rawstory--2020-10-11--Trump aide busted after leaked emails prove she lied about blocking Dr. Fauci’s public statements

White House Communications Director Alyssa Farah admitted on Sunday that she was not being truthful when she claimed that one @ @ @ @ @ interview with Dr. Anthony Fauci .
ABC News host Jonathan Karl opened his This Week @ @ @ @ @ that the White House had refused to make Fauci available for an interview just days @ @ @ @ @ positive for COVID-19 .
“ FALSE .
1 ) Dr Fauci has been doing media @ @ @ @ @ PBS Newshour & NBC ’ s Andrea Mitchell 3 days ago .
2 ) not @ @ @ @ @ not = the WH trying to “ muzzle ” anyone .
This narrative is tired @ @ @ @ @ didn ’ t request any other member of the task force , ” Farah wrote @ @ @ @ @ to Farrah quickly leaked on Twitter .
It showed that Karl had personally contacted the @ @ @ @ @ permission for Fauci to appear as a guest .
Farah reluctantly admitted that she had @ @ @ @ @ declined to offer an apology to Karl .

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Still, Ron DeSantis refuses to expand Medicaid, even though 93 percent of the cost is covered with money from Washington, DC. It’s the principle of the thing, apparently: he’s one of 11 red state governors who believes that working poor people simply shouldn’t get health coverage. After all, they didn’t have the good sense to be born into a wealthy family!
Michael, 30, lives in Orlando and has asthma, but running his little business buying and selling used furniture hasn’t earned him enough to cover his medical bills and to pay rent. He recently got an eviction notice, telling the Florida Health Justice Project:
“I was given a list of homeless shelters to choose from but I hope it doesn’t come to that.”
Ron DeSantis is just fine with this. Cruelty is his trademark.
Violence, hate, bigotry, and cruelty are the four cardinal points of fascism. Compassion and concern for the greater good, for the poor and weak, for the victims of fate and accident have no place in the fascist world.
Historians and political observers have been predicting that America would get our very own Mussolini ever since the days of Barry Goldwater. And there’s been no shortage of candidates: bribe-taking Nixon; Central American fascist-loving Reagan; Gitmo torturing and war-lying Bush; and, of course, Trump.
But with Ron DeSantis, we may finally be facing an all-American politician who has Mussolini’s guile, ruthlessness, and willingness to see people die to advance his political career, all while being smart and educated enough to avoid the easily satirized buffoonishness of Trump.
Mussolini was a famously short man who strutted with his muscular chest pushed out and his chin jutted forward, just like DeSantis, who Trump says is musclebound, likes to do.
Both men were socially awkward, craved power, lacked empathy, displayed casual cruelty, sucked up to the wealthiest men in the nation, and demonized opposition politicians — literally calling or implying their fellow citizens are “the enemy” (a favorite trick of Hitler and Orbán, as well) — to encourage their followers to support them or entertain the rhetoric of violence and threats of violence to achieve political ends.
Miriam, a single parent of two young children, discovered a lump in her breast but postponed visiting the doctor for months because she had no health insurance with her job as a housekeeper.
Finally, she realized the potential gravity of her situation.
“I needed to live to be there for my children,” she said.
She got treatment through the charity ward of a hospital, but even that treatment came with a cost of $2,183. She slipped behind in the $200 monthly payments when her job vanished with the pandemic and now she’s struggling to pay the $1783 she still owes in co-payments from her treatments. She’s been sent to collection and is living in fear of what’s next when the court finally comes after her.
Ron DeSantis is just fine with this. Cruelty is his trademark.
George Washington, in his Farewell Address, warned us of the possible rise of politicians like DeSantis who would suggest other Americans are enemies of the nation’s values, who would exaggerate policy differences in war-like terms, and who would ascribe the most evil of motives and intentions to simple political opponents.
“The alternate domination of one faction over another, sharpened by the spirit of revenge, natural to party dissension, which in different ages and countries has perpetrated the most horrid enormities, is itself a frightful despotism.”
But it wasn’t just that calling other politicians enemies or attributing evil motivations to them produced dissension and could tear a society apart, although those concerns were at the top of Washington’s mind.
He also knew that such rhetoric was the platform from which a literal strongman could arise in America, destroying the democracy he’d fought the Revolutionary War to create:
“But this leads at length to a more formal and permanent despotism,” he told the nation. “The disorders and miseries which result gradually incline the minds of men to seek security and repose in the absolute power of an individual; and sooner or later the chief of some prevailing faction, more able or more fortunate than his competitors, turns this disposition to the purposes of his own elevation, on the ruins of public liberty.”
Such a warlike approach to politics, Washington said, could only lead in one direction:
“It agitates the community with ill-founded jealousies and false alarms, kindles the animosity of one part against another, foments occasionally riot and insurrection.”
Such rhetoric, Washington argued, produces:
“A fire not to be quenched, it demands a uniform vigilance to prevent its bursting into a flame, lest, instead of warming, it should consume.”
It’s been 225 years since George Washington uttered those words. And now we’re here.
Hipolito, the father of four, is worried about his life’s partner, the mother of their children.
“My wife has been in pain for weeks now but we can’t afford to find out why,” Hipolito told the Florida Health Justice Project. “I swear, I’m very afraid. She is pale and suffering every day.”
He notes that his wife hasn’t visited the doctor because their family can’t afford the expense when they must also house, feed, and clothe their kids on his job as a cook.
Ron DeSantis is just fine with this. Cruelty is his trademark.
Arresting black men for voting, terrifying them and ruining their lives while making sure they all get paraded in chains before the cameras.
Threatening public school teachers with prison for simply teaching history.
Lying about medical science regarding vaccines to suck up to the Trump base, resulting in fewer Floridians being protected from a disease that is killing literally hundreds of Americans every day.
Using rhetoric that feeds bigotry and hate against gay, lesbian, and trans people.
Intimidating the college board so they strip the Black Lives Matter movement out of their advanced placement African-American Studies curriculum.
Lying to asylum-seekers to get them on a plane to Martha’s Vineyard as a stunt to elevate his own political fortunes.
Ron DeSantis is just fine with all of this. Cruelty is his trademark.
Ignoring the health and safety of his state’s citizens, DeSantis led Florida into a veritable Covid Armageddon, letting (as of January 16th) 84,176 of his citizens die from the disease. As former FDA commissioner Dr. Scott Gottlieb told CBS’ Face The Nation:
“They let the virus spread largely unchecked in terms of personal mitigation. People weren't wearing masks. They weren't encouraged to wear masks. Vaccination was encouraged for the elderly population, but not widely… So they made policy choices, and the consequence was an infection that largely engulfed most parts of the state.”
After this orgy of death and disease, at the end of 2021 about 12 percent of Florida’s population — almost 2.6 million — still lacked any form of medical insurance because of DeSantis’ refusal to expand Medicaid for low-income people.
And now as many as 2 million more Floridians will join the ranks of the uninsured in the coming months.
Ron DeSantis is just fine with this. Cruelty is his trademark.


rawstory--2020-10-11--‘My father has lost a fortune’: Eric Trump snaps at ABC host when pressed on his father’s tax return

‘My father has lost a fortune’: Eric Trump snaps at ABC host when pressed on his father’s tax returns

Faced with questions about the New York Times ’ reporting on his father ’ s finances and self-dealing , Eric Trump snapped back at ABC host Jonathan Karl on Sunday morning , saying the media is being unfair to his family .
Pressed by Karl on the reporting , the son of the president went on a frantic rant listing multiple grievances that seemed to be consuming him .
“ We ’ ve lost a fortune , my father has lost a fortune running for president and he doesn ’ t care , ” Trump insisted .
“ He wanted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ last thing in the world Donald Trump needs is this job .
He wakes up in the morning and he has to fight you and he has to fight the media and he fights the Democrats and he gets punched in the head.
” “ Every single day he wakes up and he fights for this country and he fights against the lunacy of the radical left , ” he rambled .
“ And he created the greatest economy and he created the most jobs and he rebuilt the military.
” With Karl @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Trump continued , “ My father has lost a fortune , an absolute fortune doing what he does .
You compare that to Joe Biden – ” “ But back to this story , Karl interjected .
“ How is it appropriate ?
Answer the question.
” “ Go Google Biden ’ s house right now and tell me if you think a person who has been in government for 47 years , 47 seven years , Can afford that mansion on the water in Wilmington , Delaware , ” Trump parried @ @ @ @ @ @ @

Faced with questions about the New York Times' reporting on his father's finances and self-dealing, Eric Trump snapped back at ABC host Jonathan Karl on Sunday morning, saying the media is being unfair to his family.
Pressed by Karl on the reporting, the son of the president went on a frantic rant listing multiple grievances that seemed to be consuming him.
"We've lost a fortune, my father has lost a fortune running for president and he doesn't care," Trump insisted. "He wanted to do what was right. The last thing in the world Donald Trump needs is this job. He wakes up in the morning and he has to fight you and he has to fight the media and he fights the Democrats and he gets punched in the head."
"Every single day he wakes up and he fights for this country and he fights against the lunacy of the radical left, " he rambled. "And he created the greatest economy and he created the most jobs and he rebuilt the military."
With Karl trying to get a word in edgewise, Trump continued, "My father has lost a fortune, an absolute fortune doing what he does. You compare that to Joe Biden --"
"But back to this story, Karl interjected. "How is it appropriate? Answer the question."
"Let me finish" Trump insisted, his voice rising.
"Go Google Biden's house right now and tell me if you think a person who has been in government for 47 years, 47 seven years, Can afford that mansion on the water in Wilmington, Delaware, " Trump parried without addressing Karl's question.
Watch below:
;


rawstory--2020-10-11--CNN’s Tapper shuts down Larry Kudlow after he insists ‘we are learning to live with the virus’

