I blame the spineless Democratic party for not making this a national issue. The con man is an evil genius. If the leaders had anything in their brain,they would take advantage and expose the scams and criminal acts by the corrupt administration. Learn from the evil genius. No one can deny the power of his ability to reach his followers. He is relentless and goes to every part of the country to spread his shameful propaganda full of lies. He gets away with scams after scams. She was locking up Hilary for email gate. Con man’s favorite daighter does the same and she gets away with it beacuse of the spineless party. Where are the leaders? Why they are not organizing public protests and appearing in national media in droves keeping the corrupt actions exposed. They need to engage in a relentless pursuit. Shame on the party for being extremely passive. It is not hard to defeat the con man since he provides so many ammunitions every day exposing his incompetence and corruption by his cronies. Alas, the spineless party just ignore them. The pathological liar child bully has a great chance of getting relected, if the party continues the same strategy to ignore him.
1
I don't exactly know when the republican party became full blown fascist but they have not believed in democracy, or the peaceable transfer of power after an election for at least a half century. Bill Clinton and Barack Obama are cases in point.
I believe it was charles koch who proclaimed the last 5 years have been better for their libertarian coup (he didn't put it quite that way) than the previous 50. Why? One reason would be mcconnell and his evil ways. Other reasons, of course, are gerrymandering and voter suppression.
The biggest reason? Democratic voters stayed home in 2010 which allowed the ALEC dream of taking over state houses and governors offices.
I was impressed with turn out last month, but We the People need to keep that energy turned up to 11 from now until Eternity if we expect our children to live in a democracy on a habitable planet.
8
Minority rule works out so well. Tutsis in Rwanda, Arabs in Yemen, Shiites in Syria and Sunnis in Iraq. Nothing bad happened in any of these places, right?
The reason we balance power, giving majority of voters power, and creating checks on them through the Courts and Constitution, is that it generally supports democracy and avoids bloody war.
The GOP, rather than hold onto power with policies that appeal across a broad set of voters, rig the districts then nullify statewide results.
The thing is? Violence is the ***usual*** answer to minority power grabs, not the exception.
8
Democracy means that people of color can have power and that is complete unacceptable to a racist party like the GOP.
7
2020 will be an important year for Democrats. Can they get enough voters to the polls to overturn predominantly republican state house and senate seats? Enough to win majorities at the state level? If so, then all these egregious practices--gerrymandering, voter suppression, election fraud, purging of voter rolls, etc--can be stopped, remedied, or gradually reversed. If not, then it will continue and get worse. Even more despicable election rigging practices, now unthought of, will pop up in state after state. It will only change when enough people care enough to protest, write, call, and vote. Literacy tests and poll taxes, anyone? The new and improved Republican Supreme Court might not be so friendly to the Civil Rights Act.
6
The power grab by the once "for the people" party is now the Greedy Old Party which needs to be reminded of this: absolute power corrupts absolutely. The corruption, beginning at the top with the grifter from Queens is political corruption that would make Nixon's escapades pale in comparison.
We not only see power taken away from incoming Democrats we also see power taken from the people who grant that power to the elected officials and we stand by in red hats and cheer loudly oblivious to what is happening to our form of government.
We get the government we ask for in either not voting or voting for ideology, false promises and unqualified persons either through ignorance or gullibility of the issues or the ease that charlatans can con us (that includes all who prey on us with false promises, not just Trump).
Putin need not do anything to destroy our political system and form of government. We are accomplishing it all by ourselves.
6
Outrageous, if not illegal.
I do not understand why we have lame-duck state legislatures and officers. Could we not (as is the case with British Parliamentary elections) have state legislatures and state officers take office immediately after they win an election?
Another question: if in the next election, Republicans in Wisconsin and Michigan regain power, will they then undo the bills they devised to curb the powers of the Democratic leaders and give those powers back to them?
7
Hmm ...does this make the GOP an ... Enemy of the People? More seriously, thank you for a spot-on column. Don't let it drop, though--the truth needs repeating far more than the lies flung into the ether daily by Trump, Fox, Limbaugh & co.
7
While investigating election meddling by foreign governments, the U.S. House of Rep may also feel compelled to investigate election and voter meddling by domestic forces, i.e., the Republican Party. If the Kochs, Adelsons, Smiths, DeVos, Prince are implicated in any way, they should get a subpoena in addition to those who hold governmental posts and offices. By undermining the will of the people as expressed through their votes, WI, MI, OH, NC officials who participated betrayed their oaths, betrayed the Constitution, betrayed the country through their nefarious activities. January comes, but what further damage may be inflicted? Local reporting, getting the word out has a new, urgent shine. Support them.
3
But what about the thousands of democratic ballots that magically appeared. Or all the votes that were late that were counted. How was Broward county not a threat to our democracy?
The big take away is that we all have to work as citizens to get and stay informed. Then vote. The fact that so many of the GOP power-mad traitors are going after the vote shows how much they fear it.
1
Can't these new laws enacted by Republicans at the last minute be simply reversed by the new congress at state levels when power changes???Revenge should never be the action of political parties.It is a sad world coming for our children and it is right here in the U.S.of A .All parties should be disgusted how our politicians act.It is more about power than representation and self poltical survival .
If anyone doesn't believe that the president's lawless behavior and extreme partisanship hasn't enabled these undemocratic actions by republicans in Wisconsin, NC and Michigan then I have a bridge to sell you.
3
Republicans only win elections when they cheat. This observation is not mine alone. And thry govern in a manner thst says ”we are not your representatives. We only work for our donors”. How much longer will we have to put up with this nonsense? These people can hardly call themselves Americans.
6
Why is anyone surprised at this?
1
What has become politically “right” shares an equivalency with racial bias and bigotry. The discussion about gerrymandering must go on, and anyone, Democrat or Republican, who espouses voter suppression must be called-out for exactly what it has become: Hatred.
But isn’t racial hatred based on ignorance? Certainly those who have promoted the laws and rules which prevent folks from legally voting their choices cannot be ignorant. Or might they be just that?
Living in the West, we’re somewhat protected and immune to this kind of behavior. It is very scary. It is difficult to understand. But what’s worse is that our elected leaders don’t stand up for what is legally and morally right. The tunnel vision of those who support Trump is difficult to understand. What we do know, though, out here in the hinterlands, is that we’re glad for our progressive and honest leaders who would never succumb to this sort of behavior.
Ultimately it may come down to the Supreme Court to referee the numerous questionable elections during the past cycle, or perhaps to decide whether the movements in Wisconsin, Michigan and formerly in North Carolina are constitutional. And this is the best reason for people who love our democracy for its rich, positive history, to exercise their vote for people who will uphold the laws and treat everyone equally. Govern out of vision, not fear. One must hope for the best.
3
"This group will not willingly cede its power just because demographics predict its downfall and current circumstances demonstrate its weaknesses." In a democracy, change in the demographics should be taken in stride. A democracy is designed to adapt to change in it's constituency. That one group would impede these normal consequences, especially as the "melting pot" that this country we have historically touted as our greatest strength, is an egregious affront to our forefathers design and vision. The problem is that it is not only immigrants, which we all are, and not always by choice, lose the constitutional right of equal representation. As a nation, we cannot tolerate this egregious attack at the very core of our Republic. We cannot count on current Republican leadership to correct this because they are driving the attack. Dems need to step up and stop this without quarter for those who would dare deny the citizens of this country their government.
6
The Trump fiasco is founded upon all the structural accommodations to slavery still in force in the US.
3
Thank you, Charles. Important article. The only thing I'd add is the Citizens United decision which gives more power to money and corporation to influence our elections.
6
Democratic Massachusetts has been doing the same thing for years to obstruct a Republican governor appointing a GOP senate replacement
http://joshblackman.com/blog/2016/06/04/for-the-third-time-massachusetts-tweaks-its-senatorial-succession-policy-to-keep-democratic-senator/
1
The current GOP acts like the Stalinist regime in the old USSR, with Fox News playing the role of Pravda. Corruption from top to bottom.
8
So why dont Democrats apply the same tools to curb Republicans?
4
@Pete Rogers
I personally favor neutering. It's quicker, cheaper, and absolutely permanent.
2
When will the Times' Editorial Board step up and condemn this outrage against democracy and citizens?
4
"The Kings are our dear fathers, under whose care we live in peace."
--Marat/Sade
And now it's the GOP,
You see, we can't be trusted with the vote, not really. They have to ensure that majorities of their base are in almost every district, restrict voting rights for minorities, shorten voting times, make huge claims about voter fraud (and then, when one of their own actually COMMITS voter fraud . . . crickets . .) to justify said restrictions, collude with foreign gov'ts, robotrolls, dark money, and right-wing-billionaire-PACs to get p̶o̶p̶u̶l̶a̶r̶ electoral college votes, and finally, if Cinderella/Hercules somehow manages to complete the impossible task, and wins, despite all these obstacles, well then, they'll just. . . . negate the election, because . .
. . they know what's best for us, and clearly, we don't.
This is soft fascism.
8
@SSS
It's also hard treason. There's a cure for that.
6
They can’t win on policies, they can’t win on values, they can’t see long term consequences, they can’t win with their cruelty so the only thing left is lie, cheat, and steal. Republicans can say and do whatever because they are not held responsible, their voters only motivation is stick it to the libs, add another layer of cruelty to stick it to anyone non-white. Have they ever considered trying to build their party/base instead of lessening voters rights? Why don’t they spend all that time and effort and money trying to do the right thing for country, because it’s to hard? Republicansism is a sick, cruel, petty, illness, the only way out is to kill it off and start over. And they wonder why we hate them, maybe because of this.
7
Maybe this is our yellow vest tipping point.
6
"It's not who votes that counts. It's who counts the votes."
- Joseph Stalin
5
@Dave
That's a fake quote, Dave. Do your fact checking.
1
Republicans lie. Republicans cheat. Republicans steal. Republicans suppress legal voters. Republicans suppress a free press. Republicans collude with foreign powers to undermine democracy. Republicans kidnap children of immigrants claiming asylum and never return them. Republicans are destroying the environment. Republicans deny science. Republicans use dirty tricks to destroy their enemies. Republicans are traitors to the American Constitution. The Republican party is a mafia, a conspiratorial organization that uses all means, including criminal means, to gain power and hold onto it. It is time to prosecute and break up the Republican Party under the RICO statutes.
12
The GOP poster child for taking power by force is Mitch McConnell, who is a one-man cancer on America inflicting his personal animus on every single U.S. citizen regardless of their wishes for the country.
By declaring before Obama was even sworn in that, "We will not work with this President" and more recently by stealing the Supreme Court seat from Merrick Garland, this one anti-democratic traitor epitomizes the entire Republican "platform" nationwide: if you can't win playing by the rules, throw out the rules.
14
The thirteen original colonies showed an abusive English government what happens when a government rules without the representation of the people: revolution.
Republicans have long recognized that the vast majority of Americans don't want, don't accept their constipated white superiority ideology. To force their ideology on the nation, Republicans first twisted democracy into a deceitful joke, but lately have dispensed with all disguise for their despotism.
Republicans do not believe in representative government (a republic), they do not believe in one-person, one-vote (democracy), they believe in attaining and retaining power at any cost, no matter the costs.
The costs of their tactics will be the same as the lesson to the English crown in 1776. Americans are not going to submit to abusive despotic Republican power.
9
Complete contempt for voters. Lie cheat steal break the law remake the law who cares as long as we win?! R Party platform. Can you say backlash?
6
Why should people who have built nothing for themselves, own nothing, and have contributed nothing substantial to America, have anything to say about anything? Why do they deserve any share in public decision-making or national prosperity? They have the same ability to get jobs, save, invest, and build for themselves and their families as the rest of us. Why don't they do this? Is it easy? Of course not! Everybody has the ability to earn, why should we 'give' them anything? Feckless layabouts who have conveniently convinced themselves that they are 'owed' something, and abetted by conniving, self-serving leftists, have no interest in democracy, they want a free ride; they should not get it.
Here's what I'd like a journalist - any journalist - to explain: why do the people who moan and groan and write about the midnight coups subverting our democracy accept it so meekly? So many comments here - and not a single call to action (other than 'vote,' which is actually part of the problem!).
Why are the American people not out protesting, striking, and boycotting in the millions? Is saving our democracy the job of someone other than ourselves?
A commenter here quoted Gandhi's "First they ignore you... Then they fight you, Then you win" without understanding the quote, The way Gandhi won when 'they fought' - was to fight back! With planned, continuous, non-violent civil disobedience - not with comments in a newspaper.
Trump wants a Roy Cohn. Where is our Gandhi?
4
Is this how the Republicans interpret, by any means necessary?
3
"That is why immigration is such a burning issue on the right and why Donald Trump is able to exploit it: Immigration, both legal and illegal, represents a loss of political power for Republicans." Isn't this because as in California most illegals are on welfare and vote for the party that feeds them? If we had an immigration policy closer to that of Australia and Japan, that was merit-based, and limited immigration to the fit and educated, perhaps we would see more immigrants vote for the party that represents the interests of the successful and hard-working. It is a racist platform issue to promote unlimited immigration from the lowest rungs of the economic ladder exclusively bottom-feeders so as to pad the voter registration rolls of the Democratic Party. Of course, the party of Obama, Clinton, Geffen and Soros joins forces on this issue with the billionaire's club that wants low-wage illiterates pouring across the border so as to keep wages down, to dilute workers' rights, and keep America's elite restaurants and hotels full with minimum-wage servants. We know the 1% are insatiable. Worker dignity can only be preserved by moderating immigration. Let's follow our astute neighbors and allies, Australia and Japan, and ask for the bank records of intended immigrants.
1
The republican's unwillingness to accept the will of the people in NC, Wisconsin and Michigan is supported by the RNC which has become a terrorist organization. This is chilling.
8
It needs to be said does little good to argue with the totalitarians that democracy is a good thing or even worth preserving. Rightwingers are quick to claim that America was founded as a republic, not a democracy, and it is therefore their right as Republicans to rule. Of course they are perpetuating a lie -- America was founded as a democratic republic -- but it is also partially true -- many of, but not all, the founders wanted voting restricted to white men who owned property.
3
Republicans -- not a few but the entire party -- have abandoned democracy. Many, led by Trump, are already bona fide fascists. Others are simply depraved moral cowards who go along to avoid being challenged by even more radical primary candidates. All fall in line because power is now their main objective. At any cost.
Unfortunately, American voters in general are so poorly informed that they have little or n real appreciation for free and fair elections. It's clear that most evangelicals would gladly accept a one party authoritarian government led by the most immoral president in our history as long as it means success for their "godly" agenda.
We are in deep trouble. Trouble that won't go away when Donald Trump does. The true problem at its root is neither the fascist Trump, nor the thoroughly undemocratic GOP, but the millions of despicable people who support and vote for them.
5
Just to be clear, imperial executives are ok if u agree with their views?
Serious citizens owe it to themselves to read Jane Mayer’s New Yorker article of October 11, 2011, “State for Sale,” in which she discusses the GOP master plan to de-democratize the country, state by state, designed by the Koch Bros. pal, Art Pope. Google it. The first step is to purge state legislatures of any moderate Republicans. Poor huge sums of money into dishonest ads, whatever it takes. Gerrymander. Suppress Democratic votes by whatever means it takes, i.e., voter ID laws, reducing voter stations, especially in areas inhabited by Blacks and Hispanics, reduce early voting time. The list goes on. It worked in North Carolina, it is working in Wisconsin. Keep in mind, these Republicans are not just super-partisan—they are evil people. I hope here in Wisconsin re-calls are initiated for those senators who supported these measures which I feel only sick minds would dream up in the first place.
5
Republicans hate democracy. It's really that simple.
2
It is clear that the Republican Party has ceased to be a traditional political party and has become and anti-democratic insurgency. It can only be stopped by an informed and highly motivated electorate but the window is closing on that possibility. Past voter apathy and ignorance is what got us here. That needs to change now or we are in deep trouble.
5
Because Republicans can no longer win elections they must steal them. This is a slow motion coup. Is it any wonder that our Republican President - who got 3 million fewer votes than his opponent while "winning" the election - worships Vladimir Putin and the Saudi Arabia crown prince?
5
Republicans are dead to me. They are traitors to democracy, and belong in some other country's nightmare, not America's. The mid-term elections helped staunch this erosion of criminality, and I hope and pray 2020 brings us the death of this utterly corrupt political party once and forever.
5
When did the party of Lincoln, T. Roosevelt, Eisenhower, and George H.W. Bush become the party of cheats, connivers and Trump? Organizations that act against the public trust as wantonly as today's GOP does have no future. Power gained by evading honesty, facts and honor is illegitimate. When it favors only the wealthy and powerful, and works against the people, it is likely to shrink and fail. Apparently, the current GOP hasn't learned the lesson of the first "blue wave." See you in 2020, guys.
2
The GOP is the party of whites supremacy, this is clear. White women who vote Republican are propping up white patriarchy and are complicit in this authoritarian take over. I am the descendent of European immigrants: Irish, Italian, and Slovakian Catholics. Since my skin color is light, my extended family is considered white, and we have benefited from this skin tone by default, even though a few generations ago we were from the "other side of the railroad tracks," considered trash by WASPS. I'm fully committed to rescinding white privilege. It's a "bloody heirloom," as Ta-Nehisi Coates calls it. It's pathetic how the US prides itself as the Land of the Free considering how hateful we have become toward immigrants.
2
How many Republican actions will it take for the United States to become a banana republic?
2
If you think the people who employee these tactics care about what any of us think or say, ….
1
This is exactly what Orbán did in Hungary - as soon as his party was elected with a majority in parliament, they 'reformed' the constitution and simultaneously made it harder to change it back to what it was. Beware of cunning fascists
4
The only marker for this kind of zealotry is religious. You'd have to believe you had a divine right to suffer so many lies and still your own conscience.
These people are not just political zealots, but born-again to a man. They fight to create an evangelical nation.
2
Charles Sykes, friend of Walker, urges him not to sign the bill because it will taint him forever. Way too late for that, Charlie.
I hope someone is keeping a list of all the bad behavior that must be made illegal after the Trump era. The Republicans have done so many things that were never imagined, that must now be made law.
2
Democracy is not going to die on our watch. We will continue to expose the lies of the GOP. The President and his cronies which is everyone in the GOP party are going down. North Carolina's ballot issues, Wisconsin, Michigan it just never ends with crooks. You cant get out of these bold face lies or blame GOP actions on Latinos and minorities anymore.
Americans are not stupid and the blue wave is going to continue. Mr. Mueller we can't wait to hear what you already know about the swamp kingdom.
1
Does everyone who makes critical comments live in Wisconsin? No. You want to complain about another state politics and you don't live there? Why?
People in Wisconsin let this happen. You are astounded at the lack of morality in Wisconsin politics?
NEWS FLASH: There is NO morality in politics!
Again, they think they're doing the 'Lord's Work'.
1
2020 Call to Arms: VOTE DEMOCRATIC!
2
@Lynn I'm sorry, but a candidate's position in the issues is much more important than his or her position on the ballot. If the Democratic, Republican, Libertarian, or Green party candidate wants my vote, they must convince me that their ideas and ideals match mine. What party label they attach to themselves is not part of the convincing.
The transfer of political power safely and uneventfully is one of the hallmarks of our American system of govt
Since the GOP does not recognize this basic hallmsrk learned in Civics 101 they should never be allowed to hold public office
Where are
Trump
Rusn
McCONnnell?
Their silence is akin to acquiesence
1
Since the election of our first African-American president, Barack Obama, the Republican Party has doubled its efforts to win elections by any means possible. Democracy is a meaningless word to the GOP.
Systematic Republican gerrymandering and massive voter suppression prepared the ground for the right wing coup of 2016- yes, Coup!. It is all about unbridled greed and the deconstruction of our democracy.
True, we now have Donald Trump in the White House, the most ignorant vulgar person to ever occupy the Oval Office, but in reality the right wing coup that took place with Russian assistance in 2016 was all about slashing taxes for the super wealthy ...those that own and control the Republican Party. The resulting enormous national deficit on the horizon will be used as an excuse to defund Medicare and Social Security.
The Kochs, Mercers, Adelsons and the super-rich corporatist oligarchy that still rules this country, even after the 2018 midterms, are happy to have TV clown Trump in the White House to distract attention from their well-planned elimination of every step of social progress ever made in the history of the United States. They bought the Republican Party and took over the now corrupt electoral system for just this purpose.
5
The Russo-Republican Party is doing its best to please Putin.
Read Unger’s book “House of Trump House of Putin” and all these tomfoolery is no longer a mystery.
1
Yes, this is very serious. If you believe in Karma( or not) , this ,in time ,will come back to haunt the Republicans. Wait. And.See.
What I want to hear on these comments is from people who support this destruction of democracy and why?
Not the usual trolls but those who think destroying the very fabric of America in order to establish, for all intents and purposes, state wide dictatorships with no dissent allowed.
Can any of you republican voters DEFEND THIS. And why?
We are facing two existential crises—climate change for the earth and this for our nation.
1
Recommended reading: "The Nazi Seizure of Power: The Experience of a Single German Town, 1922-1945" – Revised Edition Paperback – 2014 – author William Sheridan Allen.
2
Obama's nomination of Garland to Supreme?
To what end?
The Republicans complain about everything yet lack the votes to either change or eliminate the programs they detest. Since 2010, this party has yet to put forth a viable alternative to Obamacare but they complain about it daily. No comprehensive immigration reform. No suggestions to curb gun violence. Trump and his sycophants complain about NATO and the UN but submit nothing to reform them. Concern over the environmental catastrophes on the horizon is nonexistent.
Until 2017, this party warned us that debts and deficits were going to destroy this country yet have since presided over debt and deficit growth the likes of which we have never seen before.
Any group of idiots can destroy something. This party can't even effectively do that. It seems as if their only skill is finding boogeymen anywhere and everywhere to place blame and/or simply scare people. They won't lead, refuse to follow and aren't bright enough to get out of the way.
2
Remember when it was considered extreme to call Republicans Fascists? Well here they are, wrapped in the flag (sometimes a Confederate flag or a Gadsden flag), and thumping the Bible for all it's worth. And some of them are right out there with swastikas too.
They even have a Great Leader to whom to pledge their fealty. They have their own news service/propaganda machine. (Thanks Rupert!)
And still there are those who claim both parties are equally to blame, that there's no difference between them? Is it moral cowardice, willful blindness, or just plain stupidity? Perhaps all of the above?
It's telling that 8 years of the Obama presidency drove them all insane. (Make the White House White Again was more than a bumper sticker.) If not for a stolen election, having a woman as president would have made them suicidal. Or homicidal.
Yeah, it can happen here. It's happening now.
As long as we're bringing up Kevin Drum, we should also mention the conclusion he reached. The Republican Party is done.
"Today, the Republican Party exists for one and only one purpose: to pass tax cuts for the rich and regulatory rollbacks for corporations. They accomplish this using one and only method: unapologetically racist and bigoted appeals to win the votes of the heartland riff-raff they otherwise treat as mere money machines for their endless mail-order cons."
https://www.motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2018/08/nos-victi-reipublicae/
2
Absolute Power Absolutely corrupt you. They have been allowed their judges their racism and their gift to the rich why give it up? The party that was once portrayed as Two Fisted Flag Wavers and Commie Haters is now The party of Trump. They have lost their spine and if they had any character it is also AWOL.
1
As he left Independence Hall on the final day of deliberation at the close of the Constitutional Convention of 1787, a lady asked Benjamin Franklin, "Well Doctor what have we got — a republic or a monarchy?"
"A republic," replied the Doctor, "If you can keep it.”
(From the notes of Dr. James McHenry, Maryland delegate to the Convention, first published in "The American Historical Review," vol. 11, 1906.)
If you can keep it, indeed — and it is becoming increasingly clear that we could not.
We have now reached that point beyond which the answer to the question, "What do you think of the United States of America?" will be, "It was a nice idea."
Sic transit gloria mundi — or at least that of the United States.
2
Current Republicans sum up greed. Money & power is all that matters to them. Break the rules, who cares. What you going to do about it?
1
And when the Democrats do the same thing Blow is cheering them on because they are helping restore faith in democracy.
This smug and duplicitous approach to writing has become the hallmark of this column.
All persons seeking reasoned analysis need to turn the page.
The Supreme Court nomination process fits here as well. Denying Merritt Garland even an interview for a year or so was an affront to democracy.
