State Democrats launch 'The Missouri Download' to bash Josh Hawley
The Missouri Democratic Party quietly launched its own "news" website this year to pump up Sen. Claire McCaskill (D., Mo.) and bash Republicans ahead of her reelection fight.
The website, The Missouri Download, launched on March 1 and posted just five stories in its first two months, all targeting McCaskill's top Republican opponent, Missouri attorney general Josh Hawley.
The party appears to be hiding its involvement in the site as best it can while staying within legal parameters.
The launch of Missouri Download was not announced by the Missouri Democrats and is yet to be mentioned on its main website or its Twitter account. There is a miniscule disclosure of the party's involvement on the bottom of the page, written in size 5.5 font, and contained in a box about a quarter of the size of the disclosure box on the party's actual home page. (The disclosures on The Missouri Download and the Missouri Democrats websites can be seen highlighted in red in the screenshot below. Click here to see enlarged version.)
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DelMarVa's Premier Source for News, Opinion, Analysis, and Human Interest Contact Publisher Joe Albero at alberobutzo@wmconnect.com or 410-430-5349
Monday, July 09, 2018
Ellison on Running for Minnesota AG: ‘Not Looking to Climb Some Career Ladder’
Rep. Keith Ellison (D., Minn.) made a surprise announcement last month to run for Minnesota’s attorney general, and in a new interview he said he doesn't care about the "career ladder."
"I am not looking to climb some career ladder," Ellison told the Guardian in an interview published Sunday. "I don’t give a damn about that. What I care about is how can I help the most people. How can I be maximally effective in defense of people’s economic and social rights, that’s what I care about."
Ellison, who is also the deputy chairman of the Democratic National Committee, is running on the promise to oppose President Donald Trump’s policies from the office of attorney general of Minnesota. He said the challenge in Congress is having enough votes to pass progressive legislation, but as attorney general he would have his desired latitude to engage in litigation.
He said he wanted to intervene in matters such as the gender pay gap and Trump ending the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, an Obama-era executive action protecting illegal immigrants brought to America when they were young. Ellison made it clear that he would target Trump and his policies when he announced his candidacy in June.
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"I am not looking to climb some career ladder," Ellison told the Guardian in an interview published Sunday. "I don’t give a damn about that. What I care about is how can I help the most people. How can I be maximally effective in defense of people’s economic and social rights, that’s what I care about."
Ellison, who is also the deputy chairman of the Democratic National Committee, is running on the promise to oppose President Donald Trump’s policies from the office of attorney general of Minnesota. He said the challenge in Congress is having enough votes to pass progressive legislation, but as attorney general he would have his desired latitude to engage in litigation.
He said he wanted to intervene in matters such as the gender pay gap and Trump ending the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, an Obama-era executive action protecting illegal immigrants brought to America when they were young. Ellison made it clear that he would target Trump and his policies when he announced his candidacy in June.
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McConnell Pushing Kethledge for Supreme Court to Appeal to Establishment Republicans
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell is pushing for Judge Ray Kethledge to be President Donald Trump’s nominee for the Supreme Court vacancy opened by the retirement of Justice Anthony Kennedy, Breitbart News has learned.
McConnell has, in private conversations, said he is pushing Trump to pick Kethledge for the slot because he thinks Kethledge’s positions in contravention of the GOP base on certain issues like immigration would make him an easily-confirmed nominee in an election year.
“McConnell has said he does not want a SCOTUS battle in an election year,” one source briefed on McConnell’s comments to a variety of people around Washington, including at least one journalist whom the Senate Majority Leader spoke with off the record ahead of Monday’s announcement. “He thinks Kethledge would be easy to confirm because Kethledge is not a consistent conservative.”
McConnell’s argument, per sources who have heard him make it directly, is that Kethledge is non-controversial and would not face the same problems in the Senate confirmation process—meaning he would rather not have to fight than have a nominee with fewer questions about his or her conservative positions.
