problems that would come close to Mr. Biden ’ s lead of 73,000 votes in Pennsylvania or 145,000 in Michigan .
In Georgia , the Republican Secretary of State last week ordered a hand recount of all five million ballots .
The effort turned up 2,600 missing votes that Floyd County forgot to upload .
Adding them would cut Mr. Biden ’ s lead to slightly north of 13,000 .
But the error isn ’ t Dominion ’ s fault , and it better hope @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 10-year contract with the state for $ 107 million .
If Georgia ’ s recount doesn ’ t find big irregularities , then these claims should be put to rest .
In the George W. Bush years , the conspiratorial left focused on Diebold , a maker of electronic voting machines .
It would be a mistake for anyone on the right to go down a similar dead end , especially if Georgia ’ s paper ballots give the same result as the computers .
Follow the link and read that piece in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it debunks the conspiracy theories about Dominion voting machines .
If there ’ s anything that might move Trump , it ’ s not argument that he ’ s hurting the country but arguments that he ’ s hurting himself .
Here ’ s where we are today : The same pollster found that 46 percent want him to concede immediately and another 32 percent say he should concede eventually if he can ’ t back up his voter-fraud claims .
Just 27 percent of Republican say he should never concede .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more people will conclude he ’ s being a baby who ’ s risking the country ’ s defenses against COVID and foreign threats to soothe his bruised ego , and the more damage will be done to any 2024 campaign he might be planning .
The best thing he could do for himself is declare that he ’ s running again in four years and then behave responsibly until January 20 .
But he can ’ t do that so he won ’ t .

It makes me laugh to see some Senate Republicans try to nudge Trump to start the transition this way (you don’t need to concede, Mr. President, just let him have the briefings), as if it’s 2000 and Florida all over again. If Trump and Biden were in a good-faith dispute over a ballot question that momentarily placed the outcome of the election in doubt, then sure, it’d make sense for the challenger to be briefed just in case he won in court.
But there’s no good-faith dispute. Trump believes, or wants others to believe, that Biden perpetrated the biggest fraud in American history to win the election illicitly. Any concession he makes on transitioning risks legitimizing Biden’s victory at a moment when he’s doing everything he can to delegitimize it. Why would he grant his opponent the courtesy of intel briefings when he’s trying to convince the public that that opponent cheated to put himself in a position to receive them?
Republicans are in denial about how petulant Trump’s prepared to be about all this, as if seeing states certify their results will jar something loose in the president’s mind to get him to back down. He’s not blocking the transition as an act of carefully considered strategy, he’s doing it in a fit of narcissistic panic that any gesture he makes to assist Biden’s team will be received as a concession that he lost fairly and is destined to lose in court. Remember, this is a guy who reacted so badly to the notion that Putin’s antics might have aided his glorious 2016 victory that his intelligence briefers started briefing him less and less about Russia. His ego couldn’t bear the thought that he didn’t deserve exclusive credit for defeating Clinton, to the point that he didn’t even want the topic of Russia raised. Imagine how much more trouble it’s having coping with the reality that he was defeated by a figure as uncharismatic as Sleepy Joe.
So no, Lindsey, there’s no such thing as a “half-pregnant” transition where Trump authorizes intel briefings and COVID assistance for Biden’s staff while holding back everything else. He’s going to obstruct as much as he can. Cronies like Graham who worry about national security had better start figuring out what they’ll say to get him to change his mind
Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC): "The president is contesting the election and I would urge him to give intel briefings to Joe Biden." pic.twitter.com/SGuhHqnCQ6 — The Recount (@therecount) November 18, 2020
As I say, he’s going to obstruct as much as he can:
Some Health and Human Services staffers instructed today that if anyone from President-elect Joe Biden's team contacts them, they are not to communicate with them and are to alert Deputy Surgeon General Rear Admiral Erica Schwartz of the communication per administration official — Kristen Holmes (@KristenhCNN) November 18, 2020
Anthony Fauci was asked today if anyone from Team Biden had reached out to him and he said they hadn’t. No one told him that contact is forbidden, he claimed, but maybe that’s now changed per the tweet above. As for why he thought the incoming administration hadn’t contacted him, he gave an interesting reason that I suspect is correct: “I have tried to the best of my ability to stay out of the political aspects and just focus on my role as a public health person, a physician and a scientist… To be honest with you, I believe the Biden people understand that and don’t want to put me in a compromised position.”
Right. If Ron Klain or Biden himself called him up and chatted with him, there’s no reason to think Trump wouldn’t throw a tantrum and try to fire Fauci once he found out. He fired Chris Krebs, another public servant who’s been praised by both parties for his work, didn’t he? Krebs’s reputation didn’t stop Trump so there’s no reason to think Fauci’s would. The president has it in for Fauci too because of the many times Fauci counterprogrammed the White House’s “get back to normal” message on COVID. Team Biden has probably concluded that the pandemic is dire enough and the progress on vaccines far enough along that it’s more important to keep Fauci on the job than to huddle with him about their plans for next year. If that means keeping their distance from him, so be it.
The question isn’t whether Trump will gradually come around on a transition, the question is how far public opinion will move against him as he continues to hold out. Even Trump allies are getting impatient with the lack of evidence to support the claims of mega-fraud:
I watched so you don’t have to: Adams says he started with a 95% prior that the election had been stolen. Says that number drops every day he doesn’t see “the kraken”, will be under 50% if he hasn’t seen it by the end of the week. (Maybe he’s crackin’?) https://t.co/T2PcUlVJmc — Benjamin Morris (@skepticalsports) November 18, 2020
The Wall Street Journal editorial page, normally friendly confines for POTUS, is also in “put up or shut up” mode today:
President Trump has so far been unwilling to concede to Joe Biden, and his latest argument is that the voting machines must have been rigged. Where’s the evidence? Strong claims need strong proof, not rumors and innuendo on Twitter… [S]o far there’s no good evidence of voting problems that would come close to Mr. Biden’s lead of 73,000 votes in Pennsylvania or 145,000 in Michigan. In Georgia, the Republican Secretary of State last week ordered a hand recount of all five million ballots. The effort turned up 2,600 missing votes that Floyd County forgot to upload. Adding them would cut Mr. Biden’s lead to slightly north of 13,000. But the error isn’t Dominion’s fault, and it better hope no glitches are revealed, given its 10-year contract with the state for $107 million. If Georgia’s recount doesn’t find big irregularities, then these claims should be put to rest. In the George W. Bush years, the conspiratorial left focused on Diebold, a maker of electronic voting machines. It would be a mistake for anyone on the right to go down a similar dead end, especially if Georgia’s paper ballots give the same result as the computers.
Follow the link and read that piece in full if you have time, as it debunks the conspiracy theories about Dominion voting machines. If there’s anything that might move Trump, it’s not argument that he’s hurting the country but arguments that he’s hurting himself. Here’s where we are today:
The same pollster found that 46 percent want him to concede immediately and another 32 percent say he should concede eventually if he can’t back up his voter-fraud claims. Just 27 percent of Republican say he should never concede. The longer he blocks the transition, the more people will conclude he’s being a baby who’s risking the country’s defenses against COVID and foreign threats to soothe his bruised ego, and the more damage will be done to any 2024 campaign he might be planning. The best thing he could do for himself is declare that he’s running again in four years and then behave responsibly until January 20. But he can’t do that so he won’t.


hotair--2020-11-18--CNN reporter to Georgia: Loeffler slept her way to the top, you know

I ’ m just here for the ratio .
And to find out whether this is an apple or a banana , of course .
Bill Weir , CNN ’ s climate-change beat reporter , decided to decode an otherwise anodyne campaign message from Kelly Loeffler for the US Senate runoff in Georgia .
Loeffler embedded a clip from a Fox interview in which she talks about working her way from the farm to Wall Street .
Weir decided to take a potshot at Loeffler by accusing her of sleeping her way to success .
This is CNN , apparently @ @ @ @ @ @ @ just in case , but so far Weir hasn ’ t deleted the tweet .
As of this writing , the ratio is around 3:1 and growing .
( Update : For some reason the counts reset and now it ’ s off the charts . )
It prompted almost immediate pushback , with Loeffler colleague and fellow farmer Joni Ernst succinctly pointing out the obvious : It ’ s true that Loeffler did get married to Jeff Sprecher , but she had worked to put herself through college and leveraged her inheritance @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to work for Intercontinental Exchange .
Loeffler ’ s resumé included significant positions at Toyota , Citibank , and Crossroads long before Sprecher entered into her life .
She ran Bakkt on her own before her appointment to the US Senate , turning it into a successful subsidiary for IE , especially in Bitcoin trading .
It ’ s tempting to play Imagine if a Republican said this , but it ’ s even weirder than that .
Why did a CNN reporter feel compelled to make this remark in the first place @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Isn ’ t CNN supposed to be in the business of telling apart apples and bananas rather than engaging in electioneering ?
Even if one discounts the sexism , it ’ s still sneering , condescending , and ignorant , not to mention rude .
It ’ s almost certainly going to come across that way to Georgians who know Loeffler better than Weir does , which is perhaps a gift to Loeffler and the GOP for the next few weeks .
Weir appears to be neither apple or banana , but more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ CNN enforce its lectures on its own staff ?

