theblaze--2020-12-06--Michael Flynn: 'I must have put the fear of God into Barack Obama'

Michael Flynn : ' I must have put the fear of God into Barack Obama' The retired Army lieutenant general @ @ @ @ @ praises of Sidney Powell

Former national security advisor Mike Flynn took aim at former President Barack Obama. In his first television interview since his pardon, Flynn said he "must have put the fear of God into Barack Obama."
President Donald Trump tapped Flynn to become his national security adviser on Nov. 18, 2016. Trump visited Obama on Nov. 10, 2016, where Obama allegedly warned the incoming POTUS about Flynn, according to Obama administration officials. Flynn previously worked under Obama as the head of the Defense Intelligence Agency from 2012 until 2014.
On Saturday, Flynn theorized as to why Obama would have sounded the alarm about him to the incoming administration.
"I must have put the fear of God into Barack Obama and still do because of this long four-year saga they put me, my family through, President Donald J. Trump, his family, and frankly the entire country," Flynn told Fox News' Jeanine Pirro. "One of these days, I'll lay it out."
Pirro pushed Flynn as to why Obama would issue a forewarning about him to Trump.
"When he chose me to be the national security advisor they knew that their little plan of spying on Donald Trump would fall apart and many other foreign policy blunders they got our country into, whether it was the Iran deal, issues going on in the Asian-pacific theater, trade, all sorts of issues that were in play that the last administration did to frankly run this country right into the ground," Flynn said of his former boss.
"They knew those were the types of things I was aware of. Because let's face it. Barack Obama appointed me twice. I was Senate confirmed twice during the time I was in the military," Flynn retorted. "So, it's amazing that would be what he would focus on during the transition for the United States of America. It's outrageous, actually."
Pirro asked Flynn about his former attorney Sidney Powell, who is currently challenging the results of the 2020 presidential election.
"I call Sidney Powell America's guardian angel of justice," Flynn stated. "Sidney Powell's clients are the people of the United States of America. That's who she is fighting for right now."
"She has her teeth into Georgia, Arizona, Michigan, Wisconsin, and the stuff that she has laid out in her various filings, it is going to play out here," Flynn continued.
"We have to stop all engines right now," Flynn proclaimed. "All these governors and all these quote-unquote leaders of their states, they have to take responsibility and do something to stop what they are doing."
Flynn advised, "Do not certify these elections and basically go back and do a far more detailed technical mail ballot and signature audit instead of just saying to the American people, 'Hey, nothing to see here. We are just going to continue to move on to an inauguration.' I'm sorry, that's not what the American people want and they won't stand for it."
Last month, Flynn was granted a full pardon by Trump after the retired Army lieutenant general originally pleaded guilty in December 2017 to lying to the FBI over conversations that he had with a Russian envoy. Flynn later withdrew his guilty plea after Powell brought evidence suggesting that he was targeted. The Justice Department sought to drop Flynn's case in May.
Flynn served as Trump's national security adviser for 25 days before being dismissed over the allegations that he had lied to FBI agents.


theblaze--2020-12-06--Leftists spew venom at Ted Cruz over photo with deer he hunted: 'You're not a human being'

Leftists spew venom at Ted Cruz over photo with deer he hunted : 'You 're not a human being '

Texas Sen. Ted Cruz (R) triggered a leftist meltdown over the weekend after posting a photo of himself and a deer that he hunted and killed.
Holding the antlers of the large deer that he had just killed, Cruz said, "A beautiful day in South Texas."
What was the reaction?
Cruz's photo sparked significant reaction on social media, generating nearly 100,000 "likes" and nearly 30,000 comments by Sunday morning.
Leftists decried Cruz as a "monster," while others criticized him for hunting during the pandemic.
"It's a beautiful animal. Let's kill it. You're not a human being, Cruz. You're a human-shaped pile of dung," liberal Keith Olbermann said.
"You murder beautiful animals because you're a weasel with no balls. Deplorable Ted," self-described "liberal elitist" Kimberley Johnson said.
"Ted Cruz. Too chickens*** to stand up to a president that called his wife ugly and accused his dad of helping assassinate JFK. But will smirk and brag about killing an animal that was ten times the man he will ever be. Weak, cowardly, pathetic. Lyin' Ted, Trump's b****," another person said.
"Hey look - the ball-less craven coward went pew pew and killed a majestic creature just because he could. God you're a f***ing s***bag," another person replied.
"Look at this disgusting piece of s***," another person said.
"Each antler belongs shoved up your inhuman , sanctimonious , spineless a** . Your political policies of inhumanity and self enrichment are reflected in this shot . Big brave guy huh ? Rot," another person said.
"Here is a picture of an animal whose soul has left its body and who is now just a useless lump of dead flesh … posing with a recently deceased deer," another person mocked.
".@tedcruz wants Texans to believe he's tough & this photo is a sh***y attempt at selling that lie. He wasn't tough when Trump called his wife ugly. He wasn't tough when Trump accused his father of being part of the the JFK assassination Ted Cruz is a worthless opportunist POS," another person replied.
"What a complete monster. I apologize if this is triggering for anyone. This seriously infuriates me," one person said.
Regarding criticism over hunting during the pandemic, one person said, "Your constituents are waiting 13 hours in line at food banks and this is what you are busy doing."
However, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi just last week admitted to playing politics with pandemic relief.
The California Democrat said she is now willing to negotiate a second pandemic relief bill since Joe Biden appears to have won the White House.


theblaze--2020-12-06--Crowd at Trump rally in Georgia lashes out at 'traitor' Fox News: 'We trusted you!'

Crowd at Trump rally in Georgia lashes out at 'traitor ' Fox News : 'We trusted you ! '
There @ @ @ @ @ the steal ! '
and 'Fight for Trump ! '

Trump supporters blasted Fox News correspondents on Saturday at a spirited rally in Georgia. At the event in Valdosta, Trump followers lambasted the cable news network for it's presidential election coverage.
President Donald Trump addressed a large crowd at his "Victory Rally" in Georgia, where he voiced his support of Republican senatorial candidates David Perdue and Kelly Loeffler in their battle against Democratic candidates Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock ahead of the Jan. 5 runoff elections.
Trump also used the high-energy rally to spotlight his challenge of the 2020 presidential election results, especially in the state of Georgia.
"We can fight for the presidency and fight to elect our two great senators and we can do it at the same time. We can do it at the same time, it's alright," Trump told the crowd.
Perdue and Loeffler briefly took to the stage to garner support from the pro-Trump crowd but were drowned out by boisterous chants of "Fight for Trump!" and "Stop the steal!"
Before the event took place, numerous Trump supporters spotted and then confronted members of Fox News. Trump devotees slammed Fox News for their coverage of the 2020 presidential election, especially early calling the state of Arizona in favor of Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden.
One Trump supporter is seen on video telling a Fox News reporter, "Fox News does not call the election."
According to Sky News producer Sarah Gough, the "Fox News journalists were getting the most abuse" from the pro-Trump crowd, a dubious honor that is usually dedicated to CNN. There were also shouts of "We trusted you!" and "Traitors!" aimed at the cable news network.
There was a chant of "Fox is fake news!"
Jennifer Jacobs, the senior White House reporter for Bloomberg News, noted that one man was shouting, "The truth is all we want!" He was reportedly escorted out of the rally, while the crowd yelled at security to "leave him alone!"
Since Election Day, Fox News has seen its viewership plummet. Fox News' total viewership declined by a whopping 32% in the two weeks after the Nov. 3 election compared to its viewership in the two weeks prior to the election.


theblaze--2020-12-06--California sheriff has blunt message for Gov. Gavin Newsom over new coronavirus lockdown

California sheriff has blunt message for Gov .
Gavin Newsom over new coronavirus lockdown

Orange County Sheriff Don Barnes announced Saturday that his agency would not enforce the new coronavirus-related lockdown enacted in California.
According to the Associated Press, Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) announced a plan last week for the most restrictive lockdown since the beginning of the pandemic if the state's COVID-19 metrics met certain thresholds, which has now happened.
From the AP:
The vast region of Southern California, much of the San Francisco Bay area and a large swath of the Central Valley are about to be placed under a sweeping new lockdown in an urgent attempt to slow the rapid rise of coronavirus cases.
The California Department of Public Health said Saturday the intensive care unit capacity in Southern California and Central Valley hospitals had fallen below a 15% threshold that triggers the new measures, which include strict closures for businesses and a ban on gathering with anyone outside of your own household. The new measures will take effect Sunday evening and remain in place for at least three weeks, meaning the lockdown will cover the Christmas holiday.
What did the sheriff say?
Barnes did not mince words: He said that compliance with the new order is a matter of "personal responsibility," so his agency would not be enforcing the "ever-changing" nature of Democrat-imposed restrictions.
"The Orange County Sheriff's Department will remain consistent in our approach," Barnes explained. "Orange County Sheriff's deputies will not be dispatched to, or respond to, calls for service to enforce compliance with face coverings, social gatherings, or stay-at-home orders only. Deputies will respond to calls for potential criminal behavior and for the protection of life and property. Our actions remain consistent with the protections of constitutional rights."
The sheriff also criticized the restrictions because they hurt Americans who are "already struggling through difficult circumstances."
"To put the onus on law enforcement to enforce these orders against law abiding citizens who are already struggling through difficult circumstances, while at the same time criticizing law enforcement and taking away tools to do our job, is both contradictory and disingenuous," Barnes said.
When Newsom enacted a less restrictive stay-at-home order last month, Barnes also bucked the Democratic governor.
"At this time, due to the need to have deputies available for emergency calls for service, deputies will not be responding to requests for face-coverings or social gatherings-only enforcement," Barnes said.


theblaze--2020-12-08--AOC named Goya Foods' 'employee of the month' after her call for a boycott caused huge spike in sale

AOC named Goya Foods' 'employee of the month' after her call for a boycott caused huge spike in sales

