hotair--2020-10-05--Was it voter fraud or a case of "testing the system?"

One Florida Democrat came up with a clever way to pay homage to his deceased wife during the upcoming election .
When ordering a mail-in ballot for himself , he decided to request one for her as well .
The request was honored and he filled them both out and mailed them in .
Unfortunately for 62-year-old Larry Wiggins , the discrepancy was noticed when the ballots arrived at the office of the Supervisor of Elections .
Wiggins was investigated and arrested .
The excuse he offered was a novel one , however .
He wasn ’ t trying to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ testing the system.
” ( NY Post ) Florida authorities nabbed a registered Democrat after he attempted to “ test the system ” by requesting an absentee ballot for his late wife , officials said .
Manatee County Sheriff ’ s Office began investigating Larry Wiggins , 62 , after the mail-in ballot was requested for his wife who had been dead for two years , the Bradenton Herald reported .
“ As soon as they pulled up the file it showed that she is dead , ” Manatee County Supervisor of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his office then compared the handwriting on the ballot request with previous documentation and found it wasn ’ t a match .
Wiggens was charged with third-degree felony voter fraud and released on $ 1,500 bail .
It would be easy to write off this almost amusingly dumb scheme as little more than a case of a tone-deaf voter trying to game the system .
But the response to the report from the Manatee County Supervisor of Elections was a bit over the top and serves as a reminder of the magnitude of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ our way on November 3rd .
Supervisor Mike Bennett ( R ) was quick to crow about his office ’ s success in foiling Wiggins ’ scheme and held it up as proof that “ the system worked.
” Bennett said the case is an example of why voters should feel confident in the elections process .
“ People complain that vote by mail is crooked ; it ’ s not , we catch them , we verify it and any supervisor of elections in the state of Florida I know is just @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” he said .
I suppose congratulations are in order for Mike Bennett since his office clearly managed to catch Wiggins ’ effort at gaming the system .
But that means that someone was alert and doing their job when the dead wife ’ s ballot arrived .
It might not have been a very busy office , however .
( Manatee County is in a rural area and has a total population of barely 300,000 . )
And we ’ re talking about early voting here .
How well will they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ starts coming in ?
Also worth noting is the fact that when Wiggins requested the ballot on his late wife ’ s behalf , they didn ’ t notice that she was dead , did they ?
No , they mailed the ballot out .
That means that Mrs. Wiggins was still on the voter rolls .
Bennett claims that they knew she was dead “ as soon as they pulled up the file.
” Which file would that be ?
And why didn ’ t they “ pull it up ” when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this wasn ’ t a case where they were mass-mailing ballots out to everyone .
Wiggins specifically requested absentee ballots for both himself and his wife .
I can ’ t help but wonder how Mrs. Wiggins ’ name wasn ’ t flagged when the ballot was initially requested if the system is so secure .
It strikes me as equally likely that somebody working in Bennett ’ s office in this rural area saw the submitted ballot and personally knew that the woman had passed away two years earlier .
So what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one show up and the person entering them doesn ’ t recognize the name ?
Will they still catch it ?
I suppose it ’ s possible , but the details of this story don ’ t do much to instill confidence in the integrity of the system .
Also , let ’ s not forget that Florida is a pretty big state with a burgeoning population of nearly 21.5 million .
Do you really believe that Larry Wiggins was the only bonehead to cook up an idea like this to “ test @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at best .

One Florida Democrat came up with a clever way to pay homage to his deceased wife during the upcoming election. When ordering a mail-in ballot for himself, he decided to request one for her as well. The request was honored and he filled them both out and mailed them in. Unfortunately for 62-year-old Larry Wiggins, the discrepancy was noticed when the ballots arrived at the office of the Supervisor of Elections. Wiggins was investigated and arrested. The excuse he offered was a novel one, however. He wasn’t trying to commit election fraud. He was just “testing the system.” (NY Post)
Florida authorities nabbed a registered Democrat after he attempted to “test the system” by requesting an absentee ballot for his late wife, officials said. Manatee County Sheriff’s Office began investigating Larry Wiggins, 62, after the mail-in ballot was requested for his wife who had been dead for two years, the Bradenton Herald reported. “As soon as they pulled up the file it showed that she is dead,” Manatee County Supervisor of Elections Mike Bennett said. Bennett said his office then compared the handwriting on the ballot request with previous documentation and found it wasn’t a match.
Wiggens was charged with third-degree felony voter fraud and released on $1,500 bail.
It would be easy to write off this almost amusingly dumb scheme as little more than a case of a tone-deaf voter trying to game the system. But the response to the report from the Manatee County Supervisor of Elections was a bit over the top and serves as a reminder of the magnitude of the potential problems that may be coming our way on November 3rd. Supervisor Mike Bennett (R) was quick to crow about his office’s success in foiling Wiggins’ scheme and held it up as proof that “the system worked.”
Bennett said the case is an example of why voters should feel confident in the elections process. “People complain that vote by mail is crooked; it’s not, we catch them, we verify it and any supervisor of elections in the state of Florida I know is just as conscious about it as I am,” he said.
I suppose congratulations are in order for Mike Bennett since his office clearly managed to catch Wiggins’ effort at gaming the system. But that means that someone was alert and doing their job when the dead wife’s ballot arrived. It might not have been a very busy office, however. (Manatee County is in a rural area and has a total population of barely 300,000.) And we’re talking about early voting here. How well will they do when a serious flood of ballots starts coming in?
Also worth noting is the fact that when Wiggins requested the ballot on his late wife’s behalf, they didn’t notice that she was dead, did they? No, they mailed the ballot out. That means that Mrs. Wiggins was still on the voter rolls. Bennett claims that they knew she was dead “as soon as they pulled up the file.” Which file would that be? And why didn’t they “pull it up” when Wiggins originally requested it? Note that this wasn’t a case where they were mass-mailing ballots out to everyone. Wiggins specifically requested absentee ballots for both himself and his wife.
I can’t help but wonder how Mrs. Wiggins’ name wasn’t flagged when the ballot was initially requested if the system is so secure. It strikes me as equally likely that somebody working in Bennett’s office in this rural area saw the submitted ballot and personally knew that the woman had passed away two years earlier. So what happens if more ballots like this phony one show up and the person entering them doesn’t recognize the name? Will they still catch it?
I suppose it’s possible, but the details of this story don’t do much to instill confidence in the integrity of the system. Also, let’s not forget that Florida is a pretty big state with a burgeoning population of nearly 21.5 million. Do you really believe that Larry Wiggins was the only bonehead to cook up an idea like this to “test” the system? Color me dubious at best.


hotair--2020-10-05--Great moments in American journalism: 60 Minutes finally interviews Tara Reade about Biden sexual as

Great moments in American journalism: 60 Minutes finally interviews Tara Reade about Biden sexual assault allegation -- but ...

Four years ago — and ever since — American media spent hours and hours delving into Donald Trump ’ s lack of sexual ethics and claims that he sexually harassed women .
When it comes to Tara Reade , however , American media seem entirely disinterested in Joe Biden ’ s behavior and an allegation of outright sexual assault — an accusation that has contemporaneous indirect corroboration .
Reade finally got a major media outlet to cover her own # MeToo story … but she had to go to the other side of the globe to tell it .
Amusingly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with Trump ’ s character issues , and not just at the beginning .
Still , at least they do cover Reade ’ s accusations for most of the segment .
“ It ’ s an allegation that has received little attention , ” the Australian broadcaster noted about Reade ’ s claim .
It hasn ’ t received any attention in the US media since Biden won the nomination : Be sure to watch this all the way through , or at least to watch Anthony Scaramucci ’ s rather insightful analysis @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump a pass four years ago for his lack of sexual ethics because Trump never pretended to be a paragon of virtue in that sense , Scaramucci says , unlike other politicians and their hypocritical “ sanctimony.
” Biden qualifies for the latter category , especially with his pretenses of female empowerment while serially creeping over women in front of cameras .
The problem for voters , Scaramucci points out , is that the two men largely cancel each other out on sexual scandals .
Both sides can legitimately point fingers at the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the end they will have to rely on other factors to make their decision .
Is that a good reason for American media outlets to ignore Tara Reade ?
Not really , no , especially since the media had spent the previous two-plus years insisting that we had to accept allegations as fact in the era of # MeToo .
It ’ s not just the governing class that has issues with sanctimony and hypocrisy , which is why Reade had to go halfway around the world to get a fair shot at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s not forget that Reade ’ s allegation isn ’ t the only one being ignored by the media , either .

Four years ago — and ever since — American media spent hours and hours delving into Donald Trump’s lack of sexual ethics and claims that he sexually harassed women. When it comes to Tara Reade, however, American media seem entirely disinterested in Joe Biden’s behavior and an allegation of outright sexual assault — an accusation that has contemporaneous indirect corroboration. Reade finally got a major media outlet to cover her own #MeToo story … but she had to go to the other side of the globe to tell it.
Amusingly, even 60 Minutes Australia frames this with Trump’s character issues, and not just at the beginning. Still, at least they do cover Reade’s accusations for most of the segment. “It’s an allegation that has received little attention,” the Australian broadcaster noted about Reade’s claim. It hasn’t received any attention in the US media since Biden won the nomination:
Be sure to watch this all the way through, or at least to watch Anthony Scaramucci’s rather insightful analysis of the problem. People gave Donald Trump a pass four years ago for his lack of sexual ethics because Trump never pretended to be a paragon of virtue in that sense, Scaramucci says, unlike other politicians and their hypocritical “sanctimony.” Biden qualifies for the latter category, especially with his pretenses of female empowerment while serially creeping over women in front of cameras. The problem for voters, Scaramucci points out, is that the two men largely cancel each other out on sexual scandals. Both sides can legitimately point fingers at the other for these issues, but in the end they will have to rely on other factors to make their decision.
Is that a good reason for American media outlets to ignore Tara Reade? Not really, no, especially since the media had spent the previous two-plus years insisting that we had to accept allegations as fact in the era of #MeToo. It’s not just the governing class that has issues with sanctimony and hypocrisy, which is why Reade had to go halfway around the world to get a fair shot at telling her story.
And let’s not forget that Reade’s allegation isn’t the only one being ignored by the media, either.


