thestream--2020-09-28--Trump and Joe Toe-to-(Socially Distanced) Toe: Trump’s Got to Keep in Good Spirits and Keep Up the P

Trump and Joe Toe-to-(Socially Distanced) Toe: Trump’s Got to Keep in Good Spirits and Keep Up the Pressure

Tuesday night at Case Western Reserve University in Ohio , President Donald J. Trump will face former Vice President Joe Biden in their first Presidential Debate .
Last time , we talked about what Biden has to do to win the debate .
In short , he ’ s got to beat Father Time , not Donald Trump .
He ’ s got to go a full 90 minutes , convincing voters he ’ s still Joe and not some angry , confused socialist-stuffed shell of his old self .
Now what does Donald Trump have to do , especially @ @ @ @ @ @ @ minutes without blowing a gasket or valve or his own life story he will be declared the winner ?
Trump isn ’ t doing typical debate prep .
He ’ s meeting with advisers like Rudy Giuliani and Chris Christie .
What ’ s the point of formal debate prep ?
That ’ s what his press conferences are .
Second , there ’ s no way to predict what sort of strange things will come out of Biden ’ s mouth .
I mean , last week Biden said Trump was responsible @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Given the weird stuff that Biden comes up with , the best you could do , prep wise , is feed Rudy LSD then try a mock debate against that .
Let ’ s start with something we tend not to associate with President Trump and his debate style .
He is strategic .
For example , when facing Ted Cruz for the first time , he knew Cruz was a champion debater , and could take him in a fair exchange .
So he deliberately kept interrupting so Cruz couldn ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In his second debate with Hillary , days after the release of the Access Hollywood tape , Trump showed up with three of Bill Clinton ’ s sex abuse accusers .
Why ?
To signal he wasn ’ t going to go down without a fight .
“ You want to sling mud , Hillary ?
I ’ ve got three truckloads right there.
” So what does he do this time ?
He ’ s not facing a champion debater .
Or two rows of smart , veteran politicians .
( I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Bush , the clever Carly Fiorina and the great Mike Huckabee , among others . )
He is not facing a Hillary Clinton , who throws elbows and gnaws flesh , like Mike Tyson .
He is facing Joe Biden .
A Joe Biden that now tends to get angry when pressed and lost when tired .
So what ’ s Trump ’ s primary task : Keep upbeat and keep up the steady pressure .
Trump ’ s case against Biden is actually rather simple .
And he ’ s been saying @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ ve done more in 47 months than Biden did in 47 years.
” Trump has the record .
Biden has his record .
If Joe could solve any national and international problems why didn ’ t he do it already ?
Trump can argue he has spent four years cleaning up Joe ’ s messes .
Stick to the facts .
Stick to the accomplishments .
Stick to comparisons .
• “ You brought economic stagnation and promise more shutdowns .
I brought an economic boom once and I ’ m doing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ manufacturing overseas and said it couldn ’ t come back .
I brought it back anyway.
” • “ I support the police .
Your campaign is bailing out wannabe cop killers .
You can ’ t even call out Antifa or BLM by name.
” • “ I say there will never be socialism in the United States as long as I am president .
You signed a radical compact with socialist Bernie Sanders and AOC.
” • “ I will protect the 2nd Amendment .
You ’ ve got Beto O @ @ @ @ @ @ @ guns.
” • “ I support the sanctity of life .
You ’ re now beholden to the abortion industry.
” • “ I put up a border wall and fight sanctuary cities .
You and Kamala and Bernie and AOC want open borders and sanctuary for MS-13 gang members.
” • “ I appoint justices who uphold the Constitution .
You ’ re beholden to people like llhan Omar who want to chuck our whole system.
” • “ You voted for the Gulf War .
I ’ m bringing the troops @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and watched ISIS grow .
I eliminated the caliphate and took out ISIS leader Al-Baghdadi.
” • “ You gave billions to Iran .
I took out their terrorist mastermind .
Got out of the dangerous Iran Nuke Deal and have peace breaking out in the Middle East.
” My Final Advice to the President Be succinct .
Sharp , quick punches .
No long winded answers .
Most importantly , do not give Biden time to rest .
Do not let him catch his breath .
The satire site Babylon Bee is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In other words , turn up the charm , turn up the humor , keep in command .
Keep relaxed , but keep up the pressure .
Keep questioning Joe ’ s shifting positions .
If Joe goes the attack , know that he can not sustain it .
Know that anywhere he goes , you can counter .
For example , if he jumps on you for not committing to a peaceful transfer of power , say “ If I lose a fair election , I promise I will give you what @ @ @ @ @ @ @ me.
” If Joe brings up your taxes , hit the opening .
“ Do you really want to get into family finances , Joe ?
I went into government and it cost my family millions .
You went into government , and your family used your government connections to make billions.
” Then smile , “ Besides , who does America want as president .
Someone smart enough to keep his taxes low or someone who wants to send everyone ’ s taxes sky high ?
” Know there ’ s nothing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ White House reporters haven ’ t already tried .
And if it is false , you have a ready answer .
“ You made that one up , Joe .
Just like you made up going to a black college .
Like you made up being arrested going to see Nelson Mandela .
Like you made up being the first in your coal-mining family to go to college .
Like you … well , you know I can go on and on , Joe.
” And know that you have countless ways to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , in a nice way .
“ Are you hesitant to blame China for the COVID virus because they gave $ 1.5 BILLION to your kid ?
” And as I said last week , if he makes the mistake of bringing your kids up , become the indignant father .
Nail him for his direct involvement in the three years of living hell your family had to endure because of the Russia conspiracy .
Then mention the $ 3.5 million given Hunter by a Russian oligarch .
You ’ ve got the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ energy .
And Joe is run by the riot-loving radicals .
And is running on fumes .
Keep the pace fast , keep warm and in good cheer .
The upbeat , happier candidate usually wins .
And know , that with the pressure on , sooner or later Joe Biden will hang himself .
Or shrivel .
Or prove that nice Uncle Joe is dead and gone .
And wonder of wonders , you are the nice one on stage .
And fit to continue leading .
Al Perrotta is the Managing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with @ JZmirak , of The Politically Incorrect Guide to Immigration .
You can follow him at @ StreamingAl .
And if you aren ’ t already , please follow The Stream on Twitter at @ Streamdotorg .
And on Parler @ TheStream .

Tuesday night at Case Western Reserve University in Ohio, President Donald J. Trump will face former Vice President Joe Biden in their first Presidential Debate.
Last time, we talked about what Biden has to do to win the debate. In short, he’s got to beat Father Time, not Donald Trump. He’s got to go a full 90 minutes, convincing voters he’s still Joe and not some angry, confused socialist-stuffed shell of his old self.
Now what does Donald Trump have to do, especially knowing that if Joe Biden goes 90 minutes without blowing a gasket or valve or his own life story he will be declared the winner?
Trump isn’t doing typical debate prep. He’s meeting with advisers like Rudy Giuliani and Chris Christie. What’s the point of formal debate prep? That’s what his press conferences are. Second, there’s no way to predict what sort of strange things will come out of Biden’s mouth. I mean, last week Biden said Trump was responsible for every single COVID death in America. Given the weird stuff that Biden comes up with, the best you could do, prep wise, is feed Rudy LSD then try a mock debate against that.
Still, Trump can prepare a strategy.
Donald Trump, Strategic Thinker
Let’s start with something we tend not to associate with President Trump and his debate style. He is strategic. For example, when facing Ted Cruz for the first time, he knew Cruz was a champion debater, and could take him in a fair exchange. So he deliberately kept interrupting so Cruz couldn’t lay a glove on him. In his second debate with Hillary, days after the release of the Access Hollywood tape, Trump showed up with three of Bill Clinton’s sex abuse accusers. Why? To signal he wasn’t going to go down without a fight. “You want to sling mud, Hillary? I’ve got three truckloads right there.”
So what does he do this time? He’s not facing a champion debater. Or two rows of smart, veteran politicians. (I mean, he defeated Christie, Jeb Bush, the clever Carly Fiorina and the great Mike Huckabee, among others.) He is not facing a Hillary Clinton, who throws elbows and gnaws flesh, like Mike Tyson. He is facing Joe Biden. A Joe Biden that now tends to get angry when pressed and lost when tired.
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political, Economic, and Moral Issues of Our Day.
So what’s Trump’s primary task: Keep upbeat and keep up the steady pressure.
Trump’s case against Biden is actually rather simple. And he’s been saying it in recent days: “I’ve done more in 47 months than Biden did in 47 years.” Trump has the record. Biden has his record. If Joe could solve any national and international problems why didn’t he do it already? Trump can argue he has spent four years cleaning up Joe’s messes.
Comparing Records
Stick to the facts. Stick to the accomplishments. Stick to comparisons.
“You created a crime bill that unfairly incarcerated millions of black men. I achieved prison reform.”
“You brought economic stagnation and promise more shutdowns. I brought an economic boom once and I’m doing it again.
“You sent manufacturing overseas and said it couldn’t come back. I brought it back anyway.”
“I support the police. Your campaign is bailing out wannabe cop killers. You can’t even call out Antifa or BLM by name.”
“I say there will never be socialism in the United States as long as I am president. You signed a radical compact with socialist Bernie Sanders and AOC.”
“I will protect the 2nd Amendment. You’ve got Beto O’Rourke all set to seize our guns.”
“I support the sanctity of life. You’re now beholden to the abortion industry.”
“I put up a border wall and fight sanctuary cities. You and Kamala and Bernie and AOC want open borders and sanctuary for MS-13 gang members.”
“I appoint justices who uphold the Constitution. You’re beholden to people like llhan Omar who want to chuck our whole system.”
“You voted for the Gulf War. I’m bringing the troops home.”
“You sat around and watched ISIS grow. I eliminated the caliphate and took out ISIS leader Al-Baghdadi.”
“You gave billions to Iran. I took out their terrorist mastermind. Got out of the dangerous Iran Nuke Deal and have peace breaking out in the Middle East.”
My Final Advice to the President
Be succinct. Sharp, quick punches. No long winded answers. Most importantly, do not give Biden time to rest. Do not let him catch his breath.
The satire site Babylon Bee is not too far off the mark.
Winning Debate Strategy: Trump Announces He Will Simply Let Joe Biden Talk For The Full 90 Minutes https://t.co/m15iDEC3UW — The Babylon Bee (@TheBabylonBee) September 28, 2020
In other words, turn up the charm, turn up the humor, keep in command. Keep relaxed, but keep up the pressure. Keep questioning Joe’s shifting positions. If Joe goes the attack, know that he cannot sustain it. Know that anywhere he goes, you can counter.
For example, if he jumps on you for not committing to a peaceful transfer of power, say “If I lose a fair election, I promise I will give you what you and Obama didn’t give me.”
If Joe brings up your taxes, hit the opening. “Do you really want to get into family finances, Joe? I went into government and it cost my family millions. You went into government, and your family used your government connections to make billions.” Then smile, “Besides, who does America want as president. Someone smart enough to keep his taxes low or someone who wants to send everyone’s taxes sky high?”
Know there’s nothing Joe can throw at you that the White House reporters haven’t already tried. And if it is false, you have a ready answer. “You made that one up, Joe. Just like you made up going to a black college. Like you made up being arrested going to see Nelson Mandela. Like you made up being the first in your coal-mining family to go to college. Like you … well, you know I can go on and on, Joe.”
And know that you have countless ways to trigger him. Just bring up Hunter, in a nice way. “Are you hesitant to blame China for the COVID virus because they gave $1.5 BILLION to your kid?” And as I said last week, if he makes the mistake of bringing your kids up, become the indignant father. Nail him for his direct involvement in the three years of living hell your family had to endure because of the Russia conspiracy. Then mention the $3.5 million given Hunter by a Russian oligarch.
You’ve got the record. You’ve got the energy. And Joe is run by the riot-loving radicals. And is running on fumes.
Keep the pace fast, keep warm and in good cheer. The upbeat, happier candidate usually wins. And know, that with the pressure on, sooner or later Joe Biden will hang himself. Or shrivel. Or prove that nice Uncle Joe is dead and gone. And wonder of wonders, you are the nice one on stage. And fit to continue leading.
Al Perrotta is the Managing Editor of The Stream and co-author, with @JZmirak, of The Politically Incorrect Guide to Immigration. You can follow him at @StreamingAl. And if you aren’t already, please follow The Stream on Twitter at @Streamdotorg. And on Parler @TheStream.