AOC named Goya Foods ' 'employee of the month ' after her call for a boycott caused huge spike in @

Goya Foods CEO Bob Unanue has revealed that democratic socialist Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's (D-N.Y.) call for Democrats to boycott his company's products over his praise of President Donald Trump actually led to skyrocketing sales so monumental that he named the congresswoman "employee of the month."
What are the details?
Over the summer, Unanue took part in a business roundtable at the White House, after which he said during a speech in the Rose Garden, "We're all truly blessed at the same time to have a leader like President Trump, who is a builder."
In reaction, Ocasio-Cortez tweeted, "Oh look, it's the sound of me Googling 'how to make your own Adobo," joining other Democrats in rallying behind an attempted boycott of the Hispanic-owned company.
Apparently, the attempted boycott had just the opposite effect that was intended.
The Daily Wire reported that Unanue told "The Michael Berry Show":
"You know, communism works until you run out of other people's money to spend. We're not going to be able to do that. It's interesting that AOC was one of the first people to step in line to boycott Goya; go against her own people, as supposedly a Puerto Rican woman, to go against people of her own Latin culture. She's naïve. To some extent I can understand AOC; she's young; she's naïve; she doesn't get it. But you've got someone like (Bernie) Sanders, who's older than us, older than me, and he still doesn't get it."
The CEO then divulged:
"We still have to chat with AOC; I love her. She was actually our Employee of the Month; I don't know if you know about this, but when she boycotted us, our sales actually increased 1,000%. So we gave her an honorary — we never were able to hand it to her but she got Employee of the Month for bringing attention to GOYA and our adobo. Actually our sales of adobo did very well after she said 'Make your own Adobo.'"
Unanue has worked with both Democrats and Republicans, and stood his ground in defending his praise of Trump despite immediate calls by Democrats to boycott his business in July.
The CEO told Fox News' "Fox & Friends" at the time that he was disappointed by the double standard shown.
"You're allowed to talk good or to praise one president, but you're not allowed — when I was called to be part of this commission to aid in economic and educational prosperity and you make positive comment, all of the sudden that's not acceptable," Unanue said.
"I'm not apologizing for saying — and especially when you're called by the president of the United States, you're gonna say, 'No, I'm sorry, I'm busy. No, thank you,'" he insisted. "I didn't say that to the Obamas and I didn't say that to President Trump."


theblaze--2020-12-08--Democratic Chicago official caught violating lockdown rules at his restaurant, calls it an 'error' i

Democratic Chicago official caught violating lockdown rules at his restaurant, calls it an 'error' in judgment

Democratic Chicago official caught violating lockdown rules at his restaurant , calls it an 'error ' in judgment 'We were @ @ @ @ @ somebody ratted us out '

A Chicago city lawmaker was caught violating state and city coronavirus lockdown rules by allowing diners to eat inside of his restaurant, and he said that it was an "error in judgment."
The latest incident of Democratic lockdown hypocrisy was first reported by a blogger called "Second City Cop" on Monday. Chicago Alderman Tom Tunney soon acknowledged his "error" in judgment, and claimed that the diners were made to observe social distancing rules.
"On a sporadic basis, we have allowed a very limited number of our regular diners to eat inside the restaurant while observing social distancing and mask-wearing rules. This was [an] error in judgement and won't happen again," said Tunney in the statement.
On Monday, a worker at the Ann Sather restaurant told a Block Club Chicago reporter that they had stopped seating customers inside.
"That ended yesterday. We were seating some people, but somebody ratted us out," he said.
A Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection spokesman told the Block Club that the matter was under investigation, and the mayor said that the restaurant would face the consequences of violating the order despite being owned by a city official.
"Our COVID-19 guidelines and restrictions apply to every single individual and establishment in Chicago so that we can further ensure the health and safety of our residents," Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot said in a statement.
"The Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection continues to ensure regulations are enforced equally across the city, and it will take appropriate action in this instance as it has done with the thousands of investigations into COVID-19 compliance for businesses this year," she added.
"Any business found in violation of these guidelines has been and will be held fully accountable. No exceptions," Lightfoot concluded.
Tunney was the first openly gay man elected as an alderman in Chicago in 2003.
Here's a local news report about the incident:


theblaze--2020-12-08--Autopsy report reveals grisly details in camping trip death of Fort Bragg paratrooper

'It was such a brutal crime .
Everything about this case does n't make sense . '

A Fort Bragg paratrooper who went missing on a camping trip with fellow soldiers in May was decapitated, according to the findings of a recently released autopsy report.
What are the details?
Spc. Enrique Roman-Martinez, 21, from Chino, California, was a human resource specialist in the 82nd Airborne Division stationed at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, when he disappeared during a Memorial Day weekend camping trip with friends at Cape Lookout National Seashore, CBS News reported. His partial remains washed ashore one week later, and his death was ruled a homicide.
The autopsy report, signed Nov. 4 from the Division of Forensic Pathology at East Carolina University's Brody School of Medicine, indicates that Roman-Martinez was murdered. But examiners were not able to determine the exact cause, because the young man had been decapitated and his head was the only remains recovered.
"While decapitation is, in and of itself, universally fatal, the remainder of the body in this case was not available for examination, and therefore potential causes of death involving the torso and extremities cannot be excluded," the report states. But it also pointed to other grisly details, such as "evidence of multiple chop injuries of the head," and a broken jaw in at least two places.
The News & Observer noted that a toxicology report showed that no evidence of drug use in the soldier's tissues.
Members of Roman-Martinez's family first read the report last week. His sister, Griselda Martinez, told The Fayetteville Observer that it was difficult to read the details from the report, including that her brother's hair had been pulled out and that his eyes were missing.
"It was such a brutal crime," she told the outlet. "Reading it and seeing how horrible it was..."
"Everything about this case doesn't make sense," she said. "Me and my family are left wondering. The biggest question is, 'Why?'"
Griselda told the Army Times that when her brother disappeared, he left behind his cellphone, wallet, and "the glasses he desperately needed." According to Griselda, there were roughly seven other soldiers on the camping trip with Roman-Martinez, but none of their names have been disclosed to the family.
What else happened on the trip?
The unidentified 911 caller who reported Roman-Martinez missing said the group looked for the soldier all day on May 23 when they woke up and discovered he was gone.
The Times reported:
However, early in the afternoon, Park Rangers encountered the group and asked them to move their vehicles, said Cape Lookout National Seashore spokesman B.G. Horvat. The group was parked too close to sand dunes, an important park resource, and asking them to move was a routine request.
"The Rangers moved on after hearing the group would comply ... [and] did not make mention to the Rangers at this point that anyone was missing from their group," Horvat said in an email. "You would have to ask members of the group why they didn't report a missing person then."
Investigators are still looking for clues to find out what happened to Roman-Martinez, whose remains were found near Mile Marker 53 on Shackleford Banks Island.
The Observer further noted:
Lt. Col. Mike Burns, an 82nd spokesman, said a $25,000 reward remains in place for information leading to the apprehension and conviction of the person or persons responsible for the murder. Anyone with information about the case is asked to call 910-396-8777, submit anonymous information via www.p3tips.com or contact a law enforcement agency.


theblaze--2020-12-07--Bernie Sanders admits Nancy Pelosi and the Democrats walked away from coronavirus relief bill offere

Bernie Sanders admits Nancy Pelosi and the Democrats walked away from coronavirus relief bill offered by Republicans 'Thats exactly what @ @ @ @ @

Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) admitted that Democrats walked away from a coronavirus bill that the Republicans had put on the table.
Sanders made the comments during an interview with Jake Tapper on his CNN show Monday. He also voiced his opposition to a compromise bill to which Democrats had signaled approval.
"Well, you talked about that $1.8 trillion bill that the White House, Steve Mnuchin, the Treasury Secretary, was working on with the House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) um, the Democrats walked away from that bill," Tapper said.
"Thats right!" interrupted Sanders.
"...because they wanted $2.2 trillion and they walked away from $1.8 trillion. Was that a mistake?" Tapper asked.
"Thats what I'm saying! That's exactly what I'm saying!" exclaimed Sanders.
"Here was a proposal much much larger, Democrats are, 'no that's not good enough,' and now we're prepared to accept a proposal that has I think $350 billion dollars in new money?" Sanders continued.
Sanders argued that the bill being negotiated didn't have enough of what Democrats and progressives wanted, and that the Democrats were going to give the Republicans "everything they want" in the proposed bill.
"I don't think this is much of a compromise, I think the Republicans have probably gotten 90% of what they want. Our job is to fight and get at least a 50-50 deal," Sanders said in the interview. "We gotta do a lot better and negotiate a lot harder."
Others have questioned the Democrats' rationale behind their acceptance of a bill that had far less than a previous bill that they rejected. On Friday, Pelosi snapped at a CNN reporter for asking her to explain why they were accepting the compromise bill.
"Let me tell you something!" Pelosi scolded CNN's Manu Raju.
"Don't characterize what we did before as a mistake, as a preface to your question, if you want an answer!" she added.
"That was not a mistake!" Pelosi exclaimed. "It was a decision, and it's taking us to a place where we can do the right thing, without other, shall we say, considerations in the legislation that we don't want."
Pelosi went on to say that the big difference between the previous bill and the current bill was that former Vice President Joe Biden was going to govern according to the guidance of the scientific community. President Donald Trump is still contesting the results of the Nov. 3 election.
Here's more of the interview with Sanders on CNN:


theblaze--2020-12-07--Should President Trump pardon himself and his family? Glenn Beck says yes

Should President Trump pardon himself and his family ?
Glenn Beck says yes 'What 's happening with his family is @ @

