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The Biden Administration and All Things Politics

Al-O-Meter said:
There aren’t two fundamental political realities.
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Looking at your bullet points, it certainly sounds like you’re inhabiting a different reality than many other Americans. And really, as soon as the Big Lie bifurcated the electorate into two realities: one in which Biden won both popular and electoral vote, and another reality in which Trump won, but the election was stolen, those two different realities have been present ever since. Trump’s MO is to simply talk his reality into existence, counting on repeating a lie will create an alternate reality of true believers in the lie. It worked. Two political realities, one based on facts, one based on lies. Two versions of recent American history: one based on facts, one based on lies.


Al-O-Meter said:
There is no authoritarian on the ballot
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Well, there is, Donald Trump. I could bury you in the words of scholars of authoritarianism on this fact: Trump as authoritarian. A few:

www.wbur.org

Trump’s 2025 authoritarian playbook and what it means for democracy

Donald Trump has openly admired authoritarians around the world. Now he’s pledging to rule like one. An examination of the promises, powers and plans of a second Trump presidency.
www.wbur.org www.wbur.org


newrepublic.com

Trump’s Slow-Burn Authoritarianism

You’ve read about the scary horrors of a Trump second term. But a legal war of attrition that harasses MAGA’s enemies and transforms government info into propaganda could prove more insidious and harder to mobilize against.
newrepublic.com newrepublic.com

It helps to realize there is, and always will be, a healthy % of Americans who are more amenable to authoritarianism to begin with:

www.politico.com

Trump Is an Authoritarian. So Are Millions of Americans

It’s not how we think of our fellow-citizens, but no matter who wins in November, the impulse will be very much alive in the country. What do they want?
www.politico.com www.politico.com
Al-O-Meter said:
American Fascism isn’t coming
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Well, I need to start with the fact that, again, scholars of authoritarianism, and others would disagree, in so far as it’s not that difficult to identify Trump as a fascist. I follow Ruth Ben-Ghiat, but other prominent thinkers have come to a similar conclusion. I understand there will be serious disagreement based on how one defines fascism.

wdet.org

Is Trump a fascist? A fascism scholar says he certainly sounds like one - WDET 101.9 FM

Historian, author and fascism expert Ruth Ben-Ghiat breaks down Trump's speech and how it relates to authoritarianism.
wdet.org wdet.org

www.newyorker.com

A Scholar of Fascism Sees a Lot That’s Familiar with Trump

After writing a book about Benito Mussolini last year, an N.Y.U. professor began noticing the similarities between her book’s subject and Trump.
www.newyorker.com www.newyorker.com


View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9XTJNy_OrjE



protectdemocracy.org

Trump's latest speech echoes fascist rhetoric

To get people to lose their aversion to violence, savvy authoritarians also dehumanize their enemies. That’s what Trump is doing.
protectdemocracy.org protectdemocracy.org
Al-O-Meter said:
Christian Nationalism is not a force in 2024
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I’m looking at at 2025, should Trump win. Christian nationalism is baked right into Project 2025, and I won’t underestimate the temporary strength of reactionary political movements. Of course, Christian nationalism isn’t Christian, but anytime you combine “Christianity” with the one modern ideology most responsible as the cause of wars in the modern era, that’s unnerving, just keep them away from power if possible. Overall, I do not believe the United States will become a Christian nationalist theocracy. But we don’t need such ideologies exercising any influence on government at all.
Al-O-Meter said:
Trump did not try to overthrow the government or prevent a peaceful transfer of power
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Well, yes, he did. I’m thinking you’re basing that claim on some interpretation of the Supreme Court immunity ruling. Donald Trump did try to prevent the peaceful transfer of power. The 1/6 attack on the People’s House would never have accomplished that. But his efforts prior to 1/6 did represent efforts to change the outcome of an election.


Al-O-Meter said:
The election isn’t that important
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Well, History will likely be the better judge of that. I can’t predict how important future events will be, dependent, in part, on who the Chief Executive is in 2025.
 
Al-O-Meter said:
The election isn’t that important
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I’ll add to my reply by suggesting that the days, weeks, perhaps months, following 11/5/24 will likely put the lie to that claim. Regardless of who wins. It’s quite likely it will be one of the most tumultuous post election periods in our entire history. That alone would lead future historians to judge the 2024 election as unique and historically important. And that I can admit is a prediction on my part: post 11/5/24 may turn out to be, to borrow one of Trump’s favorite phrases: like nothing ever seen before. And History will likely note as much.
 
Red said:
I follow Ruth Ben-Ghiat, but other prominent thinkers have come to a similar conclusion.
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That does nothing to support what you are claiming. When I showed actual data to back what I was saying about Christian Nationalism in current day America, you had no counter evidence at all. None. Your entire response was about you and me. You are this. You studied. You are blah-blah. I'm stupid and hate learning. How dare someone like me question someone like you. Defending yourself is NOT defending your idea. Attacking me is not attacking the concept I can show with all available data is true. In that same vein, if you start with the prominence, credentials, or fame of someone saying a thing then your argument is crap.