hotair--2020-10-06--Report: Pence's team objects to using plexiglass barriers at VP debate

Sounds like the veep is all-in on Trump ’ s election-winning message that you ’ re a pussy if you ’ re worried about COVID .
I feel like that one ’ s going to play very strongly and powerfully with the septuagenarian crowd in Florida .
Imagine gift-wrapping a talking point for your opponents in the home stretch of a national election that only one party on the ballot is doing everything possible to take precautions against infection by a killer plague .
Meghan McCain ’ s right : Between Trump ’ s sudden bizarre bravado about the virus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on stimulus negotiations , this is starting to feel like a “ kamikaze ” mission .
Except that kamikaze operations are aimed at damaging the enemy and none of this is doing damage to Democrats .
The group being damaged in both cases is … American voters .
Vice President Pence is requesting that no plexiglass dividers be placed on his side of the stage at Wednesday night ’ s vice-presidential debate , after an announcement Monday by the Commission on Presidential Debates that dividers had been agreed to as a safety measure @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Marc Short , the vice president ’ s chief of staff , said the vice president ’ s team does not view plexiglass dividers as medically necessary , given other safety measures at the debate , including a 12-foot distance between Pence and Sen. Kamala D. Harris ( D-Calif. ) and daily testing of both candidates .
The commission and the Biden campaign both said Tuesday they understood that the Pence team was in agreement with the notion of plexiglass barriers .
But the Pence team suggested they did not want any @ @ @ @ @ @ @ regardless of what Harris does .
“ If she wants it , she ’ s more than welcome to surround herself with plexiglass if that makes her feel more comfortable , ” Short said .
“ It ’ s not needed.
” Literally just yesterday , the CDC announced that airborne viral particles can travel more than six feet indoors .
The entire moral of the story of the still-spreading outbreak at the White House is that no *single* precaution , such as daily testing , is foolproof .
For maximum protection against @ @ @ @ @ @ @ strategies — testing , distance , masks .
If Team Pence is hellbent on criticizing Harris , they should criticize her for believing that plexiglass might be an effective barrier against a virus that ’ s adrift on air currents onstage .
Plexiglass feels more like a stage prop ; the precautions taken by both sides should be more rigorous than that .
But “ we need to be safer ” contradicts the Trumpist line so they ’ re actually going to hand this issue to Harris on a silver platter .
If @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be thrilled for the viewing audience to see a barrier next to her but none next to Pence .
At a moment when the president is sick and the virus is spreading through the White House , the next-in-line is going to sit there in full view of 40 million people or whatever and not do everything he can to protect himself and everyone around him ?
Bananas .
Here ’ s what Pence should be demanding , at a minimum : Plenty of distance and an outdoor setting would be more responsible @ @ @ @ @ @ @ could do a remote debate , with the candidates in different rooms .
I don ’ t see the strategic benefit in resisting any proposed precaution but it must boil down to one of three things .
One : The Trump campaign is so eager to project “ normalcy ” amid the pandemic that it ’ s going to continue to do so even at one of the most freakishly abnormal moments in the history of American politics .
Two : The Trump campaign is simply following the boss ’ s lead on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s pushing that America must dominate the virus rather than let itself be dominated .
Which , viewed through the lens of the outbreak at the White House , amounts to saying that negligence equals “ strength.
” Not a winning message .
Or three : We ’ ve reached a stage of such mind-bending hyperpolarization in our political culture that the fact that Democrats are insisting upon extra precautions onstage obliges Pence and the Trump campaign to resist those precautions for … no reason , really .
Just to be on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a deadly virus .
Don ’ t worry , though .
I ’ m sure it ’ ll all work out .
New from the Boston Herald : In two days of polling before Trump got COVID , the president trailed Biden by just a 46-41 % margin .
In the three days of polling after the coronavirus diagnosis , Biden held a 55-34 % lead .
That means Biden ’ s lead grew by a whopping 16 points from pre-COVID to post-COVID… Biden is holding a 12-point lead among independent voters — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ states .
The former vice president also holds a massive 58-31 % lead among women voters .
Male voters are evenly split between Trump and Biden , the poll shows… The poll also showed that COVID-19 is far and away the top issue in the campaign .
One third of all likely voters cite the coronavirus as the most important issue to them , while 19 % went with jobs and the economy and 10 % cited social justice and racial equality .
Biden ’ s not going to win by anything approaching @ @ @ @ @ @ @ other evidence out there today that Trump ’ s COVID diagnosis and his response to it are increasing rather than decreasing the Democrat ’ s lead .
A Survey USA poll that was in the field when Trump announced he tested positive found Biden leading by eight before the announcement was made .
After Trump was taken to Walter Reed on Saturday , that lead had grown to 16 .
There are a *lot* of polls suddenly indicating that Biden ’ s national lead is now double digits .
That doesn ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ — a good debate on the 15th could restore some confidence in Trump — but it means the hole the president ’ s trying to climb out of is getting deeper , not shallower as we approach Election Day .
Here ’ s New York Post columnist Miranda Devine , who wrote an op-ed this morning praising Trump for his bravery amid a COVID outbreak caused by White House mismanagement that ’ s still producing new positive tests today .
Pence should repeat her point in this clip verbatim onstage tomorrow night .
@ @ @ @ @ @

Sounds like the veep is all-in on Trump’s election-winning message that you’re a pussy if you’re worried about COVID.
I feel like that one’s going to play very strongly and powerfully with the septuagenarian crowd in Florida.
Imagine gift-wrapping a talking point for your opponents in the home stretch of a national election that only one party on the ballot is doing everything possible to take precautions against infection by a killer plague. Meghan McCain’s right: Between Trump’s sudden bizarre bravado about the virus and his inexplicable decision to give up on stimulus negotiations, this is starting to feel like a “kamikaze” mission.
Except that kamikaze operations are aimed at damaging the enemy and none of this is doing damage to Democrats. The group being damaged in both cases is … American voters.
Vice President Pence is requesting that no plexiglass dividers be placed on his side of the stage at Wednesday night’s vice-presidential debate, after an announcement Monday by the Commission on Presidential Debates that dividers had been agreed to as a safety measure to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. Marc Short, the vice president’s chief of staff, said the vice president’s team does not view plexiglass dividers as medically necessary, given other safety measures at the debate, including a 12-foot distance between Pence and Sen. Kamala D. Harris (D-Calif.) and daily testing of both candidates. The commission and the Biden campaign both said Tuesday they understood that the Pence team was in agreement with the notion of plexiglass barriers. But the Pence team suggested they did not want any such dividers around the vice president, regardless of what Harris does. “If she wants it, she’s more than welcome to surround herself with plexiglass if that makes her feel more comfortable,” Short said. “It’s not needed.”
Literally just yesterday, the CDC announced that airborne viral particles can travel more than six feet indoors. The entire moral of the story of the still-spreading outbreak at the White House is that no *single* precaution, such as daily testing, is foolproof. For maximum protection against the virus, you employ all available strategies — testing, distance, masks. If Team Pence is hellbent on criticizing Harris, they should criticize her for believing that plexiglass might be an effective barrier against a virus that’s adrift on air currents onstage. Plexiglass feels more like a stage prop; the precautions taken by both sides should be more rigorous than that.
But “we need to be safer” contradicts the Trumpist line so they’re actually going to hand this issue to Harris on a silver platter. If I were her, I’d be thrilled for the viewing audience to see a barrier next to her but none next to Pence. At a moment when the president is sick and the virus is spreading through the White House, the next-in-line is going to sit there in full view of 40 million people or whatever and not do everything he can to protect himself and everyone around him?
Bananas. Here’s what Pence should be demanding, at a minimum:
NEW – source familiar with discussions related to the CPD debates said one option being discussed is debates being held outside — Maggie Haberman (@maggieNYT) October 6, 2020
Plenty of distance and an outdoor setting would be more responsible. Or, of course, they could do a remote debate, with the candidates in different rooms. I don’t see the strategic benefit in resisting any proposed precaution but it must boil down to one of three things. One: The Trump campaign is so eager to project “normalcy” amid the pandemic that it’s going to continue to do so even at one of the most freakishly abnormal moments in the history of American politics. Two: The Trump campaign is simply following the boss’s lead on this strange and self-defeating idea he’s pushing that America must dominate the virus rather than let itself be dominated. Which, viewed through the lens of the outbreak at the White House, amounts to saying that negligence equals “strength.” Not a winning message. Or three: We’ve reached a stage of such mind-bending hyperpolarization in our political culture that the fact that Democrats are insisting upon extra precautions onstage obliges Pence and the Trump campaign to resist those precautions for … no reason, really. Just to be on the other side of the issue. Alongside a deadly virus.
Don’t worry, though. I’m sure it’ll all work out. New from the Boston Herald:
In two days of polling before Trump got COVID, the president trailed Biden by just a 46-41% margin. In the three days of polling after the coronavirus diagnosis, Biden held a 55-34% lead. That means Biden’s lead grew by a whopping 16 points from pre-COVID to post-COVID… Biden is holding a 12-point lead among independent voters — a key to the election in battleground states. The former vice president also holds a massive 58-31% lead among women voters. Male voters are evenly split between Trump and Biden, the poll shows… The poll also showed that COVID-19 is far and away the top issue in the campaign. One third of all likely voters cite the coronavirus as the most important issue to them, while 19% went with jobs and the economy and 10% cited social justice and racial equality.
Biden’s not going to win by anything approaching 21 points, but there’s other evidence out there today that Trump’s COVID diagnosis and his response to it are increasing rather than decreasing the Democrat’s lead. A Survey USA poll that was in the field when Trump announced he tested positive found Biden leading by eight before the announcement was made. After Trump was taken to Walter Reed on Saturday, that lead had grown to 16. There are a *lot* of polls suddenly indicating that Biden’s national lead is now double digits. That doesn’t mean it’ll stay that way — a good debate on the 15th could restore some confidence in Trump — but it means the hole the president’s trying to climb out of is getting deeper, not shallower as we approach Election Day.
Having same conversations with folks who would planned to vote for him. https://t.co/cBb25lHZNT — Bethany S. Mandel (@bethanyshondark) October 6, 2020
Here’s New York Post columnist Miranda Devine, who wrote an op-ed this morning praising Trump for his bravery amid a COVID outbreak caused by White House mismanagement that’s still producing new positive tests today. Pence should repeat her point in this clip verbatim onstage tomorrow night. See how it works out.


hotair--2020-10-06--Has the campaign against Barrett fizzled out already?