Appearing on CNN ’ s “ State of the Union , ” Donald Trump ’ s economic adviser Larry Kudlow was pulled up short by host Jake Tapper for blithely stating America is rapidly moving forward because “ we are learning to live with the virus , ” with the CNN host pointing out the growing death total .
Kudlow was appearing on CNN to discuss the debate in Congress on yet another COVID-related stimulus bill when he made the “ moving forward ” statement that made Tapper sit up straight .
“ We are are in a strong rebound @ @ @ @ @ @ @ taxes and lower regulations going way back are still in place and businesses are reopening .
We are learning to deal with the virus in a targeted safe prevented way .
All I ’ m saying is some targeted assistance wrote go a long way right now–.
” “ We are not learning with the virus , Larry !
” the incredulous Tapper interrupted .
“ We just had four days in a row of 50,000 infections , the death rate in the highest in the world .
Let ’ s focus on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ second , Jake .
I want to clarify , living with the virus , ” Kudlow backtracked .
“ Look .
5,000 experts just signed a petition led by people from Harvard , Stanford , Oxford University .
These are scientists , these are doctors , health care workers who say we can deal with this virus going on while we are getting new therapies , we are getting new vaccines are coming around .
It ’ s not just living with the virus .
As long as we protect the most vulnerable @ @ @ @ @ @ @ key guidelines , yes , we can get through this .
We are not going to shut down the whole economy .
There is no reason for that .
We will take care of the vulnerable — that is the key point.
” “ Well , so much you just said .
I had you on to talk about the economy and not health care matters .
About the key guidelines , you might want to tell the guy in the building right behind you , ” Tapper replied while noting the White @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .

Appearing on CNN's "State of the Union," Donald Trump's economic adviser Larry Kudlow was pulled up short by host Jake Tapper for blithely stating America is rapidly moving forward because "we are learning to live with the virus," with the CNN host pointing out the growing death total.
Kudlow was appearing on CNN to discuss the debate in Congress on yet another COVID-related stimulus bill when he made the "moving forward" statement that made Tapper sit up straight.
"We are in a strong rebound," Kudlow insisted. "Lower taxes and lower regulations going way back are still in place and businesses are reopening. We are learning to deal with the virus in a targeted safe prevented way. All I'm saying is some targeted assistance goes a long way right now--."
"We are not learning with the virus, Larry!" the incredulous Tapper interrupted. "We just had four days in a row of 50,000 infections, the death rate in the highest in the world. Let's focus on your area of expertise."
"One second, Jake. I want to clarify, living with the virus," Kudlow backtracked. "Look. 5,000 experts just signed a petition led by people from Harvard, Stanford, Oxford University. These are scientists, these are doctors, health care workers who say we can deal with this virus going on while we are getting new therapies, we are getting new vaccines are coming around. It's not just living with the virus. As long as we protect the most vulnerable, as long as we preserve the key guidelines, yes, we can get through this. We are not going to shut down the whole economy. There is no reason for that. We will take care of the vulnerable -- that is the key point."
"Well, so much you just said. I had you on to talk about the economy and not health care matters. About the key guidelines, you might want to tell the guy in the building right behind you," Tapper replied while noting the White House serving as Kudlow's backdrop.
Watch below:


rawstory--2020-10-12--‘You’re going to lose’: MSNBC’s Morning Joe sees GOP election chances ‘going up in smoke’

The “ Morning Joe ” host sees bad news all over the electoral map for the president and Senate Republicans , with once-solidly red states suddenly in play for Joe Biden and the Democrats .
“ They feel like in the end they ’ ll win Florida , but a bad debate performance and the COVID diagnosis caused problems there , ” Scarborough said .
“ Then you go to Texas , that ’ s leaning Republican right now .
Trump should be ahead by seven , eight , nine points , but even that they have to worry about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ go out to Arizona , and I ’ m sure you saw a spate of articles this weekend that showed that not only is the president having trouble in Arizona , but the entire Republican apparatus is going up in smoke because you have had a president trash John McCain , an Arizona hero , for decades.
” “ A president who has been trashing John McCain through the years , and a senator in Martha McSally that remained quiet until recently about that , ” he continued .
“ You have a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , again , this is not hard .
If you play for the 30 percent , you ’ re gon na get — help me here , Republicans in Arizona , help me here , not hard .
You ’ re going to get to 30 percent .
You ’ re going to lose.
” The president ’ s obsessive focus on his base at the expense of everyone else is going to cost him and his GOP allies , Scarborough said .
“ Politics is a game of addition , ” he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ playing a game of subtraction since his ‘ American carnage ’ inaugural speech .
I can ’ t believe it , because , you know , I don ’ t know if you know this or not , but I was once a member of Congress myself .
You would think that these Republicans would not be so stupid to follow him off the cliff the way they have followed him off the cliff for the last four years and now they ’ re paying for it .
Not just at the presidential @ @ @ @ @ @ @ states like Arizona they could pay for it up and down the ticket .
”

MSNBC's Joe Scarborough buried President Donald Trump's election chances.
The "Morning Joe" host sees bad news all over the electoral map for the president and Senate Republicans, with once-solidly red states suddenly in play for Joe Biden and the Democrats.
"They feel like in the end they'll win Florida, but a bad debate performance and the COVID diagnosis caused problems there," Scarborough said. "Then you go to Texas, that's leaning Republican right now. Trump should be ahead by seven, eight, nine points, but even that they have to worry about Texas right now, and then you go out to Arizona, and I'm sure you saw a spate of articles this weekend that showed that not only is the president having trouble in Arizona, but the entire Republican apparatus is going up in smoke because you have had a president trash John McCain, an Arizona hero, for decades."
"A president who has been trashing John McCain through the years, and a senator in Martha McSally that remained quiet until recently about that," he continued. "You have a state party run by right-wing extremists that, again, this is not hard. If you play for the 30 percent, you're gonna get -- help me here, Republicans in Arizona, help me here, not hard. You're going to get to 30 percent. You're going to lose."
The president's obsessive focus on his base at the expense of everyone else is going to cost him and his GOP allies, Scarborough said.
"Politics is a game of addition," he said. "Donald Trump has been playing a game of subtraction since his 'American carnage' inaugural speech. I can't believe it, because, you know, I don't know if you know this or not, but I was once a member of Congress myself. You would think that these Republicans would not be so stupid to follow him off the cliff the way they have followed him off the cliff for the last four years and now they're paying for it. Not just at the presidential level, but it looks like in states like Arizona they could pay for it up and down the ticket."


rawstory--2020-10-12--What else is Amy Coney Barrett hiding? Dems demand answers after Trump Supreme Court pick caught con

What else is Amy Coney Barrett hiding? Dems demand answers after Trump Supreme Court pick caught concealing vital information

On the eve of Judge Amy Coney Barrett ’ s first confirmation hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee , the panel ’ s Democrats on Sunday demanded the right-wing Supreme Court nominee release any additional information she has withheld from lawmakers after new reporting revealed that she failed to disclose a pair of talks to anti-abortion groups and other materials .
After CNN reported Friday that Barrett omitted from her initial Senate questionnaire two talks she gave to student anti-abortion organizations at Notre Dame University in 2013 , the judge submitted to the Judiciary Committee a supplement ( pdf ) @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Barrett also informed the committee that while serving as a law professor at the University of Notre Dame , she signed onto a 2013 paid advertisement criticizing Roe v. Wade .
Following Barrett ’ s belated disclosures—which did not include the content of the talks—all ten Democrats on the Senate Judiciary Committee sent a letter ( pdf ) demanding to know what else the corporate-friendly judge is withholding as Republicans rush ahead with her confirmation process despite a coronavirus outbreak on Capitol Hill and widespread opposition to the nominee among legal experts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is troubling that Judge Barrett supplemented her [ Senate Judiciary Questionnaire ] to include these talks only after they were identified by the press , ” the lawmakers wrote .
“ These new omissions raise more questions about the reliability of Judge Barrett ’ s SJQ and her candor before the Committee .
These new omissions also raise serious concerns about Judge Barrett ’ s rushed confirmation process and the hasty process of collecting materials responsive to the SJQ.
” In a statement on Sunday , Christopher Kang , chief counsel at advocacy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nomination—fueled by tens of millions of dollars in spending from dark-money organizations— ” should not move forward without a full accounting of her past speeches and links to these groups that she has clearly sought to downplay or hide.
” “ Amy Coney Barrett needs to come clean about her ties to far-right organizations and produce more information on the speeches she gave about Roe v. Wade , ” said Kang .
“ By repeatedly failing to disclose relevant information to the Senate , she has forfeited the benefit of the doubt.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hearing Monday , scheduled to begin at 9:00am ET , is expected to be met with protests from outside advocacy groups as well as pushback from Senate Democrats , who are under pressure to do everything in their power to slow or prevent the right-wing judge ’ s confirmation to the high court .
“ If Senate leadership forces a nominee before the next Congress and president are installed , it would deprive the people of their voice and further destabilize a nation already gripped by crisis , ” said Ana Maria Archila @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which is planning to join a march to the Hart Senate Office Building and demand entry into Barrett ’ s hearing Monday morning .
“ We ’ re mobilizing all those who believe in freedom , equality , and justice to engage in direct action to put pressure on both key Senate Republicans as well as Democrats to ensure that this confirmation is delayed , ” said Archila .
Adopting one of the tactics proposed in a memo circulating on Capitol Hill , Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer ( D-N.Y. ) said Sunday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ quorum ” for the Senate Judiciary Committee ’ s hearing on Thursday , when the panel is expected to begin voting to advance Barrett ’ s nomination to the full Senate .
Schumer ’ s move could complicate the voting process for the Republican-controlled Judiciary Committee , given that four GOP members have been forced to quarantine after testing positive for the coronavirus or coming into contact with someone who did .
Under committee rules , nine members—including at least two from the minority party—must be present for a vote to take place @

