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quote:

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Originally posted by BEST EVER
Back to the question (DEMOCRACY)

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Location: INDIANA
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Trump Didn’t Break Our Democracy. But Did He Fatally Weaken It?
The election provides a clear example of resilience to authoritarian pressure. But it doesn’t mean our democracy is unbreakable.

By Susan D. Hyde and Elizabeth N. Saunders
Dr. Hyde is a political scientist at the University of California, Berkeley. Dr. Saunders is a political scientist in the Walsh School of Foreign Service at Georgetown.

Dec. 15, 2020
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Credit...Doug Mills/The New York Times
After the Electoral College vote on Monday affirming his election, Joe Biden declared that “nothing, not even a pandemic or an abuse of power, can extinguish” the “flame of democracy.” Mr. Biden’s speech and the vote capped a series of victories for democratic institutions, including the Supreme Court’s dismissal of a Texas lawsuit that sought to overturn the election results — just the latest turn in the extended refusal of President Trump and his Republican enablers to accept the outcome.

Political scientists like us are trying to assess the damage from Mr. Trump’s baseless, inept and ultimately doomed attacks on democracy. Do the sharp rebukes from our courts and other institutions mean that democracy “survived,” and we can simply move on? Or does all the talk about what “saved” American democracy really show that it’s in deep trouble?

After all, that Texas lawsuit had the public support of more than half of the Republican House members. And it looks like even Vladimir Putin beat Mitch McConnell to congratulate Mr. Biden.

The problem is we’ve been treating Mr. Trump’s attacks on democracy as if they are a pass-fail test. We should instead think of democracy as both damaged and resilient, like a forest after a powerful windstorm.

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In our research, we argue that though all democracies are imperfect, one of their central virtues is that they are built to be resilient — to bend without breaking, even when elected leaders pull institutions in an authoritarian direction. But just because they’re more flexible doesn’t mean democracies can’t break. Resilience — the ability to adapt and keep functioning under strain — is a resource that needs replenishing, not a guarantee of safe passage.

It’s normal for institutions to face challenges from events or from politicians who try to use them for their own purposes. When institutions survive a stress test, they may come out stronger or weaker. Ambiguous laws can be clarified to withstand abuse; regulations can be updated; and public officials gain experience in how to prevent or defend against future tests. But it can take time for the strengthening to occur.

The 2020 election provides a clear example of democratic resilience to authoritarian pressure. Election officials and judges fielding legal challenges had to adapt not only to the enormous logistical challenges of the pandemic but also to Mr. Trump’s rhetoric. His attacks — and those from elected officials in his party and from the conservative media — put additional pressure on election officials and poll workers, who faced threats, intimidation efforts and overt pressure to ignore the will of the voters.

Yet in most of the more than 10,000 electoral jurisdictions across the country, voters cast ballots without incident and Election Day was peaceful. International election observers praised the election as orderly and organized.

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Both democracy optimists and pessimists can draw the conclusions they want to see from this example. Optimists can say that our election system faced the 2020 test admirably, and those who run it will be better prepared for future efforts to undermine their work. Pessimists can say that Mr. Trump’s attacks will leave lasting scars. Next time, election officials might give in to political pressure. Or the damage might be invisible, like a tree’s weakened root system, deterring people from running for office or working at the polls.

Right now, there’s no way to know if the damage will be permanent. But we do know that democracies are better able to recover from such assaults because they allow for routine, peaceful replacement of leaders or parties. Dictators are more likely to be replaced through rebellion, military coup or civil war than through constitutional processes like elections and impeachment.

This is what democracy optimists get right. Mr. Trump’s abuse of foreign policy got him impeached. His spectacular failure to govern during a pandemic got him voted out of office.

But eventually, if stretched too far, democratic institutions will reach a limit. There may not be a dramatic break, like a coup, but democracy will be twisted and warped and cannot return to its original shape.

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Take the example of Nicaragua. President Daniel Ortega, after losing several elections, conspired to change the voting rules such that he was able to win the presidency in 2006 with just 38 percent of the vote. He has since moved Nicaragua further toward authoritarianism.

Here at home, Mr. Trump’s refusal to accept his defeat is his most blatant threat to democracy. He has generated worrisome precedents and undermined shared assumptions about what happens after an incumbent loses. His bizarre legal strategy has failed, but he has turned the base of the Republican Party and many congressional Republicans against valuing democracy for its own sake. And those values are the ultimate source of democratic resilience.

But has Mr. Trump stretched democratic institutions beyond recognition, or, provided that they survive their near-term vulnerability, could U.S. democratic

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quote:

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Originally posted by JWKING
Would like to know why you voted for Biden. What in Bidens or Harris past service to the public do to get your vote? What policy listed on thier website they want to implement got your vote? Just curious. Please do not start with the President Trump did this or didn't do that. Thanks

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Registered: Jul 2009
Location: INDIANA
Posts: 2878

I WOULD have voted for a dog with a crooked hind leg before the Putin Lap Dog. Anyone with a half a brain would have too. That is why Trump got beat by 7 million plus votes.

quote:

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Originally posted by benderb4
ANSWER THE QUESTION !!!
WHY ARE YOU AVOIDING IT???
WHY ARE YOU DANCING ALL AROUND IT???