thestream--2020-09-28--Prayer March, POTUS and a SCOTUS Pick: What an Amazing Weekend We Had in Washington

Editor ’ s note : The following is an email update sent to friends and partners of Campaign for Working Families .
It is reprinted here by kind permission of the author .
I want to get today ’ s report out early summarizing this incredible weekend .
Meanwhile , we ’ re busy working on several projects related to the nomination of Judge Amy Coney Barrett .
Friday night , Carol and I joined Rev .
Franklin Graham and other faith leaders for dinner .
Graham told us he had no idea how many people would show up for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ He spoke at length about the amount of fear in America from the coronavirus , the economy , racial and other divisions in the country .
But Graham added that if only a few hundred people showed up it wouldn ’ t be a failure because the Bible tells us that wherever two or three are gathered , God is there .
As Carol and I drove into Washington the next morning , we were heartened to see hundreds of people walking across the Memorial Bridge into Washington , D.C .
I wish @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and freedom could have seen what we saw as we arrived at the Lincoln Memorial .
The estimates I am hearing are that between 100,000 and 200,000 people attended the Prayer March .
The crowd covered the steps of the Lincoln Memorial ( I posted a picture on Twitter and Facebook ) and stretched back all along the National Mall .
People began spontaneously singing various hymns , and later Michael W. Smith led the crowd in worship songs .
When Franklin Graham began speaking and announcing the order of events , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that seemed surprising .
What they were seeing , completely unbeknownst to Reverend Graham , was that Vice President Mike Pence had unexpectedly arrived .
Pence reminded the crowd about America ’ s deep religious heritage .
He thanked the audience for their prayers , and urged them to keep praying for our leaders in public office , for our men and women in uniform in the military and law enforcement , for our doctors and nurses , for those grieving and for our country .
After the vice president finished his remarks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ more years !
” We marched as a group to various locations along the National Mall , including the World War II Memorial , the White House and the African American History Museum .
We prayed at each stop and ended the March at Capitol Hill .
If you missed the Prayer March this weekend , you can watch this replay , courtesy of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association .
I returned home briefly to change clothes and headed back to Washington to go to the White House .
There I joined about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Rose Garden for President Trump ’ s nomination of Judge Amy Coney Barrett to the U.S. Supreme Court .
Barrett ’ s nomination is the culmination of decades of hard work and prayer for me personally , going back to the confirmation of my good friend Justice Clarence Thomas , and for many other conservatives .
We are now on the cusp of finally achieving a conservative majority on the Supreme Court .
I know why the left hates Barrett so much .
She is a living testament to our values .
She @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , one with Down syndrome .
She also has two adopted children from Haiti .
I ’ m not sure even she understands how threatening that is to the left ’ s narrative of who Christians and conservatives are .
Her remarks were very respectful of the late Justice Ginsburg , but Barrett made it clear her model is the late Justice Antonin Scalia for whom she clerked .
I ’ m sure Barrett was trying to be inclusive when she said , “ I love the United States and I love the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is another reason why the left hates her .
Believe it or not , Barrett is now being attacked by the left for her adoption of two black children from Haiti .
Ibram Kendi , director of the Center for Antiracist Research at Boston University , compared Barrett to a “ white colonizer.
” Barrett loves America , but Kendi leads an entire department at Boston University that believes America is racist and evil .
I believe the left ’ s tactics will fail , but I am under no illusions about just @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
For example , it is clear that one of the main thrusts of the left ’ s attack will be tying Barrett ’ s nomination to healthcare .
They are claiming that President Trump and Republicans , during a pandemic , want to rip away the healthcare millions have received under Obamacare .
They argue that many Americans will end up with long-term effects from COVID-19 , which will become pre-existing conditions , thereby denying them coverage in the future .
This is fearmongering , but every liberal in the media was @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Let me close this message by returning to the theme of the weekend : Please pray for Judge Barrett and her family .
Pray for the senators who will soon conduct her confirmation hearing and vote on her nomination to the Supreme Court .
And pray for an end to the coronavirus and healing for the racial and political divisions that are causing so much unrest in our nation .
Gary Bauer served in President Reagan ’ s administration as Under Secretary of Education and Chief Domestic Policy Advisor .
He ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and former Senior Vice President of Focus on the Family .
Bauer is currently the President of American Values and leads the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom , appointed by President Trump .
Copyright © 2020 Campaign for Working Families , All rights reserved .
Reprinted by permission of the author .

Editor’s note: The following is an email update sent to friends and partners of Campaign for Working Families. It is reprinted here by kind permission of the author.
I want to get today’s report out early summarizing this incredible weekend. Meanwhile, we’re busy working on several projects related to the nomination of Judge Amy Coney Barrett.
Friday night, Carol and I joined Rev. Franklin Graham and other faith leaders for dinner. Graham told us he had no idea how many people would show up for the Prayer March the next day. He spoke at length about the amount of fear in America from the coronavirus, the economy, racial and other divisions in the country.
But Graham added that if only a few hundred people showed up it wouldn’t be a failure because the Bible tells us that wherever two or three are gathered, God is there.
As Carol and I drove into Washington the next morning, we were heartened to see hundreds of people walking across the Memorial Bridge into Washington, D.C. I wish every American committed to faith, family and freedom could have seen what we saw as we arrived at the Lincoln Memorial. The estimates I am hearing are that between 100,000 and 200,000 people attended the Prayer March.
The crowd covered the steps of the Lincoln Memorial (I posted a picture on Twitter and Facebook) and stretched back all along the National Mall. People began spontaneously singing various hymns, and later Michael W. Smith led the crowd in worship songs.
America’s Religious Heritage
When Franklin Graham began speaking and announcing the order of events, the crowd began applauding and reacted in ways that seemed surprising. What they were seeing, completely unbeknownst to Reverend Graham, was that Vice President Mike Pence had unexpectedly arrived.
Pence reminded the crowd about America’s deep religious heritage. He thanked the audience for their prayers, and urged them to keep praying for our leaders in public office, for our men and women in uniform in the military and law enforcement, for our doctors and nurses, for those grieving and for our country.
After the vice president finished his remarks, the crowd started chanting “Four more years!”
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political, Economic, and Moral Issues of Our Day.
We marched as a group to various locations along the National Mall, including the World War II Memorial, the White House and the African American History Museum. We prayed at each stop and ended the March at Capitol Hill.
If you missed the Prayer March this weekend, you can watch this replay, courtesy of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association.
At The White House
I returned home briefly to change clothes and headed back to Washington to go to the White House. There I joined about 200 conservative and faith leaders in the Rose Garden for President Trump’s nomination of Judge Amy Coney Barrett to the U.S. Supreme Court.
Barrett’s nomination is the culmination of decades of hard work and prayer for me personally, going back to the confirmation of my good friend Justice Clarence Thomas, and for many other conservatives. We are now on the cusp of finally achieving a conservative majority on the Supreme Court.
I know why the left hates Barrett so much. She is a living testament to our values. She and her husband have five biological children, one with Down syndrome. She also has two adopted children from Haiti. I’m not sure even she understands how threatening that is to the left’s narrative of who Christians and conservatives are.
Her remarks were very respectful of the late Justice Ginsburg, but Barrett made it clear her model is the late Justice Antonin Scalia for whom she clerked. I’m sure Barrett was trying to be inclusive when she said, “I love the United States and I love the United States Constitution.” But her sentiment is another reason why the left hates her.
Believe it or not, Barrett is now being attacked by the left for her adoption of two black children from Haiti. Ibram Kendi, director of the Center for Antiracist Research at Boston University, compared Barrett to a “white colonizer.” Barrett loves America, but Kendi leads an entire department at Boston University that believes America is racist and evil.
I believe the left’s tactics will fail, but I am under no illusions about just how brutal this upcoming battle will be. For example, it is clear that one of the main thrusts of the left’s attack will be tying Barrett’s nomination to healthcare.
They are claiming that President Trump and Republicans, during a pandemic, want to rip away the healthcare millions have received under Obamacare. They argue that many Americans will end up with long-term effects from COVID-19, which will become pre-existing conditions, thereby denying them coverage in the future.
This is fearmongering, but every liberal in the media was repeating this lie non-stop all weekend.
Let me close this message by returning to the theme of the weekend: Please pray for Judge Barrett and her family. Pray for the senators who will soon conduct her confirmation hearing and vote on her nomination to the Supreme Court.
And pray for an end to the coronavirus and healing for the racial and political divisions that are causing so much unrest in our nation.
Gary Bauer served in President Reagan’s administration as Under Secretary of Education and Chief Domestic Policy Advisor. He’s the former President of Family Research Council and former Senior Vice President of Focus on the Family. Bauer is currently the President of American Values and leads the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, appointed by President Trump.
Copyright © 2020 Campaign for Working Families, All rights reserved. Reprinted by permission of the author.