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McConnell has, in private conversations, said he is pushing Trump to pick Kethledge for the slot because he thinks Kethledge’s positions in contravention of the GOP base on certain issues like immigration would make him an easily-confirmed nominee in an election year.
“McConnell has said he does not want a SCOTUS battle in an election year,” one source briefed on McConnell’s comments to a variety of people around Washington, including at least one journalist whom the Senate Majority Leader spoke with off the record ahead of Monday’s announcement. “He thinks Kethledge would be easy to confirm because Kethledge is not a consistent conservative.”
McConnell’s argument, per sources who have heard him make it directly, is that Kethledge is non-controversial and would not face the same problems in the Senate confirmation process—meaning he would rather not have to fight than have a nominee with fewer questions about his or her conservative positions.
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Pentagon Says It’s Not Purging Immigrant Recruits, Contrary to Reports
The Pentagon said Friday that contrary to what an Associated Press report has suggested, there are no new changes to a program for immigrants to gain U.S. citizenship through military service.
The Associated Press reported on Thursday evening that some “U.S. Army reservists and recruits who enlisted in the military with a promised path to citizenship are being abruptly discharged.”
However, the Pentagon said there have been no new policies or guideline changes to prompt any discharges from the program. Rather, any discharges are based on initial SECURITY screening of each candidate.
The Army could not comment on specific persons mentioned in the AP’s story due to privacy issues and pending litigation, but released a statement on Friday in response.
“Department of Defense and Army policy require all recruits to undergo a suitability review as part of the military accessions process. One aspect of the suitability review is a security screening,” Army spokeswoman Lt. Col. Nina Hill said.
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The Associated Press reported on Thursday evening that some “U.S. Army reservists and recruits who enlisted in the military with a promised path to citizenship are being abruptly discharged.”
However, the Pentagon said there have been no new policies or guideline changes to prompt any discharges from the program. Rather, any discharges are based on initial SECURITY screening of each candidate.
The Army could not comment on specific persons mentioned in the AP’s story due to privacy issues and pending litigation, but released a statement on Friday in response.
“Department of Defense and Army policy require all recruits to undergo a suitability review as part of the military accessions process. One aspect of the suitability review is a security screening,” Army spokeswoman Lt. Col. Nina Hill said.
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Will #Resistance summer dampen the Democrats' big autumn?
NEW YORK — On Wednesday afternoon during the height of the Fourth of July festivities at the Statue of Liberty, Therese Patricia Okoumou began scaling Lady Liberty and held a T-shirt up with “Trumpcare Makes us Sick” on one side and “Rise and Resist” on the other.
Despite telling authorities she would not come down until “all the children are released," she eventually descended after a team of over a dozen highly skilled New York City police officers with the department’s emergency service unit cajoled her down from the skirts of the statue's base.
Her protest evacuated Liberty Island, turning away over 4,000 people who had planned to make a visit to arguably America’s most iconic symbol of liberty as part of their family’s celebration of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
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Despite telling authorities she would not come down until “all the children are released," she eventually descended after a team of over a dozen highly skilled New York City police officers with the department’s emergency service unit cajoled her down from the skirts of the statue's base.
Her protest evacuated Liberty Island, turning away over 4,000 people who had planned to make a visit to arguably America’s most iconic symbol of liberty as part of their family’s celebration of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
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Trump announces Judge Brett Kavanaugh as his Supreme Court nominee after days of speculation
The four finalists – Kavanaugh and fellow appeals court judges Amy Coney Barrett, Thomas Hardiman and Raymond Kethledge – were drawn from a list of 25 names vetted by conservative groups.
A clue to Kavanaugh’s nomination emerged hours before the announcement when the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals issued a written opinion in which the judge sided with the majority. The D.C. court does not typically issue opinions on Mondays except in response to emergency petitions, suggesting that the case had to be disposed of before Kavanaugh was nominated for the high court.