5
One thing that might help prevent these unscrupulous actions would be a law to prevent new legislation being introduced in Lame Duck sessions, and require that legislative efforts be limited to unfinished business in Congress before the new term begins. I wish I had confidence in our Congress to act morally.
4
@Joe Good idea, but not carried far enough. There should not be any Lame Duck sessions; newly elected legislators should be sworn in as soon as the election results are certified and no sessions should take place until all members have been so sworn.
1
This all stems from Mitch McConnell, who has shown that he will willingly abandon any oversight of any Republican in any position to maintain his power.
4
The GOP and its authoritarian nationalism appear to be self-immolating and just may burn the party down themselves. It's amazing how the GOP truly believes "we the people" are ignorant and will not challenge them. They are so very wrong. We are smart, savvy informed voters who will school them on democracy and the rule of law in 2020.
2
Put part of the blame fir this on another archaic - stupid that is - rule law in our book, going back to the age of horse drawn carriages. Lame duck legislators and Presidents.
I do not know of any other democracy were the losing side has weeks to implement policies before the winning side takes over..
5
I thought these people consider themselves Conservatives. They’re certainly not conserving our democracy with these tactics. They’re attempting to institute one-party rule.
Wasn’t that the objective of the communists? And weren’t they considered leftist?
2
Eliminate the ways in which citizens are robbed of their votes, e.g., voting districts and their manipulation and the electoral college. With those two examples gone and others as well, we can take the tools used by the Republicans to endlessly tinker with our system to provide GOP advantage, returning our "democracy" to "one man [person], one vote" with all votes counted. Yes, we have the technology to do it.
I cannot understand why we, as citizens, stand by merely watching that lunacy. I suppose it's the same reason that we stand by and watch the Imposter stumble through his days, ignorant of the U.S. constitution, history, convention, common sense, and good judgement. It's like our country is standing by and watching an impending train wreck but without knowing that we are all on that train.
2
The part of me that studied psychology and sociology wants to know why so many people (Republicans) are behaving in such a blatantly dysfunctional manner. Because in the long run, this behavior brings them the same misery they bring to everyone else. I do understand that racism is at the root of this problem, but it has become bone-chilling to think that perhaps a third of this country's citizens actually hate brown and black skinned people. Then there's climate change. The same group tends to deny that human beings are affecting rising global temperatures and that we as a species must urgently get to work preventing the worst of its consequences. The Republican Party and it's constituents are ignorant, No matter what they think. They may love their kids and be faithful partners in their relationships, and they may be experts in their fields, but they live in a bubble. So despite all the barriers they have erected, people must get out there and vote for the Democrats. And the Democrats must work together to assess among themselves who would be the best candidate for President.
2
Democracy is one of our most precious gifts. It is messy, sometimes ugly, often brutal in the decisions we impose on ourselves, but it gives every citizen the potential to participate in the critical matters that set our future and, as the cliche goes, that of our children and grandchildren (living legacy).
It is all we have. Without it, we are stripped naked before the power of corporations to determine our lives and we would be forced to bow our heads before the authority of unchecked government. We would be utterly lost.
Understand this, too, above all others: in this country, the government is the subject of the citizens. We are not subjects of the government, a king, a president, a governor. Indeed, the government cannot order us to do anything other than obey reasonable laws, pay our taxes and, in time of national emergency, fight for survival.
Democracy is the power in the hands of citizens that holds back the hands of oppression which, without restraints, would crush all freedoms.
The Democrats got nearly 10 million more votes in the recent mid-term elections than the Republicans. Nearly 11 million more people, in total, voted against Trump than voted for him. These numbers explain how we have gotten into this fix: we have our democratic practices to atrophy by continuing the Electoral College and looking the other way while House districts are gerrymandered to cancel out opposing votes. Unless we reform and renew democracy, those who are trying to kill will win.
3
It is not the people who are doing these awful things, it is the people who vote them into office, that is the problem.
@Walter Ingram
It is both!!
It's the veterans that bother me. What did they serve and defend, if not the right to vote? What are they thinking now, that race trumps nation? Somehow the Democrats must break the code that brings these leaders and voters back to true patriotism rather than flag-wrapped nationalism.
1
Never thought I would get to see the process aparthied as it is formed, when its supposed be consigned to history. Will wonders never cease.
2
It is no longer a democracy. Our country is a sordid combination of a plutocracy and kleptocracy. We will not stay silent, and some will protest like in France.
4
The real question to ask is this. Who stands to benefit?
GOP Agenda#1 Cut taxes, and the last round benefited those who least needs it. The GOP raises concerns about deficit only when it is for a program to support the neediest, but couldn't care less when it comes to tax cuts to the rich and if you thought the last tax cut was good for all of us, you have to wonder why the potus dangled a middle class tax cut on the eve of mid terms!
GOP Agenda#2 Deny climate change, and drill baby drill! The donors bankrolling the party are focused on quarterly ROIs, not the future of our kids. Withdrawing regulation again benefits the same group who benefited from agenda#1
GOP Agenda#3 Privatize everything and award business to crony capitalists; our health to insurance companies, our education to charter schools, and our pensions to the private banks.
To get all this, the GOP gerrymander the heck out congressional districts.
Deny voting rights to those they perceive will vote for Democrats.
Finally, stack the courts with ultra conservatives. Get corporations to be declared as peoples.
The party clearly has been taken over by rogue capitalists who wants our money by hook or by crook. This is no accident. It has been a conspiracy ever since the seventies by dedicated groups of crony conservatives, to even hijack that brand.
Look at the beneficiaries!
One mid term turnout of 50% won't solve this. I have never seen such naked power grab ever!
Vote and change all the laws!
3
We seem to forget .. It was "Democracy" which allowed the GOP to make these draconian changes.
Charles, if we had a democracy, somebody else would be in the Oval Office. Also, say, Chuck Schumer has more constituents than the senators from Wyoming, Idaho, and Montana combined, and yet...
3
End the lame duck by having newly elected officials take office immediately.
1
Like many of the Greatest Generation, my mother was a strong supporter and organizer for the League of Women Voters. This stellar organization is just the kind of model citizen participation group that is needed to put the kibosh on these treasonous efforts by the GOP. I will make a donation to the LWV this week and I encourage others to also. The likes of Trump, McConnell and their nefarious ilk must be confronted at every turn. It is frankly scary to see how fast these GOPers have put America on its heels. FIght back!
4
Why doesnt the US get rid of gerrymandering and the electoral college and gives itself a first world voting system?
4
I'm not happy when Democracy is being revoked by people who just want to stay in power, without consent from the voters.
Thanks again for your time and consideration in this opinion piece, Mr. Blow.
1
Our country was founded on the back of a revolution driven by a lack of representation. We seem to be headed in that direction again.
2
Dear GOP leaders across the land,
Why not just cut to the chase and do what we all know you wish could happen right now -- and perhaps one main reason why so many of you love Trump for stacking the courts with right-wing "jurists"? MAGA by going back to "good ol days" when blacks were not allowed to vote; when single women who were not being influenced by "conservative" husbands could not vote; when poor men with no property could not vote. That would deliver a dream world to you all -- no more pretense of love for democracy and the rule of law. No more a "nation of laws" but one of men. The lame duck federal Congress needs to swing into action now -- before Pelosi takes over the gavel. Do it. We all know that's what you want.
2
Want to see the future of our once great country , just see what's going on in France .
2
I wonder if there won’t be a point at which there are diminishing returns for Republicans. These moves are like last gasps for breath. The party is shrinking, and at some point, there may not even be enough Republicans to run for office. At that point, the scales will start to tip as inevitably Democrats begin to take the majorities again in state houses, and the entire Republican ship will begin to list until eventually it just capsizes. One can hope, anyway.
@Frau Greta
The US seems to have an inexhaustible supply of greedy, right-wing "investors" exploiting the system by changing/removing rules and regulations designed to keep amoral people like themselves in check. Democrats have very little to do with it except as usual, clean up the mess the GOP leaves behind.
Once the right-wing droppings are removed and the detritus cleaned up they'll again try to occupy the living room because its what parasites do.
Winning an election seems to be the easy part, apparently keeping it is now the hard part.
Ben Franklyn was right.
1
This is why prominent conservatives such as Tom Nichols advise to vote against Republicans at every level of government for the foreseeable future. In his opinion, the party is broken and needs a reset. He (and many others) are not necessarily enamored of Democratic policies but see Democrats as the only option to “undemocratic banana republic stuff” and the rule of law more generally.
11
As usual, I agree completely with Mr. Blow's analysis of what's happening, what's been happening, and what that tells us about Republican "leadership." (Choose your own euphemism for that one.) But I'm not completely sure about his predictions for the future. As in times past, I believe that, once again, "The times they are a changin'" and will continue to do so. The people currently in charge may appear to know what they are doing, but in fact, they still "have no decency." With this in mind, I believe that, eventually, the Republican status quo will simply not hold.
2
Why add to the pot and skew the outcome.? A significant aspect of voter suppression comes from highly collated and hinformative voter data ,which has specific information about voter preferences. Keep them out. Fence sitters , new voters, minorities and lower income groups tend to skew voting patterns and outcome. The uncertainty of outcome in elections riles entrenched interests and the push it to somehow make the outcome predictable. Incressing voter suppression is the result. There is voter fraud in India but the opposite numbers ,those voting are are large, too many, to make any significant difference in outcome. Large number of voters is the protective layer that helps to keep
1
I agree with the statements in the editorial that the Republican Party's attempt to curtail the powers of legitimately elected Democrat officials is the greatest threat to our republic. This is all due to gerrymandering, which the SCOTUS refuses to address, primarily because gerrymandering currently favors the GOP.
This is not how a democracy is supposed to work; and our democracy will soon cease to work if this issue is not addressed vigorously.
I suggest that the first thing the newly elected Democrat governors do in these situations is declare a state of emergency on the grounds that our very democracy is threatened, disband the gerrymandered legislatures, have an independent council redraw the districts, and call for free and fair elections.
The GOP has made it quite clear that they have no interest in democratic values when they try to blatantly thwart the will of the voters. It is time to fight fire with fire.
11
The Republicans are robbing citizens the fruits of their votes. The fear of majorities by Madison and Hamilton have made minority rule a real issue for the future of American democracy. The crude manipulation of state offices by R politicians in the wake of the crushing popular vote surge by Ds should be illegal. In WI the voters gave a majority of votes to the Ds but the Rs retained control of the legislature through gerrymandering. So gerrymandering is an accepted behavior in American democracy. But this crude cowardly unAmerican abuse of a lame duck session seems to be the future of elections.
4
Many citizens who vote Republican are harmed by Republican policies, which favor the rich of whatever ethnicity and harm the poor of whatever ethnicity. Poor ethnics have a great advantage because they know what is going on and are less inclined to personalize difficulties that actually stem from societal and economic structures.
3
the politicians
hear not what I say, but do
not many, but few
tried to capture my resentment towards our government in a haiku
It has been bought and sold to the highest bidder, and is no longer a government "for the people", as long as Citizen's United stands.
4
It has been and will always be about power. The GOP at the local, state, and federal level will do anything to keep their grip on the levers of power. Even if it means breaking the rules of democracy in broad daylight. Don't be surprised if we elect a democrat as president in 2020 the GOP will seek to do the same thing at the federal level.
5
To defeat Citizens United and outlaw its companion monstrosities : partisan gerrymandering and voter suppression, I see no path ahead other than the long slog to defeat every Republican and like-minded candidate in every state and federal election until the majority regains the power to restore government of, by and for the people. Right now, Republicans at the behest of their mega donors are pulling out all stops in the opposite direction - witness their anti-democracy power grabs in Wisconsin, North Carolina and Michigan. 2020 promises a dark storm of oligarchic bribery and illegality to defeat the most popular candidates. We the people made a huge difference in 2018 midterms and must stay the course well into the future. And be assured, stay the course we will.
21
The Republican Party believes that they alone are entitled to hold power and will sacrifice the ideals of democracy and our constitution to that end.
It is not coincidence that they continue to support Donald Trump and his agenda because he reflects their corruption and disdain for the views of the majority of people in our increasingly diverse and open society. They describe Democrats as liberals and enemies to their base rather than opponents with at least an equal right to share power and promote their more progressive ideas in the political arena.
18
It feels to me like citizen's groups should be able to sue state governments for over-riding democracy.
16
You read an opinion like this and ask yourself, "where could I go if this country becomes a one-party state or dictatorship?"
And then you realize that this sort of thing has been going on all over the world basically forever, and now its on the rise even in countries that made great strides toward democracy in the last century.
So, maybe there is nowhere to go anymore anyway. Maybe our only hope is that here in our country there will still be enough independent judges and justices to strike down these efforts to invalidate our votes and neuter newly elected Democratic executives.
But you also realize that the refusal to even give Merrick Garland a hearing was only the beginning of an assault on many fronts.
36
Not every country is as corrupt as the United States. I don't think Canada has gerrymandering; I don't think Canada is run by whatever our equivalent of the Kochs (are they brothers?) is (are?), I know that getting on the voters' list is simple, and although they have elected Trump Lite in Ontario, we usually elect sane people. And other countries of the former British Empire are similarly democratic. But I must thank you for the entertainment that your current political situation provides, even if it reminds one of the last days of the Roman Empire.
13
@Sylvia Poole, what do you find entertaining?
The world is filled with both decent and corrupt people, and no country is immune--as we've discovered. Trump isn't an aberration confined to the United States. He's one of many rightwing populists coming to power (democratically) in countries around the world. If Rob Ford and Doug Ford can win in Ontario, Canada is susceptible to populism too.
@Sylvia Poole
I wish I could take that as complement. I hadn't really thought about Canada, actually, so my bad! What I thought about the most was Germany, and Poland, and Hungary... and Turkey, or how Australia seems to treating its refugees. Seems like a lot of the world (though by no means all) is heading in the same dangerous direction.
That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security."
11
I thought the attempt to limit the incoming Democratic governor in North Carolina two years ago had been litigated and declared unconstitutional.
Hopefully, we can get the same outcome in all states where Republicans attempt to subvert democracy.
20
Mr. Blow,
The Eagle needs two wings to soar. While political Parties appear to have changed in the times we are living, The Republican Party has shown wear and tear for the last decade or more. It was damaged before the last presidential elections, and while having our personal vote removed is a chilling possibility, it is important to have your reminder to cast our choice at the polls and not stay at home.
A Republican acquaintance asked earlier if I had voted in the mid-terms, and I was quick to respond in the positive, while we went on to discuss the sale of her peanut-butter pie, best seller for funds to our children's library.
Noted one of our most weathered Republican town dwellers was quick to detach himself from this voter's presence in plain view. Trump is no longer mentioned in our exchanges.
In the meantime, we remain 'woke' and on the alert, while retaining a sense of foreboding.
4
Koch Brothers money paying off.
19
This is all perfectly (& depressingly) true ... but so often when I read articles like this I find myself thinking ‘ok, but what are we going to do about it?’
14
Mitch McConnell shoulders the blame for a large majority of these issues and he should not be left blameless.
38
News Flash - Satire
Thursday, December 6, 2018
Russian legislative leaders from the Russian states of Wisconsin, Michigan, North Carolina and Iowa are passing legislation, behind closed doors, to thaw the democratic votes of their citizens.
These laws are designed to ensure that the will of the people is overdriven by the will of the authoritarian Russian legislators.
The US Supreme Court has suggested that citizens do not have standing in previous court challenges, to these types of actions.
Democracy is being highjacked, as the conservative US Supreme Court watches in silent!
15
Money and Power and Greed...fear is behind all of it...
7
This is voter suppression,contrary to principles of our nation
14
Amazing that so many commentators are mentioning civil war.
Who ever thought such thoughts would be creeping into the comments of a major newspaper in the 21st century?
13
The GOP’s grip on the value of patriotism is slipping, and it’s time we yanked it out of their slimy claws.
The Democratic Party needs to stop talking policy and beat the GOP scourge to smithereens with American values:
Patriotic Americans don’t lie.
Patriotic Americans don’t cheat.
Patriotic Americans fight for democracy.
Patriotic Americans pay their taxes.
Patriotic Americans don’t support power grabs.
Patriotic Americans protect the weak and the environment.
If you can’t do those things, you can’t be a Democrat.
If you don’t do those things, you’re not a patriotic American.
26
Please share with the Dems. This is exactly the message they need to send.
On a national scale, you can trace the end of our democracy by reading KILLING DEMOCRACY available on Amazon.
5
There is another implication of this deeply treasonous behaviour. In a democracy - that is, where people vote for representatives and the winner gets in, in case anybody needs reminding - it is said that if the voters are dissatisfied in some way with the conduct or policies of their representatives, they can punish them at the polls.
Ah, not any more. When a lame duck legislature can invalidate the results of an election through *legal* but pernicious and immoral means, they aren't punished at all. They have no accountability. If there is enough money to back up the miscreants, they will prevail. The voter has no recourse. Make a mistake and live with it forever.
OK, trump people. Is this what you meant by giving the government back to the people? Or did you mean to give it back to *certain* people. Only those certain people are the ones who will NEVER let you cast another meaningful vote if they can get away with it. Even voting for republicans is pointless since they have the whole deck stacked in their favor. Happy now?
16
The Republican Party of Eisenhower no longer exists. The GOP is the party of Plutocracy and it is at war with our Republic.
19
As a census year, 2020 remains an incredible opportunity for the majority of Americans who oppose Republicans, Republican policies and/or Trump to turn all of this around. In 2018 an election with just over 40% turnout produced a Demcoratic majority of close to 9 million. 2020 is likely to be a historically high turnout election and if 2018 trends are any indication it can be a major landslide for the Democrats - this is the one and probably only chance to take back statehouses in these completely rigged Republican gerrymander states like Wisconsin, Michigan and NC. Hopefully the voters will save the country.
14
What I can’t get, Is why? What is the end game? Why destroy the foundation of our country for fleeting power? Why continue to cheat to win when they won’t govern. Ok. It must be a plot to destroy the whole system to? For? What? Why? Just asking.
9
>>> "For? What?"
Power. Wealth.
Because they (think they) can.
11
@Douglas Because they love themselves and only themselves.
1
OMG! Have the Russians infiltrated Wisconsin?
9
No. Autocratic corporate capitalists who despise working people, sick people and poor people have infiltrated Wisconsin.
2
@Mark Rabine
Only their agents.
Obama's DNC Politburo stomping--Comey-Lynch-Strzok--did American democracy in some time ago. Then Trump arrived and rescued the nation from going down a rathole named Cultural Marxism--Hillary-Harris-Feinstein et al.
4
Arlo called. He says he wants you to stop using that screen name.
1
When I was 9 (the emotional age of our president) if somebody said, "eeew...who farted?" The logical response was "he who smelt it dealt it."
That's what Trump and the Republicans consistently do. Childish projection, easily fact-checked. They don't care.
e.g.: See Fraud, Voter, NC.
See Powers, gubernatorial, WI, MI
I could go in, but my point has been made.
Can we please get some grownups and some ethics back in power? Pretty please with sugar on top?
10
Legends in their own minds, Republicans think themselves bravely fighting at the new Alamo, preferring death before democracy, dilution, pollution, contamination, and voter-district reformation.
This is their country, they insist, and for many selfish reasons resist "losing it" to minorities, people who should not even be here. Native Americans are, or should be, illicit, much less blacks, browns, and Asians. The hell with that melting pot idea! Give me white power or give me death.
Okay, they scream, you smoked us out. No more spin, propaganda, denial, game-playing, or smoke and mirrors. Now it's dog-eat-dog, let it all hang out, and may the superior race take all. We have not yet begun to fight. MAGA! Kavanaugh! Benghazi! Hillary's emails! Bill's worse. Corporations are people, too, my friend! Remember the Alamo.
(A little exaggerated, the above, but not terribly so.)
12
It has been pretty apparent for the last 30 years that the republican party is not interested in democracy. Electing pols who consider compromise as weakness. Blatant gerrymanderong. Blatant kowtowing to billionaires. Their idea of campaign finance reform is Citizens United. Voter suppression for minorities. Right wing media lynchings of democratic party candidates. Now they lie right to reporter's faces, when they even deem it fit to talk to them. How can legislatures even conduct something called a 'closed door session'???? They're only interested in THEIR interest, and screw everyone else. Fairness has long ceased to matter to them, and they don't see anything wrong with that, in fact they revel in cheating. So where do we go grom here? How do we convince them it's in their best interest to play fairly with the rest of us?
15
@JP We make them pay and pay and pay...
I wrote in response to an article weeks ago about my fear that the Senate Republicans and /or the house Republicans would try to prevent the House Democrats from exercising their subpoena power which everyone is hoping will save our democratic process. After reading about what is happening in WI and MI I am even more afraid. I wish someone would start writing or talking about this.
6
What’s being demonstrated by Trump, the Republicans in Congress and those running these state legislatures is the party’s slavish fealty to the Koch cabal, the Legislative Exchange Council and Judicial Watch/Federalist group who have spent massive amounts of money greenlighted by the “Citizen’s” Supreme Court decision to prevent legitimate democratic (small “d”) action from reducing their nefarious anti-social and minority use of their outsized and illegitimate power and influence. It’s not hard to see how things could turn against them violently if this trend is not reversed through proper use of our institutions reflecting the will of the majority.
6
This is truly staggering. It explains why McConnell was so willing to flaunt the Constitution when he denied Merrick Garland a hearing - he was aiming straight at the heart of the system that had elected Barack Obama in the first place.
This is a new civil war.
Today, in Houston, mighty 41 was eulogized in a magnificent church. At the end of the ceremony trumpets flourished - and a slow, martial rendition of The Battle Hymn of the Republic burst forth.
That is a song about war. I was shocked to hear it in that setting, yet, it seemed apt.
This is a war. Our Republic is under assault. Our democracy is being mocked. The voters are being attacked along with our institutions and our environment.
36
Since I refuse to watch state funerals I did not know of the martial war hymn played. It’s fitting and truth for the 41sr President, a man so much more evil than the white-washed version we have been fed lately. A church that honors murderers is not a house of God.
1
Putin and corrupt Russians must love what Walker and Wisconsin Republicans are doing with voter suppression. Pretty soon we won’t know the difference between the two.
12
@TMOH
There's a difference...the Russian Oligarchs are richer and if its' possible, even more immoral. Oh well, it just gives the GOP something to aspire to, everyone needs a goal or in the GOP case perhaps a gaol.
Why Charles support increased legal immigrants and does not want to have strong borders and actions against illegal immigrants. Because it favors Democrats and his groups. He will be happy if whites and Republicans surrender their interest. He calls whites and Republicans all kinds of names simply because they want to protect their interest. If we apply the same logic, we can call Charles also the same names in a different way, replace white nationalist with black nationalist. Luckily there is a president who understands this double standard and does not mind to be called a racist because people like Charles made it a meaningless word. Just for saying this, don't assume I am a White.
2
@Alex E
First of all. Donald trump is racist, but perhaps you haven't noticed that yet.
This is where I suggest you look at his history of vile remarks and actions -- maybe start with the Federal lawsuit brought against him for Housing Segregation, his race-baiting comments about the Central Park Five, and the fact that the the KKK and white supremacists groups openly supported his candidacy for president.
No "double standards" there. Just reality.
14
What nonsense, Republicans & whites are protecting their interests? I’m white & Republicans aren’t protecting my interests. Their acting like a bunch of banana republic thugs desperate to retain power and influence through any means possible. Lie, cheat & steal legally if you can and if not then there’s outright fraud and intimidation. Mr. Blow may believe that this is driven by race and changing demographics but that’s just part of the story. You see this in any society where authoritarians are driven to acts of domination through anti democratic reaction. Republicans like Alex best be careful of wishful thinking least what goes around comes around. Cycles like this can be hard to end once you start them & republican injustices are starting to weigh the scales too heavily in their “interests” without provoking other reactions they won’t find so palatable.
8
@ Alex—shouldn’t we be protecting the “country’s” interests? And advancing access and opportunities to all, rather than the few? Protecting the freedoms (voting to be sure) on which this country was built? The tent is big enough for us all. And we are bigger than personal greed and xenophobia ...
1
If Scott Walker signs the nefarious changes voted on by Wisconsin Senate Republicans in the dead of night, he will join in history another infamous Wisconsin politician, Joseph McCarthy.
21
We are seeing in today's Republican party at least the seeds of Mussolini, except that it can't even make anything run on time. If others see even more dire analogies, I am not one to quash them.