I’m just here for the ratio. And to find out whether this is an apple or a banana, of course. Bill Weir, CNN’s climate-change beat reporter, decided to decode an otherwise anodyne campaign message from Kelly Loeffler for the US Senate runoff in Georgia. Loeffler embedded a clip from a Fox interview in which she talks about working her way from the farm to Wall Street.
Weir decided to take a potshot at Loeffler by accusing her of sleeping her way to success. This is CNN, apparently:
Good news, Georgia!
If you live on a farm, you now qualify to marry the Chairman of the New York Stock Exchange! https://t.co/dLXFantplB — Bill Weir (@BillWeirCNN) November 18, 2020
I’ve got the screen-shot just in case, but so far Weir hasn’t deleted the tweet. As of this writing, the ratio is around 3:1 and growing. (Update: For some reason the counts reset and now it’s off the charts.) It prompted almost immediate pushback, with Loeffler colleague and fellow farmer Joni Ernst succinctly pointing out the obvious:
1. This is outrageous sexism. 2. Women who grow up on a farm can do anything we want to do, and yes, that includes be a United States Senator. https://t.co/JsqLJtZpAl — Joni Ernst (@joniernst) November 18, 2020
Yes, obviously. Yes, obviously.
It’s true that Loeffler did get married to Jeff Sprecher, but she had worked to put herself through college and leveraged her inheritance to get an MBA long before going to work for Intercontinental Exchange. Loeffler’s resumé included significant positions at Toyota, Citibank, and Crossroads long before Sprecher entered into her life. She ran Bakkt on her own before her appointment to the US Senate, turning it into a successful subsidiary for IE, especially in Bitcoin trading.
It’s tempting to play Imagine if a Republican said this, but it’s even weirder than that. Why did a CNN reporter feel compelled to make this remark in the first place — especially a climate change reporter? Isn’t CNN supposed to be in the business of telling apart apples and bananas rather than engaging in electioneering? Even if one discounts the sexism, it’s still sneering, condescending, and ignorant, not to mention rude. It’s almost certainly going to come across that way to Georgians who know Loeffler better than Weir does, which is perhaps a gift to Loeffler and the GOP for the next few weeks.
Weir appears to be neither apple or banana, but more of a nut.
Update: Will CNN enforce its lectures on its own staff?


hotair--2020-11-18--Clyburn takes credit for Cedric Richmond's spot as senior Biden advisor

Democrats on the far left side of the party are not impressed so far with the people Team Biden is choosing for their administration .
Rep. Cedric Richmond from Louisiana has been chosen to lead the White House Office of Public Engagement .
He will be one of the highest-ranking black members of the Biden administration in his role as a senior adviser to Biden .
As John wrote yesterday , Justice Democrats and other groups are complaining about choices like that of Richmond .
Justice Democrats are more interested in creating an Office of Climate Mobilization and loading up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Democrats available .
Someone who is quite pleased with the choice of Richmond , though , is House Majority Whip , Rep. James Clyburn .
He ’ s even taking credit for Richmond ’ s move from Congress to the White House .
Rep. Richmond is a close ally of Clyburn ’ s .
During his ten years in the House , Richmond has established a reputation as a moderate Democrat who has a good working relationship with Republicans like Republican Whip Steve Scalise , a fellow Louisianan .
Joe Biden owes a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can be credited for Biden ’ s win in the South Carolina Democrat primary .
Until Clyburn gave his last-minute endorsement of Biden , Biden was trailing the other Democrats badly .
Clyburn has huge sway in South Carolina , now in his 14th term in the House of Representatives .
He ’ s been one of Speaker Pelosi ’ s most loyal soldiers .
Black voters in South Carolina paid attention to his endorsement of Biden and voted accordingly .
Without the majority of black voters in South Carolina , the primary @ @ @ @ @ @ @ So , Joe Biden owes Clyburn , big time .
Clyburn is a Democrat and , like Richmond , isn ’ t known as an extremist .
His recommendation of Richmond carried weight .
Don ’ t get me wrong , Clyburn is as hideous to President Trump and other Republicans as any other Democrat .
He ’ s honest enough to admit that the Defund the Police garbage hurt Democrats in the election .
But , elevating Richmond isn ’ t like elevating AOC or Rep. Barbara Lee , for example .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ money from oil and gas PACs .
Well , duh .
Louisiana is an oil and gas state and Richmond isn ’ t stupid .
A fellow climate change alarmist from the AOC wing of the Democrat Party wouldn ’ t go over big in Louisiana , much less get elected .
Justice Democrats slam Richmond for taking $ 92.000 from oil and gas PACs this year .
Progressives demand equal representation , thus the idea of the Office of Climate Mobilization , whatever that means .
Richmond led the Congressional Black Caucus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ national co-chairman , and has a large political network .
Clyburn has mentored him well , apparently .
There is little doubt that Biden ’ s team chose him to help quell the anxiety that Biden ’ s administration will cater to the far left .
It will , of course , because it has to , but the Democrat majority in the House is becoming more and more narrow and the Senate likely will remain in Republican control .
That means Biden will have to work with Republicans to get anything done @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this pen and phone when he sees fit but for someone who fancies himself able to work with both sides of the aisle , he ’ ll want to at least start off his term in the White House with the appearance of doing so .
At a news conference Tuesday in New Orleans , Mr. Richmond vowed to “ offer advice to the president when he wants it , maybe sometimes when he doesn ’ t want it.
” Like Mr. Biden , Mr. Richmond had relatively moderate instincts on some of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2020 campaign — and his appointment drew an immediate rebuke from the Sunrise Movement , a group of progressive climate activists .
His relationships extend across the spectrum of the Democratic caucus as well as across the aisle , and include his fellow Louisianian , Representative Steve Scalise , the Republican whip .
“ His political skills get overshadowed by his baseball skills , ” joked Representative Tim Ryan , Democrat of Ohio , referring to Mr. Richmond ’ s status as a star of the congressional baseball game .
It is interesting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for Richmond ’ s promotion , given Pelosi ’ s pleas to Democrat members of the House to remain in the House and not accept offers from the Biden transition team .
Richmond is being careful to assure his constituents that he ’ ll be a strong voice for Louisiana in the White House and will likely endorse a candidate to replace him in the House .
His district covers the New Orleans area and is safely Democratic .
Addressing reporters , supporters and a handful of potential successors on Tuesday , Mr. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ state that , even before the pandemic devastated the tourist economy , had some of the worst health and education outcomes in the country .
“ When you talk about the needs of Louisiana , you want somebody in the West Wing , ” he said , adding that he ’ ll remain “ New Orleans through and through.
” He promised to play an “ active role ” in the special election to replace him in his safely Democratic district , a race that is expected to spotlight the byzantine local rivalries @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his first campaign for state representative two decades ago .
In a brief interview after his news conference , he went further , saying he would “ probably ” make an endorsement in the race after the holidays .
“ It ’ ll be a battle , ” he said .
Richmond has had his share of bad publicity .
But Richmond has faced controversy in the past , some of which emerged in his 2010 bid for office .
The New York Times reported at the time that it had emerged that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a pool hall in 2007 — Richmond claimed he was reacting to a “ belligerent drunk ” who was taunting him with racial epithets .
Politico also reported that he had his law license temporarily suspended in 2008 for listing a false address when he ran for city council in 2005 — which got him removed from the ballot for that contest .
More recently , he got into hot water in 2017 when he made a joke about White House adviser Kellyanne Conway over a picture showing her kneeling on a couch @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ But I really just want to know what was going on there , because , I won ’ t tell anybody , ” Richmond said at the Washington Press Club Foundation ’ s congressional dinner .
“ And you can just explain to me that — that circumstance , because she really looked kind of familiar there in that position there .
But don ’ t answer .
And I don ’ t want you to refer back to the ’ 90s.
” Richmond is also the guy who watched a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ impeachment hearing .
So , there ’ s that , too .

