hotair--2020-12-06--GA secretary of state: Of course I'm voting for the two Republican senators who demanded that I resi

GA secretary of state: Of course I'm voting for the two Republican senators who demanded that I resign

I go back and forth on whether it ’ s moral cowardice or smart messaging for Georgia ’ s Republican election officials to keep insisting that they support Trump , Loeffler , and Perdue despite the viciousness that all three have encouraged towards them .
You can ’ t get through an interview with Brian Kemp , Geoff Duncan , Brad Raffensperger , or Gabriel Sterling without them reminding you that they voted for Trump and are super-bummed that he didn ’ t win their state .
Never mind that the president dubbed Raffensperger an “ enemy of the people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ other GA officials have been receiving death threats , and never mind that Loeffler and Perdue issued a statement a few days after the election calling on Raffensperger to quit despite not a scintilla of evidence that anything untoward had happened in Georgia ’ s election .
One of the most demagogic episodes in the history of the United States — and it ’ s still going , and might very well get worse — and yet these dudes can ’ t assure you quickly enough that they remain proud Republicans who ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wants them to vote for .
Cowardly or clever ?
Watch , then read on .
If you want to convince skeptical Republican voters that the election was legitimate , obviously it makes all the sense in the world to remind them , over and over again , “ I ’ m on your side .
I ’ m a Republican too .
I ’ m voting for the same people you ’ re voting for .
You have no reason not to trust me.
” Trump ’ s attacking their credibility on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the logical thing to shore it up by pledging their support to the state ’ s Republican senators .
If Raffensperger turned around and called Loeffler and Perdue human garbage who ’ d let Trump take a dump in their mouths if the president insisted upon it , he ’ d have a point — but he ’ d also tee up election truthers to say , “ See ?
We told you this guy was a closet Democrat .
He probably voted for Biden.
” There ’ s strategy to the “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ talking point , in other words .
But watching Raffensperger kowtow to Loeffler and Perdue in the clip above , I ’ m reminded of Trump insulting Ted Cruz ’ s wife and father during the 2016 primary and Cruz eventually becoming a loyal servant to the president anyway .
There was strategy behind that too : Cruz wanted to get reelected to the Senate in 2018 and he wants to run for president again someday so he swallowed his pride and did what he had to do to make those things happen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at him again the same way for having valued his career ambitions above his family ’ s dignity .
Raffensperger ’ s own wife is getting rape threats , instigated by the suspicion that ’ s been cast upon him by Perdue , Loeffler , and Trump , and all this guy can do is say , “ Sure , I support ’ em.
” Even if he ’ s behaving strategically , it ’ s impossible to respect someone who doesn ’ t seem to respect himself .
But here ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : As contemptible as Raffensperger and the rest are for continuing to align themselves with Loeffler and Perdue , they ’ re admirable for refusing to buckle under the pressure Trump ’ s put on them to overturn their election .
We ’ ve reached the point in this endless disgrace where the president is now privately lobbying Republican governors to have the state legislature void its election results and award its electors to him , but Brian Kemp won ’ t do it .
It ’ s a symptom of a deeply @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to applaud a state official for not participating in a coup but that ’ s where we are with Kemp , Raffensperger , and the rest .
It ’ s abundantly clear that a great many Republican voters would support Trump seizing another term in office by any possible means , a black mark on the party that ’ ll never wash off .
But Georgia ’ s Republican officials won ’ t go along , to their great credit , whatever it means for their careers .
President Trump called Georgia Gov @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Saturday morning to urge him to persuade the state legislature to overturn President-elect Joe Biden ’ s victory in the state and asked the governor to order an audit of absentee ballot signatures , the latest brazen effort by the president to interfere in the 2020 election .
Hours before he was scheduled to hold a rally in Georgia on behalf of the state ’ s two GOP senators , Trump pressed Kemp to call a special session of the state legislature for lawmakers to override the results and appoint electors who would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , according to two people familiar with the conversation , who spoke on the condition of anonymity to describe the private call .
Trump also asked the governor to demand an audit of signatures on mail ballots , something Kemp has previously noted he has no power to do .
Kemp declined the president ’ s entreaty , according to the people .
If burbling about his support for Loeffler and Perdue is Brad Raffensperger ’ s price for refusing to take part in a g-ddamned coup , well , that seems like @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The president was in Georgia last night and underlined his support for Loeffler and Perdue as well amid a long rant about fraud and conspiracies , etc etc .
This was the line from the rally that stood out , though : As a pithy summary of Trump ’ s core political message , one can ’ t do better than “ we ’ re all victims.
” A passage from this op-ed published a few days ago , before Trump ’ s rally , grabbed me when I read it : “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the perfect motto for a perpetual grievance machine .
( It ’ d make a fine motto for the progressive left too , interestingly enough . )
That ’ s what makes Raffensperger ’ s insistence that Trump lost Georgia fair and square so shocking , even scandalous .
The president is asserting the mother of all grievances here , nothing less than the rigging of the American presidential election against him and the GOP , and Raffensperger , Kemp , Duncan , and Sterling just won ’ t play along .
They @ @ @ @ @ @ @ aggrieved fantasy that the election was stolen for the hard reality that Biden got a few more votes in Georgia than Trump did .
It ’ s grimly amusing watching them cope with oceans of vitriol from the populist right despite their assurances that they support Loeffler and Perdue while Democratic donor Lin Wood basks in adulation from the same group while effectively calling for Loeffler ’ s and Perdue ’ s defeat .
It ’ s not really about party loyalty , in other words .
It ’ s about grievance .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ but is forgiven and even celebrated because he feeds MAGA ’ s sense of grievance .
Raffensperger would keep the Senate in Republican hands but is vilified because he won ’ t affirm that they ’ re right to feel aggrieved .
Here ’ s Duncan , the lieutenant governor , speaking to CNN this morning and naturally reminding everyone once again that he supported Trump in the election .
If I could spend five minutes with every Georgia voter , he says , I could convince them that the election was fair @ @ @ @ @ @ @ angry .
Absolutely untrue , my man .
And if you decide to test that out , I strongly encourage you to have a security detail with you .

I go back and forth on whether it’s moral cowardice or smart messaging for Georgia’s Republican election officials to keep insisting that they support Trump, Loeffler, and Perdue despite the viciousness that all three have encouraged towards them. You can’t get through an interview with Brian Kemp, Geoff Duncan, Brad Raffensperger, or Gabriel Sterling without them reminding you that they voted for Trump and are super-bummed that he didn’t win their state. Never mind that the president dubbed Raffensperger an “enemy of the people” despite knowing that he and the other GA officials have been receiving death threats, and never mind that Loeffler and Perdue issued a statement a few days after the election calling on Raffensperger to quit despite not a scintilla of evidence that anything untoward had happened in Georgia’s election.
One of the most demagogic episodes in the history of the United States — and it’s still going, and might very well get worse — and yet these dudes can’t assure you quickly enough that they remain proud Republicans who’ll dutifully vote for whoever the party wants them to vote for.
Cowardly or clever? Watch, then read on.
“Yeah, sad but true … I’m a conservative Republican and I’m disappointed, but those are the results,” Sec. of State Brad Raffensperger tells @GStephanopoulos when asked if there’s no doubt in his mind that President Trump lost the state of Georgia. https://t.co/jPVBc3tTOH pic.twitter.com/R9y9BF7QE7 — This Week (@ThisWeekABC) December 6, 2020
If you want to convince skeptical Republican voters that the election was legitimate, obviously it makes all the sense in the world to remind them, over and over again, “I’m on your side. I’m a Republican too. I’m voting for the same people you’re voting for. You have no reason not to trust me.” Trump’s attacking their credibility on the right so they’re doing the logical thing to shore it up by pledging their support to the state’s Republican senators. If Raffensperger turned around and called Loeffler and Perdue human garbage who’d let Trump take a dump in their mouths if the president insisted upon it, he’d have a point — but he’d also tee up election truthers to say, “See? We told you this guy was a closet Democrat. He probably voted for Biden.”
There’s strategy to the “I’m still voting Republican” talking point, in other words. But watching Raffensperger kowtow to Loeffler and Perdue in the clip above, I’m reminded of Trump insulting Ted Cruz’s wife and father during the 2016 primary and Cruz eventually becoming a loyal servant to the president anyway. There was strategy behind that too: Cruz wanted to get reelected to the Senate in 2018 and he wants to run for president again someday so he swallowed his pride and did what he had to do to make those things happen. But no one will ever look at him again the same way for having valued his career ambitions above his family’s dignity. Raffensperger’s own wife is getting rape threats, instigated by the suspicion that’s been cast upon him by Perdue, Loeffler, and Trump, and all this guy can do is say, “Sure, I support ’em.”
Even if he’s behaving strategically, it’s impossible to respect someone who doesn’t seem to respect himself.
But here’s what I mean by back and forth: As contemptible as Raffensperger and the rest are for continuing to align themselves with Loeffler and Perdue, they’re admirable for refusing to buckle under the pressure Trump’s put on them to overturn their election. We’ve reached the point in this endless disgrace where the president is now privately lobbying Republican governors to have the state legislature void its election results and award its electors to him, but Brian Kemp won’t do it. It’s a symptom of a deeply diseased civic culture that one feels obliged to applaud a state official for not participating in a coup but that’s where we are with Kemp, Raffensperger, and the rest. It’s abundantly clear that a great many Republican voters would support Trump seizing another term in office by any possible means, a black mark on the party that’ll never wash off. But Georgia’s Republican officials won’t go along, to their great credit, whatever it means for their careers.
President Trump called Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp (R) on Saturday morning to urge him to persuade the state legislature to overturn President-elect Joe Biden’s victory in the state and asked the governor to order an audit of absentee ballot signatures, the latest brazen effort by the president to interfere in the 2020 election. Hours before he was scheduled to hold a rally in Georgia on behalf of the state’s two GOP senators, Trump pressed Kemp to call a special session of the state legislature for lawmakers to override the results and appoint electors who would back the president at the electoral college, according to two people familiar with the conversation, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to describe the private call. Trump also asked the governor to demand an audit of signatures on mail ballots, something Kemp has previously noted he has no power to do. Kemp declined the president’s entreaty, according to the people.
If burbling about his support for Loeffler and Perdue is Brad Raffensperger’s price for refusing to take part in a g-ddamned coup, well, that seems like a modest price, relatively speaking.
The president was in Georgia last night and underlined his support for Loeffler and Perdue as well amid a long rant about fraud and conspiracies, etc etc. This was the line from the rally that stood out, though:
“We’re all victims. Everybody here. All these thousands of people here tonight. They’re all victims. Every one of you.” — Trump pic.twitter.com/5dPtZCNGxa — Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) December 6, 2020
As a pithy summary of Trump’s core political message, one can’t do better than “we’re all victims.” A passage from this op-ed published a few days ago, before Trump’s rally, grabbed me when I read it:
Trump’s permanent revolution has no fixed principles other than smashing a nebulous “deep state,” forcing all institutions of society to bend to its will, and waging never-ending war against Democrats, independents and non-Trump Republicans. It has become a perpetual grievance machine unwilling (and unable) to address those grievances through governance or the legislative process. And in refusing to accept Trump’s defeat, the conservative movement increasingly insists that the rule of law, truth and democracy are what the revolution says they are.
“We’re all victims” is the perfect motto for a perpetual grievance machine. (It’d make a fine motto for the progressive left too, interestingly enough.) That’s what makes Raffensperger’s insistence that Trump lost Georgia fair and square so shocking, even scandalous. The president is asserting the mother of all grievances here, nothing less than the rigging of the American presidential election against him and the GOP, and Raffensperger, Kemp, Duncan, and Sterling just won’t play along. They simply will not agree to substitute the aggrieved fantasy that the election was stolen for the hard reality that Biden got a few more votes in Georgia than Trump did. It’s grimly amusing watching them cope with oceans of vitriol from the populist right despite their assurances that they support Loeffler and Perdue while Democratic donor Lin Wood basks in adulation from the same group while effectively calling for Loeffler’s and Perdue’s defeat.
It’s not really about party loyalty, in other words. It’s about grievance. Wood would hand the Senate to Democrats but is forgiven and even celebrated because he feeds MAGA’s sense of grievance. Raffensperger would keep the Senate in Republican hands but is vilified because he won’t affirm that they’re right to feel aggrieved.
Here’s Duncan, the lieutenant governor, speaking to CNN this morning and naturally reminding everyone once again that he supported Trump in the election. If I could spend five minutes with every Georgia voter, he says, I could convince them that the election was fair and that they shouldn’t be angry. Absolutely untrue, my man. And if you decide to test that out, I strongly encourage you to have a security detail with you.


