Mediaboss Marketing

One New Hampshire result is not in doubt: Donald Trump will win the Republican primary. His closest contender, Bill Weld, is polling in the single digits, even though he was once the governor of New Hampshires neighbor, Massachusetts. So it wasnt as much to campaign as to gloat that Trump held a rally in Manchester on Monday night, before about twelve thousand people. The arena was full; Trump congratulated his supporters in the front rows for waiting four days outside in the rain and snow to get in, and, while that was overstating it, the line had begun to form early Sunday morning and the weather was not good. (The Union Leader noted that some of the first arrivals were people from out of state, who follow Trump from rally to rally.) Trump is so sure of victory that, from the stage, he speculated about his supporters moseying over to the Democratic primary and engaging in a little bit of strategic votingjust to cause trouble.

You have crossovers in primaries, dont you? Trump said, referring to the option that allows voters in New Hampshire who are not registered as Democrats or Republicans to vote in either partys contest. So I hear a lot of Republicans tomorrow will vote for the weakest candidate possible of the Democrats. Does that make sense? You people wouldnt do that! He spread out his arms with a lopsided smile, like a salesman telling customers that people as discerning as they are dont need to hear about a special discount on the premium gold golf-vacation package, but hell mention it anyway. But there was a catch, Trump continued. My only problem is Im trying to figure who is their weakest candidateI think theyre all weak!

Strategic voting is always difficult to measure; the main point for Trump seemed to be the theatre of it all. Still, for another politician, it might have been an area to stay away from, given that Trump was just impeached and tried for actions in Ukraine that were aimed at undermining the campaign of Joe Biden, who, at the time, was the Democratic front-runner. But, then, earlier in the rally, Trump had denounced what he called the outrageous partisan impeachment hoax, and trumpeted his full, complete, and absolute total acquittal. (When he mentioned Mitt Romney, who voted in the Senate trial to convict him on one of the two articles of impeachment, the crowd jeered.) And, with regard to Biden, the math has changed, with his drop in the polls and his poor finish in Iowa. A recanvass has been requested in that state, where the results were delayed and now show a narrow lead for Pete Buttigieg in the delegate countthe traditional measure of an Iowa victorythough more people seem to have aligned with Bernie Sanders in the caucuses. But the mess couldnt conceal the fact that Biden appeared to have finished a distant fourth.

Trump rejoiced in that caucus chaos; he used the rally in Manchester to repeat what is becoming a standard Republican attack: The Democrat Party wants to run your health care, but they cant even run a caucus in Iowa! The caucuses became a punch line for Trump and an instrument for his interaction with the crowd, which is one of the elements of his rallies that draws people to them. Its now a week. Does anybody know who won Iowa? I dont knowhe scanned the audience, as if looking for a courier from Des Moinesbut maybe Rand or Lindsey knew. Senators Rand Paul, of Kentucky, and Lindsey Graham, of South Carolina, were both present and visible, and presumably standing by for Iowa-punditry duty, or any other task that Trump set before them. Rand! Does anybody know who won? Lindsey! Youre a total pro. Nobody knows! He said nobody. Flip a coin! Flip a coin!

The cameras caught a row of Republican elected officials standing, nodding, and laughing appreciatively. They included the House Minority Leader, Kevin McCarthy, and the congressmen Matt Gaetz, of Florida, and Mike Johnson, of Louisiana, who, as members of the House Judiciary Committee, had vehemently defended Trump in the impeachment hearings. (Last week, Trump, in his post-acquittal remarks, said that Gaetz had a great gene.) Graham and Paul, who were also prominent impeachment defenders, were Great guyswarriors! Theyre warriors! (Paul spent a lot of time trying to get the name of a person widely believed to be the Ukraine whistle-blower in front of the public, including by way of a poster that he set up on the Senate floor during his speech at the close of the trial.) And they and their Republican colleagues were my congressmen and senators. Another regular function of the rallies is to dole out favors and flattery and to establish Trumps dominance over the G.O.P.

