In Case You Missed It (v65)

Here's your recap of last week's posts, in case you missed anything.

For Sunday School, I did my brain a favor and only visited the CNN State of the Union classroom. Jake Tapper had Bill Gates as one of his guests. You know -- Bill Gates the guy who invented the coronavirus with Dr. Fauci so they can make money off the vaccine they're developing, which will have a microchip implanted in your arm so they can track you?  Yeah, no -- not that Bill Gates, the Bill Gates who has devoted many of his billions of dollars to improving public health around the world through the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Here's a portion of their discussion.

And, Tapper wondered, what does Gates think about Trump's Executive Order on prioritizing Americans getting the vaccine over folks in other countries?

Well, I think we need to help all of humanity here. You know, we want the world economy be going. We want to minimize the deaths. And, you know, the basic technology is a German company. And so blocking international sharing and cooperation has been disruptive and a mistake during this entire pandemic. So, we need to ramp up the capacity of all the vaccines. There will be some additional ones approved in the months ahead that are easier to scale up the manufacturing. But the U.S. has benefited from other countries' work here, and we shouldn't be entirely selfish in how we go forward.

And, when Tapper asked, "So, in your view, America first, as the president might call it, not the right approach?"

Well, the extreme idea that everybody should die until we have the very last American vaccinated, that's hardly the appropriate response.

For your Extra Credit last week, I dropped in on Chris Wallace and Rep. Steve Scalise (WH via LA), a member of the (ahem) GOP House leadership, in the Fox News Sunday classroom. For this one, I suggested questions I would have asked Scalise; they were not the same as the ones Wallace asked, I can assure you.  For example, Scalise babbled about massive vote swings "in the days and weeks since the election" which is a bunch of hogwash.

At this point, I would have asked Rep. Scalise to name a single state that had a "massive vote swing" in the 'weeks' since the election. Wallace didn't ask that, but he did push back.

But -- but -- but -- but -- but -- but, Congressman Scalise -- Congressman Scalise -- There -- the reason that there were these votes swings was because in a lot of states they weren't able to count the millions of mail-in ballots until election night. And everybody knew that -- and, in fact, it happened in Florida, it went the other way. They were able to count the mail-in ballots early, so it favored Biden early and then it swung to Trump. In Pennsylvania, they had to count the mail-in ballots late, so it started pro-Trump and then it swung to Biden.

Now, that's an opportunity for Scalise to take a deep breath, grab himself by the whatever, and admit that Wallace was right - that yes, everyone knew that the absentee ballots were going to go for Biden and that Election Day voting would favor Trump. Did he do that? Of course he didn't. 

Well, Chris, first of all, look at New York, right? The Claudia Tenney race in New York. She's up by 12 votes. Just the other day they found 55 votes in a desk drawer. You know, this kind of stuff – people look at this and go, what is going on? This is the United States of America, it's not Venezuela. That's what gets people irate. You know, why is this still going on?

"Well, Steve, " I would have said, "what on earth does New York's 22nd Congressional District race have to do with the presidential race, the Electoral College, or the ongoing assault on our country by the Republicans? That's what gets people irate. You know, why is this still going on?" 

I also offered up a Sidebar for Sunday School, which included in full Jake Tapper's closing remarks. Other than Tapper's show, I don't watch CNN. I honestly think only right-wingers watch it, since they seem to know every word uttered - other than Tapper's. It's too bad; they're missing out.  Here's a bit of why Tapper is thanking the outgoing president.

But president Trump made House Republicans go on the record. He made them stand and be counted and 126 of them, including Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy and Republican Whip Steve Scalise, they actually signed their names to this, this unconservative, un-Democratic, un-American mendacious joke of a lawsuit that would disenfranchise millions of their fellow Americans. (I expect very little from most of the Rs; my expectations are usually met, or, as in this case, exceeded - that congressional leaders would find a way to justify this is appalling.)

These House Republicans raised their hands. They said sign me up. The hope that most Republicans in the House were better than this - that has been destroyed. For those of us who believe in standards and norms and the US Constitution, we need to thank President Trump for bringing this fact to light.

After the Electoral College voted last Monday to confirm the Biden-Harris win, the President-elect spoke to the country; here's a bit of that. 

You know, respecting the will of the people is at the heart of our democracy, even we find those results hard to accept. But that's the obligation of those who've taken on a sworn duty to uphold the Constitution. Four years ago, when I was the sitting Vice President of the United States, it was my responsibility to announce the tally of the Electoral College votes to the joint session of Congress, had voted to elect Donald Trump. I did my job. And I'm pleased but not surprised by the number of my former colleagues in the Senate who have acknowledged already the results of the Electoral College. I thank them. And I'm convinced we can work together for the good of the nation on many subjects. That's the duty owed to the people, to our Constitution, to our history. 