hotair--2020-12-06--Protesters outside L.A. supervisor's house includes restaurant owner in viral video

Protesters gathered outside of L.A .
Supervisor Sheila Kuehl ’ s house in Santa Monica Saturday .
Kuehl is one of many elected officials who have been caught hypocritically doing what they lecture everyone else against doing because of the coronavirus pandemic .
In Kuehl ’ s case , she was filmed dining outside just hours after voting to shut down outdoor dining for the people in Los Angeles County .
The ban on outdoor dining passed with a vote of 3-2 on November 24 .
Kuehl cast a yes vote .
This was a hugely controversial escalation of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ County to mitigate a rising spike of coronavirus cases .
Restaurants and bars have been hit especially hard during the pandemic and are the first businesses to be shut down by local and state officials , not just in L.A. County but across the country .
Many of the businesses forced to close down will never be able to re-open , leaving business owners without their livelihoods and employees unemployed .
A young woman ’ s struggle to keep her restaurant and bar open during the pandemic became publicized Friday in a viral @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hill Grill and Saloon in Sherman Oaks .
She spent $ 80,000 to build an outdoor dining infrastructure in order to re-open and allow customers to dine in a socially distanced way .
In a sane world , she would have been able to re-open her business this weekend .
Instead , her business was again shut down by the outdoor dining ban .
To add insult to injury , the Hollywood entertainment industry has been given exemptions from being restricted by the rules everyone else must live by and this became unbearably @ @ @ @ @ @ @ arrived at her establishment , just feet away , to find that an outdoor dining infrastructure very similar to her own was allowed to remain open because it serviced the cast and crew of a television production company .
The entertainment business is deemed essential but businesses like that of Ms. Marden ’ s are not .
It defies common sense .
Marsden ’ s reaction to the injustice of the county ’ s decision to close her business but leave open a spot for cast and crew members to eat went viral @ @ @ @ @ @ @ better to show up in front of Sheila Kuehl ’ s house among the protesters than Ms. Marsden ?
The protesters were peacefully assembled but their message was clear – they want to work .
She is seen in a video clip holding a poster and voicing her protest that she ’ s been shut down .
“ We in the restaurant industry are losing everything !
” Marsden shouted toward Kuehl ’ s home during Saturday ’ s protest , according to a video posted on Twitter .
“ We have bartenders @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t pay their rent !
They can ’ t eat — and it ’ s because of you , Sheila Cruel-y , as you laugh and dine and eat out !
” “ Maybe we should hand over your paycheck to these businesses that have been shut down !
” another protester said .
Soon after , the crowd started chanting , “ Let us work !
” “ Let us work !
” One sign held by a protester showed California Gov .
Gavin Newsom with devil ’ s horns and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wig in the style of Marie Antoinette , the 18th century French queen associated with the infamous quote , “ Let them eat cake !
” Other sign slogans included : “ I like paying my bills !
Why am I not essential ?
” , “ Politicians are 86 ’ d , ” and “ Sheila , you are 86 ’ d. ” Many of the protesters said they came out to join in because they saw Marsden ’ s video and her story .
One spa owner told reporters that the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ blaming the regular person ” instead of admitting that lockdowns have not successfully stopped spikes in coronavirus cases .
Sheila Kuehl didn ’ t appear to be home during the protest .
At the time of her vote , she justified the ban by saying the pandemic is a health emergency that must be taken seriously .
That ’ s fine but what was the difference in dining outdoors the night of the county supervisors ’ vote and , say , the next night when it was shut down though none of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ company ’ s outdoor tented facility was just feet away from Ms. Marsden ’ s business and it was still up and running .
There is no difference , the decisions that choose winners and losers during the shutdowns are arbitrary and often look like random decisions .
Elected officials show that they don ’ t really believe what they are voting on , either .
Most of all , they show what absolute hypocrites they are by living as they please , rules for the little people be damned .

Protesters gathered outside of L.A. Supervisor Sheila Kuehl’s house in Santa Monica Saturday. Kuehl is one of many elected officials who have been caught hypocritically doing what they lecture everyone else against doing because of the coronavirus pandemic. In Kuehl’s case, she was filmed dining outside just hours after voting to shut down outdoor dining for the people in Los Angeles County.
The ban on outdoor dining passed with a vote of 3-2 on November 24. Kuehl cast a yes vote. This was a hugely controversial escalation of the lockdown orders already in place in L.A. County to mitigate a rising spike of coronavirus cases. Restaurants and bars have been hit especially hard during the pandemic and are the first businesses to be shut down by local and state officials, not just in L.A. County but across the country. Many of the businesses forced to close down will never be able to re-open, leaving business owners without their livelihoods and employees unemployed.
A young woman’s struggle to keep her restaurant and bar open during the pandemic became publicized Friday in a viral video. Angela Marsden owns the Pineapple Hill Grill and Saloon in Sherman Oaks. She spent $80,000 to build an outdoor dining infrastructure in order to re-open and allow customers to dine in a socially distanced way. In a sane world, she would have been able to re-open her business this weekend. Instead, her business was again shut down by the outdoor dining ban. To add insult to injury, the Hollywood entertainment industry has been given exemptions from being restricted by the rules everyone else must live by and this became unbearably clear to Ms. Marsden Friday. She arrived at her establishment, just feet away, to find that an outdoor dining infrastructure very similar to her own was allowed to remain open because it serviced the cast and crew of a television production company. The entertainment business is deemed essential but businesses like that of Ms. Marden’s are not. It defies common sense.
Marsden’s reaction to the injustice of the county’s decision to close her business but leave open a spot for cast and crew members to eat went viral on social media. So, who better to show up in front of Sheila Kuehl’s house among the protesters than Ms. Marsden? The protesters were peacefully assembled but their message was clear – they want to work. She is seen in a video clip holding a poster and voicing her protest that she’s been shut down.
LOS ANGELES: Current scene down here in front of LA supervisor Sheila Kuehl’s home, who voted to ban #outdoordining in #LAcounty @EpochSocal pic.twitter.com/0TDyiUgk3z — Jamie Joseph (@jamiewritess) December 5, 2020
“We in the restaurant industry are losing everything!” Marsden shouted toward Kuehl’s home during Saturday’s protest, according to a video posted on Twitter. “We have bartenders with babies and children and they can’t pay their rent! They can’t eat — and it’s because of you, Sheila Cruel-y, as you laugh and dine and eat out!” “Maybe we should hand over your paycheck to these businesses that have been shut down!” another protester said. Soon after, the crowd started chanting, “Let us work!” “Let us work!” One sign held by a protester showed California Gov. Gavin Newsom with devil’s horns and Kuehl with what appeared to be a wig in the style of Marie Antoinette, the 18th century French queen associated with the infamous quote, “Let them eat cake!” Other sign slogans included: “I like paying my bills! Why am I not essential?”, “Politicians are 86’d,” and “Sheila, you are 86’d.”
Many of the protesters said they came out to join in because they saw Marsden’s video and her story. One spa owner told reporters that the county’s elected officials are “blaming the regular person” instead of admitting that lockdowns have not successfully stopped spikes in coronavirus cases.
Sheila Kuehl didn’t appear to be home during the protest. At the time of her vote, she justified the ban by saying the pandemic is a health emergency that must be taken seriously. That’s fine but what was the difference in dining outdoors the night of the county supervisors’ vote and, say, the next night when it was shut down though none of the dining conditions had changed? The production company’s outdoor tented facility was just feet away from Ms. Marsden’s business and it was still up and running. There is no difference, the decisions that choose winners and losers during the shutdowns are arbitrary and often look like random decisions.
Elected officials show that they don’t really believe what they are voting on, either. Most of all, they show what absolute hypocrites they are by living as they please, rules for the little people be damned.


