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Barack Obama: “Earlier this week, Michelle and I called our friend @KamalaHarris . We told her we think she’ll make a fantastic President of the United States”

By
lowkell
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9

Great stuff…and so much for the idiocy about the Obamas supposedly having some sort of hesitation/doubt about endorsing Kamala Harris! LOL

Friday News: “GDP surge: ‘The fundamentals are on the side of Harris’”; “Barack and Michelle Obama endorse Kamala Harris”; “JD Vance’s ‘Cat Ladies’ Riff Has Serious ‘Handmaid’s Tale’ Vibes”; “Zooms for Kamala Harris Draw Six-Digit Attendance, Break Records and Raise Millions”

By
lowkell
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14

by Lowell

Here are a few international, national and Virginia news headlines, political and otherwise, for Friday, July 26.

How to Prove that an Accident Resulted from Negligent Driving

By
Blue Virginia
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11

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Many accidents are preventable and could have been avoided if one or both parties exercised caution. When an individual’s negligence results in an accident leading to injuries or death, the injured parties receive compensation.

According to a report, 90 percent of all accidents can be traced to human error or negligence. If you are involved in a car accident, reaching out to a car accident attorney will help ensure that you get the needed compensation.

Building a Solid Negligent Claim

To build a solid negligent claim, the victim must provide evidence to validate their claim. Without this evidence to support your claim, getting compensation for the injuries may be challenging. 

The evidence provided must be able to prove all of the following:

#1. There Was a Duty of Care

The accident victim must prove that the driver in question has a duty of care toward them. Without establishing a duty of care, it will be difficult to establish negligence. Every driver has a duty of care towards other road users. Therefore, they are expected to adhere to road regulations to ensure the safety of other road users.

#2. There was a Breach of Responsibility of Care

The victim must prove that the at-fault party failed to carry out their duty of care towards them. This breach of responsibility can result in reckless driving or failure to take precautionary measures, resulting in accidents. 

#3. The Negligence Led to the Accident

While a driver may have failed to uphold their duty of care towards other road users, the victim must prove that the negligence contributed directly or indirectly to the accident. Accident victims suffer both economic and non-financial losses. Their ability to tie the losses to the accident increases the possibility of getting compensation. 

#4. The Accident Led to Damages

If the damages suffered by the victim did not result from the negligence, then it will not be possible to establish liability. You will be required to support your claims with documents which may include receipt of medical bills, documents of vehicle repairs, and documentation of lost wages due to the injuries. 

Sometimes, the damage suffered by the victim may be non-economical. A typical example of non-economic damage is the victim’s emotional pain due to the injuries. The judge determines the monetary value for this type of damage.

#5. You Have Less than 50 Percent Liability

In an accident case, some states operate with the comparative liability rule regarding negligence. This rule would compensate the victim even if their negligence contributed to the accident. However, the compensation paid is proportional to the percentage of liability.

In other words, if an individual has 30 percent liability, what it means is that the amount to be paid out to them will be reduced by 30 percent. Where the comparative liability is practiced, an individual will forfeit their compensation if their liability is up to 50 percent.

Conclusion

Proving negligence in a car accident can be complex. While you can process your claim all by yourself, you can increase the success rate by engaging the services of a competent accident attorney who will help gather relevant evidence and represent you in a manner that will advance your case.  

Video: Sen. Mark Warner Rips Trump Calling America “a stupid country”; Expresses Great Confidence in Kamala Harris, Says She “will do great in Virginia”

By
lowkell
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9

See below for video and a few highlights from Sen. Mark Warner’s regular press availability.

