Archive for the ‘Tea Party’ Category

Are Black Voters Really Leaving the Democratic Party? – The Bulwark

Pull up a chair. We need to talk about black voters.

There is a growing belief that a small, but notable, group of black voters is becoming disenchanted with the Democratic party and that a window is opening for Republicans to begin chipping away at the most stalwart and enduring segment of the Democrats electoral coalition.

The genesis of this latest wave of speculation began in the run-up to the 2020 election, when Donald Trump made an explicit play for more support from black voters, especially the men. Initial exit polls suggested it may have worked: Trump seemed to make measurable gains with black voters. And in the months since President Joe Bidens inauguration, his dwindling approval numbers among black Americans has added additional heft to the idea that a change may be underway.

If you hold all this up to the light at just the right angle, you might be excused for thinking that there may be some minor partisan realignment underway within the black electorate. Butand I cannot say this strongly enoughit aint happening.

Podcast March 15 2022

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Before explaining how I can be so sure, let us begin with some numbers. The immediately available exit polls showed Trump increasing his share of the black vote by 50 percentfrom 8 percent in 2016 to 12 percent in 2020and winning nearly 1 in 5 black men. If these splits were right, Trump would have tied for the highest Republican share of the black vote in four decades.

But those numbers were not correct. More reliable, adjusted exit pollssuch as one of verified voters from the Pew Research Center and another from AP VoteCast with a far larger sample sizehave since been released and tell a different story.

Trump received just 6 percent of the black vote in 2016 and 8 percent in 2020. On average, from 1968 to 2004, Republican presidential nominees earned just over 11 percent of the black votewhich means not only did Trump underperform the party average in consecutive elections, but he also did worse (twice!) than every single Republican nominee since the Voting Rights Act of 1965 except for the two (John McCain in 2008 and Mitt Romney in 2012) who ran against a black guy.

And even then, with Trump facing a not-incredibly-popular Hillary Clinton in 2016, he could only match what Romney could muster against the historic second-term candidacy of Barack Obama. This should not inspire confidence in those Republicans who believe they are at the precipice of tent expansion.

Did the Republican share of the black electorate double between 2008 and 2020 from 4 percent to 8 percent? Yes. And if you had your pay cut at work from $20/hour to $8/hour, and then management doubled your pay to $16/hour, did you get a raise? Sure.

To put a finer point on it: What we are witnessing with black voters today is not an exit from the Democratic party as a result of too much wokeness on the left and the appeal of Trumpism on the right. Rather, we are seeing black Republicans who chose to vote for the first black president (or sat out an election or two so as not to vote against him) return to their voting habits now that Obama is no longer on the ballot. And it seems that a couple percentage points worth of those pre-2008 black Republican voters may have decided to ride it out with Democrats.

How can I be so sure of all this? Because few things have been as steady in American politics in the last 150 years as black voting behavior. The centrality of federally administered civil rights protections has always governed partisan alignment for the overwhelming majority of the black electorate. It used to be that the Republican party carried this mantle, but since the passage of the Civil Rights Act in 1964, Democrats have made addressing racial inequality a more prominent aspect of its platform. This, more than any other single factor, explains why 9 in 10 black voters have supported Democratic congressional and presidential candidates for decades.

One result of this is what scholars call electoral capture. Defined in a1998 paper by political scientist Paul Frymer and sociologist John David Skrentny, electoral capture occurs when a group of voters finds at least one of the major parties making little or no effort to appeal to their interests or attract their votes precisely because they perceive that group to be divisive. In a two-party system, these voters are left with only one viable option, and Frymer and Skrentny argue that the group is likely to find its support taken for granted and its interests neglected by the other major partys leaders as well.

Capture can work both ways. Not only can parties capture certain groups, but groups and movements can capture parties. The Tea Party movement in 2010 successfully captured the Republican party, ousting congressional leadership along the way. And Trumpism has almost completely captured the party today, penalizing and ostracizing any who dare contest it.