Reports claim that President Donald Trump may pardon himself and his family if Joe Biden takes the presidency. On the radio program Monday, Glenn Beck and producer Stu Burguiere discussed whether such use of the president's power to grant pardons is constitutional, and if so, is it the right thing to do.
"I'm 100% for it. I think what's happening with his family is despicable," Glenn stated.
Glenn went on to argue that preemptive pardons for President Trump's allies, family, and even himself, could cut off what might become an endless cycle of "political revenge," before it ever gets started.
"You don't want this to start, because then it doesn't end. It never ends," Glenn said of those who would seek retribution against political rivals. "And they're doing it to send a clear message ... 'You will either play by our rules ... or we will destroy you.' This is the worst possible message to send."
Watch the video clip below to catch more of the conversation:
Want more from Glenn Beck?
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theblaze--2020-12-07--Ted Cruz says he'll argue Pennsylvania election case if SCOTUS decides to hear it

Ted Cruz says he 'll argue Pennsylvania election case if SCOTUS decides to hear it 'If the Court takes the @ @ @ @ @ to present the oral argument '

Texas Sen. Ted Cruz says if the U.S. Supreme Court agrees to hear a case filed by fellow Republicans challenging Pennsylvania's election results, he will be the one to deliver the petitioners' argument before the high court.
What are the details?
Last month, a group of individuals led by Pennsylvania Rep. Mike Kelly (R) and GOP congressional candidate Sean Parnell filed a lawsuit arguing that universal mail-in voting is unconstitutional in the state. According to USA Today, the petitioners seek to "invalidate more than 2.5 million mail-in ballots that Pennsylvanians used to vote in the Nov. 3 election."
The Pennsylvania Supreme Court unanimously threw out the case, so Kelly and his co-petitioners filed an emergency appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court.
Sen. Cruz then promptly issued a statement urging the U.S. Supreme Court to take up Kelly's and Parnell's appeal, saying that the case "raises serious legal issues" and arguing that "hearing this case now — on an emergency expedited basis — would be an important step in helping rebuild confidence in the integrity of our democratic system."
Now, Cruz says he will personally argue the case if the Supreme Court agrees to hear it.
"Because of the importance of the legal issues presented, I've publicly urged #SCOTUS to hear the case brought by Congressman Mike Kelly, congressional candidate Sean Parnell & state rep. candidate Wanda Logan challenging the constitutionality of the POTUS election results in PA," the senator tweeted Monday.
Repeating a statement he first delivered to Fox News, Cruz explained, "Petitioners' legal team has asked me whether I would be willing to argue the case before #SCOTUS, if the Court grants certiorari. I have agreed, and told them that, if the Court takes the appeal, I will stand ready to present the oral argument."
He added, "As I said last week, the bitter division and acrimony we see across the Nation needs resolution. I believe #SCOTUS has a responsibility to the American People to ensure, within its powers, that we are following the law and following the Constitution."
Anything else?
Several state courts have seen election challenges filed in the wake of the general election. Dozens have been filed by attorneys representing President Donald Trump and his campaign, who allege that widespread voter fraud and irregularities are behind Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden's projected win.
Neither President Trump nor his campaign are listed as petitioners in Kelly and Parnell's case.
Over the weekend, U.S. Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito moved up the deadline for the high court to respond to the plaintiffs from Wednesday to Tuesday morning at 9 a.m. ET.


theblaze--2020-12-07--Schumer: Biden 'considering' cancelation of $50K in student loan debt for every borrower making unde

Schumer: Biden 'considering' cancelation of $50K in student loan debt for every borrower making under $125K a year

Schumer : Biden 'considering ' cancelation of $ 50K in student loan debt for every borrower making under $ 125K @ @

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) said Monday that former Vice President Joe Biden is "considering" forgiving $50,000 in federal student loan debt for every borrower with an annual salary of under $125,000 — a move that would place an incredibly heavy burden on taxpayers.
More than 40 million Americans currently have outstanding federal loans, amounting to a whopping total of $1.54 trillion in debt.
What did he say?
"We have come to the conclusion that President Biden can undo this debt, can forgive $50,000 of debt the first day he becomes president," Schumer announced to supporters outside of his New York office. "You don't need Congress; all you need is the flick of a pen.
"I have told him how important it is. He is considering it," Schumer added after a reporter asked if he had spoken to Biden about the proposal. "We believe he does [have the executive authority], and he's researching that. I believe that when he does his research, he will find that he does."
During the 2020 Democratic primary, Biden expressed support for a Democratic legislative proposal that would immediately cancel up to $10,000 in debt for each borrower. But since then, progressives in the party have been urging the former vice president to bypass Congress and cancel the debt by executive fiat.
Whether it is constitutional for a president to take such an action remains in question.
What else?
Later during the event, a reporter pressed Schumer on the equity of debt cancelation.
"What about the families that have made sacrifices to pay off the student loans for their students? What about the students who have paid off their student loans?" the reporter asked.
"Look," Schumer responded, "lots of students paid off student loans, but it's such a burden it's good for everybody to make sure this debt is vanquished."
After the event had concluded, one of individuals standing next to Schumer, mocked the reporter's question, brushing it off as just the "Fox News perspective" on the issue.
"These people have great futures, but they are burdened by debt ... we want to remove it," Schumer had plainly stated during the event.
Yet, despite Schumer's portrayal of debt cancelation as an obvious, kind solution, in reality, it is far from either. As TheBlaze previously reported, contrary to what progressive politicians claim, "'canceling debt' is not something that actually exists. Lawmakers could remove a borrower's liability for re-paying the debt, but the debt will be shifted onto someone" and "in the case of federal student loans, the burden would be further shifted onto taxpayers."


theblaze--2020-12-07--Politically correct Santa Claus shoots down little boy's Nerf gun Christmas present wish. And the ki

Politically correct Santa Claus shoots down little boy's Nerf gun Christmas present wish. And the kid starts bawling.

Politically correct Santa Claus shoots down little boy 's Nerf gun Christmas present wish .
And the kid starts bawling @ @ @ @ @ Santa declared to boy .
'Nope .
Not even a Nerf gun . '

It could've been one of those cute videos a parent revisits frequently when the mood strikes because it automatically elicits smiles. After all, what could go wrong with your little boy asking Santa Claus for a gift at the local mall?
Well, a whole lot if the St. Nick your kid encounters is apparently of the woke variety.
What happened?
In the clip, a little boy sits across a table from Santa who asks, "What do you want for Christmas?"
Image source: Twitter video screenshot via @WhiteHovse
The understandably shy youngster hesitates at first and looks down; you can barely hear what he's saying.
"You don't know?" Santa asks incredulously.
Soon the kid comes to life and begins to reveal what he wants. But Santa doesn't seem to catch what the kid says — then cocks his head to the side and utters a noticeably louder, "What?"
'No guns'
Apparently, the boy asked for a gun and Santa immediately shoots that down: "No guns."
The boy's mother quickly interjects that her son means a Nerf gun, but Santa is unmoved: "Nope, not even a Nerf gun."
The poor kid then turns and looks at his mom in disbelief:
Image source: Twitter video screenshot via @WhiteHovse
"If your dad wants to get it for you that's fine, but I can't bring it to you," Santa continues. "What else would you like? Lots of other toys: Legos, bicycles, there's cars and trucks. What do you think?"
Yeah, right buddy.
Then comes the crying
Within a few moments the boy turns away from Santa and begins crying. At that point, his mom — who's holding an infant — comes over to comfort him.
Image source: Twitter video screenshot via @WhiteHovse
"Aww," Santa tells the boy. "Don't cry."
Mom fortunately tells her son that he'll still get his Nerf gun — no thanks to the guy in the red suit.
Here's the clip:
It isn't clear exactly where or when the video was recorded, but the fact that the boy and his mother are wearing coronavirus masks means the encounter couldn't have occurred more than a few weeks ago, if not sooner. It was posted Monday to Twitter.
What did observers have to say?
As far as how folks reacted to the clip, it seemed to be a mixed bag.
"The kid isn't crying because he didn't get a toy, he's crying because Santa himself told him that he's not going to buy him something as innocuous as a Nerf gun," one commenter wrote. "Just more social indoctrination starting earlier and earlier. The mom should've let 'Santa' have it."
But more than a few observers noted that Santa's hands may have been tied. One offered, "I like to think it was more of a rule that they gave the Santa rather than him denying the kid a toy he's not even going to be giving him in the first place. Say you don't give away anything that resembles a weapon or firearm so that the Karen moms don't get triggered."
Yet others had little sympathy for Father Christmas:


theblaze--2020-12-07--Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers said no 'holiday tree' in state Capitol this year. Republicans ignored the

Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers said no 'holiday tree' in state Capitol this year. Republicans ignored the Grinch.

Wisconsin Gov .
Tony Evers said no 'holiday tree ' in state Capitol this year .
Republicans ignored the Grinch @ @ @ @ @ have a Christmas tree in the capitol .
The governor said no , but we @ @ @ @ @ put one up anyhow . '

Two Republican lawmakers have defied instructions from Wisconsin Democratic Gov. Tony Evers by putting up a Christmas tree in the Wisconsin Capitol rotunda.
The Associated Press reported that each year the Wisconsin Department of Administration decorates the state Capitol building with an evergreen tree, usually decorated with ornaments constructed by school children. This year, however, the building is closed to the public because of the coronavirus pandemic and Evers decided not to put up what he referred to as a "holiday tree."
Republican Reps. Paul Tittl and Shae Sortwell apparently thought the governor was behaving like the Grinch, so they took matters into their own hands. They are still working in the building, like other lawmakers and their staff, so they installed their own tree, making a point to call it a "Christmas tree."
"This year has also been horrible for many, so we wanted this tree to be something everyone can look forward to seeing and have a sense of hope," Tittl said. "Every year kids in Wisconsin look forward to making hand-made ornaments to decorate the Christmas tree. This tree gives kids throughout Wisconsin the opportunity to make their own ornaments and send them to our offices to decorate the tree."
The Wisconsin Assembly Republicans posted a video of the tree being installed, wishing Wisconsinites a Merry Christmas.
Rep. Sortwell & Rep. Tittl place Christmas tree in Wisconsin State capitol 2020 www.youtube.com
Records reviewed by the AP showed on Dec. 1 the lawmakers sought to obtain a permit for a "historical display" in the rotunda, making no reference to a Christmas tree. That permit application was denied the next day by the chief of the Capitol Police, who works for the Evers administration. He told the lawmakers that only the State Capitol and Executive Residence Board could approve decorations and that state law prohibits the DOA from permitting any exhibits on ground floor of the rotunda.
He added that the DOA is denying all permit requests for the interior of the Capitol because the building is closed to the public. DOA Assistant Deputy Secretary Olivia Hwang sent an email to Tittl and Sortwell explaining that the administration is denying all permit requests for decorations in the rotunda, but if they wanted they could put up Christmas decorations in their offices or in any space in a building controlled by the state Assembly.
The lawmakers ignored the bureaucrats.
"We really wanted to have a Christmas tree in the capitol. The governor said no, but we decided we were going to put one up anyhow," Tittl said.
Rep. Sortwell invited children from all around Wisconsin to make decorations and send them to the Republicans to help decorate the tree.


