Category Archives: Ron Paul

I have become increasingly cognizant of a tendency of many libertarians to conflate "libertarian" with "antigovernment." There are a variety of groups and movements in the U.S. who hate "the government" for their own reasons, but aren't by any stretch of the imagination libertarian. If you hate the U.S. government because you think is it's controlled by "Zionists" who are trying to destroy European American culture by organizing an alliance of Third World immigrants and native African Americans, you will likely support dramatic cuts in government; but you are not libertarian, because if you thought "your people" were in control, you would happily have a massive, unlibertarian federal government.

Back when Ron Paul's presidential campaign was receiving support from various racist individuals and groups, his campaign's official position was that it welcomed support from *anyone* regardless of ideology, so long as they supported limiting the federal government. That's exactly the mentality I object to.

Libertarians hopping on the "defunding the police" bandwagon once again reminds me of the crucial but neglected distinction between being libertarian (or classical liberal) and being antigovernment. Protection of life, safety, and property is a legitimate function of government. Even Robert Nozick was fine with funding the "night watchman" of the night watchman state.

There are plenty of police reforms that could be enacted from a libertarian perspective that would improve matters. Qualified immunity reform is libertarian. Holding police accountable for misbehavior is libertarian. Reducing the power of police unions is libertarian. Getting rid of overtime and pension abuse is libertarian. Banning no-knock raids is libertarian. Reducing bloated police department bureaucracies is libertarian.

Broader reforms that would reduce the need for police and reduce police/civilian encounters are also libertarian. Getting rid of victimless crimes, especially the drug war, and certain categories of criminal business regulation that should be handled civilly is libertarian. Getting rid of taxes that lead to black markets that in turn lead to police/civilian encounters is libertarian. Abolishing laws that allow local governments to put people in jail for failure to pay civil fines is libertarian. Separating forensic science services from prosecutors' offices is libertarian. Holding prosecutors accountable for misconduct is libertarian. Finding alternatives to prison for certain categories of offenders is libertarian.

By contrast, "defunding the police," if that just means willy-nilly cuts, is not libertarian. This is true especially given that police departments will inevitably follow the "Washington Monument" strategy, in which bureaucracies respond to budget cuts by cutting what is most painful to the voting public. What is very likely to suffer is the legitimate function of the state in preserving people's lives, safety, and property from criminals, while not reforming the system at all nor doing anything about abusive police officers.

If defunding the police means getting rid of the police entirely, without any remote prospect of alternative means of protecting lives, safety, and property suddenly arising in its place (and in the current legal environment, the anarcho-capitalist dream of private protection services replacing police is impossible, even if it were somehow practical), is both crudely antigovernment and stupid.

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Is Defunding the Police Libertarian? Reason.com - Reason

Paul Cebar on the road

FitzGerald's in Berwyn continues its weekly Stay-At-Home Concert Series this weekend with funk artist Paul Cebar of Tomorrow Sound at 4 p.m. Saturday, June 6. Cebar will take to the streets in the FitzGerald's pickup truck for a free outdoor performance fans can see from the safety of their front yards or online for free at fitzgeraldsnightclub.com. Also, Toronzo Cannon's performance set for last weekend was postponed because of protests in the area. Watch FitzGerald's page for an upcoming date announcement. Donations to support the artists and FitzGerald's staff can be made through Venmo @fitzgeraldsnightclub or PayPal at paypal.me/fitzgeraldsnightclub.

Ron Onesti and Onesti Entertainment present two streaming shows for your home-viewing pleasure this weekend. Episode 3 of the Artists on Lockdown Series features "Hangin' and Bangin' with Carmine & Vinny Appice and special guest Derek Sherinian" conversing directly with Onesti at 6 p.m. Friday, June 5, on the Artists on Lockdown Facebook page at facebook.com/ArtistsOnLockdown. At 7 p.m. Saturday, June 6, catch Chicago's own Piano Man Band playing a streaming set on Facebook at facebook.com/ron.onesti.54.

This week, Side Street Studio Arts' annual Battle of the Bands puts three new artists in the ring for a chance to win the $100 weekly prize and a slot in the Final Round, set for Aug. 8. Visit the virtual battle from 5 to 9 p.m. Saturday, June 6, at sidestreetstudioarts.com/battleofthebands to check out a song from this week's candidates -- Splits, The Data Waves and Swimshirt -- and cast your ballot. Votes and a selection from the panel of five judges will determine this week's winner. For details or questions, visit sidestreetstudioarts.com/battleofthebands.