In the case of black voters and todays Democratic party, the capture is the product of three interrelated factors.

(1) Republican leadership views the prioritization of the black electorates central policy demandstrong federal civil rights protectionsas harmful to its standing with its heavily white base.

(2) As a result, to demonstrate alignment with its base, the party takes positions perceived to be resistant to the policies most desired by black Americans.

(3) The Democratic party, while willing to deliver on some symbolic and expedient measures that appeal to black voters, is not compelled to be as responsive to the demands it calculates to be more electorally costly despite the black electorates partisan loyalty.

But lets say you are a principled conservative looking to recapture the Republican party, then you could turn to the states for inspiration. Republican governors have long fared better with black voters than the partys presidential nominees, such as when Maryland governor Larry Hogan won nearly 30 percent of the black vote in his 2018 reelection while running against Ben Jealous, a progressive black candidate and former head of the NAACP. Conservative positions on school choice, tax rates, and less regulation on small business, for example, paired with a principled but pragmatic approach to civil rights protections could be a recipe for success for the right candidate in the right moment.

But, proceed with caution: Recently inaugurated Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkinthe Republican party darling just a few months agois unpopular in the state, with a 41 percent approval rating last month among registered voters. And his outspoken position on critical race theory has run headlong into Virginians desire for schools to teach how racism impacts America today: two-thirds of Virginians support this, including the majority of white Virginians.

Given the current state of our politics and the especially divisive rhetoric around race and education in America, this almost certainly is not the moment for Republicans to make inroads with black voters. Moreover, executing a national strategy akin to what some governors have managed in their states is an extremely difficult task given that the party has not demonstrated either any genuine interest in the idea or the capacity to carry it out.

Where does this leave us? Trumps consecutive subpar presidential performances and Bidens approval rating among black voters that matches Bill Clintons in his first two years are not indications that the black electorate is ready to upend decades of partisan alignment. The leftward lean of Democratic politics could eventually cause a rift on the margins with a pragmatic black electorate. But that is not what weve seen over the past 12 years, and in any case, the Republican party is terribly out of position nationally to capitalize on any such developments.

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Are Black Voters Really Leaving the Democratic Party? - The Bulwark

‘Pride and Prejudice’ production marks final show in Pardoe Theater – The Daily Universe – Universe.byu.edu

Actors perform Pride and Prejudice in the Pardoe Theater on March 16, 2022. Lead actor Langi Tuifua said hearing the laughter and cheers from the crowd is one of his favorite parts of performing. (Sicily Stanton)

BYU Arts is performing an adaptation of Pride and Prejudice written for the stage by Kate Hamill. The show will run from March 11 to April 1 in the Pardoe Theater.

Pride and Prejudice will be the last show performed in the Pardoe Theater before the department relocates to Provo High School. The Pardoe Theater holds many memories for staff members, locals and students according to Jenna Adams, assistant director of the production.

Preparation for this performance began almost a year ago. Freja Jorgensen, a BYU senior majoring in acting, heard about the plans for this production last May and decided she would audition.

Auditions were held months later in October. On Halloween morning, Jorgensen found out she had been cast in the lead role portraying Elizabeth Bennet. Langi Tuifua, a BYU senior and acting major, also received the news that morning that he would be playing her love interest, Fitzwilliam Darcy.

Rehearsals began in January at the start of the new semester. Jorgensen said actors not only had to begin memorizing lines and blocking but were also expected to participate in a dramaturgy bootcamp about the study of stage dramas.

We had a tea party in character, there was a day where we just learned a bunch of different things an accomplished woman wouldve known back then. We had a PowerPoint night, Jorgensen said.It was all super fun!

Tuifua said theater has been a rediscovered passion of his. He participated in one play as a child and then decided to pursue football instead. When a serious injury interrupted his college football career at BYU, he figured he might as well try theater again.

I just started going through the program and fell in love with it all so now Im doing all forms of acting, Tuifua said.

