hotair--2020-12-04--Chinese state media: Senator Marsha Blackburn is racist, ignorant and "a lifetime b**ch"

Why is a U.S .
Congressman aligning himself with a representative of Chinese state media against Senator Marsha Blackburn ?
China Daily ’ s EU Bureau chief , Chen Weihua , went off on Senator Blackburn after she tweeted out support of the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act .
Blackburn called out the Chinese government on social media and that didn ’ t sit well with Chen Weihua or with Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi , a Democrat from Illinois .
The Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act was passed with overwhelming bipartisan support , a vote of 406 – 3 .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Reps. Thomas Massie , Justin Amash , and Warren Davidson – two Republicans and one former Republican who is now an Independent .
The legislation is now in the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations .
This bill imposes various restrictions related to China ’ s Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous region , including prohibiting certain imports from Xinjiang and imposing sanctions on those responsible for human rights violations there .
The bill is simple enough .
It bans goods produced by slave labor from Xinjiang .
Specifically , this bill is a statement against the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Kyrgyz , and members of minority groups in Xinjiang .
There is a provision that requires the President to report to Congress with a list of “ foreign entities and individuals ” who use the slave labor and requires sanctions to be levied against them .
Goods manufactured or produced in Xinjiang shall not be entitled to entry into the United States unless Customs and Border Protection ( 1 ) determines that the goods were not manufactured by convict labor , forced labor , or indentured labor under penal sanctions ; and ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Congress and to the public .
The President shall periodically report to Congress a list of foreign entities and individuals knowingly facilitating ( 1 ) the forced labor of Uyghurs , Kazakhs , Kyrgyz , and members of other Muslim minority groups in Xinjiang ; and ( 2 ) efforts to contravene U.S. laws regarding the importation of forced labor goods from Xinjiang .
The President shall impose property-blocking sanctions on the listed individuals and entities and impose visa-blocking sanctions on the listed individuals .
Securities issuers required to file annual or quarterly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ disclose in such reports certain information related to Xinjiang , including instances where the issuer knowingly ( 1 ) engaged in activities with an entity helping to create mass surveillance systems in Xinjiang , ( 2 ) engaged in activities with an entity running or building detention facilities for Muslim minority groups in Xinjiang , or ( 3 ) conducted a transaction with any person sanctioned for the detention or abuse of Uyghurs or other Muslim minority groups in Xinjiang .
After being notified of such a disclosure , the President shall determine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ charges are warranted .
The Forced Labor Enforcement Task Force and the Department of State shall report to Congress strategies to address forced labor in Xinjiang .
Some American companies lobbied to water down the bill .
Why ?
Apparently , the reason is an unwillingness to rock the boat and risk losing money .
Not exactly a woke position , now is it ?
What ’ s a little genocide and slavery among the Communist Chinese as long as the bottom line flourishes , right ?
Now that the bill is in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a brutally honest fact about the Communist Chinese government , and not only did China Daily ’ s EU Bureau chief slam her for doing so , he decided to toss in some ugly words in doing so .
What did she say that isn ’ t true ?
Since there is no reasonable rebuttal to the statement , Chen Weihua went with some misogyny and cries of racism .
The responses were mixed because this is 2020 and Democrats are happy to drag a Republican , even if it means siding with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , which seems odd since he ’ s a member of the House Intelligence Committee and should know about China ’ s nefarious behavior towards the United States .
And , there ’ s a pandemic that China launched throughout the world .
A Chinese dissident in exile , cartoonist and artist Badiucao , posted a series of satirical ads on Twitter aimed at the American companies enabling the Chinese government by lobbying for softer legislation .
Badiucao was awarded the Vaclav Havel International Prize for Creative Dissent in September .
He is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
He lives in Australia and goes by a pseudonym .
He wants to raise awareness and educate consumers .
China ’ s embassy in the United States denied that it uses slavery .
It took the opportunity to slam the legislation .
“ Some US politicians have concocted disinformation of so-called ‘ forced labor ’ in order to restrict and oppress relevant parties and enterprises in China as well as contain China ’ s development , ” said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying .
“ The US practice violates the international @ @ @ @ @ @ @ destroys the global industrial chains and supply chains , and damages the interests of enterprises and consumers in various countries , including the United States , ” said the statement , which added that , “ All ethnic groups in Xinjiang choose their occupations according to their own will and sign “ labor contracts ” of their own volition in accordance with law on the basis of equality.
” Now the Senate needs to act on the legislation .
It ’ s a rare opportunity for bipartisan agreement on standing up to China @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bill carries over into the Biden administration , do we think Joe Biden will have the backbone to support the bill ?
The Obama-Biden administration was happy to allow China to go unchecked and Joe Biden enabled his son Hunter to secure a sweet deal with the Communist government .

Why is a U.S. Congressman aligning himself with a representative of Chinese state media against Senator Marsha Blackburn? China Daily’s EU Bureau chief, Chen Weihua, went off on Senator Blackburn after she tweeted out support of the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act. Blackburn called out the Chinese government on social media and that didn’t sit well with Chen Weihua or with Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi, a Democrat from Illinois.
The Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act was passed with overwhelming bipartisan support, a vote of 406 – 3. The three ‘nay’ votes were from Reps. Thomas Massie, Justin Amash, and Warren Davidson – two Republicans and one former Republican who is now an Independent. The legislation is now in the
Senate Committee on Foreign Relations.
This bill imposes various restrictions related to China’s Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous region, including prohibiting certain imports from Xinjiang and imposing sanctions on those responsible for human rights violations there. The bill is simple enough. It bans goods produced by slave labor from Xinjiang. Specifically, this bill is a statement against the forced labor of Uyghurs, Kazakhs, Kyrgyz, and members of minority groups in Xinjiang. There is a provision that requires the President to report to Congress with a list of “foreign entities and individuals” who use the slave labor and requires sanctions to be levied against them.
Goods manufactured or produced in Xinjiang shall not be entitled to entry into the United States unless Customs and Border Protection (1) determines that the goods were not manufactured by convict labor, forced labor, or indentured labor under penal sanctions; and (2) reports such a determination to Congress and to the public. The President shall periodically report to Congress a list of foreign entities and individuals knowingly facilitating (1) the forced labor of Uyghurs, Kazakhs, Kyrgyz, and members of other Muslim minority groups in Xinjiang; and (2) efforts to contravene U.S. laws regarding the importation of forced labor goods from Xinjiang. The President shall impose property-blocking sanctions on the listed individuals and entities and impose visa-blocking sanctions on the listed individuals. Securities issuers required to file annual or quarterly reports with the Securities Exchange Commission shall disclose in such reports certain information related to Xinjiang, including instances where the issuer knowingly (1) engaged in activities with an entity helping to create mass surveillance systems in Xinjiang, (2) engaged in activities with an entity running or building detention facilities for Muslim minority groups in Xinjiang, or (3) conducted a transaction with any person sanctioned for the detention or abuse of Uyghurs or other Muslim minority groups in Xinjiang. After being notified of such a disclosure, the President shall determine whether to investigate if sanctions or criminal charges are warranted. The Forced Labor Enforcement Task Force and the Department of State shall report to Congress strategies to address forced labor in Xinjiang.
Some American companies lobbied to water down the bill. Why? Apparently, the reason is an unwillingness to rock the boat and risk losing money. Not exactly a woke position, now is it? What’s a little genocide and slavery among the Communist Chinese as long as the bottom line flourishes, right?
Now that the bill is in the Senate, Senator Blackburn tweeted out a brutally honest fact about the Communist Chinese government, and not only did China Daily’s EU Bureau chief slam her for doing so, he decided to toss in some ugly words in doing so.
China has a 5,000 year history of cheating and stealing. Some things will never change… — Sen. Marsha Blackburn (@MarshaBlackburn) December 3, 2020
What did she say that isn’t true? Since there is no reasonable rebuttal to the statement, Chen Weihua went with some misogyny and cries of racism.
Bitch — Chen Weihua （陈卫华） (@chenweihua) December 3, 2020
This is the most racist and ignorant US Senator I have seen. A lifetime bitch. — Chen Weihua （陈卫华） (@chenweihua) December 3, 2020
Wonder why the US Congress would have approval rating as low as 9% (according to Gallup)? It is because people like lowlife Marsha Blackburn were there. — Chen Weihua （陈卫华） (@chenweihua) December 3, 2020
The responses were mixed because this is 2020 and Democrats are happy to drag a Republican, even if it means siding with Communist China.
The good:
You want to talk about lifetime bitches? Here's the ultimate. She's pictured alongside the mass murderer. pic.twitter.com/OZn0QVoDFT — Jack Fowler (@jackfowler) December 3, 2020
The bad:
https://twitter.com/MollyJongFast/status/1334581681685028864
@chenweihua On behalf of the sane people of the USA, I offer apologies. Nothing @MarshaBlackburn says contains any basic decency, leadership, or politeness. Please allow us to clean our own doorstep. Unfortunately, it will take a while. — Prosecute All Traitors Fan 🌈 (@bistokidsfan) December 3, 2020
We do apologize sir. Please don't let Marsha color what we are. Some of us are decent folk. Some of the rest really need their heads examined…or some really good drugs. Others, need a full frontal lobotomy. I think Marsha is one of those…except I think she already had one. — May'n Nome (@RGBodhaine) December 3, 2020
Congressman Krishnamoorthi chimed in, which seems odd since he’s a member of the House Intelligence Committee and should know about China’s nefarious behavior towards the United States. And, there’s a pandemic that China launched throughout the world.
At a time when anti-Asian hate crimes and bias are the worst we've witnessed in decades, the last thing we need is a United States Senator engaging in generalizations so racist and ignorant they sound like they could have been pulled from the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882. https://t.co/0dkv8PD3w6 — Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi (@CongressmanRaja) December 3, 2020
The actions of the government in Beijing must be addressed but wrongly and inaccurately conflating them with an entire civilization and its history does nothing but encourage prejudices we should have all already rejected long ago. — Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi (@CongressmanRaja) December 3, 2020
Blackburn issued a statement.
Blackburn responded, calling out the CCP’s own atrocities carried out for years on the Uyghur Muslims in East Turkistan, officially recognized as the northwest Xinjiang Province. “From Tiananmen Square to the Uyghur genocide, Communist China is an expert at slaughtering populations,” Blackburn said in a statement Thursday. “America will not bow down to sexist communist thugs.”
A Chinese dissident in exile, cartoonist and artist Badiucao, posted a series of satirical ads on Twitter aimed at the American companies enabling the Chinese government by lobbying for softer legislation. Badiucao was awarded the Vaclav Havel International Prize for Creative Dissent in September. He is targeting Nike, Apple, and Coca-Cola. He lives in Australia and goes by a pseudonym. He wants to raise awareness and educate consumers.
China’s embassy in the United States denied that it uses slavery. It took the opportunity to slam the legislation.
“Some US politicians have concocted disinformation of so-called ‘forced labor’ in order to restrict and oppress relevant parties and enterprises in China as well as contain China’s development,” said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying. “The US practice violates the international trade rules and market economy principles, destroys the global industrial chains and supply chains, and damages the interests of enterprises and consumers in various countries, including the United States,” said the statement, which added that, “All ethnic groups in Xinjiang choose their occupations according to their own will and sign “labor contracts” of their own volition in accordance with law on the basis of equality.”
Now the Senate needs to act on the legislation. It’s a rare opportunity for bipartisan agreement on standing up to China’s brutal regime. If the bill carries over into the Biden administration, do we think Joe Biden will have the backbone to support the bill? The Obama-Biden administration was happy to allow China to go unchecked and Joe Biden enabled his son Hunter to secure a sweet deal with the Communist government.