hotair--2020-12-06--A call from -- and into -- the desert of our lives: Sunday reflection

The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ the Son of God .
As it is written in Isaiah the prophet : Behold , I am sending my messenger ahead of you ; he will prepare your way .
A voice of one crying out in the desert : “ Prepare the way of the Lord , make straight his paths.
” John the Baptist appeared in the desert proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins .
People of the whole Judean countryside and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem were going out to him and were being @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as they acknowledged their sins .
John was clothed in camel ’ s hair , with a leather belt around his waist .
He fed on locusts and wild honey .
And this is what he proclaimed : “ One mightier than I is coming after me .
I am not worthy to stoop and loosen the thongs of his sandals .
I have baptized you with water ; he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.
” When I was growing up , we would spend part of our summers in Lake @ @ @ @ @ @ @ know anything about summers and Arizona , you know that the two don ’ t normally go together in a tourist-campaign kind of way .
During the day , it would get to the 120s , and at night it would barely get below 100 .
It was a dry heat , though , and it wasn ’ t nearly as oppressive as it sounds .
As a kid , the desert ( and the leisure activities at the lake ) provided a fascinating break from suburban life in Southern California .
Plus @ @ @ @ @ @ @ many fond memories of our adventures and misadventures in the desert .
A certain piece of family lore involves a Big Wheel , a tall driveway , and bare feet .
I shall say no more .
Still , as much novelty as deserts might provide visitors , it makes for a harsh environment in which to live .
This is particularly true near the Jordan and Jericho , where John the Baptist preached .
The desert in that area is one of the harshest inhabited landscapes in the world .
The nearby @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lifelines , other than the spring water in Jericho that supports agriculture .
This provides a particularly apt allegory for John the Baptist ’ s preaching of repentance of sin and preparation for the bounty of salvation .
After all , this is our season of preparation — Advent , the preparation for the birth of Christ into the world and into our hearts .
Each year at this time , we hear the words of John the Baptist to prepare the way of the Lord , who comes to save us all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ serve as the factual setting for John the Baptist ’ s ministry , however .
In his prophesy , Isaiah sets the call to the Lord out of the desert as well , but takes it further .
Not only will this call come out of the desert , but it will transform it , along with the entire world , as Isaiah prophesies in our first reading today : In this passage , Isaiah speaks very clearly about the transformative power of the Word .
When the Lord comes , He changes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ change takes place in this transformation as well .
In some parables , Jesus talks about the first being last and vice versa , the poor changing places with the rich , and the haughty being brought low while the humble are elevated .
In Isaiah , the transformation is more specifically an equalization toward a specific end — fruitfulness and bounty .
Mountains and hills are not good land for producing crops , and neither are sharp valleys or rough plains .
What does the Lord ’ s transformation do in Isaiah @ @ @ @ @ @ @ useless territory into productive , life-supporting land .
It takes the various forms of deserts and redeems them into bountiful , rich earth where people live in comfort and sufficiency .
This is what the Lord wants to do with our hearts as well .
The Gospels and the other scriptures make constant reference to hardened hearts ; they become hardened by sin and stubbornness .
Rather than produce love , such hearts become deserts of their own where nothing much grows and life becomes extraordinarily hard and wearisome .
Those deserts choke @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it needs to truly flourish — the love of God and the welcoming of the Holy Spirit .
The difficulty we have is that sin beguiles us into settling for the desert of hearts based only on self-love .
We lose sight of others , turning ourselves into our own petty god and brooking no thought of any higher power .
We get lost in the wilderness of sin , with our strength being sapped and the eternal life draining from us without realizing it .
It is from that wilderness of sin @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Lord .
He calls to us , cries out to us , into those deserts to bring us the life-giving Word .
If we allow it , if we prepare a way for the Lord into our hearts , then the Word comes to us like a life-giving river .
It can transform our hearts into a place where the Holy Spirit can work its transformative power , changing us through His grace to see our sins and repent of them .
That transformation allows true self-giving love to grow , bringing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to each other as we see His work in everyone else ’ s presence .
It is that salvation for which Advent prepares us .
John the Baptist ’ s call resonates through the millennia because we all live in the desert at times , and all need to hear that call — whether we know it or not .
Prepare ye the way of the Lord … but maybe not the Big Wheel .
Just trust me on that .
I shall say no more .
The front-page image is a detail @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Baptist ” by Bernardo Strozzi , c. 1644 , on display at the Kunsthistorisches Museum .
Via Wikimedia Commons .
“ Sunday Reflection ” is a regular feature , looking at the specific readings used in today ’ s Mass in Catholic parishes around the world .
The reflection represents only my own point of view , intended to help prepare myself for the Lord ’ s day and perhaps spark a meaningful discussion .
Previous Sunday Reflections from the main page can be found here .

This morning’s Gospel reading is Mark 1:1–8:
The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ the Son of God. As it is written in Isaiah the prophet: Behold, I am sending my messenger ahead of you; he will prepare your way. A voice of one crying out in the desert: “Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths.” John the Baptist appeared in the desert proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. People of the whole Judean countryside and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem were going out to him and were being baptized by him in the Jordan River as they acknowledged their sins. John was clothed in camel’s hair, with a leather belt around his waist. He fed on locusts and wild honey. And this is what he proclaimed: “One mightier than I is coming after me. I am not worthy to stoop and loosen the thongs of his sandals. I have baptized you with water; he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”
When I was growing up, we would spend part of our summers in Lake Havasu with our cousins. If you know anything about summers and Arizona, you know that the two don’t normally go together in a tourist-campaign kind of way. During the day, it would get to the 120s, and at night it would barely get below 100. It was a dry heat, though, and it wasn’t nearly as oppressive as it sounds. As a kid, the desert (and the leisure activities at the lake) provided a fascinating break from suburban life in Southern California.
Plus, kids being kids, we have many fond memories of our adventures and misadventures in the desert. A certain piece of family lore involves a Big Wheel, a tall driveway, and bare feet. I shall say no more.
Still, as much novelty as deserts might provide visitors, it makes for a harsh environment in which to live. This is particularly true near the Jordan and Jericho, where John the Baptist preached. The desert in that area is one of the harshest inhabited landscapes in the world. The nearby Jordan River provides one of the few lifelines, other than the spring water in Jericho that supports agriculture.
This provides a particularly apt allegory for John the Baptist’s preaching of repentance of sin and preparation for the bounty of salvation. After all, this is our season of preparation — Advent, the preparation for the birth of Christ into the world and into our hearts. Each year at this time, we hear the words of John the Baptist to prepare the way of the Lord, who comes to save us all.
The desert doesn’t just serve as the factual setting for John the Baptist’s ministry, however. In his prophesy, Isaiah sets the call to the Lord out of the desert as well, but takes it further. Not only will this call come out of the desert, but it will transform it, along with the entire world, as Isaiah prophesies in our first reading today:
A voice cries out: In the desert prepare the way of the LORD! Make straight in the wasteland a highway for our God! Every valley shall be filled in, every mountain and hill shall be made low; the rugged land shall be made a plain, the rough country, a broad valley. Then the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all people shall see it together; for the mouth of the LORD has spoken.
In this passage, Isaiah speaks very clearly about the transformative power of the Word. When the Lord comes, He changes everything. And note what kind of change takes place in this transformation as well. In some parables, Jesus talks about the first being last and vice versa, the poor changing places with the rich, and the haughty being brought low while the humble are elevated. In Isaiah, the transformation is more specifically an equalization toward a specific end — fruitfulness and bounty. Mountains and hills are not good land for producing crops, and neither are sharp valleys or rough plains.
What does the Lord’s transformation do in Isaiah’s allegorical language? It changes useless territory into productive, life-supporting land. It takes the various forms of deserts and redeems them into bountiful, rich earth where people live in comfort and sufficiency.
This is what the Lord wants to do with our hearts as well. The Gospels and the other scriptures make constant reference to hardened hearts; they become hardened by sin and stubbornness. Rather than produce love, such hearts become deserts of their own where nothing much grows and life becomes extraordinarily hard and wearisome. Those deserts choke off life by denying it the sustenance it needs to truly flourish — the love of God and the welcoming of the Holy Spirit.
The difficulty we have is that sin beguiles us into settling for the desert of hearts based only on self-love. We lose sight of others, turning ourselves into our own petty god and brooking no thought of any higher power. We get lost in the wilderness of sin, with our strength being sapped and the eternal life draining from us without realizing it.
It is from that wilderness of sin that we must prepare a path for the Lord. He calls to us, cries out to us, into those deserts to bring us the life-giving Word. If we allow it, if we prepare a way for the Lord into our hearts, then the Word comes to us like a life-giving river. It can transform our hearts into a place where the Holy Spirit can work its transformative power, changing us through His grace to see our sins and repent of them. That transformation allows true self-giving love to grow, bringing us closer to the Lord and closer to each other as we see His work in everyone else’s presence.
It is that salvation for which Advent prepares us. John the Baptist’s call resonates through the millennia because we all live in the desert at times, and all need to hear that call — whether we know it or not. Prepare ye the way of the Lord … but maybe not the Big Wheel. Just trust me on that. I shall say no more.
The front-page image is a detail from “The Sermon of St. John the Baptist” by Bernardo Strozzi, c. 1644, on display at the Kunsthistorisches Museum. Via Wikimedia Commons.
“Sunday Reflection” is a regular feature, looking at the specific readings used in today’s Mass in Catholic parishes around the world. The reflection represents only my own point of view, intended to help prepare myself for the Lord’s day and perhaps spark a meaningful discussion. Previous Sunday Reflections from the main page can be found here.