  • “First I want to address the issue of President Biden’s decision not to seek re-election…we heard from Joe Biden last night, who I think showed himself as a real American patriot, putting the country first, recognizing his literally multiple decades of service to our nation, but realizing it’s time to pass the torch. So I’m  grateful for the president’s selfless decision. I also think about the kind of America that Joe Biden talked about last night that can accomplish great things, but we all have to own that responsibility versus the dark and destructive vision that Donald Trump continues to put out. Matter of fact, I saw in some of the clips that in the last day or so he’s called America’s a stupid country. How do you aspire to lead a nation if you make those kind of comments?”
  • “I’ve also been extraordinarily impressed by how much support has been thrown behind Kamala Harris. I know Vice President Harris very well – Lisa and I have spent time with her and Doug socially; she served on my Senate intelligence committee. And the next president of the United States is going to inherit an extraordinarily challenging world where we’ve got Russian aggression in Ukraine, China’s efforts to continue to expand its authoritarian power not only across Asia but across the world, a NATO that has been strengthened under President Biden. And Vice President Harris has got the ability to have that continuity; she’s had exposure to the world’s leaders, I think she will be well received…I can say also tell you behind closed doors she was extraordinarily well respected, she did her homework. She goes into this task as running for president I know with solid national security bonafides and I’ll be there to vouch for her and proud to endorse her all along the way.”
  • “I also want to make a quick comment on on Prime Minister
    Netanyahu’s speech yesterday. It was impassioned. And while I agree Israel has the right to defend itself and we all agree that Hamas committed unspeakable atrocities on October 7th, but I was deeply disappointed that the Prime Minister did not acknowledge the suffering and death now of over 40,000 Palestinians. And there cannot be a release of hostages without a ceasefire in Gaza. And we see extremism in the West Bank where Israeli settlers continue to harass Palestinians, we see the Israeli military action in Gaza, we need to get to a ceasefire. And the only way we will get to a permanent lasting peace is a two-state solution…”
  • “We continue to see an economy that is the envy of the world I think. We saw second quarter GDP growth about 2.9% today. The truth of the matter is – and this is plain facts – the whole rest of the world envies the American economy, and world growth has been increased by a full percent of of GDP because of the resilience and the strength of the American economy. You’ve got that strength with inflation coming down and continuing to manage that. I know that’s not what Mr. Trump says; again, I wonder why somebody who calls our country stupid thinks he could lead it. But he paints a very very bleak picture of where we are in America that is not the case.”
  • “I think sinking in what the choice in front of America is. We’ve got a Donald Trump that said he was going to be a new guy – that lasted maybe 20 minutes – at the Republican convention before he went back into the old, frankly, demeaning of our country again. I point out I think in the last 24 hours he’s called the country stupid and that everybody in leadership in America stupid…that’s not the America that I know or the America that I think we all respect and love. I do think there’s enormous new energy coming from Kamala Harris’s candidacy. I think we’re seeing that in new registrations all over the country. We’re seeing that obviously it’s been widely reported in the upsurge in donations. I can tell you amongst my colleagues in the Senate, there’s a bigger spring in [their] step in terms of energy and enthusiasm. And…one of the ways that we could build on that is we still owe Virginia State a visit by the vice president or a debate venue or at least a vice presidential debate.”
  • “Do I really look crazy enough to weigh in on one of these folks [potential VP picks for Kamala Harris] over the other? You know, I’d like to see somebody that is viewed as a moderate. I’d like to see somebody that’s got some foreign policy experience, although I think Kamala Harris is quite strong (I’ve seen that firsthand in her role on the Senate intelligence committee and obviously or four years as vice president). I also always take a hanker[ing] to governors because they’ve got executive experience. So hopefully my answer has not disqualified any of the above, and I am sure she’ll make a great pick…I think that that’s going to bring a new energy to this already energized effort that’s been really…pretty remarkable over the last…boy, I guess it was just Sunday that President Biden said he was not going to run for re-election. It feels like a very different campaign today than it did say a week ago.”
  • “I think [Kamala Harris’] comments echo a lot of Americans across the political lines – Israel has a right to defend itself against terrorists, and Hamas are terrorists, but the idea the way the Israeli Prime Minister yesterday somehow said anyone who protests and calls out the destruction and the number of deaths in Gaza is somehow controlled by a foreign government like Iran, that’s just not the case. There is evidence of some Iranians trying to influence, and I fully reject those protesters who advocate for Hamas or who tore down an American flag at Union Station…but we’ve got to get a ceasefire…and it’s going to take both parties, both the Israeli government and the Hamas leadership to make compromises to get to that…”
  • “I’m not in the inner circle of the Harris campaign team. I think those key Midwestern states are still going to be key – Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wisconsin. I think a lot of young voters in those states, a lot of voters of color are newly energized. But I also think states that appeared to be potentially slipping away from President Biden – Arizona, Nevada, North Carolina – are going to be back in play, because a lot of of again younger voters, Latino voters I think are energized. I’ve got to tell you, I feel much much better about Virginia, and I know…my friend of 40 years…[Tim Kaine] …I think he was going to be fine regardless. But I think Vice President Harris will do great in Virginia. So I’m a lot more optimistic.”
  • “I also got to say, we’ve got to go through a Democratic convention, I hope we come out with a different message than some of the fearmongering that took place in Milwaukee…in most nations, you know, a long campaign for national office is 90 days…so I think there’s going to be more than enough time for Vice President Harris to re introduce herself to Americans and introduce herself to those who maybe not focused in the past. And I think one of the strongest things she’s got going for is not only economy that I think more and more people realize is continuing to be strong and the envy of the world, but Donald Trump has gone back to his his negative, demeaning, dark vision for America, and I don’t think that’s where Americans are at – that’s not who we are as a people. And so I’m very optimistic, but I’ve never been a great political prognosticator…so I’ll leave that to the pros.”

