[PJMedia] Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer has awarded the state contract to trace and track coronavirus victims to a Democratic consulting firm that worked for her 2019 campaign.
Contact tracing is used to find out who's got the virus and who they've been in contact with. The massive amount of data this generates could help in finding out who should be tested and where resources to fight the spread of coronavirus need to go. And it can also provide information useful to elected politicians.
Whitmer awarded a contract for contact tracing in the state to Every Action VAN, an arm of the Democratic data heavyweight NGP VAN. Essentially, Whitmer has given the ability of NGP Van to develop a massive voter database. The company says it won't use the data collected in Michigan for political purposes. If you believe that I've can sell you Mackinac Bridge for a song.
UPDATE
Whitmer has rescinded the contract. Apparently, she sort of, kind of, bypassed established protocols and awarded a no-bid contract to a partisan Democratic company.
[BBC] Coronavirus: Harvard rejects Trump demand to pay back aid.
Harvard University has pushed back against US President Donald Trump after he demanded it pay back nearly $9m (£7.3m) in coronavirus relief aid.
The president said he was unhappy that the ultra-wealthy Ivy League college had received stimulus money. But the university said the funds would help students facing "urgent financial needs" because of the pandemic.
Harvard is rated the world's wealthiest university with an endowment fund valued at $40bn.
At Tuesday's coronavirus briefing, Mr Trump told a journalist: "I want Harvard to pay that money back, OK? If they won't do that, we won't do something else.
"They have to pay it back, I don't like it. This is meant for workers, this isn't meant for one of the richest institutions, not only, far beyond schools in the world. They got to pay it back."
#2
About 45-50% of Harvard's undergraduates every year are full-freight, i.e. their parents write checks for $75,000 or more, or $300,000+ for these kids' undergraduate degrees.
At the rate of increase, that sum paid by nearly half of H's brats will amount to half a million dollars for a shitty undergrad BA or BS -- with honors, of course, since every H student has an 'A' average whether he or she's actually mastered anything or not.
So that means every year, the H. Admissions Committee needs to find and persuade to attend H some 800 or so ultra-wealthy children. The same goes for another 25 or so absurdly expensive overrated private colleges that also charge their wealthy spawn ridiculous suns for their buttwipe BA/BS undergrad degrees.
Among this nation's best and brightest college-bound HS seniors there simply aren't enough ultra-wealthy high achievers to full those spots. (It's all there in the SAT's data sets.)
Where does all this lead?
To China, of course, and to our shitty politico-oligarch class.
It's largely from China and from our Gores and Obamas and Clintons and Bushes and the rest of the SS clown-roster that these overrated, overfunded, overcharging private elite colleges fill their classes and from whom they fund their operations.
It's no wonder our age has produced such a stupid, incompetent and shitty political class.
#3
A.B. or S.B. I think, unless they changed it. Just tweaking you, Lex :)
My kids had the same point of view though; they thought Harvard undergrad was a joke and refused to even apply. Their tune changed when it was time to get their PhD's.
Posted by: Whiskey Mike ||
04/22/2020 10:01 Comments ||
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#4
We all have to play the game.
That's the Shitshow, Jake
#5
Harvard is saying their funds came from CARES, not PPP, which is good I guess because they qualified. CARES money is supposed to be split 50/50, students in financial need / coronavirus expenses. They 'said' they would be vectoring all of it to students in financial need. Cheap PR for them. Not everything they do sucks, but then I remember the Chem dept head being hauled away. That is a raw spot for me, as it smells like corruption.
Posted by: Whiskey Mike ||
04/22/2020 11:59 Comments ||
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The Wookie demurs
[NY Post] There is "no chance" former First Lady Michelle Obama will be Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden’s running mate, according to a top Obama adviser and friend of the family.
Former Obama White House senior adviser Rodent-Faced Iranian Tool Valerie Jarrett said Tuesday that Obama would not consider being Biden’s vice president in an interview with The Hill, telling the outlet that she simply is not interested in being on the Democratic presidential ticket.
"The reason why I’m being so unequivocal is that there just simply has never been a time when she’s expressed an interest in running for office," Jarrett said.
"She’s not demurring here. She’s not being hard to get. She doesn’t want the job," she continued.
Biden has said on numerous occasions that he would love for the former first lady to be on the ticket with him, though always noting that it would never happen.
As recently as Monday, the Democratic nominee said to CBS Pittsburgh that he’d have her has his running mate "in a heartbeat. She’s brilliant, she knows the way around, she’s a really fine woman. The Obamas are great friends."
Regardless of whether Biden would take her, according to Jarrett, Obama is not interested.
"Of course he would take her. That’s not the question. The question is, is this the way in which she wants to continue her life of service luxury?"
Posted by: Frank G ||
04/22/2020 10:45 ||
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#1
The polling data must look that bad, and perhaps there are factors with Champs habit’s now that can’t be fixed? One can only smile at this and who delivered it.