Nearly your entire post is nothing but 'expert sees similarity'. There is no data, no hard evidence to back anything. With your allegation of Project2025 being baked with Christian Nationalism, you didn't even do that. Point me to the policy document in Project2025 that intends to overthrow America's constitution to create a Christian theocracy. You can't because it doesn't exist. I'm suspecting you found experts who wrote pieces where they took sentences removed from context and interpreted them to show the secret meaning. I stand by my opinion of those pushing the threat of Christian Nationalism in 2024 America are on par with Bigfoot hunters. They are a solid step below UFO hunters.

As for overthrowing the government or preventing the peaceful transfer of power, show me actual evidence of Trump commanding an effort to take out his political rivals by force of arms. Again, there isn't any because it didn't happen. There were court cases filed and there was clear negligence shown before and during a riot, but there was no plot to imprison or kill his opponents as happens with overthrowing government or preventing peaceful transfers of power.

Red said:
I’ll add to my reply by suggesting that the days, weeks, perhaps months, following 11/5/24 will likely put the lie to that claim. Regardless of who wins. It’s quite likely it will be one of the most tumultuous post election periods in our entire history.
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I don't see any possibility of the 2024 post election period challenging the 1860 post election period. You are correct in that we will get to see very soon if your concerns have been sage warnings or the rantings of someone who bought in to misguided nonsense he found on the internet.
 
apnews.com

The FBI is investigating suspicious packages sent to election officials in more than 15 states

The FBI and U.S. Postal Service are investigating suspicious packages that have been sent to or received by elections officials.
apnews.com apnews.com

The Colorado Secretary of State’s Office said a package containing white powder and with the sender listed as “U.S. Traitor Elimination Army” was intercepted at a mail facility.

The FBI and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service on Tuesday were investigating the origin of suspicious packages that have been sent to or received by elections officials in more than 15 states, but there were no immediate reports of injuries or that any of the packages contained hazardous material.

The latest packages were sent to elections officials in Alaska, Colorado, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Missouri, New York and Rhode Island. Mississippi authorities reported a package was delivered there Monday, and the Connecticut Secretary of State’s office said the FBI alerted it of a package that was intercepted.

Sent from my CPH2451 using Tapatalk
 
fishonjazz said:
apnews.com

The FBI is investigating suspicious packages sent to election officials in more than 15 states

The FBI and U.S. Postal Service are investigating suspicious packages that have been sent to or received by elections officials.
apnews.com apnews.com

The Colorado Secretary of State’s Office said a package containing white powder and with the sender listed as “U.S. Traitor Elimination Army” was intercepted at a mail facility.

The FBI and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service on Tuesday were investigating the origin of suspicious packages that have been sent to or received by elections officials in more than 15 states, but there were no immediate reports of injuries or that any of the packages contained hazardous material.

The latest packages were sent to elections officials in Alaska, Colorado, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Missouri, New York and Rhode Island. Mississippi authorities reported a package was delivered there Monday, and the Connecticut Secretary of State’s office said the FBI alerted it of a package that was intercepted.

Sent from my CPH2451 using Tapatalk
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Did it say who exactly they were sending them to? Like was there a name, or just for the organization?
 
fishonjazz said:
apnews.com

The FBI is investigating suspicious packages sent to election officials in more than 15 states

The FBI and U.S. Postal Service are investigating suspicious packages that have been sent to or received by elections officials.
apnews.com apnews.com

The Colorado Secretary of State’s Office said a package containing white powder and with the sender listed as “U.S. Traitor Elimination Army” was intercepted at a mail facility.

The FBI and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service on Tuesday were investigating the origin of suspicious packages that have been sent to or received by elections officials in more than 15 states, but there were no immediate reports of injuries or that any of the packages contained hazardous material.

The latest packages were sent to elections officials in Alaska, Colorado, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Missouri, New York and Rhode Island. Mississippi authorities reported a package was delivered there Monday, and the Connecticut Secretary of State’s office said the FBI alerted it of a package that was intercepted.

Sent from my CPH2451 using Tapatalk
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The first salvos of the coming civil war.
 
Bucknutz said:
I know people are on here had mixed feelings on the tariff issues, loved the fee crackdown from the Biden administration. What do you guys feel about this:


View: https://x.com/behizytweets/status/1836565850687406158?s=46&t=BMMZjW7vq0_zwnmLDjNTgQ
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I can't think of anything that would encourage Americans to take on more debt. Especially if it's temporary this could be devastating to lower income individuals. Americans are notoriously bad at savings even when provided a surplus so I see this reducing monthly payments temporarily and encouraging people, especially lower income people, to take on more debt. That would be my biggest concern. I also can't see what mechanism makes this work. Executive order? If they want to do something like this it needs to be legislation, and I doubt this passes through the legislative branch with lobbying pressure. Again, promises promises.

So what about Biden's policies directly cause the rates to rise anyway? Good tactic though, blame Biden for something the president historically has very little impact on, propose magical "snap my fingers" solution, rinse, repeat.

I think a better approach would be to enact legislation to balance out the corporate tax rate against wages to put pressure on companies to increase real wages which would put more money in the pockets of lower income households in the long term. Penalizing corporate stock buy-backs and reward wage increases instead is one mechanism that could be used. Microsoft recently laid off several hundred workers, citing economic pressure, then turned around and enacted a 50 billion stock buy back. It's ludicrous how big corporations are ****ing over workers like this to maintain the historically high wage gaps and enrich shareholders. That's the first place to start, honestly.
 
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