hotair--2020-12-04--CNBC hosts yell at each other over whether big-box stores are safer from COVID than restaurants

Some fine Friday palate-cleansing fare , perfectly indicative of the state of America ’ s COVID debate .
Representing the pro-restaurant side : Populist Rick Santelli , who ’ s spoiling for a fight and isn ’ t changing his mind no matter what arguments or evidence you throw at him .
Representing the anti-restaurant side : Liberal Andrew Ross Sorkin , who ’ s smug and self-assured in scolding Santelli on the science even though he does not , in fact , have any hard evidence to support his claims .
There are logical reasons to believe that a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ window-shopping at Best Buy , though .
For one : Right , that ’ s always been the theory to explain occasional superspreader events at church services or choir practices .
People are singing !
They ’ re using their lungs and vocal cords to project their voices and , in so doing , any particles that happen to be incubating in their throats at the time .
Talking quietly should be less of a risk but sustained conversation in close quarters during a meal that lasts an hour or more will obviously @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who ’ s infected .
Another , simpler distinction : In a big-box store , you don ’ t need to take your mask off to do what you came there to do .
In a restaurant , you do .
And another : In a big-box store , you ’ re in motion most of the time you ’ re there , walking the aisles and browsing the merchandise .
If there ’ s a concentration of viral particles in the air somewhere , odds are you ’ re not lingering in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ restaurant , you ’ re in one spot the entire time .
If you happen to be located near a little corona cloud , uh oh .
The science is thin on restaurants as vectors of transmission , but since COVID has only existed for a year or so , the science is thin in every particular of the disease .
There are studies that suggest a link , however , including this new one from Korea : There was study done at a restaurant in China all the way back in January @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Tufekci ’ s longer post about this , in which one person infected 10 other diners — and again , the direction of the air flow was key .
That doesn ’ t disprove Santelli ’ s point , of course .
It could be that you ’ re equally at risk of infection in Best Buy or Lowe ’ s notwithstanding all of the points made above , especially if someone on the premises happens to be infected and is “ upstream ” of you in the building ’ s ventilation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ take my chances at a big-box store or a restaurant , without question I ’ d choose the former .
Keep the mask on , keep the talking to a minimum , and keep moving .
Seems like a logical way to reduce the risk .
You ’ ll see at the end of the clip below that a third guy , Steve Liesman , jumps in to taunt Santelli by asking how his anti-lockdown approach is working out for him and the country right now .
“ It ’ s working out @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is not working out fine , my dude : Remember that the CDC estimates that for every known case of COVID , there are eight more that go undetected .
If that ’ s true , there were upwards of two million new infections in the U.S. — just yesterday .
That ’ s greater than the population of a dozen states .
In lieu of an exit question , read about the holiday parties being hosted by Mike Pompeo at the State Department this year .
They ’ re being held indoors @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and *loud* talking over ambient music .
If you attend you may even get a little Christmas present to bring home with you .
Guess what it is .

Some fine Friday palate-cleansing fare, perfectly indicative of the state of America’s COVID debate. Representing the pro-restaurant side: Populist Rick Santelli, who’s spoiling for a fight and isn’t changing his mind no matter what arguments or evidence you throw at him. Representing the anti-restaurant side: Liberal Andrew Ross Sorkin, who’s smug and self-assured in scolding Santelli on the science even though he does not, in fact, have any hard evidence to support his claims.
There are logical reasons to believe that a meal at a restaurant is riskier than window-shopping at Best Buy, though. For one:
Right, that’s always been the theory to explain occasional superspreader events at church services or choir practices. People are singing! They’re using their lungs and vocal cords to project their voices and, in so doing, any particles that happen to be incubating in their throats at the time. Talking quietly should be less of a risk but sustained conversation in close quarters during a meal that lasts an hour or more will obviously mean some viral shedding by a person who’s infected.
Another, simpler distinction: In a big-box store, you don’t need to take your mask off to do what you came there to do. In a restaurant, you do. And another: In a big-box store, you’re in motion most of the time you’re there, walking the aisles and browsing the merchandise. If there’s a concentration of viral particles in the air somewhere, odds are you’re not lingering in the middle of it. In a restaurant, you’re in one spot the entire time. If you happen to be located near a little corona cloud, uh oh.
The science is thin on restaurants as vectors of transmission, but since COVID has only existed for a year or so, the science is thin in every particular of the disease. There are studies that suggest a link, however, including this new one from Korea:
A study from Korea showing why indoor dining is unsafe and why airborne transmission matters. Case B infected case A from 6.5m (~21 feet!) away in *just five minutes*, and case C from 4.8m (15 feet!). Footage shows no interaction—and only those in line of air flow got infected. pic.twitter.com/Yw3Gb8INWP — zeynep tufekci (@zeynep) December 3, 2020
There was study done at a restaurant in China all the way back in January of this year that’s described in Tufekci’s longer post about this, in which one person infected 10 other diners — and again, the direction of the air flow was key. That doesn’t disprove Santelli’s point, of course. It could be that you’re equally at risk of infection in Best Buy or Lowe’s notwithstanding all of the points made above, especially if someone on the premises happens to be infected and is “upstream” of you in the building’s ventilation system. But if I had to take my chances at a big-box store or a restaurant, without question I’d choose the former. Keep the mask on, keep the talking to a minimum, and keep moving. Seems like a logical way to reduce the risk.
You’ll see at the end of the clip below that a third guy, Steve Liesman, jumps in to taunt Santelli by asking how his anti-lockdown approach is working out for him and the country right now. “It’s working out fine,” Santelli retorts. It is not working out fine, my dude:
Our daily update is published. States reported 1.8 million tests, 210k cases, and 2,706 deaths. There are 101k people currently hospitalized with COVID-19 in the US. Both case and hospitalization counts from today are all-time highs. pic.twitter.com/DuxnKyyG2K — The COVID Tracking Project (@COVID19Tracking) December 4, 2020
Remember that the CDC estimates that for every known case of COVID, there are eight more that go undetected. If that’s true, there were upwards of two million new infections in the U.S. — just yesterday. That’s greater than the population of a dozen states.
In lieu of an exit question, read about the holiday parties being hosted by Mike Pompeo at the State Department this year. They’re being held indoors and offer lots of eating, drinking, and *loud* talking over ambient music. If you attend you may even get a little Christmas present to bring home with you. Guess what it is.


hotair--2020-12-04--Venezuelan dictator is holding elections but the opposition is boycotting

Venezuelan dictator Nicolas Maduro continues to cling to power over the failed state .
In fact , this weekend he ’ ll finally remove the last opposition voices via an election for the country ’ s National Assembly .
Members of the Assembly including Juan Guaido are boycotting the election rather than lending credibility to what they know will be a rigged outcome .
Socialism is triumphant and democracy has become a sick joke : With the political opponents of President Nicolás Maduro boycotting Sunday ’ s election for the National Assembly , his socialist party is expected to dominate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the last major institution in Venezuela outside his grasp .
The opposition contends the election is rigged and has called its own referendum to counter it .
Both votes are playing out in the waning days of the Trump administration , which leaves office with Maduro firmly entrenched despite its efforts to bring about his departure through diplomacy and sanctions .
By taking over the National Assembly , some experts say Maduro ’ s United Socialist Party of Venezuela will effectively smother the last remnants of democracy in the country .
“ Everything @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has always sought , which is to have total , authoritarian , hegemonic control of all the country ’ s institutions , ” said Michael Shifter , president of the Washington-based Inter-American Dialogue .
Central to this takeover of the National Assembly is the elimination of Juan Guaido .
Guiado was recognized as the rightful leader of Venezuela two years ago by the U.S. and 50 other countries .
But his authority came from his position in the National Assembly , a position he is about to lose .
Guiado is leading the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people to participate in a referendum of questions about replacing Maduro .
Since Guiado is not allowed to appear on state media , he has been meeting people in the streets and talking to them while they wait on lines for food .
Another thing the elimination of the opposition-controlled Assembly will do away with : Regular economic numbers which the Assembly began publishing every month after the Maduro government stopped doing so .
The most recently published numbers show annual inflation is over 4,000 percent : Consumer prices in Venezuela rose 65.7 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Assembly said in a report on Friday , marking an acceleration in inflation in the crisis-stricken South American country .
That pushed the interannual inflation rate up to 4,087 % , according to the congress , which publishes monthly figures due to the absence of official economic data .
President Nicolas Maduro ’ s government has stopped regularly publishing indicators as the economy has spiraled into hyperinflationary collapse .
Getting rid of the opposition also makes space for more Maduro supporters including Maduro ’ s son who is running for office : In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ National Constituent Assembly , a legislative body created by Maduro ’ s government to circumvent the opposition-controlled congress , the National Assembly .
In his first year in that body , the son became the target of ridicule after countering President Donald Trump ’ s suggestion of military force to overthrow the elder Maduro .
“ The rifles would reach New York , Mr Trump , ” Maduro Guerra said .
“ We would arrive and take the White House.
” Luis Vicente Leon , president of the Caracas-based polling firm Datanalisis , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be a popular figure who might have a bright future in politics , noting that his father has little political currency to share with a popularity rating of about 15 percent .
That would be a good point if Maduro ’ s popularity , or lack of it , mattered .
But of course the whole point is that it clearly doesn ’ t matter .
That ’ s the beauty of being a dictator , you get to carry on regardless of how people feel about it .
Maduro may not have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , but he can prepare him to take over the family business , which is socialist dictatorship .
We started with democratic socialism under Hugo Chavez but a decade later we ’ re back to the line of royal succession or something indistinguishable from it .

