dailykos--2020-10-26--The Evolution of Racist Dog Whistles

The Evolution of Racist Dog Whistles

Donald Trump , the White Supremacist-in-Chief , has used racism as a political strategy ever since he came down the golden escalator and claimed Mexican immigrants were drug dealers and rapists .
Trump ’ s use of racist dog whistles has a long history in this country and has evolved over the decades from the Jim Crow South .
During Nixon ’ s 1968 campaign , a Southern politician and Nixon supporter described the evolution of “ Law and Order ” and other dog whistles : “ looters/rioters ” , “ thugs ” , “ welfare queens ” , etc @ @ @ @ @ @ @ could openly say the “ N ” word and other racial epithets , but in the 1950s and 60s , overt racism became undignified for middle-class voters who wanted to view themselves as respectable and civilized people .
They still had racial prejudices but saw overt racism as ignorant and crude .
The press and political opponents were also quicker to condemn these race-baiting politicians when in the past they might have given them a pass .
The changing in attitude was because after World War II , Americans realized our system of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Nazi Party ’ s views of Aryan supremacy .
The U.S. promoted itself as the arbiter of freedom and democracy , but the international community thought this to be hypocritical .
Foreign visitors started frequenting the United States more and were appalled by the Jim Crow apartheid system .
Even in the North , restricted covenants prevented Blacks from living in White neighborhoods and many schools were segregated .
Blacks who served in the segregated army during World War II went to Europe and realized that they were treated better there than @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in society for the 1st time .
Jesse Owens recalled that during the 1936 Olympics , Hitler allowed him and other Black athletes to eat with all the other Olympians , which had a strong impact on Owens because at Ohio State he was forbidden from training , living , and eating with his White teammates .
In contrast , Owens struck up a friendship with superstar Luz Long , the supposed embodiment of the Aryan master race , that he maintained for the rest of his life .
In a stunning turn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a later interview that Hitler met with him privately for thirty seconds to briefly tell him congratulations .
In the U.S. , there is a narrative that Hitler snubbed Jesse Owens because of his race .
On the opposite side , Nazi officials privately noted that Hitler was mildly annoyed that a Black man had just defeated German athletes , but he had no special animus towards Jesse Owens .
They claimed he left his seat promptly because he was informed by Olympic officials that he would have to shake the hands of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hand of a Jewish athlete was publicity that he did not want .
Long after the events of World War II , Jesse Owens said he had never shaken Hitler ’ s hand and had no interest in doing so , which is what his daughter tells inquirers today .
What is not questioned is that Jesse Owens felt snubbed and disrespected by FDR who Owens said acted like he did not exist once he returned to the United States .
Before the Olympics , Hitler had boasted that no Black man would @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a sporting competition because of his racial inferiority .
His hatred of Jews was all encompassing but he considered Blacks and other non-Aryan ethnicities to be part of a “ mongrel ” race .
Jesse Owens made Hitler eat his own words .
After the war , the U.S. government rushed to make progress on racial equality .
Thus , President Truman desegregated the army for the 1st time in 1948 .
Instead of overt racism , politicians in the 50s and 60s adopted racist dog whistles in order not to offend middle-class @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seem acceptable enough on the surface , but they have racist undertones and just like with a dog whistle , the phrases get the intended audience ’ s attention and this audience knows that this is a racist attack .
For example , “ Thug ” is a stand-in for the “ N ” word .
After George Floyd ’ s death in Minneapolis sparked protests , Donald Trump purposely described Black demonstrators as “ THUGS ” in all caps to incite racism and scare Whites with the threat of Blacks protesting .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” or “ looters ” in order to delegitimize their protests by painting them as criminals .
Racist politicians also use these labels to justify and incite violence against them .
In 1960s , White mobs were just as responsible for racial violence as the police .
The frequent barking of “ Law and Order ” serves the dual-purpose of provoking fear of Black people , especially with White women , and threatening Blacks with violence if they protest .
Trump , like the Jim Crow politicians of old , wants Black people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ During the 1968 election , all Nixon had to do was repeat “ Law and Order ” and voters ’ racial prejudices would be enflamed .
White voters would be reminded of their fear of crime and racial integration .
Whites would also view Civil Rights protests as delegitimate and excessive , which allowed them to rationalize force to stop them .
Nixon accomplished all this with dog whistles and could not be smeared for being racist himself .
He watched his ad that declared “ Security is the 1st Civil Right ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the head , it ’ s about those damn Blacks and Puerto-Rican gangs.
” Nixon maintained his image as a unifying statesman while Governor George Wallace disgraced himself by openly talking about how intermarriage would be bad for both Black and White people because it is better for them to stay apart .
Donald Trump thinks he is Richard Nixon and can scare suburban voters with the threat of Black “ mobs ” and low-income housing , but Trump has followed the path of George Wallace and on November 3rd , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ Law and Order ” .

Donald Trump, the White Supremacist-in-Chief, has used racism as a political strategy ever since he came down the golden escalator and claimed Mexican immigrants were drug dealers and rapists. Trump’s use of racist dog whistles has a long history in this country and has evolved over the decades from the Jim Crow South.
During Nixon’s 1968 campaign, a Southern politician and Nixon supporter described the evolution of “Law and Order” and other dog whistles: “looters/rioters”, “thugs”, “welfare queens”, etc. In previous decades, Southern politicians could openly say the “N” word and other racial epithets, but in the 1950s and 60s, overt racism became undignified for middle-class voters who wanted to view themselves as respectable and civilized people. They still had racial prejudices but saw overt racism as ignorant and crude. The press and political opponents were also quicker to condemn these race-baiting politicians when in the past they might have given them a pass.
The changing in attitude was because after World War II, Americans realized our system of racial oppression was not much different than the Nazi Party’s views of Aryan supremacy. The U.S. promoted itself as the arbiter of freedom and democracy, but the international community thought this to be hypocritical. Foreign visitors started frequenting the United States more and were appalled by the Jim Crow apartheid system. Even in the North, restricted covenants prevented Blacks from living in White neighborhoods and many schools were segregated. Blacks who served in the segregated army during World War II went to Europe and realized that they were treated better there than their own country. Many felt included in society for the 1st time.
Jesse Owens recalled that during the 1936 Olympics, Hitler allowed him and other Black athletes to eat with all the other Olympians, which had a strong impact on Owens because at Ohio State he was forbidden from training, living, and eating with his White teammates. In contrast, Owens struck up a friendship with superstar Luz Long, the supposed embodiment of the Aryan master race, that he maintained for the rest of his life.
In a stunning turn of events, Jesse Owens said in a later interview that Hitler met with him privately for thirty seconds to briefly tell him congratulations. In the U.S., there is a narrative that Hitler snubbed Jesse Owens because of his race. On the opposite side, Nazi officials privately noted that Hitler was mildly annoyed that a Black man had just defeated German athletes, but he had no special animus towards Jesse Owens. They claimed he left his seat promptly because he was informed by Olympic officials that he would have to shake the hands of all athletes and being photographed shaking the hand of a Jewish athlete was publicity that he did not want.
Long after the events of World War II, Jesse Owens said he had never shaken Hitler’s hand and had no interest in doing so, which is what his daughter tells inquirers today. What is not questioned is that Jesse Owens felt snubbed and disrespected by FDR who Owens said acted like he did not exist once he returned to the United States. Before the Olympics, Hitler had boasted that no Black man would be able to beat an Aryan in a sporting competition because of his racial inferiority. His hatred of Jews was all encompassing but he considered Blacks and other non-Aryan ethnicities to be part of a “mongrel” race. Jesse Owens made Hitler eat his own words.
After the war, the U.S. government rushed to make progress on racial equality. Thus, President Truman desegregated the army for the 1st time in 1948.
Instead of overt racism, politicians in the 50s and 60s adopted racist dog whistles in order not to offend middle-class sense of respectability. These dog whistles seem acceptable enough on the surface, but they have racist undertones and just like with a dog whistle, the phrases get the intended audience’s attention and this audience knows that this is a racist attack. For example, “Thug” is a stand-in for the “N” word.
After George Floyd’s death in Minneapolis sparked protests, Donald Trump purposely described Black demonstrators as “THUGS” in all caps to incite racism and scare Whites with the threat of Blacks protesting. Black people are labelled as “thugs” or “looters” in order to delegitimize their protests by painting them as criminals. Racist politicians also use these labels to justify and incite violence against them. In 1960s, White mobs were just as responsible for racial violence as the police. The frequent barking of “Law and Order” serves the dual-purpose of provoking fear of Black people, especially with White women, and threatening Blacks with violence if they protest. Trump, like the Jim Crow politicians of old, wants Black people to cower and stay in line.
During the 1968 election, all Nixon had to do was repeat “Law and Order” and voters’ racial prejudices would be enflamed. White voters would be reminded of their fear of crime and racial integration. Whites would also view Civil Rights protests as delegitimate and excessive, which allowed them to rationalize force to stop them. Nixon accomplished all this with dog whistles and could not be smeared for being racist himself. He watched his ad that declared “Security is the 1st Civil Right” and said, “This hits it on the head, it’s about those damn Blacks and Puerto-Rican gangs.”
Nixon maintained his image as a unifying statesman while Governor George Wallace disgraced himself by openly talking about how intermarriage would be bad for both Black and White people because it is better for them to stay apart. Donald Trump thinks he is Richard Nixon and can scare suburban voters with the threat of Black “mobs” and low-income housing, but Trump has followed the path of George Wallace and on November 3rd, the American people will be the ones enforcing “Law and Order”.


dailykos--2020-10-26--Recall Efforts Against Gov. Tony Evers (D-Wis) FAIL as Wisconsin Covid Cases Spike Again