Also, congratulations to last week's winners: Foresight on May 29 and a tie between The Romantic Satire and Homie Stock on May 30. All three winners earned cash prizes and slots in the finals.

Brian Shamie is a Daily Herald multiplatform editor and local music junkie. Email him at bshamie@dailyherald.com, find him on Facebook or follow him on Twitter (@thatshamieguy) or Instagram (@chicagosoundcheck). Brian also keeps tabs on the Chicago-area music scene at chicagosoundcheck.com.

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Sound check: Paul Cebar on the road, Ron Onesti on the screen - Chicago Daily Herald

The New York Yankees have been blessed with some of the greatest baseball players to ever play the game. One of those players is Ron Blomberg.

Ron Blomberg played for the Yankee from 1969 and 1978 and is one of the most unsung Yankee players. Blomberg is mostly known today as one of the old guys who shows up annually for the Old Timers Day Game. What few remember is the Blomberg is usually recognized as the first designated hitter in baseball. In his ten years being a DH and outfielder for the Yankees, he hit .302. In his first plate appearance as a DH in 1973, he walked with the bases loaded and won the game against the Red Soxs Luis Tiant. The bat he used is in the Baseball Hall of Fame Museum.

Blomberg, now 71 today, he spoke about his hope for a baseball season this year and the Yankee broadcasters he has known for years and calls fiends. He also talks about the admiration he has for the Steinbrenner family.

On a day where we hope baseball is going to start, I want to reach out to the engines that really make the Yankees go. I had an opportunity to have three great broadcasters in Bill White, Frank Messer, and Phil Rizzuto, who all became my dear and best friends in the game of baseball. Phil Rizzuto named me Boomer when I hit a home run off Nolan Ryan that almost hit the faade in right. Holy Cow, hes the Boomer!

Now the Yankees have 3 great ones that I consider to be dear friends in John Sterling, who has been my friend for 40 plus years, and he was at the hospital at Mt Sinai when my son Adam Blomberg was born. John is happy in knowing that my son is now chief anesthesiologist in Miami and in charge of over 4000 doctors.

Michael Kay; I found out 30 years at an Old Timers Day game that I was his favorite player growing up because I was Jewish. Michael Kay, thank you for having me on your show and calling me the Abraham Lincoln of baseball. And of course, Suzyn Waldman, who became my friend in recent years. I respect her and think she is excellent with John Sterling. People should be so grateful that the Yankees put 3 great people in their broadcasting booth.

Some other notable New York Yankee broadcasters are Arch McDonald and J.C. Flippin, who are both before my time. But from the time I became a Yankee fan in 1950, Mel Allen was the man. He broadcast Yankee games from 1939 to 1964 along with Red Barber. Other famous Yankee broadcasters were Jerry Coleman, Joe Garagiola, Bill White, and Bobby Mercer. Today along with John, Michael, and Susan, Ken Singleton, David Cone, Jack Curry, John Flaherty, Bob Lorenz, Meredith Marakovits, Paul ONeill, and Ryan Ruocco hold down the booth. My all-time favorites are Mel Allen, Phil Rizzuto, Bobby Mercer, and Micheal Kay.

One broadcaster that stands out in this writers mind is Al Leiter, the former Mets and Yankee pitcher who is no longer with the broadcast team (he left after the 2018 season). He is now an analyst for the MLB Network. I loved listening to him, his knowledge of the game, and his ability to explain it was captivating. His only fault was he didnt always know when to shut up.

Ron, also spoke about his relationship with the late George M. Steinbrenner and his admiration for the Steinbrenner family:

When I joined the New York Yankees they were owned by CBS. They didnt really care about winning and losing and didnt put any money into the team. When George Steinbrenner bought the team in 1973 he came into the clubhouse and sat down with the team and told us he was going to do whatever it takes to win. He wanted to bring a Yankee championship back to the fans and the city. He personally told me to tell him what I needed to help get that job done.

George was the best owner and best person I ever met in the game. In many respects he was like a second father to me. At the time Jennifer, Hal and Hank were just babies.

I still go back to the stadium often during the season and Jen and Hal would always tell me that their father loved me and that they love me too. George appreciated that I always gave 110% percent.

The Steinbrenner Family are the greatest people and run the greatest organization in the Yankees. Georges goals were to win championships and make the fans proud.

George Steinbrenner belongs in the Hall of Fame!

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New York Yankees: Yankee Ron Blomberg on the Yankee broadcasters and the Steinbrenner family - Empire Sports Media

It's a Saturday in early June and live major sports haven't happened in like nine years. That means it's the perfect time to rank Redskins jerseys.

