theblaze--2020-10-17--Watch: Joe Biden lashes out at CBS News reporter for asking about NY Post's story on Hunter

Watch : Joe Biden lashes out at CBS News reporter for asking about NY Post 's story on Hunter The @ @ @ @ @ respond to the allegations , then attacked the journalist

Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden was asked by CBS News campaign reporter Bo Erickson Friday night for his response to the New York Post's recent story revealing emails that purportedly show Hunter Biden set up a meeting between his father and a top executive at Ukrainian energy firm, Burisma, when the younger Biden sat on its board.
Joe Biden dismissed the Post's story as a "smear campaign," before castigating Erickson for daring to ask the question in the first place.
What are the details?
Erickson posted a video of the exchange on Twitter, tweeting in his message, "I asked Joe Biden: What is your response to the NYPost story about your son, sir? He called it a 'smear campaign' and then went after me. 'I know you'd ask it. I have no response, it's another smear campaign, right up your alley, those are the questions you always ask.'"
Erickson is not alone in wondering what Biden's response is to the explosive story, which was amplified with a boost of intrigue after social media giants Facebook and Twitter censored the New York Post piece in an effort to stifle it.
Twitter later reversed its position and allowed users to share the article after the platform suspended several high profile accounts for doing so — including White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany and Politico reporter Jake Sherman, who later said he wished he "had given the story a closer read before tweeting it."
Biden was able to skate through his entire town hall on ABC Thursday night without a single question on the matter.
The Post, meanwhile, continues to release a trove of exchanges between Hunter Biden, his father, and others, which the newspaper says were extracted from a "computer [that] was dropped off at a repair shop in Biden's home state of Delaware in April 2019, according to the store's owner."
The Associated Press reported that the FBI is now investigating "whether the emails are part of a foreign influence operation" allegedly involving President Trump's attorney Rudy Giuliani, who says he received the photos and messages after the repair shop owner reached out to his attorney.


theblaze--2020-10-17--Biden campaign manager says national poll numbers are 'inflated'

Biden campaign manager says national poll numbers are 'inflated' She told Biden supporters not to be complacent

The campaign manager for Joe Biden's presidential campaign warned that the national poll numbers were "inflated" and that their internal polls showed the race to be much closer than is being reported.
Jen O'Malley Dillon made the comments Friday during a grassroots summit videoconference to supporters.
Video of the event is no longer available but her comments were documented by New York Times reporter Shane Goldmacher on Twitter.
"Please take the fact that we are not ahead by double digits," she reportedly said. "Those are inflated national public polling numbers."
The sentiment was corroborated by similar comments she made on Wednesday on her own social media account. After reporting successful campaign finance donation numbers, she warned that the election was closer than the polls would suggest.
"Early voting is already underway in many states. Millions of voters have already cast their ballots. But there is still a long way to go in this campaign, and we think this race is far closer than folks on this website think," said Dillon.
"Like a lot closer," she added.
As of Friday, Biden had a large lead over President Donald Trump in the RealClearPolitics average of polls. It calculated Biden to have a 8.9% advantage nationally, with 51.2% preferring Biden, and only 42.3% preferring Trump.
When the Trump campaign was asked to respond to the widening gap between the candidates in the polling, Trump 2020 campaign press secretary Hogan Gidley mocked CNN, the source of one poll.
"I'm not really gonna listen to polls from CNN," he said. "They don't have the best, most stellar reputation for being real news, and we can always talk about flawed methodology, I don't want to get into that. These are the same pollsters though, that had the president down and out in 2016."
Here's more about the polls in the 2020 election:


theblaze--2020-10-17--Former Chicago police chief accused of sexual assault and driving under the influence

Former Chicago police chief accused of sexual assault and driving under the influence Seven officers have been suspended for allegedly @ @ @ @ @ night Eddie Johnson was found asleep behind the wheel a year ago

Former Chicago Police Superintendent Eddie Johnson allegedly drove drunk the night he fell asleep behind the wheel last year in a high-profile incident that led to his firing, and the woman he was with that evening has filed a lawsuit accusing him of sexual assault.
What are the details?
Johnson was discovered passed out in his car one year ago by a passerby, and claimed he had pulled over as a precaution after becoming lightheaded due to prescription medication. Chicago police responded to the incident, but allowed him to drive home. The top cop was later fired by Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot, who said she found out Johnson had not been forthright about what happened that evening.
The Chicago Sun-Times reported last year that the incident was "an embarrassing drinking-and-driving incident," and cited sources who claimed Johnson "was actually drinking for hours with a member of his security detail, a woman, at a downtown restaurant."
That woman was Officer Cynthia Donald, who filed a lawsuit against Johnson on Thursday, accusing him "of 'shockingly violent, abusive, and harassing conduct' that included multiple instances of forced oral and vaginal sex," CBS News reported.
Donald says she served as Johnson's personal driver.
According to a separate Sun-Times report on Friday, "taxpayers paid for 7 business trip taken by" Johnson and Donald. But Johnson denies Donald's accusations, telling the outlet in a statement, ""the allegations of sexual assault and harassment made by Ms. Donald never happened."
Johnson is married to Nakia Fenner, a lieutenant in the Chicago Police Department.
What else?
Also on Friday, USA Today reported that according to new findings published by Chicago's Office of the Inspector General, before Johnson was found asleep in his SUV in a stop sign last October, "he had consumed 'several large servings of rum...the equivalent of 10 alcoholic beverages."
According to the outlet, seven Chicago police officers have been suspended for failing to hold then-Superintendent Johnson accountable on the night their top boss was found allegedly driving under the influence. The IG's office recommended that one of them be terminated.


theblaze--2020-10-17--Glenn Beck: A message for Trump-haters who have 'forgotten' our president's MANY accomplishments

Glenn Beck : A message for Trump-haters who have 'forgotten ' our president 's MANY accomplishments Trump has accomplished a @ @ @ @ @ before him

In a phone call with his constituents, Sen. Ben Sasse (R-Neb) unleashed a torrent of criticisms about President Donald Trump, saying he "flirted with white supremacists," "kisses dictators' butts," and "spends like a drunken sailor."
On the radio program Friday, Glenn said he was disappointed in Sen. Sasse for apparently forgetting all of President Trump's accomplishments. Because, in reality, Trump has accomplished a lot more than many presidents before him.
Then, for anyone who may have forgotten President Trump's achievements — or who simply hate the man so much they've ignored them — Glenn listed just some of the many things this president has achieved during his 3 1/2 years in the White House.
Watch the video below to hear Glenn's message for all the Trump-haters who have forgotten Trump's accomplishments, or you can read Glenn's list HERE:
Want more from Glenn Beck?
To enjoy more of Glenn's masterful storytelling, thought-provoking analysis and uncanny ability to make sense of the chaos, subscribe to BlazeTV — the largest multi-platform network of voices who love America, defend the Constitution and live the American dream.


theblaze--2020-10-17--Video captures bizarre torch attack on Seattle cop; neighbors blame homeless encampment

The man was reportedly yelling racial slurs before the incident

A Seattle police officer was injured when he was allegedly attacked by a man with a piece of flaming lumber and residents of the neighborhood say a homeless encampment is to blame.
The startling incident unfolded on Thursday near Deny Park and a homeless encampment in Seattle.
Witnesses told KOMO-TV that they saw a man yelling racial slurs at the park and waving around a piece of lumber on fire.
Police on Thursday released video of the incident.
The video shows the police officer arriving and telling the man, who is carrying the torch, to stop. The man yells, "f*** you!" and charges at the police cruiser with the torch.
He shoves the flaming torch into the cruiser as the officer fires at him several times. The man runs away as the officer calls for backup.
Here's the video from Seattle PD:
Later video showed that the cruiser was completely destroyed by the flames from the torch. A suspect was later arrested and identified as 37-year-old Brian Joseph Leil.
Leil was charged with first- and second-degree assault and held on $500,000 bail.
The officer was hospitalized with non-life-threatening burns to his hands and legs from the incident.
Residents of the neighborhood told KOMO that they have been demanding for the city to do something about the homeless encampment in the park near the site of the incident.
"I'm getting tired of all the garbage happening, truthfully, because that park is dangerous," said Ken Wright, who lives near the park.
"Hopefully, the mayor will jump on it, and do something about it, you know because it can't remain, they can't remain there," said Melanie Westbrook, who also lives nearby.
Another KOMO report said that frustrated parents were angry at finding needles, glass and tents at the park and wanted city officials to do something about the problem.
Here's more about the shocking incident:


theblaze--2020-10-16--Abortion rights group joins calls for Sen. Feinstein to be replaced as Judiciary ranking member

Abortion rights group joins calls for Sen. Feinstein to be replaced as Judiciary ranking member Leftists are piling on the @ @ @ @ @ Democrat ousted from the leadership position

Abortion rights group NARAL has released a scathing statement calling for longtime Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein (Calif.) to be ousted from her position as ranking member on the Senate Judiciary Committee, criticizing her for giving "credibility" to the hearings considering U.S. Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett.
What are the details?
Several Democratic operatives made public cries for Feinstein, 87, to step down from her leadership position on Thursday, after the Barrett hearings ended with the Democrat from California complimenting her Republican colleague, Chairman Lindsey Graham (S.C.), for conducting what she called "the best set of hearings that I've participated in."
Feinstein and Graham later embraced in a hug that was published in the media.
On Friday, NARAL jumped on the pile of progressives rallying for Feinstein to be gone, releasing a statement saying:
This nomination is illegitimate and this process is a sham. Tens of millions of Americans have already voted and majorities have said unequivocally that they want to choose the next President who should fill this seat. Amy Barrett and this power grab pose a grave threat to every freedom and right we hold dear and tears the very fabric of our democracy. Americans—whose lives hang in the balance—deserve leadership that underscores how unprecedented, shameful and wrong this process is. The Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Senator Dianne Feinstein, failed to make this clear and in fact offered an appearance of credibility to the proceedings that is wildly out of step with the American people. As such, we believe the committee needs new leadership."
The Washington Post noted that "the statement was all the more remarkable because Feinstein has been a longtime advocate of abortion rights. That has been recognized by NARAL — every year since 2016, Feinstein had received a 100 percent on the abortion rights group's congressional scorecard, meaning that she sided with NARAL on its legislative priorities when it comes to reproductive rights."
Anything else?
Freshman congresswoman and fellow California Democrat Rep. Katie Porter — whom some progressives have suggested would make a good replacement for Feinstein or Democratic vice presidential nominee California Sen. Kamala Harris — also issued a condemnation of Feinstein on Friday, but stopped short of calling outright for the 87-year-old to be pulled as the Judiciary ranking member.
"I disagree strongly with Sen. Feinstein that that set of hearings was one of the best or was even acceptable," Porter told HuffPost in an interview. "I think Amy Coney Barrett did not answer basic questions about her beliefs and stonewalled repeatedly. We got many fewer direct answers than we have out of most Supreme Court hearings."
Porter added, "I thought it was a very poor set of hearings."