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http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2018/07/09/trump-nominates-brett-kavanaugh-to-supreme-court.html
NBC’s Todd Confronts Durbin on SCOTUS Confirmation ‘Hypocrisy’
Illinois Democrat is angered when 'Meet The Press' host pressed him on the inconsistency of his position from 2016 to 2018
Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) shifted blame for his conflicting views on swiftly confirming Supreme Court nominees under former President Barack Obama onto Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) during an interview Sunday on NBC News’ “Meet the Press.”
“In a few weeks, the Supreme Court will start its new term with eight justices; we need nine. Major legal questions are hanging in limbo because the court is deadlocked on four-four votes,” Durbin said in September 2016 following the death of former Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia.
But after Justice Anthony Kennedy announced his impending retirement this year, Durbin and his Democratic Senate colleagues urged McConnell to delay the confirmation process for President Donald Trump’s nominee until after Democrats have the chance to win back the Senate during the November midterm elections.
When NBC host Chuck Todd played the clip for Durbin, he noted, “There’s been some talk among some of your colleagues for Democrats to push for a delay until after the election. Obviously you didn’t like that in 2016. Where are you on this?”
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Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) shifted blame for his conflicting views on swiftly confirming Supreme Court nominees under former President Barack Obama onto Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) during an interview Sunday on NBC News’ “Meet the Press.”
“In a few weeks, the Supreme Court will start its new term with eight justices; we need nine. Major legal questions are hanging in limbo because the court is deadlocked on four-four votes,” Durbin said in September 2016 following the death of former Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia.
But after Justice Anthony Kennedy announced his impending retirement this year, Durbin and his Democratic Senate colleagues urged McConnell to delay the confirmation process for President Donald Trump’s nominee until after Democrats have the chance to win back the Senate during the November midterm elections.
When NBC host Chuck Todd played the clip for Durbin, he noted, “There’s been some talk among some of your colleagues for Democrats to push for a delay until after the election. Obviously you didn’t like that in 2016. Where are you on this?”
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Kelsey Grammer: Reproductive Rights Is a ‘Dishonest’ Name for Abortion
Actor Kelsey Grammer explained why he is pro-life in an interview last week with the Times, calling out the abortion industry as “dishonest” for using the euphemism of “reproductive rights” to speak about abortion.
Grammer told the Times he has “as much respect for women and women’s issues as possible,” but said that women’s rights are not what is at stake with abortion.
It “gets a bit dishonest to call something reproductive rights when you clearly have a choice well before a baby is conceived,” Grammer noted, which is when reproduction actually happens.
The 63-year-old actor known for his role as Dr. Frasier Crain in the sitcoms Cheers and Frasier said that abortion unfairly punishes an infant for others’ actions, even in the case of rape.
“If someone has to die as a result of rape, then we should kill the rapist – not the unborn child,” he said. “It’s a dicey area, but if you have respect for life, and respect for choice, then you can’t take life away from an infant.”
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Grammer told the Times he has “as much respect for women and women’s issues as possible,” but said that women’s rights are not what is at stake with abortion.
It “gets a bit dishonest to call something reproductive rights when you clearly have a choice well before a baby is conceived,” Grammer noted, which is when reproduction actually happens.
The 63-year-old actor known for his role as Dr. Frasier Crain in the sitcoms Cheers and Frasier said that abortion unfairly punishes an infant for others’ actions, even in the case of rape.
“If someone has to die as a result of rape, then we should kill the rapist – not the unborn child,” he said. “It’s a dicey area, but if you have respect for life, and respect for choice, then you can’t take life away from an infant.”
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LOOK: Students Outraged Over Trump's Unannounced SCOTUS Nominee
Students at New York University recently expressed their disdain over President Trump's pick to replace Supreme Court Associate Justice Anthony Kennedy.
The only problem is, he hasn't announced his nominee yet.
Campus Reform Media Director Cabot Phillips, who interviewed the students, said Sunday on "Fox & Friends" that many people seek to quickly show their hatred for President Trump the moment they hear his name.
"Other people, I think they just want to go along with the flow and make themselves sound intelligent and smart," he said.
