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JOE BIDEN HIT out at US President Donald Trump today accusing his rival of surrendering to a surging pandemic, as the Democrat took his campaign to the Republican stronghold of Georgia one week before the US election.
While the former vice president went on the attack, seeking to expand the campaign map and his state-by-state path to victory on November 3, Trump electioneered the Midwest in a bid to shore up states which voted for him in 2016 but which polls show are tilting Biden’s way.
And with the campaign narrowing down to its final days, Biden tapped one of his top supporters, popular former president Barack Obama, to deliver a closing argument for Democrats in Florida, a must-win swing state for Trump if he is to defy the odds and earn reelection.
Biden, buoyed by poll numbers that show him leading the incumbent, drilled in on Trump’s handling of the coronavirus, reminding voters that Trump’s chief of staff Mark Meadows conceded at the weekend that “we’re not going to control the pandemic”.
Biden, speaking in Warm Springs, Georgia, branded the response “a capitulation” by a White House that “never really tried” to halt a pandemic which has now killed more than 226,000 Americans.
Instead of acting as a wartime president to battle Covid-19 as he promised, Trump “shrugged, he swaggered and he surrendered,” Biden said.
“I’m here to tell you: We can and we will control this virus,” he added.
“If you give me the honour of serving as your president, clear the decks for action,” he said. “For we will act… on the first day of my presidency to get Covid under control.”
‘Working my ass off!’
Biden, 77, was holding a socially distanced drive-in rally later in Atlanta, Georgia’s largest city.
Trump defeated Hillary Clinton by five points in Georgia in 2016 but polls have the 74-year-old running neck-in-neck with Biden in the state.
Georgia last voted for a Democrat for president nearly three decades ago — Bill Clinton in 1992 — but the Biden campaign has high hopes of flipping the state and also winning its two US Senate seats up for grabs.
Trump meanwhile maintained his hectic campaign pace, holding an open-air rally in Michigan followed by two events in Wisconsin.
Both are Midwestern battlegrounds which he won by razor thin margins four years ago, but Trump insisted “we’re leading almost everywhere” thanks to his frantic campaign schedule.
“I’ve got to say I’m working my ass off here!” he boomed in Lansing, Michigan, eliciting a huge cheer.
Trump also said his pandemic policies and economic chops would serve the nation better than Biden.
“This election is a choice between a Trump super-recovery or Biden depression,” he said.
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I think the Government should offer him citizenship. Then he could just tour Ireland indefinitely, travelling from county to county… putting right what once went wrong. Like Quantum Leap only with country music.
I’m sure that Tralee would welcome hosting the Garth Brooke concerts – We have been doing it so well for 55 years now with The Roses ?
If he stayed for long enough, he’d hope his next leap would be the leap home!
Ah now I’ve got the quantum leap theme stuck in my head!
Oh, I went right off to YouTube to listen to it!
Or into the nearest hole.
Just after hearing Lord Mayor christy Burke on liveline… The man is clueless, won’t answer a question. How can these people still be elected?
That’s shiners for you speak from both sides of there mouth.
Yeah Bluemist, because every other political party is made up of angels. Please.
In fairness he was torn asunder by the builder working at Croke Park… He kept spluttering “As I explained to your researcher Joe , i have a prior engagement and I have to go!!! …. I’m clueless get me out of here !!!
Did you just crawl out of a rock…..? The IMF aren’t here you remember that chestnut. You wally
All 5 should happen. Put simply, the money lost by hotels,shops, resteraunts and pubs, public transport etc is crazy.
It’s not money lost if it was never there to begin with. On your logic why don’t we just have 10 concerts? Make even more money with no ramifications whatsoever.
Your selfish David but then you dont live near Croke park.. get up the yard bleeding culchie
160,000 tickets will now have to be refunded. Average cost of a ticket was what? €70? Which means from VAT alone the country would have made over €11million. Factor in the loss from hotels, Pubs, Public transport etc and its probably much much bigger.
EDIT: Sorry the vat above should be 2 million
Tim what sort of maths are you using? 160,000 tickets at €70 a pop would be €11,200,000. Are you saying that that’s all VAT?
