hotair--2020-08-12--Axelrod: Kamala Harris wasn't Biden's first choice, you know

Today is Kamala Harris ’ big day .
She ’ s been chosen as Joe Biden ’ s running mate and their first joint appearance will happen today .
All eyes are on Kamala .
And , the media has been working overtime to praise Team Biden ’ s decision .
The press is obediently reporting as they have been told to do .
This is the biggest day in the professional life of Kamala Harris .
It will only be topped if she and Biden win the election in November .
So , it must be a bummer that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Chicago pal David Axelrod admitted that she was not Biden ’ s first .
He wrote an op-ed for CNN ( he is a CNN political commentator ) and flat-out said that she was chosen because she ’ s Biden ’ s safe choice .
Biden , however , preferred Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer .
She ’ s a White woman , though , so she couldn ’ t be chosen – the demand for a Black woman was clear .
Others Biden considered may have fit more comfortably into partnership with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Gov .
Gretchen Whitmer of Michigan , but she would not have fulfilled the desire of those who prioritized a candidate of color .
Whitmer , a White moderate pick , also would have raised questions among supporters of progressive champion Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren , widely viewed after a lifetime of advocacy and a strong campaign for president as a tough , brilliant and capable policymaker .
But some also saw Warren as the most polarizing of the potential candidates , who would have been offered by Trump as evidence that the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the left .
California Rep. Karen Bass , the widely respected chair of the Congressional Black Caucus , emerged late in the process as the favorite of some on Biden ’ s team and Democratic leaders in Congress .
But she was damaged by reporting on her past positions on Cuba , which some Florida Democrats warned could cost Biden that most important battleground state .
Susan Rice was well known to Biden from her role as President Barack Obama ’ s national security adviser , which gave her perhaps the deepest @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
But she has never run for office before and her choice , they feared , would have revived attacks on her handling of Benghazi , which could have been a distraction .
Axelrod also went on to say that Sen. Tammy Duckworth , an Iraq war veteran , was ruled out due to fears over birtherism .
Her Thai mother and American father , and her childhood in Thailand and Indonesia were seen as possibly bringing birtherism-style claims against her eligibility , though there is no evidence it .
It comes down @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the safe choice .
Imagine how crazy the Democrat Party is today that Harris is being portrayed by a fawning media as a moderate .
She is not , of course , but in comparison to say , Karen Bass , she appears to be more reasonable .
In reality , it was Barack Obama that was pushing Harris to run for president in the first place , if reports are true .
He is said to have encouraged her to run during the same time that stories were published that he was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ t have to run .
So , was it the heavy hand of Obama and his people that made the decision for Sleepy Joe ?
I wouldn ’ t count that out .
While Kamala may be pushed on suburban women and conservative-leaning Black voters as a safe choice , that she is not some far-left socialist , it will be easy for ads to be cut showing a different story from Team Trump .
She is in support of Medicare For All , the Green New Deal , and destroying the fossil @ @ @ @ @ @ @ few positions .
She also supports forgiving student loan debt , free community college , and debt-free four-year college education .
Biden apparently felt that Whitmer was his best choice but she didn ’ t check the woman of color box .
Biden can not win the election without the votes of Black voters , especially Black women .
Hillary Clinton failed to do that and lost in 2016 .
It is up to Biden to assure Democrat voters that he ’ ll be the third term of Barack Obama .
He ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ turn and now he can point to Kamala and tout his choice as the first Black woman to run on a presidential ticket .
Trump is running against Harris , make no mistake about that .
He is not running against Biden .
Biden is a figurehead and a frail , unwell one at that .
Sixty percent of Americans polled think that Biden is unlikely to last a full four-year term in office .
While the choice of a vice-presidential candidate is normally not a factor in the minds of voters , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ We ’ ve never had two septuagenarians running against each other for the top office in the land .
Biden is even at the top end of the category at age 77 .
He ’ ll turn 78 just days after the election in November .
Harris will now be set up to run in 2024 for president , if she has to wait that long , so she will be an aggressive and motivated vice-president , should the Democrats win .
Biden has to do everything possible to not rock the boat @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be the attack dog while he hangs out in his basement as long as possible .
He had to use a script during his phone call to Harris to let her know that she is his choice and he held up a cell phone during the call , indicating a third person was on the call .
If the man can ’ t speak to his vice-presidential choice off the cuff , how will he be able to speak with world leaders without notes ?
After almost 50 years in political office , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do that , at a minimum ?
Kamala is a terrible candidate , which is a plus for Team Trump .
Her laugh is odd and sounds forced .
She called Biden a racist and took him to task for working with segregationists in the Senate .
She said she believed Biden ’ s accusers – women who spoke out about alleged bad behavior on the part of Biden .
Yet , Biden is so cowed by the far-left and the Democrat base that he didn ’ t even choose a running mate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ just to appease Black voters .
He has some work to do , though , because the Bernie Bros are not thrilled with Kamala .
She was California ’ s top cop and this year , cops are not popular with them .
Sanders ’ former national press secretary is not pleased .

Today is Kamala Harris’ big day. She’s been chosen as Joe Biden’s running mate and their first joint appearance will happen today. All eyes are on Kamala. And, the media has been working overtime to praise Team Biden’s decision. The press is obediently reporting as they have been told to do.
This is the biggest day in the professional life of Kamala Harris. It will only be topped if she and Biden win the election in November. So, it must be a bummer that Barack Obama’s former political strategist and Chicago pal David Axelrod admitted that she was not Biden’s first. He wrote an op-ed for CNN (he is a CNN political commentator) and flat-out said that she was chosen because she’s Biden’s safe choice. Biden, however, preferred Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer. She’s a White woman, though, so she couldn’t be chosen – the demand for a Black woman was clear.
Others Biden considered may have fit more comfortably into partnership with him. He reportedly clicked well with Gov. Gretchen Whitmer of Michigan, but she would not have fulfilled the desire of those who prioritized a candidate of color. Whitmer, a White moderate pick, also would have raised questions among supporters of progressive champion Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren, widely viewed after a lifetime of advocacy and a strong campaign for president as a tough, brilliant and capable policymaker. But some also saw Warren as the most polarizing of the potential candidates, who would have been offered by Trump as evidence that the moderate Biden is merely a Trojan Horse for the left. California Rep. Karen Bass, the widely respected chair of the Congressional Black Caucus, emerged late in the process as the favorite of some on Biden’s team and Democratic leaders in Congress. But she was damaged by reporting on her past positions on Cuba, which some Florida Democrats warned could cost Biden that most important battleground state. Susan Rice was well known to Biden from her role as President Barack Obama’s national security adviser, which gave her perhaps the deepest insight into the demands of the presidency. But she has never run for office before and her choice, they feared, would have revived attacks on her handling of Benghazi, which could have been a distraction.
Axelrod also went on to say that Sen. Tammy Duckworth, an Iraq war veteran, was ruled out due to fears over birtherism. Her Thai mother and American father, and her childhood in Thailand and Indonesia were seen as possibly bringing birtherism-style claims against her eligibility, though there is no evidence it.
It comes down to the decision that Kamala Harris is the safe choice. Imagine how crazy the Democrat Party is today that Harris is being portrayed by a fawning media as a moderate. She is not, of course, but in comparison to say, Karen Bass, she appears to be more reasonable. In reality, it was Barack Obama that was pushing Harris to run for president in the first place, if reports are true. He is said to have encouraged her to run during the same time that stories were published that he was telling Biden that he really didn’t have to run. So, was it the heavy hand of Obama and his people that made the decision for Sleepy Joe? I wouldn’t count that out.
While Kamala may be pushed on suburban women and conservative-leaning Black voters as a safe choice, that she is not some far-left socialist, it will be easy for ads to be cut showing a different story from Team Trump. She is in support of Medicare For All, the Green New Deal, and destroying the fossil fuel industry, just to name a few positions. She also supports forgiving student loan debt, free community college, and debt-free four-year college education.
Biden apparently felt that Whitmer was his best choice but she didn’t check the woman of color box. Biden cannot win the election without the votes of Black voters, especially Black women. Hillary Clinton failed to do that and lost in 2016. It is up to Biden to assure Democrat voters that he’ll be the third term of Barack Obama. He’s caved to the far-left at every turn and now he can point to Kamala and tout his choice as the first Black woman to run on a presidential ticket.
Trump is running against Harris, make no mistake about that. He is not running against Biden. Biden is a figurehead and a frail, unwell one at that. Sixty percent of Americans polled think that Biden is unlikely to last a full four-year term in office. While the choice of a vice-presidential candidate is normally not a factor in the minds of voters, this is not a normal election. We’ve never had two septuagenarians running against each other for the top office in the land. Biden is even at the top end of the category at age 77. He’ll turn 78 just days after the election in November. Harris will now be set up to run in 2024 for president, if she has to wait that long, so she will be an aggressive and motivated vice-president, should the Democrats win.
Biden has to do everything possible to not rock the boat. He’ll allow Harris to be the attack dog while he hangs out in his basement as long as possible. He had to use a script during his phone call to Harris to let her know that she is his choice and he held up a cell phone during the call, indicating a third person was on the call. If the man can’t speak to his vice-presidential choice off the cuff, how will he be able to speak with world leaders without notes? After almost 50 years in political office, shouldn’t he be expected to do that, at a minimum?
Kamala is a terrible candidate, which is a plus for Team Trump. Her laugh is odd and sounds forced. She called Biden a racist and took him to task for working with segregationists in the Senate. She said she believed Biden’s accusers – women who spoke out about alleged bad behavior on the part of Biden. Yet, Biden is so cowed by the far-left and the Democrat base that he didn’t even choose a running mate that he is most comfortable with, just to appease Black voters. He has some work to do, though, because the Bernie Bros are not thrilled with Kamala. She was California’s top cop and this year, cops are not popular with them.
Sanders’ former national press secretary is not pleased.
We are in the midst of the largest protest movement in American history, the subject of which is excessive policing, and the Democratic Party chose a “top cop” and the author of the Joe Biden crime bill to save us from Trump. The contempt for the base is, wow. — Briahna Joy Gray (@briebriejoy) August 11, 2020
Barack Obama is thrilled.