10
@James Ricciardi
How about the GOP are a tumor in the body politic that has gone malignant. It needs to be excised before it kills the entire organism.
1
right again, Charles Blow, There is no way I can read your column and not shudder. I am terrified. We cannot wait until 2020. By then, our country will be completely destroyed and there will be nobody left to show us the emperor's new clothes.
16
You can only squeeze the public for so long before an armed revolution begins.
21
Agree. See France.
2
This all done with the expressed support of the republicans on the supreme court, including Anthony Kennedy, recently retired who gutted the voting rights laws, with glee I might add. The very next day, Texas, as I recall, set its sights on voters other than whites. All done to make America murka. And some think the Democrats should try to work with and be nice to these clowns? Forget it, and go for political kneecapping at every opportunity.
14
Mr. Blow, let's call this what it is--a coup d'etat. When the outgoing governor/legislature/attorney general of one party deliberately decide not to make the transition of power to the new governor/legislature/AG simply because the latter belong to a different political party and instead decide to limit the power of the new governor/AG, change how they can govern, that is what it is. A coup. It means that the outgoing rulers retain power, even if they're not officially holding office. Who knows, they could also decide not to recognize the new office holders, declare martial law, appoint others to govern, or simply declare that they are retaining power for now. Next it will be like the old Soviet Bloc. They had elections, but there was only one party, one name on the ballot. Opposition was brutally suppressed, those who dared to dissent jailed, killed.
For shame, GOP! Democrats didn't do this to YOU when you won and took over.
Gerrymandering and voter suppression are the other big problems. Gerrymandering because even if every eligible voter in that district voted, the election outcome is pre-determined because that district is a Republican (or a Democratic) district. The drawing of it guarantees that even if every Democrat votes D, there will never be enough to elect the D.
This is not what the Founders had in mind, and with the S.Ct. firmly in support of eliminating voting protections, we're no better than the old Communist block or 3rd world countries.
17
This last-minute pitch to undermine our democracy will backfire. If Republicans think that they will be forgiven for shamelessly abusing the legislative process to circumvent the will of voters, they will be proven wrong in upcoming elections. Most Americans will side with the rule of law and with upholding our democracy. The more Republicans try to cheat the more they will suffer in upcoming elections. They may chalk up a short term "victory", but they will be defeated in the long run.
7
And the Dems want to get rid of the electoral college as a path to socialism. Both sides of the aisle are unfortunately messing with our democracy.
@Andrew
You might want to actually look up the definition of 'socialism' before using it as a pejorative.
15
@Andrew, good grief. Getting rid of the Electoral College is a path to democracy. Would you prefer that we never make any reforms--that state legislatures choose our senators and our electors?
Every other Western democracy elects their president through popular vote. We're still stuck in the eighteenth century.
4
@Andrew
Are you worried that he/she who gets the least votes might actually lose?
1
No mention of Democrats trying to reduce the power of an incoming Republican? Are there any? I don't know and there aren't any it should have bee noted.
1
@Kim, there aren't any. These attempts to curtail the power of incoming governors and other elected officials is new to the GOP too, with the first instance happening in North Carolina in 2016. The idea to use lame duck legislatures to pass this legislation is the brainchild of ALEC.
The GOP doesn't even respect a national day of mourning for one of their own - 41 - to steal powers in the morning while it was still dark - just as thieves do.
Charles, you missed Russia (direct and via the NRA, dark money and hacking) and outright vote theft like in the 9th district in NC in your list of "Republican anti-democratic tendencies." Republicans are getting ever bolder in their anti-democratic and abusive practices.
Bill Maher, the Nostradamus of our times, predicted trump would be elected. He has also predicted that trump will not leave the WH even if he loses the election. Indeed, who will kick him out? The Dems? The GOP? Will the military - IF they follow the newly elected commander in chief? It seems like our Constitution really doesn't hold violators of its laws accountable in any real way. How is impeachment of high crimes accountability without time behind bars?
7
They (Wisconsin repubs) couldn't probably care less about 41.
I very seriously doubt that GHWB would be able to get nominated in a gop primary in almost any state. Certainly not in Texas.
They gave a woman 8 years in prison for voter fraud. I'm anxious to see what happens to the guy committing numerous voter tampering in N.C. I suspect he'll do no time or even get convicted, he was working for the republicans.
13
Today we're looking back on the dominant Republicanism of the recent past, with which we could disagree -- even angrily -- while understanding that we were all to stay in political business for the good of democracy.
This would be an appropriate moment to make a change in our nomenclature by way of acknowledging basic solidarity with those Republicans who have been rivals in democracy rather than enemies of it. I suggest we start referring to the crowd that controls their party now as "neo-Republicans".
I'll also consider "Republicanoids" if that term garners more support.
4
We are at a critical tipping point in this country. If Republicans maintain control they will continue to rapidly erode our democracy, and there may be no turning back.
Do we want a "government of the people, by the people, for the people”, or do we want a small group of Billionaires ruling us without check and balance ?
28
Republicans believe they are ordained by GOD to rule. When Democrats win elections, it is clearly the work of Satan, and nothing is inappropriate to undo that. Nothing.
11
@Alan D - Reminds me of the photo in the paper this am of Trump & Melania staring down blankly while all of the other Presidents and their wives, as well as Presidential candidate, Hillary Clinton, were actively reciting the core prayer, the Apostles Creed during the eulogy at George H. W. Bush's state funeral at the National Cathedral. Again, the illusion that Republicans are highly religious is another Fox news brainwashing which keeps the Evangelicals supporting an immoral charlatan as their representative of God's grace on this mortal Earthly plane. Talk about hypocritical!
19
@Dunca
The Episcopalian Church, the go-to religious institution for US Wasps, is an offshoot of the Church of England, the historic go-to church for the aristocracy and ruling class of England.
This Church, founded by Henry VIII was established through the seizure of Roman Catholic lands, churches and all property in order to permit Henry to cast off (divorce) an alleged unfallow wife and remarry to provide a male heir. Henry, of course, set himself up as the new church leader and thus became the now much richer and more powerful king, the moral center of the "new" order.
Sound familiar?
BTW Eventually, a civil war addressed the imbalances and allowed a whole new group of nobles to take their place. Empty pockets filled up.
Rinse Lather and Repeat.
So just what was the last straw for you, Charles M.?
1
Democracy is dead , stick a fork in it !
5
@Perry Neeum
Sorry, but I can't join you in your defeatist response to the demise of Democracy, and if you ever lived in a country where democracy is non-existent you wouldn't be so content to just write it off.
I suggest you visit one.
The beginning of naked fascism...
13
Yes, now we get fake democracy, as well as a fake president, and fake news. But this cloud may have a silver lining.
Democracy has been weakening, over the years, as voters became more passive and aloof. Threats from Trump and the Right may be a blessing in disguise. This is forcing people to wake up and get more involved in political process, now.
Come 2020, and angry voters will be more charged up...
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Welcome to Russia!
8
@BDubs
Or China, Iran, or Saudi Arabia...
6
Just giving the "Resistance" a little taste of their own medicine.
1
You got any facts to back that up. Fox nation propaganda doesn’t count
10
The Republicans are setting a dangerous precedent. The GOP has slowly changed from being a party of small government and fiscal responsibility to something monstrous. Now our Democracy is slowly changing into something equally odious.
10
Democracy is the only power and protection ordinary people have against those who hold the power of money and those who control the power of the state. Democracy is the people's only safeguard to insure that they will not be exploited, abused and silenced 'too much'.
The GOP is truly waging war on every aspect of democracy they can think of. They are trying to exploit every angle, for the sole purpose of keeping people down and in chains. The People need to choose whether they want to 'be ruled' or whether they want to stand for their rights, their dignity, and their lives.
10
All correct. But calling out the GOP for this is like handing out speeding tickets at the Indy 500.
This is what the GOP does, and they are "matter of fact" about it.
They don't even see the need to do it covertly.
It's in your face cheating.
(Lord Dacre), a British historian who died in 2003. Dacre summed up Leviathan curtly: “The axiom, fear; the method, logic; the conclusion, despotism.”
13
If they let Trump's get away with apparent treason, the republicans are courting a civil war.
Trump inspires shamelessness in their party.
5
We have Newton Leroy Gingrich to thank for this decades long grab by the GOP to enshrine themselves as a totalitarian government that (not unlike the Communist party) controls every branch of federal, state and municipal government. Not based on ideas, policy, or majority voter support at each of those levels of government. Rather they achieve it by voter fraud (see NC), voter suppression (see GA), obstructing duly elected governmental administration (see WI), by propaganda based on illusions and conspiracy theories (see Fox News), by an onslaught of outright lies (see the White House), and by the dog whistles of Christian White Supremacy (see Charlottesville.)
31
It's called a coup d'etat. We just didn't realize the Republicans would do it. We should have. Gerrymandering, voter suppression, election fraud and now tying the hands of the lawfully elected successors. Brought to you by the Greedy Old Party.
19
There's a simple way to send a message to the people of Wisconsin, who don't seem to want to belong to the United States: don't travel there and don't buy anything made there.
Here's a partial list: cheese, diary, cranberries, ginseng oats, corn, packaged food such as Oscar Mayer, Kraft, Tombstone pizza. Mercury marine engines, and god love them, Harley Davidson. A lot of paper is made there. Companies not to own stock in; Kohler, Rockwell, Johnson Controls, Deere.
16
Everyone should read the book "How Democracies Die" by Steven Leitsky and Daniel Ziblatt. It's a good read, short and sweet, authored by two Harvard professors. They name 4 major actions taken in the last 25 years that if continued can well lead to the end of democracy in America: (1) Impeaching Bill Clinton, care of Newt Gingrich, Tom Delay and the GOP; (2) Gerrymandering Texas, care of Tom Delay; (3) Refusing to give Merrick Garland an up or down vote in the Senate, care of Mitch McConnell; and (4) Power grabbing of governor's responsibilities and prerogatives in North Carolina, care of the GOP legislature, 2016.
13
Republican politicians are grabbing power where ever they can, because this is their substitute for having constructive ideas (i.e. they basically have none) and because Democrats are completely feeble wimps, never willing to fight for anything substantive and meaningful.
It's bullying and hardball versus righteously caring political correctness enveloped in eternal timidity, and the hardball wins hands down, most of the time.
America is the loser in this sordid process, because the wrecking ball Republican politicians only lose when they mess up so royally that the their support base erodes. Democrat politicians can then gain, not because they actually clean up the Republicans's messes, but because they are not the causes of the most recent disasters which created those messes.
5
@Sage, this trope is getting old. Democrats have been anything but wimps, and they've cleaned up GOP messes throughout history, from FDR to Obama. They've given you Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, unemployment insurance, the 40-hour work week, the ACA, the Civil Rights Act, and a host of other reforms. This isn't "righteously caring political correctness enveloped in eternal timidity"--it's what keeps most of us alive and healthy. Timidity is complaining without being part of the solution.
Thank you for this important piece - it is hard to overstate how worried we should be about the brazen, insidious manipulation of power from the right. Those who talk about "American values" are understandably wishing for (apple) pie in the sky ideals that are, frankly, no longer in play.
Deafening silence from the Right about daily outrages being foistered on citizens, shameful disregard for the rule of law, for decency across the board, for the will of the people.
Deafening silence from the Right about election fraud in NC (vs their "war on voter fraud", a minuscule occurrence). An effective GOP voter suppression campaign.
Deafening silence from the Right about Wisconsin and Michigan. Check out the outrageous gerrymandering maps in those states (and others).
The metastatic cancer is spreading from within, time to excise it. But it will take people being willing to get involved, to say they're sick of being treated and mocked as impotent idiots by the Right, to stand up for what is good and decent and the rule of law - before it is too late.
14
Republicans are scared and in decline and that makes them dangerous.
The CA laws allowing ballot harvesting saw them get blown out of Orange County. They realize now that the Election Day turnout advantage they had for decades is no longer enough to win in the age of enfranchisement
10
We know that Mr. Blow, who carries on this publication's use of the word "Republican" as an epithet, will head his next column, "Republicans are Poisoning our Wells." I am not arguing in favor of any statehouse chicanery. The Democrats took control of the House of Representatives because democracy yet lives in the USA. Maybe not in Hungary, China and other nations, but this piece is less about politics than a demonstration of why, at the very least, we lead the world in hyperbole.
3
@Alan Behr Before they leave office, the defeated repubs plan on passing laws to make it harder for the newly elected Democrats. They have confirmed that they have little concern for democracy or their constituents.
9
I've been howling to the wind the past several years that Republicans are essentially the ancien regime sprung back to life - they are aristos but without the education and culture. And there's only one way to deal with these gargoyles: the old-fashioned way, the guillotine.
9
The Republican Party is trying to turn this country into South Africa, circa 1960. Suppression of votes, pass laws (voter ID, proof of citizenship in places near the border), high incarceration rates of nonwhites, de facto apartheid in access to health care, child care, jobs and education, increased association with white supremacist principles among the political class and marginalized populations - it's all there.
11
In this environment, Democrats should not want bipartisanship.
They should be working to defeat Republicans, not to compromise with them
It's okay to seek compromise and harmony with conservative opponents who actually believe in democracy and who act accordingly. It's not okay to cooperate with fascists.
14
You got it Chuck. This will be WW III.
It won't be between Russia, China, Europe, and the U.S. It won't be a nuclear bomb from North Korea or Iran.
It will be a war between the next generation of immigrants, blacks, Hispanics, Muslims, etc. and the dying white "monarchy" of the 20th century. And it will be brutal.
6
@RK
Enough of fear-mongering and dog-whistle politics.
You do realize that there are immigrants, Blacks, Hispanics and Muslims who are also AMERICANS, don't you?
You're in NYC -- look around!
To the people who felt the funeral of George Bush, #41 was like a Roman Emperor's: No president is an emperor. Bush was hampered by a democratic congress he had to work with in order to get anything done. He couldn't go to war with Iraq until he had a coalition of many nations to go with the US. So America doesn't have kings, it has presidents that get national funerals when they die. I personally liked being reminded of the things he tried and did accomplish in his 4 year term. No emperor ever did anything for the people if it got him thrown out,(murdered) of his position. Bush knew he would probably lose the next election because he compromised with the democrats and raised taxes to get the things done he wanted to.
4
"....At a time like this, scorching irony, not convincing argument, is needed. Oh! had I the ability, and could I reach the nation's ear, I would today pour out a fiery stream of biting ridicule, blasting reproach, withering sarcasm, and stern rebuke. For it is not light that is needed, but fire; it is not the gentle shower, but thunder. We need the storm, the whirlwind, and the earthquake. The feeling of the nation must be quickened; the conscience of the nation must be roused; the propriety of the nation must be startled; the hypocrisy of the nation must be exposed; and its crimes against God and man must be denounced....."
Frederick Douglass - July 4, 1852
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Start a third party, there are conservatives out there with morals and values! They have no where to go!
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I don’t think so.
1
I have a hard time deciding whether Trump or the GOP is more disgusting. They're both reprehensible!
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@Mike
They're both one and the same.
3
A friend once said to me, "You can be honest, intelligent, and Republican. PICK 2!"
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Let us not forget that Donald J. Trump is the titular head of the Republican Party. Nothing more need be said about the values of the Republican Party in 2018. This is not the Republican Party of Lincoln, nor even of Ronald Regan. Republicans in office today more closely resemble the Communist Party under Joseph Stalin. Sooooo Sad!
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Mr. Blow's absolute obsession with this topic notwithstanding, this is not white vs. black, it's the ultrarich and their henchmen against the rest. Racism is just one of the elements being used to trick segments of the exploited into supporting their exploiters.
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sir, you are becoming the face of “fake news”. We still have a democracy. People vote! People want to move here. We are the oldest operating constitution and democracy in the world and that in not “fake news” Have a nice day.
1
Sorry bob, the trend is not good. Republicans have proven they will take power any way necessary. We live in sad times
6
Our founding fathers envisioned an enlightened republic voting and were wary of the rabble. Nothing here seems out of place in the spirit of what they intended.
The problem is not Trump but those who support him for they are the ones who protect his brand.There are close to 40-50 million of them who come out like termites from the wood work ready to destroy equality,truth and anyone who is not WASP{white anglo-saxon protestant].I don't believe the cause is ignorance but rather their belief in the purity of whiteness just as one would believe in the existence of a supreme being which goes right back to the term"WHITE SUPREMACY".
4
The GOP system: Even when you win.....you lose.
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Which schools, and what education, are imparted to republicans, as their political attitudes are so cynical and so lousily immoral? That is the antithesis of partisan democrats, that are respectful of the rule of law, and graceful as the power transmission, when losing an election, goes on nicely, without damning cheaters along the way, to try to steal an election.
3
This is a good column, but it prompts another. Here's the headline: "NYT journalists a day late and a dollar short"
3
Be afraid, be very afraid. Bill Maher is right - we are in the middle of a slow rolling coup in this country which is being engineered by fascist-type GOP and libertarian/Christianist oligarchs. We need to be marching in every state, every night, protesting this blatant violation of our democracy or we are doomed.
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Enough diagnoses. We know all this. I want The Times to prescribe instead of joining the panicked passive witnesses.
2
France is rioting in the streets over a minor fuel tax. When are Americans going to wake up and realize their way of life is being conscripted by greedy, white, rich corporatists?
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The Republican party is out to destroy our democracy. Isn't it time we showed these traitors the door and place them in prison.
8
The GOP really does love Putin and his methods. That high-pitched whine you hear is Ronald Reagan spinning in his grave.
4
We need to be two separate nations. GOP TRUMP can destroy themselves
2
Mike Pompous was wrong , the union that is obsolete and ineffective is the USA, not the EU. Maybe it’s past it’s shelf life. Time to go our separate ways.
2
Well, duh.
Democracy is what Democrats do.
3
What utter nonsense from the same people supporting the Democrats who created ‘ballot harvesting’.
3
Unfortunately, it is self-evident that you are completely correct. Power is the sole motivation for the Republican party. It will hang onto it by any means.
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Charles won't mind Democrats impeach President Trump with or without evidence of any wrong doing. They would have done it if they had the number to impeach and I don't think Charles would have any problem with it. Under the law probably they could do it, if they have the majority. This is what Republicans are doing in Wisconsin and Michigan, but Charles doesn't like it because it is done by Republicans. This is the problem. This is not the end of democracy, this is partisan politics.
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@Alex E The difference is that Trump has committed many criminal and impeachable offenses. And there is plenty of evidence of wrongdoing, which Mr. Mueller is building as we speak.
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Sorry, Alex E, but this is way beyond partisan politics. This is the suppression of democracy. Blow has never suggested that Trump be impeached without cause, nor has any other journalist. The Democratic majority in the House will look to Robert Mueller's report to see if there are impeachable offenses. We're a country of laws, not a country of partisan hackery.
2
There is a direct line from Nixon to Reagan to the two disastrous Bushes and now to Trump. He did not arise de novo. Trump arose out of a party that has been criminal and anti-democratic for a long time. The recent whitewashing of the elder Bush’s legacy is part of the cover up of criminal behavior. Our democracy has never been as threaten as it is today because the entire structure and philosophical underpinnings of the Republican Party is authoritarian, theocratic, and anti-democratic. How do we combat this without a revolution? I don’t know. Many call for enlightened leadership. How do we have democratic leadership when the Republican Party will not lead democratically and as we have seen will brutally subvert democratic leadership in the opposition party. Benghazi, birtherism, etc etc. we can not function as a society under Republican rule. We are headed for a revolution because one party has to be destroyed.
7
Here in Australia, we have compulsory voting which, on the face of it, appears a little draconian if not "nannyish". However, it does motivate the unmotivated, and it does ensure representative turnouts without generating too many "donkey" votes.
The combination of such a system with an national comprehensive voter database might return a true democracy to the United States.
Clearly, something is needed urgently; after all, the essential ingredient that really made the United States great was her democracy.
7
Anyone paying attention for the past 2 years clearly can see that the Republican agenda has been and continues to be the death of a democracy, our Democracy.
We the people of the United States who have failed to learn history are now paying the price. Now, more than ever, the people need to speak clearly and loudly. Even the elections do not seem to hold sway with the Republicans who continue to manipulate government for their own benefit. We are now in a situation of minority rule.
The Republicans do not have an articulated vision for the country. They are willing to shut down the government, explode the deficit, let the infrastructure decay, and have no or little interest in the continued education of the population. Their only goal is personal gain and the pathway to this is sowing chaos. We are all in deep trouble if the American people do not stand up strongly to this malfeasance and, dare I say, treasonous behavior. How can democracy flourish behind closed doors, without free and open debate? What we are seeing was not the intent when the country was formed.
.
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All signs of the End Times for American democracy. What Republicans and Trump have done to sabotage the Affordable Care Act uses the same playbook.
6
Founding Fathers Washington and Jefferson would be advised not to use mail-in ballots if they were to vote these days. I don't know if Democrats could kick as low as the present Republicans have gone.
2
The Republican Party and its leaders are a national disgrace. Disgusting. Have they no shame. Nope. Shamelessly they lie cheat and when an opponent wins they seek to diminish the incoming democrat’s Lawful power. Imagine if Democrats pulled this sort of corrupt cheating. We’d hear no end of outrage from 45 and Fox et al.
Any decent American must object to what Republicans are doing in Wisconsin and elsewhere (plus NC, GA, et al).
4
Disgraceful. Ronald Reagan would be horrified. That is why, with VERY few exceptions, for Democrats
2
Americans have more than just their votes to hold their elected representatives accountable.
All of us concerned about the Republican putsch in Wisconsin should contact Wisconsin companies to protest the overthrow of democracy by GOP troglodytes. If Wisconsin companies don't support American political values by pressuring their renegade legislature, we shouldn't be buying their products.
The people of Wisconsin who have just had their vote in the last election nullified should refuse to pay all state taxes and fees until democracy is restored and Republican tyranny rejected.
The rest of America can support democracy in Wisconsin by boycotting all Wisconsin made products -- cheese and butter being their biggest consumer items.
Fortune 500 companies based in Wisconsin include: Johnson Controls, (70th on the Fortune 500), Northwestern Mutual, 100, ManpowerGroup, 144, Kohl's, 145, American Family Insurance Group, 332, Rockwell Automation, 412, Oshkosh, 42, Harley-Davidson, 432.
SC Johnson, makers of Pledge, Raid, Ziploc, Off!, Mr. Muscle,
Windex, Glade, Scrubbing Bubbles, is extremely vulnerable given its consumer brand exposure.
Sadly, all Americans know there's only one bottom line: money.
Corporate money dictates politics. It's time we used the power of money to defend democracy. It was largely corporate economic pressure that forced North Carolina to back down.
We can help the citizens of Wisconsin by exercising our economic vote in the marketplace.
4
Bruce Poliquin too, who is suing to overturn ranked-choice voting.
This voting method was approved by 52% of Maine's population, the Maine Supreme Court stated that it wouldn't be legal under Maine's constitution. The legislature, led by Republicans, tried putting it off till 2021 in a move that would have likely killed RCV in Maine, but a people's veto brought it back.
Now Poliquin is trying to sue his way back into his old seat by having judges declare ranked-choice voting unconstitutional. He's also trying to get a new election and he's having a recount.
So much for the will of the people.
1
Great piece, it would be good to know what if anything can be done about it. Where is the Democratic party and their lawyers? Enough of whining how about action?
4
The Republican Party and 45 refuse to accept the reality the Democrats are now in power, and they are hellbent to engage in rear guard, scorched earth political gamesmanship to destroy impede, impair, and just refuse to recognize the change of power. The GOP’s childish antics are a reminder that Republicans will not go quietly, nor will they fold their tents and steal away into the night. They know the changing demographics favour the increased active participation of multi racial, multi ethnic, LGBTQ, and far more female activists in he Democratic Party. Republicans see their future substantially waning, heading for the twilight, and the desperation of Caucasian males of privilege, less educated blue collar workers, and Caucasian females who throw their lot in with them due to lack of self independence and refusal to experience diminution of stature, to hold on to the ‘good old days’ of the 1950s. Return to the days of Plessy v Ferguson and, more over, revert to the days of Dred Scott. Why not resort to sabotage, obstructionism, and impede the Democrats’ positive efforts to improve life views for all Americans? Simply put, race and ethnicity are the mutually recognized components the GOP must continue to materially exacerbate and significantly exploit through fomenting and engendering anti immigrant bias, promoting xenophobia, encouraging racial internecine by embracing white nationalism. The Republicans preach ‘they” are better than “them.” Code words. Race matters.