Video
The only problem is, he hasn't announced his nominee yet.
Campus Reform Media Director Cabot Phillips, who interviewed the students, said Sunday on "Fox & Friends" that many people seek to quickly show their hatred for President Trump the moment they hear his name.
"Other people, I think they just want to go along with the flow and make themselves sound intelligent and smart," he said.
Video
http://insider.foxnews.com/2018/07/08/supreme-court-pick-president-trump-students-outraged-over-unannounced-selection
Justice Antonin Scalia, Justice Clarence Thomas, Theodore Roosevelt
"In the eyes of government we are just one race here. It is American."
-- Justice Antonin Scalia
(1936-2016) American jurist, Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States
Source: Adarand v. Pena
http://libertytree.ca/quotes/Antonin.Scalia.Quote.179E
-- Justice Antonin Scalia
(1936-2016) American jurist, Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States
Source: Adarand v. Pena
http://libertytree.ca/quotes/Antonin.Scalia.Quote.179E
"Government cannot make us equal; it can only recognize, respect, and protect us as equal before the law. That [affirmative action] programs may have been motivated, in part, by good intentions cannot provide refuge from the principle that under our Constitution, the government may not make distinctions on the basis of race."
-- Justice Clarence Thomas
(1948- ) U.S. Supreme Court Justice
Source: Adarand v. Federico Pena
http://libertytree.ca/quotes/Clarence.Thomas.Quote.9C21
"There is no room in this country for hyphenated Americanism."
-- Theodore Roosevelt
(1858-1919) 26th US President
http://libertytree.ca/quotes/Theodore.Roosevelt.Quote.7292
-- Justice Clarence Thomas
(1948- ) U.S. Supreme Court Justice
Source: Adarand v. Federico Pena
http://libertytree.ca/quotes/Clarence.Thomas.Quote.9C21
"There is no room in this country for hyphenated Americanism."
-- Theodore Roosevelt
(1858-1919) 26th US President
http://libertytree.ca/quotes/Theodore.Roosevelt.Quote.7292
Big Labor Hit with Another Class Action Suit
Janus decision spurs Washington State suit seeking back wages
The fallout from the Supreme Court's landmark Janus ruling continued as Washington state workers filed suit to recover their lost wages from forced unionism.
Several home health aides are suing Service Employees International Union Local 775 and the state to recover money deducted from Medicaid reimbursements designed to fund the care of disabled or elderly people. The state government automatically sent more than 3 percent of the provider payments to the union, despite the fact that workers never agreed to become members. The practice, according to the suit, violates both the U.S. and state constitutions.
"Plaintiffs and class members are not union members and never consented for the union or the state to withdraw union dues or dues equivalent fees from their wages, yet the state deducted such fees from their pay," the suit says. "Defendants conspired to deprive Plaintiffs and class members of their First Amendment rights by deducting union fees from their wages without their clear, prior, affirmative consent."
For years Washington state forced such providers, many of whom are caring for relatives, to pay a portion of those reimbursements to the union. The practice only stopped when the Supreme Court declared a similar policy in Illinois unconstitutional. That 2014 ruling led to the Supreme Court's June decision declaring mandatory payments to public sector unions, including SEIU, an unconstitutional violation of free speech in Janus.
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The fallout from the Supreme Court's landmark Janus ruling continued as Washington state workers filed suit to recover their lost wages from forced unionism.
Several home health aides are suing Service Employees International Union Local 775 and the state to recover money deducted from Medicaid reimbursements designed to fund the care of disabled or elderly people. The state government automatically sent more than 3 percent of the provider payments to the union, despite the fact that workers never agreed to become members. The practice, according to the suit, violates both the U.S. and state constitutions.
"Plaintiffs and class members are not union members and never consented for the union or the state to withdraw union dues or dues equivalent fees from their wages, yet the state deducted such fees from their pay," the suit says. "Defendants conspired to deprive Plaintiffs and class members of their First Amendment rights by deducting union fees from their wages without their clear, prior, affirmative consent."