Republicans are still very , very angry and upset that they lost control of all statewide offices in Wisconsin in 2018 when Scott Walker and his band of Not So Merry Men were shown the door after 8 years of failure .
They were soooo angry that they spent the lame duck session in 2018 removing most of the Governors ’ powers by making him come begging to the Republican dominated Legislature in order to do anything .
Walker happily signed all that legislation in private .
They ’ re soooo angry about the Executive orders issued by Evers to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ran to their Republican dominated courts for relief they couldn ’ t achieve in the Legislature .
Time after time the courts issued injunctive relief to them when they asked by overruling those Executive orders .
After all , they said they told the Governor “ no ” very firmly when he came begging them for legislation to keep Wisconsinites alive .
When called to special session by the Governor to consider legislation for this emergency , they gavel in and gavel out in 20 seconds .
They haven ’ t met since @ @ @ @ @ @ @ any legislation .
It ’ s sporadic local restrictions and precautions put in place by responsible businesses that have been keeping us safer along with a fairly new statewide mask mandate ( which the courts didn ’ t overturn ) .
However , there ’ s no enforcement mechanism as you can tell when you go out .
Some businesses ignore the restrictions when customers come in maskless and don ’ t follow social distancing guidelines .
Others do an incredible job of keeping their customers and employees as safe as possible .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Covid spiking in Wisconsin and Republican sycophants still believing that the pandemic is “ fake news ” or “ over ” .
He was here the last 2 Saturdays , October 17 and 24 .
Ivanka swooped in on Tuesday , October 20 after Eric was here Monday , October 12 .
Trump will be back here again on Tuesday .
Small wonder we ’ re spiking so badly we ’ ve had to open a field hospital about a mile from my house .
The Covid spike here is so bad that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ math is dismal .
Many Wisconsin residents continue to gather , often without a mask , as cases surge , so a person who tests positive might report 10 or more close contacts who need to be reached quickly .
Multiply that by 3,400 , and the task becomes Sisyphean : close to 40,000 people for the state 's little more than a thousand tracers to reach with each new day .
Powerful business lobbies , particularly the Tavern League which is currently running negative ads about Covid restrictions , are fiercely complaining @ @ @ @ @ @ @ open for them to operate .
They , along with Wisconsin Manufacturing and Commerce , are powerful lobbies and very heavy political hitters .
They help keep Republicans in power with campaign cash and plenty of dark money attack ads on Democrats so the GOP serves them faithfully .
Wisconsin Manufacturing and Commerce , some Chambers of Commerce , and Republican legislators have been fighting an effort to release the names of businesses linked with Covid cases citing “ patient confidentiality ” .
They have filed a lawsuit and even got a judge @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Media reports that information is now taking months to receive from state officials as a result .
State and local officials are redoubling their contact tracing efforts , but are hampered by Republican politicians and business groups who continue to turn Covid precautions into a political litmus test .
Perhaps part of me doesn ’ t care if tRump supporters and Covid deniers get sick ( karma ) , but I DO care that they ’ re likely the ones going maskless into a stores or restaurant for where they ’ ll give @ @ @ @ @ @ @ infect their friends and families at large maskless gatherings , infect their kids who spread it at school , and then infect health care workers when they need care .
Most states aren ’ t handling it and the ones that are get foiled by the fact that viruses ignore borders , rules , laws , insults , and tweets .
They just spread and we need to stop helping them do this by failing to have national and international laws to protect us and others .
Until then we ’ ll just @ @ @ @ @ @ @ how much Republicans try to ignore what ’ s happening and hide the data .

Bwahahahaha!
A week after insisting she had enough signatures, the woman organizing a recall campaign against Democratic Gov. Tony Evers announced Monday her effort had failed. "It is with a heavy heart we announce that after proofing and what came in over the weekend we have fallen short. We do not have enough signatures to turn in," organizer Misty Polewczynski wrote in a Facebook post. … The recall effort faced blowback from Republicans who said they should be focused on President Donald Trump's reelection bid, not a longshot recall of a governor who is polling well.
Republicans also didn’t like this recall effort because they are well aware that state law allows someone under threat of a recall to raise unlimited amounts of funds. This is another reason Scott Walker kept delaying the recall vote against him for months so he could continue filling his bulging coffers (along with making sure that the states colleges and universities were on summer break so students couldn’t vote). And Evers has used this time effectively, too, to raise funds.
Republicans are still very, very angry and upset that they lost control of all statewide offices in Wisconsin in 2018 when Scott Walker and his band of Not So Merry Men were shown the door after 8 years of failure. They were soooo angry that they spent the lame duck session in 2018 removing most of the Governors’ powers by making him come begging to the Republican dominated Legislature in order to do anything. Walker happily signed all that legislation in private.
They’re soooo angry about the Executive orders issued by Evers to control the pandemic in Wisconsin that they ran to their Republican dominated courts for relief they couldn’t achieve in the Legislature. Time after time the courts issued injunctive relief to them when they asked by overruling those Executive orders. After all, they said they told the Governor “no” very firmly when he came begging them for legislation to keep Wisconsinites alive. When called to special session by the Governor to consider legislation for this emergency, they gavel in and gavel out in 20 seconds. They haven’t met since April and have neither considered or passed any legislation.
It’s sporadic local restrictions and precautions put in place by responsible businesses that have been keeping us safer along with a fairly new statewide mask mandate (which the courts didn’t overturn). However, there’s no enforcement mechanism as you can tell when you go out. Some businesses ignore the restrictions when customers come in maskless and don’t follow social distancing guidelines. Others do an incredible job of keeping their customers and employees as safe as possible.
And Donald tRumps superspreader events keep the Covid spiking in Wisconsin and Republican sycophants still believing that the pandemic is “fake news” or “over”. He was here the last 2 Saturdays, October 17 and 24. Ivanka swooped in on Tuesday, October 20 after Eric was here Monday, October 12. Trump will be back here again on Tuesday. Small wonder we’re spiking so badly we’ve had to open a field hospital about a mile from my house.
The Covid spike here is so bad that contract tracing is currently futile.
The math is dismal. Many Wisconsin residents continue to gather, often without a mask, as cases surge, so a person who tests positive might report 10 or more close contacts who need to be reached quickly. Multiply that by 3,400, and the task becomes Sisyphean: close to 40,000 people for the state's little more than a thousand tracers to reach with each new day.
Powerful business lobbies, particularly the Tavern League which is currently running negative ads about Covid restrictions, are fiercely complaining that the state isn’t fully open for them to operate. They, along with Wisconsin Manufacturing and Commerce, are powerful lobbies and very heavy political hitters. They help keep Republicans in power with campaign cash and plenty of dark money attack ads on Democrats so the GOP serves them faithfully.
Wisconsin Manufacturing and Commerce, some Chambers of Commerce, and Republican legislators have been fighting an effort to release the names of businesses linked with Covid cases citing “patient confidentiality”. They have filed a lawsuit and even got a judge to issue a 5 day injunction. Media reports that information is now taking months to receive from state officials as a result.
A lack of information has helped keep workers, area residents and the public in the dark about the extent of the outbreaks and the risks they face. Many workers at food processing plants with outbreaks told the Journal Sentinel they learned about cases at their companies through coworkers.
State and local officials are redoubling their contact tracing efforts, but are hampered by Republican politicians and business groups who continue to turn Covid precautions into a political litmus test.
Perhaps part of me doesn’t care if tRump supporters and Covid deniers get sick (karma), but I DO care that they’re likely the ones going maskless into a stores or restaurant for where they’ll give it to employees and other customers, infect their friends and families at large maskless gatherings, infect their kids who spread it at school, and then infect health care workers when they need care.
Most states aren’t handling it and the ones that are get foiled by the fact that viruses ignore borders, rules, laws, insults, and tweets. They just spread and we need to stop helping them do this by failing to have national and international laws to protect us and others. Until then we’ll just keep seeing higher case numbers no matter how much Republicans try to ignore what’s happening and hide the data.


dailykos--2020-10-27--Trump To Purge Thousands of Federal Workers for Disloyalty

This just in from Vanity Fair : “ ... last week , the White House was relatively , strangely quiet @ @ @ @ @ esoteric-sounding “ Executive Order on Creating Schedule F In the Excepted Service.
” And that @ @ @ @ @ because the action not only gives Trump the power to purge thousands of federal workers—the @ @ @ @ @ allowed them to deal in facts and stand up to presidential intimidation—and replace them with @ @ @ @ @ spend the next four years doing Trump ’ s bidding , but it would cripple @ @ @ @ @ , at a time when it will need to act fast on , among other @ @ @ @ @

This just in from Vanity Fair:
bit.ly/...
“...last week, the White House was relatively, strangely quiet as the president signed the esoteric-sounding “Executive Order on Creating Schedule F In the Excepted Service.” And that was probably by design; because the action not only gives Trump the power to purge thousands of federal workers—the kind whose job protections have allowed them to deal in facts and stand up to presidential intimidation—and replace them with politically appointed hacks who would spend the next four years doing Trump’s bidding, but it would cripple a Biden administration for months, at a time when it will need to act fast on, among other things, COVID-19.”


dailykos--2020-10-27--With one week to go: Southwest Florida’s state of play today