5
“Republican power is increasingly synonymous with white power. The party’s nationalist tendencies are increasingly synonymous with white nationalism.” This succinct statement by Mr. Blow says everything we need to know—and probably don’t want to know—about today’s America. The claimed greatness of America has been subsumed by its racism. For those of you who continue to think America is great, you have not been paying attention.
5
Republicans don’t really care about the Constitution and America and patriotism and the sure-fire winning arguments about “moral imperatives” that they, for so very long, have lied to the citizenry that inform all of their politics.
They would be quite content if an autocratic entity seized power, suspended the Bill of Rights, turned the military into an illegally-imposed, murderous occupying force. The hierarchy on the party’s masthead would take to Fox News, Clear Channel and declare that the draconian measures are only temporary and that they were being levied for the national good.
The scenario I have outlined is, I think, a long way from being far-fetched. The first casualties would be non-whites and non-Christians and those whose natural gender inclinations run contrary to prescribed and approved standards. Then, of course, a Republican Senate would assume legislative control over the House of Representatives—regardless of any Democratic majority—and would purge any Democrats from not only the Supreme Court but also the federal judiciary.
Term limits would be abolished and all Republicans in office would be grandfathered into their positions permanently; their replacements would be appointed—not voted.
Police and fire at the local levels would be taken over by federal control, a strange aberration of Republicans’ need for “smaller government.” Gerrymandered districts would be made permanent and the strictest, harshest voter identification laws would become law.
3
Anti-Democracy Republicans are welcome to move to a country that suits them better than the United States of America as soon as possible. I suggest moving to Brazil and helping their new President achieve his goals.
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@David Bible
Anti-Democratic Republicans are right at home here in the good old USA. They are the spokesmen for the angry white male conservative faction that wants to preserve white control even if the whites in charge aren't good for the white middle and working class.
Republican philosophy has always included protection for the rich and corporate. They haven't really been able to sell that philosophy to most voters, so they have carefully cultivated frightened white racists, xenophobes and a lot of ordinary white voters who aren't comfortable with the idea of non-whites and other "Others" taking charge. They have no loyalty to democracy if democracy leads to a non-white majority controlling America.
Eventually, the elitist Republican Party eventually found itself under the control of the racist elements they cultivated. And here we are.
Republicans have been aiming for a permanent majority ever since I've been able to vote. I'm nearly 70 and I haven't met a repulican politician yet who didn't think absolute power belonged only to them. Think about it: didn't we fight WW2 against the people who wanted a "thousand year reich", and isn't that the same thing as a permanent majority?
7
We can't allow this to stand.
We voted, we've called, we've written, we've protested and we've been ignored.
Republicans are in the business to subvert the law, then declare themselves to be the law, with judges who grant them the power. They intend to rule, not govern.
We did not give them this authority. They are brazenly taking it from us.
We say massive voter turn out is the solution. We did this. We outnumber and out vote them, yet they're entrenched by gerrymandering, vote rigging, packing the courts to enforce their law, and blatantly declare our votes meaningless.
Millions of this nation's sons and daughters died to secure democracy, to defend the Constitution, our rights as a free people, our very way of life, that we should never be subject to tyranny.
How this could be considered anything less than tyranny defies logic.
Never in my worst imaginings would I have thought a time would come when I would seriously have to think about this. I'm just one person, but I refuse to give up or give in.
In the immortal words of the late great Tom Petty, I won't back down. I hope I'm not alone.
12
@Deb. I hope the Democratic Party initiates several approaches to fight these ghastly, in-your-face abuses now, to prepare for the next election. Voter registration is crucial and if we start now, hopefully there would be time to assist voters through the many hurdles the GOP is placing in their paths in certain states.
Legal challenges should be initiated now to allow time for appeals.
Apparently in some locales there were numerous broken voting machines, a lack of paper ballots, etc. In known Democratic leaning areas there were not enough polling places. Some states are ruthlessly purging their rolls. Early voting and weekend voting laws should be supported. Not sure what the process(es) to address these various issues are, but the Democrats should initiate them. This will be a state-by-state effort.
The public must be made aware, and keep being made aware, of the importance of registering and voting.
4
I fear where this is headed. Even if the (small d) democratic forces fight this well enough to bring back true democracy, the longer it takes, and the more combative the path there gets, we risk raising a generation of new citizens who will see all these anti-democratic tendencies as normal for our nation. Those of us who remember bipartisanship, legislative norms, and peaceful transfers of power will only be able to look back nostalgically at those days in the face of fearing what will happen when we try to hold an election.
3
There has been gerrymandering pretty much forever. And recently, there has been much talk of improper gerrymandering, which has been struck down by the courts on a few occasions. The degree of harm caused by gerrymandering, improper or not, has been debated, and most statistical analyses reveal less than a 1% effect. In the 2018 mid term elections, for example, the Democrats won 53.41% of the popular vote and 54% of House seats. That indicates virtually no effect from gerrymandering.
The system isn't perfect. But, in the end, the party that gets to most votes virtually always gets the most seats. Since district lines are irrelevant in Senate elections, so is gerrymandering. In my opinion, the worst example of the losing party winning an election was the 2016 election of Trump. And there the problem was use of the electoral college rather than the popular vote, a product of an antiquated election procedure that makes little sense.
Unlike Mr. Blow, I don't think the Republicans have had much success in undermining democracy, though they certainly have tried. In my opinion, the greater problem is use of the clearly undemocratic electoral college system. which got us Trump for no good reason.
3
@michjas......Statistics don't lie, but..... In the Wisconsin House, Democrats won 54% of the vote and ended up with 36% of the seats. So tell us again how there is no effect of gerrymandering. Is that how you think representative democracy is supposed to work?
4
If this is true in general (rather than being a few state level anomalies) then I agree that it is very disturbing. Efforts should be made to outlaw any political party which aims to usurp American democracy. No doubt one of our more informed historian reader/commenter’s will detail instances of earlier struggles between states, parties and individuals who sought to cut corners and garner more power than was bestowed by the fair rules of the game.
It seems though that we’re in a time where our elected representatives have either forgotten, or never intended to assume the role of serving.
3
"Power concedes nothing without a demand. It never did and it never will." -Frederick Douglass.
10
Who is predominantly behind these shenanigans and blatant power grabs, white men. They, as a group, do not want to share power, or TRUE decision making. So they’ll resort to any means possible, irrespective of voter preferences, etc...Case in point: Citizens United, which was spawned as a direct response to Barack Obama being elected. President Obama in his two electoral triumphs, never won the white male vote, and you saw an upsurge of voter suppression and gerrymandering as a response to the inevitable demographic changes in the horizon.
10
I hate to say it but bringing Democrats together to support anything in a unified fashion is like herding feral cats. This is both our strength and weakness as most of us love to debate endlessly over nuances until a crisis like Donald Trump and the effort by the GOP to waylay our democracy. Add to that that many potential democrats are completely turned off to the system and will not vote at all and democrats must fight with one hand tied behind their collective backs.
Democrats must unite behind our candidates on every level once they are chosen and fight for each one of them. Our recent election showed that we can do this, but we can not take our collective eyes off of the prize, a fairer society and the defeat of those who will do anything in their power to destroy our country and government.
7
It appears the repulses cannot win an election without lying, cheating, stealing, vote suppression, gerrymandering, ballot box stuffing, corporations as individuals, on and on. Then, when they "rule" they are so undemocratic. What has happened to this country?
6
Wait, the Democrats are yet to accept the results of 2016 Presidential Elections and are doing everything in their power including the propaganda machine of the media to bring Trump down.
Georgia Governor election was never conceded. In Florida a serious attempt was made to steal the election.
3
@LongDistance
Actually Stacey Abrams did concede in Georgia.
Yes, in Florida, a serious attempt was made to steal the election through all the voter purges and through laws like exact signature match that required electronic signatures to match actual signatures, and a host of other voter suppression tactics.
One of the more egregious attacks on elections was when the Broward County recount results were submitted. Even though the county tried to submit them electronically before the deadline, there was a glitch in the system and consequently they went in two minutes late. Florida refused to take them although part of the delay was not just the submission process itself but more than one power outage while the recount was taking place.
Stolen elections abound when Republicans are in charge. For Brian Kemp to oversee his own election was outrageous. Same thing for Rick Scott to interfere in Florida when he was running for the Senate.
In 2016, Trump lost the popular vote by almost 3 million. That was factual.
8
Tolkien wrote that ". . . there is only one Lord of the Rings . . . and he does not share power". I suppose the same could be said of the Republicans. Now that they have acquired a taste for absolute power, they are not going to willingly give it up just because of some archaic notion like "the will of the people".
6
All well and good, but would it be too much to ask the NYT to put out the simple to understand vote counts, state by state, and the corresponding ratios of representatives of each party. I have seen some numbers but my memory isn’t what it used to be, I need to be reminded. For example x percentage of voters in y state voted for z party resulting in percentage q of z party in the legislature. Parliamentary systems are much easier to keep track of. Sigh.
6
Republicans fight dirty. I know that both sides are capable of it, but even the much-esteemed George HW Bush fought dirty against Dukakis vis-a-vis the Willie Horton campaign. They are very good at ginning up fear and smear.
They fought dirty with Merrick Garland. They are fighting dirty with gerrymandering, voter suppression and purges. It is in their DNA. They tend to be much more emotional in their actions, and their gut desires make them want to do whatever it takes to hold power.
Let's face it, NY Times readers: aside from the recent praise and examples of decency seen in George HW Bush through his eulogies and life, that kind of inclusive, fair, and bipartisan approach is deeply languishing and even lost in our current American consciousness. We live in a deeply divided country - this is the overwhelming truth.
8
The Party of Big Business is still pretty much what it has always been for all of my 70 years, only now people are beginning to notice, thanks to their outrageous leader, but Republican leadership has never had good intentions. They have always had to fabricate some boogie man to instill fear in voters to get them to give up liberty for safety. Remember that Red Scare? They got a lot of mileage out of that one. How else could they get working people to vote for their wealthy interests? They have always lied, cheated and stolen their way to power and wrecked havoc on democracy at every opportunity. Trump is their Dorian Grey's portrait. They outdid themselves this time, and maybe Americans will realize at last what a danger they are to democracy, but this didn't just happen. We should be talking more about Citizens United, the Koch brothers, the John Birch Society, the Heritage Foundation and the Federalist Society. Clinton was right about them. There is a vast right wing conspiracy funded by well organized billionaires who have strange Libertarian dystopian plans for us all. Keep sounding the alarm Mr. Blow. I've been looking for you all my life.
12
This is beyond infuriating. I always thought a sense of fair play was something quintessentially American. Obviously, I was wrong. I hope “the resistance” switches into gear on the issues outlined by Mr. Blow. This is worthy of taking to the streets for.
The gerrymandering currently benefiting Republicans happened when Republicans made a concerted effort to take state legislatures where the power to redistrict is held. Democrats need to take back state legislatures before the 2020 census to regain parity. As we know, this is a tall task because they were so successful in their cheating.
Republicans do not deserve to govern. Vote Democratic all the way up and down the ballot.
10
The GOP in WI are doing all their voters wrong in their current crazy coup. The GOP doesnt know who voted for the Democrat party winners, governor, attorney general. They dont know what independents, democrats or Republicans were part of these Democrat victories. Also, In my mind, when I vote for a governor I expect the position to be apprx the same as before. I dont vote for an attorney general and find he has been demoted to milkman after the election. That doesn't sit well with me, and I doubt the voters in WI are as happy as the GOP assume.
8
From the Republican point of view, Democrats have vastly manipulated American democracy by promoting the entrance of tens of millions of immigrants, many illegal with legal children, who now vote overwhelmingly for them. Democrats have served as a roadblock to strict immigration enforcement for years. If demographics in 2012 had looked like demographics in 1984, Romney would have trounced Obama. Republicans are now just fighting back with the tools that they have.
2
@DRS Last time I looked we are not Putin's Russia. Candidates and their political parties ought to be using 'tools' such as voter interaction, fact finding and persuasion rather than shameful attempts to defeat democratic processes.
4
Corporations are not people but have rights also given to living beings.
One of the construction problems with our democracy
3
I studied American history a long time ago in Montreal where when I grew up in Montreal in the late forties the 50s and sixties our votes counted for even less than the 3/5 s of a vote the slave owner were given for each slave they owned in terms of electoral representation. Quebec was very conservative and Montreal wanted to be as liberal as the USA. Today Montreal is still very liberal but the hinterland of today's Quebec where I live may be even more liberal.
Having lived on the South Side of Chicago where we were a visible minority in a constituency where my wife voted with the 93% of our constituency's citizens. Her votes counted for far less than 3/5 of a vote in places where the voters were 55/45.
We live at a time where computers make imperative an understanding of math and history and both sides of your political divide seem to relish math and history illiteracy. The biggest difference is that while the Democrats are always accused of cheating the Republicans have been cheating for so long they are very good at it and have no respect for honesty.
7
If Trump is allowed to remain in office, if the Republicans are allowed to continue to obstruct democracy; the people are going to have to save this country.
Elections? Revolution? Civil war? We, that care for this country, have a choice. Let’s hope we make the right one because time is running out.
Trump, and his minions, have betrayed the county, it’s institutions and it’s people.
When is enough enough.
Step up congress, or get out of the way.
4
I hope that MSM will keep the pressure on....our democracy as we know it will end. What are we? Russia? China? Why can't the party that loses, take their toys home and figure out what they did wrong and come back to play another day? This is simply abominable. Wisconsin, Michigan and North Carolina...Deep Shame...Voting Rights Act also needs to be re-strengthened. That much is obvious.
2
When Scott Walker signed his Wisconsin Voter ID law into law he remarked that “this one is especially special”, and went on to falsely claim that voter fraud costs the Republicans 1-3 points in voting. That would mean 30,000 - 40,000 votes cast fraudulently, when in fact only 20 votes were fraudulent, and these were previous felons who didn’t know they couldn’t vote. Only one vote was a person who fraudulently voted twice, and he voted for the same Republican candidate twice. Walker taught Trump everything he knows about lying about voter fraud, and Walker got his orders from the large corporations at the American Executive Legislation Council ( ALEC). You you can’t win fairly in a democracy - then rig the election with Voter ID, gerrymandering, and lying to the citizens about voter fraud is the Republican scheme. Democracy?
5
The brazenness of Republicans is breathtaking.
McConnell openly obstructed everything that Pres. Obama did, even if it was a policy that Republicans had previously supported. He obstructed the first black president's nomination of a SC justice without even a hearing and then rushed through someone as compromised as Kavanaugh who lied in his hearings, was openly rude to senators, and who had credible accusations of a drinking problem several years long and of sexual assaults.
McConnell's excuse was that the people should be given a chance to speak. They did repeatedly and were ignored. Sen. Warren was silenced when she tried to read a relevant letter by Coretta Scott King, while Graham's harangue against Democrats and the rights of sexual assault victims was praised.
What Republicans just did in Michigan and Wisconsin went against the explicit will of the citizens. In Florida, Georgia, and North Carolina, the voter suppression was out in the open and was massive and continues.
Like Trump, the current GOP is incapable of shame or conscience. There is no representative government anymore. Almost all of the GOP policies are against what polls say citizens want by a large percentage. They don't care who has majority votes or what concerns people have.
Bulldozing over democracy, civil rights, and decency with rebel yells is tyranny. The silent majority will rise against the ranters and their rampages.
5
The gerrymandering is particularly disgusting. I think that Wisconsinites who voted for the Democratic governor and attorney general shouldn’t pay taxes. The fact that Democratic candidates in that state won an astounding majority of votes yet have a strong minority of political power harkens back to the slogan of the Boston Tea Party, “No taxation without representation.” Or at least there should be mass mailings of bananas to the GOP legislators who enacted these laws as a demonstration of the type of Republic they are promoting.
3
The only way to undo this seems to be for the Democrats and others in Michigan, Wisconsin and other such places is to sue the members of the local GOP both individually and collectively in state or Federal court. Clearly this is unconstitutional at several levels. Shame Shame Shame.
5
This is what happens when you have a two-party system that excludes other voices. We have two private political parties with no oversight. Politics becomes a winner-take-all competition with no compromises because so much is at stake. One party has been totally purchased by Big Money and when that happened the gloves came off. They were able to pummel the other party whose establishment also had money interests, but it also lacked a spine to challenge its opponent.
You can’t have a democracy with just two parties; neither has any incentive to change. There are no mechanisms to check the greed and ambitions of either party because neither one wants to put checks (like election reforms) in place that would compromise itself. Bipartisanship? Ha!
This was inevitable. The Republicans are beneath contempt, but I place a lot of blame on the Democratic Party which grew fat and complacent, clueless about what was happening right under its nose, and was willfully resistant to the way the national wind was blowing in 2016.
Now the Democrats want to take the high road while the barbarians pillage and burn everything to the ground. How’s that working out?
But there’s more. The two-party system is one piece in a larger political system that is ripe for exploitation. The Electoral College, the disproportionate allotment of Senators, and legal gerrymandering have all conspired to create rule by a minority.
Next: Republicans pass laws outlawing Democratic presidents.
2
I admire and respect Michelle Obama, but on one thing she is wrong! Democrats, you'll never, ever beat the Republicans by taking the high road! It is naive and foolhardy to think that you can beat a political party who has proven time and again that it will stop at nothing to retain power.
For 25+ years I've said that the Republican Party could not win national elections if they didn't somehow, in some way, circumvent democracy. Gerrymandering and voter suppression are obvious, and in my experience in a Red state, it's expected if not accepted. But, it's much worse because Republicans have been engaging in the dark arts of politics since the days of Lee Atwater and the apparently 'saintly' George H.W. Bush. (Thanks to trump, he and his son have risen to levels previously reserved for the most incompetent and odious presidents in American history.)
Democrats need to wake up and get a good snort of reality. You'll never get a chance to fight the Republicans on the high road when they only traffic on the low road to he!!
3
The electoral fraud in Wisconsin, Michigan and North Carolina is nothing short of an authoritarian coup d'état against the democratic transfer of power as mandated by the will of the electorate.
Never let it be said or understood that today's Republican Party has the slightest respect or commitment to the core principles of democratic self-governance. The GOP is simply not interested in it, rigging the system to gain or retain partisan power even when voted out of power.
The Republican Party has become an institutional traitor to the foundations of the American nation.
12
The call goes out to our nation and all good citizens to heed the warnings here and resist this fear and continue to strive for equal rights for all! Anyone found to be responsible (including foreign countries) of interfering in the hallmark of our democracy - free and fair elections, should be prosecuted to the full extent of the law, even if they be the president. We must not allow our country to be hijacked by the evil forces of selfish greed and hatred towards anyone different. God calls us to love others and bless others with the same love and blessings we have received from His almighty hand. China under the Ming Dynasty pulled back from the world, fearing undo influence, thus ceding the future of exploration and vast new possibilities to the Western World. Now, 500 years later, they are attempting to reclaim by hook or by crook, their former position in the world. Fear destroys ingenuity, creativity, and compassion, killing the very light of life to overcome the darkness and give hope for better days to come. Freedom from fear (FDR) gives all the capacity to soar, as our country has for 70 years.
1
The GOP is now so completely corrupt that they no longer accept one of the fundamental tenets of American democracy - the peaceful and legitimate transfer of power. Now we know who are the true enemies of the American people.
11
The idea Trumpism in its broadest form is benign transformation of the GOP is wrong. Trumpism more closely resembles a pervasive virulent strain of infection. Resistant to off the shelf cures, logic and facts. Paul Ryan sprinted for the exit rather than mount a thoughtful response to Trump. Two specific acts by Ryan reflect his escape from reality.
Director Wray and Assistant AG Rosenstein appealed to Ryan to restrain or otherwise reign in pit bull dog Nunes. He rebuffed the request saying take it up with Nunes. Next bored or vexed Ryan took notice the House Chaplain was stressing the notion of blessed are the poor perhaps as a knock against Ayn Rand. Faced with ideological heresy traveling as religious belief Ryan fired the Chaplain.
Flake and Corker frequently harpoon Trump, but invariably vote with the President. They also found exiting more appealing than mounting another campaign and being tweeted to death. The GOP is now Trumpism unprincipled.
3
When the Republican Majority Leader of the United States Senate unconstitutionally chooses to deny a siting President his rightful choice for an open seat on the Supreme Court, is it any wonder that this Party would engage in any of the anti-democratic behaviors catalogued in Mr. Blow’s article. It is a rotting, immoral, and increasingly irrelevant institution whose better days are long behind it, as it engages in its last,desperate acts to retain power, even if in violation of any governing principles, values, or traditions. That the Republican Party is now the unequivocal Party of the authoritarian/fascist Trump is fitting and logical.
2
The man holding up the sign could teach cable news a thing or two :-).
The GOP is waging war. And if only one side recognizes it is at war, that side will win. After the attack on Pearl Harbor, FDR did not say “When they go low we go high.”
3
Americans have more than just their votes to hold their elected representatives accountable.
The people of Wisconsin who have just had their vote in the last election nullified should refuse to pay all state taxes and fees until democracy is restored and Republican tyranny rejected.
The rest of America can support democracy in Wisconsin by boycotting all Wisconsin made products -- cheese and butter being their biggest consumer items.
Fortune 500 companies based in Wisconsin include: Johnson Controls, (70th on the Fortune 500), Northwestern Mutual, 100, ManpowerGroup, 144, Kohl's, 145, American Family Insurance Group, 332, Rockwell Automation, 412, Oshkosh, 42, Harley-Davidson, 432.
SC Johnson, makers of Pledge, Raid, Ziploc, Off!, Mr. Muscle,
Windex, Glade, Scrubbing Bubbles, is extremely vulnerable given its consumer brand exposure.
All Americans concerned about the Republican putsch in Wisconsin should contact Wisconsin companies to protest the overthrow of democracy by GOP troglodytes. If Wisconsin companies don't support American political values by pressuring their renegade legislature, we shouldn't be buying their products.
Sadly, all Americans know there's only one bottom line: money.
Corporate money dictates politics. It's time we used the power of money to defend democracy. It was largely corporate economic pressure that forced North Carolina to back down.
We can help the citizens of Wisconsin by exercising our economic vote in the marketplace.
6
Some suggestions to rectify the issue.
Elections are public holidays.
Build a National voter database (including a national voter id card ) which you automatically join once you turn 18. It can be linked to your ss#. Anybody who wishes to remove you from the voter rolls must prove that you are NOT eligible. Put the onus on those who seek to disenfranchiose you.
Non-partisan bodies draw electoral boundaries , based on an agreed population headcount.
Public financing for elections.
Free elction advertising in local media markets for all candidates including print, radio, tv, and target social media platforms.
An Immediate end to lame duck sessions to prevent this abuse.
End Citizens United.
Vote in every election from local to state to federal.
Enact proprtional repesentation so that the actual vote count is reflected in the repesntative body.
Start there and see where we are in 10 years.
6
@Kevin. This should be a NYT Pick. Yes, the 'default' should be, that one is entitled to vote upon reaching age 18.
2
Like the Democrats did in NC, tie everything up in the courts, and then vote for every Democrat for every office. many blue waves, it's the only way to get the country back on track. And let's see what happens next month in the House, and if anything reaches SCOTUS, and what they'll rule, if they can remain non-partsan.
1
The one good thing to come out of the Trump presidency is we don't have to listen to the never ending boasts of 'we are a nation of laws.'
ALEC and other groups have been working on this for years. Even as a foreigner, and a journalist, I've seen countless examples of these problems. The solution, yet again, is the Constitution, arguably America's greatest contribution to democracy. Disenfranchisement is not a power of government, and never has been since it was written. There is no "power of exclusion" which can be legally used against American citizens.
Gerrymandering can be effectively legislated out of existence at state and Federal levels by requiring electoral boundaries to add or remove no more than 5% in voter numbers to any district, and for electoral boundary resets to be conducted no less than 5 years apart. A simple requirement for 60% or higher approval for electoral boundary changes in congresses would also reduce the risk of gerrymandering considerably.
As for surnames: The famous 100 names of China, which cover the vast majority of Chinese surnames, aren't an issue? How does "Rodriguez" compare to "Chen" on that basis? How many "Smiths" are removed from the rolls? One nice big class action should bury that little hobby.
Voter fraud: What about moving boldly in to the 19th century and simply creating a way of ensuring that people can confirm that they've voted? Scrutineers can do the rest.
