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To the editor:

Bill Maher has long been a lonely voice of reason in American pop culture, a left-leaning but principled libertarian, and a victim himself of cancel culture from ABC back in 2002 before we even called it that.

Once again, he is that voice among a din of partisan hackery and coopted science," throwing elbows at both parties in a recent episode of Real Time (as "Politically Incorrect with Bill Maher" has been rebranded and known on HBO since 2002).

"When all of our sources for medical information have an agenda to spin us, yeah, you wind up with a badly misinformed population, including on the left," Maher told viewers. "Liberals often mock the Republican misinformation bubble, which is a real thing, but what about liberals? You know, the high-information, by-the-science people?"

So almost 70% of Democrats are wildly off on the fundamental question of how many cases of COVID lead to hospitalization; 1-5% is the correct answer; 28% of Democrats polled said 20-49%; 41% of Democrats think 50% or more cases of COVID lead to hospitalizations - a margin of error of 1,000%.

"(Democrats) also have a greatly exaggerated view of the danger of COVID to and the mortality rate among children, all of which explains why today the states with the highest share of schools that are still closed are all blue states," Maher continued. "So if the right-wing media bubble has to own things like climate change denial, shouldn't liberal media have to answer for, 'How did your audience wind up believing such bunch of crap about COVID?'"

Maher ended with a parting shot at the now far-left Atlantics constant beach-shaming "even though it's increasingly looking like the beach is the best place to avoid (COVID), and pointed out how Florida Gov. Rick DeSantis apparently reads books and got COVID right while the lionized Democrat governor of New York is taking time off from his victory lap book tour on COVID leadership to be federally investigated for malfeasance in managing the pandemic in his state.

So, just a friendly reminder to my fellow Americans: When politics go off the rails in America - and this is not the first time they have nor will it be the last - bend your ear toward us nominally partisan Libertarians and carry on.

Nick McNulty

Windham

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Read more:
Letter: Calling out the misinformed, on the right and left, about COVID-19 - Eagle-Tribune

INDIANAPOLIS -- Indiana's top elections official has acknowledged violating state political fundraising rules with the launch of her 2022 election campaign.

Republican Secretary of State Holli Sullivan requested contributions as she announced her campaign Monday - five days earlier than allowed under changes to state law signed by Gov. Eric Holcomb that day.

Sullivan, who was appointed secretary of state by Holcomb in March and is vice chair of the Indiana Republican Party, said she was seeking a full four-year term to 'defend the integrity of Indiana's elections.'

State law prohibits candidates for state offices from fundraising during the legislative sessions when the two-year state budget is drafted. Lawmakers extended their meeting deadline from the typical April 29 until November so they can return to approve new election districts.

'The Committee to Elect Holli Sullivan has determined that it made an improper solicitation of campaign funds,' Sullivan's campaign said in a statement. 'These public solicitations have been removed and all contributions have been returned.'

State Libertarian Party Chairman Evan McMahon said 'If you are vying to be elected to head the office that oversees elections and enforces campaign finance laws it would probably be a good idea to not break those laws."

See the article here:
Indiana's top elections official admits fundraising error - Chicago Daily Herald

Could Academy Award-winning actor Matthew McConaughey displace Republican Gov. Greg Abbotts bid in 2022 for a third four-year term?

According to a Dallas Morning News/University of Texas at Tyler poll taken April 6-13, in a choice between McConaughey, Abbott and an unnamed someone else, the actor got 45% to Abbotts 33%, with 22% for someone else.

Of the 1,126 poll respondents, 37% identified themselves as Republican, 30% as Democrats, and 33% with no party affiliation. The polls margin of error is plus or minus 2.92%.

Abbotts job approval rating was 50% among all respondents, with 36% disapproving and 15% saying neither.

McConaughey got the support of 66% of the Democrats against Abbott and a third party, 44% of independents, and 30% of Republicans.

The actor has said hed be a fool not to at least consider the possibility of running for governor of his home state.

But McConaughey has yet to say which partys banner hed run under, if any, describing himself as an aggressive centrist.

Im a Meet You in the Middle man, he told the Austin American-Statesman in March. He said no single party has exclusive ownership of various political issues and virtues.

Other interesting information turned up by the poll of Texans included that Democratic President Joe Biden has a 52-41 job approval rating.

On abortion, more than half of Texans oppose U.S. Supreme Court repeal of the 1973 landmark Roe v. Wade decision that largely left it to women to decide whether they want to carry a pregnancy to term. Opponents of repeal were 61%; 37% wanted it done away with.

House Bill 1927, to allow carrying a handgun in Texas without a permit or training, was passed 87-58 by the Texas House on April 16. But in the recent poll of Texans, 58% are against it, while 26% favor it.

The bill must pass the Senate before it can go to the governor for approval or disapproval.