Every hotel room in Dublin was booked and obviously now they will all be empty, having turned away countless holiday makers etc. and now with very little time to fill them again. There’s an uncanny amount of money lost in the area alone. So to say you can’t lose what you never had in response to above comment spells an obvious picture of your IQ .
I’d feel sorry for hoteliers if they weren’t absolutely fleecing people to stay over the 5 nights.
€400 for a night in a shite hotel in north inner city Dublin?
Get outta here.
What about the sanity lost by local residents and intelligent people who don’t listen to such tosh generally.
The hotels would still fill those rooms as it’s in Dublin and there would be demand anyway – it just means they can’t charge triple prices for them
Its money that WOULD have been made Leopold. That’s the point I’m making.
Jack. How am I been selfish about making a point about the money that won’t be spent in dublin city now. I am not making money out of it. Do you not believe in people spending money in Dublin (if 160k people spend even €10 each that’s 1.6m to the economy). I won’t throw insults back at you because us Culchies don’t think we are great putting up stupid off topic comments.
Jack. How am I been selfish about making a point about the money that won’t be spent in dublin city now. I am not making money out of it. Do you not believe in people spending money in Dublin (if 160k people spend even €10 each that’s 1.6m to the economy). I won’t throw insults back at you because us Culchies don’t think we are great putting up stupid off topic comments.
It’s being Dave. Not been.
Apologies jack. My culchie spelling fails me yet again.
On a serious note though, do you live beside croker. And how bad does it be for concerts for residents.
No, I just have better taste in music than you.
If all the concert goers were “tourists from all over the world” they wouldn’t be paying any VAT, now would they?
I wonder how many hotel rooms were booked on special pay-up-front deals that are non-refundable ? Probably quite a lot given the demand for rooms. Those rooms are paid for and the hotels and B&Bs are well within their rights not to offer refunds……..any concert cancellations are not their fault. Could be the same situation with flight tickets. People gambled and lost. Only Bondholders and the like are allowed to do that in Ireland. Allegedly.
There is a simple solution to avoid this in future but it involves common sense, planning and dialogue so I won’t waste my, and your, time outlining it, as those three are never seen in the same room in these parts.
What % of people in the area want some of the concerts cancelled? I doubt very much that it’s a majority of them. Hell, only a very small minority of them are part of the residents association.. yet they can hold everyone else to ransom. Pathetic whining gee-bags
Correct Mart
Now everyone is loosing out. The GAA, the residents, Dublin and especially the fans! Wouldn’t be surprised if he cancelled all the shows
Let’s hope so..He’s utter shite
And what’s the alternative? We allow concert promoters and other event organisers to go ahead and book whatever acts in whatever locations at whatever times of day with utter disregard for planning permission? Why stop there, why dont we allow builders to develop wherever they like, I’m going home to extend my house now..
Well you see, buildings are permanent. A concert lasts barely an evening.
Try a better analogy.
Ferguson
What about the build and take down, an open air concert performance may be one day but the surrounding work normally makes it 3
I think anyone that had tickets for the two cancelled shows should set up camp outside the stadium (or the residents houses) with a big pa system and play Garth Brooks for the duration ha. I wouldn’t mind I can’t even stand the guy but I really think this is awful for individuals having to organise accommodation/rotas and even the amount of money the city is gonna lose out on. I hope the GAA is going to reimburse these people.
Katie it is sad for those fans affected. I know some of them. But at least now the big promoters and the buying public will pay more attention to the term ‘Subject to license.’ The GAA and promoters knew that by trying push for 5 nights in a row they’d be heading into trouble. They’re ultimately to blame for being so cavalier in such a contentious situation.
I have to be honest though ‘subject to licence’is something if never have paid attention to. Least we all know now. I am really disgusted at the organisers and especially the GAA. Surely they knew this was going to happen. But it’s typical isn’t it.
They knew full well they were chancing their arm. But it paid off for them. They pushed for 5 and got 3. Oldest tactic in the book. Pity two fifths of their customers were exploited and used as a bargaining chip. And Ticketmaster or whoever will pocket all of the interest that accrued on the Mon and Tues tickets over the last 5 months. Nice profit for them.