But the President cannot resist trying to divide the Democrats and to sow uncertainty about the integrity of the elections more generally. And Iowa gave him an opening. Actually, I think theyre trying to take it away from Bernie again, Trump said, referring to lingering complaints among Sanders supporters about how delegates were apportioned in his narrow loss to Hillary Clinton in the 2016 Iowa caucuses, and to their continuing resentment about what they view as the Democratic Partys institutional resistance to him. Theyre doing it to you again, Bernie! Theyre doing it to you again!

The speech also included a dose of Trumpian digressions, including one about the coronavirus: Rough stuff, I tell you. Rough, rough stuff. But I think its going to work out good! He also reprised a signature of his 2016 rallies, by reciting the poem The Snake, meant as a parable of the insidious destruction wrought by migrantsa reminder that, with regard to immigration, in particular, this relection campaign will only get uglier. And there was praise for the border wall, which Trump framed in oddly Luddite terms: With all the modern technology, all of the new computers, the new genius, the new everything, cyber this, cyber that, two things never change, right? A wheel, and a wall. And, he added, its a high wall.

But, throughout, he kept returning to the Democrats. As we keep on winning, Washington Democrats keep on losing their minds. Theyre crazy! Trump said. He had opened the rally with an attack on Nancy Pelosi, who, as Speaker of the House, sat behind him during last weeks State of the Union address, and tore up her copy of the speech when it had ended. Had the crowd watched the State of the Union, he asked? I had somebody behind me who was mumbling terribly. Mumbling. Mumbling! Hoowah, hoowah, ho hah! Some people in the crowd began chanting Lock her up! Lock her up! Trump, appearing to hear them, gave a thumbs-up, and more voices joined in. The chant has become an all-purpose response to women whom Trump doesnt like. As it died down, he added, Im speaking, and a woman is mumbling terribly behind me. Angry. There was a little anger back there. Were the ones who should be angry!

As the speech went on, he reminded his supporters of what should make them angry: immigrants, impeachment, socialism, and Washington. That swamp is a dirty swamp! Trump said, adding, You have some really evil, dirty, horrible people. In contrast, We will defend privacy, free speech, religious liberty, and the right to-o-o... he stretched the word out, prompting the crowd.

Bear arms! they answered.

Trump confirmed that this was the reply he was looking for, and warned the crowd, Theyre going to take away everything. Theyre going to take away your wealth. Theyre going to take away your guns. Theyre going to take away everything. His supporters booed loudly. It seemed that they didnt want the Democrats to take away this moment, or their President.

See the election results from the New Hampshire primary.

The New Hampshire results signal a long nationwide Democratic battle. The Partys candidates will almost certainly have to grind it out until early June, when the final primaries will take place.

This victory here is the beginning of the end for Donald Trump! Bernie Sanders said, at a primary-night party in New Hampshire.

Bernie Sanders won the New Hampshire primary, but his performance was not as impressive as it was in 2016.

In New Hampshire, Sanders and Warren promise bold, fundamental change. But they struggle to conjure a vision of America that aggressively counters Trumps.

After a disappointing fourth-place finish in Iowa, Joe Biden is struggling in New Hampshire.

Read the rest here:
Ahead of the New Hampshire Primary, Trump Tries to Make Trouble for the Democrats - The New Yorker

Glenn Jacobs has played everything from a demented dentist to the devils favorite demon. In 2018, the WWE superstar known to fans as Kane went from navigating the shark-infested waters of pro wrestling to the political ring, becoming mayor of Knox County, Tenn. The unexpected career turn is part of a memorable journey for the 52-year-old told in his new book Mayor Kane: My Life in Wrestling and Politics, which is available starting Tuesday, Nov. 26.