Or has it even really begun yet ?
Democrats and the media have taken aim at Amy Coney Barrett since the passing of Ruth Bader Ginsburg , correctly guessing that Donald Trump planned to nominate the Seventh Circuit jurist in that eventuality .
Despite all of the attacks on Barrett over the past two weeks , nothing has landed , Rich Lowry writes today at National Review , and it looks like Democrats have already emptied the quiver for the Supreme Court nominee .
Why am I suddenly hearing Han Solo ’ s voice saying , “ Don ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fight of the century is , so far , a fizzle .
The ratio of progressive outrage over the nomination of federal Judge Amy Coney Barrett to supposed reasons that the U.S. Senate shouldn ’ t confirm her is completely out of whack — there ’ s a surfeit of the former and almost none of the latter .
Barrett has received extraordinary testimonials from her colleagues and students , who say she is brilliant , conscientious , and kind .
The opposition has countered with a dog ’ s breakfast of nonsense @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t be held in the middle of a pandemic — when the Senate has continued its business since the pandemic began .
True enough — but .
Let us also recall where we stood with Brett Kavanaugh at the two-week stage of his nomination .
It ’ s almost as if history is repeating itself , a parallel which seems either eerie or the revelation of a well-used strategy .
Within the first fortnight , we had the “ Kavanaugh has spoken about his opposition to Roe ” arguments , a demand @ @ @ @ @ @ @ matters in this instance ) , freakouts on the Left for fair media analyses , a supposed personal scandal that wasn ’ t , and even a Dick Durbin reminder that Senate Democrats couldn ’ t stop a confirmation if Republicans decided to press forward with it .
Actually , that all took place within the first four days after Kavanaugh ’ s nomination .
By Day 16 ( July 25 , 2018 ) , The Hill was calling the opposition to Kavanaugh a fizzle , too : Democrats are struggling to find @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Brett Kavanaugh ’ s Supreme Court nomination .
They can ’ t block the nominee on their own , but they ’ re under intense pressure from liberals to wage a full-scale attack against Kavanaugh as they try to sway the one or two Republicans needed to sink President Trump ’ s pick and score a major victory heading into the midterm elections .
… Still , none of the Democratic attacks have gained much traction with Republicans .
Good times , good times .
Two months later , Democrats leaked an unsubstantiated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the people cited as witnesses wouldn ’ t corroborate , and it created an institutional meltdown .
The debacle nearly derailed Kavanaugh ’ s confirmation , and it set new standards for character assassination that we have yet to plumb in Barrett ’ s nomination .
One lesson learned by the GOP from that crucible : don ’ t give Democrats enough time to generate smears .
Even if the election wasn ’ t four weeks away , Lindsey Graham and Mitch McConnell would fast-track Barrett just to reduce and hopefully eliminate the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to manufacture smears and slurs .
That might be tougher to do against a woman , but it ’ s not impossible , and Senate Democrats demonstrated their willingness to use any means necessary to control any openings on the Supreme Court in 2018 .
That hasn ’ t changed in the time since , and I doubt that either Graham or McConnell think that Democrats ’ attack has ended at all .
It seems more likely that they are looking on the horizon for a fully functional Democratic Death Star to take @ @ @ @

Or has it even really begun yet? Democrats and the media have taken aim at Amy Coney Barrett since the passing of Ruth Bader Ginsburg, correctly guessing that Donald Trump planned to nominate the Seventh Circuit jurist in that eventuality. Despite all of the attacks on Barrett over the past two weeks, nothing has landed, Rich Lowry writes today at National Review, and it looks like Democrats have already emptied the quiver for the Supreme Court nominee.
Why am I suddenly hearing Han Solo’s voice saying, “Don’t get cocky”?
The Supreme Court fight of the century is, so far, a fizzle. The ratio of progressive outrage over the nomination of federal Judge Amy Coney Barrett to supposed reasons that the U.S. Senate shouldn’t confirm her is completely out of whack — there’s a surfeit of the former and almost none of the latter. Barrett has received extraordinary testimonials from her colleagues and students, who say she is brilliant, conscientious, and kind. The opposition has countered with a dog’s breakfast of nonsense, including that her confirmation hearing can’t be held in the middle of a pandemic — when the Senate has continued its business since the pandemic began.
True enough — but. Let us also recall where we stood with Brett Kavanaugh at the two-week stage of his nomination. It’s almost as if history is repeating itself, a parallel which seems either eerie or the revelation of a well-used strategy. Within the first fortnight, we had the “Kavanaugh has spoken about his opposition to Roe” arguments, a demand from Democrats for recusals (on Mueller-related matters in this instance), freakouts on the Left for fair media analyses, a supposed personal scandal that wasn’t, and even a Dick Durbin reminder that Senate Democrats couldn’t stop a confirmation if Republicans decided to press forward with it.
Actually, that all took place within the first four days after Kavanaugh’s nomination. By Day 16 (July 25, 2018), The Hill was calling the opposition to Kavanaugh a fizzle, too:
Democrats are struggling to find an opening in their fight to sink Brett Kavanaugh’s Supreme Court nomination. They can’t block the nominee on their own, but they’re under intense pressure from liberals to wage a full-scale attack against Kavanaugh as they try to sway the one or two Republicans needed to sink President Trump’s pick and score a major victory heading into the midterm elections. … Still, none of the Democratic attacks have gained much traction with Republicans.
Good times, good times. Two months later, Democrats leaked an unsubstantiated accusation of a teenage assault that even the people cited as witnesses wouldn’t corroborate, and it created an institutional meltdown. The debacle nearly derailed Kavanaugh’s confirmation, and it set new standards for character assassination that we have yet to plumb in Barrett’s nomination.
One lesson learned by the GOP from that crucible: don’t give Democrats enough time to generate smears. Even if the election wasn’t four weeks away, Lindsey Graham and Mitch McConnell would fast-track Barrett just to reduce and hopefully eliminate the amount of time that Senate Democrats have to manufacture smears and slurs. That might be tougher to do against a woman, but it’s not impossible, and Senate Democrats demonstrated their willingness to use any means necessary to control any openings on the Supreme Court in 2018.
That hasn’t changed in the time since, and I doubt that either Graham or McConnell think that Democrats’ attack has ended at all. It seems more likely that they are looking on the horizon for a fully functional Democratic Death Star to take aim at Barrett.


hotair--2020-10-06--Reversal: After objections from Trump, White House approves FDA guidelines to slow down vaccine auth

Reversal: After objections from Trump, White House approves FDA guidelines to slow down vaccine authorization

Serious question : Does the president know about this ?
I ask not because he ’ s been preoccupied with other matters the past few days but because he made his feelings about the prospect of the FDA “ slowing down ” vaccine approval pretty clear a few weeks ago .
Let ’ s back up .
Late last month , news broke that the FDA had proposed new guidelines for approving a COVID vaccine .
Read this for background .
The most notable element of the proposal was the recommendation that subjects in vaccine trials be followed for a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their second dose so that manufacturers can be confident there are no late-developing side effects from their products .
That was the FDA ’ s attempt to depoliticize the vaccine process by inserting some extra scientific rigor into it .
If Americans are worried about the government cutting corners and rushing a vaccine to market prematurely in order to help Trump ’ s campaign then the way to rebuild confidence is simple : Slow down .
Show the public that you ’ re being diligent by taking extra time to make sure that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ A two-month study period , though , would mean little to no chance of any vaccine being approved before Election Day , which would mean no October surprise for Trump .
The president was asked on September 23 how he felt about the idea of his government slowing down the authorization process .
Answer : Not great .
True to form , he even impugned the FDA ’ s integrity by claiming that the slowdown might be politically motivated .
The FDA submitted its proposed guidelines to the White House for approval anyway @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a matter of course , but not this time .
Mark Meadows reportedly demanded that the agency explain in detail why it wanted to slow down the process now , after trials had begun .
Some experts were taken aback .
“ I don ’ t know of any precedent where the White House asked to adjudicate scientific and clinical guidances , even in past public health emergencies , ” said former Trump FDA chief Scott Gottlieb to WaPo .
“ To build trust among patients and providers , you wanted to leave @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which has a lot of rigor and integrity.
” Last night the Times reported that the White House was still blocking the new guidelines , allegedly because it objected to the two-month slowdown period .
To all appearances , Trump and Meadows were going to force the FDA to stick to an accelerated timeline for authorizing a vaccine because Trump wants a big vaccine “ reveal ” for his reelection bid .
But it ’ s not that simple , it turns out : Facing a White House blockade , the Food and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ensure that vaccines meet the guidelines .
That includes sharing the standards — perhaps as soon as this week — with an outside advisory committee of experts that is supposed to meet publicly before any vaccine is authorized for emergency use .
The hope is that the committee will enforce the guidelines , regardless of the White House ’ s reaction… That Wednesday , Mr. Meadows raised a series of concerns , a senior administration official said .
He questioned the need for two months of follow-up data , said that stricter recommendations @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of clinical trials and suggested that Dr. Hahn was overly influenced by his agency ’ s career scientists .
The White House on Monday did not respond to a request for comment… Some vaccine makers , including Johnson & Johnson , have publicly indicated that they will follow the agency ’ s recommendations , regardless of the White House ’ s actions .
It sure sounds like there was something of a quiet mutiny here by the FDA .
Two weeks ago , when the White House first started making noise about the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ could possibly force the FDA to follow an artificial timetable for authorizing a vaccine .
Even if the guidelines weren ’ t formally approved by the president , scientists at the agency — and scientists at the manufacturers — will work at the pace they choose to .
If both sides agree that two months of observation for trial subjects is appropriate then that ’ s what ’ s going to happen , even if Trump is angrily tweeting about a “ deep state ” conspiracy between them or whatever .
And as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a ready-made excuse for an eventual slowdown : The independent advisory committee , which the public will be looking to for guidance on whether the vaccine is safe , could simply declare that no vaccine should be authorized until two months of observation have been recorded .
If Trump somehow forced the FDA to approve a vaccine before Election Day and then the committee pronounced it premature and not ready for prime time , that would spoil any electoral benefit he might be hoping to gain from the authorization .
So maybe the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ approve the guidelines or block them , but we ’ re doing it on our timeline one way or another.
” And maybe Meadows , realizing that he wasn ’ t going to win here — and realizing that the events of the last few days have further damaged public trust in the administration ’ s handling of COVID — decided that he may as well approve the guidelines , then .
If he can ’ t force the FDA to speed up , he might as well pocket the political ( and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to say , “ Yeah , we ’ re slowing down .
We ’ re going to do this the right way and make sure the vaccine ’ s safe and effective.
” Word came this afternoon that the FDA has now published the guidelines , which apparently means the White House signed off after all : Unless I ’ m misunderstanding this , the FDA essentially told Meadows , “ Here ’ s how it ’ s gon na be , Mark , ” and went about their business as if the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ manufacturers .
Meadows ended up with no leverage to make them behave differently , knowing that the more the White House made a stink publicly about the slowdown effort , the more it risked eroding any political benefit it might eventually receive from a vaccine authorization .
I doubt Trump would get much of a bounce even if the FDA approved a vaccine tomorrow , but he ’ d get no bounce if that approval was made under circumstances which all parties — the FDA , the manufacturers , and the advisory committee @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
It would probably even cost him in the polls .
In the end , what choice did Meadows have except to roll with what the FDA wanted to do ?
Which brings us back to the question I asked up top .
Did Meadows sign off on this or did Trump sign off on this ?
I can imagine Meadows acquiescing in the result of a battle against an agency which he ’ s fought and lost .
I can ’ t imagine Trump doing so .
I also find it hard @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a priority for the president over the last 72 hours as he ’ s fought for his life against COVID .
My guess is that Meadows or some other deputy finally gave the okay and that Trump hasn ’ t heard about it yet — and that he won ’ t be happy when he does .
Last night he said in his Twitter video on the White House balcony that a vaccine is coming “ momentarily.
” Not anymore .
Either way , we ’ re destined to get some angry tweets @ @ @ @ @ @ @ long to approve a vaccine starting a week or two from now .
Just because the president can ’ t force the FDA to produce the vaccine before November 3 doesn ’ t mean he can ’ t go on undermining the credibility of the process by accusing government scientists of being partisan operatives .
Stay tuned .