Today marks one week before the General Election and while there ’ s saturation media coverage of national politics , there ’ s little publicly available data to determine the exact state of play in Southwest Florida .
Still , the national situation provides some context , particularly when it comes to Southwest Florida ’ s premier federal electoral contest , the battle to fill the seat of retiring Republican Rep. Francis Rooney in the 19th Congressional District .
But it ’ s not just politics that tells this year ’ s story because the COVID-19 virus has a vote—and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ franchise in Lee and Collier counties .
The battle in the 19th In the 19th Congressional District , the coastal area from Cape Coral to Marco Island , Cindy Banyai , Democratic candidate for Congress , has maintained a vigorous campaign schedule , is active on social media and has racked up numerous new endorsements .
“ Things are going very well and we ’ re optimistic heading into the last week of the elections , ” Banyai told The Paradise Progressive .
“ We had some very promising polling numbers come back @ @ @ @ @ @ @ finish line.
” After testing positive for COVID-19 on Oct. 16 , prior to President Donald Trump ’ s visit to Fort Myers , Byron Donalds , her Republican opponent , announced yesterday , Oct. 26 , that he had tested negative for COVID-19 and positive for antibodies and would return to the campaign trail for the last week of campaigning .
Donalds has not been running any advertising and the outside political action committees like Club for Growth that powered his primary bid are nowhere in evidence now .
While Donald Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Florida to campaign , neither mentioned Donalds during their appearances nor did anything to boost his campaign .
His website has not announced any new endorsements since the primary .
On Saturday , Oct. 24 , Banyai and other Fort Myers Democrats welcomed Sen. Amy Klobuchar ( D-Minn. ) to Fort Myers for a get-out-the-vote rally and speech .
Klobuchar , who arrived in a massive Biden/Harris campaign bus , said in an interview with Fox4 News : “ People should not assume that areas like this that have traditionally been Republican , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ lot of people have decided : ‘ I ’ m going to put my country first and maybe I don ’ t agree with everything Joe Biden says but he ’ s a good person and he has competence.
’ ” “ It was great to hear from Sen. Klobuchar , ” observed Banyai .
“ She gave us some insight on how to win hearts and minds across party lines.
” Since the Aug. 18 primary , Banyai has been endorsed by numerous individuals and organizations .
Other Democratic candidates include Andrew @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 17th Congressional District ; Jacquelyn McMiller , Democratic candidate for mayor of Fort Myers ; Sara McFadden , Democratic candidate for Florida House District 106 ; Joshua Lopez , Democratic candidate for Florida House District 77 ; Shawn Williams , Democratic candidate for Florida House District 78 ; and Todd Truax , Democratic candidate for Lee County Commissioner District 3 .
Organizations endorsing her candidacy include : the Democratic Progressive Caucus of Florida ; the Progressive Club of the Islands ; the Democratic Women ’ s Club of Florida ; the LGBTQ Democratic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Caucus ; Votewater.org ; the Sunrise Movement ; and America Youth Climate Action .
If either local candidate is able to ride the coattails of the candidate at the top of the ticket , the advantage would seem to go to Banyai .
Nationally , former Vice President Joe Biden and running mate Kamala Harris have an 87 percent chance of winning the presidency , according to the website FiveThirtyEight.com ’ s Election Forecast .
This site aggregates and analyzes numerous polls and data sources to reach its conclusions , making it more @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is more , rather than make hard predictions , FiveThirtyEight deals in probabilities , which is a much more reasonable way to project future outcomes .
Trump ’ s chances will likely also be hurt by the dizzying 615.19 point drop in the Dow Jones average that occurred yesterday on news that a compromise stimulus bill looked unlikely to be passed before the election .
In Florida , FiveThirtyEight.com projects Biden/Harris as “ slightly favored ” to win with a 66 percent chance of flipping the state .
Focusing on Southwest Florida ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ voters , or 51.56 percent of the electorate have voted in Lee County and 137,619 or 59.39 percent of voters have turned out in Collier County .
Ten days before the election , Collier County Democratic turnout was the highest in Florida , according to Florida Politics , and Democrats were turning out in record numbers in other traditionally Republican counties .
Likely to add to the urgency of Democratic voting was the Senate ’ s confirmation last night of Judge Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court in a rushed process to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ our newest Justice , Amy Coney Barrett , on her confirmation to the United States Supreme Court , ” tweeted Donalds following the confirmation .
“ Justice Barrett will honor the rule of law and uphold the Constitution.
” “ It ’ s truly disappointing to see Senate Republicans ram through a Supreme Court nominee so close to the presidential election when they denied an early election year appointment to Obama , ” Banyai told The Paradise Progressive .
“ We should be concerned not only with the record of Barrett , who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ women ’ s rights and equality , but the jeopardy our democracy is put in when we no longer have an unbiased judiciary.
” Beyond the normal political considerations of an election campaign , the COVID pandemic continues to have an impact on everything : daily life , campaigning , and political passions—as witness Donalds ’ infection .
Florida is seeing a rise in new cases , despite official efforts to dampen the impact of the statistics .
As of this writing , the Florida Department of Health lists 771,989 cases in Florida @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the pandemic .
However , Rebekah Jones , the dissident data scientist who left the department , charging that the state government under Gov .
Ron DeSantis ( R ) was deliberately underreporting the impact of the plague , puts the overall number of state cases at 854,256 and deaths at 16,652 .
In Lee County the Department of Health puts the cases at 22,541 and deaths at 506 with new cases at 172 yesterday .
It does not provide the daily number of deaths .
However , Rebekah Jones puts Lee @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and 516 deaths , with 176 new cases yesterday and no deaths .
In Collier County the Department of Health puts the cases at 13,972 and deaths at 253 with new cases at 48 yesterday and no daily reporting of deaths .
By contrast , Rebekah Jones puts Collier County ’ s toll at 15,413 cases and 260 deaths , with 48 new cases yesterday and no deaths .
With two largely unmasked gatherings to celebrate the visit to Fort Myers of Trump and then his daughter Ivanka , local COVID cases are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
On Oct. 22 , the Collier County Commission voted 3 to 2 to extend its mask mandate another six months .
Donalds testified against the mandate when it was first considered in July .
The Paradise Progressive reached out to the Donalds campaign to request his comment on the Commission ’ s latest decision but has not received a response .

The Paradise Progressive News, Roundup October 27, 2020 5 Minutes
Oct. 27, 2020 by David Silverberg
Today marks one week before the General Election and while there’s saturation media coverage of national politics, there’s little publicly available data to determine the exact state of play in Southwest Florida.
Still, the national situation provides some context, particularly when it comes to Southwest Florida’s premier federal electoral contest, the battle to fill the seat of retiring Republican Rep. Francis Rooney in the 19th Congressional District.
But it’s not just politics that tells this year’s story because the COVID-19 virus has a vote—and this year, it is exercising that franchise in Lee and Collier counties.
The battle in the 19th
In the 19th Congressional District, the coastal area from Cape Coral to Marco Island, Cindy Banyai, Democratic candidate for Congress, has maintained a vigorous campaign schedule, is active on social media and has racked up numerous new endorsements.
“Things are going very well and we’re optimistic heading into the last week of the elections,” Banyai told The Paradise Progressive. “We had some very promising polling numbers come back and our team is running through the finish line.”
After testing positive for COVID-19 on Oct. 16, prior to President Donald Trump’s visit to Fort Myers, Byron Donalds, her Republican opponent, announced yesterday, Oct. 26, that he had tested negative for COVID-19 and positive for antibodies and would return to the campaign trail for the last week of campaigning.
Donalds has not been running any advertising and the outside political action committees like Club for Growth that powered his primary bid are nowhere in evidence now.
While Donald Trump and his daughter Ivanka came to Southwest Florida to campaign, neither mentioned Donalds during their appearances nor did anything to boost his campaign. His website has not announced any new endorsements since the primary.
From Minnesota with love
On Saturday, Oct. 24, Banyai and other Fort Myers Democrats welcomed Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) to Fort Myers for a get-out-the-vote rally and speech.
Klobuchar, who arrived in a massive Biden/Harris campaign bus, said in an interview with Fox4 News: “People should not assume that areas like this that have traditionally been Republican, that everyone thinks the same. A lot of people have decided: ‘I’m going to put my country first and maybe I don’t agree with everything Joe Biden says but he’s a good person and he has competence.’”
“It was great to hear from Sen. Klobuchar,” observed Banyai. “She gave us some insight on how to win hearts and minds across party lines.”
Since the Aug. 18 primary, Banyai has been endorsed by numerous individuals and organizations. Other Democratic candidates include Andrew Ellison, Democratic congressional candidate in the 17th Congressional District; Jacquelyn McMiller, Democratic candidate for mayor of Fort Myers; Sara McFadden, Democratic candidate for Florida House District 106; Joshua Lopez, Democratic candidate for Florida House District 77; Shawn Williams, Democratic candidate for Florida House District 78; and Todd Truax, Democratic candidate for Lee County Commissioner District 3.
Organizations endorsing her candidacy include: the Democratic Progressive Caucus of Florida; the Progressive Club of the Islands; the Democratic Women’s Club of Florida; the LGBTQ Democratic Caucus; the Lee County LGBTQA Democratic Caucus; Votewater.org; the Sunrise Movement; and America Youth Climate Action.
The broader context
If either local candidate is able to ride the coattails of the candidate at the top of the ticket, the advantage would seem to go to Banyai.
Nationally, former Vice President Joe Biden and running mate Kamala Harris have an 87 percent chance of winning the presidency, according to the website FiveThirtyEight.com’s Election Forecast. This site aggregates and analyzes numerous polls and data sources to reach its conclusions, making it more authoritative than just individual polls. What is more, rather than make hard predictions, FiveThirtyEight deals in probabilities, which is a much more reasonable way to project future outcomes.
Trump’s chances will likely also be hurt by the dizzying 615.19 point drop in the Dow Jones average that occurred yesterday on news that a compromise stimulus bill looked unlikely to be passed before the election.
In Florida, FiveThirtyEight.com projects Biden/Harris as “slightly favored” to win with a 66 percent chance of flipping the state.
Focusing on Southwest Florida’s Lee and Collier counties, 252,237 voters, or 51.56 percent of the electorate have voted in Lee County and 137,619 or 59.39 percent of voters have turned out in Collier County.
Ten days before the election, Collier County Democratic turnout was the highest in Florida, according to Florida Politics, and Democrats were turning out in record numbers in other traditionally Republican counties.
Likely to add to the urgency of Democratic voting was the Senate’s confirmation last night of Judge Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court in a rushed process to beat the election.
“Congratulations on our newest Justice, Amy Coney Barrett, on her confirmation to the United States Supreme Court,” tweeted Donalds following the confirmation. “Justice Barrett will honor the rule of law and uphold the Constitution.”
“It’s truly disappointing to see Senate Republicans ram through a Supreme Court nominee so close to the presidential election when they denied an early election year appointment to Obama,” Banyai told The Paradise Progressive. “We should be concerned not only with the record of Barrett, who puts corporations ahead of people and threatens women’s rights and equality, but the jeopardy our democracy is put in when we no longer have an unbiased judiciary.”
The impact of COVID
Beyond the normal political considerations of an election campaign, the COVID pandemic continues to have an impact on everything: daily life, campaigning, and political passions—as witness Donalds’ infection.
Florida is seeing a rise in new cases, despite official efforts to dampen the impact of the statistics.
As of this writing, the Florida Department of Health lists 771,989 cases in Florida and 16,449 deaths overall since the start of the pandemic.
However, Rebekah Jones, the dissident data scientist who left the department, charging that the state government under Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) was deliberately underreporting the impact of the plague, puts the overall number of state cases at 854,256 and deaths at 16,652.
In Lee County the Department of Health puts the cases at 22,541 and deaths at 506 with new cases at 172 yesterday. It does not provide the daily number of deaths.
However, Rebekah Jones puts Lee County’s toll at 24,009 cases and 516 deaths, with 176 new cases yesterday and no deaths.
In Collier County the Department of Health puts the cases at 13,972 and deaths at 253 with new cases at 48 yesterday and no daily reporting of deaths.
By contrast, Rebekah Jones puts Collier County’s toll at 15,413 cases and 260 deaths, with 48 new cases yesterday and no deaths.
With two largely unmasked gatherings to celebrate the visit to Fort Myers of Trump and then his daughter Ivanka, local COVID cases are likely to surge in the days ahead.
On Oct. 22, the Collier County Commission voted 3 to 2 to extend its mask mandate another six months. Donalds testified against the mandate when it was first considered in July. The Paradise Progressive reached out to the Donalds campaign to request his comment on the Commission’s latest decision but has not received a response.
Liberty lives in light
© 2020 by David Silverberg


