“That’s not even a question I would have to wrestle with, it is literally a decision at that moment between ‘do you believe in a functioning democracy? Or do you not?’ And I think that’s the only thing on the ballot.” - Adam Kinzinger
#NeverTrump
“That’s not even a question I would have to wrestle with, it is literally a decision at that moment between ‘do you believe in a functioning democracy? Or do you not?’ And I think that’s the only thing on the ballot.” - Adam Kinzinger
#NeverTrump
On #ThatTrippiShow, Democratic strategist @JoeTrippi discusses why the electoral math is not adding up in Donald Trump’s favor, and how Trump’s own decisions are responsible for his present predicament.
Full discussion linked below 👇 (March 1, 2024)
https://lnkd.in/gt4FQ5ZB
Appellate Litigator, Education Consultant, & Professor of Law and Faculty Director of Online Programs at The George Washington Univ. Law School; Theater Director
You should all share this article with everyone you know. Indeed, everyone--liberals and conservatives alike--needs to focus on this unique threat to the future viability of America. And Democrats need to stop all in-fighting and join with sensible Republicans to halt the very real possibility of this country becoming a dictatorship. https://wapo.st/47QyFY1
This is just so incredibly dangerous. The business case of social media centres around attention, indignation and commotion (Wijnberg, 2024). People are so easily fooled as useful idiots. What cancellation is for the left (politically correct forces creating cancel culture) is censorship for the right (unconstitutional forces waiting to dismantle the rule of law). The latter is far more dangerous for it will not only erode pluriformity and play into the hands of populists but in the long run it will also sacrifice truth. This wil make people even more docile and apathetic towards repressive autocrats as illustrated brilliantly by Tony Curtis in TraumaZone (https://lnkd.in/eiHe2UPC). If only people started realizing ‘freedom’ (De Dijn, 2020) is far more layered than the freedom to say and share whatever the fuck you want.
https://lnkd.in/eAHEW9UShttps://lnkd.in/eC_BcaT4
“The arguments strike at the heart of an unsettled question in modern American political life: In a world of unlimited online communications, in which anyone can reach huge numbers of people with unverified and false information, where is the line between protecting democracy and trampling on the right to free speech?”
Even if DICTATOR FOR A DAY (sounds like a Trump TV show, "You're fired...from America!") were legal, an Emperor, any emperor, never, ever takes off the cape and crown of royalty. The latter too is prohibited by the Constitution.
It's that document that Trump wishes to abolish or ignore so, on his first day if he wins, he'll order all Cabinet and other agencies to investigate and prosecute Trump's opponents and even his critics to carry out his obsession with vengeful payback.
No more than one day is needed to destroy the Constitution if MAGA encourages the public as well as the president to defy it. One more deliberate mass attack on the democratic Constitution--that's the end of the Bill of Rights.
Trump doesn't even need a whole day to fire government folks and order them to boost him by changing into political hacks for MAGA.
The American Caesar's new crown, imitating his fascist hero Putin the Russian Czar, will then represent rounding up and "neutralizing" anyone, anytime who defies despotism. Trump has already proposed still one more unconstitutional act (not mere speech)--using the US military to discipline or deport or jail his enemies, or worse.
Whether Biden and Harris have figured out Trump's imperial plan, as it's backed up by most Republicans and the Supreme Court's extreme far-right majority--is unsure and troubling. Trump already has the one-third of voters who are subliminally trading in their traditional Jesus-centered evangelism for a much more macho "savior." A real king kicks butt.
But the most powerful (and illegal) monarchy and fascist hierarchies have an ally that's prohibited from combining with the State--religious MAGAs.
SCOTUS is leading the way on violating that linchpin of democracy (as revealed by Alito's Dobbs Opinion), though separation of church and state was "originally" intended to equally protect religion from the secular State as well.
Those of you who also worship the 2nd Amendment--which I support in its original formulation and purpose as overseen by the president--must realize that breaking apart the Bill of Rights leaves it open to dropping or diluting (pre-Scalia) their delusion of an "absolute" 2nd Amendment.
No tight Bill of Rights means...a vague and confusing 2nd Amendment, which, in a dictatorship of one day or a lifetime (much more likely timing), will mean precisely what the dictator wishes it to mean.
And no one knows the consequences of MAGA's attempt to abolish the "deep state," though today our State is very shallow compared to how deep a totalitarian state will be.
A really deep state is based on lies and violence and secrecy; dictators who might not allow you to bear arms that could be used against them. No fascist government has yet to allow personal, lethal weapons.
And the NRA is fading fast as its leaders face trials on corruption charges.
The NRA was the foundation of the true, violent and secret Deep State.