thestream--2020-09-28--Trump and Joe Toe-to-(Socially Distanced) Toe: Who is Joe’s Real Foe?

Finally .
Donald Trump and Joe Biden will go face to face mask in the first Presidential Debate Tuesday night .
The election may hinge on what happens in those 90 minutes at Case Western Reserve University .
It looks like Joe Biden will actually be there , which was one of the big questions in recent months .
And no , he won ’ t be taking a drug test .
In part one of our debate preview , we take a look at what Joe Biden must do in the debate .
And that means looking at who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an interesting theory the other day .
The American Thinker has a short article on it .
You know how Biden has ended his campaign day before noon at least 11 days this month ?
Sometimes as early as 8:30 AM ?
In fact , he shut things down before 10 a.m. today .
His supporters say he ’ s been preparing for the debate .
That ’ s perfectly true .
We forget , but Joe had already stopped doing campaign events in the late afternoon and evening months ago , pre-COVID @ @ @ @ @ @ @ got , the more tired and gaffe-prone he became .
( A familiar phenomenon is found among dementia patients , called “ sundowning.
” ) Had to get Joe ’ s day done early .
What ’ s the theory ?
Biden is sleeping during the day to get his body on a different time clock .
So he ’ ll be as fresh as the morning dew come debate time .
That may well work for the debate .
But the presidency doesn ’ t care about time clocks .
Which gets @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Chris Wallace isn ’ t your only moderator .
Sitting next to him will be this guy .
Father Time .
He ’ s the one Joe ’ s really going to have to answer .
Can he go 90 minutes without fading ?
Without completely losing his train of thought ?
Without coming out with some jaw-dropping gaffe ?
The other day he said he ’ d been a senator for 180 years .
Just seems like it was 180 years .
Because of COVID fears , the two candidates will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Biden ’ s advantage .
The pale and low-energy Biden doesn ’ t want to stand too close to the tan , hyper-energetic and always physically imposing Trump .
Historians tell us JFK won his debate with Richard Nixon before they even said a word , because JFK looked sharp and vigorous , while Nixon looked pasty .
Joe Biden ’ s prime objective Tuesday night is to go 90 minutes sounding fit , relaxed and ready for the office .
Watching Joe Biden is — by definition — stressful .
And hasn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Your throat tightens just thinking about watching Joe .
His own face looks perpetually stressed at this point .
Is he going to forget where he is ?
What office he ’ s running for ?
Send his train of thought over the edge into a ravine ?
Start talking about leg hair or record players or ( again ) call soldiers “ stupid b******s ) ” ?
God forbid , is he going to have an episode like Ron Paul did the other day , where he appeared to have a stroke @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ?
Joe Biden must defuse the tension quick , and keep it defused for 90 full minutes … or his election fortunes could immediately crater .
Can he do it ?
Well , Joe has a problem .
Joe Biden hasn ’ t taken any serious , sustained questioning in months .
And the couple times he has been challenged , he has gotten very , very testy .
Who can forget “ Are you on crack ?
” and “ You ’ re not really black ” ?
Remember how upset he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hunter .
The New York Times writer and Democratic operator Maggie Haberman isn ’ t worried .
She points out that Trump has a temper too .
But she misses the mark .
An angry and perturbed Biden goes against his brand .
Trump getting fierce ?
Yeah .
He ’ s the Killer from Queens .
You expect steam out the ears .
Orange Man Bad .
But Biden ?
Tan Man Good .
He ’ s lovable Uncle Joe .
Lovable Uncle Joe turning nasty is very , very jarring .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ know exactly what I ’ m talking about .
Joe Biden said Sunday his strategy is to tell the “ truth.
” Some have suggested he needs to keep calling out Trump for any misstatements .
Sounds nice .
But that means going toe-to-toe for 90 minutes .
Against someone who easily took on 16 of the GOP ’ s toughest at the same time .
And took down the ferociously competitive Hillary Clinton .
Joe simply isn ’ t quick enough on his feet .
And doesn ’ t have the stamina @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up against anything like Trump .
And since Joe has changed his position on so many different issues so often , and sold out his moderation to the party radicals , he has no solid ground to stand on .
Besides , if Trump sticks to his indisputable accomplishments , what ’ s Joe to do ?
He ’ ll just look punched out and punch drunk .
No , Joe Biden ’ s crucial task is to prove he ’ s still Joe Biden , and not an angry , confused shell @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Trump says matters .
Nothing Chris Wallace asks matters .
It ’ s Father Time Biden has to neutralize .
Next up , what Donald Trump needs to do on that debate stage .
Al Perrotta is the Managing Editor of The Stream and co-author , with @ JZmirak , of The Politically Incorrect Guide to Immigration .
You can follow him at @ StreamingAl .
And if you aren ’ t already , please follow The Stream at @ Streamdotorg .

Finally. Donald Trump and Joe Biden will go face to face mask in the first Presidential Debate Tuesday night.
The election may hinge on what happens in those 90 minutes at Case Western Reserve University. It looks like Joe Biden will actually be there, which was one of the big questions in recent months. And no, he won’t be taking a drug test.
In part one of our debate preview, we take a look at what Joe Biden must do in the debate. And that means looking at who Joe is really up against.
Sundowning?
Heard an interesting theory the other day. The American Thinker has a short article on it. You know how Biden has ended his campaign day before noon at least 11 days this month? Sometimes as early as 8:30 AM? In fact, he shut things down before 10 a.m. today. His supporters say he’s been preparing for the debate. That’s perfectly true.
We forget, but Joe had already stopped doing campaign events in the late afternoon and evening months ago, pre-COVID. Why? because the later it got, the more tired and gaffe-prone he became. (A familiar phenomenon is found among dementia patients, called “sundowning.”) Had to get Joe’s day done early.
What’s the theory? Biden is sleeping during the day to get his body on a different time clock. So he’ll be as fresh as the morning dew come debate time.
That may well work for the debate. But the presidency doesn’t care about time clocks.
The True Debate Moderator
Which gets to my central point about the debate. Chris Wallace isn’t your only moderator. Sitting next to him will be this guy.
Father Time. He’s the one Joe’s really going to have to answer. Can he go 90 minutes without fading? Without completely losing his train of thought? Without coming out with some jaw-dropping gaffe? The other day he said he’d been a senator for 180 years. Just seems like it was 180 years.
Because of COVID fears, the two candidates will not shake hands. That works to Biden’s advantage. The pale and low-energy Biden doesn’t want to stand too close to the tan, hyper-energetic and always physically imposing Trump. Historians tell us JFK won his debate with Richard Nixon before they even said a word, because JFK looked sharp and vigorous, while Nixon looked pasty.
Joe Biden Must Not Falter
Joe Biden’s prime objective Tuesday night is to go 90 minutes sounding fit, relaxed and ready for the office. Watching Joe Biden is — by definition — stressful. And hasn’t 2020 been stressful enough? Your throat tightens just thinking about watching Joe. His own face looks perpetually stressed at this point.
Is he going to forget where he is? What office he’s running for? Send his train of thought over the edge into a ravine? Start talking about leg hair or record players or (again) call soldiers “stupid b******s)”? God forbid, is he going to have an episode like Ron Paul did the other day, where he appeared to have a stroke in the middle of a live stream?
The tension is unnerving.
Joe Biden must defuse the tension quick, and keep it defused for 90 full minutes … or his election fortunes could immediately crater.
Joe Probably Will Falter
Can he do it? Well, Joe has a problem. Joe Biden hasn’t taken any serious, sustained questioning in months. And the couple times he has been challenged, he has gotten very, very testy. Who can forget “Are you on crack?” and “You’re not really black”? Remember how upset he got when asked last week about son Hunter.
The New York Times writer and Democratic operator Maggie Haberman isn’t worried. She points out that Trump has a temper too. But she misses the mark.
An angry and perturbed Biden goes against his brand. Trump getting fierce? Yeah. He’s the Killer from Queens. You expect steam out the ears. Orange Man Bad. But Biden? Tan Man Good. He’s lovable Uncle Joe. Lovable Uncle Joe turning nasty is very, very jarring. If you have older relatives, you know exactly what I’m talking about.
Joe Biden said Sunday his strategy is to tell the “truth.” Some have suggested he needs to keep calling out Trump for any misstatements. Sounds nice. But that means going toe-to-toe for 90 minutes. Against someone who easily took on 16 of the GOP’s toughest at the same time. And took down the ferociously competitive Hillary Clinton.
Joe simply isn’t quick enough on his feet. And doesn’t have the stamina. And he’s never gone up against anything like Trump. And since Joe has changed his position on so many different issues so often, and sold out his moderation to the party radicals, he has no solid ground to stand on.
Besides, if Trump sticks to his indisputable accomplishments, what’s Joe to do? He’ll just look punched out and punch drunk.
No, Joe Biden’s crucial task is to prove he’s still Joe Biden, and not an angry, confused shell of what he once was. Nothing Trump says matters. Nothing Chris Wallace asks matters. It’s Father Time Biden has to neutralize.
Next up, what Donald Trump needs to do on that debate stage.
Al Perrotta is the Managing Editor of The Stream and co-author, with @JZmirak, of The Politically Incorrect Guide to Immigration. You can follow him at @StreamingAl. And if you aren’t already, please follow The Stream at @Streamdotorg.