hotair--2020-08-12--New Portland DA not interested in prosecuting rioters

Out in Oregon , Multnomah County has itself a new District Attorney .
And since that ’ s the county that covers most of Portland , you ’ d expect that Mike Schmidt is going to be a pretty busy man , right ?
I mean , what with all of the stores being looted , buildings being set on fire and physical attacks on both civilians and the police in the streets , his dance card should be pretty full for his entire first term .
Strangely enough , however , Schmidt doesn ’ t sound like he has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the moment .
When asked about upcoming cases , he told The Oregonian that his office doesn ’ t intend to prosecute many “ protesters ” because… well , he doesn ’ t make that part entirely clear .
Let ’ s take a look .
Multnomah County District Attorney Mike Schmidt announced on Tuesday that his office will not prosecute many protesters who have been arrested during recent Portland demonstrations .
Schmidt said his office will presumptively decline to prosecute those whose most serious accusation doesn ’ t involve deliberate property damage @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of force against someone else .
Charges that fall under that category include interfering with a peace officer , second-degree disorderly conduct and rioting , among others .
Those whose most serious accusation involves a city ordinance violation will also not be prosecuted .
Okay , so his initial statement was a bit misleading .
Going into the details , Schmidt ’ s office doesn ’ t plan on prosecuting people for crimes that don ’ t include property damage , theft or the use of force against persons .
So does that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ actual peaceful protesters who march and carry signs but clear out of Dodge when Antifa and the criminals show up at sundown ?
Because if so , I ’ d be fine with that .
But we ’ re left with the impression that he ’ s not leaning entirely in that direction .
He went on to say that people not in line for prosecution would include those accused of “ interference with a peace officer ” or “ rioting.
” There also won ’ t be any prosecutions for violations of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Then why bother having those laws on the books if you ’ re not going to hold people accountable ?
Schmidt goes on to say that he understands “ the depth of emotion that motivates these demonstrations and support those who are civically engaged through peaceful protesting.
” That ’ s just more of the same old horse-hockey that we ’ ve grown accustomed to of late .
Nobody is asking you to prosecute the actual peaceful protesters .
There ’ s no reason to do that because the peaceful people aren ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ ve got a massive backlog of people who do not fall into that category .
And from the sound of it , most of them will never see a day in court , to say nothing of spending a night behind bars or paying a fine for the destruction they caused .
What this boils down to is the usual case of prosecutorial discretion for me , but not for thee .
When the Bad Orange Man ’ s Justice Department doesn ’ t want to prosecute one of his buddies on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dreamed up this month , he ’ s undermining the rule of law and creating a constitutional crisis .
But when The Obama DoJ opts to not prosecute Hillary Clinton ’ s top aide on charges of embezzlement , they ’ re just “ focusing on more serious issues.
” This same principle is on display at the municipal level in cities around the country that are being torn apart by riots , looting and arson committed in the name of George Floyd or something .
And from the sounds of things , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the near future .

Out in Oregon, Multnomah County has itself a new District Attorney. And since that’s the county that covers most of Portland, you’d expect that Mike Schmidt is going to be a pretty busy man, right? I mean, what with all of the stores being looted, buildings being set on fire and physical attacks on both civilians and the police in the streets, his dance card should be pretty full for his entire first term. Strangely enough, however, Schmidt doesn’t sound like he has all that much on his plate at the moment. When asked about upcoming cases, he told The Oregonian that his office doesn’t intend to prosecute many “protesters” because… well, he doesn’t make that part entirely clear. Let’s take a look.
Multnomah County District Attorney Mike Schmidt announced on Tuesday that his office will not prosecute many protesters who have been arrested during recent Portland demonstrations. Schmidt said his office will presumptively decline to prosecute those whose most serious accusation doesn’t involve deliberate property damage, theft or the use or threat of force against someone else. Charges that fall under that category include interfering with a peace officer, second-degree disorderly conduct and rioting, among others. Those whose most serious accusation involves a city ordinance violation will also not be prosecuted.
Okay, so his initial statement was a bit misleading. Going into the details, Schmidt’s office doesn’t plan on prosecuting people for crimes that don’t include property damage, theft or the use of force against persons. So does that mean that’s just ignoring the actual peaceful protesters who march and carry signs but clear out of Dodge when Antifa and the criminals show up at sundown? Because if so, I’d be fine with that.
But we’re left with the impression that he’s not leaning entirely in that direction. He went on to say that people not in line for prosecution would include those accused of “interference with a peace officer” or “rioting.” There also won’t be any prosecutions for violations of city ordinances. Oh, really? Then why bother having those laws on the books if you’re not going to hold people accountable?
Schmidt goes on to say that he understands “the depth of emotion that motivates these demonstrations and support those who are civically engaged through peaceful protesting.”
That’s just more of the same old horse-hockey that we’ve grown accustomed to of late. Nobody is asking you to prosecute the actual peaceful protesters. There’s no reason to do that because the peaceful people aren’t breaking any laws. But you’ve got a massive backlog of people who do not fall into that category. And from the sound of it, most of them will never see a day in court, to say nothing of spending a night behind bars or paying a fine for the destruction they caused.
What this boils down to is the usual case of prosecutorial discretion for me, but not for thee. When the Bad Orange Man’s Justice Department doesn’t want to prosecute one of his buddies on whatever charges the Manhattan District Attorney has dreamed up this month, he’s undermining the rule of law and creating a constitutional crisis. But when The Obama DoJ opts to not prosecute Hillary Clinton’s top aide on charges of embezzlement, they’re just “focusing on more serious issues.”
This same principle is on display at the municipal level in cities around the country that are being torn apart by riots, looting and arson committed in the name of George Floyd or something. And from the sounds of things, that’s not likely to change in the near future.


hotair--2020-08-12--Harris' history on law and order is more than "complicated"