Democrats on the far left side of the party are not impressed so far with the people Team Biden is choosing for their administration. Rep. Cedric Richmond from Louisiana has been chosen to lead the White House Office of Public Engagement. He will be one of the highest-ranking black members of the Biden administration in his role as a senior adviser to Biden.
As John wrote yesterday, Justice Democrats and other groups are complaining about choices like that of Richmond. Justice Democrats are more interested in creating an Office of Climate Mobilization and loading up the new administration with the most progressive Democrats available. Someone who is quite pleased with the choice of Richmond, though, is House Majority Whip, Rep. James Clyburn. He’s even taking credit for Richmond’s move from Congress to the White House.
Asked Majority Whip Clyburn about Cedric Richmond move to WH, and he's clearly very happy about it. "I think everybody knows I've been pushing him for this administration forever," Clyburn. — Sarah Ferris (@sarahnferris) November 17, 2020
Rep. Richmond is a close ally of Clyburn’s. During his ten years in the House, Richmond has established a reputation as a moderate Democrat who has a good working relationship with Republicans like Republican Whip Steve Scalise, a fellow Louisianan. Joe Biden owes a debt of gratitude to Clyburn who single-handedly can be credited for Biden’s win in the South Carolina Democrat primary. Until Clyburn gave his last-minute endorsement of Biden, Biden was trailing the other Democrats badly. Clyburn has huge sway in South Carolina, now in his 14th term in the House of Representatives. He’s been one of Speaker Pelosi’s most loyal soldiers. Black voters in South Carolina paid attention to his endorsement of Biden and voted accordingly. Without the majority of black voters in South Carolina, the primary is impossible to win for Democrats. So, Joe Biden owes Clyburn, big time.
Clyburn is a Democrat and, like Richmond, isn’t known as an extremist. His recommendation of Richmond carried weight. Don’t get me wrong, Clyburn is as hideous to President Trump and other Republicans as any other Democrat. He’s honest enough to admit that the Defund the Police garbage hurt Democrats in the election. But, elevating Richmond isn’t like elevating AOC or Rep. Barbara Lee, for example.
The climate alarmists criticize Richmond for taking money from oil and gas PACs. Well, duh. Louisiana is an oil and gas state and Richmond isn’t stupid. A fellow climate change alarmist from the AOC wing of the Democrat Party wouldn’t go over big in Louisiana, much less get elected. Justice Democrats slam Richmond for taking $92.000 from oil and gas PACs this year. Progressives demand equal representation, thus the idea of the Office of Climate Mobilization, whatever that means.
Richmond led the Congressional Black Caucus, served as Biden’s first national co-chairman, and has a large political network. Clyburn has mentored him well, apparently. There is little doubt that Biden’s team chose him to help quell the anxiety that Biden’s administration will cater to the far left. It will, of course, because it has to, but the Democrat majority in the House is becoming more and more narrow and the Senate likely will remain in Republican control. That means Biden will have to work with Republicans to get anything done legislatively. He can always resort to this pen and phone when he sees fit but for someone who fancies himself able to work with both sides of the aisle, he’ll want to at least start off his term in the White House with the appearance of doing so.
At a news conference Tuesday in New Orleans, Mr. Richmond vowed to “offer advice to the president when he wants it, maybe sometimes when he doesn’t want it.” Like Mr. Biden, Mr. Richmond had relatively moderate instincts on some of the most urgent political issues of the 2020 campaign — and his appointment drew an immediate rebuke from the Sunrise Movement, a group of progressive climate activists. His relationships extend across the spectrum of the Democratic caucus as well as across the aisle, and include his fellow Louisianian, Representative Steve Scalise, the Republican whip. “His political skills get overshadowed by his baseball skills,” joked Representative Tim Ryan, Democrat of Ohio, referring to Mr. Richmond’s status as a star of the congressional baseball game.
It is interesting to see Clyburn eager to take credit for Richmond’s promotion, given Pelosi’s pleas to Democrat members of the House to remain in the House and not accept offers from the Biden transition team. Richmond is being careful to assure his constituents that he’ll be a strong voice for Louisiana in the White House and will likely endorse a candidate to replace him in the House. His district covers the New Orleans area and is safely Democratic.
Addressing reporters, supporters and a handful of potential successors on Tuesday, Mr. Richmond vowed to keep delivering for a state that, even before the pandemic devastated the tourist economy, had some of the worst health and education outcomes in the country. “When you talk about the needs of Louisiana, you want somebody in the West Wing,” he said, adding that he’ll remain “New Orleans through and through.” He promised to play an “active role” in the special election to replace him in his safely Democratic district, a race that is expected to spotlight the byzantine local rivalries and alliances Mr. Richmond has navigated since his first campaign for state representative two decades ago. In a brief interview after his news conference, he went further, saying he would “probably” make an endorsement in the race after the holidays. “It’ll be a battle,” he said.
Richmond has had his share of bad publicity.
But Richmond has faced controversy in the past, some of which emerged in his 2010 bid for office. The New York Times reported at the time that it had emerged that Richmond had been in a fight in a pool hall in 2007 — Richmond claimed he was reacting to a “belligerent drunk” who was taunting him with racial epithets. Politico also reported that he had his law license temporarily suspended in 2008 for listing a false address when he ran for city council in 2005 — which got him removed from the ballot for that contest. More recently, he got into hot water in 2017 when he made a joke about White House adviser Kellyanne Conway over a picture showing her kneeling on a couch in the Oval Office during a gathering. “But I really just want to know what was going on there, because, I won’t tell anybody,” Richmond said at the Washington Press Club Foundation’s congressional dinner. “And you can just explain to me that — that circumstance, because she really looked kind of familiar there in that position there. But don’t answer. And I don’t want you to refer back to the ’90s.”
Richmond is also the guy who watched a golf tournament during a House Judiciary Committee impeachment hearing. So, there’s that, too.


hotair--2020-11-18--Disaster: NYC schools to close again due to small rise in COVID positivity rate

Any parent with the wherewithal to uproot and leave this rapidly failing city should do so .
The mayor is a moron , the governor is a bigger moron , and this pandemic will last another six months in a *best-case* scenario .
They ’ re not going to get better at this .
If you ’ ve got the dough , put your kids into private school tomorrow and start thinking about other places you might want to live .
America ’ s full of possibilities !
And virtually every last one is cheaper than NYC .
From the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and elsewhere should have been keeping schools open and closing whatever else needed to be closed to limit community spread .
Kids are the priority , as the loss they suffer — intellectual development — can ’ t be made whole by the government after the fact .
If this country weren ’ t such dysfunctional garbage , Congress would have already passed a new round of COVID disaster relief to compensate bars and restaurants for a targeted six-month lockdown .
That would hold down infections across New York , making it safer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ But we are dysfunctional garbage , and New York is led by morons , so instead they did it backwards .
Bars and restaurants are open right now ( although in limited capacity ) and schools are shutting down .
The damage to New York City ’ s kids will be incalculable , and likely permanent .
New York City ’ s entire public school system will shutter on Thursday , Chancellor Richard A. Carranza wrote in an email to school principals , in a worrisome signal that a second wave of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ open for in-person instruction for just under eight weeks… The shutdown — which was prompted by the city reaching a 3 percent test positivity rate over a seven-day rolling average — is perhaps the most significant setback for New York ’ s recovery since the spring , when the city was a global epicenter of the outbreak… That dynamic has infuriated parents run ragged by fluctuating school schedules and frustrated public health experts who have been pushing for more in-person instruction .
It has also led to calls for the mayor and Gov @ @ @ @ @ @ @ classrooms open their highest priority… In a stroke of bad timing , New York said last month that families had only until Sunday to decide if they wanted their children to return to in-person classes at all , likely until at least next September .
Parents have had to make that decision while knowing that schools could close at any moment .
Imagine if you decided in the last few days to send your kid back to school , made plans to return to work , and saw this news float across the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ kid ’ s been back in class for weeks and you ’ ve already returned to work since then .
What do you do now ?
You ’ ve got less than a day to figure it out .
There ’ s no reason why a three-percent positivity rate should be some red line that triggers a full shutdown of the school system citywide .
It ’ s true that that rate is higher than the one-percent baseline that New York enjoyed through the summer and fall but it ’ s still remarkably @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the country .
Florida ’ s positivity rate is 8.7 percent .
Texas ’ s is a hair over 12 .
Even California , where Gavin Newsom has been as aggressive as Cuomo in keeping things closed , has a higher rate than New York at 5.2 percent .
Meanwhile , it ’ s widely known by now that schools are conspicuously *safer* from COVID than the communities around them are .
Here ’ s the latest data on NYC schools from Brown University .
Cases among students and staff have increased @ @ @ @ @ @ @ community case rate , among more than 6,000 responses , was 13 people .
Among school staff it ’ s 12 .
Among students it ’ s eight .
That follows a study done last month that found just 28 infections among 16,000 staff and students tested .
They ’ re shutting down New York ’ s public education system at a moment when schools still have lower rates of infection than the city at large does .
I mean : All I can think is , “ I can ’ t wait @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the sequel to Cuomo ’ s self-serving pandemic book.
” I assume that ’ ll be out in the next few months , as he ’ s already proved that he won ’ t wait until COVID is defeated before posturing about his handling of it in print .
And it ’ s not like he has anything better to do with his time .
Don ’ t save all your contempt for Cuomo , though .
Matt Welch knows who ’ s to blame for the absurdly low three-percent threshold for shutdowns @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up with such an artificially low number is that it was the best this dolt could do in negotiations with the United Federation of Teachers .
As the Reason Foundation ’ s director of school choice , Corey A. DeAngelis , has documented , the single biggest factor in determining whether a school system opens its doors is not the underlying COVID-19 rate but the comparative power of the relevant teachers ’ union .
Just follow the science !
You know what will still be open when the 3 percent trigger shuts down @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ?
Day-care centers .
And private schools .
So strange that the public-school system is losing whole swaths of the population !
It ’ s hard to imagine a better advertisement for education provided by non-governmental means .
That ’ s the only thing mitigating the sympathy I , a product of NYC private schools , feel for public-school parents who can afford private schooling : They knew what they were getting into .
You get what you pay for , chumps .
Any conservative knows that .
Here ’ s America ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ charm that ’ s earned him so many fans in American media .
In lieu of an exit question , let me gently remind you again that hard choices being made locally are a direct result of Congress ’ s complete moral and political abdication in addressing the crisis the country ’ s now facing .
Not only are stimulus negotiations not going on , it ’ s not even clear at this point who ’ s supposed to be leading them on the Republican side .
In fact , forget what I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ live in .
Find a nicer country .