thestream--2020-09-28--Prof. Kendi, This Is Not How to Be an Antiracist

Prof. Ibram Kendi has become one of the most popular and influential authors in America today , with his latest book , How to Be an Antiracist , driving the curricula in many a school in our nation .
Yet his recent tweets , criticizing Whites who adopted Black children , are anything but antiracist .
To the contrary , they smack of racism .
In a now-deleted tweet , Christian conservative Jenny Beth Martin wrote : “ With 2 adopted children from Haiti , it is going to be interesting to watch the Democrats try to smear Amy Coney @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ Some White colonizers ‘ adopted ’ Black children .
They ‘ civilized ’ these ‘ savage ’ children in the ‘ superior ’ ways of White people , using them as props in their lifelong pictures of denial , while cutting the biological parents of these children out of the picture of humanity.
” What kind of response is this ?
This came from the Twitter account of Prof. Ibram Kendi ?
And lest someone think he was just talking about the darker periods in our history when slavery prevailed , a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in his important book Stamped from the Beginning , he added this : “ And whether this is Barrett or not is not the point .
It is a belief too many White people have : if they have or adopt a child of color , then they can ’ t be racist.
” Talk about how not to be an antiracist .
What Not to Do First , Kendi made his comment in direct response to Martin ’ s tweet regarding the Barretts .
If Kendi did not think his words applied @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the place to make the comment .
Just turn the tables around where “ Blacks ” are accused in such a blanket way , and we would quickly label that comment as both non-productive and racist .
Second , who gives Kendi ( or anyone ) the right to judge the motivations of the Barretts ?
How dare he imply that they see themselves as civilized while viewing the Haitians as savages ?
Seriously ?
As for cutting the children off from the biological parents , orphans already are cut off from the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in orphanages .
The Horrible Suffering of Many Orphans Around the World Quite a few of the graduates of our ministry school work with orphans around the world — from the Ukraine to the Philippines to India , among other countries — and many of these children have suffered horribly over the years .
Some have been sexually trafficked .
Others had to beg on the streets .
Others were abandoned by a single parent unable to care for the children anymore .
Others live in squalid orphanages .
It is an act @ @ @ @ @ @ @ these orphans into your own family , and my friends who have adopted children of different nationalities and ethnicities and colors have done so with great joy .
They count it a privilege and honor to help give these children a new life , and they would find utterly abhorrent the idea that they were educating little savages in the superior White culture .
Perish the thought .
( For the record , some of my colleagues involved in orphan ministry are themselves people of color . )
Darker-Skinned Children are Discriminated Against @ @ @ @ @ @ @ indicate that , to this day , dark-skinned children suffer discrimination in our adoption system .
As noted in a February 2019 article , “ When it comes to adoption , Americans might assume that each child is treated equally .
But research shows that darker-skinned children are repeatedly discriminated against , both by potential adoptive parents and the social workers who are charged with protecting their well-being.
” I have heard this from White Christian colleagues who have adopted children of color , which is one reason they chose to adopt them @ @ @ @ @ @ @ treatment in every way .
Will Kendi criticize this as well ?
Are Whites not allowed to work for justice for Black orphans ?
Will they be criticized as “ colonizers ” if they do ?
White Adoptive Parents are Likely Allies , Seeing Discrimination Firsthand Fourth , while Kendi rejects the idea that Whites who adopt Blacks can not be racist , what he fails to consider is that White American families who do adopt Black children are confronted with racism on a regular basis .
They often see that their White @ @ @ @ @ @ @ children .
They experience inequities in our system and differing perceptions in our society .
( The adoptive parents have told me this firsthand . )
These White couples would be the most likely to relate to many of Kendi ’ s own experiences as a Black American , yet rather than embracing them as allies , he feels he must challenge the narrative .
Unfortunately , some struck even lower than Kendi , revealing just how much animosity already exists towards Amy Coney Barrett .
Someone going by the name of slats1992 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Hitler standing next to a little girl .
“ ‘ With the young Jewish girl who won his affection , it is going to be interesting to watch the resistance try to smear Adolf Hitler as racist.
’ ” This is even lower than Donny Deutsch ’ s comparison of Trump to Hitler .
It is evil and it sick .
But this is exactly what we can expect because of Barrett ’ s conservative Christian beliefs .
She will be demonized in every which way imaginable , no matter how grotesque the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we would hope someone of Kendi ’ s current stature would not be the one to launch a racist attack .
Dr. Michael Brown ( www.askdrbrown.org ) is the host of the nationally syndicated Line of Fire radio program .
His latest book is Evangelicals at the Crossroads : Will We Pass the Trump Test ?
Connect with him on Facebook , Twitter or YouTube .

Prof. Ibram Kendi has become one of the most popular and influential authors in America today, with his latest book, How to Be an Antiracist, driving the curricula in many a school in our nation. Yet his recent tweets, criticizing Whites who adopted Black children, are anything but antiracist. To the contrary, they smack of racism.
In a now-deleted tweet, Christian conservative Jenny Beth Martin wrote: “With 2 adopted children from Haiti, it is going to be interesting to watch the Democrats try to smear Amy Coney Barrett as racist.”
Kendi responded, “Some White colonizers ‘adopted’ Black children. They ‘civilized’ these ‘savage’ children in the ‘superior’ ways of White people, using them as props in their lifelong pictures of denial, while cutting the biological parents of these children out of the picture of humanity.”
What kind of response is this? This came from the Twitter account of Prof. Ibram Kendi?
We would hope someone of Kendi’s current stature would not be the one to launch a racist attack.
And lest someone think he was just talking about the darker periods in our history when slavery prevailed, a period which Kendi has outlined in detailed in his important book Stamped from the Beginning, he added this: “And whether this is Barrett or not is not the point. It is a belief too many White people have: if they have or adopt a child of color, then they can’t be racist.”
Talk about how not to be an antiracist.
What Not to Do
First, Kendi made his comment in direct response to Martin’s tweet regarding the Barretts. If Kendi did not think his words applied to them, then this was not the place to make the comment. Just turn the tables around where “Blacks” are accused in such a blanket way, and we would quickly label that comment as both non-productive and racist.
Second, who gives Kendi (or anyone) the right to judge the motivations of the Barretts? How dare he imply that they see themselves as civilized while viewing the Haitians as savages? Seriously? As for cutting the children off from the biological parents, orphans already are cut off from the biological parents. That why they are in orphanages.
The Horrible Suffering of Many Orphans Around the World
Quite a few of the graduates of our ministry school work with orphans around the world — from the Ukraine to the Philippines to India, among other countries — and many of these children have suffered horribly over the years. Some have been sexually trafficked. Others had to beg on the streets. Others were abandoned by a single parent unable to care for the children anymore. Others live in squalid orphanages.
It is an act of great compassion to take one of these orphans into your own family, and my friends who have adopted children of different nationalities and ethnicities and colors have done so with great joy. They count it a privilege and honor to help give these children a new life, and they would find utterly abhorrent the idea that they were educating little savages in the superior White culture. Perish the thought. (For the record, some of my colleagues involved in orphan ministry are themselves people of color.)
Darker-Skinned Children are Discriminated Against in the Adoption System
Third, reports indicate that, to this day, dark-skinned children suffer discrimination in our adoption system. As noted in a February 2019 article, “When it comes to adoption, Americans might assume that each child is treated equally. But research shows that darker-skinned children are repeatedly discriminated against, both by potential adoptive parents and the social workers who are charged with protecting their well-being.”
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political, Economic, and Moral Issues of Our Day.
I have heard this from White Christian colleagues who have adopted children of color, which is one reason they chose to adopt them. They wanted them to receive equal treatment in every way. Will Kendi criticize this as well? Are Whites not allowed to work for justice for Black orphans? Will they be criticized as “colonizers” if they do?
White Adoptive Parents are Likely Allies, Seeing Discrimination Firsthand
Fourth, while Kendi rejects the idea that Whites who adopt Blacks cannot be racist, what he fails to consider is that White American families who do adopt Black children are confronted with racism on a regular basis. They often see that their White children are treated better than their Black children. They experience inequities in our system and differing perceptions in our society. (The adoptive parents have told me this firsthand.)
These White couples would be the most likely to relate to many of Kendi’s own experiences as a Black American, yet rather than embracing them as allies, he feels he must challenge the narrative.
Sickening Comparisons
Unfortunately, some struck even lower than Kendi, revealing just how much animosity already exists towards Amy Coney Barrett. Someone going by the name of slats1992 on Twitter posted a picture of Adolf Hitler standing next to a little girl.
He wrote: “Jenny Beth Martin on Adolf Hitler:
“‘With the young Jewish girl who won his affection, it is going to be interesting to watch the resistance try to smear Adolf Hitler as racist.’”
This is even lower than Donny Deutsch’s comparison of Trump to Hitler. It is evil and it sick.
But this is exactly what we can expect because of Barrett’s conservative Christian beliefs. She will be demonized in every which way imaginable, no matter how grotesque the comparison.
It’s just that we would hope someone of Kendi’s current stature would not be the one to launch a racist attack.
Dear sir, please do step higher.
Dr. Michael Brown (www.askdrbrown.org) is the host of the nationally syndicated Line of Fire radio program. His latest book is Evangelicals at the Crossroads: Will We Pass the Trump Test? Connect with him on Facebook, Twitter or YouTube.