Before getting to the meat of the subject at hand , I just wanted to take a moment and make one observation that ’ s been tugging at the back of my mind since last night .
It was really brought into focus by a tweet from one of NBC ’ s reporters this morning , showing the headline in Harris ’ hometown paper .
At the risk of picking nits here , is it really Kamala Harris who “ made history ” yesterday or Joe Biden ?
( Assuming that we ’ re seeing history in the making , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s the former , what did Harris actually , you know… do to “ make history ?
” In reality , she ran a simply awful primary campaign that never gained any serious , lasting momentum and wound up quitting before the voting even started .
And then , in this historic moment , she had to be plucked back out of the crowd by the same elderly , white , straight , Christian cisgender male who thoroughly trounced her in the race .
Hey , I ’ m just saying… Moving on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s selection of Kamala Harris as his running mate ( and likely replacement if the beliefs of a majority of the country prove prescient ) there were immediate questions popping up as to how she would define herself for her latest political incarnation .
Is she still the “ law and order ” candidate that locked up tens of thousands of persons of color in California as Attorney General ?
Or will she now bill herself as a soft-on-crime friend to the lawless masses taking to the streets to demand reform , defunding @ @ @ @ @ @ @ why not both ?
As far as her tough-on-crime reputation goes , the LA TImes explored her history last October when she was still running for the nomination .
Her time as a prosecutor during California ’ s “ lock ’ em up era ” is well documented .
She remained a proponent of the death penalty throughout her law enforcement career despite the fact , as the Times points out , that it ’ s disproportionately used on persons of color .
She was part of the team supporting Republican Governor Pete @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , “ We ’ re going to start turning career criminals into career inmates.
” ( At least until she took a leave of absence to serve on some choice board positions that her boyfriend , California Assembly Speaker Willie Brown , lined up for her . )
But more recently , Harris has shown signs of having an entirely new attitude .
As Fox News has already pointed out , while Minneapolis was going up in flames , Harris broadcast her support for a group providing bail money for “ protesters.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more than just demonstrators , including people accused of murder , rape and any number of other violent crimes .
A new FOX 9 report shows that among the people helped by the Minnesota Freedom Fund ( MFF ) – which received donations from a number of Joe Biden campaign staffers as it saw a $ 35 million fundraising windfall in the weeks after Floyd ’ s death – are Darnika Floyd , who was charged with second-degree murder after allegedly stabbing a friend to death , and Christopher Boswell , who is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” “ FOX 9 also reported that Jaleel Stallings , who is accused of shooting at police during the May riots , was bailed out by MFF for $ 75,000 .
Donovan Boone , who was charged with invading the home of his ex and choking her , was bailed out for $ 3,000.
” This is the dilemma that Biden faces after naming Harris as his running mate .
Much of the country is very nervous about the rise of violence and unrest in the cities , particularly as it threatens to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ progressive base uncle Joe needs to turn out in huge numbers if he hopes to win want to see support for the riots and a leash put on the police .
So who is Kamala Harris this month ?
Who will she be in November and over the next four years ?
I suppose the shortest and easiest answer is that she ’ s a politician .
So she ’ ll be whoever you want her to be so long as you vote for Joe .
But if she winds up being sworn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ President after that , we ’ ll learn once and for all what she really stands for .

Before getting to the meat of the subject at hand, I just wanted to take a moment and make one observation that’s been tugging at the back of my mind since last night. It was really brought into focus by a tweet from one of NBC’s reporters this morning, showing the headline in Harris’ hometown paper.
Front page of the hometown paper today: pic.twitter.com/5U8R4ieLK3 — Amanda Golden (@amandawgolden) August 12, 2020
“Harris Makes History as Biden’s Pick for VP”
At the risk of picking nits here, is it really Kamala Harris who “made history” yesterday or Joe Biden? (Assuming that we’re seeing history in the making, of course.) If it’s the former, what did Harris actually, you know… do to “make history?” In reality, she ran a simply awful primary campaign that never gained any serious, lasting momentum and wound up quitting before the voting even started. And then, in this historic moment, she had to be plucked back out of the crowd by the same elderly, white, straight, Christian cisgender male who thoroughly trounced her in the race. Hey, I’m just saying…
Moving on. In the hours following Biden’s selection of Kamala Harris as his running mate (and likely replacement if the beliefs of a majority of the country prove prescient) there were immediate questions popping up as to how she would define herself for her latest political incarnation. Is she still the “law and order” candidate that locked up tens of thousands of persons of color in California as Attorney General? Or will she now bill herself as a soft-on-crime friend to the lawless masses taking to the streets to demand reform, defunding and/or abolishment of the police? Hey… why not both?
As far as her tough-on-crime reputation goes, the LA TImes explored her history last October when she was still running for the nomination. Her time as a prosecutor during California’s “lock ’em up era” is well documented. She remained a proponent of the death penalty throughout her law enforcement career despite the fact, as the Times points out, that it’s disproportionately used on persons of color. She was part of the team supporting Republican Governor Pete Wilson in 1994 when he famously declared, “We’re going to start turning career criminals into career inmates.” (At least until she took a leave of absence to serve on some choice board positions that her boyfriend, California Assembly Speaker Willie Brown, lined up for her.)
But more recently, Harris has shown signs of having an entirely new attitude. As Fox News has already pointed out, while Minneapolis was going up in flames, Harris broadcast her support for a group providing bail money for “protesters.” But the group was bailing out far more than just demonstrators, including people accused of murder, rape and any number of other violent crimes.
If you’re able to, chip in now to the @MNFreedomFund to help post bail for those protesting on the ground in Minnesota. https://t.co/t8LXowKIbw — Kamala Harris (@KamalaHarris) June 1, 2020
A new FOX 9 report shows that among the people helped by the Minnesota Freedom Fund (MFF) – which received donations from a number of Joe Biden campaign staffers as it saw a $35 million fundraising windfall in the weeks after Floyd’s death – are Darnika Floyd, who was charged with second-degree murder after allegedly stabbing a friend to death, and Christopher Boswell, who is facing charges of sexual assault and kidnapping.” “FOX 9 also reported that Jaleel Stallings, who is accused of shooting at police during the May riots, was bailed out by MFF for $75,000. Donovan Boone, who was charged with invading the home of his ex and choking her, was bailed out for $3,000.”
This is the dilemma that Biden faces after naming Harris as his running mate. Much of the country is very nervous about the rise of violence and unrest in the cities, particularly as it threatens to move into the suburbs. But the progressive base uncle Joe needs to turn out in huge numbers if he hopes to win want to see support for the riots and a leash put on the police. So who is Kamala Harris this month? Who will she be in November and over the next four years?
I suppose the shortest and easiest answer is that she’s a politician. So she’ll be whoever you want her to be so long as you vote for Joe. But if she winds up being sworn in as the Veep and possibly the President after that, we’ll learn once and for all what she really stands for.


hotair--2020-08-12--BLM Chicago: Corporations looted us far more than a few "looters" stole this weekend

This isn ’ t quite the denunciation one might hope to see .
As criticism of Chicago mayor Lori Lightfoot crescendoes after the organized pillaging of the Magnificent Mile this weekend , Black Lives Matter Chicago added to it late Monday — but from an entirely different direction .
In an official statement , BLM Chicago derided concerns over looting , claiming that “ corporations have “ looted ” more from our communities than a few protesters ever could , yet the Mayor reserves her anger for the latter ” ( via Jeryl Bier ) : This morning , Mayor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a predictable and unfortunate move , she did not take this time to criticize her officers for shooting yet another Black man .
Lightfoot instead spent her time attacking “ looters.
” The mayor clearly has not learned anything since May , and she would be wise to understand that the people will keep rising up until the CPD is abolished and our Black communities are fully invested in .
Contrary to Mayor Lightfoot ’ s position , Black lives are and always will be more important than downtown corporations who siphon Tax @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , while avoiding taxes , and exploiting the labor of Black and Brown Chicagoans .
These corporations have “ looted ” more from our communities than a few protesters ever could , yet the Mayor reserves her anger for the latter .
We will remain in the streets until our demands are met .
In case the point hasn ’ t been made clearly enough , BLM suggests that the looting over the weekend was just the start of some restorative justice — or at least restorative until the city meets its demands @ @ @ @ @ @ @ quick to condemn attacks on “ our city ” and play up racialized fears for the city ’ s white residents .
These commentators seem to believe that the immense wealth that has been hoarded in downtown Chicago is in some way all of ours .
The South and West sides have seen no benefits to this hoarding .
Over the past few months , too many people — disproportionately Black and Brown — have lost their jobs , lost their income , lost their homes , and lost their lives as the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ elite have profited .
When protesters attack high-end retail stores that are owned by the wealthy and service the wealthy , that is not “ our ” city and has never been meant for us .
The Mayor can not expect people to play by her rules as she refuses to treat them with basic dignity .
These protests can only end when the safety and wellbeing of our communities is finally prioritized .
This statement might suggest that BLM Chicago had something to do with the planning of the weekend pillaging .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ noted that this didn ’ t resemble normal ad-hoc looting , where a breakdown in order precedes a sudden rush to cash in .
When progressive activist priest Rev .
Michael Pfleger notices that “ this was obviously very orchestrated , ” that points to a conspiracy : CBS Chicago reports that former Bears player Patrick Mannelly witnessed the looting from his high-rise condo and saw cars driving up to a U-Haul truck and putting stolen goods into the trailer .
… Brown said after a crowd dissipated following that shooting “ we @ @ @ @ @ @ @ across a post of a caravan of cars being prompted to go to our downtown and loot.
” Along the Magnificent Mile , people were seen going in and out of stores carrying shopping bags full of merchandise as well as at a bank , the Chicago Tribune reported , and as the crowd grew vehicles dropped off more people in the area .
On streets throughout the downtown area , empty cash drawers from stores were strewn about and ATMs were ripped open .
Stores miles from downtown were also ransacked , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ items from inside the stores .
Clothes hangers and boxes that once contained television sets and other electronics were seen – evidence that thieves had taken racks of clothes and removed them from the hangers .
“ This was obviously very orchestrated , ” the Rev .
Michael Pfleger , a prominent Roman Catholic priest and activist on the city ’ s South Side , told CBS Chicago as cameras panned the downtown area .
Obviously , but by whom ?
Chicago police and Lori Lightfoot pledged to get to the bottom of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Chicago ’ s objections to her presser on Sunday .
Those going public with defenses of organized looting and veiled threats to continue it might reasonably be considered potential subjects of interest in an investigation .
Even if police don ’ t address it from that direction , the social-media communications necessary to arrange this kind of organized assault will likely lead investigators up the chain to the real organizers , and allow for prosecution on much more serious charges than just theft and mayhem .
Or perhaps this is just another example @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nothing more significant than that .
Media outlets such as Politifact try to downplay the group ’ s Marxist origins and beliefs ( at least at the national level ) by claiming that “ there really is no standard ” for a definition of Marxism .
Politifact ’ s editors do sorta-kinda acknowledge the fact that at least three of its founders were avowed Marxists , and that this declaration on the meaning of the nuclear family has quite a bit in common with communist ideology : This statement could be seen as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ redistribution .
The question will be : is that all it is ?
Or is it a demand for surrender of control to mobs organized for a very specific purpose ?

