hotair--2020-11-16--CNN panel: Here's why Stacey Abrams' refusal to concede was more virtuous than Trump's

Double standards — if it wasn ’ t for them , some journalists wouldn ’ t have any at all .
Newsbusters catches this fine example from CNN on Saturday , in which our friend Mary Katharine Ham points out two examples in media coverage .
First , MK notes that both sides like to play up the COVID-19 horror over public assembly when their political opponents conduct it , while leaving unspoken that media coverage generally picks one side in that balance .
And contrast between their coverage of Joe Biden street celebrations and the “ Million MAGA March @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the point more explicit about media coverage of non-concessions , though , which provokes Ryan Lizza and Ana Cabrera .
Some non-concessions are more virtuous than others , apparently : MK criticizes Donald Trump for refusing to concede , but also includes Stacey Abrams in that criticism .
If we ’ re going to say non-concessions are bad , then let ’ s say they are all bad rather than selectively celebrating them : HAM : … So , I ’ m happy to have them look at that in Georgia and I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ But math is not in his favor .
He can not overcome the mountain of votes for Joe Biden in many of these states that he would have to do to do this , and therefore the right thing to do is to say I think this is not going to happen and to graciously concede .
I ’ m comforted that it doesn ’ t seem like Biden ’ s transition is suffering because of this .
And I think , look , if he has a strategy , the strategy might @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Stacey Abrams because he sees there are great accolades and attention and appetite for somebody who does not concede an election as she did not in Georgia for the governorship for two years , and she has got feted by media and everybody .
So , he ’ s looking around and saying , maybe that ’ s the path for me .
It is a bad path , and we should say that it is bad .
Wait a minute , objects Cabrera .
Abrams started a GOTV non-profit , so all @ @ @ @ @ @ @ argument that MK skewers immediately : CABRERA : I should note on the Stacey Abrams comparison , I mean , the reason that she was effective post her race is because she actually started , you know , a nonprofit to get out the vote , to really juice up the voter turnout to make sure people have a right to exercise .
HAM : Hold on , but do we think if Trump did not concede , which would be , I think we can all agree , wrong , if he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would be giving him magazine covers and good coverage ?
No , I don ’ t think that would be right , and it happens on the other side , and he sees that very clearly .
Lizza then jumps into the fray : LIZZA : I take that point .
Look , I covered the Trump White House now for four years .
I interviewed Stacey Abrams the other day right before the election , and you know , I don ’ t want to be too cute about this , but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ What happened in Georgia , it was a more defensible post-election non-concession , I guess I would call it .
HAM : But the margin was larger .
LIZZA : Yeah , but , let ’ s , you know , I think it ’ s fair to point it out , but I do want to call a little false equivalence on what Trump is doing in trying to delegitimize the incoming president , not honoring him with the traditional smooth transition during a crisis .
Ahem .
The vote gap in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out of 4.992 million cast in the presidential election .
The vote gap in Georgia ’ s 2018 gubernatorial race was 54,723 out of 3.939 million votes cast .
Which one is the most realistic to challenge ?
To this day , Abrams has never conceded the race , but she gets superhero coverage from a fawning media class for doing exactly what Trump is doing now — refusing to concede , offering conspiracy theories for her loss , blaming it on corruption , trying to exclude ballots , and so on .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Post would publish a picture like this of Trump if he started a GOTV non-profit ?
Come on , man : It ’ s this corrosive double standard in media coverage that has put journalists somewhere between members of Congress and used-car salesmen in polls on public trust .
Update : And let ’ s not forget this non-concession : Hillary Clinton didn ’ t run a transition , but Barack Obama did — and used it to spy on Trump advisor Michael Flynn over the same activity ( speaking to a foreign @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that Joe Biden ’ s team will shortly be doing .
If it weren ’ t for double standards …

Double standards — if it wasn’t for them, some journalists wouldn’t have any at all. Newsbusters catches this fine example from CNN on Saturday, in which our friend Mary Katharine Ham points out two examples in media coverage. First, MK notes that both sides like to play up the COVID-19 horror over public assembly when their political opponents conduct it, while leaving unspoken that media coverage generally picks one side in that balance. And contrast between their coverage of Joe Biden street celebrations and the “Million MAGA March” speaks for itself.
She makes the point more explicit about media coverage of non-concessions, though, which provokes Ryan Lizza and Ana Cabrera. Some non-concessions are more virtuous than others, apparently:
MK criticizes Donald Trump for refusing to concede, but also includes Stacey Abrams in that criticism. If we’re going to say non-concessions are bad, then let’s say they are all bad rather than selectively celebrating them:
HAM: … So, I’m happy to have them look at that in Georgia and I think possibly Wisconsin at this point. But math is not in his favor. He cannot overcome the mountain of votes for Joe Biden in many of these states that he would have to do to do this, and therefore the right thing to do is to say I think this is not going to happen and to graciously concede. I’m comforted that it doesn’t seem like Biden’s transition is suffering because of this. And I think, look, if he has a strategy, the strategy might be a sort of contemporaneous example in Stacey Abrams because he sees there are great accolades and attention and appetite for somebody who does not concede an election as she did not in Georgia for the governorship for two years, and she has got feted by media and everybody. So, he’s looking around and saying, maybe that’s the path for me. It is a bad path, and we should say that it is bad.
Wait a minute, objects Cabrera. Abrams started a GOTV non-profit, so all is forgiven, or something — an argument that MK skewers immediately:
CABRERA: I should note on the Stacey Abrams comparison, I mean, the reason that she was effective post her race is because she actually started, you know, a nonprofit to get out the vote, to really juice up the voter turnout to make sure people have a right to exercise. HAM: Hold on, but do we think if Trump did not concede, which would be, I think we can all agree, wrong, if he started an effective GOTV nonprofit that we would be giving him magazine covers and good coverage? No, I don’t think that would be right, and it happens on the other side, and he sees that very clearly.
Lizza then jumps into the fray:
LIZZA: I take that point. Look, I covered the Trump White House now for four years. I interviewed Stacey Abrams the other day right before the election, and you know, I don’t want to be too cute about this, but Donald Trump is no Stacey Abrams. What happened in Georgia, it was a more defensible post-election non-concession, I guess I would call it. HAM: But the margin was larger. LIZZA: Yeah, but, let’s, you know, I think it’s fair to point it out, but I do want to call a little false equivalence on what Trump is doing in trying to delegitimize the incoming president, not honoring him with the traditional smooth transition during a crisis.
Ahem. The vote gap in Georgia at the moment is 14,151 votes out of 4.992 million cast in the presidential election. The vote gap in Georgia’s 2018 gubernatorial race was 54,723 out of 3.939 million votes cast. Which one is the most realistic to challenge? To this day, Abrams has never conceded the race, but she gets superhero coverage from a fawning media class for doing exactly what Trump is doing now — refusing to concede, offering conspiracy theories for her loss, blaming it on corruption, trying to exclude ballots, and so on.
Does anyone really think that the Washington Post would publish a picture like this of Trump if he started a GOTV non-profit? Come on, man:
It’s this corrosive double standard in media coverage that has put journalists somewhere between members of Congress and used-car salesmen in polls on public trust.
Update: And let’s not forget this non-concession:
Do you recall reporters pearl-clutching over this? “Hillary Clinton dismissed President Trump as an ‘illegitimate president’ and suggested that ‘he knows’ that he stole the 2016 presidential election in a CBS News interview to be aired Sunday.” – 9/26/19https://t.co/s6LGxfYnzO pic.twitter.com/3LQfUaJm5j — Yossi Gestetner (@YossiGestetner) November 16, 2020
Hillary Clinton didn’t run a transition, but Barack Obama did — and used it to spy on Trump advisor Michael Flynn over the same activity (speaking to a foreign diplomat about potential changes in policy) that Joe Biden’s team will shortly be doing. If it weren’t for double standards …


hotair--2020-11-16--Trump campaign drops central claim in Pennsylvania lawsuit

That banging sound you ’ re hearing this morning may wind up being the final nail being driven into the coffin of President Trump ’ s hopes for securing enough electoral votes to be declared the winner of the 2020 election .
The Trump campaign has a number of lawsuits currently underway challenging the results in several swing states , but one of the biggest prizes he needed to secure was Pennsylvania .
Given how the rest of the closely contested states played out , a failure to overturn the initial results in the Keystone State would leave him with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ if he takes Georgia and Nevada .
His prospects in Pennsylvania dimmed considerably last night when his legal team withdrew one of their key claims in the ongoing suit .
The Trump campaign had challenged the legitimacy of nearly 700,000 votes that were allegedly processed without any Republican oversight .
They have now withdrawn that claim , leaving only a far smaller number of ballots in question .
( Associated Press ) President Donald Trump ’ s campaign is withdrawing a central part of its lawsuit seeking to stop the certification of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Joe Biden beat Trump to capture the state and help win the White House .
Ahead of a Tuesday hearing in the case , Trump ’ s campaign dropped the allegation that hundreds of thousands of mail-in and absentee ballots — 682,479 , to be precise — were illegally processed without its representatives watching .
The campaign ’ s slimmed-down lawsuit , filed in federal court on Sunday , maintains the aim of blocking Pennsylvania from certifying a victory for Biden in the state , and it maintains its claim that Democratic voters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
This is likely the straw that breaks the camel ’ s back , sorry to say .
The current tally in Pennsylvania shows Joe Biden with a lead of roughly 69,000 .
If 700,000 ballots were tossed , it was clearly a mathematical possibility that the state could flip back to Trump .
But that would require answering the question of how “ bad ” the ballots were .
There hasn ’ t been any specific claim that the ballots were spoiled .
Only that they were processed without GOP supervision .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ judge offering any remedy other than a recanvass of those specific ballots even if Trump ’ s team hadn ’ t withdrawn the claim .
At this point , the only ballots being challenged are the ones that were “ fixed ” after they were initially submitted with errors such as missing their internal envelopes or lacking a signature .
Trump ’ s legal team is claiming that those “ fixes ” were only allowed in primarily Democratic counties and not the ones with Republican majorities .
There are a few problems with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ there ’ s no data showing how many ballots are involved .
It ’ s not going to be anywhere near the other figure of 700,000 , though .
Second , all of those ballots were among the ones that were cast early and mailed in .
Unless there ’ s some huge divergence from the other distribution patterns we ’ ve seen , those votes were probably cast mostly for Biden , but not entirely .
Even if they were all tossed , Trump would lose votes as well .
So even @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at a 2 to 1 clip , there would need to be well over 100,000 of them to flip the state for Trump .
And finally , there ’ s nothing in Pennsylvania state election law that forbids county Boards of Elections from allowing voters to fix an improperly completed ballot if it ’ s done in a timely manner .
Of course , there ’ s nothing that mandates it either .
As noted in the linked report , if the Trump team wanted to go after anyone , he should have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t offer his own voters the chance to repair their ballots .
At this point , it ’ s not at all certain that the judge in this case will even take up the question of the repaired ballots , given how the state ’ s election laws were crafted .
Nor does it sound like a challenge that the President ’ s team would win on appeal .
If that ’ s the case , Donald Trump is left hanging nearly 70,000 votes behind in Pennsylvania .
And that would pretty @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Sleepy Joe Biden as the winner .
I hate being the bearer or bad news on a Monday morning , but it ’ s pretty tough to put any lipstick on this pig .
This news doesn ’ t look good for Trump at all .