Caleb Andrus, a BYU senior majoring in theater arts studies, started his time at BYU pursuing acting. Over time he felt more drawn to the directing side of theater production. He was selected to be an assistant director to Stephanie Breinholt, the director, as they worked to put her vision for Pride and Prejudice onstage.

I really admired how particular Stephanie was about things, Andrus said. It was so obvious what she wanted with the costumes, the lighting and the set; it was all so detailed.

The play is an adaptation of the Jane Austen novel Pride and Prejudice and offers an added sense of comedy and modernism, Jorgensen said. She also pointed out its relatability to the pressures of dating and courtship that BYU students face.

Its hysterical and relatable to the modern audience in the motifs and tropes that it uses, Jorgensen said. I think something that our university community can learn from Pride and Prejudice is that things are never as black-and-white as they seem and people are more good than we give them credit for.

Tuifua agreed with how the play relates to the BYU dating world but also wanted to add his own dating advice for BYU students.

I think every guy, if you bring a girl to this as a date they will probably love you forever, so bring a date, Tuifua said.

More information about the production of Pride and Prejudice and how to buy tickets can be found on the BYU Arts website.

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'Pride and Prejudice' production marks final show in Pardoe Theater - The Daily Universe - Universe.byu.edu

Easter events in the Allegheny-Kiski Valley – TribLIVE

To have your Easter event added to this list, send information in writing as soon as possible to Carol Pinto-Smith at Valley News Dispatch, 210 Wood St., Tarentum, PA 15084; or e-mail cpinto-smith@triblive.com; or fax 724-226-4677. Please note if registrations are required and if the event is open to the public.

Bell

Breakfast with the Easter Bunny, 8 to 11 a.m. April 16 at the Bell Township Volunteer Department, 201 Main St., Salina. There will be kids games, crafts and egg decorating. Cost: $10, age 13 and older; 3 to 12, $5; and 2 and younger, free.

Brackenridge

Free Easter celebration, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. April 16 at Generations House of Worship, 1160 Parkside Drive. There will be photos with the Easter Bunny, a trunk-or-treat for children up to age 11, a scavenger hunt for children 12 to 18, face painting, magic show, bounce houses, silent auction, food trucks and 50/50 raffle. Reservations required. Reservations: Eventbrite.com or Generations House of Worship on Facebook.

Free egg hunt, 11 a.m. April 11 in Brackenridge Park, First Avenue. Sponsored by Harvest Church in Harrison. Bring a basket or bag. Public welcome.

East Deer

The Easter Bunny will ride through the township with the firemen from 9 a.m. to 12:40 p.m. April 9. Schedule: 9 a.m., Juniors, Freeport Road; 9:20 a.m., Upper Marion Street; 9:40 a.m., Lower Marion Street; 10 a.m., Fire Pro and Freeport Road; 10:20 a.m., Murray Hill Estates, Old Murray Hill and Yost Drive; 10:40 a.m., Meadow Street; 11 a.m., Front Street; 11:20 a.m., Parsonage Street; 11:40 a.m., Bailies Run and Days Run intersection; noon, West Ninth and Crystal View Drive; 12:20 p.m., Grecos; and 12:40 p.m., Bellview Street by the municipal building.

Fawn

Free Breakfast with the Easter Bunny, 10 a.m. to noon April 9 at Center United Methodist Church, 1575 Donnellville Road. There will be a pancake breakfast, egg hunt, games, crafts and pictures with the Easter Bunny. Details: 724-226-2300 or autumnturk@me.com.

Kiski Township

Free egg hunt, noon April 2 at Apollo-Ridge High School, 1831 Route 56. Children will be separated into age groups. Sponsored by Kiski Township Fire Department.

Lower Burrell

Free egg hunt, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. April 9 at Flyers Field, Route 56. Sponsored by Lower Burrell Flyers. There will be photographs with the Easter Bunny, a basket raffle and concessions. Reservations required by April 2. Reservations: visit Lower Burrell Flyers on Facebook.