The bottom line is that America can have as much democracy as it's prepared to protect. Exactly how much is that? The world would like to know.
3
Fairly conducted elections which result in change of power from one party to another, and in which the losing party respects and abides by the choice of the voters, are a form of peaceful revolution.
"Those who make peaceful revolution impossible make violent revolution inevitable."
President John F. Kennedy, remarks on the first anniversary of the Alliance for Progress (1962).
5
There has been a long standing presumption that the GOP, being one of two major parties in our two-party system, is indispensable. A lot of clear-headed, middle-of-the-road opinion leaders hold this view (perhaps best exemplified by the late David Broder). And this balanced point of view would be acceptable, even desirable, if the two parties worked in good faith and for the good of the country in ways that they see the best. But when the presumption of good faith and best interests of the country is vitiated by an overpowering urge for self aggrandizement stopping at nothing - blatant racism, outrageous gerrymandering, unjustifiably denying a president his choice of supreme court justice - treating both political parties as equally legitimate does not work any more. The old assumptions about the legitimacy of both parties is not working any more. We need to do something about it very soon, or the authoritarianism that has been unleashed by the Trump presidency will take root. The election of a Democratic House last month was a step in the right direction. It needs to be followed up with unambiguous rejection of the Republican party in every coming election.
11
Republican Efforts to End Democracy
This group will not willingly cede its power.
Pretty funny coming from one who advocates "Resist" and one who has written numerous times that Trump is not a legitimate president.
As to state-level efforts to curb the powers of incoming Democrats, are the efforts legal? If so that is politics, not 'the end of democracy'. The 'end of democracy' is using the national intelligence agencies in a partisan attempt to undermine a legally elected president.
3
@JB Funny that you leave out the reasons as to Mr. Blow's opinion of Trump's illegitimacy. Furthermore, our national intelligence agencies have the obligation to protect the U.S. from illegal and possibly treasonous interference in our electoral process by plumbing the depths of those activities when the evidence is there. It is no secret that Russia is up to no good with respect to their attempts to disrupt the elections in democracies (particularly members of NATO) around the world.
1
The republican party and its president are doing what no foreign power has been able to do to the United States. Together, they are overthrowing Democracy.
11
The Dems bear some blame here too. The party let so many statehouses turn red during the last decade. They lost the Citizens United and Shelby County cases. They let voter ID laws take root all over the country, and they got their clock cleaned on gerrymandering. As for Trump, I think all Trump votes were a failure of the Democrats to do their job — lead and unite.
1
@the_biscuit
Correction. Trump votes were a combination of the outdated Electoral College, Republican gerrymandering, undermining of the Voter Rights Act, Citizens United, and Trump's racist appeal to White Supremacists. PERIOD.
4
It is obvious to me that these actions are an abuse of the authority they were granted by the people to do their jobs, and because of that they are invalid actions. They should be subject to summary removal from office. What authority is going to do so?
4
It certainly is disconcerting. If they get away with this what next.
The possibilities are frightening and do not seem as unlikely as
they did a year ago. Maybe a poll tax.
Maybe just outlaw the other party.
Like Saddam Hussein and or Paul Bremer did in Iraq.
2
@Just Me
They have been doing "this", manipulating the outcome of votes, since the first reagan administration. Probably earlier.
1
Although the recent news does indeed sound troubling for democracy, it's only made possible (in the case of Wisconsin and Michigan) by republican control of state legislatures. Some of this is structural--cities tend to lean left, less densely populated areas tend to lean right--and this divide is only amplified by gerrymandering. But democrats can win these bodies back--republicans may have already overplayed their hand--and if they do, they can undo these changes, and perhaps even build in more protections to guarantee the peaceful transfer of power and prevent lame duck state governments from ramming through legislation to limit the power of newly elected officials for partisan gain.
5
America was founded as a multi-party democracy which, with few exceptions, usually has meant a two-party system, similar to many, if not most, of the world's democracies. For nearly half our history, the Republican and Democratic parties functioned reasonably well, acting in concert where feasible and as checks on each other when necessary.
We've reached a point where that system, as it exists today, no longer is workable. It cannot function when one party, the Republicans, has abdicated its commitment to democratic processes and yielded control to extremism which began from outside but quickly eroded its internal organization and destroyed its fundamental principles.
History amply has demonstrated that neither can we entrust our government to a single party. Sadly, we find ourselves left with no choice other than the wholesale destruction of the existing Republican party and a complete rebuild, from the ground up, to replace it. We need viable conservative input if we wish to continue with self-governance, just as we need viable liberal input and viable centrist input.
The current Republican party has bankrupted itself of any legitimate interest in democratic processes. It cannot be allowed to continue. Single-party rule by Democrats is our only feasible option for the immediate future. But make no mistake about the danger that poses. The top priority if we wish to survive as a democracy is to reconstruct an honest opposition party that is prepared to work with Democrats.
10
I suspect there is another dimension to the Republicans' anti-democracy: Judicial appointments. When these measures are challenged in court, the judges they have placed on the courts will rubber-stamp them.
11
@Peter Weida
Yeah, this is really scary. Without at least some impartial judges, there may no way to remedy this situation.
The sham absentee voting scheme has been present in south Florida for a long time. There have been convictions under existing laws. At first used by GOP operatives to get their candidate elected, mass mailings to old age homes, a single address and other schemes were found. I believe the GOP used these techniques in North Florida to win narrow victories.
When brought to the attention of the GOP controlled legislature nothing was done. except to making voting in person more difficult.
1
Voters are consumers too.
Consumers who find this theft of our democracy unacceptable should boycott the products produced in those states. No Wisconsin Dairy and No Michigan Automobiles as long as they allow the Wisconsin and Michigan Republican parties to govern against the consent of the people.
10
One possible solution is to eliminate lame duck sessions altogether.
Given the propensity of Republicans to exploit loopholes and letter-of-the-law tactics, it would make sense to do away with the current gaps between elections and inaugurations.
1. Once an election winner is certified (barring any legal challenges), the winner should be instated the following day.
2. And during such legal challenges all new legislation would be suspended.
Of course, that would probably increase the number of Republican legal challenge to the voting results themselves, to delay the inauguration of Democratic election winners, but that would only serve to highlight the selective nature of the Republican attempts to subvert the will of the people.
14
And here in Georgia, the new secretary of state vows to continue purging voter rolls and making it as difficult as possible for people (read potential Democratic voters) to cast ballots. All in the name of non-existent fraud. In truth though it is all about fear of a certain type of voter and an attempt to maintain white hegemony. I have given up on this state. It is nowhere near turning purple. It remains ruby red and will continue to be so for the foreseeable future. I know one is not supposed to wish his or her life away, but I cannot wait to retire in a few years and return to my true blue West Coast roots. In the meantime, I continue my quest to expose young Georgians to ideas outside of their comfort zones.
10
Can anything be done to reverse what has happened in Wisconsin? Such as take a legal case to the US Supreme Court regarding a state legislature severely circumscribing the traditional power of a governor or state attorney general.
What would be in the Wisconsin State Constitution that these measures might be in violation of?
7
We read about these egregious legislative initiatives in Wisconsin, Michigan, and North Carolina, in pages like these but rarely are the specific individuals responsible identified in these articles and columns. Perhaps the press could help call these perpetrators out, so that concerned citizens would know where to direct their calls and letters.
35
@PJ
The answer to who are the responsible individuals?
Two words and one abbreviation:
Koch Brothers, ALEC
4
@PJ, PG – Add Wayne LaPierre, Sheldon Adelson, Diane Hendricks, John Menard… Google search will find more…
Book "The Fall of Wisconsin" – Dan Kaufman – 2018 – profiles some of these and other perps.
1
Before the Civil War, the South realized that the North and West were growing at a far faster rate than the slave states. The handwriting was on the wall. When Lincoln was elected, with his votes coming entirely from the North and West (he wasn't on the ballot in the slave states), secession followed. In that era it was the Democrats who represented the white Americans who were terrified at the idea of black freedom. Today it is the Republicans who have acquired the white supremacy voters -- a majority of white Americans, unfortunately. Unlike in 1860, however, the opponents of majority rule today are not confined to the South. They are spread throughout the U.S. Thus, secession is no longer a "solution." Only time, and changing white attitudes among the younger generations can finally resolve this terrible division in our country. Let's hope it can be done without bloodshed.
17
This is an attack on our democracy. During this mid term election 92 % of voters in Dane County voted. One of the reasons for this great participation rate was the six weeks that were available to vote. We should all celebrate the fact so many excersised their right to vote. Now the republican legislature wants to limit early voting to two weeks. It was not to their power advantage, so they needed to do something about citizens participating in our democracy. Very SAD.
22
"This group will not willingly cede its power."
Hmm. Its power? The power does not belong to them as this language seems to imply. They are temporary custodians of it . The courts should swiftly reject any attempt they make to perpetuate their hold on power and ignore the will of the voters and the results of the election.
14
@JBC
They do not hold power as no one has power in our system.
They have the authority granted them by us the people to do the job they have been hired to do. As Mr Blow and many others have made clear they are abusing the authority we granted them to do their jobs to do things we have not granted them the authority to do.
Seems pretty clear to me they are abusing their positions and that is grounds enough to negate anything they have done that is outside of the limits of their authority and to remove them from office as well. Isn't there a name for this kind of overreach and abuse of authority?
Who is going to file charges???? Not Mr Whitaker I think.
1
I believe we are heading into a natural breakup of the various states, with ones like California in the lead for a progressive 21st Century government, and others such as Texas, in the forefront for pushing things back a century or two. The United States could actually become two separate countries within a relatively short time span.
10
@alank
I believe we are headed toward the breakup of concentrations of wealth.
No person or business should be so large or have so much money they can overwhelm the smallest local government in the nation.
Whether by actual seizure of assets or as we used to do via rules and regulations we will have to once again use our combined authority to make sure these low and greedy people cannot abuse the rest of us in any way.
Forcing them to tie their cash up in real long term benefits paying jobs and building factories etc as we used to do before de-regulation is the best way. They get to go on benefiting from their wealth in sane and sensible ways and we get the benefit of the wealth generated from our nation being used to build it.
1
The last two election cycles have provided textbook cases of how they do it.
First they make it more difficult for people to register to vote at all, and they do this in ways which particularly impact those who disagree with them politically.
Second, they make voting itself more onerous by holding elections on work days and by limiting the number of polling places in certain areas, or the adequacy of their staffing, or the number of their voting machines, so that people have to decide whether it's worth the hassle to vote.
Then there is the influence of money in campaigns, since we have a Supreme Court which (being surreally out of touch with reality) has said that money (regardless of amount) is "speech;" that corporations are cuddly l'il people just like you and me; and that rivers of billionaire and business dollars flowing into politics are not a form of corruption. Neither party, and no politician with any clout, has seriously moved to amend the Constitution to overrule that holding. As a result, there is a strong correlation between money and electoral victory, and wealthy interests now have so much "speech" that the rest of us can barely be heard at all.
Then, if actual democracy somehow breaks out despite all these impediments (an unintended outcome which must be throttled), there is always the gerrymander to ensure that party will still take priority over public.
If someone were TRYING to create a dysfunctional system, they could hardly do better (i.e., worse).
22
@TimesChat
In every state in the nation, all it takes to register to vote is to fill out a form and mail it to the registrar of voters. The only requirement is that you have to have a physical address so that the registrar of voters can identify what local, state and federal precincts you are living in. If you are homeless, you do have to identify a theoretical residence and get a homeless shelter and/or church and/or homeless advocacy group to agree to accept your voter registration card. If it is returned as undeliverable, your registration will wind up in suspension, you will not be able to get a mail-in ballot or absentee ballot and you will have to prove your identity if you vote in person.
Frankly, democracy - to the extent that it has ever existed in the US - has been slowly dying for decades. It's skipped a beat with each and every low voter turn out that resulted in empowered fringe politics to usurp mainstream politics. Democracy was slowly poisoned by the neglect of its inheritors. Democracy was poisoned by an army of lobbyists, special interests, who bought office holders, and by self proclaimed media pundits who spewed propaganda rather than information across the country, telling people what and how to think, rather than urging them to think for themselves and question what they are told.
So the only wonder is that democracy in the US has held up as long as it has and that in itself may be a hopeful sign, something in the fabric of this country that can be harnessed to pull it back from the brink of inevitable self destruction.
9
Don't worry too much. Vigilance!
The Republicans are playing a losing hand, and political consciousness and activism by the American People will sweep them away like a tsunami over the next few years.
The only key is to look ahead and build opportunities together relentlessly.
We're the American people. Nothing can stand in our way.
6
"If conservatives become convinced that they can not win democratically, they will not abandon conservatism. The will reject democracy.”
A quote from former G.W. Bush speech writer (someone who would know) David Frum.
18
Often, we shrink back from facing the disturbing truths that Charles Blow consistently confronts. We owe him an enormous debt of gratitude for that. Denial will get us nowhere in restoring our democracy.
12
There isn't any question that Republicans are afraid of Democracy. That's why they try to suppress the vote.
The Wisconsin situation is, at least, legal. It does violence to the notion of cooperation, but not, apparently, legality.
In contrast, the situation in North Carolina is illegal.
It doesn't surprise me a bit. Trump repeatedly accuses others of what he is guilty of himself. When he accused Democrats of election fraud, I expected to hear about real fraud - on the part of Republicans. I had a similar reaction when he accused somebody else of treason.
Not that Democrats are incapable of it, but I think we'll see it mostly from Republicans, because they're the ones who are afraid of Democracy.
It may go without saying, but it's demographics. This right wing nonsense is doomed by birthrates and immigration, and they know it.
11
The US as democracy is over. In fact the repubs have been working towards this end effectively since Reagan in 1980. They use every means and method at their fingertips to inhibit fairness and voting rights, to grab power and create fear while they rob the coffers. Thank you for continuing to speak up Charles Blow and commenters. We are in big trouble, have been for awhile.
21
The brazenness with which the Republican Party is usurping democracy is a direct reflection of the miscreant in the Oval Office. Donald Trump is creating Republicans in his own image by giving his tacit approval of their actions.
4
@Bob
Trump is the result of 54 years of the Republican Party pandering to its ultra-conservative wing while pillorying the moderates.
Trump simply says, and does, what the Republican rank and file has thought and wanted done for the past 50 years, and he gives his supporters an outlet for the years of pent up anger caused by their economic and social decline.
Trump exemplifies, epitomizes and embodies BOTH modern conservatism and the post-Eisenhower Republican Party.
8
Should someone point out we are a constitutional republic not a democracy?
Rule of law before mob rule.
2
@Mike
We are, indeed, a Republic. One that just happens to make use of representative democracy to elect its leader.
2
@Mike
Uh oh, Mike. Looks like democracy got your tongue.
1
And not a peep of protest out of our president. The most chilling development over the past few days was the flat out lying about Khashoggi's murder by Pompeo and Mattis. They have now made it clear they will do Trump's bidding, no matter what it does to their careers. This is shaping up to be a heartbreaking holiday season as we watch Benedict Donald declare martial law and destroy our democracy. It's not a ball that will drop on New Year's Eve, but a Russian hammer. And we'll all be absolutely shocked...shocked...to see how easy it was for Trump to carry out Vladimir Putin's wishes.
409
@WDG Why would Trump protest? He's hoping the GOP will make him President-for-life.
32
@WDG Chilling. The Handmaid's Tale happening under our noses.
38
@WDG
Benedict Donald is a good one. Keep using it. Wish it didn't verge on insult to Arnold, though ...
5
I was raised in a Purple household in Ruby-red rural North Carolina, and my family used to be purple - my mother was a registered Republican, my father a registered Democrat. Neither of them used to vote straight-ticket and took the "issue-by-issue, candidate-by-candidate" approach. I was encouraged to evaluate politics for myself, beyond what they told me or what the news told me - it turned me into a Blue-Purple voter who occasionally agrees with republican principles.
After Trump's election, my family very quickly turned Sapphire-Blue. The republican party has never been very good at hiding the uglier parts of their platform to those who look - the constant bias towards profit-seeking amorality and the big corporate boss over the struggling worker. But at least they pretended to give lip service to principles that protected all. No longer is this the case.
The GOP has finally realized that their base is shrinking with the passage of time and with every immigrant and minor who reaches voting age. No wonder they're so eager to hold on to power long after their embers have begun to fade. A common phrase used by my mother, who worked 30 years as a social worker, was "Take good care of your children. They choose whether you go to a nice nursing home or get dumped head-first into the grave." The GOP has done a terrible job, and my generation is poised to do the latter in response.
13
The only logical conclusion one can draw from these efforts to diminish, weaken and even destroy democracy Is that the true “enemy of the people” (to coin acterm) is today’s Republican Party and anyone who still chooses to identify as a Republican. If you are truly committed to our Constitution and to our system of self government, you cannot also be a Republican today. The two are mutually exclusive.
5
Agree. But this became evident on the state level with North Carolina after a Democrat won as Governor, and it became evident at the federal level with Merrick Garland.
While I wouldn't say it is old news, I would say the deliberate destruction of American democracy is well on its way.
Hindsight is 20-20. But can we ever foresee what will be the next assault on our democracy, and try to head it off? Or are the forces of destruction always smarter than the forces for preservation?
I ask all readers: what will be the next move by Republicans to destroy democracy? How will they use the NC/WI/MI examples as a model for the Senate to usurp power from the House?
475
@priceofcivilization
Your last question had already occurred to me. Wisconsin happens to be the home of the John Birch Society, a reactionary and secretive group whose founding fathers include the Koch brothers father, Fred. Charles Koch joined as a young man and took tips from its structure concerning secrecy. These men will stop at nothing. They are destroying this country totally. Democracy itself is their enemy. Yes, Wisconsin is their laboratory for testing anti-democratic attacks. Keep your eye on the ball.
83
@priceofcivilization Having lived through martial law abroad and studied it elsewhere, I worry about an inciting incident (real or faked) used as pretext to declare martial law. That's my biggest concern.
62
@priceofcivilization I don't know if it'll be the next move -- the Republicans never cease to amaze and disgust me with their diabolical imagination when it comes to subverting the democratic process. But I fully expect similar tactics at the federal level in 2020 by the Republican-controlled Senate, should that year's election produce an insufficient number of Republicans and a non-compliant president-elect.
It seems a short step from a version of what's happening now in Wisconsin to simply declaring the 2020 election results invalid, closing down the House of Representatives, by force if necessary, and refusing to turn over the White House if a "wrong" person is elected.
May I be proven horribly, embarrassingly wrong. But that's the direction in which things are heading.
45
This is just a bit selective, really. NJ Democrats are redrawing legislative districts in their own favor . . . As reported in NY Times. California Democrats changed rules to increase their chance of winning. A half truth can be worth than nothing.
8
@Mike
I am a Liberal and I completely agree with you.
There should be apolitical commissions drawing districts based solely on census population numbers without tilting one or the other.
There should also be mandatory voting by paper ballot and by mail, with all being signed up automatically once they apply for any form of ID. (like a driving licence)
This is the truth that no one talks about enough.
69
@Mike Livingston
And a false equivalency can be even worse.
11
@FunkyIrishman
Especially since the courts have routinely thrown out the districts drawn up by the republicans, as well as voter laws, designed as one judge put it to exclude minorities "with surgical precision".
4
There is an answer. Vote. Vote every election - presidential, federal, state, local, school board. Vote for every office. Vote every time for the Democrat (note to party, never let a Republican run uncontested). A vote for a third party candidate, like not voting, is a vote for the Republican.
We will not win every time. But over time we will prevail. And then we can, and will, and must, change the system.
"First they ignore you. Then they laugh at you. Then the fight you. Then, you win." - Gandhi. We progressives have now made it to the third level!
606
You are absolutely right. The ONLY way to successfully change what is happening to our country is through the ballot box. Concerned citizens should be starting their voting drives NOW, not in the summer of 2020. Otherwise, the only thing your vote will get you is the right to complain about the sorry state of things when 2021 rolls around.
30
@John Graubard
Unfortunately, voting is no solution when GOP gerrymandering entrenches the (GOP) incumbents and effectively destroys representative government. For example, in Wisconsin, the GOP lost the governor's race by less than 1%, but they won 63 of the 99 seats in the state Assembly, even though on a statewide basis, Democratic candidates got 190,000 more votes than GOP candidates. Gerrymandering overrides voting power, and the Supreme Court refuses to do anything about it.
102
We're not going to change our sorry state of affairs overnight, but we have to start somewhere and some time, and now is the time. Look how close we came to winning the governorships in Georgia and Florida! If we could get 70% or more voting participation by the groups Republicans are trying to disenfranchise, Wisconsin, Michigan and North Carolina would be the exceptions, not the rule.
32
Not to be rude, but one thing the last election clearly demonstrated is that if Blacks, Latinos, millennials and college students can be persuaded actually to get off their butts and vote, gerrymandering and voter suppression can be overcome.
The thing is, in any particular state, this only has to happen once. Once in power, progressives can make registering and voting simpler and more possible, and can eliminate gerrymandering by setting up nonpartisan redistricting commissions.
There is a slim possibility that Democrats have actually begun to understand this.
Hey, it works here in California. Our biggest political problem now is that we do occasionally need a Republican to keep us real, and it’s not that easy to find one.
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@Al Luongo
As a millennial who has voted in every election that he could since 2008, I am not really sure that is the demographic you want to be blaming for the lack of change. After all, what is the demographic that makes up the majority of the republican party? White Baby-boomers.
13
@Al Luongo "Our biggest political problem now is that we do occasionally need a Republican to keep us real, and it’s not that easy to find one."
After living under Reagan, Bush I and II, Gingrich, Boehner, Ryan, McConnell and Trump, I'll gladly take my chances with the alternative.
30
@Canary in the Coal Mine
Also, the jungle primary is a stroke of genius. An independent could win.
Why is democracy the best form of government? All over the world, democracies are being dumped for dictatorships. The US is merely following the trend.
The US constantly deals with countries that have nothing to do with democracy. The leaders are decisive, they make decisions by consulting only their own advisors, and they can direct their citizens' thinking though social media and disinformation. Sure, many citizens will be sick, poor, miserable, live in injustice and die early. But they can take solace that they are sacrificing themselves for the prestige of their country. To compete, the US citizens need to get realistic about the burden of democracy.
Ask not what the country can do for you, which is give you all the social benefits of Europe - but what you can do for your county. In a way, living in a dictatorship is akin to military conscription. It's just for life.
Many Russians and Gulf citizens feel this swelling pride that helps mitigate the misery inherent in oligarchies. They become very close with even remote relatives, cultivate friendships with influential people, become good informants, on dissenters. Arguably life in dictatorships becomes a more social and perhaps more rewarding life.
@Inveterate
You are describing the benefits of communism, socialism, fascism and autocracy over democracy, which is very messy. Mussolini made the trains run on time. Progressive policy is the first step toward replacing democracy with a benevolent dictatorship. Which works great as long as you are on the right side of the benevolent dictator.
Obama was a benevolent dictator. He wasn't willing to compromise with Republicans, even on issues where there was 80% agreement, so he imposed dictator rule with his pen and cell phone.
Ignoring the law when Obamacare was unpopular like paying insurers with funds never appropriated, waiving employer and union mandates, allowing non-compliant policies for some, grandmothering policies, allowing Congress and their staffs to avoid the individual exchange market.
Implementing DACA; "signing" the Paris Accord and Iran Treaty without Senate approval; implementing environmental regulations like the Clean Power Plan that violated the Clean Air Act; lying to insult SCOTUS in his State of the Union address.
Trump insults the media and courts and anyone else who annoys him by tweeting. Obama had reporters investigated for espionage and insulted SCOTUS. Trump attempts to enforce immigration law and is told by partisan judges that he has to enforce illegal Obama policy.
Obama was leading you down a path to a benevolent democracy. Trump is pulling us back from fascism. Rudely but unequivocally.
And when gerrymandering, election roll purging, and voter suppression tactics do not work, Republicans resort to out and out election tampering as has occurred in North Carolina. And as Charles Blow points out, there is racial discrimination underlying this political discrimination. But, the Supreme Court gutted the Voting Rights Act, too. We must await another blue wave in 2020, so that a Democratic House, Senate, and President can begin to restore democracy to We the People.
271
@MEM
Why doesn't the Democrat House propose replacing the invalidated provision that the Justice Department had to pre-approve any change to voting rules for some states to a new rule that the Justice Department has to approve any changes to voting rules nationwide.