Venezuelan dictator Nicolas Maduro continues to cling to power over the failed state. In fact, this weekend he’ll finally remove the last opposition voices via an election for the country’s National Assembly. Members of the Assembly including Juan Guaido are boycotting the election rather than lending credibility to what they know will be a rigged outcome. Socialism is triumphant and democracy has become a sick joke:
With the political opponents of President Nicolás Maduro boycotting Sunday’s election for the National Assembly, his socialist party is expected to dominate the vote, giving him control of the last major institution in Venezuela outside his grasp. The opposition contends the election is rigged and has called its own referendum to counter it. Both votes are playing out in the waning days of the Trump administration, which leaves office with Maduro firmly entrenched despite its efforts to bring about his departure through diplomacy and sanctions. By taking over the National Assembly, some experts say Maduro’s United Socialist Party of Venezuela will effectively smother the last remnants of democracy in the country. “Everything indicates that he will achieve what he has always sought, which is to have total, authoritarian, hegemonic control of all the country’s institutions,” said Michael Shifter, president of the Washington-based Inter-American Dialogue.
Central to this takeover of the National Assembly is the elimination of Juan Guaido. Guiado was recognized as the rightful leader of Venezuela two years ago by the U.S. and 50 other countries. But his authority came from his position in the National Assembly, a position he is about to lose. Guiado is leading the boycott of the election but is encouraging people to participate in a referendum of questions about replacing Maduro. Since Guiado is not allowed to appear on state media, he has been meeting people in the streets and talking to them while they wait on lines for food.
Another thing the elimination of the opposition-controlled Assembly will do away with: Regular economic numbers which the Assembly began publishing every month after the Maduro government stopped doing so. The most recently published numbers show annual inflation is over 4,000 percent:
Consumer prices in Venezuela rose 65.7% in November, the opposition-controlled National Assembly said in a report on Friday, marking an acceleration in inflation in the crisis-stricken South American country. That pushed the interannual inflation rate up to 4,087%, according to the congress, which publishes monthly figures due to the absence of official economic data. President Nicolas Maduro’s government has stopped regularly publishing indicators as the economy has spiraled into hyperinflationary collapse.
Getting rid of the opposition also makes space for more Maduro supporters including Maduro’s son who is running for office:
In 2017, he was elected to the National Constituent Assembly, a legislative body created by Maduro’s government to circumvent the opposition-controlled congress, the National Assembly. In his first year in that body, the son became the target of ridicule after countering President Donald Trump’s suggestion of military force to overthrow the elder Maduro. “The rifles would reach New York, Mr Trump,” Maduro Guerra said. “We would arrive and take the White House.” Luis Vicente Leon, president of the Caracas-based polling firm Datanalisis, said Maduro Guerra does not appear to be a popular figure who might have a bright future in politics, noting that his father has little political currency to share with a popularity rating of about 15 percent.
That would be a good point if Maduro’s popularity, or lack of it, mattered. But of course the whole point is that it clearly doesn’t matter. That’s the beauty of being a dictator, you get to carry on regardless of how people feel about it. Maduro may not have any popularity to share with his son, but he can prepare him to take over the family business, which is socialist dictatorship. We started with democratic socialism under Hugo Chavez but a decade later we’re back to the line of royal succession or something indistinguishable from it.


hotair--2020-12-04--Et tu, Kelly? It looks like Biden and Harris will prevail, says Conway

Ed sent me the link to this story earlier with the message , “ GEORGE GOT TO HER.
” He was joking , of course .
But no , really , I think George might be holding her at gunpoint just out of frame in this video : She sounds surprisingly conciliatory and sensible there .
Maybe she ’ s making a hardheaded professional judgment in doing so .
Conway came to the Trump campaign as a longtime Washington swamp-dweller , after all , someone who ’ d worked for a Ted Cruz Super PAC before signing on with the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out , it ’ s time for her to get back into elite D.C. ’ s good graces by distancing herself from his voter-fraud hysteria .
Or maybe she had a twinge of conscience about what that hysteria has led to , and is leading to ?
One could argue that Trump and his legal team aren ’ t responsible for the actions of their most warped admirers but it ’ d be easier to make that argument if they pretended that they cared .
The president ’ s been asked repeatedly , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to try to stop the harassment by forcefully denouncing it .
He won ’ t .
Some of his cronies are even encouraging it : I doubt America has ever had an episode like the one we ’ re enduring right now in which the president and his allies don ’ t make even a pretense of decency in their desperation to get what they want .
Brad Raffensperger could be murdered and a “ Trump 2020 ” flag left draped over his body and the most we ’ re apt to get @ @ @ @ @ @ @ one-sentence statement about how Trump “ disavows ” violence .
Then he ’ ll go right back to singling out his political adversaries as “ enemies of the people ” on Twitter .
In light of the tweet above , you ’ re free to interpret the last line of this one however charitably or uncharitably you like : Jim Geraghty has a piece today titled “ Stop Lin Wood and Sidney Powell Now , or They Will Control the GOP ’ s Destiny.
” But that ’ s what Trump wants , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ control , ” maybe — that ’ s for him and him alone — but what evidence is there that the president considers Wood and Powell a bad influence on his fans ?
His only point of disagreement with them is that he thinks Georgia Republicans should turn out to vote for Kelly Loeffler and David Perdue on January 5 .
That 46-minute speech he released a few days ago was every bit as conspiratorial as anything Wood or Powell has said .
Which , in hindsight , makes it even harder to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lawyer because her theories of voter fraud were too nutty for him , as has been claimed .
He fired her because she implicated Loeffler in the fraud , putting Loeffler ’ s chances of winning her Senate runoff in jeopardy .
That ’ s the only reason .
Apart from that , I doubt a word has escaped Powell ’ s or Wood ’ s lips since this fiasco began that has seemed to Trump to cross a line .
Remember the cardinal rule : So long as you praise him , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can behave as badly as you want and he ’ ll never oppose you .
He might “ disavow ” you perfunctorily , if there ’ s a lot of political pressure on him to do so , but it ’ ll be clear as day that he doesn ’ t mean it .
Geraghty : If significant numbers of Republican voters choose to not participate in the January 5 runoff elections for both Senate seats , and that leads to victories by Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock , that will do nothing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ legacy as president , the Republican Party , and the cause of conservatism .
It will , however , do a lot for Lin Wood and Sidney Powell , who would instantly become major power brokers in the Republican Party .
They could take their “ your vote was stolen by rigged machines ” conspiracy-theory schtick to any state in the union and hold don ’ t-get-out-the-vote rallies for any race , telling Republicans that the elections are fixed and that participating in them is a form of acquiescence to terrible crimes .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ by these lawyers , needing to concur with whatever bizarre claim they made — Georgia governor Brian Kemp stole money and gave it to China !
The Federal Reserve is trying to destroy the economy on behalf of George Soros !
— or suffer the consequences of Wood-Powell “ Republicans must stay home and not vote ” rallies in their backyard .
What if Trump “ stops ” Powell and Wood by convincing Republicans in Georgia to elect Loeffler and Perdue to the Senate but otherwise raises no objection to Powell ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the party .
Is that a deal worth doing ?
The devil ’ s bargain made by establishment Republicans since 2016 is that they ’ ll overlook anything Trump says or does in exchange for victories — and it paid off .
They won total control of government that year , and this year the Trump-led GOP made gains in the House and will probably end up holding the Senate .
Trumpism has proved it can win !
The catch is that , as the price of winning , you have to tolerate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Powell and Giuliani and the entire MAGA circus that ’ s surrounded the president for four years .
You have to be willing to tolerate election officials being forced to flee their homes under threat while a gigantic chunk of your base says , “ Good , the traitors deserved it.
” You have to tolerate Mike Flynn , former general and National Security Advisor , calling openly for martial law .
Worth it ?
I think Geraghty might say that the problem is self-correcting .
After all , if Wood and Powell @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the runoffs , Democrats will win and the GOP will be forced to start marginalizing its conspiracy kooks .
But what if Loeffler and Perdue win because Trump manages to convince voters to turn out while also encouraging those voters to keep it up with his election trutherism ?
What if Republican officials in various states , starting with Georgia , end up being successfully primaried by kooks in 2022 ?
What if some of those kooks even get elected on the theory of “ party uber alles ” ?
The president @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to convince state legislators to pull off a soft coup by voiding their election results and handing him their electors instead , and he doesn ’ t seem to have lost any meaningful support within the party .
Viewed in that context , what does it mean to “ stop ” Lin Wood and Sidney Powell at this point ?
It ’ s already their party , even if their scheme to block Loeffler and Perdue this time doesn ’ t quite come off .
And establishment Republicans know it .
That ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .

Ed sent me the link to this story earlier with the message, “GEORGE GOT TO HER.”
He was joking, of course.
But no, really, I think George might be holding her at gunpoint just out of frame in this video:
She sounds surprisingly conciliatory and sensible there. Maybe she’s making a hardheaded professional judgment in doing so. Conway came to the Trump campaign as a longtime Washington swamp-dweller, after all, someone who’d worked for a Ted Cruz Super PAC before signing on with the president. With Trump on his way out, it’s time for her to get back into elite D.C.’s good graces by distancing herself from his voter-fraud hysteria.
Or maybe she had a twinge of conscience about what that hysteria has led to, and is leading to?
I’m told by a senior Georgia official that there have been a number of threats today against elections staffers and at least one state legislator after yesterday’s hearings, and some are pushing House Republicans to postpone another round of elex hearings until January. #gapol — Greg Bluestein (@bluestein) December 4, 2020
One could argue that Trump and his legal team aren’t responsible for the actions of their most warped admirers but it’d be easier to make that argument if they pretended that they cared. The president’s been asked repeatedly, including by election officials in Georgia, to try to stop the harassment by forcefully denouncing it. He won’t. Some of his cronies are even encouraging it:
Yes, the president is personally responsible. Just yesterday, his lawyer Rudy Giuliani endorsed threats against state lawmakers. “Sometimes it even requires being threatened.”https://t.co/xn1YbPt39f pic.twitter.com/I9w1wGXYdQ — Christian Vanderbrouk (@UrbanAchievr) December 4, 2020
I doubt America has ever had an episode like the one we’re enduring right now in which the president and his allies don’t make even a pretense of decency in their desperation to get what they want. Brad Raffensperger could be murdered and a “Trump 2020” flag left draped over his body and the most we’re apt to get from the White House is a dry one-sentence statement about how Trump “disavows” violence. Then he’ll go right back to singling out his political adversaries as “enemies of the people” on Twitter.
In light of the tweet above, you’re free to interpret the last line of this one however charitably or uncharitably you like:
Republican Legislature let down America. I’m ashamed of them. They completely misled the President and me. All of us Republicans let them know what we think of them. — Rudy W. Giuliani (@RudyGiuliani) December 4, 2020
Jim Geraghty has a piece today titled “Stop Lin Wood and Sidney Powell Now, or They Will Control the GOP’s Destiny.” But that’s what Trump wants, isn’t it? Not “control,” maybe — that’s for him and him alone — but what evidence is there that the president considers Wood and Powell a bad influence on his fans? His only point of disagreement with them is that he thinks Georgia Republicans should turn out to vote for Kelly Loeffler and David Perdue on January 5. That 46-minute speech he released a few days ago was every bit as conspiratorial as anything Wood or Powell has said.
Which, in hindsight, makes it even harder to believe that he fired Powell as his lawyer because her theories of voter fraud were too nutty for him, as has been claimed. He fired her because she implicated Loeffler in the fraud, putting Loeffler’s chances of winning her Senate runoff in jeopardy. That’s the only reason. Apart from that, I doubt a word has escaped Powell’s or Wood’s lips since this fiasco began that has seemed to Trump to cross a line. Remember the cardinal rule: So long as you praise him, as Powell and Wood do, you can behave as badly as you want and he’ll never oppose you. He might “disavow” you perfunctorily, if there’s a lot of political pressure on him to do so, but it’ll be clear as day that he doesn’t mean it. Geraghty:
If significant numbers of Republican voters choose to not participate in the January 5 runoff elections for both Senate seats, and that leads to victories by Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock, that will do nothing for Donald Trump, Trump’s legacy as president, the Republican Party, and the cause of conservatism. It will, however, do a lot for Lin Wood and Sidney Powell, who would instantly become major power brokers in the Republican Party. They could take their “your vote was stolen by rigged machines” conspiracy-theory schtick to any state in the union and hold don’t-get-out-the-vote rallies for any race, telling Republicans that the elections are fixed and that participating in them is a form of acquiescence to terrible crimes. The GOP would effectively be held hostage by these lawyers, needing to concur with whatever bizarre claim they made — Georgia governor Brian Kemp stole money and gave it to China! The Federal Reserve is trying to destroy the economy on behalf of George Soros! — or suffer the consequences of Wood-Powell “Republicans must stay home and not vote” rallies in their backyard.
What if Trump “stops” Powell and Wood by convincing Republicans in Georgia to elect Loeffler and Perdue to the Senate but otherwise raises no objection to Powell’s and Wood’s conspiratorial influence over the party. Is that a deal worth doing? The devil’s bargain made by establishment Republicans since 2016 is that they’ll overlook anything Trump says or does in exchange for victories — and it paid off. They won total control of government that year, and this year the Trump-led GOP made gains in the House and will probably end up holding the Senate. Trumpism has proved it can win! The catch is that, as the price of winning, you have to tolerate the mainstreaming of characters like Wood and Powell and Giuliani and the entire MAGA circus that’s surrounded the president for four years. You have to be willing to tolerate election officials being forced to flee their homes under threat while a gigantic chunk of your base says, “Good, the traitors deserved it.” You have to tolerate Mike Flynn, former general and National Security Advisor, calling openly for martial law.
Worth it? I think Geraghty might say that the problem is self-correcting. After all, if Wood and Powell convince Georgia Republicans not to turn out for the runoffs, Democrats will win and the GOP will be forced to start marginalizing its conspiracy kooks.
But what if Loeffler and Perdue win because Trump manages to convince voters to turn out while also encouraging those voters to keep it up with his election trutherism? What if Republican officials in various states, starting with Georgia, end up being successfully primaried by kooks in 2022? What if some of those kooks even get elected on the theory of “party uber alles”?
The president’s spent the past month trying to convince state legislators to pull off a soft coup by voiding their election results and handing him their electors instead, and he doesn’t seem to have lost any meaningful support within the party. Viewed in that context, what does it mean to “stop” Lin Wood and Sidney Powell at this point? It’s already their party, even if their scheme to block Loeffler and Perdue this time doesn’t quite come off. And establishment Republicans know it. That’s why they keep their mouths shut.
Update: Perfect.
https://twitter.com/LLinWood/status/1334965583738187781


hotair--2020-12-04--Busted: Texas judges break their own rules on coronavirus mandates

Three Texas judges have been exposed for their hypocrisy in demanding coronavirus mitigation mandates be upheld by the general public while they do not follow them in private .
The offenders are a bipartisan bunch – two Republicans and one Democrat .
Tarrant County Judge Glen Whitley , a Republican , and Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins , a Democrat , and Williamson County Judge Bill Gravell , a Republican have been busted for insisting Texans adhere to strict coronavirus orders while they do as they please .
All of the judges have called for Governor Abbott to mandate stricter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the coronavirus .
Let ’ s start with Judge Whitley .
Last month he asked Governor Abbott for the authority to fine people for not wearing a face mask .
He also lectured people to keep Thanksgiving gatherings small .
On November 24 the judge extended Tarrant County ’ s mask mandate until at least Feb. 28 , 2021 .
So , when five cars and an RV were spotted in front of his house on Thanksgiving day , a citizen exposed the scene on her Facebook page .
Judge Whitley offered an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ house this year was much smaller than normal .
The vehicles belonged to 12 of his immediate family members – seven adults and five kids .
He said that normally he would be hosting 25 to 30 people at this house for the holiday .
Whitley said he rented the RV to use the next day .
He and his wife went to Wichita Falls to visit her 96-year-old mother .
He excused that trip by saying the family took separate cars and practiced social distancing at her house .
He even throws @ @ @ @ @ @ @ saying hey , he ’ s not as stringent as other judges in his demands from the county ’ s residents .
“ We wear masks as much as possible .
But with immediate family , we ’ re very careful .
We know where we ’ ve all been , ” Whitley said .
“ I ’ ve always said that ( with ) your immediate family , you just have to use your best guess and do those things that you feel are necessary to protect your family.
” “ I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that there aren ’ t times in which the mask is not there .
But you will find very very few pictures where I don ’ t have a mask on .
And if you do then it may be , ‘ okay , every once in a while I just forget .
Because I hate these things as much as anybody else does .
He said that despite the way he ’ s been portrayed , regarding his stance on mask mandates , “ I have not been near as conservative or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ me to have been ” and that the county ’ s public health department “ would have shut everything down if they could.
” “ Before the governor issued his order , you know , they would have liked for me to have people stay at home and shut businesses down .
I said , ‘ no we ’ re not going to do that.
’ ” “ My focus has been , keep the hospitals open , keep the businesses open , ” he said .
“ The hope was my ( @ @ @ @ @ @ @ slow the growth of COVID-19 and would allow businesses to stay open and not have to shut back down.
” Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins is frequently in the news for his aggressive stance on wearing face masks and limiting gatherings .
In June he pushed for a countywide face mask mandate , for example , but in October Jenkins officiated at a wedding and was maskless , according to a guest who photographed him .
There is social distancing going on in that photo and just a few people visible but the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mask .
When questioned , his office provided two more photographs from the ceremony which show him wearing a mask .
The third judge making headlines is Judge Bill Gravell .
He violated his own stay-at-home orders to attend his grandson ’ s birthday party .
When caught by a neighbor , Gravell said he just wanted to celebrate his grandson ’ s fifth birthday .
Police were called and Gravell was charged on Monday , Nov. 23 , for violating his emergency management plan in spring 2020 .
In April , Gravell @ @ @ @ @ @ @ through the end of the month .
A criminal complaint was filed and a special prosecutor was appointed .
He will pay a $ 1,000 fine .
How many grandparents have missed birthday parties for their young grandchildren during stay-at-home orders ?
How many people have canceled weddings and other family celebrations ?
People listened to public officials this year and ate Thanksgiving dinner alone or just with a spouse .
The general public is making the sacrifices they are being asked to do while public officials go about their lives as they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to take photographs as evidence of their behavior and turn them into authorities or expose them on social media .
Turning one against another isn ’ t good for a community .
Public officials should be leading by example .
The rules apply to everyone .
If they don ’ t really believe in the importance of adhering to mitigation mandates , they shouldn ’ t be imposing them on everyone else .