There's a twist to this set of rankings, though the threads you're about to see don't even exist. Trippy, right?

While Ron Rivera is changing just about everything about his new franchise, it sure seems like Washington's uniforms aren't getting any sort of update. But that hasn't stopped tons of Twitter usersfrom coming up with some very interesting mock-ups.

So, here's a list of some of the more notable ones that are out there, starting with the worst and working up to the sweetest.

What, you have something better to do this weekend than checkout hypothetical unis? Course you don't. Get to scrolling...

6) Here, the Burgundy and Gold becomes the Gold and Gray/Grey (why does such a boring color have multiple spellings?):

No thanks. Analysis over. Moving on.

5) OK, so the look above is really the only heinous one. The rest, starting with this white-on-white proposal, are all varying levels of fresh:

The white facemask in this mock-up is a subtle yet excellent idea, because white facemasks always work. The simple number with no trim is nice, too.

The problem here, though, is that Dwayne Haskins appears like he's taking snaps for USC and not the Redskins. This is a solid concept, yet one that stillneeds some adjustments to make it top-notch.

CLICK HERE TO SUBSCRIBE TO THE REDSKINS TALK PODCAST

4) The selling point for No. 4 is that it brings back the beloved spear, then puts the beloved spear on a mattehelmet:

The rest is fine, but the helmet on its own is a 24/10.

3) This ensemble delivers, as it gives off some serious Capitals-at-the-2015-Winter-Classic vibes:

Some fans seemed to get upset over the inclusion of some Cowboys-likestars (nothing like getting mad over something that isn't real!), but overall, this is sharp, even though it's not that complex.

2) Bruce Allen was never pro-Color Rush (or pro-winning games), so the Redskins never got close to wearing gold jerseys. If they ever did in the future, however, hopefully they'd be as gorgeous as these:

The DC flag on the shoulders is dope and, yep, so is the white facemask. Unfortunately, thiscreation just barely lost out to the winner of this theoretical list.

1) Here's a uniform that would feel totally new and throwback at the same time:

That helmet? Beautiful. The grey facemask? Nailed it. The gold on the shoulders? Uh-huh. The white numbers with no outline? Yes please.

In all, this is a perfect design, and one that would make every contest more pleasurable to watch. Even the ones that end with mostly visiting fans having a party at FedEx Field.

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Why Cam Newton remains unsigned, according to Ron Rivera - NBCSports.com

ASHEVILLE - As of noon June 5, the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services tallied 30,777 lab-confirmed cases of COVID-19 statewide.

NCDHHS counts a total of 966 deaths associated with lab-tested COVID-19 statewide, with 717 hospitalized across the state.

As of about noon June 5, Buncombe County reported 376 total cases and 30deaths.

Most of Buncombe's deaths continue to be in nursing homes, which accounted for at least 30 deaths in the county so far.

Confirmed cases in other Western North Carolina counties, according to state counts:

The Citizen Times is providing this story for free to readers because of the need for information about the coronavirus. We encourage you to further support local journalism bysubscribing.

As interim health director Dr. Jennifer Mullendore spoke June 4 about the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on Buncombe County, she asked the community to "keep working together" to curb the spread of COVID-19.

Mackenzie Wicker reports on five key points made by Mullendore during the briefing, including the disproportional impact of the virus onblack, indigenous and people of color; a drive to have widespread testing at long-term care facilities; the pandemics impact on emotional and mental health; and more.

More: Coronavirus: 30 deaths in Buncombe, disproportionate infection in people of color and more

From September 2017-September 2018 The Asheville Fire Department responded to 268 lockout calls.(Photo: Citizen Times file photo)

Two Asheville firefighters tested positive for COVID-19 this past week, causing a 12-hour closure for cleaning of the fire stations and trucks, and sending into quarantine firefighters who had come into close contact with those infected, according to fire officials.

Karen Chvez reports that while Asheville Fire Department spokeswoman Kelley Klope said measures are being taken to protect the roughly 280 firefighters from contracting the deadly disease, some firefighters say the department is not doing enough and is not following state guidelines to protect firefighters, who are already risking their lives daily to protect the public.

More: 2 Asheville firefighters in isolation after testing positive for COVID-19

Testing materials loaded on the bed of a pickup remained sterile before nurses and lab tech worked to screen 50 residents for the coronavirus at a June 3 testing event in Spring Creek.(Photo: Paul Moon/The News-Record & Sentinel)

A drive-thru testing event in the Spring Creek community of Madison County screened 50 individuals for COVID-19, the respiratory illness caused by the novel coronavirus.