Serious question: Does the president know about this?
I ask not because he’s been preoccupied with other matters the past few days but because he made his feelings about the prospect of the FDA “slowing down” vaccine approval pretty clear a few weeks ago.
Let’s back up. Late last month, news broke that the FDA had proposed new guidelines for approving a COVID vaccine. Read this for background. The most notable element of the proposal was the recommendation that subjects in vaccine trials be followed for a median of two months after they receive their second dose so that manufacturers can be confident there are no late-developing side effects from their products. That was the FDA’s attempt to depoliticize the vaccine process by inserting some extra scientific rigor into it. If Americans are worried about the government cutting corners and rushing a vaccine to market prematurely in order to help Trump’s campaign then the way to rebuild confidence is simple: Slow down. Show the public that you’re being diligent by taking extra time to make sure that the vaccine is effective and safe.
A two-month study period, though, would mean little to no chance of any vaccine being approved before Election Day, which would mean no October surprise for Trump. The president was asked on September 23 how he felt about the idea of his government slowing down the authorization process. Answer: Not great. True to form, he even impugned the FDA’s integrity by claiming that the slowdown might be politically motivated.
President Trump said today that the White House may not approve tougher FDA guidelines for authorizing the emergency use of any coronavirus vaccines. "That has to be approved by the White House," he said of the FDA guidance. "We may or may not approve it" https://t.co/aLppEdJXFx pic.twitter.com/UpDkEOOtWd — POLITICO (@politico) September 24, 2020
The FDA submitted its proposed guidelines to the White House for approval anyway. That approval is normally granted as a matter of course, but not this time. Mark Meadows reportedly demanded that the agency explain in detail why it wanted to slow down the process now, after trials had begun. Some experts were taken aback. “I don’t know of any precedent where the White House asked to adjudicate scientific and clinical guidances, even in past public health emergencies,” said former Trump FDA chief Scott Gottlieb to WaPo. “To build trust among patients and providers, you wanted to leave these matters to the FDA process, which has a lot of rigor and integrity.” Last night the Times reported that the White House was still blocking the new guidelines, allegedly because it objected to the two-month slowdown period. To all appearances, Trump and Meadows were going to force the FDA to stick to an accelerated timeline for authorizing a vaccine because Trump wants a big vaccine “reveal” for his reelection bid.
But it’s not that simple, it turns out:
Facing a White House blockade, the Food and Drug Administration is seeking other avenues to ensure that vaccines meet the guidelines. That includes sharing the standards — perhaps as soon as this week — with an outside advisory committee of experts that is supposed to meet publicly before any vaccine is authorized for emergency use. The hope is that the committee will enforce the guidelines, regardless of the White House’s reaction… That Wednesday, Mr. Meadows raised a series of concerns, a senior administration official said. He questioned the need for two months of follow-up data, said that stricter recommendations would change the rules in the middle of clinical trials and suggested that Dr. Hahn was overly influenced by his agency’s career scientists. The White House on Monday did not respond to a request for comment… Some vaccine makers, including Johnson & Johnson, have publicly indicated that they will follow the agency’s recommendations, regardless of the White House’s actions.
It sure sounds like there was something of a quiet mutiny here by the FDA. Two weeks ago, when the White House first started making noise about the new guidelines, I wondered how they could possibly force the FDA to follow an artificial timetable for authorizing a vaccine. Even if the guidelines weren’t formally approved by the president, scientists at the agency — and scientists at the manufacturers — will work at the pace they choose to. If both sides agree that two months of observation for trial subjects is appropriate then that’s what’s going to happen, even if Trump is angrily tweeting about a “deep state” conspiracy between them or whatever. And as the Times notes, the FDA had a ready-made excuse for an eventual slowdown: The independent advisory committee, which the public will be looking to for guidance on whether the vaccine is safe, could simply declare that no vaccine should be authorized until two months of observation have been recorded. If Trump somehow forced the FDA to approve a vaccine before Election Day and then the committee pronounced it premature and not ready for prime time, that would spoil any electoral benefit he might be hoping to gain from the authorization.
So maybe the FDA told Meadows, “You can approve the guidelines or block them, but we’re doing it on our timeline one way or another.”
And maybe Meadows, realizing that he wasn’t going to win here — and realizing that the events of the last few days have further damaged public trust in the administration’s handling of COVID — decided that he may as well approve the guidelines, then. If he can’t force the FDA to speed up, he might as well pocket the political (and public health) benefit from being able to say, “Yeah, we’re slowing down. We’re going to do this the right way and make sure the vaccine’s safe and effective.” Word came this afternoon that the FDA has now published the guidelines, which apparently means the White House signed off after all:
The White House endorsed the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s plans for assessing whether a Covid-19 vaccine should be given widely, casting aside objections to requirements that would likely mean a shot won’t be cleared until after Election Day, people familiar with the matter said. The FDA promptly issued the guidelines on Tuesday afternoon, saying it hopes the release “helps the public understand our science-based decision-making process that assures vaccine quality, safety and efficacy for any vaccine that is authorized or approved.”… [T]he FDA had already given the guidelines to companies and told them to expect their vaccines should meet the standards in order to secure authorization.
Unless I’m misunderstanding this, the FDA essentially told Meadows, “Here’s how it’s gonna be, Mark,” and went about their business as if the guidelines were in effect, even notifying manufacturers. Meadows ended up with no leverage to make them behave differently, knowing that the more the White House made a stink publicly about the slowdown effort, the more it risked eroding any political benefit it might eventually receive from a vaccine authorization. I doubt Trump would get much of a bounce even if the FDA approved a vaccine tomorrow, but he’d get no bounce if that approval was made under circumstances which all parties — the FDA, the manufacturers, and the advisory committee — believed were dubious and politically motivated. It would probably even cost him in the polls. In the end, what choice did Meadows have except to roll with what the FDA wanted to do?
Which brings us back to the question I asked up top. Did Meadows sign off on this or did Trump sign off on this? I can imagine Meadows acquiescing in the result of a battle against an agency which he’s fought and lost. I can’t imagine Trump doing so. I also find it hard to believe that this issue has been a priority for the president over the last 72 hours as he’s fought for his life against COVID. My guess is that Meadows or some other deputy finally gave the okay and that Trump hasn’t heard about it yet — and that he won’t be happy when he does. Last night he said in his Twitter video on the White House balcony that a vaccine is coming “momentarily.” Not anymore.
Either way, we’re destined to get some angry tweets about why it’s taking so long to approve a vaccine starting a week or two from now. Just because the president can’t force the FDA to produce the vaccine before November 3 doesn’t mean he can’t go on undermining the credibility of the process by accusing government scientists of being partisan operatives. Stay tuned.


hotair--2020-10-06--McCloskeys indicted by grand jury (plus an added charge of tampering with evidence?)