I KNOW THE ANSWER!!!
THERE ARE NO GOOD THINGS ABOUT HIM!!!

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Registered: Mar 2015
Location: Mi.
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There are about 4 on here.
All over 60 and living off Govt. already...nothing better to do than complain about the Orange Man who is putting jobs back in USA and free money in their accounts.

Rather have a Corrupt and compromised Puppet with a Vp that slept her way to the 'top'.

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Yea we like making fun of (HUDDLERS) as they shot thier mouth off for 4 years and come out smelling like chicken do do! Nothing better than watching them squirm and Cry The Blues! Good night huddlers! LMAO!


QUOTE]Originally posted by 4play
There are about 4 on here.
All over 60 and living off Govt. already...nothing better to do than complain about the Orange Man who is putting jobs back in USA and free money in their accounts.

Rather have a Corrupt and compromised Puppet with a Vp that slept her way to the 'top'. [/QUOTE]

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Yea we like making fun of (HUDDLERS) as they shot their mouth off for 4 years and come out smelling like chicken do do! Nothing better than watching them squirm and Cry The Blues! LMAO!

One thing for sure is that Biden will have a easy time coming out smelling better than Trump because Trump scrapped the bottom of the barrel!

quote:

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Originally posted by 4play

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Boy now this will have the Repukes heads spinning backwards!

What happens to Kamala Harris‘ Senate seat?

Mon, January 18, 2021, 8:33 AM
Vice president-elect Kamala Harris

(AP)
Kamala Harris will stand down as a senator on Monday, when she resigns her seat in Congress with less than two days until she is sworn in as vice president.

She had been expected to do so before being sworn in on Wednesday, when she and Joe Biden will become vice president and president of the United States.

The process will bring an end to Ms Harris’s four-year stint in the Senate, and see another Democrat, Alex Padilla, sworn in to replace her as a senator for California.

What does the law say?

Senators are replaced when they become president or vice president, when they are expected to resign their seat.

The 17th amendment to the US constitution explains that, when “a vacancy occurs due to a senator's death, resignation, or expulsion”, the legislature of the senator’s respective state is allowed to replace them.

While most states – including California – have authorised governors to appoint a successor to the Senate, a special election can take place to choose a new senator in five states, and in six others, the state governor must appoint a replacement of the same political party as the previous incumbent.

That chosen candidate will then complete the seat’s term, and will be able to stand at the next election, under laws in 35 states.

Joe Biden and Barack Obama were the last senators to be replaced after winnin the White House, when four Senate seats became vacant after senators Hillary Clinton and Ken Salazar were nominated for the positions in Mr Obama’s administration following his 2008 election win.

Mr Obama resigned his Illinois senate seat almost immediately after his election win, and Mr Biden waited until five days after they were inaugurated in January 2009 to resign his Delaware seat. Both were replaced by Democratic senators, who served the remainder of their terms.

Only one senate seat was vacated after Donald Trump’s election in 2016, when Jeff Sessions was appointed as attorney general.

Under California law, governor Gavin Newsom has the power to announce a replacement for Ms Harris, and has already done so.

When did the race to replace Ms Harris begin?

The race to replace the California Democrat began several months ago, when she was announced as Mr Biden’s running mate in August 2020.

She had been elected to serve in 2016, and was sworn in by Mr Biden in January 2017, having been endorsed by Mr Obama while running for the seat – and while serving as California’s attorney general.

Ms Harris was chosen as Mr Biden’s running mate when the Democrat candidate answered calls for a black woman to stand on the party’s presidential ticket.

That begun speculation began as to who would replace her in the event the Democratic ticket won November’s election, which they did.

Who will replace her?

Several leading contenders were suggested for Ms Harris’s senate seat, with calls for California’s governor, Gavin Newsom, to select another black woman.

Among those contenders were US congresswomen Barbara Lee and Karen Bass, who was previously tipped as a potential running mate for Mr Biden.

Latinos also called for representation, having never been elected to serve in the Senate despite representing 40 per cent of the state’s population.

According to Ms Harris’s aides, Mr Newsom was made aware of her intent to formally resign on Monday, CNN reported.

The move allows him to introduce her replacement, Alex Padilla, who is currently serving as California’s secretary of state.

Mr Padilla was announced as the vice president-elect’s replacement in December 2020, several weeks after the Democratic election victory against Donald Trump.

He will become California’s first Latino senator, and is expected to be sworn in on Wednesday, when Ms Harris and Mr Biden are sworn in as vice president and president.