theblaze--2020-10-16--BIZARRE: Scientist claims obesity is not unhealthy and might lead to living a longer healthier life

BIZARRE : Scientist claims obesity is not unhealthy and might lead to living a longer healthier life

In case you haven't heard of the Health At Every Size movement (HAES), Lauren Chen has you covered.
So what is HAES?
According to its website, "Health at Every Size is the new peace movement. It is an inclusive movement, recognizing that our social characteristics, such as our size, race, national origin, sexuality, gender, disability status, and other attributes, are assets, and acknowledges and challenges the structural and systemic forces that impinge on living well."
"Pseudo-Intellectual" host Lauren Chen's interest was piqued when she came across the YouTube channel of Dr. Lindo Bacon. Lauren hoped a scientist and self-proclaimed HAES activist like Dr. Bacon could offer a scientific perspective on obesity and health. Lauren found more flaws in Lindo's theories than accurate scientific data.
According to Dr. Bacon, epidemiology studies point to a truth that the medical community has been ignoring: that it's not unhealthy to be fat, and it might even lead to a longer, healthier life.
In this clip, Lauren examined the "treasure trove of misinformation" on Lindo's YouTube channel. One theory suggested that overweight people might live longer than people deemed average weight.
"To be fair to Lindo, science is always changing, and scientific proof should be based on the data," Lauren said. Watch the video for more details.


theblaze--2020-10-16--Mitt Romney slams Trump for not condemning QAnon conspiracy, and adds scorn for Democrats refusing t

Mitt Romney slams Trump for not condemning QAnon conspiracy, and adds scorn for Democrats refusing to denounce Antifa

Mitt Romney slams Trump for not condemning QAnon conspiracy , and adds scorn for Democrats refusing to denounce Antifa 'Eagerly @ @ @ @ @ hope of electoral victories '

Republican Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah) slammed President Donald Trump for his comments about the QAnon conspiracy theory during a combative town hall event on NBC, and added scorn for Democrats who refuse to denounce Antifa.
Romney tweeted a statement condemning the president on Friday from his social media account.
"The President's unwillingness to denounce an absurd and dangerous conspiracy theory last night continues an alarming pattern: politicians and parties refuse to forcefully and convincingly repudiate groups like Antifa, white supremacists, and conspiracy peddlers," said Romney.
"Similarly troubling is their silence regarding anti-vaxxers, militias, and anarchists. Rather than expel the rabid fringes and the extremes, they have coddled or adopted them, eagerly trading their principles for the hope of electoral victories," he added.
"As the parties rush down a rabbit hole, they may be opening a door to political movement that could eventually eclipse them both," he warned.
One of the more heated interactions between moderator Savannah Guthrie and the president during his NBC town hall had to do with the conspiracy theory that accuses Democrat leaders of participating in a satanic child molestation and trafficking operation.
The president initially answered that he didn't know what QAnon was, and then later praised them for being against pedophilia when pressed by Guthrie to denounce the believers of the conspiracy.
"So, I know nothing about QAnon, I know very little," the president said to Guthrie.
"I know nothing about it. I do know that they are very much against pedophilia, they fight it very hard but I know nothing about it," he added.
He went on to say that he didn't know if there was a "satanic pedophile cult" as claimed by QAnon believers, and neither did Guthrie.
Romney, a former presidential candidate himself, has been very critical of the president in the past, but many on the left responded with scorn against Romney despite his statement about QAnon.
Among the more infamous incidents of Democrats ignoring the threat of Antifa is a statement from Democratic U.S. Rep. Jerry Nadler (N.Y.) calling the left-wing group a "myth."
Here's the interaction from Trump's town hall event:


theblaze--2020-10-16--Former Democratic rep whose nude photos were leaked set to host 'Naked Politics' podcast

Former Democratic rep whose nude photos were leaked set to host 'Naked Politics ' podcast Katie Hill says 'this podcast @ @ @ @ @ 's wrong in politics today , undressing the issues '

Former Democratic Rep. Katie Hill (Calif.) has announced she will be launching a new podcast called "Naked Politics," her latest venture since resigning from Congress amid affair allegations and the publication of photos showing her in the nude.
What are the details?
The Hill reported Friday that Ms. Hill's podcast promises to "expose the naked truth behind what goes on" in the beltway.
"This podcast is where we can get dirty," the California Democrat told the outlet. "It's where we can expose the naked truth behind what goes on. The backroom deals, the monied interests, the inability to break from the party. This podcast is here to expose what's wrong in politics today, undressing the issues, and how we can fix them."
Hill gave up her seat months into her freshman term last year after the Democrat-led House Committee on Ethics launched an investigation into allegations that she had an extramarital affair with her legislative director, which would be in violation of new House rules established in response to the #MeToo movement.
While Hill denied the affair, she admitted to having a "consensual" three-way relationship with a female campaign staffer and her now-ex husband prior to taking office. The former congresswoman later blamed "rampant biphobia" as a major reason for her stepping down.
The week before Hill announced her resignation, leaked nude photos of her were published by the Daily Mail and conservative outlet Red State. At the time, she was estranged from her then-husband, and blamed conservative media for "perpetuating" his "abuse by providing him a platform."
"I will fight to ensure no one else has to live through what I just experience," she said in a video message announcing her departure from office. "Some people call this electronic assault, digital exploitation, others call it revenge porn. As the victim of it, I call it one of the worst things we can do to our sisters and our daughters."
Anything else?
Hill also recently released a memoir, titled "She Will Rise," saying she wrote it "to empower women to lead despite many roadblocks and sexist standards."
A show based on the book is in the works, and Hill will be played by actress Elizabeth Moss.
The first episode of "Naked Politics" on Oct. 20 will feature an interview with former Florida gubernatorial candidate Andrew Gillum (D), who recently came out as bisexual months after photos were leaked showing him passed out in a hotel room with a gay male escort and crystal meth.


theblaze--2020-10-16--RNC files FEC complaint against Twitter, accusing company of making 'in-kind contributions' to Biden

RNC files FEC complaint against Twitter, accusing company of making 'in-kind contributions' to Biden's campaign

RNC files FEC complaint against Twitter , accusing company of making 'in-kind contributions ' to Biden 's campaign

The Republican National Committee has filed a Federal Elections Commission complaint against Twitter, accusing the social media company of making an "illegal corporate in-kind political contribution" to Joe Biden's campaign, according to Fox News. The RNC is basing the FEC complaint on Twitter's censorship of the New York Post article that made accusations about Hunter Biden's overseas business deals.
The formal four-page complaint, which was filed on Thursday, accuses Twitter of "using its corporate resources to provide active support for Joe Biden's campaign in violation of federal law." The GOP group alleges that Twitter has "taken unprecedented actions to suppress the articles from being shared on its platform."
The complaint highlights the fact that the official Twitter accounts for the Trump campaign and White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany were locked after sharing the New York Post's article about Hunter Biden's dealings with Ukrainian oil and gas company Burisma.
"Democrat media consultants can only dream of such abilities," the complaint read. "Through its ad hoc, partisan oppression of media critical of Biden, [Twitter] is making illegal, corporate in-kind contributions as it provides unheard-of media services for Joe Biden's campaign."
"[Twitter] is acting as Biden's media operative, taking proactive steps to shield Biden from negative news coverage by blocking its distribution and muzzling those who try," the complaint stated. "If [Twitter] charged for this service, Biden no doubt would gladly pay a significant price."
"[Twitter's] feud with President Trump is well known, as are its frequent efforts to censor the President's tweets and the 'shadow banning' of prominent Republicans, including RNC's Chair, Ronna McDaniel, and several Republican members of Congress," the complaint says.
The complaint defines a "contribution" as "anything of value made by any person for the purpose of influencing an election," adding that the "suppression" of the New York Post article "provides a thing of value to the Biden campaign." The complaint notes that "federal campaign finance law strictly prohibits corporations from making contributions to federal candidates."
The complaint points out that Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey and other senior executives "are prolific donors to the Democrat party and other left-wing causes, with 98.7% of the company's total political contributions going to Democrats."
The Center for Responsive Politics found that 98.87% of donations from Twitter-affiliated PACs and individuals to federal candidates have gone to Democrats during the 2020 election cycle. Recent FEC data shows that more than 83% of Facebook's political donations for the 2020 election cycle went to Democrats.
The complaint also underscored the "revolving door" between Twitter employees and the Democratic politicians, noting that Twitter's public policy director recently left the social media company to join the Biden transition team. The complaint also brings to light that Sen. Kamala Harris' former press secretary is now serving as a senior communications manager at Twitter.
On Wednesday, Twitter claimed that the New York Post article was in violation of its "hacked materials policy."
"We don't condone attempts to compromise or infiltrate computer systems for malicious purposes," the policy states. "As such, we don't permit the use of our services to directly distribute content obtained through hacking that contains private information, may put people in physical harm or danger, or contains trade secrets."
By Thursday, Twitter reversed course and allowed users to share the Hunter Biden article that is harmful to the Joe Biden presidential campaign.
"Over the last 24 hours, we've received significant feedback (from critical to supportive) about how we enforced our Hacked Materials Policy yesterday," wrote Vijaya Gadde, Twitter's head of legal, policy, trust, and safety. "After reflecting on this feedback, we have decided to make changes to the policy and how we enforce it," she tweeted.
Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey later said it was a mistake to censor the article.
Ajit Pai, the chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, announced on Friday that social media companies such as Twitter and Facebook could experience more scrutiny regarding their immunity set forth in section 230 of the Communications Act.


