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Isn’t there a logical contradiction here? So if a President or VP has immunity for official acts all that does is shield them from prosecution. In the case where they have committed an illegal act it doesn’t follow that what they did or ordered would be acted on. If the VP refused to certify the election then they could still be impeached and convicted by Congress. The immunity doesn’t shield them from that does it?
This reminder of how the German government became totally controlled by the Nazi Party in such a short time is a good wake up call. I have been speculating on what the Republican Party would do assuming a win of Congress and the Presidency in November. I know that the MAGA movement admires Viktor Orban in Hungary. Orban is right wing but he and his ruling Fidecz Party don’t seem anything like the German Nazis in the 1930’s. Can any Redditors shed some light on what it’s like to live under Fidecz? Is it more that they are a kleptocracy? I assume there’s no camps or anything that bad. Is it possible the US ends up like Hungary?
I’m sorry, the damage is done. The seen can’t be unseen. The polls are already showing what we all know to be true. If he quits today there’s only a very small chance that the November outcome will be different. Might as well face it and figure out how we all get through this. There is still a way to outwit, outplay, and outlast.
My question to everyone on this sub: how long before it would be unwise of us to speak freely? Is it time to hunker down, be very discreet, and prepare to outlast what is coming?
I don’t think Trump is more popular. But I do think Biden has suddenly become a lot less popular. Trump can win with a lot of people who voted in 2020 just staying home.
It's a little complicated to explain. Use the Apple Maps or Google Maps satellite view on the Bevier St. area. When I have gone there I parked on Bevier (near Agway) and walked toward the mountain. You walk up Academie St until you get to where a power line heads up the mountain. It's very steep and there are stickers but it's do-able. When you get to the top there are trails leading off to the left that go to the former "brickyard" area. Lots of views from there. I am not sure about land ownership up there but it seems to be quasi-public. Take water!
You’re right. Since it’s the Biden / Harris campaign then Harris has immediate access to the campaign funds, organization, and staff. No other potential candidates have this.
Offshoring results in hollowing out the country for the benefit of capital markets. The foreigners live in a lower cost of living area. Globalization creates unsustainable, untenable supply chains and a weak economy that is overly dependent on foreign workers. And in some cases like China, the government has human rights abuses and creates unfair competition through subsidies. So retaining the wealth the country generates for the citizens of the country is not unreasonable.
The only way the military could be put in a situation like that would be if martial law was declared and the Insurrection Act invoked. The active military is for defending the country against foreign enemies. It is not deployed domestically. The various state national guards can be deployed by the governors in emergency situations like hurricanes or civil unrest. But the actual US Army is focused entirely on foreign defense and protecting US interests abroad.
That may be true but almost amounts to a ban just the same. I have run lawn mowers for years until they absolutely fall apart. When that happens I buy a new mower. I don’t look for a used one. If I have a half acre lawn I will need a gas mower. If I can’t get one in NY I am sure the answer is simple. Drive down to PA and get one there.
I am horrified but not exactly surprised. We can all bear witness but it doesn’t seem like there is anything we can change. I feel the need to concentrate very locally. How will this affect me? What can I do to lessen my personal risk? How much of day-to-day life will be unaffected? Is it possible that the end of US hegemony will go like the British as their empire came apart? Will there be persecution of non-GOP supporters? Is it going to be possible to live more or less normally by avoiding anything that brings attention to you? It seems like the US economy is resilient and that political unrest alone won’t be enough to kill it. This I admit is an extreme form of complacency bias.
But what if they win? Was it still rigged then? The way the Dems are self destructing GOP won’t have to worry about not accepting the election (sorry to say).
He could have put big time pressure on McConnell. Close some offices. Cancel some projects. Cancel some grants. Lay off some federal employees in Kentucky.
This! They always go to gaslighting. I gotta blame the DNC for this situation. There never should have been any question about Biden as a one term president. That should have been established a year ago at least.
He can’t order her not to run for President. And at this point she has full access to Biden campaign funds, staff, and facilities. I don’t see her stepping down. OTOH I don’t think this rules out an open convention though.
WYRK just won’t give up these clickbait articles. As was pointed out these bans are nowhere near passage by the Legislature. We all know lots of stories of how annoying they can be but NY is a big state. I can’t imagine no gas mowers Upstate. I have a battery electric mower but my yard is pretty small.
I believe you are right about that. Something similar was reported on NPR this morning. But I learned one thing from that report. Since the Biden campaign with funding, staff, and facilities is already set up and running and has raised millions of dollars, that it’s actually the Biden-Harris campaign. Kamala Harris could immediately use all of those resources if Joe dropped out but she kept running. For anyone else to create this from scratch from the ground up will be a huge challenge.
I agree. The piece is poignant but there’s nothing like an answer. Maybe it’s like “you’ll know it when you see it”? Well I hope we can come up with something with a little more detail.
I just want to say that as I read through the comments in this thread it’s apparent that the war is already lost. The coalition of the willing of 2020 is hopelessly fractured. It’s not going back together. As someone else said a bell can’t be un-rung. Once you see it you can’t unsee it. We can go through some machinations like we can somehow save the day but it’s too late and it’s gonna be over. What might be more useful and helpful is to figure out a plan to get through the next 4 years with as little damage as possible. Anyone who thinks they will stand up to the incoming MAGA government like they stand up to their university administration will be in for an unpleasant life experience. I will certainly show up and vote blue in November but I have no illusions about the outcome this time.
If that’s the way it is the it’s game over. Biden goes on to defeat. And we all hope we still have a republic in 2028.
I get that. But when McConnell refused to hold a hearing for Garland when then he rushed Amy Coney Barrett through only a few weeks before the election then the gloves are off. No more Mr Nice Guy.
Our 250 year old system is based on Congress having certain powers. Trump can’t just wave his hand to change that. It’s hard wired into the Constitution. And if you’re saying no Constitution then we are as bad as Russia or even worse. I can’t see Americans allowing this.
SS: I am posing the question about approaching US political collapse and whether it might be more or less extreme as exemplified by present-day Hungary.
Does the US collapse like the German government in 1933 or will it be "collapse lite" like Hungary's Fidecz Party?
collapse