dailykos--2020-10-28--Good News Roundup for October 28, 2020 — A BIG BLUE BOUQUET OF THANKS!

This is one of the rare songs written specifically for Playing for Change : One week ahead of Election Day , Judge Emmet Sullivan of the DC District Court told the Postal Service to inform its employees that late delivery trips are allowed and the delivery of ballots by state elections deadlines is important .
The order is some of the most aggressive oversight USPS has faced yet in its handling of election mail .
It adds to several directives the Post Office has weathered in court in recent months , after state governments won injunctions that would prevent policy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Louis DeJoy that could have disrupted the quick delivery of mailed ballots to election officials .
Sullivan 's order largely follows a proposed plan agreed upon by the USPS and by those suing the Postal Service , which includes the NAACP and the group Vote Forward .
States and other groups had sought for courts to monitor and enforce the injunctions they won , which Sullivan agreed to do in the USPS cases he oversees .
The Postal Service also must provide daily updates to the court on mail delivery data and will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ need to keep encouraging even more of them to vote !
Labor unions are on board to react if the Orange Stain won ’ t let himself be scrubbed out of the White House : America 's biggest unions get ready to fight Trump if he refuses to concede Members of the country 's largest labor union are preparing to strike if Donald Trump refuses to concede defeat after the presidential election .
On Monday , the AFL-CIO 's Western Massachusetts chapter passed a resolution to defend democracy from `` Trump 's neo-fascist @ @ @ @ @ @ @ denounce white supremacy , the drastic inequality of wealth and power , and other crises facing our country and the world . ''
The resolution went on to name the numerous attacks Trump has launched against working people across the country , ending with a call to use `` the most powerful tool of the Labor Movement in our history '' — a general strike — if Trump refuses to concede defeat . ''
The Massachusetts affiliate 's call for a rapid mobilization of its members follows a similar statement from the Rochester @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ] the MLK Labor Council — which represents 100,000 Seattle-area workers — called for a general strike , should Trump attempt a post-election coup .
Last week , AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka called for an `` emergency meeting '' of labor leaders to plan how to counter attempts by the Trump administration to undermine a free and fair voting process .
On Tuesday , dozens of labor officials met to discuss their election response , NBC News reported .
The briefing included possible Election Day outcomes , intelligence on Trump 's plans , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ message research , and period-by-period threat assessments .
... Association of Flight Attendants-CWA President Sara Nelson said any post-election strike plans would need to `` strategically place pressure in places that are going to have a major impact . ''
`` We actually don ’ t have to have a general strike across the entire country , '' Nelson said .
`` We can have a major impact if we know that we can shut down one specific place , and it doesn ’ t even have to be for a very long @ @ @ @ @ @ @ control of the schedule of the country , we can have a tremendous effect . ''
Maybe we won ’ t have to deal with these guys any more ?
?
Jack Burkman and Jacob Wohl Indicted AGAIN Over Voter Intimidation This could be a breakthrough .
As the commissioner who suggested it said , the county “ has a much broader , integrated , upstream and holistic approach toward public health , safety and justice.
” That would definitely be a welcome change around here !
Here ’ s their mission statement @ @ @ @ @ @ @ schools not only in Portland but also in several nearby communities , and they ’ re working on an app !
Here ’ s the demo video for the app to give you an idea of how totally these kids have it together : And local parents are contributing their skills to help on-line learners , too .
Parent-teacher club in Beaverton comes up with A+ idea to help students learn from home Oregon Lawmakers Consider Making It a Crime to Dox Someone , and Banning Law Enforcement From Posting Mugshots Good news @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hard at Work Designing New Forests to Cure California ’ s Wildfire Curse After recent devastating fires in California , the Bureau of Land Management ( BLM ) is teaming up with a specialist non-profit forest management organization to re-engineer the typical Californian forest to be more fire resistant .
For decades in California , forest restoration consisted of planting pine trees like rows of cabbages .
The theory behind it was that sunlight would be especially limited on the forest floor , preventing a flood of grass shrubs and weeds from taking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
This “ Pines in Lines ” strategy also created the perfect forest as far as fires were concerned , as it allowed the fires enough fuel to reach the canopies , and places to spread in every direction .
American Forests , the non-profit in question , works hard to replant forests in a way that ’ s much more like how many forests existed before the arrival of Europeans—namely clumps of different kinds of trees , not just pines , spaced far enough apart to prevent wildfires from spreading .
This @ @ @ @ @ @ @ small clumps , excluded from the company of other trees by open ground , have a greater monopoly on the supply of water that falls on them .
Firefighters are not only heroes , they ’ re also really caring guys .
Firefighters leave letter for owner after saving cabin from Colorado fire “ If this note finds you we must have done something right.
” That was the first sentence of a note attached to Dan Stones ’ cabin near Lake Granby .
The note was left by Meeker Fire Engine 1446 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from the East Troublesome fire .
The note apologizes for not being able to save the owner ’ s shed and for cutting part of the house ’ s wood fence .
“ Things got really hot we stayed as long as possible , ” it said .
The note was discovered by a contractor Sunday afternoon who was brought in by the Sheriff ’ s Office to shut off water and clear out pipes before the winter storm hit .
Stones said he read the note over 100 times that day .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ we read that note , ” Stones said .
“ If the whole world came together and said 'thank you , ' it wouldn ’ t be enough.
” I love , love , love The Internet Archive !
I truly believe that the work they do saving books for posterity is heroic .
BTW , you can volunteer to help them !
To successfully build a new , better world starting in 2021 , we ’ ll all need to be hands-on !
Good news from around the world Women ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in the past 25 years These Wind Turbines Attached to Highway Street Lights Are Powered By Traffic Good news for and about animals Bird Sets New Record for Longest Bird Migration–7,500 Miles Without Making a Single Stop Every time you see a bird , there is a chance you may be looking at the greatest marathon athletes in the world ; particularly if you live near mudflats in the U.S. state of Alaska in late-summer , and happen upon a bar-tailed godwit .
These little shorebirds were recently found to travel 7,500 miles @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , lung-busting non-stop flight of 11 days from Alaska to the Firth of Thames near Auckland , New Zealand .
It ’ s not the longest migration ever—that title goes to the Arctic tern which goes from the Arctic to the Antarctic along the west coast of North and South America—or straight down the Atlantic every year for a total of around 14,000 kilometers .
However , it is the longest non-stop flight known to scientists .
Unlike the tern , the godwit weighs a much heavier one-fifth to four-fifths of a pound @ @ @ @ @ @ @ much like a modern jet , with aerodynamic features like narrow pointed wings and a sleek body to reduce air drag .
Along with having an incredible fuel-to-energy ratio , the birds have the ability to shrink their internal organs .
This lightens their bodies to make flying easier .
What scientists hope to learn from a beetle that can survive being run over by a car Sexy firefighters posing in calendars for charity isn ’ t new , but this calendar is something special .
My favorite animal video of the week @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the exquisite work of Andy Goldsworthy , who creates sculptural forms in forests , fields , rivers , and beaches using the natural materials at hand .
Pontus Jansson is also an environmental artist , but he works only with stones stacked on top of each other .
The results are astounding and beautiful .
www.newyorker.com/ ... A President Looks Back on His Toughest Fight .
The first published excerpt from Obama ’ s upcoming memoir , A Promised Land , describing the bruising fight to pass the ACA .
www.motherjones.com/ ... .Why @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on the Cops ?
A long and thoughtful piece about an infuriating problem .
www.alternet.org/ ...
Here 's the case for impeaching Clarence Thomas — the most corrupt Supreme Court Justice .
He lied in his annual financial statements for over a decade , and of course he lied during his confirmation hearings .
There are historical precedents for removing him .
www.newyorker.com/… How We Discovered Water on the Moon .
We ’ ve all read the news reports , but this article is a vivid and detailed narrative about how this was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Fast-Fashion heiress asks shoppers to buy less in green push .
The fashion business produces 20 % of the world ’ s wastewater and 10 % of carbon emissions - more than all international flights and maritime shipping combined .
Veronica Chou hopes to begin to change that with sustainable and recycled textiles and eco-friendly technology .
How YOU can help us win — !
!
Many thanks to Yosef 52 for his indefatigable work in bringing us the info we need to GOTV .
Most of what I wrote below is copied @ @ @ @ @ @ @ new Biden/Harris site , Blue Vote .
A one-stop resource !
And another new one-stop resource : The Best Way to Vote in Every State Important !
!
5 mistakes that can disqualify your November mail ballot and how to avoid them .
Yesterday ’ s disastrous SCOTUS decision to disqualify any Wisconsin ballots received after Election Day means that there ’ s an important new message that needs to reach every Wisconsin Dem voter : Return your absentee ballot , but don ’ t use the mail .
If you live in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to your election clerk ’ s office , otherwise drop it in a drop box .
DO NOT MAIL YOUR WISCONSIN ABSENTEE BALLOT !
If you have friends or family in Wisconsin , please phone them to let them know this .
( More info in this NY Times article . )
Now back to our usual GOTV info : Text Out the Vote via the DNC .
And if you — or anyone you know — is in need of more inspiration , go straight to Goodie ’ s phenomenal series , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” You ’ ll come away loving him more than you ever imagined .
See Ballotpedia ’ s list of U.S. House Battlegrounds and Ballotpedia ’ s list of State Legislative Battleground Chambers .
There 's a new world comin ' .
and it 's just around the bend .
There 's a new world comin ' , this one 's comin ' to an end .
Thanks to each and every Gnusie for your smarts , your hearts , and your faithful attendance at our daily Gathering of the Herd .