New Kensington

Hop Down the Bunny Trail, noon to 3 p.m. April 9 in downtown New Kensington. Get a map at Voodoo Brewery, 956 Fifth Ave., and follow the bunny tracks down the trail. Paint eggs, read stories and enjoy goodies at the businesses. An egg hunt will be at the end of the trail. Children 12 and younger welcome.

Springdale

Easter tea party for children in prekindergarten through sixth grade, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. April 2 at Springdale Free Public Library, 331 School St. Reservations required. Reservations: 724-274-9729.

Tarentum

Community Easter party, 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. April 2 at First United Presbyterian Church, 913 Lock St. Free egg hunt, crafts, food and pictures with the Easter Bunny.

Upper Burrell

Free egg hunt, 1 to 3 p.m. April 9 at the municipal building, 3735 Seventh St. Road. Free pictures with the Easter Bunny. Township children age 1 to 12 welcome. Reservations required by April 1. Reservations: 724-335-3517.

Vandergrift

Free egg hunt, 1 p.m. April 9 in Kennedy Park for children toddlers who can walk without assistance through age 10. Rain or shine. Check-in is at 12:45 p.m. at the gazebo. Children will be separated into age groups. Sponsored by Vandergrift Public Library and Uncapher, Uncapher and Fox Attorneys. Studecakers Cupcake Trailer will be onsite and there will opportunities for photos with the Easter Bunny. Bring a basket or bag. Reservations required. Reservations: 724-568-2212 or vanessa.groholski@winonline.org.

Washington Township

Egg hunt, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. April 9 at Union Presbyterian Church, 656 Route 380. Bring a basket.

West Deer

Drive-thru Easter Bunny breakfast, 9 to 11 a.m. April 2 at East Union Presbyterian Church, 292 East Union Road. There will be stops in the parking lot for children to receive a craft, coloring book and treat bag. Donations will be accepted the support church ministries.

West Kittanning

Free egg hunt, 1 p.m. April 9 at Harvest Church, 143 Reed St. There will be face painting, egg decorating and egg bowling for parents with children age 3 through sixth grade. Bring a basket or bag. Non-perishable food items will be collected for the local food bank. Reservations required. Reservations: under the events tab at Harvestpa.org.

Winfield

Free egg hunt, April 9 in Winfield Community Park. Children 12 and younger from all areas welcome. Gates open at 10 a.m. Children will be divided into age groups. There will be prizes, a petting zoo, face painting, food trucks and vendors. Rain date: April 10. Non-perishable food will be collected for the Cabot United Methodist Church Food Pantry. Sponsored by Cabot Crusaders and Saxonburg Area Business Association.

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Easter events in the Allegheny-Kiski Valley - TribLIVE

Best New Online Slots of the Week | March 18, 2022 – VegasSlotsOnline

Calling all jackpot hunters! We have another collection of the best new online slots of the week which boasts big fixed jackpots and bonuses galore. The hardest decision youll have is choosing which game to play.

Wizard Games might be best-known for developing slots for other providers. In Fishermans Bounty Deluxe, however, the supplier is casting its fishing line with a welcome upgrade of one of its popular slots. You can enjoy enhanced graphics and four great jackpots.

Apollo Pays is the latest Megaways release from Big Time Gaming. Travel to Mount Olympus in a search for respins, multipliers, and a great free spins feature.

Next, were off to Central America in Aztec Falls from Microgaming. There are another four fixed jackpots as you enjoy a fun coin drop bonus with multipliers and respins.

Finally, were in the realm of the Queen of Hearts in Pragmatic Plays new slot, Queenie. Spin the prize wheel for cash prizes and multipliers, or trigger free spins with a jackpot!

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Start off the best new online slots of the week with a jolly fishing trip in Fishermans Bounty Deluxe. Play Wizard Games new slot and trigger one of four fantastic fixed jackpots!

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The latest release from Wizard Games is actually an upgrade of one of the developers popular games. Fishermans Bounty Deluxe improves on the original with better graphics and the introduction of four fixed jackpots.