In new allegations revealed Wednesday, Texas House investigators accused suspended Attorney General Ken Paxton of engaging in a complex cover-up to hide his relationship with real estate investor Nate Paul as senior aides grew increasingly concerned about Paxton’s willingness to use his office to benefit Paul.
The subterfuge allegedly included Paxton and Paul creating an Uber account under an alias so they could meet each other and so the attorney general could visit the woman with whom he was having an extramarital affair.
And once Paxton learned several high-ranking officials in his office reported his behavior to the FBI, the House impeachment managers alleged, he took immediate steps to cover up his relationship with Paul, including wiring a $122,000 payment to a Paul-affiliated company in an effort to hide home renovations that Paul had provided for free.
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The allegations, outlined in a series of filings with the Texas Senate’s court of impeachment, shed new light on the relationship between Paul and Paxton that is at the core of his impeachment proceedings.
Among the new claims: Top deputies in the attorney general’s office persistently warned Paxton that Paul was a “crook” and that there was no merit to his claims that he had been unfairly treated by law enforcement, and that the two met at least 20 times in spring and summer 2020, sometimes discussing the FBI investigation into Paul’s faltering real estate empire.
Paxton “blindly accepted Paul’s conspiracy,” impeachment managers alleged. “Senior Staff urged Paxton to stay away. But when it came to Paul, Paxton was immune to reason.”
Paul was arrested in June on federal felony charges of lying to financial institutions to secure business loans.
Responding to Paxton’s pretrial motions that seek to dismiss all 20 articles of impeachment, including four that will not be included in the Sept. 5 impeachment trial, House managers also detailed multiple actions in which Paxton allegedly sought to use his office to benefit Paul.
They alleged that Paxton conducted a “sham criminal investigation” into Paul’s “adversaries,” routinely overriding concerns from agency staff who told him that Paul was a “criminal” and that Paxton needed to “get away.”
Instead, House managers alleged, Paxton became increasingly “entangled in Paul’s web of deceit” and “went to great lengths” to hide his relationship with Paul — using a burner phone and secret email accounts, ditching his security detail and using the fake Uber name to be “ferried to his lover’s or Paul’s properties more than a dozen times.”
In response to Paul’s favors — including allegedly employing the woman and paying to remodel Paxton’s home — Paxton “continually abused the power of his office to advance Paul’s aims,” House managers alleged.
In one instance, Paxton allegedly told agency staff that he did not want the office to assist law enforcement “in any way” with an investigation into Paul, who Paxton claimed was being “railroaded” and needed “unprecedented” access to sensitive information about his case.
After meeting with “alarmed” senior staff, Paxton allegedly demanded files about Paul’s criminal case that included an unredacted FBI letter that identified individuals involved in a 2019 raid on Paul’s home and businesses.
“Paxton held onto the file for more than a week,” House managers wrote. “Ultimately, OAG did not disclose the information to Paul. But Paxton did.”
In another instance, Paxton was accused of issuing a legal opinion that staved off a pending foreclosure sale of Paul’s businesses at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. House investigators cited two agency employees who said they were forced to work through the night to produce the opinion while Paxton frequently called them.
Paxton “sounded like someone was holding him hostage,” one of the staffers told investigators.
The opinion, which Paxton allegedly edited himself, was published at 1 a.m. Aug. 2, 2020, and said foreclosure proceedings posed a public health threat — despite the state’s “open for business” mantra throughout the pandemic, managers said.
The next day, managers alleged, Paul cited the opinion to successfully delay the foreclosures.
“It is hard to imagine a more blatant abuse of Paxton’s office,” House managers wrote.
Paxton’s legal team had filed more than a dozen motions to dismiss all articles of impeachment, often arguing that the underlying allegations were baseless or fell under the legitimate duties of the attorney general’s office.
His attorneys also accused the Texas House of trying to “overturn the will of voters” who reelected Paxton to a third term last year despite various public scandals dating to 2015. One argument stressed that Paxton cannot be impeached for alleged misconduct that predated his most recent election under the so-called “prior-term doctrine.” And they downplayed some of the allegations he faces, saying that, even if true, they are not severe enough to warrant his removal from office.
Paxton’s lawyers also attacked two bribery-related impeachment articles, saying there was no evidence of a “quid pro quo” and that Paxton’s ties to Paul were nothing more than “a personal relationship with a constituent and that the constituent found something the Attorney General did to be agreeable in some way.”
Under rules adopted by the Senate, any pretrial motion to dismiss or quash an article of impeachment must be voted on by senators. A majority — 16 senators — can approve dismissal of an article, placing an early test on the determination of the chamber’s 19 Republicans to allow a trial on the allegations. Those votes are set to be taken shortly after the trial begins in September.
In a written response, filed with the Senate on Tuesday and made public Wednesday, the impeachment team challenged other pretrial assertions from Paxton’s lawyers, who claimed the articles of impeachment were deficient because they failed to list specific laws that Paxton allegedly broke.
“Impeachable offenses need not be indictable crimes,” the House team argued. “Impeachment in Texas seeks to protect against conduct that undermines the integrity of the office, disregards constitutional duties and oaths of office, abuses government process and power, and adversely impacts the system of government.”
What’s more, the team argued, many of the articles listed particular crimes, and several detailed “how Paxton abused his office for his own personal benefit or that of Nate Paul and business entities controlled by Paul.”
More broadly, the managers emphasized that the impeachment trial is not a criminal or civil proceeding, as Paxton’s side has implied. In one new filing, the managers wrote that an impeachment trial is “a unique, if not mostly Political, with a capital ‘P’, proceeding — i.e., an action by the representatives of the people challenging official actions that are contrary to the public interest.”
That view aligns with the view that Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, who leads the Senate and is acting as judge in the impeachment trial, offered in a TV interview Tuesday.
“It’s not a criminal trial. It’s not a civil trial. It’s a political trial,” Patrick told the Fox affiliate in Houston.
The House managers also asked the Senate to dismiss Paxton’s motion to quash the articles or return them to the House to add more detail to the allegations. The managers said the demand shows a “fundamental misunderstanding” of how impeachment works, arguing that the Texas Constitution does not require the level of detail common in a civil or criminal proceeding.
“A person can be impeached without an indictment, therefore Paxton does not have any right to demand more details,” the managers said.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.


rawstory--2020-10-13--Watch Anderson Cooper’s hilarious reaction to Trump playing ‘Macho Man’ at Florida rally

On Monday , CNN 's Kate Bolduan reported on a number of Pennsylvania women who voted for Donald Trump in 2016 — and are now ready to throw him out of office .
`` I am a good example of someone who gotten through a lot of changes the past four years , '' said Hollie Geitner , a Republican and former Trump supporter , saying that she only voted for the president because he was `` funny '' and `` successful '' and now she feels `` shamed '' to have contributed to the last four years .
She @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Joe Biden this time .
`` It is not just outside the city where suburban women were questioning their support for Donald Trump .
It 's also even out here in Westmoreland County , rural Pennsylvania , considered Trump country , '' said Bolduan , revealing her interview with Joan Smeltzer and Julie Brady , a pair of sisters who voted for Trump and now believe they `` did a disservice by voting for this guy , '' and that the last straw was `` the way he handled coronavirus , he did @ @ @ @ @ @ @ us in the dark guessed what 's going on .
That was not fair . ''
They added that in in the George Floyd protests , `` he added fuel to flames of hatred . ''

"You can quote me to say, 'They're f------ thrilled,'" Richman said, adding that he's spoken to some of his clients on the matter.
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"All of them are almost unified in their position of hating f------ Rudy," he said, adding that he thought Giuliani was a "horribly dishonest prosecutor and the wheel of karma is about to crush him."
Making their joy even sweeter, criminal counts against Giuliani include a racketeering charge that he used to bring down the NYC gangsters.
Defense lawyer Jeffrey Lichtman, who represented the son of Gambino crime family boss John Gotti, said, "All of my clients who had the misfortune of being prosecuted by him are laughing now. As am I."
“I’m thrilled that Rudy will now experience what it feels like to be on the wrong end of a RICO prosecution — with a mandatory five years in prison facing him," Lichtman said.
Giuliani used the federal RICO (Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations) statute to prosecute the Mafia Commission case, which led to 100-year sentences for three mob bosses and four of their associates. The Commission was essentially a kind of underworld "board of directors" helmed by the heads of the five crime families in New York that handed down decisions and conducted mediations involving the inner politics and workings of the mob.
On Tuesday, Giuliani called the case against him "a ridiculous application of the [RICO] statute." He was indicted alongside former President Trump and 17 others on Monday.
Read more at The Messenger.


rawstory--2020-10-13--Trump’s promise to revive Wisconsin manufacturing with FoxConn deal has been an utter flop

President Donald J. Trump is touting a program that continuously fails as proof that he ’ s responsible for reviving the U.S. manufacturing industry .
In a letter to the Taiwan-based company ’ s Vice Chairman Jay Lee , Wisconsin ’ s economic development agency said Foxconn was a long way away from building the large TV screens it had proposed in 2017 , when it promised to eventually create 13,000 jobs in the state .
The Apple Inc supplier ’ s plans for the Mount Pleasant factory are now unclear , the letter from The Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the second year in a row the company missed its targets .
“ Once Foxconn is able to provide more accurate details of the proposed project , such as its size , scope , anticipated capital investment , and job creation , WEDC would be able to offer support for the project with tax incentives , ” wrote Missy Hughes , WEDC ’ s secretary & chief executive officer .
“ The planned $ 10 billion , 20-million-square-foot campus was hailed by the White House as the largest investment for a brand new @ @ @ @ @ @ @ history , ” Reuters reported .
“ But for many the factory has become a symbol of failed promises in Midwestern states like Wisconsin that were key to Trump ’ s 2016 election and are now closely watched swing states in the Republican ’ s bid to be re-elected on Nov. 3 .
”


rawstory--2020-10-13--Dr. Fauci hits back again hard: Trump campaign is ‘harassing’ me