It came full circle, Jacobs said of going from wrestler to elected official. If you told me in 1995 that Id be in an office overlooking the Knoxville Civic Coliseum, Id look at you like you were nuts...I hope the book is an entertaining read for people because you have the crossover between my wrestling career and the political stuff. I was around and very much part of the Attitude Era, so a lot of what people talk about I saw up close and part of it. That part is a great story I can tell.

The author admits to not being nostalgic or sentimental. Jacobs doesnt take many photos or keep a diary from his 30 years of travels around the world. Thankfully, he does have a good memory.

Part of my process was going, I think this will be a good story. Also, I remember telling someone a story, and I dont think its a really big deal. Then they think its really entertaining. So its about putting all that stuff together, Jacobs said. Id call people and basically go, Hey, who was here? Where were we exactly? I can remember the big picture stuff, but I sometimes didnt know the details. Then there are certain things that stick out in your mind that you know everything about it. When people mention an event, I can say that was such and such show at such and such arena. I did have to go through what I wanted to say.

In some cases Id have to go back and talk to some people who were there to jog my memory. Then there was the case I was talking to a friend of mind asking why I didnt put a certain thing in the book. I said, Well if I did,it would be a thousand pages. It was about what goes with the flow of the story of what is really important and doing it in a way that is entertaining and concise as possible. There is a lot of stuff I didnt put in it that I wish I could. Maybe that will be used for another time.

Representing the political and WWE worlds, Jacobs enlisted The Undertaker and Senator Rand Paul to write forwards to the book. He was honored to have them accept, especially his onscreen brother who he shares so much history with.

I can pretty much guarantee that this will be the only time in history The Undertaker and Rand Paul write a forward for the same book, Jacobs said. I asked Mark [Calaway] (Undertaker) to do it, and he said he would be honored as well. It blew my mind. Of course, asking Senator Paul was much of the same. Mark has meant so much to my career and to me personally. That was not even a question that I would ask him to do it.

Ultimately, its the final couple of chapters Jacobs hopes resonate. Ones that can spark thoughts, conversation and some inspiration.

Its not designed to be a motivational book, but Ive been incredibly fortunate and blessed. Im not especially unique. I might have a different skill set than most folks do. The fact that someone like me can have the opportunities Ive had in my life. If I can do it, anyone can do it, Jacobs said.

To me, the American Dream is creating the life that you want to live. Thats what Im most proud of. I want someone who reads it to see applicability in their own life and in their own way know they achieve what they want to achieve.

A part of the book sure to get chatter focuses on President Donald Trump. Jacobs felt it was necessary to include the polarizing and often controversial figure for a number of reasons. And not necessarily for the WWE Hall of Famer himself.

Unfortunately, politics are so divisive and polarized in our country. Nevertheless that is the field Im in and have to offer an opinion on that, he said. The most important thing to me about Trump is the fact that he was not an establishment person. I think whether you love Trump or hate Trump, we need a lot more people who are not politicians in politics.

I hope that is the thing people take from that chapter is the fact career politicians are ruining America and have ruined America. We need a lot more people that dont come from that background. That dont want to get in office and stay in office their whole life. They want to get in, do a good job and go home. I do realize with the divisiveness that we see now, some people are going to read that chapter and say, I disagree. Thats the risk you take.

Jacobs stresses not discounting local politics. Whether republican, democrat or independent, he believes all need to collaborate on solutions because people are expecting results.

We see the folks on TV, and Im just like everyone else. Im tired and disillusioned at the dysfunction of Washington D.C. And its not one faction or party that has caused that. We can do a lot of things at a local level, Jacobs said.

Thats the beauty of state and local politics is that kind of political component, even though it is politics, that blatant divisiveness because of the political component is not nearly as overwhelming as national politics.

Jacobs follows in a line of pro wrestlers who have gone into public office. Names like Jesse Ventura, B. Brian Blair and Matt Morgan. When it comes to who the mayor thinks would do well next in politics, he doesnt want to venture a guess. Though for Jacobs there are a lot of smart folks in the locker room who, Jacobs feels has good characteristics for it.