theblaze--2020-12-07--Pennsylvania mail-in ballots show Trump underperforming state GOP candidates and Biden overperformin

Pennsylvania mail-in ballots show Trump underperforming state GOP candidates and Biden overperforming state Democrats

'That gap is something we have never seen before '

Conservative Review senior editor Daniel Horowitz raised concerns about the margin of former Vice President Joe Biden's lead in mail-in votes in Pennsylvania, discussing the results with BlazeTV host Mark Levin on his Fox News program, "Life, Liberty, and Levin" Sunday night.
Horowitz, the host of the "Conservative Review Podcast," said that the official results show President Donald Trump underperforming other elected Republicans statewide and Biden overperforming his fellow Democrats in mail-in ballots. He says the results are concerning because the margins for Biden don't make sense.
The 2.6 million mail-in votes cast in Pennsylvania, "always seemed to skew against Trump even relative to other Republicans and they always seemed to favor Biden even relative to other Democratic candidates," Horowitz said.
"When you take a look at Republicans who won their races for state auditor, for state treasurer, it turns out that those Republicans did better than Trump on mail-ins but not on Election Day," he explained. "On Election Day they had fewer votes than Trump. Whereas, when you go to the Democrat victors, such as Dan Shapiro, the notorious attorney general, he seemed to do better than Biden on Election Day ballots but worse than Biden on mail-ins."
"In other words, Biden always won out on mail-ins and Trump always got fewer votes," he concluded.
Watch:
"So what you're saying is Biden out-performed everyone including fellow Democrats on the mail-ins in a significant way and President Trump underperformed statewide Republicans on the mail-in ballots in a significant way," Levin asked.
"Exactly," Horowitz replied. "When you look at other states we're finding a similar pattern of a bunch of ballots cast that only had Biden, and of course, they're always mail-ins."
Horowitz noted that "naysayers" may argue that some people are only interested in the presidential race and may have only filled out their mail-in ballots for president, ignoring down ballot races.
"But the problem with that is, why would you see this asymmetry in Pennsylvania where even within Republican voters it seems that more of them filled out ballots for mail-ins down ballot ... but then when you go over to the Democrats it seems like more Democrats filled out down ballot Election Day but not on the mail-ins," he said.
Based on his analysis, given that 64.7% of mail-in votes in Pennsylvania were from registered Democrats, 23.7% from Republicans, and 11.6% from nonpartisan or other party voters, Horowitz estimated that even if Biden won 95% of returned mail-in ballots from Democrats, 21% from Republicans, and 80% from independents, he still wouldn't have reached the number of mail-in ballots he reportedly received when the votes were counted.
"That gap is something we have never seen before," Horowitz said.


theblaze--2020-12-07--VIDEO: Suspect throws explosive into Trump supporter's home while he and his girlfriend are inside

VIDEO : Suspect throws explosive into Trump supporter 's home while he and his girlfriend are inside 'Some people say @ @ @ @ @ avid Trump Supporter '

After a suspect hit his home with explosives over the weekend, a man in St. Clair Shores, Michigan, said he thinks he was targeted because of his "avid" support for President Trump.
What are the details?
The homeowner, who for his safety has chosen to remain unidentified, told WDIV-TV that he and his girlfriend were heading upstairs just after midnight on Saturday when he heard two loud explosions and rushed back down to see what happened.
"Smoke was filling the house," he said. "I went up, told her to get out the house, [said], 'Grab the dog and get out of the house.'"
"The explosion went off and it kind of sounded like a transformer, I guess, from a power line, and then another explosion went off and it shook the house," the homeowner added.
"When we came outside, we noticed the whole window, it was completely blown out, smoke coming out. I didn't know if the house was on fire or what was going on," he continued. "I [saw] a truck racing down the road. When the police showed up, they went in, luckily it didn't catch fire, but the actual implosion of the mortar — it did some serious damage."
Macomb County man says he was targeted with explosives due to his politics youtu.be
Surveillance footage, obtained by WBJK-TV, showed the suspect exiting a truck and running up to the house with an explosive in hand. He launched it through the window of the home before returning to his truck.
Then, additional surveillance footage showed a second explosive being thrown into the homeowner's driveway near his girlfriend's car.
The homeowner said the explosions were heard all around the neighborhood.
"My neighbor came over from across the street and he said two blocks over they called him and said, 'What the hell happened?' They thought a bomb went off," he told the news outlet.
A politically motivated attack?
When asked why he thought somebody would target him, the homeowner acknowledged that his open support for the president, which includes a sign on his property that reads "Trump 2020, F*** Your Feelings," could be the reason.
"Some people say because I'm a pretty avid Trump Supporter," he noted. "I always have my sign up."
He is now offering a $10,000 reward for pertinent information regarding the attack.
"It's worth it to me to find out who's trying to catch my house on fire and possibly kill me," he said.
No motive has officially been determined and police are still investigating the incident.


theblaze--2020-12-07--SNL's Pete Davidson mocks demonstrators who supported lockdown-defying Mac's Public House as Holocau

SNL's Pete Davidson mocks demonstrators who supported lockdown-defying Mac's Public House as Holocaust deniers

'They 're making us look like babies '

"Saturday Night Live" cast member Pete Davidson over the weekend mocked protesters who rallied last week outside Staten Island's lockdown-defying Mac's Public House as Holocaust deniers.
What are the details?
During the show's "Weekend Update" segment, Davidson — a Staten Island native — guested as himself and answered questions from host Colin Jost about the protesters who hit the streets Wednesday night to back the establishment shuttered by lockdown orders banning indoor dining.
The owners of Mac's Public House decided two weeks ago that their bar would become an "autonomous zone" in an attempt to skirt the coronavirus lockdown orders from far-left New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo. On Tuesday night, law enforcement shut down the business and arrested Danny Presti, the bar's co-owner, for defying those orders. He was arrested again after midnight Sunday for allegedly hitting a sheriff's deputy with his car, but Presti insisted he did "nothing wrong."
As for last week's demonstration, Davidson told Jost, "I saw the protest. People were outside the bar shouting about freedom, taunting the cops, chanting that they should arrest the governor. But it's Staten Island, so I assumed that it was just like a typical last call."
"Are you against these protests?" Jost asked.
"I mean, kind of," Davidson answered. "But I'm also just happy I'm no longer the first thing people think of when they say, 'What's the worst thing about Staten Island?'"
Davidson also quipped that "one guy at the protest even gave a speech where he literally compared not being able to drink indoors to being Jewish during the Holocaust — which must have been awkward for the people there who had to suddenly pretend they believed in the Holocaust."
Cost then asked, "So I take it that you found these protests frustrating."
"Yeah, man," Davidson replied, "they're makin' us look like babies ... you know it's bad when even people in Boston are like, 'Ah, drink at home, you queers!'"
Davidson ended the segment by giving a shout-out regarding Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden, whom the mainstream media declared the winner of last month's election over President Donald Trump: "Biden won! Get over it!"
Weekend Update: Pete Davidson on Staten Island COVID-19 Protests - SNL youtu.be
Anything else?
Davidson is no stranger to controversy. Earlier this year he said he was forced to apologize for making fun of U.S. Rep. Dan Crenshaw (R-Texas) in 2018 for losing an eye in Afghanistan and said that he regretted the fame the congressman gained from the dust-up.
Crenshaw, not surprisingly, fired right back on a "Fox & Friends" appearance: "I can't get out of Pete Davidson's head. He's been ... thinking about me a lot for the past year as he builds this comedy routine apparently. I'm not so sure his jokes always land, but it is what it is."
And last year Davidson was booed on SNL for comparing the Catholic Church to rapper R. Kelly, who was charged with 10 counts of aggravated criminal sex abuse.


theblaze--2020-12-07--Horowitz: Florida leads nation in pushing accuracy and transparency of COVID-19 testing

Horowitz : Florida leads nation in pushing accuracy and transparency of COVID-19 testing