Dr. Anthony Fauci is raising his voice and raising the stakes in the battle begun by the Trump campaign against him , and now he ’ s hitting back hard .
The president ’ s campaign put out a video that takes remarks Fauci , the nation ’ s top infectious disease expert , made in support of the coronavirus task force .
But the Trump campaign re-cut those remarks to make them look like Fauci was praising and effectively endorsing President Donald Trump .
He was not .
“ By doing this against my will , they are in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The Daily Beast .
“ Since campaign ads are about getting votes , their harassment of me might have the opposite effect of turning some voters off.
” Earlier Monday Fauci had told CNN , “ I think it ’ s really unfortunate and really disappointing that they did that , ” he said , referring to using him in an ad without his consent , “ it ’ s so clear that I ’ m not a political person.
” Told the Trump campaign might put out a second ad highlighting him @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it would be “ outrageous ” and might “ backfire.
” Does that mean he might resign ?
“ Not in my wildest freakin dreams , ” he told The Beast , “ did I ever think about quitting .
”

David Badash, The New Civil Rights Movement

"I just want to go back to Giuliani for a second, since you know these characters all so well," said anchor Joy Reid. "I want to read you what The New York Times — there was an opinion piece by one of his biographers, Andrew Kirtzman and David Holly what they wrote about Rudy has become. They wrote this. 'Faced with the political irrelevance and collapsing client base that would accompany Mr. Trump's defeat, in 2020, he seemingly made a Faustian bargain, working to undermine democracy in order to save his career.' I feel like it was a few years before that. What do you make of the fact that the RICO guy is now the RICO defendant?"
POLL: Should Trump be allowed to run for office?
"Well, it's Shakespearean in its dimensions, because Rudy was an evangelist about the rule of law in a very draconian way," said O'Brien. "And he used RICO, I think, to great effect, as we all know to go after the mob. The argument being that you could never touch the people at the head of the mob families, because they were very good at insulating their own actions from their minions who went out there, soldiers out on the street, who did the crimes. Rudy said, it was very important to attach what lower-level people did to the people orchestrating the schemes. Shades of Donald Trump much later. Everybody who has been pulled up in the January 6th investigation has complained that they came there because Trump asked them to come here. They thought they were doing what they had been told to do, and yet Trump wasn't being held accountable."
"The argument against RICO being used by Fani Willis to go after Trump is then that it's overreach," continued O'Brien. "That it should only go after organized crime. But the statute is meant to go against organized criminal conspiracies, not necessarily just conspiracies that Italian mobsters were targeted for. And in that context, one of Giuliani's biggest cases in addition to the commission case targeting the mobsters was Wall Street. He brought down Drexel Burnham. He targeted Michael Milken, he cited the person in the financial web involving insider trading and financial fraud. He himself recognized that RICO wasn't a statute that should only be used against people we traditionally call organized criminals. Fani Willis, as you noted in your opening, has also adapted it to target other people, including drug dealers. And so, I think that the idea that this thing that he created has now come around and snapped him up is both ironic but overdue because he sold himself out and he sold himself out to Trump."
"It's a reminder how easily Trump corrupts people in his orbit, but he can only corrupt them if they're corruptible," O'Brien added. "And Rudy, for all of his finger-wagging over the years at people of color for being street criminals, mobsters and many others for not following the rule of law, has now shown he's just as base and just as craven as any number of the people he once prosecuted."
Watch the video below or at the link here.


rawstory--2020-10-12--Trump demands that Puerto Rico vote for him — there’s just one problem

At his rally at Orlando Sanford International Airport on Monday , President Donald Trump devoted part of his speech to @ @ @ @ @ has been a terrific president for the island and demanding that its people vote for @ @ @ @ @ ’ s only one problem with Trump ’ s demand : Puerto Ricans can not @ @ @ @ @ Puerto Rico is not a state .
While the GOP ’ s official platform includes @ @ @ @ @ party leaders have broadly opposed granting it , out of fear that Democrats would dominate @ @ @ @ @ fact that Puerto Rico has no say in either the Electoral College or Congress has @ @ @ @ @ the island .
He was roundly criticized for a slow and insufficient response to hurricane @ @ @ @ @ and once even asked his officials to look into whether he could trade the “ @ @ @ @ @ ” island to Denmark in exchange for Greenland .

"You mentioned the concept of accountability and how it is not something that Donald Trump is particularly familiar with," said anchor Alex Wagner. "I wonder what you think of the peril that he keeps putting himself in, legally speaking, by lashing out at prosecutors. Targeting judges. Speaking badly about the very people who will determine his fate. And being, effectively, not threatened, but potentially forced to pay a price for that in the form of a trial date that has moved, or a fine, or even the possibility of being incarcerated while he awaits trial. Do you think that there is anything at this point that could force Donald Trump to stop the vitriol and to stop the tweets and the rants? Or is he going to push it as far as he possibly can?"
POLL: Should Trump be allowed to run for office?
"The short answer is no, he is not going to be able to stop himself," said Mary Trump. "There has been a really interesting shift over the last few months or couple of years. the way in which he is presenting himself in social media, the kind of attacking nature, and the aggressiveness, that used to be a strategy for him."
"You know, he used to throw temper tantrums strategically to get his way," she continued. "It is not strategy anymore."
"He is literally doing what he has done in other contexts, which is pushing the envelope to see how much he could get away with, which obviously, until this time, has been everything," she added. "But, the unconscious fear, terror, and especially if you have a fear of humiliation is so strong, that he cannot course correct and realize that what he's always done is, this time, not going to get him what he wants. In fact, quite the opposite."
Watch the video below or at the link.


rawstory--2020-10-12--Democrats in rural Trump country are using hand signals to find community — and no longer shy about

Democrats in rural Trump country are using hand signals to find community — and no longer shy about liking Biden

Democratic voters in traditionally red parts of the United States who ’ ve kept to themselves during election year are now starting to speak out – offering one another “ secret ” hand signals and facial expressions .
The reason is simple : their candidate can not lose this election .
“ The Biden supporters don ’ t like to come out as Trump supporters do , ” Mike Sherback , 55 , said .
“ Usually I wouldn ’ t do this , either .
But it ’ s the biggest election in my lifetime .
He needs the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ supporters , show their support whether through radical ways or not.
” Sherback is a Scottdale , Penn .
resident .
During a recent campaign stop for Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden , Sherback stood next to Vicki Simon , 54 , and the two swapped a hand signal .
“ There ’ s a secret society of us , ” Simon said .
“ We give each other the peace sign.
” “ As a divisive presidential campaign enters the final stretch , there is evidence that some Democrats deep in Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ avoided political discussions with their neighbors , tried to ignore Facebook debates and in some cases , sat out the last election — suddenly aren ’ t feeling so shy , ” The New York Times national political reporter Katie Glueck penned in her article , “ They ’ re Not Shy Anymore About Liking Biden ” Monday .
“ It ’ s a surge in enthusiasm that reflects the urgency of the election for Democrats desperate to oust President Trump , one that could have significant implications for turnout in closely fought @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 2016 , ” Glueck wrote .
While Westmoreland County may not have a solid flip from red to blue for Biden in the 2020 presidential election , Democratic voter engagement may be enough to slim the margins of victory in white working-class areas , “ the kind of support that compensated for his [ Trump ’ s ] losses in cities and suburbs elsewhere last time.
” “ Even if we just cut the margin , ” Biden said on his recent train tour through eastern Ohio and western Pennsylvania , “ it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ those who didn ’ t show up in Pennsylvania , they were two-to-one Clinton supporters , ” said Patrick Murray , director of the Monmouth University Polling Institute .
“ What we ’ re seeing right now is not the same lack of enthusiasm.
” “ Many of these so-called shy Biden voters , who haven ’ t been talking about it before , are also the voters , the Democratic voters , who stayed home four years ago and now regret it , ” Murray added .
According to The New York @ @ @ @ @ @ @ first stop after launching the tour in Cleveland was Alliance , Ohio , where the Republican mayor , Alan C. Andreani , described seeing ‘ as many Biden signs as Trump signs , Biden flags with Trump flags . '
” “ We seldom get as many signs as we see right now , ” said Andreani , “ …a lot of people are engaged.
” The yard signs are a way to connect the older population , JoAnn Seabol , 70 , shared .
She coordinates volunteers for the Westmoreland County Democratic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , it ’ s a way of making people feel connected , ” said Seabol .
“ Sometimes they ’ re surprised by their neighbors , when they see them also put out a Biden sign .
”