hotair--2020-12-06--Trump in Georgia: We're here to make sure you vote in the "most important congressional runoff ... i

Trump in Georgia: We're here to make sure you vote in the "most important congressional runoff ... in American history"

Mission accomplished ?
The sound we hear coming from Georgia may be sighs of relief from Republicans .
Donald Trump rallied his supporters to fight hard to win the runoffs , telling them that they had to turn out and vote for David Perdue and Kelly Loeffler , both of whom he endorsed in warm , personal terms : If Democrats win the two Senate seats and then control of the upper chamber , Trump warned them that all-out destruction would follow .
Trump weaved that message around plenty of complaints about the election — playing videos alleging fraud at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that ’ s why they needed to vote in overwhelming numbers on January 5 : Trump pleaded with his backers to vote even as he tore into Georgia ’ s voting system and some of his allies suggested that they shouldn ’ t because of concerns over fraud .
Trump dismissed that idea , saying if GOP voters stay home , “ the radical left wins.
” Trump told people to request absentee ballots for the Senate race — while in the same speech criticizing mail-in ballots as “ phony ” and “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ need better support among absentee voters to win the two Senate races .
If Democrats prevail , Trump said , “ we will have total Socialist one-party control.
” He warned of “ draconian military cuts ” and said “ they ’ ll wage war on American energy ” and end religious liberty .
That ’ s not to say that Trump ’ s airing of grievances didn ’ t hit Festivus levels at times .
Bloomberg also reports on the extensive complaints Trump made about the November 3 election and his repeated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ him in the rally .
At one point , David Perdue had trouble getting the crowd to listen to him ; instead , they kept chanting , “ Fight for Trump !
” However , Bloomberg also noted that Trump seemed a bit more resigned to the outcome of the general election : Trump openly mused about running for president again in 2024 but said he did not want to because he hoped to be inaugurated again in January — another jarring refusal to accept his loss .
But at another point , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he lamented Iran would have rushed to make a deal with his administration “ if I won.
” But he quickly added , “ perhaps I still will.
” Republicans in Georgia worried that his rally would overlook the runoffs entirely and end up as nothing more than an argument not to vote in the election .
On that measure , at least , the rally appeared to be a success .
Trump even encouraged Republicans to get absentee ballots , a change from the general election when Trump encouraged Republicans to strictly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ did continue to claim he would win the Georgia election , he did focus on pushing voters to turn out in the runoffs as well .
I suspect that the desire to stick it to the Democrats will outweigh the desire to stick it to Kemp in the end .
That almost certainly describes Trump too ; he has just one more opportunity to stick his thumb in the eyes of Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer and doesn ’ t want it wasted .
Trump also knows that he owes a big debt @ @ @ @ @ @ @ years for the one area of lasting impact from his administration — the reshaping of the federal judiciary .
More practically , Trump needs McConnell to keep holding the reins to make sure that doesn ’ t get undone by extremist judiciary picks from Joe Biden .
The next president will have lots of pressure to name hardline progressives to the bench if Schumer controls the Senate floor — and it only takes majority votes to confirm judges , don ’ t forget .
Trump basically checked the boxes last night and did @ @ @ @ @ @ @ engaged in the runoffs .
Assuming he doesn ’ t swing into Lin Wood territory , it ’ s now up to Perdue and Loeffler to keep those voters engaged .

Mission accomplished? The sound we hear coming from Georgia may be sighs of relief from Republicans. Donald Trump rallied his supporters to fight hard to win the runoffs, telling them that they had to turn out and vote for David Perdue and Kelly Loeffler, both of whom he endorsed in warm, personal terms:
“We’re here to ensure that David Perdue and Kelly Loeffler win the most important Congressional run-off in American history.” -President Trump #GApol #GAsen https://t.co/OD4CwYeo7n — Matt Whitlock (@mattdizwhitlock) December 6, 2020
If Democrats win the two Senate seats and then control of the upper chamber, Trump warned them that all-out destruction would follow. Trump weaved that message around plenty of complaints about the election — playing videos alleging fraud at one point — but told the audience that’s why they needed to vote in overwhelming numbers on January 5:
Trump pleaded with his backers to vote even as he tore into Georgia’s voting system and some of his allies suggested that they shouldn’t because of concerns over fraud. Trump dismissed that idea, saying if GOP voters stay home, “the radical left wins.” Trump told people to request absentee ballots for the Senate race — while in the same speech criticizing mail-in ballots as “phony” and “fake.” State Republicans have acknowledged they need better support among absentee voters to win the two Senate races. If Democrats prevail, Trump said, “we will have total Socialist one-party control.” He warned of “draconian military cuts” and said “they’ll wage war on American energy” and end religious liberty.
The point wasn’t subtle:
President Trump says “If you don’t vote the socialists and the communists win. They win!” #GAsen — Madelaine Pisani (@MadelainePisani) December 6, 2020
That’s not to say that Trump’s airing of grievances didn’t hit Festivus levels at times. Bloomberg also reports on the extensive complaints Trump made about the November 3 election and his repeated claims of having the election stolen from him in the rally. At one point, David Perdue had trouble getting the crowd to listen to him; instead, they kept chanting, “Fight for Trump!”
However, Bloomberg also noted that Trump seemed a bit more resigned to the outcome of the general election:
Trump openly mused about running for president again in 2024 but said he did not want to because he hoped to be inaugurated again in January — another jarring refusal to accept his loss. But at another point, Trump appeared to acknowledge his defeat when he lamented Iran would have rushed to make a deal with his administration “if I won.” But he quickly added, “perhaps I still will.”
Republicans in Georgia worried that his rally would overlook the runoffs entirely and end up as nothing more than an argument not to vote in the election. On that measure, at least, the rally appeared to be a success. Trump even encouraged Republicans to get absentee ballots, a change from the general election when Trump encouraged Republicans to strictly vote in person. And while Trump did continue to claim he would win the Georgia election, he did focus on pushing voters to turn out in the runoffs as well.
Media observers noted the apparent impact:
Will say: Trump is definitely doing enough to help Loeffler/Perdue despite his airing of grievances. Just explained why people need to show up in January, and making the case for the two GOP senators. — Josh Kraushaar (@HotlineJosh) December 6, 2020
Two things I've found, and every reporter I've talked to has found, this weekend in GA. 1) Most Trump voters don't just think he won; they say he'll still win the challenges and get a second term. 2) None of these voters plan to skip the Jan 5 runoff. — Dave Weigel (@daveweigel) December 6, 2020
I suspect that the desire to stick it to the Democrats will outweigh the desire to stick it to Kemp in the end. That almost certainly describes Trump too; he has just one more opportunity to stick his thumb in the eyes of Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer and doesn’t want it wasted. Trump also knows that he owes a big debt to Mitch McConnell over the last four years for the one area of lasting impact from his administration — the reshaping of the federal judiciary. More practically, Trump needs McConnell to keep holding the reins to make sure that doesn’t get undone by extremist judiciary picks from Joe Biden. The next president will have lots of pressure to name hardline progressives to the bench if Schumer controls the Senate floor — and it only takes majority votes to confirm judges, don’t forget.
Trump basically checked the boxes last night and did what he could to get his base engaged in the runoffs. Assuming he doesn’t swing into Lin Wood territory, it’s now up to Perdue and Loeffler to keep those voters engaged.


hotair--2020-12-06--The next step: Hospitals in New Mexico will ration COVID-19 care, other states to follow

Hospitals across New Mexico are operating at or near capacity .
Many hospitals are close to running out of ICU beds and regular beds , too .
Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham announced that soon hospitals may go to “ crisis standards of care ” which means that COVID-19 care will be rationed depending on the likelihood of the patient ’ s survival .
This sounds like the horror stories of socialized medicine in countries like England .
People wait long periods of time for necessary procedures and often denied lifesaving operations if the patient is deemed too high of a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ who end up needing hospitalization for COVID-19 are the elderly or those compromised with existing pre-conditions .
Will the elderly , those most likely to die from the virus , be denied a hospital bed ?
Will those who are diabetic or overweight or have heart disease be written off ?
What about black and Hispanic people who are more likely to be infected with the virus ?
This is a really slippery slope .
Governor Grisham went so far as to shut down grocery stores and other shops just before Thanksgiving in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus .
New Mexico is experiencing a dramatic spike in cases despite the almost draconian measures being taken .
Grisham shuts down businesses over rapid test results .
She issued a public health order that a business must close if four or more rapid responses of COVID-19 cases are reported within a 14-day period .
The order requires the businesses to close for two weeks , even essential businesses like grocery stores .
Public health experts sing her praises for taking such strong actions .
Nonetheless , positive cases continue to climb and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dam-break had been part of repeated warnings by state officials for weeks as COVID-19 counts surged in October and November .
The human toll includes health care workers — at least 18 have died since the crisis began earlier this year , state Human Services Department Secretary David Scrase said during a separate news conference with Gov .
Michelle Lujan Grisham later in the day .
“ Every death is a tragedy , ” he said .
“ But when we lose a health care worker , we lose the opportunity to care @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Scrase also said the state has experienced an alarming increase — almost 90 percent — in hospitalizations tied to the virus over the past 14 days .
The crisis is so severe that Mitchell said small rural hospitals can still call around to larger hub hospitals to see to try to find a bed for a seriously ill patient , but they could be placed on waiting lists .
Governor Grisham admits that there has been a drop in positivity and infection rates , yet she is expected to allow hospitals to move @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on Monday .
Each hospital will be allowed to decide for itself if the move is necessary .
Jason Mitchell , Presbyterian Health Care Services ’ chief medical care officer , said the company ’ s nine hospitals are operating at about 110 percent of capacity .
Mitchell said it ’ s the “ worst nightmare ” of any health care provider to think about rationing health care resources , such as rooms or ventilators .
“ Hopefully it does not come to that , ” he said .
He added it ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ having to prioritize certain patients over others but if that becomes the case , “ teams of clinicians will make those decisions together.
” Dr. Vesta Sandoval , chief medical officer at Lovelace Health System , said “ a process is being worked ” on for making those determinations and “ the state will be working on it and release more information.
” A document called the New Mexico Crisis Standards of Care Plan , updated in April , lays out some of the frameworks for determining how to allocate limited resources .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ hospital is required to develop its own plan , but added the state is “ operating in a medical surge model.
” She did not elaborate .
Hospitals in Boise , Idaho may not be far behind New Mexico in such drastic action .
Two large hospital systems report that they expect to reach crisis standards of care in a matter of weeks , maybe even by mid-December .
The area is dealing with record numbers of daily cases and hospitalizations .
“ I think it ’ s more probable than not that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , we will find ourselves ” at a point of needing to ration care due to COVID-19 , Souza told the board .
Later , Souza and Nemerson said their models project reaching crisis standards in early January , but that ’ s without the expected Thanksgiving-related surge in cases .
Crisis standards of care would have to be declared by Gov .
Brad Little .
At that point , a scoring system would determine which patients receive life-saving care , Souza said .
Souza and Nemerson said the situation also could lead @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as removal of cancerous tumors .
Souza said St. Luke ’ s is operating under contingency care standards .
Care today is not the same as it was a year ago , he said .
A daily meeting is held to determine how quickly patients can be sent home .
Doctors urge residents to wear masks , stay home , and avoid contact with people who are not in their households .
One called the coronavirus “ a totally preventable disease.
” He expressed frustration that the situation has reached this level .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ ( CDH ) is considering a new public health order .
A revised order was published on the CDH website Friday .
A vote hasn ’ t been taken , likely not until Tuesday .
Protesters showed up at the CDH building in opposition to the proposed order .
They tried to force their way into the building .
It was noted in a press report that most of the protesters were not wearing masks .
Boise police stated that only 5 people at a time were allowed into the building , due @ @ @ @ @ @ @ taking place was available for people to watch online but the protesters showed up anyway .
No arrests were made .