theblaze--2020-10-16--University of Minnesota offers 12-step AA-based webinar to help people ‘recover’ from being white

University of Minnesota offers 12-step AA-based webinar to help people ‘ recover ’ from being white First step : Admit @ @ @ @

The University of Minnesota's School of Social Work is offering a special webinar series in which white participants are instructed to undergo a 12-step plan — based on Alcoholics Anonymous — in order to "recover and reclaim our full humanity."
The 12-step plan is outlined in Part 1 of the series, titled, "Recovery from White Conditioning: Building Anti-Racist Practice and Community," and is taught by therapist Cristina Combs, a university alumnus.
According to the project's website, Combs, a white woman, developed the plan "after years of struggling to navigate the role and presence of whiteness in her personal, academic, and professional journeys."
"In this model, we are, in fact, centering whiteness, but we are centering it differently: to expose it, study its patterns, and to transform its violent legacy," Combs said at the outset of the lecture, according to the College Fix.
She noted that she is "on traditional Dakota land," in reference to the Native American tribe that settled in Minnesota, and also acknowledged "George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and all of the other lives stolen from families and communities and our world due to police brutality and state-sanctioned violence."
At one point during the lecture, Combs asked, "What comes to mind when you hear the term, 'white supremacy?'" She then proceeded to show images of the Ku Klux Klan and Charlottesville, Virginia, white nationalists before replacing their images with a picture of herself.
She commented that she used to recoil at the term but eventually realized that this was only her ego. Now she says, "Stepping into that tension and accepting my connection to white supremacy has been a freedom of sorts to show up in better alignment with my values and do the work for the rest of my life."
At last, she unveiled the 12-step recovery plan. It goes as follows, as shown in the powerpoint for the lecture:
Step 1: "We admitted that we had been socially conditioned by the ideology of white supremacy—that our minds were subject to racial biases, often unconsciously so."
Step 2: "We came to believe that we could embrace our ignorance as an invitation to learn."
Step 3: "We develop support systems to keep us engaged in this work."
Step 4: "We journeyed boldly inward, exploring and acknowledging ways in which white supremacist teachings have been integrated into our minds and spirits."
Step 5: "We confessed our mistakes and failings to ourselves and others."
Step 6: "We were entirely ready to deconstruct previous ways of knowing, as they have been developed through the lens of white supremacy."
Step 7: "We humbly explored new ways of understanding…proactively seeking out new learning and reconstructing a more inclusive sense of reality."
Step 8: "We committed ourselves to ongoing study of our racial biases, conscious or unconscious, and our maladaptive patterns of white supremacist thinking."
Step 9: "We develop strategies to counteract our racial biases."
Step 10: "We embraced the responsibility of focusing on our impact, more than our intentions, in interactions with people of color."
Step 11: "We engage in daily practices of self-reflection."
Step 12: "We committed ourselves to sharing this message with our white brothers, sisters, and siblings…in order to build a supportive recovery community and to encourage personal accountability within our culture.
The project's website notes that the lecture is available for continuing education credit so long as participants pay $25 and complete a post test.


theblaze--2020-10-16--San Francisco's Democratic mayor blasts 'offensive' school district plan to rename schools during pa

San Francisco's Democratic mayor blasts 'offensive' school district plan to rename schools during pandemic

'To hear that the District is focusing energy and resources on renaming schools — schools that they have n't even @ @ @ @ @

The Democratic mayor of San Francisco on Friday blasted the city school district's plan during the pandemic to rename public schools that have "inappropriate" names, calling the effort during a pandemic "offensive."
Mayor London N. Breed on Friday issued a statement condemning the San Francisco Unified School District for telling school officials to focus their time and resources on brainstorming new names for 44 school buildings identified by the San Francisco School Names Advisory Committee as having offensive names.
"Schools have been allowed to open in San Francisco under public health orders issued at the beginning of September and while many private schools are open today, our public schools have still not yet made a firm plan to open. Parents are frustrated and looking for answers," Breed said.
"And now, in the midst of this once in a century challenge, to hear that the District is focusing energy and resources on renaming schools — schools that they haven't even opened — is offensive," she continued. "It's offensive to parents who are juggling their children's daily at-home learning schedules with doing their own jobs and maintaining their sanity. It's offensive to me as someone who went to our public schools, who loves our public schools, and who knows how those years in the classroom are what lifted me out of poverty and into college. It's offensive to our kids who are staring at screens day after day instead of learning and growing with their classmates and friends."
The San Francisco School Names Advisory Committee was formed in January to research school names in San Francisco and identify buildings named for individuals or anything associated with slavery, genocide, colonization, exploitation, or oppression to be renamed. The committee came up with a list of 44 schools they deemed had inappropriate names, including schools named for Presidents George Washington and Abraham Lincoln, as well as one school named for Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.).
The committee presented its recommendations to the school board, which informed the schools on the list to submit suggestions for new names by Dec. 18, to be voted on by the board next year.
The timing of the committee's report and the school board's commitment of resources to the effort during a pandemic is drawing criticism from the mayor and others.
"Look, I believe in equity. It's at the forefront of my administration and we've made historic investments to address the systemic racism confronting our city," Breed said. "But the fact that our kids aren't in school is what's driving inequity in our City. Not the name of a school. We are in a pandemic right now that is forcing us all to prioritize what truly matters. Conversations around school names can be had once the critical work of educating our young people in person is underway. Once that is happening, then we can talk about everything else. Until those doors are open, the School Board and the District should be focused on getting our kids back in the classroom."


theblaze--2020-10-16--FEC data shows Twitter is even more slanted toward Democrats than Facebook: 99% of 2020 election don

FEC data shows Twitter is even more slanted toward Democrats than Facebook: 99% of 2020 election donations have gone to Democratic candidates

FEC data shows Twitter is even more slanted toward Democrats than Facebook : 99 % of 2020 election donations have @ @ @ @ @ is the No .
1 recipient — again

TheBlaze reported earlier this week that more than 83% of Facebook's political donations for the 2020 election cycle went to Democrats — a fact that is confirmed in the Federal Election Commission data compiled by the Center for Responsive Politics on its site, Opensecrets.org.
Everyone who thought Facebook's political giving bias was really something should hold on to their hats, because it turns out that Twitter's giving is even more slanted to Democrats.
According to CRP's collection of the most recent FEC data, 98.87% of donations from Twitter-affiliated PACs and individuals (organizations themselves cannot contribute to candidates and party committees) to federal candidates have gone to Democrats during the 2020 election cycle.
Yes, just 1.13% of Twitter donations have gone to Republicans.
In 2018, 96% of Twitter donations went to Democrats, and in 2016, 69% went to Democrats.
Who got the most Twitter money?
Just like with Facebook, Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden was easily the top recipient of Twitter donations in the 2020 election cycle.
Of the top 25 recipients of Twitter money for 2020, 24 were Democrats.
No. 1: Joe Biden — DEMOCRAT — $66,929
Joe Biden — DEMOCRAT — $66,929 No. 2: Sen. Elizabeth Warren — DEMOCRAT — $45,792
Sen. Elizabeth Warren — DEMOCRAT — $45,792 No. 3: Sen. Bernie Sanders — DEMOCRAT — $31,916
Sen. Bernie Sanders — DEMOCRAT — $31,916 No. 4: Businessman Andrew Yang — DEMOCRAT — $14,327
Businessman Andrew Yang — DEMOCRAT — $14,327 No. 5: Sen. Kamala Harris — DEMOCRAT — $12,929
Sen. Kamala Harris — DEMOCRAT — $12,929 No. 6 : Arizona Senate candidate Mark Kelly — DEMOCRAT — $11,216
Arizona Senate candidate Mark Kelly — DEMOCRAT — $11,216 No. 7: Former Mayor of South Bend Pete Buttigieg — DEMOCRAT — $10,451
Former Mayor of South Bend Pete Buttigieg — DEMOCRAT — $10,451 No. 8: Iowa Senate candidate Theresa Greenfield — DEMOCRAT — $10,192
Iowa Senate candidate Theresa Greenfield — DEMOCRAT — $10,192 No. 9: Maine Senate candidate Sara Gideon — DEMOCRAT — $10,050
Maine Senate candidate Sara Gideon — DEMOCRAT — $10,050 No. 10: Georgia Senate candidate Sarah Riggs Amico — DEMOCRAT — $8,425
Georgia Senate candidate Sarah Riggs Amico — DEMOCRAT — $8,425 No. 11: Montana Senate candidate Steve Bullock — DEMOCRAT — $7,800
Montana Senate candidate Steve Bullock — DEMOCRAT — $7,800 No. 12: Georgia Senate candidate Jon Ossoff — DEMOCRAT — $6,394
Georgia Senate candidate Jon Ossoff — DEMOCRAT — $6,394 No. 13: California House candidate Brynne Kennedy - DEMOCRAT — $5,655
California House candidate Brynne Kennedy - DEMOCRAT — $5,655 No. 14: Businessman Tom Steyer — DEMOCRAT — $5,623
Businessman Tom Steyer — DEMOCRAT — $5,623 No. 15: Sen. Doug Jones — DEMOCRAT — $5,580
Sen. Doug Jones — DEMOCRAT — $5,580 No. 16: Rep. Josh Harder — DEMOCRAT — $5,391
Rep. Josh Harder — DEMOCRAT — $5,391 No. 17: Kentucky Senate candidate Amy McGrath — DEMOCRAT — $4,568
Kentucky Senate candidate Amy McGrath — DEMOCRAT — $4,568 No. 18: Nebraska House candidate Kara Eastman — DEMOCRAT — $4,328
Nebraska House candidate Kara Eastman — DEMOCRAT — $4,328 No. 19: South Carolina Senate candidate Jaime Harrison — DEMOCRAT — $3,813
South Carolina Senate candidate Jaime Harrison — DEMOCRAT — $3,813 No. 20: Sen. Cory Booker — DEMOCRAT — $3,712
Sen. Cory Booker — DEMOCRAT — $3,712 No. 21: North Carolina Senate candidate Cal Cunningham — DEMOCRAT — $3,696
North Carolina Senate candidate Cal Cunningham — DEMOCRAT — $3,696 No. 22: Colorado Senate candidate John Hickenlooper — DEMOCRAT — $3,517
Colorado Senate candidate John Hickenlooper — DEMOCRAT — $3,517 No. 23: Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez — DEMOCRAT — $3,411
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez — DEMOCRAT — $3,411 No. 24: President Donald Trump — REPUBLICAN — $3,186
President Donald Trump — REPUBLICAN — $3,186 No. 25: Sen. Gary Peters — DEMOCRAT — $3,083
Like Facebook, nearly all of Twitter's lobbyists are former government workers
According to CRP, Twitter spent $1.5 million in 2019 (the most recent full-year data available) on lobbying.
Of the 23 registered Twitter lobbyists in 2019, 22 have previously held government jobs.