Democratic voters in traditionally red parts of the United States who've kept to themselves during election year are now starting to speak out - offering one another "secret" hand signals and facial expressions. The reason is simple: their candidate cannot lose this election.
“The Biden supporters don’t like to come out as Trump supporters do,” Mike Sherback, 55, said. “Usually I wouldn’t do this, either. But it’s the biggest election in my lifetime. He needs the support because the Trump people, Trump supporters, show their support whether through radical ways or not.”
Sherback is a Scottdale, Penn. resident. During a recent campaign stop for Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden, Sherback stood next to Vicki Simon, 54, and the two swapped a hand signal.
“There’s a secret society of us,” Simon said. “We give each other the peace sign.”
"As a divisive presidential campaign enters the final stretch, there is evidence that some Democrats deep in Trump country — the kind of voters who avoided political discussions with their neighbors, tried to ignore Facebook debates and in some cases, sat out the last election — suddenly aren’t feeling so shy," The New York Times national political reporter Katie Glueck penned in her article, "They’re Not Shy Anymore About Liking Biden" Monday.
"It’s a surge in enthusiasm that reflects the urgency of the election for Democrats desperate to oust President Trump, one that could have significant implications for turnout in closely fought battleground states that the president won in 2016," Glueck wrote.
While Westmoreland County may not have a solid flip from red to blue for Biden in the 2020 presidential election, Democratic voter engagement may be enough to slim the margins of victory in white working-class areas, "the kind of support that compensated for his [Trump's] losses in cities and suburbs elsewhere last time."
“Even if we just cut the margin,” Biden said on his recent train tour through eastern Ohio and western Pennsylvania, “it makes a gigantic difference.”
“Among those who didn’t show up in Pennsylvania, they were two-to-one Clinton supporters,” said Patrick Murray, director of the Monmouth University Polling Institute. “What we’re seeing right now is not the same lack of enthusiasm.”
“Many of these so-called shy Biden voters, who haven’t been talking about it before, are also the voters, the Democratic voters, who stayed home four years ago and now regret it,” Murray added.
According to The New York Times piece, Biden's "first stop after launching the tour in Cleveland was Alliance, Ohio, where the Republican mayor, Alan C. Andreani, described seeing 'as many Biden signs as Trump signs, Biden flags with Trump flags.'"
“We seldom get as many signs as we see right now,” said Andreani, “...a lot of people are engaged.”
The yard signs are a way to connect the older population, JoAnn Seabol, 70, shared. She coordinates volunteers for the Westmoreland County Democratic Party.
“With an older population, it’s a way of making people feel connected,” said Seabol. “Sometimes they’re surprised by their neighbors, when they see them also put out a Biden sign.”


rawstory--2020-10-12--Lincoln Project blasts Trump’s unhinged tweeting: ‘This is not normal’

President Donald Trump spent much of Monday ranting on Twitter , before flying to Florida for a campaign rally .
@ @ @ @ @ group of former top GOP strategists seeking to beat Trump in the 2020 election , @ @ @ @ @ in a video released Monday evening .
Here are some of the thoughts Trump has @ @ @ @ @ does not included his dozens of retweets that were also sent :

The caller began rattling off questions about "the guy who's from New York," asking vague questions about something that Signorile suggested was likely a conspiracy theory with no supporting facts.
POLL: Should Trump be allowed to run for office?
There was a debate about whether Trump was being charged with "insurrection" – in fact, his many charges include "defrauding the United States," but not insurrection.
John then began rattling off comments about conspiracies in Philadelphia during the 2020 election.
Signorile explained that Donald Trump was unsuccessful in each case where he went to court over the election. In most cases, the courts ruled he was relying on unsubstantiated facts and hearsay.
"Let's make believe, in John from Staten Island World, that he was someone who was somehow facing an injustice. Does that give him a right to engage in illegal means to overturn the government?" Signorile asked.
John from Staten Island accused Signorile of using "innuendo," and went on to cite what Donald Trump told people.
Signorile went on to say that the way the American system works is that those who have disagreements use the law to fight their case, they don't side-step the law and do whatever they want. That, he said, is why Trump is being accused of the crimes he is at the federal and state level.
"He is every stereotype of place, the only borough of New York City that voted for Trump — and where there was a rally over the weekend to stop migrant asylum-seekers from being sheltered there, even though just about everyone living there, a place dominated by Italian-Americans, descended from immigrants," Signorile, who said he was from the borough, wrote after the call.
"(And let me tell you that not everyone there is like this!)"
Listen to the exchanges in the audio here.


rawstory--2020-10-13--‘New level of dumb’: Morning Joe slams Trump over latest COVID-19 claim

Addressing comments made by Donald Trump at a rally in Florida on Monday night , “ Morning Joe ” host Joe Scarborough stated the president had hit a new low when it came to talking about the coronavirus pandemic that has claimed the lives of over 215,000 Americans .
With the president claiming he is now “ immune ” from COVID-19 , the MSNBC host said Trump had reached a “ new level of dumb.
” “ He talks doctors , he talks epidemiologists and he is saying they try to make it as bad as possible , ” Scarborough @ @ @ @ @ @ @ read the front page of any newspaper .
Read the Wall Street Journal , they will tell you , in fact , I think it was Wall Street Journal that had the breaking news that the Nevada man was the first to be reinfected three months later.
” “ I had a doctor — a personal doctor — tell me several months ago , you ’ re not immune for life .
Donald , that ’ s just — that ’ s just a new level of dumb , ” he continued .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ talking , ” Scarborough agreed .
“ Going out and kissing all the men in the crowd , I think he said , and then the women .
keep me off of those ‘ roids .
But anyway , three months , my doctor told me — he said it looks like from everything we ’ re looking at he may have immunity for three months , but the president said something else in there .
”

Addressing comments made by Donald Trump at a rally in Florida on Monday night, "Morning Joe" host Joe Scarborough stated the president had hit a new low when it came to talking about the coronavirus pandemic that has claimed the lives of over 215,000 Americans.
With the president claiming he is now "immune" from COVID-19, the MSNBC host said Trump had reached a "new level of dumb."
"He talks doctors, he talks epidemiologists and he is saying they try to make it as bad as possible," Scarborough began. "No, Donald, read the front page of any newspaper. Read the Wall Street Journal, they will tell you, in fact, I think it was Wall Street Journal that had the breaking news that the Nevada man was the first to be reinfected three months later."
"I had a doctor -- a personal doctor -- tell me several months ago, you're not immune for life. Donald, that's just -- that's just a new level of dumb," he continued.
"Could be the 'roids talking," co-host Mike Brezinski prompted.
"It could be the 'roids talking," Scarborough agreed. "Going out and kissing all the men in the crowd, I think he said, and then the women. keep me off of those 'roids. But anyway, three months, my doctor told me -- he said it looks like from everything we're looking at he may have immunity for three months, but the president said something else in there."
Watch below:


rawstory--2020-10-13--Trump demands that Puerto Rico vote for him — there’s just one problem


rawstory--2020-10-13--GOP’s mask-hating ‘macho death cult’ ripped to shreds by MNSBC’s Morning Joe: ‘This is insanity’

The “ Morning Joe ” host rolled video of White House chief of staff Mark Meadows insisting on removing his mask before speaking to reporters , despite being exposed to the coronavirus-infected President Donald Trump , and recently infected senators keeping theirs off , as well .
“ What is surprising is that people like [ Sen. ] Mike Lee would be that inconsiderate and that reckless with the lives of people around him , ” Scarborough said .
“ That Mark Meadows would be that inconsiderate and reckless with the lives of people around them.
” “ I can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ macho death cult that Mark Meadows obviously feels he needs to be a part of , that Mike Lee feels he needs to be a part of , where you ’ re that inconsiderate to other people , ” he added .
“ If I ’ m talking to reporters and they ask for my own safety for me to keep on a mask , I keep on a mask.
” Scarborough doesn ’ t understand why no one can explain to the president that discouraging mask use undermines his policy goals and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tell Donald Trump that this is insanity ?
” he said .
“ Nobody , but who should be telling these Republicans who are trying to be macho by putting other people ’ s lives in danger .
Who can tell them that this is wrong-headed ?
”

MSNBC's Joe Scarborough bashed President Donald Trump's Republican allies for ignoring basic public health protocols.
The "Morning Joe" host rolled video of White House chief of staff Mark Meadows insisting on removing his mask before speaking to reporters, despite being exposed to the coronavirus-infected President Donald Trump, and recently infected senators keeping theirs off, as well.
"What is surprising is that people like [Sen.] Mike Lee would be that inconsiderate and that reckless with the lives of people around him," Scarborough said. "That Mark Meadows would be that inconsiderate and reckless with the lives of people around them."
"I can't imagine being part of a macho death cult that Mark Meadows obviously feels he needs to be a part of, that Mike Lee feels he needs to be a part of, where you're that inconsiderate to other people," he added. "If I'm talking to reporters and they ask for my own safety for me to keep on a mask, I keep on a mask."
Scarborough doesn't understand why no one can explain to the president that discouraging mask use undermines his policy goals and endangers public health.
"Who can tell Donald Trump that this is insanity?" he said. "Nobody, but who should be telling these Republicans who are trying to be macho by putting other people's lives in danger. Who can tell them that this is wrong-headed?"


rawstory--2020-10-13--Trump merchandise on sale at deep discounts as president’s campaign loses cash battle with Biden

