hotair--2020-10-06--Massachusetts will literally count the votes of the dead

We ’ ve all heard plenty of jokes ( and true stories , for that matter ) of the dead voting in US elections , particularly in the Chicago area .
But this year , at least in Massachusetts , some dead people may actually have their votes counted thanks to the state legislature and the Secretary of State .
That doesn ’ t mean that we should expect to see zombies dropping off ballots at polling stations , however .
The new rule in question was put in place , as with everything else these days , because of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ early ballot – a process that ’ s already underway in the Bay State – and then passes away prior to November 3rd will still have their votes counted .
( CBS Boston ) Massachusetts Secretary of State Bill Galvin said Monday that if someone votes early in the November election but dies before Election Day , their vote will be counted .
That ’ s a change from earlier voting rules that became necessary because of the coronavirus pandemic .
In the past , if you voted early , died and elections @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Day , your vote would not be counted .
This new rule isn ’ t being described as permanent .
It will only be in place as long as the pandemic continues to require social distancing .
Of course , the way things are going at the moment that may wind up being a permanent condition .
All zombie jokes aside , what makes this rule rather contentious isn ’ t the fact that the votes of the recently deceased will be counted but the rationale offered for the change .
For as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Massachusetts , if you voted early ( up to ten days in advance ) via an absentee ballot and then died prior to the election , your vote would be rejected .
But now the Secretary of State is saying that needs to change because twenty extra days of early voting were added to the calendar .
How on Earth does that make any difference in the scenario described above ?
If a vote is invalid because you died within ten days of the election , it doesn ’ t make any @ @ @ @ @ @ @ becomes valid if you died even earlier .
What about the people who manage to remain among the living for the first twenty days of early voting but then expire in the final ten days ?
Will their ballots still be chucked into the circular file as they were previously ?
The Secretary of State is quoted as describing this new rule as “ not being new , ” but that ’ s obviously disingenuous .
He describes a hypothetical situation where a person mails in a ballot a couple of days early @ @ @ @ @ @ @ That vote would still be counted because “ there ’ s no chance the material determined that they had died.
” He ’ s basing that on the fact that the original rules only saw the vote being rejected “ if elections officials discovered you were dead.
” In other words , the vote was still technically illegitimate , but it wound up being counted anyway because nobody realized you had died .
That didn ’ t make the ballot legal .
It was just an admission that the system wasn ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ everyone who may have died on the eve of the election .
So the votes of the dead were never truly legal in that sense .
This law makes them officially legal , so this rule sets an entirely new precedent , contrary to Bill Galvin ’ s claims .
In the end , none of this is going to matter much in terms of the outcome of the presidential election .
There ’ s no way that Donald Trump is going to carry blue Massachusetts and the number of people whose votes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vanishingly small .
But that doesn ’ t mean that a couple of municipal or county elections might not be affected .
Welcome to Massachusetts , where those who are no longer among us can still make their voices heard .

We’ve all heard plenty of jokes (and true stories, for that matter) of the dead voting in US elections, particularly in the Chicago area. But this year, at least in Massachusetts, some dead people may actually have their votes counted thanks to the state legislature and the Secretary of State. That doesn’t mean that we should expect to see zombies dropping off ballots at polling stations, however. The new rule in question was put in place, as with everything else these days, because of the pandemic. Anyone who casts an early ballot – a process that’s already underway in the Bay State – and then passes away prior to November 3rd will still have their votes counted. (CBS Boston)
Massachusetts Secretary of State Bill Galvin said Monday that if someone votes early in the November election but dies before Election Day, their vote will be counted. That’s a change from earlier voting rules that became necessary because of the coronavirus pandemic. In the past, if you voted early, died and elections officials discovered you were dead before Election Day, your vote would not be counted.
This new rule isn’t being described as permanent. It will only be in place as long as the pandemic continues to require social distancing. Of course, the way things are going at the moment that may wind up being a permanent condition.
All zombie jokes aside, what makes this rule rather contentious isn’t the fact that the votes of the recently deceased will be counted but the rationale offered for the change. For as long as voting has been taking place in Massachusetts, if you voted early (up to ten days in advance) via an absentee ballot and then died prior to the election, your vote would be rejected. But now the Secretary of State is saying that needs to change because twenty extra days of early voting were added to the calendar.
How on Earth does that make any difference in the scenario described above? If a vote is invalid because you died within ten days of the election, it doesn’t make any sense to say that the vote suddenly becomes valid if you died even earlier. What about the people who manage to remain among the living for the first twenty days of early voting but then expire in the final ten days? Will their ballots still be chucked into the circular file as they were previously?
The Secretary of State is quoted as describing this new rule as “not being new,” but that’s obviously disingenuous. He describes a hypothetical situation where a person mails in a ballot a couple of days early and then dies on election day. That vote would still be counted because “there’s no chance the material determined that they had died.” He’s basing that on the fact that the original rules only saw the vote being rejected “if elections officials discovered you were dead.” In other words, the vote was still technically illegitimate, but it wound up being counted anyway because nobody realized you had died.
That didn’t make the ballot legal. It was just an admission that the system wasn’t equipped with enough real-time data to detect everyone who may have died on the eve of the election. So the votes of the dead were never truly legal in that sense. This law makes them officially legal, so this rule sets an entirely new precedent, contrary to Bill Galvin’s claims.
In the end, none of this is going to matter much in terms of the outcome of the presidential election. There’s no way that Donald Trump is going to carry blue Massachusetts and the number of people whose votes would fall under this rule should be vanishingly small. But that doesn’t mean that a couple of municipal or county elections might not be affected. Welcome to Massachusetts, where those who are no longer among us can still make their voices heard.


Biden: Socialist? <i>Moi</i>?

“ I ’ ve taken on the Castros of the world … I haven ’ t cozied up to them.
” NARRATOR : Joe Biden and Barack Obama literally cozied up to the Castros .
One of the finalists on Biden ’ s list of running mates , Karen Bass , has spent her life as an apologist for the Castros , and actively worked to promote Castroism .
Both Biden and his eventual running mate , Kamala Harris , want to go back to the policy of cozying up to the Castros , in fact .
Maybe we ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not literally ?
GONZALEZ : I was born in Hartford , Connecticut .
I was raised in Hialeah , Florida .
And I have been living in Coral Gables for the last 20-plus years .
Cuban-American and Venezuelan voters here in South Florida are being targeted with messages by the Trump campaign claiming that a vote for Joe Biden is a vote for the radical left and socialism and even communism .
What can you tell people in my family , my friends who are understandably concerned with that issue that would make @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Kamala Harris ?
HOLT : And let me — let me just point out , we only have three or four minutes left .
BIDEN : I look like a socialist ?
Look , I ’ m the guy that ran against a socialist .
Remember , I got in trouble with the whole campaign , 20-some candidates ?
Joe Biden was too centrist , too moderate , too straightforward .
That was Joe Biden .
I have taken on the very people that , in fact , we ’ re worried @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Castros of the world .
I have taken on the Putins of the world .
I have taken on all these dictators .
I haven ’ t cozied up to them .
I ’ m the guy that ’ s been straightforward with them .
I ’ m the guy that let them know , it stops here .
It stops with me .
It stops with me as president .
I am no more a socialist than — or a communist than Donald Trump is — well , I won ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ need not worry .
Just look at the record .
There ’ s not one single syllable that I have ever said that could lead you to believe that I was a socialist or a communist .
Oddly enough , NBC News ’ Lester Holt never bothered to follow up on this in their town-hall forum with Biden .
Nor did Holt ever — not once — ask about court-packing , even though Biden himself brought up Supreme Court nominations : BIDEN : Last point , for example , they said , “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ do if you get to pick , you know , the next Supreme Court justice ?
” It says advise and consent .
You need the Senate to give advice and consent .
Every president who has pulled us together has said , this is what I ’ m thinking of , and gone to Republican senators and Democratic senators and said , what do you think ?
You put together amendment ( ph ) — you put together coalitions .
That ’ s how you deal in a democracy .
Why not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ basically gave Biden a free hour as a campaign “ infomercial , ” as Politico ’ s Florida reporter Marc Caputo concluded : The socialist issue goes further than Biden ’ s flat-out fibbing about standing up to the Castros .
Despite Biden ’ s debate claim , “ I am the party , ” it ’ s become clear that Democrats have rushed to embrace Bernie Sanders ’ socialist agenda .
Biden may have won the nomination , but he only did so after kissing Bernie ’ s ring .
Adding Harris @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wing ’ s hold on Biden , and many wonder whether Biden will end up a figurehead or less once he wins the election .
Even without that issue , though , Biden ’ s always been a will-o-the-wisp , politically speaking .
He doesn ’ t have any ideology other than What Benefits Biden At the Moment — and what will benefit Biden if he ’ s elected ?
It ’ s almost certainly going to be giving the socialists free rein in a Biden administration .