Video: Rep. Jennifer Wexton (D-VA10) Marks Disability Pride Month on House Floor Using New AI Voice Model

By
Blue Virginia
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6

Great stuff from Rep. Jennifer Wexton (D-VA10); truly inspirational!

Wexton Marks Disability Pride Month on House Floor Using New AI Voice Model

Washington, DC — Today, Congresswoman Jennifer Wexton (D-VA) delivered a speech on the floor of the House of Representatives to recognize Disability Pride Month, celebrated each July. Wexton utilized her new AI voice model for the first time on the House floor to share how she has fought throughout her career for disability rights and accessibility issues, and how that has now become a personal fight for her since her Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP) diagnosis last year.

“I hope that when people see me continuing to do all I can to keep living my life and doing this job I love as best I can, they understand and appreciate the courage, resilience, and spirit that so many Americans of differing abilities demonstrate each and every day. I hope I can be a voice — even an AI voice — for Americans facing accessibility challenges and other disabilities, because too often people only see us for that disability. And in truth we are so much more,” said Wexton.

The AI voice model was created through ElevenLabs, a software company that specializes in developing natural-sounding speech synthesis software using deep learning. The model was generated consensually using a collection of previous public speeches from Rep. Wexton provided by her team. Any additional questions about the ElevenLabs technology can be directed to press@elevenlabs.io.

You can view Wexton’s floor speech here.

Yet Another Strong Economic Report Demonstrates Why It’s Both Morally Wrong and a “Bad Bet” for Republicans to “[root] for the economy to fail, hoping that Americans will suffer and it will benefit them politically”

By
lowkell
-
9

Here in Virginia, Republicans “rooting for the economy to fail, hoping that Americans will suffer and it will benefit them politically” (as Rep. Don Beyer correctly puts it) include the odious Rep. Jen Kiggans (R-VA02), who absolutely MUST be defeated this November – for a whole host of reasons. Anyway, let’s keep this massive economic success story going by electing the VP (Kamala Harris) of the guy (Joe Biden) who played a huge role in making it happen. Also, in addition to the Biden admninistration, thanks to former Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer etc – you did this in SPITE of Republican opposition and despite tiny majorities in the House and Senate!

Video: “I’m Kamala Harris, and I’m running for President of the United States”

By
lowkell
-
21

From the Kamala Harris for President campaign:

“In this election, we each face a question: What kind of country do we want to live in?

There are some people who think we should be a country of chaos, of fear, of hate.

But us? We choose something different. We choose freedom. The freedom not just to get by, but get ahead. The freedom to be safe from gun violence. The freedom to make decisions about your own body. We choose a future where no child lives in poverty, where we can all afford health care, where no one is above the law.

We believe in the promise of America, and we’re ready to fight for it. Because when we fight, we win. So join us; go to kamalaharris.com and let’s get to work!”

Thursday News: “Biden’s address was a moving piece of political theatre and a rebuke of Trump”; “Aging, incoherent felon refuses to drop out of presidential race”; “Republican attacks on Kamala Harris to get ‘as ugly and bigoted as they can’”

By
lowkell
-
21

by Lowell

Here are a few international, national and Virginia news headlines, political and otherwise, for Thursday, July 25.

Challenges Faced By Immigrants During US Citizenship Applications

By
Blue Virginia
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2

SPONSORED CONTENT

Many immigrants enter the U.S. with the aim of attaining citizenship. Unfortunately, the denial rate of U.S. citizenship applications has increased, with over 85,000 petitions denied last year alone. The fear of being denied is a prominent challenge in immigration and tends to deter immigrants from even attempting it.