Paul Moon reports that the free testing event open to anyone, including non-Madison County residents and those showing no symptoms, was the first offered by the Madison County Health Department since the onset of the pandemic.

A second free and open screening event is scheduled for Thursday, June 11 from 6-8 p.m. outside Hot Springs Elementary School.

More: Stepped up testing in Madison County aims to slow asymptomatic spread of COVID-19

Children gather at Splashville fountains at Pack Square to cool off during the summer heat in this file photo.(Photo: Citizen-Times Photo)

Asheville's public pools and popular interactive fountain Splashville will be closed for the summer amid concerns for COVID-19, city officials announced June 5.

This includes the Recreation Park, Malvern Hills Park and Walton Street Park pools as well as Splasheville in Pack Square Park.

"Attempting to operate the pools this season would not be feasible logistically or most importantly from a safety standpoint," the city said in a statement.

More: Asheville pools, Splasheville closed for summer season over coronavirus concerns

The Ingles distribution center covers nearly a mile.(Photo: Courtesy photo)

Question: Ignoring obvious safety issues regarding inhibited breathing and impaired vision, how can Ingles supply employees with a single mask and force them to wear it in a warehouse environment for an entire shift, while the Centers for Disease Control recommends a new mask every time a face-covering becomes wet or soiled?

Answer:"Ingles has taken the initiative to both require and provide face masks for all associates," said Ron Freeman, Ingles Markets chief financial officer. "We also maintain a supply of face masks at our distribution center should an associate arrive at work without a mask or soil a mask while working."

Read further for Answer Man's smart-aleck answer and more details.

More: Answer Man: Ingles warehouse mask policy questioned? Walking rules?

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Coronavirus: What you need to know in Asheville, WNC June 6 - Citizen Times

FISA is a Watergate-era law that serves as the foundation for national security probes and governs federal surveillance, both domestically and of Americans abroad. Sens. Mike Lee (R-Utah) and Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) offered the amendment that lawmakers adopted Wednesday.

BREAKING: BIG win tonight for the protection of Americans privacy and civil liberties! Leahy tweeted after the vote. Tomorrow we turn to the underlying bill, and then on to House.

Approval of the amendment marked a legislative coup for privacy advocates and civil libertarians, who have struggled lately to maintain the legislative gains they had achieved after former NSA contractor Edward Snowden leaked details about the governments most secret spying programs.

Wednesdays successful push also adds a new wrinkle to what has become a months-long saga to renew intelligence authorities that expired on March 15 after Congress left town in the face of the Covid-19 pandemic without reaching an agreement.

Sen. Mike Lee. | Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images

Once the bill returns to the House, its unclear if the change will mollify privacy advocates enough to allow for a quick approval. House Republicans, who have spent weeks demanding that the chamber return to normal business, could also push to reopen a broader debate over changes to FISA.

My sense from my House counterparts was this is a carefully crafted compromise and that it could potentially unravel if it comes back with this amendment, Virginia Sen. Mark Warner, the top Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Committee, told POLITICO.

But Warner, who voted against the reform measure, noted that 75 House Democrats voted against the renewal bill the first time in March and that with the amendment, maybe it could pick up more.

Texas Sen. John Cornyn, the former GOP whip, said that it could be the House will just take it up and pass it, but declined to speculate on when that might be.

Lee, who had lobbied Trump to veto the House bill if it reached his desk, said in a statement that the reform measure will help bring some much-needed oversight and accountability to FISA.

More work still needs to be done, but this is good reform in the right direction, and I look forward to final passage of this FISA reform legislation, the Utah Republican added.

The Senate is expected to pass its version of the bill on Thursday, but first lawmakers will have to vote on an amendment by Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.), which is expected to fail. Paul, a close Trump ally, has also pushed the president to veto the legislation.

Paul has indicated that he would continue to urge a veto unless all three reform amendments were adopted.

Before notching their victory, privacy-minded lawmakers were dealt a setback Wednesday, when they came up one vote shy of approving an amendment that would have protected Americans internet browsing and search history from federal surveillance.

As far as I can tell we lost because there were some people absent, Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), who co-sponsored the measure with Sen. Steve Daines (R-Mont.), told POLITICO. I intend to keep coming back to make sure that any administration cant spy on [Americans] and violate the Constitution.

The bill incorporates new privacy provisions into FISA and imposes new requirements on the FISA court system. It also permanently ends a deactivated NSA program that had allowed the countrys largest intelligence organization to obtain, with judicial approval, Americans phone records in terrorism probes.