“I’ve taken on the Castros of the world … I haven’t cozied up to them.” NARRATOR: Joe Biden and Barack Obama literally cozied up to the Castros. One of the finalists on Biden’s list of running mates, Karen Bass, has spent her life as an apologist for the Castros, and actively worked to promote Castroism. Both Biden and his eventual running mate, Kamala Harris, want to go back to the policy of cozying up to the Castros, in fact.
Maybe we’re supposed to take Biden seriously but not literally?
Biden on Trump calling him a socialist: “Remember I got in trouble through the whole [primary] campaign: Joe Biden is too centrist, too moderate, to straightforward… there’s not one single syllable I’ve ever said that would lead you to believe I’m a socialist or a communist.” pic.twitter.com/byKaAAyzn8 — Andrew Solender (@AndrewSolender) October 6, 2020
GONZALEZ: I was born in Hartford, Connecticut. I was raised in Hialeah, Florida. And I have been living in Coral Gables for the last 20-plus years. Cuban-American and Venezuelan voters here in South Florida are being targeted with messages by the Trump campaign claiming that a vote for Joe Biden is a vote for the radical left and socialism and even communism. What can you tell people in my family, my friends who are understandably concerned with that issue that would make them feel comfortable voting for Joe Biden and Kamala Harris? HOLT: And let me — let me just point out, we only have three or four minutes left. BIDEN: I look like a socialist? Look, I’m the guy that ran against a socialist. Remember, I got in trouble with the whole campaign, 20-some candidates? Joe Biden was too centrist, too moderate, too straightforward. That was Joe Biden. I have taken on the very people that, in fact, we’re worried about. I have taken on the Castros of the world. I have taken on the Putins of the world. I have taken on all these dictators. I haven’t cozied up to them. I’m the guy that’s been straightforward with them. I’m the guy that let them know, it stops here. It stops with me. It stops with me as president. I am no more a socialist than — or a communist than Donald Trump is — well, I won’t say it. Anyway, so they need not worry. Just look at the record. There’s not one single syllable that I have ever said that could lead you to believe that I was a socialist or a communist.
Oddly enough, NBC News’ Lester Holt never bothered to follow up on this in their town-hall forum with Biden. Nor did Holt ever — not once — ask about court-packing, even though Biden himself brought up Supreme Court nominations:
BIDEN: Last point, for example, they said, “Joe, what are you going to do if you get to pick, you know, the next Supreme Court justice?” It says advise and consent. You need the Senate to give advice and consent. Every president who has pulled us together has said, this is what I’m thinking of, and gone to Republican senators and Democratic senators and said, what do you think? You put together amendment (ph) — you put together coalitions. That’s how you deal in a democracy.
Why not follow up either question? Because NBC basically gave Biden a free hour as a campaign “infomercial,” as Politico’s Florida reporter Marc Caputo concluded:
NBC's town hall with Joe Biden & "undecided voters" in Miami didn't seem to have undecided voters. Nor was it much of a Miami town hall, which would have way more yelling & pointed questions. It was a TV show that doubled as a Biden infomercial. Can't blame him for doing it — Marc Caputo (@MarcACaputo) October 6, 2020
The socialist issue goes further than Biden’s flat-out fibbing about standing up to the Castros. Despite Biden’s debate claim, “I am the party,” it’s become clear that Democrats have rushed to embrace Bernie Sanders’ socialist agenda. Biden may have won the nomination, but he only did so after kissing Bernie’s ring. Adding Harris as a running mate solidified the progressive wing’s hold on Biden, and many wonder whether Biden will end up a figurehead or less once he wins the election. Even without that issue, though, Biden’s always been a will-o-the-wisp, politically speaking. He doesn’t have any ideology other than What Benefits Biden At the Moment — and what will benefit Biden if he’s elected? It’s almost certainly going to be giving the socialists free rein in a Biden administration.


hotair--2020-10-07--Portland's mayor now trails challenger, but...

When we were recording this week ’ s episode of War for the White House yesterday , the panel kicked around a question about whether or not the whole “ law and order ” push by the Trump campaign was fading from the media spotlight .
One thing I found myself wondering was if all of the violence and riots in the streets might have less of an impact on the presidential race , but a bigger influence on state and municipal elections .
Surely the business owners and residents who are watching their cities being burned and looted would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to keep them safe , wouldn ’ t they ?
We may now be seeing that effect in Portland , Oregon , arguably among the hardest hit cities as the unrest in the streets spiraled out of control .
Mayor Ted Wheeler is up for reelection next month and a recent poll suggests that the voters have indeed noticed his failure of leadership and are ready to express their displeasure at the ballot box .
He ’ s trailing his challenger by double digits with only a few weeks to go .
Unfortunately @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the bad news is that the new favorite to win is potentially even worse than he is .
She ’ s a proud Antifa supporter who poo-poos the idea of violent leftists causing carnage .
( Daily Caller ) Antifa supporter Sarah Iannarone is now leading the Portland mayoral race , according to a new poll .
Iannarone leads incumbent Democratic Mayor Ted Wheeler 41 % to 30 % , according to a poll commissioned by the Portland Business Alliance , local paper Willamette Week reported on Monday .
Her lead is well @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of error .
The poll found that 16 % of voters plan to support a write-in candidate and an additional 13 % of voters remain undecided .
Next month ’ s contest is actually a runoff election following the original vote in May when Wheeler led the pack but failed to secure 50 % of the vote for a clear victory .
Since that time , however , the prolonged period of violence and lawlessness in his city has clearly taken a toll on his support .
Now , radical leftist Sarah Iannarone @ @ @ @ @ @ @ over the incumbent .
( You can view Iannarone ’ s campaign website here . )
In case we needed any more proof , this turn of the political tides should teach us one thing .
Ted Wheeler was never really the problem in Portland .
He was just a symptom .
The Mayor ’ s shocking failure to maintain law and order on the streets of his city has obviously been a sufficiently good reason for residents to desire a change .
But instead of supporting someone who is ready to bring @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the mayhem , the voters of Portland are apparently ready to hand the reins to someone who counts herself as a member of the very group that ’ s destroying their city from within .
And yes , she has gone on the record to say that she is Antifa .
As the Daily Caller discovered , Iannarone surrounds herself with like-minded fellow travelers .
Her campaign manager , Gregory McKelvey , has plenty of experience in leading rioters , dating back to his efforts to shut down a major highway in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this sort of “ activism ” in her own family as well .
She proudly announced back in May that her daughter was out there rioting with the rest of the mob .
Of course , the candidate was worried about her daughter ’ s safety .
But not because of the numerous assaults and even murders taking place in the streets at the hands of Antifa .
No , she was just worried about the cops injuring her .
So this is who the voters of Portland are looking at electing to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that ’ s the case , then why should we be expected to have any sympathy for the residents of Portland ?
Why should we support flushing any more federal funds or other resources into the effort to restore order in its streets ?
As I said above , it ’ s now clear that Ted Wheeler was only a symptom of a larger problem .
The residents of Portland have created the hellscape they now live in and we should leave them to it .
If they want to watch their city @ @ @ @ @ @ @

When we were recording this week’s episode of War for the White House yesterday, the panel kicked around a question about whether or not the whole “law and order” push by the Trump campaign was fading from the media spotlight. One thing I found myself wondering was if all of the violence and riots in the streets might have less of an impact on the presidential race, but a bigger influence on state and municipal elections. Surely the business owners and residents who are watching their cities being burned and looted would hold their elected officials responsible for failing to keep them safe, wouldn’t they?
We may now be seeing that effect in Portland, Oregon, arguably among the hardest hit cities as the unrest in the streets spiraled out of control. Mayor Ted Wheeler is up for reelection next month and a recent poll suggests that the voters have indeed noticed his failure of leadership and are ready to express their displeasure at the ballot box. He’s trailing his challenger by double digits with only a few weeks to go. Unfortunately for the residents of the city, the bad news is that the new favorite to win is potentially even worse than he is. She’s a proud Antifa supporter who poo-poos the idea of violent leftists causing carnage. (Daily Caller)
Antifa supporter Sarah Iannarone is now leading the Portland mayoral race, according to a new poll. Iannarone leads incumbent Democratic Mayor Ted Wheeler 41% to 30%, according to a poll commissioned by the Portland Business Alliance, local paper Willamette Week reported on Monday. Her lead is well outside the poll’s four-percentage-point margin of error. The poll found that 16% of voters plan to support a write-in candidate and an additional 13% of voters remain undecided.
Next month’s contest is actually a runoff election following the original vote in May when Wheeler led the pack but failed to secure 50% of the vote for a clear victory. Since that time, however, the prolonged period of violence and lawlessness in his city has clearly taken a toll on his support. Now, radical leftist Sarah Iannarone has opened up an eleven point lead over the incumbent. (You can view Iannarone’s campaign website here.)
In case we needed any more proof, this turn of the political tides should teach us one thing. Ted Wheeler was never really the problem in Portland. He was just a symptom. The Mayor’s shocking failure to maintain law and order on the streets of his city has obviously been a sufficiently good reason for residents to desire a change. But instead of supporting someone who is ready to bring down the hammer and put an end to the mayhem, the voters of Portland are apparently ready to hand the reins to someone who counts herself as a member of the very group that’s destroying their city from within. And yes, she has gone on the record to say that she is Antifa.
To those who say Antifa are violent thugs: I am not a violent thug and I am Antifa. I am Antifa because the Red Hats are coming after brown & black people, after Jews, after queer & trans people, and more. They are coming after our democracy. #HolocaustMemorialDay #NeverForget — sarah iannarone (she/her) (@sarahforpdx) January 27, 2019
As the Daily Caller discovered, Iannarone surrounds herself with like-minded fellow travelers. Her campaign manager, Gregory McKelvey, has plenty of experience in leading rioters, dating back to his efforts to shut down a major highway in 2016. Iannarone apparently likes to support this sort of “activism” in her own family as well. She proudly announced back in May that her daughter was out there rioting with the rest of the mob.
My daughter was in the streets last night driven by anti-racist conviction. She is not an agitator nor an opportunist and she should not fear for her safety at the hands of Portland police. Here is my response to last night's events. Your engagement matters and I appreciate you. https://t.co/eGMMb0WGGe — sarah iannarone (she/her) (@sarahforpdx) May 31, 2020
Of course, the candidate was worried about her daughter’s safety. But not because of the numerous assaults and even murders taking place in the streets at the hands of Antifa. No, she was just worried about the cops injuring her.
So this is who the voters of Portland are looking at electing to replace Ted Wheeler, eh? If that’s the case, then why should we be expected to have any sympathy for the residents of Portland? Why should we support flushing any more federal funds or other resources into the effort to restore order in its streets? As I said above, it’s now clear that Ted Wheeler was only a symptom of a larger problem. The residents of Portland have created the hellscape they now live in and we should leave them to it. If they want to watch their city burn down, let it burn.


hotair--2020-10-07--VIP Gold chat: Pre-VP debate breakdown with Cam Edwards, Julio Rosas, Ed Morrissey -- and you!

Get ready for another tremendous live , interactive VIP Gold chat with Townhall ’ s Julio Rosas , Bearing Arms ’ Cam Edwards , and HotAir ’ s Ed Morrissey !
The trio will take VIP Gold members ’ questions and comments and give an in-depth analysis of the top topics of the day .
The live podcast starts at 1:30 pm ET .
If you are not a VIP Gold member , join below so you can watch today and participate in future chats !
Use LOYALTY for 25 % off !
Julio watches out for nat-sec and civil @ @ @ @ @ @ @ brings his A-game on 2nd Amendment and liberty issues and makes sure to keep it real along the way .
Ed has kept pace with developments abroad , at home and at the local level as well .
We ’ ll plenty to discuss and lots of time to take your questions .
The hot topics so far are : • Debate !
What ’ s at stake tonight , and how will the VP debate differ from the first presidential debate ?
• Developments in the Breonna Taylor and McCluskey cases With @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Gold members can get the latest as it happens from Cam , Julio , and Ed .