theblaze--2020-10-16--More than 100 absentee ballots found in Kentucky dumpster; case handed over to the US Attorney's Off

More than 100 absentee ballots found in Kentucky dumpster; case handed over to the US Attorney's Office

More than 100 absentee ballots found in Kentucky dumpster ; case handed over to the US Attorney 's Office The @ @ @ @ @ terminated

More than 100 unopened absentee ballots were discovered in a Kentucky dumpster, which has resulted in one U.S. Postal Service employee being terminated following an investigation.
The undelivered ballots, which had been sent out Oct. 3, were found in a dumpster on Thursday by a contractor renovating a home in eastern Jefferson County. The ballots, which were not filled out and intended for voters in the 40299 ZIP code, were found in the dumpster mixed in with other mail, according to the Courier-Journal.
Nore Ghibaudy, the spokesperson for the Jefferson County Clerk's office, said he was "a little taken aback" by the incident. He added that some of the voters had contacted the office over concerns that they had yet to receive their absentee ballots.
U.S. Postal Service Office of the Inspector General special agents found 112 ballots as well as two political flyers in the trash. The ballots and flyers were returned to the Postal Service to be delivered to their rightful owners, according to Special Agent Scott Balfour.
Balfour said on Friday that the USPS employee had been fired, adding, "federal privacy concerns preclude me from providing any more details about their employment."
The case has been turned over to the U.S. Attorney's Office, Balfour said.
"When the investigation is concluded, the case will be presented for federal prosecution to the U.S. Attorney's Office," he said.
Balfour said that these such incidents involving mail-in ballots are "exceedingly rare."
Also on Thursday, a waste collector claimed he found two ballots in a dumpster in Sandy, Utah, outside of Salt Lake City.
"I dumped a can today and I'm finding f***ing ballots in the garbage can, pardon my French, just mad," said Charles West on video.
"I think it's very important that we have a secure vote and peoples information isn't compromised, I mean this opens these people up to fraud it opens these people up to everything, I'd be terrified if my name was on that ballot," West told KSTU.
Last week, a California man discovered dozens of mail-in ballots discarded inside two trash cans in Santa Monica.
Two weeks ago, a United States Postal Service letter carrier from New Jersey was arrested for purportedly casting aside over 1,800 pieces of mail, including 99 election ballots, into dumpsters.
Earlier this month, the Virginia Department of Elections announced that six outdoor mail collection boxes were broken into, and had been "pried open with a tool or force."
Balfour said people could report crimes committed by postal employees by calling the U.S. Postal Service Office of the Inspector General hotline at 888-USPS-OIG or visiting uspsoig.gov.


theblaze--2020-10-16--San Francisco may change 'inappropriate' names of schools honoring Washington, Lincoln, and even Sen

San Francisco may change 'inappropriate' names of schools honoring Washington, Lincoln, and even Sen. Dianne Feinstein

San Francisco may change 'inappropriate ' names of schools honoring Washington , Lincoln , and even Sen. Dianne Feinstein The @ @ @ @ @ Committee has a list of 44 schools they say need to change their problematic names

Officials in San Francisco are pushing to rename several public schools in an attempt to purge school buildings of names deemed "inappropriate" like Presidents George Washington or Abraham Lincoln.
Even a school building named for Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) is on a list of 44 sites that parents and educators have been told must be renamed for having connections to slavery, genocide, or oppression, the San Francisco Chronicle reported. Of the 125 schools in the San Francisco district, more than a third have been added to the list for having objectionable names, including Balboa, Lowell and Mission high schools, Roosevelt and Presidio middle schools, and Webster, Sanchez and Jose Ortega elementary schools.
The San Francisco School Names Advisory Committee is requiring each school on the list to brainstorm new names by Dec. 18. The new names will be presented to the school board in late January or early February, at which time the board will vote on any recommended name changes.
The committee was called for in a 2018 resolution requiring a blue ribbon panel to study school names and submit recommendations for changes.
"The panel includes 12 community members appointed by the superintendent and approved by the school board, as well as district staff members and board President Mark Sanchez," the Chronicle reported. "It was formed in January and has since met 10 times, with members doing their own research, looking at newspaper articles, among other resources to identify whether the name on a school met the criteria for renaming, which includes anyone or anything associated with slavery, genocide, colonization, exploitation and oppression, among other factors."
The committee's specific criteria for a school name to be deemed "inappropriate" includes: Anyone directly involved in the colonization of people; slave owners or participants in enslavement; perpetrators of genocide or slavery; those who exploit workers/people; those who directly oppressed or abused women, children, queer or transgender people; those connected to any human rights or environmental abuses; those who are known racists and/or white supremacists and/or espoused racist beliefs.
Schools named for Presidents George Washington and Thomas Jefferson made the list because they were slave owners. Abraham Lincoln High School must be renamed because the nation's 16th president, who issued the Emancipation Proclamation ending slavery in the South, also ordered the executions of 38 Dakota tribe Native Americans involved in a violent conflict with white settlers in Minnesota.
Dianne Feinstein Elementary, a school named for California's sitting senior senator, made the list because as mayor of San Francisco in 1986, Feinstein reportedly replaced a vandalized Confederate flag at City Hall.
According to the Chronicle, many parents and principals are not thrilled that renaming schools is a priority during a pandemic when many children are not even allowed to attend school and are tasked with virtual learning.
"Principals are devoting resources to this," parent Jonathan Alloy said. His children attend Commodore Sloat Elementary, a school named for the Navy officer who claimed California for the United States and one of the schools on the list. "We're being presented with it as a fait accompli."
The principal of Commodore Sloat told parents Wednesday that the school would need to come up with a new name because the committee said John D. Sloat was a colonizer who "claimed/stole" California from Mexico.
"We're not actually helping disadvantaged children by changing the name of the school they can't attend," Alloy said, characterizing the timing as absurd.
Last week, five high school alumni associations sent a letter to the school district criticizing the committee for neglecting to consult professional historians or diverse ethnic communities.
"We need an inclusive process that will allow all communities to be heard, use professional historians applying verifiable data, issue a written report why a school name might be changed, so the community can make a considered decision," the letter said.
The letter asked the board to "suspend the current process until everyone can safely return to school sites for the robust and thoughtful conversations you directed in the original board resolution."
The president of the school board, Mark Sanchez, acknowledged that some will be unhappy with the changes.
"I don't think there is ever going to be a time when people are ready for this," he said. "Predictably people are going to be upset no matter when we do this."
He added that it was unlikely all 44 schools would have their names changed, but noted that every school on the list "should be prepared."
Here's the list of proposed schools to be renamed and their namesakes, courtesy of the Chronicle:
Balboa High School, Spanish explorer Vasco Nunez de Balboa
Abraham Lincoln High School, U.S. president
Mission High School, Mission Dolores
George Washington High School, first U.S. president
Lowell High School, poet/critic James R. Lowell
James Denman Middle School, founder of first S.F. school
Everett Middle School, Edward Everett, American statesman
Herbert Hoover Middle School, U.S. president
James Lick Middle School, land baron
Presidio Middle School S.F. military post
Roosevelt Middle School, Theodore or F.D., both U.S. presidents
Lawton K-8, U.S. Army officer Henry Ware Lawton
Claire Lilienthal (two sites), S.F. school board member
Paul Revere K-8, American Revolution patriot
Alamo Elementary, a poplar tree or the site of Texas Revolution battle
Alvarado Elementary, Pedro de Alvarado, conquistador
Bryant Elementary, author Edwin Bryant
Clarendon Elementary Second Community and Japanese Bilingual Bicultural Program, Edward Hyde Earl of Clarendon, English politician
El Dorado Elementary, mythical City of Gold
Dianne Feinstein Elementary, U.S. senator and former S.F. mayor
Garfield Elementary, James Garfield, U.S. president
Grattan Elementary, William Henry Grattan, Irish author
Jefferson Elementary, Thomas Jefferson, U.S. president
Francis Scott Key Elementary, composer of Star-Spangled Banner
Frank McCoppin Elementary, S.F. mayor
McKinley Elementary, William McKinley, U.S. president
Marshall Elementary, James Wilson Marshall, sawmill worker at Sutter's Mill
Monroe Elementary, James Monroe, U.S. president
John Muir Elementary, naturalist
Jose Ortega Elementary, Spanish philosopher
Sanchez Elementary, Jose Bernardo Sanchez, Spanish missionary
Junipero Serra Elementary, Spanish priest
Sheridan Elementary, Gen. Philip Sheridan
Sherman Elementary, Gen. William Tecumseh Sherman
Commodore Sloat Elementary, John Sloat, Navy officer
Robert Louis Stevenson Elementary, author
Sutro Elementary, Adolph Sutro, S.F. mayor
Ulloa Elementary, Don Antonio de Ulloa, Spanish general
Daniel Webster Elementary, U.S. statesman
Noriega Early Education School, unclear
Presidio EES, S.F. military post
Stockton EES, Robert F. Stockton, Navy commodore
The Chronicle estimated that name changes will cost tens of thousands of dollars for each school that needs to replace signage.


