September 2020 – Page 4

Arpaio announces Arizona Senate bid

Posted on September 27, 2020 by bamdj

Controversial former Arizona county Sheriff Joe Arpaio announced Tuesday that he will run for Senate, a decision that casts further uncertainty into the state’s GOP Senate primary.

Arpaio gained popularity among immigration hardliners during his time as Maricopa County sheriff, representing the Phoenix area, proudly calling himself “America’s toughest sheriff” and touting a strict approach to border security.

Some of his tactics opened him up to criticisms and allegations of racial profiling and mistreating prisoners. President TrumpDonald John TrumpSenate advances public lands bill in late-night vote Warren, Democrats urge Trump to back down from veto threat over changing Confederate-named bases Esper orders ‘After Action Review’ of National Guard’s role in protests MORE pardoned Arpaio last year after he was convicted of ignoring a court order related to racial profiling in his division.

The sheriff, who lost his elected sheriff’s office last year after more than two decades has long floated bids for higher office. But he announced on Twitter he would run for Senate “to support the agenda and policies of President Donald Trump.” If he wins the seat, Arpaio would be 86-years-old by the time he took office.

The statement came shortly after the publication of an interview with Washington Examiner, where Arpaio explained his reasoning for running to replace retiring Sen. Jeff FlakeJeffrey (Jeff) Lane FlakeGOP lawmakers stick to Trump amid new criticism Kelly holds double-digit lead over McSally in Arizona: poll Trump asserts his power over Republicans MORE (R-Ariz.).

“I have a lot to offer. I’m a big supporter of President Trump,” he told the paper.

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“I’m going to have to work hard; you don’t take anything for granted. But I would not being doing this if I thought that I could not win. I’m not here to get my name in the paper, I get that every day, anyway,” he said.

Arpaio has not yet filed an official statement of candidacy with the Federal Election Commission — he has two weeks to do so by law. Arpaio has flirted with bids for higher office before, only to not run. But his campaign website tells supporters that he is running, and has already begun accepting campaign cash under the laws for Senate candidates

Arpaio’s announcement will be met by trepidation among establishment Republicans who have asserted after last month’s defeat in Alabama, where the party rallied around a candidate accused of sexual molestation of a teenage girl, that Republicans should not nominate controversial candidates.

Arpaio’s many controversial actions as sheriff included the use of an outdoor jail where he housed inmates in tents in the Arizona heat. A previous version of the sheriff’s office website touted that fact, noting that “all inmates … are subjected to the elements.”

He also played a major role in the movement questioning former President Obama’s birthplace, a conspiracy theory that Trump himself furthered until deep into his presidential bid.

He found himself in legal trouble last year after he violated a federal order related to a racial profiling case against him. But Trump pardoned Arpaio before he could face sentencing in a move that drew criticism from Republicans and Democrats alike.

Arpaio’s entry into the race complicates the calculus for former state Sen. Kelli Ward, who had been the only major candidate in the Republican primary.

Ward has been endorsed by former White House chief strategist Stephen Bannon. But her campaign took a hit last week when Bannon landed on the wrong side of a dramatic rebuke from Trump after a new book quoted Bannon disparaging Trump’s son as “unpatriotic” for taking a meeting with a Russian lawyer during the campaign.

Now that her top backer has lost influence within the GOP, Ward faces the prospect of a crowded anti-establishment lane.

The Republican establishment had already proven wary of Ward. The Senate Leadership Fund, the super PAC aligned with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnellAddison (Mitch) Mitchell McConnellSenate advances public lands bill in late-night vote GOP senator to try to reverse requirement that Pentagon remove Confederate names from bases No, ‘blue states’ do not bail out ‘red states’ MORE (R-Ky.), has repeatedly criticized her candidacy in the past. The group did not comment on Arpaio’s entrance.

Republican Rep. Martha McSallyMartha Elizabeth McSallyGOP senators introduce resolution opposing calls to defund the police No evidence of unauthorized data transfers by top Chinese drone manufacturer: study Senate Democratic campaign arm launches online hub ahead of November MORE (R-Ariz.) is also expected to jump in soon but has not made a formal announcement. She could stand to benefit from Ward and Arpaio’s similar constituencies if the candidates split each other’s votes.

But Arpaio would also be an opponent with strong name identification and the unofficial imprimatur of Trump through his pardon.

The winner of the GOP primary will likely face Rep. Kyrsten Sinema (D-Ariz.), who is the heavy favorite in the Democratic primary.

Trump won the state by 4 points in 2016 despite a quixotic push by Democrats to win Arizona. While Democrats are emboldened by Trump’s low approval ratings and a significant Democratic lead on the generic ballot, Arizona has not elected a Democratic senator since 1988.

Missouri GOP Senate candidate criticized for comparing female Dems to Disney villains

Posted on September 27, 2020 by bamdj

A Missouri GOP Senate candidate is defending a controversial Facebook post in which he compared female Democrats to villains from Disney movies.

Courtland Skyes, who is running in this year’s Republican primary to challenge Sen. Claire McCaskillClaire Conner McCaskillMissouri county issues travel advisory for Lake of the Ozarks after Memorial Day parties Senate faces protracted floor fight over judges amid pandemic safety concerns Amash on eyeing presidential bid: ‘Millions of Americans’ want someone other than Trump, Biden MORE (D-Mo.), posted a photo Sunday that compares McCaskill to Ursula from “The Little Mermaid” and Hillary ClintonHillary Diane Rodham ClintonWhite House accuses Biden of pushing ‘conspiracy theories’ with Trump election claim Biden courts younger voters — who have been a weakness Trayvon Martin’s mother Sybrina Fulton qualifies to run for county commissioner in Florida MORE to Maleficent from “Sleeping Beauty.” The photo also compares Sen. Elizabeth WarrenElizabeth WarrenWarren, Democrats urge Trump to back down from veto threat over changing Confederate-named bases OVERNIGHT DEFENSE: Joint Chiefs chairman says he regrets participating in Trump photo-op | GOP senators back Joint Chiefs chairman who voiced regret over Trump photo-op | Senate panel approves 0B defense policy bill Trump on collision course with Congress over bases with Confederate names MORE (D-Mass.) to Maleficent in the form of a dragon.

The post is captioned, “Democrats dressing for the jobs they want.”

Hundreds of commenters hit back at Sykes’s post, calling it “bullying” and “inappropriate” and saying he should be “ashamed” of it.

“I would show the GOP but it’s hard to draw pond scum,” wrote one commenter.

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“Spoken by a true misogynistic Neanderthal,” wrote another. “Strong women must really threaten you.”

As of publication, the post had garnered 514 shares and 726 comments on Facebook, significantly more than other posts on his page.

Sykes defended the post to Missouri’s Springfield News-Leader, saying it is comparable to Democrats’ criticism of GOP women like presidential adviser Kellyanne ConwayKellyanne Elizabeth ConwayGeorge Conway group hits Ernst in new ad George Conway group contrasts Trump, Eisenhower in battleground states ad Sunday shows preview: Protests against George Floyd’s death, police brutality rock the nation for a second week MORE, press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders and first lady Melania TrumpMelania TrumpTrump was rushed to White House bunker due to breach of temporary barricades: report The Memo: Nation nears a breaking point Washington archbishop criticizes Trump visit to Catholic shrine MORE.

“After seeing the way Democrats have attacked strong Conservative women like Conway, Sarah Huckabee Sanders and our First Lady, our campaign rightfully pointed out that Democrats are acting [and dressing] like Disney villains,” Sykes said in a statement. “If Democrats like Claire McCaskill don’t want to be compared to Disney villains then they should stop emulating them.”

Sykes will face off against several other GOP candidates in the state’s August primary, including state attorney general Josh Hawley, who is considered the favorite for the nomination.

Koch-backed group launches ads against red-state Dems who opposed tax bill

Posted on September 27, 2020 by bamdj

The fiscally conservative advocacy group Americans For Prosperity (AFP) on Thursday will launch a $4 million television and digital ad campaign hitting Sens. Joe DonnellyJoseph (Joe) Simon DonnellyEx-Sen. Joe Donnelly endorses Biden Lobbying world 70 former senators propose bipartisan caucus for incumbents MORE (D-Ind.) and Claire McCaskillClaire Conner McCaskillMissouri county issues travel advisory for Lake of the Ozarks after Memorial Day parties Senate faces protracted floor fight over judges amid pandemic safety concerns Amash on eyeing presidential bid: ‘Millions of Americans’ want someone other than Trump, Biden MORE (D-Mo.) for voting against the GOP’s tax overhaul.

Donnelly and McCaskill are both up for reelection in states President TrumpDonald John TrumpSenate advances public lands bill in late-night vote Warren, Democrats urge Trump to back down from veto threat over changing Confederate-named bases Esper orders ‘After Action Review’ of National Guard’s role in protests MORE won easily in 2016. Trump carried Missouri by nearly 20 points and won Indiana by about 19.

Republicans had been hopeful that a few red-state Democrats in the Senate would join them in supporting the tax overhaul, which was passed into law in December, but none did.

At the time, the tax bill was enormously unpopular. Recent polling, however, has shown voters warming to the law. Republicans are vowing to sell the tax overhaul to the public and run on the issue ahead of what is expected to be a difficult midterm election cycle for the GOP in 2018.

The AFP ads claim that tax reform has led to booming economies in Missouri and Indiana but that McCaskill and Donnelly put partisan politics over helping their constituents by voting against it.

“Tax reform is sweeping across Indiana,” the ad targeting Donnelly states. “Small businesses are growing. Paychecks are going up. Families are saving more for what matters. Hoosier pride is back. Sen. Joe Donnelly said he’d support tax cuts for hardworking Hoosiers, but when he had the chance he said ‘no,’ voting against tax cuts for you, standing with [Senate Majority Leader Charles] Schumer [D-N.Y.] and [House Minority Leader] Nancy PelosiNancy PelosiTrump on collision course with Congress over bases with Confederate names Black lawmakers unveil bill to remove Confederate statues from Capitol Pelosi: Georgia primary ‘disgrace’ could preview an election debacle in November MORE [D-Calif.] instead of us. Tell Sen. Donnelly to put Hoosier jobs first.”

The ad targeting McCaskill features an almost identical statement.

Reps. Todd RokitaTheodore (Todd) Edward RokitaBottom Line Lobbying world Female Dems see double standard in Klobuchar accusations MORE (R-Ind.) and Luke MesserAllen (Luke) Lucas MesserK Street giants scoop up coveted ex-lawmakers Yoder, Messer land on K Street House GOP to force members to give up leadership positions if running for higher office MORE (R-Ind.) are running in the GOP primary for the right to challenge Donnelly in November.

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Missouri Attorney General Josh Hawley is the favorite to win the GOP primary in that state, although Austin Petersen, a former Libertarian presidential candidate, is also running for the nomination there.

AFP, which is backed by billionaire Republican donors Charles and David Koch, will spend $20 million ahead of the 2018 primary elections to tout the Republican tax bill and draw attention to those up for reelection who voted against it.

“Joe Donnelly and Claire McCaskill promised tax reform for years but chose partisan politics over Indiana and Missouri families when they had a once-in-a-generation opportunity to provide tax relief,” AFP president Tim Phillips said in a statement. “Americans deserve better, which is why AFP is committed to ensuring citizens see the pro-growth benefits of tax reform despite dismissals and deception from ‘no’ votes like Donnelly and McCaskill.”

A spokesperson for Donnelly noted that he voted to make the Bush tax cuts permanent and that he has spoken with President Trump about a bill that would create tax incentives for companies that move jobs from overseas to rural American areas.

“Joe tried time and again to work with Republicans to craft a tax bill that overwhelmingly helps working families and encourages companies to bring jobs back from foreign countries, but when Republicans crafted a purely partisan bill that does neither, Joe stood up for Indiana,” said communications director Will Baskin-Gerwitz. “Special interest ads from the out-of-state billionaires who wanted this legislation won’t change the fact that the McConnell tax plan will ultimately raise taxes on middle class families to fund new tax breaks for people like the Kochs and the rest of the one percent who’ll make millions more in profits.”

Report: Trump Continues to Profit Lavishly From Golf Club Membership Fees

Posted on September 27, 2020 by bamdj

As the Trump White House faces numerous lawsuits over potential conflicts of interest stemming from the president’s refusal to separate himself from his business empire, a new analysis shows that Trump continues to profit lavishly from memberships at his many golf clubs.

“I don’t think we have anything to compare this to in presidential history. He is refusing to acknowledge that the office is bigger than his business.”
—John Wonderlich, Sunlight Foundation

Typically, as McClatchy notes in a new report, golf club membership fees “take the form of refundable deposits.”

But Trump “put in place unusual policies that allowed him to keep the high one-time fees charged to new members and put language in his club rules that allowed him to spend the money on anything he wanted,” McClatchy‘s Anita Kumar writes.

Now, each time someone joins one of his clubs, Trump himself pockets the fee.

Kumar continues:

Throughout his short tenure in the White House, Trump has frequently visited his many clubs, trips critics have characterized as attempts to bolster his business profile.

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“It isn’t in poor taste, and it isn’t political opportunism—it’s the goddamn point.”

That’s what Jon Pavlovitz, a pastor from North Carolina, writes regarding the importance of talking about the recently-announced cancer diagnosis of Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.)—which he calls “tragic” and “horrific”—in the midst of a raging national debate over healthcare.

“The personal hell that John McCain and his loved ones are walking through right now is the point of it all. These moments are precisely what we’re talking about, arguing about, screaming about: The atomic bomb of grief that gets dropped on your family when you get the test results and your planet is altered forever.” —Pastor John PavlovitzOn Thursday, McCain’s doctors confirmed the 80-year-old senator and former presidential nominee had been diagnosed with an aggressive and malignant form of brain cancer. In the wake of the news there was an outpouring of support and well-wishes from across the political spectrum aimed at the senator and his family.

With the Republicans still aiming to ram some version of their Trumpcare proposal through the Senate this week—and as the popular opposition vows vigilance to thwart those efforts—Pavlovitz argues its disingenuous for people to argue that McCain’s illness should be off limits politically.

“The personal hell that John McCain and his loved ones are walking through right now is the point of it all,” the pastor wrote Thursday in a blog post that started to go viral over the weekend. “These moments are precisely what we’re talking about, arguing about, screaming about: The atomic bomb of grief that gets dropped on your family when you get the test results and your planet is altered forever.”

While acknowledging that McCain is one of the nation’s most recognizable political names and someone who holds a powerful position, Pavlovitz explains why his privilege and status exposes the inequality and shortcomings of a healthcare system that works for the haves, but not for the have nots.

He writes:

In a letter published in the Los Angeles Times on Sunday, reader Ed Sinderman stated: “I hope there’s a realization that if McCain had not been a privileged senator of the United States, he may have not had the proper medical attention that resulted in this unfortunate diagnosis and best possible outcome, whatever that may be. I do not intend to make a political issue out of McCain’s health, but his party needs to understand that its policies treat the lives of people like the senator much differently from less fortunate American citizens.”

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While the national debate continues, and as Republican Majority Leader Mitch McConnell makes “a last-ditch” attempt to navigate the minefield within his own party to get a bill through the Senate, a look at low-income Americans desperately lining up and waiting for hours to receive the most basic care provides a sharp indictment of a for-profit system that increasing numbers of people realize is both inhumane and beyond repair.

In recent days, a temporary free medical clinic set up in rural Virginia offered a brutal reminder about how people without access to health insurance or regular care remain victims to a healthcare system that leaves tens of millions Americans left out. As the Washington Post reported:

Dr. Paula Hill, clinical director of the Central Appalachia Health Wagon, which organizes the event, explained to the local Bristol Herald Courier that the health care provided at the RAM clinic is vital to those it serves. “These people need help,” Hill said. “There are people out there that work every day that do not have access to vision and dental care, even if they have insurance.”

Late Saturday night, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) shared the Post‘s article on the free clinic to his Facebook page and added this commentary:

And so, as Pavlovitz argues, talking about healthcare in the wake of the “terrible news” about Sen. McCain is not “disrespectful” or off the mark.

It’s the whole goddamn point.