Get ready for another tremendous live, interactive VIP Gold chat with Bearing Arms’ Cam Edwards and HotAir’s Ed Morrissey! The duo will take VIP Gold members’ questions and comments and give an in-depth analysis of the top topics of the day. The live podcast starts at 1:30 pm ET.
If you are not a VIP Gold member, join below so you can watch today and participate in future chats! Use LOYALTY for 25% off!
While Cam brings his A-game on 2nd Amendment and liberty issues and makes sure to keep it real along the way, Ed has kept pace with developments abroad, at home and at the local level as well.
We’ll plenty to discuss and lots of time to take your questions. The hot topics so far are:
Debate! What’s at stake tonight, and how will the VP debate differ from the first presidential debate?
Developments in the Breonna Taylor and McCluskey cases
Supreme Court battles
COVID-19 developments, and economic meltdown
The 2020 national election
With all the fast-moving developments, our VIP Gold members can get the latest as it happens from Cam, Julio, and Ed.


hotair--2020-10-06--Beto O'Rourke, Lincoln Project campaign to turn Texas blue in November

Beto O ’ Rourke is doing his best to turn Texas blue in the November general election .
Fortunately for Republicans , Beto has a history of coming up short in his efforts .
Nonetheless , he persists .
Frankly , what else does he have to do with this time now ?
He failed to beat Ted Cruz for the seat in the Senate in 2018 , then he failed to gain traction in the Democrat presidential primary .
In both those races , he was happy to welcome the adoration and financial support from Hollywood and Democrat public @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Texans , as it turns out , just aren ’ t that impressed by others telling them for whom to vote , not even celebrities .
But maybe the third time is the charm , right ?
That must be Beto ’ s reasoning because he is following the same playbook in trying to get Joe Biden elected .
Today Beto announced that he and Powered by People , a PAC launched by O ’ Rourke to organize grassroots efforts specifically to boost Democrats in the 2020 election cycle for seats in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hold a phone bank next Monday , October 12 .
Early voting in Texas begins Tuesday , October 13 .
The goal is to reach 1 million Texas voters .
Beto will be joined by Oprah Winfrey , Willie Nelson , Bernie Sanders , Julian Castro , Stacey Abrams , and Andrew Yang , among others .
The event is called “ Calling Texas : Million Voter Phone Bank ” .
New Texas residents and young voters are being targeted .
Californians and people from other blue states moving into Texas for the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ their blue state political ideology with them .
Beto hopes to turn Texas into California .
The Texas House , controlled by Republicans , is only 9 seats away from Democrat control .
It is the closet Democrats have been to controlling the House since 2001 .
Governor Abbott extended the early voting period this election by an extra week due to the coronavirus pandemic .
He did so to offer less crowded polling places on Election Day .
The hope is that people will take advantage and early vote instead of waiting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there ’ s more .
Another political event set to happen was announced today , too .
This time it is from Lincoln Project Texans .
They hope to turn Texas blue with “ Operation Sam Houston ” .
These former Republicans , the people who enriched themselves by working for past Republican candidates and the Republican Party , now are campaigning for Biden in Texas .
Trump must be defeated , you know , to save the country and the Republican Party , or something .
In their warped minds , voting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ usher in a wild socialist/Marxist hybrid form of government with Kamala Harris and the Bernie Bros is the way to get the old GOP back .
It is an insane way of thinking but Trump ’ s election in 2016 broke a lot of people , including some backwards thinking Republican grifters .
The Lincoln Project members have plenty of money at their disposal – they are professional fundraisers and campaign staffers .
They ’ d like to blame Donald Trump for turning Texas into a battleground state in 2020 but that trend @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I can not tell you how many meetings and seminars I attended during my days as a political activist in the Republican Party that sounded the alarm that the State of Texas would go back to being a blue state as the Hispanic population grew .
Along with a growing Hispanic population , Texas also has a growing Asian population – actually the Asian population has been growing at a faster pace than the Hispanic population .
Both demographics lean Democrat in voting .
This latest effort from the Lincoln Project in Texas @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s handling of the coronavirus pandemic for the country and himself , too .
They sound like Democrats , that ’ s for sure .
According to Advertising Analytics , the Lincoln Project has already spent just under $ 1 million in Texas , with $ 833,000 of that total coming the weeks of the Democratic and Republican conventions .
The new ad push , according to Lincoln Project national press secretary Nate Nesbitt , will focus on “ Trump ’ s malice and inhumanity in dealing with COVID , specifically that he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lied about it.
” “ And knew he was exposed and chose to expose others rather than quarantining , ” Nesbitt said .
Nesbitt said the Lincoln Project ’ s latest activity would be directed at 600,000 suburban and rural Republican women and also focus on Trump ’ s “ extremism and racism.
” Madrid said the “ polling data is undeniable ” and that “ Republican voters are leaving Trump to vote for Biden .
He added that Democrats are historically energized to unseat the president .
“ The Lincoln Project has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and we ’ ve decided we ’ re not going to watch any longer , ” he said .
“ Republicans are asking us to engage and now we are.
” All to which I say , malarkey .
Republican women in Texas do not consider Trump extreme or racist .
They have been supportive of him since he became the GOP nominee in 2016 .
That hasn ’ t changed in this election cycle .
These consultants and pollsters were active in losing Republican campaigns in 2016 and apparently have learned nothing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ see how far they get this time around .

Beto O’Rourke is doing his best to turn Texas blue in the November general election. Fortunately for Republicans, Beto has a history of coming up short in his efforts. Nonetheless, he persists. Frankly, what else does he have to do with this time now?
He failed to beat Ted Cruz for the seat in the Senate in 2018, then he failed to gain traction in the Democrat presidential primary. In both those races, he was happy to welcome the adoration and financial support from Hollywood and Democrat public figures in Texas. He still failed. Texans, as it turns out, just aren’t that impressed by others telling them for whom to vote, not even celebrities. But maybe the third time is the charm, right? That must be Beto’s reasoning because he is following the same playbook in trying to get Joe Biden elected.
Today Beto announced that he and Powered by People, a PAC launched by O’Rourke to organize grassroots efforts specifically to boost Democrats in the 2020 election cycle for seats in the Texas House of Representatives, will hold a phone bank next Monday, October 12. Early voting in Texas begins Tuesday, October 13. The goal is to reach 1 million Texas voters. Beto will be joined by Oprah Winfrey, Willie Nelson, Bernie Sanders, Julian Castro, Stacey Abrams, and Andrew Yang, among others. The event is called “Calling Texas: Million Voter Phone Bank”.
“So on Monday October 12th, we will host the Calling Texas: Million Voter Phone Bank, and we won’t be doing it alone,” O’Rourke says in an email obtained by The Dallas Morning News. “Here’s where the big news that I was telling you about comes in. We’ll be joined on the phone bank by (get this!!): Oprah Winfrey, Willie Nelson, Bernie Sanders, Julian Castro, Stacey Abrams and Andrew Yang, among others.”
New Texas residents and young voters are being targeted. Californians and people from other blue states moving into Texas for the opportunities the red state provides often bring their blue state political ideology with them. Beto hopes to turn Texas into California.
O’Rourke says in seven months Powered by People volunteers have registered over 100,000 new voters and made over 40 million attempts at voter contact. The group targeted residents who recently moved to Texas with a history of voting for Democrats. “These new voters and these newly engaged voters could make the difference in critical elections up and down the ballot,” O’Rourke wrote.
The Texas House, controlled by Republicans, is only 9 seats away from Democrat control. It is the closet Democrats have been to controlling the House since 2001. Governor Abbott extended the early voting period this election by an extra week due to the coronavirus pandemic. He did so to offer less crowded polling places on Election Day. The hope is that people will take advantage and early vote instead of waiting until Election Day.
But wait, there’s more. Another political event set to happen was announced today, too. This time it is from Lincoln Project Texans. They hope to turn Texas blue with “Operation Sam Houston”. These former Republicans, the people who enriched themselves by working for past Republican candidates and the Republican Party, now are campaigning for Biden in Texas. Trump must be defeated, you know, to save the country and the Republican Party, or something. In their warped minds, voting for a Democrat who is trying to usher in a wild socialist/Marxist hybrid form of government with Kamala Harris and the Bernie Bros is the way to get the old GOP back. It is an insane way of thinking but Trump’s election in 2016 broke a lot of people, including some backwards thinking Republican grifters.
On Tuesday the Lincoln Project will announce Operation Sam Houston, a million-dollar effort that includes television and digital ads, according to a strategy shared with The Dallas Morning News. The initiative comes a week after the Lincoln Project bolstered its mobilization of Hispanic voters in Texas, including hosting a Spanish language roundtable last week co-sponsored by the voting rights groups Mi Familia Vota and UnidosUS Action Fund. “Texas has been moving towards a swing state for many cycles now,” Lincoln Project co-founder Mike Madrid said. “Donald Trump has dramatically accelerated that trend.”
The Lincoln Project members have plenty of money at their disposal – they are professional fundraisers and campaign staffers. They’d like to blame Donald Trump for turning Texas into a battleground state in 2020 but that trend began before the days of Trump. I cannot tell you how many meetings and seminars I attended during my days as a political activist in the Republican Party that sounded the alarm that the State of Texas would go back to being a blue state as the Hispanic population grew. Along with a growing Hispanic population, Texas also has a growing Asian population – actually the Asian population has been growing at a faster pace than the Hispanic population. Both demographics lean Democrat in voting.
This latest effort from the Lincoln Project in Texas will center around blaming President Trump’s handling of the coronavirus pandemic for the country and himself, too. They sound like Democrats, that’s for sure.
According to Advertising Analytics, the Lincoln Project has already spent just under $1 million in Texas, with $833,000 of that total coming the weeks of the Democratic and Republican conventions. The new ad push, according to Lincoln Project national press secretary Nate Nesbitt, will focus on “Trump’s malice and inhumanity in dealing with COVID, specifically that he knew the dangers in February and consistently lied about it.” “And knew he was exposed and chose to expose others rather than quarantining,” Nesbitt said. Nesbitt said the Lincoln Project’s latest activity would be directed at 600,000 suburban and rural Republican women and also focus on Trump’s “extremism and racism.” Madrid said the “polling data is undeniable” and that “Republican voters are leaving Trump to vote for Biden. He added that Democrats are historically energized to unseat the president. “The Lincoln Project has been watching this state closely for weeks and we’ve decided we’re not going to watch any longer,” he said. “Republicans are asking us to engage and now we are.”
All to which I say, malarkey. Republican women in Texas do not consider Trump extreme or racist. They have been supportive of him since he became the GOP nominee in 2016. That hasn’t changed in this election cycle. These consultants and pollsters were active in losing Republican campaigns in 2016 and apparently have learned nothing from that election. We’ll see how far they get this time around.


hotair--2020-10-07--Livetweet thread: The most important VP debate in U.S. history?