Today a grand jury indicted the McCloskeys for a June incident when a group of protesters walked onto their private property on their way to protest at the Mayor ’ s house .
The McCloskeys cam out of their home armed with guns to protect their property .
Trespassing charges against the protesters were all dropped but progressive DA Kim Gardner brought charges against the McCloskeys .
Their attorney said the indictment is no surprise : Their attorney , Joel Schwartz , said he wasn ’ t surprised by the indictment , saying the grand jury didn ’ t have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the facts are out , it will be clear the McCloskeys committed no crime whatsoever , ” Schwartz said .
“ Frankly because the grand jury is not an adversarial process and defense counsel are not allowed in there and I have no idea what was stated to the grand jury and what law was given to the grand jury.
” The McCloskeys have been facing the charge for brandishing weapons for weeks .
What ’ s new today is an additional charge of tampering with evidence : There has been a complaint @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but it was made by the McCloskeys against Assistant Circuit Attorney Chris Hinckley .
Back in July KSDK reported that when Mrs. McCloskey ’ s gun was turned over by her attorney it was not operable .
The McCloskeys claimed that particular gun had been intentionally rendered incapable of firing , with a spring placed in front of the firing pin , because it was used as a prop in a previous lawsuit .
That meant the gun couldn ’ t have been fired when she held it back in June ( though @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that ) .
But the McCloskeys claimed that Chris Hinkley ordered the gun stripped and reassembled such that it could be operational .
So at this point it ’ s not clear how the grand jury came up with charges of tampering against the McCloskeys but it seems to be the opposite of what the McCloskeys themselves have claimed .
The McCloskeys had a hearing earlier today before the grand jury issued the indictments and they and their attorney spoke to the press outside the courthouse .
“ Every single human being that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a criminal trespasser , ” McCloskey said .
“ They broke down our gate .
They trespassed on our property .
Not a single one of those people is now charged with anything .
We ’ re charged with felonies that could cost us four years of our lives and our law licenses.
” Here ’ s Mark McCloskey ’ s brief statement from this morning .
As you ’ ll see , he was specifically asked about the issue with the non-functioning gun which was reassembled and declared functional .
“ If @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you , that the government is willing to do that just to take a political advantage of this case , ” he said .
I guess we ’ ll have to wait a bit longer to see why the grand jury turned this particular claim around on the McCloskeys .

Today a grand jury indicted the McCloskeys for a June incident when a group of protesters walked onto their private property on their way to protest at the Mayor’s house. The McCloskeys cam out of their home armed with guns to protect their property. Trespassing charges against the protesters were all dropped but progressive DA Kim Gardner brought charges against the McCloskeys. Their attorney said the indictment is no surprise:
Their attorney, Joel Schwartz, said he wasn’t surprised by the indictment, saying the grand jury didn’t have all the facts. “Once all the facts are out, it will be clear the McCloskeys committed no crime whatsoever,” Schwartz said. “Frankly because the grand jury is not an adversarial process and defense counsel are not allowed in there and I have no idea what was stated to the grand jury and what law was given to the grand jury.”
The McCloskeys have been facing the charge for brandishing weapons for weeks. What’s new today is an additional charge of tampering with evidence:
Lawyer Joel Schwartz said he was told a grand jury indicted his clients on felony counts of unlawful use of a weapon and evidence tampering. He said he had no details. A St. Louis court clerk said the indictment was filed Tuesday but that she was not authorized to provide a copy.
There has been a complaint of tampering with evidence in this case but it was made by the McCloskeys against Assistant Circuit Attorney Chris Hinckley. Back in July KSDK reported that when Mrs. McCloskey’s gun was turned over by her attorney it was not operable. The McCloskeys claimed that particular gun had been intentionally rendered incapable of firing, with a spring placed in front of the firing pin, because it was used as a prop in a previous lawsuit. That meant the gun couldn’t have been fired when she held it back in June (though the protesters couldn’t have known that). But the McCloskeys claimed that Chris Hinkley ordered the gun stripped and reassembled such that it could be operational.
So at this point it’s not clear how the grand jury came up with charges of tampering against the McCloskeys but it seems to be the opposite of what the McCloskeys themselves have claimed.
The McCloskeys had a hearing earlier today before the grand jury issued the indictments and they and their attorney spoke to the press outside the courthouse.
“Every single human being that was in front of my house was a criminal trespasser,” McCloskey said. “They broke down our gate. They trespassed on our property. Not a single one of those people is now charged with anything. We’re charged with felonies that could cost us four years of our lives and our law licenses.”
Here’s Mark McCloskey’s brief statement from this morning. As you’ll see, he was specifically asked about the issue with the non-functioning gun which was reassembled and declared functional. “If that doesn’t frighten all of you, that the government is willing to do that just to take a political advantage of this case,” he said. I guess we’ll have to wait a bit longer to see why the grand jury turned this particular claim around on the McCloskeys.


hotair--2020-10-06--Cuban-Americans in Florida send a strong signal of support to President Trump

The 2020 Florida International University ( FIU ) Cuba Poll results were released this week and they provide some encouraging data for President Trump in a hotly contested swing state .
Now in its 20th year , the FIU Cuba Poll measures the opinions of Cuban-American citizens living ( and voting ) in Florida , where they are a key demographic .
Contrary to much of what you ’ ll hear from the mainstream media , Floridian Cuban-Americans have maintained a solid level of support for President Trump across a variety of issues and a majority of them still plan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ election .
( CBS Miami ) A majority of Cuban Americans support President Donald Trump and plan to vote for him in November , according to the latest FIU Cuba Poll .
They gave Trump high marks on his handling of key national issues such as the COVID-19 crisis , immigration , health care , Cuba policy , China policy , and the economy , and mixed but still supportive reviews on his handling of race relations and national protests The Cuba Poll , which is the longest-running research project measuring Cuban American @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for isolationist policies and for the U.S. embargo on Cuba .
The results of the poll seem fairly unambiguous .
Trump receives high marks from Cuban-Americans in Florida on all of the measured key national issues .
His handling of American policy toward Cuba and the Castro regime are similarly regarded favorably .
That ’ s not a subject that has received much media attention since the transition to the Trump administration and the onset of the pandemic , but it ’ s still clearly of interest to the Cuban-American community .
This @ @ @ @ @ @ @ percent of Cuban Americans in Florida support Trump ’ s policies .
That ’ s the highest level of support registered since 2007 .
The highest levels of opposition were ( unsurprisingly ) found among the youngest Cuban-Americans and those who are registered Democrats .
But those groups were not nearly numerous enough to overcome the total sample in the survey .
Guillermo Grenier was the principal investigator of the survey and his observations should give Democrats reason to pause in their continued support for the Cuban regime .
He ’ s quoted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to give antagonism a chance.
” In this case , “ antagonism ” refers to a continued policy of isolation for the Cuban regime as opposed to expanding the economic opportunities offered to them by the Obama administration .
All categories of respondents expressed overwhelming support for regime change in Cuba and American support and diplomatic pressure toward that goal .
That comes in stark contrast to the policies of the previous administration , where economic engagement in Cuba was seen as a path toward the “ enlightenment ” of its government .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ consider such questions when we look at what ’ s been going on in China .
For a very long time , American policy has been seemingly based on the idea that if we just welcomed China into the fold of international trade and showed them how they would benefit from capitalism , a shift toward democracy would follow .
The actions of the CCP in recent years have shown us the folly of that theory .
The same should probably apply to Cuba .
No amount of capitalist activity or wealth will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dominance and the hunger for power demonstrated by the communist party .
Will that lesson carry over ?
It ’ s hard to say .
But the Cuban-American community in Florida remains influential , and they clearly like what ’ s being served up by the Trump administration better than what Joe Biden and the Democrats are offering .

The 2020 Florida International University (FIU) Cuba Poll results were released this week and they provide some encouraging data for President Trump in a hotly contested swing state. Now in its 20th year, the FIU Cuba Poll measures the opinions of Cuban-American citizens living (and voting) in Florida, where they are a key demographic. Contrary to much of what you’ll hear from the mainstream media, Floridian Cuban-Americans have maintained a solid level of support for President Trump across a variety of issues and a majority of them still plan to support the President in the upcoming election. (CBS Miami)
A majority of Cuban Americans support President Donald Trump and plan to vote for him in November, according to the latest FIU Cuba Poll. They gave Trump high marks on his handling of key national issues such as the COVID-19 crisis, immigration, health care, Cuba policy, China policy, and the economy, and mixed but still supportive reviews on his handling of race relations and national protests The Cuba Poll, which is the longest-running research project measuring Cuban American public opinion, also found increased support for isolationist policies and for the U.S. embargo on Cuba.
The results of the poll seem fairly unambiguous. Trump receives high marks from Cuban-Americans in Florida on all of the measured key national issues. His handling of American policy toward Cuba and the Castro regime are similarly regarded favorably. That’s not a subject that has received much media attention since the transition to the Trump administration and the onset of the pandemic, but it’s still clearly of interest to the Cuban-American community.
This edition of the poll found that 60 percent of Cuban Americans in Florida support Trump’s policies. That’s the highest level of support registered since 2007. The highest levels of opposition were (unsurprisingly) found among the youngest Cuban-Americans and those who are registered Democrats. But those groups were not nearly numerous enough to overcome the total sample in the survey.
Guillermo Grenier was the principal investigator of the survey and his observations should give Democrats reason to pause in their continued support for the Cuban regime. He’s quoted as saying “There is strong support to give antagonism a chance.” In this case, “antagonism” refers to a continued policy of isolation for the Cuban regime as opposed to expanding the economic opportunities offered to them by the Obama administration.
All categories of respondents expressed overwhelming support for regime change in Cuba and American support and diplomatic pressure toward that goal. That comes in stark contrast to the policies of the previous administration, where economic engagement in Cuba was seen as a path toward the “enlightenment” of its government. 2020 is a particularly appropriate year to consider such questions when we look at what’s been going on in China. For a very long time, American policy has been seemingly based on the idea that if we just welcomed China into the fold of international trade and showed them how they would benefit from capitalism, a shift toward democracy would follow. The actions of the CCP in recent years have shown us the folly of that theory.
The same should probably apply to Cuba. No amount of capitalist activity or wealth will shift the old guard away from socialist dominance and the hunger for power demonstrated by the communist party. Will that lesson carry over? It’s hard to say. But the Cuban-American community in Florida remains influential, and they clearly like what’s being served up by the Trump administration better than what Joe Biden and the Democrats are offering.


hotair--2020-10-06--Trump doctor: He's doing extremely well and reports no symptoms