But Senate presiding officer, Republican Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, has said the bill doesnt have enough votes to clear that body, and Abbott declined to say his attitude toward the bill until it reaches his desk.

Congress 6 replacement: The May 1 special election to fill the Congressional District 6 seat in southeast Tarrant County, including most of Arlington and Mansfield, and all of Ellis and Navarro counties south of Dallas County, has drawn 23 candidates.

The vacancy was due to the Feb. 7 death of Republican U.S. Rep. Ron Wright from COVID-19.

The 11 Republicans running include Wrights widow Susan, a longtime Republican Party activist, thought to be leading the pack a few weeks ago.

But another GOP candidate is state Rep. Jake Ellzey of Waxahachie, who won his Texas House seat last year after losing a Republican primary runoff to Wright in 2018.

Among the 10 Democratic contenders is Jana Sanchez, who won the 2018 Democratic primary runoff, but lost in November to Ron Wright.

There is also a Libertarian candidate and an Independent.

A runoff is expected, since none of the 23 candidates are likely to top the 50% necessary to avoid one.

The earliest date for which the runoff can be set by Gov. Greg Abbott is May 24.

The runoff winner will begin serving upon being declared, but will immediately face a crowded re-election battle.

Several of the losing candidates May 1 will probably likely just continue running for the 2022 election in the Republican district trending Democratic.

And, this is slated to be the once-a-decade redistricting of legislative and congressional districts.

The U.S. Census Bureau reported figures Monday of the 2020 U.S. headcount. Texas will pick up two new congressional districts from other states for the 2022 election year, due to population shifts. Texas is the only state to gain more than one.

That will boost the number of Texas districts from 36 to 38, which probably will scramble districts in urban areas.

Its entirely likely that some of the candidates may not live in District 6 after the redistricting, but thats OK.

To run for Congress, a candidate just has to be at least 25, a U. S. citizen and a resident of the state. Thats it.

In fact, the Fort Worth Star-Telegram checked candidate data, and found eight candidates four Democrats, three Republicans and the lone Libertarian dont reside within the districts boundaries.

But some did, or have worked in the district for years,

So, some with an eye on a seat in Congress: this might be an ending or a continuation or a beginning.

Let the political contests continue.

Dave McNeely is an Austin-based columnist who covers Texas politics. His column appears Thursday.

Originally posted here:
McNeely: McConaughey for governor? | Opinion | news-journal.com - Longview News-Journal

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Former President Donald Trump has endorsed fellow Republican Susan Wright in the crowded Saturday special election to replace her late husband, U.S. Rep. Ron Wright, R-Arlington.

The endorsement is a massive development in a race that features 11 Republicans, including at least two former Trump administration officials. A number of the GOP contenders have been closely aligning themselves with the former president.

"Susan Wright will be a terrific Congresswoman (TX-06) for the Great State of Texas," Trump said in a statement Monday. "She is the wife of the late Congressman Ron Wright, who has always been supportive of our America First Policies."

Wright, a member of the State Republican Executive Committee, said in a statement that she was "so proud to be the only candidate in this race President Trump trusts to be his ally in our fight to Make America Great Again."

The special election was triggered by Ron Wright's death in February after he was hospitalized with COVID-19. In addition to the 11 Republicans, Saturday's ballot includes 10 Democrats, one Libertarian and one independent.

Wright's Republican rivals include Brian Harrison, the chief of staff at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services under Trump, and Sery Kim, who worked at the Small Business Administration under the former president. There is also Dan Rodimer, the former pro wrestler who moved to Texas after an unsuccessful congressional campaign last year in Nevada that had Trump's support.

The candidates' efforts to show their loyalty to Trump has gotten so intense that a Trump spokesperson had to issue a statement last week clarifying that he had not yet gotten involved in the race.

Early voting for the special election started a week ago and ends Tuesday.

Read the original:
Susan Wright endorsed by Donald Trump in Texas congressional election - The Texas Tribune

The Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee voted Tuesday to cut $2.1 million from the 2021-22 higher education budget cuts designed to curb social justice programs at the states four-year public institutions.

The budget would earmark $313.1 million of state tax dollars for higher education. Gov. Brad Little requested $315.2 million.

Here are thumbnail reactions to the budget proposal:

Idaho Education News has also requested comment from Idaho State University, which is facing a $500,000 cut, and the Idaho Freedom Foundation, a libertarian-leaning group which has vocally decried social justice and diversity initiatives on state campuses.

Check back for updates.

Senior reporter and blogger Kevin Richert specializes in education politics and education policy. He has more than 30 years of experience in Idaho journalism. He is a frequent guest on KIVI 6 On Your Side; "Idaho Reports" on Idaho Public Television; and "Idaho Matters" on Boise State Public Radio. Follow Kevin on Twitter: @KevinRichert. He can be reached at [emailprotected]

Read the original post:
'The best budget we can hope for?' Higher ed budget reactions - Idaho EdNews