That banging sound you’re hearing this morning may wind up being the final nail being driven into the coffin of President Trump’s hopes for securing enough electoral votes to be declared the winner of the 2020 election. The Trump campaign has a number of lawsuits currently underway challenging the results in several swing states, but one of the biggest prizes he needed to secure was Pennsylvania. Given how the rest of the closely contested states played out, a failure to overturn the initial results in the Keystone State would leave him with no obvious path to victory, even if he takes Georgia and Nevada.
His prospects in Pennsylvania dimmed considerably last night when his legal team withdrew one of their key claims in the ongoing suit. The Trump campaign had challenged the legitimacy of nearly 700,000 votes that were allegedly processed without any Republican oversight. They have now withdrawn that claim, leaving only a far smaller number of ballots in question. (Associated Press)
President Donald Trump’s campaign is withdrawing a central part of its lawsuit seeking to stop the certification of the election results in Pennsylvania, where Democrat Joe Biden beat Trump to capture the state and help win the White House. Ahead of a Tuesday hearing in the case, Trump’s campaign dropped the allegation that hundreds of thousands of mail-in and absentee ballots — 682,479, to be precise — were illegally processed without its representatives watching. The campaign’s slimmed-down lawsuit, filed in federal court on Sunday, maintains the aim of blocking Pennsylvania from certifying a victory for Biden in the state, and it maintains its claim that Democratic voters were treated more favorably than Republican voters.
This is likely the straw that breaks the camel’s back, sorry to say. The current tally in Pennsylvania shows Joe Biden with a lead of roughly 69,000. If 700,000 ballots were tossed, it was clearly a mathematical possibility that the state could flip back to Trump. But that would require answering the question of how “bad” the ballots were. There hasn’t been any specific claim that the ballots were spoiled. Only that they were processed without GOP supervision. It’s tough to imagine the judge offering any remedy other than a recanvass of those specific ballots even if Trump’s team hadn’t withdrawn the claim.
At this point, the only ballots being challenged are the ones that were “fixed” after they were initially submitted with errors such as missing their internal envelopes or lacking a signature. Trump’s legal team is claiming that those “fixes” were only allowed in primarily Democratic counties and not the ones with Republican majorities.
There are a few problems with that argument. First of all, there’s no data showing how many ballots are involved. It’s not going to be anywhere near the other figure of 700,000, though. Second, all of those ballots were among the ones that were cast early and mailed in. Unless there’s some huge divergence from the other distribution patterns we’ve seen, those votes were probably cast mostly for Biden, but not entirely. Even if they were all tossed, Trump would lose votes as well. So even if the mail-in ballots went for Biden at a 2 to 1 clip, there would need to be well over 100,000 of them to flip the state for Trump.
And finally, there’s nothing in Pennsylvania state election law that forbids county Boards of Elections from allowing voters to fix an improperly completed ballot if it’s done in a timely manner. Of course, there’s nothing that mandates it either. As noted in the linked report, if the Trump team wanted to go after anyone, he should have sued the GOP leaning counties that didn’t offer his own voters the chance to repair their ballots.
At this point, it’s not at all certain that the judge in this case will even take up the question of the repaired ballots, given how the state’s election laws were crafted. Nor does it sound like a challenge that the President’s team would win on appeal. If that’s the case, Donald Trump is left hanging nearly 70,000 votes behind in Pennsylvania. And that would pretty much end the election of 2020 with Sleepy Joe Biden as the winner. I hate being the bearer or bad news on a Monday morning, but it’s pretty tough to put any lipstick on this pig. This news doesn’t look good for Trump at all.


hotair--2020-11-17--CA gov't officials: Lockdowns for thee, Hawaii for we?

California lawmakers have determined that gathering for Thanksgiving and operating indoor businesses are so dangerous in this pandemic that those must be forbidden .
They also want voters to know that lawmakers have Super COVID-19 Immunity , so it ’ s totes cool for them to travel to Maui for a junket at a luxury resort .
It ’ s a bit like Gavin Newsom ’ s ex officio Jumbo Family-Gathering Resistance , only with extra helpings of free lobbyist-provided luxuries ( via Fox LA ’ s Bill Melugin ) : The pandemic may have “ canceled ” 2020 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gathering of lobbyists and lawmakers on the shores of Maui that brought people from across the country to a luxury resort this week .
Roughly 100 people from four states converged at the Fairmont Kea Lani for a four-day legislative conference organized by the Independent Voter Project , said the group ’ s chair and executive director , Dan Howle .
The 18th annual event was a third of its regular size , Howle said , but it still drew nearly 20 lawmakers from California , Texas and Washington state .
The theme @ @ @ @ @ @ @ amid the public health crisis .
Oh , so that was the theme .
Most of us suspected it might be related to climate change , also known as the most well-traveled public crisis prior to COVID-19 .
In fact , the carbon output of this Maui lounge act must be enormous , no ?
And it ’ s produced by the same lawmakers who impose rolling blackouts on its citizens rather than use fossil fuel for electricity production .
It ’ s three-dimensional-chess level hypocrisy .
And just as nonsensical , scientifically @ @ @ @ @ @ @ concerned about the public health implications of bringing people from around the country together because of the stringent requirements in Hawaii ’ s mandatory Safe Travels program .
To avoid a lengthy quarantine , visitors must provide proof of a negative Covid test taken within 72 hours of arrival .
“ It really doesn ’ t matter where you ’ re coming from as long as you have a negative Covid test before you arrive here , ” he said .
No , my dude , that is not a guarantee of anything @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not pick up on the earliest asymptomatic stages of infection .
Second , that regime also does not account for potential infection in between the test and the travel or the potential exposure in travel itself .
Hawaii put those restrictions in place as a compromise in an attempt to save its tourist industry , not because they amount to a magic shield against COVID-19 .
Does it make the odds better ?
Sure , but it doesn ’ t eliminate the risk .
( Aside : I wonder how long Hawaii lawmakers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ eliminating all quarantine waivers , with the disease rapidly spreading in the mainland . )
Besides , are California lawmakers offering such exceptions to ordinary Californians who want to have family gatherings or go to the gym ?
Can indoor businesses fully reopen if the staff and customers all have negative test results within 72 hours of attempting to conduct commerce ?
No , which is why this luxury junket is so grotesquely hypocritical , even if it ’ s also grotesquely unsurprising .
California has long had one set of rules for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ polloi , from law enforcement to energy use to climate change .
It ’ s no surprise that California elites also want two sets of rules when it comes to COVID-19 lockdowns .

California lawmakers have determined that gathering for Thanksgiving and operating indoor businesses are so dangerous in this pandemic that those must be forbidden. They also want voters to know that lawmakers have Super COVID-19 Immunity, so it’s totes cool for them to travel to Maui for a junket at a luxury resort. It’s a bit like Gavin Newsom’s ex officio Jumbo Family-Gathering Resistance, only with extra helpings of free lobbyist-provided luxuries (via Fox LA’s Bill Melugin):
The pandemic may have “canceled” 2020, but it did not derail an annual gathering of lobbyists and lawmakers on the shores of Maui that brought people from across the country to a luxury resort this week. Roughly 100 people from four states converged at the Fairmont Kea Lani for a four-day legislative conference organized by the Independent Voter Project, said the group’s chair and executive director, Dan Howle. The 18th annual event was a third of its regular size, Howle said, but it still drew nearly 20 lawmakers from California, Texas and Washington state. The theme? How to reopen states’ economies amid the public health crisis.
Oh, so that was the theme. Most of us suspected it might be related to climate change, also known as the most well-traveled public crisis prior to COVID-19. In fact, the carbon output of this Maui lounge act must be enormous, no? And it’s produced by the same lawmakers who impose rolling blackouts on its citizens rather than use fossil fuel for electricity production. It’s three-dimensional-chess level hypocrisy.
And just as nonsensical, scientifically speaking:
Howle said he was not concerned about the public health implications of bringing people from around the country together because of the stringent requirements in Hawaii’s mandatory Safe Travels program. To avoid a lengthy quarantine, visitors must provide proof of a negative Covid test taken within 72 hours of arrival. “It really doesn’t matter where you’re coming from as long as you have a negative Covid test before you arrive here,” he said.
No, my dude, that is not a guarantee of anything. First off, tests generally do not pick up on the earliest asymptomatic stages of infection. Second, that regime also does not account for potential infection in between the test and the travel or the potential exposure in travel itself. Hawaii put those restrictions in place as a compromise in an attempt to save its tourist industry, not because they amount to a magic shield against COVID-19. Does it make the odds better? Sure, but it doesn’t eliminate the risk. (Aside: I wonder how long Hawaii lawmakers will take in imposing tighter restrictions and eliminating all quarantine waivers, with the disease rapidly spreading in the mainland.)
Besides, are California lawmakers offering such exceptions to ordinary Californians who want to have family gatherings or go to the gym? Can indoor businesses fully reopen if the staff and customers all have negative test results within 72 hours of attempting to conduct commerce? No, which is why this luxury junket is so grotesquely hypocritical, even if it’s also grotesquely unsurprising. California has long had one set of rules for its elite and another for the hoi polloi, from law enforcement to energy use to climate change. It’s no surprise that California elites also want two sets of rules when it comes to COVID-19 lockdowns.