Greetings
Greetings to all you Gnusies, Gnewbies, occasional drop-ins, silent regulars, and first-timers! Come sit with us to find and share messages of hope and to celebrate all the ways good people are triumphing over the evil-doers in power. The task we have set ourselves here in Gnuville is to search out hope no matter how difficult the situation might be. Fortunately, hope can be found even in the darkest days, as we’ve learned over the past almost four years. And now, as we come to the end of the collective nightmare of the ‘Rump years, hope is everywhere!
This is a collaborative effort. After you read a Good News Roundup, we warmly encourage you to add your own good news finds in our comment section, The Best Comment Section on the Internet™, where sanity reigns, Gloomy Guses and Debbie Downers are encouraged to see the light, and pie fights are forbidden.
Let’s get started!
Introduction
Since this is my last Good News Roundup before the election, I want to use my introduction to toss out a bouquet of thanks to everyone who has made this little corner of the internet into an oasis of hope and healing during almost four years of this maladministration. Goodness knows I needed hope and healing in early 2017, when after the brutal shock of the 2016 election we began to see clearly that the *Resident was not going to “pivot” or “grow into the office” or even begin to show the slightest hint of normal humanity. Dark days indeed. And of course they got darker still.
But through it all, the Good News Roundup kept finding reasons for hope. Kept encouraging us to keep showing up, keep resisting, keep helping each other. I don’t think I’d have made it through the *Rump years without the support all of you have given me. And it has been a genuine honor to have been accepted as a roundup writer myself.
So thank you to all my fellow Good Gnus rounder-uppers (in alphabetical order): 2thanks, chloris creator, Jessiestaf, karij, MCUBernieFan, Mokurai, niftywriter, NotNowNotEver, oldhippiedude, and pucklady. And a whole different level of thanks to GoodNewsRoundup her own Goodie self, in the “thank you for saving my life” category of thanks that can never, ever be said enough.
While I’m tossing out bouquets, I want to make sure that our regular commenters, especially those who are masters of annexes and other long-form comments, get some, too. The valuable information, insightful analyses, fascinating trivia, and beautiful or funny photos and videos you bring on a daily basis make our comment section a joy to read.
And I don’t want to forget our readers who may comment only occasionally, but who are part of our community. We need all of you.
Now on to the good news!
* * * * *
First musical break
This is one of the rare songs written specifically for Playing for Change:
x YouTube Video
* * * * *
Good news in politics
Great news yesterday, thanks to Judge Emmet Sullivan.
Court sets plan to make sure Postal Service delivers ballots quickly
From CNN:
One week ahead of Election Day, Judge Emmet Sullivan of the DC District Court told the Postal Service to inform its employees that late delivery trips are allowed and the delivery of ballots by state elections deadlines is important. The order is some of the most aggressive oversight USPS has faced yet in its handling of election mail. It adds to several directives the Post Office has weathered in court in recent months, after state governments won injunctions that would prevent policy changes put in place by Postmaster General Louis DeJoy that could have disrupted the quick delivery of mailed ballots to election officials. Sullivan's order largely follows a proposed plan agreed upon by the USPS and by those suing the Postal Service, which includes the NAACP and the group Vote Forward. States and other groups had sought for courts to monitor and enforce the injunctions they won, which Sullivan agreed to do in the USPS cases he oversees. The Postal Service also must provide daily updates to the court on mail delivery data and will appear daily before the judge.
New Data Shows Large Early Youth Voter Turnout in 2020 Election
We need to keep encouraging even more of them to vote!
From Teen Vogue:
Kei Kawashima-Ginsberg, director of Tisch College's CIRCLE at Tufts University, told Newsweek that the data surrounding early youth voting is encouraging. “Even in the face of significant barriers to youth participation, we are encouraged by this level of early voting and by the tremendous engagement of young people on the ground,” Kawashima-Ginsberg said. “They are leading movements and engaging their peers...” ✂ ...a new poll from Axios and Survey Monkey shows that young voters support Biden over Trump by vast numbers. According to their data, voters 18-34 are solidly leaning towards Biden in 45 out of 50 states. “These scattered red spots in a sea of blue vividly illustrate Trump's peril if young people were to actually turn out this year,” they wrote in their findings. “Put another way, Trump's path to re-election depends heavily on younger adults staying home.”
Labor unions are on board to react if the Orange Stain won’t let himself be scrubbed out of the White House:
America's biggest unions get ready to fight Trump if he refuses to concede
From The American Independent:
Members of the country's largest labor union are preparing to strike if Donald Trump refuses to concede defeat after the presidential election. On Monday, the AFL-CIO's Western Massachusetts chapter passed a resolution to defend democracy from "Trump's neo-fascist tactics, including his repeated refusal to denounce white supremacy, the drastic inequality of wealth and power, and other crises facing our country and the world." The resolution went on to name the numerous attacks Trump has launched against working people across the country, ending with a call to use "the most powerful tool of the Labor Movement in our history" — a general strike — if Trump refuses to concede defeat." ✂ The Massachusetts affiliate's call for a rapid mobilization of its members follows a similar statement from the Rochester AFL-CIO Labor Council. ...[and] the MLK Labor Council — which represents 100,000 Seattle-area workers — called for a general strike, should Trump attempt a post-election coup. ✂ Last week, AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka called for an "emergency meeting" of labor leaders to plan how to counter attempts by the Trump administration to undermine a free and fair voting process. On Tuesday, dozens of labor officials met to discuss their election response, NBC News reported. The briefing included possible Election Day outcomes, intelligence on Trump's plans, mapping out "hot spots," message research, and period-by-period threat assessments. ✂ ...Association of Flight Attendants-CWA President Sara Nelson said any post-election strike plans would need to "strategically place pressure in places that are going to have a major impact." "We actually don’t have to have a general strike across the entire country," Nelson said. "We can have a major impact if we know that we can shut down one specific place, and it doesn’t even have to be for a very long period of time. If we take control of the schedule of the country, we can have a tremendous effect."
Maybe we won’t have to deal with these guys any more??
Jack Burkman and Jacob Wohl Indicted AGAIN Over Voter Intimidation
From The Daily Beast:
Conservative operatives Jacob Wohl and Jack Burkman have been indicted in Ohio, once more over a racist robocall aimed at minority voters. Wohl and Burkman, who rose to some level of infamy online for blundering attempts to manufacture sexual assault allegations against Democratic politicians and other Trump foes, have each been charged in Ohio’s Cuyahoga County with eight counts of telecommunications fraud and seven counts of bribery, a charge that includes attempts to convince people not to cast ballots. The indictment only adds to the growing mountain of criminal and civil problems facing the notorious pro-Trump pair. ✂ Michigan’s attorney general charged Wohl and Burkman in a separate case on Oct. 1 for the same robocall, which was also sent to voters in that state. They have also been sued in New York in a civil lawsuit by people who received the call. ✂ Wohl is also facing felony charges in California over alleged violations of securities laws. And the FBI is investigating the pair over the leak of juror questionnaires in the trial of former Trump adviser Roger Stone, according to sealed court documents obtained by The Daily Beast.
Mainers for Accountable Leadership nails Susan Collins
x YouTube Video
* * * * *
Good news from Portland
County Commissioner Publicly Suggests Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office Absorb Portland Police Bureau
This could be a breakthrough. As the commissioner who suggested it said, the county “has a much broader, integrated, upstream and holistic approach toward public health, safety and justice.” That would definitely be a welcome change around here!
From Willamette Week:
As numerous groups and elected officials ponder how to reform the Portland Police Bureau, Multnomah County Commissioner Sharon Meieran last week made public one of the ideas that many officials have discussed privately: folding PPB into the Multnomah County Sheriff's Office. Meieran voiced the idea at a meeting of the Local Public Safety Coordinating Council. The rationale: The two agencies have many duplicative functions, and the county already covers prosecution, jailing and post-incarceration supervision, as well as mental health and addiction services and public health functions that overlap with police work.
Students Tutor Students helps kids struggling with online learning
Here’s their mission statement from their website:
Students Tutor Students is a Portland-based organization created by students for students. We want to spread the message of student collaboration and involvement especially during this time of disconnection and distancing. We believe that education is imperative to the development of every person and should under no circumstances become compromised. By providing a service that establishes connections between students who are willing to tutor and those who need tutoring, Students Tutor Students hopes to forge a community of learners.
They operate in schools not only in Portland but also in several nearby communities, and they’re working on an app! Here’s the demo video for the app to give you an idea of how totally these kids have it together:
x YouTube Video
And local parents are contributing their skills to help on-line learners, too.
Parent-teacher club in Beaverton comes up with A+ idea to help students learn from home
From KGW:
“Watching kids last spring, you know they were doing Zoom and doing school on their beds, on the floor, on the couch” explained [Ric] Shewell. "And we thought, 'What could we give the kids to help them succeed this year?'” The answer was found in a material most have somewhere around the house: cardboard. The idea is to use it to make desks for every student and create a personal space for learning at home. “When their bodies are in that space, their minds say, 'I’m ready to learn, I’m ready for education,’” said Shewell. The Parent Teacher Club teamed up with a local box company, then one of the engineers in the club worked with the company to come up with a design strong and safe enough for students. They raised enough money through a GoFundMe campaign to order 350 desks. That’s a free desk for each student at McKay Elementary School. “We are actually working on the extra desks going to kids and families that are experiencing houselessness right now, so we’ll make sure that a few extra people get some desks that need them," said Shewell.
* * * * *
Good news from Oregon
Oregon Lawmakers Consider Making It a Crime to Dox Someone, and Banning Law Enforcement From Posting Mugshots
From Willamette Week:
Oregon lawmakers are working on a pair of bill concepts for the 2021 legislative session that would make it illegal to post someone's personal information online with the intent to humiliate them, and that would prohibit law enforcement from releasing mugshot photos to the public in many circumstances. ✂ If the first bill concept is passed into law, "doxxing," which entails posting an individual's private and identifying information online, would become a Class A misdemeanor punishable by up to 364 days in jail and a fine of $6,250. If the doxxer has a prior conviction, they could be charged with a Class C felony. ✂ The second legislative concept would prevent law enforcement from releasing a person's booking photo, also known as a mugshot, except to other law enforcement agencies, upon criminal conviction if the booking photo led to the person's arrest, upon requests from the media when there is a public interest, and to the public in situations where law enforcement agencies need assistance finding a suspect, or is asking for the public's help to identify someone. As WW reported in September, some Portland protesters said their lives were upended when a conservative pundit named Andy Ngo published their mugshots on his Twitter account accompanied by personal information, including where they work. Ngo's posts appears [sic] to be legal, WW previously reported. The new proposed legislation would likely make it more difficult for conservative activists like Ngo to access photos of those who've been arrested.
* * * * *
Good news from around the nation
This Non-Profit is Hard at Work Designing New Forests to Cure California’s Wildfire Curse
From Good News Network:
After recent devastating fires in California, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is teaming up with a specialist non-profit forest management organization to re-engineer the typical Californian forest to be more fire resistant. For decades in California, forest restoration consisted of planting pine trees like rows of cabbages. The theory behind it was that sunlight would be especially limited on the forest floor, preventing a flood of grass shrubs and weeds from taking over the ground in between the trees. This “Pines in Lines” strategy also created the perfect forest as far as fires were concerned, as it allowed the fires enough fuel to reach the canopies, and places to spread in every direction. American Forests, the non-profit in question, works hard to replant forests in a way that’s much more like how many forests existed before the arrival of Europeans—namely clumps of different kinds of trees, not just pines, spaced far enough apart to prevent wildfires from spreading. This also protects from drought, as the small clumps, excluded from the company of other trees by open ground, have a greater monopoly on the supply of water that falls on them.
Firefighters are not only heroes, they’re also really caring guys.
Firefighters leave letter for owner after saving cabin from Colorado fire
From The Colorado Springs Gazette:
“If this note finds you we must have done something right.” That was the first sentence of a note attached to Dan Stones’ cabin near Lake Granby. The note was left by Meeker Fire Engine 1446, who had just saved the cabin from the East Troublesome fire. The note apologizes for not being able to save the owner’s shed and for cutting part of the house’s wood fence. “Things got really hot we stayed as long as possible,” it said. The note was discovered by a contractor Sunday afternoon who was brought in by the Sheriff’s Office to shut off water and clear out pipes before the winter storm hit. Stones said he read the note over 100 times that day. “We just burst into tears when we read that note,” Stones said. “If the whole world came together and said 'thank you,' it wouldn’t be enough.”
I love, love, love The Internet Archive! I truly believe that the work they do saving books for posterity is heroic. BTW, you can volunteer to help them!
The Internet Archive rescues a precious library collection
From The Internet Archive:
In October 2020, the collection of Detroit-based Marygrove College Library, comprising more than 70,000 books and journals, starts a new life online with the support of the Internet Archive. With the college closing in December 2019, concerns arose about the future of the library’s collection, which offers a uniquely African American perspective, reflecting the historical and cultural influences of its local community in Detroit. The importance of amplifying these voices led to the decision by the Board of Trustees to donate the full collection to Internet Archive, a non-profit library. ✂ “When I heard that the library was going to be digitized, I felt like it was going to be a stroke of genius, “ said poet, Valerie Deering, Marygrove College alumna Class of 1972. “That there was not going to be a book burning, that these books weren't going to end up at the Salvation Army where nobody really knew or understood or would appreciate what they've been to generations of students.” The collection is now available for free through the Internet Archive’s website and will also be preserved in its physical archives. Internet Archive hopes that making the collection available online will expand access for marginalized groups such as those with disabilities that affect reading.
* * * * *
Second musical break:
To successfully build a new, better world starting in 2021, we’ll all need to be hands-on!
x YouTube Video
* * * * *
Good news from around the world
Women’s rights have improved in several important areas in the past 25 years
From Future Crunch:
A new analysis from the IRC reveals some dramatic gains, including a 110% increase in women serving in national parliaments, a 49% increase in women in ministerial positions, a 38% decrease in maternal deaths, and an 18% increase in female literacy. Is it enough? Not even close. But it is progress.
Russian woman plants over a million trees since 2010
From Future Crunch:
Meet Marianna Muntianu. For the past ten years, she's been planting trees all over Russia. A lot of trees. Together with an army of volunteers, she's been responsible for reforesting the equivalent of 1,350 football fields in 24 regions, well over a million trees. She first got the idea in 2010, when wildfires tore through the forests of Kostroma, her home in western Russia. … “By planting a tree, I wished to move from destruction, to creation." ✂ Within a few years, she'd set up an online platform called Plant the Forest, that gathered volunteers through social media, and raised funds and awareness through a mobile game. They've now planted hundreds of thousands of seedlings in areas all around the country that were badly in need of reforestation, and the movement is going from strength to strength, bring together Russians united by their love of nature. Her latest initiative is a "Russian Climate Fund" that aims to plant 1 billion trees by 2030.
These Wind Turbines Attached to Highway Street Lights Are Powered By Traffic
From Good News Network:
A revolutionary new design for onshore wind turbines that can be attached to lamp posts and powered by traffic has been unveiled. x YouTube Video The English businessman behind the new concept that can be installed along highways believes they will help hit renewable energy targets in the UK and beyond because they do not rely on natural wind. The turbines, fixed to existing street lights, would use the wind created by vehicles speeding past to generate electricity to power both those lights and eventually a lot more. ✂ The company believes a turbine attached to each lighting column could collectively generate around 6mw per day—enough to power a small village. ✂ This highway-powered concept would blend in with existing infrastructure. “This is a retro-fit solution,” explained [CEO Barry] Thompson, “so it attaches to what we already have. “We’re not blighting the landscape with massive turbines, we’re making use of existing infrastructure.”
* * * * *
Good news for and about animals
Bird Sets New Record for Longest Bird Migration–7,500 Miles Without Making a Single Stop
Good News Network:
Every time you see a bird, there is a chance you may be looking at the greatest marathon athletes in the world; particularly if you live near mudflats in the U.S. state of Alaska in late-summer, and happen upon a bar-tailed godwit. These little shorebirds were recently found to travel 7,500 miles (12,000 kilometers) in an eye-watering, lung-busting non-stop flight of 11 days from Alaska to the Firth of Thames near Auckland, New Zealand. It’s not the longest migration ever—that title goes to the Arctic tern which goes from the Arctic to the Antarctic along the west coast of North and South America—or straight down the Atlantic every year for a total of around 14,000 kilometers. However, it is the longest non-stop flight known to scientists. Unlike the tern, the godwit weighs a much heavier one-fifth to four-fifths of a pound, and relies on a muscular build much like a modern jet, with aerodynamic features like narrow pointed wings and a sleek body to reduce air drag. ✂ Along with having an incredible fuel-to-energy ratio, the birds have the ability to shrink their internal organs. This lightens their bodies to make flying easier.
What scientists hope to learn from a beetle that can survive being run over by a car
From the L.A. Times:
It’s a beetle that can withstand bird pecks, animal stomps and even being rolled over by a Toyota Camry. Now scientists are studying what the bug’s crush-resistant shell could teach them about designing stronger airplanes and buildings. ✂ The species — the aptly named diabolical ironclad beetle — owes its might to an unusual armor that is layered and pieced together like a jigsaw... ✂ When compressed, [researchers] found the structure fractured slowly instead of snapping all at once. “When you pull them apart,” [Purdue University civil engineer Pablo] Zavattieri said, “it doesn’t break catastrophically. It just deforms a little bit. That’s crucial for the beetle.” It could also be useful for engineers who design vehicles, including aircraft, and buildings with a variety of materials such as steel, plastic and plaster. Currently, engineers rely on pins, bolts, welding and adhesives to hold everything together. But those techniques can be prone to degrading. In the structure of the beetle’s shell, nature offers an “interesting and elegant” alternative, Zavattieri said.
Sexy firefighters posing in calendars for charity isn’t new, but this calendar is something special.
Australian Firefighters Pose With Adorable Rescue Animals for Sizzling Wildlife Charity Calendar
From Good News Network:
What may be the world’s most popular calendar, now in its 28th year, is back, and this year the hunky heroes have been photographed with heart-melting dogs, cats, koala bears, and even kangaroos. Setting out to brighten the doom and gloom of the last eight months, all proceeds will be donated to the native animal charities that are vital to supporting local wildlife. ✂ As COVID-19 restricted the team’s access to many rescue animals, the Aussie public was asked to bring their own rescued furry friends to the photoshoot to help create these calendars. Funds raised will allow the organization to help less fortunate animals find a new home through rescue organisations like Safe Haven Animal Rescue and All Breeds Canine Rescue.
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My favorite animal video of the week
x We all encounter obstacles in life.
It's how we gently bump into these obstacles and do our best to maneuver around them that counts. pic.twitter.com/4XPOJMy8ml — Dick King-Smith HQ (@DickKingSmith) October 24, 2020
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An amazing art video
Some of you may be aware of the exquisite work of Andy Goldsworthy, who creates sculptural forms in forests, fields, rivers, and beaches using the natural materials at hand. Pontus Jansson is also an environmental artist, but he works only with stones stacked on top of each other. The results are astounding and beautiful.
x YouTube Video
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Hot lynx
www.newyorker.com/...A President Looks Back on His Toughest Fight. The first published excerpt from Obama’s upcoming memoir, A Promised Land, describing the bruising fight to pass the ACA.
www.motherjones.com/....Why Won’t Democratic Mayors Crack Down on the Cops? A long and thoughtful piece about an infuriating problem.
www.alternet.org/... Here's the case for impeaching Clarence Thomas — the most corrupt Supreme Court Justice. He lied in his annual financial statements for over a decade, and of course he lied during his confirmation hearings. There are historical precedents for removing him.
www.newyorker.com/… How We Discovered Water on the Moon. We’ve all read the news reports, but this article is a vivid and detailed narrative about how this was done and by whom.
www.bloombergquint.com/...Fast-Fashion heiress asks shoppers to buy less in green push. The fashion business produces 20% of the world’s wastewater and 10% of carbon emissions - more than all international flights and maritime shipping combined. Veronica Chou hopes to begin to change that with sustainable and recycled textiles and eco-friendly technology.
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How YOU can help us win — there’s still time !!
Many thanks to Yosef 52 for his indefatigable work in bringing us the info we need to GOTV. Most of what I wrote below is copied from him.
GET INFORMED at the new Biden/Harris site, Blue Vote. A one-stop resource!
And another new one-stop resource: The Best Way to Vote in Every State
Important!! 5 mistakes that can disqualify your November mail ballot and how to avoid them .
Very important information for Wisconsin voters!!
Yesterday’s disastrous SCOTUS decision to disqualify any Wisconsin ballots received after Election Day means that there’s an important new message that needs to reach every Wisconsin Dem voter:
Return your absentee ballot, but don’t use the mail.
If you live in Wisconsin, preferably hand-deliver your absentee ballot to your election clerk’s office, otherwise drop it in a drop box. DO NOT MAIL YOUR WISCONSIN ABSENTEE BALLOT ! If you have friends or family in Wisconsin, please phone them to let them know this. (More info in this NY Times article.)
Now back to our usual GOTV info:
TEXT Democratic voters:
Text Out the Vote via the DNC.
The MoveOn Text Team
PHONE BANK with Beto: Powered by People — TURN TEXAS BLUE !!!
BE A POLL WORKER:
Work Elections
DONATE to Biden/Harris: JoeBiden.com
And if you — or anyone you know — is in need of more inspiration, go straight to Goodie’s phenomenal series, “100 Days of Loving Joe Biden.” You’ll come away loving him more than you ever imagined.
DONATE to our priority Senate candidates:
Sen. Doug Jones (D. AL)
Dr. Al Gross (I. AK)
Mark Kelly (D. AZ)
John Hickenlooper (D. CO)
Jon Ossoff (D. GA)
Theresa Greenfield (D. IA)
Paulette Jordan (D. ID)
Dr. Barbara Bollier (D. KS)
Amy McGrath (D. KY)
Cal Cunningham (D. NC)
Adrian Perkins (D. LA)
Sen. Gary Peters (D. MI)
Sen. Tina Smith (D. MN)
Mike Espy (D. MS)
Steve Bullock (D. MT)
Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D. NH)
Jaime Harrison (D. SC)
MJ Hegar (D. TX)
DONATE to our priority House candidates:
See Ballotpedia’s list of U.S. House Battlegrounds and Ballotpedia’s list of State Legislative Battleground Chambers.
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Closing music
There's a new world comin'. and it's just around the bend.
There's a new world comin', this one's comin' to an end.
x YouTube Video
❤ ❤ ❤ ❤ ❤
Thanks to each and every Gnusie for your smarts, your hearts, and
your faithful attendance at our daily Gathering of the Herd.
❤💙 RESIST, PERSIST, REBUILD, REJOICE! 💙❤