This isn’t quite the denunciation one might hope to see. As criticism of Chicago mayor Lori Lightfoot crescendoes after the organized pillaging of the Magnificent Mile this weekend, Black Lives Matter Chicago added to it late Monday — but from an entirely different direction. In an official statement, BLM Chicago derided concerns over looting, claiming that “corporations have “looted” more from our communities than a few protesters ever could, yet the Mayor reserves her anger for the latter” (via Jeryl Bier):
This morning, Mayor Lightfoot held a press conference. In a predictable and unfortunate move, she did not take this time to criticize her officers for shooting yet another Black man. Lightfoot instead spent her time attacking “looters.” The mayor clearly has not learned anything since May, and she would be wise to understand that the people will keep rising up until the CPD is abolished and our Black communities are fully invested in. Contrary to Mayor Lightfoot’s position, Black lives are and always will be more important than downtown corporations who siphon Tax Increment Financing (T.I.F.) money, while avoiding taxes, and exploiting the labor of Black and Brown Chicagoans. These corporations have “looted” more from our communities than a few protesters ever could, yet the Mayor reserves her anger for the latter. We will remain in the streets until our demands are met.
In case the point hasn’t been made clearly enough, BLM suggests that the looting over the weekend was just the start of some restorative justice — or at least restorative until the city meets its demands:
Others in the media have been quick to condemn attacks on “our city” and play up racialized fears for the city’s white residents. These commentators seem to believe that the immense wealth that has been hoarded in downtown Chicago is in some way all of ours. The South and West sides have seen no benefits to this hoarding. Over the past few months, too many people — disproportionately Black and Brown — have lost their jobs, lost their income, lost their homes, and lost their lives as the city has done nothing and the Chicago elite have profited. When protesters attack high-end retail stores that are owned by the wealthy and service the wealthy, that is not “our” city and has never been meant for us. The Mayor cannot expect people to play by her rules as she refuses to treat them with basic dignity. These protests can only end when the safety and wellbeing of our communities is finally prioritized.
This statement might suggest that BLM Chicago had something to do with the planning of the weekend pillaging. The police and the media have already noted that this didn’t resemble normal ad-hoc looting, where a breakdown in order precedes a sudden rush to cash in. When progressive activist priest Rev. Michael Pfleger notices that “this was obviously very orchestrated,” that points to a conspiracy:
CBS Chicago reports that former Bears player Patrick Mannelly witnessed the looting from his high-rise condo and saw cars driving up to a U-Haul truck and putting stolen goods into the trailer. … Brown said after a crowd dissipated following that shooting “we are monitoring social media and we come across a post of a caravan of cars being prompted to go to our downtown and loot.” Along the Magnificent Mile, people were seen going in and out of stores carrying shopping bags full of merchandise as well as at a bank, the Chicago Tribune reported, and as the crowd grew vehicles dropped off more people in the area. On streets throughout the downtown area, empty cash drawers from stores were strewn about and ATMs were ripped open. Stores miles from downtown were also ransacked, with parking lots littered with glass and items from inside the stores. Clothes hangers and boxes that once contained television sets and other electronics were seen – evidence that thieves had taken racks of clothes and removed them from the hangers. “This was obviously very orchestrated,” the Rev. Michael Pfleger, a prominent Roman Catholic priest and activist on the city’s South Side, told CBS Chicago as cameras panned the downtown area.
Obviously, but by whom? Chicago police and Lori Lightfoot pledged to get to the bottom of it, which is one of BLM Chicago’s objections to her presser on Sunday. Those going public with defenses of organized looting and veiled threats to continue it might reasonably be considered potential subjects of interest in an investigation. Even if police don’t address it from that direction, the social-media communications necessary to arrange this kind of organized assault will likely lead investigators up the chain to the real organizers, and allow for prosecution on much more serious charges than just theft and mayhem.
Or perhaps this is just another example of BLM’s Marxist-redistributionist rhetoric and nothing more significant than that. Media outlets such as Politifact try to downplay the group’s Marxist origins and beliefs (at least at the national level) by claiming that “there really is no standard” for a definition of Marxism. Politifact’s editors do sorta-kinda acknowledge the fact that at least three of its founders were avowed Marxists, and that this declaration on the meaning of the nuclear family has quite a bit in common with communist ideology:
We disrupt the Western-prescribed nuclear family structure requirement by supporting each other as extended families and “villages” that collectively care for one another, especially our children, to the degree that mothers, parents, and children are comfortable.
This statement could be seen as nothing more than a militant version of redistribution. The question will be: is that all it is? Or is it a demand for surrender of control to mobs organized for a very specific purpose?


hotair--2020-08-13--Chicago: You know, someone should hold these looters accountable...

We finally know what it takes for Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot to give up the ghost and declare the rioting and looting to be , well… rioting and looting .
It was the ransacking of the Magnificent Mile which is , as Allahpundit noted , Chicago ’ s answer to 5th Avenue in New York or Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills .
There was no pretense of anyone calling for justice for George Floyd or racial tolerance or whatever the latest watchword of the day might be .
People were literally showing up with U-Haul trucks and emptying out all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
So how did the Mayor respond ?
She described it as “ straight-up , felony criminal conduct ” and “ an assault on our city.
” Okay then .
Now that we ’ ve established that you have a crime wave going on and not some sort of First Amendment issue , what do you plan to do about it ?
It looks like the Mayor huddled with the Chicago PD and they ’ ve decided to launch an investigation .
What a brilliant plan .
I wonder why nobody thought of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ One day after another round of violent looting tore through downtown Chicago and the Magnificent Mile , Chicago Police announced the creation of a new task force to help hold looters responsible .
The Bureau of Detectives is seeking help from businesses and community leaders in gathering that information .
As CBS 2 Investigator Megan Hickey reported , the task force is hoping to use the pictures and videos to track the looters down .
Collecting all of the surveillance videos and attempting to identify the looters seems like something that the police @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I don ’ t know… April ?
Instead , this new strategy is looking like a marked departure from the previous Lightfoot and Chicago PD philosophy of mimicking the street poet ’ s in Springsteen ’ s Jungleland and just standing back to let it all be .
CBS Chicago spoke to one shop owner from the less glamorous end of the Magnificent Mile who was both shocked and frustrated to find that the Mayor had suddenly been spurred to action after it was far too late for her more modest business .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ consignment shop “ The Find ” in November .
Zahid and her twin brother had previously marched with Black Lives Matter activists and worked to promote racial justice as minority store owners .
That didn ’ t slow the mob down .
The shop ’ s windows were smashed and $ 35,000 worth of inventory was taken .
She ’ s not sure if she will be able to afford to reopen .
And even if she does , she ’ s worried that it will just happen again on Black Friday or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sign that the “ peaceful protesters ” really know no boundaries , here ’ s an even more depressing side note .
On Monday , they took time out to smash in the windows and doors at the Ronald McDonald house near one of the city ’ s hospitals .
For those not familiar with this service , they provide free housing for families who have severely ill children in the hospital for extended periods , frequently including those children undergoing cancer treatment .
( Free Beacon ) Just lovely .
But now @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the awesome investigatory powers of the Chicago PD to examine some videos and see if any of the thieves can be identified and arrested .
Normally we might say “ better late than never , ” but in this case , it might already be too late .
Control of the city has been surrendered to the mob and they no longer fear retribution from the police .
The thin veneer of civilization has been torn and you ’ re getting a peek at what dwells on the other side .