Any parent with the wherewithal to uproot and leave this rapidly failing city should do so. The mayor is a moron, the governor is a bigger moron, and this pandemic will last another six months in a *best-case* scenario. They’re not going to get better at this.
If you’ve got the dough, put your kids into private school tomorrow and start thinking about other places you might want to live. America’s full of possibilities! And virtually every last one is cheaper than NYC.
From the beginning, the priority in New York and elsewhere should have been keeping schools open and closing whatever else needed to be closed to limit community spread. Kids are the priority, as the loss they suffer — intellectual development — can’t be made whole by the government after the fact. If this country weren’t such dysfunctional garbage, Congress would have already passed a new round of COVID disaster relief to compensate bars and restaurants for a targeted six-month lockdown. That would hold down infections across New York, making it safer for kids to go to school.
But we are dysfunctional garbage, and New York is led by morons, so instead they did it backwards. Bars and restaurants are open right now (although in limited capacity) and schools are shutting down. The damage to New York City’s kids will be incalculable, and likely permanent.
New York City’s entire public school system will shutter on Thursday, Chancellor Richard A. Carranza wrote in an email to school principals, in a worrisome signal that a second wave of the coronavirus has arrived. Schools have been open for in-person instruction for just under eight weeks… The shutdown — which was prompted by the city reaching a 3 percent test positivity rate over a seven-day rolling average — is perhaps the most significant setback for New York’s recovery since the spring, when the city was a global epicenter of the outbreak… That dynamic has infuriated parents run ragged by fluctuating school schedules and frustrated public health experts who have been pushing for more in-person instruction. It has also led to calls for the mayor and Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo to make keeping classrooms open their highest priority… In a stroke of bad timing, New York said last month that families had only until Sunday to decide if they wanted their children to return to in-person classes at all, likely until at least next September. Parents have had to make that decision while knowing that schools could close at any moment.
Imagine if you decided in the last few days to send your kid back to school, made plans to return to work, and saw this news float across the wire. Worse, imagine if your kid’s been back in class for weeks and you’ve already returned to work since then. What do you do now?
You’ve got less than a day to figure it out.
There’s no reason why a three-percent positivity rate should be some red line that triggers a full shutdown of the school system citywide. It’s true that that rate is higher than the one-percent baseline that New York enjoyed through the summer and fall but it’s still remarkably low compared to nearly every other state in the country. Florida’s positivity rate is 8.7 percent. Texas’s is a hair over 12. Even California, where Gavin Newsom has been as aggressive as Cuomo in keeping things closed, has a higher rate than New York at 5.2 percent. Meanwhile, it’s widely known by now that schools are conspicuously *safer* from COVID than the communities around them are. Here’s the latest data on NYC schools from Brown University. Cases among students and staff have increased lately but only negligibly so:
The community case rate, among more than 6,000 responses, was 13 people. Among school staff it’s 12. Among students it’s eight. That follows a study done last month that found just 28 infections among 16,000 staff and students tested. They’re shutting down New York’s public education system at a moment when schools still have lower rates of infection than the city at large does. I mean:
New York public schools have tested more than 140,000 students and staff and had a positivity rate of 0.23% as of Monday. — Rebecca Jarvis (@RebeccaJarvis) November 18, 2020
All I can think is, “I can’t wait to read the rationale for this in the sequel to Cuomo’s self-serving pandemic book.” I assume that’ll be out in the next few months, as he’s already proved that he won’t wait until COVID is defeated before posturing about his handling of it in print.
And it’s not like he has anything better to do with his time.
Don’t save all your contempt for Cuomo, though. Matt Welch knows who’s to blame for the absurdly low three-percent threshold for shutdowns:
The only reason de Blasio came up with such an artificially low number is that it was the best this dolt could do in negotiations with the United Federation of Teachers. As the Reason Foundation’s director of school choice, Corey A. DeAngelis, has documented, the single biggest factor in determining whether a school system opens its doors is not the underlying COVID-19 rate but the comparative power of the relevant teachers’ union. Just follow the science! You know what will still be open when the 3 percent trigger shuts down the in-person education option for 900,000 kids? Day-care centers. And private schools. So strange that the public-school system is losing whole swaths of the population! It’s hard to imagine a better advertisement for education provided by non-governmental means.
That’s the only thing mitigating the sympathy I, a product of NYC private schools, feel for public-school parents who can afford private schooling: They knew what they were getting into. You get what you pay for, chumps. Any conservative knows that.
Here’s America’s worst governor showing off the personal charm that’s earned him so many fans in American media. In lieu of an exit question, let me gently remind you again that hard choices being made locally are a direct result of Congress’s complete moral and political abdication in addressing the crisis the country’s now facing. Not only are stimulus negotiations not going on, it’s not even clear at this point who’s supposed to be leading them on the Republican side. In fact, forget what I said about finding a nicer city to live in. Find a nicer country.


hotair--2020-11-18--Dem counsel: Biden should pardon Trump as soon as possible

Pardon Donald Trump … for what ?
Former House Judiciary counsel Michael Conway argues that Joe Biden should follow the example of Gerald Ford in issuing a broad pardon to his predecessor “ to heal the nation and foreclose the possibility of an ongoing cycle of retribution [ . ]
” What Conway actually wants , however , is a Donald Trump confession : Shouldn ’ t there be an actual crime alleged first ?
That ’ s the difference between 1974 and 2020 ; Richard Nixon stood accused of actual crimes , for which substantial evidence had emerged , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the House couldn ’ t establish an actual federal crime in its impeachment of Trump , only abuse of power and obstruction of Congress , both “ crimes ” whose adjudication lies solely with Congress .
A two-year independent counsel probe resulted in no charges at all against Trump , and only process crimes against a couple of others .
Paul Manafort and Rick Gates got prosecuted mainly on a case the Department of Justice built in 2014 and which Robert Mueller picked up as leverage .
Conway ’ s argument suffers from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the invocation of the name “ Trump ” is enough to infer criminality .
Unfortunately for Conway , he notably doesn ’ t list a single crime in his argument , let alone offer any evidence of guilt .
Why would Trump accept a pardon without any credible evidence that a crime has been committed , let alone evidence of his guilt in it ?
Furthermore , the only current legal risks Trump faces are in New York state court , where a federal pardon won ’ t matter , as Conway admits @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do is get Trump off the hook in his perpetual IRS audits .
Even that , though , is much more likely to result in civil action rather than criminal charges , even assuming the audits establish any failure to pay legitimate taxes .
Conway may have inadvertently made a good argument for presidential immunity , but that ’ s for Congress to take up , not Joe Biden : But the justification for a pardon can also be grounded in a higher purpose .
The 73 million Americans who voted to re-elect @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as angry about a good faith federal investigation of Trump after he has left office as Democrats were angry about Trump ’ s baseless chant to lock up his former political opponents .
Right now , even after the Trump presidency that Americans believe was divisive , polls suggest that enormous numbers of Americans still believe that we have more in common with one another than what separates us .
There is an opportunity to rediscover our common ground with one another — and the way forward does not involve relitigating the last @ @ @ @ @ @ @ That argument can be made in any contentious transition of administrations .
It could certainly be made on behalf of the Obama-era officials which cooked up the Russiagate nonsense that tied up this country for almost three years .
It might make some sense , too , if partisan politics continue to seep into law enforcement and politicizes it as it has done over the last several years .
That , however , shouldn ’ t be an arbitrary application of clemency authority but a deliberate choice by Congress to apply qualified immunity @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s arguably supportable too by establishing Congress ’ primacy in keeping presidents in check rather than executive-branch agencies or — God help us — roving prosecutors with perjury-trap strategies .
If that ’ s what Conway wants , let him argue for that .
But arguing for a pardon without a crime is essentially a plea for a way for new presidents to smear their predecessors .
Besides , that ’ s not the biggest question about pardons in the post-Trump world .
This is : Don ’ t tell me that there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Mail who blamed a fart on classmates in adolescence ?
Or the dog ?
Let those who have never played “ tree frog ” cast the first cheese , or something .
Full pardon warranted , Mr. Biden .

Pardon Donald Trump … for what? Former House Judiciary counsel Michael Conway argues that Joe Biden should follow the example of Gerald Ford in issuing a broad pardon to his predecessor “to heal the nation and foreclose the possibility of an ongoing cycle of retribution[.]” What Conway actually wants, however, is a Donald Trump confession:
First and foremost, Trump’s acceptance of a pardon — under the 1915 Supreme Court opinion in Burdick v United States — is an admission that he was guilty of the crimes for which he has been pardoned. Pardoning him may be the only way that Trump even implicitly concedes he did anything wrong.
Shouldn’t there be an actual crime alleged first? That’s the difference between 1974 and 2020; Richard Nixon stood accused of actual crimes, for which substantial evidence had emerged, primarily the White House tapes. Even the House couldn’t establish an actual federal crime in its impeachment of Trump, only abuse of power and obstruction of Congress, both “crimes” whose adjudication lies solely with Congress. A two-year independent counsel probe resulted in no charges at all against Trump, and only process crimes against a couple of others. Paul Manafort and Rick Gates got prosecuted mainly on a case the Department of Justice built in 2014 and which Robert Mueller picked up as leverage.
Conway’s argument suffers from Orange Man Bad Syndrome, where just the invocation of the name “Trump” is enough to infer criminality. Unfortunately for Conway, he notably doesn’t list a single crime in his argument, let alone offer any evidence of guilt. Why would Trump accept a pardon without any credible evidence that a crime has been committed, let alone evidence of his guilt in it?
Furthermore, the only current legal risks Trump faces are in New York state court, where a federal pardon won’t matter, as Conway admits:
So, a presidential pardon would not bar Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance from investigating and potentially prosecuting Trump and his company for crimes under state law. And his investigation already led to a Supreme Court ruling this summer rejecting Trump’s claim of immunity from criminal investigation while president.
About the best that it might do is get Trump off the hook in his perpetual IRS audits. Even that, though, is much more likely to result in civil action rather than criminal charges, even assuming the audits establish any failure to pay legitimate taxes.
Conway may have inadvertently made a good argument for presidential immunity, but that’s for Congress to take up, not Joe Biden:
But the justification for a pardon can also be grounded in a higher purpose. The 73 million Americans who voted to re-elect Trump two weeks ago will be just as angry about a good faith federal investigation of Trump after he has left office as Democrats were angry about Trump’s baseless chant to lock up his former political opponents. Right now, even after the Trump presidency that Americans believe was divisive, polls suggest that enormous numbers of Americans still believe that we have more in common with one another than what separates us. There is an opportunity to rediscover our common ground with one another — and the way forward does not involve relitigating the last four years in federal criminal court.
That argument can be made in any contentious transition of administrations. It could certainly be made on behalf of the Obama-era officials which cooked up the Russiagate nonsense that tied up this country for almost three years. It might make some sense, too, if partisan politics continue to seep into law enforcement and politicizes it as it has done over the last several years. That, however, shouldn’t be an arbitrary application of clemency authority but a deliberate choice by Congress to apply qualified immunity to the presidency. And it’s arguably supportable too by establishing Congress’ primacy in keeping presidents in check rather than executive-branch agencies or — God help us — roving prosecutors with perjury-trap strategies.
If that’s what Conway wants, let him argue for that. But arguing for a pardon without a crime is essentially a plea for a way for new presidents to smear their predecessors.
Besides, that’s not the biggest question about pardons in the post-Trump world. This is:
Ivanka Trump 'blamed a fart on her classmates when she was a bratty teenager' https://t.co/dFKXyGAfmF — Daily Mail US (@DailyMail) November 18, 2020
Don’t tell me that there’s no one at the Daily Mail who blamed a fart on classmates in adolescence? Or the dog? Let those who have never played “tree frog” cast the first cheese, or something. Full pardon warranted, Mr. Biden.


hotair--2020-11-18--Could Chuck Schumer's position as Senate Minority Leader be in trouble?