dailykos--2020-10-28--Racism In America: The Root Of America’s Political Problems.

The beat poet Gregory Corso , one of my favorites , way back 60 years or so now wrote the following : O this political air so heavy with the bells and motors of a slow night , and no place to rest but rain to walk—How it rings the Washington streets !
of big black cars , the shoulders of lobbyists caught under canopies and in doorways , and it rains , it will not let up , and meanwhile lame futurists weep into Spengler ’ s prophecy , will the world be over before the races blend color @ @ @ @ @ @ @ let the world be done— At about the same time , Corso was writing this , I was president of the Catholic Interracial Council .
The Council back then was one of the largest civil rights groups in the nation along with the NAACP .
The Urban League had just been formed .
The freedom riders , Selma , SNICC , and the Civil Rights Act were all in the future .
I convened one of the largest gatherings of civil rights leaders at the time for a conference of several days to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to reverse this shameful blot on our nation and yes the world .
As convener and chairman , I was the introductory speaker at the conference .
While preparing my notes for that speech , I was offended at the lengths other speakers in their prepared talks painfully asserted that interracial love and marriage was off the table .
So , at the end of my talk to the 2500 attendees at the general session , I concluded with the message that we can not hope to close the racial divide that so @ @ @ @ @ @ @ love and marriage continue to remain segregated .
We are now faced with an election that some have called perhaps the most consequential election of our times .
And , if you do not believe that racism is the underlying factor in the election and the most important .
Yes , climate change is an existential threat to humanity ’ s future , but it is racism and their support of racist political leaders that is used by the natural resources industry to maintain political control to protect their interests and especially the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Peter Grenell in the introduction to his study wrote : While in should be clear that racism has been encouraged , managed , and funded by a smaller group of wealthy men , a small group of ideologues , and owners of a few media companies , it has been directed primarily towards that large politically potent , group , white males without a college education .
Although the political power of this group was effectively manipulated in the 1916 presidential election the voting power of this cohort has been decreasing steadily for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ two years ago I wrote : “ Poorly educated white males are the first large socioeconomic group in America less educated and expected to do less well economically than their parents .
I even have heard of recent studies that indicate that they will not live as long as their parents as well .
Whether this last fact is a sad truth or this group is serving as the canary in the cage for society as a whole , I can not guess.
” “ I feel sad for these men ; deluded @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of their class and other minorities , lied to by their political and religious leaders and misused by their employers , they have been misled to believe their ever so slight social standing was theirs by right and not earned by effort . }
“ In 2016 Presidential election they marched to the polls and elected someone who promised them he would tear down every government program that they believed encouraged those who threatened their tenuous social standing .
In return , they , perhaps unknowingly , agreed to cede control of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would abandon them at the slightest evidence it would be to their advantage .
In return for these meager benefits and support for the psychological comfort of meaningless symbols and rituals such and flags and songs that they cling to as evidence of some misbegotten reality , they were willing to give up much of their freedom .
True , they now would be free from the competition of those they believed their inferiors who were being given unfair advantages .
In return , they seem to accept enslavement by those they were @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were ripe for the racist promises : “ They , this modern day Lumpen Proletariat , who subsist at the poverty line and slightly above it do not see the threat from above , but from below — those they fear will take the only things that keep them from abject poverty and despair , their jobs and the few items of value they may have acquired .
As a result , they also hate those above who they perceive encourage them to do so .
There is probably nothing that enrages them @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , clinging ( often barely ) to the lowest levels of the economic ladder , have benefited from “ white privilege ” to get there .
They are more angry than racist more fearful than ideological.
” Despite their racism and fascist leanings should the Democrats succeed in winning the coming election as they seem poised to do we need to actively root out racism especially the political advantages of certain rich and powerful while winning back as many of those who have been led astray as possible .

