Polybius
Polybius's JournalPope Francis criticizes Trump and Harris and says voters must choose between 'lesser of two evils'
Source: CNN
Pope Francis on Friday described the choice US voters must make in the presidential election as one between the “lesser of two evils,” deeming former President Donald Trump’s anti-migrant policies and Vice President Kamala Harris’ support of abortion rights as both being “against life.”
“One must choose the lesser of two evils. Who is the lesser of two evils? That lady or that gentleman? I don’t know,” Francis said during a press conference on the papal plane, referring to Harris and Trump. “Everyone with a conscience should think on this and do it.”
Francis has been more vocal about politics than his predecessors and has moved to make the Catholic Church more open. While he has consistently and strongly defended the Catholic Church’s teaching that abortion is the deliberate destruction of a human life, Francis has also insisted it cannot be isolated from other issues concerning human life, including immigration.
“To send migrants away, to leave them wherever you want, to leave them … it’s something terrible, there is evil there. To send away a child from the womb of the mother is an assassination, because there is life. We must speak about these things clearly,” he said.
Read more: https://www.cnn.com/2024/09/13/politics/pope-francis-trump-harris-abortion/index.html
Rashida Tlaib Refuses to Endorse Kamala Harris for President Due to Gaza Policy
Source: The Algemeiner
US Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-MI) refused to issue an explicit endorsement of Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris on Thursday, instead encouraging voters to throw their support behind candidates who support a ceasefire in Gaza.
While speaking on a panel at the Annual Legislative Conference in Washington, DC, an event sponsored by the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, Tlaib expressed dismay over Harris’s unwillingness to adopt policies advocated by the pro-Palestinian movement. The Michigan congresswoman suggested that the Harris campaign was taking a “risk” in angering voters by continuing to support Israel’s defensive military operations against the Palestinian terrorist group Hamas in Gaza.
Tlaib told moderator Mehdi Hasan, a progressive journalist and prominent critic of Israel, that some of her constituents in Michigan did not want to cast a ballot for Harris, the incumbent US vice president, because they “don’t want blood on my hands.”
“I tell them, ‘OK, but there’s other people on this ballot that support a ceasefire. There’s other people on this ballot that can protect our community,'” Tlaib said.
Read more: https://www.algemeiner.com/2024/09/13/rashida-tlaib-refuses-endorse-kamala-harris-president-due-gaza-policy/
I knew we should have ran a strong primary opponent against Tlaib. Why didn't we?
Senate predictions
In the Senate right now, there are 49 Republicans and 51 Democrats (I'm including the Independents who align with Democrats).
So what do you think it will be come January? They have one seat that is 99.99% certain to be a pickup for them (WV), but we can gain a couple as well to offset it. We have a chance in TX and FL. Unfortunately, they have a good chance in MT and a reasonable chance in OH.
Manchin endorses Hogan in Maryland Senate race: He's 'the right person'
Source: The Hill
Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.V.) endorsed former Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan (R) and his campaign for the U.S. Senate seat in Maryland, saying he is “just the right person” for the job.
Manchin, a former moderate Democrat who filed as an independent this year, showed enthusiasm for Hogan’s campaign and its embrace of moderate politics this election cycle.
“Forget about being a Democrat or Republican,” Manchin said, according to DC News Now. “Larry Hogan is just the right person with the right attitude for the job.”
Speaking from Hagerstown, Md., Manchin said Hogan won’t be controlled by “any party or any type of ideology.”
Read more: https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/4877778-manchin-endorses-hogan-maryland-senate/
Biden wears Trump hat as 9/11 unity gesture, says White House
Source: BBC News
President Joe Biden briefly wore a red Trump campaign hat at an event commemorating the 23rd anniversary of the 9/11 attacks.
He was visiting firefighters in Pennsylvania near where one of the four hijacked planes crashed, and the White House said he donned the cap as a gesture of unity.
Video recording the incident shows the president having a friendly conversation with a Trump supporter before they swap headwear.
Donald Trump's campaign was quick to see the funny side. "Thanks for the support, Joe!" one post read with a photo of Biden in the trademark Republican hat.
Read more: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c4gdgw0v3dxo
https://x.com/EdKrassen/status/1834196444342784144
Harris and Trump shake hands at New York 9/11 remembrance ceremony on 23rd anniversary of attacks
Source: CNN
President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, former President Donald Trump and Sen. JD Vance are commemorating the 23rd anniversary of the September 11 attacks, appearing to put political hostilities on the back burner for a moment as the nation remembers the tragedy.
All four leaders are in New York on Wednesday for a commemoration event at Ground Zero in Manhattan. Trump and Harris, just hours past their first in-person meeting at the presidential debate Tuesday night, shook hands ahead of solemn commemorative ceremonies after Harris turned toward Trump and both extended a hand. Vance and Harris did not appear to interact.
Harris and Biden will then travel to Shanksville, Pennsylvania, to participate in a wreath-laying ceremony at the Flight 93 memorial, according to a White House schedule. Later in the afternoon, they will both travel to the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia, for another wreath laying ceremony.
Trump will also travel separately to Shanksville later on Wednesday, according to a source familiar with his plans.
Read more: https://www.cnn.com/2024/09/11/politics/heres-how-biden-harris-trump-and-vance-will-commemorate-9-11/index.html
How close do you think the 2024 race will be?
Simple question with a poll. How close do you think the election will be?
Senate races
Which Senate races do you think we can pick up and which might we lose?
For pickups I think FL and Texas are possibilities.
For losses, WV is a certainty and MT is a danger.
Any others? Possible upsets?
World No. 2 Aryna Sabalenka wins US Open over American Jessica Pegula for third grand slam singles title
Source: CNN
Aryna Sabalenka would not be denied hoisting the US Open championship trophy this year.
Sabalenka, the world No. 2 from Belarus, defeated American Jessica Pegula 7-5, 7-5 in front of a pro-US crowd at Arthur Ashe Stadium to win the US Open for the first time.
This was the second year in a row Sabalenka reached the US Open final. A year ago, she lost to Coco Gauff, and the New York crowd was not on the Belarusian’s side, loudly pulling for the American.
Sabalenka admitted the crowd affected her in that 2023 final – and she had resolved that wouldn’t happen to her again.
Read more: https://www.cnn.com/2024/09/07/sport/us-open-final-pegula-sabalenka-spt-intl/index.html
If an American couldn't win, then I'm glad it went to Sabalenka. She's an amazing athlete and humble person.
Former President George W. Bush will not make formal election endorsement, office says
Source: ABC News
Former President George W. Bush doesn't plan to make an endorsement or voice how he or his wife Laura will vote in November, his office told ABC News Saturday.
The announcement came a day after Bush's vice president, Dick Cheney, announced he would cross party lines and vote for Vice President Kamala Harris.
Cheney said former President Donald Trump "can never be trusted with power again."
"In our nation’s 248-year history, there has never been an individual who is a greater threat to our republic than Donald Trump. He tried to steal the last election using lies and violence to keep himself in power after the voters had rejected him," he said in a statement.
Read more: https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/former-president-george-bush-make-formal-election-endorsement/story?id=113488609
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Gender: MaleHometown: Staten Island, NY
Home country: United States
Current location: Staten Island, NY
Member since: Thu Sep 28, 2017, 10:03 PM
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