theblaze--2020-10-16--Jimmy Kimmel wastes NBC for hosting President Donald Trump's town hall event

Late-night TV host Jimmy Kimmel shredded the NBC network after it hosted President Donald Trump 's town hall event Thursday night .
What are the details ?
During Thursday night 's `` Jimmy Kimmel Live '' show , Kimmel began , `` Presidential debate number two was scheduled for this evening , but instead we got two dueling town halls — Joe Biden on ABC , Donald Trump on NBC . ''
`` You know , there was supposed to be a debate tomorrow night , but since Trump would not agree to the virtual format that they wanted to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ coronavirus , he backed out altogether , '' the late-night show host explained .
`` So because there was no debate , Biden agreed to do a town hall on ABC that night .
`` NBC pulled a very sneaky move , '' he continued .
`` After Trump refused to participate in a virtual debate , they swooped in and gave him his own hour opposite Joe Biden .
While many are wondering why NBC would schedule this at the same time as Biden 's town hall instead of on another night @ @ @ @ @ @ @ slot so we could see what both candidates have to say — the answer to the question is this : NBC sucks . ''
Joking that the move was a `` peacock block , '' Kimmel insisted that the network — which was once the home of Trump-hosted reality show `` The Apprentice '' — and said the network was chomping at the bit to get the president back on the air .
`` Even though Trump spent a lot of his afternoon cryptically claiming that NBC was setting him up with this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reunion , '' he said .
`` Seeing him back in primetime was like taking a time machine back to 2004 when he was just a blowhard reality TV host , nothing more . ''
At one point , the comedian quipped , `` Thanks , NBC .
First 'The Apprentice ' and now this .
Why not a new Bill Cosby special while we 're at it ? ''

Late-night TV host Jimmy Kimmel shredded the NBC network after it hosted President Donald Trump's town hall event Thursday night.
Kimmel's network, ABC, hosted a town hall event with Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden on Thursday evening.
What are the details?
During Thursday night's "Jimmy Kimmel Live" show, Kimmel began, "Presidential debate number two was scheduled for this evening, but instead we got two dueling town halls — Joe Biden on ABC, Donald Trump on NBC."
"You know, there was supposed to be a debate tomorrow night, but since Trump would not agree to the virtual format that they wanted to have because he tested positive for the coronavirus, he backed out altogether," the late-night show host explained. "So because there was no debate, Biden agreed to do a town hall on ABC that night.
"NBC pulled a very sneaky move," he continued. "After Trump refused to participate in a virtual debate, they swooped in and gave him his own hour opposite Joe Biden. While many are wondering why NBC would schedule this at the same time as Biden's town hall instead of on another night — or even just in another time slot so we could see what both candidates have to say — the answer to the question is this: NBC sucks."
Joking that the move was a "peacock block," Kimmel insisted that the network — which was once the home of Trump-hosted reality show "The Apprentice" — and said the network was chomping at the bit to get the president back on the air.
"Even though Trump spent a lot of his afternoon cryptically claiming that NBC was setting him up with this town hall, it was a beautiful reunion," he said. "Seeing him back in primetime was like taking a time machine back to 2004 when he was just a blowhard reality TV host, nothing more."
At one point, the comedian quipped, "Thanks, NBC. First 'The Apprentice' and now this. Why not a new Bill Cosby special while we're at it?"
Trump & Biden's Dueling Town Halls www.youtube.com
(H/T: Mediaite)


theblaze--2020-10-16--Connecticut mom charged after her 11-month-old died from exposure to fentanyl, morphine, and cocaine

Connecticut mom charged after her 11-month-old died from exposure to fentanyl , morphine , and cocaine Rebecca Dixon , 35 @ @ @ @ @ manslaughter

A mother in Oxford, Connecticut, has been charged with second-degree manslaughter after it was discovered that her 11-month-old baby boy reportedly died from exposure to narcotics.
What are the details?
Police say that Rebecca Dixon, 35, is responsible for the death of her son, who was found unresponsive on July 6, and was pronounced dead after arriving at the hospital.
During the ensuing investigation, detectives allegedly found evidence of "recent illegal drug use which included empty plastic baggies, a homemade glass smoking pipe, and empty glassine envelopes for heroin in nightstand drawers," according to the Hartford Courant.
Later, the state's chief medical examiner classified the toddler's death as a homicide and concluded that he died from "acute intoxication due to the combined effects of fentanyl and morphine, with recent cocaine exposure."
According to Dixon's arrest warrant, a further review of the toddler's medical records show that he was exposed to opioids in the womb and even experienced symptoms of withdrawal right after birth.
State Trooper Christine Jeltema said the charges were brought "based on the fact that the mother had narcotics within the area that the victim was."
"Prior to the victim's death the mother had been using as well," she added, according to WTIC-TV. "Rebecca had six different substances which included fentanyl, morphine, cocaine and others."
Dixon is currently being held at York Correctional Institution on $75,000 bond.
What else?
The National Institute on Drug Abuse notes that fentanyl, which was found in the toddler's system, is "a powerful synthetic opioid analgesic that is similar to morphine but is 50 to 100 times more potent."
Th toddler would have celebrated his first birthday July 29.
"This is a tragedy beyond any imaginable proportion," said Maria Skinner, who serves as the executive director of the McCall Center for Behavioral Health.
During an interview with WTIC-TV, she noted that since 2018 there have been at least five accidental overdoses in teens or children. She suggested that such heartrending tragedies could be avoided altogether if people used proper safety measures.
"Simple, straightforward and inexpensive fix is just a simple lock box which medications can always be put, and they should be out of sight and out of reach from any child," Skinner said.
In Dixon's case, her and her husband were reportedly careless with their drugs, often using on the bedroom nightstand and bathroom window sill.


theblaze--2020-10-16--Mother punched through SUV window by unhinged leftist who didn't like her Trump flags — all while vi

Mother punched through SUV window by unhinged leftist who didn't like her Trump flags — all while victim's daughter, 11, watches from back seat

Mother punched through SUV window by unhinged leftist who did n't like her Trump flags — all while victim 's @ @ @ @ @ from back seat

Leftists continue to lose their minds — or believe they can get away with blatant violence — in public places full of surveillance cameras.
What are the details?
Police in Fall River, Massachusetts, said a mother was driving with her 11-year-old daughter in the area of South Main and Hall streets last week when two women in another vehicle apparently didn't take too kindly to the mom's flags supporting President Donald Trump that were flying off both sides of her SUV, WHDH-TV reported.
Police provided the station with surveillance video showing the initial part of the confrontation, as the Trump supporter's vehicle is within the yellow oval on the left side of the screen while an arrow points at the suspects seated in a vehicle on the right side of the screen:
Image source: WHDH-TV video screenshot
The women pulled up to the victim's vehicle, exchanged words about the flags, and then violently assaulted her — as her daughter looked on from the back seat, Fall River Police Lt. Jay Huard told the station.
"[The mom] was trying to attempt to de-escalate the situation by telling the two females to get away from her car," Huard added to WHDH. "She put her window down to ... communicate in a better fashion, and at that point she was punched through the open window."
Police shared a surveillance image showing the suspects fleeing the scene in a gray Nissan Altima, the station said.
'We need respect'
Concerned resident Jessica Spauone told WHDH she's outraged by the incident: "I hope they find them. That is so rude and disrespectful, and they should pay for what they did."
She added to the station that "we need respect. People have lost that humanity; we need that again. People need to bond together and learn how to love each other."
Image source: WHDH-TV video screenshot
Huard told WHDH his department has been responding to an increasing number of crimes related to the presidential election.
"I would just say maintain your composure," he added to the station. "Everybody is entitled to their own opinion, and let your voice be at the polls."
Image source: WHDH-TV video screenshot
Anyone who witnessed the alleged attack is urged to contact Fall River detective Luis Vertentes at 508-324-2796. Anonymous tips can be phoned in at 508-672-8477.


theblaze--2020-10-16--Democratic Senate candidate Mark Kelly issues public apology after staffer's profane tweet against p

Democratic Senate candidate Mark Kelly issues public apology after staffer's profane tweet against police officers

Arizona Democratic Senate candidate Mark Kelly has issued an apology after his deputy press secretary referred to police officers as `` worthless f***ing pigs '' in an August tweet .
What are the details ?
According to the Washington Free Beacon , T.J. L'Heureux , now Kelly 's deputy press secretary , issued the sentiment on Twitter in response to a video of Chicago police officers squaring off against protesters .
L'Heureux shared the video captioning it , `` You worthless f***ing pigs . ''
Kelly named L'Heureux a campaign spokesperson just a week after L'Heureux issued the scathing rebuke @ @ @ @ @ @ @ parents , the Free Beacon reported , were police officers .
`` The post came as the Kelly campaign has sought to portray itself as moderate on policing issues , '' the outlet reported .
Following the news of the tweet , a spokesperson for McSally 's campaign said , `` This tweet was written just one week before Mark Kelly hired this person to his campaign team .
Mark continues to amplify the most hateful , anti-law enforcement ideas and rhetoric that disrespects and endangers our brave men and women in uniform @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Clure , executive director of the Arizona Police Association , said the staffer 's statement was `` frankly disgusting . ''
`` It sadly is n't the first time I 've seen this from Democratic campaign personnel , '' he told the outlet .
`` I hope that [ Kelly ] fires [ the staffer ] immediately to show that he does n't condone this kind of attitude that police are ' f***ing worthless . '
'' In response to the outcry , a Kelly spokesperson told Fox News , `` As the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deeply respects those who serve in uniform to keep our communities safe .
Our campaign values the public service , bravery , and sacrifice of police officers across our nation .
The tweet posted by a junior staff member is unacceptable and we are taking the appropriate action . ''
At the time of this writing , the post on L'Heureux 's page appears to have been deleted .
L'Heureux added , `` I deeply regret my comment and apologize for what I wrote — I was wrong .
My comment does not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ believe , and most importantly , it is not representative of what this campaign stands for .
The language I used and the sentiment I conveyed do not belong in our political process , which is why I have deleted the tweet . ''
Caroline Anderegg , McSally for Senate communications director , told Fox News , `` It 's just further proof that Mark embraces extreme anti-law enforcement ideas and rhetoric .
Anything he tries to say to the contrary is a bunch of hot air . ''