For all the complaints about the decision, an underlying problem with the actions of the Holder Justice Department was that he was not allowing changes in the "sinner" jurisdictions that had been approved by SCOTUS for "non-sinner" states.
2
@MEM
So MEM, he Dems take power in 2020 and then they can have google amazon and Facebook friends completely shut down “fake news”. The censoring of the internet is the Dems thing, in attempt to silence any “resistance” other than their own. The reason the Dems are in love with “traditional Republicans” is that they are merely looking in the mirror
1
Throw in a primary process that allows any semi-responsible or semi-moderate Republican to be "primaried" by a more extreme element - and then the next round that more extreme element to be "primaried" by an even more extreme candidate, in the event that they don't move lockstep with the Fuehrer, er um , the official Republic talking points and positions. So the simple threat of being "primaried" has now been enough to shut up any dissent or whistle-blowers on the Right, and cement the move toward a full on theocratic autocracy.
5
What ever happened to democracy and bipartisanship? This is a disgrace!
3
Its even worse Mr. Blow:
"In the Wisconsin midterm elections, Republicans won just 46 percent of the overall popular vote for the U.S. House, but 63 percent of the seats — 5 out of 8. The weekly Isthmus newspaper based in Madison reports that Democrats won 54 percent of the popular vote for Wisconsin State Assembly but, due to the Republican-friendly map, only 36 percent of the seats."
https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/zorn/ct-perspec-zorn-gerrymander-fair-maps-pritzker-20181204-story.html
Republicans have (permanently?) stolen giant swaths of America. Our lone hope of fixing this legally and (peacefully) would have been through the Supreme Court but Republicans have stolen and corrupted that, too.
So we'll either be living with large parts of our country living under Republican alt-democracy or something unimaginable will happen.
364
@Bob
But Republicans own all the guns. So what "unimaginable" will happen?
4
@Bob I believe the "unimaginable" scenario is the most likely at this point.
6
@DAB
Chief Justice Roberts could but some meaning behind his recent words about "no Bush judges". This guy has the power to end gerrymandering and get dirty money out of politics. Can you imagine how revered he'd be? I'm not holding my breath, but its a happy thought.
The less happy thought, is no, actually Republicans don't own all the guns.
25
There has to be a federal registry of eligible voters. Amy Klobuchar introduced legislation that would automatically register voters when they turn 18. The counties and states can't be trusted with control of voter registration. America needs an unbiased independent federal agency to ensure that everyone gets the opportunity to vote.
12
This slow moving coup of democracy has been occurring for a long time and now it's reaching a natural conclusion. For my entire life I've heard Republicans refer to "my America" or derisively imply that Democrats aren't patriotic. Those thoughts are now turning into action. Republicans only believe in democracy if it serves their goals.
12
Legal immigrants who jump through the hoops to become citizens tend to favor republicans on immigration policy. Also in a democracy it is necessary to ensure those who are voting actually are eligible to vote, otherwise the outcome of elections are questionable.
I for one do not trust the outcomes in Nevada, with a large illegal immigrant population and nothing stopping them from voting. Democrats have every reason to encourage and enable illegal immigrants to vote based on Blow's statement that illegal immigrants are far more likely to identify with democrats.
3
@jaco
Dear Jaco,
It is rightly a difficult process to become a naturalised citizen. It took me over two years of applications, background cheques by the FBI and other fedeal law enforcement, fingerprinting , and one on one interview where you have to answer every question you filled out on your application correctly under threat or perjury. After that you get approved for naturalization and then you must attend a swearing in ceremony, immediately relinquishing all prior visas, green cards etc.etc. Once the ceremony is over and you have proof of citizenship in hand, can you fill out an application to vote. That application is then subject to scrutiny at the local and state level before months go by and you get your voting approval. On election day, that approval notification must be presented at your local polling place, and if by some miracle you are on the list of eligible voters, can you vote. Any misrepresentations along the way are considered a felony, which if you are not a citizen, is a deportation event.
So why would an illegal vote anywhere in this country? It is not something you wake up one morning and just do. It is rightly a difficult sequence and one that most of us are honored to do. Immigrants identify with Democratic policies because they are inclusive and reflect the values of the founding fathers. There was a time the GOP also had similar policies, but that predated Ronald Regan and the push to blame governmnet and immigrants fo all that ails this country
3
@jaco Illegal immigrants are prohibited from voting by rules enforced by the incumbent secretary of state.
1
@jaco
You're wrong because being an American means first and foremost obeying the law, you know, the one with liberty and justice for all. No Democrats are helping illegals vote. They don't need to, and it's illegal.
1
Perhaps it's time for WI Democrats (and all Democratic politicians) to ask why they aren't easily beating the anti-worker, anti-education, anti-environment, anti-women Republicans
The enraged Democrats who point to the 7 percentage point advantage in the popular vote in WI really should be asking, why is it our politicians only defeated the Neanderthal Republicans by 7 measly points?
On the national level, disheartened Dems kept whining, "but Hillary won by 3 million votes". That was 3 million votes out of 120 million votes cast - not exactly a margin to brag about.
When it comes to self-examination, the Democratic party - the dominant corporatized wing, anyway - gets an "F".
The failure to confront their failures led them to blame everyone from Facebook to the Kremlin when little evidence suggests that social media or the clumsy Russian attempts to interfere made any difference.
Poor strategizing in a failed effort to maintain their corporate ties while holding on to their base, as indicated by this Charles Schumer quote, was responsible for their embarrassing loss to the most ridiculous presidential candidate in history:
"For every blue-collar Democrat we lose in western Pennsylvania, we will pick up two moderate Republicans in the suburbs in Philadelphia, and you can repeat that in Ohio and Illinois and Wisconsin.”
https://www.nationalreview.com/corner/chuck-schumer-democrats-will-lose-blue-collar-whites-gain-suburbs/
Self-examination is in order not excuses.
5
@Ed Watters ever hear of critical thinking? It’s apparent that GOP gerrymandering is so extreme that the will of the majority is being thwarted at every turn in some states.
4
@Imperato You're happy with a party that can only muster a 7 point popular vote advantage over the evil Republicans?
Keep going with excuses and see where that gets us.
To build an oligarchy (government of the rich, by the rich, and for the rich), power must be drained from the citizen voter and transferred to corporations and the aristocracy of wealth. Every American should read Nancy MacLean's "Democracy in Chains" before it's too late. https://history.duke.edu/book/democracy-chains
1
Mr. Blow - exceptional article.
However, I fear you are merely singing to the choir about this issue.
Do alternatives and/or solutions exist which enable and embody the American people to help effectuate lasting and effective changes? After all, gerrymandering has been around since 1812.
3
I once considered myself a moderate Republican, no more. The party of Lincoln has completely abdicated its responsibility to uphold the constitution, not to mention turning a blind eye to to a completely inept vulgarian in the oval office. The shenanigans being played by these elected officials in Wisconsin and other states are in affect the last dying breath of the "old white guy club". It is truly disgusting to see what lengths they will go to hold onto power.
11
@R Kern
Good one. Democrats controlled Wisconsin for decades. Republicans controlled it for eight years. The old white guy who was elected governor resents the fact that he has to work with a Republican legislature when he believes he is entitled to the old white guys who preceded the Republicans.
Those clever Republicans. And you do not think the Democrats would not do the same thing if the shoe was not on the other foot. Like heck they would. I say good for those Republicans. They need to keep this up.
1
@WPLMMT no, the Dems have show they won’t. See California that has a nonpartisan citizen commission to draw the districts, even though the Dems totally control the state legislature. Every state should follow this example.
8
Good point...except for the fact that the Democrats haven’t tried to pass legislation to limit GOP when losing. Nice try on the false equivalency.
10
Right, except that the Democrats haven't done that, while the Republicans have done it repeatedly. So other than being entirely wrong, you're right on the money.
3
Thanks for the obvious. What can be done about it especially with the republican Supreme Court. Get to some solutions, Charles!!!!!
3
@Bernard D we should all be thinking of solutions.
1
I moved from Texas to California in 2001. I voted in the presidential election in 2000 in Texas and the gubernatorial election in California in 2002. I only lived in Texas for one year and I imagine it's possible I was for a time on the voter rolls in both states. Isn't government going after people over irrelevant legal technicalities an example of big government rather than small government? Wasn't the Republican party supposed to be in favor of small government?
5
@Cicero
Are you being sarcastic or did you actually believe the propaganda they are using to excuse and hide their illegitimate abuses of our authority?
1
In 2010, Republicans took over the U.S. House of Representatives; with a margin of just over 7%, they managed to take a 22 seat majority in the House. At the same time, they flipped states like Wisconsin, Ohio, and Michigan to complete Republican control of state government. And the most grotesque gerrymandering in U.S. history began.
Eight years later, Democrats won the House with a margin of over 8.5%--the second largest in over three decades and larger than any GOP vote margin since the 1920s. Yet despite the larger vote margin, the Democrats new control of the House is by only 18 seats (the GOP controlled the House by 16 seats after the 2012 elections even though they won FEWER votes than the Democrats that year). My state, Wisconsin, saw no House seats flip. Nor did any in Ohio, or in North Carolina (another GOP dominated state). Michigan actually did see two seats flip.
Wisconsin Democrats won 54% of the vote for our state house; Dems picked up one seat, allowing the GOP to control the chamber 63-36 (thus 54% of the vote nets just over a third of the seats). The GOP continues its control of the Ohio, Michigan and North Carolina legislatures as well in numbers far beyond the percentage of voters who cast ballots for their party.
The 2010 wave continues to pay dividends for Republicans, not because they still win the most votes but because it no longer matters.
11
@pczisny
Democrats had the presidency for 20 years, ending with the election of Eisenhower. Since then, it has flipped back and forth every eight years with the exception that Carter was in office for only four years and George HW Bush represented an extra four years for the Republicans. If trends mean anything, 2016 was the Republican's turn and Hillary was not as popular as Bush.
Democrats had a majority in the House for 40 years, driven by Democrat dominance in state governments and their gerrymandering of congressional districts. In ended in around 1994 under Clinton and has flipped back and forth since then, twelve for the GOP, six for the Dems, eight for the GOP and now a new Dem. Note, Republicans took the majority in the House under districts gerrymandered by Democrats in 1994 and again in 2010. Republicans did not have the opportunity to gerrymander until after the 2010 election, since reapportionment takes place once every 10 years in response to the census. And yet, Democrats gained a majority in the House in 2018.
Similarly, the Senate has flipped back and forth.
The GOP has learned well from China. They have learned that they can have rampant capitalism and single party rule at the same time. It doesn’t take a democracy to have successful capitalism.
6
@Jeff Harshbarger Is Capitalism in America today actually successful? Are all boats being lifted by the Republican tide? I don't think so.
1
“Rampant capitalism” is not successful. It’s destructive for most of us and the planet. I think that is what Jeff meant.
@RLW
It is entertaining that you describe China as capitalist. It is a centrally controlled Communist totalitarian state. The coal fired plants they continue to build are owned by the government. The decision to not use emission control devices is made by the government leaders, not the people. There are oligarchs, the same as in Communist USSR, who are wealthy. When an oligarch falls from power by disagreeing with Xi or his henchmen, he is convicted, executed and his wealth is redistributed to other oligarchs. No rule of law, no due process, no private ownership of the means of production. What characteristics does the Chinese economy have in common with capitalism?
It actually is necessary to have democracy in order to have capitalism.
1
Spot-on, Mr. Blow. I joined the group fairdistrictspa.org in Pennsylvania, endorsed through the League of Women Voters, to get an amendment to the state constitution that would be an immense improvement in fairness when redistricting, especially to remove any political party bias as much as possible. It was hoped that the proposal would pass before the 2020 census, but guess what--Republicans in majority did almost exactly what Mr. Blow described in this article, holding "mysterious closed-door meetings" in committee. Of course, the proposed bills (for the state House and Senate) were altered as to render the situation basically unchanged. There is some hope for the future, as the re-elected governor has created an official committee to work on this issue. At least the Republicans here haven't yet passed laws in lame-duck time like in Wisconsin--yet. The Republican Party has become a cult of rich plantation owners and poor whites--oops, I'm comparing to the Confederacy.
4
@akhenaten2 no need to apologize, it is a very apt comparison.
Republicans are not interested in Democracy.
They're interested in having unchecked power and showering riches on the already rich.
How fitting that Donald Trump is their new leader.
19
“Where power is not joined with faith in the future, it is used mainly to ward off the new and preserve the status quo.” Eric Hoffer, "The True Believer: Thoughts on the Nature of Mass Movements"
1
"America will never be destroyed from the outside. If we falter and lose our freedoms, it will be because we destroyed ourselves." -- Abraham Lincoln
13
The percentage of eligible voters who cast a vote should be a point of pride in every state. The state with the highest percentage should be the proudest--at present, the goal seems to be suppressing as many votes as possible.
4
Makes one wonder if this country isn't headed toward another civil war. The Republicans seem to want to push the boundaries until that is the only option left. How do you get your country back when it is has been so gerrymandered, when voter suppression has reached its absolute peak? The Bolsheviks knew how and it wasn't pretty.
371
@LesW
All it's gonna take, Les, is for us to really believe in America, and not waiver from equal justice, fairness, human rights and equal opportunity.
Let us be conscious and outspoken about our faith in American principles.
There isn't a power on earth that can stand against us if we believe in what we're fighting for.
27
@LesW
We are already at war. If only one side acts acts like it is at war, that is the side that will win. Time to hit back twice as hard. After Pearl Harbor, FDR did not declare “when they go low we go high”.
22
@LesW
I read recently (NYT?, The Guardian?) that a second civil war within a few years is at 60% probability. I suspect it is trending upwards. The race is on. Which will happen first, a civil war or climate change making it all moot?
30
Take a look at the heart and soul of modern Russian-Republicanism.
Democrats won roughly 50% of the vote in North Carolina last month, their best performance in a decade.
Despite that, Democrats won just just three of the state’s 13 congressional seats — the same as in 2014 & 2016, thanks to the Russian-Republican gerrymander.
North Carolina Russian-Republican state Representative Dave Lewis admitted the gerrymander corruption in 2016, during the redistricting (gerrymandering) process.
“I propose that we draw the maps to give a partisan advantage to 10 Republicans and three Democrats, because I do not believe it’s possible to draw a map with 11 Republicans and two Democrats,” Lewis said proudly at a state House hearing.
https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2018/8/29/17795920/2018-midterms-north-carolina-gerrymandering-case-supreme-court
Add in the the rest of the Jim Crow Renaissance Festival tactics of voter ID laws, voter file purges, absentee ballot fraud and unauditable black-box vote counting, and Russian-Republicans have comprehensively rejected the will of the American people, the 1st, 14th, 15th and 26th Amendments and the Constitution.
There's nothing American about the Russian-Republican Party.
If you vote Republican, you might as well be flying a Russian flag in front of your house.
D for democracy; R for Russian-Republican rot.
213
@Socrates
GOP Raffensperger just won the runoff to replace Kemp as secretary of stat in Georgia. Part of his campaign pledge was to continue to conduct massive voter purges: “Making sure we keep the voter list up to date so it’s clean, fresh and accurate, it’s very important,” Kemp purged some 1.4 million voters, 500,000 on a single day in 2017. There are at least 12 lawsuits pending.
A typical piece of legislation that Raffensperger drafted in the past was to require any voting member of a board or authority anywhere in Georgia including school boards, city councils or county commissioners to be a citizen or legal resident. Raffensperger has promised to strengthen voter ID laws which are already among the strictest in the nation.
Expect more of the same.
10
Socrates, what are your thoughts on Mikie Sherrill joining the Blue Dog Dems?
In the 50`s we had the Red menace. In the 60`s were still fighting the Red menace. In the 70`s we thought we were winning the fight again`st the Red menace. In the 80`s Raygun told us we had beat the Red menace. Now we find the Ruspublicans have replaced the old Red menace with a modern version and like the earlier version their goal is still to destroy Democracy.
3
Before engaging in international conflicts to secure the rule of law and democratic values, we should first gain some moral cache and figure out how democracy is supposed to work in places like Michigan and Wisconsin.
6
If the country can implement one person one vote, then it might be the death knell for gerrymandering.
2
I don't believe that the goal of Republicans is to destroy democracy. They simply do not want to share power with people who don't agree with them. They are certainly no better at governing than Democrats. Well off states tend to be Democratic and poorer states are mostly Republican.
The unintended consequences of destroying democracy is the loss of individual rights. One of the rights that is sure to go were democracy to be destroyed, would be the right to bear arms. Were I a dictator whose ambition was to be president for life, I'd do everything I could to disarm the populace.
2
Whatever you do, don't try running Hillary vs Trump again, that'll wind up just as big a disaster.
2
@Grunchy
Perhaps you've forgotten that Hillary got 3+ million more popular votes than Trump because most Americans knew any presidency of his would come to this.
So, it's time you remember.
6
I was raised in a Republican household. Following in my parents footsteps I voted Republican for years. As a fiscal conservative/social liberal I was what was termed a moderate Republican.
But there are no moderate Republicans left, and the party I grew up with no longer exists. Republicans today are mean, angry, vicious, cruel people. I want nothing to do with them.
I am now registered Independent, because I am, but I vote Democratic. In NC we Independents can vote in either primary, and I have often voted in Republican primaries against some of the crazy fools running. Something has got to be done to stop this blatant power grab. My answer; vote!
14
The particular republic we are was founded on, intelligence and education, is a product of the Enlightemet. The problem today, is the 500 pound animal of ignorance is sitting squarely in the room. I say "animal" because I don't want to insult the noble gorilla.
3
For a party that prides itself on numbers, they sure need help in simple addition and subtraction. Did not the Democrats collect more total votes than the republicans? Can they not make a simple calculation?
The gop is great at finagling "legislative coups". They are like petulant children ,sore losers. They have no shame. They are virtually treasonous, overturning our democracy because they didn't like the results. How do they live with themselves?
3
I used to have a positive attitude about Wisconsin. The last few years has changed my view considerably for the worse. I don't mind that people vote Republican. What is bothersome is the radical measures taken by Republicans in Wisconsin. They are not conservatives; they are radicals who want to tear at the thread of the American cloth. What do they think will come of their actions? One of the oldest human verities is what goes around comes around. Where do we end up? Where does it stop?
The upper mid west was long known for stability and nice, reasonable, well educated people. it's a shame this reputation is year-by-year less justified.
12
In their quest to thwart the results of legally binding elections, the GOP aparatchiks abundantly deserve the label "enemy of the people", and should be treated accordingly.
7
The GOP is the Party Of genteel White Supremacy, at least on TV.
But, the Trump Rallies are the big reveal. The raw, unvarnished, barely censored version of Politics meets “ professional “ wrestling, with TV Evangelist seasoning. Giving their base exactly what they want: Trash.
Just perfect.
13
How do you shame the shameless? How do you compete with those with no regard for rules? How do you demand the truth from pathological liars?
10
What is good for the geese is good for the gander. The next time a Republican is voted into office, take away all his power before he is legitimized. Then we will see all go them screeching about communist democrats!
2
Wisconsin: Referendum! Use it!
3
Soooo, civil war then? If one major faction of the country refuses to respect the right of the other to have power or govern (not to mention the serious problem that faction has with facts/science/objective reality), what remedy is actually available to the remainder of We the People?
10
I am white.
I am 68.
I am male.
I absolutely despise these undertakers of democracy.
820
@Richard: I too am a white, male, 68 year old voter. I too despise today's Republicans for supporting the destruction of our democracy. Further, I continue to be appalled by the failure of so many citizens to register and vote while change is still possible. This is the worst assault on democracy in at least 50 years, but it is not new. Wake up and vote Democrat!
96
@Richard
I hear ya Richard, loud and clear!
I too am white.
I too am 68 (more or less).
I am a female.
I totally and absolutely refuse to give up, give in or resign myself to being a defeatist Democrat. I will not go quietly into the night and allow these immoral gangsters to rob me of my pride and power to vote.
88
@Richard
I am completely with you on all 4 points!
45
Tell me about it. Missouri has led the way in overriding the will of the people for years. Our constitution allows the voters to create statutory law, but the legislators-Republican-continue to repeal our amendments. It's all about the money here-who has it, and how much is slipped to the representatives.
8
That would be the Republican Party, the party of business.
Democractic Institutions are there to protect us from the amorality of business. Otherwise it’s a form of fascism!
This is just the natural progression of thieves knowing their immoral criminals. God fearing white American men.
5
Resist!
12
This country is in deep, deep trouble when one of only two parties will allow rampant abuses of power at any and all levels of government. What's happening from the top down is beyond shameful. There is no conscience in the elected officials or those who voted for them. What do we hear from any of them when confronted about these abuses? Nothing. Silence.
A lone republican breaks ranks in Wisconsin but does anyone else follow suit? No. There isn't anybody on the right with any ethical or moral standards these days unless they get caught committing a crime. Then and only then are they willing to admit any wrongdoing and only because they are protecting their own behinds.
It's been said that it's not what you do in full view of the world that shows what your true colors are...It's what you do when nobody is looking and or won't find out. We are getting a very good idea what takes place behind closed doors when it comes to the G.O.P.
And these days, in many cases, it's not even behind closed doors, it's right out in the open for all to see.
We really need a Joseph Welch - Joe McCarthy moment right about now. We have our McCarthy, but I don't see any Welch.
16
and yet 40% of your country's voters continue to support this tyranny. They can't all be white, middle-aged male rural uneducated goobers.
26
@Occam's razor Only around 50% of eligible voters actually vote (more in states with Mail in ballots, but that is a narrow few). So, that 40% amounts to only around 20 - 25% of the population. This number corresponds well with the percentage of the population identifying as evangelical in the U.S., no great surprise as to this correleation. Easily led by a charismatic leader, no need to have facts if they have faith in the message. That percentage has been roughly the same for a while. Remember, two of the last three presidential elections have been won (popular votes) by democrats, but a Supreme Court and some shenanigans have put those minority candidates in the White House. States like Wisconsin have voted well over 50% democrat statewide, but gerrymandering ends up continuing a supermajority of republicans in district wide and local elections. We are a politically minority-majority rule country at the moment.
14
Disgusting!
5
Like you, I find the anti-democratic, autocratic, neo-fascist strategies of the GOP to be both disgusting, and deeply disturbing. The Greedy Old swamp critters have apparently decided it's okay to flush our democracy down the toilet, as long as they hang on to their power and the ill-gotten gains it brings. When they lose an election or don't get their way, the GOP change the rules of the game to make it look like they won, or they just lie, cheat and steal. They've gone so far as STEALING BALLOTS in the NC election! Their treasonous behavior displays lousy sportsmanship and doesn't even come close to resembling statesmanship. If the GOP were a baseball team, and one of their hitters stuck out, would they increase the number of allowed strikes to four? Why stop there? How about 5 or 6? Only for the GOP team of course. The Democratic team would have their allowable strikes cut to two. There is no way in hell a government can function under those conditions. Both parties must operate in good faith and obey the rule of law or the entire house of cards will eventually come tumbling down. Yet the GOP keeps changing the rules of the game, every time they lose, and they keep getting away with it time after time. As long as they continue getting away with it, they will continue doing it, because they are being rewarded for bad behavior. What can we do and how can we break out of this horrific boondoggle? These are the darkest days I can ever remember in American politics.
23
A major problem is democrats fail to get out and vote for candidates from the school board to the presidency. My county of Broward is an example a mostly democratic area the turnout was 42% where as the northern Florida areas mostly republican the turnout was 72 % , so we got a republican governor and senator. The consequences mainly affect those who did not vote , no expansion of medicare by the governor and a solid vote feeding the anti minority goals of the Trump administration. We have met the enemy and it us.
11
@REBCO Blame the victims much? Is it the voters duty to vote no matter what? Or is it the party's duty to appeal to voters so they will get out and vote?
1
@REBCO I agree. But I'm hoping that with the push for voter turn-out getting significant results in many places this year will have started a trend to reverse the situation as you've described. There is no excuse such as apathy, frustration, anger, etc., for not voting, but there are reasons. The hope is that the new trend will help revive the reason all along for voting, but now to counter all the excuses. Of course, that "push" must be maintained to help keep things from sliding back.
1
Ed Watters,
The parties need to field compelling, ethical candidates, yes. It is the civic duty of all citizens to vote. That is the balance of citizenship. Both need to do their part. The primary is when to vote for your favorite, the election is when to vote for the winner of the primary.