The beat poet Gregory Corso, one of my favorites, way back 60 years or so now wrote the following:
O this political air so heavy with the bells and motors of a slow night, and no place to rest but rain to walk—How it rings the Washington streets! The umbrella’d congressmen; the rapping tires of big black cars, the shoulders of lobbyists caught under canopies and in doorways, and it rains, it will not let up, and meanwhile lame futurists weep into Spengler’s prophecy, will the world be over before the races blend color? All color must be one or let the world be done—
At about the same time, Corso was writing this, I was president of the Catholic Interracial Council. The Council back then was one of the largest civil rights groups in the nation along with the NAACP. The Urban League had just been formed. The freedom riders, Selma, SNICC, and the Civil Rights Act were all in the future.
I convened one of the largest gatherings of civil rights leaders at the time for a conference of several days to discuss what we need to do next to reverse this shameful blot on our nation and yes the world. As convener and chairman, I was the introductory speaker at the conference. While preparing my notes for that speech, I was offended at the lengths other speakers in their prepared talks painfully asserted that interracial love and marriage was off the table. So, at the end of my talk to the 2500 attendees at the general session, I concluded with the message that we cannot hope to close the racial divide that so sickens our nation if we insist that love and marriage continue to remain segregated.
We are now faced with an election that some have called perhaps the most consequential election of our times. And, if you do not believe that racism is the underlying factor in the election and the most important. Yes, climate change is an existential threat to humanity’s future, but it is racism and their support of racist political leaders that is used by the natural resources industry to maintain political control to protect their interests and especially the value of their hydrocarbon reserves.
As Peter Grenell in the introduction to his study wrote:
“Racism and economic inequality have been embedded in our, and are intimately linked society from America’s beginnings and are intimately linked. America’s political, economic and social structures have been profoundly influenced by an insatiable urge to obtain wealth, from early settlers to the present. Together with an ultra-individualism and a predilection for beliefs not based on facts that Kurt Anderson has called ‘Fantasyland,’ and enhanced most recently under the regime pathologically narcissistic, authoritarian, psychopathic and racist president, racism and inequality are directly responsible for today’s perilous conditions.” (https://www.amazon.com/GREAT-EXPERIMENT-FREEDOM-RACISM-AMERICA-ebook/dp/B08FRSBTDB). See also, (https://trenzpruca.wordpress.com/2020/10/27/peter-on-top-the-great-experiment-freedom-greed-and-racism-in-america/)
While in should be clear that racism has been encouraged, managed, and funded by a smaller group of wealthy men, a small group of ideologues, and owners of a few media companies, it has been directed primarily towards that large politically potent, group, white males without a college education. Although the political power of this group was effectively manipulated in the 1916 presidential election the voting power of this cohort has been decreasing steadily for the past decade or two. About two years ago I wrote:
“Poorly educated white males are the first large socioeconomic group in America less educated and expected to do less well economically than their parents. I even have heard of recent studies that indicate that they will not live as long as their parents as well. Whether this last fact is a sad truth or this group is serving as the canary in the cage for society as a whole, I cannot guess.” “I feel sad for these men; deluded by their history of ascendency over women of their class and other minorities, lied to by their political and religious leaders and misused by their employers, they have been misled to believe their ever so slight social standing was theirs by right and not earned by effort.} “In 2016 Presidential election they marched to the polls and elected someone who promised them he would tear down every government program that they believed encouraged those who threatened their tenuous social standing. In return, they, perhaps unknowingly, agreed to cede control of the nation and the economy to those who would abandon them at the slightest evidence it would be to their advantage. In return for these meager benefits and support for the psychological comfort of meaningless symbols and rituals such and flags and songs that they cling to as evidence of some misbegotten reality, they were willing to give up much of their freedom. True, they now would be free from the competition of those they believed their inferiors who were being given unfair advantages. In return, they seem to accept enslavement by those they were sure were their betters.” (https://trenzpruca.wordpress.com/2018/09/13/poorly-educated-white-men-the-death-of-an-american-original/)
These voters were ripe for the racist promises:
“They, this modern day Lumpen Proletariat, who subsist at the poverty line and slightly above it do not see the threat from above, but from below — those they fear will take the only things that keep them from abject poverty and despair, their jobs and the few items of value they may have acquired. As a result, they also hate those above who they perceive encourage them to do so. There is probably nothing that enrages them more than to be accused that they, clinging (often barely) to the lowest levels of the economic ladder, have benefited from “white privilege” to get there. They are more angry than racist more fearful than ideological.” (https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2016/3/16/1502258/-More-angry-than-racist-more-fearful-than-ideological)
Despite their racism and fascist leanings should the Democrats succeed in winning the coming election as they seem poised to do we need to actively root out racism especially the political advantages of certain rich and powerful while winning back as many of those who have been led astray as possible.


dailykos--2020-10-29--Don't forget that Republicans also eliminated the filibuster for Supreme Court nominees

Just a quick reminder about something I see largely left out of the coverage of Republicans ’ bad faith regarding the Supreme Court : Republicans eliminated the filibuster for Supreme Court nominees .
This was supposed to be a seismic event , but I do n't hear it discussed much anymore in the overall Supreme Court debate and the so-called “ packing the court ” narrative .
In deploying this so-called nuclear option , [ Republican ] lawmakers are fundamentally altering the way the Senate handles one of its most significant duties , further limiting the minority ’ s power @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be a slower and more deliberative body than the House .
The move , once unthinkable among senators , is a testament to the creeping partisan rancor in recent years , after decades of at least relative bipartisanship on Supreme Court matters .
Both parties have warned of sweeping effects on the court itself , predicting the elevation of more ideologically extreme judges now that only a majority is required for confirmation .
Highlighting this point is important because it supplies the necessary “ glue ” to fully understand the outrageous Republican behavior @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Garland was egregious and improper .
• But , Republicans were only able to fill that seat with an ideologue like J. Gorsuch • The filibuster is what led Obama to nominate a centrist , moderate , “ bipartisan ” Merrick Garland .
Even with Republicans in control , the same filibuster should have led to Republicans nominating their version of a moderate , centrist justice .
• The consequences continued with J. Kavanaugh , the first post-filibuster nomination .
Kavanaugh was nominated and appointed .
A transparently flawed , political hack with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have been confirmed if the filibuster applied .
Hell , we have had a prior candidate flame out simply because he once smoked pot in college .
• The reason that no Supreme Court Justice has been confirmed so close to an election — as occurred with Amy Coney Barret — is because the filibuster ( not some “ norm ” ) would have stopped it .
As you can see — the key event of the last few years was the Republicans eliminating the Supreme Court filibuster — the once-understood “ nuclear @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Republicans , properly understood , leads to three improper Supreme Court nominations based on three key facts : ( i ) denying Pres .
Obama a nomination , ( ii ) eliminating the S.Ct .
filibuster , and ( iii ) plowing ahead with confirming a nominee mere days before an election .
All three of these are necessary to understand and explain the Republicans ’ wrongdoing .
For some reason , Republicans ’ elimination of the filibuster has fallen by the side .
Let ’ s not allow that to happen .

Just a quick reminder about something I see largely left out of the coverage of Republicans’ bad faith regarding the Supreme Court: Republicans eliminated the filibuster for Supreme Court nominees.
This was supposed to be a seismic event, but I don't hear it discussed much anymore in the overall Supreme Court debate and the so-called “packing the court” narrative.
In deploying this so-called nuclear option, [Republican] lawmakers are fundamentally altering the way the Senate handles one of its most significant duties, further limiting the minority’s power in a chamber that was designed to be a slower and more deliberative body than the House. The move, once unthinkable among senators, is a testament to the creeping partisan rancor in recent years, after decades of at least relative bipartisanship on Supreme Court matters. Both parties have warned of sweeping effects on the court itself, predicting the elevation of more ideologically extreme judges now that only a majority is required for confirmation.
Highlighting this point is important because it supplies the necessary “glue” to fully understand the outrageous Republican behavior:
Republicans’ boycott of Merrick Garland was egregious and improper.
But, Republicans were only able to fill that seat with an ideologue like J. Gorsuch because Republicans eliminated the Supreme Court filibuster.
The filibuster is what led Obama to nominate a centrist, moderate, “bipartisan” Merrick Garland. Even with Republicans in control, the same filibuster should have led to Republicans nominating their version of a moderate, centrist justice.
The consequences continued with J. Kavanaugh, the first post-filibuster nomination. Kavanaugh was nominated and appointed solely because Republicans eliminated the Supreme Court filibuster . A transparently flawed, political hack with credible sexual assault allegations simply never would have been confirmed if the filibuster applied. Hell, we have had a prior candidate flame out simply because he once smoked pot in college.
. A transparently flawed, political hack with credible sexual assault allegations simply never would have been confirmed if the filibuster applied. Hell, we have had a prior candidate flame out simply because he once smoked pot in college. The reason that no Supreme Court Justice has been confirmed so close to an election — as occurred with Amy Coney Barret — is because the filibuster (not some “norm”) would have stopped it .
As you can see — the key event of the last few years was the Republicans eliminating the Supreme Court filibuster — the once-understood “nuclear option.”
So, the case against Republicans, properly understood, leads to three improper Supreme Court nominations based on three key facts: (i) denying Pres. Obama a nomination, (ii) eliminating the S.Ct. filibuster, and (iii) plowing ahead with confirming a nominee mere days before an election.
All three of these are necessary to understand and explain the Republicans’ wrongdoing. For some reason, Republicans’ elimination of the filibuster has fallen by the side. Let’s not allow that to happen.