Ticketmaster will pocket the handling fee too. They’re under no obligation to return it and they’ve done it multiple times before:
3.1 Purchases from us may be subject to a per Item service charge and a non-refundable per order handling charge.
That’s probably close to 1million euro -VAT
I was listening to one if the residents earlier and he’s still not happy.he wants all the concerts canceled.
Really? I’d have thought with all the shit we put up with from politicians not budging on things that we’d be applauding these residents. They are not a minority, there was a huge amount of people from the area lobbying. I feel really sorry for those who can’t now go to the concerts. But I think we as a people don’t get out and lobby enough. Residents have a bloody awful time when concerts go on like this. And the arrogance of the promoters selling tickets for 5 unlicensed concerts is mind blowing when Croke park was already over subscribed is unbelievable.
It’s about time money didn’t win. Every time someone has a legitimate concern they’re told to shut up , suck it up and let the euros roll in.
The tickets should not have been sold without the license for the gigs being confirmed, this argument has been ongoing since the gigs were announced so its not like its a major surprise
Nearly all gigs market as such.
Only here. Why is that?
Your letting the country lose out on hundreds of millions in revenue . People coming from all over the world spending money on hotels , food, taxis , beer & they bow down to a few hundred People who’s main argument is anti social behaviour . Don’t make me laugh it’s a garth brooks concert not Swedish house mafia !!!
Your opinions are pathetic he is still doing 3 nights so plenty of hotels and local businesses will do well,Croke park is a sports stadium and all residents have no problems with matches been played there ,Concerts are a whole different ball game and Special planning permission is required for it ,The Gaa agreed with the residents to allowing 3 gigs a year not 8 so they have every right to object.
Welcome to Garth’s Celtic Tiger.
I’m garthbroken…
Build a brook and get over it!
There was a lot of dodgy overpriced jobs being done on people’s homes during the celic tiger so this isn’t the first time Irish people have been shafted by a fat cowboy!
334 people don’t want to be slightly discomfited so they cause major inconvenience and disruption to 160000 people….nice…..
The people being inconvenienced are the residents, your logic is totally backwards.
Yes of course. Everyone loves paying for hotels and flights that are now pointless.
160000 people are now massively disappointed and in some cases massively out of pocket thanks to this decision
So is the state through lost taxes, businesses through lost revenues and all for what?
To placate professional whiners who are already bitching and moaning about how the other three are going to cause them such misery….
God help them if they had to live in Iraq or Afghanistan…
Rubbish. You clearly don’t know what the surrounding area is like. People, particuarly old people are afraid to leave their houses. It was mis sold, industry thought it could win and tough, they lost. I feel really sorry for those who can’t go. But maybe the promoters will think twice in future.
Did DCC cancel the 2 gigs over concern for locals in the area, or are they making a point about assuming permission will be given?
Both those options??
It makes me happy that these ticket holders are now being punished due to their terrble taste in music.
“Lookin’ out the window…That’s a paddlin’,staring at my sandals….That’s a paddlin’….”
Pull the 5 of the concerts, move them all to the Phoenix park & stick 2 fingers up at the residence who will be complaining next year that the area has no money blaa blaa blaa
And what about local residents living near the Phoenix park?
The residents don’t give a shite about the “money” this is supposed to bring in. Were the Garth Brooks fans going to go around putting euro coins in my letter box or something? What money are you talking about? The money hotels like the Skylon were going to gouge people for? The money Centra were going to get for fags? The money some market stall owner was going to make on cheap cowboy hats?
Yeah, as a resident I’m really going to miss that money. If only we had enough Garth Brooks concerts I could afford to send my children to college.
Robuchalla
The Skylon has announced full refund to all.
If you are a resident of the actual half dozen streets that people walk down to get to Croke Park I assume that you’ll be happy enough not to get free “residents” tickets to All Ireland Finals to Sell on Ebay?
The Gaa & Aiken promotions should never have promoted or sold tickets for concerts they didn’t have a license for – plain & simple
Almost every concert ticket sold in this country is done so subject to planning permission! Be it Marley Park, the Aviva, Croke Park or any other venue around the country!
Reading all the comments makes me laugh “welcome to Ireland friendliest country in the world” The amount of bitching in these comments sections. If ye don’t like the story don’t read it.