We learned earlier today that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi will be returning for another tour of holding the gavel now that she is running unopposed by anyone else in her caucus .
( Well , unless the Democrats somehow lose so many seats that they manage to turn over control of the House , anyway . )
How this is happening when her party actually managed to lose seats in the House in the middle of what had been advertised as a “ blue wave ” remains a mystery .
But the situation over in the Senate is looking somewhat @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of giving Cocaine Mitch the boot and taking a majority there , as well .
It ’ s still theoretically possible if they sweep the Georgia runoff races , but even then they would be in a 50-50 split with Republicans .
With that as context , it ’ s probably not much of a surprise to learn that Minority Leader Chuck Schumer is reportedly getting an earful from his fellow Democrats about how it all went so wrong .
( The Hill ) Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer ( D-N.Y. ) is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their disappointment over falling short once again of winning back the Senate majority .
Schumer has presided over two conference calls in which his fellow Democratic senators analyzed the disappointing results of races in Iowa , Maine , Montana and North Carolina , where they thought they had a chance to knock off GOP incumbents .
So many Democratic senators wanted to speak out during last week ’ s call that Schumer scheduled a rare Sunday conference call to give them a second chance to unburden themselves .
One of the only Democrats @ @ @ @ @ @ @ want to be anonymous was Jon Tester of Montana .
He complained bitterly about a missed opportunity and how the Democrats fail to “ reach out ” more in primarily rural states like his .
Another Democratic Senator who wouldn ’ t give their name said that Republicans have been “ beating the hell out of government ” and tarnishing the Democratic brand .
Some of the more centrist Senators on the call , including Joe Manchin of West Virginia , asked how they could shake off the label of socialism that Republicans @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that they were being hurt down the ballot by being associated with things like Medicare for All and the Green New Deal .
Not that I was asked for my input , but perhaps I could help Joe ’ s caucus out with a suggestion .
If you don ’ t want to be called socialists , perhaps you should stop pushing socialist policies .
Just a thought… Schumer reportedly barely spoke on the call , letting all of his colleagues vent instead .
Nobody was overtly questioning his leadership during the meeting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Some even praised his ability to keep the caucus mostly unified .
Also , no Democrat has stepped forward and offered to run to take his place , so he might still glide through for another term .
But I ’ ll toss one thought out for consideration .
Everyone is playing nice at the moment ( some kvetching aside ) while they wait to see how things turn out in Georgia .
But if they end up losing one or both of those seats and realize that they ’ re stuck in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their agenda ) for at least the first two years of a prospective Biden presidency , how long will they keep quiet ?
The Leader ’ s job is to lead and that includes charting a path to victory .
Their candidate appears to have won the Presidency , so it ’ s a bit of a stain on Schumer ’ s record that they couldn ’ t translate that into retaking the majority in the Senate .
Do you know who really wants to be the Minority and eventually Majority Leader ?
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ s enough grumbling from the progressive wing , either he or Elizabeth Warren might wind up eyeing the drapes in Chuck ’ s office .

We learned earlier today that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi will be returning for another tour of holding the gavel now that she is running unopposed by anyone else in her caucus. (Well, unless the Democrats somehow lose so many seats that they manage to turn over control of the House, anyway.) How this is happening when her party actually managed to lose seats in the House in the middle of what had been advertised as a “blue wave” remains a mystery. But the situation over in the Senate is looking somewhat different. Democrats also had high hopes of giving Cocaine Mitch the boot and taking a majority there, as well. It’s still theoretically possible if they sweep the Georgia runoff races, but even then they would be in a 50-50 split with Republicans. With that as context, it’s probably not much of a surprise to learn that Minority Leader Chuck Schumer is reportedly getting an earful from his fellow Democrats about how it all went so wrong. (The Hill)
Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) is in listening mode as colleagues are venting their disappointment over falling short once again of winning back the Senate majority. Schumer has presided over two conference calls in which his fellow Democratic senators analyzed the disappointing results of races in Iowa, Maine, Montana and North Carolina, where they thought they had a chance to knock off GOP incumbents. So many Democratic senators wanted to speak out during last week’s call that Schumer scheduled a rare Sunday conference call to give them a second chance to unburden themselves.
One of the only Democrats on the call who didn’t want to be anonymous was Jon Tester of Montana. He complained bitterly about a missed opportunity and how the Democrats fail to “reach out” more in primarily rural states like his. Another Democratic Senator who wouldn’t give their name said that Republicans have been “beating the hell out of government” and tarnishing the Democratic brand.
Some of the more centrist Senators on the call, including Joe Manchin of West Virginia, asked how they could shake off the label of socialism that Republicans have tagged them with. He said that they were being hurt down the ballot by being associated with things like Medicare for All and the Green New Deal.
Not that I was asked for my input, but perhaps I could help Joe’s caucus out with a suggestion. If you don’t want to be called socialists, perhaps you should stop pushing socialist policies. Just a thought…
Schumer reportedly barely spoke on the call, letting all of his colleagues vent instead. Nobody was overtly questioning his leadership during the meeting, or at least not openly. Some even praised his ability to keep the caucus mostly unified. Also, no Democrat has stepped forward and offered to run to take his place, so he might still glide through for another term. But I’ll toss one thought out for consideration.
Everyone is playing nice at the moment (some kvetching aside) while they wait to see how things turn out in Georgia. But if they end up losing one or both of those seats and realize that they’re stuck in the minority (along with most of their agenda) for at least the first two years of a prospective Biden presidency, how long will they keep quiet? The Leader’s job is to lead and that includes charting a path to victory. Their candidate appears to have won the Presidency, so it’s a bit of a stain on Schumer’s record that they couldn’t translate that into retaking the majority in the Senate.
Do you know who really wants to be the Minority and eventually Majority Leader? Cory Booker. And if there’s enough grumbling from the progressive wing, either he or Elizabeth Warren might wind up eyeing the drapes in Chuck’s office.


hotair--2020-11-18--Dog walking may put you at higher risk for COVID-19, mouthwash may help protect you from it

Who had walking the dog as a coronavirus spreading activity on their bingo card ?
A new study published by the University of Granada and the Andalusian School of Public Health in Spain points to several highlights scientists have zeroed in on .
Some of these conclusions don ’ t sound new while others may be .
A survey was taken of 2,086 people by researchers from the University of Granada .
The questions were on their daily habits to evaluate the risks of spreading the virus .
That isn ’ t a huge amount of participants but the results @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have received from the medical community .
The participants included more females than males and a large amount of them was between the ages of 40 – 54 years of age .
The highlights are summarized in this way : 1.Living with a COVID-19 patient increased the risk of contagion by 60 times .
2 .
Walking the dog increases the risk of contagion of COVID-19 by 78 % .
3 .
The most effective hygiene measure was disinfecting products purchased .
4 .
Working on site at the workplace increased the risk @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Obtaining basic products using home delivery service raised the risk of contagion .
It is easy to understand that we increase our risk of becoming infected with the virus if someone in our household has it .
We ’ ve been told over and over again to be vigilant about personal hygiene , frequent hand washing , and covering our mouths and noses during coughs or sneezes .
When the lockdowns began , those who could began to work from home instead of in their places of employment .
We were even @ @ @ @ @ @ @ germs from items being delivered to our homes .
But , the survey points to the likelihood of becoming infected by the coronavirus increase by 78 % from walking your canine companion .
That finding just sounds odd , yet here we are .
More research is needed but the initial report says that “ these results point to living with dogs as a strong risk factor for COVID-19 infection.
” One researcher , by the way , pointed out that shutting down playgrounds doesn ’ t make sense when dog parks remain @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that proves dog-to-human transmission is possible if a dog becomes infected , however , researchers suggest pooches could spread the virus by touching contaminated surfaces in public and then walking the germs throughout their owner ’ s home .
Professor Cristina Sanchez Gonzalez , one of the study ’ s authors , said dog owners should take extra care to practice good hygiene , the Sun reported .
She added that decisions to close areas such as playgrounds “ didn ’ t make sense ” when areas such as dog parks were able @ @ @ @ @ @ @ midst of a pandemic and in the absence of an effective treatment or vaccine , preventive hygiene measures are the only salvation , and these measures should also be applied to dogs , which , according to our study , appear to directly or indirectly increase the risk of contracting the virus , ” she said .
So , dogs may bring the virus into homes but there is no conclusion that dogs get the virus from public surfaces and transmit the virus to their humans .
Fear not , cat owners , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ true of cats .
Since the group surveyed was not a large one , it is not possible to say with certainty that dogs spread the virus .
“ The results of our research warn of increased contagion among dog-owners , ” said Professor Cristina Sánchez González , one of the researchers .
However , given the small pool and the fact that correlation is not causation , these results should be taken as a universal rule .
These are only observational statistics .
According to Professor González there isn ’ t enough @ @ @ @ @ @ @ virus , as people do , or simply acted as a surface from which people could pick-up the virus .
For all one knows , even their faeces could be transferring the virus .
The professor only suggested having increased safety measures for dog-walking and proper hygiene and suggested not to panic .
Maybe we should all use some mouthwash before walking the dog .
A different study began to create a buzz yesterday as scientists at Cardiff University in Wales may have discovered that mouthwash kills the coronavirus germs in our mouths @ @ @ @ @ @ @ peer-reviewed or published in a medical journal , so take it with a grain of salt .
What is certain is that mouthwash does not treat the virus or act as a cure .
It looks like mouthwash can be included as a part of a person ’ s regular personal hygiene routine to avoid the virus if the study results hold .
A clinical trial at the University Hospital of Wales will examine how effective mouthwash is in reducing the amount of coronavirus found in the saliva of Covid-19 patients .
Some @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out of Wales , though .
Nay-sayers point to the fact it is impossible to sterilize a mouth .
Mouthwash doesn ’ t affect lung airways or vocal cords .
The airborne virus is spread through exhaling , coughing , and sneezing .
The virus infects people through contact or through inhalation .
Rinsing with mouthwash doesn ’ t prevent the virus from being inhaled .
Take both of these studies as you will .
The coronavirus continues to show that much is still not known about it .
In the meantime , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ best as we can and wait for the vaccines to become available .