Hospitals across New Mexico are operating at or near capacity. Many hospitals are close to running out of ICU beds and regular beds, too. Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham announced that soon hospitals may go to “crisis standards of care” which means that COVID-19 care will be rationed depending on the likelihood of the patient’s survival.
This sounds like the horror stories of socialized medicine in countries like England. People wait long periods of time for necessary procedures and often denied lifesaving operations if the patient is deemed too high of a risk for survival. Most of those who end up needing hospitalization for COVID-19 are the elderly or those compromised with existing pre-conditions. Will the elderly, those most likely to die from the virus, be denied a hospital bed? Will those who are diabetic or overweight or have heart disease be written off? What about black and Hispanic people who are more likely to be infected with the virus? This is a really slippery slope.
Governor Grisham went so far as to shut down grocery stores and other shops just before Thanksgiving in order to mitigate the spread of the coronavirus. New Mexico is experiencing a dramatic spike in cases despite the almost draconian measures being taken. Grisham shuts down businesses over rapid test results. She issued a public health order that a business must close if four or more rapid responses of COVID-19 cases are reported within a 14-day period. The order requires the businesses to close for two weeks, even essential businesses like grocery stores. Public health experts sing her praises for taking such strong actions. Nonetheless, positive cases continue to climb and hospitalizations continue to increase.
A medical dam-break had been part of repeated warnings by state officials for weeks as COVID-19 counts surged in October and November. The human toll includes health care workers — at least 18 have died since the crisis began earlier this year, state Human Services Department Secretary David Scrase said during a separate news conference with Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham later in the day. “Every death is a tragedy,” he said. “But when we lose a health care worker, we lose the opportunity to care for hundreds of other New Mexicans.” Scrase also said the state has experienced an alarming increase — almost 90 percent — in hospitalizations tied to the virus over the past 14 days. The crisis is so severe that Mitchell said small rural hospitals can still call around to larger hub hospitals to see to try to find a bed for a seriously ill patient, but they could be placed on waiting lists.
Governor Grisham admits that there has been a drop in positivity and infection rates, yet she is expected to allow hospitals to move to “crisis standards of care” on Monday. Each hospital will be allowed to decide for itself if the move is necessary.
Jason Mitchell, Presbyterian Health Care Services’ chief medical care officer, said the company’s nine hospitals are operating at about 110 percent of capacity. Mitchell said it’s the “worst nightmare” of any health care provider to think about rationing health care resources, such as rooms or ventilators. “Hopefully it does not come to that,” he said. He added it’s “scary” to think about having to prioritize certain patients over others but if that becomes the case, “teams of clinicians will make those decisions together.” Dr. Vesta Sandoval, chief medical officer at Lovelace Health System, said “a process is being worked” on for making those determinations and “the state will be working on it and release more information.” A document called the New Mexico Crisis Standards of Care Plan, updated in April, lays out some of the frameworks for determining how to allocate limited resources. In an email, Maez wrote each hospital is required to develop its own plan, but added the state is “operating in a medical surge model.” She did not elaborate.
Hospitals in Boise, Idaho may not be far behind New Mexico in such drastic action. Two large hospital systems report that they expect to reach crisis standards of care in a matter of weeks, maybe even by mid-December. The area is dealing with record numbers of daily cases and hospitalizations.
“I think it’s more probable than not that in the next two to four weeks, we will find ourselves” at a point of needing to ration care due to COVID-19, Souza told the board. Later, Souza and Nemerson said their models project reaching crisis standards in early January, but that’s without the expected Thanksgiving-related surge in cases. Crisis standards of care would have to be declared by Gov. Brad Little. At that point, a scoring system would determine which patients receive life-saving care, Souza said. Souza and Nemerson said the situation also could lead to other care being delayed — such as removal of cancerous tumors. Souza said St. Luke’s is operating under contingency care standards. Care today is not the same as it was a year ago, he said. A daily meeting is held to determine how quickly patients can be sent home.
Doctors urge residents to wear masks, stay home, and avoid contact with people who are not in their households. One called the coronavirus “a totally preventable disease.” He expressed frustration that the situation has reached this level.
“This is a totally preventable disease, and it’s dumbfounding we’re in this situation that we’re talking about limiting our ability to deliver care to patients that need us,” Nemerson said.
The Central District Health Board of Health (CDH) is considering a new public health order. A revised order was published on the CDH website Friday. A vote hasn’t been taken, likely not until Tuesday. Protesters showed up at the CDH building in opposition to the proposed order. They tried to force their way into the building. It was noted in a press report that most of the protesters were not wearing masks. Boise police stated that only 5 people at a time were allowed into the building, due to COVID-19 restrictions. The CDH meeting taking place was available for people to watch online but the protesters showed up anyway. No arrests were made.


hotair--2020-12-07--Loeffler to Warnock: Say, why *were* you arrested for obstructing a child-abuse investigation, anywa

Loeffler to Warnock: Say, why *were* you arrested for obstructing a child-abuse investigation, anyway?

A good question , and one which Raphael Warnock mostly dodged in the finale of the Georgia special-election runoff debate last night .
The national media coverage of the debate between Warnock and Kelly Loeffler focused singularly on Loeffler ’ s deferral to Donald Trump on whether the presidential election was finished .
However , this exchange was the final word that Georgia voters saw in the only debate of the runoff season , and Trump wasn ’ t even part of Warnock ’ s rebuttal .
Instead , Warnock tried to change the subject away from his arrest by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ his obstruction : If so , they must have really changed their minds .
At the time that Warnock got arrested , an officer from the child-abuse unit involved in the investigation said she ’ d never seen obstruction like it : The ministers interrupted a police interview of a counselor Wednesday in a room at the camp and , after investigators moved the interview to a nearby picnic area , interfered again and subsequently tried to prevent a camper from directing police to another potential witness , according to charging documents .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ like that at all , ” said Trooper Diane Barry of the state police Child and Sexual Assault Unit in Westminster .
Barry said the counselors consented to the interviews after being told they were free to go at any time and were not obligated to answer her questions .
In other words , the specific allegation in the arrests state that Warnock and Mark Andre Wainwright went beyond ensuring that everyone got Mirandized .
Even if that was their motivation , ministers do not have any special standing to represent others in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ interfere with police interrogations in the way attorneys can ; in fact , they don ’ t have any standing at all in that process .
Note too that Warnock never answers another part of that question : just what was the nature of the alleged abuse , and who did it involve ?
It ’ s been eighteen years , so it ’ s not as though the potential victims involve are still minors .
If someone who got arrested for obstructing a child-abuse investigation runs for public office , he or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ those circumstances in detail , especially these days .
Imagine , for instance , Warnock in a confirmation hearing for Brett Kavanaugh , and explain how that works given Democrats ’ objections at the time .
One might think that the national news media might be curious about that answer , too .
Not NBC News , although they dedicate nearly half of their coverage to Loeffler ’ s refusal to budge on her deferral to Trump ’ s challenges : Loeffler was asked at the start of the debate whether she believed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ President-elect Joe Biden won the presidential contest , was “ rigged ” — an allegation Trump has leveled without proof .
She responded that it was “ very clear ” that there were issues , calling for investigations to be completed quickly .
But she did not go further .
Asked again , she said that the process “ is still playing out ” and that “ we also have to make sure that Georgians know we have a process that works.
” Asked directly whether Trump lost , Loeffler said he “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ recourse available.
” True enough , although it ’ s also true that most of the challenges in Georgia have been absurd .
Still , candidates can make absurd challenges right up to the point where they exhaust the patiences of judges .
It ’ s a fair point to cover , but NBC barely covers any of Loeffler ’ s arguments against Warnock except for one mention of her accusation about him being a “ radical liberal ” in favor of defunding the police .
In fact , they only allow a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ any of Loeffler ’ s arguments : The report does manage to mention even further down that Warnock also dodged the court-packing issue : At any rate , Georgia voters are likely to be more focused on what happens in the Senate than what happens to Trump ’ s futile election challenges , which will be moot by the time the runoff takes place .
The media might obsess over Trump , but Georgia voters will understand that this vote will determine the post-Trump period and whether Democrats take full control in Washington @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the curious dodge on court-packing as well , should matter much more in their decision .