Citizenship in the US is the primary goal in every immigration process. While temporary residency has benefits, permanent residency is much more secure, and citizenship is the best. If an undocumented individual is apprehended, they can be put in deportation proceedings. These issues dont even touch the surface of all the challenges undocumented immigrants face when applying for U.S. citizenship.

Language Barrier

The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) makes asylum seekers apply to the US through Form I-589. This application should be submitted for asylum and withholding of removal within the first year of arrival to the U.S.

Due to many language barriers, many immigrants may be unaware of this important form. Unfortunately, the USCIS will often not take not knowing as an excuse. In addition to this form, English and civics testing is part of the application process. English language proficiency and understanding of the history and workings of the U.S. government are two components of the naturalization test. This plethora of questions can make immigration incredibly difficult and confusing.

Application Process

To get started with the naturalization process, there are certain requirements applicants must meet under the U.S. Immigration and Nationality Act (INA). Applicants must file documentation forms, like Form N-400, which the USCIS reviews to determine their eligibility for naturalization. The USCIS will also interview applicants as part of the determination process for eligibility.

If the USCIS approves the application, they schedule applicants for a mandatory oath ceremony before a USCIS official or judge. Also, applicants must be 18 years old and have lived or carried on business in the United States for at least five years.

Financial Constraints

The cost of becoming a U.S. citizen can be intimidating to many immigrants. Necessary documents for immigration are incredibly expensive. For example, Form N-400 costs 725 dollars, which covers 85 dollars for biometrics screening and 640 dollars for the form. 

Thankfully, U.S. citizenship and ESL classes are free, and several adult education centers offer free classes. In addition, some applicants may be eligible for an application fee waiver. To be eligible for this waiver, applicants must first receive a means-tested benefit, their household income has to be at or below 150 percent of the HHS Federal Poverty Guidelines, and applicants should be experiencing financial hardship that makes them unable to pay the fee and other bills.

Conclusion

Overcoming obstacles such as language barriers, navigating complex application processes, and managing financial constraints are all essential aspects of the journey toward citizenship. Despite all these challenges, citizenship for many immigrants is still possible.  “As long as you have no criminal record, applying at the right time and having all your documentation in order can greatly increase an applicant’s chances of success,” says attorney Maria Ximena Sussman of Sussman Law Firm, PLLC. Ultimately, by addressing these challenges head-on and seeking out these available resources and assistance, immigrants can realize their dreams of becoming U.S. citizens.

DNCC Rules Committee Passes Permanent Rules for 2024 Presidential Nomination

By
Blue Virginia
-
4

From the DNC:

DNCC Rules Committee Passes Permanent Rules for 2024 Presidential Nomination
Today, the Convention Rules Committee, in partnership with the DNC and DNCC, voted to adopt the Permanent Rules of the 2024 Democratic National Convention by a vote of 157-3.

The Convention Rules Committee is co-chaired by Governor Tim Walz and Bishop Leah Daughtry. The Rules voted on today by the full Committee establish a virtual nominating process for the presidential nominee and set the stage for a dynamic in-person Convention in Chicago, where the delegates vote to approve the Democratic Party platform, have ceremonial and celebratory votes on the nominees, and host historic acceptance speeches from the new Democratic ticket and voices throughout the Party.

A timeline for the nomination process, a summary of the Rules, and an outline of the process for both candidates and delegates is outlined below.

“As a Party, it’s our obligation to design and implement a fair nomination process for delegates to formally express their preferences through a vote to select an official presidential nominee of the Democratic Party who will go on to top the ballot in November,” said DNC Chair Jaime Harrison. “As extreme Republicans try to chip away at the faith in our institutions, the work of our Rules Committee and the responsibility of our delegates to cast their votes in the days to come proves that our democracy is strong. The work ahead may be unprecedented, but we are prepared to undertake a transparent, swift, and orderly process to move forward as a united Democratic Party with a nominee who represents our values and will lead us to victory in November.”

“We have taken an important step today to put our Democratic ticket on every general election ballot nationwide and on a path to winning in November,” said DNCC Chair Minyon Moore. “We are confident that the process we’ve laid out is secure, democratic, and critical to our defense against bad-faith litigation coming from Republicans and dark money groups as they once again put partisan games above the will of American voters. Today we stood up clearly to say: we will not let you. The Convention in Chicago will be a critical moment for our party — not only to rally around our nominees and showcase their bold platform for the next four years — but to bring delegates to the table to vote on our Party’s platform and conduct a ceremonial state-by-state roll call that has long been a beloved tradition of our Party.”