Which state will provide Americans as much transparency and due process as Portugal does before forcibly locking them down? It appears that Florida is leading the way in bringing sunlight to the process of PCR testing, which is being used as the formative tool inducing forced quarantines.
It's been nearly three months since the New York Times discovered that a large percentage of the positive tests being reported in this country are only at trace levels and are not infectious. The paper reported that most labs were using 35-40 RNA amplifications, known as "cycle thresholds" (CTs), in order to detect traces of the virus. Most research shows that any virus that is captured only through a CT level above 25, and certainly above 30, is very likely to be a false or meaningless positive. This is why a Portuguese judge recently ruled that any positive test that used more than 25 cycle thresholds is not reliable and cannot be used to force quarantine.
Each cycle threshold doubles the level of amplification of the previous CT. Thus, a CT of 40 is 1,024 times the amplification of a CT level of 30 (210 =1,024) and 32,768 times that of a CT of 25 (215=32,768). Clearly, not all positive results are equal, and knowing the CT level of your positive result is of utmost importance. A friend of mine had her daughter forcibly removed from school for two weeks because my friend tested positive with no symptoms when she gave birth in the hospital. Shouldn't she know if her case is really at a level that can be cultured as a live infection or not? If not, not only was her daughter's life gratuitously disrupted, but all her friends were needlessly locked down too.
Thanks to the leadership of Gov. Ron DeSantis (R), Florida appears to be the first state that will begin quantifying CT levels and possibly adjusting policy based on the results. On Dec. 4, Florida became the first state to mandate that testing labs report the cycle thresholds of each COVID test.
"All positive, negative and indeterminate COVID-19 laboratory results must be reported to FDOH via electronic laboratory reporting or by fax immediately," ordered the Florida Department of Health in a new memorandum to testing centers first posted online by the Alachua Chronicle. "This includes all COVID-19 test types – polymerase chain reaction (PCR), other RNA, antigen and antibody results. Cycle threshold (CT) values and their reference ranges , as applicable, must be reported by laboratories to FDOH via electronic laboratory reporting or by fax immediately."
It's unclear at this point whether the DeSantis administration plans to change quarantine policies based on the disclosure of CT values, but the first step toward readjusting those policies is to gather such information. Knowing what percentage of positive cases are detected only at levels that are likely dead viral RNA is a vital tool in tracking the epidemiological trends of the virus.
The enormity of consequence from such a decision cannot be overstated. A recent analysis of 29 existing studies conducted by Oxford University researchers found that "the evidence is increasingly pointing to the probability of culturing live virus being related to the amount of viral RNA in the specimen and, therefore, inversely related to the cycle threshold." They observed two published studies that showed "the odds of live virus culture reduced by approximately 33% for every one unit increase in Ct."
This is why they concluded that given that "complete live viruses are necessary for transmission, not the fragments identified by PCR," it's advisable that accurate CT levels coupled with actual symptoms in the patient "should be used to define the reliability of PCR for assessing infectious potential." On the other hand, they concluded that positive results from those "with high cycle threshold are unlikely to have infectious potential."
Consider all the children who often don't have any symptoms but test positive and are taken out of school. Now, consider all those who are supposedly exposed to that asymptomatic child who are taken out of school for two weeks. Shouldn't we try to determine whether those children actually have infectious potential, especially when we have found very little spread from children in school?
The consequences of unscientific quarantine of children are devastating. According to the Washington Post, failure rates in math and English among low-income household children in Montgomery County, Maryland, rose sixfold this year. In St. Paul, Minnesota, nearly 40% of high school students have received failing grades so far this year. Yet, Maryland Governor "Lockdown" Larry Hogan and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz continue to ignore the science about CT levels in testing and the lack of spread among children.
If every state were to track cycle thresholds, we would actually be able to better target the quarantine and contact tracing (to the extent it's even constitutional) to those who actually have live infectious potential. We'd also be able to determine once and for all if there is meaningful spread among asymptomatic individuals.
Why would we continue to indiscriminately lock down an entire society and chase our tail tracing a virus with millions of positive cases that aren't really infectious? That strategy hasn't worked in containing the virus and has only worked to destroy our lives. Then again, this was never about following the science. This was always about control. And the more the public is in the dark about what is and is not a danger for spreading the virus, the more the politicians can categorically shut us down.


theblaze--2020-12-07--Staten Island bar co-owner who defied lockdown order allegedly hits sheriff's deputy with car, gets

Staten Island bar co-owner who defied lockdown order allegedly hits sheriff's deputy with car, gets arrested again

Staten Island bar co-owner who defied lockdown order allegedly hits sheriff 's deputy with car , gets arrested again Danny @ @ @ @ @ House says he did 'nothing wrong '

The co-owner of Mac's Public House — the Staten Island bar that has gained national attention for defying COVID-19 lockdown orders — was arrested over the weekend for allegedly hitting a New York City sheriff's deputy with his car, WABC-TV reported.
What are the details?
Two deputies followed Danny Presti to his vehicle after he left the bar — which had welcomed customers once again — shortly after midnight Sunday, officials told the station.
Image source: WABC-TV video screenshot
The deputies identified themselves, approached Presti, and tried to arrest him for multiple offenses, WABC said, adding that Presti began to flee on foot toward his vehicle. The pursuing officers ordered him to stop, the station said, but Presti entered his car.
Officials said Presti allegedly drove into one of the deputies, who was thrown upon the hood of the vehicle, WABC said, adding that Presti drove about 100 yards with the injured officer clinging to the hood until deputies eventually brought the vehicle to a stop.
WABC said the incident was caught on surveillance video.
What happened to Presti?
Presti was arraigned Sunday on multiple charges — including felony assault — and was released from police custody, the station said. Presti's attorney Lou Gelormino told WABC his client spent the night in jail.
It was the second time Presti was arrested in less than a week, as sheriff's deputies raided Mac's Public House last Tuesday night and led Presti away in handcuffs for defying COVID-19 lockdown orders.
Presti on Monday said he's stepping back for a couple of days out of respect for law and order, the station said — but he and Gelormino maintained his innocence.
"Two big, burly officers came out from in between a parked car, behind him, and yelled, 'Presti! Hey, Presti!' and started running at him," Gelormino said Monday, according to WABC. "That's what started the whole turn of events. It wasn't two officers in uniform, waving badges, saying, 'Hey, can we talk to you?' That's what started the whole event."
Presti also made a statement Monday, the station said: "I have nothing but respect for the NYPD and other law enforcement. I think when you find at the end of the investigation, you will find that I did nothing wrong."
Image source: WABC-TV video screenshot
What happened to the sheriff's deputy?
The injured deputy was taken to a hospital, where he was treated and released, WABC said. A station reporter said during the broadcast that the deputy broke bones in his leg as a result of the incident — but that Presti denies that and insists the deputy only twisted his ankle — and that there's video to prove it.
More from WABC:
Officers made the arrest after conducting surveillance on the bar, which had violated COVID restrictions multiple times.
Officials say officers saw a woman standing in front of the pub who would guide people into the neighboring commercial space.
They were able to observe people enter the space and then disappear into a back room.
Those who were visible through the windows appeared to be drinking alcoholic beverages.
Around 10 p.m., officers saw about 20 people exit the neighboring space, followed by another 10 people.
Gelormino told the station the bar's tables were six feet apart Saturday night, including on the patio in the back, and that all social distancing rules were being followed.
Presti prior to his arrest told WABC that "we're struggling, and a lot of people in these businesses have lost a lot, and in the beginning, we were OK to sacrifice, and we've sacrificed everything at this point. You have to take care of us, the government is supposed to be there to protect you, and that's the opposite of what's happening here."
What did NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio have to say?
"I think his actions are extraordinarily disturbing, I think they are disgusting, I think there's no excuse for someone doing something that might threaten a law enforcement officer, that's what he did," New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio said about the incident, the station reported. "Our sheriff's deputy, his life was in danger because of what this guy did. It's absolutely unacceptable, he should pay very very serious consequences for what he did. I am always concerned we have to make sure consequences are clear. So I respect that the law enforcement system has a way of determining who can get released and who doesn't. But what I care about the most here, is that it be very clear, there are serious serious charges, and this guy did something extremely dangerous, and he needs to suffer the appropriate consequences for what he did."
What did New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo have to say?
"A couple of primary New York values: One of them was, you don't assault a police officer. They are defending a person who drove his car into a law enforcement officer, drove 100 yards with a law enforcement officer clinging to the hood for his life, and that's who they are championing ... Someone who attacked a law enforcement officer," New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said, according to WABC. "You don't attack the NYPD. You don't do it. They put their life on the line. You don't attack a law enforcement officer who is doing his or her job. And when you have someone who drives their car into someone, could have killed him, hospitalizes him — how dare you? What signal are you sending when you glamorize that type of behavior? ... It's repugnant to the values of any real New Yorker. You never assault a police officer."
Anything else?
After Presti's first arrest Tuesday a large group of protesters hit the street in front of Mac's Public House Wednesday night to show their support for the bar.
And WABC reported that yet another protest is planned for Monday.
CBS News said Staten Island is home to many police officers and firefighters and is usually seen as supportive of law enforcement. The network added that the New York City borough is much more conservative than the rest of the city and is the only one of the Big Apple's five boroughs that voted for President Donald Trump in November.
This story has been updated.


theblaze--2020-12-07--'Crisis standards of care': New Mexico Democratic gov authorizes health care rationing

' ... if and when the Department of Health deems it necessary , they can '

As coronavirus cases surge across the western United States, some state officials and health officials are exploring the possibility of rationing health care, providing adequate care only to those patients who are most likely to survive COVID-19.
What's going on?
New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham admitted in an interview with the Washington Post that she will permit New Mexico hospitals to operate under "crisis standards of care," which means they will be allowed to ration health care.
Tripp Stelnicki, a spokesperson for the governor, told the Santa Fe New Mexican that Lujan Grisham signed an executive order on Friday making it easier for hospitals to ration health care, but she has not given the green light for the "crisis standards" — yet.
"In the simplest possible terms, [the executive order] provides for the temporary facilitation of that assistance that may become necessary outside providers' regular scope of practice and support. So, if and when the Department of Health deems it necessary, they can," Stelnicki explained.
However, Lujan Grisham told the Post that she would most likely approve "crisis standards" by Monday.
The Democratic governor took action last month against the COVID-19 surge, enacting new restrictions that closed "in-person services for all non-essential activities" statewide. But cases continued to surge, and now, the University of New Mexico's six hospitals are nearing their ICU capacity.
Speaking with the Post, Lujan Grisham said her actions "dropped the positivity rate, we dropped our rate of infection, and we slowed hospitalizations per capita" — but said it was not enough.
"We have constituents here — and I would argue in every state — that still believe that this is not a deadly, contagious virus, and you don't have to practice any public health measures," she said. "That makes it really complicated."
New Mexico is particularly vulnerable to COVID-19 impacts, the Post noted, because the state "has one of the lowest numbers of per capita hospital beds of any state in the nation," in addition to having "an unusually high percentage of elderly and low-income residents."
To date, New Mexico has seen more than 108,000 confirmed COVID-19 cases and nearly 1,750 deaths from the virus. Those are big numbers for a state with a population of a little more than 2 million people.
Any other states?
Meanwhile, hospital leaders in Idaho also said the COVID situation in the Gem State could mean hospitals reach the "crisis standard of care" by New Year's — or even mid-December, according to the Idaho Statesman.