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Registered: Dec 2019
Location: Everywhere
Posts: 1058

How many of you all are seeing the news that they want to cancel Conservatives/Republicans/Trump supporters
Want send to Re-program in camps.
They say they want to heal?
They say they want to unite?
Biden is planning to help every group but ..White Males...in Covid recovery plans....Talk about reverse Racism

All they are doing is driving a deeper wedge with this kind of talk.

Here is a Poser
Think real hard...........

When was the last time/ and country the media restricted what the public was able to hear and what party was the offender
When was the last time/and country books were burned and what party was the offender
when was the last time/and country, the countries youth were indoctrinated from schools up and what party was the offender
When was the last time/and country historical monuments were destroyed and what party was the offender
When was the last time/and country people that disagreed with the ruling party were shot and what party was the offender
When was the last time/and country dissenting parties were silenced and what party was the offender
When was the last time/and country an entire culture was nearly annihilated for being different and what party was the offender

Who was in charge and was the ruling party... what party was the offender
A WORLD WAR WAS fought over this country..

Do the above questions apply more readily to the Democ"RATS"
Or more to the Republicans

I ask because the Antifa call the Conservatives Fascists' and Nazis
The Democ"RATS" condoning and calling it all

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NOW THE LUNATICS ARE RUNNING THE ASYLUM IN WASHINGTON,DC.
MY SILENCE DOES NOT MEAN I AGREE WITH YOU...IT MEANS YOUR LEVEL OF STUPIDITY RENDERS ME SPEECHLESS
I AM NOT ARGUING WITH YOU..I AM JUST TRYING TO EXPLAIN WHY I AM RIGHT
TRUTH IS TREASON IN AN EMPIRE OF LIES...G. Orwell
DON'T BELIEVE ANYTHING THE GOVERNMENT TELLS YOU...G. Carlin
ONLY THOSE WHO HAVE SOMETHING TO HIDE WORK RELENTLESSLY TO CENSOR THOSE WHO SPEAK THE TRUTH...Ron DeSantis

Last edited by benderb4 on 01-20-2021 at 04:13 AM

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Registered: Aug 2004
Location: Chattanooga, Tn
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Oh my goodness, they are saying that all of President Trump's supporters need to be "reprogrammed" into democrats. I guess that the Main Stream Media will attempt to do that.

They have been trying to do just that for 4 years but it hasn't worked very well. President Trump kept doing such great things for us and our country. They think that with all of their fake news and negative coverage about the Capital protests and their farce impeachment that they might stand a chance now.

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Registered: Dec 2019
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quote:

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Originally posted by 4play
Switch to the Patriot Party instead?

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__________________
NOW THE LUNATICS ARE RUNNING THE ASYLUM IN WASHINGTON,DC.
MY SILENCE DOES NOT MEAN I AGREE WITH YOU...IT MEANS YOUR LEVEL OF STUPIDITY RENDERS ME SPEECHLESS
I AM NOT ARGUING WITH YOU..I AM JUST TRYING TO EXPLAIN WHY I AM RIGHT
TRUTH IS TREASON IN AN EMPIRE OF LIES...G. Orwell
DON'T BELIEVE ANYTHING THE GOVERNMENT TELLS YOU...G. Carlin
ONLY THOSE WHO HAVE SOMETHING TO HIDE WORK RELENTLESSLY TO CENSOR THOSE WHO SPEAK THE TRUTH...Ron DeSantis

Last edited by benderb4 on 01-20-2021 at 03:59 PM

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Registered: Aug 2004
Location: Chattanooga, Tn
Posts: 22462

Those mail in ballots were illegal and unconstitutional but they counted them, didn't they?

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Registered: Aug 2004
Location: Chattanooga, Tn
Posts: 22462

The reprogramming by the media has started. Democratic liberal rioters are "protesters". President Trump's supporters that riot are "domestic terrorists". What did the protesters at the Capital Building do to make them terrorists? Did they blow anything up? Did they burn anything down? Did they kill anybody? What made them terrorists? Calling them terrorists is just the media's attempt to deprogram Trump's supporters. The democrats did not call out the National Guard to "protect Biden". They did it to make the protesters that attacked the Capital Building and Trump's supporters "terrorists". The reprogramming has begun. If you are a Trump supporter you are a terrorist. If you still support Trump then you are against "unity". They don't say that their idea of "unity" is for Trump supporters to be reprogrammed and become socialist, liberal democrats.

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Registered: Jan 2009
Location: mississippi
Posts: 185

Ok he's in office now. Can anyone answer the question now?

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Registered: Aug 2004
Location: Chattanooga, Tn
Posts: 22462

How much of "our" money did Biden give to Paris Peace Accord and WHO today? He has been in office less than three hours and has already bent over and said I am sorry. He had better go take a nap now.This is the guy that we have representing us.

Last edited by Richard Lambert on 01-20-2021 at 06:36 PM

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Registered: Jan 2009
Location: mississippi
Posts: 185

He done anything you agree with yet?

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