hotair--2020-11-17--New York Sheriffs: No, we won't be enforcing Cuomo's Thanksgiving restrictions

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo threw caution to the wind this week and issued yet another mandate in the name of the pandemic .
This time he said that he was limiting the number of people who could gather in private residences for Thanksgiving to a maximum of ten people .
I ’ m fairly certain that , by this point , everyone knew that “ pandemic fatigue ” had been setting in and there was a limit as to how much of this government intrusion people were going to tolerate .
Well , it appears that the horse has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
A number of Sheriffs , primarily from upstate and Long Island , have now announced that they have no intention of attempting to enforce this rule .
( NY Post ) In a scathing Facebook post on Saturday , Fulton County Sheriff Richard Giardino questioned the legality of Gov .
Cuomo ’ s newly instituted 10-person cap on parties and other gatherings in private residences .
“ Frankly , I am not sure it could sustain a Constitutional challenge in Court for several reasons including your house is your castle , ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ And as a Sheriff with a law degree I couldn ’ t in good faith attempt to defend it Court , so I won ’ t , ” he said .
Giardino noted his office , with limited resources , has scant legal options to enter private homes other than search warrants , invitations or under an “ emergency circumstance.
” Sheriff Giardino went on to snidely comment that “ obtaining a Search Warrant to enter your home to see how many Turkey or Tofu eaters are present is not a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ only one .
Washington County Sheriff Jeff Murphy simply said there would be “ no enforcement.
” Saratoga County Sheriff Michael Zurlo was a bit more expansive in his response , saying “ I can ’ t see how devoting our resources to counting cars in citizens ’ driveways or investigating how much turkey and dressing they ’ ve purchased is for the public good.
” Prior to that , a group of Staten Island Republican officials released a statement blasting the idea .
In fact , even in a state as heavily @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is , you would be hard-pressed to find anyone willing to speak up in defense of this order .
I can ’ t imagine the Governor is very happy at the moment .
Andrew Cuomo is nearly as infamous for his short temper and angry outbursts as his CNN anchor brother Chris .
Diplomacy isn ’ t exactly his strong suit .
But this was always going to be seen as a preposterous order .
Even if the sheriffs wanted to comply , how would they go about it ?
As Sheriff Giardino @ @ @ @ @ @ @ drive around their entire county tallying up how many cars are in each driveway and then go ask for a warrant to bust into the house .
As I said at the top , this moment has been coming for quite a while now .
All over the state ( and indeed much of the country ) people have had to put up with seeing the schools shutting down , reopening , and then shutting down yet again .
Employees in too many industries were sent to the unemployment lines in the spring @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are now back out of work again .
Older citizens with little online technical experience have been forced to replace hugging their relatives with Zoom calls .
It was already more of a burden than many were willing to bear .
Demanding that larger families pick and choose who could or couldn ’ t come to sit around the Thanksgiving feast table was clearly a bridge too far .
People have let their elected leaders and local law enforcement officials know that this was simply too much and many of the sheriffs and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ So what happens to an executive mandate when law enforcement proclaims that they will not be punishing those who violate it ?
It becomes a non-factor and the governor making the proclamation is shown to be a paper tiger .
And that ’ s what ’ s happening to Andrew Cuomo this week .

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo threw caution to the wind this week and issued yet another mandate in the name of the pandemic. This time he said that he was limiting the number of people who could gather in private residences for Thanksgiving to a maximum of ten people. I’m fairly certain that, by this point, everyone knew that “pandemic fatigue” had been setting in and there was a limit as to how much of this government intrusion people were going to tolerate. Well, it appears that the horse has finally bucked, as the saying goes. A number of Sheriffs, primarily from upstate and Long Island, have now announced that they have no intention of attempting to enforce this rule. (NY Post)
In a scathing Facebook post on Saturday, Fulton County Sheriff Richard Giardino questioned the legality of Gov. Cuomo’s newly instituted 10-person cap on parties and other gatherings in private residences. “Frankly, I am not sure it could sustain a Constitutional challenge in Court for several reasons including your house is your castle,” the sheriff wrote in the Saturday post. “And as a Sheriff with a law degree I couldn’t in good faith attempt to defend it Court, so I won’t,” he said. Giardino noted his office, with limited resources, has scant legal options to enter private homes other than search warrants, invitations or under an “emergency circumstance.”
Sheriff Giardino went on to snidely comment that “obtaining a Search Warrant to enter your home to see how many Turkey or Tofu eaters are present is not a priority.”
Giardino wasn’t the only one. Washington County Sheriff Jeff Murphy simply said there would be “no enforcement.” Saratoga County Sheriff Michael Zurlo was a bit more expansive in his response, saying “I can’t see how devoting our resources to counting cars in citizens’ driveways or investigating how much turkey and dressing they’ve purchased is for the public good.”
Prior to that, a group of Staten Island Republican officials released a statement blasting the idea. In fact, even in a state as heavily tilted toward the Democrats as New York is, you would be hard-pressed to find anyone willing to speak up in defense of this order.
I can’t imagine the Governor is very happy at the moment. Andrew Cuomo is nearly as infamous for his short temper and angry outbursts as his CNN anchor brother Chris. Diplomacy isn’t exactly his strong suit. But this was always going to be seen as a preposterous order. Even if the sheriffs wanted to comply, how would they go about it? As Sheriff Giardino suggested, they can’t just drive around their entire county tallying up how many cars are in each driveway and then go ask for a warrant to bust into the house.
As I said at the top, this moment has been coming for quite a while now. All over the state (and indeed much of the country) people have had to put up with seeing the schools shutting down, reopening, and then shutting down yet again. Employees in too many industries were sent to the unemployment lines in the spring, called back in the fall and are now back out of work again. Older citizens with little online technical experience have been forced to replace hugging their relatives with Zoom calls. It was already more of a burden than many were willing to bear.
Demanding that larger families pick and choose who could or couldn’t come to sit around the Thanksgiving feast table was clearly a bridge too far. People have let their elected leaders and local law enforcement officials know that this was simply too much and many of the sheriffs and state Assembly members were clearly listening. So what happens to an executive mandate when law enforcement proclaims that they will not be punishing those who violate it? It becomes a non-factor and the governor making the proclamation is shown to be a paper tiger. And that’s what’s happening to Andrew Cuomo this week.


hotair--2020-11-16--Washington governor cancels Thanksgiving, Michigan governor clamps down harder on COVID-19 restricti

Washington governor cancels Thanksgiving, Michigan governor clamps down harder on COVID-19 restrictions

Washington Governor Jay Inslee canceled Thanksgiving for his state ’ s residents .
New statewide restrictions come into place tonight at 11:59 p.m. and last through Dec. 14 .
Restaurants face new restrictions on Wednesday at 12:01 a.m .
He justifies the strong action by pointing to a spike in coronavirus cases .
The amount of cases rivals the coronavirus outbreak last March in Washington .
The state reported over 2,000 cases a day over the weekend and average coronavirus cases in the state have doubled in the past two weeks .
Inslee knows the increased statewide restrictions will mean @ @ @ @ @ @ @ orders shut down any indoor dining at restaurants but they are allowed to offer to-go orders .
Outdoor dining is allowed if social distancing is in place with no more than five people per table .
All retail stores , including grocery stores , are limited to 25 % occupancy .
No lingering in seated areas is allowed .
Keep moving .
Religious services are limited to 25 % occupancy , too , or no more than 200 people .
Everyone must mask-up and there will be no choir , band , or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ addition , all business meetings are prohibited .
Only professional training and testing that can not be done remotely is allowed will be allowed .
Occupancy for meetings is limited to 25 % or 100 people , whichever is fewer .
Professional services must allow employees to work from home when possible and close offices to the public .
If offices must remain open , occupancy is restricted to 25 % .
Gyms will be prohibited from offering indoor services , though outdoor fitness classes can continue as long as they don ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Meanwhile , entertainment venues like movie theaters , bowling alleys , museums and zoos will all be banned from offering indoor service , though drive-in theatres will still be allowed to operate under previously laid out restrictions .
Long-term care facilities can only offer outdoor visits , with exceptions for end-of-life care .
Weddings and funeral receptions will be limited to no more than 30 people and youth and adult sports must be held outside only with all athletes wearing masks .
Personal services , such as barbershops and salons , are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ real estate open houses are prohibited That is a whole lot of rules , right ?
This pandemic sure has released some strong authoritarian behavior from state and local officials .
Sometimes it seems like they are pulling numbers out of the air .
Why choose a 5 person limit at a restaurant table , for example ?
Would it jeopardize the health of everyone in the establishment if a family with 4 children wanted to dine indoors , making it a table for 6 people ?
Now , about Thanksgiving – sorry @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Washington residents can only enjoy the holiday with those with whom they live .
The only people allowed into your home for Thanksgiving dinner are those who have self-quarantined for two weeks and test negative for the virus .
The question arises – who is monitoring all of this ?
Are state health officials going door to door to check if everyone inside a house is COVID-free and/or lives there ?
It all sounds a lot like show us your papers , doesn ’ t it ?
None of this applies to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Inslee said that the state would commit $ 50 million in aid to help ease the financial impact on businesses and employees .
He also said that businesses can apply for forgivable loans through the Small Business Administration ’ s Paycheck Protection Program .
That will be cold comfort to a business that is already struggling to hang on during the plague .
Cutting through government red tape and the process of applying for a PPP loan can take some time which those small businesses may not have .
Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ classes as of Wednesday .
She is also banning indoor dining service on Wednesday .
The bans will last for three weeks .
She is also banning public events at venues like concert halls , casinos , movie theaters , and skating rinks .
The colder weather brings people indoors and Michigan is seeing an increase of cases .
She warns that Michigan could soon see 1,000 deaths per week from the coronavirus .
In-home gatherings will be limited to 10 people from no more than two households .
Whitmer said , “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this pandemic to date , ” she told a news conference .
“ The situation has never been more dire .
We are at the precipice and we need to take some action.
” White House coronavirus adviser Scott Atlas pushed back on Governor Whitmer ’ s orders .
His advice to Michigan residents was not appreciated by Whitmer .
His use of words wasn ’ t helpful , given the tense political atmosphere we find ourselves in today across the country .
Next up will be Christmas .
I think CNN ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ during his interview with Dr. Fauci .
Dr. Fauci , who serves as the Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases , told CNN ’ s Jake Tapper on Sunday that even with widespread distribution of a vaccine , the public “ can ’ t abandon fundamental public health measures , ” specifically social distancing and mask-wearing .
“ You can approach a degree of normality while still doing some fundamental health things that synergize with the vaccine to get us back to normal , ” Fauci said .
Tapper @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s recommendations , which are expected to extend into the “ the second or third ” quarter of 2021 , “ Christmas is probably not gon na be possible .
”

