As COVID Breaks Records in Arkansas, Its GOP Governor Regrets Ban on Mask Mandates
As the spread of the highly contagious Delta variant shatters coronavirus case records in Arkansas, its Republican governor is scrambling to reverse a ban on local mask mandates he signed into law just months ago. But as Gov. Asa Hutchinson admitted in a press conference Monday, rolling it back will be difficult—and something he probably can’t do without broader support from his party’s lawmakers.
“In hindsight, I wish that had not become law,” Hutchinson told reporters. “But it is the law and the only chance we have is either to amend it or for the courts to say it has an unconstitutional foundation.” The governor, who last week declared a public health emergency amid surging COVID cases, is now calling for a special legislative session to amend the ban. But Hutchinson’s admission of regret may not be enough to convince the state’s GOP-controlled legislature.
Resistance to vaccines has exacerbated the crisis, with Arkansas communities accounting for some of the country’s lowest vaccination rates. Last week, Hutchinson faced vaccine hesitancy firsthand when he was roundly booed on stage after challenging the lie that vaccines cause fertility issues.
Original join date: 11/23/2004
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Seeking Immunity From Suit Over Jan. 6th Attack, Rep. Mo Brooks Tells Judge He Was Simply ‘Cooperating’ with the ‘White House’
Rep. Mo Brooks asked a federal judge to declare that he was immune from a civil lawsuit filed by Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.) alleging that the Alabama Republican was among several high-profile political figures responsible for inciting supporters of Donald Trump to riot and overrun the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6.
Floating a theory of immunity in a 44-page filing on Tuesday, Brooks claimed he was simply “cooperating” with the “White House,” a decision affecting his ability to perform his congressional duties.
Swalwell’s complaint, filed in March, contends that Brooks—along with Donald Trump, Donald Trump Jr., and Rudy Giuliani—”convinced the mob that something was occurring that— if actually true—might indeed justify violence to some, and then sent that mob to the Capitol with violence-laced calls for immediate action.”So if Trump had told Mo Brooks to plant a bomb in the Capitol Building, he'd do it?Brooks begged to differ with the DOJ’s legal and factual interpretation of the day’s events.
“It is absolutely a part of the job and duties of the U.S. Congressman from Alabama’s 5th Congressional District that the Congressman cooperate with the White House whenever possible and appropriate to protect and promote the direct and indirect jobs tied to federal activities in Alabama’s 5th Congressional District,” Brooks wrote. “Cooperating, or not cooperating, with the White House affects a Congressman’s effectiveness. Certainly rejecting the request of the White House to give a speech at the Ellipse could hurt a Congressman’s effectiveness. This is particularly true given the importance of the White House to space, defense and other jobs in a Congressman’s district.”
Original join date: 11/23/2004
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Republicans aren't quite done trying to cancel Ben & Jerry's
It was about two weeks ago when Ben & Jerry's announced that it would stop selling ice cream in disputed parts of the Middle East, explaining in a statement, "We believe it is inconsistent with our values for Ben & Jerry's ice cream to be sold in the Occupied Palestinian Territory (OPT)." The company added that it intended to find a way to stay in Israel "through a different arrangement."
As we discussed soon after, Sen. James Lankford (R-Okla.) responded to the corporate announcement by arguing that his home state "should immediately block the sale" of all Ben & Jerry's ice cream in Oklahoma.
It quickly became obvious that Lankford was basing his position on a state law that didn't actually apply, and the senator's push quietly collapsed -- let's say, melted -- soon after.
Original join date: 11/23/2004
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X-Books Forum Mutant Tracker/FAQ- Updated every Tuesday.
X-Books Forum Mutant Tracker/FAQ- Updated every Tuesday.
Avatar: Here's to the late, great Steve Dillon. Best. Punisher. Artist. EVER!
I believe someday the reflexive and unwavering support we give to Israel despite their actions (which they likely engage in because they know they don't have to worry about much blowback when their big Uncle Sam has their back) will be regarded in the same way as our support for Apartheid South Africa (which again, we weren't as close to as Israel was and who likely helped them become a nuclear powered Neo-Nazi state). Also, reflexive support for Israel isn't solely the domain of Republicans. There's a reason Ben has tried to unseat (D)-Debbie Wasserman-Schultz, and it's not entirely for corruption reasons or trying to move the party to the right (though you could argue the Israel issue is part of both).
Exactly, at least he's acknowledging that he messed up.
The likes of DeSantis are doing everything they can to ensure that covid-19 NEVER goes away.
DeSantis and the likes are just uncreative, cowardly idiots. All they do is pander to partisan even the face of catastrophe. Unfortunately, Florida is so crazy that they might re-elect the idiot.
Conspiracy minded types suspect red state governors are intentionally letting COVID rates skyrocket so they can blame Biden for all the cases as part of a plot to win back the House and Senate in 2022. At this point, given the party's overt pro-death stance, I wouldn't put that past Qpublicans. As for DeSantis, there's his need to stay in power, since Trump lives in his state, if he doesn't maintain the anti-mask mandate, even though Florida's cases are soaring, he risks getting primaried if he goes against the dictates of The Former Guy.
Avatar: Here's to the late, great Steve Dillon. Best. Punisher. Artist. EVER!
I fear with DeSantis fealty to the Orange One and with schools starting to open up again(with no mask mandates!) the inevitable upcoming question "how many dead kids will it take for DeSantis to do ANYTHING?" will end up being at trick question with no answer...
Donald Trump wants his supporters to carry 'Trump Cards'
edit: The missing part of the link is Business Insider
Here is an alternative source that might not get blocked
Donald Trump wants his supporters to carry "Trump Cards."
The Trump camp sent two emails on August 4 asking supporters to get on board with carrying the red and gold cards, which look like credit cards and bear the former president's signature.
"The card you select will be carried by Patriots all around the Country. They will be a sign of your dedicated support to our movement to SAVE AMERICA, and I'm putting my full trust in you," Trump wrote in the first email.
The Trump team sent a follow-up email later that night, which read: "We're about to launch our Official Trump Cards, which will be reserved for President Trump's STRONGEST supporters."
Last edited by Tami; 08-05-2021 at 08:28 AM.
Original join date: 11/23/2004
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