Fishermans Bounty Deluxe is set in a genteel North American fishing village. The fisherman acts wild, while most of the symbols are made up of various fish such as the cute pufferfish and the deadly angler fish. Many symbols can appear stacked, giving you a better chance of a big win.

During the base game, you can collect oysters to build up a special prize. Hit the Collect symbol to empty the treasure chest and add the cash to your pot. In addition, you can trigger free spins by landing scatters anywhere on the middle three reels.

The jackpot feature sets Fishermans Bounty Deluxe apart from its predecessor. You trigger the jackpot bonus at random after landing one or more oyster symbols at the same time as a Collect symbol.

This works like a straight pickem bonus. Youll see 15 oyster symbols on the screen. You must pick oysters until you reveal three matching symbols. Youll win one of four corresponding jackpots: the Mini (50x stake), Minor (100x), Major (200x), or Grand (1000x).

Fishermans Bounty Deluxe is a welcome reboot of one of Wizard Games hit slots. Go angling for a jackpot today with our free-play version.

Travel to Mount Olympus with Big Time Gaming in its new Apollo Pays slot. Play up to 117,649 ways to win and hit free spins with an unlimited win multiplier!

It wouldnt be a best new online slots of the week round-up without some BTG Megaways action. And what a title to bring you this spring.

Apollo Pays is the latest Megaways release which puts you in the lap of the gods literally! You play the slot over six reels where up to seven symbols can appear on one reel at the same time. Its possible to hit up to 117,649 ways to win on a single spin.

As in other BTG Megaways slots, you will trigger a free respin whenever you win. Youll also earn another respin if the win is improved with two or more symbols. The respins continue until you cant improve on your win, or you only improve with one extra symbol.

You trigger 10 free spins if you land three golden harp scatters in any position. You will also win a further two free spins for each additional triggering scatter.

The free spins bonus in Apollo Pays takes the slot into the realm of the gods. A win multiplier starts at 1x at the beginning of the bonus. The multiplier increases by one every time you land a winning spin. Best of all, the win multiplier is unlimited! You can also retrigger four free spins by landing another three scatters on the screen.

Do we need another Megaways slot on the market? Apollo Pays offers respins, free spins, and a great win multiplier. In answer to the question, wed say yes. See for yourself and give Apollo Pays a play for free.

Travel back to an ancient time in Microgamings Aztec Falls slot. Trigger the Cash Fall Bonus or win free spins with a jackpot bonus. Its all here in Microgamings new all-action online slot!

Were keeping the jackpot action coming in the best new online slots of the week with Aztec Falls from Microgaming. Its a fresh 5-reel slot from the market leaders that features a base game jackpot worth 5000x plus bonuses galore.

You may trigger the Cash Fall Bonus on any base spin. Coins fall into numbered slots at the foot of the screen. Youll win a prize every time a coin drops through one of the slots.

In addition, theres the Coin Drop bonus. A coin will fall down and land on one of the random bonuses displayed on the screen. Bonuses include a trail of wilds, a respin with stacked symbols, or a win multiplier.

You might also trigger the Jackpot Wheel. Here, you can spin the wheel and win one of four fixed jackpots: the Mini Jackpot pays 30x bet, the Minor Jackpot 200x, and the Super Jackpot 1000x. However, the hard-to-get Mega Jackpot pays a cool 5000x stake.

Plus, you can try for the Jackpot Gamble after a win. Spin the wheel and land the pointer in the green section to upgrade your prize.

Theres just enough space here to mention the free spins bonus. You trigger the free spins by hitting three or more bonus symbols in any position. You win five free games but if the wild appears it becomes a sticky wild covering the entire reel. These hold in place until the end of the feature.

Aztec Falls offers the type of gameplay and bonuses weve come to expect from Microgaming. Try it for free today.