We finally know what it takes for Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot to give up the ghost and declare the rioting and looting to be, well… rioting and looting. It was the ransacking of the Magnificent Mile which is, as Allahpundit noted, Chicago’s answer to 5th Avenue in New York or Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills. There was no pretense of anyone calling for justice for George Floyd or racial tolerance or whatever the latest watchword of the day might be. People were literally showing up with U-Haul trucks and emptying out all of the high-end, luxury goods stores.
So how did the Mayor respond? She described it as “straight-up, felony criminal conduct” and “an assault on our city.” Okay then. Now that we’ve established that you have a crime wave going on and not some sort of First Amendment issue, what do you plan to do about it? It looks like the Mayor huddled with the Chicago PD and they’ve decided to launch an investigation. What a brilliant plan. I wonder why nobody thought of that before? (CBS Chicago)
One day after another round of violent looting tore through downtown Chicago and the Magnificent Mile, Chicago Police announced the creation of a new task force to help hold looters responsible. The Bureau of Detectives is seeking help from businesses and community leaders in gathering that information. As CBS 2 Investigator Megan Hickey reported, the task force is hoping to use the pictures and videos to track the looters down.
Collecting all of the surveillance videos and attempting to identify the looters seems like something that the police should have been doing back in, I don’t know… April? Instead, this new strategy is looking like a marked departure from the previous Lightfoot and Chicago PD philosophy of mimicking the street poet’s in Springsteen’s Jungleland and just standing back to let it all be.
CBS Chicago spoke to one shop owner from the less glamorous end of the Magnificent Mile who was both shocked and frustrated to find that the Mayor had suddenly been spurred to action after it was far too late for her more modest business. Maleeha Zahid had just opened up her consignment shop “The Find” in November. Zahid and her twin brother had previously marched with Black Lives Matter activists and worked to promote racial justice as minority store owners. That didn’t slow the mob down. The shop’s windows were smashed and $35,000 worth of inventory was taken. She’s not sure if she will be able to afford to reopen. And even if she does, she’s worried that it will just happen again on Black Friday or on Christmas.
Meanwhile, in a sign that the “peaceful protesters” really know no boundaries, here’s an even more depressing side note. On Monday, they took time out to smash in the windows and doors at the Ronald McDonald house near one of the city’s hospitals. For those not familiar with this service, they provide free housing for families who have severely ill children in the hospital for extended periods, frequently including those children undergoing cancer treatment. (Free Beacon)
Looters targeted a Ronald McDonald House—a charity that provides free housing to families with sick children—in downtown Chicago Monday morning. Thousands drove into Chicago early Monday to loot high-end retailers, department stores, and other businesses around the city’s Magnificent Mile. Residents and staff in the nearby Ronald McDonald House were forced into lockdown as looters targeted the building, breaking the charity’s doors and windows.
Just lovely. But now the Mayor is finally going to unleash the awesome investigatory powers of the Chicago PD to examine some videos and see if any of the thieves can be identified and arrested. Normally we might say “better late than never,” but in this case, it might already be too late. Control of the city has been surrendered to the mob and they no longer fear retribution from the police. The thin veneer of civilization has been torn and you’re getting a peek at what dwells on the other side.


hotair--2020-08-12--Two retired military officers: Mark Milley must remove Trump in January if he loses and refuses to l

Two retired military officers: Mark Milley must remove Trump in January if he loses and refuses to leave

Man .
If this is what it ’ s like in August , imagine the election hot takes circa October 31 .
Michael Brendan Dougherty published a piece yesterday at NRO wondering why so many of the most hardcore Trump critics fantasize about seeing him removed from office when he ’ s consistently down in the polls and apt to lose his job the old-fashioned way .
Democrats always chatter about cheating when they lose an election , he notes , correctly .
Maybe they ’ re still so traumatized by the last election that they ’ re now gaming @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : “ I ’ m not a psychoanalyst , but somehow , it seems progressives have convinced themselves that 2016 and the past four years have been so abnormal that winning a normal election just isn ’ t cathartic enough.
” There ’ s something to that , as well as the fact that the ignominy of being “ removed ” would lend Trump a special stigma .
( That was part of the rationale for impeaching him too , right ?
How many times did Pelosi crow that he was “ impeached @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Senate trial ? )
But to be fair , part of the paranoia about Trump derives from the fact that he ’ s very clearly already grasping for ways to delegitimize the results if he loses in November .
He did the same thing in 2016 when it looked like he was headed for defeat , complaining about a “ rigged ” system .
He was so wedded to the idea that he went on complaining about illegal aliens having voted fraudulently by the millions even after he won .
This year @ @ @ @ @ @ @ about illegal mail-in ballots for months as well as alleging more subtle forms of chicanery , like the possibility that not wanting to fully reopen schools and businesses is part of some conspiracy to choke the economy so that he loses the vote .
Realistically , there ’ s no scenario in which he loses and accepts the results .
It would need to be a mammoth blowout by Biden to convince him , and even then he might turn around and claim that the scale of defeat was so massive as to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s destined to challenge the results isn ’ t to say that he ’ d try to actually pull off a coup if he lost that challenge .
That ’ s what former colonels John Nagl and Paul Yingling imagine today in a weird open letter to Joint Chiefs chairman Mark Milley published at Defense One : America ’ s political and legal institutions have so atrophied that they are ill-prepared for this moment .
Senate Republicans , already reduced to supplicant status , will remain silent and inert , as much @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their majority .
The Democrat-led House of Representatives will certify the Electoral College results , which Mr. Trump will dismiss as fake news .
The courts , flooded with cases from both Democrats and Mr. Trump ’ s legal team , will take months working through the docket , producing reasoned rulings that Trump will alternately appeal and ignore .
Then the clock will strike 12:01 PM , January 20 , 2021 , and Donald Trump will be sitting in the Oval Office .
The street protests will inevitably swell outside the White @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s private army [ i.e .
the camouflaged DHS agents stationed at the courthouse in Portland ] will grow inside its grounds .
The Speaker of the House will declare the Trump presidency at an end , and direct the Secret Service and Federal Marshals to remove Trump from the premises .
These agents will realize that they are outmanned and outgunned by Trump ’ s private army , and the moment of decision will arrive .
At this moment of Constitutional crisis , only two options remain .
Under the first @ @ @ @ @ @ @ president from the White House grounds .
Trump ’ s little green men , so intimidating to lightly armed federal law enforcement agents , step aside and fade away , realizing they would not constitute a good morning ’ s work for a brigade of the 82nd Airborne .
Under the second , the U.S. military remains inert while the Constitution dies .
The succession of government is determined by extralegal violence between Trump ’ s private army and street protesters ; Black Lives Matter Plaza becomes Tahrir Square .
Even by the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s some overheated stuff .
I complained plenty about the camouflaged DHS officers in Portland , but if they ’ re the germ of a “ private army ” that ’ s somehow going to suppress resistance to Trump ’ s eventual coup it ’ s strange that there ’ s no evidence of that mighty force being assembled .
Other elements are strange too , notes Fred Kaplan : Stranger still , the president ’ s term doesn ’ t continue until the Supreme Court hears all election challenges or whatever @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , at which point someone else becomes president .
If Biden is certified as the winner and Trump refuses to leave on January 20 , it ’ d be up to Biden , not Mark Milley , to decide how to proceed .
If , in a worst-case scenario , there ’ s no certified winner by January 20 because of court battles , then the presidency and vice presidency would be vacant and Nancy Pelosi would become president .
And she would , certainly , happily give the order to the Secret @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out of the White House .
So why is Milley involved in this write-up at all ?
The only scenario in which the military would have to make a decision of its own on whom to back is if Trump went full coup and tried to get the armed forces to overturn America ’ s constitutional scheme and install him as a dictator .
Given all the agita in the Pentagon after the Lafayette Park debacle , replete with a public apology from Milley himself for having been enlisted in the president ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ military going along with that are zero .
Trump likes to imagine that his alpha-male bravado makes him hugely beloved among the troops but it ain ’ t the case , and between respected former commanders like Mattis unloading on him and others grumbling to the media about his antics , there ’ s no reason to think the armed forces would react with anything but disgust .
Nagl and Yingling surely know that better than I do .
So what are they doing making a spectacle of themselves , beseeching Milley this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of their comrades ?
I don ’ t .
Their piece operates as a supreme example of Trump inspiring his critics to violate “ norms ” as easily as he does .
Usually those examples are comical , like Marco Rubio getting baited into talking about hand size for a few weeks on the campaign trail in 2016 .
In this case we have two highly respected retired officers encouraging the military to get ready to intervene in a U.S. election if need be .
“ It would be as dangerous to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to determine they themselves should be the arbiters of this as would be dangerous a president refusing to leave office – so the cure is as bad as the disease , ” said Mattis co-author Kori Schake of Nagl ’ s and Yingling ’ s fantasy of Milley throwing Trump out on his ear .
Indeed .
Good lord .