Three Texas judges have been exposed for their hypocrisy in demanding coronavirus mitigation mandates be upheld by the general public while they do not follow them in private. The offenders are a bipartisan bunch – two Republicans and one Democrat. Tarrant County Judge Glen Whitley, a Republican, and Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins, a Democrat, and Williamson County Judge Bill Gravell, a Republican have been busted for insisting Texans adhere to strict coronavirus orders while they do as they please.
All of the judges have called for Governor Abbott to mandate stricter orders as he provides guidance on mitigating the coronavirus. Let’s start with Judge Whitley. Last month he asked Governor Abbott for the authority to fine people for not wearing a face mask. He also lectured people to keep Thanksgiving gatherings small. On November 24 the judge extended Tarrant County’s mask mandate until at least Feb. 28, 2021. So, when five cars and an RV were spotted in front of his house on Thanksgiving day, a citizen exposed the scene on her Facebook page.
Judge Whitley offered an excuse – the Thanksgathering gathering at this house this year was much smaller than normal. The vehicles belonged to 12 of his immediate family members – seven adults and five kids. He said that normally he would be hosting 25 to 30 people at this house for the holiday. Whitley said he rented the RV to use the next day. He and his wife went to Wichita Falls to visit her 96-year-old mother. He excused that trip by saying the family took separate cars and practiced social distancing at her house. He even throws other judges under the bus by defensively saying hey, he’s not as stringent as other judges in his demands from the county’s residents.
“We wear masks as much as possible. But with immediate family, we’re very careful. We know where we’ve all been,” Whitley said. “I’ve always said that (with) your immediate family, you just have to use your best guess and do those things that you feel are necessary to protect your family.” “I’m not going to tell you that there aren’t times in which the mask is not there. But you will find very very few pictures where I don’t have a mask on. And if you do then it may be, ‘okay, every once in a while I just forget. Because I hate these things as much as anybody else does. He said that despite the way he’s been portrayed, regarding his stance on mask mandates, “I have not been near as conservative or mandate-happy as some would have liked for me to have been” and that the county’s public health department “would have shut everything down if they could.” “Before the governor issued his order, you know, they would have liked for me to have people stay at home and shut businesses down. I said, ‘no we’re not going to do that.’” “My focus has been, keep the hospitals open, keep the businesses open,” he said. “The hope was my (mandating) masks, that it would slow the growth of COVID-19 and would allow businesses to stay open and not have to shut back down.”
Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins is frequently in the news for his aggressive stance on wearing face masks and limiting gatherings. In June he pushed for a countywide face mask mandate, for example, but in October Jenkins officiated at a wedding and was maskless, according to a guest who photographed him.
https://twitter.com/JenkinsSucks/status/1331012584733102082
There is social distancing going on in that photo and just a few people visible but the judge is clearly not wearing a face mask. When questioned, his office provided two more photographs from the ceremony which show him wearing a mask.
“The ceremony took place when community spread was much lower and while the Dallas County COVID-19 risk was at ‘Orange-Moderate Risk,’ his office said in a statement, adding that he followed county safety protocols and “temporarily removed his facial covering while officiating and immediately placed it back on covering both his nose and mouth.”
The third judge making headlines is Judge Bill Gravell. He violated his own stay-at-home orders to attend his grandson’s birthday party. When caught by a neighbor, Gravell said he just wanted to celebrate his grandson’s fifth birthday. Police were called and Gravell was charged on Monday, Nov. 23, for violating his emergency management plan in spring 2020. In April, Gravell extended the county’s stay-at-home orders through the end of the month. A criminal complaint was filed and a special prosecutor was appointed. He will pay a $1,000 fine.
The incident, in which Gravell wore protective fire department gear, was captured by a neighbor’s camera and shared with the web site @buddy_falcon. It triggered a criminal complaint and led to the appointment of a special prosecutor. pic.twitter.com/JWDK0MySc7 — Tony Plohetski (@tplohetski) November 24, 2020
The judge will plead guilty and pay a $1,000 fine, KVUE’s Tony Plohetski confirmed. Gravell’s attorney said he is the only person to be prosecuted for such violation and that the Texas Rangers cleared him for other wrongdoing. On Nov. 19, Williamson County health officials announced their county would be moving from the “Orange” phase to “Red.” This is the highest level in Williamson County’s response and means there is now uncontrolled transmission of COVID-19 in the community.
How many grandparents have missed birthday parties for their young grandchildren during stay-at-home orders? How many people have canceled weddings and other family celebrations? People listened to public officials this year and ate Thanksgiving dinner alone or just with a spouse. The general public is making the sacrifices they are being asked to do while public officials go about their lives as they wish. The hypocrisy has caused citizens to take photographs as evidence of their behavior and turn them into authorities or expose them on social media. Turning one against another isn’t good for a community. Public officials should be leading by example. The rules apply to everyone. If they don’t really believe in the importance of adhering to mitigation mandates, they shouldn’t be imposing them on everyone else.


hotair--2020-12-04--The canceling of another young adult author over made up allegations of racism

For some reason the Young Adult Fiction subculture has become one of the most woke and therefore toxic online .
Nearly two years ago Jesse Singal wrote about the cancelation of author Amélie Wen Zhao whose unpublished novel Blood Heir was accused of being racist despite the fact that no one had read it .
This week Singal has been tweeting about another case of mob justice in the YA space on Twitter .
Author Jessica Cluess has been accused of racism .
The problem wasn ’ t her book in this instance it was a disagreement she had with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ else happened to be a minority and so the cancel culture mob is off to the races .
Singal ’ s thread starts with Jessica ’ s agent throwing her under the bus : Singal then highlighted some of the responses to the agent ’ s statement demanding more action against his own client : As usual , the woke crowd is suggesting that harm is being done to everyone by the author ’ s tweets .
One of the people demanding the woman ’ s agent respond with harsher treatment was another @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , it ’ s worth noting the author in question never brought up race .
Her racism was inferred : The author also apologized for disagreeing with a non-white person which , of course , only made things worse : One response included a markup of the apology with a red pen .
If you actually look at it those aren ’ t corrections to grammar , they are corrections to thought .
This is the red pen of Critical Race Theory .
The other cultists are thrilled .
Singal argued that agents @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Twitter are angry doesn ’ t mean anyone did anything wrong : Giving in to the mob only encourages the mob : But Jessica ’ s agent did eventually give in to the mob ( 2nd tweet below ) : Having successfully canceled an author who did nothing wrong , the mob is finally happy , though that probably won ’ t be the end of their crusade against the author : Anyway , I ’ m sorry for Jessica Cluess and I ’ m sorry that this sort of behavior is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in mind the next time someone claims that cancel culture doesn ’ t exist .

For some reason the Young Adult Fiction subculture has become one of the most woke and therefore toxic online. Nearly two years ago Jesse Singal wrote about the cancelation of author Amélie Wen Zhao whose unpublished novel Blood Heir was accused of being racist despite the fact that no one had read it.
This week Singal has been tweeting about another case of mob justice in the YA space on Twitter. Author Jessica Cluess has been accused of racism. The problem wasn’t her book in this instance it was a disagreement she had with someone else on Twitter. That someone else happened to be a minority and so the cancel culture mob is off to the races. Singal’s thread starts with Jessica’s agent throwing her under the bus:
If my agent threw me under the bus like this I would fire him immediately. It wouldn't even be a question. It's just insane what goes on in this corner of the literary world. pic.twitter.com/3ozNGH8fKS — Jesse Singal (@jessesingal) December 2, 2020
3/ In this corner of literary Twitter, unhinged denunciatory tweetstorms are completely normal. Some of the biggest and most popular figures regularly participate in them! It's a very very very strange place.https://t.co/AaHXWuuWsy — Jesse Singal (@jessesingal) December 2, 2020
Singal then highlighted some of the responses to the agent’s statement demanding more action against his own client:
5/ "I cannot fathom the pain and horror of being the victim of [mean tweets]" pic.twitter.com/K1NsQSv4VU — Jesse Singal (@jessesingal) December 2, 2020
As usual, the woke crowd is suggesting that harm is being done to everyone by the author’s tweets.
10/ "Virulently harmed." Either these people are genuinely unwell — you cannot be well if you think one person making fun of another person "virulently harms" others by some sort of process of racial osmosis — or they just intentionally inflate harm claims (that is, lie). pic.twitter.com/FK9Us1Ohww — Jesse Singal (@jessesingal) December 2, 2020
One of the people demanding the woman’s agent respond with harsher treatment was another literary agent named Laura Zats:
Agent 1 throws his client under the bus over some internet bullshit. Agent 2, Laura Zats, chimes in to publicly reprimand him for not being harsh enough on her. DO PEOPLE UNDERSTAND HOW WEIRD THIS IS? This is literally the 100% opposite of what agents are supposed to do!! pic.twitter.com/F5ixKQaFBg — Jesse Singal (@jessesingal) December 3, 2020
She labels Cluess a “racist, violent author.”
3/ "put marginalized people at risk" "a racist, violent author" (violent!!) I am so frustrated that these people have so much sway and can ruin so many people's ability to be excited about reading and writing. This is a cult. It is very, very hard to go against cultists. pic.twitter.com/9dKPxUVGK3 — Jesse Singal (@jessesingal) December 3, 2020
Again, it’s worth noting the author in question never brought up race. Her racism was inferred:
This is exactly what it is. And there's no discusion. She's just declared to be Racist, full-stop. It's a charge that *should* mean something, and is used to attempt to end careers, as people are actively trying to do. It's disgraceful to watch. https://t.co/BcY014StCU — Jesse Singal (@jessesingal) December 2, 2020
The author also apologized for disagreeing with a non-white person which, of course, only made things worse:
An unfortunate violation of The Amran Principle: Never apologize to bad-faith online jerks. That way lies only deeper trobule. https://t.co/6yec9MlANA — Jesse Singal (@jessesingal) December 2, 2020
One response included a markup of the apology with a red pen. If you actually look at it those aren’t corrections to grammar, they are corrections to thought. This is the red pen of Critical Race Theory. The other cultists are thrilled.
The YA author whose career is being torpedoed by a plainly fabricated accusation of racism apologized, but the apology wasn't enough, so one of her critics literally marked up her apology like she was a third-grader, and the other critics are celebrating this as a noble act. pic.twitter.com/7D86sAhFmA — Jesse Singal (@jessesingal) December 3, 2020
Singal argued that agents needed to learn that just because people on Twitter are angry doesn’t mean anyone did anything wrong:
6/ isn't allowed, and where agreement with (often exaggerated or fabricated) claims of 'harm' brings with it social currency and group standing. — Jesse Singal (@jessesingal) December 3, 2020
Giving in to the mob only encourages the mob:
10/ When publishers cave to this strange clan, in other words, they are responding not to what readers want, but to a very strange group of people with a specific set of esoteric concerns and a less developed sense of morality and nuance than the average, say, 14-year-old reader. — Jesse Singal (@jessesingal) December 3, 2020
But Jessica’s agent did eventually give in to the mob (2nd tweet below):
Update: Brooks Sherman has dropped his client Jessica Cluess, repeating the baseless claim of racism in the process. Nothing in her tweetstorm was racist. It's just a completely made-up charge stemming from the fact that the person she was (harshly) criticizing is nonwhite. pic.twitter.com/z8OeYpp48K — Jesse Singal (@jessesingal) December 4, 2020
Having successfully canceled an author who did nothing wrong, the mob is finally happy, though that probably won’t be the end of their crusade against the author:
The next step is for the mob to take every step they can to prevent her next book, slated from next year, from coming out. Tagging her publisher etc.https://t.co/Z1VIUF1xFL — Jesse Singal (@jessesingal) December 4, 2020
Anyway, I’m sorry for Jessica Cluess and I’m sorry that this sort of behavior is taken seriously by anyone. Keep this in mind the next time someone claims that cancel culture doesn’t exist.