thestream--2020-09-28--Homeschooling and COVID: Here’s What Parents Should Know

Bethany ’ s family of five just started homeschooling .
Her three boys are gregarious , full of life and downright fun .
The oldest has some delays in reading comprehension , but three weeks into September has already seen positive results from her teaching .
“ We are definitely seeing improvements , ” she told me .
“ And I think we ’ re actually seeing improvements maybe faster than when he was in public school.
” The quick improvements were a bonus for Bethany .
“ We chose to homeschool because last spring , when we did the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ When her kids ’ school district announced they were going to do e-learning until at least the end of September because of COVID , she bailed .
“ I just did not want to do that again .
And then I didn ’ t like what the schools were doing with regards to the masking and social distancing , especially for the little kids.
” Even with the improvements , the best part of homeschooling for Bethany is just spending more time with her children .
“ I think just getting to spend @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to work with the boys .
And I actually do feel like I ’ m knowing the boys better and better as we go along .
We ’ re growing closer.
” Tammy ’ s two older kids thrived in public school , but when they found out that most of their favorite parts about school were going to be cut , they said no way .
“ My oldest two did not want to wear a mask all day long and the fun things that they enjoyed in school , the stuff @ @ @ @ @ @ @ taken away — like recess and eating in the cafeteria and just hanging out.
” The hardest part of homeschooling for Tammy is grading her middle-schoolers ’ assignments .
But that ’ s little problem in comparison to the flexibility that homeschooling provides .
Her family is getting ready to pick up and take off to Florida for a two-week vacation .
“ We ’ re just going to spend two weeks hanging out and going to the beach .
And in the afternoon when the rains come in , we will do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and Tammy as just another homeschooling parent : I homeschool my six year old .
Some days it ’ s pulling teeth to get him to do his work , but if he puts his mind to it , he can finish his day ’ s work long before the bell rings at the end of the day in public school .
It ’ s a lot of work , but I believe it is worth it .
I know What It ’ s Like As a former homeschooled student , I know @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
I graduated high school a year early .
Later , I went to college and earned a BA , an MJ and am now writing a dissertation for my PhD .
The truth ?
I don ’ t think I ’ m an anomaly .
I know plenty of homeschooled kids who had the same experience .
My advice for those who are wondering about homeschooling their children , and that of Bethany , is to find experienced homeschooling parents and talk with them about the reality of homeschooling .
Tammy ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
“ I think some kids , depending on the parents and stuff , probably thrive better in the public system versus the private system , depending on what ’ s going on in the house and who that child is.
” Like her middle child , a boy .
“ He really liked the structure.
” It ’ s important to understand the individual child and make a decision based on them , not the whole family .
Both moms told me that whether their kids go back to public school — @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ after COVID — will depend on whether their kids want to go back .
“ I would like to give [ her middle schooler ] the opportunity if she wants to go out and make friends , ” said Tammy .
“ We are working in homeschool Co-ops trying to do that , but it ’ s not the same as a thousand kids being in your school.
” Her other school-age child will likely continue his homeschooling .
Bethany said she ’ ll probably keep them at home .
“ But @ @ @ @ @ @ @ them.
” Nancy Flory is an associate editor at The Stream .
You can follow her @ NancyFlory3 , and follow The Stream @ Streamdotorg .

Bethany’s family of five just started homeschooling. Her three boys are gregarious, full of life and downright fun. The oldest has some delays in reading comprehension, but three weeks into September has already seen positive results from her teaching. “We are definitely seeing improvements,” she told me. “And I think we’re actually seeing improvements maybe faster than when he was in public school.”
The quick improvements were a bonus for Bethany. “We chose to homeschool because last spring, when we did the e-learning, that was a nightmare.” When her kids’ school district announced they were going to do e-learning until at least the end of September because of COVID, she bailed. “I just did not want to do that again. And then I didn’t like what the schools were doing with regards to the masking and social distancing, especially for the little kids.”
Even with the improvements, the best part of homeschooling for Bethany is just spending more time with her children. “I think just getting to spend more time together and just really getting to work with the boys. And I actually do feel like I’m knowing the boys better and better as we go along. We’re growing closer.”
Homeschooling’s Flexibility
Tammy’s two older kids thrived in public school, but when they found out that most of their favorite parts about school were going to be cut, they said no way. “My oldest two did not want to wear a mask all day long and the fun things that they enjoyed in school, the stuff that made school doable, was being taken away — like recess and eating in the cafeteria and just hanging out.”
Please Support The Stream : Equipping Christians to Think Clearly About the Political, Economic, and Moral Issues of Our Day.
The hardest part of homeschooling for Tammy is grading her middle-schoolers’ assignments. But that’s little problem in comparison to the flexibility that homeschooling provides. Her family is getting ready to pick up and take off to Florida for a two-week vacation. “We’re just going to spend two weeks hanging out and going to the beach. And in the afternoon when the rains come in, we will do some schoolwork.”
I talked with Bethany and Tammy as just another homeschooling parent: I homeschool my six year old. Some days it’s pulling teeth to get him to do his work, but if he puts his mind to it, he can finish his day’s work long before the bell rings at the end of the day in public school. It’s a lot of work, but I believe it is worth it.
I know What It’s Like
As a former homeschooled student, I know what homeschooling can do for a child. I graduated high school a year early. Later, I went to college and earned a BA, an MJ and am now writing a dissertation for my PhD. The truth? I don’t think I’m an anomaly. I know plenty of homeschooled kids who had the same experience.
My advice for those who are wondering about homeschooling their children, and that of Bethany, is to find experienced homeschooling parents and talk with them about the reality of homeschooling. Tammy’s advice is to know your child. “I think some kids, depending on the parents and stuff, probably thrive better in the public system versus the private system, depending on what’s going on in the house and who that child is.” Like her middle child, a boy. “He really liked the structure.” It’s important to understand the individual child and make a decision based on them, not the whole family.
Going Back to School
Both moms told me that whether their kids go back to public school — if things get back to ‘normal’ after COVID — will depend on whether their kids want to go back. “I would like to give [her middle schooler] the opportunity if she wants to go out and make friends,” said Tammy. “We are working in homeschool Co-ops trying to do that, but it’s not the same as a thousand kids being in your school.” Her other school-age child will likely continue his homeschooling.
Bethany said she’ll probably keep them at home. “But a lot of it will dependent on them.”
Nancy Flory is an associate editor at The Stream. You can follow her @NancyFlory3, and follow The Stream @Streamdotorg.


thestream--2020-09-28--Military Photo of the Day: Soaring With the Saudis

A U.S. Air Force KC-135 Stratotanker , F-15C Eagles , F-15E Strike Eagles , and Royal Saudi Air Force F-15SAs @ @ @ @ @ participating in a large formation exercise on September 10 , 2020 .

A U.S. Air Force KC-135 Stratotanker, F-15C Eagles, F-15E Strike Eagles, and Royal Saudi Air Force F-15SAs fly over Saudi Arabia while participating in a large formation exercise on September 10, 2020.
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thestream--2020-09-29--Is Joe Biden a Devout Catholic? Doesn’t Matter