Under an agreement struck in March, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell can introduce up to three amendments of his own to undercut or weaken the others. However, he declined to do so Wednesday.

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Senate privacy hawks score a win that delays surveillance renewal - POLITICO

Ironically, as coronavirus deaths continue to decline in the US and as more states are opening up, there appears to be an increase in mask wearing. Are the face masks going to prevent the spreadof the virus? Will they protect people from the virus? Or may they actually cause harm to some people?

Oreven: are they a new form of virtue signaling, a show of submission to the authorities? Could mandatory face mask requirements be the prelude to mandatory vaccines and other measures in the near future?

Plenty of prominent MDs including Fauci not long ago have condemned the mass masking of America. Are they right?

Watch the Ron Paul Liberty Report as Dr. Ron Paul addresses this issue.

Source: More Doctors Speak Out AGAINST Face Masks If No Health Benefit, What

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More Doctors Speak Out AGAINST Face Masks If No Health Benefit, What is the Real Reason They are Mandated? - stopthefud

Gov. Ron DeSantis finds himself in a peculiar position while managing the biggest crisis of his political career.

The Republican leader is still more liked than disliked in Florida, but his popularity has fallen ever since he announced the first coronavirus cases in the Sunshine State.

Similarly, most Floridians think DeSantis has handled this emergency well, but governors in other states are getting much higher marks for their coronavirus response, according to the latest Washington Post/Ipsos poll. Seventy-one percent of Americans approve of how their governor is facing this challenge; but in Florida, 60 percent feel the same about DeSantis.

Why is this? And what can DeSantis do about it?

For answers, the Tampa Bay Times surveyed more than 200 of the states most plugged-in politicos campaign operatives, fundraisers, party officials, lobbyists, political scientists and more from both side of the aisle. They were allowed to weigh-in anonymously to encourage honesty from people closely involved in the political process. Most arent strangers to distress and some deal with crisis management full-time.

When the Times polled the Florida Insiders in March, about 60 percent gave DeSantis an A or B for his response to the coronavirus. Asked to grade him again two months later, the As and Bs dropped to half, while the Ds and Fs have doubled to 30 percent.

Several pointed out this is an unprecedented global crisis with imperfect solutions, and difficult decisions will always leave some people unhappy.

People want to blame someone for anything that does not go as planned and he is at the top, one Republican said. Long after this is over I think people will appreciate his measured step by step approach.

Added another: He had no place to go but down, but he still remains highly popular.

But many others from both parties said DeSantis has suffered from unforced errors and a partisan approach. Other governors appear to have won over bipartisan support despite making tough public health and economic choices. About 86 percent of Ohioans support Republican leader Mike DeWines coronavirus response, for example, and 81 percent of New Yorkers are behind Democrat Andrew Cuomo of New York.

Meanwhile, six in 10 of Floridians approve of DeSantis coronavirus approach.

Some Democrats and independents who were pleasantly surprised by the governor earlier in his term became disenchanted with his response to COVID-19, explained one Insider not affiliated with either party. During a crisis, many people expect strong executive action and DeSantis instead waited several weeks to issue a stay at home order (objectively, this may or may not have been a good strategy, but it is not what the majority of Floridians wanted to see at that time). So despite the fact that Florida is doing pretty well on COVID-19 deaths compared to the other states, DeSantis is not getting much credit yet."

Bringing in people from the other side of the aisle could have united the state around his response, one Democrat said. Allow everyone to have a voice because it makes it harder to criticize him from a partisan lens with Democrats are at the table.

Several Insiders said DeSantis needed to show more empathy and compassion. Others said his criticism of experts and the media appeared petty. One veteran Republican called DeSantis, Tone deaf."

I get he doesnt understand the plight of the average Floridian, but his team should stop telling him what he wants to hear.

The most frequently discussed theory for DeSantis lower polling is his close relationship to President Donald Trump. The word Trump came up nearly 60 times in the responses from the Florida Insiders.

Democrats, and even some Republicans, are vexed why DeSantis has chosen this moment to realign himself with Trump, whose response to coronavirus has polarized the country. According to the Washington Post poll, 43 percent of Americans almost exclusively Republicans approve of Trumps efforts to halt the virus.

DeSantis "has been acting and speaking more Trump-like, said one Republican who otherwise gave DeSantis high marks. People think hes lost some of his original independence. His advice? Be bold, follow science and not politics. Stop trying to sound like Trump.

Or, as another Republican put it: Kissing Trumps a-- is a losing strategy. Put Florida over your 2024 ambitions.