Doctors on Twitter are grumbling that Sean Conley ’ s been slippery before about Trump ’ s condition and that he ’ s notably terse in this new memo .
Nothing about the president ’ s lungs , nothing about supplemental oxygen , nothing about the drugs he ’ s taking .
Depending upon how suspicious you are , you might read extra meaning into the word “ reports ” too .
That suggests Conley is deferring to Trump ’ s account of what he ’ s experiencing instead of describing what he ’ s observing independently .
But there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is improving .
For one thing , he sounds like his old self : He ’ s also participating in stimulus discussions and reportedly eager to get back to the West Wing : If he really does seem back to normal before Thursday , just one week removed from his diagnosis , public interest in that experimental Regeneron treatment he received will be intense .
That ’ s the one drug Trump has been given that isn ’ t available to anyone else ( yet ) .
It ’ s not supposed to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the body with a flood of antibodies while the immune system is still busy producing its own .
But there ’ ll be a clamor for it if the president went from testing positive on day one and being hospitalized with dropping blood-oxygen on day two to returning home on day four and working on day five .
Which reminds me : Why hasn ’ t Trump received either of the two medications he ’ s invested so much rhetorical energy in over the past six months ?
Neither hydroxychloroquine nor convalescent plasma @ @ @ @ @ @ @ though his doctors haven ’ t been stingy about trying unproven drugs on him .
The Regeneron cocktail is the most notable example but Trump reportedly has also taken famotidine , the active ingredient in Pepcid .
There are indications that that might work to produce better outcomes in COVID patients , although nothing solid yet has come from any clinical trial .
If his physicians are willing to kitchen-sink his treatment by including famotidine , why not toss plasma and hydroxychloroquine into the mix too ?
I ’ m sure Trump asked @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hydroxy boosters are pissed off that he hasn ’ t been given the medication : Granted , hydroxychloroquine hasn ’ t proven effective in any randomized clinical trial .
Same goes for plasma : You could understand excluding both if his doctors were being sticklers about giving him only those medicines that have cleared the bar of clinical efficacy .
But they aren ’ t .
They were willing to try Regeneron ’ s drug and Pepcid on him in addition to proven meds like dexamethasone .
Do they have reason to believe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with one of the other medications they ’ ve given him ?
If not , why withhold those meds from him ?
My best guess at an explanation is that they realize that any drug the president is given will capture the public ’ s imagination if he recovers from the disease , especially if he recovers quickly .
Knowing that , they ’ re okay with giving him famotidine because that ’ s widely available over the counter and can ’ t do much harm .
They ’ re also okay with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that ’ s *not* widely available .
Even most doctors can ’ t get their hands on it yet .
But they might be worried that adding hydroxychloroquine to the mix of what will likely prove to be a successful course of treatment will only end up kickstarting another HCQ craze among Americans despite the fact that there ’ s no way to tell if that drug or any other Trump may have received has done anything for him .
That is , maybe Conley and the rest of the team considered that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is small and the damaging effects from a national shortage if everyone were suddenly demanding the drug from their doctors would be large .
( E.g.
, lupus patients who need it could find the drug scarce . )
So they decided not to give HCQ any more unwarranted free press .
I still don ’ t understand why he didn ’ t get plasma , though , as that ’ s not widely available either .
There shouldn ’ t be any fear of a national “ run ” on it leading @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump .
All I can think is that maybe plasma was deemed an inferior alternative to the Regeneron treatment .
If Trump ’ s already getting antibodies from that cocktail , he logically wouldn ’ t need more from someone else ’ s plasma .
Anyway .
The good news about his condition today is balanced by bad news elsewhere .
Just because he ’ s ( hopefully ) past the worst of it doesn ’ t mean the people around him are .
The outbreak inside the White House remains ongoing : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Coast Guard commandant thinks he got the virus .
Was it from McCarron ?
Was it from Trump ?
Someone else ?
Hmmm : September 27 was one day after the suspected superspreader event at the White House announcing Amy Coney Barrett ’ s nomination .
The commandant was in the building .
I ’ ll leave you with this clip from yesterday of Sanjay Gupta making an overlooked point about Trump ’ s treatment .
Because the Regeneron cocktail isn ’ t publicly available right now and because Trump is on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and dexamethasone , it may be that no one else in the world has gotten the combination of meds he ’ s getting .
What side effects that combination might induce may be completely unknown to science .
Cross your fingers and hope for the best .

Very good news, if true:
The president's doctor has released a new update, which says Trump has "no symptoms" but also offers fewer specifics than yesterday, doesn't say whether he's received his fifth and final dose of remdesivir and hints at ongoing concern with oxygen levels. pic.twitter.com/erkDmCQb4O — Josh Wingrove (@josh_wingrove) October 6, 2020
Doctors on Twitter are grumbling that Sean Conley’s been slippery before about Trump’s condition and that he’s notably terse in this new memo. Nothing about the president’s lungs, nothing about supplemental oxygen, nothing about the drugs he’s taking. Depending upon how suspicious you are, you might read extra meaning into the word “reports” too. That suggests Conley is deferring to Trump’s account of what he’s experiencing instead of describing what he’s observing independently.
But there’s circumstantial evidence that Trump really is improving. For one thing, he sounds like his old self:
https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1313529166265020417
He’s also participating in stimulus discussions and reportedly eager to get back to the West Wing:
🚨NEWS from me and @BresPolitico: @realDonaldTrump just held a call with @stevenmnuchin1, @GOPLeader and @senatemajldr on Covid relief talks. Lots of skepticism in the GOP ranks about the shape of a package under discussion with Pelosi and whether a deal is possible. — Jake Sherman (@JakeSherman) October 6, 2020
LATEST: Trump this morning wanted to go to the Oval today. It triggered a discussion among aides. He's still in the residence right now. per sources to @SalehaMohsin @josh_wingrove and me — Jennifer Jacobs (@JenniferJJacobs) October 6, 2020
If he really does seem back to normal before Thursday, just one week removed from his diagnosis, public interest in that experimental Regeneron treatment he received will be intense. That’s the one drug Trump has been given that isn’t available to anyone else (yet). It’s not supposed to be a miracle cure; it supplies the body with a flood of antibodies while the immune system is still busy producing its own. But there’ll be a clamor for it if the president went from testing positive on day one and being hospitalized with dropping blood-oxygen on day two to returning home on day four and working on day five.
Which reminds me: Why hasn’t Trump received either of the two medications he’s invested so much rhetorical energy in over the past six months? Neither hydroxychloroquine nor convalescent plasma have been part of his regimen even though his doctors haven’t been stingy about trying unproven drugs on him. The Regeneron cocktail is the most notable example but Trump reportedly has also taken famotidine, the active ingredient in Pepcid. There are indications that that might work to produce better outcomes in COVID patients, although nothing solid yet has come from any clinical trial. If his physicians are willing to kitchen-sink his treatment by including famotidine, why not toss plasma and hydroxychloroquine into the mix too? I’m sure Trump asked for both.
Some MAGA fans and/or hydroxy boosters are pissed off that he hasn’t been given the medication:
Whoever told the president to stop taking HCQ should be punched in the face. This did not have to happened. I am so upset. This is our president for crying out loud. No one need to get sick or pcr positive. #HCQ4prevention — Stella Immanuel MD (@stella_immanuel) October 2, 2020
More examples:
On Monday, the talk show host and “PragerU” founder Dennis Prager blamed the “communists running medicine” for suppressing discussion about hydroxychloroquine, but questioned why it hadn’t come up in Trump’s treatment plan… The fringe website LifeSiteNews took things a step further, with co-founder and hydroxychloroquine evangelist Steve Jalsevac urging readers to literally “contact the White House to ask why the president and Melania are not immediately being given this well-proven-in-practice medication protocol for COVID infection.”
Granted, hydroxychloroquine hasn’t proven effective in any randomized clinical trial. Same goes for plasma:
Remember convalescent plasma? That “miracle” treatment that The White House all but forced that weakling @SteveFDA to authorize in August? Notice that Trump has not received it? 🤔 — Jeremy Faust MD MS (ER physician) (@jeremyfaust) October 6, 2020
You could understand excluding both if his doctors were being sticklers about giving him only those medicines that have cleared the bar of clinical efficacy. But they aren’t. They were willing to try Regeneron’s drug and Pepcid on him in addition to proven meds like dexamethasone. Do they have reason to believe that hydroxychloroquine or plasma might mix badly with one of the other medications they’ve given him? If not, why withhold those meds from him?
My best guess at an explanation is that they realize that any drug the president is given will capture the public’s imagination if he recovers from the disease, especially if he recovers quickly. Knowing that, they’re okay with giving him famotidine because that’s widely available over the counter and can’t do much harm. They’re also okay with giving him Regeneron’s drug because that’s *not* widely available. Even most doctors can’t get their hands on it yet. But they might be worried that adding hydroxychloroquine to the mix of what will likely prove to be a successful course of treatment will only end up kickstarting another HCQ craze among Americans despite the fact that there’s no way to tell if that drug or any other Trump may have received has done anything for him. That is, maybe Conley and the rest of the team considered that the evidence of hydroxychloroquine’s efficacy is small and the damaging effects from a national shortage if everyone were suddenly demanding the drug from their doctors would be large. (E.g., lupus patients who need it could find the drug scarce.) So they decided not to give HCQ any more unwarranted free press.
I still don’t understand why he didn’t get plasma, though, as that’s not widely available either. There shouldn’t be any fear of a national “run” on it leading to shortages if it were administered to Trump. All I can think is that maybe plasma was deemed an inferior alternative to the Regeneron treatment. If Trump’s already getting antibodies from that cocktail, he logically wouldn’t need more from someone else’s plasma.
Anyway. The good news about his condition today is balanced by bad news elsewhere. Just because he’s (hopefully) past the worst of it doesn’t mean the people around him are. The outbreak inside the White House remains ongoing:
NEWS: One of the president's military aides, Coast Guard aide Jayna McCarron, has coronavirus, sources tell me. And so does one of the president's valets, who is also active duty military, and traveled with the president last week. — Jennifer Jacobs (@JenniferJJacobs) October 6, 2020
The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Mark Milley, and all the members of the Joint Chiefs except for @CMC_MarineCorps are now self-quarantining after the Vice Commandant of the Coast Guard tested positive for coronavirus, US defense officials tell @barbarastarrcnn https://t.co/TZ2ClbldI0 — Ryan Browne (@rabrowne75) October 6, 2020
I’m curious to know how the Coast Guard commandant thinks he got the virus. Was it from McCarron? Was it from Trump? Someone else? Hmmm:
Admiral Ray attended a Gold Star Mothers event at the White House on Sunday, September 27, a USCG spokesperson confirmed to CNN. Milley was also there. Ray was at the Pentagon on Friday, October 2, the USCG spokesperson said. — Zachary Cohen (@ZcohenCNN) October 6, 2020
September 27 was one day after the suspected superspreader event at the White House announcing Amy Coney Barrett’s nomination. The commandant was in the building.
I’ll leave you with this clip from yesterday of Sanjay Gupta making an overlooked point about Trump’s treatment. Because the Regeneron cocktail isn’t publicly available right now and because Trump is on so many other medications, including remdesivir and dexamethasone, it may be that no one else in the world has gotten the combination of meds he’s getting. What side effects that combination might induce may be completely unknown to science. Cross your fingers and hope for the best.


