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Biden accuses Trump of trying to wish away Covid ahead of Wisconsin rally – live Biden accuses Trump of trying to wish away Covid ahead of Wisconsin rally – live
(32 minutes later)
Trump to hold Wisconsin rally despite Covid warnings while Biden seeks to overcome racist legacy of crime bill he backedTrump to hold Wisconsin rally despite Covid warnings while Biden seeks to overcome racist legacy of crime bill he backed
When Vernon Jones, a black Democratic state representative from Georgia, crossed party lines to deliver a passionate endorsement of the president’s re-election bid at the Republican convention, the GOP greeted him like a rock star. Now there’s evidence the label has gone to his head, writes Richard Luscombe.
In arguably the most ill-advised and dangerous crowdsurf since electro dance legend Steve Aoki broke a concert goer’s neck in a dinghy, a maskless Jones launched himself into a mostly maskless audience at Trump’s rally in Macon, Georgia, on Friday night.
Riding a sea of red Maga hats packed tightly together in contravention of CDC guidelines, the grinning 59-year-old lawmaker, in suit and tie and with thumbs raised, was passed overhead from deplorable to deplorable, to use a term for Trump supporters Jones used in a tweet defending the stunt.
“Yes, I surfed that crowd!” Jones said in a follow-up message. “To the haters – stay mad! You’ll be even more mad come 3 November.”
On social media, reaction was swift and brutal. One Twitter user dubbed Jones “Captain Covid” alongside a photograph of him in superhero pose. Others denounced him as an idiot and a loser, living in fairytale land.
Republicans hope Jones, who was first elected to the Georgia state house in 1992, can help shore up the black Republican vote in his state. Trump won Georgia from Hillary Clinton by more than five points in 2016, but recent polls show the president trailing Democratic challenger Joe Biden by almost one and a half points.
At the Republican convention in August, Jones tore into Democrats’ handling of race issues, as one of a number of first-night speakers of color to deliver a similar message.
“Why is a lifelong Democrat speaking at the Republican National Convention? The Democratic party does not want black people to leave their mental plantation. We’ve been forced to be there for decades and generations,” Jones said, in a controversial speech he later said he intended to be “a culture shock”.
Jones resigned his Georgia House seat in April, after first endorsing Trump. But he rescinded his decision days later, claiming he had received “overwhelming support”.
Donald Trump has responded on (where else) Twitter to criticism from Ben Sasse, a Republican senator for Nebraska. During a town hall of Wednesday, Sasse said the president “flirted with white supremacists”, “kisses dictators’ butts” and lambasted Trump for the “way he treats women and spends like a drunken sailor.”
“The least effective of our 53 Republican Senators, and a person who truly doesn’t have what it takes to be great, is Little Ben Sasse of Nebraska, a State which I have gladly done so much to help,” wrote the president on Saturday morning. He added: “Little Ben is a liability to the Republican Party, and an embarrassment to the Great State of Nebraska. Other than that, he’s just a wonderful guy!”
Sasse is one of an increasing number of Republicans critical of Trump as the election approaches – and the president trails in the polls. In an article for the Washington Post this week, Maryland’s Republican governor Larry Hogan said he had written in the name of Ronald Reagan on his mail-in ballot. “It’s not going to change the outcome in my state. But I thought it was important to just cast a vote that showed the kind of person I’d like to see in office,” said Hogan.
Both Sasse and Hogan are believed to be considering runs for the presidency in 2024. Their comments this week will allow them to claim they had always opposed Trump when they start their campaigns (of course, if Trump wins, that’s another story...)
There is something worse than Donald Trump’s takeover of the Republican party.There is something worse than Donald Trump’s takeover of the Republican party.
Yes, even worse than a party that doesn’t take seriously a pandemic that has killed more than 217,000 Americans. Worse than a party that doesn’t care about locking up children in cages at the border or separating them permanently from their parents. Worse than a party that celebrates a leader who was impeached for abusing overseas military aid as a tool to smear his political opponent.Yes, even worse than a party that doesn’t take seriously a pandemic that has killed more than 217,000 Americans. Worse than a party that doesn’t care about locking up children in cages at the border or separating them permanently from their parents. Worse than a party that celebrates a leader who was impeached for abusing overseas military aid as a tool to smear his political opponent.
What could be worse than Trump’s version of Republican politics? It’s the Trump-driven conversion of the Grand Old Party into a cult of unhinged conspiracy wingnuts.What could be worse than Trump’s version of Republican politics? It’s the Trump-driven conversion of the Grand Old Party into a cult of unhinged conspiracy wingnuts.