Last week's Wondering on Wednesday meandered around election-related stuff, and included some polling data from Rasmussen Reports; they're pretty reliable and generally well-liked on the right because they have a slight slant in the red direction. Their polls include likely voters only, rather than just anyone who answers the phone. 

That's why I thought this data is interesting in helping the president understand why he lost the election.  

The president has had only six days with a positive approval rating in the past three months: September 20th (+4), November 9th-12th (+1, +3, +4, +2) and November 17th (+2).  This year, the president's total approval rating has at least 50% only 51 days, and it was never more than 53%.  

On Election Day? 49% total approval, 50% total disapproval, and a -4 difference between his strongly approve and strongly disapprove scores (39% and 43%, respectively). So, as he continues to wonder why he didn't win the election, he can go to Rasmussen and look at the entire year of proof: we don't love him as much as he has convinced himself we love him.

Finally, closing out the week with your TGIF, I offered an incomplete list of things we're thankful for at our house this holiday season like none other. 

We're thankful for our local leaders, who have done everything they can to maintain public health and promote local businesses, who have let data dictate their decisions, who have asked us to do what's right, who have been open with us, who have cried alongside us when community members, our neighbors, were lost.

Today is the last day of Hanukkah; it's a week before Christmas; 8 days until Kwanzaa; five days before Festivus. 

However you celebrate, whatever you celebrate, whenever you celebrate, and even if you don't, warm wishes to you and yours. 

I'll be back later with your Sunday School. 

Wondering on Wednesday 12/16/20

 

Ready... Set... Wonder!

We're going to kind of meander through some wondering, starting with the latest presidential approval rating from the folks at Rasmussen Reports. According to today's  edition of their daily tracking, the president is underwater by 8 points, with 36% of likely voters strongly approving of his performance and 44% strongly disapproving.  Here's a look at Trump's ratings for the month of December. 

• Average strongly approve: 37%
• Average strongly disapprove: 42%
• Average total approval: 49%
• Average total disapproval: 50%

The president has had only six days with a positive approval rating in the past three months: September 20th (+4),  November 9th-12th (+1, +3, +4, +2) and November 17th (+2).  This year, the president's total approval rating has at least 50% only 51 days, and it was never more than 53%.  

On Election Day? 49% total approval, 50% total disapproval, and a -4 difference between his strongly approve and strongly disapprove scores (39% and 43%, respectively). So, as he continues to wonder why he didn't win the election, he can go to Rasmussen and look at the entire year of proof: we don't love him as much as he has convinced himself we love him.

Now, some people do love him as much as he loves himself, including the whole cast of characters that have fought to prove voter fraud, which would lead to his re-election. You know, people Like this former Texas cop, and the group he was working for.  How's this for a headline?

Former Houston police captain accused of violent attempt to prove election conspiracy was hired by GOP activist's group

Sounds like love, right? The former Houston captain, Mark Aguirre, had been following an "innocent and ordinary" air conditioner repairman for days; at least two other people helped with the surveillance. Aguirre thought that the repairman "was behind a huge voter fraud scheme," and Aguirre "believed the technician to be transporting fake ballots in his vehicle and to have as many as 750,000 in his possession."  The logical thing to do, then, was to run him off the road and pull a gun on him, force him to the ground, steal his fan to search it, and then abandon the vehicle, right? There were no ballots. Just air conditioner parts. At first, I wondered if the big donor's firm, The Liberty Center for God and Country, would be asking for the$266,400 they paid Aguirre, but then I read that the donor, Steven Hotze, wanted Texas Gov. Greg Abbott to kill protesters back in July.

"I want you to give a message to the governor," Hotze told Abbott's chief of staff, Luis Saenz, in a voicemail. "I want to make sure that he has National Guard down here and they have the order to shoot to kill if any of these son-of-a-bitch people start rioting like they have in Dallas, start tearing down businesses — shoot to kill the son of a bitches. That’s the only way you restore order. Kill 'em. Thank you."

I have to wonder about the politeness of the message, don't you? I mean, who ends a message telling a government official to implement a shoot-to-kill order, by saying thank you? 

Staying with the election, and the cast of characters with whom the president surrounds himself, I thought this article in the NY Times was interesting. Once and now former Trump election fraud attorney Sidney Powell, who vowed to "release the Kraken" and "blow up" Georgia with a "biblical case," has now turned her attention to a new subject: the coronavirus vaccines.

"NO WAY #America." Ms. Powell wrote in the tweet, which collected 22,600 shares and 51,000 likes. "This is more authoritarian communist control imported straight from #China." She then tagged Mr. Trump the former national security adviser Michael T. Flynn - both of whom she had represented - and other prominent right-wing figures to highlight the post.

I'm just wondering generally here, what's the next big conspiracy thing going to be? And will it be coming at us from the right, or will the left dive in to keep things interesting? I mean, they're still talking about how Bernie would have beaten Trump if only the DNC hadn't robbed him again.