hotair--2020-12-04--History made: For the first time, House passes bill to decriminalize marijuana

If Trump wants to make a splash on his way out the door , he should drop his futile bid to repeal Section 230 and tweet out a demand for the Senate to pass this instead .
It would scramble American politics in one shot , putting pressure on McConnell and Republicans to consider it before January 20 , putting pressure on Biden to consider it after January 20 , and earning himself some strange new respect ahead of a run in 2024 .
Liberalizing marijuana laws has become very popular among Americans , and Democrats have left Trump a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ due to their timidity on the subject .
He should do it .
It ’ d be “ on brand ” too in the sense that he got elected in 2016 as a non-traditional Republican , someone who didn ’ t hold strong views about “ values ” issues like gay marriage .
( Although he ’ s been careful not to get on the wrong side of evangelicals on policies that matter to them . )
It ’ s hard to imagine machine politicians like George W. Bush or Mitt Romney or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ party orthodoxy by calling for decriminalizing weed .
It ’ s easier to imagine Trump , the “ outsider , ” doing so .
And it might help cement the gains he made among black voters in last month ’ s election , as blacks are more than four times more likely than whites to be arrested for possession of weed .
Plus , as a matter of basic psychology , Trump loves to surprise people and create sensations .
This would be a rare opportunity for him to do so in a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pardoning himself and his entire family .
Look at it this way : If he doesn ’ t do it , Sleepy Joe might .
Biden has already said that he supports decriminalization , although not full legalization .
Trump should relish stealing his thunder .
The bill passed by a vote of 228-164 , with several Republicans on board .
While the MORE Act is not expected to come up in the Senate this year , and likely won ’ t in the next session of Congress either , its passage nevertheless @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The MORE Act … would remove federal criminal penalties on marijuana , erase nonviolent federal marijuana criminal records , provide money for states to scrub marijuana criminal records , too , and create grant programs to assist those affected following the Controlled Substances Act becoming law in the Nixon era… “ What we ’ re doing here is … recognizing that there is a longtime war on civil rights that was instituted by the Nixon administration , ” said Rep. Jerry Nadler ( D-N.Y. ) , the bill ’ s sponsor and chair @ @ @ @ @ @ @ And we ’ re eliminating it.
” It pains me to report that fewer Republicans voted yes than Democrats voted no : House GOPers complained that the bill was a distraction from passing a COVID stimulus , which is sort of true but overlooks the fact that this bill has been delayed for a year precisely because Congress was busy passing other rounds of COVID stimulus .
( They ’ ve been taking their sweet-ass time on the latest round too , as we ’ re all aware , so why not spend @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Republicans also complained about the part of the bill that would expunge the records of federal marijuana offenders and require judges to vacate the sentences of prisoners doing time for weed possession .
Some complained that that was tantamount to being soft on crime , but … that ’ s the point of decriminalization , right ?
The national legislature would be formally making a judgment that marijuana use isn ’ t an infraction so serious that it requires being put in a cage .
A lot of Americans agree with that judgment @ @ @ @ @ @ @ blame the libs for that if you like but then you ’ d also have to overlook the results from election night this year .
Voters in five states chose to legalize marijuana , and some of those states are very far from blue .
And the votes weren ’ t close either .
In the purple state of Arizona , a ballot initiative to legalize marijuana passed by … 20 points .
If liberalizing marijuana laws is so popular with voters , why are Republicans in Congress still so reluctant to do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ won ’ t even bring the MORE Act up for a vote ?
It ’ s because righties are still closely divided on the subject even if the rest of the country isn ’ t .
In the Gallup poll linked above , 48 percent of GOPers said they support legalization versus 52 percent who don ’ t .
A Pew poll taken last year found similar numbers but with Republicans and leaners narrowly in favor at 55/44 .
That being so , if you ’ re a Republican congressman representing an R+20 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the safe play ?
Sticking with the line on weed that the party and its base have been following for generations or embracing the liberal position which happens to be correct on the merits but which just might earn you a primary challenge for being bad on values ?
That ’ s why only five Republicans voted for the bill .
And it ’ s also why only an intervention by Trump on this subject could shake things up .
The GOP is 48/52 today but what would it be if he gave @ @ @ @ @ @ @ war that ended with him calling for passage of the bill ?
60/40 , maybe ?
All Senate Republicans need from him is a little cover .
Here ’ s MAGA favorite Matt Gaetz making the case for decriminalization today , to his credit .
If Trump can ’ t lend this cause some populist cred , maybe Gaetz can .

If Trump wants to make a splash on his way out the door, he should drop his futile bid to repeal Section 230 and tweet out a demand for the Senate to pass this instead. It would scramble American politics in one shot, putting pressure on McConnell and Republicans to consider it before January 20, putting pressure on Biden to consider it after January 20, and earning himself some strange new respect ahead of a run in 2024. Liberalizing marijuana laws has become very popular among Americans, and Democrats have left Trump a wide opening to seize that political territory due to their timidity on the subject.
He should do it. It’d be “on brand” too in the sense that he got elected in 2016 as a non-traditional Republican, someone who didn’t hold strong views about “values” issues like gay marriage. (Although he’s been careful not to get on the wrong side of evangelicals on policies that matter to them.) It’s hard to imagine machine politicians like George W. Bush or Mitt Romney or even Ted Cruz or Tom Cotton bucking party orthodoxy by calling for decriminalizing weed. It’s easier to imagine Trump, the “outsider,” doing so. And it might help cement the gains he made among black voters in last month’s election, as blacks are more than four times more likely than whites to be arrested for possession of weed.
Plus, as a matter of basic psychology, Trump loves to surprise people and create sensations. This would be a rare opportunity for him to do so in a positive way, unlike, say, pardoning himself and his entire family.
Look at it this way: If he doesn’t do it, Sleepy Joe might. Biden has already said that he supports decriminalization, although not full legalization. Trump should relish stealing his thunder.
The bill passed by a vote of 228-164, with several Republicans on board. While the MORE Act is not expected to come up in the Senate this year, and likely won’t in the next session of Congress either, its passage nevertheless marks a monumental step in marijuana policy… The MORE Act … would remove federal criminal penalties on marijuana, erase nonviolent federal marijuana criminal records, provide money for states to scrub marijuana criminal records, too, and create grant programs to assist those affected following the Controlled Substances Act becoming law in the Nixon era… “What we’re doing here is … recognizing that there is a longtime war on civil rights that was instituted by the Nixon administration,” said Rep. Jerry Nadler (D-N.Y.), the bill’s sponsor and chair of the House Judiciary Committee. “And we’re eliminating it.”
It pains me to report that fewer Republicans voted yes than Democrats voted no:
.@SenSchumer wants the Senate to take up the House-passed pot decriminalization legislation. pic.twitter.com/pzETT2wFy7 — Sahil Kapur (@sahilkapur) December 4, 2020
House GOPers complained that the bill was a distraction from passing a COVID stimulus, which is sort of true but overlooks the fact that this bill has been delayed for a year precisely because Congress was busy passing other rounds of COVID stimulus. (They’ve been taking their sweet-ass time on the latest round too, as we’re all aware, so why not spend an afternoon on something else?) Republicans also complained about the part of the bill that would expunge the records of federal marijuana offenders and require judges to vacate the sentences of prisoners doing time for weed possession. Some complained that that was tantamount to being soft on crime, but … that’s the point of decriminalization, right? The national legislature would be formally making a judgment that marijuana use isn’t an infraction so serious that it requires being put in a cage.
A lot of Americans agree with that judgment too. A lot.
You can blame the libs for that if you like but then you’d also have to overlook the results from election night this year. Voters in five states chose to legalize marijuana, and some of those states are very far from blue. And the votes weren’t close either.
On Election Day in South Dakota, for instance, 54 percent of voters opted to legalize marijuana, while only 36 percent of voters chose the Democratic presidential ticket. In Montana, the 57 percent who voted to legalize marijuana nearly matched the number who voted to reelect Trump. And Mississippi became the first state in the Deep South to legalize medical marijuana use, with 62 percent of voters approving a ballot measure in a state where Trump won 58 percent of the vote. Fifteen states have now authorized some form of recreational cannabis legalization, while 36 states have approved medical marijuana programs, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.
In the purple state of Arizona, a ballot initiative to legalize marijuana passed by … 20 points.
If liberalizing marijuana laws is so popular with voters, why are Republicans in Congress still so reluctant to do it — with McConnell vowing that he won’t even bring the MORE Act up for a vote? It’s because righties are still closely divided on the subject even if the rest of the country isn’t. In the Gallup poll linked above, 48 percent of GOPers said they support legalization versus 52 percent who don’t. A Pew poll taken last year found similar numbers but with Republicans and leaners narrowly in favor at 55/44. That being so, if you’re a Republican congressman representing an R+20 district or whatever, what’s the safe play? Sticking with the line on weed that the party and its base have been following for generations or embracing the liberal position which happens to be correct on the merits but which just might earn you a primary challenge for being bad on values?
That’s why only five Republicans voted for the bill. And it’s also why only an intervention by Trump on this subject could shake things up. The GOP is 48/52 today but what would it be if he gave a 10-minute speech about the failed drug war that ended with him calling for passage of the bill? 60/40, maybe? All Senate Republicans need from him is a little cover.
Here’s MAGA favorite Matt Gaetz making the case for decriminalization today, to his credit. If Trump can’t lend this cause some populist cred, maybe Gaetz can.


hotair--2020-12-04--Today's hot topics on Relevant Radio®: Jobs report, election news, religious liberty and SCOTUS, spi

Today's hot topics on Relevant Radio®: Jobs report, election news, religious liberty and SCOTUS, spiritual rights of patients, and more!