Who had walking the dog as a coronavirus spreading activity on their bingo card? A new study published by the University of Granada and the Andalusian School of Public Health in Spain points to several highlights scientists have zeroed in on. Some of these conclusions don’t sound new while others may be.
A survey was taken of 2,086 people by researchers from the University of Granada. The questions were on their daily habits to evaluate the risks of spreading the virus. That isn’t a huge amount of participants but the results seem to line up with warnings we have received from the medical community. The participants included more females than males and a large amount of them was between the ages of 40 – 54 years of age.
The survey was completed by 2086 people, 66% of them were women. The age of more than 40% of the participants ranges between 40 and 54 years. A total of 44% of the respondents have completed university studies. Regarding the home conditions, 72% live in a single-family home, and 26.6% live with 3 relatives in the home. 35% live with children at home and 21% with adolescents, only 4.3% had a housemaid working at their house during confinement, and 4.7% of respondents reported living with a COVID-19 infected household member
The highlights are summarized in this way:
1.Living with a COVID-19 patient increased the risk of contagion by 60 times.
2. Walking the dog increases the risk of contagion of COVID-19 by 78%.
3. The most effective hygiene measure was disinfecting products purchased.
4. Working on site at the workplace increased the risk of contagion by 76%.
5. Obtaining basic products using home delivery service raised the risk of contagion.
It is easy to understand that we increase our risk of becoming infected with the virus if someone in our household has it. We’ve been told over and over again to be vigilant about personal hygiene, frequent hand washing, and covering our mouths and noses during coughs or sneezes. When the lockdowns began, those who could began to work from home instead of in their places of employment. We were even told to beware of the spread of germs from items being delivered to our homes. But, the survey points to the likelihood of becoming infected by the coronavirus increase by 78% from walking your canine companion. That finding just sounds odd, yet here we are.
More research is needed but the initial report says that “these results point to living with dogs as a strong risk factor for COVID-19 infection.” One researcher, by the way, pointed out that shutting down playgrounds doesn’t make sense when dog parks remain open.
There is no conclusive research that proves dog-to-human transmission is possible if a dog becomes infected, however, researchers suggest pooches could spread the virus by touching contaminated surfaces in public and then walking the germs throughout their owner’s home. Professor Cristina Sanchez Gonzalez, one of the study’s authors, said dog owners should take extra care to practice good hygiene, the Sun reported. She added that decisions to close areas such as playgrounds “didn’t make sense” when areas such as dog parks were able to remain open. “In the midst of a pandemic and in the absence of an effective treatment or vaccine, preventive hygiene measures are the only salvation, and these measures should also be applied to dogs, which, according to our study, appear to directly or indirectly increase the risk of contracting the virus,” she said.
So, dogs may bring the virus into homes but there is no conclusion that dogs get the virus from public surfaces and transmit the virus to their humans. Fear not, cat owners, the same does not seem to be true of cats. Since the group surveyed was not a large one, it is not possible to say with certainty that dogs spread the virus.
“The results of our research warn of increased contagion among dog-owners,” said Professor Cristina Sánchez González, one of the researchers. However, given the small pool and the fact that correlation is not causation, these results should be taken as a universal rule. These are only observational statistics. According to Professor González there isn’t enough information to say whether dogs spread the virus, as people do, or simply acted as a surface from which people could pick-up the virus. For all one knows, even their faeces could be transferring the virus. The professor only suggested having increased safety measures for dog-walking and proper hygiene and suggested not to panic.
Maybe we should all use some mouthwash before walking the dog. A different study began to create a buzz yesterday as scientists at Cardiff University in Wales may have discovered that mouthwash kills the coronavirus germs in our mouths. The study has not yet been peer-reviewed or published in a medical journal, so take it with a grain of salt. What is certain is that mouthwash does not treat the virus or act as a cure. It looks like mouthwash can be included as a part of a person’s regular personal hygiene routine to avoid the virus if the study results hold. A clinical trial at the University Hospital of Wales will examine how effective mouthwash is in reducing the amount of coronavirus found in the saliva of Covid-19 patients.
Commonly-used mouthwashes are able to kill the coronavirus within 30 seconds of exposure in laboratory conditions, a new study from scientists in the U.K. has found. The study from Cardiff University, which has not yet been peer-reviewed or published in a medical journal, suggests that some widely-available mouthwashes could help to kill the virus in saliva. However, this does not mean they would be able to treat the virus within the body, or act as a cure.
Some scientists were quick to disregard the study out of Wales, though.
“Yes. There is some data out there — I am not saying it’s great data — that fill-in-the-blank substance inactivates or inhibits replication of coronavirus,” Dr. Graham Snyder, associate professor in the Division of Infectious Diseases at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, told CNN. Alcohol, chlorhexidine, hydrogen peroxide and a range of other compounds can all kill viruses on contact or shortly after. But none of the studies recently released on preprint servers shows they can reduce the risk of either catching or transmitting the virus, Snyder points out.
Nay-sayers point to the fact it is impossible to sterilize a mouth. Mouthwash doesn’t affect lung airways or vocal cords. The airborne virus is spread through exhaling, coughing, and sneezing. The virus infects people through contact or through inhalation. Rinsing with mouthwash doesn’t prevent the virus from being inhaled.
It’s such a tenuous theory that even Johnson & Johnson, makers of Listerine mouthwash, have explicitly warned consumers against the idea. “Listerine mouthwash has not been tested against any strains of coronavirus,” the company said on its website. “Only some Listerine mouthwash formulations contain alcohol, and if present is only around 20% alcohol. Listerine mouthwash is not intended to be used, nor would it be beneficial as a hand sanitizer or surface disinfectant.”
Take both of these studies as you will. The coronavirus continues to show that much is still not known about it. In the meantime, we can continue to protect ourselves as best as we can and wait for the vaccines to become available.


hotair--2020-11-18--"Fox & Friends": Maybe Trump should think about starting the transition on COVID and national securi

"Fox & Friends": Maybe Trump should think about starting the transition on COVID and national security

