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POLITICS

ELECTIONS ARE COMING: NORTH DAKOTA-REP. KEVIN CRAMER (R) VS. SEN. HEIDI HEITKAMP (D)

https://www.wsj.com/articles/a-senate-barnburner-in-farm-country-1536356011
A Senate Barnburner in Farm Country North Dakota’s tossup election may turn on trade, conservative values, and how much the state wants to embrace Donald Trump. By Kyle Peterson

Standing on a shop floor between two 1,000-barrel steel tanks destined for the oil fields out west, Rep. Kevin Cramer insists that President Trump cares about North Dakota. “This is no longer flyover country, if you hadn’t noticed,” he tells a group of steelworkers in coveralls and hard hats on a late-August morning. “The secretary of transportation has been here twice. The secretary of homeland security. The secretary of energy. The secretary of agriculture. Of course, the president himself twice, and the vice president three times, just since they took office.”

For a red-state Republican in a tight election, these rolling visits are the arrival of the cavalry. Mr. Cramer is asking voters to promote him to the Senate this fall, and his success will be pivotal if the GOP is to keep majority control. The incumbent Democrat, Heidi Heitkamp, is so personally popular that Mr. Cramer confesses in one TV ad that “we all like Heidi.”

Yet North Dakotans also backed Mr. Trump in 2016 by nearly 36 points. “They are very supportive of this president,” Mr. Cramer tells me. He tilts his head and grins a little: “I mean very supportive.” Hence, Mr. Trump’s third official visit to the state, touching down Air Force One in Fargo this Friday to talk up Mr. Cramer at a $500-a-person fundraiser. “He’s gonna vote with me. He’s going to vote on Making America Great Again,” Mr. Trump told the crowd. If that doesn’t convince, the president is expected back in North Dakota for another rally before the election, and there’s Donald Trump Jr.’s planned speech on Sept. 25, not to mention . . .

One potential hang-up is Mr. Trump’s trade war, which could soon cost North Dakota farmers hundreds of millions of dollars. In 2012 Ms. Heitkamp won election by 0.9 percentage point, or 2,936 votes. Since the state has 30,000 farms, even a small tariff revolt could swing the balance. So far there hasn’t been much reliable polling. A June 13-15 survey gave Mr. Cramer a 4-point lead, within the margin of error, but that was before China put a 25% tariff on U.S. soybeans.

Typically, more than two-thirds of North Dakota’s soybean crop goes to China, shipped via ports in the Pacific Northwest: 60 pounds a bushel; 400,000 bushels carried by a 110-car train; just over five trainloads to fill a Panamax bulk ship. But since July there have been zero orders from the Pacific Northwest, industry data show. Soybean futures on the Chicago Board of Trade have fallen 20%, from highs near $10.50 a bushel to below $8.50. Meanwhile, the bite taken at the local elevator, which reflects demand and shipping costs, has grown. Instead of something like 85 cents, it’s hitting $1.50, as the market contemplates the difficulty of having to send soybeans east to St. Louis or Duluth, Minn.

Blumenthal, Whitehouse, Harris, and Booker, the four horsemen of the Democrat apocalypse By Patricia McCarthy

https://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2018/09/blumenthal_whitehouse_harris_and_booker_the_four_horsemen_of_the_democrat_apocalypse.html

The Senate Kavanaugh hearings have been instructive, to say the least. The four names above were the most tellingly obnoxious Democrats at the event, the worst offenders. To name the others would be redundant.

The Democratic Party’s left – what amounts to a far left these days – cares about nothing beyond ending the Trump presidency, by any means necessary. These people have sold their souls to accomplish this feat. That was on display for all to see these past few days. They set out to destroy Judge Brett Kavanaugh with all sorts of accusations, innuendo, and insults, but they didn’t lay a hand on him, not one of them, no matter how malicious their interrogation.

Not one of these Democrats on the Senate Judiciary Committee showed the judge an iota of respect. They did expose for all to see their contempt for the president and all things conservative. They apply very different rules to those nominated to the SCOTUS by Republicans from what they apply to those nominated by Democrats. Non-answers by Democrat-nominated candidates are heralded for their evasion of how-would-you-rule questions. This is not allowed for those nominated by Republican presidents. Supreme Court justice nominees such as Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Elena Kagan, etc. were celebrated for their refusal to answer certain questions. Kavanaugh, more judicious and more experienced than Ginsburg or Kagan ever were, has been eviscerated by these same Democrats and the press for his handling of the questions asked.