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Donald Trump ’ s campaign is so desperate to raise cash that it ’ s begun offering deep discounts on the merch it sells .
The campaign ’ s Columbus Day “ flash sale ” comes amid signs that the campaign could go broke before balloting ends Nov. 3 .
“ For a limited time , YOU can use code COLUMBUS to get 30 % OFF your @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I received over the weekend , the latest in an endless stream of pitches offering Trump goods .
There was a chance to win a signed Trump-Pence football or gain membership in an exclusive “ 100 club ” and other offerings that are unlike anything that any other campaign I know of has ever made .
The 30 % discount on routine goods stamped Trump-Pence just three weeks before balloting ends suggests that his campaign ordered a lot more merch than wanted by his eroding fan base .
Those items pitched specifically by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Trump-Pence campaign sent me and many others this pitch , a curious one given that Trump says he is a teetotaler : The accompanying email said Trump “ wants to do something special for you to show you how much your steadfast support means to him .
He ’ s asked us to give you EXCLUSIVE ACCESS to get our BRAND-NEW Official 2020 Make America Great Again Pint Glasses .
These beautiful , American-made pint glasses are already FLYING off the shelves , but if you place an order in the NEXT @ @ @ @ @ @ @ you get a set before they ’ re gone .
These will sell out FAST , so don ’ t wait.
” It ’ s hard to imagine anyone gullible enough to believe that malarkey , but those quite ordinary beer glasses sold out in a few days .
So did a prissy Trump “ freedom hat ” pitched in a similar fashion .
But you can still buy Trump-Pence “ peaceful protester ” women ’ s t-shirts in sizes up to 3XL for $ 30 in any color so long as it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ still available for 30 % off including hoodies ( $ 55 ) , MAGA dog collars and a Trump coloring book for kids .
At least the coloring book doesn ’ t show Trump in a Superman shirt , which a Trump aide told The New York Times he proposed to wear under his suit when he left the hospital so he could rip off the business attire mimicking Clark Kent .
You can ’ t make up stuff like this .
Like the stream of daily emails I get saying I am @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t respond to a text or how personally disappointed Trump is in me or how he wants me to have an autographed Trump-Pence football , it ’ s all to scam the people he claims to love .
Trump calls them the “ poorly educated.
” I call them the con man ’ s marks .
When it comes to campaign raising funds , Trump is turning out to be a big loser compared with Joe Biden .
The Trump campaign , the Republican National Committeen and their affiliated fundraising combined raised @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s a lot of money , though still well below the record set in July 2008 by Barack Obama .
Adjusted for inflation the Obama campaign raised $ 236 million that month .
But Trump ’ s haul paled next to Biden ’ s .
For each dollar Trump raised in August the Biden campaign brought in $ 1.74 .
Biden ’ s record-breaking August total was $ 364.5 million .
Neither campaign has said yet how well they did in September .
But the Biden campaign , playing smug and coy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it files its report the September number will be bigger than August .
That would be two record-breaking months in a row .
It also would mean Biden can spend at least $ 729 million on top of the more than $ 100 million already on hand .
This means that in just the last month of the campaign , Biden can spend on television and a ground game what Trump ’ s campaign wasted in the first half of this year .
For Trump , the awful truth is that his campaign @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Tuesday after Labor Day through the end of September , the Biden campaign spent $ 109 million on TV ads .
Trump spent just $ 45 million , NBC News calculated .
The incumbent ’ s cash has dwindled to the point where campaign staffers no longer fly with their hero on Air Force One .
Our government recoups the cost of those seats for other than official business at top drawer charter rates .
Instead , Trump campaign staffers now fly commercial in the cheap seats .
Reports filed with the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that shows just how bad Trump is at handling money .
From January through July his campaign and its affiliates spent $ 350 million to find and develop more donors .
That ’ s nearly half of the $ 800 million his campaign blew through .
Among the dubious expenses in trying to find new donors was $ 156,000 for small aircraft to tow Trump-Pence banners above crowds of beachgoers and others .
All that massive spending was a big loser .
The revenue raised since July didn ’ t come close to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s despite steadily rising promises of match money .
They started out at a dollar for dollar match .
Now the email pitches claim if I donate to Trump my campaign contribution will be matched 800 % .
That spending was , however , consistent with Trump ’ s lifelong pattern .
Money burns big holes in his pockets .
Acquiring a valuable asset that could throw off cash for decades is never interesting to Trump .
He prefers to sell out early and pocket instant cash .
Had he hung onto @ @ @ @ @ @ @ siblings inherited from their father two decades ago they would be awash in a forest of greenbacks because that was when our era of rising real estate values and rising rents began .
Alas , Donald persuaded his siblings to sell out before the market rose .
Rich as they are , the Trumps would be vastly richer if they had not listened to their profligate brother ’ s artless deal .
Spending the most doesn ’ t always result in victory at the ballot box .
But the flood of money flowing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to Trump tells us one thing .
Those Americans voting with their wallets in the last few months overwhelmingly favor Biden .
This article was paid for by Raw Story subscribers .
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David Cay Johnston, DC Report @ Raw Story

Trained in political science and the law, he has no formal education in disaster preparedness or response. And prior to his current role, he never held a full-time job dedicated to emergency management.
Instead, his main qualification was being chief of staff to then-mayor Alan Arakawa. But in that role, he told Civil Beat Tuesday, he assisted during emergency operations. And he said he participated in online FEMA trainings and workshops throughout the years.
In 2017, Andaya beat out 40 other applicants for the job, Maui Now reported at the time.
As the mayor’s administration was coming to a close, a panel of government officials – which said it was independent of the mayor – chose Andaya for the civil service role.
Civil Beat reviewed Andaya’s experience after historic Lahaina was swallowed by an inferno last week, killing scores of residents and visitors who never saw it coming.
The Maui Emergency Management Agency had the authority to issue siren warnings that might have alerted people. After Andaya’s agency decided not to sound them, many survivors reported they only became aware of the fire when they saw and smelled smoke.
Andaya said sounding the sirens wasn’t an option officials considered because they’re “mainly used for tsunamis.” That’s why they’re mostly located on the coast, he said.
But the state’s own website says the sirens are useful for many kinds of emergencies.
“The all-hazard siren system can be used for a variety of both natural and human-caused events; including tsunamis, hurricanes, dam breaches, flooding, wildfires, volcanic eruptions, terrorist threats, hazardous material incidents, and more,” the site states.
Andaya wasn’t on the island when the fires started, and he hasn’t made any appearances at press conferences since the disaster occurred.
Asked about Andaya’s resume, David Hafner, a retired telecommunications planner for the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency, questioned whether his relative inexperience affected his agency’s performance in a crisis.
“It’s a good ol’ boy network,” Hafner said. “This time it cost lives.”
Hafner said it’s “absolutely essential” for emergency management leaders to have experience in the field so they make the right decisions both before and after disasters strike.
Not having it, he said, “can lead to grave mistakes in judgment.”
Andaya’s hiring came at a time when Hawaii’s counties had just taken on increased responsibility for disaster response, according to Hafner. State emergency management officials used to be the designated authority to respond to emergencies, he said, but an update to the law in 2014 put the counties in the driver’s seat.
Asked about Andaya’s LinkedIn resume, Colin Moore, a political scientist at the University of Hawaii, said he was shocked by the emergency administrator’s lack of relevant experience. He said the public is owed an explanation.
“It’s a legitimate question to ask why the person leading the county emergency services agency has no clear background in fire, police, public health, the usual emergency services backgrounds,” he said.
“Having that on-the-ground experience, you develop the instincts and the connections to be able to perform a job like this. And if you just have general government experience, there is just no opportunity to have that kind of on-the-ground knowledge that often is really useful in a crisis.”
Andaya said as a former member of the mayor’s cabinet, he was qualified for the job.
“Whenever there was an activation in the emergency operations center, we were involved,” he said. “To say that I have no experience or no background in emergency management is not correct.”
‘Political Influence’ A Concern
Andaya, 52, is from Maui and graduated from HP Baldwin High School.
He has bachelor’s and master’s degrees in political science from the University of Hawaii Manoa. He also has a law degree from the UH Richardson School of Law, although he never became a licensed attorney, according to the Hawaii State Bar Association’s online database.
He began his career clerking for Maui Judge Artemio Baxa. He then worked for the law office of Lynn Araki-Regan, an attorney who is the wife of Arakawa’s managing director, Keith Regan.
When Andaya vacated his position as chief of staff, it was filled by Araki-Regan, who was by then the county budget director. Regan said he had no involvement in Andaya’s hiring.
From the early 2000s onward, Andaya has held leadership positions in Maui’s Department of Housing and Human Concerns and worked as the assistant to the chancellor of UH’s Maui College, according to his LinkedIn resume. He is married to Rowena Dagdag-Andaya, a former elementary school teacher who served as Maui’s public works director and now works in Maui’s Office on Aging.
Andaya was Arakawa’s chief of staff from 2011 through 2017. That year, the mayor appointed him acting administrator of MEMA, and he became permanent by the end of that year.
In contrast, Honolulu’s emergency management director, Hiro Toiya, has technical training in emergency response, worked for years as a preparedness planner for the Hawaii health department and rose up the ranks of Honolulu’s Department of Emergency Management. He worked there for more than seven years before becoming the director.
Asked how he stood out among a pool of 40 job candidates, Andaya said Maui doesn’t have a lot of emergency management professionals to begin with. He noted that he had to take an exam and based on his score was determined to be a finalist.
“You would have to question the civil service process if you can believe that politics was involved,” he said. “This is something that my predecessors have to go through as well.”
Before Andaya was hired, there were concerns in Maui’s political scene that the county was considering someone who wasn’t qualified.
“In the past, this position has sometimes been filled by individuals without the proper emergency response background.”
Former Maui County Council Chairman Mike White
In July 2017, the chair of the Maui County Council at the time, Mike White, took the unusual step of writing a Maui News column warning that the job of emergency management was too important to be “subject to political influence.”
“In the past, this position has sometimes been filled by individuals without the proper emergency response background,” White wrote.
“The administration must search for well-qualified candidates who can make a seamless transition in leading our Emergency Management Agency. The stakes are too high and our community has grown to a point where emergency coordination has become quite sophisticated in its implementation.”
In his column, White praised the outgoing emergency management chief, Anna Foust, who had previously worked for years leading the Maui branch of the Red Cross. White emphasized her expertise.
“During her tenure, she used her emergency response experience and training to help guide the county to keep citizens safe during hurricane warnings and watches, flooding events and tsunami warnings,” White wrote.
Civil Beat wasn’t able to reach White for comment.
Panel Of Specialists Chose Andaya
On Tuesday, Arakawa’s former managing director, Keith Regan, said that politics was not a factor in Andaya’s hiring. Asked why Andaya was the best candidate, Regan said he didn’t know because he wasn’t on the hiring committee. But he was adamant there was “zero” political influence in the process.
“This was a straightforward civil service process,” said Regan, who is now the state comptroller.
When Regan ran for Maui County Council in 2015, Andaya was his campaign manager. This year, Andaya wrote a letter of support of Regan’s nomination to state comptroller.
Regan noted that the hiring panel included numerous experts in the field. Maui Now identified them at the time as then-Maui Police Chief Tivoli Faaumu; then-Maui Fire Chief Jeff Murray; Elton Ushio, administrator of the Kauai Emergency Management Agency; and Vern Miyagi, then-administrator of the Hawaii State Emergency Management Agency.
At the time, Ushio was quoted by Maui Now as saying Andaya’s “proven leadership abilities, executive level experience, and impressive knowledge of emergency management” made him a great fit for the job. Murray cited Andaya’s familiarity with government processes, his “institutional knowledge of the various emergency incidents” in recent years, and his then-recent work as acting leader of the department.
“These are not people that, you know, are just political people,” Regan said. “They’re people who understand emergency management and are going to make the right choice for the community.”
In a statement, former HI-EMA director Miyagi said the public’s focus should be on working together on response and recovery.
“Herman Andaya and his staff at MEMA are really good people,” he said. “They carried Maui successfully through numerous hurricanes, floods, and other disasters.”
He said the public should wait for the attorney general’s investigation before drawing conclusions.
Civil Beat left messages with the other hiring committee members on Tuesday, but they were not returned. Former mayor Arakawa also did not respond to a request for comment.
“Herman is a very skilled, experienced, knowledgeable, professional individual,” Regan said. “I trust that is making the right decisions … There is no question in my mind that he cares about that community, and he’s going to do everything he can to keep that community safe.”