Once again , I get to step outside the box and guest host the Drew Mariani Show on Relevant Radio® @ @ @ @ @ The Catholic talk-radio network is heard nationwide on the air , as well as online @ @ @ @ @ app that plays live and podcast shows .
• Andy McCarthy on the latest from @ @ @ @ @ reviews the jobs report and the markets • Eric Kniffin on the impact from Roman @ @ @ @ @ Cuomo on religious liberty jurisprudence • Dr. Joseph Meaney on the spiritual rights of patients @ @ @ @ @ … stay tuned !
We may add more before the show starts today , plus @ @ @ @ @ of Divine Mercy in the second hour .
We will also take your calls at @ @ @ @ @ listen on the Relevant Radio® app no matter where you are in the world , @ @ @ @ @ I ’ ll look forward to talking with you !

Once again, I get to step outside the box and guest host the Drew Mariani Show on Relevant Radio® from 3-6 ET today! The Catholic talk-radio network is heard nationwide on the air, as well as online and through their free mobile app that plays live and podcast shows.
Today’s Relevant Radio® show includes:
Andy McCarthy on the latest from election challenges
Chris Temple reviews the jobs report and the markets
Eric Kniffin on the impact from Roman Catholic Diocese of Brooklyn v Cuomo on religious liberty jurisprudence
Dr. Joseph Meaney on the spiritual rights of patients
And more to come … stay tuned!
We may add more before the show starts today, plus we will have the chaplet of Divine Mercy in the second hour. We will also take your calls at 1-888-914-9149. You can also listen on the Relevant Radio® app no matter where you are in the world, so download it now. I’ll look forward to talking with you!


hotair--2020-12-04--Question for ABC: Are you reporting <i>Good Morning America</i> as an in-kind campaign donation to D

Question for ABC: Are you reporting <i>Good Morning America</i> as an in-kind campaign donation to Dems?

I ’ m not talking about interviewing Julia Louis-Dreyfus about the new Veep table read .
I ’ m also not talking about indulging in Louis-Dreyfus ’ criticism of the Trump administration , which is certainly fair game even if you disagree with it .
I ’ m not even complaining about the lack of balance on Good Morning America — if you ’ re watching it , you already know what you ’ re going to get on politics .
Caveat emptor , friends — they ’ re under no obligation to honor the long-dead Fairness Doctrine .
If @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for Democrats and campaign organizations , however , that ’ s another matter .
GOP rapid-response director Steve Guest noticed that former Clinton adviser-turned-ABC News anchor George Stephanopoulos turned this segment into a fundraiser for America Votes — a GOTV outfit for progressive Democrats : “ All of you at home can get tickets for Veep ‘ s live virtual table read happening on Sunday , ” Stephanopoulos says .
“ Go to Show Up For Georgia dot com.
” That is a subdomain of Act Blue ( check the redirect URL ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ candidates — and a very successful platform for that purpose , too .
According to OpenSecrets.org , it ’ s a hybrid PAC/super-PAC that raised well over three billion dollars in the 2020 cycle .
Half of that — well over $ 1.6 billion , according to Open Secrets — was spent on contributions to federal candidates , while $ 422 million went to committees ( including joint committees ) and $ 213 million went to “ national parties ” — in other words , to Democrats .
The America Votes page on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about where the ticket proceeds will go , either : If this was on one of ABC ’ s entertainment shows , it might still be suspect .
However , GMA operates under the aegis of ABC News , just as Nightline , This Week , and World News Tonight do .
Since when do news programs promote fundraising for political campaigns and candidates ?
This certainly looks like a massive in-kind contribution to Democrats .
What does ABC News have to say for themselves — and will they report this properly to @ @ @

I’m not talking about interviewing Julia Louis-Dreyfus about the new Veep table read. I’m also not talking about indulging in Louis-Dreyfus’ criticism of the Trump administration, which is certainly fair game even if you disagree with it. I’m not even complaining about the lack of balance on Good Morning America — if you’re watching it, you already know what you’re going to get on politics. Caveat emptor, friends — they’re under no obligation to honor the long-dead Fairness Doctrine.
If they’re going to raise money for Democrats and campaign organizations, however, that’s another matter. GOP rapid-response director Steve Guest noticed that former Clinton adviser-turned-ABC News anchor George Stephanopoulos turned this segment into a fundraiser for America Votes — a GOTV outfit for progressive Democrats:
WATCH: Egregious media bias in action: ABC's George Stephanopoulos has Julia Louis-Dreyfus on #GMA to promote a VEEP table read to benefit a progressive group trying to elect Democrats in Georgia. Stephanopoulos even encourages viewers to get tickets.https://t.co/W4XCSc7IUE pic.twitter.com/wO2c9Iff0Z — Steve Guest (@SteveGuest) December 4, 2020
“All of you at home can get tickets for Veep‘s live virtual table read happening on Sunday,” Stephanopoulos says. “Go to Show Up For Georgia dot com.” That is a subdomain of Act Blue (check the redirect URL), the online fundraising organization for Democratic candidates — and a very successful platform for that purpose, too. According to OpenSecrets.org, it’s a hybrid PAC/super-PAC that raised well over three billion dollars in the 2020 cycle. Half of that — well over $1.6 billion, according to Open Secrets — was spent on contributions to federal candidates, while $422 million went to committees (including joint committees) and $213 million went to “national parties” — in other words, to Democrats.
The America Votes page on which this domain lands makes no bones about where the ticket proceeds will go, either:
Your donation to America Votes directly supports the Georgia-based groups working to educate and turn out voters for January’s critical US Senate runoff elections. Join us to #ShowUpForGeorgia.
If this was on one of ABC’s entertainment shows, it might still be suspect. However, GMA operates under the aegis of ABC News, just as Nightline, This Week, and World News Tonight do. Since when do news programs promote fundraising for political campaigns and candidates?
This certainly looks like a massive in-kind contribution to Democrats. What does ABC News have to say for themselves — and will they report this properly to the IRS?


hotair--2020-12-04--Newsmax host to Lin Wood: Have you lost your freaking mind, encouraging Georgia Republicans not to v

Newsmax host to Lin Wood: Have you lost your freaking mind, encouraging Georgia Republicans not to vote?