The left is behaving as if its members’ very lives depend on defeating Kavanaugh’s nomination to the court. Republicans have never resisted a Democrat-nominated justice so vehemently. Most of them have been confirmed almost unanimously. Yet Democrats do not grant a sitting Republican his choice. Why?

It’s because they count on the SCOTUS to advance the far-left agenda they cannot get done legislatively. They view the Court as their ace in the hole, their way to achieve their ends. It has worked through the years. When they are foiled, they become very, very angry. Think Citizens United.

Stakes Are High in New York Attorney General Race Adele Malpass

https://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2018/09/07/stakes_are_high_in_new_york_attorney_general_race_138019.html

Elections for state attorney general seldom make national news, but this one should. The Sept. 13 Democratic primary for New York state’s attorney general is hotly contested, and the unusually powerful position will have broad implications for Wall Street and President Trump. The state’s unique Martin Act gives the AG sweeping powers to investigate and extract billions in fines from Wall Street banks, insurance companies and energy firms, often without going to court or relying on a “preponderance of evidence.”

For these reasons, New York’s AG has been a high-profile political platform, boosting the gubernatorial campaigns of current Gov. Andrew Cuomo and former Gov. Eliot Spitzer. In May, the position unexpectedly opened up when Eric Schneiderman resigned after allegations of sexual and physical abuse were reported in the New Yorker.

Three well-funded Democrats are vying in next week’s primary, with the endorsement game dominating local news. New York City pubic advocate Letitia James has been winning this battle by getting the endorsements of Cuomo, EMILY’s List, several unions, the Democratic Party, and a long roster of elected officials.

The most progressive of the candidates, Zephyr Teachout, a Fordham law school professor and leftist activist, has won the endorsements of the New York Times, the New York Daily News and newly influential Democratic socialist Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez.

23,000 California DMV voter-registration fails, and we’re not supposed to worry about illegals voting By Monica Showalter

https://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2018/09/23000_california_dmv_voterregistration_fails_and_were_not_supposed_to_worry_about_illegals_voting.html

In an issue the press suggests we shouldn’t be too concerned about, the California Department of Motor Vehicles says it’s screwed up 23,000 voter registrations based on its stewardship of the state’s automatic voting registration system, known as its motor-voter law.

According to the Los Angeles Times:

Tens of thousands of Californians have been registered to vote incorrectly by the state Department of Motor Vehicles, including some who were assigned the wrong political party preference, officials said Wednesday.

Officials insist the errors were limited to 23,000 of the 1.4 million voter registration files sent to elections offices between late April, when California’s new automated “motor voter” system went into effect, and early August. Californians who were affected will soon receive notifications in the mail instructing them to check their voter registration status.

Hey, we know what your first question was, and both the DMV and the press assure that none of them was an illegal. They aren’t too sure what happened, which is why they are telling everyone to check his own registration, but they are…sure there were no illegals. This, despite the origins of the problem they described: that DMV officials left old screens up, and the information from the previous clients was sent to the state on behalf of the clients who followed. Why that couldn’t possibly include illegals was not a topic of inquiry for either the Los Angeles Times or the Sacramento Bee, which covered this issue. Illegals, see, wouldn’t dream of registering to vote, nor would any of the Democrats running the DMV out in the one-party precincts ever dream of registering them, right?

If there is any truth in this just being a matter of classifications gone wrong, with no illegals involved, none of them is saying how he actually would know. Never mind that uncomfortable detail about the DMV being suddenly tasked with both issuing drivers licenses to illegals and registering voters – in a one-party state. We’re just supposed to trust them on this.