Arizona Democratic Senate candidate Mark Kelly has issued an apology after his deputy press secretary referred to police officers as "worthless f***ing pigs" in an August tweet.
What are the details?
According to the Washington Free Beacon, T.J. L'Heureux, now Kelly's deputy press secretary, issued the sentiment on Twitter in response to a video of Chicago police officers squaring off against protesters.
L'Heureux shared the video captioning it, "You worthless f***ing pigs."
Kelly named L'Heureux a campaign spokesperson just a week after L'Heureux issued the scathing rebuke of officers.
Both of Kelly's parents, the Free Beacon reported, were police officers.
"The post came as the Kelly campaign has sought to portray itself as moderate on policing issues," the outlet reported.
Following the news of the tweet, a spokesperson for McSally's campaign said, "This tweet was written just one week before Mark Kelly hired this person to his campaign team. Mark continues to amplify the most hateful, anti-law enforcement ideas and rhetoric that disrespects and endangers our brave men and women in uniform."
Following the remark, Joe Clure, executive director of the Arizona Police Association, said the staffer's statement was "frankly disgusting."
"It sadly isn't the first time I've seen this from Democratic campaign personnel," he told the outlet. "I hope that [Kelly] fires [the staffer] immediately to show that he doesn't condone this kind of attitude that police are 'f***ing worthless.'"
'Unacceptable'
In response to the outcry, a Kelly spokesperson told Fox News, "As the son of two police officers, Mark deeply respects those who serve in uniform to keep our communities safe. Our campaign values the public service, bravery, and sacrifice of police officers across our nation. The tweet posted by a junior staff member is unacceptable and we are taking the appropriate action."
At the time of this writing, the post on L'Heureux's page appears to have been deleted.
L'Heureux added, "I deeply regret my comment and apologize for what I wrote — I was wrong. My comment does not reflect who I am or what I believe, and most importantly, it is not representative of what this campaign stands for. The language I used and the sentiment I conveyed do not belong in our political process, which is why I have deleted the tweet."
Caroline Anderegg, McSally for Senate communications director, told Fox News, "It's just further proof that Mark embraces extreme anti-law enforcement ideas and rhetoric. Anything he tries to say to the contrary is a bunch of hot air."


theblaze--2020-10-16--ICE arrests 170 criminal aliens in sanctuary cities

More than 80 % of those arrested had criminal convictions or pending criminal charges at the time of their arrest

Immigration and Customs Enforcement on Thursday announced the arrest of more than 170 criminal illegal aliens in sanctuary city jurisdictions throughout the United States.
ICE authorities arrested criminal aliens in Seattle, Denver, New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore, and Washington, D.C., in a targeted enforcement operation that began on Oct. 3 and ended Oct. 9. According to a press release from ICE, the law enforcement actions were directed at illegal aliens who were arrested for crimes and had immigration detainers but were nevertheless released by state or local law enforcement agencies. ICE said more than 80% of those arrested had criminal convictions or pending criminal charges at the time of their arrest.
"Last fiscal year, 86 percent of people arrested by ICE had criminal convictions or pending charges. ICE focuses its resources on those who pose the greatest threat to public safety. The men and women of ICE put their lives on the line every day to keep these individuals off the streets," acting DHS Secretary Chad F. Wolf said. "The Department will continue to carry out lawful enforcement actions in order to keep our communities safe, regardless of whether or not we have cooperation from state and local officials. Politics will not come before safety when enforcing the law and keeping our citizens safe."
The ICE statement notes that in the New York City area alone, authorities arrested nearly 50 illegal aliens with histories of crime including sexual assault, sex crime, assault, robbery, larceny, family neglect, and DUI.
Among those arrested include a 29-year-old Mexican citizen who was convicted in 2018 of illegally re-entering the United States and convicted in October 2020 on charges of menacing-real/simulated weapon, child abuse, and violation of bail bond conditions; a 64-year-old Panamanian citizen convicted in 2010 of sexual conduct against a child in the 2nd degree; a 61-year-old citizen of Peru convicted in 2016 of a criminal sex act in the 3rd degree involving a victim younger than 17 years old; and a 25-year-old Guatemalan citizen arrested for commercial sex abuse of a minor in February 2019 who had previously been removed from the United States in 2013 and illegally re-entered the country.
This operation follows the arrest of 128 at-large illegal aliens last week in sanctuary city jurisdictions in California.
"ICE continues to protect communities by taking criminal aliens off the streets regardless of any locality's cooperation policies – which is part of our Congressionally mandated mission," ICE senior official Tony H. Pham said. "Officers and agents of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement are sworn federal law enforcement officers who enforce U.S. immigration laws created by Congress to keep this country safe."


theblaze--2020-10-16--Commentary: Big Tech is going to end up as a mouthpiece for some future Republican president, and th

Commentary: Big Tech is going to end up as a mouthpiece for some future Republican president, and they'll have only themselves to blame

Commentary : Big Tech is going to end up as a mouthpiece for some future Republican president , and they @ @ @ @ @ blame

Big Tech really stepped in it this week.
I get the feeling that they at last realize that they are in trouble; I don't think they yet realize how serious that trouble really is.
On the one hand, it's possible to sympathize with companies like Facebook and Twitter, who have had to deal with their executives being frog marched in front of congressional committees for having the temerity to have built a social media ecosystem where center-right articles can be shared and disseminated.
Liberals really hate this and have engaged in a yearslong bullying campaign targeting the social media giants, as well as their advertisers. The message has been clear: Suppress right-wing viewpoints or we will make you feel pain. Their stated purpose is to make sure that the social media giants are not helping to spread "false information," which of course to them means any viewpoint they don't agree with.
On the other hand, the social media giants should have realized long ago that nothing they could possibly do would be enough to placate the liberal mob, short of outright banning all center-right publications. Until the world reverts to the way it was prior to the internet, when the flow of all information was gatekept by legacy media outlets that were 90% staffed with Democrats, they will never relent.
Their bumbling reaction to the explosive New York Post story about Hunter Biden was likely, to them, just another step down the road of placating that mob by showing that they are super serious about stopping the spread of "disinformation." I am sure it didn't hurt that an overwhelming majority of their employees are Democrats, either.
Left-wing pressure, plus ideological blinders, plus overconfidence in an eventual Joe Biden victory equals a situation where Facebook, in a moment of truly extraordinary arrogance, sent a spokesman to Twitter to declare that the Post's story would be throttled even before a fact-checker had looked at it. The spokesman didn't even bother to remove his work history — which consisted almost entirely of working for organizations dedicated to helping Democrats win election — from his Twitter bio.
I am sure that Facebook and Twitter probably want nothing more than to be left alone, free from constant government oversight and meddling in their jobs. What they seem to not realize is that there's exactly one group of people who has been fighting for that result: The free-market libertarians who are increasingly politically homeless but still to some degree remain in an uneasy alliance with the Republican Party.
Those people have been waging a fierce fight for the proposition that tech companies should be able to do with their platform as they wish, since they built it. Further, they have argued that allowing the government to meddle in the content moderation policies of the social media companies will inevitably backfire when and if Democrats control the government.
The tech companies' actions this week have made that fight an impossible one to win. Anger at the haughtiness and patent unfairness of the social media companies among folks on the right was already near a boiling point, and the New York Post debacle has pushed the temperature past the tipping point.
I can say with almost complete certainty now that the Josh Hawleys of the world are going to decisively win this fight within the Republican Party, free market principles be damned. After this week, there will no longer be a meaningful part of any major political party that stands up for the right of Twitter and Facebook to run their companies as they see fit.
The government, being the government, cannot be trusted to manage the tech companies fairly. If human history teaches us anything, it is that the day the government injects itself into the moderation policies of the Big Tech companies, those companies will promptly become de facto government censors for the political party that is then in power.
The tech companies might not be scared of that result just yet. After all, in their minds, the government is probably going to be almost completely run by Democrats in three months' time anyway. And they might well be right about that.
What they fail to realize, because they are poor students of history, is that control of power in the United States is and always will be cyclical. No matter how firmly one of the major political parties grasps power, they always eventually lose it. The GOP looked like it was headed for perpetual electoral domination after the Civil War, and they were wrong. The Democrats looked like they were headed for perpetual electoral domination after the Great Depression, and they were also wrong. As recently as 2008, Democratic strategists confidently predicted that demographic trends spelled an ever-shrinking minority for the GOP, only to watch their party get trucked in the 2010 and 2014 midterms, as well as the 2016 presidential election.
Neither party, quite frankly, is capable of being responsible with too much power. Even if Democrats take control of the White House and both chambers of Congress in November, as they are currently favored to do, it is inevitable that they will overreach. Probably, this will happen sooner rather than later. Their voting base practically demands it. And when that happens, American voters will put Republicans back in power.
On that day, employees of Facebook and Twitter will wake up and discover, to their horror, that it's no longer Democratic bureaucrats who are watching over them and helping them to determine what is allowed on their platforms, but Republican bureaucrats. And they will wail and scream at the unfairness of it all, and how they are being forced to act as mouthpieces for the Republican Party.
And they will have no one but themselves to blame.
Big Tech could have avoided this. They could have responded to the mob by saying, very reasonably, "Our job is not to determine what's true and false. Our job is to provide a platform for people to connect with one another and share what they're interested in." In addition to being true, this defense would have been bought by at least half the country. After all, conservatives didn't lose their minds about any number of false left-wing stories being spread on social media. That half the country could have kept them from undue government interference.
Instead, they have chosen a different path. I hope they like where it leads.


theblaze--2020-10-16--Pfizer says it could apply for emergency use authorization of COVID-19 vaccine by late November

Pfizer says it could apply for emergency use authorization of COVID-19 vaccine by late November 'Operating at the speed of @ @