I for one don’t care if he comes or not be good for economy I suppose but if dublin council object why not play in another county.
Blasphemer. Another county?! You’re mad.
Kieran Murphy – doesn’t one have to read a story first – before one can determine whether one likes it or not.
‘Ear, ‘ear, Vincent.
next poll
is the journal correct to have 5 stories on the front page about some dumb concerts?
Good idea, I’ll write that one up now.
(Also, if it helps: articles about the CRC, Leaders’ Questions, Property Tax, Paddy Kenny and a lunch time news round up were all published in the last few minutes if you’re looking for something non-Garth related).
Pwned!
its about the clicks. They’d sell their grannies for clicks.
Um, no we wouldn’t, but thanks for the random insult. Also, I don’t think there’s much of a buyer’s market for grannies.
6 articles now!….go for 10 why not?….
That sounds like a challenge *rolls up sleeves, starts typing*
There was a show on last night about granny escorts so there is a niche market to get in on :-)
I like those odds Jimbo..
@Christine – in all fairness its about advertising to keep the site going no? – clicks etc like the Daily Mail does… now its a great site with lots of great stuff – but surely now and again you go for the easy clickable articles – ? :) No?!
No.
What’s he doing now?
Too disruptive ??? What about the disruption of people coming into the country. All over the world. Just heard on Joe duffy that a someone’s friend got two weeks off from work and coming from new zealand. For a cancelled gig on tuesday. …. Not the only person coming from abroad…. Its a joke, a national embarrassment to the Irish.
That’s nothing. I heard a friend of someone who worked with my niece read that one of the astronauts in the International Space Station caught an early Soyuz back to earth so he could go to the concert. Cost him $90 million. And he’s not the only person coming from space. Wasn’t that on Joe Duffy?
They had one of the residents on the radio this morning and he sounded a reasonable bloke – just sounds like the GAA don’t care much and the residents have had enough – If you have a stadium in a residential area it’s taking the p1ss to disrupt people’s lives for a week
Whinging killjoys
Yes the council is right. What a fu king liberty on Aiken thinking they could sell tickets for 5 shows they didn’t even have a license for. Well they got caught out. And there out a lot of money what ever way you look at it. Garth Brooke’s party still want there wonga. It’s Amateur hour in Ireland yet again
They were lucky to get the 3 gigs after using their annual allocation on One Direction.
Is the journal right to swamp us with silly season ‘news’ that we don’t give a monkey’s about?
Has the chicken crossed that damn road yet or what…please keep us updated.
It’s the top story on RTE and in the Independent. I think your idea of news is somewhat different to that of the majority of other people.
It may be the top story, Jon. But is it the top 7 stories?
You tell him Jim McDonald!
Mckees middle name is Marvin
if the money needs to be refunded and the promoters are sitting on roughly 7 million euro for the weeks and until a decision is made who gets the considerable interest on that amount? Seems like a win win situation for the promoters or will someone challenge this clearly fraudulent selling of tickets and even give the interest to charity
Time for the GAA to stop pandering to these “local” community groups. The vast majority of whom do not live in the streets immediately surrounding Croke Park (30, 000 residents claim to be effected).
The residents of streets from as far away as Phibsboro have decided that they would be so inconvenienced by people walking past their house, or driving to the centre of our capital city, that they’ve resorted to legal action. Good! From now on the GAA should insist on its legal right to trade in its own premises with out being extored to supply free tickets for “local residents” to sell on Ebay. The GAA should do no more than comply with their legal minimum requirements.
As a GAA member I’m deliggted that several thousand All Ireland Final tickets will be available to GAA members rather provided to unfortuates, who didn’t notice the proximity to one of Europe’s latgest stadiums when they bought their house. I’m also delighted that several hundred thousand euro which would have been handed over to these people will be distributed to local GAA clubs.
Time for the GAA to stop taking the taxpayer’s money as well.
No. GAA members are also tax payers and are as entitled to grant funding as any other group or organisation.
Why dont he have his concerts down the country because its mostly country people who like his music, then he can have a concert every night.
What are you suggesting? That the city should be preserved for “sophisticated” bohemians like you?
Top marks for probably arrogance.