Man. If this is what it’s like in August, imagine the election hot takes circa October 31.
Michael Brendan Dougherty published a piece yesterday at NRO wondering why so many of the most hardcore Trump critics fantasize about seeing him removed from office when he’s consistently down in the polls and apt to lose his job the old-fashioned way. Democrats always chatter about cheating when they lose an election, he notes, correctly. Maybe they’re still so traumatized by the last election that they’re now gaming out “cheating on steroids” countermeasures: “I’m not a psychoanalyst, but somehow, it seems progressives have convinced themselves that 2016 and the past four years have been so abnormal that winning a normal election just isn’t cathartic enough.”
There’s something to that, as well as the fact that the ignominy of being “removed” would lend Trump a special stigma. (That was part of the rationale for impeaching him too, right? How many times did Pelosi crow that he was “impeached forever” no matter what happened during the Senate trial?) But to be fair, part of the paranoia about Trump derives from the fact that he’s very clearly already grasping for ways to delegitimize the results if he loses in November. He did the same thing in 2016 when it looked like he was headed for defeat, complaining about a “rigged” system. He was so wedded to the idea that he went on complaining about illegal aliens having voted fraudulently by the millions even after he won. This year he’s been pounding the drum about illegal mail-in ballots for months as well as alleging more subtle forms of chicanery, like the possibility that not wanting to fully reopen schools and businesses is part of some conspiracy to choke the economy so that he loses the vote.
Realistically, there’s no scenario in which he loses and accepts the results. It would need to be a mammoth blowout by Biden to convince him, and even then he might turn around and claim that the scale of defeat was so massive as to be implausible.
But saying that he’s destined to challenge the results isn’t to say that he’d try to actually pull off a coup if he lost that challenge. That’s what former colonels John Nagl and Paul Yingling imagine today in a weird open letter to Joint Chiefs chairman Mark Milley published at Defense One:
America’s political and legal institutions have so atrophied that they are ill-prepared for this moment. Senate Republicans, already reduced to supplicant status, will remain silent and inert, as much to obscure their complicity as to retain their majority. The Democrat-led House of Representatives will certify the Electoral College results, which Mr. Trump will dismiss as fake news. The courts, flooded with cases from both Democrats and Mr. Trump’s legal team, will take months working through the docket, producing reasoned rulings that Trump will alternately appeal and ignore. Then the clock will strike 12:01 PM, January 20, 2021, and Donald Trump will be sitting in the Oval Office. The street protests will inevitably swell outside the White House, and the ranks of Trump’s private army [i.e. the camouflaged DHS agents stationed at the courthouse in Portland] will grow inside its grounds. The Speaker of the House will declare the Trump presidency at an end, and direct the Secret Service and Federal Marshals to remove Trump from the premises. These agents will realize that they are outmanned and outgunned by Trump’s private army, and the moment of decision will arrive. At this moment of Constitutional crisis, only two options remain. Under the first, U.S. military forces escort the former president from the White House grounds. Trump’s little green men, so intimidating to lightly armed federal law enforcement agents, step aside and fade away, realizing they would not constitute a good morning’s work for a brigade of the 82nd Airborne. Under the second, the U.S. military remains inert while the Constitution dies. The succession of government is determined by extralegal violence between Trump’s private army and street protesters; Black Lives Matter Plaza becomes Tahrir Square.
Even by the standards of 2020 political fanfic, that’s some overheated stuff. I complained plenty about the camouflaged DHS officers in Portland, but if they’re the germ of a “private army” that’s somehow going to suppress resistance to Trump’s eventual coup it’s strange that there’s no evidence of that mighty force being assembled. Other elements are strange too, notes Fred Kaplan:
First, even if this were the military’s role, it would not be Milley’s. Under the Department of Defense Reorganization Act of 1986, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff serves as the principal military adviser to the president. He (or perhaps, someday, she) has no power to command, or issue orders, to any members of the armed forces. That is the duty solely of the chiefs of staff of the military services (Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines) and their combatant commanders. In other words, Nagl and Yingling sent their letter to the wrong address.
Stranger still, the president’s term doesn’t continue until the Supreme Court hears all election challenges or whatever. It expires at a specific moment, at which point someone else becomes president. If Biden is certified as the winner and Trump refuses to leave on January 20, it’d be up to Biden, not Mark Milley, to decide how to proceed. If, in a worst-case scenario, there’s no certified winner by January 20 because of court battles, then the presidency and vice presidency would be vacant and Nancy Pelosi would become president. And she would, certainly, happily give the order to the Secret Service to haul Trump’s ass out of the White House.
So why is Milley involved in this write-up at all? The only scenario in which the military would have to make a decision of its own on whom to back is if Trump went full coup and tried to get the armed forces to overturn America’s constitutional scheme and install him as a dictator. Given all the agita in the Pentagon after the Lafayette Park debacle, replete with a public apology from Milley himself for having been enlisted in the president’s stunt, the odds of the military going along with that are zero. Trump likes to imagine that his alpha-male bravado makes him hugely beloved among the troops but it ain’t the case, and between respected former commanders like Mattis unloading on him and others grumbling to the media about his antics, there’s no reason to think the armed forces would react with anything but disgust.
Nagl and Yingling surely know that better than I do. So what are they doing making a spectacle of themselves, beseeching Milley this way? Do *they* doubt the patriotism of their comrades? I don’t.
Their piece operates as a supreme example of Trump inspiring his critics to violate “norms” as easily as he does. Usually those examples are comical, like Marco Rubio getting baited into talking about hand size for a few weeks on the campaign trail in 2016. In this case we have two highly respected retired officers encouraging the military to get ready to intervene in a U.S. election if need be. “It would be as dangerous to the United States of America for the military to determine they themselves should be the arbiters of this as would be dangerous a president refusing to leave office – so the cure is as bad as the disease,” said Mattis co-author Kori Schake of Nagl’s and Yingling’s fantasy of Milley throwing Trump out on his ear. Indeed. Good lord.


hotair--2020-08-12--Rev. Al's “Get Your Knee Off Our Necks” rally bends to coronavirus rules

Al Sharpton , opportunist extraordinaire , announced plans for a commemoration of the 57th anniversary of the Rev .
Martin Luther King , Jr. ’ s “ I Have A Dream ” speech in Washington , D.C. during a June memorial service in Minneapolis for George Floyd .
The theme is “ Get Your Knee Off Our Necks ” and that was a refrain Sharpton uttered several times during his eulogy of Floyd .
No points for creativity with that theme , Al .
There ’ s a coronavirus pandemic , though , and the basic rules about organizing a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ D.C. have changed .
Therefore , Sharpton has to make some adjustments .
Instead of a big blowout rally at the Lincoln Memorial and then a march to the Martin Luther King , Jr. memorial in West Potomac Park , next to the National Mall , the crowds have to be reduced .
And , what about Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser ’ s restrictions due to COVID-19 in the nation ’ s capital ?
On August 28 , busloads of people will descend on the Lincoln Memorial from surrounding communities , or so @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be asked to join satellite marches planned in states that are considered hot spots for COVID-19 .
“ We ’ re following protocol , ” Sharpton told The Associated Press in an exclusive interview .
“ The objective is not how many thousands of people will be ( in Washington ) .
It ’ ll still be a good crowd.
” All participants will be required to wear masks , Sharpton said .
Organizers also will provide hand sanitizing stations and conduct temperature checks throughout the event .
“ The objective is to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shadow of Abe Lincoln , the families of people that … have lost loved ones in unchecked racial bias , ” Sharpton said .
“ On these steps , Dr. King talked about his dream , and the dream is unfulfilled .
This is the Exhibit A of that not being fulfilled.
” In late July , Mayor Bowser ordered that anyone traveling or returning to Washington from a virus hot spot must self-quarantine for 14 days .
A list of hot spots is revised every two weeks and the newest list , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ states as hot spots .
The mayor says officials have been in touch with march organizers and told that the rules will not be relaxed for them .
“ They are aware of all the local guidance that would affect their planning , ” she said .
“ If there are people who are coming from jurisdictions that are on that list , they would need to be quarantined.
” The National Park Service ( NPS ) has already issued a permit .
The application specified attendance at 100,000 participants .
NPS spokesman @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to organizers , but , “ that compliance with local virus restrictions was “ not a requirement or condition of the permit.
” Hmm .
So , this will likely turn into any other big protest event – the masses gather and the rules for everyone else fly out the window .
Coronavirus mitigation guidance on avoiding large gatherings doesn ’ t apply to social justice protests , right ?
Social distancing ?
Nah .
Wearing a mask doesn ’ t negate the need for establishing a distance between individuals to lessen the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ protesters in other states to march to their U.S. senator ’ s offices to demand support of federal policing reforms .
That , however , is already happening in Congress .
And , Sharpton calls for demands of U.S. voter protections .
Remember , this election ’ s narrative , if Democrats lose , is one of voter suppression .
In June , the Democrat-controlled House of Representatives passed the George Floyd Justice In Policing Act , which would ban police use of stranglehold maneuvers and end qualified immunity for officers , among @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Lewis ’ death , Democratic senators reintroduced legislation that would restore a provision of the historic Voting Rights Act of 1965 gutted by the U.S. Supreme Court in 2013 .
The law previously required states with a history of voter suppression to seek federal clearance before changing voting regulations .
Both measures are awaiting action in the Republican-controlled Senate .
“ Everybody is trying to jump from demonstration and to reconciliation , with no legislation , ” Sharpton said .
“ If we don ’ t have the legislation , we ’ ll @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s be honest , they ’ ll be back again anyway .
Professional race-baiters like Sharpton make a living off of keeping people divided and angry .
No legislation will ever be enough to satisfy them because there is no incentive for them to be satisfied .
If the social justice warriors become satisfied with the progress being made in this country , the Al Sharptons of the world are out of a job .
Sharpton ’ s rally and march will not be about George Floyd any more than the others have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ organize these events are all about their own agenda and that is Marxism .
The co-founders of BLM proudly talk about Marxism and how American capitalism must be destroyed .
Sharpton is just using the death of George Floyd to publicize an event that will bring him a lot of fundraising opportunities .
That ’ s the bottom line for Rev .
Al .