Maybe he should , Brian Kilmeade .
Maybe he should .
McConnell was pressed yesterday about Trump ’ s deepening retreat into fantasy , in which he remains undefeated in everything he ’ s ever done , and said , “ We are going to have an orderly transfer from this administration to the next one .
What we all say about it is frankly irrelevant… All of it will happen right on time , and we will swear in the next administration on Jan. 20.
” That ’ s noteworthy in two ways .
First , he ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ The next administration ” is vague enough that it could be understood to mean “ Trump ’ s second term.
” Second , it ’ s flatly untrue that we ’ re going to have “ an orderly transfer.
” The transfer doesn ’ t happen on January 20 , it happens gradually during the lame-duck period .
The transfer is already disorderly .
And because the president seemingly can ’ t cope with the reality of his defeat , it ’ s apt to get a lot more disorderly before @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and McConnell is that Trump would burn down the country to soothe his ego whereas McConnell would burn it down in exchange for a few extra GOP Senate seats .
You know Mitch , always thinking strategically .
Whether the transition officially begins or not isn ’ t technically up to Trump .
It ’ s up to Emily Murphy , the head of the GSA , who ’ s enough of a crony to have held out so far on “ ascertaining ” Biden ’ s win but not the sort of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ absolute loyalty a la Rudy Giuliani or Jenna Ellis .
CNN reports today that Murphy is struggling with the dilemma of whether to continue to help the president light the country on fire or whether to acknowledge observable reality about who won .
The fact that she ’ s struggling with that choice makes me wonder if Trump isn ’ t going to scramble to fire her before the states start certifying their results and replace her with someone who ’ ll never , ever acknowledge Biden ’ s victory , like Judge @ @ @ @ @ @ @ absolutely feels like she ’ s in a hard place .
She ’ s afraid on multiple levels .
It ’ s a terrible situation , ” one friend and former colleague of Murphy ’ s told CNN .
“ Emily is a consummate professional , a deeply moral person , but also a very scrupulous attorney who is in a very difficult position with an unclear law and precedence that is behind her stance… Sources close to Murphy describe her as a technocrat and policy wonk , with a lengthy career as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It ’ s not clear what specific actions Murphy is waiting on before granting ascertainment .
Sources tell CNN she is basing her decision on what she sees as the precedent set by the 2000 election , where there was not a clear winner for more than a month… Two sources close to the transition told CNN that Trump ’ s disastrous day in court last Friday had moved the dial forward , but days later there was still no ascertainment letter from Murphy .
The impending results from Georgia ’ s recount @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Friday with no dramatic shift in results , along with other states beginning to certify the election are also factors in Murphy ’ s decision , these sources said .
But Murphy has not publicly said what the definitive line will be .
Trump ’ s victory was “ ascertained ” the day after the election four years ago despite the fact that he lost the popular vote and won key states like Michigan and Pennsylvania by smaller margins than Biden did this year .
The analogy to 2000 would make sense only @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , had come down to hundreds of votes in a single decisive state , not tens of thousands of votes across multiple states .
The lawsuits between Bush and Gore were a serious dispute over which ballots should count ; the lawsuits being led by Giuliani and Ellis are a face-saving PR stunt to delay certification .
The 2000 comparison is nothing more than a fig leaf Murphy ’ s using to cover up her fear of pissing off Trump and getting fired — at a moment when she knows she ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in two months anyway : Trump employees can do the right thing for the country , like Chris Krebs , or they can do the right thing for Trump , like Murphy .
My guess is that she ’ ll eventually cave next week , after the swing states states certify their results , which means the delay she ’ s engaged in right now achieves … nothing .
Trump ’ s still going to fire her like a mad king after she “ ascertains ” Biden ’ s victory .
All she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ transition and ensuring that she leaves with the least possible dignity once he drops the axe .
Jonathan Rauch argues today that what Trump is up to right now isn ’ t an election strategy , it ’ s an information-warfare strategy .
I disagree .
It *is* an election strategy first and foremost , but certainly Rauch ’ s right that it ’ s a psy op as well .
This passage is interesting in comparing what Trump is engaged in off the cuff , to what autocrats in other countries do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ What Trump and his supporters are up to should be thought of not as a litigation campaign that is likely to fail , but as an information-warfare campaign that is likely to succeed—and , indeed , is succeeding already .
More specifically , they are employing a tactic called “ the firehose of falsehood.
” This information-warfare technique , according to researchers at the RAND Corporation , is marked by “ high numbers of channels and messages and a shameless willingness to disseminate partial truths or outright fictions.
” … Unlike more traditional @ @ @ @ @ @ @ falsehood does not aim primarily at persuading the public of something that is false ( although this is a welcome result ) .
Rather , it floods the information environment with so many lies , half-truths and theories that the public becomes disoriented , confused and distrustful of everyone .
While the bulk of firehose claims are false or misleading , even mutually contradictory , a skilled propagandist may salt the mix with statements that are partly valid , lending apparent plausibility to the rest .
The bewildering panoply of true and false @ @ @ @ @ @ @ countersuits , all work toward the main objectives : to undermine legitimate authorities , polarize and fracture society , and open the door to cynicism and demagoguery .
Mass gaslighting , in other words .
The point isn ’ t to fully convince the audience , which is too difficult given all the evidence on the other side that the election was fair , but rather to get them to the point where they conclude that actual truth is unknowable and therefore can choose the reality they prefer .
Like Rauch says , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s poll today underlines his point .
Just five percent said that Trump won the election versus 73 percent who said that Biden won , but among Republicans 52 percent said that Trump rightfully won versus just 29 percent who said Biden did .
In other words , even most righties recognize the reality that Biden will be president , but the firehose of falsehood lets them arrive at whatever conclusion they want about who the “ real ” winner was .
Unlike Rauch , though , I don ’ t think that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
If he has to settle for gaslighting everyone as his consolation prize upon leaving office , he ’ ll take it ; the “ I was cheated ” PR push helps prop up the myth of Trump the invincible .
But there ’ s no way to look at the ecstasy among the president and aides like Ellis last night after Wayne County briefly refused to certify its results as anything but proof that they really are trying to pull off a coup .
It ’ s not going to work , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ serious about it .
It ’ s because Biden ’ s electoral-vote margin is sufficiently large that they ’ d need to get the results thrown out in multiple states , not just one .
If this election had come down to Pennsylvania , as Trump clearly hoped would happen in the event that he ended up trailing Biden , America would be on the brink of fracturing .
There ’ d be an all-out attempt ring-led by the president himself to annul a state ’ s election result on a bare assertion @ @ @ @ @ @ @ by partisan cronies in the state legislature .
The country would be broken beyond repair by such a brazen theft .
It ’ d be the end of American democracy , with some people talking about secession .
Trump would happily follow through on it anyway , just to spare his own ego a bruise , and McConnell would humor him for the sake of some Senate seats in Georgia — assuming Georgia was still a U.S. state by January 5 .
The disgrace will never wash off .

Maybe he should, Brian Kilmeade. Maybe he should.
McConnell was pressed yesterday about Trump’s deepening retreat into fantasy, in which he remains undefeated in everything he’s ever done, and said, “We are going to have an orderly transfer from this administration to the next one. What we all say about it is frankly irrelevant… All of it will happen right on time, and we will swear in the next administration on Jan. 20.” That’s noteworthy in two ways. First, he’s still unwilling to admit that Biden won. “The next administration” is vague enough that it could be understood to mean “Trump’s second term.” Second, it’s flatly untrue that we’re going to have “an orderly transfer.” The transfer doesn’t happen on January 20, it happens gradually during the lame-duck period. The transfer is already disorderly.
And because the president seemingly can’t cope with the reality of his defeat, it’s apt to get a lot more disorderly before Inauguration Day.
The difference between Trump and McConnell is that Trump would burn down the country to soothe his ego whereas McConnell would burn it down in exchange for a few extra GOP Senate seats. You know Mitch, always thinking strategically.
Brian Kilmeade says "it's in the country's best interest if [Trump] starts coordinating" with President-elect Biden on COVID-19 and security: "Just brief them … so we don't drop the ball in a little while." pic.twitter.com/rJF6NOXnGl — Bobby Lewis (@revrrlewis) November 18, 2020
Whether the transition officially begins or not isn’t technically up to Trump. It’s up to Emily Murphy, the head of the GSA, who’s enough of a crony to have held out so far on “ascertaining” Biden’s win but not the sort of close crony from whom Trump might expect absolute loyalty a la Rudy Giuliani or Jenna Ellis. CNN reports today that Murphy is struggling with the dilemma of whether to continue to help the president light the country on fire or whether to acknowledge observable reality about who won. The fact that she’s struggling with that choice makes me wonder if Trump isn’t going to scramble to fire her before the states start certifying their results and replace her with someone who’ll never, ever acknowledge Biden’s victory, like Judge Jeanine. Boo hoo:
“She absolutely feels like she’s in a hard place. She’s afraid on multiple levels. It’s a terrible situation,” one friend and former colleague of Murphy’s told CNN. “Emily is a consummate professional, a deeply moral person, but also a very scrupulous attorney who is in a very difficult position with an unclear law and precedence that is behind her stance… Sources close to Murphy describe her as a technocrat and policy wonk, with a lengthy career as a congressional aide and at GSA. It’s not clear what specific actions Murphy is waiting on before granting ascertainment. Sources tell CNN she is basing her decision on what she sees as the precedent set by the 2000 election, where there was not a clear winner for more than a month… Two sources close to the transition told CNN that Trump’s disastrous day in court last Friday had moved the dial forward, but days later there was still no ascertainment letter from Murphy. The impending results from Georgia’s recount, which are expected to be certified Friday with no dramatic shift in results, along with other states beginning to certify the election are also factors in Murphy’s decision, these sources said. But Murphy has not publicly said what the definitive line will be.
Trump’s victory was “ascertained” the day after the election four years ago despite the fact that he lost the popular vote and won key states like Michigan and Pennsylvania by smaller margins than Biden did this year. The analogy to 2000 would make sense only if this election, like that one, had come down to hundreds of votes in a single decisive state, not tens of thousands of votes across multiple states. The lawsuits between Bush and Gore were a serious dispute over which ballots should count; the lawsuits being led by Giuliani and Ellis are a face-saving PR stunt to delay certification. The 2000 comparison is nothing more than a fig leaf Murphy’s using to cover up her fear of pissing off Trump and getting fired — at a moment when she knows she’s going to be out of a job in two months anyway:
/2 This is the relevant language for Ms. Murphy under the Presidential Transition Act of 1963 — she has discretion to “ascertain” whether Biden is “apparent[ly] successful.” Nobody else has that discretion. She’s making a choice. The choice undermines her country. pic.twitter.com/KaGV5nvIYS — IncitementToResurrectionHat (@Popehat) November 18, 2020
Trump employees can do the right thing for the country, like Chris Krebs, or they can do the right thing for Trump, like Murphy. My guess is that she’ll eventually cave next week, after the swing states states certify their results, which means the delay she’s engaged in right now achieves … nothing. Trump’s still going to fire her like a mad king after she “ascertains” Biden’s victory. All she’s doing is slowing down the transition and ensuring that she leaves with the least possible dignity once he drops the axe.
Jonathan Rauch argues today that what Trump is up to right now isn’t an election strategy, it’s an information-warfare strategy. I disagree. It *is* an election strategy first and foremost, but certainly Rauch’s right that it’s a psy op as well. This passage is interesting in comparing what Trump is engaged in off the cuff, to what autocrats in other countries do as a carefully considered disinformation program:
What Trump and his supporters are up to should be thought of not as a litigation campaign that is likely to fail, but as an information-warfare campaign that is likely to succeed—and, indeed, is succeeding already. More specifically, they are employing a tactic called “the firehose of falsehood.” This information-warfare technique, according to researchers at the RAND Corporation, is marked by “high numbers of channels and messages and a shameless willingness to disseminate partial truths or outright fictions.”… Unlike more traditional forms of propaganda, the firehose of falsehood does not aim primarily at persuading the public of something that is false (although this is a welcome result). Rather, it floods the information environment with so many lies, half-truths and theories that the public becomes disoriented, confused and distrustful of everyone. While the bulk of firehose claims are false or misleading, even mutually contradictory, a skilled propagandist may salt the mix with statements that are partly valid, lending apparent plausibility to the rest. The bewildering panoply of true and false, rumor and conspiracy, lawsuits and countersuits, all work toward the main objectives: to undermine legitimate authorities, polarize and fracture society, and open the door to cynicism and demagoguery.
Mass gaslighting, in other words. The point isn’t to fully convince the audience, which is too difficult given all the evidence on the other side that the election was fair, but rather to get them to the point where they conclude that actual truth is unknowable and therefore can choose the reality they prefer. Like Rauch says, it’s succeeding:
New @MonmouthPoll: 77% of Trump voters think Biden won because of "fraud." 19% believe Trump's delaying of the transition is a threat to national security pic.twitter.com/iUyGH7zal4 — Allan Smith (@akarl_smith) November 18, 2020
Reuters’s poll today underlines his point. Just five percent said that Trump won the election versus 73 percent who said that Biden won, but among Republicans 52 percent said that Trump rightfully won versus just 29 percent who said Biden did. In other words, even most righties recognize the reality that Biden will be president, but the firehose of falsehood lets them arrive at whatever conclusion they want about who the “real” winner was.
Unlike Rauch, though, I don’t think that’s Trump’s main play. If he has to settle for gaslighting everyone as his consolation prize upon leaving office, he’ll take it; the “I was cheated” PR push helps prop up the myth of Trump the invincible. But there’s no way to look at the ecstasy among the president and aides like Ellis last night after Wayne County briefly refused to certify its results as anything but proof that they really are trying to pull off a coup.
https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1328883405837258753
🚨🚨BREAKING: This evening, the county board of canvassers in Wayne County, MI refused to certify the election results. If the state board follows suit, the Republican state legislator will select the electors. Huge win for @realDonaldTrump — Jenna Ellis (@JennaEllisEsq) November 17, 2020
I am proud that, due to efforts of the @migop and the RNC under the leadership of @GOPChairwoman Ronna McDaniel, enough evidence of irregularities and potential voter fraud was uncovered resulting in the Wayne County Board of Canvassers refusing to certify their election results. https://t.co/n8RmYa0OzM — Laura Cox (@LauraCoxMI) November 17, 2020
One thing I keep hearing from Rudy people tonight: they know they can't catch up. What they want — in MI, PA, NV, other states — is for the vote to *not* be certified. Their end game: try to force it to the House. Giuliani talking about this privately. https://t.co/HTTuXbZbao — Robert Costa (@costareports) November 18, 2020
Trump's Nevada electors, including the chair of the Nevada Republican Party, are suing to either have Trump declared the winner of Nevada or to have the presidential election in the state annulled entirely. — Ben Jacobs (@Bencjacobs) November 17, 2020
It’s not going to work, but not because they’re not serious about it. It’s because Biden’s electoral-vote margin is sufficiently large that they’d need to get the results thrown out in multiple states, not just one. If this election had come down to Pennsylvania, as Trump clearly hoped would happen in the event that he ended up trailing Biden, America would be on the brink of fracturing. There’d be an all-out attempt ring-led by the president himself to annul a state’s election result on a bare assertion of widespread fraud, aided and abetted by partisan cronies in the state legislature. The country would be broken beyond repair by such a brazen theft. It’d be the end of American democracy, with some people talking about secession. Trump would happily follow through on it anyway, just to spare his own ego a bruise, and McConnell would humor him for the sake of some Senate seats in Georgia — assuming Georgia was still a U.S. state by January 5. The disgrace will never wash off.