ELECTIONS ARE COMING-NAOMI LEVIN TAKES ON THE DEMOCRAT CARTEL IN NEW YORK

https://www.americanthinker.com/blog/2018/09/naomi_levin_takes_on_the_ny_democratic_cartel.html
Naomi Levin takes on the NY Democratic cartelBy Seth Ian

Entrenched Democrat establishment career politician Jerrold Nadler may have met his match in Naomi Levin. Her campaign website sums it up well: “growing up she was keenly aware that entitlement is not an American value hard work is.” Running as a Republican in the Tenth Congressional District, she seems the perfect foil to Congressman Nadler, a man who supported Obama’s disastrous Iran deal and has made resisting the duly elected President Trump his chief goal.

Levin, the daughter of immigrants from the former USSR, has been interviewed on Fox and Friends. In that interview she contrasts her capitalist views with another NY millennial turned politician. Unlike Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Naomi does not believe in socialism but rather believes in making America great and that it doesn’t need what Obama referred to as a fundamental transformation. Instead, Naomi appreciates this country and wants to cut taxes, which in NY are extremely high.

Naomi Levin is the perfect foil for her opponent. She wants to go to Washington “to influence a system overhaul.” Contrast that with Nadler, a pillar of the Washington establishment since 1993. Her opponent represents the epitome of an establishment which is seeing its political clout fading. Unlike Nadler and the open borders Democrat NY establishment, Naomi Levin supports law enforcement and believes in enforcing immigration law, saying “We also need to control who can cross our border and support our efforts to do that.”

Democratic Activist Ousts Incumbent Massachusetts Congressman in Primary Ayanna Pressley, who beat incumbent Rep. Michael Capuano, instantly joins the ranks of new party stars in 2018 By Reid J. Epstein

https://www.wsj.com/articles/democratic-activist-ousts-incumbent-massachusetts-congressman-in-primary-1536111132?mod=hp_lead_pos4

In the latest upset among Democrats, Ayanna Pressley, a Boston city councilor who ran as a progressive activist, beat 10-term Democratic Rep. Michael Capuano on Tuesday in a Massachusetts House primary.

Ms. Pressley becomes the second Democrat to defeat an incumbent House member in a 2018 primary. She rode energy from the party’s resistance to President Trump to topple Mr. Capuano, who Federal Election Commission records show raised about twice as much money as she did.

Ms. Pressley’s victory instantly thrusts her into the ranks of the new Democratic stars of 2018, alongside New York’s Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, the only other Democrat to oust an incumbent member of Congress this year, and Andrew Gillum, who last week won an upset victory to become the Democratic nominee for governor of Florida.
CONTINUE AT SITE

Former Senator Jon Kyl Will Succeed John McCain By Jack Crowe

https://www.nationalreview.com/news/former-senator-jon-kyl-will-succeed-john-mccain/

Former U.S. senator Jon Kyl will succeed former senator John McCain, the Arizona Republic reported on Tuesday.

Arizona governor Doug Ducey announced Kyl’s appointment at the Arizona capitol on Tuesday morning. Kyl, who represented Arizona in the Senate for 18 years before he retired in 2013, has reportedly agreed to serve through the end of the year at a minimum.

Kyl shares McCain’s conservative bona fides and is viewed by the Ducey administration as the obvious choice to complete McCain’s unfinished business due to his years of Senate experience.

“There is no one in Arizona more prepared to represent our state in the U.S. Senate than Jon Kyl,” Ducey said in a statement. “He understands how the Senate functions and will make an immediate and positive impact benefiting all Arizonans. I am deeply grateful to Senator Kyl for agreeing to succeed his friend and colleague of so many years.”

Kyl, who could be sworn in as soon as Tuesday night, was asked to consider succeeding his longtime friend and colleague just hours after McCain passed away on Saturday night, following a battle with brain cancer.

Cindy McCain, who was reportedly consulted during the search process, celebrated Kyl’s appointment in a statement on Tuesday morning.

Trump and White House Say Woodward Book Is Fabricated, ‘Nasty’ By Justin Sink and Shawn Donnan see note please

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-09-04/kelly-says-he-didn-t-call-trump-idiot-disputing-woodward-book?srnd=premium

Woodward has been shown before to be a prevaricator….”In 1976, AIM published a 12-page demolition by the noted author, Victor Lasky, of Woodward and Bernstein’ s The Final Days. We asked Mr. Lasky to take a close look at Bob Woodward’s most recent book, Veil: The Secret Wars of the CIA. Mr. Lasky found the book “so bereft of substance as to make the adventures of Baron yon Munchausen appear genuine.”rsk

Donald Trump and his allies attacked a soon-to-be-published book by legendary investigative journalist Bob Woodward that portrays the president as mercurial, untruthful and inept and his staff as consumed by infighting and disdainful of their boss.