There ’ s no such thing as an “ important ” VP debate , really .
In the end , voters decide based upon who ’ s at the top of the ticket .
But tonight should work out well for the GOP for two reasons .
One : Pence is a calming presence and sounds like he knows what he ’ s talking about , which will reassure voters in our nervous wreck of a country .
Two : Kamala Harris is a much riper target for attacks that Democrats have been captured by the left than Joe Biden @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with voters more powerfully in a year when the Democratic nominee is 77 and not always the picture of mental sharpness .
She has a better-than-usual chance of inheriting the presidency if elected VP .
Convince the public that she ’ s a far-left crank and that might give some Biden leaners cold feet .
As for the optics , there ’ ll be two small plexiglass dividers between the candidates to protect them from COVID transmission .
Photos of the set-up look simply ridiculous — as one Twitter pal said , it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can ’ t travel around a minor obstacle — but they ’ re useful to Harris as a visual reminder for viewers of the outbreak that ’ s overwhelmed the White House .
This debate should have been done remotely or outdoors , for maximum safety , but oh well .
The event starts at 9 p.m .
ET .
The CSPAN feed is embedded below in case you ’ re watching on a laptop .
Beneath it you ’ ll find live Twitter reaction from editors at Hot Air and our four @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Pajamas Media , and Twitchy .
The window will update automatically .
Just keep this tab open in your browser .

There’s no such thing as an “important” VP debate, really. In the end, voters decide based upon who’s at the top of the ticket. But tonight should work out well for the GOP for two reasons. One: Pence is a calming presence and sounds like he knows what he’s talking about, which will reassure voters in our nervous wreck of a country. Two: Kamala Harris is a much riper target for attacks that Democrats have been captured by the left than Joe Biden is. And those attacks may connect with voters more powerfully in a year when the Democratic nominee is 77 and not always the picture of mental sharpness. She has a better-than-usual chance of inheriting the presidency if elected VP. Convince the public that she’s a far-left crank and that might give some Biden leaners cold feet.
As for the optics, there’ll be two small plexiglass dividers between the candidates to protect them from COVID transmission. Photos of the set-up look simply ridiculous — as one Twitter pal said, it’s not as if cigarette smoke can’t travel around a minor obstacle — but they’re useful to Harris as a visual reminder for viewers of the outbreak that’s overwhelmed the White House. This debate should have been done remotely or outdoors, for maximum safety, but oh well.
The event starts at 9 p.m. ET. The CSPAN feed is embedded below in case you’re watching on a laptop. Beneath it you’ll find live Twitter reaction from editors at Hot Air and our four sister sites, Red State, Townhall, Pajamas Media, and Twitchy. The window will update automatically. Just keep this tab open in your browser.


hotair--2020-10-07--Kamala's puff piece in Elle magazine: Here is why she tore up her notes before victory speech in 201

Kamala's puff piece in Elle magazine: Here is why she tore up her notes before victory speech in 2016

Elle magazine has Kamala Harris on its cover this month and inside of the magazine is an interview with her .
To say it is a softball interview is an understatement .
While the author of the piece prefaces her interview with Senator Harris by saying she has “ trust issues ” and doesn ’ t “ sugarcoat her words ” it soon becomes clear that she has no such problems , at least in this interview .
It ’ s a total puff piece .
Women ’ s magazines like Elle are written to reach liberal women .
If @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s fine , but they are not the target audience .
Women ’ s magazines make the assumption that all women think alike and those thoughts are not conservative ones .
It ’ s why there is an absolute blackout of Melania Trump when it comes to traditional exposure with women magazine readers .
Melania is a beautiful woman , a former model with the best wardrobe of any First Lady , and yet she is ignored because of disdain for Republicans and of course of her husband .
Think back to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ That same treatment is now reserved for Kamala , at least until the election is over .
If Kamala becomes the first woman vice-president , and , more specifically the first black woman vice-president , she will receive four years of adoration .
Frankly , Kamala Harris is not particularly likable as a candidate .
This is why she had difficulty in the Democrat presidential primary and had to drop out in December before a single primary vote was taken .
She wasn ’ t even Hollywood ’ s favorite primary candidate .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the debates – calling him out for his friendship with segregationists in the Senate and calling him racist .
In the Elle interview , though , none of that was mentioned .
If Joe doesn ’ t get elected , she doesn ’ t either .
I have a couple of takeaways from the article .
The first comes from the very end of the article .
Kamala ’ s 2016 victory night was discussed .
I tend to forget that she is still in her first term as a senator .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ same night President Trump was elected .
What the interview reveals is her desire to use her victory to get Trump out of office .
When asked about the significance of becoming the second black woman elected to the Senate , she speaks of talking to her family and friends during a small dinner she held that night before going to the campaign victory celebration .
Her godson , then seven years old , came over to her crying , she says , and asks her a question .
“ Auntie Kamala , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that man win , are they ?
” Let that man win ?
What kind of propaganda is that child being subjected to anyway ?
No one let Trump win , he was voted into office by winning the Electoral College .
What will that mean for us ?
She relays a story about the night she became the second Black woman in history elected to the U.S. Senate .
“ In every one of my elections , part of our routine is we do a small friends-and-family dinner before we go to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that it was looking like the election was going to be called for Donald Trump .
“ My godson , Alexander , who was seven years old at the time , came up to me , crying , and said , ‘ Auntie Kamala , they ’ re not going to let that man win , are they ?
’ And you know the babies in your life.… ” She closes her eyes and swallows .
“ I held him .
I mean , it still brings me pain to remember how he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ feel , which is that I needed to protect this child .
I had one way , in my mind , I thought the evening would go .
And then there was the way it turned out .
And so by the time I took the stage , I had ripped up my notes , and all I had was Alexander in my heart .
And I took the podium and I said , ‘ I intend to fight .
I intend to fight.
’ ” If there ’ s anything we can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s that .
When it comes to freedom , she will fight .
If she has a godson precocious enough to be asking about an American presidential election at the age of seven , shouldn ’ t someone take a minute and explain the basics of the election process ?
Why didn ’ t “ Auntie Kamala ” address his question properly ?
Yeah , we know why .
Democrats are perpetual victims and that includes being victimized by the election of Hillary Clinton ’ s opponent .
Instead , she says @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had him on her mind when it was time to deliver her acceptance speech and she tore up her prepared remarks .
Color me skeptical but open to the story since she truly does suffer from Trump Derangement Syndrome .
The second takeaway is the fact that Kamala ’ s past record as a prosecutor in California and the state ’ s attorney general is not discussed , either .
It is all glossed over with Kamala saying she ’ s evolved now , you know .
That was then , this is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ the brilliance of the Black Lives Matter movement , ” and is “ engaging in multiple conversations ” about police conduct and criminal justice reforms .
And , just like that , the topic shifted .
She now supports Black Lives Matter , a movement founded by self-avowed Marxists .
She ’ s gone from the top law enforcement official in California to a wannabe Marxist .
What could go wrong when Joe Biden allows her to run the show in the Oval Office ?
At this point , she ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reforms , some of which she already has experience implementing as a San Francisco district attorney and then as California ’ s attorney general .
Her ideas about the best ways to demand and achieve justice have gotten more progressive over time , but she still faces criticism about her past as a prosecutor .
She is not ashamed of having evolved her perspective and hopes the current moment is the beginning of something , not the end .
“ What I hope and pray is that we can get to a point @ @ @ @ @ @ @ conversations , we confront the real history of America , ” Harris says .
“ Doing it in a way that is motivated by love , but also is fully honest.
” It ’ s interesting that such a heavy emphasis is placed on her race – as the first black woman on a presidential ticket .
She , like her friend and supporter Barack Obama , is bi-racial .
She was raised by her Indian mother , not her Jamaican father .
The black identity box is the more important one to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ voters to turn out in November and their enthusiasm for him has been less than strong so far .
This post will be published either after the vice-presidential debate or during it .
I ’ ll be curious to see how Kamala handles herself .
Both she and Pence are experienced debaters .
One ‘ tell ’ I ’ ve noticed about Kamala is that her laugh , which usually sounds like a cackle , gets a little more manic-sounding when she is nervous or wants to change the subject .
I ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can talk about love and light and unity all wants but she usually shows herself to be an aggressive , nasty debater .