About a year-and-a-half ago, I 'disaffiliated myself' from the Democrats, switching my voter registration to 'no party' - primarily because That Guy from Vermont, who is not a Dem - was being allowed by the party to run for president under the team banner, for the second time. I didn't use the 'disaffiliated' language, but that's the language that Rep. Paul Mitchell of Michigan used in announcing he was leaving the GOP, lamenting the lack of leadership and the continued contesting of the election, the conspiracy theories, and so on. I completely understand why he did it; I just wonder, if he wasn't retiring, would he still have left? I hope the answer is yes., butt you never can be sure.  

 Rep. Mitchell might be happy, as I was, to learn that Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan, who I call my favorite Republican, will be one of the national co-chairs of No Labels. Hogan has a nearly 80% approval rating in his state (see that, president Trump?) and is well liked by Rs, Ds, Independents and pretty much everyone else.  Here's his statement.

I am honored to help lead No Labels at a time when our message of putting aside partisan differences for the common good is needed more than ever. Amid this awful pandemic, the people in my state and across our country are desperate for leaders to work across the aisle and focus on solving the urgent problems we face. I have admired the work No Labels has done to empower these kinds of leaders and to mobilize grassroots supporters, and this work is just beginning. it's time to give voice to the vast majority of Americans who want a different and better kind of politics and mobilize this movement into action.

Anyone wondering how they can get involved or learn more?  Check out the group's website.

What are you wondering about tonight?

Poll Watch: Recent Rasmussen Reports Surveys

I get daily survey updates from the folks at Rasmussen Reports, the polling company. It's kind of fun to read their surveys, as they can be all over the map with their questions.

By that, I mean sometimes their questions are a little out there (you'll see some of that below) but they also ask some reasonable questions that I don't normally see from other outlets.

Here's a sampling of some of their recent survey outcomes, excluding those related to Black Lives Matter, changes in police funding, and racism-related questions. I'll look at those together with other survey outlets in an upcoming post.

Supporters of immigration often say immigrants take the jobs that Americans don't want, but most voters don't agree
54% of likely US voters believe Americans would take jobs typically filled by immigrants if the pay and working conditions were improved (emphasis added). 33% say there aren't enough Americans willing to do that work (construction, technology, hospitality and other service positions); 13% are not sure. Younger voters are more likely to think this; those with lower incomes are more likely to say they'd take these jobs if wages and benefits were better.  (1500 likely voters, 6/23, 6/25, and 6/28.)

Immigration supporters are correct in saying that Americans won't take these jobs now, because some of it is back-breaking work, some of it is considered beneath us by many people, and certainly because the pay and benefits are horrible. To suggest that people disagree with that, while at the same time changing the circumstances under which Americans would do the work is really pretty sloppy.

Nearly 4-in-10 voters think Joe Biden has dementia; most think he needs to publicly address it.
38% of likely voters, including 20% of Dems, 60% of Republicans and 30% of not major party affiliateds, think Papa Joe has some form of dementia; 48% disagree, and 14% are not sure. 61% of all voters say it's important for him to address it, with 41% saying it's very important, while 36% say it's not important, with 19% saying it's not at all important.

A search on the Rasmussen website does not turn up any survey asking a similar question about the president, who frequently misspeaks, has problems saying words, rambles off on bizarre tangents in the middle of his remarks, speaks unintelligently on a host of issues, and flat out makes stuff up. (1000 likely voters, 6/25 and 6/28.)

Voters worry about their safety more these days, and have more confidence in Biden than in Trump to make things better.
52% of likely voters, including 64% of Dems and 53% of not major party affiliateds, but only 39% of Republicans, feel personally less safe than they did four years ago, 19% feel more safe, and 26% say things are about the same.

Dementia aside, 49% of all voters, and 70% of those who think they are less safe now than four years ago, think Biden will make America a safer place to live; 42% think Trump will, and only 22% of those feeling less safe believe Trump's the one to make it better. (1000 likely voters, 6/23-6/24.)

One more, and then we're done.

Voters don't trust political news;they think it remains biased against Trump; they're following it more closely than before
53% of likely voters don't trust the political news they receive; 30% do trust it. A year ago? 54% didn't trust it, while 32% did. 17% are steadfastly undecided. A mere 10% of voters think 'most reporters" are trying to help the president pass his agenda, 44% think reporters are trying to block him, and 38% think reporters are just trying to report the news in an unbiased fashion. Last August, 51% thought reporters were trying to block the Trump agenda. Back in 2010, 48% thought most reporters were trying to help get Barack Obama's agenda passed.

And even though it's apparently not trustworthy, 44% of likely voters are following political news more closely, 16% are following it less closely, and 38% are paying about the same attention as they did a year ago. (1000 likely voters, 6/15-6/16.)

What's your opinion? Drop a note in the comments.