hotair--2020-10-06--Eddie Van Halen dies from cancer at 65 (Update: Rock stars react to the news)

Today , Eddie Van Halen ’ s son announced on Twitter that the guitarist had passed away after a long battle with cancer .
As a father , I have to think that having a son who knew you and loved you that much has to be worth as much as any praise or adulation the rest of the world could possibly offer .
If he had achieved nothing else in his life he ’ d have died a rich man .
But obviously he was also loved by a lot of people around the world and has been for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has a run down of how he made his way into the business : The family emigrated to America when Eddie was eight and settled in Pasadena , California .
An infatuation with the Dave Clark Five caused Eddie to take up the drums , while Alex tried his hands at guitar .
One fateful day , frustrated that he couldn ’ t nail the Surfaris ’ “ Wipe Out ” on the drums , Eddie swapped instruments with Alex and the change stuck .
The duo formed a series of bands in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Broken Combs , the Trjoban Rubber Co and Genesis , but never got significant traction until they came across the charismatic son of a wealthy doctor named David Lee Roth .
“ Roth was the only guy who had a PA , ” Eddie said .
“ We were renting his PA every weekend for $ 35 and getting $ 50 for the gigs .
So it was cheaper to get him in the band.
” With Roth at the helm , Van Halen — which also featured Michael Anthony on bass — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the Pasadena rock circuit , playing backyard parties , strip clubs and wherever else they could find .
Their repertoire consisted largely of covers , but they slowly began to assemble a collection of original tunes like “ Runnin ’ With the Devil ” and “ Somebody Get me a Doctor.
” Kiss frontman Gene Simmons recorded a demo with them and tried to land them a deal , but they wouldn ’ t sign anything until Mo Ostin of Warner Bros. caught one of their gigs and gave them a record @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , recorded when Eddie was 22-years-old , was a breakout hit and they wound up opening for major bands like Aerosmith .
But as the band continued to sell albums the relationship between Van Halen and Roth deteriorated : When it came time to record a follow-up to Diver Down , Eddie insisted they record “ Jump ” and incorporate synthesizers into other tracks .
The result was the smash 1984 turned that them into MTV superstars as videos for “ Jump , ” “ Panama ” and “ Hot For Teacher ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ began selling by the millions , reaching Number 2 on the Billboard 200 .
The tour took them all over the world , but Eddie and Roth were barely speaking offstage .
When the tour ended , Roth left the group and began working on a solo album .
“ I cried , ” Eddie told Rolling Stone , “ then I called my brother and told him the motherfucker quit .
I felt like I ’ d put up with this guy ’ s shit for all these years just for him @ @ @ @ @ @ @ replacement for Roth in Sammy Hagar and went on to have another string of hits and successful tours into the 90s .
A third attempt to recreate the band with singer Gary Cherone wasn ’ t successful and by the time Van Halen with Sammy Hagar reformed in the early 2000s , Eddie was struggling with alcoholism : I was in elementary school in Virginia when the first Van Halen album came out and even then I remember it making an impact on kids who started drawing the band ’ s logo on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ albums that first album is one that I bought .
I was never a super-fan , never saw them play live with either Roth or Hagar but for most of my life it felt like Van Halen was always present , either on the radio or blaring out of dorm rooms .
They weren ’ t generic but they were universal in the way that only a handful of bands ever seem to be .
Even people who didn ’ t like the style of the music or the rock star theatrics surrounding @ @ @ @ @ @ @ good tunes and of course that Eddie was an amazing talent .
Not long ago I happened to watch an interview with Eddie Van Halen .
It was a fairly small room with maybe 200-300 or so guests , most of who seemed to be longtime fans .
There was a Q & A where one guy said for 35 years he ’ d thought about what he ’ d say to Eddie if he ever got the chance .
“ I just want to say thank you , man , from the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
That struck me as a pretty good approach .
Rest in peace Eddie Van Halen and thanks for sharing your talent and music with a whole generation of people .
This is the interview , from 2017 : Update : Lots of rock stars reacting to the news .
Update : Lots of people pointing out that one of Eddie ’ s most famous solos didn ’ t appear on a Van Halen album : When Van Halen arrived at the studio in Los Angeles , [ Quincy ] Jones told @ @ @ @ @ @ @ listened to “ Beat It , ” asked if he could rearrange the song and added a pair of solos during which , engineers would long swear , a speaker caught on fire… After the record ’ s release , Van Halen would remember shopping in a Tower Records while “ Beat It ” was playing on the sound system .
“ The solo comes on , and I hear these kids in front of me going , ‘ Listen to this guy trying to sound like Eddie Van Halen , ’ ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the shoulder and said , ‘ That IS me !
’ That was hilarious.
” He added the solo to one of the best selling singles in history for free : Update : Quite a few guitar players reacting to the news :

Today, Eddie Van Halen’s son announced on Twitter that the guitarist had passed away after a long battle with cancer.
As a father, I have to think that having a son who knew you and loved you that much has to be worth as much as any praise or adulation the rest of the world could possibly offer. If he had achieved nothing else in his life he’d have died a rich man. But obviously he was also loved by a lot of people around the world and has been for more than 40 years. Rolling Stone has a run down of how he made his way into the business:
The family emigrated to America when Eddie was eight and settled in Pasadena, California. An infatuation with the Dave Clark Five caused Eddie to take up the drums, while Alex tried his hands at guitar. One fateful day, frustrated that he couldn’t nail the Surfaris’ “Wipe Out” on the drums, Eddie swapped instruments with Alex and the change stuck. The duo formed a series of bands in the early 1970s with names like the Broken Combs, the Trjoban Rubber Co and Genesis, but never got significant traction until they came across the charismatic son of a wealthy doctor named David Lee Roth. “Roth was the only guy who had a PA,” Eddie said. “We were renting his PA every weekend for $35 and getting $50 for the gigs. So it was cheaper to get him in the band.” With Roth at the helm, Van Halen — which also featured Michael Anthony on bass — became one of the most popular groups on the Pasadena rock circuit, playing backyard parties, strip clubs and wherever else they could find. Their repertoire consisted largely of covers, but they slowly began to assemble a collection of original tunes like “Runnin’ With the Devil” and “Somebody Get me a Doctor.” Kiss frontman Gene Simmons recorded a demo with them and tried to land them a deal, but they wouldn’t sign anything until Mo Ostin of Warner Bros. caught one of their gigs and gave them a record contact in 1977.
There first album, recorded when Eddie was 22-years-old, was a breakout hit and they wound up opening for major bands like Aerosmith. But as the band continued to sell albums the relationship between Van Halen and Roth deteriorated:
When it came time to record a follow-up to Diver Down, Eddie insisted they record “Jump” and incorporate synthesizers into other tracks. The result was the smash 1984 turned that them into MTV superstars as videos for “Jump,” “Panama” and “Hot For Teacher” went into heavy rotation and the album began selling by the millions, reaching Number 2 on the Billboard 200. The tour took them all over the world, but Eddie and Roth were barely speaking offstage. When the tour ended, Roth left the group and began working on a solo album. “I cried,” Eddie told Rolling Stone, “then I called my brother and told him the motherfucker quit. I felt like I’d put up with this guy’s shit for all these years just for him to walk.”
The band found a replacement for Roth in Sammy Hagar and went on to have another string of hits and successful tours into the 90s. A third attempt to recreate the band with singer Gary Cherone wasn’t successful and by the time Van Halen with Sammy Hagar reformed in the early 2000s, Eddie was struggling with alcoholism:
The tour was marred by sloppy performances and bad reviews. A little over a year after it wrapped, Valerie Bertinelli, filed for divorce. When the group was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2007, Eddie didn’t make the ceremony, reportedly because he was in rehab.
I was in elementary school in Virginia when the first Van Halen album came out and even then I remember it making an impact on kids who started drawing the band’s logo on their notebooks. When I started buying albums that first album is one that I bought. I was never a super-fan, never saw them play live with either Roth or Hagar but for most of my life it felt like Van Halen was always present, either on the radio or blaring out of dorm rooms. They weren’t generic but they were universal in the way that only a handful of bands ever seem to be. Even people who didn’t like the style of the music or the rock star theatrics surrounding the band could admit they had some good tunes and of course that Eddie was an amazing talent.
Not long ago I happened to watch an interview with Eddie Van Halen. It was a fairly small room with maybe 200-300 or so guests, most of who seemed to be longtime fans. There was a Q&A where one guy said for 35 years he’d thought about what he’d say to Eddie if he ever got the chance. “I just want to say thank you, man, from the bottom of my heart,” he said. That struck me as a pretty good approach. Rest in peace Eddie Van Halen and thanks for sharing your talent and music with a whole generation of people.
This is the interview, from 2017:
Update: Lots of rock stars reacting to the news.
I’m just devastated to hear the news of the passing of my dear friend Eddie Van Halen. He fought a long and hard battle with his cancer right to the very end. Eddie was one of a very special kind of person, a really great friend. Rest In Peace my dear friend till we meet again. pic.twitter.com/Qs8tsLPANJ — Tony Iommi (@tonyiommi) October 6, 2020
Just when I thought 2020 couldn't get any worse, I hear Eddie Van Halen has passed. So shocking- One of the nicest, down to Earth men I have ever met and toured with. A true gent and true genius. RIP. So sad.Thoughts go out to his brother Alex, and his family. pic.twitter.com/fwIw040YMX — Geezer Butler (@geezerbutler) October 6, 2020
Legendary guitar and musical innovator Edward Van Halen. 1955-2020. Heaven will be electric tonight. pic.twitter.com/hdLd7atI74 — Lenny Kravitz (@LennyKravitz) October 6, 2020
Crushed. So fucking crushed. RIP Eddie Van Halen. You changed our world. You were the Mozart of rock guitar. Travel safe rockstar. — 📷 (@NikkiSixx) October 6, 2020
My heart is broken. Eddie was not only a Guitar God, but a genuinely beautiful soul. Rest in peace, Eddie! …Eddie Van Halen Dead at 65 from Cancer https://t.co/gITtcndQVv — Gene Simmons (@genesimmons) October 6, 2020
Oh NO! Speechless. A trailblazer and someone who always gave everything to his music. A good soul. I remember first seeing him playing at the Starwood in 1976 and he WAS Eddie Van Halen. So shocked and sad. My condolences to Wolfie and the family. https://t.co/ExAWzFAEYJ — Paul Stanley (@PaulStanleyLive) October 6, 2020
I just heard about Eddie Van Halen and I feel terrible about it. Eddie was such a great guitarist and I remember how big Van Halen was, especially here in L.A. Love and Mercy to Eddie’s family & friends. pic.twitter.com/PY8fyrx1Lu — Brian Wilson (@BrianWilsonLive) October 6, 2020
https://t.co/QjAj45KED8 Apex talent. An unparalleled titan in the annals of rock n roll. One of the greatest musicians in the history of mankind. Rest In Peace, King Edward — Tom Morello (@tmorello) October 6, 2020
Sad to hear Eddie Van Halen has passed away. A guitar innovator with a fierce spirit of musical and technical exploration. Prayers and thoughts with his family and friends. pic.twitter.com/TI4ipeIXbR — Yusuf / Cat Stevens (@YusufCatStevens) October 6, 2020
Heartbroken and speechless. My love to the family. pic.twitter.com/MQMueMF2XO — Sammy Hagar (@sammyhagar) October 6, 2020
Update: Lots of people pointing out that one of Eddie’s most famous solos didn’t appear on a Van Halen album:
When Van Halen arrived at the studio in Los Angeles, [Quincy] Jones told him he could improvise. Van Halen listened to “Beat It,” asked if he could rearrange the song and added a pair of solos during which, engineers would long swear, a speaker caught on fire… After the record’s release, Van Halen would remember shopping in a Tower Records while “Beat It” was playing on the sound system. “The solo comes on, and I hear these kids in front of me going, ‘Listen to this guy trying to sound like Eddie Van Halen,’” he said. “I tapped him on the shoulder and said, ‘That IS me!’ That was hilarious.”
He added the solo to one of the best selling singles in history for free:
Update: Quite a few guitar players reacting to the news:
Feeling deep sadness and overwhelming appreciation.
The appreciation and love for him is bigger though.
Let’s take a minute and try to imagine our world if he never showed up.
It’s unthinkable.
Thank you King Edward. You are deeply loved and will be missed. pic.twitter.com/H1mS4sYZIo — Steve Vai (@stevevai) October 6, 2020
Just heard the devastating news…
One of the absolute giants is gone. He influenced and inspired an entire generation, including myself.
His legacy will always remain.
RIP Edward #eddievanhalen — Yngwie Malmsteen (@OfficialYJM) October 6, 2020
No Words.
Edward Van Halen
Rest In Power & Peace
🎸 🖤 🌹 — Vernon Reid (@vurnt22) October 6, 2020
Oh man, I just heard about Eddie. Fucking hell. I hope Wolfgang and Alex and the rest of his family are doing OK. The greatest of all time has left the building. RIP EVH. — Scott Ian (@Scott_Ian) October 6, 2020
https://www.instagram.com/p/CGBK9s8hwWF/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
https://www.instagram.com/p/CGBD2SnnJof/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link
https://www.instagram.com/p/CGBJ0JJASoS/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link