hotair--2020-11-18--Governor on self-celebrating book tour: Can you believe Trump's ego over the vaccines?

If one could transform the taste of sour grapes into audio , it would sound very much like the voice of Andrew Cuomo .
The governor of New York took a moment out from his book tour that celebrates his “ leadership lessons ” on COVID-19 , where he presided over the highest number of deaths in any state , to complain about the ego of Donald Trump .
Trump didn ’ t have anything to do with setting a record for new vaccines , Cuomo complained on the radio — the drug companies did that because they knew there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it for them : Cuomo accused Trump of stroking his own ego and the drug companies of prioritizing their wallets ahead of public health as the chief reasons behind accelerated coronavirus vaccine trials and results , despite the governor ’ s own attempts to control the vaccine ’ s anticipated distribution in New York until he gives it the all-clear .
“ Why is it moving so fast ?
Two reasons : money and ego .
The first drug company that has the vaccine , that is big money , ” Cuomo argued @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Morning radio show Tuesday .
“ You didn ’ t need Trump to tell the vaccine companies you should develop a vaccine .
He had nothing to do with it .
Pfizer , Moderna , Johnson & Johnson , they all know this is billions of dollars , whoever gets to the market first .
So it ’ s in their economic interest to push this fast , ” he argued , naming top pharmaceutical companies — Pfizer and Moderna — that have been conducting coronavirus drug trials since the spring and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the deadly virus , showing over 90 percent efficacy .
… “ President , it ’ s ego .
On the way out the door he wants to be able to say , ‘ I solved COVID because I discovered a vaccine .
Nah , it ’ s all BS .
He didn ’ t do anything , ” Cuomo continued .
There may be people who are well positioned to criticize Trump for his ego , but … Andrew Cuomo ain ’ t one of them .
Ever since racking up the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on COVID-19 , Cuomo has engaged in shameless self-promotion to convert himself into an expert on “ leadership.
” Remember Cuomo ’ s COVID Mountain poster in July ?
And by the way , where is the independent review of nursing-home deaths under Cuomo ’ s order to send COVID-19 patients into them ?
The one that Cuomo keeps insisting isn ’ t necessary ?
Leadership lessons , indeed .
As it happens , Cuomo ’ s not just a laughable critic on inflated egos , he ’ s also wrong on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vaccine process by taking the worries over investment off the table .
No one knew at the beginning whether a vaccine was even possible , let alone cost effective to research and develop .
The decision to apply a wartime-production paradigm was a brilliant choice that guaranteed pharmas a return on investment no matter what .
The Trump administration ’ s decision to guarantee payment for hundreds of millions of doses up front meant that developers could use up all necessary resources and expedite development , just as wartime producers of weapons systems @ @ @ @ @ @ @ II .
Prior to this , the fastest development time for a vaccine was four years , with the mumps vaccine in the early 1960s .
We now have two vaccines in under a year , both with initial effectiveness estimates at > 90 % with only mild side effects .
That doesn ’ t happen without the Operation Warp Speed model , which is obvious to everyone except those who can ’ t peek out over the top of their own ego .

If one could transform the taste of sour grapes into audio, it would sound very much like the voice of Andrew Cuomo. The governor of New York took a moment out from his book tour that celebrates his “leadership lessons” on COVID-19, where he presided over the highest number of deaths in any state, to complain about the ego of Donald Trump. Trump didn’t have anything to do with setting a record for new vaccines, Cuomo complained on the radio — the drug companies did that because they knew there’d be lots of money in it for them:
Cuomo accused Trump of stroking his own ego and the drug companies of prioritizing their wallets ahead of public health as the chief reasons behind accelerated coronavirus vaccine trials and results, despite the governor’s own attempts to control the vaccine’s anticipated distribution in New York until he gives it the all-clear. “Why is it moving so fast? Two reasons: money and ego. The first drug company that has the vaccine, that is big money,” Cuomo argued on Hot 97’s Ebro in the Morning radio show Tuesday. “You didn’t need Trump to tell the vaccine companies you should develop a vaccine. He had nothing to do with it. Pfizer, Moderna, Johnson & Johnson, they all know this is billions of dollars, whoever gets to the market first. So it’s in their economic interest to push this fast,” he argued, naming top pharmaceutical companies — Pfizer and Moderna — that have been conducting coronavirus drug trials since the spring and have released promising preliminary results for curing the deadly virus, showing over 90 percent efficacy. … “President, it’s ego. On the way out the door he wants to be able to say, ‘I solved COVID because I discovered a vaccine. Nah, it’s all BS. He didn’t do anything,” Cuomo continued.
There may be people who are well positioned to criticize Trump for his ego, but … Andrew Cuomo ain’t one of them. Ever since racking up the worst and deadliest record of any governor on COVID-19, Cuomo has engaged in shameless self-promotion to convert himself into an expert on “leadership.” Remember Cuomo’s COVID Mountain poster in July?
Here is a high res version of the Cuomo pandemic poster he unveiled today. pic.twitter.com/3LlcewnuOV — Nick Reisman (@NickReisman) July 13, 2020
And by the way, where is the independent review of nursing-home deaths under Cuomo’s order to send COVID-19 patients into them? The one that Cuomo keeps insisting isn’t necessary? Leadership lessons, indeed.
As it happens, Cuomo’s not just a laughable critic on inflated egos, he’s also wrong on the merits. Operation Warp Speed accelerated the vaccine process by taking the worries over investment off the table. No one knew at the beginning whether a vaccine was even possible, let alone cost effective to research and develop. The decision to apply a wartime-production paradigm was a brilliant choice that guaranteed pharmas a return on investment no matter what. The Trump administration’s decision to guarantee payment for hundreds of millions of doses up front meant that developers could use up all necessary resources and expedite development, just as wartime producers of weapons systems did in cost-plus contracting in World War II.
Prior to this, the fastest development time for a vaccine was four years, with the mumps vaccine in the early 1960s. We now have two vaccines in under a year, both with initial effectiveness estimates at >90% with only mild side effects. That doesn’t happen without the Operation Warp Speed model, which is obvious to everyone except those who can’t peek out over the top of their own ego.