Posted by: Frank G ||
04/22/2020 14:23 Comments ||
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#10
This is excellent news if true. Michelle on the ticket would be a game changer. But she and her husband can continue to make millions without any responsibilities if she stays out. Pretty easy decision. And yes Frank, the rat faced bit was hilarious.
#12
I've been thinking it may be Stacy Abrahms. No National experience but Dem's don't care, look at Obama. Abrahms is so divisive and hateful of anything Trump and the Republicans the Bernie Bros Progressives will love her.
Posted by: Jan ||
04/22/2020 15:59 Comments ||
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[CNS News] Stacey "Tank" Abrams, a Democrat who lost the Georgia gubernatorial election to Republican Brian Kemp, on Tuesday opposed his announcement that some businesses may start reopening on Friday.
"The worry is that while trying to push a false opening of the economy, we risk putting more lives in danger, and there's nothing about this that makes sense," Abrams told MSNBC's "Morning Joe."
Abrams said instead of returning to work so soon, "every small business owner should be able to look to the federal government for the Paycheck Protection Act. And instead of these large corporations receiving millions of dollars, those dollars need to be directed to the small businesses."
Democrats are were holding up additional funding for the Paycheck Protection Plan because they want more money for other things.
Abrams said people should not put their lives at risk so they can keep their jobs
Posted by: Frank G ||
04/22/2020 10:35 ||
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#9
a big problem with Michelle as VP, aside from the fact that Michelle wants nothing to do with it, is that Jill Biden and Michelle aren't on speaking terms
Posted by: lord garth ||
04/22/2020 21:13 Comments ||
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[The Federalist]
1. The FBI Always Intended to Spy on the Trump Campaign
2. FBI Failed to Brief Trump About Its Page Suspicions
3. The FBI Spied on the Trump Administration
4. Rep. Adam Schiff Is a Rotten, No-Good, Two-Faced Liar
5. FBI Relied Solely on Fake News to Support Portions of the FISA Applications
6. The Special Counsel Pushed Pathetic Intel Too
7. Oh, the Sweet Irony
Head over to the Federalist for the full story with details!
#2
Only six? A devastating welcome revelation would be that someone actually was indicted and prosecuted for 1-6. Toss in espionage, mishandling classified information, sedition and treason as well. Now, that would be sweet irony.
[Free Beacon] Michigan Governor Whitmer Awards Coronavirus Contract Monies to Dem Consulting Firm
NGP Van will aid state in massive contact-tracing operation
Michigan Democratic governor Gretchen Whitmer has handed over control of the state's new contact-tracing operation to one of her own campaign vendors and one of the left's biggest technology firms. The move has sparked concern that she is using the coronavirus to strengthen the Democratic Party's data operation, potentially at the expense of public health.
The Whitmer administration announced Monday that it had awarded a contract for contact tracing in the state to Every Action VAN, an arm of the Democratic data behemoth NGP VAN. The liberal firm works with all of the major Democratic campaign committees and hundreds of labor unions across the country, according to its website, and will "help organize remote phone banking and track information and contacts" for Michigan, a state press release said.
The group is run by Stuart Trevelyan, a longtime Democratic campaign operative who worked in the Clinton White House and is currently assisting presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden's campaign with voter outreach and fundraising, according to Federal Election Commission reports.
UPDATE 6:45 p.m.: After publication of this article, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer's administration announced that the contract was being rescinded. Read more here. HT Drew
Posted by: Woodrow ||
04/22/2020 00:00 ||
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#1
Not your president, eh, Gretchen?
Well, if the people of Michigan recall your zhopa, there will be no need for "not my governor" stickers.
#8
She has surely joined the ranks of despised assholes.
Posted by: Frank G ||
04/22/2020 8:26 Comments ||
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#9
NGP VAN, which was paid nearly $5,000 by Whitmer's campaign in 2019 and is working on her reelection campaign, said the Democratic firm would not appropriate the data it gleaned from Michigan residents.
Uh huh. I think that re-election campaign is dead
Posted by: Frank G ||
04/22/2020 8:30 Comments ||
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#10
She's overstepped and killed her chances of joining Biden. She's now seen as a fascist dictator with liberal propoganda and only hardcore lefties like that sort of thing.
#12
To be fair Biden didn't really show signs of dementia until after super tuesday. He was always gropy and that should have been enough but that only bothers the left when it's republicans talking about being gropy.
#7
Remember that the next time Government Motors needs a bailout.
Posted by: Abu Uluque ||
04/22/2020 12:52 Comments ||
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#8
Also remember - there are a number of unions where the leadership / officers are left-wing and the membership is largely conservative. I base that off my extensive experience with a Mass. state workers union and my roommate's membership in the local police union, so I don't see large swaths of the UAW (or any other union) voting blindly for Democrats, especially this time around.