Via RCP , it ’ s so enjoyable watching mainline MAGA types lecture the hardcore populists who want to boycott the Georgia runoffs when it ’ s the latter who are behaving consistently with the beliefs the two groups share , that massive vote-rigging cost Trump the election .
Of course you shouldn ’ t vote if you think Georgia ’ s electoral system is corrupt .
It ’ s pointless !
The outcome of the Senate races will be determined by the same nefarious cabal of villains who tilted Georgia blue this year — Dominion , the ghost of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ boycott would be a highly effective way to demand reform , too .
If you want to show the Republican establishment that you mean business about cleaning up “ fraud ” in Georgia ’ s electoral system , hit them where they live .
Deny them power by refusing to turn out for the runoffs and they ’ ll do anything you want to win you back .
To believe that Biden cheated or may have cheated in Georgia but that it ’ s also of the utmost importance to turn out for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ things must be true .
Either your mind is in a state where you can no longer tell truth from lies and thus feel no pressure towards logical consistency ( e.g .
Trump ) or you ’ re so blindly loyal to the president and to the party that you ’ re willing to push their messages even when their messages conflict .
Trump says you can ’ t trust Georgia ’ s electoral system but the GOP says it ’ s important to hold the Senate , so make sure to vote @ @ @ @ @ @ @ !
Kemp is right that Democrats are encouraging Lin Wood ’ s and Sidney Powell ’ s “ don ’ t vote ” message .
They ’ re even putting up billboards accusing Perdue or Loeffler of not having “ delivered ” for Trump , a meaningless accusation but one that should resonate with the sort of righty who believes that every Republican in Georgia is to blame for Trump ’ s loss there except for Trump himself .
In fact , there ’ s an odd but potentially potent alliance of different @ @ @ @ @ @ @ righties to turn out in Georgia , for different reasons .
There are the Wood/Powell true believers who think the system is rigged ; there are the mischievous Democrats looking to benefit from their demoralization ; and there are anti-Trump independents and Republicans who think that the GOP needs a painful lesson on what happens if they indulge the conspiracy theorists in their ranks too much .
I thought Newsmax would be part of the true-believer contingent , so imagine my surprise this morning to see this clip of host Grant Stinchfield criticizing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Newsmax has been growing by catering to a more radically populist audience , so why is Stinchfield giving the mainline MAGA take here ?
There ’ s plenty of “ to be sure , I love Lin Wood ” nonsense to soften the blow but he ’ s ultimately right in sync with all of the party apparatchiks and Fox News guests who think the election might have been rigged — but want people to vote anyway .
Watch , then read on .
There are two layers of dishonesty .
One is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of arguing simultaneously that Georgia ’ s system is corrupt but that Republicans should continue to participate in it .
But there ’ s also the dishonesty of believing that the very soul of this sacred country is on the line if … we get a 50/50 Senate where Joe Manchin and Kyrsten Sinema are the deciding votes .
Trump won Manchin ’ s state by 39 points .
Manchin has already ruled out ending the filibuster and packing the Court , contra Boothe ’ s worst fears above .
Basically , he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ place where he might help out liberals is on nominations and even then he ’ ll need to be careful not to piss off his overwhelmingly Republican state .
If the country is destined to be governed by Democrats for a few years , it ’ s almost impossible to imagine a less threatening arrangement than having Sleepy Joe Biden as president and a 50/50 Senate with Joe Manchin in control .
Admittedly , looking at it that way wouldn ’ t be good for GOP turnout .
If you want to win @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that the very soul of this sacred country is on the line .
But it just isn ’ t true right now .
It ’ s a good slogan , not reality .
In keeping with the weird “ don ’ t vote in Georgia ” alliance forming between hardcore Trumpers and Never Trumpers , there ’ s been a push among NTers lately to hold Georgia ’ s election officials accountable .
Not for the “ fraud ” they perpetrated on Election Day , as there was no fraud .
Rather , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump and the party even after they ’ ve been declared public enemies by MAGA Nation .
Jonathan Last wrote yesterday about the sad case of Gabriel Sterling , the voting systems manager in Brad Raffensperger ’ s office who called out Trump , Loeffler , and Perdue a few days ago for not discouraging the harassment he and other Georgia officials have been receiving .
Sterling ’ s criticism came with a caveat , though , Last noted .
He ’ s still a proud Republican and even intends to vote for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ So : Gabriel Sterling thinks that Republicans—and specifically the two Republicans running for the Senate in Georgia are saying things which are untrue and conducting themselves in a way that is “ un-American ” and makes them “ complicit ” in an attack against “ the backbone of our democracy.
” He says that their words and actions are “ going to get somebody killed.
” And he also says : “ I will vote for those two senators.
” [ I ] f a guy like Sterling says that Republicans are being @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the very “ backbone of our democracy ” AND that he ’ s still voting for them ?
Well , he is saying that he will always vote for Republicans , no matter what .
At which point there is no reason for anyone to pay attention to anything he says .
Because it ’ s nothing more than theatrics .
Loeffler and Perdue went so far as to call for the resignation of Sterling ’ s boss less than a week after the election , for no reason better than that they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and knew that condoning his demagoguery of Raffensperger would keep him on their side .
They put their political interests over respect for Georgia ’ s elections and the well-being of Raffensperger ’ s family , who have been threatened for weeks by lunatics .
And Sterling ’ s still voting for them .
One can ’ t even pity Raffensperger very much because he ’ s also said more than once since the election that he ’ s a Republican and that he wished Trump had won the election .
His wife @ @ @ @ @ @ @ various degenerates who blame him for Trump ’ s loss and he still wishes Trump had won .
Have none of these guys once reflected on the fact that a leader and a movement that would treat them the way they ’ ve been treated since November 3 maybe … shouldn ’ t govern the country ?
That they ’ re a bad influence on America ’ s civic culture ?
Raffensperger wrote an op-ed a few weeks ago complaining about Trump describing him as an “ enemy of the people ” but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ describe all sorts of political adversaries since 2016 .
As Amanda Carpenter says , why didn ’ t Trump ’ s use of that term disqualify him from earning Raffensperger ’ s vote before Raffensperger himself became the target of it ?
Do any of these people care about anyone other than themselves ?
The point , per Last , is that both sides of this have a “ party uber alles ” approach .
Stinchfield and the rest of the mainline MAGAists are willing to undermine everything they ’ ve said about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Republicans elected .
Sterling and Raffensperger are willing to undermine everything they ’ ve said about party leaders behaving irresponsibly to the same end .
They deserve each other .

Via RCP, it’s so enjoyable watching mainline MAGA types lecture the hardcore populists who want to boycott the Georgia runoffs when it’s the latter who are behaving consistently with the beliefs the two groups share, that massive vote-rigging cost Trump the election. Of course you shouldn’t vote if you think Georgia’s electoral system is corrupt. It’s pointless! The outcome of the Senate races will be determined by the same nefarious cabal of villains who tilted Georgia blue this year — Dominion, the ghost of Hugo Chavez, possibly Antifa.
A boycott would be a highly effective way to demand reform, too. If you want to show the Republican establishment that you mean business about cleaning up “fraud” in Georgia’s electoral system, hit them where they live. Deny them power by refusing to turn out for the runoffs and they’ll do anything you want to win you back.
To believe that Biden cheated or may have cheated in Georgia but that it’s also of the utmost importance to turn out for Loeffler and Perdue, one of two things must be true. Either your mind is in a state where you can no longer tell truth from lies and thus feel no pressure towards logical consistency (e.g. Trump) or you’re so blindly loyal to the president and to the party that you’re willing to push their messages even when their messages conflict. Trump says you can’t trust Georgia’s electoral system but the GOP says it’s important to hold the Senate, so make sure to vote in Georgia’s next corrupt election!
The reason to vote in GA isn’t because the election was fair or that you can trust the GOP to fight for you. It’s because we KNOW that Dems would destroy the country & dismantle it. Blowing up the filibuster, court packing, statehood for DC & Puerto Rico, Green New Deal… — Lisa Boothe (@LisaMarieBoothe) December 4, 2020
“Some of those comments are made by Democrats” pic.twitter.com/CL8KBmjEtk — Acyn (@Acyn) December 4, 2020
Kemp is right that Democrats are encouraging Lin Wood’s and Sidney Powell’s “don’t vote” message. They’re even putting up billboards accusing Perdue or Loeffler of not having “delivered” for Trump, a meaningless accusation but one that should resonate with the sort of righty who believes that every Republican in Georgia is to blame for Trump’s loss there except for Trump himself. In fact, there’s an odd but potentially potent alliance of different factions who don’t want populist righties to turn out in Georgia, for different reasons. There are the Wood/Powell true believers who think the system is rigged; there are the mischievous Democrats looking to benefit from their demoralization; and there are anti-Trump independents and Republicans who think that the GOP needs a painful lesson on what happens if they indulge the conspiracy theorists in their ranks too much.
I thought Newsmax would be part of the true-believer contingent, so imagine my surprise this morning to see this clip of host Grant Stinchfield criticizing Wood for his voter suppression efforts. Newsmax has been growing by catering to a more radically populist audience, so why is Stinchfield giving the mainline MAGA take here? There’s plenty of “to be sure, I love Lin Wood” nonsense to soften the blow but he’s ultimately right in sync with all of the party apparatchiks and Fox News guests who think the election might have been rigged — but want people to vote anyway. Watch, then read on.
There are two layers of dishonesty. One is the dishonesty I’ve already described of arguing simultaneously that Georgia’s system is corrupt but that Republicans should continue to participate in it. But there’s also the dishonesty of believing that the very soul of this sacred country is on the line if … we get a 50/50 Senate where Joe Manchin and Kyrsten Sinema are the deciding votes. Trump won Manchin’s state by 39 points. Manchin has already ruled out ending the filibuster and packing the Court, contra Boothe’s worst fears above. Basically, he’s Susan Collins. The only place where he might help out liberals is on nominations and even then he’ll need to be careful not to piss off his overwhelmingly Republican state. If the country is destined to be governed by Democrats for a few years, it’s almost impossible to imagine a less threatening arrangement than having Sleepy Joe Biden as president and a 50/50 Senate with Joe Manchin in control.
Admittedly, looking at it that way wouldn’t be good for GOP turnout. If you want to win, you have to convince your voters that the very soul of this sacred country is on the line. But it just isn’t true right now. It’s a good slogan, not reality.
In keeping with the weird “don’t vote in Georgia” alliance forming between hardcore Trumpers and Never Trumpers, there’s been a push among NTers lately to hold Georgia’s election officials accountable. Not for the “fraud” they perpetrated on Election Day, as there was no fraud. Rather, for their willingness to continue to support Trump and the party even after they’ve been declared public enemies by MAGA Nation. Jonathan Last wrote yesterday about the sad case of Gabriel Sterling, the voting systems manager in Brad Raffensperger’s office who called out Trump, Loeffler, and Perdue a few days ago for not discouraging the harassment he and other Georgia officials have been receiving. Sterling’s criticism came with a caveat, though, Last noted. He’s still a proud Republican and even intends to vote for Loeffler and Perdue on January 5.
So: Gabriel Sterling thinks that Republicans—and specifically the two Republicans running for the Senate in Georgia are saying things which are untrue and conducting themselves in a way that is “un-American” and makes them “complicit” in an attack against “the backbone of our democracy.” He says that their words and actions are “going to get somebody killed.” And he also says: “I will vote for those two senators.” WTF?… [I]f a guy like Sterling says that Republicans are being literally “un-American” and are attacking the very “backbone of our democracy” AND that he’s still voting for them? Well, he is saying that he will always vote for Republicans, no matter what. At which point there is no reason for anyone to pay attention to anything he says. Because it’s nothing more than theatrics.
Loeffler and Perdue went so far as to call for the resignation of Sterling’s boss less than a week after the election, for no reason better than that they need Trump’s support to win and knew that condoning his demagoguery of Raffensperger would keep him on their side. They put their political interests over respect for Georgia’s elections and the well-being of Raffensperger’s family, who have been threatened for weeks by lunatics. And Sterling’s still voting for them.
One can’t even pity Raffensperger very much because he’s also said more than once since the election that he’s a Republican and that he wished Trump had won the election. His wife is being threatened with sexual assault by various degenerates who blame him for Trump’s loss and he still wishes Trump had won. Have none of these guys once reflected on the fact that a leader and a movement that would treat them the way they’ve been treated since November 3 maybe … shouldn’t govern the country? That they’re a bad influence on America’s civic culture? Raffensperger wrote an op-ed a few weeks ago complaining about Trump describing him as an “enemy of the people” but the president has used that term to describe all sorts of political adversaries since 2016. As Amanda Carpenter says, why didn’t Trump’s use of that term disqualify him from earning Raffensperger’s vote before Raffensperger himself became the target of it?
Do any of these people care about anyone other than themselves?
The point, per Last, is that both sides of this have a “party uber alles” approach. Stinchfield and the rest of the mainline MAGAists are willing to undermine everything they’ve said about voter fraud in service to getting two Republicans elected. Sterling and Raffensperger are willing to undermine everything they’ve said about party leaders behaving irresponsibly to the same end. They deserve each other.