It doesn ’ t matter whether Joe Biden is the “ devout Catholic ” as the major media describes him .
It doesn ’ t matter that he opposes Catholic teaching on abortion and many other issues .
And it doesn ’ t matter that he wants to government to attack the Catholic Church ’ s freedom .
Why ?
Look at this one paragraph from a Wall Street Journal story : “ Polls suggest Mr. Biden is in step with the majority of American Catholics .
A 2019 survey by the Pew Research Center showed 56 % of Catholics @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or most cases , compared with 61 % for all U.S. adults ; in 2009 , 45 % of Catholics answered the question that way .
A Wall Street Journal/NBC News poll taken Sept. 13-16 showed Mr. Biden leading Mr. Trump nationally among registered Catholic voters , 49 % to 46 % , within the margin of error .
In 2016 , exit polls showed , Mr. Trump won Catholics 50 % to 46 % .
” Why doesn ’ t all that matter ?
Because the Catholics who are going to vote @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Worse , it ’ s not clear how much being Catholic matters to Catholic voters .
Look at the Numbers Take a close look at those 2016 poll numbers .
About half of American Catholics were pro-abortion and about half were voting for Trump .
The numbers are different for 2020 .
But still , a not-insubstantial number of Catholics are voting for Trump in spite of his pro-life position , not because of it .
Don ’ t get me wrong .
I like Trump for more than abortion and I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I can get them .
But the pro-abortion Catholic ( Trump or Biden ) voter , I think , really speaks to how superfluous is much of the concern with the Catholic voter in the 2020 election .
We leave the Democratic party for different reasons .
Partial-birth abortion did it for me in the 1990s .
For others , it was the attack on the Little Sisters of the Poor in the early 2010s .
I ’ m glad to have others follow in our footsteps .
But the old man in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ You just figured it out now ?
” The Democratic party always gets worse .
And every election cycle there ’ s some Catholic in the news who has only now realized that the jig is up and is walking away .
At some point it becomes comical .
I can imagine an AP story some 20 years from now : “ Mary Beth Maguire has had enough .
When the 2032 Democratic Convention officially condemned monotheism and established Baal worship , complete with human sacrifice on hilltop altars , she held her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , because they were good on the environment .
But now that the 2040 Democratic platform has endorsed the practice of throwing virgins into volcanoes to satisfy the gods , the devout Catholic is done .
“ ‘ I ’ m voting Republican , ’ Ms. Maguire told the AP .
“ I draw the line at volcanoes.
” As I say when I ’ m interviewed about what “ Catholics ” think : Are we talking about my high school Catholics or my homeschool Catholics ?
That is , the people I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ kids grew up with ?
Two entirely different communities .
As I ’ ve noted before , the latter is much smaller .
Besides myself , I ’ m aware of exactly four practicing Catholics from my high school class .
All of them are women .
Two of them are orthodox , one an adult convert .
The third expresses friendly horror at the number of children I have .
The fourth , a Republican politician , celebrated a court ruling in favor of same-sex marriage by posting on her Facebook page @ @ @ @ @ @ @ making out with Lady Justice .
And the Catholic school educated Catholics ?
Some of the people whom I first met during my one year of Catholic school ( seventh grade ) are , if anything , more vehemently supportive of abortion and LGBT policy goals than the public school crowd .
Something else I want to say about the failure of Catholic commentary on the 2020 election .
How on earth do you write an article in 2020 that talks about JFK and Biden as if nothing happened in-between ?
I don @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Abortion politics is all over this article .
The Journal article is written as if it ’ s still 1984 .
This is true of much of what I ’ ve seen .
“ Woe is the faithful Catholic .
On the one hand , the Republican is pro-life , on the other hand the Democrat is pro-social justice.
” Dude .
It ’ s not 1984 .
It ’ s not even 2004 .
Remember 2004 ?
You might not , because no one mentions it .
But when it comes to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the single most important year to happen in between 1960 and 2020 .
2004 is the year John Kerry , a pro-abortion Catholic , was the Democratic nominee .
That was the year that it was appropriate to have a straight-up discussion about abortion and Catholicism and presidential politics .
Should Kerry be denied communion because he ’ s pro-abortion ?
Can a Catholic licitly vote for Kerry ?
A whole lot has happened since 2004 .
Things have gotten much worse .
2020 and Biden and Catholicism is not a straight up @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s about everything that ’ s happened since the last pro-abortion Catholic ran for President .
It ’ s about Biden promising to do away with the Hyde Amendment and force all of us to pay for abortions .
And about his promise to reinstitute the contraceptive mandate and sue the Little Sisters of the Poor ( and any Christian institution who resists ) into submission .
Don ’ t forget the running mate he chose .
She may well be president in a year or two .
Kamala Harris essentially declared , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Columbus , that faithful Catholics can ’ t serve as federal judges .
She tried to crush David Daleiden for crossing Planned Parenthood .
She wants to force Catholic hospitals to provide abortions and force crisis pregnancy centers to advertise abortion .
And she ’ d gut the Religious Freedom Restoration Act .
Don ’ t forget the party either .
Biden ’ s party passed a law in New York making it permissible to kill the unborn child up to the ninth month .
In Virginia , Democrats approved leaving babies that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
One of their leading senators told a judicial nominee that “ the dogma lives loudly within you ” as a “ concern , ” violating the Constitution ’ s ban on religious tests for office .
A lot has happened since 2004 .
In 2004 , the question was whether a Catholic could vote for a fellow Catholic who was pro-abortion .
In 2020 , if you vote for Joe Biden and Kamala Harris , you would be doing a lot more than that .
You would be voting for a Catholic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Catholic Church .
The stakes are much higher than they were in 2004 .
If you ’ re one of those pro-Biden Catholics , rest easy .
I don ’ t speak for the Catholic Church .
I only speak for me .
You can sleep well tonight knowing it ’ s only Peter Wolfgang who thinks you just sold us out .
Peter Wolfgang is president of Family Institute of Connecticut Action .
He lives in Waterbury , Connecticut , with his wife and their seven children .
The views expressed on @ @ @ @ @ @ @

It doesn’t matter whether Joe Biden is the “devout Catholic” as the major media describes him. It doesn’t matter that he opposes Catholic teaching on abortion and many other issues. And it doesn’t matter that he wants to government to attack the Catholic Church’s freedom.
Why? Look at this one paragraph from a Wall Street Journal story: “Polls suggest Mr. Biden is in step with the majority of American Catholics. A 2019 survey by the Pew Research Center showed 56% of Catholics said abortion should be legal in all or most cases, compared with 61% for all U.S. adults; in 2009, 45% of Catholics answered the question that way. A Wall Street Journal/NBC News poll taken Sept. 13-16 showed Mr. Biden leading Mr. Trump nationally among registered Catholic voters, 49% to 46%, within the margin of error. In 2016, exit polls showed, Mr. Trump won Catholics 50% to 46%.”
For more on Joe Biden’s planned assault on Christians, see Peter Wolfgang’s Kamala Seals the Deal on Biden’s Anti-Catholic Campaign.
Why doesn’t all that matter? Because the Catholics who are going to vote for him will vote for him anyway. Worse, it’s not clear how much being Catholic matters to Catholic voters.
Look at the Numbers
Take a close look at those 2016 poll numbers. About half of American Catholics were pro-abortion and about half were voting for Trump. The numbers are different for 2020. But still, a not-insubstantial number of Catholics are voting for Trump in spite of his pro-life position, not because of it.
Don’t get me wrong. I like Trump for more than abortion and I’ll take my Trump voters wherever I can get them. But the pro-abortion Catholic (Trump or Biden) voter, I think, really speaks to how superfluous is much of the concern with the Catholic voter in the 2020 election.
Leaving the Democrats We leave the Democratic party for different reasons. Partial-birth abortion did it for me in the 1990s. For others, it was the attack on the Little Sisters of the Poor in the early 2010s. I’m glad to have others follow in our footsteps. But the old man in me is like, “Really? You just figured it out now?” The Democratic party always gets worse. And every election cycle there’s some Catholic in the news who has only now realized that the jig is up and is walking away. At some point it becomes comical. I can imagine an AP story some 20 years from now: “Mary Beth Maguire has had enough. When the 2032 Democratic Convention officially condemned monotheism and established Baal worship, complete with human sacrifice on hilltop altars, she held her nose and still voted for her Party, because they were good on the environment. But now that the 2040 Democratic platform has endorsed the practice of throwing virgins into volcanoes to satisfy the gods, the devout Catholic is done. “‘I’m voting Republican,’ Ms. Maguire told the AP. “I draw the line at volcanoes.”
As I say when I’m interviewed about what “Catholics” think: Are we talking about my high school Catholics or my homeschool Catholics? That is, the people I grew up with or the people my kids grew up with? Two entirely different communities.
As I’ve noted before, the latter is much smaller. Besides myself, I’m aware of exactly four practicing Catholics from my high school class. All of them are women.
Two of them are orthodox, one an adult convert. The third expresses friendly horror at the number of children I have. The fourth, a Republican politician, celebrated a court ruling in favor of same-sex marriage by posting on her Facebook page a picture of the Statue of Liberty making out with Lady Justice.
And the Catholic school educated Catholics? Some of the people whom I first met during my one year of Catholic school (seventh grade) are, if anything, more vehemently supportive of abortion and LGBT policy goals than the public school crowd.
Another Failure
Something else I want to say about the failure of Catholic commentary on the 2020 election. How on earth do you write an article in 2020 that talks about JFK and Biden as if nothing happened in-between?
I don’t mean Roe v. Wade. Abortion politics is all over this article. The Journal article is written as if it’s still 1984. This is true of much of what I’ve seen. “Woe is the faithful Catholic. On the one hand, the Republican is pro-life, on the other hand the Democrat is pro-social justice.”
Dude. It’s not 1984. It’s not even 2004.
Remember 2004? You might not, because no one mentions it. But when it comes to Catholicism and presidential elections, 2004 is the single most important year to happen in between 1960 and 2020.
2004 is the year John Kerry, a pro-abortion Catholic, was the Democratic nominee. That was the year that it was appropriate to have a straight-up discussion about abortion and Catholicism and presidential politics. Should Kerry be denied communion because he’s pro-abortion? Can a Catholic licitly vote for Kerry?
A whole lot has happened since 2004. Things have gotten much worse.
What’s Happened Since
2020 and Biden and Catholicism is not a straight up conversation about abortion rights. It’s about everything that’s happened since the last pro-abortion Catholic ran for President.
It’s about Biden promising to do away with the Hyde Amendment and force all of us to pay for abortions. And about his promise to reinstitute the contraceptive mandate and sue the Little Sisters of the Poor (and any Christian institution who resists) into submission.
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Don’t forget the running mate he chose. She may well be president in a year or two. Kamala Harris essentially declared, with her attack on the Knights of Columbus, that faithful Catholics can’t serve as federal judges. She tried to crush David Daleiden for crossing Planned Parenthood. She wants to force Catholic hospitals to provide abortions and force crisis pregnancy centers to advertise abortion. And she’d gut the Religious Freedom Restoration Act.
Don’t forget the party either. Biden’s party passed a law in New York making it permissible to kill the unborn child up to the ninth month. In Virginia, Democrats approved leaving babies that survive abortion, newborns, to die. One of their leading senators told a judicial nominee that “the dogma lives loudly within you” as a “concern,” violating the Constitution’s ban on religious tests for office.
The Question Now
A lot has happened since 2004. In 2004, the question was whether a Catholic could vote for a fellow Catholic who was pro-abortion. In 2020, if you vote for Joe Biden and Kamala Harris, you would be doing a lot more than that.
You would be voting for a Catholic who has promised to actively persecute the Catholic Church. The stakes are much higher than they were in 2004. If you’re one of those pro-Biden Catholics, rest easy. I don’t speak for the Catholic Church. I only speak for me.
You can sleep well tonight knowing it’s only Peter Wolfgang who thinks you just sold us out.
Peter Wolfgang is president of Family Institute of Connecticut Action. He lives in Waterbury, Connecticut, with his wife and their seven children. The views expressed on The Stream are solely his own.