rawstory--2020-10-13--Doubts over immunity after man gets COVID second time, with more severe symptoms

Covid-19 patients may experience more severe symptoms the second time they are infected , according to research released Tuesday confirming it is possible to catch the potentially deadly disease more than once .
A study published in The Lancet Infectious Diseases journal charts the first confirmed case of Covid-19 reinfection in the United States — the country worst hit by the pandemic — and indicates that exposure to the virus may not guarantee future immunity .
The patient , a 25-year-old Nevada man , was infected with two distinct variants of SARS-CoV-2 , the virus that causes Covid-19 , within @ @ @ @ @ @ @ infection was more severe than the first , resulting in the patient being hospitalized with oxygen support .
The paper noted four other cases of reinfection confirmed globally , with one patient each in Belgium , the Netherlands , Hong Kong and Ecuador .
Experts said the prospect of reinfection could have a profound impact on how the world battles through the pandemic .
In particular , it could influence the hunt for a vaccine — the currently Holy Grail of pharmaceutical research .
“ The possibility of reinfections could have significant implications @ @ @ @ @ @ @ especially in the absence of an effective vaccine , ” said Mark Pandori , for the Nevada State Public Health Laboratory and lead study author .
“ We need more research to understand how long immunity may last for people exposed to SARS-CoV-2 and why some of these second infections , while rare , are presenting as more severe.
” Vaccines work by triggering the body ’ s natural immune response to a certain pathogen , arming it with antibodies it to fight off future waves of infection .
But it is not @ @ @ @ @ @ @ last .
For some diseases , such as measles , infection confers lifelong immunity .
For other pathogens , immunity may be fleeting at best .
The authors said the US patient could have been exposed to a very high dose of the virus the second time around , triggering a more acute reaction .
Alternatively , it may have been a more virulent strain of the virus .
Another hypothesis is a mechanism known as antibody dependent enhancement — that is , when antibodies actually make subsequent infections worse , such as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ out that reinfection of any kind remains rare , with only a handful of confirmed cases out of tens of millions of Covid-19 infections globally .
However , since many cases are asymptomatic and therefore unlikely to have tested positive initially , it may be impossible to know if a given Covid-19 case is the first or second infection .
In a linked comment to The Lancet paper , Akiko Iwasaka , a professor of Immunobiology and Molecular , Cellular and Developmental Biology at Yale University , said the findings could impact public @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of reinfection surface , the scientific community will have the opportunity to understand better the correlates of protection and how frequently natural infections with SARS-CoV-2 induce that level of immunity , ” she said .
“ This information is key to understanding which vaccines are capable of crossing that threshold to confer individual and herd immunity , ” added Iwasaka , who was not involved in the study .

Covid-19 patients may experience more severe symptoms the second time they are infected, according to research released Tuesday confirming it is possible to catch the potentially deadly disease more than once.
A study published in The Lancet Infectious Diseases journal charts the first confirmed case of Covid-19 reinfection in the United States -- the country worst hit by the pandemic -- and indicates that exposure to the virus may not guarantee future immunity.
The patient, a 25-year-old Nevada man, was infected with two distinct variants of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes Covid-19, within a 48-day time frame.
The second infection was more severe than the first, resulting in the patient being hospitalized with oxygen support.
The paper noted four other cases of reinfection confirmed globally, with one patient each in Belgium, the Netherlands, Hong Kong and Ecuador.
Experts said the prospect of reinfection could have a profound impact on how the world battles through the pandemic.
In particular, it could influence the hunt for a vaccine -- the currently Holy Grail of pharmaceutical research.
"The possibility of reinfections could have significant implications for our understanding of Covid-19 immunity, especially in the absence of an effective vaccine," said Mark Pandori, for the Nevada State Public Health Laboratory and lead study author.
"We need more research to understand how long immunity may last for people exposed to SARS-CoV-2 and why some of these second infections, while rare, are presenting as more severe."
Waning immunity?
Vaccines work by triggering the body's natural immune response to a certain pathogen, arming it with antibodies it to fight off future waves of infection.
But it is not at all clear how long Covid-19 antibodies last.
For some diseases, such as measles, infection confers lifelong immunity. For other pathogens, immunity may be fleeting at best.
The authors said the US patient could have been exposed to a very high dose of the virus the second time around, triggering a more acute reaction.
Alternatively, it may have been a more virulent strain of the virus.
Another hypothesis is a mechanism known as antibody dependent enhancement -- that is, when antibodies actually make subsequent infections worse, such as with dengue fever.
The researchers pointed out that reinfection of any kind remains rare, with only a handful of confirmed cases out of tens of millions of Covid-19 infections globally.
However, since many cases are asymptomatic and therefore unlikely to have tested positive initially, it may be impossible to know if a given Covid-19 case is the first or second infection.
In a linked comment to The Lancet paper, Akiko Iwasaka, a professor of Immunobiology and Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology at Yale University, said the findings could impact public health measures.
"As more cases of reinfection surface, the scientific community will have the opportunity to understand better the correlates of protection and how frequently natural infections with SARS-CoV-2 induce that level of immunity," she said.
"This information is key to understanding which vaccines are capable of crossing that threshold to confer individual and herd immunity," added Iwasaka, who was not involved in the study.
(AFP)


rawstory--2020-10-14--QAnon letter carrier raided by federal agents — who found undelivered mail in trash bags: report

On Tuesday , the Pittsburgh City Paper reported that a local letter carrier raided by special agents for hoarding mail in trash bags is affiliated with the QAnon conspiracy theory movement .
“ Yesterday , the Baldwin home of Sean Troesch was raided by special agents from the United States Postal Service , who confiscated eight large garbage bags of suspected undelivered mail , according to KDKA , ” reported Ryan Deto .
“ KDKA also reported that the post office said this latest haul didn ’ t contain any discarded mail-in ballots , but neighbors told the station trash @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s house almost every Sunday night for Monday morning pickup . '
” “ According to screenshots of a Facebook page apparently belonging to Troesch , the mail carrier has been trafficking in conspiracy theories related to QAnon for at least the last several months , ” said the report .
“ QAnon is a baseless pro-Trump conspiracy theory that falsely believes elites and Democrats are running an underground child prostitution ring and eating babies .
Belief in this conspiracy theory has been growing over the years , and many QAnon supporters @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The president has repeatedly claimed with no basis that mail-in ballots are fraudulent and need to be challenged .

“So why would they break with him, or condemn him,” Wallace said, noting Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said he’d vote for Trump even after the former president smeared his wife, Elaine Chao.
POLL: Should Trump be allowed to run for office?
“How do you create this circuit breaker in what is increasingly an extremist movement?” asked Wallace.
“Millions of Americans still think violence may be the way to go to ... restore Trump to office, so what is the off-ramp? ... All the studies show us that the most successful deradicalization is offering that off-ramp, whether you're studying the white hate movement and getting people out of out of neo-Nazi groups, etcetera, or you're over on the international terrorism side and trying to get people out of literally martyring themselves for their cause."
He added:
“They're unlikely to listen…to me or (former National Homeland Security official) Miles (Taylor), they're far more likely to eventually give an ear to people like themselves, who have left that movement and are making sense to them, and it has to be constant to keep hearing it so that when they're ready to receive it, that message is still there.”
But Figliuzzi acknowledged the dearth of those who have lived to tell about life on the other side of the MAGA cult, which figures to make the process of deprograming Trump extremists challenging.
“Where are those people?” Figliuzzi said. “Few and far between. Liz Cheney, Adam Kinzinger have been ostracized from their party. I've lost count of the number of GOP members of Congress who years ago decided ‘I'm not running again.’ That's the toll that that's paid."
He continued:
“But yeah, the magic switch to flip? I don't see it right now. And I am certain that law enforcement is not the solution.”
Watch the video below or at the link here.


rawstory--2020-10-14--Amy Coney Barrett hearing confirms what we already know — she’s dangerous for democracy: analysis

