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(May 25th, 2022, 08:33)Jowy Wrote: Why are Manchin and Sinema not whipped?
The concept of whipping doesn't exist in American politics. I think this is mainly because the parties don't control membership - any person can register as "Republican" or "Democrat" when they vote or sign the paperwork to run as a candidate, they pay no membership fee to the party and the party has no recourse to those who go rogue other than pulling organizational & electoral support.
There are two issues with Sinema and Manchin, IMHO. From the Democratic Party's perspective it's the current balance of power in the Senate - they need to keep them "onsides" as much as possible to keep them from changing affiliation and putting the GOP in control of the Senate. From the perspective of the senators they are both from areas with strong conservative/GOP-aligned populations and likely feel the need to vote/act in that direction to stay in office and will do so over the wishes of their affiliated party.
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With Sinema and Manchin there is also the issue of $$$$$$$$$$$
Have I mentioned we need campaign finance reform?
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Campaign finance reform isn't going to happen - even before the challenges of getting D's and R's to agree to anything someone has to come up with a reform that doesn't run afoul of current 1st Amendment law.
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I said needed, not has a slim chance of passing. I'll note the 1st amendment issue isn't a firm legal problem from my understanding, but more Republicans really like $$$ issue. It could also be overcome by an amendment. Again, no chance. I'll also note in the interest of fairness, that this might be one of those issues Democrats like to say the right thing, but I'm not sure they would actually act on. So the only chance is a grass roots bi partisan effort, and I'm not sure those are possible anymore.
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Republicans forcing out people who say Trump lost. Campaigning on getting rid of a bi-partisan election commission. Sadly seems par for the course.
https://www.tmj4.com/news/local-news/rep...trump-lost
I literally want to tear my hair out every time I think of how the most fundamental part of our democracy has been and is somehow continuing to be undermined. As a reminder this is not just another political issue. If you live in the United States and don't normally vote because both parties suck or whatever other reason - PLEASE VOTE THIS NOVEMBER. If you think Republicans are right about EVERY other political issue, this isn't a normal or equal political issue. This is the most important political issue in our lifetime.
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Biden should have spent the entirety of his first term strengthening our democratic institutions and making it difficult for a 2024 Trump to become President for life. Enough traditional Republicans are left to quietly pass meaningful change, but post midterm that may not be so easy.
Darrell
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The time to strike that iron was immediately after his inauguration. When Republicans hadn't started crawling back to Trump and his lies fully yet. Its like after the civil war just letting reconstruction fall apart, but democrats barely did anything before just saying "I guess this is normal now". Are they angling for using it as ammo at midterms? If so its an extremely dangerous gamble. I think it was PA? that one of the democrats helped finance ads for a Trump truther candidate hoping it would be an easier opponent. Its also possible the Democrats just can't get their act together as normal. There are a lot of maybe reasons, but I agree it should just be top of the list.
Trump isn't going to be president for life. I don't think Republicans would be that obvious. But I do think there are already obvious erosions of controls and "norms". Unless there is strong pushback now FROM EVERYONE ON ALL SIDES, it doesn't bode well. Having elections commissions officials being forced out is an obvious sign of degradation of the nation. One that most people won't pay attention to or just shrug their shoulders at. It should be the top story and their should be widespread outrage from ALL citizens.
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So while I walked back home after my bike tire blew out, I gave some thought as to why this story isn't front page news. Why do a lot of people treat this just like any other political issue.
-Are we just historically stupid in America? I mean yes, but I don't think that is all of it.
-Do we have short attention spans? IE are there not enough 'clicks' for a major news network to keep posting these kinds of stories. I mean also yes.
However I think the most dangerous reason is the overall polarization of politics. When you see a side as "the enemy / bad" another "bad" thing just gets lumped in. You expect that of them. If "your" side does something bad, its 'justified to beat other side' or 'not as bad as the thing they did'. This is why I'm trying to again and again hammer home the point that this is beyond the bounds of normal politics.
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Wonder no more…
(May 3rd, 2022, 13:20)darrelljs Wrote: Just read a great article on the pernicious impact of social media…
Darrell
May 26th, 2022, 15:58
(This post was last modified: May 26th, 2022, 15:59 by Jowy.)
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(May 24th, 2022, 16:56)Jowy Wrote: Elementary school shot up today in USA. If only those toddlers had guns too this wouldn't have happened.
The police actually intercepted the murderer before he got to the school. They let him go to the school and waited an hour or so before going in themselves.
Then again, toddlers with guns might be more competent than the police, so..
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