A good question, and one which Raphael Warnock mostly dodged in the finale of the Georgia special-election runoff debate last night. The national media coverage of the debate between Warnock and Kelly Loeffler focused singularly on Loeffler’s deferral to Donald Trump on whether the presidential election was finished. However, this exchange was the final word that Georgia voters saw in the only debate of the runoff season, and Trump wasn’t even part of Warnock’s rebuttal.
Instead, Warnock tried to change the subject away from his arrest by claiming that police were later grateful for his obstruction:
If so, they must have really changed their minds. At the time that Warnock got arrested, an officer from the child-abuse unit involved in the investigation said she’d never seen obstruction like it:
The ministers interrupted a police interview of a counselor Wednesday in a room at the camp and, after investigators moved the interview to a nearby picnic area, interfered again and subsequently tried to prevent a camper from directing police to another potential witness, according to charging documents. “I’ve never encountered resistance like that at all,” said Trooper Diane Barry of the state police Child and Sexual Assault Unit in Westminster. Barry said the counselors consented to the interviews after being told they were free to go at any time and were not obligated to answer her questions.
In other words, the specific allegation in the arrests state that Warnock and Mark Andre Wainwright went beyond ensuring that everyone got Mirandized. Even if that was their motivation, ministers do not have any special standing to represent others in an investigation. They can’t interfere with police interrogations in the way attorneys can; in fact, they don’t have any standing at all in that process.
Note too that Warnock never answers another part of that question: just what was the nature of the alleged abuse, and who did it involve? It’s been eighteen years, so it’s not as though the potential victims involve are still minors. If someone who got arrested for obstructing a child-abuse investigation runs for public office, he or she had better be prepared to explain those circumstances in detail, especially these days. Imagine, for instance, Warnock in a confirmation hearing for Brett Kavanaugh, and explain how that works given Democrats’ objections at the time.
One might think that the national news media might be curious about that answer, too. Not NBC News, although they dedicate nearly half of their coverage to Loeffler’s refusal to budge on her deferral to Trump’s challenges:
Loeffler was asked at the start of the debate whether she believed the election in the state, where President-elect Joe Biden won the presidential contest, was “rigged” — an allegation Trump has leveled without proof. She responded that it was “very clear” that there were issues, calling for investigations to be completed quickly. But she did not go further. Asked again, she said that the process “is still playing out” and that “we also have to make sure that Georgians know we have a process that works.” Asked directly whether Trump lost, Loeffler said he “has every right to use every legal recourse available.”
True enough, although it’s also true that most of the challenges in Georgia have been absurd. Still, candidates can make absurd challenges right up to the point where they exhaust the patiences of judges. It’s a fair point to cover, but NBC barely covers any of Loeffler’s arguments against Warnock except for one mention of her accusation about him being a “radical liberal” in favor of defunding the police. In fact, they only allow a single paragraph well past the jump for any of Loeffler’s arguments:
Over and over again, Loeffler referred to Warnock as “radical liberal Raphael Warnock” in addressing him and highlighted comments he had made about police, criminal justice and the military during sermons he delivered as the top pastor at Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta. She claimed that Warnock would “defund police” and raise taxes on working-class Georgians and that she is “fighting for the American dream every day.”
The report does manage to mention even further down that Warnock also dodged the court-packing issue:
.@ReverendWarnock REFUSES to say where he stands on packing the Supreme Court with liberal activists. He doesn’t want Georgians to know that he fully supports it. #gapol #gasen pic.twitter.com/oASanlNUVS — Kelly Loeffler (@KLoeffler) December 7, 2020
He’s “really not focused on it”? Riiiiiight.
At any rate, Georgia voters are likely to be more focused on what happens in the Senate than what happens to Trump’s futile election challenges, which will be moot by the time the runoff takes place. The media might obsess over Trump, but Georgia voters will understand that this vote will determine the post-Trump period and whether Democrats take full control in Washington. The last answer here, and the curious dodge on court-packing as well, should matter much more in their decision.


hotair--2020-12-07--Why do some New York City firefighters say they won't take the coronavirus vaccine?

A recent union study conducted by the Uniformed Firefighters Association ( UFA ) found that more than 55 % of New York City firefighters say they will not take the coronavirus vaccine despite the second wave of cases in the city .
The survey accounted for 25 % of the union ’ s active membership .
The UFA survey asked , “ Will you get the COVID-19 vaccine from Pfizer when the department makes it available ?
” Nearly 55 percent of 2,053 firefighters responded “ no ” .
The union represents 8,200 active firefighters in New York City .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ surveyed totaled 25 % of their active membership .
They were polled last week .
These first responders are not the only ones who don ’ t plan to be vaccinated .
Thousands of NYC ’ s first responders and other essential frontline workers will remain at risk for the highly contagious virus and risk spreading the virus themselves .
The FDNY announced last week that the vaccinations will not be mandatory but highly recommended .
Eleven FDNY members have died of COVID-19 including four EMTs .
New York City medics and firefighters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the new COVID-19 vaccines as early as mid-December — but they will not be required to take it .
The FDNY told its members , including Emergency Medical Service workers , in an internal order Friday that it would soon provide the eagerly-awaited vaccine to first responders .
“ Vaccination will NOT be mandatory , but the Department recommends that members consider the overall benefits , ” Fire Commissioner Daniel Nigro and Chief of Department John Sudnik wrote in the order , obtained by The Post .
Vincent Variale , president of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the union ’ s position has always been clear – everyone has the right to decide what they put into their body and no one should be forced to take something they don ’ t believe in .
Oren Barzilay , president of the Uniformed EMTs , Paramedics and Fire Inspectors union said some are skeptical of the vaccine .
Gosh , I wonder where they got that ?
Maybe from hyper-partisan lawmakers , like Joe Biden , Kamala Harris , Nancy Pelosi , and Chuck Schumer who all voiced hesitation to get @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ?
It ’ s hard to imagine elected officials so twisted up with Trump Derangement Syndrome four years into Trump ’ s term in office that they actually sound like anti-vaxxers instead of doing a service to the public and encouraging them to get the vaccination .
Barzilay himself is taking a wait and see position – “ I personally am going to wait and see what the side effects are , what the independent studies show ” before being vaccinated.
” Mary Beth Morrissey , the chair of the New York State @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , said it may be necessary for the vaccinations to become mandatory .
Health care workers and students may fall into that category to protect public health .
New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio said he will take the vaccination , though he was one of the public officials who bad-mouthed President Trump and the speed of the vaccine process , as though the scientists involved would produce and approve an inferior vaccine during a pandemic .
Some firefighters don ’ t think they need the vaccination because they have already had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lack of education about the subject of vaccinations .
“ Thirty-five percent of our members have already been infected and they ’ re under the impression that they have antibodies that protect them , ” said Andy Ansbro , president of the Uniformed Firefighters Association union , in a press briefing outside the headquarters of Engine Company 3 , Ladder Company 12 on West 19th Street in Manhattan .
Ansbro said Sunday that there ’ s a significant overlap between that figure and the 35 percent of UFA members who have already had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can ’ t be re-infected .
“ When you take the 35 percent , the people that actually don ’ t want it is quite lower .
Some think they don ’ t actually need it , ” he said .
“ So there ’ s a real education issue that we need to overcome.
” Evidence has shown that it is possible to contract the coronavirus multiple times .
Some firefighters don ’ t want to be at the front of the line to take the vaccination , some think they ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it first .
Ansbro says he will take the vaccination and encourage others to do the same , though it is their choice in the end .
The first 170,000 doses of the vaccine are expected to arrive in New York by Dec. 15 .