Elle magazine has Kamala Harris on its cover this month and inside of the magazine is an interview with her. To say it is a softball interview is an understatement. While the author of the piece prefaces her interview with Senator Harris by saying she has “trust issues” and doesn’t “sugarcoat her words” it soon becomes clear that she has no such problems, at least in this interview. It’s a total puff piece.
Women’s magazines like Elle are written to reach liberal women. If conservative women read them, that’s fine, but they are not the target audience. Women’s magazines make the assumption that all women think alike and those thoughts are not conservative ones. It’s why there is an absolute blackout of Melania Trump when it comes to traditional exposure with women magazine readers. Melania is a beautiful woman, a former model with the best wardrobe of any First Lady, and yet she is ignored because of disdain for Republicans and of course of her husband. Think back to the celebrity status given to Michelle Obama. That same treatment is now reserved for Kamala, at least until the election is over. If Kamala becomes the first woman vice-president, and, more specifically the first black woman vice-president, she will receive four years of adoration.
Frankly, Kamala Harris is not particularly likable as a candidate. This is why she had difficulty in the Democrat presidential primary and had to drop out in December before a single primary vote was taken. She wasn’t even Hollywood’s favorite primary candidate. She landed some blows to Joe Biden in the debates – calling him out for his friendship with segregationists in the Senate and calling him racist. In the Elle interview, though, none of that was mentioned. If Joe doesn’t get elected, she doesn’t either.
https://www.instagram.com/p/CGAFYmPHgUa/?utm_source=ig_embed
I have a couple of takeaways from the article. The first comes from the very end of the article. Kamala’s 2016 victory night was discussed. I tend to forget that she is still in her first term as a senator. She came into her national office the same night President Trump was elected. What the interview reveals is her desire to use her victory to get Trump out of office. When asked about the significance of becoming the second black woman elected to the Senate, she speaks of talking to her family and friends during a small dinner she held that night before going to the campaign victory celebration. Her godson, then seven years old, came over to her crying, she says, and asks her a question. “Auntie Kamala, they’re not going to let that man win, are they?” Let that man win? What kind of propaganda is that child being subjected to anyway? No one let Trump win, he was voted into office by winning the Electoral College.
What will that mean for us? She relays a story about the night she became the second Black woman in history elected to the U.S. Senate. “In every one of my elections, part of our routine is we do a small friends-and-family dinner before we go to the campaign night celebration.” She explains that it was looking like the election was going to be called for Donald Trump. “My godson, Alexander, who was seven years old at the time, came up to me, crying, and said, ‘Auntie Kamala, they’re not going to let that man win, are they?’ And you know the babies in your life.…” She closes her eyes and swallows. “I held him. I mean, it still brings me pain to remember how he felt, and what it made me feel, which is that I needed to protect this child. I had one way, in my mind, I thought the evening would go. And then there was the way it turned out. And so by the time I took the stage, I had ripped up my notes, and all I had was Alexander in my heart. And I took the podium and I said, ‘I intend to fight. I intend to fight.’” If there’s anything we can know about Senator Kamala Harris, it’s that. When it comes to freedom, she will fight.
If she has a godson precocious enough to be asking about an American presidential election at the age of seven, shouldn’t someone take a minute and explain the basics of the election process? Why didn’t “Auntie Kamala” address his question properly? Yeah, we know why. Democrats are perpetual victims and that includes being victimized by the election of Hillary Clinton’s opponent. Instead, she says she was so moved that she only had him on her mind when it was time to deliver her acceptance speech and she tore up her prepared remarks. Color me skeptical but open to the story since she truly does suffer from Trump Derangement Syndrome.
The second takeaway is the fact that Kamala’s past record as a prosecutor in California and the state’s attorney general is not discussed, either. It is all glossed over with Kamala saying she’s evolved now, you know. That was then, this is now. She now says she supports “the brilliance of the Black Lives Matter movement,” and is “engaging in multiple conversations” about police conduct and criminal justice reforms. And, just like that, the topic shifted. She now supports Black Lives Matter, a movement founded by self-avowed Marxists. She’s gone from the top law enforcement official in California to a wannabe Marxist. What could go wrong when Joe Biden allows her to run the show in the Oval Office?
At this point, she’s all for police conduct and criminal justice reforms, some of which she already has experience implementing as a San Francisco district attorney and then as California’s attorney general. Her ideas about the best ways to demand and achieve justice have gotten more progressive over time, but she still faces criticism about her past as a prosecutor. She is not ashamed of having evolved her perspective and hopes the current moment is the beginning of something, not the end. “What I hope and pray is that we can get to a point where, through what are undoubtedly difficult conversations, we confront the real history of America,” Harris says. “Doing it in a way that is motivated by love, but also is fully honest.”
It’s interesting that such a heavy emphasis is placed on her race – as the first black woman on a presidential ticket. She, like her friend and supporter Barack Obama, is bi-racial. She was raised by her Indian mother, not her Jamaican father. The black identity box is the more important one to check off. Joe Biden needs black voters to turn out in November and their enthusiasm for him has been less than strong so far.
This post will be published either after the vice-presidential debate or during it. I’ll be curious to see how Kamala handles herself. Both she and Pence are experienced debaters. One ‘tell’ I’ve noticed about Kamala is that her laugh, which usually sounds like a cackle, gets a little more manic-sounding when she is nervous or wants to change the subject. I’ll be looking for that. She can talk about love and light and unity all wants but she usually shows herself to be an aggressive, nasty debater.


hotair--2020-10-07--Report: Trump campaign slashes ad spending in midwest battlegrounds like Iowa and Ohio

I continue to believe that this is a smart move even though it goes against conventional wisdom and , er , even though it ’ s a strategy borne of necessity .
Obviously it ’ s *not ideal* that they ’ re ceding the airwaves to Team Biden in states they need to win ; they ’ re being forced to do triage because they ’ ve blown through their war chest and Democrats are posting mind-boggling numbers in outraising them .
But how can there be any marginal utility left in an ad dollar spent on behalf of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in American history ?
What minuscule percentage of Americans remain undecided on Trump after five years of the daily circus — and of that group , how many remain persuadable by something as anodyne and formulaic as a campaign ad ?
Even if Bill Stepien had a killer ad and the bucks to run it everywhere , Trump ’ s just going to end up stepping on it .
There ’ ll be a tweet , or a weirdo photo op on the White House balcony sans mask while he battles COVID , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which he advises Americans to stop worrying about getting the virus because they can just go to the hospital like he did .
He ’ s going to set the message , as always .
And he ’ ll have a billion media outlets willing to carry that message for him for free , some in the belief that doing so will help him win voters over , most in the belief that it ’ ll alienate them .
His entire theory of the election is that he doesn ’ t need to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ swing voters because he ’ s going to get his fans so jacked up to go to the polls that they ’ ll end up swamping Biden ’ s turnout .
All of that being so , he ’ d be a fool to spend another dime on advertising and wise to spend everything on turnout operations .
Which , it seems , is basically what he ’ s doing .
[ Trump has ] been off the local airwaves completely in Iowa and Ohio .
The campaign also has given up at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in both Michigan and Wisconsin since early September .
And in Minnesota , a state Trump almost won four years ago and has expressed confidence in flipping , his team already has chopped about $ 5 million from its projected fall TV budget… The Trump campaign , meanwhile , according to data shared by Democratic ad trackers , has in recent weeks boosted its TV presence in the Sun Belt battlegrounds — Arizona , Florida , and Georgia — and Nevada , a state Trump lost in 2016… “ I don ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ congruent with the reality , ” Nicholas Everhart , an Ohio-based Republican ad maker , told BuzzFeed News .
“ There ’ s no reason why [ Trump ] would not be wanting to be on the air in those states , particularly Ohio , at this moment .
Clearly there are some unpleasant financial realities impacting the strategic decisions they are making.
” Giving up on Iowa and Ohio in order to focus on Florida , Arizona , and Georgia is an understandable calculated gamble .
Trump won IA and OH comfortably @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a dogfight with Biden in both states right now but might believe , not unreasonably , that in the end the sheer size of his margins there four years ago will carry him to a narrow victory this year .
FL , AZ , and GA were all tighter races against Clinton , by comparison ; Biden leads by several points in each at the moment and is competing in all three aggressively .
Trump has little choice but to focus on them .
As for Michigan and Wisconsin , the campaign may @ @ @ @ @ @ @ them .
Both turned red by razor-thin margins in 2016 and Biden is leading both fairly comfortably right now .
Team Trump may soon make a very hard decision to treat both states as lost and focus on holding Pennsylvania instead .
He can get reelected without MI or WI but it would leave him with virtually no margin of error anywhere else .
We may be approaching that stage of desperation .
The Biden campaign is naturally pressing its financial advantage by expanding the map of states where it ’ s running @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : Over the past two weeks , Biden had the airwaves to himself in Iowa , Ohio , Texas and New Hampshire , while Trump went dark , according to Advertising Analytics , a TV tracking firm .
This week , Trump isn ’ t airing any ads in Nebraska , where both campaigns are competing for the lone Electoral College vote out of the Omaha-based congressional district , while Biden is dropping just under $ 500,000 .
The spending disparity isn ’ t limited to Democratic “ reach ” states .
Biden @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ad advantages in the core battlegrounds that put Trump in the White House in 2016 .
Biden is out-advertising Trump in 72 out of 83 media markets where the campaigns are spending this week , including dozens of places that played a critical role in deciding the last election , like Philadelphia and Wilkes-Barre in Pennsylvania and Milwaukee and Green Bay in Wisconsin… In Pennsylvania , where Biden has spent $ 17 million in the last three weeks to Trump ’ s $ 7 million , Democratic outside groups have poured in another @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , while GOP groups have put in $ 8 million .
Throw everything into turnout operations and let Trump run the “ ad ” campaign himself with his public messaging .
If he ends up alienating 60 percent of the country and loses by 10 points , oh well .
He got the campaign he wanted .
Meanwhile , a hard decision is approaching for the RNC and Republican donors : At what point do you give up on Trump and start throwing everything you have left at saving the Senate ?
Two @ @ @ @ @ @ @ now be the only thing standing between a Biden presidency that aggressively pursues a left-wing agenda and a Biden presidency mired in gridlock .
Ditching Trump early would free up scarce dollars to rescue Susan Collins and Lindsey Graham .
Although maybe that ’ s a fallacy .
If Trump ends up in free fall , are there realistically likely to be so many ticket-splitters in Senate battlegrounds that they ’ ll send Biden to the White House with comfortable margins and Republicans back to a Senate majority ?
A Gallup poll published @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Americans favor single-party control of government .
A lot of voters out there don ’ t want gridlock , which is bad news for the party that ’ s trailing right now .
And on top of all that , there ’ s the problem of Trump being Trump .
How do you suppose a narcissist obsessed with loyalty would react to news that Republican officials and donors have decided to stop spending to help him win and to focus on , say , Graham instead ?
A traditional politician would want @ @ @ @ @ @ @ personally failed , but Trump doesn ’ t care if the GOP is locked out of power for the next hundred years .
He sees it as a vehicle to serve him .
He owes it nothing in return .
If he ’ s looking to make an ad splash against Biden , I ’ ve got a killer idea for him that won ’ t cost him a penny ( although it ’ ll cost you and me , and the next generation , a lot ) and will impress voters a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ both parties are used to putting on TV .
It ’ s simple : Stop being an idiot about stimulus negotiations , make a deal with Pelosi , and then do a big victory lap every day in press events touting yourself as the man who rescued working-class Americans from the brink .
Word came this afternoon that he was being “ briefed on stimulus talks , ” which came as a surprise since yesterday he announced that stimulus talks were over until after the election .
Last night he took to Twitter @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that announcement proved ugly , demanding that Congress send him smaller bills targeting the more popular parts of the stimulus talks instead : No one knows whether this means talks are back on , or they ’ re not and he ’ s just posturing , or some strange third Trumpy option that no one but he has considered yet .
But Senate Republicans seem excited by the possibility that a deal might yet be reached before Election Day : Stay tuned .
I ’ ll leave you with this unfortunate video of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Arizona Senate debate .
Even if Republican leaders begin moving money away from Trump ’ s race to Senate battlegrounds , I doubt she ’ ll see much of it .
She ’ s cooked .