thestream--2020-09-29--What ‘Created Equal’ Means, and Why Not Knowing Leaves Us In Such a Mess

His name was Mr. Janowicz , he was my eighth grade history teacher , and after all these years I still haven ’ t forgotten the question he asked — or the answer he gave .
We were studying the Declaration of Independence .
“ What does ‘ created equal ’ mean ?
” he asked .
The more we talked , the more we felt stumped .
Equal in skill ?
Talent ?
Money ?
Strength ?
Intelligence ?
These answers weren ’ t just wrong , they were obviously wrong .
One of us probably said , “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ no , the Declaration says our equality comes ahead of our rights , such as voting .
I don ’ t remember whether anyone suggested “ equal in opportunity , ” but that ’ s obviously wrong , too , no matter what your politics might be .
The Declaration doesn ’ t say we should be equal , but that we are equal .
Such a crucial phrase in American history , yet we had no idea what it meant .
Sure , we were just eighth-graders , but how many adults @ @ @ @ @ @ @ way ?
Mr. Janowicz wasn ’ t about to stumble .
He was just waiting us out .
It must have been good teaching technique , considering how long his lesson has stuck with me .
“ Try this , ” he said .
“ We ’ re all created equal in worth.
” Simple , brilliant , and right .
No other answer fits ; this one does .
It explains why the law should apply equally to all : because no one ’ s extra worth grants him or her an @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be equal , for the same reason .
There ’ s history there , of course .
America was still a set of colonies when Jefferson wrote the Declaration .
We ’ d been birthed out of a British system of royalty and nobility , where some people had more rights because they had “ higher worth.
” People try to tell us now that we don ’ t need to study Western history , but here we can see one reason ( there are many ) that ’ s foolish .
Hardly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s politics than “ equal , ” and if you don ’ t know your history , you don ’ t know what it really means .
Worth What , To Whom ?
There ’ s an even worse problem today , though , for people who want to understand this human worth .
Jefferson didn ’ t just say we ’ re equal but that we ’ re created equal .
The word “ worth ” can ’ t just stand on its own , you see .
Somewhere it has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Worth what , and to whom ?
” In the Christian-saturated worldview of the American colonies , that answer came easily and automatically : Each person is created in the image of God , and we ’ re worth an infinite amount to Him .
It is He who “ endowed ” us “ with certain unalienable rights.
” We have equal worth in His eyes , so we have equal rights .
“ Unalienable ” doesn ’ t mean , “ no one should take them away.
” It means having this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be human .
You could violate a person ’ s rights , but you can ’ t take them away , any more than you could draw a circle and leave the roundness out of it .
Leave God out , though , and all that quickly falls apart .
Naturalistic evolution ( evolution with no guiding purpose behind it ) has no higher answer to the “ whom ” question .
The best it can say is that we ’ re worth a lot to ourselves and each other .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the whole human species is worth no more than any other organism on the planet .
Evolution knows nothing of “ higher ” or “ lower ” ; all it does is pick out survivors from not-survivors .
It never heard of rights , either , but it does specialize in competition .
Suppose one group of people starts claiming they ’ re worth more than the rest , so they deserve better food , better medicine , better living and working conditions .
They out-live and out-reproduce the rest as a result @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of this , if it could think ?
It ’ d be jumping up and down on the sidelines cheering for the winner !
There ’ s no real basis for human worth there , no foundation for human rights , and not much for equality , either , except for a sentimental attachment to the idea .
The attachment is strong , though , and why shouldn ’ t it be ?
What Jefferson wrote about us as humans is true , even if we ’ ve forgotten why it ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
We ’ ve lost track of the true meaning of equality , but we can ’ t give up the sentiment ; so we flail around to figure what it ’ s about .
Equal access to bathrooms ?
That ’ s the big issue ?
Really ?
That ’ s exactly what flailing looks like .
We won ’ t recover the truth of equality — or the truth of human rights — until we re-connect with the truth of our Creator .
Until then , you can expect sentiment to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it is doing more and more each day now .
We need more Mr. Janowiczes .
Tom Gilson ( @ TomGilsonAuthor ) is a senior editor with The Stream and the author or editor of six books , including the recently released Too Good To Be False : How Jesus ’ Incomparable Character Reveals His Reality .

His name was Mr. Janowicz, he was my eighth grade history teacher, and after all these years I still haven’t forgotten the question he asked — or the answer he gave.
We were studying the Declaration of Independence. “What does ‘created equal’ mean?” he asked. The more we talked, the more we felt stumped. Equal in skill? Talent? Money? Strength? Intelligence? These answers weren’t just wrong, they were obviously wrong.
One of us probably said, “Equal right to vote,” but no, the Declaration says our equality comes ahead of our rights, such as voting. I don’t remember whether anyone suggested “equal in opportunity,” but that’s obviously wrong, too, no matter what your politics might be. The Declaration doesn’t say we should be equal, but that we are equal.
Such a crucial phrase in American history, yet we had no idea what it meant. Sure, we were just eighth-graders, but how many adults would stumble over the question the same way?
Equal in Worth
Mr. Janowicz wasn’t about to stumble. He was just waiting us out. It must have been good teaching technique, considering how long his lesson has stuck with me. “Try this,” he said. “We’re all created equal in worth.”
Simple, brilliant, and right. No other answer fits; this one does. It explains why the law should apply equally to all: because no one’s extra worth grants him or her an exception. It explains why rights should be equal, for the same reason.
“Try this,” he said. “We’re all created equal in worth.”
There’s history there, of course. America was still a set of colonies when Jefferson wrote the Declaration. We’d been birthed out of a British system of royalty and nobility, where some people had more rights because they had “higher worth.”
People try to tell us now that we don’t need to study Western history, but here we can see one reason (there are many) that’s foolish. Hardly any word is more important in today’s politics than “equal,” and if you don’t know your history, you don’t know what it really means.
Worth What, To Whom?
There’s an even worse problem today, though, for people who want to understand this human worth. Jefferson didn’t just say we’re equal but that we’re created equal. The word “worth” can’t just stand on its own, you see. Somewhere it has to connect with the question, “Worth what, and to whom?”
In the Christian-saturated worldview of the American colonies, that answer came easily and automatically: Each person is created in the image of God, and we’re worth an infinite amount to Him. It is He who “endowed” us “with certain unalienable rights.” We have equal worth in His eyes, so we have equal rights. “Unalienable” doesn’t mean, “no one should take them away.” It means having this rights are part of what it means to be human. You could violate a person’s rights, but you can’t take them away, any more than you could draw a circle and leave the roundness out of it.
Sentiment is often stupid. We’ve lost track of the true meaning of equality, but we can’t give up the sentiment; so we flail around to figure what it’s about.
Leave God out, though, and all that quickly falls apart. Naturalistic evolution (evolution with no guiding purpose behind it) has no higher answer to the “whom” question. The best it can say is that we’re worth a lot to ourselves and each other. The trouble there, though, is that the whole human species is worth no more than any other organism on the planet. Evolution knows nothing of “higher” or “lower”; all it does is pick out survivors from not-survivors.
It never heard of rights, either, but it does specialize in competition. Suppose one group of people starts claiming they’re worth more than the rest, so they deserve better food, better medicine, better living and working conditions. They out-live and out-reproduce the rest as a result. What would evolution “think” of this, if it could think? It’d be jumping up and down on the sidelines cheering for the winner!
Truth or Sentiment?
There’s no real basis for human worth there, no foundation for human rights, and not much for equality, either, except for a sentimental attachment to the idea. The attachment is strong, though, and why shouldn’t it be? What Jefferson wrote about us as humans is true, even if we’ve forgotten why it’s true.
But sentiment is often stupid. We’ve lost track of the true meaning of equality, but we can’t give up the sentiment; so we flail around to figure what it’s about. Equal access to bathrooms? That’s the big issue? Really? That’s exactly what flailing looks like.
We won’t recover the truth of equality — or the truth of human rights — until we re-connect with the truth of our Creator. Until then, you can expect sentiment to rule, but foolishly, just as it is doing more and more each day now.
We need more Mr. Janowiczes.
Tom Gilson (@TomGilsonAuthor) is a senior editor with The Stream and the author or editor of six books, including the recently released Too Good To Be False: How Jesus’ Incomparable Character Reveals His Reality.


thestream--2020-09-29--Military Photo of the Day: Training Under a Painted Sky

U.S. Navy sailors and U.S. Marines participate in a recent maritime training exercise at U.S .
Naval Base Guam .
@ @ @ @ @ every member of our military for always being ready to defend our freedom .