theblaze--2020-12-07--Sidney Powell's 'Kraken' lawsuits defeated in Georgia and Michigan

'The plaintiffs simply do not having standing to bring these claims '

A federal judge on Monday dismissed the "Kraken" election fraud lawsuit filed in Georgia by attorney Sidney Powell, who sought to decertify the Georgia presidential election results declaring former Vice President Joe Biden the winner.
Judge Timothy Batten of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia listened to arguments for a little more than an hour before ruling from the bench to grant a motion to dismiss from lawyers for the state of Georgia, WSB-TV reported. He said that this sort of case belongs in state court, not federal court, that the plaintiffs lacked standing, and that Powell waited too long to file her complaint about Dominion Voting Systems machines.
"The courts have convincingly held that these types of cases are not properly before federal courts. These are state elections. State courts should evaluate these proceedings from start to finish," Batten said.
"Moreover, the plaintiffs simply do not having standing to bring these claims," he added.
"Additionally, I find that the plaintiffs waited too long to file this suit," Batten said. "Their primary complaint involves the Dominion ballot marking devices. They say those machines are susceptible to fraud. There is no reason they could not have followed the administrative procedure act to the rule-making authority that had been exercised by the Secretary of State."
"This suit could have been filed months ago at the time these machines were adopted," Batten concluded. "Instead the plaintiffs waited until over three weeks after the election to file the suit. There's no question in my mind that if I were to deny the motion to dismiss, the matter would be brought before the 11th Circuit, and the 11th Circuit would reverse me."
Powell in recent weeks claimed that her "massive" lawsuit would "save" the Trump presidency by uncovering evidence of a widespread conspiracy to commit election fraud in the 2020 presidential election. She alleged, among several other claims, that international and domestic persons used Dominion Voting Systems, the company that manufactures the voting machines in Georgia, to fix the election by switching votes for Trump to Biden.
In arguing to have the case dismissed, the defendants pointed out that Georgia has certified its election results three times: Once after the first count, a second time in a hand-counted audit of the 5 million ballots cast, and a third recount that confirmed the results from the previous two.
Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger said Monday that he will recertify the state election results, confirming that Joe Biden won Georgia by roughly 12,000 votes.
"Today the Secretary of State's office will be re-certifying our state's election results," Raffensperger said. "Then the safe harbor under the United States Code to name electors is tomorrow, and then they will meet on December 14th to officially elect the next president."
Additionally, a federal judge in Michigan denied an emergency request filed by Powell to overturn the election in that state, making similar arguments about the timing of Powell's lawsuit and the complaint being moot and adding that the court lacks the power to overturn an election.
"Plaintiffs ask this court to ignore the orderly statutory scheme established to challenge elections and to ignore the will of millions of voters," U.S. District Judge Linda Parker wrote in her 36-page opinion. "This, the Court cannot, and will not, do."
Parker also said that "the ship has sailed" on this case and that the lawsuit was filed too late.
"Plaintiffs could have lodged their constitutional challenges much sooner than they did, and certainly not three weeks after Election Day and one week after certification of almost three million votes," Parker wrote.
She also criticized the allegations of fraud made in Powell's affidavits as "an amalgamation of theories, conjecture, and speculation that such alterations were possible" (emphasis hers).
"With nothing but speculation and conjecture that votes for President Trump were destroyed, discarded or switched to votes for Vice President Biden, plaintiffs' equal protection claim fails," her opinion stated.
On Nov. 22 before this lawsuit was filed, President Trump's legal team distanced itself from Powell in a statement making clear that she "is practicing law on her own" and "is not a member of the Trump legal team," despite the fact that she appeared with Trump's personal attorney Rudy Giuliani in a press conference just days earlier.


theblaze--2020-12-07--Justice Alito moves up deadline in Pennsylvania election fraud case, suggesting possible SCOTUS acti

Justice Alito moves up deadline in Pennsylvania election fraud case, suggesting possible SCOTUS action

Justice Alito moves up deadline in Pennsylvania election fraud case , suggesting possible SCOTUS action

U.S. Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito has moved up the deadline for Pennsylvania officials to respond to an election challenge filed by state Rep. Mike Kelly and other Republican state lawmakers, possibly signaling that the court may take up the case.
What are the details?
Alito had previously set the deadline for Dec. 9, one day after what is known as the "safe harbor date," the federal cutoff date for states to resolve election issues and lock in the their electors for the Electoral College vote on Dec. 14.
But on Sunday, Alito moved up the deadline for Pennsylvania officials to respond to Tuesday by 9 a.m. ET. According to the Philadelphia Inquirer, the move is significant because it "would give the court a few hours Tuesday to act on Kelly's request if it chooses to do so."
The plaintiffs in the case are seeking to have the court toss all of the state's mail-in ballots on the grounds that a state law passed in October 2019 that allows for no-excuse absentee voting is unconstitutional. The state constitution specifies that absentee votes can be cast for only a limited number of reasons.
Alito reportedly did not offer an explanation for the change, but nevertheless it is certainly a hopeful sign for efforts to challenge the state's election results. The Inquirer noted that Alito's original selection of the Dec. 9 deadline indicated to most legal observers that the court had no intention of acting on the case in a way that would alter the results.
Former Vice President Joe Biden currently leads incumbent President Donald Trump in the state by just over 80,000 votes. But should the courts rule that millions of mail-in ballots cast in the state be lost, it would effectively ensure a Pennsylvania victory for Trump as the election would be sent to the state's Republican-controlled legislature for a vote.
What else?
Despite the move seeming to provide a glimmer of hope for the president and his allies, some experts are arguing that the deadline change is nothing more than a symbolic gesture out of respect for the Republican lawmakers.
"I would not read too much into this," Richard L. Hasen, an election law professor at the University of California-Irvine, said in a blog post Sunday. "It shows more respect to the petitioners [Kelly], and does not make it look like the court is simply running out the clock on the petition. I still think the chances the court grants any relief on this particular petition are virtually zero."
In a unanimous decision late last month, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court rejected the lawsuit, essentially arguing that it arrived far too late and only came after the lawmakers' favored candidate lost.


theblaze--2020-12-07--California business owner says 'pick-and-choose' lockdown policies from hypocritical Democrats don't

California business owner says 'pick-and-choose' lockdown policies from hypocritical Democrats don't make sense

'It 's been very , very difficult '

Small business owners in California are anxious as the state implements new coronavirus restrictions amid a rise of confirmed virus cases.
Last week, California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) announced a new regional stay-at-home order that divides California into five regions and triggers when a region's hospital intensive care unit capacity drops below 15%. As part of the order, many personal care businesses are forced to close, restaurants may only offer takeout and delivery, and retail stores can only operate at 20% capacity. Additionally, "nonessential" travel in the state will be "temporarily restricted."
California business owners worry that after months of restrictions and falling revenues because of the COVID-19 pandemic, this new round of restrictions might finally force many businesses to close or move out of state.
Nick Kershner, the owner of California-based Matchless IT — which provides IT services to other businesses — appeared on "Fox & Friends" Monday morning to weigh in on the new coronavirus restrictions. Kershner described a "trickle-down effect" from some businesses closing, causes service providers for those businesses to lose customers and revenue, potentially forcing them to close as well.
"It's been very, very difficult," Kershner said.
He questioned whether politicians enacting these restrictions cared about the devastating economic consequences for many Americans and their families.
"I don't necessarily know that they're looking out for us," Kershner said. "Actions speak louder than words ... do they even believe in their own edicts?"
"Frankly, I don't know if many businesses are going to be able to survive another intense lockdown like we're in right now," he added.
While businesses are being told to close and workers are forced to forgo their pay under strict coronavirus rules, some public officials whose salaries are paid for by taxpayers have been caught flagrantly violating the COVID rules they put in place for other people. High-profile elected Democrats like Gov. Newsom and L.A. County Supervisor Sheila Kuehl are being accused of hypocrisy after urging people to comply with coronavirus restrictions and then neglecting to do so themselves.
Meanwhile, Reason reported that as of mid-November, the number of small businesses open in California has declined 31 percent from January when the pandemic began. Business advocates who spoke to Reason warned that the new set of restrictions may deliver a "deathblow" to businesses that are already struggling.
"This will be a devastating deathblow to already fragile, uncertain, and terrified small business owners," John Kabateck, the California director for the National Federation of Independent Business, said. He told Reason about a survey of NFIB members who report that if the economy doesn't improve by early 2021, as many as 20% of them will be forced to close permanently.
Kabateck said small businesses will be hit hardest by the restrictions.
"A 20 percent rule has a much different effect on small family business than that of a big-box corporate retailer," he explained. "Removing 80 percent of a small retailer's selling space is as good as shutting down the small retailer…We want to see the science saying that retail commerce is the cause of the COVID surge."
California's state government does intend to provide temporary tax relief and $500 million in stimulus aid to struggling small businesses.
"California's small businesses embody the best of the California Dream and we can't let this pandemic take that away," Newsom said in a statement. "By providing potentially billions in immediate relief and support, our small businesses can weather the next month."
Still, promises of government relief do little to instill confidence in a public that witnesses leaders flout the very rules they say are necessary to stop the spread of coronavirus.
"Someone like Sheila Kuehl who goes out and says outdoor dining is the most dangerous thing you can do, votes to shut down outdoor dining, and then immediately goes out to dinner afterwards. None of it makes any sense," Kershner told Fox News.
"Not only does does this not makes sense, but I'm not getting paid at the same time. I can't go to work. I can't go out. I can't visit friends," he continued. "The virus isn't regional, but the pick-and-choose policies that these politicians put in place is regional."


theblaze--2020-12-07--Horowitz: The Constitution is immune to coronavirus power-grabs

Horowitz : The Constitution is immune to coronavirus power-grabs What has happened to 'consent of the governed ' ?