A recent union study conducted by the Uniformed Firefighters Association (UFA) found that more than 55% of New York City firefighters say they will not take the coronavirus vaccine despite the second wave of cases in the city. The survey accounted for 25% of the union’s active membership.
The UFA survey asked, “Will you get the COVID-19 vaccine from Pfizer when the department makes it available?” Nearly 55 percent of 2,053 firefighters responded “no”. The union represents 8,200 active firefighters in New York City. UFA President Andy Ansbro said the number surveyed totaled 25% of their active membership. They were polled last week. These first responders are not the only ones who don’t plan to be vaccinated. Thousands of NYC’s first responders and other essential frontline workers will remain at risk for the highly contagious virus and risk spreading the virus themselves.
The stunning anti-vax response follows an August survey of MTA workers that showed only 30 percent of 645 respondents were definitely willing to be vaccinated. Thirty-eight percent were unsure and 32 percent said they would not take the vaccine, according to the poll of Transport Workers Union members conducted by the NYU School of Global Public Health.
The FDNY announced last week that the vaccinations will not be mandatory but highly recommended. Eleven FDNY members have died of COVID-19 including four EMTs.
New York City medics and firefighters will be among the first in line for the new COVID-19 vaccines as early as mid-December — but they will not be required to take it. The FDNY told its members, including Emergency Medical Service workers, in an internal order Friday that it would soon provide the eagerly-awaited vaccine to first responders. “Vaccination will NOT be mandatory, but the Department recommends that members consider the overall benefits,” Fire Commissioner Daniel Nigro and Chief of Department John Sudnik wrote in the order, obtained by The Post.
Vincent Variale, president of the Uniformed EMS Officers’ Union said the union’s position has always been clear – everyone has the right to decide what they put into their body and no one should be forced to take something they don’t believe in. Oren Barzilay, president of the Uniformed EMTs, Paramedics and Fire Inspectors union said some are skeptical of the vaccine. Gosh, I wonder where they got that? Maybe from hyper-partisan lawmakers, like Joe Biden, Kamala Harris, Nancy Pelosi, and Chuck Schumer who all voiced hesitation to get a vaccine produced during the Trump administration? It’s hard to imagine elected officials so twisted up with Trump Derangement Syndrome four years into Trump’s term in office that they actually sound like anti-vaxxers instead of doing a service to the public and encouraging them to get the vaccination. Barzilay himself is taking a wait and see position – “I personally am going to wait and see what the side effects are, what the independent studies show” before being vaccinated.”
Mary Beth Morrissey, the chair of the New York State Bar Association’s COVID-19 task force, said it may be necessary for the vaccinations to become mandatory. Health care workers and students may fall into that category to protect public health. New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio said he will take the vaccination, though he was one of the public officials who bad-mouthed President Trump and the speed of the vaccine process, as though the scientists involved would produce and approve an inferior vaccine during a pandemic.
Some firefighters don’t think they need the vaccination because they have already had the virus. There may be a lack of education about the subject of vaccinations.
“Thirty-five percent of our members have already been infected and they’re under the impression that they have antibodies that protect them,” said Andy Ansbro, president of the Uniformed Firefighters Association union, in a press briefing outside the headquarters of Engine Company 3, Ladder Company 12 on West 19th Street in Manhattan. Ansbro said Sunday that there’s a significant overlap between that figure and the 35 percent of UFA members who have already had the coronavirus and may believe that they can’t be re-infected. “When you take the 35 percent, the people that actually don’t want it is quite lower. Some think they don’t actually need it,” he said. “So there’s a real education issue that we need to overcome.” Evidence has shown that it is possible to contract the coronavirus multiple times.
Some firefighters don’t want to be at the front of the line to take the vaccination, some think they’ll step aside and let others take it first. Ansbro says he will take the vaccination and encourage others to do the same, though it is their choice in the end. The first 170,000 doses of the vaccine are expected to arrive in New York by Dec. 15.


hotair--2020-12-07--Melania Trump announces the completion of the White House tennis pavilion project

The completion of the White House tennis pavilion renovation project was announced Monday by First Lady Melania Trump .
The construction of the building was in partnership with the Trust for the National Mall and the National Park Service .
Private donations funded the new building .
A press release notes that the design of the building was inspired by the existing architecture of the White House .
First Lady Melania Trump is pleased to announce the completion of the new White House tennis pavilion .
The project included the refurbishment of the White House Tennis Court and Grandchildren ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ new building .
Planning for the project began in early 2018 .
In June of 2019 , the project was approved by the Commission of Fine Arts and the National Capital Planning Commission .
The building and landscape were planned to blend with the existing structures on the White House grounds .
Design of the structure was inspired by the existing architecture of the White House , in particular the East and West Wings .
Elements such as the colonnade , parapet wall , and fanlight windows tie the new building to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ House .
The first lady has a degree in Architecture and Design .
Her renovations to the White House show her interest in preserving historical details and still updating the White House and its grounds for both the First Family and visitors to the people ’ s house .
Melania released a personal statement .
“ I am pleased to announce the completion of the Tennis Pavilion on the White House grounds .
Thank you to all of the talented craftsmen who made this project possible and to the generous supporters of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Melania Trump .
“ It is my hope that this private space will function as both a place of leisure and gathering for future First Families.
” Last March when Melania announced the project , the haters were out in force on social media to slam the first lady and her alleged trivial project .
The fact that she announced the renovation during the pandemic really set off the anti-Trump left and some on the right , too .
It ’ s interesting to see such short term memories in action .
Traditionally @ @ @ @ @ @ @ organizing White House renovations and upgrades as a part of their time in the White House .
Like any other house , the White House requires maintenance and renovation .
In other words , they all leave their mark on the White House .
Since Melania is married to the bad Orange Man , her projects have been considered unnecessary , even frivolous .
Melania Trump redesigned and renovated the Rose Garden .
The result is a more sophisticated design and it has been completely updated for press conferences and events in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ made so that cameras and microphones can be utilized .
Some particularly nasty critics at the time the new Rose Garden was unveiled to the press said it looked like a white supremacist designed it .
Why ?
Because at the time , many of the blooming flowers were white .
The Trump deranged people are just that idiotic .
The White House tennis court was converted to a basketball court during the Obama administration .
At the time , I don ’ t remember anyone fuming about that .
The project to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ refurbishing of the tennis court and Grandchildren ’ s Garden .
The design of the pavilion was intended to blend into the neoclassical style of the White House , especially the East and West Wings .
“ Elements such as the colonnade , parapet wall , and fanlight windows tie the new building to the existing look and feel of the White House , ” the statement said .
The project was approved by the Commission of Fine Arts and the National Planning Commission in June 2019 .
The new tennis pavilion replaces @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in handy for Biden ’ s large family to enjoy .

The completion of the White House tennis pavilion renovation project was announced Monday by First Lady Melania Trump. The construction of the building was in partnership with the Trust for the National Mall and the National Park Service. Private donations funded the new building.
A press release notes that the design of the building was inspired by the existing architecture of the White House.
First Lady Melania Trump is pleased to announce the completion of the new White House tennis pavilion. The project included the refurbishment of the White House Tennis Court and Grandchildren’s Garden along with construction of the new building. Planning for the project began in early 2018. In June of 2019, the project was approved by the Commission of Fine Arts and the National Capital Planning Commission. The building and landscape were planned to blend with the existing structures on the White House grounds. Design of the structure was inspired by the existing architecture of the White House, in particular the East and West Wings. Elements such as the colonnade, parapet wall, and fanlight windows tie the new building to the existing look and feel of the White House.
The first lady has a degree in Architecture and Design. Her renovations to the White House show her interest in preserving historical details and still updating the White House and its grounds for both the First Family and visitors to the people’s house. Melania released a personal statement.
“I am pleased to announce the completion of the Tennis Pavilion on the White House grounds. Thank you to all of the talented craftsmen who made this project possible and to the generous supporters of the White House,” said First Lady Melania Trump. “It is my hope that this private space will function as both a place of leisure and gathering for future First Families.”
Last March when Melania announced the project, the haters were out in force on social media to slam the first lady and her alleged trivial project. The fact that she announced the renovation during the pandemic really set off the anti-Trump left and some on the right, too. It’s interesting to see such short term memories in action. Traditionally, first ladies go about planning and organizing White House renovations and upgrades as a part of their time in the White House. Like any other house, the White House requires maintenance and renovation. In other words, they all leave their mark on the White House. Since Melania is married to the bad Orange Man, her projects have been considered unnecessary, even frivolous.
Melania Trump redesigned and renovated the Rose Garden. The result is a more sophisticated design and it has been completely updated for press conferences and events in the Rose Garden. The electronic upgrades were made so that cameras and microphones can be utilized. Some particularly nasty critics at the time the new Rose Garden was unveiled to the press said it looked like a white supremacist designed it. Why? Because at the time, many of the blooming flowers were white. The Trump deranged people are just that idiotic.
The White House tennis court was converted to a basketball court during the Obama administration. At the time, I don’t remember anyone fuming about that.
The project to construct a new tennis pavilion included the refurbishing of the tennis court and Grandchildren’s Garden. The design of the pavilion was intended to blend into the neoclassical style of the White House, especially the East and West Wings. “Elements such as the colonnade, parapet wall, and fanlight windows tie the new building to the existing look and feel of the White House,” the statement said. The project was approved by the Commission of Fine Arts and the National Planning Commission in June 2019.
The new tennis pavilion replaces a smaller structure. That should come in handy for Biden’s large family to enjoy.


hotair--2020-12-07--Ted Cruz: I'll represent the pro-Trump side in that PA election lawsuit if SCOTUS agrees to hear it