Also, on the link above - when ARRA came down in 2009 and untold millions went out to create 'shovel-ready jobs', I saw the membership in that union increase from about 3,150 to 3,400 or so. If anyone wants to try and tell me I'm all wet, I can show them two spreadsheets to this effect. That's because I did the semi-annual audits for about six years, pretty much by myself.
#12
Don't those conservative rank and file union members ever get to vote on their union leadership?
Sure they do - and many of their votes are discarded so the "correct" candidates win. You don't believe the "Leadership" would allow an honest vote that would oust them from their cushy jobs, do you?
Posted by: Marilyn Tojo7566 ||
04/22/2020 23:49 Comments ||
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[Daily Mail, Where America Gets Its News] Democrat quickly removed the post after US crude oil futures turned negative
They hit a stunning minus $37.63 a barrel; it was roughly $60 at the start of 2020
'You absolutely love to see it,' Ocasio-Cortez replied to a post on the news
AOC then followed up her tweet with a post calling the slump a 'key opportunity'
Representative Jodey Arrington hit back: 'I don’t “love to see” oil & gas workers & their rural communities suffering as a result of this devastating price collapse'
Traders are still paying $20.43 for a barrel of U.S. oil to be delivered in June
Oil is traded on its future price; the May futures contract expires Tuesday
That exacerbated volatility; by Monday evening US oil prices were back above 0
[THECONSERVATIVETREEHOUSE] "In World War II, there weren’t people lining up at the capitol to protest the fact that they had to drop everything they were doing and build planes or tanks, or to ration food.”
Does anyone want to tell Whitmer the difference is during the war effort people were working and getting paid; but under her unilateral decrees people are forbidden from working and no-one is earning a living…. Which is the entire reason for the protests.
Posted by: Fred ||
04/22/2020 00:00 ||
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#3
Oh, Lex - I like it! Another word added to the lexicon!
Posted by: Bobby ||
04/22/2020 0:17 Comments ||
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#4
Maybe we wanted to defeat the Krauts en masse and the United States of that era was far, far more patriotic than you Dem Chi-com load swallowers are now? Just a stray thought.
#6
A more apt comparison is Bonus Army (1932):
(wiki)"The Bonus Army was a group of 43,000 demonstrators – made up of 17,000 U.S. World War I veterans, together with their families and affiliated groups – who gathered in Washington, D.C. in mid-1932 to demand early cash redemption of their service certificates."
#9
^ My experience is that any action that causes the browser to unexpectedly refresh while I'm composing a comment may cause the comment editing box to empty. My recommendation is copy your work to the clipboard frequently when you are composing a big comment. This is also helpful if after hitting submit you discover you used a spam filter ban word.
Posted by: M. Murcek ||
04/22/2020 6:27 Comments ||
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#10
Note to the Governor, interning everyone like they were Americans of Japanese ancestry was indeed the very model of a WW2 era Democratic party leader.
#13
Michigan Healthcare workers being sent home due to lack of work. Seems people are staying out of hospitals to avoid virus. Can't go to Detroit hospitals as workers there say they would quit. Whitless is not liked at all as I am told by those from Michigan recently.
#6
The leftist will never be satisfied. The air and water in America is cleaner than 75 years ago by any measure. The panic by politicians in reaction to COVID-19 is based on the bias of the model output messenger (just like climate crisis anti-capitalists).
[NYP] Mayor Bill de Blasio’s critics let him know how they really felt about him ordering New Yorkers to snitch on each other for violating social-distancing rules — by flooding his new tip line with crank complaints including “dick pics” and people flipping the bird, The Post has learned.
Photos of extended middle fingers, the mayor dropping the Staten Island groundhog and news coverage of him going to the gym have all been texted to a special tip line that de Blasio announced Saturday, according to screenshots posted on Twitter.
One user sent the message “We will fight this tyrannical overreach!” to the service and got an automated message that in part said, “Hello, and thank you for texting NYC311.”
A multi-volume chronology and reference guide set detailing three years of the Mexican Drug War between 2010 and 2012.
Rantburg.com and borderlandbeat.com correspondent and author Chris Covert presents his first non-fiction work detailing
the drug and gang related violence in Mexico.
Chris gives us Mexican press dispatches of drug and gang war violence
over three years, presented in a multi volume set intended to chronicle the death, violence and mayhem which has
dominated Mexico for six years.
Rantburg was assembled from recycled algorithms in the United States of America. No
trees were destroyed in the production of this weblog. We did hurt some, though. Sorry.
[PJMedia] Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer has awarded the state contract to trace and track coronavirus victims to a Democratic consulting firm that worked for her 2019 campaign.
[CNS News] Stacey "Tank" Abrams, a Democrat who lost the Georgia gubernatorial election to Republican Brian Kemp, on Tuesday opposed his announcement that some businesses may start reopening on Friday.
[Free Beacon] Michigan Governor Whitmer Awards Coronavirus Contract Monies to Dem Consulting Firm