hotair--2020-10-06--Kim Jong-un is alive and announcing a new "campaign"

For some reason , we keep circling back to one series of questions when it comes to North Korea .
Is their diminutive dictator Kim Jong-un alive or dead ?
Is he in control , or is his sister , Kim Yo-Jong in charge of the country now ?
What ’ s going on ?
This week we may have gotten at least a hint of the answers to those questions .
Kim has gone public with an announcement of a new campaign to boost the North Korean economy in advance of their next ruling party congress in January where @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nation ’ s next five-year plan .
Prior to that , there will be a military parade where Kim is expected to feature their latest military technology , including advanced ICBMs capable of carrying out strikes all the way across the Pacific .
But is this really Kim doing the talking ?
It ’ s still hard to say .
( NY Post ) Ahead of a military parade in which he may unveil his latest weaponry , North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has ordered an 80-day national campaign to boost the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at a politburo meeting of the ruling Workers ’ Party on Monday amid a tough year for the Hermit Kingdom as the COVID-19 pandemic puts more pressure on an economy battered by recent storms .
“ We have performed historical feats with our costly efforts , boldly overcoming unprecedentedly grave trials and difficulties this year , but we should not rest on our laurels , ” he said , according to the Korean Central News Agency .
As usual , we ’ re seeing a parade of lies from the chubby tyrant in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( assuming he actually made them ) imply that he still has the novel coronavirus pandemic well under control .
This claim has been repeated by the regime constantly despite scattered reports from Asian media indicating that thousands of their own soldiers have died of the virus and a much larger number have been quarantined .
How many civilians in the vast majority of the nation that has no electricity or media access that have died remains unknown .
It ’ s not as if the country doesn ’ t have the cash @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Kim has continually poured the country ’ s limited assets into continuing to expand its nuclear capabilities and more and more advanced intercontinental delivery systems .
And it ’ s obviously not cheap to keep all of the nation ’ s dissidents in concentration camps where they are worked to death , Despite all of this , the state media continues to assert that Kim is looking for a peaceful resolution of disputes with the western world .
So is it possible that Kim ’ s health is relatively stable and all of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Kim Yo-Jong for a transition to power were just a feint ?
Who can say ?
But the upcoming military parade may give us some additional answers .
In the past , Kim has shown up for all of these parades , eager to be seen on state media broadcasts as a power-player on the international stage , cowing the west with his formidable military hardware .
If he doesn ’ t show up and his sister somehow poses for the photo ops , something is definitely amiss in the hermit kingdom .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ reasonably healthy , there are two possibilities to consider .
One is that he actually did suffer a serious medical emergency , but has come out the other side of it with a decent prognosis .
The other is that he engineered all of this to throw international intelligence agencies off the trail to disguise his location and activities .
Given our history with Kim , would either of them be much of a surprise ?
But one thing seems certain .
Kim Jong-un was never dealing from the top of the deck @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shouldn ’ t waste much more time or effort into getting some sort of comprehensive peace agreement with him .
The tyrant of North Korea is a madman and he simply can ’ t be trusted .

For some reason, we keep circling back to one series of questions when it comes to North Korea. Is their diminutive dictator Kim Jong-un alive or dead? Is he in control, or is his sister, Kim Yo-Jong in charge of the country now? What’s going on?
This week we may have gotten at least a hint of the answers to those questions. Kim has gone public with an announcement of a new campaign to boost the North Korean economy in advance of their next ruling party congress in January where they are expected to roll out the nation’s next five-year plan. Prior to that, there will be a military parade where Kim is expected to feature their latest military technology, including advanced ICBMs capable of carrying out strikes all the way across the Pacific. But is this really Kim doing the talking? It’s still hard to say. (NY Post)
Ahead of a military parade in which he may unveil his latest weaponry, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has ordered an 80-day national campaign to boost the ailing economy. Kim made his demand at a politburo meeting of the ruling Workers’ Party on Monday amid a tough year for the Hermit Kingdom as the COVID-19 pandemic puts more pressure on an economy battered by recent storms. “We have performed historical feats with our costly efforts, boldly overcoming unprecedentedly grave trials and difficulties this year, but we should not rest on our laurels,” he said, according to the Korean Central News Agency.
As usual, we’re seeing a parade of lies from the chubby tyrant in advance of the celebrations. His statements (assuming he actually made them) imply that he still has the novel coronavirus pandemic well under control. This claim has been repeated by the regime constantly despite scattered reports from Asian media indicating that thousands of their own soldiers have died of the virus and a much larger number have been quarantined. How many civilians in the vast majority of the nation that has no electricity or media access that have died remains unknown.
It’s not as if the country doesn’t have the cash to spend and resources to invest. Kim has continually poured the country’s limited assets into continuing to expand its nuclear capabilities and more and more advanced intercontinental delivery systems. And it’s obviously not cheap to keep all of the nation’s dissidents in concentration camps where they are worked to death, Despite all of this, the state media continues to assert that Kim is looking for a peaceful resolution of disputes with the western world.
So is it possible that Kim’s health is relatively stable and all of the rumors about his plans to prepare Kim Yo-Jong for a transition to power were just a feint? Who can say? But the upcoming military parade may give us some additional answers. In the past, Kim has shown up for all of these parades, eager to be seen on state media broadcasts as a power-player on the international stage, cowing the west with his formidable military hardware. If he doesn’t show up and his sister somehow poses for the photo ops, something is definitely amiss in the hermit kingdom.
But if Kim is there and looks reasonably healthy, there are two possibilities to consider. One is that he actually did suffer a serious medical emergency, but has come out the other side of it with a decent prognosis. The other is that he engineered all of this to throw international intelligence agencies off the trail to disguise his location and activities. Given our history with Kim, would either of them be much of a surprise? But one thing seems certain. Kim Jong-un was never dealing from the top of the deck with President Donald Trump and we likely shouldn’t waste much more time or effort into getting some sort of comprehensive peace agreement with him. The tyrant of North Korea is a madman and he simply can’t be trusted.