#Democracy itself

[dreaminginthedeepsouth]

Promises Kept.

January 5, 2024

ROBERT B. HUBBELL

When Joe Biden declared his candidacy for president in 2019, the nation was bruised, battered, and divided by three years of Trump's unrelenting chaos and carnage. During Biden’s year-long campaign, Trump plunged America into darker waters as he tried to extort Ukraine into fabricating lies about Joe Biden and his son. Trump then engaged in gross dereliction of duty by mishandling the nation’s response to Covid, ultimately resorting to lies and quackery as the death toll mounted.

Biden stepped into the breach, promising “to restore the soul, honor, dignity, and decency” of America. In word and deed, Biden has kept those promises—despite virulent and violent opposition by MAGA extremists who sought to prevent the peaceful transfer of power—and who still seek to destroy our democracy today.

Historians may view Biden’s greatest success as the restoration of normalcy, decency, and rationality to the executive branch of the US government. Biden’s legislative accomplishments are historic and will be an enduring legacy standing alone.

Identifying Biden’s legislative successes is easy; identifying the depth and breadth of Biden’s restoration of decency and rationality is more difficult—because living in a normal frame of reference is subtle and ineffable. It infuses every aspect of democracy and political discourse. It is the absence of chaos, it is not waking up every morning thinking, “Oh, God. What has he tweeted now?”, and it is not hearing every governmental action re-interpreted through Trump's lenses of narcissism, delusion, and insecurity.

Joe Biden acts within a rational political framework. His policies can be praised or criticized because they exist (in writing) and reflect the reasoned judgment of Biden and his staff after a period of reflection and debate. They are not made up “on the fly” in response to reporters’ questions shouted over the noise of helicopter rotors.

The return to normalcy, decency, and dignity is neither sexy, compelling, nor “made for TV.” But it was precisely what the nation needed after the chaos of Trump's tenure as president. Joe Biden kept his promises. For that, we owe him a debt of gratitude that we must repay in 2024.

On the eve of the third anniversary of January 6, Biden is launching his 2024 campaign in earnest. In a political ad previewed on MSNBC, Biden said that he is making “the preservation of democracy” the centerpiece of his campaign. In the ad, Biden says, in part,

All of us are being asked, “What will we do to maintain our democracy?” History is watching. The world is watching. Most importantly, our children and grandchildren will hold us responsible . . . .

A campaign theme of “preserving democracy” is neither sexy, compelling, nor “made for TV.” But it is precisely what the nation needs as it stares into the abyss of a second Trump term as president.

I have heard from dozens of readers this week who are disappointed with Biden’s responses regarding immigration and the war in Gaza. Some have suggested that they will not vote or will vote for a third-party candidate. Both of those options are the functional equivalent of voting for Trump.

The freedom to criticize the president is a privilege of our democracy guaranteed in the Constitution. We can debate presidential policies only if we have a democratic frame of reference within which to hold those debates.

That democratic frame of reference will exist under a second Biden term. Under Trump, the democratic frame of reference will be replaced by a simple test: Does speech praise Trump? If not, the speaker will act at their peril. Trump’s vigilantes will threaten the speaker, and state and federal agencies will pretend the threats are harmless jokes or over-exuberant expressions of loyalty to Trump.

The threat of vigilantism to punish speech is not hyperbole. As we approach the third anniversary of January 6, elected officials who criticize Trump or apply the law to his unlawful conduct are being deluged with death threats. They are being “swatted” by sick individuals who call 9-1-1 to make false reports of crimes in progress—resulting in the deployment of armed emergency responders to the elected officials’ homes.

Like Joe Biden, Trump has made promises. He has promised his followers that, if re-elected, “I will be your retribution.” He has also promised that he will be a dictator “on day one” if he is elected to a second term.

Joe Biden has kept his promise “to restore the soul, honor, dignity, and decency” of America. We should take Biden at his word that he will work to preserve democracy if re-elected in 2024.

As with Biden, we should take Trump at his word: He will exact retribution and act as a dictator on day one of his second term.

The competing promises of Trump and Biden tell us everything we need to know about the choice we face in the 2024 election.

Concluding Thoughts.

The choice between presidential candidates in 2024 could not be starker. There is no ambiguity, nuance, or grey area. We must help Joe Biden communicate that fundamental difference and help people understand that the choice in 2024 is not about policies or the economy. It is about democracy—and whether we are for it or against it.