In a matter of 244 years, we have gone from the understanding that "governments derive their just powers from the consent of the governed" to "shut up, mask up, and obey your governors."
Amid the reams of debate written on the data, science, math, and policies undergirding the unprecedented governmental response to coronavirus, there is shockingly very little discussion about the legality of crushing the most foundational rights imaginable. Can executive officials merely tout "COVID" in a sentence at a press conference and rule over our lives in any way they want for as long as they want? This is the discussion that was needed eight months ago, but there's no time like the present to embark on it.
Imagine if Joe Biden delivered a prime-time speech at a press conference and announced that because of the emergent times in which we live, allowing Trump to remain president was simply not an option and that for our safety he rigged the election to ensure Trump's defeat. Obviously, we would all be shocked by such a statement and would all move to counter his hypothetical play.
Well, this has actually happened, but with much more severe consequences than even stealing an election. What is worse than election fraud is governing fraud. What's worse than someone illegally obtaining office is for someone to use that office to crush civil liberties and life itself, even if legitimately elected. Yet, for eight months, governors and mayors have been able to publicly announce a press conference and rule over our lives via press statements or tweets without any pushback.
The normally mild-mannered Justice Alito warned last month at the Federalist Society convention (which, of course, had to be remote) that "we have never before seen restrictions as severe, extensive and prolonged" and that these executive orders have produced "previously unimaginable restrictions on individual liberty."
Alito noted, as I did in May, that the smallpox vaccine case of Jacobson v. Massachusetts (1905), which is being used by lower court judges to greenlight coronavirus fascism, affected "a local measure that targeted a problem of limited scope." On the other hand, "it did not involve sweeping restrictions imposed across the country for an extended emergency."
He warned of a crisis of executive power-grabs indefinitely. "All sorts of things can be called an emergency or disaster of major proportions," Alito reminded the audience. "Simply slapping on that label cannot provide the ground for abrogating our most fundamental rights. And whenever fundamental rights are restricted, the Supreme Court and other courts cannot close their eyes."
In a constitutional republic, elections aren't even that important. There are limits on what an elected official can do. Thus, the collateral damage from a stolen election, if one believes this election was stolen, is not even that impactful, assuming we are following the rule of law on every other issue. Even when you legitimately win an election, you don't get to rule over the lives, liberty, property, and even bodily integrity of the mouths and noses of those you defeat. We've had this systemic governing fraud all year, and few Republicans or even self-described conservatives have rigorously fought back the way anyone would if someone openly admitted to stealing the election.
It's important that, just like an abused wife, the American people understand that this is not OK. It's not OK for a husband to abuse a wife even if he feels he has valid grievances with her or that it's for her own good. The first step to evacuating someone from that relationship is to make them realize they are indeed being abused.
Likewise, Americans must understand this not part of the contract document we signed with government. Certain things are off-limits. Take a look at this chart from the Workplace Mental Health Institute showing 15 signs of an abusive relationship and ask yourself how many of them don't apply to our current relationship with government vis-à-vis this virus.
Stops you from seeing friends and won't let you go out without permission? Check
Tells you what to wear, monitors your communications? Big-time!
Won't let you work? Like never before!
Controls what you watch, read, say, and won't allow you to question anything? Censorship galore!
Punishes you for not keeping those rules and tell you it's for your own good? That's the whole point!
Calls you names and blames you for everything? That's the name of the game!
In fact, I can't think of a single warning sign that doesn't perfectly describe the relationship of government and its elite allies with the American people. This chart should serve as a gut-punch and a wake-up call to evacuate from this "new normal" before it's too late.
We've all forgotten that aside from habeas corpus during a rebellion, no other fundamental right can be abrogated even during a time of emergency. As it states in Art. 44 of the Maryland Declaration of Rights: "That the provisions of the Constitution of the United States, and of this State, apply, as well in time of war, as in time of peace; and any departure therefrom, or violation thereof, under the plea of necessity, or any other plea, is subversive of good Government, and tends to anarchy and despotism."
In other words, the following usurpations are null and void:
Open-ended curfews
Shutting down or restricting businesses and private schools
Restricting even small personal gatherings
Forced quarantine even of people who don't have the virus or using faulty or no due process to push quarantine
Treating an uncovered mouth and nose like nudity
Interstate travel bans
Republicans will have the trifecta of control in 24 state governments this year. In 31 states, they will hold both chambers of the legislature. Where is the effort to push a declaration of rights reaffirming these principles?
Likewise, at the federal level, Republicans are close to passing another "stimulus" to bail out the states from the deleterious effects of their unconstitutional lockdowns. But before throwing more money at them, why not attach a set of conditions to that money to protect civil liberties?
Why not empower the DOJ to better enforce U.S. Code Title 18, Sec 242, which prohibits any elected official from using "law, statute, ordinance, regulation, or custom" to deprive any person of "any rights, privileges, or immunities secured or protected by the Constitution"?
Where are the Republican Senate candidates in Georgia? Have you heard them speak truth to power on this issue? Where is the political party that represents the people during the greatest period of authoritarian rule since the settlement of this continent?
Let us never forget the warning of C.S. Lewis: "Of all tyrannies, a tyranny exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive. It may be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies. The robber baron's cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated; but those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end, for they do so with the approval of their own conscience."


theblaze--2020-12-07--Report: Goldman Sachs explores moving key operation from NYC to Florida, where taxes are low, to sav

Report: Goldman Sachs explores moving key operation from NYC to Florida, where taxes are low, to save money

Report : Goldman Sachs explores moving key operation from NYC to Florida , where taxes are low , to save @ @ @ @ @ of millions of dollars per year

Goldman Sachs, the investment bank behemoth that controls nearly $2 trillion of assets, has reportedly explored shifting some of its key operations out of Manhattan, which has one of the highest costs of living in the world and is one of the most taxed places in the United States.
According to Bloomberg News, Goldman is eyeing south Florida — in the area north of Miami, such as Fort Lauderdale and Palm Beach — as the new base of its asset management division.
Sources told Bloomberg News that executives have been scouting out potential office space and talking to local officials about the benefits of moving one of Goldman's major operations to the area, including the tax and lifestyle advantages, which are attractive to the business and employees.
In fact, moving one of its top operations to Florida could save Goldman hundreds of millions of dollars, or more, per year, considering the amount of money the bank generates.
More from Bloomberg News:
Inside Goldman, sentimental attachment to the city where it rose to prominence is taking a back seat to the company's ambitious target unveiled early this year to cut $1.3 billion in costs, in part by shifting employees to cheaper locales. It's unclear how many people could eventually go to Florida. In the last decade, Goldman has incrementally expanded offices in places like Dallas and Salt Lake City to thousands of jobs in an effort to trim expenses. The virus has cemented its resolve to accelerate that shift.
...
The firm's newly reconfigured asset-management division pulls in about $8 billion in annual revenue and is a critical pillar of Goldman's plans to diversify its ways of making money. A decision to create a central location for the business in Florida would not only include back-office staff but also some investment professionals, two of the people said. The shift would be carried out over time.
What did Goldman Sachs say?
In a statement provided to Bloomberg News, the bank played coy.
"We are executing on the strategy of locating more jobs in high-value locations throughout the U.S., but we have no specific plans to announce at this time," a spokesman for the bank said.
Anything else?
Goldman Sachs is not the only company exploring a reprieve on taxes, regulations, and cost of living.
According to CNBC, billionaire Elon Musk has told "several of his close friends and associates" that he plans to move to Texas from California. Musk, the world's second richest person, has denounced Democrat-imposed regulations and high taxes.
Earlier this year, in response to COVID-related restrictions, Musk threatened to move Tesla's headquarters from Palo Alto to Texas or Nevada.


theblaze--2020-12-07--Judge allows forensic audit of Dominion voting machines in Antrim County, Michigan

Judge allows forensic audit of Dominion voting machines in Antrim County , Michigan President Trump 's legal team say they @ @ @ @ @ examination , but it 's not clear

A federal judge has ordered that a forensic inspection of Dominion voting machines can take place in Antrim County, Michigan, where 6,000 votes had been incorrectly flipped from President Trump to Democratic nominee Joe Biden in the early tabulation of votes, before being corrected.
The ruling, however, makes no mention of the presidential election. Rather, Judge Kevin Elsenheimer's order is in response to a lawsuit filed by plaintiff William Bailey, a local resident who is challenging the results of a proposal to allow a marijuana retailer in his village. The proposal initially failed before passing during re-tabulation, a change which Bailey alleges didn't count three damaged ballots, according to MLive.com.
Nevertheless, President Trump's legal team indicated they are the ones who have been granted access to inspect the voting machines.
"The big news coming out of Antrim County, Michigan, this morning ... is that a judge actually granted our team access to 22 of the Dominion voting machines for us to conduct a forensic audit," Trump attorney Jenna Ellis told Fox News Sunday morning.
"So our team is going to be able to go in there this morning and we'll be there for about eight hours to conduct that forensic examination and we'll have the results in about 48 hours and that will tell us a lot about these machines," she added.
Trump attorney Rudy Giuliani called the ruling a "big win" on Twitter.
The error, which incorrectly awarded 6,000 votes to Biden which had actually gone for Trump, was originally described as a technical malfunction with the counting equipment. However, Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson later clarified that the error was a result of a Republican clerk "accidentally [not updating] the software used to collect voting machine data and report unofficial results." She suggested that the "human error" would have have been detected during a county canvass anyway.
But the president's legal team has been suspicious of that claim and allege that what happened in Antrim County was representative of what happened all over the state and all over the country — the difference being that in Antrim County the bad actors attempting to rig the election were simply caught.
It was not immediately clear why Ellis suggested it was Trump's team that would be conducting the inspection, but it likely had to do with the presence of members of Allied Security Operations Group during the audit. ASOG, a group affiliated with Trump's legal team, was responsible for producing a report used as evidence in Bailey's lawsuit.
According to the Detroit Free Press, Antrim County announced on Saturday that ASOG technicians would conduct the audit in the presence of county clerk Sheryl Guy, county administrator Pete Garwood, county attorney Haider Kazim, three county commissioners, a county IT technician, and a member of the sheriff's department.


theblaze--2020-12-07--WATCH: Steven Crowder reacts to last week's state senate oversight committee hearings

Today , Steven Crowder recaps what he believes to be the most important election security-related information brought before senate oversight @ @ @ @ @ Also , Steven takes a look at more than one elected official in California who @ @ @ @ @ they preach regarding COVID-19 safety measures .
Catch up on missed episodes here .
Use @ @ @ @ @ $ 10 on one year of BlazeTV .
Want more from Steven Crowder ?
To @ @ @ @ @ uncensored late-night comedy that 's actually funny , join Mug Club — the only place @ @ @ @ @ and on demand .