Washington Governor Jay Inslee canceled Thanksgiving for his state’s residents. New statewide restrictions come into place tonight at 11:59 p.m. and last through Dec. 14. Restaurants face new restrictions on Wednesday at 12:01 a.m. He justifies the strong action by pointing to a spike in coronavirus cases.
The amount of cases rivals the coronavirus outbreak last March in Washington. The state reported over 2,000 cases a day over the weekend and average coronavirus cases in the state have doubled in the past two weeks. Inslee knows the increased statewide restrictions will mean people will lose their jobs.
“This spike puts us in a more dangerous a position as we were in March,” Inslee said during a press conference Sunday. “And it means, unfortunately, the time has come to reinstate restrictions on activities statewide to preserve the public’s well-being, and to save lives. These were very difficult decisions that have very real consequences to people’s livelihoods. I recognize that and don’t take those impacts lightly, but we must act now and act quickly to slow the spread of this disease.”
The orders shut down any indoor dining at restaurants but they are allowed to offer to-go orders. Outdoor dining is allowed if social distancing is in place with no more than five people per table. All retail stores, including grocery stores, are limited to 25% occupancy. No lingering in seated areas is allowed. Keep moving. Religious services are limited to 25% occupancy, too, or no more than 200 people. Everyone must mask-up and there will be no choir, band, or ensemble performances permitted during services.
But, wait, there’s more.
In addition, all business meetings are prohibited. Only professional training and testing that cannot be done remotely is allowed will be allowed. Occupancy for meetings is limited to 25% or 100 people, whichever is fewer. Professional services must allow employees to work from home when possible and close offices to the public. If offices must remain open, occupancy is restricted to 25%. Gyms will be prohibited from offering indoor services, though outdoor fitness classes can continue as long as they don’t exceed five people in a group. Meanwhile, entertainment venues like movie theaters, bowling alleys, museums and zoos will all be banned from offering indoor service, though drive-in theatres will still be allowed to operate under previously laid out restrictions. Long-term care facilities can only offer outdoor visits, with exceptions for end-of-life care. Weddings and funeral receptions will be limited to no more than 30 people and youth and adult sports must be held outside only with all athletes wearing masks. Personal services, such as barbershops and salons, are also limited to 25% capacity and real estate open houses are prohibited
That is a whole lot of rules, right? This pandemic sure has released some strong authoritarian behavior from state and local officials. Sometimes it seems like they are pulling numbers out of the air. Why choose a 5 person limit at a restaurant table, for example? Would it jeopardize the health of everyone in the establishment if a family with 4 children wanted to dine indoors, making it a table for 6 people?
Now, about Thanksgiving – sorry, but he’s canceled it. Washington residents can only enjoy the holiday with those with whom they live. The only people allowed into your home for Thanksgiving dinner are those who have self-quarantined for two weeks and test negative for the virus. The question arises – who is monitoring all of this? Are state health officials going door to door to check if everyone inside a house is COVID-free and/or lives there? It all sounds a lot like show us your papers, doesn’t it?
None of this applies to K-12 education or higher education settings.
Inslee said that the state would commit $50 million in aid to help ease the financial impact on businesses and employees. He also said that businesses can apply for forgivable loans through the Small Business Administration’s Paycheck Protection Program. That will be cold comfort to a business that is already struggling to hang on during the plague. Cutting through government red tape and the process of applying for a PPP loan can take some time which those small businesses may not have.
Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer is banning in-person high school and college classes as of Wednesday. She is also banning indoor dining service on Wednesday. The bans will last for three weeks. She is also banning public events at venues like concert halls, casinos, movie theaters, and skating rinks. The colder weather brings people indoors and Michigan is seeing an increase of cases. She warns that Michigan could soon see 1,000 deaths per week from the coronavirus. In-home gatherings will be limited to 10 people from no more than two households. Whitmer said, “We are in the worst moment of this pandemic to date,” she told a news conference. “The situation has never been more dire. We are at the precipice and we need to take some action.”
White House coronavirus adviser Scott Atlas pushed back on Governor Whitmer’s orders. His advice to Michigan residents was not appreciated by Whitmer. His use of words wasn’t helpful, given the tense political atmosphere we find ourselves in today across the country.
White House coronavirus adviser Scott Atlas reacted to the Michigan orders by urging state residents on Twitter here to “rise up” against them. After this drew criticism from Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel, Atlas said he “NEVER was talking at all about violence.”
https://twitter.com/ScottWAtlas/status/1328171502211043328
Next up will be Christmas. I think CNN’s Jake Tapper already canceled Christmas yesterday during his interview with Dr. Fauci.
Dr. Fauci, who serves as the Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, told CNN’s Jake Tapper on Sunday that even with widespread distribution of a vaccine, the public “can’t abandon fundamental public health measures,” specifically social distancing and mask-wearing. “You can approach a degree of normality while still doing some fundamental health things that synergize with the vaccine to get us back to normal,” Fauci said. Tapper noted that based on Dr, Fauci’s recommendations, which are expected to extend into the “the second or third” quarter of 2021, “Christmas is probably not gonna be possible.”
Bah, humbug.


hotair--2020-11-17--Crenshaw: Reverse the cancellation of Wreaths Across America at Arlington National Cemetery immediat

Crenshaw: Reverse the cancellation of Wreaths Across America at Arlington National Cemetery immediately!

Wreaths Across America at Arlington National Cemetery has been canceled this year .
The event is the latest of annual events to fall by the wayside because of the coronavirus pandemic .
The concern is over crowd control and personal safety procedures in the year of COVID-19 .
According to Wreaths Across America ’ s reaction to the cancellation , the decision comes as a shock .
The organization is devastated that the December 19 event will not go forward .
It has been working for months to assure that local coronavirus protocols would be followed .
They ask that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the news broke .
“ Like our U.S. Military , we will adjust and adapt , and work together towards fulfilling the mission which is to Remember , Honor and Teach .
Our Gold Star Families have lost too much for us to just give up , ” Wreaths Across America said .
“ Please stay tuned for more details about how you too can recommit to the mission and join us in remembering all those laid to rest at Arlington and elsewhere in the country , in their honor.
” The event @ @ @ @ @ @ @ honor the fallen laid to rest in Arlington National Cemetery .
Worcester Wreath Company owner Morrill Worcester , Founder of Wreaths Across America , and his wife Karen Worcester , Executive Director , began a tradition of placing wreaths on the headstones of our Nation ’ s fallen heroes at Arlington National Cemetery .
His patriotic gesture was financed out of his own pocket .
The business owner from Maine began doing this in 1992 with the help of former Maine Senator Olympia Snowe .
The effort concentrated on older sections of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ event soon grew to become an annual event , with other companies helping out .
And it continued to grow to what has become a hugely popular annual event with thousands of volunteers who place wreaths in 1,000 locations .
The mission is to Remember , Honor , Teach .
In 2014 , Wreaths Across America and its national network of volunteers laid over 700,000 memorial wreaths at 1,000 locations in the United States and beyond , including ceremonies at the Pearl Harbor Memorial , as well as Bunker Hill , Valley Forge @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tragedies .
This was accomplished with help from 2,047 sponsorship groups , corporate contributions , and donations of trucking , shipping , and thousands of helping hands .
The organization ’ s goal of covering Arlington National Cemetery was met in 2014 with the placement of 226,525 wreaths .
The wreath-laying is still held annually , on the second or third Saturday of December .
WAA ’ s annual pilgrimage from Harrington , Maine to Arlington National Cemetery has become known as the world ’ s largest veterans ’ parade , stopping at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and communities all along the way to remind people how important it is to remember , honor and teach .
The announcement by Arlington National Cemetery expresses regret and notes that they are following guidance from the CDC .
Due to the current COVID-19 situation across the nation and within the National Capital Region , it is with great regret that Arlington National Cemetery is canceling Wreaths Across America at Arlington National Cemetery and the Soldiers ’ and Airmen ’ s Home Cemetery on December 19 , 2020 .
Following a thorough analysis @ @ @ @ @ @ @ event this year , and in close collaboration with the Joint Task Force , National Capital Region , we determined that we could not implement sufficient controls to mitigate the risks associated with hosting an event of this size under current and forecasted infection and transmission rates , while still conducting a respectful and honorable public event .
“ We did not make this decision lightly .
Despite the controls developed to disperse potential crowds in time and space , and required personal safety protocols , we determined that hosting any event of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ accomplish our core mission of laying veterans and their eligible family members to rest , ” stated Karen Durham-Aguilera , Executive Director , Office of Army National Cemeteries and Arlington National Cemetery .
“ We reviewed various options to safely execute this long standing event and held numerous consultations with WAA leadership and local government and public health officials .
We understand that although this is disappointing for so many , we could no longer envision a way to safely accommodate the large number of visitors we typically host during this event.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lay our nation ’ s veterans and their family members to rest continues during this COVID-19 environment .
In order to ensure that our primary mission takes place , and to protect our workforce and visitors , the cemetery is taking this proactive step to adhere to the guidance outlined by the CDC to prevent contracting or spreading respiratory illnesses like the flu or COVID-19 .
That ’ s odd .
I don ’ t remember the wreath placing event being canceled during any other year due to active flu seasons .
COVID-19 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I know , but still , it sounds odd to include the flu in their reasoning .
It seems unlikely , too , that something can ’ t be worked out to allow the volunteers to place wreaths in a controlled , limited manner .
It ’ s an outdoor event , volunteers naturally social distance themselves as they spread out to place the wreaths on headstones , and the number of volunteers allowed in at any one time could easily be limited .
Rep. Dan Crenshaw , ( R-TX ) , a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reversed so that the fallen can be honored this year as in other years .
He tweeted out his frustration with the decision .
Months of work goes into these events .
It ’ s a shame if other cemeteries go along with the decision made at Arlington National Cemetery .
Many supporters responded favorably to Crenshaw ’ s tweet but there are plenty of critics , too .
One ironic one came from a twit with BLM in her Twitter handle .
Protests and riots are large events that are a-ok , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ honoring fallen soldiers ?
Those soldiers can be honored any old time , you know , but BLM protests can ’ t wait .
There is something really wrong with that mindset .
UPDATE : The event is back on .
After I wrote this post , some good news came in from a tweet from President Trump :