White House Chief of Staff John Kelly denied Tuesday an assertion by Woodward that he called the president an idiot. A former lawyer to Trump, John Dowd, denied calling his client a liar. Trump’s ambassador to the United Nations, Nikki Haley, said she had never heard Trump propose assassinating Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. Defense Secretary James Mattis disputed belittling the president as acting like a fifth-grader.

“It’s just nasty stuff,” Trump said of Woodward’s book in an interview Tuesday with the Daily Caller. “I never spoke to him. Maybe I wasn’t given messages that he called.

Trump’s spokeswoman, Sarah Huckabee Sanders, called Woodward’s latest book a collection of “fabricated stories.”

The Washington Post published excerpts Tuesday of Woodward’s book “Fear,” a deeply reported examination of the Trump presidency. The book portrays an administration consumed by brutal infighting and a president whose anger at Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation can paralyze the West Wing for days at a time. Close advisers quietly maneuver to control Trump’s impulses and prevent political and national security disasters.

The Democratic Socialists of America Have an Anti-Semitism Problem Can the DSA ‘Corbynize’ the Democrats into an anti-Semitic movement?

https://www.frontpagemag.com/fpm/271218/democratic-socialists-america-have-anti-semitism-daniel-greenfield

“Like most American Jews, I was raised with the delusion that Israel was a safe haven for me,” Julia Salazar wrote on Mondoweiss, an anti-Semitic hate site, while denouncing the Jewish State.

Salazar’s rant had appeared on a racist site whose creator had complained that his publication had been banned from DailyKos because of “my repeated insistence on talking about the large Jewish presence in the American establishment and the importance of Jewish money in the political process” and one of whose editors had declared, “I do not consider myself an anti-Semite, but I can understand why some are.”

In reality, Salazar had been baptized as a Catholic, her uncle was a Jesuit priest, and her brother made it clear that no one in the family was Jewish. The Jewish part of her past was as fake as the rest.

And it was this biography that the Democratic Socialists of America candidate was running on. The DSA had been hoping to turn Salazar into the next Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, with the support of radical lefties like Cortez, Cynthia Nixon and Zephyr Teachout by playing up her imaginary biography.

But Salazar, a socialist candidate running for the State Senate in New York, had lied about that, and nearly everything else. Caught on video, claiming, “I immigrated to this country when I was little,” she had actually been born in Miami to an Italian-American mother and a Columbian immigrant father. Despite growing up in a mansion, she claimed to have a working class background. Her mother and her brother between them tore up most of her fake biography of a hardscrabble, immigrant life.

ELECTIONS ARE COMING: AMMAR CAMPA-NAJJAR (D- CA DISTRICT 50)

The Munichian Candidate By Lloyd Billingsley

https://amgreatness.com/2018/09/01/the-munichian

Terrorist’s grandson Ammar Campa-Najjar is a “Palestinian-Mexican” American Democrat on the rise.

“Grandson of terrorist rises in race against indicted GOP Rep. Duncan Hunter.” That supposedly “inflammatory” headline drew criticism on social media, and even the Reagan Battalion tweeted that it was “disgusting.” On the other hand, none of the critics questioned its accuracy.

The terrorist was Muhammad Yusuf al-Najjar of Black September, the PLO death squad that murdered 11 Israeli athletes and coaches at the Munich Olympics in 1972. The terrorist’s grandson is Ammar Campa-Najjar, 29, a Democrat challenging Republican Rep. Duncan Hunter in California’s 50th Congressional District, where Hunter is under indictment for misusing campaign funds. Ammar acknowledges that Muhammad Yusuf al-Najjar is his grandfather but calls the revelation “unfortunate” and dismisses the Fox News headline as a “quick take.”

Ammar Campa-Najjar comes billed as a “a Palestinian-Mexican American,” what Obama biographer David Garrow (Rising Star) might call a “composite character.” A more interesting question is how the family of Muhammad Yusuf al-Najjar managed to arrive in the United States.