Tuesday ’ s confirmation hearing of Judge Amy Coney Barrett left viewers with little left to ponder .
If confirmed , Barrett would become the most ideological U.S. Supreme Court justice – to the right of even Justice John Roberts and Justice Brett Kavanaugh .
In an article for FiveThirtyEight , Perry Bacon , Jr. discussed Barrett ’ s noncommittal attitude on the subjects of Roe v. Wade , the Affordable Care Act , gun rights , recusing herself from the presidential election if elevated to the U.S. Supreme Court for a decision – or really anything in which she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ line during the hearing .
“ Barrett ’ s refusal to offer her views on virtually every issue wasn ’ t surprising — almost all judicial nominees from both parties do that , ” Bacon wrote .
“ But that approach turned Tuesday ’ s hearings into … OK , I ’ ll just say it : a farce.
” Barrett was a a one-time clerk to Justice Antonin Scalia and described him as a role model .
She subscribes to ideology of the conservative group called the Federalist Society and has issued @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an appeals court judge .
“ Her repeatedly implying that she is not sure how she would rule on some of these hot-button issues is misleading — even if it ’ s par for the course in present-day judicial confirmation processes , ” Bacon wrote .
Adding , “ We left the hearing , therefore , largely where we began it in terms of our picture of what kind of justice Barrett might be : She would likely vote to further dismantle Obamacare , uphold abortion limits that would make it impossible to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ invalidate most regulations on guns and back corporations over individuals in most legal matters.
” A poll published on Sept. 25 showed that most Americans want to wait until after the election to fill the Supreme Court vacancy .

Tuesday's confirmation hearing of Judge Amy Coney Barrett left viewers with little left to ponder. If confirmed, Barrett would become the most ideological U.S. Supreme Court justice - to the right of even Justice John Roberts and Justice Brett Kavanaugh.
In an article for FiveThirtyEight, Perry Bacon, Jr. discussed Barrett's noncommittal attitude on the subjects of Roe v. Wade, the Affordable Care Act, gun rights, recusing herself from the presidential election if elevated to the U.S. Supreme Court for a decision - or really anything in which she had to place her opinion on the line during the hearing.
"Barrett’s refusal to offer her views on virtually every issue wasn’t surprising — almost all judicial nominees from both parties do that," Bacon wrote. "But that approach turned Tuesday’s hearings into … OK, I’ll just say it: a farce."
Barrett was a a one-time clerk to Justice Antonin Scalia and described him as a role model. She subscribes to ideology of the conservative group called the Federalist Society and has issued numerous ultra-conservative rulings in her tenure as an appeals court judge.
"Her repeatedly implying that she is not sure how she would rule on some of these hot-button issues is misleading — even if it’s par for the course in present-day judicial confirmation processes," Bacon wrote. Adding, "We left the hearing, therefore, largely where we began it in terms of our picture of what kind of justice Barrett might be: She would likely vote to further dismantle Obamacare, uphold abortion limits that would make it impossible to get an abortion in some states, invalidate most regulations on guns and back corporations over individuals in most legal matters."
A poll published on Sept. 25 showed that most Americans want to wait until after the election to fill the Supreme Court vacancy.


rawstory--2020-10-14--Justice Sotomayor warns of ‘irreparable harm’ as the Supreme Court cuts the census short

Justice Sonia Sotomayor was the sole dissenter on Tuesday when the Supreme Court decided to allow the Trump administration to cut short the census , which a lower court had ordered must continue until Oct. 31 .
Under Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross , the Census Bureau had initially extended its deadline for completing the census — a count of the people in the United States crucial for determining the distribution of funds , services , and electoral representatives — until the end of October because of disruptions caused by the coronavirus pandemic .
The census had already been a major @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stood accused of using a citizenship question ( since removed ) to discourage minority residents from responding to the survey .
But after deciding to extend the census , officials abruptly reversed themselves and cut the count short , hoping to end it by the last day of September .
A group of various individual an entities who fear they would be harmed by this change challenged the decision legally , and eventually the Commerce Department was ordered by the courts to continue the count .
But now , the Supreme Court his @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to stop counting in a brief , unsigned declaration offering no explanation for its decision .
Only Sotomayor objected , writing a detailed dissent explaining why she though the majority ’ s decision is wrong .
“ I would deny a stay of that injunction , ” she wrote .
‘ The Government fails to demonstrate that the injunction is likely to cause it irreparable harm .
Regardless of the merits of respondents ’ claims , this failure , alone , requires denying the requested stay.
” The only reason the administration claimed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , she said , is that it is required to turn over the results of the census to the president by the end of the year , according to the statute .
But , Sotomayor pointed out , officials have already said that it is “ impossible ” for the Census Bureau to turn over the results of the count by the Dec. 31 deadline regardless of whether they stop now .
And they have an alternative : The administration can ask Congress to simply extend the deadline , which officials had already @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Commerce Department decided to cut the census short .
They also could direct more resources toward speeding up the analysis of the census data , Sotomayor said , but the department does not appear to have considered this option .
So while the harms the administration says it will suffer seem dubious , Sotomayor said the harms suffered by people impacted by an undercount could be significant .
“ In contrast to the Government ’ s unsupported claims of irreparable harm , respondents will suffer substantial injury if the Bureau is permitted to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ District Court found , and the Ninth Circuit credited , ‘ [ a ] n inaccurate count would affect the distribution of federal and state funding , the deployment of services , and the allocation of local resources , ” she wrote .
She also noted that the administration has claimed it has already counted 99 percent of people .
“ But even a fraction of a percent of the Nation ’ s 140 million households amounts to hundreds of thousands of people left uncounted , ” she explained .
“ And significantly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ much higher among marginalized populations and in hard-to-count areas , such as rural and tribal lands.
” She also noted that in 2010 , the Census continued its count for a full month after already reaching the 99 percent threshold .
“ The harms caused by rushing this year ’ s census count are irreparable .
And respondents will suffer their lasting impact for at least the next 10 years , ” Sotomayor concluded .

Justice Sonia Sotomayor was the sole dissenter on Tuesday when the Supreme Court decided to allow the Trump administration to cut short the census, which a lower court had ordered must continue until Oct. 31.
Under Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross, the Census Bureau had initially extended its deadline for completing the census — a count of the people in the United States crucial for determining the distribution of funds, services, and electoral representatives — until the end of October because of disruptions caused by the coronavirus pandemic. The census had already been a major point of political controversy, as Republicans stood accused of using a citizenship question (since removed) to discourage minority residents from responding to the survey. But after deciding to extend the census, officials abruptly reversed themselves and cut the count short, hoping to end it by the last day of September.
A group of various individual an entities who fear they would be harmed by this change challenged the decision legally, and eventually the Commerce Department was ordered by the courts to continue the count. But now, the Supreme Court his stayed that order, permitting the administration to stop counting in a brief, unsigned declaration offering no explanation for its decision.
Only Sotomayor objected, writing a detailed dissent explaining why she though the majority's decision is wrong.
"I would deny a stay of that injunction," she wrote. 'The Government fails to demonstrate that the injunction is likely to cause it irreparable harm. Regardless of the merits of respondents' claims, this failure, alone, requires denying the requested stay."
The only reason the administration claimed it needed to end the count early, she said, is that it is required to turn over the results of the census to the president by the end of the year, according to the statute.
But, Sotomayor pointed out, officials have already said that it is "impossible" for the Census Bureau to turn over the results of the count by the Dec. 31 deadline regardless of whether they stop now. And they have an alternative: The administration can ask Congress to simply extend the deadline, which officials had already begun to do by the time the Commerce Department decided to cut the census short. They also could direct more resources toward speeding up the analysis of the census data, Sotomayor said, but the department does not appear to have considered this option.
So while the harms the administration says it will suffer seem dubious, Sotomayor said the harms suffered by people impacted by an undercount could be significant.
"In contrast to the Government's unsupported claims of irreparable harm, respondents will suffer substantial injury if the Bureau is permitted to sacrifice accuracy for expediency. As the District Court found, and the Ninth Circuit credited, '[a]n inaccurate count would affect the distribution of federal and state funding, the deployment of services, and the allocation of local resources," she wrote.
She also noted that the administration has claimed it has already counted 99 percent of people.
"But even a fraction of a percent of the Nation's 140 million households amounts to hundreds of thousands of people left uncounted," she explained. "And significantly, the percentage of nonresponses is likely much higher among marginalized populations and in hard-to-count areas, such as rural and tribal lands."
She also noted that in 2010, the Census continued its count for a full month after already reaching the 99 percent threshold.
"The harms caused by rushing this year's census count are irreparable. And respondents will suffer their lasting impact for at least the next 10 years," Sotomayor concluded.


rawstory--2020-10-13--Supreme Court temporarily allows Trump to cut short census count by two weeks

On Tuesday , Bloomberg News reported that the Supreme Court is temporarily lifting an order allowing President Donald Trump to end the census count two weeks early — reversing lower courts that ruled the census must continue through the end of October .
The move is a loss for civil rights activists who warned such a move could lead to an undercount of the population that misallocates congressional districts and federal funding — and could disproportionately impact people of color .
The Supreme Court majority did not explain their reasoning , although Justice Sonia Sotomayor dissented , warning “ the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ avoidable and intolerable.
” Even prior to the ruling , Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross appeared to be in defiance , ordering the count to end earlier than the lower courts had dictated .
The president is also asking the Supreme Court to greenlight his plan to try to exclude undocumented immigrants from census apportionment .
The court previously blocked the president ’ s plan to include a citizenship question , ruling administration officials misled the public and used improper reasoning , but have yet to decide whether to take up Trump ’ s @ @ @