Wreaths Across America at Arlington National Cemetery has been canceled this year. The event is the latest of annual events to fall by the wayside because of the coronavirus pandemic. The concern is over crowd control and personal safety procedures in the year of COVID-19.
According to Wreaths Across America’s reaction to the cancellation, the decision comes as a shock. The organization is devastated that the December 19 event will not go forward. It has been working for months to assure that local coronavirus protocols would be followed. They ask that people stay tuned for more details when the news broke.
“Like our U.S. Military, we will adjust and adapt, and work together towards fulfilling the mission which is to Remember, Honor and Teach. Our Gold Star Families have lost too much for us to just give up,” Wreaths Across America said. “Please stay tuned for more details about how you too can recommit to the mission and join us in remembering all those laid to rest at Arlington and elsewhere in the country, in their honor.”
The event began more than 20 years ago to honor the fallen laid to rest in Arlington National Cemetery. Worcester Wreath Company owner Morrill Worcester, Founder of Wreaths Across America, and his wife Karen Worcester, Executive Director, began a tradition of placing wreaths on the headstones of our Nation’s fallen heroes at Arlington National Cemetery. His patriotic gesture was financed out of his own pocket. The business owner from Maine began doing this in 1992 with the help of former Maine Senator Olympia Snowe. The effort concentrated on older sections of the cemetery which see fewer visitors. The event soon grew to become an annual event, with other companies helping out.
Unable to donate thousands of wreaths to each state, Worcester began sending seven wreaths to every state, one for each branch of the military, and for POW/MIAs. In 2006, with the help of the Civil Air Patrol and other civic organizations, simultaneous wreath-laying ceremonies were held at over 150 locations around the country. The Patriot Guard Riders volunteered as escort for the wreaths going to Arlington. This began the annual “Veterans Honor Parade” that travels the east coast in early December.
And it continued to grow to what has become a hugely popular annual event with thousands of volunteers who place wreaths in 1,000 locations. The mission is to Remember, Honor, Teach.
In 2014, Wreaths Across America and its national network of volunteers laid over 700,000 memorial wreaths at 1,000 locations in the United States and beyond, including ceremonies at the Pearl Harbor Memorial, as well as Bunker Hill, Valley Forge and the sites if the September 11 tragedies. This was accomplished with help from 2,047 sponsorship groups, corporate contributions, and donations of trucking, shipping, and thousands of helping hands. The organization’s goal of covering Arlington National Cemetery was met in 2014 with the placement of 226,525 wreaths. The wreath-laying is still held annually, on the second or third Saturday of December. WAA’s annual pilgrimage from Harrington, Maine to Arlington National Cemetery has become known as the world’s largest veterans’ parade, stopping at schools, monuments, veterans’ homes and communities all along the way to remind people how important it is to remember, honor and teach.
The announcement by Arlington National Cemetery expresses regret and notes that they are following guidance from the CDC.
Due to the current COVID-19 situation across the nation and within the National Capital Region, it is with great regret that Arlington National Cemetery is canceling Wreaths Across America at Arlington National Cemetery and the Soldiers’ and Airmen’s Home Cemetery on December 19, 2020. Following a thorough analysis of the annual Wreaths Across America Wreaths-In event this year, and in close collaboration with the Joint Task Force, National Capital Region, we determined that we could not implement sufficient controls to mitigate the risks associated with hosting an event of this size under current and forecasted infection and transmission rates, while still conducting a respectful and honorable public event. “We did not make this decision lightly. Despite the controls developed to disperse potential crowds in time and space, and required personal safety protocols, we determined that hosting any event of this scale risked compromising our ability to accomplish our core mission of laying veterans and their eligible family members to rest,” stated Karen Durham-Aguilera, Executive Director, Office of Army National Cemeteries and Arlington National Cemetery. “We reviewed various options to safely execute this long standing event and held numerous consultations with WAA leadership and local government and public health officials. We understand that although this is disappointing for so many, we could no longer envision a way to safely accommodate the large number of visitors we typically host during this event.” ANC’s most sacred mission to lay our nation’s veterans and their family members to rest continues during this COVID-19 environment. In order to ensure that our primary mission takes place, and to protect our workforce and visitors, the cemetery is taking this proactive step to adhere to the guidance outlined by the CDC to prevent contracting or spreading respiratory illnesses like the flu or COVID-19.
That’s odd. I don’t remember the wreath placing event being canceled during any other year due to active flu seasons. COVID-19 is much more serious and contagious, I know, but still, it sounds odd to include the flu in their reasoning. It seems unlikely, too, that something can’t be worked out to allow the volunteers to place wreaths in a controlled, limited manner. It’s an outdoor event, volunteers naturally social distance themselves as they spread out to place the wreaths on headstones, and the number of volunteers allowed in at any one time could easily be limited.
Rep. Dan Crenshaw, (R-TX), a former SEAL wants the cancellation to be reversed so that the fallen can be honored this year as in other years. He tweeted out his frustration with the decision.
This decision to cancel #wreathsacrossamerica must be reversed immediately. Critical thinking must win out over emotion. Large areas, outside and well spaced, with masks on, is perfectly safe. Our fallen deserve to be remembered. RT if you agree and support #RememberHonorTeach https://t.co/ddWVp5vs2g — Dan Crenshaw (@DanCrenshawTX) November 17, 2020
Months of work goes into these events. It’s a shame if other cemeteries go along with the decision made at Arlington National Cemetery. Many supporters responded favorably to Crenshaw’s tweet but there are plenty of critics, too. One ironic one came from a twit with BLM in her Twitter handle. Protests and riots are large events that are a-ok, I guess, but not something like honoring fallen soldiers?
Don’t agree. The fallen can be remembered and honored by staying alive. Use some critical thinking Dan-O — Black Lives Matter KC (@BLM_KC) November 17, 2020
This veteran answered the BLM supporter.
https://twitter.com/GammaSmasher/status/1328541933594177537
Those soldiers can be honored any old time, you know, but BLM protests can’t wait. There is something really wrong with that mindset.
UPDATE: The event is back on. After I wrote this post, some good news came in from a tweet from President Trump:
https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1328801981222281216


hotair--2020-11-17--House Dems to court: On second thought, maybe we don't need Mueller grand-jury testimony after all

Old and busted : This is about integrity , not an election !
New hotness : The election may have mooted our investigation .
The Democratic-led House Judiciary Committee is requesting the Supreme Court delay oral arguments in a closely watched dispute over the disclosure of secret grand jury materials from special counsel Robert Mueller ’ s investigation into Russian meddling in the 2016 election , citing President-elect Joe Biden ’ s victory over President Trump and the start of a new Congress in January .
Lawyers for House Democrats asked the court in a filing Tuesday to remove the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , as pushing back the oral argument currently set for December 2 “ would be in the best interest of the parties and the court and may conserve judicial resources.
” “ The committee ’ s investigations into misconduct by President Trump , oversight of agency activities during the Trump administration , and consideration of related legislative reforms have remained ongoing .
But a new Congress will convene in the first week of January 2021 , and President-elect Biden will be inaugurated on January 20 , 2021 , ” House lawyers wrote .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ newly constituted committee will have to determine whether it wishes to continue pursuing the application for the grand-jury materials that gave rise to this case.
” The filing suggests the House is broadly reconsidering its posture toward Trump-era investigations in light of Biden ’ s election victory .
The House is also in court attempting to obtain Trump ’ s financial records and tax returns and to force his former White House counsel Don McGahn — a star witness in Mueller ’ s obstruction of justice investigation — to testify .
An aide @ @ @ @ @ @ @ recently that Nadler intends to pursue the McGahn deposition even after Trump leaves office as part of an effort to implement protections from political interference in the Justice Department .
But the Judiciary Committee ’ s effort to obtain Mueller ’ s grand jury information is one of the House ’ s longest continuing legal actions of the Trump era .
I wouldn ’ t bet the house on Democrats attempting to bet the House on this nonsense .
They ran a 2020 campaign that was basically all about Trump , which succeeded @ @ @ @ @ @ @ but resulted in losses down the ballot otherwise .
They will barely have a House majority in January and almost certainly won ’ t control the Senate , all while Joe Biden will have a deep need to start scoring some legislative wins right off the bat .
As both Allahpundit and I have argued the past day or so , Democrats aren ’ t going to win points with Republicans beating the same dead horse that lost them credibility with voters in the first place .
Perhaps House Democrats might wait to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ first .
That might be the case , but it seems very doubtful that Biden will want to set that kind of a precedent at the beginning of a presidency .
There are solid reasons for Biden to value the buffers between co-equal branches of government , not the least of which are Republican chances of gaining control of the whole legislative branch in the 2022 midterms .
Besides , what are they going to find that Mueller didn ’ t ?
This has always been a fishing expedition , hoping to catch @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump in 2020 .
Mission accomplished , even if it turned out to damage their longer-term prospects along the way .
Nadler and Adam Schiff might still obsess over this , but the rest of their caucus will worry more about 2022 than 2016 .

Old and busted: This is about integrity, not an election! New hotness: The election may have mooted our investigation.
Hope and change, baby!
The Democratic-led House Judiciary Committee is requesting the Supreme Court delay oral arguments in a closely watched dispute over the disclosure of secret grand jury materials from special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation into Russian meddling in the 2016 election, citing President-elect Joe Biden’s victory over President Trump and the start of a new Congress in January. Lawyers for House Democrats asked the court in a filing Tuesday to remove the case from its December 2020 argument calendar, as pushing back the oral argument currently set for December 2 “would be in the best interest of the parties and the court and may conserve judicial resources.” “The committee’s investigations into misconduct by President Trump, oversight of agency activities during the Trump administration, and consideration of related legislative reforms have remained ongoing. But a new Congress will convene in the first week of January 2021, and President-elect Biden will be inaugurated on January 20, 2021,” House lawyers wrote. “Once those events occur, the newly constituted committee will have to determine whether it wishes to continue pursuing the application for the grand-jury materials that gave rise to this case.”
Politico’s Kyle Cheney makes the obvious observation:
The filing suggests the House is broadly reconsidering its posture toward Trump-era investigations in light of Biden’s election victory. The House is also in court attempting to obtain Trump’s financial records and tax returns and to force his former White House counsel Don McGahn — a star witness in Mueller’s obstruction of justice investigation — to testify. An aide to Judiciary Chair Jerry Nadler told POLITICO recently that Nadler intends to pursue the McGahn deposition even after Trump leaves office as part of an effort to implement protections from political interference in the Justice Department. But the Judiciary Committee’s effort to obtain Mueller’s grand jury information is one of the House’s longest continuing legal actions of the Trump era.
I wouldn’t bet the house on Democrats attempting to bet the House on this nonsense. They ran a 2020 campaign that was basically all about Trump, which succeeded in getting rid of their bete noire but resulted in losses down the ballot otherwise. They will barely have a House majority in January and almost certainly won’t control the Senate, all while Joe Biden will have a deep need to start scoring some legislative wins right off the bat. As both Allahpundit and I have argued the past day or so, Democrats aren’t going to win points with Republicans beating the same dead horse that lost them credibility with voters in the first place.
Perhaps House Democrats might wait to see whether Biden will vacate the lawsuit first. That might be the case, but it seems very doubtful that Biden will want to set that kind of a precedent at the beginning of a presidency. There are solid reasons for Biden to value the buffers between co-equal branches of government, not the least of which are Republican chances of gaining control of the whole legislative branch in the 2022 midterms.
Besides, what are they going to find that Mueller didn’t? This has always been a fishing expedition, hoping to catch something to boost their chances of beating Trump in 2020. Mission accomplished, even if it turned out to damage their longer-term prospects along the way. Nadler and Adam Schiff might still obsess over this, but the rest of their caucus will worry more about 2022 than 2016.


hotair--2020-11-17--Texas officials keep state's re-opening plans in place, despite other states moving to harsher measu

Texas officials keep state's re-opening plans in place, despite other states moving to harsher measures

Governor Abbott is not imposing new restrictions on Texas businesses or changing course on re-opening plans for the state despite cases of the coronavirus exceeding one million .
He isn ’ t allowing county officials to issue stronger measures than are in place now , either .
The governor ’ s approach tries to balance mitigating the latest wave of the coronavirus in the state while continuing to oversee the economic recovery in Texas .
Abbott is resisting calls to further limit gatherings , re-close nonessential businesses , or issue stricter mask requirements .
This doesn ’ t mean the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s not .
Statewide restrictions and mandates are in place .
MASKS : Face masks required inside commercial buildings and outside , when within 6 feet of others .
Several exceptions apply , including for children under 10 and for people eating , exercising or attending church .
BARS , RESTAURANTS : Bars must close in regions where coronavirus patients take up at least 15 percent of the total hospital capacity .
Restaurants must roll back to 50 percent of maximum occupancy from 75 percent .
Patrons are required to be seated for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
GATHERINGS : Outdoor gatherings of more than 10 people are prohibited unless first approved by local officials .
The governor is using hospital capacity numbers as guidance on restrictions instead of focusing on positivity rates because massive backlogs skewed the state ’ s rate for weeks this summer .
State health officials say that problem is now fixed .
Restrictions increase in regions that show increased hospitalizations , though health officials worry about using that as a measure for lockdowns .
They reason that hospitalizations often provide a delayed measure of outbreaks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a patient to be hospitalized .
Currently , the measure is seven continuous days of coronavirus patients filling at least 15 percent of all available beds in that area .
Few other states use such a measurement for the virus outbreak .
Rebecca Fischer , assistant professor of epidemiology and biostatistics at Texas A & M , said it ’ s important to consider multiple factors , including the rate at which people are testing positive for the virus , emergency room visits and infections at nursing and other long-term care facilities .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ power to best respond to their situations , which may differ even within a given region .
“ When I see county judges that are trying so hard to work toward the public health of their constituents and then are just cut off and told no , it kills me , ” Fischer said .
“ Everybody in the public health realm is left scratching their head as to why that would be the case.
” The plan in Texas is to allow businesses to remain open , even in emerging hot spots @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in place .
There is concern that restrictions are not being enforced at the local level , thus rising cases .
In order for the mitigation of the coronavirus to work , Texas residents have to be vigilant in using social distancing , wearing face masks , and limiting the size of gatherings .
Under Abbott ’ s plan , restaurants can remain open for indoor dining even in regions that have surpassed 15 percent , but they have to roll back to 50 percent capacity from 75 percent .
Bars are required @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reclassified as restaurants in order to get around the state ’ s earlier restrictions can stay open at the reduced capacity .
The governor ’ s spokeswoman , Renae Eze , suggested again that local officials are not properly enforcing restrictions already in place , including occupancy limits and a statewide mask mandate that Abbott issued this summer , amid a previous surge .
“ The protocols proved effective in slowing the spread over the summer and containing COVID-19 , and they can continue to work but only if they are enforced , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Coronavirus fatigue has set in and people are relaxing around social distancing and wearing masks .
More than 7,200 people were hospitalized on Monday , as reported by the state , which is nearly double the total a month ago .
While hospitalizations have risen more slowly than happened this summer , they are now two-thirds as high as they were when cases peaked in late July .
Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner is taking stronger measures in enforcing the face mask mandate in the city .
During a news conference Monday he said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Houston .
Those who violate the mandate will be issued a citation , followed by a $ 250 fine if a second offense occurs .
“ Don ’ t invite COVID for Thanksgiving dinner , ” Turner said .
Like most other public officials in other states , he calls for only celebrating Thanksgiving with those in your household .
Don ’ t invite family and friends over for Thanksgiving dinner this year .
He voiced his concern that the holidays will bring new spikes in the virus outbreaks .
“ As @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is upon us .
… These traditional gatherings … are not the way to proceed , ” he said .
“ This virus thrives on gatherings and will take advantage of holiday festivities to sicken our loved ones and further spread through our community.
” Harris County COVID-19 Threat Level System remains at a level 1 red , which means residents are strongly advised to limit outings and contact with others as much as possible .
It ’ s also an indication that overall coronavirus breakouts are a concern for local health officials @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 71 year history , due to increasing positivity rates and hospitalizations , the mayor has cancelled Houston ’ s annual Thanksgiving parade .
Instead of the parade , the city will hold large scale food distribution events .
For example , on Saturday , Nov. 21 one meal prep kit per car will be distributed to those coming for help with food for the holiday .
The meals can be cooked at home this year .
And , instead of the annual super-feast events , the city will distribute larger food baskets — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pounds of food — to families on Thanksgiving and Christmas Eve .
It sounds like the mayor is going to cancel Christmas celebrations , too .

Governor Abbott is not imposing new restrictions on Texas businesses or changing course on re-opening plans for the state despite cases of the coronavirus exceeding one million. He isn’t allowing county officials to issue stronger measures than are in place now, either.
The governor’s approach tries to balance mitigating the latest wave of the coronavirus in the state while continuing to oversee the economic recovery in Texas. Abbott is resisting calls to further limit gatherings, re-close nonessential businesses, or issue stricter mask requirements. This doesn’t mean the state is wide open, it’s not. Statewide restrictions and mandates are in place.
MASKS: Face masks required inside commercial buildings and outside, when within 6 feet of others. Several exceptions apply, including for children under 10 and for people eating, exercising or attending church. BARS, RESTAURANTS: Bars must close in regions where coronavirus patients take up at least 15 percent of the total hospital capacity. Restaurants must roll back to 50 percent of maximum occupancy from 75 percent. Patrons are required to be seated for indoor dining and drinking at all times. GATHERINGS: Outdoor gatherings of more than 10 people are prohibited unless first approved by local officials.
The governor is using hospital capacity numbers as guidance on restrictions instead of focusing on positivity rates because massive backlogs skewed the state’s rate for weeks this summer. State health officials say that problem is now fixed. Restrictions increase in regions that show increased hospitalizations, though health officials worry about using that as a measure for lockdowns. They reason that hospitalizations often provide a delayed measure of outbreaks because it usually takes several days for a patient to be hospitalized. Currently, the measure is seven continuous days of coronavirus patients filling at least 15 percent of all available beds in that area. Few other states use such a measurement for the virus outbreak.
Rebecca Fischer, assistant professor of epidemiology and biostatistics at Texas A&M, said it’s important to consider multiple factors, including the rate at which people are testing positive for the virus, emergency room visits and infections at nursing and other long-term care facilities. And she said local governments need decision-making power to best respond to their situations, which may differ even within a given region. “When I see county judges that are trying so hard to work toward the public health of their constituents and then are just cut off and told no, it kills me,” Fischer said. “Everybody in the public health realm is left scratching their head as to why that would be the case.”
The plan in Texas is to allow businesses to remain open, even in emerging hot spots, but to enforce and adjust restrictions in place. There is concern that restrictions are not being enforced at the local level, thus rising cases. In order for the mitigation of the coronavirus to work, Texas residents have to be vigilant in using social distancing, wearing face masks, and limiting the size of gatherings.
Under Abbott’s plan, restaurants can remain open for indoor dining even in regions that have surpassed 15 percent, but they have to roll back to 50 percent capacity from 75 percent. Bars are required to close, but those that previously reclassified as restaurants in order to get around the state’s earlier restrictions can stay open at the reduced capacity. The governor’s spokeswoman, Renae Eze, suggested again that local officials are not properly enforcing restrictions already in place, including occupancy limits and a statewide mask mandate that Abbott issued this summer, amid a previous surge. “The protocols proved effective in slowing the spread over the summer and containing COVID-19, and they can continue to work but only if they are enforced,” she said in an email.
Coronavirus fatigue has set in and people are relaxing around social distancing and wearing masks. More than 7,200 people were hospitalized on Monday, as reported by the state, which is nearly double the total a month ago. While hospitalizations have risen more slowly than happened this summer, they are now two-thirds as high as they were when cases peaked in late July.
Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner is taking stronger measures in enforcing the face mask mandate in the city. During a news conference Monday he said that the wearing of masks is mandatory in Houston. Those who violate the mandate will be issued a citation, followed by a $250 fine if a second offense occurs.
"We prefer to warn people only, but we are at the point where we need to be more forceful with our message." @SylvesterTurner on mask fine pic.twitter.com/gXPO7NezfI — Urban Reform (@urbanreformorg) November 16, 2020
“Don’t invite COVID for Thanksgiving dinner,” Turner said. Like most other public officials in other states, he calls for only celebrating Thanksgiving with those in your household. Don’t invite family and friends over for Thanksgiving dinner this year. He voiced his concern that the holidays will bring new spikes in the virus outbreaks.
“As we approach the holiday season … Thanksgiving is upon us. … These traditional gatherings … are not the way to proceed,” he said. “This virus thrives on gatherings and will take advantage of holiday festivities to sicken our loved ones and further spread through our community.” Harris County COVID-19 Threat Level System remains at a level 1 red, which means residents are strongly advised to limit outings and contact with others as much as possible. It’s also an indication that overall coronavirus breakouts are a concern for local health officials.
For the first time in its 71 year history, due to increasing positivity rates and hospitalizations, the mayor has cancelled Houston’s annual Thanksgiving parade. Instead of the parade, the city will hold large scale food distribution events. For example, on Saturday, Nov. 21 one meal prep kit per car will be distributed to those coming for help with food for the holiday. The meals can be cooked at home this year. And, instead of the annual super-feast events, the city will distribute larger food baskets — with as much as 60 to 80 pounds of food — to families on Thanksgiving and Christmas Eve.
It sounds like the mayor is going to cancel Christmas celebrations, too.


hotair--2020-11-17--The first rule of the real-life Fight Club is...

If like me , you ’ re a fan of the 1999 Brad Pitt movie Fight Club , you might find this story of interest .
But there is no paranormal character like Tyler Durden involved .
The New York City Sheriff ’ s Department was called to a warehouse in the Bronx recently where a real-life version of that particular phenomenon was playing out .
Hundreds of people were inside , getting drunk , smoking and , of course , fighting .
And to the horror of city officials , social distancing protocols were not being followed , nor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ any bits of cloth being used to wipe up the blood .
Arrests were made and the party came to a halt .
( NBC News ) A 200-person unlicensed fight club in New York City was disbanded by sheriffs on Saturday night , according to officials and local reports .
Attendees of “ Rumble in the Bronx ” were discovered drinking , smoking and fighting — but not socially distancing at the event , according to NBC New York .
At around 11:15 p.m. , New York City sheriffs entered a Coster @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and participating in the fighting , NBC New York reported .
Someone apparently dropped a dime on the party , leading to the arrival of the Sheriff ’ s deputies .
This was an obvious violation of the first rule of Fight Club .
You don ’ t talk about Fight Club… particularly to the police .
It ’ s not that there weren ’ t things going on that would be of interest to the police .
At least one loaded , unregistered handgun was confiscated .
Illegal drug use was involved @ @ @ @ @ @ @ law on the books in New York City regulating “ illegal combat.
” The place didn ’ t have a liquor license .
The list goes on .
But the people in attendance were also charged with “ violation of emergency orders.
” That would be the part about not observing social distancing rules handed down by Mayor de Blasio and a lack of face masks .
So what was the major complaint that brought the law down on this massive shindig ?
Were they more worried about the “ illegal combat ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ?
Given the current situation out on the streets of the Big Apple , I ’ d be more inclined to believe it was the latter .
The cops are constantly faced with much larger crowds who are committing acts of violence far more serious than fisticuffs , not to mention arson and looting , and not too many people wind up being arrested .
And at least these people were apparently volunteering to get punched in the face .
But if you violate the social distancing rules you ’ re going to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Well , unless you ’ re part of a BLM march or one of the looters , of course , in which case you ’ re simply engaged in “ peaceful protesting.
” But these clowns had to be taken down to the lockup to make a date with a judge .
Exit question : Was I the only one that was shocked to find out that these fight clubs are still a thing in real life and that people are out there beating each other up at random for fun ?
And @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to do so .
The organizers weren ’ t making much of a secret of this since they announced the party on their Facebook page .
I ’ d honestly thought this phenomenon was primarily fictional .
I mean , I did a lot of stupid things as a young man , but I never paid anyone to get into a fight .
( As a sailor we expected those services to be free . )
Ah , well .
It seems the world remains even crazier than I tend to believe on @ @ @

If like me, you’re a fan of the 1999 Brad Pitt movie Fight Club, you might find this story of interest. But there is no paranormal character like Tyler Durden involved. The New York City Sheriff’s Department was called to a warehouse in the Bronx recently where a real-life version of that particular phenomenon was playing out. Hundreds of people were inside, getting drunk, smoking and, of course, fighting. And to the horror of city officials, social distancing protocols were not being followed, nor were face masks in use except for any bits of cloth being used to wipe up the blood. Arrests were made and the party came to a halt. (NBC News)
A 200-person unlicensed fight club in New York City was disbanded by sheriffs on Saturday night, according to officials and local reports. Attendees of “Rumble in the Bronx” were discovered drinking, smoking and fighting — but not socially distancing at the event, according to NBC New York. At around 11:15 p.m., New York City sheriffs entered a Coster Street warehouse and found the crowd watching and participating in the fighting, NBC New York reported.
Someone apparently dropped a dime on the party, leading to the arrival of the Sheriff’s deputies. This was an obvious violation of the first rule of Fight Club. You don’t talk about Fight Club… particularly to the police.
It’s not that there weren’t things going on that would be of interest to the police. At least one loaded, unregistered handgun was confiscated. Illegal drug use was involved. There’s also apparently a law on the books in New York City regulating “illegal combat.” The place didn’t have a liquor license. The list goes on.
11/14/20 @ 2315HRS: Deputy Sheriffs shut down illegal fight club AKA "Rumble in the Bronx" @ 347/351 Coster St., Bronx: 203+ people, violation of emergency orders, illegal combat, no liquor license, warehousing liquor, loaded firearms, 10 organizers charged with multiple crimes. pic.twitter.com/5Dci1tM30L — NYC SHERIFF (@NYCSHERIFF) November 15, 2020
But the people in attendance were also charged with “violation of emergency orders.” That would be the part about not observing social distancing rules handed down by Mayor de Blasio and a lack of face masks.
So what was the major complaint that brought the law down on this massive shindig? Were they more worried about the “illegal combat” or a possible novel coronavirus superspreader event? Given the current situation out on the streets of the Big Apple, I’d be more inclined to believe it was the latter. The cops are constantly faced with much larger crowds who are committing acts of violence far more serious than fisticuffs, not to mention arson and looting, and not too many people wind up being arrested. And at least these people were apparently volunteering to get punched in the face.
But if you violate the social distancing rules you’re going to have to be made to pay. Well, unless you’re part of a BLM march or one of the looters, of course, in which case you’re simply engaged in “peaceful protesting.” But these clowns had to be taken down to the lockup to make a date with a judge.
Exit question: Was I the only one that was shocked to find out that these fight clubs are still a thing in real life and that people are out there beating each other up at random for fun? And they are apparently paying for the privilege to do so. The organizers weren’t making much of a secret of this since they announced the party on their Facebook page. I’d honestly thought this phenomenon was primarily fictional. I mean, I did a lot of stupid things as a young man, but I never paid anyone to get into a fight. (As a sailor we expected those services to be free.) Ah, well. It seems the world remains even crazier than I tend to believe on most days.


hotair--2020-11-17--Jeremy Corbyn reinstated by Labour party after issuing statement about anti-Semitism