I continue to believe that this is a smart move even though it goes against conventional wisdom and, er, even though it’s a strategy borne of necessity. Obviously it’s *not ideal* that they’re ceding the airwaves to Team Biden in states they need to win; they’re being forced to do triage because they’ve blown through their war chest and Democrats are posting mind-boggling numbers in outraising them.
But how can there be any marginal utility left in an ad dollar spent on behalf of the most ubiquitous and possibly most polarizing president in American history? What minuscule percentage of Americans remain undecided on Trump after five years of the daily circus — and of that group, how many remain persuadable by something as anodyne and formulaic as a campaign ad?
Even if Bill Stepien had a killer ad and the bucks to run it everywhere, Trump’s just going to end up stepping on it. There’ll be a tweet, or a weirdo photo op on the White House balcony sans mask while he battles COVID, or a hot new Twitter video in which he advises Americans to stop worrying about getting the virus because they can just go to the hospital like he did.
He’s going to set the message, as always. And he’ll have a billion media outlets willing to carry that message for him for free, some in the belief that doing so will help him win voters over, most in the belief that it’ll alienate them. His entire theory of the election is that he doesn’t need to pander (much) to centrists and swing voters because he’s going to get his fans so jacked up to go to the polls that they’ll end up swamping Biden’s turnout. All of that being so, he’d be a fool to spend another dime on advertising and wise to spend everything on turnout operations. Which, it seems, is basically what he’s doing.
[Trump has] been off the local airwaves completely in Iowa and Ohio. The campaign also has given up at least $2 million worth of reservations in both Michigan and Wisconsin since early September. And in Minnesota, a state Trump almost won four years ago and has expressed confidence in flipping, his team already has chopped about $5 million from its projected fall TV budget… The Trump campaign, meanwhile, according to data shared by Democratic ad trackers, has in recent weeks boosted its TV presence in the Sun Belt battlegrounds — Arizona, Florida, and Georgia — and Nevada, a state Trump lost in 2016… “I don’t think the spin is in any way congruent with the reality,” Nicholas Everhart, an Ohio-based Republican ad maker, told BuzzFeed News. “There’s no reason why [Trump] would not be wanting to be on the air in those states, particularly Ohio, at this moment. Clearly there are some unpleasant financial realities impacting the strategic decisions they are making.”
Giving up on Iowa and Ohio in order to focus on Florida, Arizona, and Georgia is an understandable calculated gamble. Trump won IA and OH comfortably in 2016. He’s in a dogfight with Biden in both states right now but might believe, not unreasonably, that in the end the sheer size of his margins there four years ago will carry him to a narrow victory this year. FL, AZ, and GA were all tighter races against Clinton, by comparison; Biden leads by several points in each at the moment and is competing in all three aggressively. Trump has little choice but to focus on them.
As for Michigan and Wisconsin, the campaign may be weighing whether to give up on them. Both turned red by razor-thin margins in 2016 and Biden is leading both fairly comfortably right now. Team Trump may soon make a very hard decision to treat both states as lost and focus on holding Pennsylvania instead. He can get reelected without MI or WI but it would leave him with virtually no margin of error anywhere else. We may be approaching that stage of desperation.
The Biden campaign is naturally pressing its financial advantage by expanding the map of states where it’s running ads, forcing Trump to play defense:
Over the past two weeks, Biden had the airwaves to himself in Iowa, Ohio, Texas and New Hampshire, while Trump went dark, according to Advertising Analytics, a TV tracking firm. This week, Trump isn’t airing any ads in Nebraska, where both campaigns are competing for the lone Electoral College vote out of the Omaha-based congressional district, while Biden is dropping just under $500,000. The spending disparity isn’t limited to Democratic “reach” states. Biden and his allies are also racking up ad advantages in the core battlegrounds that put Trump in the White House in 2016. Biden is out-advertising Trump in 72 out of 83 media markets where the campaigns are spending this week, including dozens of places that played a critical role in deciding the last election, like Philadelphia and Wilkes-Barre in Pennsylvania and Milwaukee and Green Bay in Wisconsin… In Pennsylvania, where Biden has spent $17 million in the last three weeks to Trump’s $7 million, Democratic outside groups have poured in another $14 million on top of that, while GOP groups have put in $8 million.
Throw everything into turnout operations and let Trump run the “ad” campaign himself with his public messaging. If he ends up alienating 60 percent of the country and loses by 10 points, oh well. He got the campaign he wanted. Meanwhile, a hard decision is approaching for the RNC and Republican donors: At what point do you give up on Trump and start throwing everything you have left at saving the Senate? Two or three very close Senate races may now be the only thing standing between a Biden presidency that aggressively pursues a left-wing agenda and a Biden presidency mired in gridlock. Ditching Trump early would free up scarce dollars to rescue Susan Collins and Lindsey Graham.
Although maybe that’s a fallacy. If Trump ends up in free fall, are there realistically likely to be so many ticket-splitters in Senate battlegrounds that they’ll send Biden to the White House with comfortable margins and Republicans back to a Senate majority? A Gallup poll published last week found that a record-high number of Americans favor single-party control of government. A lot of voters out there don’t want gridlock, which is bad news for the party that’s trailing right now.
And on top of all that, there’s the problem of Trump being Trump. How do you suppose a narcissist obsessed with loyalty would react to news that Republican officials and donors have decided to stop spending to help him win and to focus on, say, Graham instead? A traditional politician would want his party to succeed even if he personally failed, but Trump doesn’t care if the GOP is locked out of power for the next hundred years. He sees it as a vehicle to serve him. He owes it nothing in return.
If he’s looking to make an ad splash against Biden, I’ve got a killer idea for him that won’t cost him a penny (although it’ll cost you and me, and the next generation, a lot) and will impress voters a lot more than the sort of pap both parties are used to putting on TV. It’s simple: Stop being an idiot about stimulus negotiations, make a deal with Pelosi, and then do a big victory lap every day in press events touting yourself as the man who rescued working-class Americans from the brink. Word came this afternoon that he was being “briefed on stimulus talks,” which came as a surprise since yesterday he announced that stimulus talks were over until after the election. Last night he took to Twitter to do damage control after reaction to that announcement proved ugly, demanding that Congress send him smaller bills targeting the more popular parts of the stimulus talks instead:
https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1313658825040371712
https://twitter.com/realdonaldtrump/status/1313664886648582144
No one knows whether this means talks are back on, or they’re not and he’s just posturing, or some strange third Trumpy option that no one but he has considered yet. But Senate Republicans seem excited by the possibility that a deal might yet be reached before Election Day:
Pelosi wants feds to borrow $400B to bail out states. Better idea: let states borrow money themselves, perhaps with a federal guarantee (to secure favorable terms) & seniority. Break the stalemate, get a deal done. This is critical for unemployed, small businesses & the economy. — Mitt Romney (@MittRomney) October 7, 2020
Strongly recommend all my colleagues and President @realdonaldTrump look at the House Problem-Solvers bipartisan $1.5 trillion stimulus relief package. It has many good things for individuals and businesses.
https://t.co/M7HvwCv9MS — Lindsey Graham (@LindseyGrahamSC) October 7, 2020
Stay tuned. I’ll leave you with this unfortunate video of Martha McSally from last night’s Arizona Senate debate. Even if Republican leaders begin moving money away from Trump’s race to Senate battlegrounds, I doubt she’ll see much of it. She’s cooked.


hotair--2020-10-07--California Governor's office: When you go out to eat, wear a mask 'in between bites'