Summary of the Rules

  • Candidates for nomination must declare their candidacy by filing with the Convention’s Secretary. The window for submission opens shortly after the Rules are adopted by the Committee during their meeting, and closes at 6:00 PM ET on July 27. 
  • Candidates for nomination will have until 6:00 PM EST on July 30 to demonstrate that they have met the qualifications for nomination, which include:
    • (1) File a formal and notarized declaration of candidacy with the DNC; 
    • (2) Meet Party and legal qualifications to be President; and 
    • (3) Secure 300 delegate signatures electronically, not more than 50 of which may come from one delegation.
  • If only one candidate for nomination demonstrates they have met the above qualifications, electronic voting by the delegates may begin as soon as August 1.
  • If more than one candidate for nomination qualifies, the Rules specify that the DNCC Chair and the DNC Chair can allow a period no longer than five days in between the close of nominations for President (July 30) and the beginning of voting for candidates to make their case to delegates and the public. 
  • The DNCC Chair and the DNC Chair may open voting on the Presidential nominee no earlier than August 1, 2024.
  • Only the votes of pledged delegates will be included in the count on the first ballot, unless a candidate has the verified support of a number of pledged delegates equal to or greater than a majority of all pledged and automatic delegates.
  • In the event that a nominating contest for President moves beyond the first ballot, the votes of pledged and automatic delegates will be counted in subsequent ballots. 
  • A majority of Convention delegate ballots who are eligible  to vote during that roll call shall be required to nominate the presidential candidate.
  • Once a Presidential nominee is selected, the nominee may place a Vice Presidential candidate into nomination. The Convention Chair may then declare that candidate to be the Vice Presidential nominee of the Democratic Party.  
  • At the Convention in Chicago celebratory and ceremonial votes to recognize and affirm the presidential and vice presidential nominees of the Democratic Party will be taken, including a state-by-state roll call for the presidential nominee.

Candidates and Delegates

  • Technical Process: The technical processes for (1) conducting a virtual nominating process through signature collection, and (2) a virtual roll call will largely reflect the process used successfully and securely in 2020.
  • Candidate Declaration of Intent: Candidates intending to pursue the nomination must declare their intent by July 27, 6:00 PM ET, to the Convention’s Secretary and should include an unnotarized but signed copy of Appendix E of the Call for the 2024 Democratic National Convention as well as links to the candidate’s website and contact email address to be included in the Candidate Directory. Appendix E requires the candidate to confirm they are a member of the Democratic Party and will run and serve as a Democrat, if elected.
  • Candidate Directory: In order to facilitate campaign and delegate communication, the DNC will provide a Candidate Directory to delegates. The Directory will list Candidates’ names, website, and contact email for delegates to opt in to communications from campaigns. Once delegates have indicated that they want to hear from a candidate, the candidate will receive the delegate’s contact information.
  • Signature Collection: As soon as tomorrow, the window will open for declared candidates to obtain and file a petition demonstrating a threshold level of support from delegates.  The deadline for a petition reflecting at least 300 delegates, but no more than 50 from a single state, must be filed by 6:00 PM ET on July 30.
    • Each delegate will receive a personalized nominating petition form. When  returned, it will be verified and tallied. Each nominating petition form has a range of security features to establish the authenticity and accuracy of each petition. Clear instructions and technical support will be provided to Delegates. 
    • Reporting on the number of signatures returned will be provided directly to campaigns.
  • Appendix E: Candidates for nomination must make sure that their declaration of intent paperwork due on 6:00 PM ET on July 27, is notarized, as called for in the paperwork itself, by 6:00 PM ET on July 30.
  • Virtual Roll Call: The technical process of conducting a virtual roll call will largely reflect the process used successfully in 2020.  Voting will begin no earlier than August 1.
    • Each delegate will receive a personalized virtual roll call voting form. When  returned, it will be verified and tallied. Each roll call form has a range of security features to establish the authenticity and accuracy of each vote. Clear instructions and technical support will be provided to Delegates. 
    • Reporting on the number of votes returned will be provided directly to campaigns. 
    • The system will allow for as many additional rounds of voting as are necessary to declare a winner, which requires a majority of delegates’ votes.
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