Pfizer Inc. said Friday it could apply for emergency use authorization in the United States of its COVID-19 vaccine by late November. In an open letter, Pfizer Chairman and CEO Albert Bourla made the announcement about the progress in developing a coronavirus vaccine with its partner BioNTech, a biotechnology company that manufactures immunotherapies.
"I know there is a great deal of confusion regarding exactly what it will take to ensure its development and approval, and given the critical public health considerations and the importance of transparency, I would like to provide greater clarity around the development timelines for Pfizer's and our partner BioNTech's COVID-19 vaccine," Bourla said.
Bourla said Pfizer is "operating at the speed of science," but there are three steps that must happen before the company can release its COVID-19 vaccine.
"First, the vaccine must be proven effective, meaning it can help prevent COVID-19 disease in at least a majority of vaccinated patients." Then the "vaccine must be proven safe, with robust safety data generated from thousands of patients." The last step is demonstrating that the "vaccine can be consistently manufactured at the highest quality standards."
"We may know whether or not our vaccine is effective by the end of October," Bourla said, based on its 40,000-person clinical trial. "To do so, we must accumulate a certain number of COVID-19 cases in our trial to compare the effectiveness of the vaccine in vaccinated individuals to those who received a placebo."
"So let me be clear, assuming positive data, Pfizer will apply for Emergency Authorization Use in the U.S. soon after the safety milestone is achieved in the third week of November," Bourla wrote. "All the data contained in our U.S. application would be reviewed not only by the FDA's own scientists but also by an external panel of independent experts at a publicly held meeting convened by the agency."
Bourla noted, "The timelines above reflect our best estimates of when these important milestones could be achieved."
A BioNTech spokesperson confirmed the time frame for the potential EUA application to the FDA.
This is the first time any "leading Western vaccine developer provided such a specific timeline," according to the Wall Street Journal.
"Moderna could also apply for an emergency use authorization (EUA) this year. It has said that it may have interim data on its 30,000 person trial as soon as November," as reported by Reuters.
This comes at a time when COVID-19 cases in the U.S. are climbing slightly, but the coronavirus deaths are relatively level this month.
"The spread of the coronavirus appeared to be accelerating this week in the U.S. with a key indicator in 44 of the 50 states and Washington, D.C. flashing an 'ominous' warning sign," a health official told the Wall Street Journal on Tuesday.
On Monday, Johnson & Johnson announced it had paused a large, late-stage clinical trial of its coronavirus vaccine after one of its volunteers became ill with an unexplained sickness. The company pointed out that illnesses, even severe cases, "are an expected part of any clinical study, especially large studies."
On Tuesday, pharmaceutical company Eli Lilly said it paused a government-sponsored antibody treatment trial because of a "potential safety concern."
Last month, President Donald Trump said that a COVID-19 vaccine would be distributed within 24 hours of completion of phase 3 trials and FDA approval. The president touted that all Americans will have access to the coronavirus vaccine by April.
"As part of Operation Warp Speed, my administration has manufactured one of the most promising vaccines in advance, and it will be fairly long in advance, as soon as a vaccine is approved, the administration will deliver it to the American people immediately. Distribution will begin within 24 hours," President Trump said.
The coronavirus vaccine will be free for all Americans, but initially the COVID-19 vaccine will likely be available to higher-risk groups, such as health care workers, essential workers, the elderly, and those with health conditions that make them more vulnerable to COVID-19.
Dr. Scott Atlas, a member of the White House coronavirus response task force, said the COVID-19 vaccine would not be a forced vaccination.
In July, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the Department of Defense (DoD) announced an agreement with Pfizer for an initial order of 100 million doses of a coronavirus vaccine for the price of $1.95 billion, following EUA or licensure. The agreement provides the U.S. government an option to purchase an additional 500 million doses.


theblaze--2020-10-16--Biden doubles down on 'shoot them in the leg' advice for police to 'de-escalate' situations with dan

Biden doubles down on 'shoot them in the leg' advice for police to 'de-escalate' situations with dangerous criminals

Biden doubles down on 'shoot them in the leg ' advice for police to 'de-escalate ' situations with dangerous criminals

During Thursday night's town hall on ABC News, Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden once again repeated the dangerous suggestion that police officers should be trained to shoot offenders "in the leg" instead of in the chest when they are being charged.
This time around, the former vice president touted the advice as a way to "de-escalate" a dangerous situation.
What did he say?
In a muddled response to a question about criminal justice reform, Biden said, "There's a lot of things we've learned, and it takes time, but we can do this. You can ban chokeholds ... but beyond that, you have to teach [the police] how to de-escalate circumstances, de-escalate."
"So, instead of anybody coming at you and the first thing you do is shoot to kill, you shoot them in the leg," he added.
Amazingly, Thursday was not the first time that Biden has pitched the suggestion. Earlier this year, he told a a group of black leaders at Bethel AME Church in Wilmington, Delaware, that aiming at the leg instead of center mass is way that law enforcement could reduce potential fatalities.
"Instead of standing there and teaching a cop when there's an unarmed person coming at him with a knife or something to shoot him in the leg instead of in the heart," he said.
TheBlaze pointed out at the time that an attacker wielding a "knife or something" is not exactly "unarmed."
But remember, this is the same guy who once argued that firing a shotgun into the air or through the door is a safe and effective way to ward off would-be attackers.
It's still a bad idea
Of course, it was pointed out then, and should be pointed out again, that shooting a charging suspect in the leg rather than in the chest is obviously a bad idea.
In his report on the news, Hot Air's Ed Morrissey explained why:
This is not just nonsense, it's dangerous nonsense. Police shouldn't fire weapons at all unless they are facing an imminent lethal threat to themselves or others, but when they do use firearms, they have to do so in the safest and most effective manner possible. Police (and everyone else who takes firearms courses) are trained to aim at center mass for a number of reasons, primarily because it has the best percentage of not missing. Aiming at moving limbs (and heads) is difficult even under calm circumstances, let alone the high-adrenaline situations of lethal threats. When bullets miss, they keep going for a long way and can kill other people, even on ricochets. Instead of killing an actual lethal threat, this policy would increase the potential for killing or wounding bystanders.
Furthermore, Reason's Robby Soave points out the obvious: Even if police successfully hit a charging suspect in the leg, that doesn't mean he or she will go down.
If an officer's life is actually threatened, hitting the suspect in the leg is no guarantee the threat will be neutralized. People who have been hit in the leg or arm are not immediately incapacitated, which is why the police keep firing until a suspect is down. Real life is not like an episode of 24, or a Mission: Impossible movie!
Biden, to his credit, did reject the increasingly popular liberal notion that defunding police is a good idea.
"We shouldn't be defunding cops," Biden said. "We should be mandating the things that we should be doing within police departments and make sure there's total transparency."
Unfortunately, the nominee believes that training cops to aim for the legs and sending psychologists to lethal threat situations are some of the "things we should be doing within police departments" instead of cutting their budgets.


theblaze--2020-10-16--Joe Biden's latest court-packing non-answer: I'm open to it, but it depends

Joe Biden 's latest court-packing non-answer : I 'm open to it , but it depends Biden promised to give @ @ @ @ @ Day

Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden on Thursday gave his most definitive non-answer yet on whether he would, as president of the United States, sign a law expanding the number of justices on the Supreme Court should Congress confirm President Donald Trump's nominee, Judge Amy Coney Barrett.
Under pressure in the town hall setting, Biden said he would be open to packing the court, depending on how the Barrett confirmation is handled in the Senate.
During an ABC News town hall, host George Stephanopoulos asked Biden about his position on packing the court, noting that one year ago at a Democratic primary debate, Biden said he was opposed to the idea now being advocated by some Democrats.
"I have not been a fan of court-packing because ... whoever wins, it just keeps moving in a way that is inconsistent with what is going to be manageable," Biden said.
"So, you're still not a fan?" Stephanopoulos asked.
"Well, I'm not a fan. It depends on how this turns out, not how [Trump] wins, but how it's handled," Biden said, referring to the confirmation vote for Barrett.
"What does that mean, how it's handled?" Stephanopoulos pressed.
"Well, for example, if there's actually real live debate on the floor, if people are really going to be able to have a time to go through this — you know, I don't know anybody who's gone on the floor and just, that's been a controversial justice, in terms of fundamentally altering the makeup of the court, that's gone through in a day kind of thing. I mean, it depends on how much they rush this," Biden answered.
Joe Biden pressed on his reluctance to give firm answer on expanding the court l ABC News Town Hall youtu.be
"So, if they vote on it before the election, you are open to expanding the court?" Stephanopoulos asked Biden.
"I am open to considering what happens from that point on," Biden said.
Stephanopoulos attempted to get a more specific answer from Biden, who deflected.
"No matter what answer I gave you, if I say it, that's the headline tomorrow. It won't be about what's going on now, the improper way they're proceeding," Biden said.
"But don't voters have a right to know where you stand?" Stephanopoulos followed up.
"They do have a right to know where I stand, and they'll have a right to know where I stand before they vote," Biden admitted.
"So you'll come out with a clear position before Election Day?" Stephanopoulos asked.
"Yes, depending on how they handle this," Biden concluded.


theblaze--2020-10-16--Drive-by shooters target elderly couple's home after outraged leftists demanded removal of their 'Th

Drive-by shooters target elderly couple's home after outraged leftists demanded removal of their 'Thin Blue Line' flag

Drive-by shooters target elderly couple 's home after outraged leftists demanded removal of their 'Thin Blue Line ' flag Nine @ @ @ @ @ hit the home — and one bullet pierced several walls of the residence