For years Washington state forced such providers, many of whom are caring for relatives, to pay a portion of those reimbursements to the union. The practice only stopped when the Supreme Court declared a similar policy in Illinois unconstitutional. That 2014 ruling led to the Supreme Court's June decision declaring mandatory payments to public sector unions, including SEIU, an unconstitutional violation of free speech in Janus.
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China’s Wanda buys Dick Clark Productions for $1 billion
China’s Dalian Wanda Group announced on Friday its $1 billion acquisition of Dick Clark Productions, the TV company that produces the Golden Globesand the “Miss America” pageant.
One of China’s most important conglomerates, Wanda already owns AMC Theatres and bought Legendary Entertainment for $3.5 billion in January. It also announced a movie partnership in September with Sony Pictures.
Wanda’s push into the U.S. entertainment industry has raised alarm among some American lawmakers concerned about creative freedom and the promotion of Chinese propaganda. A group of legislators in September asked the U.S. Government Accountability Office to review Chinese takeovers.
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One of China’s most important conglomerates, Wanda already owns AMC Theatres and bought Legendary Entertainment for $3.5 billion in January. It also announced a movie partnership in September with Sony Pictures.
Wanda’s push into the U.S. entertainment industry has raised alarm among some American lawmakers concerned about creative freedom and the promotion of Chinese propaganda. A group of legislators in September asked the U.S. Government Accountability Office to review Chinese takeovers.
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Lots of Rescues Today In Ocean City
We are making a lot of rescues today. If you hear the lifeguards whistle look to see if there are trying to tell you something. They might be directing you away from a rip current. When the lifeguards call everyone to their stand they have important safety information. feel free to ask them any questions that you may have
Drama behind the Miss America Organization
A war is brewing behind the scenes of the Miss America Organization under new chair Gretchen Carlson — and a battle over the swimsuit competition was just the beginning.
Two former Miss Americas and two former state titleholders have left the board, after just months on the job.
Kate Shindle (now president of the Actors’ Equity Association), Laura Kaeppler Fleiss (who married “Bachelor” whiz Mike Fleiss), Jennifer Vaden Barth and Valerie Crooker Clemens posted a message to a private Facebook group claiming that Miss America’s account of their departures was inaccurate.
Barth and Clemens claimed, “Neither of us resigned voluntarily” and that “pre-signed” resignation letters they’d had as interim members were used.
Fleiss wrote, “I stepped away from a board that I felt had become incredibly toxic.”
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Two former Miss Americas and two former state titleholders have left the board, after just months on the job.
Kate Shindle (now president of the Actors’ Equity Association), Laura Kaeppler Fleiss (who married “Bachelor” whiz Mike Fleiss), Jennifer Vaden Barth and Valerie Crooker Clemens posted a message to a private Facebook group claiming that Miss America’s account of their departures was inaccurate.
Barth and Clemens claimed, “Neither of us resigned voluntarily” and that “pre-signed” resignation letters they’d had as interim members were used.
Fleiss wrote, “I stepped away from a board that I felt had become incredibly toxic.”
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The State Of New Jersey Just Signed Its Own Death Warrant
You would think New Jersey would have learned its lesson...
Two years ago, New Jersey’s richest resident – hedge fund billionaire David Tepper – decided to move himself and his business to Miami Beach.
Tepper, who personally earned more than $6 billion from 2012-2015, was tired of paying New Jersey’s top income-tax rate of 8.97% for the 20 years he lived there, in addition to the country’s highest property taxes, the estate tax and inheritance tax.
By moving to Florida, a state with ZERO income tax, Tepper stood to save hundreds of millions of dollars each year. And, as an added bonus, he’d be living in the Sunshine State.
Anyone with some common sense would have at least acknowledged the possibility that a guy like Tepper would consider moving to save a few hundred million bucks.
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Two years ago, New Jersey’s richest resident – hedge fund billionaire David Tepper – decided to move himself and his business to Miami Beach.