They do great things for the community, he said. Titus ONeil in Tampa is doing wonderful things. Mark Henry does a lot of good stuff. John Cena, we know the work he has done with Make-A-Wish and other things. He can do whatever he wants because he is so talented and a good guy. I think there are a lot of people in the locker room that if they decided this was what they wanted to do, theyd be successful at it.

Jacobs may not be on Raw or SmackDown each week, he hasnt ruled out Big Red Machine appearances from time to time. However, if the former WWE world champion decided to walk out for a match one final time, he wouldnt want to do it alone.

Even though Undertaker and I had a match with DX that has never happened before, it would be great to reunite the Brothers of Destruction, he said. That is always so special. That would be for me the ultimate thing.

Jacobs documents the evolution of Kane in the book. A character which made him a top performer in WWE and evolved in many ways since his debut in 1997. Since then, these types of personas have become few and far between. Though Jacobs considers himself a fan just like he when he was searching to realize his own dream.

It has become harder because there is so much more content and exposure demanded. We look at the internet and social media and all the different platforms we are competing against. One of the things that frustrated me is that we move so quickly sometimes it felt like you werent getting the depth of the storyline because you just had to put stuff out and things would get lost. Thats the nature of the business, Jacobs said.

...You look at a guy like Bray Wyatt who has done a phenomenal job. That character has really taken off. Its difficult. I think its harder than ever to get into that kind of patient story-telling. Its unfortunate evolution of the business. But I think what Bray Wyatt shows is that we have a performer who can do it and given the opportunity, its still something that strikes a cord with people.

"To me, thats one of the best parts of the wrestling business is the stories. Sometimes they get sacrificed a little bit to keep the machine going. So its nice to see a guy like Bray have that opportunity to really get over as a character in a unique storyline.

Mayor Kane: My Life in Wrestling and Politics is available Tuesday, November 26

See the rest here:
Glenn Jacobs on Writing 'Mayor Kane' and Transitioning From WWE to Politics - TVInsider

In early October, President Donald Trump made the decision to remove troops from the Syrian and Turkish border, leaving behind our allies, the Kurdish Peoples Protection Units, or Y.P.G., in the process.

For those of you who do not know, according to USA Today, the Kurdish people are the largest ethnic minority (25-40 million people) who do not have their own autonomous state. Instead, they straddle a territory that sits in Armenia, Iran, Iraq, Turkey and Syria. According to The Kurdish Project and the GQ, the Kurdish people became the U.S. allies during the war in Iraq and have been our allies since then. Turkey, on the other hand, has been an ally to the U.S. since the beginning of The North Atlantic Treaty Organization, otherwise known as NATO.

Turkey and their president Tayyip Erdogan see the Y.P.G.as a terrorist group, and balancing being allies with Turkey through NATO and being allies with the Y.P.G has been difficult. Now people are questioning if Turkey is still a U.S. ally because according to The New York Times article and a video by CNN, Turkey attacked the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), the Kurdish forces, and our allies.

Turkey and the Kurdish people have a tumultuous relationship. To simplify it, the Kurdish Workers Party, also known as the P.K.K. launched a violent separatist movement in Turkey during the early 1980s. According to The New York Times, the P.K.K. is considered a terrorist group by both Turkey and the United States. Across the Syrian border is the militia known as the Y.P.G; they are also fighting to form an autonomous state for the Kurds, but the Y.P.G. are U.S. allies. However, being allies with the Y.P.G. is very complicated as they have deep ties with the P.K.K.

Now, why did President Trump decide to pull troops from the Syrian and Turkish border? According to the GQ, last December President Trump claimed that the U.S. had accomplished its goal of defeating ISIL (also known as ISIS) in Syria and that was the only reason we are there. And since then the Turkish President Erdogan has been lobbying the Trump administration to remove soldiers from the border so that he could push Turkish forces further into Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) territory. President Trump has tweeted that we have not abandoned the Kurds while we are removing our troops from Syria and that Turkey understands that while we may not be there, any unforced or unnecessary fighting by Turkey will be devastating to their economy and their very fragile currency.