Al Sharpton, opportunist extraordinaire, announced plans for a commemoration of the 57th anniversary of the Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s “I Have A Dream” speech in Washington, D.C. during a June memorial service in Minneapolis for George Floyd. The theme is “Get Your Knee Off Our Necks” and that was a refrain Sharpton uttered several times during his eulogy of Floyd. No points for creativity with that theme, Al.
There’s a coronavirus pandemic, though, and the basic rules about organizing a rally and a march in Washington, D.C. have changed. Therefore, Sharpton has to make some adjustments. Instead of a big blowout rally at the Lincoln Memorial and then a march to the Martin Luther King, Jr. memorial in West Potomac Park, next to the National Mall, the crowds have to be reduced. And, what about Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser’s restrictions due to COVID-19 in the nation’s capital?
On August 28, busloads of people will descend on the Lincoln Memorial from surrounding communities, or so we are being told. Others will be asked to join satellite marches planned in states that are considered hot spots for COVID-19.
“We’re following protocol,” Sharpton told The Associated Press in an exclusive interview. “The objective is not how many thousands of people will be (in Washington). It’ll still be a good crowd.” All participants will be required to wear masks, Sharpton said. Organizers also will provide hand sanitizing stations and conduct temperature checks throughout the event. “The objective is to put on one platform, in the shadow of Abe Lincoln, the families of people that … have lost loved ones in unchecked racial bias,” Sharpton said. “On these steps, Dr. King talked about his dream, and the dream is unfulfilled. This is the Exhibit A of that not being fulfilled.”
In late July, Mayor Bowser ordered that anyone traveling or returning to Washington from a virus hot spot must self-quarantine for 14 days. A list of hot spots is revised every two weeks and the newest list, released on Aug. 10, classifies 29 states as hot spots. The mayor says officials have been in touch with march organizers and told that the rules will not be relaxed for them. “They are aware of all the local guidance that would affect their planning,” she said. “If there are people who are coming from jurisdictions that are on that list, they would need to be quarantined.”
The National Park Service (NPS) has already issued a permit. The application specified attendance at 100,000 participants. NPS spokesman Mike Litterst said the NPS is talking to organizers, but, “that compliance with local virus restrictions was “not a requirement or condition of the permit.” Hmm. So, this will likely turn into any other big protest event – the masses gather and the rules for everyone else fly out the window. Coronavirus mitigation guidance on avoiding large gatherings doesn’t apply to social justice protests, right? Social distancing? Nah. Wearing a mask doesn’t negate the need for establishing a distance between individuals to lessen the transmittal of the virus.
Sharpton asks protesters in other states to march to their U.S. senator’s offices to demand support of federal policing reforms. That, however, is already happening in Congress. And, Sharpton calls for demands of U.S. voter protections. Remember, this election’s narrative, if Democrats lose, is one of voter suppression.
In June, the Democrat-controlled House of Representatives passed the George Floyd Justice In Policing Act, which would ban police use of stranglehold maneuvers and end qualified immunity for officers, among other reforms. In July, following Lewis’ death, Democratic senators reintroduced legislation that would restore a provision of the historic Voting Rights Act of 1965 gutted by the U.S. Supreme Court in 2013. The law previously required states with a history of voter suppression to seek federal clearance before changing voting regulations. Both measures are awaiting action in the Republican-controlled Senate. “Everybody is trying to jump from demonstration and to reconciliation, with no legislation,” Sharpton said. “If we don’t have the legislation, we’ll be back here again.”
Let’s be honest, they’ll be back again anyway. Professional race-baiters like Sharpton make a living off of keeping people divided and angry. No legislation will ever be enough to satisfy them because there is no incentive for them to be satisfied. If the social justice warriors become satisfied with the progress being made in this country, the Al Sharptons of the world are out of a job.
Sharpton’s rally and march will not be about George Floyd any more than the others have become. The BLM leaders who usually organize these events are all about their own agenda and that is Marxism. The co-founders of BLM proudly talk about Marxism and how American capitalism must be destroyed. Sharpton is just using the death of George Floyd to publicize an event that will bring him a lot of fundraising opportunities. That’s the bottom line for Rev. Al.


hotair--2020-08-13--Pence: "Can't wait" to debate Harris

Pence: "Can't wait" to debate Harris

I bet he ’ s looking forward to it too , and maybe even more than Mike Pence lets on here .
Most of this interview with Fox News Channel ’ s Sean Hannity last night consists of standard campaign fare .
Pence calls Kamala Harris the most liberal member of the Senate ( true ) and provides a rundown of Team Trump ’ s arguments against Harris and Joe Biden .
Pence does a good job of laying out those arguments with his usual polish , as one would expect from an experienced campaigner .
It ’ s his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s polish gives way ever so slightly to chops-licking : Vice President Pence said Wednesday he “ can ’ t wait ” to debate Sen. Kamala Harris ( D-Calif. ) , named this week as former Vice President Joe Biden ’ s running mate .
“ I think she is a skilled debater , but I can ’ t wait to get to Salt Lake City and be on the stage with her , ” Pence said in a Fox News interview with Sean Hannity .
Pence said he wants to compare Biden @ @ @ @ @ @ @ left agenda , ” which he argued Harris has embraced , with the “ results of this president and this administration.
” Pence ’ s “ skilled debater ” is a sop to the media coverage of the last two days , and likely a bit of a sandbagging attempt , too .
( Don ’ t expect the same approach from Donald Trump , needless to say , regarding either Biden or Harris . )
Pence wants to build up some goodwill ahead of the debate , plus set Harris up as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gain even more traction from a debate win in the next few weeks .
Her record as a “ skilled debater , ” however , is less than convincing — even though media outlets continue to promote that narrative .
Even the Democrats who relied on the primary debates last year didn ’ t get that impression from Harris .
Thanks to her debate performances , Harris went from shoo-in to shown-out before the year even ended .
Getting dressed down by Tulsi Gabbard twice and cratering in polling after both debate embarrassments @ @ @ @ @ @ @ except for a talent for surrendering advantages .
So yes , Pence has every reason to look forward to his debate against Harris , and Democrats have every reason to be worried about it .
One has to wonder whether they grow so worried about it that they produce a pretext to avoid the confrontation .
Stay tuned .