Many said DeSantis hasnt recovered from perceptions formed during his early missteps. In the first weeks of the crisis, DeSantis shared confusing, and sometimes conflicting, information with the public. It could take his office hours, even days, to clarify information. His orders often vexed local officials, many of which couldnt get the governor on the phone.

If ever faced with a similar crisis, DeSantis should, Work with cities and counties from day one, one Democrat suggested.

His most confusing order was his most important one: the April 1 directive to effectively shut down the state. Hours after he issued it, DeSantis quietly signed a second executive order that attempted to clarify what localities could do on their own. It didnt.

One Republican offered this advice to DeSantis: Dont put things in executive orders that you dont mean. No waffling, no walking back.

He should have implemented more frequent, robust and regular briefings from the (emergency operations center) to demonstrate that he is fully and completely engaged, with all hands on deck, said another Republican. I hate to say it, but any success of Floridas having flattened the curve is more related to luck than proactive, decisive action.

Some suggested the lack of transparency has turned public opinion. Before the virus even arrived, DeSantis declined to share coronavirus testing figures. Then he waited a day to announce the states first two positive cases.

For weeks, his administration shielded cases at nursing homes and assisted living facilities from the public, and only relented when news organizations sued.

Crisis comms 101: Get facts out there, one Republican said. Dont hide info consumers expect and deserve.

DeSantis is also juggling two crises at once: the coronavirus and an unemployment system failing to deliver benefits to hundreds of thousands of people out of work. DeSantis inherited a broken website not equipped to handle so many claims, but it has nonetheless created a public relations nightmare for the current office holder.

Almost 40 percent of Insiders said former governor-turned-U.S. Sen. Rick Scott is to blame for that mess, and about 35 percent faulted both Republicans. Only three out 200 respondents said DeSantis was solely responsible.

This is the first time people have had the opportunity to observe how he handles situations that actually affect them, a Republican said. And the unemployment compensation debacle is reflecting on him even though he is trying to explain it away by blaming Rick Scott.

Others said the media has made it difficult for DeSantis to change the narrative around his response, even as DeSantis has found his footing, as one put it. For example: His strategy to reopen Florida sooner than many states, but not as aggressively as his counterparts across the South, struck the right balance, many Insiders said.

Hes earned some serious scrutiny but I think the national media has piled on him while hes been better than at least half the GOP governors in this country, one Democrat wrote. I believe hes been wishy-washy and too slow at times. I also dont like his naked political appeals to his base with his demagogic rhetoric about New York. But I think his drop in popularity is due to a one-sided media storm no other elected official in the country has faced including the President.

About 58 percent of respondents said May 4 was the right time for DeSantis to restart Floridas economy; 38 percent said it was too soon. Public health experts have cautioned that reopening too much, too quickly could lead to a second wave of coronavirus cases.

A majority also said that DeSantis Phase One plan for reopening allowing some customers at restaurants, stores and museums, but keeping bars, gyms and movie theaters closed was just right. Three in 10, mostly Democrats, thought the plan is too aggressive with so many people still infected. The rest, mostly Republicans, said DeSantis should have restarted more of Floridas economy.

The media, by and large, portrayed the governor as indecisive and waffling, even though, by not imposing strict sanctions, he was being very decisive, one Republican said. He just could not get his message through to the people in any meaningful way.

This month, 92 Democrats, 94 Republicans and 14 people registered no party affiliation or with another party responded to the poll. This months Florida Insiders are:

Joseph Abruzzo, Erin Aebel, Liz Alarcon, Tom Alte, Jason Altmire, Fernand Amandi, Peter Antonacci, Scott Arceneaux, Donna Arduin, Dave Aronberg, Brad Ashwell, Jon M. Ausman, Roger Austin, Tim Baker, Ryan Banfill, Christina Barker, Michael Barnett, Scott Barnhart, Patrick Baskette, Ashley Bauman, Geoffrey Becker, Samuel Bell, Allan Bense, Wayne Bertsch, Ron Bilbao, Barney Bishop III, Greg Blair, Katie Bohnett, Bill Bunkley, Alex Burgos, Dominic M. Calabro, Kristy Campbell, Tim Canova, Gabriela Castillo, Betty Castor, Kevin Cate, Mitch Ceasar, Alan Clendenin, Brad Coker, Gus Corbella, Brian Crowley, Husein Cumber, Carlos Curbelo, David Custin, Justin Day, Hayden Dempsey, Richard DeNapoli, Pablo Diaz, Victor DiMaio, Victor DiMaio, Tony DiMatteo, Michael Dobson, Paula Dockery, Doc Dockery, John Dowless, Bob Doyle, Pete Dunbar, Barry Edwards, Eric Eikenberg, Mike Fasano, Peter Feaman, Mark Ferrulo, Damien Filer, Marty Fiorentino, Mark Foley, Mark Foley, Kirk Fordham, Towson Fraser, Keith Frederick, Ellen Freidin, John French, Jack Furnari, Wayne Garcia, Stephen Gaskill, Josh Geise, Steve Geller, Richard Gentry, Julia Gill Woodward, Susan Glickman, Brian Goff, Susan Goldstein, Alma Gonzalez, Ron Greenstein, Thomas Grigsby, Joe Gruters, Stephanie Grutman Zauder, Mike Hamby, Marion Hammer, Chris Hand, Mike Hanna, Abel Harding, James Harris, Alexander Heckler, Rich Heffley, Bill Helmich, Cynthia Henderson, Laura Hernandez, Don Hinkle, Jim Holton, Jim Horne, Tyler Hudson, Yolanda Jackson, Aubrey Jewett, David Johnson, Jeff Johnson, Christina Johnson, Eric Johnson, Eric Jotkoff, Fred Karlinsky, Joshua Karp, Henry Kelley, John Konkus, Chris Korge, Jeff Kottkamp, Kartik Krishnaiyer, Stephanie Kunkel, Jackie Lee, Bill Lee, Matt Lettelleir, Beth Leytham, Shannon Love, Nikki Lowrey, Javier Manjarres, Roly Marante, William March, Daniela Martins, Beth Matuga, Nancy McGowan, Kathy Mears, Andrea Mercado, David Mica, Jamie Miller, Paul Mitchell, Travis Moore, Lucy Morgan, John Morgan, Samuel Neimeiser, Meredith ORourke, Stephanie Owens , Maurizio Passariello, Alex Patton, Brandon Patty, Darryl Paulson, Jorge Pedraza, Juan Penalosa, Evelyn Perez-Verdia, Rachel Perrin Rogers, Joe Perry, Ron Pierce, JC Planas, Van Poole, Evan Power, David Ramba, David Rancourt, George Riley, Jim Rimes, Franco Ripple, Patrick Roberts, Jason Rosenberg, Sarah Rumpf, Ron Sachs, April Salter, Tom Scarritt, April Schiff, Jack Seiler, Mel Sembler, Stephen Shiver, Kyle Simon, Alex Sink, Patrick Slevin, Stephanie Smith, Adam Smith, Eleanor Sobel, John Stemberger, Alan Stonecipher, Amber Stoner Nunnally, Nancy Ann Texeira, Phillip Thompson, Cory Tilley, Greg C. Truax, Frank Tsamoutales, Greg Turbeville, Christian Ulvert, Jason Unger, Karen Unger, Matthew Van Name, Steven Vancore, Nancy Watkins, Screven Watson, Kevin Watson, Jonathan Webber, Susie Wiles, Marley Wilkes, Mike Williams, Rick Wilson, Jamie Wilson, Leslie Wimes, Jon Woodard, Eric Zichella, Christian Ziegler, Mark Zubaly,

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Why isnt Ron DeSantis getting as much love as other governors? The Florida Insiders have some ideas - Tampa Bay Times

(RNS) Mourning in America, a sendup of Ronald Reagans famous 1984 Morning in America spot by the Lincoln Project, an anti-Trump Republican group, has garnered 1.5 million YouTube views in two days and evoked a Twitter rant from the president. Why?

Watch them both.

The Reagan-era original Morning in America creates a halcyon portrait of America before Vietnam, before Watergate, before the oil crisis and the Iran hostage crisis and stagflation and the Carter malaise. It is, in a word, restorationist, with a dimension of the religious restorationism note the church scene that President Reagan acquired growing up as a member of the Disciples of Christ. The Disciples, who endowed Reagan with what historian Joe Creech calls their unashamed city-on-the-hill patriotism, were founded in antebellum America with the goal of restoring primitive Christianity.

Thanks to Reagan, restorationism became core Republican ideology and a constant campaign theme, above all when a Democratic president needed replacing. In 1996, Bob Dole campaigned on restoring the American Dream. In 2000, George W. Bush pledged to restore honor and dignity to the presidency and to restore morale in our military.

In the 2012 election cycle, restorationist messaging by GOP presidential wannabes was everywhere. Newt Gingrichs campaign book asked readers to join us in this effort to restore America as a nation like no other. Rick Perry wanted to restore the nations principles. Ron Pauls cry was Restore America Now; his agenda, the Restore America Plan.