Yes this is real , as you ’ ll see in a moment .
But first , let me describe the current situation in California , at least where I live in southern California , with regard to restaurants .
Restaurants here are open for take out and in some cases for seating .
The seating can either be inside at a reduced capacity or outside under a tent .
My family still picks up to-go food from our favorite restaurants but in the last three months we ’ ve only gone out to dinner twice I think .
In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ portion of their parking lot into table seating with the tables spaced out to create social distance from other diners .
Both times we went out the protocol was the same .
Everyone arriving had to be wearing masks .
Once you were seated there were no physical menus handed out because those would be touched and would then run the risk of spreading something to a server or potentially to another guest .
In one case , the restaurant I went to used a QR-code on the table which would automatically bring @ @ @ @ @ @ @ After ordering , most people took off their masks and waited for their food .
People going out were generally with the same group of people they were with all the time , usually their own family .
And obviously you can ’ t eat with a mask on anyway .
But over the weekend Governor Newsom ’ s office put out a message which surprised and confused a lot of people .
It said that if you go out to dinner you should “ keep your mask on in between bites.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it seems to say something different .
It reads , “ minimize the number of times you take your mask off.
” And the three cartoon panels seem to show someone ordering with their mask on , eating with it off , and then putting it back on after they finish ( notice her plate is empty in the last frame ) .
That ’ s pretty close to how restaurants are actually doing things in California , as described above .
So where did wearing a mask in between bites come from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for this tweet just get confused ?
It certainly confused many people who read it : “ I ’ m very confused by this tweet .
The image suggests you should only take your mask off once when you begin a meal but the text suggests you should put it back on between bites , ” journalist Matthew Fuhrman wrote , referring to the graphic shared in the tweet .
“ Should we wash our hands after touching our mask each time we remove it between bites ?
What if I ’ m @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for a double dip ?
Is that technically two bites since it ’ s the same chip ?
” another person asked… CBS News has reached out to the governor ’ s office for more information on the guidance in the tweet .
In California ’ s published guidance for dining in restaurants , wearing a mask in between bites is not mentioned .
Here ’ s what California ’ s published guidance says about face coverings [ emphasis added ] : Establishments must take reasonable measures , including posting signage at all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and in reservation confirmations , to remind the public that they must use face coverings while not eating and drinking and practice physical distancing and that they should frequently wash their hands with soap for at least 20 seconds , use hand sanitizer , and not touch their face… Guests and visitors should be screened for temperature and/or symptoms upon arrival , asked to use hand sanitizer , and to wear a face covering when not eating or drinking .
Employers have the right to cancel reservations for individuals/parties with symptomatic guests .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ a mask between bites makes no sense .
In my case , one of the restaurants we ate at was a rib place .
We were eating with our hands , not a fork .
Touching your mask during this kind of meal would have resulted in a mess .
Also , as one person pointed out this novel advice would be contrary to guidance from the WHO which recommends touching your mask as little as possible with your hands .
The bottom line appears to be that the Governor ’ s office @ @ @ @ @ @ @ willing to admit it and thus hasn ’ t deleted the tweet .
I think this response to the tweet sort of summed up what was likely taking place inside the Governor ’ s office after this tip went out :

Yes this is real, as you’ll see in a moment. But first, let me describe the current situation in California, at least where I live in southern California, with regard to restaurants.
Restaurants here are open for take out and in some cases for seating. The seating can either be inside at a reduced capacity or outside under a tent. My family still picks up to-go food from our favorite restaurants but in the last three months we’ve only gone out to dinner twice I think. In both cases the restaurants had converted a portion of their parking lot into table seating with the tables spaced out to create social distance from other diners.
Both times we went out the protocol was the same. Everyone arriving had to be wearing masks. Once you were seated there were no physical menus handed out because those would be touched and would then run the risk of spreading something to a server or potentially to another guest. In one case, the restaurant I went to used a QR-code on the table which would automatically bring up the menu on your phone. After ordering, most people took off their masks and waited for their food. People going out were generally with the same group of people they were with all the time, usually their own family. And obviously you can’t eat with a mask on anyway.
But over the weekend Governor Newsom’s office put out a message which surprised and confused a lot of people. It said that if you go out to dinner you should “keep your mask on in between bites.”
Going out to eat with members of your household this weekend? Don't forget to keep your mask on in between bites. Do your part to keep those around you healthy. #SlowtheSpreadhttps://t.co/snYe5v55Rw pic.twitter.com/Y4fcDO5Zke — Office of the Governor of California (@CAgovernor) October 3, 2020
If you look at the actual meme it seems to say something different. It reads, “minimize the number of times you take your mask off.” And the three cartoon panels seem to show someone ordering with their mask on, eating with it off, and then putting it back on after they finish (notice her plate is empty in the last frame). That’s pretty close to how restaurants are actually doing things in California, as described above. So where did wearing a mask in between bites come from? Did the person writing the text for this tweet just get confused? It certainly confused many people who read it:
“I’m very confused by this tweet. The image suggests you should only take your mask off once when you begin a meal but the text suggests you should put it back on between bites,” journalist Matthew Fuhrman wrote, referring to the graphic shared in the tweet. “Should we wash our hands after touching our mask each time we remove it between bites? What if I’m eating chips and salsa and I go for a double dip? Is that technically two bites since it’s the same chip?” another person asked… CBS News has reached out to the governor’s office for more information on the guidance in the tweet. In California’s published guidance for dining in restaurants, wearing a mask in between bites is not mentioned.
Here’s what California’s published guidance says about face coverings [emphasis added]:
Establishments must take reasonable measures, including posting signage at all entrances and in strategic and highly-visible locations and in reservation confirmations, to remind the public that they must use face coverings while not eating and drinking and practice physical distancing and that they should frequently wash their hands with soap for at least 20 seconds, use hand sanitizer, and not touch their face… Guests and visitors should be screened for temperature and/or symptoms upon arrival, asked to use hand sanitizer, and to wear a face covering when not eating or drinking. Employers have the right to cancel reservations for individuals/parties with symptomatic guests.
The idea of putting on and off a mask between bites makes no sense. In my case, one of the restaurants we ate at was a rib place. We were eating with our hands, not a fork. Touching your mask during this kind of meal would have resulted in a mess.
Also, as one person pointed out this novel advice would be contrary to guidance from the WHO which recommends touching your mask as little as possible with your hands.
This violates the @WHO "Dont's of Mask wearing" #4 – "Do not remove the mask to talk to someone or do other things that require touching the mask" And #1 and #12 of "Do's"
Creating a cross-contamination environment pic.twitter.com/5zbPBKWtTZ — TerrapinStation (@TerrapinStatio7) October 6, 2020
The bottom line appears to be that the Governor’s office made a mistake but isn’t willing to admit it and thus hasn’t deleted the tweet. I think this response to the tweet sort of summed up what was likely taking place inside the Governor’s office after this tip went out:


hotair--2020-10-07--Flynn's lawyer seeks to have Judge Sullivan recuse himself from the case

Last week , Michael Flynn ’ s attorney Sidney Powell attempted to ask Judge Emmet Sullivan to recuse himself during a 5-hour hearing .
Here ’ s how that went according to CNBC : Powell later during the hearing asked Sullivan to recuse himself from the case , on the grounds of purported bias against Flynn , which included the judge appealing a higher court ’ s order that Flynn ’ s case be promptly dismissed .
Sullivan , seeming annoyed , waved aside her request , telling her to put it in writing in a court filing .
Today @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and put her request for his recusal in writing .
The motion itself is quite lengthy but essentially argues that all that ’ s needed to force the judge to recuse from the case is the appearance of bias .
In this case , Powell argues , Sullivan ’ s actions put him beyond the appearance of bias into actual bias against Gen. Flynn .
Specifically , the motion accuses the judge of taking his talking points from Rachel Maddow : At what was scheduled as a “ sentencing hearing ” but became @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sullivan expressed his “ disdain ” and “ disgust ” for General Flynn ’ s conduct , stated that he “ sold [ his ] country out , ” and suggested that General Flynn had committed “ treason.
” …There was no factual basis for these defamatory comments .
Neither General Flynn ’ s plea to a violation of 18 U.S.C .
1001 nor the statement of offense made such allegations .
Indeed , the prosecution never suggested nor considered that General Flynn committed treason… Judge Sullivan ’ s defamatory characterizations became instant @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and partially walked them back .
Remarkably , Judge Sullivan ’ s most abusive word choices seem to have originated from the Rachel Maddow show on MSNBC the night before the hearing .
Rachel Maddow made the charge that General Flynn “ sold his country out ” and “ was a national security advisor to a presidential candidate who was secretly also a foreign agent ” for the Turkish government .
The Rachel Maddow Show Transcript 12/17/18 , Russia Targeted Mueller , MSNBC ( Dec. 17 , 2018 , 9:00 PM ) , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” ) .
The motion also cites the appointment of John Gleason as proof of bias : On May 11 , 2020 , Mr. Gleeson—a long-time mentor and proponent of Mueller Special Counsel Office lieutenant Andrew Weissmann—published an opinion piece in the Washington Post and argued that : [ Judge Sullivan ] can appoint an independent attorney to act as a “ friend of the court , ” ensuring a full , adversarial inquiry… If necessary , the court can hold hearings to resolve factual discrepancies .
Within forty-eight hours , Judge Sullivan @ @ @ @ @ @ @ job application and appointed him to implement Gleeson ’ s plan .
There is a section of the motion devoted to evidence of Judge Sullivan ’ s bias made clear at the hearing last month .
One of several claims Powell makes is that Sullivan is clearly trying to find a way to allow the case to be revived should Joe Biden win the election : This judge asked whether he could dismiss the case without prejudice , thereby permitting a future attorney general or a future administration to reopen the prosecution of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
09-29-20 at 76 .
He also wanted to know if a new attorney general could pursue General Flynn for uncharged conduct .
Id .
The court pushed this issue despite well-knowing the purpose of Rule 48 ( a ) to foreclose prosecutorial harassment and the government ’ s unequivocal motion to dismiss with prejudice .
Rinaldi v. United States , 434 U.S. 22 ( 1977 ) .
…It could not be more obvious even to the untrained observer that this judge , amicus Gleeson , Ms. Wilkinson , and those politically aligned @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and briefing this case as a political tool hoping that Democrats will win the election and a Democratic administration will continue the political persecution of General Flynn .
That is the very abuse a Rule 48 ( a ) dismissal is to prevent .
Judge Sullivan ’ s increasingly hostile and unprecedented words and deeds in what has become his own prosecution of General Flynn mandate his disqualification from further participation in these proceedings and the referral of his conduct to the D.C .
Circuit Judicial Council… “ [ A ] ll @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” then , is “ a showing of an appearance of bias … sufficient to permit the average citizen reasonably to question a judge ’ s impartiality.
” Id .
The appearance of bias here is terrifying and mandates disqualification .
This case was sent back to Judge Sullivan by the Appeals Court with the expectation that he would act with “ dispatch ” meaning soon .
Last Tuesday he held a 5-hour hearing clearly aimed at generating headlines and creating an excuse to drag out his decision .
More than a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reached a decision .
At this point , the only reason the media isn ’ t screaming about Judge Sullivan ’ s obvious bias is that he ’ s biased in the right way , which is to say against a former Trump advisor .