We are a joke. We can’t organise anything.
I’m not a Gareth brooks fan but this is horrible , it makes us as a nation look like a bunch of knobs who can’t be trusted to attend a concert or all hell will break loose . Seriously what kind of image must the US have of us
ohh smiles been wiped from our faces..
Is it possible for the Government to overrule DCC considering the amount of revenue and reputation that will be lost?
I’d imagine that people flying in would have booked for a few nights to see Dublin and the surrounding area.
A huge embarrassment I’d say if not resolved.
Hitler is alive and well in Ireland. The world must be laughing at us again. I bet his family will be in the corporate box for one of the concerts and to hell with the rest. Another case of the minority bullying the majority.
Delighted… People who like him are the lowest form of life
Good man Kev , intelligent comment there !
Garth Brooks was questioned about his guitar….
Reporter ………”When was the last time that you got it tuned. ?”
Garth….What do you mean?……….. I only bought it six months ago..
Hate Garth brook’s music but if your living beside a stadium expect this to come in tow, it’s there long before the residents. Tough luck.
Two less days of the bog-fest, culchies shatting on your doorstep and chasing your dog.
This decision was made by one man.the councilors voted not to sell the bin collection but we’re over ruled by the co management.he is a law on to himself.All the concerts should have been allowed its generateds millions for the economy. We have to cop on???
What is totally ridiculous is that the gigs were advertised and sold without even receiving a license. This “subject to license” business is nonsense – apply for the license and get a decision well in advance of the gig actually happening so that it is either confirmed as going ahead or not. I personally wouldn’t cross the road to see GB but 160,000 ticket-holders should not have been disappointed at this late stage.
3 nights of Manic Street Preachers for next year. Be grand.
Eoin Keegan has cancelled our enjoyment so what new plan will he come up with for raising the lost revenue? Oh yes taxes taxes taxes. All fun now stopped and it’s work to keep the county councillors in clover and pay for their junkets and expenses!!!!
Hotels in the city do not need the business….cop on DCC
But the economy does!! FACT
The permission was for a total of three concerts per year. There were three in May. The GAA and Aiken promotions knew this. The residents knew this. All five concerts should now be cancelled. If two are allowed in excess of the three in May, then the trick will be pulled again quoting precedent. Chancers!!!!!
Come off it Niall , the residence are looking for a pay off €€€ nothing else . They have no problem with football nearly every week in the summer months plus .It lies dormant for the rest of the year . It’s a minority of people complaining too so move all the nights else where & future concerts & the residence will soon complain that the area has no money
This I purely the fault of the GAA, they made an agreement and then did what they wanted anyway. I hope it costs them a fortune as thats all the GAA UNDERSTANDS – money.
With a bit of luck the agreement signed with Aiken will have to be honoured and the GAA get paid for 5 nights and only have to hold 3. Tidy little profit
ohh smiles been wiped from all our faces..
Is that his REAL name?
No. Its really Paidi Murphy
Chris Gaines
his real name is actually tolyal garth brooks
It doesn’t matter who fault it is. The people affected are decent people who where looking forward to seeing his show. They are the only losers here (that and local business, hotels, bars, restaurant, public transport, venders, the staff of croke park who will be down two nights wages and of course Irelands reputation)
I’ve said yes, purely due to sympathy with those who have tickets for the two cancelled. GAA and promoters should however be warned
1stick to the agreement, next time there will be cancellations
2 don’t start selling tickets until licence is granted
Aiken should be punished in some way for their doing the latter.
Wonder if Brooks management wiil sue for breach of contract?
What to me is astounding… That these concerts were arranged without having secured the licence… It is totally absurd.. As if the only consideration is the money to be made….well done, DCC
Why are there so many resident groups? There’s a f#ck load of them.
Garth can help me in the bog on the Monday and Tuesday so not all is lost.
Problem was he had no friends in high places.
It’s all One Directions fault!!!
Ticketmaster laughin their asses off either way..400000 handling fees they wont refund if all five concerts cancelled..That works out at over €2.5 million..
What happens to the peoples money who have paid inflated prices for hotel rooms on the dates in question.Dont think the greedy hoteliers gonna refund?
have your say