When an elderly north Seattle couple decided recently to fly a "Thin Blue Line" flag outside the home they've lived in for more than 30 years, they knew their decision to support police wouldn't be popular, KIRO-TV reported.
They were right.
And what started as angry comments, demands that they take down the flag, and graffiti on the street in front of their residence appears to have escalated into a drive-by shooting last week, the station said.
What are the details?
"About twice a week someone was coming by and [saying] derogatory remarks, saying take it down," the man told KIRO. "I didn't argue with anybody."
"Black Lives Matter" and the letters "ACAB" — which stands for "all cops are bastards" — also were painted on the street in front of the home, the station said.
The couple — who didn't want to identify themselves or show their faces on camera for fear of retaliation — filed a police report for harassment, KIRO said.
Then last Friday surveillance video caught someone driving a dark SUV by the home, firing nine shots, and speeding away, the station said. Six shots hit the home and a vehicle, KIRO reported, adding that at least one bullet pierced multiple walls of the home.
"This didn't really happen did it?" the man asked the station in disbelief.
"I'm fearful because I don't know who it would be that would get that angry," the woman told KIRO.
The homeowners replaced a large flag with a similar-looking smaller flag, hoping that would deescalate the situation — but after the shooting, the station said police officers told them it wasn't safe to keep it hanging.
"The police said, 'As much as we appreciate your support, we tell our families don't fly 'em,'" the woman told KIRO.
'Everybody has an opinion ... but you don't shoot me for it'
In the aftermath, the couple is troubled that they were targeted with such violence simply for exercising their First Amendment rights.
"I feel like people are trying to take over someone else's opinion and controlling them, and I had no idea that this was happening," the woman noted to the station, adding "everybody has an opinion, and we're entitled to it — but you don't shoot me for it."
(H/T: The Police Tribune)


theblaze--2020-10-16--Joe Biden escapes ABC town hall without being asked one question about Hunter Biden

Joe Biden escapes ABC town hall without being asked one question about Hunter Biden NBC News also steered clear of @ @ @ @ @ its town hall with President Trump

Joe Biden and President Donald Trump participated in dueling prime-time town halls on Thursday night; neither presidential candidate was asked about the Hunter Biden story that has dominated headlines this week.
Biden answered questions from undecided voters at the ABC News town hall that took place at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia. However, the former vice president was not asked one question regarding his son's overseas dealings by moderator George Stephanopoulos or by the audience during the 90-minute town hall. Biden was asked about transgender rights and seemed to imply that children as young as 8 should have the right to decide their gender.
Hunter Biden has been at the forefront this week following various New York Post bombshell reports. On Wednesday, the Post published an article featuring alleged Hunter Biden emails that were allegedly obtained from a water-damaged laptop, which was reportedly abandoned at a computer repair store in 2019. The owner of the independent Apple repair shop in Delaware, who allegedly turned the laptop over to the FBI and Rudy Giuliani, said he now fears for his life.
The laptop is said to have a trove of potentially damaging documents and communications from Hunter, including dealings with Ukrainian energy company Burisma. One alleged email from 2015 pulled from the laptop reportedly shows an adviser to the board of Burisma, Vadym Pozharskyi, thanking Hunter for introducing him to his father.
Joe Biden has maintained that he has "never spoken to my son about his overseas business dealings."
Hunter was reportedly paid as much as $83,333 a month by Burisma Holdings from 2014 to 2019 as a member of the board of the Ukrainian natural gas company.
The Post also published an article alleging that Hunter pursued a "lasting and lucrative" deal with a Chinese energy company that he said would be "interesting for me and my family."
Purported emails from Hunter from 2017 show him discussing a three-year consulting contract worth $10 million a year with China's largest private energy company, the China Energy Company. Hunter would reportedly be compensated "for introductions alone."
Shortly after the New York Post published the first Hunter Biden article, Twitter temporarily locked the Post's official account and the accounts of anyone who shared the article, including White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany.
Facebook announced that it would also censor the Hunter Biden article, which spurred Republicans to declare war on the social media behemoths. Twitter reversed course on its decision on Thursday and said it would allow users to share the New York Post article.
President Trump took part in an NBC News town hall in Miami. The topic of Hunter Biden's emails or overseas dealings was not broached during the town hall.
The event was moderated by "Today" host Savannah Guthrie, who was applauded by leftists for constantly grilling the president. Meanwhile, conservatives claim that Guthrie was biased and the town hall morphed into an "interrogation."
Liberals had called for a boycott and voiced disdain toward NBC for hosting a town hall featuring President Trump at the same time that Biden's town hall was scheduled.


theblaze--2020-10-16--Seattle mayor who praised CHOP, supported police cuts, is now 'deeply concerned' as more than 100 of

Seattle mayor who praised CHOP, supported police cuts, is now 'deeply concerned' as more than 100 officers have left the force

Seattle mayor who praised CHOP , supported police cuts , is now 'deeply concerned ' as more than 100 officers @ @ @ @ @ is mass exodus going on at the Seattle Police Department

Democratic Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan — who once called the police-free autonomous zone in her city a "block party" amid a "summer of love" — is now "deeply concerned" over the mass exodus taking place within the city's police department.
What's the situation?
KING-TV reported early Friday morning that a record number of officers had left the department in September, according to a new Seattle Budget Office report. The report noted that 39 officers and officers-in-training "separated" from the department while an additional 14 officers extended their leaves.
The exodus is part of a continuing trend that has resulted in at least 118 officers leaving the force this year, KTTH-TV reporter Jason Rant said. He added that "even this number is misleading" because "many officers are using their accrued sick time as they begin their escape to other agencies or wait for retirement."
The total number of officers in the department now sits at just over 1,200, which the report noted is on par with police staffing levels in the early 1990s, even though the city's population has grown 44% since then.
As a result, 911 call response times have been increasing and police investigative services have been crippled.
What's she saying?
In a statement, Durkan called the levels of attrition "unprecedented," yet doubled down on the re-imagination of community safety and calls for "community-based alternatives" to policing.
"We will continue to improve policing and reimagine community safety in Seattle by shifting some responses to community-based alternatives and civilian programs like Health One or Community Service Officers," Durkan said. "But the City also needs a sufficient number of officers who can respond to the most urgent 911 calls in all parts of our city at any time of the day. We are losing an unprecedented number of officers, which makes it even more critical that we recruit and retain officers committed to reform and community policing that reflect the diversity and values of our city."
A spokesperson for the mayor, Kelsey Nyland, added, "If we don't act now, we'll soon see undeniable impacts to 911 response times and investigative services. It could also impact the department's ability to sustain the gains and meet the requirements of the federal consent decree."
"The Mayor is deeply concerned by the fact that some of our youngest officers — those who joined the department knowing it was under a federal consent decree — are leaving at an extremely high rate," she continued. "These are the exact officers we want to keep as we transform the department. They're the ones who entered the department with an emphasis on de-escalation training and community-based, constitutional policing."
Anything else?
The exodus follows the City Council's decision in September to override a mayoral veto and slash the city's police budget, leading to the cutting of as many as 100 officer positions and the elimination of the Navigation Team, which cleared homeless encampments.
Durkan, who is in favor diverting police funds to social programs, only vetoed the measure because it lacked "the type of collaboration" she desired.


theblaze--2020-10-16--Commentary: America will be memory-holed if we do not act

Commentary : America will be memory-holed if we do not act What are you willing to do ?

I've been telling you for months that Sweden is the way. It has been the control case for the efficacy of lockdowns and masks, and with each passing day it serves as a light in the darkness defining the path to true science, public health and precious freedom.
But in a world of petty tyrants and jesters, Sweden may as well be the lost city of Atlantis. It has been memory holed by no less than much of the scientific community itself in too many Western countries (including our own), as well as progressive dreamers who just a year ago would have celebrated Sweden's secular accoutrements.
Because this was never about science. It was about power and control.
Which brings us to our next control case that is being flushed into oblivion because it doesn't serve the interests of dystopian wanderlust. That would be our very country. The United States, the only country ever founded on a creed, has been striving in various forms since the 18th century to prove that the better angels of our nature could win out so that “government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth."
But if I may be so bold as to go further than President Lincoln, the national dream has always gone well beyond simply not perishing while holding its place as just one option among equals. No, flourishing, and fantastically so as a shining city on a hill calling out to all mankind, has always been our land's God-breathed rendezvous with destiny.
That's why, like with Sweden, it must be memory holed by its domestic enemies, the rot within us that is on a relentlessly suicidal journey. There simply can't be road maps left lying around that point people the way to true north when the transgendered, upside down world of their warped minds are now so close at hand. Thus, it shouldn't surprise us that one of the primary ways of burning those road maps is by following the devil's lead.
In other words, they lie like their spiritual father — the father of lies.
Namely, if they are guilty of something, they will try to hang you with it. Joe Biden and his son in bed with Ukraine and China becomes President Trump's colluding with Russians. Journalism as persistent left-wing propaganda and group think becomes Twitter and Facebook claiming conservatives are the real source of bias. To the point of censoring the spokesperson for the President of the United States and one of the oldest newspapers in the nation, the New York Post. Amy Coney Barrett claiming she loves the Constitution and that she will interpret it as it is written becomes "The Handmaid's Tale" come to life. Webster's Dictionary even rallied to the cause of chaos last week and changed the definition of the word "preference" overnight, in order to keep the crazy train running on time.
It is a “Did God really say?" memory hole of unknowing and unreality that we are currently choking on just as we did all the way back at the beginning of creation. The dishonesty is so thick that, as with some pilots who become disoriented because they don't trust their instruments, regularly people passively taking it all in are literally spiraling to their death while thinking all along they are on the straight and narrow. We have been given paradise, yet we think it chains.
America used to fight against that tide with extreme prejudice, and its citizens' First Amendment rights were its primary weapons. Where there was a loud voice of decay and decadence ringing out, eventually there would be a counter and more often than not, the good would win out in the end. It's how slavery, American's original sin, was defeated. If America could prove true to its founding word against that scourge, its status as a control group for self-government could survive anything, couldn't it?
Not if we sit passively by and no longer care to take our turn as a people to stand a post for liberty. If we act, we will win and prove once again that this “Republic, if we can keep it" is a far greater calling in our hearts than “trust the experts while we Netflix and chill."
But we must act. Because it isn't the Constitution itself and its implied civic machinery, as vital as it is, that is the control group. That is merely the weapon, and it doesn't come with an autopilot. We, the people, are the control group. And as with guns, the weapons of government can be wielded by either righteous or wicked men.
So which are we? And what are you prepared to do?


theblaze--2020-10-16--POLL: Did you watch any of the 2020 Presidential Town Halls last night?

POLL : Did you watch any of the 2020 Presidential Town Halls last night ?
Cast your vote and do @ @ @ @ @

POLL: Did you watch any of the 2020 Presidential Town Halls last night?
Cast your vote and don't forget to share!