The QAnon cult is a bizarre world where everything makes sense of nonsense: where Trump is a savior of the nation’s children from a secret pedophile ring of satanic Democrats and deep state officials, who will be overthrown in some great awakening. And that’s the sane, simplified version of the story.The QAnon cult is a bizarre world where everything makes sense of nonsense: where Trump is a savior of the nation’s children from a secret pedophile ring of satanic Democrats and deep state officials, who will be overthrown in some great awakening. And that’s the sane, simplified version of the story.
It should be easier to condemn these fringe-heads than the white supremacists who form such a loyal base for this white supremacist president. But it isn’t. Because to the spiritual leader of the cult of Trump – Donald himself – there are no fringe-heads who think he’s a savior. They are all just very fine people.It should be easier to condemn these fringe-heads than the white supremacists who form such a loyal base for this white supremacist president. But it isn’t. Because to the spiritual leader of the cult of Trump – Donald himself – there are no fringe-heads who think he’s a savior. They are all just very fine people.
You can read the full article below:You can read the full article below:
With Covid-19 cases hitting record levels in the battleground state of Wisconsin on Friday (see the entry below for more), Joe Biden has attacked Donald Trump’s handling of the pandemic. The president is due to hold a rally in the state later today.With Covid-19 cases hitting record levels in the battleground state of Wisconsin on Friday (see the entry below for more), Joe Biden has attacked Donald Trump’s handling of the pandemic. The president is due to hold a rally in the state later today.
“Wisconsin is in the grips of one of the worst coronavirus outbreaks in the country,” said Biden after a record daily total of 3,861 cases were recorded in the state on Friday. “Jill and I are praying for the health of those who’ve contracted the virus, and for the families who are mourning the loss of a loved one. We have lost far too many lives to this pandemic – and the sad fact is, it didn’t have to be this way.“Wisconsin is in the grips of one of the worst coronavirus outbreaks in the country,” said Biden after a record daily total of 3,861 cases were recorded in the state on Friday. “Jill and I are praying for the health of those who’ve contracted the virus, and for the families who are mourning the loss of a loved one. We have lost far too many lives to this pandemic – and the sad fact is, it didn’t have to be this way.
“President Trump is knowingly downplaying the severity of the virus. At virtually every turn, he has panicked and tried to wish it away, rather than doing the hard work to get it under control. And today, 150,000 fewer Wisconsin workers are employed than when President Trump took office and his failed response to the pandemic has crushed Wisconsin’s economy.“President Trump is knowingly downplaying the severity of the virus. At virtually every turn, he has panicked and tried to wish it away, rather than doing the hard work to get it under control. And today, 150,000 fewer Wisconsin workers are employed than when President Trump took office and his failed response to the pandemic has crushed Wisconsin’s economy.
“If you send me to the White House, I’ll be ready to tackle this crisis on day one. My administration will trust the science, lead by example, speak the truth to the American people, and help Wisconsin families and small businesses build back better than before.”“If you send me to the White House, I’ll be ready to tackle this crisis on day one. My administration will trust the science, lead by example, speak the truth to the American people, and help Wisconsin families and small businesses build back better than before.”
Trump had planned to hold Saturday’s rally in La Crosse, but was forced to move the event to Janesville, about 175 miles away, where there are fewer cases of the virus, after objections from the local officials.Trump had planned to hold Saturday’s rally in La Crosse, but was forced to move the event to Janesville, about 175 miles away, where there are fewer cases of the virus, after objections from the local officials.
You can read about the spread of Covid-19 across the midwest below:You can read about the spread of Covid-19 across the midwest below:
According to a CNN analysis of Johns Hopkins University data, 10 US states recorded their highest-ever daily total of Covid-19 cases on Friday. Colorado, Idaho, Indiana, Minnesota, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, West Virginia, Wisconsin and Wyoming all had their highest daily totals since the start of the pandemic.According to a CNN analysis of Johns Hopkins University data, 10 US states recorded their highest-ever daily total of Covid-19 cases on Friday. Colorado, Idaho, Indiana, Minnesota, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, West Virginia, Wisconsin and Wyoming all had their highest daily totals since the start of the pandemic.
Wisconsin had the highest total of those 10 states, with 3,861 new cases on Friday. Wisconsin is considered a battleground state in the presidential election, with Joe Biden holding a lead of 7.5% over Donald Trump in the most recent poll. Trump is holding a rally in Janesville, Wisconsin, on Saturday night.Wisconsin had the highest total of those 10 states, with 3,861 new cases on Friday. Wisconsin is considered a battleground state in the presidential election, with Joe Biden holding a lead of 7.5% over Donald Trump in the most recent poll. Trump is holding a rally in Janesville, Wisconsin, on Saturday night.