Late last month the British Equality and Human Rights Commission ( EHRC ) concluded that the Labour Party had broken the law by failing to handle complaints of anti-Semitism appropriately .
An investigation into antisemitism in the party by the commission found it responsible for “ unlawful acts of harassment and discrimination ” – and said there was political interference into complaints… The investigation found evidence of 23 instances of “ political interference ” by Mr Corbyn ’ s office and others in the antisemitism complaints process , out of the 70 files the watchdog looked at .
Given that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ campaign to be Prime Minister , you would think he would take extra care in what he said about it .
But that ’ s not what happened : He said Jewish Labour members were right to expect the party to deal with antisemitism , and that “ I regret that it took longer to deliver that change than it should ” .
But , he added : “ The scale of the problem was also dramatically overstated for political reasons by our opponents inside and outside the party.
” And just like @ @ @ @ @ @ @ party he ’ s belonged to his entire adult life .
At the time he promised to contest it : Today , Corbyn was reinstated after he issued a statement on Facebook which basically said he never meant to downplay the findings of the EHRC report .
The NY Times called the reversal “ tepid ” and pointed out not everyone was satisfied with it : Britain ’ s main opposition party , Labour , readmitted its former leader Jeremy Corbyn after he tepidly reversed course on comments last month suggesting that problems @ @ @ @ @ @ @ anti-Semitism allegations had been “ overstated.
” … While Labour may have hoped that reinstating Mr. Corbyn would restore a measure of equanimity to the party , it did not immediately seem to have that effect .
Some groups of British Jews long opposed to Mr. Corbyn ’ s leadership reacted angrily , and some Labour lawmakers were said to oppose the decision , too .
“ Any reasonable and fair-minded observer would see Jeremy Corbyn ’ s statement today as insincere and wholly inadequate , ” the Jewish Labour Movement said in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ find ourselves having to remind the Labour Party that Jeremy Corbyn is not the victim of Labour anti-Semitism — Jewish members are.
” … “ The Jewish community does not accept this pathetic non-apology from Jeremy Corbyn , ” Marie van der Zyl , the president of the Board of Deputies of British Jews , said in a statement .
“ Keir Starmer rightly called the day of the release of the E.H.R.C .
report a ‘ day of shame.
’ Jeremy Corbyn ’ s response , by contrast , was shameless.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for yourself .
Is he sincere or is this just more deflection .
Prior to the election back in November of 2019 I wrote about his interview with Andrew Neil .
Even then Corbyn tried putting aside the whole problem inside the party and when pinned down on specific incidents he really didn ’ t have much to say .
I suspect not much has changed .
Here ’ s a bit of that interview :

Late last month the British Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) concluded that the Labour Party had broken the law by failing to handle complaints of anti-Semitism appropriately.
An investigation into antisemitism in the party by the commission found it responsible for “unlawful acts of harassment and discrimination” – and said there was political interference into complaints… The investigation found evidence of 23 instances of “political interference” by Mr Corbyn’s office and others in the antisemitism complaints process, out of the 70 files the watchdog looked at.
Given that this issue had dogged Corbyn throughout his campaign to be Prime Minister, you would think he would take extra care in what he said about it. But that’s not what happened:
He said Jewish Labour members were right to expect the party to deal with antisemitism, and that “I regret that it took longer to deliver that change than it should”. But, he added: “The scale of the problem was also dramatically overstated for political reasons by our opponents inside and outside the party.”
And just like that, Corbyn was suspended from the party he’s belonged to his entire adult life. At the time he promised to contest it:
I will strongly contest the political intervention to suspend me. I’ve made absolutely clear those who deny there has been an antisemitism problem in the Labour Party are wrong. I will continue to support a zero tolerance policy towards all forms of racism. — Jeremy Corbyn (@jeremycorbyn) October 29, 2020
Today, Corbyn was reinstated after he issued a statement on Facebook which basically said he never meant to downplay the findings of the EHRC report. The NY Times called the reversal “tepid” and pointed out not everyone was satisfied with it:
Britain’s main opposition party, Labour, readmitted its former leader Jeremy Corbyn after he tepidly reversed course on comments last month suggesting that problems with the party’s handling of anti-Semitism allegations had been “overstated.”… While Labour may have hoped that reinstating Mr. Corbyn would restore a measure of equanimity to the party, it did not immediately seem to have that effect. Some groups of British Jews long opposed to Mr. Corbyn’s leadership reacted angrily, and some Labour lawmakers were said to oppose the decision, too. “Any reasonable and fair-minded observer would see Jeremy Corbyn’s statement today as insincere and wholly inadequate,” the Jewish Labour Movement said in a statement. “Once again we find ourselves having to remind the Labour Party that Jeremy Corbyn is not the victim of Labour anti-Semitism — Jewish members are.”… “The Jewish community does not accept this pathetic non-apology from Jeremy Corbyn,” Marie van der Zyl, the president of the Board of Deputies of British Jews, said in a statement. “Keir Starmer rightly called the day of the release of the E.H.R.C. report a ‘day of shame.’ Jeremy Corbyn’s response, by contrast, was shameless.”
You can read Corbyn’s statement for yourself. Is he sincere or is this just more deflection.
Prior to the election back in November of 2019 I wrote about his interview with Andrew Neil. Even then Corbyn tried putting aside the whole problem inside the party and when pinned down on specific incidents he really didn’t have much to say. I suspect not much has changed. Here’s a bit of that interview:


hotair--2020-11-17--This road rage incident in Queens is just crazy

Taking a brief break from politics to remind us that even apart from the election people can get really crazy , even over trivial things .
This road rage incident in Queens went way beyond two drivers shouting obscenities at each other .
What started as a fight over a parking spot escalated as four people exited two cars and started throwing punches .
One person then started swinging a baseball bat at the car ’ s occupants .
Two simultaneous fights continued in the middle of the busy street until one driver , later identified as 24-year-old Jie Zou @ @ @ @ @ @ @ if to drive away .
But the guy with the bat wasn ’ t done .
He followed Zou and took a swing at the car .
Zou quickly made a U-turn that put him across the street and momentarily out of the way .
The guy with the bat followed him across the street and started shouting and hitting the car with the bat .
And that ’ s when Zou really lost it .
He plowed directly into the man with the bat , accelerating onto the sidewalk and crashing through @ @ @ @ @ @ @ At least four people were hurt , though somewhat miraculously the injuries were apparently pretty minor : Two females suffered minor injuries after being injured by shattered glass and were taken to NewYork-Presbyterian Queens .
All four occupants of the two vehicles were arrested , with two going to the hospital and two taken to the 109th Precinct .
Jie Zou , 24 , was charged with reckless endangerment and assault .
Jonathan Zhang , 35 , was charged with assault .
That no one was killed is the only good news here @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bakery which was destroyed in this melee had just opened yesterday for the first time .
The owner sounded a bit distraught : Owner John Lo showed CBS2 all that was left of his brand new equipment and merchandise .
Monday marked his grand opening .
“ It ’ s unbelievable , how a car can go that way , ” Lo said .
As Lo will have the glass and an interior wall fixed , but the road rage didn ’ t just cost him business .
One of his employees is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of glass .
“ I ’ m so sad and I ’ m really worried about my employee .
I ’ m really worried about my business , too , ” Lo said .
Finally , some are saying this incident didn ’ t come out of the blue .
The city is working on a plan to reduce parking spaces in the area which means there is more frequent conflict between drivers for open spaces : For some Queens parking devotees , the motorist-on-motorist violence is just a preview of the NIMBY @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to install a .3 mile busway along the clogged corridor between Northern Boulevard and Sanford Avenue .
“ What happened yesterday is a little appetizer of what ’ s going to happen , but even worse , ” Andy Chen , a driver and activist with Asian American Community Empowerment , told Gothamist .
“ The [ Department of Transportation ] and Mayor ’ s Office bears responsibility for what actually happened.
” A temporary restraining order on the project was put in place last Friday .
A judge will decide if the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ month .
I wonder if this incident will play into the judge ’ s decision .

Taking a brief break from politics to remind us that even apart from the election people can get really crazy, even over trivial things. This road rage incident in Queens went way beyond two drivers shouting obscenities at each other. What started as a fight over a parking spot escalated as four people exited two cars and started throwing punches. One person then started swinging a baseball bat at the car’s occupants. Two simultaneous fights continued in the middle of the busy street until one driver, later identified as 24-year-old Jie Zou, got back in his Audi as if to drive away.
But the guy with the bat wasn’t done. He followed Zou and took a swing at the car. Zou quickly made a U-turn that put him across the street and momentarily out of the way. The guy with the bat followed him across the street and started shouting and hitting the car with the bat. And that’s when Zou really lost it. He plowed directly into the man with the bat, accelerating onto the sidewalk and crashing through the glass front of a bakery. At least four people were hurt, though somewhat miraculously the injuries were apparently pretty minor:
Two females suffered minor injuries after being injured by shattered glass and were taken to NewYork-Presbyterian Queens. All four occupants of the two vehicles were arrested, with two going to the hospital and two taken to the 109th Precinct. Jie Zou, 24, was charged with reckless endangerment and assault. Jonathan Zhang, 35, was charged with assault.
That no one was killed is the only good news here. The bad news is that the bakery which was destroyed in this melee had just opened yesterday for the first time. The owner sounded a bit distraught:
Owner John Lo showed CBS2 all that was left of his brand new equipment and merchandise. Monday marked his grand opening. “It’s unbelievable, how a car can go that way,” Lo said. As Lo will have the glass and an interior wall fixed, but the road rage didn’t just cost him business. One of his employees is recovering after getting struck by a shard of glass. “I’m so sad and I’m really worried about my employee. I’m really worried about my business, too,” Lo said.
Finally, some are saying this incident didn’t come out of the blue. The city is working on a plan to reduce parking spaces in the area which means there is more frequent conflict between drivers for open spaces:
For some Queens parking devotees, the motorist-on-motorist violence is just a preview of the NIMBY backlash expected under a citywide plan to to install a .3 mile busway along the clogged corridor between Northern Boulevard and Sanford Avenue. “What happened yesterday is a little appetizer of what’s going to happen, but even worse,” Andy Chen, a driver and activist with Asian American Community Empowerment, told Gothamist. “The [Department of Transportation] and Mayor’s Office bears responsibility for what actually happened.”
A temporary restraining order on the project was put in place last Friday. A judge will decide if the planned “busyway” can continue next month. I wonder if this incident will play into the judge’s decision.