Consequences of removing troops from the Turkish/Syrian border are already being felt. As stated before, according to The New York Times article and a CNN video, Turkey has already attacked a U.S. ally in Syria. Turkey has set out to clear out a Kurdish-led militia, the SDF, that controls about a third of the country. And The New York Times is saying that it looks like President Trump doesnt seem to care. It would be a direct contrast to the statement from earlier that President Trump put on his twitter. There was also the huge amount of backlash faced, not just from democrats but from republicans as well.

According to Politico, a political opinion-based company, republicans ripped into President Trump. Senator Lindsey Graham told Vice President Pence that he was personally offended to read the decision in the news instead of hearing from the President or his aids. Also, that were going to hold this administration accountable for this decision; if Obama had done this, all of us would be going nuts, its such a bad idea. The job of Congress is to hold the Executive branch accountable. Florida Senator Marco Rubio can also be quoted disagreeing, saying that it is such a bad idea. However, Senator Rand Paul from Kentucky has spoken out in support of President Trump and his decision to remove troops from the border.

Read more:
Removing U.S. Troops from the Syrian and Turkish Border - The Cactus

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has drawn a great deal of criticism for his opposition to election security proposals. Much of the criticism has come from Democrats, although MSNBCs conservative Joe Scarborough has repeatedly taunted McConnell as Moscow Mitch and asserted that he is encouraging Russian interference in U.S. elections by failing to be proactive on election security. And in a report for Mother Jones, journalist AJ Vicens stresses that McConnell is turning a blind eye to election security problems in his own state: Kentucky.

Vicens reports that the Senate majority leaders inaction is directly harming his home state, especially in Kentuckys more rural counties. The Mother Jones journalist explains, While some Kentucky officials say their counties have the equipment and funding they need to securely conduct balloting, others say counties can barely afford to meet other critical needs let alone to upgrade and maintain election infrastructure. Ahead of this months knife edge-gubernatorial race, local officials faced a reduction in state voting funds. Money from Washington could make up some of the gap and help counties upgrade equipment.

Don Blevins, Jr., clerk of Fayette County, Kentucky, told Mother Jones, Mitchs inaction is directly harming his home state. Theres no question in my mind.

One election security bill McConnell opposed was the Securing Americas Federal Elections Act, a.k.a. the SAFE Act which he dismissed as a partisan messaging bill. In a letter to McConnell and Sen. Rand Paul, Kentucky Secretary of State Alison Lundergan Grimes asserted, securing our election systems is a matter of national security. The commonwealth and this nation need your leadership.

But McConnell wouldnt budge.

Larry Norden, director of the election reform program for the Brennan Center, told Mother Jones that McConnells failure to adequately address election security is problematic for the entire United States.

His role as to whats happening in Kentucky is the same as his role in the other 49 states, Norden asserted. At the end of the day, around the country, election jurisdictions are underfunded. We dont have national standards or a floor for election security, for the most part. And hes one of the main reasons we dont.

It's that time of year when we all give thanks, and we want to extend that thanks to you. All of us at AlterNet are honored by your readership and support. We hope you and your family enjoy a cozy, joyful Thanksgiving.

AlterNets journalists work tirelessly to counter the traditional corporate media narrative. Were here seven days a week, 365 days a year. And were proud to say that weve been bringing you the real, unfiltered news for 20 yearslonger than any other progressive news site on the Internet.

Its through the generosity of our supporters that were able to share with you all the underreported news you need to know. Independent journalism is increasingly imperiled; ads alone cant pay our bills. AlterNet counts on readers like you to support our coverage. Did you enjoy content from David Cay Johnston, Common Dreams, Raw Story and Robert Reich? Opinion from Salon and Jim Hightower? Analysis by The Conversation? Then join the hundreds of readers who have supported AlterNet this year.