U.S. Navy sailors and U.S. Marines participate in a recent maritime training exercise at U.S. Naval Base Guam.
Thank you to each and every member of our military for always being ready to defend our freedom.
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thestream--2020-09-29--Project Veritas Uncovers Massive Voter Fraud Operation in Minneapolis Connected to Rep. Ilhan Omar

You hear a lot of folks say voting fraud is a myth .
Like Big Foot .
Unicorns .
The Tooth Fairy .
Just something Republicans harp on as a way to suppress the vote .
Or , more ominously , for Donald Trump to remain in power even after an election defeat .
On Sunday evening , Project Veritas released footage demonstrating a massive voting fraud operation in Minneapolis run by associates of Squad Member Rep. Ilhan Omar .
This includes video of one of the perpetrators —in a video he himself posted — boasting of his crime .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” ballot broker Liban Mohamed says , flipping through stacks spread in his car .
“ Look at these , my car is full .
My car is full.
” The 16-minute exposé also includes undercover video of a ballot harvester explaining the reach of the operation , how voters are shaken down for their ballots and ordered to vote a certain way .
We are shown high rise towers filled with elderly .
Every single ballot in those buildings is collected , we ’ re told , with the vote going @ @ @ @ @ @ @ voter explains , “ When we sign the voting document and they fill it out is when they give us the money.
” In this racket , cash talks .
“ Money is everything , ” ballot broker Mohamed says .
“ And a campaign is managed by money.
” Who manages the campaign of voter fraud ?
According to O ’ Keefe ’ s sources : the campaign manager for Rep. Ilhan Omar .
Here is the devastating video .
Please watch and share .
Project Veritas founder James O ’ Keefe @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” where third parties collect mail-in ballots and deliver them to election officials .
This is the first of what he promises will be a series of reports .
Minnesota law prohibits anyone from harvesting more than three ballots in an election .
The ballot broker in the Project Veritas video boasts of having 300 right at that moment .
“ We got 300 ( votes ) today for ( candidate ) Jamal Osman only , ” he brags .
Osman won a seat on the Minneapolis City Council this past August .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ ?
O ’ Keefe ’ s investigators spoke to a former political worker in Minneapolis-based source .
Her identity was shielded .
She says the illicit voter harvesting operation is run by Ali ( Isse ) Gainey , Ilhan Omar ’ s campaign chair and deputy district director .
This is no surprise to Omar Jamal , a Somali American , working for the Ramsey County Sheriff ’ s office .
He also runs the corruption-fighting Somali Watchdog group and helped Project Veritas with its investigation.
“ It ’ s an open secret @ @ @ @ @ @ @ anything that she can do to get elected and she has hundreds of people on the streets doing that.
” Jamal spoke to a ballot harvester who explained how Somali-American vote-buying operatives from the Omar machine came to his apartment building .
Omar ’ s operatives requested the ballots and filled them out for voters .
“ They came to our homes .
They said , ‘ This year , you will vote for Ilhan .
.
.
We will make the absentee ballots.
’ ” And don ’ t think about going @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s operatives told him , “ You stay home and you will not go to the place.
” The former political worker Project Veritas spoke to explained how sophisticated and widespread Gainey ’ s operation is .
He is “ managing the voting place , ” she claims .
“ They ’ re accepting temporary addresses ; they ’ re accepting all kinds of shenanigans.
” As with all the many scandals surrounding Omar , her people feign innocence .
Jeremy Slevin , Senior Communications Director for Omar , told Newsweek : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ story is equal to the amount Donald Trump paid in taxes of ten out of the last fifteen years : zero .
And amplifying a coordinated right-wing campaign to delegitimize a free and fair election this fall undermines our democracy.
” Fair ?
You might want to talk to some of Jamal Osman ’ s opponents .
A political operative for Minnesota ’ s Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party , a man also named Jamal , told Project Veritas ’ s undercover journalist he was afraid to speak up about the abuses he saw .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” Jamal said .
“ Like what ?
Like what can I do ?
Like get jumped ?
H*** , no.
” Hennepin County Attorney Jeff Wojciechowski told Project Veritas the ballot harvesting conduct described to him was “ illegal and we will be investigating.
” But will anything happen ?
We ’ ll see .
Meanwhile , YouTube is trying to thwart the power of the video .
Underneath the video the tech giant ’ s placed a statement : “ Mail-in ballots that meet eligibility and validity requirements are counted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all valid votes to be counted in every election regardless of how they are cast.
” They obviously didn ’ t watch the video .
The key word is “ valid ” and O ’ Keefe lists several of the state and federal laws broken just by activities described and confessed to in the video .
Minnesota is a swing state .
In 2016 , Hillary Clinton beat Donald Trump by less than 45,000 votes .
This time out , countless thousands of fraudulent votes could swing the election in a state that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ bombshell revelations should be massive news .
CNN.com at this hour still has nothing on it .
Neither does MSNBC .
Nothing on one of the most famous members of the House being implicated in a massive voter fraud operation that could throw the election .
Investigator Omar Jamal says the danger to our nation is very real .
“ If American people don ’ t pay attention to what ’ s happening , soon the country will collapse .
The rules and regulations , if you ignore that , and you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ business , then tough luck .
The country will not exist as they know it.
” Perhaps this is what Rep. Ilhan Omar means when she says she wants to “ dismantle ” our system .
Al Perrotta is the Managing Editor of The Stream and co-author , with @ JZmirak , of The Politically Incorrect Guide to Immigration .
You can follow him at @ StreamingAl .
And if you aren ’ t already , please follow The Stream at @ Streamdotorg .

You hear a lot of folks say voting fraud is a myth. Like Big Foot. Unicorns. The Tooth Fairy. Just something Republicans harp on as a way to suppress the vote. Or, more ominously, for Donald Trump to remain in power even after an election defeat.
On Sunday evening, Project Veritas released footage demonstrating a massive voting fraud operation in Minneapolis run by associates of Squad Member Rep. Ilhan Omar. This includes video of one of the perpetrators —in a video he himself posted — boasting of his crime. “All these here are absentee ballots,” ballot broker Liban Mohamed says, flipping through stacks spread in his car. “Look at these, my car is full. My car is full.”
The 16-minute exposé also includes undercover video of a ballot harvester explaining the reach of the operation, how voters are shaken down for their ballots and ordered to vote a certain way.
We are shown high rise towers filled with elderly. Every single ballot in those buildings is collected, we’re told, with the vote going the way the collectors want. A voter explains, “When we sign the voting document and they fill it out is when they give us the money.” In this racket, cash talks.
“Money is everything,” ballot broker Mohamed says. “And a campaign is managed by money.”
Who manages the campaign of voter fraud? According to O’Keefe’s sources: the campaign manager for Rep. Ilhan Omar.
Here is the devastating video. Please watch and share.
Project Veritas founder James O’Keefe is focusing on “ballot harvesting,” where third parties collect mail-in ballots and deliver them to election officials. This is the first of what he promises will be a series of reports.
Minnesota law prohibits anyone from harvesting more than three ballots in an election. The ballot broker in the Project Veritas video boasts of having 300 right at that moment. “We got 300 (votes) today for (candidate) Jamal Osman only,” he brags. Osman won a seat on the Minneapolis City Council this past August.
The Ilhan Omar Connection
What is Ilhan Omar’s connection? O’Keefe’s investigators spoke to a former political worker in Minneapolis-based source. Her identity was shielded. She says the illicit voter harvesting operation is run by Ali (Isse) Gainey, Ilhan Omar’s campaign chair and deputy district director.
This is no surprise to Omar Jamal, a Somali American, working for the Ramsey County Sheriff’s office. He also runs the corruption-fighting Somali Watchdog group and helped Project Veritas with its investigation.“It’s an open secret. She [Omar] will do anything that she can do to get elected and she has hundreds of people on the streets doing that.”
Jamal spoke to a ballot harvester who explained how Somali-American vote-buying operatives from the Omar machine came to his apartment building. Omar’s operatives requested the ballots and filled them out for voters. “They came to our homes. They said, ‘This year, you will vote for Ilhan . . . We will make the absentee ballots.’”
And don’t think about going to a polling place yourself. Omar’s operatives told him, “You stay home and you will not go to the place.”
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The former political worker Project Veritas spoke to explained how sophisticated and widespread Gainey’s operation is. He is “managing the voting place,” she claims. “They’re accepting temporary addresses; they’re accepting all kinds of shenanigans.”
People that are showing their ID: ‘I moved 30 days ago, my ID’s not come back.’ ‘OK, just give us the last four of your social and tell us the address,’ and then somebody else will say ‘Yeah.’ They will send people who are helping them vote and saying: ‘Yeah, I can vouch for this madness.’
Madness it is.
As with all the many scandals surrounding Omar, her people feign innocence. Jeremy Slevin, Senior Communications Director for Omar, told Newsweek: “The amount of truth to this story is equal to the amount Donald Trump paid in taxes of ten out of the last fifteen years: zero. And amplifying a coordinated right-wing campaign to delegitimize a free and fair election this fall undermines our democracy.”
Fair? You might want to talk to some of Jamal Osman’s opponents. A political operative for Minnesota’s Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party, a man also named Jamal, told Project Veritas’s undercover journalist he was afraid to speak up about the abuses he saw. “They fight you if you speak up,” Jamal said. “Like what? Like what can I do? Like get jumped? H***, no.”
Corruption That Could Collapse a Country
Hennepin County Attorney Jeff Wojciechowski told Project Veritas the ballot harvesting conduct described to him was “illegal and we will be investigating.”
But will anything happen? We’ll see.
Meanwhile, YouTube is trying to thwart the power of the video. Underneath the video the tech giant’s placed a statement: “Mail-in ballots that meet eligibility and validity requirements are counted in every election. The law requires all valid votes to be counted in every election regardless of how they are cast.” They obviously didn’t watch the video. The key word is “valid” and O’Keefe lists several of the state and federal laws broken just by activities described and confessed to in the video.
Minnesota is a swing state. In 2016, Hillary Clinton beat Donald Trump by less than 45,000 votes. This time out, countless thousands of fraudulent votes could swing the election in a state that could swing the election. Project Veritas’ bombshell revelations should be massive news. CNN.com at this hour still has nothing on it. Neither does MSNBC. Nothing on one of the most famous members of the House being implicated in a massive voter fraud operation that could throw the election.
Investigator Omar Jamal says the danger to our nation is very real.
“If American people don’t pay attention to what’s happening, soon the country will collapse. The rules and regulations, if you ignore that, and you let corruption and fraud become a daily business, then tough luck. The country will not exist as they know it.”
Perhaps this is what Rep. Ilhan Omar means when she says she wants to “dismantle” our system.
Al Perrotta is the Managing Editor of The Stream and co-author, with @JZmirak, of The Politically Incorrect Guide to Immigration. You can follow him at @StreamingAl. And if you aren’t already, please follow The Stream at @Streamdotorg.