Vote!
1
The speeches that commemorated George H.W. Bush all struck on a similar theme. President Bush tried to live his life on the principle that true leadership and the application of power lie in humility. By being humble, respect for all is assured.
That is not what is happening now. The Republicans have jettisoned all semblance of humility and are projecting as much raw power as possible. This destroys the functioning of a republican democracy.
Our system of government is essentially based upon an honor system. It is based upon the principle of just because you can do something doesn't mean you should do something. It is not possible to legislate for every possible contingency. We must rely on the integrity of our elected officials to respect the intent of the law even if the law specifically does not prohibit any specific activity.
The Republicans have thrown that all away. They will do whatever they can get away with in their pursuit of power. This isn't rough politics. It isn't justified by any opponent's actions whether grievous or minor. It is an assault on democracy, period.
The totalitarianism of Donald Trump therefore permeates the Republican party. He just showed them how to get away with it. He is truly their champion.
The new Congress must pass legislation that outlaws gerrymandering on a national basis. The states have the right to set up districts but that doesn't mean they can't be regulated to some extent. Abuses mandate regulation.
35
@Bruce Rozenblit Yes, I've regarded Trump as a natural culmination (apotheosis?) of the heretofore regarded Republican Party, which is now essentially a cult. And it's so ironic that the people who broadcast the loudest their patriotism and belief in individual freedom and liberty are the prime unthinking members of this cult which could destroy our democratic republican government. Of course, once it's happened, they'd blame it on us. Blind allegiance follows from no insight capacity. "Unthinking (or blind) respect for authority is the greatest enemy of truth." (Einstein) But then I find hope in what he also said, "The majority of the stupid is invincible and guaranteed for all time. The terror of their tyranny, however, is alleviated by their lack of consistency."
2
It's true that gerrymandering, voter suppression and/or exclusion and opposition to immigration are now the main strategy of the Republican Party to maintain its competitiveness against shifting demographics. But Mr. Blow seems to assume that these tactics are new, and that the threat to democracy that they pose is new as well. Democracy has always been limited in the United States, and both Democrats and Republicans have traditionally opposed it at various times and places, whenever it threatened their hold on power. The battle to limit or expand the franchise is a permanent thread throughout US history, and the targets of suppression and exclusion have always been the working class and the poor, immigrants, women, and people of color. It's as American as apple pie.
2
@john riehle Oh please! Stop the false equivalence nonsense. Democrats have never tried to do stuff like this because they are committed to playing by fair democratic rules. Republicans want to win every time at all costs and will keep on breaking the rules until they do.
2
David Frum called it:
"If conservatives become convinced that they cannot win democratically, they will not abandon conservatism. They will reject democracy." The republicans aren't worried about how their actions look to voters; they don't plan for voters to be calling the shots in a meaningful way soon enough.
40
@Yeah
How about that huge tax cut for the wealthy, which shot the deficit into the stratosphere earlier this year? I'm afraid they have completely abandoned those precious conservative values in their rush to carry water for a president who cares nothing about conservative values and everything about 'winning.'
5
I checked the link provided by Blow for the Detroit Free Press. There it was reported that "The bills came up after Nessel said on the campaign trail that she would have a hard time defending some laws passed by the Legislature that she views as unconstitutional"
As far as I'm aware, the determination of constitutionality is up to the courts and not the AG. Obviously optics are bad, but if the executive branch means to negate laws passed by the legislature, I can see the reasoning.
The other measure is to place oversight of campaign finance law with a bipartisan committee appointed by the governor as opposed to solely with the Secretary of State. The pros and cons of this law are not obvious to me, but the resulting angst from Democrats may be the reward the Republicans were seeking.
Given that these laws were introduced by duly elected representatives whose terms are not over, one cannot definitively that the process isn't democratic or illegal.
Now to see if the bills will be signed by the Governor.
2
kwb,
Did the Attorney general-elect make specific threats against specific laws? The comment you quote sounds very general. Why not see what actions the new AG takes rather than these pre emptive laws? The AG, and governor, were elected by the people with the understanding they would occupy their elected office whole, not diluted or reduced. There was no legislative debate, pro and con, but a closed door conspirarcy. 84 appts approved in 1 day, it is like Lake Woebegone, where all the appt candidates are above average.
1
So now what? The GOP is openly destroying democracy and daring us to do anything about it. Why do you think they were so gung-ho on stacking the courts? When the executive branch and the legislature are both corrupt, the judicial is the only thing left to protect the republic.
I have watched, since Newt Gingrich, the systematic undermining of democracy in this country. If people bother to look, they will also see that Russia has been influencing the Republicans, the evangelicals, and the NRA for years. We need to face the fact that we are in a war for our system of government and the enemy is the GOP. We no longer have to guess their intentions, they are showing us openly that they want an autocracy, but only if they are in charge.
We should heed Franklin's words when he answered the question, "Well, Doctor, what have we got—a Republic or a Monarchy?"
"A Republic, if you can keep it."
58
@Dixie: What we got from Gingrich was a fatal dose of hypocrisy.
6
@Steve Bolger
....As well as a template for what's happening now.
3
“After hours of mysterious closed-door meetings that went past midnight, the Wisconsin Senate convened at 4:30 on Wednesday morning and passed by one vote a package of bills devised to curb the powers of the incoming Democratic leaders.”
Most actions done under the cloak of darkness and closed-door secrecy are destructive with dire consequences. The fact that these actions are occurring with such frequency and being tolerated is alarming and frightening.
Thank you Mr. Blow for writing this important article. Many times I am not in agreement with your spin on things, but today's feature was a grand slam.
But writing about this stuff vs. allowing this stuff to continue are two different things. What exactly can Vicky or Victor the voter do about it? It seems that party over people have steamrolled this country into a mindset that will not be reversed any time soon.
While I find this article both educational and imperative for all to read, I cannot help but wonder if American politicians have crossed the Rubicon into a land of greed and dishonesty to the point where my vote is meaningless and pointless if actions like those that took place in Madison, Wisconsin are allowed to occur.
11
@Marge Keller: Almost 3 million votes were officially nullified to make Trump president. There is no limit to the gall of the Trump coup d'état.
1
@Steve Bolger
Point well made Mr. Bolger. Thank you. That stark reminder has made me feel even more depressed.
2
Outrageous....but this is just the mounting, perhaps climactic, phase of a project long in the works, designed and funded by various factions on the far right, particularly libertarians and laissez faire capitalists. "Democracy" has become so vulnerable because public education and commitment to politics and governance have been eroded--we desperately need a renaissance in the involvement of citizens in their own government and the conduct of stable, reasonable public policy. When citizenship itself is so little valued that only a minority school themselves and vote, we are lambs to the slaughter--and the Wisconsins, Kansases, Michigans (where the far right has made astonishing assaults on the essentials of balanced and respectful governance) are examples of what can now actually happen. This is not what the Founders intended--and now is the time for all good citizens to come to the aid of their country.
14
@Robert And what was the first thing they went after when they began this long project? Public education. They ran for school boards. Dumb down the schools, get rid of civics and replace it with creationism. So that people don't even understand what democracy and governance are all about.
4
Taking Charles arguement and statistics from a different perspective if immigrants vote Democratic 54% compared to 11% for Republicans it makes the argument that many Democratics favor an open border policy. It help their electability.
Case made. Policy rational understood!
2
@Frank Leibold New Citizens probably do vote more Democratic, and for good reasons. Perhaps the Republicans need to rethink their policies.
2
I'm just wondering why the people of these state are not picketing outside each legislatures houses and each statehouse with lit torches ready to do their duty as Americans if these Bill's are signed into law.
6
Perhaps Charles would like to mention the gerrymandering done by Democrats in Maryland. Of course, then he can’t place all the blame on Republicans.
2
@Jackson, if you read carefully, you will see mentioned that 8 out of 10 of the most gerrymandered districts were drawn by Republicans. Do the math, and you will discover that 2 districts were drawn by Democrats. It’s right there in the piece.
9
Maryland, really that's what you got?
The Republican steals power in 12 major state but you know the dems do it to....In you know Maryland.
You mean like when he did exactly that by noting that both sides engage in gerrymandering but not equally? “While no party is innocent when it comes to gerrymandering, a Washington Post analysis in 2014 found that eight of the ten most gerrymandered districts in the United States were drawn by Republicans.”
1
It's quite simple. Republicans have never been held accountable for their gerrymandering and outright election theft. None have gone to the big house.
The Republicans have a 24/7 propaganda machine to keep the dirty secret that democracy is dead off the front pages. Besides dumbing down the electorate, they figure we'll just be the vote counters and decide whom we will elect. Tough noogies. In your face. Do something about it!
But remember, the rubes will vote Republican because they're thrilled with the judges.
The "War of Northern Aggression" is again on the horizon.
3
Can it be only ten years ago that I was voting for Republicans? Now they strike me as the greatest evil this country has faced since the Civil War.
(Yes, I do mean they're worse than 9/11 or Pearl Harbor.)
7
"America, love it or leave it!" has been the mantra of these presumptuous narcissists for as long as I can recall.
4
ALEC will most likely become the clearinghouse for successful republican legislation negating any election results that oust republicans.
As this type of dictator "law" is implemented on the state level, more and more states with republican legislatures, assemblies, and senates will succumb to minority rule rather than government by elected officials.
What's next for Wisconsin, Michigan and North Carolina? Citizenship denied without proof of Jamestown or Mayflower descent? Citizenship denied without proof of 100% Caucasian DNA?
We are all depending on Times reporters to delve deep into ALEC and write about current and future dictator plans for the states. Shine a light under that rock formation; dig into it and bring it down.
5
There have been a lot of horrible and awful things I have had to watch over the last two years as Trump came into office.
from Mitch McConnell‘s insistence on not working with President Obama for his two terms up until the very recent shenanigans going on in Wisconsin and Michigan, I finally understand what is going on:
republicans only believe in democracy if they are winning. If they are not winning then everything is illegitimate they will find a way to make it so. it is heartbreaking, obvious and entirely un-American
19
Republican aversion to voting has been increasing for years, escalating with the election of Obama, along with a ludicrous level of propaganda rationalizing the party's brazen attempts to suppress certain constituencies.
If there's a difference now, I would say it involves the openness of the arrogant presumption that it's fine and justified. That, I attribute to the contagion of Trumpism, a perspective that includes a demented level of noblesse oblige to oneself - if I do it, it's fine and I dare you to call me out. Given the lack of accountability that Trump has received from his own party, one can see why other Republicans would assume the validity of what from an outside perspective is outrageous, anti-democratic behavior.
5
Just wait.
In 2021 we may be witness for first time in the history of this nation a president having to be forcibly removed from the White House. No way he goes quietly, even if the election isn't that close.
He's not psychologically equipped to ever accept losing or defeat, and will always find somebody or something to blame.
It feels like this country is a car being driven in reverse at 100 miles per hour toward a cliff by a five year old.
39
@JayK I think Trump will resign before the 2020 election IF he is assured he won't be investigated/charged.
He is not enjoying himself, except at big rallies, and appears increasingly grim. I suspect he would like to announce that he has achieved the objectives he set out to accomplish and wants to return to the private sector.
1
@Cal
Only way your scenario happens is if Mueller has such an overwhelming, explosive case that it spooks the GOP (McConnell) into giving Trump an ultimatum to resign.
Short of that, just don't see it happening.
Trump will pull out all the stops to protect himself, and as president he certainly has a few.
In my 60+ years of life, I never thought I would see the day that a political party would so cravenly, unabashedly, in-your-face-and-just-try-to-do-something-about-it-cause-we-don't-care, attempt a legislative coup-de tat.
We always laughed at those 'banana republics' that routinely used non-democratic (forceful) means to consolidate their power.
That could never happen here, right?
Tell that to voters in Wisconsin, Michigan, and N.C.
Why do decent Americans stand for this nonsense?
79
@BJ Kapler: They are convinced it is God's will.
5
From what I can conclude, Madison and Milwaukee are the only two blue islands in red Wisconsin. What's bizarre is those two cities hold most of the state's economic and intellectual promise. If the educated and ambitious decide to leave these cities for other states, then Wisconsin will be the Mississippi of the upper Midwest.
10
Republicans are ignoring voter decisions in other ways. Last August, Missourians voted against right-to-work and supported unions. We now have a Republican legislator trying to get a right-to-work bill passed. The people had gotten over 300,000 signatures to get it on the ballot last August and voted against it. Now the republicans are ignoring the voters by introducing this bill.
36
Charles Blow is predicting that Republicans will end democracy to stay in power. To be fair, both parties are engaged in a struggle for supremacy. The 2020 election will be different from any election in our national history. It won't be about which party will get its candidate into the White House, but about whose party will seize the country.
1
@tiger shark: Your “both parties do it” rationalization is simply wrong on facts and gives the GOP license to further erode our democratic norms. Please name a time and date that a state’s Democratic Party intentionally rammed through last minute packages of bills to limit the authority of the incoming office holder and to thwart the will of the electorate. Hasn’t happened!
20
@J. Not a rationalization. An observation. My only point is that both parties are engaged in a struggle that eclipses the identity of the next president
@Tiger shark
One party seeks power by making policies and supporting programs that help the citizens, in order to get the voters to want to vote for them.
The other seeks power by attempting to suppress and reduce the right to vote for their political enemies.
When you see someone stealing shoes from the store, do you say, "Yeah, but look at that other guy there, walking out with the shoes he bought. They both are engaged in a struggle for shoes."
4
Give people the right to and they'll take it. Those are the rules.
2
It should be more than evident by now to anyone who has been watching our Democracy shrink since Donald Trump and the Republicans came into control of our government, that neither the U.S. Constitution or Democracy itself matters much to either of them -- and the recent elections in Wisconsin, where Republicans effectively stripped the incoming Democrats of any legislative power, is but one of many examples of this.
But the thing that makes this so outrageous is the fact that they've done it so shamelessly out in the open, while willfully ignoring the will of the Wisconsin voters, and still proclaiming themselves to be "Patriots".
This is a power-grab worthy of a country that has only disregard and contempt for free and democratic elections, and that it now applies to the United States of America which was originally founded upon it is a betrayal and abomination of the highest order.
This isn't isn't "winning".
37
Republicans, with the help of Russian interference, have pushed our electoral process toward a Russian-style "democracy." Maybe we didn't win the Cold War after all.
14
The mess that eight years of GOP domination has made of Wisconsin politics, governance, and ultimately society was bad enough.
Worse is wondering why state Republicans are clinging to their power like rabid badgers. Are they ideologically determined that Wisconsin should remain the test farm for U.S. authoritarianism? Or to maintain some latent economic corruption?
Worst, does anybody think that there will be a peaceful, amiable transfer in Washington whenever and however it occurs?
18
The Republican Party has used racial and social propaganda to sow divisions between "white" and "non-white" Americans, which they then exploited with all the disgraceful tactics outlined by Mr. Blow. As Democrats swept into office it was clear these tactics were insufficient to assure the desired results. And so the obvious next step is to deprive the election of meaning by eviscerating the power and authority of elected Democrats.
Hurling adjectives at what the Republicans do is nothing more than a sign of impotence. Democrats must start with a concerted effort to undo the divisions created by Republican propaganda as they focus on 2020. The only solution is a Democratic majority in both Houses of together with Democratic President
7
Mr. Blow's observations are just the tip of the Republican totalitarian iceberg. I lived in Idaho for over thirty years before I retired three years ago. The Republican/ ALEC/White/Male takeover of American life has been in effect in this state (and I am sure in others) for over thirty years. Right to work laws that guarantee low wages; the destruction of all worker/renter and consumer rights; carte blanche for big business with massive tax breaks and virtually nonexistent environmental laws; replacement of public discourse with collegiate sports diversions; and the complete marginalization of women, minorities and the poor. Welcome to the Republican future. If you need further proof, visit Idaho, but make sure you follow the rules. Idaho also had (until recently) a private prison system referred to as "the gladiator school." There will be no change until these arrogant greed-heads receive the justice they have denied their fellow citizens.
4
What this and the evidence over the past decade since Mr. Obama was elected really say is that Republicans by and large can no longer be counted on as honest. From GOP leaders and representatives, you just can't count on an honest exchange of views on differing opinions in an effort to provide the best for the citizens of this country. You can be pretty certain that whatever the opportunities are for personal enrichment and accumulation of power in any instance, that will be the direction the Republican will go. From GOP supporters, by and large, you can count on an uniformed, non-critical support of whatever their leaders say - never mind how deleterious the impact to them personally. It really defies comprehension. Why would anyone actively support and pursue agendas that harm them? The most reasonable argument I've come across is that many Republicans are just happy seeing liberals mad. While the actions of the GOP over the last 12 years are horrendous, the real threat to this nation is not the GOP. It is the mindless stupidity and shortsightedness of a large portion of the population. Scary.
27
This is exactly the reason that I decided that voting for anyone other than a Republican is my default mode. Put a fork in Lincoln's and Eisenhower's party - the hypocrisy and self-interest has become unbearable. It's money and religion over country, which leads to a complete inversion of what the Constitution stands for. The most galling aspect is the redefining of liberty - it's their freedom to deny everyone else theirs. Shades of the Reign of Terror.
23
@Tad La Fountain
This hasn't been Lincoln's party since LBJ signed the Civil Rights Act. Probably since FDR.
To understand the twisted mentality underpinning today’s Republican Party, there is no better place to look than the history of The Southern Baptist Convention and the other nominally Christian sects that sought to reconcile the irreconcilable: The Golden Rule and America’s original sin of slavery. Both figuratively and in many cases literally, today’s Republicans believe that by subverting majority rule, they are doing God’s work. In their twisted minds God intended America to be governed by a majority of only a *certain kind* of person. If you aren’t white enough, straight enough, Christian enough, if you weren’t born in America or were ever convicted of a crime, if you support a woman’s right to have an abortion but not her right to carry a concealed semiautomatic firearm, you, in the Republican mind, don’t *deserve* to have a say, and - again in the Republican mind, not in reality - they act righteously when they move to deny you your vote.
36
The GOP can try over my cold dead body. At 65, I am angrier every day at the morphing of the GOP from my childhood into a power hungry lying cheating mob. Their constant efforts to erode democracy and the will of the popular vote must be fought each and every time. We can not normalize this.
And BTW Crosscheck in owned and operated by Mr. Kris Kobach, the GOP cheerleader for 'voter fraud' investigation. I didn't hear his concern for the fraud going on in North Carolina. What's that?
Fraud is only perpetrated by people of color?
This GOP mess has to stop. The Democrats have to continue massive voter registration for each election to over come gerrymandering but it can be done. And when the Democrats win, we apparently need to get into the streets to stop the GOP.
32
The "Grand Old Party" is now the "Get Rid Of Democracy Party" or GRODP, no longer the GOP.
7
@Junctionite
"If there are honorable Republicans left, they should be just as outraged."
This is satire, right?
There are no honorable Republicans because the problem is POLICY. The Republican policies have proven bankrupt for the past 45 years and have broken America. And Republicans keep trying. But, lo, the people are finally getting it. Why - because they ain't old white men! (Full disclosure - I'm an old white man.)
I hope to live long enough to read about the demise of the Republican Party and ascent of Democratic Socialists!
8
Democracy is not geared to profit taking. Some prefer profit to anything else. Republicans were once a valid party, wanting more self-reliance, better spending habits and a god-fearing life. Democrats were more for spreading wealth, protecting those less fortunate and regulations that reined in bad behavior. But along the way both parties were forced to sell out to gain the money to get reelected so their ideas could be acted upon.
Democrats kept their ideals but lost their competence against a juggernaut of power and corruption, of win at all costs, takeover of the Republican party who became the party of white entitlement protectionism. Republicans began losing the hearts and minds and so they added fraud and bullying to succeed. Democrats looked the other way if a candidate voted right.
Every few decades society erupts from forced changes. It's up to all of us to decide who we are and who we want to become.
7
One of the ways that Americans can push back against the recent moves by the GOP is for states and corporations who still believe in America to prohibit spending in those states that don't honor election results. If companies located in Wisconsin or Michigan, for example, are prohibited from doing business with certain entities that object to this hijacking of the polity by partisan deniers, those companies may just push back by denying reimbursement for expenditures in those states will hit them where it counts...in the pocketbook.
19
All vinegar and no action. Where's the proposed solution? We're two years away from another election. What does Charles M. Blow suggest people do in the mean time aside from be angry? We can't all go march on the Wisconsin capitol you know. Republicans don't appear to pay any attention to protests anyway.
I tell you what. If I lived in Michigan right now, I would be researching how to get a popular measure on the ballot for 2020. We can't do anything about Wisconsin. They don't allow ballot initiatives. Michigan, Missouri, Colorado, and Utah though all successfully chipped away at gerrymandering through ballot initiatives. The popular majority can do the same thing to legislative power.
Michiganders have an opportunity to reverse the Republican usurpation and even prevent it from ever happening again in the future. So do roughly half the other states in the Union. The power is withing your hands. You need to start now though. The process isn't exactly hard but ballot initiatives do take a lot of planning and organization.
If you have your plan dialed, I'll bet you'll find donors willing to sponsor you. For the right cause, lawyers will probably work pro bono to draft the legislation. Don't just sit there and be angry. Go get something done. The clock is ticking.
151
@Andy
It's not up to Charles Blow to tell you or any voter how to react, or what should or needs to be done. That is up to voters in those states to take the fight to their respective legislatures.
Why is this society slowly moving to looking for someone else to give them the answers. It seems to me that in the 1960s the people too the fight for equal rights to the federal government, and elected official that went against the landmark 1968 legislation, was promptly voted out.
People in states where the republican dominated legislatures have passed bills to limit incoming duly elected representatives authority, it's up to those people to do that they did in Wisconsin, go to the capital and let them know, that come 2020, they need to have their offices cleaned out. because they are out of a job.
As voters, I've said it mant times, we are partly responsible for the rise of politicains that are undemocratic, that do not believe in the tenants of this republic, which is, when your team loses, there is an orderly transition of power, that clearly the voters have spoken. No politician likes to be fired, it basically a vote of no confidence, the voters want a change.
But stripping the authority of an incoming duly elected official and placing that power in the hands of the majority party, who for the moment is control of the legislature, is not only unconstitutional, but undemocratic, unamerican, it's a blatant power grab, because they see their party becoming irrelevant.
30
@Andy, they did a ballot initiative in Michigan and this Legislature is now diluting it. So what next? The voters did their thing as you implored and now the Republicans don't care. So that's the next step?
13
@Andy: Lame duck sessions produce some of the lamest legislation we have to live under. I'm surprised they don't just enact themselves multi-million dollar severance packages.
5
The so-called rulers of the realm have faltered, and in their place are the voices of resistance.
Crushing democracy is not the high road.
Pray for the Republic.
6
The Republican Party has become the Anti-Constitution Party seeking to retain power no matter how much it undermines our democratic institutions. We've seen it when the Senate under the hand of their anti-constitutional leader, Mitch McConnell, tossed aside his oath to provide "advice and consent" on President Obama's nomination of Merrick Garland to the Supreme Court. We've seen it with Congressional refusal to confront Donald Trump on his clear violations of the "emoluments" clause while he and his family continue to enrich themselves and compromise our foreign policy as the assassination of Washington Post columnist, Jamal Khashoggi, just revealed with Saudi Arabia. We've seen it with Donald Trump constantly trying to limit the 1st amendment's guarantee of "freedom of the press" as well as his attacks on the Justice department and the F.B.I. charged with enforcing the Constitution's "rule of law." And now red states like North Carolina, Michigan and Wisconsin that are turning blue are doing the same thing. It's a modern-day Civil War where the new Confederacy of Constitutional nullifiers are the former Party of Lincoln. Let's hope the courts will restore the democratic "balance of power" that's essential to a functioning democracy.
64
Perhaps its time to start boycotting products and services from Wisconsin. Vermont makes some excellent cheeses.
78
@jb My whole family and myself moved away after living there 30+ years, and none of use have any intention of going back.
8
@jb I love Vermont white cheddar!
3
@BJ Kapler
Yes, Wisconsin cheese is the wrong color. :)
5
As a peaceful, rules-driven form of government, built on common trust and faith in the system (instead of the use of brute force), democracy dies when the people don't believe in it. I'm afraid that a large portion of Americans, brainwashed by strident, self-interested far right media, no longer believe in democracy. Those of us still in accord with post-WWII liberal democracy must stand up and fight to retain in it in America. Maybe because the civil war never really ended, maybe because the world itself is transitioning under pressure of vast changes, we're teetering on the abyss of a minority ruled nationalist state. We have to keep up the pressure to retain and expand voting rights and make sure every voice is heard and is allowed to participate.