“I want you all to be aware that Wisconsin is currently one of our red states,” the US surgeon general, Jerome Adams, said on Friday. “Meaning, your positivity rates are over 10% and going in the wrong direction. Cases are in the red, going in the wrong direction.”“I want you all to be aware that Wisconsin is currently one of our red states,” the US surgeon general, Jerome Adams, said on Friday. “Meaning, your positivity rates are over 10% and going in the wrong direction. Cases are in the red, going in the wrong direction.”
NBC’s Noah Pransky reports that mail-in voting in the swing state of Florida is very high, with 2.4m votes cast already and 19 days to go with the option still open.NBC’s Noah Pransky reports that mail-in voting in the swing state of Florida is very high, with 2.4m votes cast already and 19 days to go with the option still open.
During a campaign appearance on Friday, Trump joked he would fire Florida governor Ron DeSantis if he loses the state in the election.During a campaign appearance on Friday, Trump joked he would fire Florida governor Ron DeSantis if he loses the state in the election.
“He’s done a great job and he’s been my friend. Hey, Ron, are we going to win this state, please? You know if we don’t win it, I’m blaming the governor. I’ll fire him somehow. I’m going to fire him. I will find a way, anyway,” Trump said.“He’s done a great job and he’s been my friend. Hey, Ron, are we going to win this state, please? You know if we don’t win it, I’m blaming the governor. I’ll fire him somehow. I’m going to fire him. I will find a way, anyway,” Trump said.
You can keep up-to-date with which candidate is leading in all the battleground states with our poll tracker:You can keep up-to-date with which candidate is leading in all the battleground states with our poll tracker:
The Commission on Presidential Debates (CPD) has announced the six topics that will be covered in the debate between Donald Trump and Joe Biden in Tennessee next Thursday: “fighting Covid-19”, “American families”, “race in America”, “climate change”, “national security” and “leadership”.The Commission on Presidential Debates (CPD) has announced the six topics that will be covered in the debate between Donald Trump and Joe Biden in Tennessee next Thursday: “fighting Covid-19”, “American families”, “race in America”, “climate change”, “national security” and “leadership”.
The debate will take place at 9pm ET and will be moderated by NBC’s Kristen Welker. CPD has not announced any modifications to the format of the event, even though it said after the last debate that it would announce “additional structure … to the format of the remaining debates, to ensure a more orderly discussion of the issues”.The debate will take place at 9pm ET and will be moderated by NBC’s Kristen Welker. CPD has not announced any modifications to the format of the event, even though it said after the last debate that it would announce “additional structure … to the format of the remaining debates, to ensure a more orderly discussion of the issues”.
The first debate, which took place on 29 September, was largely seen as a chaotic rumble between Trump and Biden, criticized for its lack of substance.The first debate, which took place on 29 September, was largely seen as a chaotic rumble between Trump and Biden, criticized for its lack of substance.
Of course the debate line-up itself changed after Trump contracted Covid-19 and refused to participate in a virtual debate. The two opted for town halls instead.Of course the debate line-up itself changed after Trump contracted Covid-19 and refused to participate in a virtual debate. The two opted for town halls instead.
Of which:Of which:
It was a hug that would have shocked many, even in a year without social distancing: Dianne Feinstein, the top Democrat on the Senate judiciary committee, ending a contentious week of supreme court confirmation hearings with a full-body embrace of Lindsey Graham, the committee’s Republican chair.It was a hug that would have shocked many, even in a year without social distancing: Dianne Feinstein, the top Democrat on the Senate judiciary committee, ending a contentious week of supreme court confirmation hearings with a full-body embrace of Lindsey Graham, the committee’s Republican chair.
The act and her remarks about the hearings for Judge Amy Coney Barrett – “This has been one of the best set of hearings that I’ve participated in” – sparked calls among progressives for her retirement, and outcry that she had been in office for too long. Many of the California senator’s constituents and her more progressive Democratic colleagues have been arguing that for years.The act and her remarks about the hearings for Judge Amy Coney Barrett – “This has been one of the best set of hearings that I’ve participated in” – sparked calls among progressives for her retirement, and outcry that she had been in office for too long. Many of the California senator’s constituents and her more progressive Democratic colleagues have been arguing that for years.
“There have been a number of us in San Francisco that for a long time felt that, without taking away from what she has accomplished, it has gotten to a point where she is out of touch with where San Francisco is and where California is,” said David Campos, chair of the San Francisco Democratic party, not speaking on behalf of the organization.“There have been a number of us in San Francisco that for a long time felt that, without taking away from what she has accomplished, it has gotten to a point where she is out of touch with where San Francisco is and where California is,” said David Campos, chair of the San Francisco Democratic party, not speaking on behalf of the organization.
“She represents the past of San Francisco and California,” Campos continued. “It’s not surprising that at a time when we’re facing a crisis, when we have a rightwing supremacist being rushed through the supreme court, she’s not up to the task. And it’s not because of her age. It’s just because of who she is.”“She represents the past of San Francisco and California,” Campos continued. “It’s not surprising that at a time when we’re facing a crisis, when we have a rightwing supremacist being rushed through the supreme court, she’s not up to the task. And it’s not because of her age. It’s just because of who she is.”
Some highlights of the Associated Press’s reporting of some of the lowlights of Trump’s campaigning on Friday, in Florida, forever a key battleground state, and Georgia, until now a state any Republican candidate would have had a hard time imagining losing:Some highlights of the Associated Press’s reporting of some of the lowlights of Trump’s campaigning on Friday, in Florida, forever a key battleground state, and Georgia, until now a state any Republican candidate would have had a hard time imagining losing:
Of that accusation – as the Washington Post literary critic Carlos Lozada has so adroitly pointed out, Trump tends to project. The AP again, on a group with whom Trump needs to succeed, and which polling suggests is not buying what he’s selling:Of that accusation – as the Washington Post literary critic Carlos Lozada has so adroitly pointed out, Trump tends to project. The AP again, on a group with whom Trump needs to succeed, and which polling suggests is not buying what he’s selling:
Here, meanwhile, is Georgia senator David Perdue shamelessly bating a Trump crowd by pretending not to be able to pronounce Kamala Harris’s name, thereby upholding the august dignity of the matchless deliberative body in which they both serve with the sort of effortless gravitas which even Charles Sumner could never have hoped to match. Yes, you can’t type sarcasm, I know:Here, meanwhile, is Georgia senator David Perdue shamelessly bating a Trump crowd by pretending not to be able to pronounce Kamala Harris’s name, thereby upholding the august dignity of the matchless deliberative body in which they both serve with the sort of effortless gravitas which even Charles Sumner could never have hoped to match. Yes, you can’t type sarcasm, I know:
And here’s David Smith’s survey of the state of the race, again:And here’s David Smith’s survey of the state of the race, again:
… and welcome to another day of coverage of electoral politics and Covid crisis in America. The election is two weeks and two days away, and Joe Biden holds a decent lead over Donald Trump in most national polls and many polls in battleground states.… and welcome to another day of coverage of electoral politics and Covid crisis in America. The election is two weeks and two days away, and Joe Biden holds a decent lead over Donald Trump in most national polls and many polls in battleground states.
Trump is heading to no fewer than three such states today: Michigan, to deliver “remarks on Supporting the American Way of Life”; Wisconsin, for an evening rally in a Covid “red zone”; and then on to Nevada.Trump is heading to no fewer than three such states today: Michigan, to deliver “remarks on Supporting the American Way of Life”; Wisconsin, for an evening rally in a Covid “red zone”; and then on to Nevada.
Here’s Jo Walters on the Wisconsin trip:Here’s Jo Walters on the Wisconsin trip:
On Sunday, Biden will head for North Carolina, a state many think Trump has to win if he is to find a path to victory in the electoral college. Fivethirtyeight.com puts Biden up there, but only by 3.1%. Here’s David Smith’s survey of the situation:On Sunday, Biden will head for North Carolina, a state many think Trump has to win if he is to find a path to victory in the electoral college. Fivethirtyeight.com puts Biden up there, but only by 3.1%. Here’s David Smith’s survey of the situation:
In Covid news, on Friday the Johns Hopkins case count in the US passed 8m, with nearly 220,000 deaths, even as Dr Anthony Fauci, the most recognised public health expert in the country, said the White House task force is hardly meeting anymore – and while, as mentioned, Trump charges about the country, disregarding public health measures at campaign events though making sure attendees sign disclaimers lest they catch the bloody thing.In Covid news, on Friday the Johns Hopkins case count in the US passed 8m, with nearly 220,000 deaths, even as Dr Anthony Fauci, the most recognised public health expert in the country, said the White House task force is hardly meeting anymore – and while, as mentioned, Trump charges about the country, disregarding public health measures at campaign events though making sure attendees sign disclaimers lest they catch the bloody thing.
Here’s Lloyd Green’s review of Andrew Cuomo’s new book on the early days of the crisis, when the New York governor battled both virus and a hostile White House:Here’s Lloyd Green’s review of Andrew Cuomo’s new book on the early days of the crisis, when the New York governor battled both virus and a hostile White House:
More follows…More follows…