[zvaigzdelasas]

6 Jul 24

[throwawayasoiafaccount]

when the long night inevitably ends and the previous social structure has crumbled and both westeros and essos are in chaos, do you want characters who genuinely care about creating meaningful change to be in power, or do you want them to die/not be in power because “feudalism is bad” and therefore these characters who derive some of their authority from the class they belong to cannot hold any power after the long night bc that somehow contradicts one of asoiafs most prominent messages. (despite the fact that many of our main characters suffer due to the current social systems in place)

personally, i’d prefer it if the characters who are able to see the good in the undesirables of society (and protect/empower these undesirables) are able to live on in order to restructure society in a way that protects all people.

to be frank, i don’t think it’d even be possible for the world of asoiaf to return to feudalism after something like the long night occurs.

but the thing is, society needs structure and humanity will naturally restructure itself whether people like it or not. so when spring comes, i want the characters who wish for a better tomorrow for all people to be in power in order to create a better world.

so to everyone who thinks that certain characters being in power only perpetuates the cycle of class violence and oppression, i’d like to ask you what you think is a better alternative way for asoiaf to end.

[isawthismeme]

[aniseandspearmint]

Just got a both candidates are the same anon screed in my inbox. Its getting deleted, I don't feel obligated to answer rude assholes that can't even own up to their cracked beliefs with their own user name.

Anyway, both candidates are NOT the same, one is a literal fascist dictator who is a threat to democracy and going to happy murder countless queer and disabled people!

The other is a democratic candidate that, while not PERFECT, is actual THOUSANDS of miles better than the opposition!

I personally am HAPPILY voting blue, because i don't want me or anyone else to be lined up against a pit and shot or sent to a gas chamber, which is a very likely end game for anyone who is anti-fascist/queer/disabled if donald trump wins, given historical examples!

Vote blue, or it very might well be the LAST chance you ever get to vote according to donald trump! He's actually SAID that. He means it.

[woahjo]

the fact that trump can’t vote in the us now bc of his felony but can actively run for president is literally insane to me. like he can’t even vote in an election now. but he can run for president???

[glassfag]

trying to relax by writing some tomarry except i think about the political system and economy of the wizarding world for more than three seconds and start spiraling and have no option but to open a new googledoc and start writing the lamest rant-thesis about fictional politics ever.

[nevermindirah]

Nile has a very bad, but very compelling, idea. Booker helps her think it through.

or, I've been feeling so devastated and angry and I wanted to fantasize for a moment about the crab rave.

[louisa-gc]

no words for what we woke up to today.

[chaosartisan]

It drives me up a wall when people say that Donald Trump isn't tied to project 2025 and that it's a Boogeyman when:

• Trump has been photographed with the Heritage Foundation founder, (Kevin Roberts)

• His Vice President, JD Vance, wrote the foreword of a book by Kevin Roberts, the Heritage Foundation founder.

• a majority of the contributors are connected to Trump

• the plan intends to use Schedule F, something Trump enacted, to clean out the White House

• Agenda 47 literally has watered down versions of the same ideas

• He said he would be a dictator on day one

Are your ears ok with all that sand in them?

Also even if he weren't involved, Project 2025 is the kind of document you don't fuck around and find out with.

Sources and links

https://www.nytimes.com/2024/10/01/us/politics/jd-vance-project-2025.html

[notaplaceofhonour]

.

[sunflowerdigs]

People being touchy about Roman potentially fucking Mencken are just...I don't get it. Because literally everyone around Roman except Shiv is aiding and abetting him in becoming president. And Matsson - Matsson is a technocrat who talks about his workers like they're slaves. He and Roman were never going to be your cutesy little harmless OTP, laying people off on their anniversary for fun. Like...you're falling for the window dressing. There is no "the fascist" on Succession because everyone seems to think they benefit from what Mencken is bringing to the table as the potential leader of the United States. And even Shiv didn't really care whether or not they kept Ravenhead. Oh, he puts Shiv and Tom off their lunch, but Tom is happy to keep the nazi on board as long as he brings in ratings and keeps Tom in power.

But, like...keep clinging to that false sense of morality about the terrible rich people show, I guess? This is where it was always going. These people have worn their funny little masks for long enough - s4 is the big reveal. Mencken or no Mencken, the mentally of the billionaire elite always leans towards fascism because fascism is the only way that they can maintain complete control of the populace and hold onto their own wealth.

[burnadicarwoz]

Been replaying hotline miami and remembered how peak it was so I drew jacket for funsies. Not that bad honestly, even broke out the ruler so all the measurements of his body looked legit lol

[youngpettyqueen]

I love this argument that Julian and Garak are having about Earth vs Cardassia political styles and I especially love that Garak is like. shocked at how impassioned he is about this topic

[zvaigzdelasas]

Representative democracy *can only* express a particular "People's Will" insofar as said Will isnt contradicted by a counteracting Will *of comparable magnitude* of a different People with *equal (or greater) legitimacy* in the democratic abstraction process.

[musiccokeandfrench]

Just so you know, the Democrats are catastrophizing for political gain. Instead of supporting the working class and putting up meaningful, actionable policy for everyone, instead of showing where the party will go and how they come back, they want you scared, scared to death, and that's dangerous.

This is my party and I am deeply disappointed in them. The country is not over and we will move forward. The Democratic Party must move with us.