#Elections#Putinism#CultOfTrump#NewCaesars
Director Emeritus Theologian in residence at Scripture Institute D. Litt. (Doctor of letters) at Cambridge University U.K.
Exit take from David Frum in The Atlantic: The Art of No Deal; The Republicans who won’t take yes for an answer.
Donald Trump has sold his supporters the dangerous fantasy that democratic politics can be replaced by one man’s will. No need for distasteful compromises. No need to reckon with the concerns and interests of people who disagree with House Republicans. Just somehow return Trump to the presidency: He’ll bark; the system will obey.
"The Broken Two-Party Debate"
If you were hoping that a debate between two 80 year old presidential candidates would clarify some questions you might harbor on who to vote for. You, like many Americans, were severely disappointed.
What the broken two party system has given us is a clear choice: the need for something different.
Republicans are running a fascist, would-be dictator cult leader who embodies everything the Anti-Christ from the New Testament is meant to resemble. And his Supporters still support him.
Democrats are running a walking corpse, who has a negative approval rating, and is TIED in polling with the biggest threat to democracy America has faced. If symbolism means anything then Biden might be the "Death to Democracy".
For Independents, the only thing we understood from this debate is that democracy under a two party system will crumble and fail - And Independents are not leaning Biden.
Jan 6 x Democracy: The support for Trump starkly highlights the divisions in the aftermath of the deadly storming of the Capitol and frames the question about whose definition of governance will prevail — or if democracy will prevail at all.
— AP / The Denver Post
#jan6
Love the various pundits, primarily conservative but also liberal, opining today how barring Trump from the ballot is somehow "anti-democracy."
This from people who routinely remind you, usually when they're losing an argument, that we don't live in a democracy, but rather a republic.
Listen: barring someone who attempted sedition from holding office is absolutely democratic, it says so right in the Constitution.
You know what IS anti-democracy? Refusing to accept the results of democracy when you lose and then attempting to overthrow democracy and change the results of an election.
Declaring that you'll be a dictator, that's about as antidemocratic as it gets.
Trump is antidemocratic, he is the antithesis of democracy, he's at BEST a seditionist and at worst a traitor.
You might not like Biden, but if you want to keep your democracy AND your republic, you better show up and vote for him.
You want a better nation, be a better citizen.
—Jim Wright at Stonekettle Station
https://lnkd.in/gsqRkY4z
What should also be attached to this article is a reminder that Trump had his personal lawyer argue in front of the US supreme court that his client (Trump) should be allowed to even have the option of being able to kill a political rival if he were POTUS. This is a call for tyranny of the scale of Joseph Stalin and others in the 20th century. While 1/3rd of the US voting population appears to view this as election background noise and mere bad mouthing, one cannot dismiss this, and to go to the intellectually dishonest "both sides are rotten, equally" bromide served up by even CNN due to wanting to chase click baits and to energize readership. This is genuinely different, and it behooves Americans to stop treating this election as a sloganeering paradise and to treat the issues seriously. Also, is that one side of the political ledger at least for a YEAR was on the side of destroying Ukraine for reasons which go back to the "perfect call" horror show between Trump and Zelinsky. While facing the issues seriously may hurt some feelings, one should be reminded that turning the USA into another North Korea in all but name is a far worse outcome than telling the truth as to what is at stake
quote
Experts say that modern authoritarians employ seven basic tactics in the pursuit of power:
Politicizing Independent Institutions—Mr. Trump has said that he will dismantle the FBI and DOJ to suit his will if he is elected;
Spreading disinformation— “I won!”;
Aggrandizing political power—Mr. Trump claims “total unlimited immunity could order the military to kill political opponents”;
Squashing dissent—He will jail or execute those who disagree with him;
Marginalizing vulnerable communities—LGBTQ+, Blacks Democrats, abolition seekers, liberal Jews;
Corrupting elections— Undermining the elections system by claiming election fraud when none existed; and
Stoking violence—The January 6 insurrection.
end of quote
https://lnkd.in/gZmFQcNZ
The tactics of right wing GOP corporate fascism are at play here which includes a march towards dictatorship. In a democracy civility and civil discourse must come first, not intimidation, bullying and certainly not inflammatory death threats. Our children are learning how to bully from the extreme right which has morphed into regular normal GOP campaigns strategy, tactics and issues. Candidates and elected officials should have democracy rights to free speech without any threats or having their homes firebombed the way our home was !!! This is nothing more than an intimidation and bullying strategy. Right Wing Dictatorships start with one individual first then they aim for taking away all y’all’s rights next.
https://lnkd.in/g4Ztf9s4