Dive into the rabbit hole with Queenie from Pragmatic Play. Its a fresh take on Alice in Wonderland that offers 243 ways to win, free spins, and jackpots. Dont be late for this fabulous tea party!

Slots developer Wild Streak Games has been making some of the industrys top titles for years. You know what youre going to get with Wild Streak Games: great graphics and gameplay, plus innovative bonuses such as Gold Spins and Replicating Reels.

Produced for Pragmatic Play, Queenie is an Alice in Wonderland-themed slot offering superb graphics and some fun features. In keeping with our theme this week, Queenie also offers four fixed jackpots for players.

The evil Queen of Hearts presides over these reels. And when you land any heart symbol on the reels, you may trigger the wheel feature. The wheel will spin and stop on an award including a cash prize, a multiplier, or random wilds. You can also trigger free spins or the jackpot feature. The heart also acts wild and substitutes for all symbols.

There are four jackpots to win by selecting cards and matching three of the same name: the Mini Jackpot pays 20x total stake, the Minor pays 50x, the Major 200x, and the Grand 4000x. In addition, you might reveal a BOOST card that randomly increases the jackpot.

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Best New Online Slots of the Week | March 18, 2022 - VegasSlotsOnline

Quincy Tea Party hosts candidates as filing time is around the corner Muddy River News – Muddy River News

Two GOP candidates for governor, Gary Rabine and Darren Bailey, address the Quincy Tea Party Tuesday night. Moderator Mecki Kosin is also pictured.

QUINCY Two Illinois gubernatorial candidates, a congresswoman and an assortment of other politicians made their way to Quincys industrial section of the Riverfront Tuesday evening.

The Quincy Tea Party has been holding its meetings in the lower level of Tower Pizza and Mexican, but with a larger than usual crowd expected to gather, the organization sought a larger venue and held the event at The Well, 711 Front Street.

The forum gave candidates an opportunity to present their platforms and circulate petitions. The Tea Party is planning to host more formal debates at future meetings this year, with the June 28 primary and November 8 general election looming.

The first day of filing for the 2022 election is Monday, March 7.

Two of the GOP candidates for governor, Gary Rabine and State. Sen Darren Bailey (R-Xenia) met privately on Baileys campaign bus before the event was under way. Both have made previous stops in Quincy.

The appearance was timely in that the states chief medical advisor, Dr. Ngozi Ezike, had just announced her resignation as director of the Illinois Department of Public Health.

Bailey said her stepping down was a relief for Illinois. His full interview is below.

The Bailey campaign also used the opportunity to take Twitter and link Ezike and Governor JB Pritzker to one of his rivals running for governor, Aurora Mayor Richard Irvin.

Republican Congresswoman Mary Miller, who is running in the newly-configured 15th District against another incumbent member of Congress, Rodney Davis, said she wanted to be with salt of the earth people in Illinois Tuesday night as opposed to being in the U.S. Capitol to watch President Joe Biden give the State of the Union address.

Davis did attend the State of the Union and released a statement:

The state of our Union is in crisis because of President Joe Biden and one-party, Democrat rule in Washington. The President will try and rewrite history, but on every major issue, his Administration and his Democrat allies in Congress are failing the American people. We have a border crisis, an economic and inflation crisis, an energy crisis, a crime crisis, a national security crisis, and more. Every single crisis has been created or made worse by the policies and rhetoric of President Biden and Democrats in Congress.My Republican colleagues and I will continue to hold President Biden and Speaker Pelosi accountable for pursuing an out-of-touch, far-left agenda and press for real solutions to the issues the American people face and care about.

Congressman Sam Graves, who represents Missouris 6th District also responded:

The difference between what were feeling in North Missouri and what the President says were feeling is stark. The supply chain crisis, coupled with out-of-control inflation, is driving prices through the roof and making it more difficult for families, farmers, and small business owners to succeed. This crisis isnt going to end until President Biden stops passing the buck and starts living up to his promises.

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Quincy Tea Party hosts candidates as filing time is around the corner Muddy River News - Muddy River News