“ Ted Cruz continues his attack on our democracy to please the man who publicly called his wife ugly , ” sniffed former congressman turned Never Trumper Joe Walsh upon hearing this news .
Honestly , at this point , Trump must regret having never insulted Cruz ’ s kids .
Look how much loyal service he ’ s gotten from him after having insulted his wife and his father during the 2016 primary .
Insulting the whole family might have earned him “ Lyin ’ Ted ’ s ” undying devotion , assuming he hasn ’ t earned that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ another round of false optimism among hardcore election truthers , who believe that the facts and the law are on their side and all they need is the right advocate in front of Neil Gorsuch , Brett Kavanaugh , and Amy Coney Barrett to earn Trump another term in office .
Ted Cruz is a Harvard Law grad , a former Supreme Court clerk , and an old hand at arguing in front of SCOTUS due to his time as Texas ’ s solicitor general .
Surely he ’ ll convince Barrett and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for life .
He won ’ t .
But the point of championing Mike Kelly ’ s lawsuit in Pennsylvania , as Cruz has been doing for the past week , isn ’ t to win .
It ’ s to earn brownie points with the Trump fans who still haven ’ t quite forgiven him for running against Trump in 2016 and then refusing to endorse him at the GOP convention .
The entire suite of post-election litigation by Trump and his allies is less about the law than it is about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in which the heroic Trumpy forces fight valiantly but ultimately lose to evil judges .
Cruz is joining the fight and he desperately hopes you remember it when he eventually runs for president again .
All you need to know about this guy , who he is and how he operates , lies in that last tweet .
Kelly ’ s lawsuit , if successful , would invalidate mail-in ballots in Pennsylvania and essentially void that state ’ s election .
If you think there ’ s “ bitter division and acrimony ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Supreme Court flush seven million votes in Pennsylvania down the toilet .
Cruz doesn ’ t care a thing about bitter division and acrimony , any more than he cares about Trump mocking his family .
He cares about his presidential ambitions .
If he cared about acrimony , he wouldn ’ t be offering to act as front man for a lawsuit whose goal is nakedly anti-democratic in service to keeping a demagogue in power for four more years after the American people voted to remove him .
Ed has written repeatedly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after the Pennsylvania Supreme Court tossed the case , then after Cruz urged SCOTUS to hear the appeal , then again after Justice Samuel Alito agreed to review it and decide whether to refer it to the full Court .
The core complaint in the suit is that Act 77 , a law passed by the state legislature allowing mail-in voting in Pennsylvania , violated part of the state constitution that requires in-person voting .
The state supreme court dismissed the complaint on grounds that it was too late ; the time to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , not after .
But the plaintiffs would have lacked standing if they had challenged the law before the election since no one had cast a mail ballot yet .
Cruz calls that a Catch-22 .
If you can ’ t sue before the vote and you can ’ t sue after , when can you sue ?
But Ed ’ s posts have addressed that claim .
For one thing : One of the judges on the Pennsylvania Supreme Court also argued that there actually was a time before the election when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ court — specifically , before this year ’ s primary election .
The worst part of the appeal to SCOTUS is that Kelly and Cruz are clearly trying to bootstrap some sort of federal constitutional issue into this case so that they have grounds to bring it before what they assume will be a friendlier court .
A state ’ s supreme court , not the U.S. Supreme Court , is the final authority on that state ’ s law — unless some federal question is implicated in their ruling .
Law prof @ @ @ @ @ @ @ like Cruz , supposedly a proponent of federalism and state power , would be straining to find reasons here to have the matter removed from Pennsylvania to the big court in Washington .
As Vladeck noted elsewhere , even if SCOTUS agreed with Cruz and Kelly and invalidated Pennsylvania ’ s mail-in ballots , which there ’ s a 0.0 percent chance of happening , Biden still wins the presidency .
PA is worth 20 electoral votes and there are no similar complaints pending in other swing states which might also prevail that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ electoral votes .
Most Trump fans are following the procession of lawsuits from a bottom-line standpoint of “ Will winning this case reverse the outcome of the election ?
” and the answer here is no .
But from Cruz ’ s standpoint , none of that matters .
Again , for him this is all about earning goodwill with Trump voters .
Now that he ’ s offered to argue the case , any result serves his interests .
If he were to win the case against all odds , obviously that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ populist reputation .
But even if he loses , or if SCOTUS declines to hear the appeal , that ’ s still a win by because he made it known to righties that he ’ s willing to fight for the lost cause .
Even if the result were to disenfranchise seven million Pennsylvanians .
Trump voters will think of him fondly in years to come for doing this .
And everyone else will think of him even less fondly than they did before .
Another former Supreme Court clerk turned Republican senator @ @ @ @ @ @ @ news today for a populist pander , but his pander is a lot more productive than Cruz ’ s is .
Go read about Josh Hawley making common cause with Bernie Sanders to try to get another round of $ 1,200 stimulus checks sent to Americans as part of the next COVID relief deal by encouraging Trump to veto any deal that doesn ’ t provide them .
Hawley knows that the sort of populism prized by GOP primary voters is cultural populism , not economic , but showing working-class people that he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ too can only help him build stature .

“Ted Cruz continues his attack on our democracy to please the man who publicly called his wife ugly,” sniffed former congressman turned Never Trumper Joe Walsh upon hearing this news. Honestly, at this point, Trump must regret having never insulted Cruz’s kids. Look how much loyal service he’s gotten from him after having insulted his wife and his father during the 2016 primary.
Insulting the whole family might have earned him “Lyin’ Ted’s” undying devotion, assuming he hasn’t earned that already.
This cynical stunt will trigger another round of false optimism among hardcore election truthers, who believe that the facts and the law are on their side and all they need is the right advocate in front of Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh, and Amy Coney Barrett to earn Trump another term in office. Ted Cruz is a Harvard Law grad, a former Supreme Court clerk, and an old hand at arguing in front of SCOTUS due to his time as Texas’s solicitor general. Surely he’ll convince Barrett and the conservative majority to make Trump president for life.
He won’t. But the point of championing Mike Kelly’s lawsuit in Pennsylvania, as Cruz has been doing for the past week, isn’t to win. It’s to earn brownie points with the Trump fans who still haven’t quite forgiven him for running against Trump in 2016 and then refusing to endorse him at the GOP convention. The entire suite of post-election litigation by Trump and his allies is less about the law than it is about building a “lost cause” narrative in which the heroic Trumpy forces fight valiantly but ultimately lose to evil judges. Cruz is joining the fight and he desperately hopes you remember it when he eventually runs for president again.
Because of the importance of the legal issues presented, I've publicly urged #SCOTUS to hear the case brought by Congressman Mike Kelly, congressional candidate Sean Parnell & state rep. candidate Wanda Logan challenging the constitutionality of the POTUS election results in PA. — Ted Cruz (@tedcruz) December 7, 2020
As I said last week, the bitter division and acrimony we see across the Nation needs resolution. I believe #SCOTUS has a responsibility to the American People to ensure, within its powers, that we are following the law and following the Constitution. — Ted Cruz (@tedcruz) December 7, 2020
All you need to know about this guy, who he is and how he operates, lies in that last tweet. Kelly’s lawsuit, if successful, would invalidate mail-in ballots in Pennsylvania and essentially void that state’s election. If you think there’s “bitter division and acrimony” now, go ahead and have the Supreme Court flush seven million votes in Pennsylvania down the toilet.
Cruz doesn’t care a thing about bitter division and acrimony, any more than he cares about Trump mocking his family. He cares about his presidential ambitions. If he cared about acrimony, he wouldn’t be offering to act as front man for a lawsuit whose goal is nakedly anti-democratic in service to keeping a demagogue in power for four more years after the American people voted to remove him.
Ed has written repeatedly about Kelly’s lawsuit, first after the Pennsylvania Supreme Court tossed the case, then after Cruz urged SCOTUS to hear the appeal, then again after Justice Samuel Alito agreed to review it and decide whether to refer it to the full Court. The core complaint in the suit is that Act 77, a law passed by the state legislature allowing mail-in voting in Pennsylvania, violated part of the state constitution that requires in-person voting. The state supreme court dismissed the complaint on grounds that it was too late; the time to challenge mail-in ballots was before everyone voted, not after. But the plaintiffs would have lacked standing if they had challenged the law before the election since no one had cast a mail ballot yet. Cruz calls that a Catch-22. If you can’t sue before the vote and you can’t sue after, when can you sue?
But Ed’s posts have addressed that claim. For one thing:
Sounds rather ridiculous to me. (We actually see parallel kssue in admin law all the time, and the solution is to file the early suit, lose, and then fact of prior suit overcomes laches/waiver claim). — Jonathan H. Adler (@jadler1969) December 2, 2020
One of the judges on the Pennsylvania Supreme Court also argued that there actually was a time before the election when Act 77 could have been challenged in court — specifically, before this year’s primary election.
Respondents’ recitations lay bare Petitioners’ want of diligence in this case. Petitioners could have brought this action at any time between October 31, 2019, when Governor Wolf signed Act 77 into law, and April 28, 2020, when this Court still retained exclusive jurisdiction over constitutional challenges to it. See Act 77 § 13(2)-(3). The claims then could have been adjudicated finally before the June primary, when no-excuse mail-in voting first took effect under Act 77—and certainly well before the General Election, when millions of Pennsylvania voters requested, received, and returned mail-in ballots for the first time. Petitioners certainly knew all facts relevant to their present claims during that entire period.
The worst part of the appeal to SCOTUS is that Kelly and Cruz are clearly trying to bootstrap some sort of federal constitutional issue into this case so that they have grounds to bring it before what they assume will be a friendlier court. A state’s supreme court, not the U.S. Supreme Court, is the final authority on that state’s law — unless some federal question is implicated in their ruling. Law prof Steve Vladeck marveled yesterday that a conservative like Cruz, supposedly a proponent of federalism and state power, would be straining to find reasons here to have the matter removed from Pennsylvania to the big court in Washington.
9. In that respect, this is the *opposite* of the (still-pending) challenge to late-arriving mail-in ballots. There, the argument is that, *because* the PA legislature didn't authorize late-arriving mail-in ballots, the PA Supreme Court violated the U.S. Constitution by doing so. — Steve Vladeck (@steve_vladeck) December 6, 2020
11. All the PA Supreme Court did was to hold that the state legislature didn't violate the state constitution in expanding mail-in voting. But the U.S. Constitution has *nothing to say* about how state courts enforce their own constitutions against state legislatures. Full stop. — Steve Vladeck (@steve_vladeck) December 6, 2020
As Vladeck noted elsewhere, even if SCOTUS agreed with Cruz and Kelly and invalidated Pennsylvania’s mail-in ballots, which there’s a 0.0 percent chance of happening, Biden still wins the presidency. PA is worth 20 electoral votes and there are no similar complaints pending in other swing states which might also prevail that would knock Sleepy Joe down below 270 electoral votes. Most Trump fans are following the procession of lawsuits from a bottom-line standpoint of “Will winning this case reverse the outcome of the election?” and the answer here is no. But from Cruz’s standpoint, none of that matters. Again, for him this is all about earning goodwill with Trump voters. Now that he’s offered to argue the case, any result serves his interests. If he were to win the case against all odds, obviously that’s a home run for his populist reputation. But even if he loses, or if SCOTUS declines to hear the appeal, that’s still a win by because he made it known to righties that he’s willing to fight for the lost cause. Even if the result were to disenfranchise seven million Pennsylvanians.
Trump voters will think of him fondly in years to come for doing this. And everyone else will think of him even less fondly than they did before.
Another former Supreme Court clerk turned Republican senator with presidential ambitions is also in the news today for a populist pander, but his pander is a lot more productive than Cruz’s is. Go read about Josh Hawley making common cause with Bernie Sanders to try to get another round of $1,200 stimulus checks sent to Americans as part of the next COVID relief deal by encouraging Trump to veto any deal that doesn’t provide them. Hawley knows that the sort of populism prized by GOP primary voters is cultural populism, not economic, but showing working-class people that he’s thinking about their bottom lines too can only help him build stature.