Every reader contribution, whatever the amount, makes a tremendous difference. Help ensure AlterNet remains independent long into the future. Support progressive journalism with a one-time contribution to AlterNet, or click here to become a subscriber. Thank you. Click here to donate by check.

Here is the original post:
How Mitch McConnells opposition to federal election security is hurting his home state of Kentucky - AlterNet

Activists from The Center for Popular Democracy chase down Sen. Rand Paul over about his stance on Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh. Courtesy The Center for Popular Democracy

A federal judge on Wednesday ordered a man accused of threatening to chop up U.S. Sen. Rand Paul and his family with an ax to receive medication so that he can regain competency and stand trial.

Nathanial B. Luffman, 33, was accused in 2018 of threatening Paul, his family and an unnamed Oregon state official in phone calls and emails, according to court records.

Luffman appeared Wednesday before U.S. District Judge Michael W. Mosman, who is in Oregon, via video conference from a federal medical center in Springfield, Missouri, according to court records.

Luffman, 33, previously lived in Murray, Kentucky, and he was arrested in Berkeley, California, in June 2018 after he allegedly left a threatening email and voicemail for several Oregon state employees and a U.S. Capitol Police special agent, according to a criminal complaint.

In the email, Luffman allegedly threatened to gut Paul, his wife and children like (a) hog and included the hashtag ObamaForLife, according to the federal complaint.

Background: Man allegedly threatens to chop up Rand Paul and his family with an ax

The same morning he sent the email, Luffman allegedly left a voicemail at the office of an Oregon state official who works in a Portland federal building, the complaint stated.

Luffman introduced himself in the voicemail as Senator Nathaniel Blaine and threatened to hack to pieces Pauls children, according to federal authorities.

Paul first mentioned the threats publicly in July 2018 at an event in Leitchfield and said his Bowling Green office also received the threats.

"It's just horrendous that we have to deal with things like this, Paul said at the time.

Luffman had been living in Portland before his arrest in California, The Oregonian reported.

A review of law enforcement databases showed Luffman also had a history of threatening U.S. government officials, according to the criminal complaint.

Investigators reviewed a Facebook account for Luffman and found it had several posts originating from Berkeley.

He was arrested in the California city and later transferred to Oregon to face a four-count federal indictment.

More news: Billboard warns McConnell: Impeach Trump or 'lose your job'

Luffman is represented by a federal public defender and has pleaded not guilty to charges of threatening a federal official, threatening the family of a federal official and two counts of interstate communication.

He was ruled not competent to aid in his defense in February and ordered to be sent to the federal medical center in Springfield, according to court records.

Psychiatrists at the center diagnosed Luffman with schizophrenia, finding he suffers from delusions, hallucinations and has displayed disruptive and bizarre behavior, and Luffman believes the charges hes facing are based on a conspiracy to silence him,The Oregonian reported.

The Portland newspaper also reported that apsychologist said Luffman has stridently and adamantly refused to take medication to help restore his competency.

Mosman, the federal judge in Oregon, granted the U.S. Attorneys Office request that Luffman be medicated involuntarily to restore his competency.

A new competency hearing is scheduled for Feb. 24, according to court records.

Matt Bevin on recanvass:'I'm not gonna contest these numbers that have come in'

Reach Billy Kobin at bkobin@courierjournal.com or 502-582-7030. Support strong local journalism by subscribing today: courier-journal.com/subscribe.

Read or Share this story: https://www.courier-journal.com/story/news/politics/rand-paul/2019/11/14/judge-orders-treatment-nathanial-luffman-threatened-ax-murder-rand-paul/4189011002/

Here is the original post:
Man accused of threatening to 'gut' Rand Paul with an ax ordered to take meds - Courier Journal