Today, Steven Crowder recaps what he believes to be the most important election security-related information brought before senate oversight committees across three states. Also, Steven takes a look at more than one elected official in California who appears not to practice what they preach regarding COVID-19 safety measures.
Watch the show LIVE here.
Catch up on missed episodes here.
Use promo code LWC to save $10 on one year of BlazeTV.
Want more from Steven Crowder?
To enjoy more of Steven's uncensored late-night comedy that's actually funny, join Mug Club — the only place for all of Crowder uncensored and on demand.


theblaze--2020-12-07--Unhinged leftist 'teacher' absolutely flips out on peaceful anti-lockdown protesters in Oregon: 'F**

Unhinged leftist 'teacher' absolutely flips out on peaceful anti-lockdown protesters in Oregon: 'F*** all of you!'

Unhinged leftist 'teacher ' absolutely flips out on peaceful anti-lockdown protesters in Oregon : ' F*** all of you !
@

You might say Oregon has been the unofficial epicenter of protests in 2020, with leftist groups such as Antifa and Black Lives Matter on a near-nightly basis occupying the streets of Portland and physically attacking local police and federal officers, destroying businesses, torching buildings, and intimidating anyone who gets in their way.
We also saw what happened when conservatives descended on Portland at the end of August and staged their own car rally protest in support of President Donald Trump: A "100% Antifa" militant appeared to ambush a pro-police activist and fatally shot him before taking off into the night.
Now what?
Well, there was a protest of a different sort over the weekend in Bend, Oregon — about three hours southeast of Portland — and these demonstrators were protesting against governmental coronavirus lockdowns.
As has been typical of protests involving conservatives and Trump supporters, the anti-lockdown gathering at the intersection of Northwest Greenwood Avenue and Northwest Wall Street was peaceful.
That is, until a self-proclaimed "teacher" stopped her Subaru and absolutely flipped out on demonstrators holding their signs on the sidewalk. Fortunately a cellphone camera was rolling and caught the glorious moment for all of you to enjoy.
What did she scream?
Wearing a headband with her COVID-19 mask dangling below her chin, the ponytailed leftist lets loose on protesters: "Bitch! Kill yourself!"
Image source: Twitter video screenshot via @BlessUSA45
Oh, it's already clear where this is headed.
"I'm a f***ing teacher! I work in schools!" she screams before re-educating her listeners with what one might characterize as social studies for the new millennium. "F*** you! F*** you! I am a teacher! I teach students!"
Image source: Twitter video screenshot via @BlessUSA45, redacted
All the while the protesters simply turn up their own volume — and some simply laugh at the lunacy-filled moment.
"Our families are dying!" she hollers, her voice cracking as it pitches upward into Mariah Carey territory.
Image source: Twitter video screenshot via @BlessUSA45
In another odd moment she appears to welcome the attention of those recording her antics, maniacally waving and yelling "hi" to the cameras:
Image source: Twitter video screenshot via @BlessUSA45
She then hollers "F*** all of you!" — as if the point needed underscoring — before finally making her left turn (pun not intended ... or maybe it is) away from demonstrators as they chant "USA! USA! USA!"
Here's the clip, which was posted to Twitter on Sunday. Content warning: Profanity:
Anything else?
According to the Associated Press, the demographics of Bend have shifted from Republican in the 1990s to Democrat at present as more people from left-leaning areas of California moved in.
The growth of registered Democrats "could be a reflection of the political party affiliation of the new residents, rather than longtime locals shifting their party affiliation," economist Damon Runberg told the AP.


theblaze--2020-12-07--Democrat-run House will be 'laziest Congress in modern history' next year, top Republican explains

Democrat-run House will be 'laziest Congress in modern history ' next year , top Republican explains 'House Democrats have scheduled @ @ @ @ @ next year — a 25 % reduction '

According to House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.), the upcoming year in the House of Representatives will be the "laziest Congress is modern history."
That's because House Democrats — who hold a majority in the House and therefore manage the legislative calendar — have scheduled only 101 days of work for the upcoming year, a significant reduction compared to previous years.
"House Democrats have scheduled 101 days of work for next year — a 25% reduction. Let me say it again: 101 working days. For the whole year. Laziest Congress in modern history," McCarthy tweeted over the weekend.
What did McCarthy say?
Speaking at his weekly press conference last Thursday, McCarthy expressed urgency over the coronavirus pandemic and providing Americans with relief — but said Democrats are not really interested in working.
"We have to get to work on this, we have to get it done, but working is something that this majority has not a good record on doing. Just look at the floor schedule this week, Democrats have focused on cats and cannabis, but not on COVID," McCarthy explained.
"You'd think after a humiliating defeat at the ballot box this year, that Democrats didn't defeat one Republican incumbent," he added. "Of the 27 most vulnerable races, Republicans won them all. That Democrats would get to the picture that the Americans are demanding some action on these issues."
"It certainly doesn't appear that in the next Congress anything will change. Yesterday, the Democrats released next year's House schedule. The average number of days working in the first session of the past four Congresses have been 134 days. You would think with all the challenges that this country has, that we'd probably maybe even work, at least more, or at the very least that same amount of time. Nope," McCarthy said.
As McCarthy explained, House Democrats last week passed measures to decriminalize recreational marijuana use and to ban private ownership of big cats, paying homage to the Netflix documentary "Tiger King."
They did not, however, address the COVID-19 crisis.
At his news conference, McCarthy went on to explain that next year's House calendar represents a larger problem within the Democratic Party: They like to get paid for not working.
"Democrats think Congress needs a 25% reduction. Yes, you don't even have to show up for work," McCarthy said. "Sixty Democrats yesterday, one third of them, didn't show up for work — just voted by proxy and still got paid. And now they found out they don't even have to work as much as they did ... Congresses before. A 25% reduction, with only scheduled 101 days."
"They'll probably become the laziest Congress we have ever had," McCarthy declared.
What about COVID relief?
Lawmakers have infamously been unable to compromise on additional COVID-19 relief. House Democrats passed a bill in May that would cost taxpayers more than $3 trillion; it was the largest bill the House had ever approved.
However, Republicans have rejected the massive spending, instead seeking to spend just around $1 trillion in the next bill, narrowing which Americans should receive economic benefits. Democrats have framed Republican efforts as refusing to help struggling Americans.
However, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi admitted last week that she's now happy to negotiate and compromise on COVID-19 relief because Joe Biden appears to have won the White House.


theblaze--2020-12-08--Michael Eric Dyson says Joe Biden paid the debt owed to black Americans by picking a black man for s

Michael Eric Dyson says Joe Biden paid the debt owed to black Americans by picking a black man for secretary of defense

Michael Eric Dyson says Joe Biden paid the debt owed to black Americans by picking a black man for secretary @ @ @ @ @ the man 's name wrong during the segment

CNN's Don Lemon and his guest praised former Vice President Joe Biden for reportedly picking a black man for secretary of defense because it was a way of paying the "debt" that he owed to black Americans.
Lemon was speaking to progressive minister Michael Eric Dyson when they both marveled at reports that Biden had picked retired Army Gen. Lloyd Austin for the powerful position. Austin would be the first black man to lead the Pentagon.
"This defense secretary thing is big, with Gen. Michael Austin, what do you think?" Lemon asked, while getting the retired four-star general's name wrong.
"Oh, it's beautiful! Look, have you ever heard a president say before, I owe you," Dyson responded.
"Yeah," Lemon agreed.
"I owe you a debt, you hooked me up, I'm hooking you up, I've never heard a president, I've studied presidential rhetoric," Dyson continued.
"I've studied presidents' interactions with black America, I've never heard that, and so the attempt to follow up and to follow through by President-elect Joe Biden is worthy of note. And I think he's been doing a very good job so far," he added.
"You have to balance all the considerations of the competing interests that are vying for your time and representation," Dyson said. "But I think black people are well deserved, and this choice of Gen. Austin today is truly outstanding."
Neither Lemon nor Dyson made time to discuss Austin's career or all of his qualifications for the position, but Dyson made sure to market his new book about racial inequality to the CNN audience. Lemon also admitted during the segment that he incorrectly named Austin.
Dyson went on to say that having Justice Clarence Thomas, a black man, on the Supreme Court didn't count as real minority representation because he wasn't liberal in his thinking.
While Lemon and Dyson praised Biden for picking a man with the skin color they preferred, some progressive far-left Democrats decried the pick over Austin's ties to a defense contractor.
"A sitting board member of military industrial contractor Raytheon should NOT be heading the Pentagon. Terrible choice. I hope progessives [sic] in Congress will speak up loudly," former Democratic presidential candidate Marianne Williamson said.
Here's the video of the interaction between Lemon and Dyson: