Sen. Elizabeth Warren and President Donald Trump (Photo: AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall and AP Photo/ Evan Vucci)
Senator Elizabeth Warren targeted President Donald Trump
during a campaign speech in Iowa on Sunday when she considered a run
against the sitting president and suggested that he "may not even be a
free person" in 2020. Warren, who officially announced her bid for
the Democratic presidential nomination on Saturday, made the remark at
the Veterans Memorial Building in Cedar Rapids in front of a crowd of
several hundred. The Massachusetts senator argued that Democrats
should resist the urge to respond to "a racist tweet, a hateful tweet,
something really dark and ugly" when choosing whether or not to spar
with Trump. “By the time we get to 2020, Donald Trump may not even
be president,” she continued. “In fact, he may not even be a free
person.”
When asked to clarify her statements, Warren pointed to the multiple open investigations
into the president, which includes the Russia probe by Special Counsel
Robert Mueller and two additional investigations led by federal
prosecutors in New York and Democrats who won back the majority in the
House of Representatives this past November. Warren's comments come after President Trump took a jab at her on Twitter shortly after she announced her presidential campaign. "Today
Elizabeth Warren, sometimes referred to by me as Pocahontas, joined the
race for President," he tweeted. "Will she run as our first Native
American presidential candidate, or has she decided that after 32 years,
this is not playing so well anymore? See you on the campaign TRAIL,
Liz!"
Gov. Gavin Newsom speaks at the California Legislative Black Caucus Martin Luther King Jr., Breakfast, in Sacramento, Calif.
(AP)
California Gov. Gavin Newsom is
slated to pull several hundred National Guard troops from the state’s
border with Mexico on Monday in an apparent rebuff to President Donald
Trump’s characterization of the region being under siege by Central American refugees and migrants, according to reports. The
move comes despite his predecessor’s agreement – along with other past
and current border state governors – to send troops to the border at the
Trump administration’s request. Former California Gov. Jerry Brown
originally approved the mission through the end of March, but qualified that the state’s troops “will not be enforcing federal immigration laws.” Newsom’s
plan will require the National Guard to immediately begin withdrawing
troops but still give it until the end of March to do so. According to
excerpts from his Tuesday State of the State address, he will call the
“border emergency” a “manufactured crisis,” and will say that
“California will not be part of this political theater.” Newsom's order will require around 110 National Guard troops to help the state prepare for its next wildfire season while
another 100 members will be deployed to focus specifically on combating
transnational crime, according to excerpts from his speech. A spokesman
for Newsom said his office will separately request federal funds for
the expansion of the state's counterdrug task force program, The Los Angeles Times reported. California
has repeatedly styled itself as the flagship resistance state to the
Trump administration’s policies. Newsom, who is just a month into his
governorship, has held up the state as an antidote to what he’s
characterized as a corrupt Washington, a message he will likely try to
convey in his State of the State speech on Tuesday.
At least one newspaper says it has dropped the syndicated cartoon "Non Sequitur" after a vulgar message to President Donald Trump appeared in it. The Butler Eagle in Pennsylvania
reported Sunday that the "shot at President Donald Trump" will cost
cartoonist Wiley Miller "his place in the Eagle's Sunday comics." A
scribbled message in one panel of that day's cartoon appears to begin
with "We fondly say go ..." followed by the message to Trump. Ron
Vodenichar, Eagle publisher and general manager, said in the paper that
the paper was alerted about the message by a reader and included a
syndicated comic strip. "Neither the Butler Eagle nor any other
newspaper that includes this strip had an opportunity to remove it even
if they had discovered it before distribution. We apologize that such a
disgusting trick was perpetuated on the reading public. The Butler Eagle
will discontinue that comic immediately," he said. The paper’s article was titled, “Lose Lips Sink Strips.” It's
not clear whether other publications have dropped the strip,
distributed by Andrews McMeel Syndication. The company's website says
"Non Sequitur" appears in more than 700 newspapers. Miller
appeared to acknowledge the message in a tweet that said "some of my
sharp-eyed readers have spotted a little Easter egg. ... Can you find
it?" Emails seeking comment from the Associated Press were left with the syndicate and with Miller.
Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., sparked backlash for her Israel tweets. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster, File)
Rep. Ilhan Omar,
D-Minn., sparked backlash Sunday evening from members of both parties
-- including former first daughter Chelsea Clinton -- after she accused a
prominent lobbying group of paying members of Congress to support Israel. Omar,
who became the first Somali-American woman elected to Congress in
November, responded to a Twitter post by journalist Glenn Greenwald
criticizing House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., for
threatening to take action against Omar and another freshman lawmaker,
Rashida Tlaib, D-Mich., over allegedly anti-Semitic remarks. "There’s
situations in our conference where a member does something that is
wrong — I think you’ve seen from my own actions that I take action about
it," McCarthy told reporters Friday, making an apparent reference to
Republican congressman Steve King of Iowa.
"I think when they stay silent, they are just as guilty ... I think
this will not be the end of this, and if they do not take action then I
think you will see action from myself. It’s unacceptable in this
country, especially when you sit back and think about and listen to what
this country went through in World War II." MCCARTHY ASKS DEMS TO DENOUNCE ALLEGED ANTI-SEMITIC REMARKS: 'THIS WILL NOT BE THE END OF THIS' Greenwald
accused McCarthy of targeting Omar and Tlaib for their numerous
criticisms of Israel, to which Omar chimed in "It's all about the
Benjamins, baby," quoting a 1997 rap song by Puff Daddy. She then
doubled down when challenged by Batya Ungar-Sargon, the opinion editor
of The Forward newspaper. "Would love to know who @IlhanMN thinks
is paying American politicians to be pro-Israel, though I think I can
guess," Ungar-Sargon tweeted. "Bad form, Congresswoman. That's the
second anti-Semitic trope you've tweeted." In response, Omar
tweeted "AIPAC!" referring to the American Israel Public Affairs
Committee, which regularly has been accused by progressives of agitating
for a conflict with Iran. "We are proud that we are engaged in
the democratic process to strengthen the US-Israel relationship," AIPAC
tweeted Sunday evening. "Our bipartisan efforts are reflective of
American values and interests. We will not be deterred in any way by
ill-informed and illegitimate attacks on this important work." Another freshman Democrat, Max Rose of New York, tweeted that Omar's statements "are deeply hurtful to Jews, including myself." "When
someone uses hateful and offensive tropes and words against people of
my faith, I will not be silent," Rose said in a statement. "... At a
time when anti-Semitic attacks are on the rise, our leaders should not
be invoking hurtful stereotypes and caricatures of Jewish people to
dismiss those who support Israel. In the Democratic Party - and in the
United States of America - we celebrate the diversity of our people, and
the Gods we pray to, as a strength. The congresswoman's statements do
not live up to that cherished ideal." JEWISH GROUPS CONDEMN REP. RASHIDA TLAIB OVER TIES TO RADICAL PRO-HEZBOLLAH, ANTI-ISRAEL ACTIVIST The
Republican Jewish Coalition called on House Speaker Nancy Pelosi,
D-Calif., to take action against Omar and asked rhetorically if other
House Democrats would "care to comment on the outrageous anti-Semitism
being spewed by one of your fêted members?" "[House Majority]
Leader [Steny] Hoyer [D-Md.] - you've led many AIPAC trips to Israel,"
RJC Executive Director Matt Brooks tweeted. "Will you speak out against
this??" McCarthy himself tweeted: "Anti-Semitic tropes have no
place in the halls of Congress. It is dangerous for Democrat leadership
to stay silent on this reckless language." Former U.S. Ambassador
to the United Nations Nikki Haley, who repeatedly accused the global
body of anti-Israel bias during her tenure, tweeted that Omar's
statements "CANNOT be tolerated in our own Congress by anyone of either
party. In a time of increased anti semitism, we all must be held to
account. No excuses." Chelsea Clinton tweeted: "We should expect
all elected officials, regardless of party, and all public figures to
not traffic in anti-Semitism." Left-wing historian and Politico
Magazine contributing editor Joshua Zeitz tweeted: "I'm one of those
American Jews who opposes the occupation [of the West Bank and Gaza
Strip], laments Israel's anti-democratic drift, and doesn't regard the
country as especially central to my Jewish identity. And I knew exactly
what the congresswoman meant. She might as well call us hook-nosed." Clinton
later promised that she would "reach out" to Omar Monday after another
user said she was "disappointed" that Clinton was "piling on." "I
would be happy to talk," Omar tweeted at Clinton in response. "We must
call out smears from the GOP and their allies. And I believe we can do
that without criticizing people for their faith. I look forward to
building an inclusive movement for justice with you." Sunday
marked the latest in a long line of statements by Omar that critics have
slammed as anti-Semitic. In 2012, she tweeted that "Israel has
hypnotized the world, may Allah awaken the people and help them see the
evil doings of Israel. #Gaza #Palestine#Israel.” She did not apologize
for posting the tweet until last month. In
January, Omar argued in a Yahoo! News interview that Israel could not
be considered a democracy and compared it to the Islamic theocracy in
Iran. "When I see Israel institute laws that recognize it as a
Jewish state and does not recognize the other religions that are living
in it, and we still uphold it as a democracy in the Middle East I almost
chuckle because I know that if we see that any other society we would
criticize it, call it out," she said. "We do that to Iran, we do that to
any other place that sort of upholds its religion. And I see that now
happening with Saudi Arabia and so I am aggravated, truly, in those
contradictions."
Supporters of U.S. border security make a human wall to
demonstrate their support for a border wall between the U.S. and Mexico,
at Sunland Park, N.M., Feb. 9, 2019. (Hericka Martinez/AFP/Getty
Images)
Just days after President Trump said his
administration was prepared to “build a Human Wall if necessary” to
protect the nation from illegal immigration, a group of his supporters
in New Mexico joined hands along the U.S.-Mexico border in support of
the construction of a border wall. Waving
American flags and holding handmade signs, advocates for tougher border
security formed a human shield along the partially fenced border at
Sunland Park, N.M., just across the line from Ciudad Juarez in Mexico's
Chihuahua state. AS BORDER WALL FUNDING DIVIDES WASHINGTON, NEW MULTIMILLION-DOLLAR BARRIER WILL SOON BREAK GROUND IN TEXAS
Supporters of U.S. border security make a human wall to
demonstrate their support for a border wall between the U.S. and Mexico,
at Sunland Park, N.M., Feb. 9, 2019. (Hericka Martinez/AFP/Getty
Images)
Trump cited “Tremendous numbers” of people entering
the U.S. through Mexico as the reason for his "human wall" pledge in a
Tuesday tweet. Last Sunday, the Pentagon announced nearly 4,000 additional active duty troops will be deployed
to the U.S.-Mexico border. Congress has wrangled over Trump's demand
for $5.7 billion to construct a border wall. The impasse led to a 35-day
partial government shutdown. Congress is reportedly nearing a deal that
would include far less money for the wall -- about $1.6 billion. But
whether Trump would accept the plan, which would also avoid another
government shutdown, is unknown. In January, Trump signed a resolution
to temporally reopen the government while lawmakers negotiate over
border security funding. He has said he may declare a national emergency
to avoid another shutdown when the resolution ends on Feb. 15.
Rob Lowe's tweet about Sen. Elizabeth Warren was not well-received by some in Hollywood. (Reuters)
Actor Rob Lowe removed a Twitter post that poked fun at U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren on Saturday out of concern that “some peeps got upset.” Earlier in the day, Lowe responded on the social media platform after the Massachusetts Democrat officially launched her 2020 presidential campaign with a kickoff event in Lawrence, Mass. “Elizabeth Warren
would bring a whole new meaning to Commander in ‘Chief,’” Lowe wrote in
the now-deleted post, in an apparent reference to the controversy over
Warren’s claims of Native American heritage.
But many social media users – including fellow Hollywood actors -- were not amused. “What a raw blow!” “Star Wars” star Mark Hamill wrote. “That’s not funny,” actor Vincent D’Onofrio added. “Don’t. Jesus,” “Hot in Cleveland” star Valerie Bertinelli chimed in. “Just
when I was liking Rob Lowe after his moving comments about being his
mom’s caretaker — he takes a page from Trump. Ick,” former NBC
correspondent Soledad O’Brien wrote. ROB LOWE DEFENDS PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE, CALLS CALIFORNIA COLLEGE'S INITIAL BAN 'IDIOCY' Other users defended Lowe. “Rob Lowe was just joking,” one user wrote.
“Everybody is so sensitive these days. Just a bunch of snowflakes!
#ElizabethWarren2020 is the person who lied about her race for votes.” "Rob Lowe has no f---ing rights," another commented. "he isn't protected under the constitution. i said what i said." Another
user retweeted the image of the State Bar of Texas registration card,
on which Warren had identified herself as “American Indian.” The senator recently apologized for claiming Native American ancestry on the 1986 card, hinting that other documents with a similar claim may exist. Ultimately, Lowe decided it was best to remove the post. "I
deleted my Elizabeth Warren tweet," he wrote. "It was a joke and some
peeps got upset, and that’s never my intention. On the GOOD side: I just
got to use the Oxford comma!"
Looking fairly normal, because the leftist media are now picking the photos of her acting less crazy.
But photos posted on the net never go away, especially the ones here and below.
