The Democrats, especially those in Congress, are institutionalists. I believe they regard their Republican counterparts as the same. THIS IS A MISTAKE.
The Republicans aren't merely insurgents, but are traitors and should be dealt with and called out as such. The want to burn down our political institutions and the Republic Josh Shapiro's use of the word "seditious" in the state of PA's brief is on point and needs to be used explicitly going forward.
A primary reason why COVID is running wild in GOP led states is because the bulk of the people getting it are relatively poor and/or people of color: blacks, Latinos, and Native Americans. Is it really a surprise that GOP'ers don't care if "those people" are dying? That they are gleefully willing to engage in a slow motion genocide is yet another example of their sedition.
As far as I'm concerned, Ken Paxton, his supporters in Congress, and the GOP AG's supporting his ridiculous "lawsuit" are all the equivalent of the politicians in the Southern states seceding after Lincoln's election in 1860. If they can't monopolize political power, they'd rather destroy democracy and the country.
Let's not rely on the Democratic leadership to come to its senses. Let us instead claim the mantle of freedom for all and call ourselves the true guardians of America and of democracy. And never forget - GOP DELENDA EST.
Why are Democrats so perennially concerned with consequences while never making Republicans suffer them? TX AG's lawsuit is a textbook definition of sedition; Dems need to demonstrate courage or they'll forever be bullied and will deserve it.
Clearly Ddemocrats *must* start naming the existential threat we face -- and stop worrying about the political consequences. The consequences will be far worse if they do nothing.
But what's the ultimate solution? Brian Klaas has an excellent piece in today's WaPo about our "authoritarian voter problem." If a large share of the population -- say, 40% -- has decided they'd rather live under a personality cult dictatorship, what do we do? It's a personality type as much as anything else.
Republicans have been activating this personality type for decades. Saying as much is vital. But you can't talk people out of their personalities.
100% agree with this, all of it. Democrats are making a deep strategic mistake by not making it clear that 99% of Republicans are betraying our democracy, and making them pay politically for it. They are normalizing the neo-confederates treason by ignoring it.
18 U.S.C. § 2384 - U.S. Code - Unannotated Title 18. Crimes and Criminal Procedure § 2384. Seditious conspiracy (https://codes.findlaw.com/us/title-18-crimes-and-criminal-procedure/18-usc-sect-2384.html) defines seditious conspiracy by two or more people. To prove it, the parties must actually be plotting violent acts against the Government of the United States. This is pretty tough to prove.
But what's NOT hard to prove, in fact is obvious to anyone functioning critical thinking faculties, is that the Republican National Committee, Donald Trump himself, and many of Trump's most vocal supporters have been openly encouraging others to commit sedition and organize seditious conspiracies. When you commit the political equivalent of shouting fire in a crowded theater, knowing your words will incite others to commit crimes, you may not be technically guilty of their crimes, but you are clearly the injector of the poison in their minds. You are their inspiration and their prophet.
Whether we call them dog whistles or stochastic terrorism, these indirect incitements to an audience primed for violence are not technically crimes. Instead, they are intentional precursors to crimes. The US Criminal Code does not include any criteria for charging stochastic terrorists with crimes, and there are no criminal penalites that apply to them.
But this is a hole in our legal codes that needs to be plugged up.
John wrote:
"Paxton’s lawsuit is a last-ditch effort by the losing candidate and his allies to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat."
Except we'r talking about the Walmart of ditches! Ditches R Us!
There is NO DITCH TOO FAR.
The Democrats, especially those in Congress, are institutionalists. I believe they regard their Republican counterparts as the same. THIS IS A MISTAKE.
The Republicans aren't merely insurgents, but are traitors and should be dealt with and called out as such. The want to burn down our political institutions and the Republic Josh Shapiro's use of the word "seditious" in the state of PA's brief is on point and needs to be used explicitly going forward.
A primary reason why COVID is running wild in GOP led states is because the bulk of the people getting it are relatively poor and/or people of color: blacks, Latinos, and Native Americans. Is it really a surprise that GOP'ers don't care if "those people" are dying? That they are gleefully willing to engage in a slow motion genocide is yet another example of their sedition.
As far as I'm concerned, Ken Paxton, his supporters in Congress, and the GOP AG's supporting his ridiculous "lawsuit" are all the equivalent of the politicians in the Southern states seceding after Lincoln's election in 1860. If they can't monopolize political power, they'd rather destroy democracy and the country.
Let's not rely on the Democratic leadership to come to its senses. Let us instead claim the mantle of freedom for all and call ourselves the true guardians of America and of democracy. And never forget - GOP DELENDA EST.
Why are Democrats so perennially concerned with consequences while never making Republicans suffer them? TX AG's lawsuit is a textbook definition of sedition; Dems need to demonstrate courage or they'll forever be bullied and will deserve it.
Clearly Ddemocrats *must* start naming the existential threat we face -- and stop worrying about the political consequences. The consequences will be far worse if they do nothing.
But what's the ultimate solution? Brian Klaas has an excellent piece in today's WaPo about our "authoritarian voter problem." If a large share of the population -- say, 40% -- has decided they'd rather live under a personality cult dictatorship, what do we do? It's a personality type as much as anything else.
Republicans have been activating this personality type for decades. Saying as much is vital. But you can't talk people out of their personalities.
Truly, I'm at a loss about how we move forward.
100% agree with this, all of it. Democrats are making a deep strategic mistake by not making it clear that 99% of Republicans are betraying our democracy, and making them pay politically for it. They are normalizing the neo-confederates treason by ignoring it.
18 U.S.C. § 2384 - U.S. Code - Unannotated Title 18. Crimes and Criminal Procedure § 2384. Seditious conspiracy (https://codes.findlaw.com/us/title-18-crimes-and-criminal-procedure/18-usc-sect-2384.html) defines seditious conspiracy by two or more people. To prove it, the parties must actually be plotting violent acts against the Government of the United States. This is pretty tough to prove.
But what's NOT hard to prove, in fact is obvious to anyone functioning critical thinking faculties, is that the Republican National Committee, Donald Trump himself, and many of Trump's most vocal supporters have been openly encouraging others to commit sedition and organize seditious conspiracies. When you commit the political equivalent of shouting fire in a crowded theater, knowing your words will incite others to commit crimes, you may not be technically guilty of their crimes, but you are clearly the injector of the poison in their minds. You are their inspiration and their prophet.
Whether we call them dog whistles or stochastic terrorism, these indirect incitements to an audience primed for violence are not technically crimes. Instead, they are intentional precursors to crimes. The US Criminal Code does not include any criteria for charging stochastic terrorists with crimes, and there are no criminal penalites that apply to them.
But this is a hole in our legal codes that needs to be plugged up.
These republicans who agree with the criminal Texax AG have committed treason. Thanks, for saying it so clearly and well.