Last week, Michael Flynn’s attorney Sidney Powell attempted to ask Judge Emmet Sullivan to recuse himself during a 5-hour hearing. Here’s how that went according to CNBC:
Powell later during the hearing asked Sullivan to recuse himself from the case, on the grounds of purported bias against Flynn, which included the judge appealing a higher court’s order that Flynn’s case be promptly dismissed. Sullivan, seeming annoyed, waved aside her request, telling her to put it in writing in a court filing.
Today, Powell did as Judge Sullivan asked and put her request for his recusal in writing. The motion itself is quite lengthy but essentially argues that all that’s needed to force the judge to recuse from the case is the appearance of bias. In this case, Powell argues, Sullivan’s actions put him beyond the appearance of bias into actual bias against Gen. Flynn. Specifically, the motion accuses the judge of taking his talking points from Rachel Maddow:
At what was scheduled as a “sentencing hearing” but became an “extended colloquy,” Judge Sullivan expressed his “disdain” and “disgust” for General Flynn’s conduct, stated that he “sold [his] country out,” and suggested that General Flynn had committed “treason.”…There was no factual basis for these defamatory comments. Neither General Flynn’s plea to a violation of 18 U.S.C. 1001 nor the statement of offense made such allegations. Indeed, the prosecution never suggested nor considered that General Flynn committed treason… Judge Sullivan’s defamatory characterizations became instant international news—before he returned to the bench and partially walked them back. Remarkably, Judge Sullivan’s most abusive word choices seem to have originated from the Rachel Maddow show on MSNBC the night before the hearing. Rachel Maddow made the charge that General Flynn “sold his country out” and “was a national security advisor to a presidential candidate who was secretly also a foreign agent” for the Turkish government. The Rachel Maddow Show Transcript 12/17/18, Russia Targeted Mueller, MSNBC (Dec. 17, 2018, 9:00 PM), http://www.msnbc.com/transcripts/rachel-maddow-show/2018-12-17 (“Maddow Tr.”).
The motion also cites the appointment of John Gleason as proof of bias:
On May 11, 2020, Mr. Gleeson—a long-time mentor and proponent of Mueller Special Counsel Office lieutenant Andrew Weissmann—published an opinion piece in the Washington Post and argued that: [Judge Sullivan] can appoint an independent attorney to act as a “friend of the court,” ensuring a full, adversarial inquiry… If necessary, the court can hold hearings to resolve factual discrepancies. Within forty-eight hours, Judge Sullivan took Gleeson’s op-ed as a job application and appointed him to implement Gleeson’s plan.
There is a section of the motion devoted to evidence of Judge Sullivan’s bias made clear at the hearing last month. One of several claims Powell makes is that Sullivan is clearly trying to find a way to allow the case to be revived should Joe Biden win the election:
This judge asked whether he could dismiss the case without prejudice, thereby permitting a future attorney general or a future administration to reopen the prosecution of General Flynn. Hr’g Tr. 09-29-20 at 76. He also wanted to know if a new attorney general could pursue General Flynn for uncharged conduct. Id. The court pushed this issue despite well-knowing the purpose of Rule 48(a) to foreclose prosecutorial harassment and the government’s unequivocal motion to dismiss with prejudice. Rinaldi v. United States, 434 U.S. 22 (1977). …It could not be more obvious even to the untrained observer that this judge, amicus Gleeson, Ms. Wilkinson, and those politically aligned with them, are delaying, posturing, and briefing this case as a political tool hoping that Democrats will win the election and a Democratic administration will continue the political persecution of General Flynn. That is the very abuse a Rule 48(a) dismissal is to prevent.
The motion concludes:
Judge Sullivan’s increasingly hostile and unprecedented words and deeds in what has become his own prosecution of General Flynn mandate his disqualification from further participation in these proceedings and the referral of his conduct to the D.C. Circuit Judicial Council…“[A]ll that must be demonstrated to compel recusal,” then, is “a showing of an appearance of bias … sufficient to permit the average citizen reasonably to question a judge’s impartiality.” Id. The appearance of bias here is terrifying and mandates disqualification.
This case was sent back to Judge Sullivan by the Appeals Court with the expectation that he would act with “dispatch” meaning soon. Last Tuesday he held a 5-hour hearing clearly aimed at generating headlines and creating an excuse to drag out his decision. More than a week later he still hasn’t reached a decision. At this point, the only reason the media isn’t screaming about Judge Sullivan’s obvious bias is that he’s biased in the right way, which is to say against a former Trump advisor.


hotair--2020-10-07--Fake hunting group tries to bail out Democrat Bullock in Montana

Out in Montana , there ’ s a tight Senate race going on between incumbent Republican Senator Steve Daines and Democratic Governor Steve Bullock .
Given how close the battle appears to be for control of the upper chamber , this is one that everyone will be watching carefully .
Bullock has a proven record of being able to win statewide races in Montana ( obviously ) but he also has some serious weak points on his resume .
One of them has been his support for his party ’ s efforts to implement new gun control laws and infringe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Bullock has come up with a plan to counter that image and shore up support for him .
He ’ s gotten the endorsement and advertising support of a hunting and finishing group from his state and they ’ re currently running advertisements supporting him .
There ’ s just one problem , however .
The “ hunting and fishing group ” is almost entirely fictional and gets nearly all of its funding from a few wealthy liberals in California .
( Free Beacon ) Liberal megadonors in Washington , D.C. , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to deflect criticism of Montana Democratic governor Steve Bullock ’ s embrace of gun control .
Montana Hunters and Anglers Leadership Fund recently released an ad saying Bullock “ took on liberals in his own party ” to protect gun rights .
The group ’ s website claims to be “ all about ensuring that Montanans have places to hunt and fish , ” asking for donations from “ Montana sportsmen and women ” in order to “ stand up for your unique world class Montana outdoor heritage.
” But Montana Hunters and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ interest groups and liberal megadonors in D.C. and California .
The Free Beacon has done a great job tracking down all of the “ Montana hunters and anglers ” who are involved with the Montana Hunters and Anglers Leadership Fund ( MHALF ) .
Of course , it apparently didn ’ t take too long since all of the $ 100,000 they ’ ve raised in 2020 came from a single person .
That would be Silicon Valley physician Karla Jurvetson .
She ’ s not from Montana and I don ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ into hunting or sports shooting .
She is , however , a major influencer in Democratic politics .
She gave $ 15 million to Elizabeth Warren ’ s failed presidential campaign over the past two years .
And she is most assuredly not a supporter of Second Amendment rights .
It ’ s a pretty clever trick , though .
Or at least it was until it was exposed .
Having what is supposedly a group of outdoorsmen and women claiming that Bullock “ stood up to his party ” on gun rights @ @ @ @ @ @ @ boost to his chances .
Well… except for the fact that it ’ s simply not true .
This is hardly the first time we ’ ve seen astroturf campaigns jumping into high-profile political contests .
It happens fairly often , particularly in debates over environmental concerns , oil and natural gas drilling and similar contentious issues .
But it takes a special type of moxie to give your group a name implying it ’ s composed of Montana hunters and anglers when there apparently isn ’ t even one such person in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ toss the organization a couple of bucks .
Meanwhile , Daines has received the endorsement of the Billings Gazette and has been getting some love from Vice President Pence as well .
His liberal detractors are trying to claim that he ’ s been “ greenwashing ” his record on the environment , but that really doesn ’ t sound like it will hit Montana voters with all that much force .
Bullock retains significant support in the state , but Daines has the power of incumbency in his corner .
It ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Senate seats to the Democrats , but we shouldn ’ t get too complacent here .
I really didn ’ t think that Bullock would be elected Governor either .

Out in Montana, there’s a tight Senate race going on between incumbent Republican Senator Steve Daines and Democratic Governor Steve Bullock. Given how close the battle appears to be for control of the upper chamber, this is one that everyone will be watching carefully. Bullock has a proven record of being able to win statewide races in Montana (obviously) but he also has some serious weak points on his resume. One of them has been his support for his party’s efforts to implement new gun control laws and infringe on Second Amendment rights. But Team Bullock has come up with a plan to counter that image and shore up support for him. He’s gotten the endorsement and advertising support of a hunting and finishing group from his state and they’re currently running advertisements supporting him. There’s just one problem, however. The “hunting and fishing group” is almost entirely fictional and gets nearly all of its funding from a few wealthy liberals in California. (Free Beacon)
Liberal megadonors in Washington, D.C., and California are bankrolling an astroturf campaign designed to deflect criticism of Montana Democratic governor Steve Bullock’s embrace of gun control. Montana Hunters and Anglers Leadership Fund recently released an ad saying Bullock “took on liberals in his own party” to protect gun rights. The group’s website claims to be “all about ensuring that Montanans have places to hunt and fish,” asking for donations from “Montana sportsmen and women” in order to “stand up for your unique world class Montana outdoor heritage.” But Montana Hunters and Anglers is funded almost exclusively by liberal interest groups and liberal megadonors in D.C. and California.
The Free Beacon has done a great job tracking down all of the “Montana hunters and anglers” who are involved with the Montana Hunters and Anglers Leadership Fund (MHALF). Of course, it apparently didn’t take too long since all of the $100,000 they’ve raised in 2020 came from a single person. That would be Silicon Valley physician Karla Jurvetson. She’s not from Montana and I don’t see any record of her being big into hunting or sports shooting. She is, however, a major influencer in Democratic politics. She gave $15 million to Elizabeth Warren’s failed presidential campaign over the past two years. And she is most assuredly not a supporter of Second Amendment rights.
It’s a pretty clever trick, though. Or at least it was until it was exposed. Having what is supposedly a group of outdoorsmen and women claiming that Bullock “stood up to his party” on gun rights to protect hunters could provide a big boost to his chances. Well… except for the fact that it’s simply not true.
This is hardly the first time we’ve seen astroturf campaigns jumping into high-profile political contests. It happens fairly often, particularly in debates over environmental concerns, oil and natural gas drilling and similar contentious issues. But it takes a special type of moxie to give your group a name implying it’s composed of Montana hunters and anglers when there apparently isn’t even one such person in the entire state who was willing to toss the organization a couple of bucks.
Meanwhile, Daines has received the endorsement of the Billings Gazette and has been getting some love from Vice President Pence as well. His liberal detractors are trying to claim that he’s been “greenwashing” his record on the environment, but that really doesn’t sound like it will hit Montana voters with all that much force.
Bullock retains significant support in the state, but Daines has the power of incumbency in his corner. It’s hard to imagine Montana handing another Senate seats to the Democrats, but we shouldn’t get too complacent here. I really didn’t think that Bullock would be elected Governor either.