The True Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez :-)
The Republican Party
has a secret weapon for 2020. It’s especially effective because it’s
stealthy: The Democrats seem oblivious to its power. And the GOP needn’t
lift a finger for it to work. All Republicans have to do is sit back
and watch 29-year-old Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez . . . exist. AOC,
as she’s better known, today exists largely in front of the cameras. In
a few months she’s gone from an unknown New York bartender to the
democratic socialist darling of the left and its media hordes. Her
megaphone is so loud that she rivals Speaker Nancy Pelosi as the face of
the Democratic Party. Republicans don’t know whether to applaud or laugh. Most do both. GREEN NEW DEAL: OCASIO-CORTEZ AIMS TO MAKE AIR TRAVEL OBSOLETE, AID THOSE ‘UNWILLING’ TO WORK
Ms. Ocasio-Cortez is a freight train gaining speed by the day—and helping Republicans with every passing minute.
For
them, what’s not to love? She’s set off a fratricidal war on the left,
with her chief of staff, Saikat Chakrabarti, this week slamming the
“radical conservatives” among the Democrats holding the party “hostage.”
She’s made friends with Jeremy Corbyn, leader of Britain’s Labour
Party, who has been accused of anti-Semitism. She’s called the American
system of wealth creation “immoral” and believes government has a duty
to provide “economic security” to people who are “unwilling to work.” As
a representative of New York, she’s making California look sensible. On
Thursday Ms. Ocasio-Cortez unveiled her vaunted Green New Deal,
complete with the details of how Democrats plan to reach climate nirvana
in a mere 10 years. It came in the form of a resolution, sponsored in
the Senate by Massachusetts’ Edward Markey, on which AOC is determined
to force a full House vote. That means every Democrat in Washington will
get to go on the record in favor of abolishing air travel, outlawing
steaks, forcing all American homeowners to retrofit their houses,
putting every miner, oil rigger, livestock rancher and gas-station
attendant out of a job, and spending trillions and trillions more tax
money. Oh, also for government-run health care, which is somehow a
prerequisite for a clean economy. Keep reading Kimberley Strassel's column in the Wall Street Journal.
Nearly 60 percent of African-Americans in Virginia want Gov. Ralph Northam to remain
in office despite the recent scandal surrounding a racist photo on the
Democrat's 1984 medical school yearbook page, according to a poll
released Saturday. The Washington Post-Schar School poll,
conducted Wednesday through Friday, found Virginia's broader population
to be split evenly about Northam’s fate, with 47 percent wanting him to
stay and the same percentage wanting him to resign. African-Americans, however, prefer that the Democrat remain in office, 58 percent to 37 percent. Whites are more evenly divided. The poll
also found that 11 percent of Virginia residents have either worn
blackface or known someone who has. Northam has denied that he is one of
two men shown on his yearbook page, backtracking an earlier admission.
The photo shows one person in blackface and the other dressed in a Ku
Klux Klan hood and robe. “Initially, I could have forgiven him,
and I think he could have gotten past it. It was something that was 35
years ago,” David Hughes, an African-American sheriff's deputy in
Newport News, told the Post. “What really bothered me was the change in story.” Hughes, 54, thinks the governor should resign. Louise
Butler, 76, of Richmond, grew up during segregation and was bothered by
the Klan costume, which she said brought back memories of violence and
discrimination directed at African-Americans before the Civil Rights
Movement. She told the paper she believed Northam was committed to racial equality despite whatever views he may have held in 1984.
This image shows Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam’s page in his 1984
Eastern Virginia Medical School yearbook. (Eastern Virginia Medical
School via AP)
“He’s been a good governor, and he’s been good, as far as I know, to black people,” Butler said. In an interview Saturday, Northam said he wants to heal the wounds that some feel after the racist photo emerged. "There
are still some very deep wounds in Virginia, and especially in the area
of equity. ... There are ongoing inequities to access to things like
education, health care, mortgages, capital, entrepreneurship," he
said. "And so this has been a real, I think, an awakening for Virginia.
It has really raised the level of awareness for racial issues in
Virginia. And so we’re ready to learn from our mistakes.” Other results from the poll revealed about a third of Virginians think Attorney General Mark Herring
should resign after he admitted to wearing blackface at a party in
college. Most residents are still undecided – 65 percent – on the future
of Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax, who is accused of sexual assault by two women. Fairfax denies the accusations. Respondents were not asked about the second allegation against him, that was made public Friday after the poll began.
This image shows Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam’s page in his 1984
Eastern Virginia Medical School yearbook. (Eastern Virginia Medical
School via AP)