Amazon had on offer a Michele Bachmann for President pin that read, Restoring constitutional conservative values. Mitt Romneys super PAC was named Restore Our Future. Nor should we overlook the 2012 Republican Party platform, which employs restore and its cognates no fewer than 21 times.

But the apotheosis of Republican restorationism occurred in 2016, when candidate Trump appropriated Reagans Lets make America great again slogan and all but patented it under the now ubiquitous MAGA acronym.

Of course, Trump has advanced an America First conception of greatness that bears little resemblance to what Reagan had in mind when he regularly invoked John Winthrops extension of Jesus city on a hill metaphorto stand for American leadership in the world.

If you want to put it in theological terms, Reagans restorationism expressed the optimistic postmillennial ideal of his Disciples youth: Use this time to prepare the way for Christ to return to the best place possible. Trumps restorationism is akin to the premillennial nightmare of the Left Behind book series: We are a beleaguered few who can make it through the end times only by decontamination and walling ourselves off.

But so long as the pre-COVID economy persisted, it retained an aura of Reaganism.

Mourning in America destroys that aura. Instead of becoming prouder and stronger and better, America has become weaker and sicker and poorer. No longer able to point to a boffo stock market and ever lower unemployment, the Republican candidate for reelection signifies economic devastation and worry.

Where Morning in America portrayed Reagan as the messianic agent of restoration, Mourning in America casts Trump as the Anti-Reagan, who has to be defeated. Would we ever want to relive what his past four years have brought us?

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The mythic punch of the Lincoln Project's 'Mourning in America' - Religion News Service

Despite his anti-Trump credentials, Politico.com thinks its unclear whether Amash woulddo more damage to Biden or Trump. Showing the potential for conservative support, theWashington Examiners Brad Polumbo championed Amash against what he sees as the incompetent, fundamentally indecent Trump and the frail, too-leftist Biden.

Amash is also free of the sexual misconduct accusations against the two major party candidates which they deny.

Religion reporters will note that Amash is one of only five Eastern Orthodox members of Congress. His Palestinian father and Syrian mother came to the U.S. as immigrants thanks to sponsorship by a pastor in Muskegon. He attended Grand Rapids Christian High School, where he met his wife Kara, later an alumna of the Christian Reformed Churchs Calvin University.

On the religiously contested abortion issue, Amashs pro-life stand agrees with Orthodox Church teaching, and the National Right to Life Committee gives him a 100 percent rating. That clashes with the Libertarians pro-choice platform, but Amash plans to emphasize banning of public funding, on which his new party agrees.

Amash holds a bachelors degree in economics and a law degree, both from the University of Michigan. He was an attorney for the familys industrial tool company and at a young age 28 won a state House of Representatives seat in 2008. Also winning that year was the legislatures first Muslim woman, also of Palestinian background, Detroits Democratic firebrand Rashida Tlaib.

Just two years later, Amash won his first U.S. House race, boosted by the Tea Party wave and Amways Richard and Betsy DeVos, and madeTimemagazines 40 under 40 list. Tlaib followed him into the U.S. House in 2018. A stalwart of the Republicans libertarian faction and a disciple of economist F.A. Hayek, Amash founded the House Liberty Caucus and backed Ron Paul for the 2012 presidential nomination.

Reporters will certainly quiz a Palestinian-American on policy toward Israel and the Mideast, since his party wants the U.S. to shun foreign entanglements. It would also be appropriate to ask just how a small-government conservative like Amash would handle the massive coronavirus crisis. FYI, click here for the pieces of legislation Amash has sponsored.

Note: The filing deadline for Amashs House district, at the heart of western Michigans Bible Belt, occurs tomorrow, May 8. Amash professed confidence hed win re-election as an Independent but his district is solidly Republican and went for Trump. Predecessors in this seat included future President Gerald Ford and the late Paul Henry, former Calvin professor and son of Christianity Todaymagazines founding editor Carl F. H. Henry.

Contacts: The Amash family attends St. Nicholas Antiochian Orthodox Church(also on Facebook) in the Grand Rapids suburb of Kentwood, led by the Very. Rev. Michael Nasser (616-954-2700). Amashs Washington office: 202) 226-3831. Grand Rapids office: 616-451-8383. Also see: AmashForAmerica.com and his congressional home page.

Read more from the original source:
There are religion angles with a presidential run by Michigan Libertarian Justin Amash - GetReligion