Tepper, who personally earned more than $6 billion from 2012-2015, was tired of paying New Jersey’s top income-tax rate of 8.97% for the 20 years he lived there, in addition to the country’s highest property taxes, the estate tax and inheritance tax.
By moving to Florida, a state with ZERO income tax, Tepper stood to save hundreds of millions of dollars each year. And, as an added bonus, he’d be living in the Sunshine State.
Anyone with some common sense would have at least acknowledged the possibility that a guy like Tepper would consider moving to save a few hundred million bucks.
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Against Packing the Courts
Democrats have learned nothing from Merrick Garland
More than any other single political event — including the Watergate scandal — the dishonest and morally indefensible attack on Robert Bork led by Teddy Kennedy and Joe Biden created the rancorous procedural and political maximalism that defines life in Washington today. Senators Kennedy and Biden — the guilty, sodden conscience of the Democratic party and its second-rate brain, respectively — did more than any two elected leaders in modern American history to cheapen consensus, render compromise unprofitable, and derail long-term cooperation between the major national political parties and, more important, between the two dominant American political tendencies for which they stand. This is Joe Biden’s America, and its politics are crippled.
Republicans, of course, are driven by the same self-interest that drives any ordinary politician, and unilateral political disarmament was never a serious option for them. Republicans will use every tool at their disposal, something the Democrats ought to keep in mind when they consider establishing new political precedents, as with the current boomlet in support of packing the Supreme Court — expanding the number of justices on the Court beyond the current nine and filling those bonus seats with reliable Democratic hacks on the model of Justices Kagan and Sotomayor — as soon as the opportunity presents itself.
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More than any other single political event — including the Watergate scandal — the dishonest and morally indefensible attack on Robert Bork led by Teddy Kennedy and Joe Biden created the rancorous procedural and political maximalism that defines life in Washington today. Senators Kennedy and Biden — the guilty, sodden conscience of the Democratic party and its second-rate brain, respectively — did more than any two elected leaders in modern American history to cheapen consensus, render compromise unprofitable, and derail long-term cooperation between the major national political parties and, more important, between the two dominant American political tendencies for which they stand. This is Joe Biden’s America, and its politics are crippled.
Republicans, of course, are driven by the same self-interest that drives any ordinary politician, and unilateral political disarmament was never a serious option for them. Republicans will use every tool at their disposal, something the Democrats ought to keep in mind when they consider establishing new political precedents, as with the current boomlet in support of packing the Supreme Court — expanding the number of justices on the Court beyond the current nine and filling those bonus seats with reliable Democratic hacks on the model of Justices Kagan and Sotomayor — as soon as the opportunity presents itself.
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Police Arrested a Black Teen Who Was Reportedly Selling Water Outside the Philadelphia Zoo
A video depicting the arrest of a black teenager outside the Philadelphia Zoo on Thursday, July 5, has gone viral, with many people questioning the police officers' behavior, as well as the reasoning behind the arrest.
The clip, which has been shared many times on both Facebook and Twitter, shows an exchange between the teen and a Philadelphia police officer who throws him to the ground before arresting him. In the background, a woman's voice yells "Don't do that! Don't do that!" A crowd gathers around them, including what appears to be two zoo employees arguing with one another. One of the employees is heard asking: "Is this what you want?"
Philadelphia Police Commissioner Richard Ross told local FOX affiliate WTXF that they are trying to "ascertain what prompted this whole incident," adding that they received reports of "kids running out into traffic" and selling water in the street.
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The clip, which has been shared many times on both Facebook and Twitter, shows an exchange between the teen and a Philadelphia police officer who throws him to the ground before arresting him. In the background, a woman's voice yells "Don't do that! Don't do that!" A crowd gathers around them, including what appears to be two zoo employees arguing with one another. One of the employees is heard asking: "Is this what you want?"
Philadelphia Police Commissioner Richard Ross told local FOX affiliate WTXF that they are trying to "ascertain what prompted this whole incident," adding that they received reports of "kids running out into traffic" and selling water in the street.
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