I bet he’s looking forward to it too, and maybe even more than Mike Pence lets on here. Most of this interview with Fox News Channel’s Sean Hannity last night consists of standard campaign fare. Pence calls Kamala Harris the most liberal member of the Senate (true) and provides a rundown of Team Trump’s arguments against Harris and Joe Biden. Pence does a good job of laying out those arguments with his usual polish, as one would expect from an experienced campaigner.
It’s his enthusiasm for the debate where Pence’s polish gives way ever so slightly to chops-licking:
Vice President Pence said Wednesday he “can’t wait” to debate Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.), named this week as former Vice President Joe Biden’s running mate. “I think she is a skilled debater, but I can’t wait to get to Salt Lake City and be on the stage with her,” Pence said in a Fox News interview with Sean Hannity. Pence said he wants to compare Biden’s record and the “radical left agenda,” which he argued Harris has embraced, with the “results of this president and this administration.”
Pence’s “skilled debater” is a sop to the media coverage of the last two days, and likely a bit of a sandbagging attempt, too. (Don’t expect the same approach from Donald Trump, needless to say, regarding either Biden or Harris.) Pence wants to build up some goodwill ahead of the debate, plus set Harris up as a worthy adversary as a way to gain even more traction from a debate win in the next few weeks.
Her record as a “skilled debater,” however, is less than convincing — even though media outlets continue to promote that narrative. Even the Democrats who relied on the primary debates last year didn’t get that impression from Harris. Thanks to her debate performances, Harris went from shoo-in to shown-out before the year even ended. Getting dressed down by Tulsi Gabbard twice and cratering in polling after both debate embarrassments does not reflect “skills,” except for a talent for surrendering advantages.
So yes, Pence has every reason to look forward to his debate against Harris, and Democrats have every reason to be worried about it. One has to wonder whether they grow so worried about it that they produce a pretext to avoid the confrontation. Stay tuned.


hotair--2020-08-13--"Be a patriot": It's time for a national mask mandate, says Biden

I ’ m shocked .
Shocked , that is , because he ’ s said this before but appears to have adjusted his position in the interim from a less constitutional to a more constitutional view .
Since when do Democrats , or any politician , really , care about constitutional niceties ?
Back in June , he was asked if he ’ d use his executive authority to somehow require mask-wearing .
Darn tootin ’ , he replied : “ I would go back to making sure that everybody had masks , that you had PPE lined up , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that we need and we don ’ t have now .
The one thing we do know , these masks make a gigantic difference .
I would insist that everybody in public be wearing that mask .
Anyone to reopen , it would have to make sure that they walked into a business that had masks.
” Rice : Couldn ’ t you use your federal leverage to mandate that ?
Biden : Yes , I would from an executive standpoint , yes I would .
You can follow the last link and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ version : There ’ s no reason to think the president or even Congress has the power to require Americans to wear masks .
The Commerce Clause ain ’ t what it used to be in a post-ObamaCare world , after all .
The Congressional Research Service recently took a deeper dive into the issue and also concluded that federal power to mandate masks is perilously thin .
The Public Health Service Act allows HHS to promulgate regulations to prevent the transmission of infectious diseases , but only between states or from a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ regulations have typically been limited to temporary quarantine measures , not an indefinite mandate on how to live daily life .
Congress can pressure states to enact their own mandates by threatening to withhold federal funds but they probably can ’ t issue a mandate themselves .
And even if they could , how would they enforce it ?
Which federal agency is going to walk the beat making sure 330 million people are wearing their masks ?
Under the Tenth Amendment , the feds can ’ t make state and local cops @ @ @ @ @ @ @ national mask mandate , the obvious way to go is through the states .
Get all 50 governors to issue orders and , voila , you have a national mandate .
Which , to my surprise , is how Biden is now approaching the issue per his press conference this afternoon : We ’ re already most of the way there .
According to this count , 34 states now have statewide mask mandates in effect , including Republican strongholds like Alabama , Louisiana , and Texas .
Of the holdouts , many @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there are notable exceptions .
Arizona , Florida , and Georgia have all resisted statewide mandates thus far despite suffering sizable outbreaks , although in AZ and TX the governor has allowed local jurisdictions to issue their own orders , which means many state residents are under a mask mandate anyway .
And in Georgia it looks like Brian Kemp is about to drop his lawsuit to prevent cities from issuing mandates , so lots of state residents there should soon be under orders to wear one as well .
It ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ solve the pandemic by getting everyone to put on a mask .
No doubt doing so would help hold down infections .
But Texas has been under a mandate for six weeks and , although cases are down , they ’ re still not down far enough for the governor to feel safe reopening bars .
Yesterday Texas had the most deaths of any state in the country , topping 200 , and the third-most cases — and that ’ s with reduced testing , leaving one to wonder how many infections they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to expand the picture , 86 percent of Americans are now wearing masks indoors around other people according to Gallup .
That ’ s probably been true for awhile ; mask use had been increasing even before Trump started touting them in earnest .
Even so , the U.S. just experienced its highest daily death total in one day since mid-May .
We ’ ve added a million confirmed cases in the past 19 days alone despite plenty of political and media attention to the need for masks .
Lord knows how much @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all went around uncovered , breathing those germs on each other , but clearly masks aren ’ t a panacea .
They ’ re part of a “ do everything you can to prevent transmission ” strategy , but just a part .
Here ’ s more from Biden ’ s presser today , encouraging people to “ be a patriot .
”

I’m shocked. Shocked, that is, because he’s said this before but appears to have adjusted his position in the interim from a less constitutional to a more constitutional view.
Since when do Democrats, or any politician, really, care about constitutional niceties?
Back in June, he was asked if he’d use his executive authority to somehow require mask-wearing. Darn tootin’, he replied:
“I would go back to making sure that everybody had masks, that you had PPE lined up, making sure we stockpile all the things that we need and we don’t have now. The one thing we do know, these masks make a gigantic difference. I would insist that everybody in public be wearing that mask. Anyone to reopen, it would have to make sure that they walked into a business that had masks.” Rice: Couldn’t you use your federal leverage to mandate that? Biden: Yes. Rice: Would you? Biden: Yes, I would from an executive standpoint, yes I would.
You can follow the last link and read my reply to that. Short version: There’s no reason to think the president or even Congress has the power to require Americans to wear masks. The Commerce Clause ain’t what it used to be in a post-ObamaCare world, after all. The Congressional Research Service recently took a deeper dive into the issue and also concluded that federal power to mandate masks is perilously thin. The Public Health Service Act allows HHS to promulgate regulations to prevent the transmission of infectious diseases, but only between states or from a foreign country into the U.S. And the regulations have typically been limited to temporary quarantine measures, not an indefinite mandate on how to live daily life.
Congress can pressure states to enact their own mandates by threatening to withhold federal funds but they probably can’t issue a mandate themselves. And even if they could, how would they enforce it? Which federal agency is going to walk the beat making sure 330 million people are wearing their masks? Under the Tenth Amendment, the feds can’t make state and local cops do it.
If you want a national mask mandate, the obvious way to go is through the states. Get all 50 governors to issue orders and, voila, you have a national mandate. Which, to my surprise, is how Biden is now approaching the issue per his press conference this afternoon:
“Every governor should mandate mandatory mask wearing," Joe Biden says. "The estimates by the experts are it will save over 40,000 lives in the next 3 months.” pic.twitter.com/4coSknXNio — NBC News (@NBCNews) August 13, 2020
We’re already most of the way there. According to this count, 34 states now have statewide mask mandates in effect, including Republican strongholds like Alabama, Louisiana, and Texas. Of the holdouts, many are less populated rural ones, although there are notable exceptions. Arizona, Florida, and Georgia have all resisted statewide mandates thus far despite suffering sizable outbreaks, although in AZ and TX the governor has allowed local jurisdictions to issue their own orders, which means many state residents are under a mask mandate anyway. And in Georgia it looks like Brian Kemp is about to drop his lawsuit to prevent cities from issuing mandates, so lots of state residents there should soon be under orders to wear one as well.
It’s comforting to think that we could largely solve the pandemic by getting everyone to put on a mask. No doubt doing so would help hold down infections. But Texas has been under a mandate for six weeks and, although cases are down, they’re still not down far enough for the governor to feel safe reopening bars. Yesterday Texas had the most deaths of any state in the country, topping 200, and the third-most cases — and that’s with reduced testing, leaving one to wonder how many infections they’re missing.
If you want to expand the picture, 86 percent of Americans are now wearing masks indoors around other people according to Gallup. That’s probably been true for awhile; mask use had been increasing even before Trump started touting them in earnest. Even so, the U.S. just experienced its highest daily death total in one day since mid-May. We’ve added a million confirmed cases in the past 19 days alone despite plenty of political and media attention to the need for masks. Lord knows how much worse the pandemic would be if we all went around uncovered, breathing those germs on each other, but clearly masks aren’t a panacea. They’re part of a “do everything you can to prevent transmission” strategy, but just a part.
Here’s more from Biden’s presser today, encouraging people to “be a patriot.”