29
@greenmatters: Slavery is still the tail that wags the US dog.
2
@greenmatters Or you could buy dairy from the biggest dairy producer in the country (notwithstanding Wisconsin's reputation as such), California!
I guess that in time, the aged white male Republican base will die off, and when the young Americans that replace them come to voting power, Democracy will be restored. Until then, the make-america-great-crowd, will continue their efforts to make america-ungreat.
16
@Steve43: It will take a constitutional convention to remake the US into a one person one vote equal protection of the law for all democracy.
2
@Steve43
Nice wish. But by the time the "aged white male Republicans" are gone, our so called democratic republic, which is already an oligarchy will a be an authoritarian nominal democracy ruled by the rich and powerful (is that a tautology?).
2
@Steve43 It's not age. Did you look at the demographics of who voted for Trump. Plenty of young white women and men did. How about all those alt right marches - yep, that's right, young white men there too. Plenty of older Americans have fought for decency for decades too - this idea that the aged white male Republicans will die off and this kind of behavior will disappear is a fantasy - remember, those guys were young once too while progressive ideals were being fought over. My 94 year old mom, who lived through the Great Depression and WWII, voted against Trump - and here's what she said when he got elected: "Didn't we fight a war against these people"?
3
The other banana republics have asked the U.N. to intervene and require the U.S.A. to be more subtle when transitioning to their form of government. The U.S. is moving too fast and making it too obvious.
16
The greatest hostile takeover in world history was so expensive and complicated to arrange that Americans can ask and ask and ask but the Koch Bros won't be letting them have their democracy back - certainly not any time soon.
28
Greatest hostile takeover was pocket change to the Kochs, a minor if strategic and persistent investment with major ROI rewards - destruction of democracy is just good business, nothing either ideological or personal - just money in the bank.
1
Mr. Blow is exactly right: if the Republican Party only supports democracy when they win, they're ultimate aim is to crush democracy.
106
@Patrick: The Republican Party only wants enough democracy to establish a theocracy.
10
I don't remember Mr. Blow complaining when Harry Reid changed the Senate filibuster rules so that President Obama could push through judges that the minority party would not consent to.
I am not saying that what the Wisconsin Republicans are doing is right.
But if you are going to criticize, please be an equal opportunity critic.
2
@G So, are you saying you have an example of Democrats who lost a state election and then used their gerrymandered legislative majority to strip an incoming Republican administration of its powers as the GOP is doing in NC, WI, and MI? Where and when did that happen? Enough with "whataboutism"; compare apples to apples.
8
@G That turned out to be a bad idea, but frankly you bring up a separate topic and one that has been paid back in spades by Mitch McConnell's continuing abuses of power. Rather than demanding equal time, which for all you know Mr. Blow may have addressed when it happened, wouldn't it be better for all of us to demand that politicians from both parties stop the underhanded tactics to get their way?
Further, as a voter, not a politician, I'm particularly aggrieved by attempts to suppress or subvert voting. There is simply no good excuse for that conduct except an acknowledgement that without it, one might not win. Boo hoo.
8
@G: Republican obstructionism banked almost 25% of all federal judicial slots to be filled only after a Republican president got elected.
7
Boycott Wisconsin and Michigan! I have cancelled vacation plans for Door County, Wisconsin due to the Wisconsin's Legislature ending democracy as we know it.
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@Jacquie
Why are you punishing the majority of Wisconsin voters who pulled the levers for Democrats? That doesn't make any sense. Had you done it when Walker was first elected, that would have been a better move.
3
All this anti-democratic nonsense gives the Democrats an opening in the coming Congress. The House should investigate electoral manipulation -- both the real variety practiced by the GOP, and the fictional individual fraud that is consistently found to be non-existent, and propose bills to address all the serious issues. This will force the GOP to vote against these and suffer the electoral consequences in 2020.
I expect that most Americans still believe in fair play and democratic ideals, and will be incensed by the GOP's dirty tricks.
13
@Rich
Now that's thinking, make the republican party put their money where their mouths are. Force them to vote for bills that level the playing field.
America is not and was never meant to be a democracy. America is and always has been a particular kind of republic. The lazy ignorance and/or stupidity of so many Americans regarding the nature of their government is disturbingly avoidable.
The Founding Fathers ended democracy when they created a divided limited power constitutional republic of united states where they only intended that white Anglo-Saxon Protestant men who owned property like themselves were divinely naturally created equal persons with certain unalienable rights of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. While other groups have become persons by Amendment and other legislation the structure of the American government has not materially changed.
The Article III judicial branch including the Supreme Court of the United States is the least democratic branch of our government. Followed by the Article I Senate in which every state has two regardless of population. And whose advice and consent is required for judicial nominations. Then comes the Article II President of the United States who is elected by a majority in the Electoral College based upon a majority vote in 50 separate sovereign state elections. No votes cast in one state count nor matter in any other state. There is no national election for President.
While the Article I House is the most democratic branch limitations on the size of it's membership disadvantages more populous states.
5
@Blackmamba
You are correct in all you point out friend, but the United States also has a back door to its founding. The Constitution is a living document and can be amended. (as it has been many times)
Simply gather enough votes and the changes required can be made.
6
@FunkyIrishman Not if the ones doing the vote "gathering" somehow misplace them.
2
@melish27
Aye, I hear ya, but I would only submit that the vote can be overwhelming since there are 100,000,000 out there that generally do not vote. All there has to be is a fraction of them to stand up and vote, and then the system can be changed.
Just a thought ..
1
What you've summarized Charles is the end result of decades of Republican efforts at undoing democracy in America. This effort became more open and aggressive with the SCOTUS decision that money = free speech in 1976, and went on steroids with Citizen's United. Finally, colluding with Russia to interfere with our elections, the Republicans have completed their march towards tyranny.
And let's not mince words. It IS now a tyranny, when those in power ignore the will of the people, as they are opening doing wherever they hold majority power, including Washington, D.C. The United Stated has been taken over by enemies to democracy without a single shot fired! If this state of affairs cannot be changed by the ballot box, it will ultimately invite rebellion, and perhaps civil war. The majority's voice can only be silenced for so long.
25
It would seem that if a party, in order to win, has to change the rules by restricting votes, or the meaning of votes in gerrymandering, then perhaps they shouldn’t win elections.
But this attitude were require reverence for basic the idea of democracy.
10
I thank Mr. Blow especially for pointing out the facts about gerrymandering and thus, making it clear that no, there is no comparison between the two parties. Republicans really are trying to destroy minority and liberal access to power, destroying any semblance of democracy as fast as they can.
Still, my question is this: when a legislature changes the law in order to curtail the elected officials’ power because they belong to another party, what can be done? Can that be pursued in the court of law? It is an obvious assault on democracy and the right of citizens to choose. How can it stand? Can the citizens organize and impeach those legislators and call for new elections for those seats? What should be the next step?
45
That the Republicans have the pernicious "corporations are persons" doctrine on their side reinforces their campaign to end democracy. See Thomas Edsall's column.
12
Ok--so let's see:
On the one hand, gerrymandering is bad: Legislators shouldn't get to pick their own voters, and shouldn't be able to use legislation to entrench their own power by diluting the votes of those who might vote against them.
On the other hand, attempting to reduce immigration is also bad: It weakens the fundamental constitutional right of Democratic legislators to dilute the voting power of those who might vote against them.
3
@RC
Gerrymandering isn't about picking their own voters, they don't pick who votes for them. Gerrymandering is a way to concentrate votes, so that a minority of people get the most voting power. Essentially a minority of voters, gets to over ride majority.
5
@James Gerrymandering is about designing the demographic mix of a given congressional district in order to achieve a particular political result. Whenever I hear a Democratic politician talk about how immigration will lead to an inevitable Democratic majority, it seems they are talking about the same logic, just applied to the country writ large: Changing the demographic mix to achieve a particular political outcome.
So why is this a wicked threat to democracy in one context, and not in the other?
@RC
Borders are gerrymandered, not demographics and it's considered a gerrymander when the obvious engineering outweights other factors such as community history and geographic compactness.
There are plenty of reasons to back immigration that have nothing to do with electioneering.
2
Many vets fought, including several in my family, to ensure that the will of the citizenry would inform our government's actions.
Of course, this is not just a partisan attack, as Mr. Blow says, it's an attack on the bedrock principles of our democracy.
Shame on all of the legislators who voted for this anti-American legislation in MI and WI.
58
Any state that requires voter photo ID should provide that ID, at no cost, for those who do not have any. Advocates of photo ID
laws claim their motive is not to suppress the vote but to ensure its integrity. Really? Prove it.
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@Anne
Indeed, any cost (especially any extra one) associated with voting demanded by the state is a poll tax - plain and simple. On that basis, it is unconstitutional.
If only there was a law, like a Voting Rights act ?
Oh wait !
27
@Anne W.
I believe that some of the ID states will give one at no cost. Maybe even Texas............ For the exact reason you cite.
I doubt if the cost is much, anywhere, even if not free. It's the documentation required that is the deal killer for many.
3
The only reason not to have functioning elections is not to want to have them. Most democracies have unassailable elections. We don’t.
2
It's going to get worse before it gets better. When Trump is removed from office, either by rule of law or electoral defeat, his supporters who identify with the white nationalist movement ( and there are many ) will take to armed violence at Trump's urging. Any excuse will do, whether it's an illegal deep state conspiracy or that the election was rigged and millions of undocumented immigrants voted. I fear that gerrymandering will seem quaint in comparison. Nothing is beneath Trump, including a call to arms in order to maintain his power.
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@andy b
I fear you are correct, and I am far from being an alarmist. Look at the bussed in chanting crowds that the R's used to threaten the vote counts in Florida in 2000.
And they didn't even have guns.
2
We can have a Republic, OR we have have Republicans. We absolutely cannot have both. Why ? Because Republicans would gladly destroy the Country before accepting being beaten, in fair elections. It’s who they ARE.
333
Of course, it would make much better sense for the Republicans to simply acknowledge the reality of demographic change and adjust their policies to actually give people of color a legitimate reason to vote for them.
Instead, they find it easier to suppress their votes, to make it harder to vote, tacitly admitting they have no interest in what people of color want and never will. And then the GOP has the nerve to act bewildered when people of color reject them.
27
One man one vote one time.
4
We have a new two party system: the Democrats and the Anti-democrats.
12
I am curious as to why Charles Blow or anybody else feels that repeating Trump’s essential message—we’re doomed! Take Your Country Back! Attack as they attacked us!!—helps a single, solitary, blessed thing.
Fight, by all means. Just let’s stop fighting to become what we despise.
@Robert - "What you resist, you become."
That's not original. I think it has sources with numerous variations.
What kills me is, look which states are all paranoid about melanin.
Wisconsin - 87% white
Michigan - 79% white
Skin tone is of course not the true problem, but it is biological. Dr. Blassey-Ford could explain it a lot better than I can, but it has something to do with the development of the hippocampus. I think.
Anyhow, remember when people used to run around wearing T-shirts that read "Second Place is for Losers!"?
That's these guys. If 87% isn't "winning" in a game like politics then they've got a problem that can't be addressed by winning. What would these characters do if they ever got everything just the way they want it?
Why, what they've always done, of course.
Just make stuff up.
3
The only way to combat this (other than voting) is to take seriously every election for every position from the top (President) on down to an entry position on local council. (or even school board)
The indoctrination starts at a very young age for the other side, (Texas school book depository deciding school programs across the country) and continues on with the money and lobbying, It is relentless and unwavering in principle - that privatization for absolutely everything (except Socializing the profits at the top) must be enacted, and government is only there for the military (barely) and to protect the rich and corporations.
It continues on to the White House, where at the state level, incoming Democratic power is met with a stripping of that power. Beyond the state level, the White House seats Supreme Court and all other level judges to strip further laws (Voting Rights Act) that allows the state to further suppress.
It's all related and a vicious cycle to be sure, but Democracy can be restored if there is overwhelming Democratic voters that show up. (that is happening)
If only that 100,000,000 that sit on their duffs would ...
110
Trump, the GOP, and the Supreme Court have now loosed their version of “The Four Horsemen of the (American) Apocalypse” on us; they are “Citizen’s United,” “Ballot Harvesting,” “Gerrymandering,” and “Voter Suppression,” and unless something is done soon, I’m not sure our democracy will survive the onslaught.
97
@Susan
Don't be so hard on ballot harvesting; it's legal in California, and Democrats used it to win 4 close House seats.
2
@kwb Gee, thanks for the link with your proof of that.
I don't care what party you are - I want you to vote. Every US citizen should get to proudly and with minimal inconvenience get to exercise their right to vote. That is what many before me fought and died for - our right to a democracy of the people by the people. The idea that a few people who think they and only they have the best ideas and therefore should lie, cheat and steal to promote them should offend everyone. You cannot say you love America, honor our Veterans who dies for democracy and yet support the GOPs attempt to circumvent election results through stealing a Supreme Court seat, changing the laws so that only GOP representatives matter and gerrymander in a way so that the majority is disenfranchised. It is an affront to democracy and decency. I'd love to waive a magic wand and have universal health care, government sponsored high quality preschool and daycare, a high minimum wage and guaranteed pensions for all working Americans (along with modern roads and highways, improved infrastructure and much better consumer protections). I wonder how the GOP would feel if I could dictate and legislate these demands without the proper voting process?
33
I've been following this closely and I really appreciate that your column consistently brings these things to light. What is happening reminds me of how the governments of Venezuela, Poland and Turkey (and some others) started chipping away at their legal norms, packing the courts with cronies and limiting power on branches of their own govts. in order to grab power. It feels the same. I hope and pray that I am wrong, when I say that we might be in for a surprise come January. This might be in the pipeline for the House. The Republican party can no longer declare itself a 'Democratically oriented' party - they are not. We may as well label them Pro-Fascists.
184
my goodness i read some of these comments. We have alot of angry people. We should take the dead of Bush 41 as a lesson in civics. We can all agree to disagree without vitriolic comments that further divide us. What is more important is what is best for our COUNTRY in a collective sense.
1
@anthony
I understand your plea and tend to agree with it (in principle) but when someone is trying to strip away your rights, your livelihood and your country (world), then you need to stand up.
Aye, we can agree to disagree, and niceties aside (the correct verbiage), but I, nor anyone else is going to stop standing up for those rights. (especially to vote)
Regards.
19
@anthony I'm sorry. Did you actually read the column? It is a study in how Republicans are subverting democracy to the detriment our country. I think folks are pretty restrained given what is taking place. President GWH Bust would never have condoned this.
19
@anthony I am so glad that you said that just as I am so sure that you stood up and decried the Lee Atwater/George Bush "Willie Horton" attack on Dukakis as advertising meant to divide us and not good for the country's collective sense.
12
Dr. Andrew Reynolds of UNC has in fact stated that according to a metric also used by EIP at Harvard, North Carolina scores as a not very functioning democracy. As citizens we should be all in on changing this appalling state of things--it will take grassroots activism--but the Dems should be leading on this.
13
Mr. Blow never thought he'd see an outgoing administration try to limit the power of an incoming one? What a joke. Right before leaving office Mr. Obama entered into international trade agreements that were specifically designed to limit Mr. Trump's ability as duly elected president to make decisions visa vie drilling permits. He made no secret of his intention to do so.
4
@Bill I'm not sure what trade agreements you refer to because you didn't give any specifics. In any event,
Mr. Trump doesn't seem to be hamstrung by any trade agreements or any other international agreements reached by Obama or any other president. And there a difference between an executive decision that can eventually be rescinded by a successor and an act of the legislature endorsed by a lame duck governor that can only be reversed by the legislature?
12
@Bill
You're going to have to be a little more specific and provide links to sources.
Also, it's "vis a vis" with an accent sign over the a (I can't find a key function that works on this comment board).
5
@Bill a minor point not equivalent to stripping the incoming officials of power and giving to the outgoing party.
2
For over thirty years the Koch Brothers and then the Mercers planned on making government into their Libertarian ideal. They knew they couldn't do it nationally right away so they focused on doing it state by state. Wisconsin and Michigan are seeing what happens when the GOP loses and now their corrupt politicians are just following orders. From ALEC and the Heritage Foundation to the Federalist the big money has been working towards a goal and they almost achieved it but they see it slowly slipping away so their paid off GOP minions are now following orders and throwing a monkey wrench into the winners machine. The national GOP has shown that they're just greedy traitors to the Constitution and will cheat to get their way no matter how it looks. They've cashed the checks and are now going to their VP positions at law firms.
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@markd Would rec x10 if I could. Thanks.
2
@markd: Well over thirty years, many of the billionaire class besides those merely two families (e.g., the Scaifes and Mellons, Art Pope, and it's impossible to remember them all), and they are mostly not libertarians but simply greedy capitalists who want to remove restraints on themselves while hobbling their opposition.
5
Honestly, watching George H. W. Bush's funeral, I felt for a moment I was teleported to the late Roman Empire. I didn't felt like the USA was a republican democracy.
192
@VK I agree completely. I've been amazed all week at the level of reverence and formality on display. The president is supposed to be a person, elected by the people to be their representative for a pre-established period of time. After that they are regular citizens, like the rest of us. The number of events surrounding this funeral felt like the death of a monarch. It was like a god had bestowed this former president on the American people. It's sad that he died. He seemed like an overall decent person with good intentions, but a little bit of modesty is in order here.
51
@VK, you put your finger on it. I despise these overblown state funerals for ex-emperors.
37
@VK
I too was transported to Rome where the noblest Roman of them all, Brutus, was personna non grata on both sides . He was loved and respected by neither those that killed Caesar nor those that wanted Caesar to be Emperor.
2
"If the Republican Party can’t maintain power in the democracy we have, it will destroy that democracy so that its power can be entrenched by limiting the power of the vote."
It was the same playbook in the Senate with Merrick Garland. America may well be beyond repair. And if the system can't self-correct, it will be left with Republican leadership that's devoid of integrity, intellect, reason and responsibility for anything. But, that outcome may ultimately be a good thing, since the USA will be rightfully and rapidly replaced by a country more fit to lead and thrive.
And, the USA will suffer the same fate Republicans previously consigned to its marginalized 'others'. Poetic justice? It's a good chance the rest of the world ends up better off.
37
@eaarth When anti-democratic forces succeed in weakening a democracy to the point where it no longer functions, the inevitable result is a shooting civil war. Is this what our Republican friends want? Because it is where their actions, if successful in their own terms, will eventually lead.
28
@Richard Cohen
I don't think it always ends that way. It can end in a wimper...
But your hypothesis certainly explains why the Republicans and the NRA have made the 2nd Amendment out to be so broad and vital to their mission.
Notice how often cops shoot African-Americans with guns...the right to own a gun is really only intended for white male Republicans.
But if things continue as they are going, I still recommend leaving a country over taking up weapons.
On the bright side: thanks to global warming, Canada will soon have the same weather as California. ;)
8
I don't understand how a Coup can be either legal or constitutional. I would like to read some debate about whether this can be taken to court and what penaties do thosse who undermine the democratic process face?
37
LAST GASP POLITICS, Mr. Blow. Last gasp. Perhaps it will take another generation. But things are accelerating everywhere, and this world view--keep what is mine as the world changes--is not a winner, by any and every ecological and historical definition. Perhaps it will take another couple of election cycles. But last gasp politics. Thank you for your columns.
47
@Craig McGarvey I hope you're right. But the problem is that waiting another generation (or even another few election cycles) for this mindset to expire is exactly what we don't have when it comes to the climate crisis. Those in power today will have already sentenced those who come to power in the future to facing the ravages of a changing climate that could have been, at the very least, alleviated slightly by political action now.
2
It's a good civics lesson. There are many forms of "democracy." Remember the antebellum south had elections and legislatures. It was a democracy of white slave owning oligarchs. Bismarckian Germany had elections and a system that was rigged as much as our own. I think the single greatest critique of the Clinton-Obama years is the sheer incompetence in facing the challenges of maintaining power at the state level. The 2010 election was a disgrace.
7
Thank you all of this is based on a system developed by the NC Republican legislature after the NC Democrat Governor candidate won. The corruption of the Republican legislature matched with Republican gerrymandering makes NC a state that it is almost impossible to elect a Democrat. Yet in-spite of Republicans none stop effort to corrupt the system they lost the super majority and this election reveled a elaborate Republican candidate fraud system dating back to the Republican primary of 2016. Thank heavens for the reporters who exposed this on going criminal activity.
126
@Jena, only one remark: In N.C. it dates back several years before the Democrat won the governorship. The billionaire Art Pope was pushing right-wing extremism and win-at-all-costs and got North Carolina to go Republican enough that they could change the voting system to entrench themselves, e.g., by setting rules for election boards and appointing their partisans in the majority on the boards.
5
this is a great piece.
i'm sick of hearing both sides do it because, as mr. Blow points out, only one party does it so nakedly.
i'm beginning to think that republicans are not conservative as much as they are the party of "the ends justify the means"
immense wealth for the apex predators justify the wealth gap.
power for a minority political group justifies crushing actual minority groups.
luxury and immediate comfort for the few for one last generation justifies dooming every other generation to the ravages of climate change.
i can't believe these are my countrymen because none of these compromises is American.
400
@Chris W, you're on to something. The Republicans haven't been conservative for decades. They are an increasingly radical reactionary movement.
27
Sadly, the GOP has planned this takeover for many years! Going back to at least Atwater, they changed laws that shifted power from the people to the very, very wealthy. The “news media” profits from the $Bil campaign ads and fail to be the constitutionly mandated check on polititions. Where would we be today if the “Willy Horton Ad” had not poisoned the minds of voters? Who is going to stop the corruptt GOP from repeating NC, MI, WI for the Federal Government in 2020???
61
@Joy31608: Yes, some parts of the GOP have been at this for years.
One big, glaring misconception in your comment: the "News Media" has no constitutional mandate to check politicians (though that is a proper role for the media). The freedom of the news media is constitutionally guaranteed, but how they use that freedom is largely (maybe unfortunately, in some cases) unregulated. Worth noting.
As long the media is a business and we continue to try to propagate an unfettered capitalist system, you'll find profit motive subsuming public benefit. We need to accept for more portions of our economy--heath, media (in some forms), education, security, infrastructure--as 'utilities' and work to minimize the terrible impact of the mandate to "maximize shareholder value" on essential segments of our society's basic functions.
I'm no communist--the market has immense power to innovate and drive progress--but we need to make value choices as a society about where we can tolerate the creative destruction of free markets. I don't buy that policing, essential infrastructure, healthcare, or education can be successful with profit as the end in mind for those with the most power over each area.
7
We have been witnessing a slow motion coup d’etat for some time. The ultra rich men and women funding it are loyal to themselves, not to the Constitution or to government of, by and for the people. The propaganda machines they control obscure their greed and abuses of power.
Sadly, many Americans seem blind to the scams of these magnates and how these scams are eating away at their quality of life. Among other education, we need a national crash course in basic civics.
@Joy31608
Google the Lewis Powell Memo. This goes back to the Seventies. Powell carefully and thoroughly laid out a long-term plan to gain and control power for the (rich) Republicans. We can see how it gradually came to fruition. They could afford to be patient, and it has paid off.
VOTE!
The western world has not seen such blatant sexual, economic and political abuse of power by a cabal of powerful white men since the ancien regime prior to the French Revolution
That did not turn out well for those men.
369
@Christine: or their women, either.
6
Thirty-five years ago, in high school in Europe, I could only understand in the abstract how an event like the French Revolution would come about, how frustrations could unleash passion that turned so violent.
7
@Sheila
Don Jr.'s wife has already taken action to metaphorically save her neck
2
America, as an institution, has never been committed to democracy. Going back to our slaver era constitution and electoral college that gives undemocratic advantage to isolated rural bigots over urban pluralists.
52
@Pat Rogers
Too true, unfortunately. But since democratic ideals are written into our documents and "the system" can support democracy, we should work toward the realization of democracy.
5
This is PERFECTLY diagnosed. I've always felt that if white people can't be in control of America, they'd rather it be destroyed.
268
@Travis
Your comment is just as racist as anything coming out of Trump's or David Duke's mouth.
I am an old white man and I most certainly do NOT care if my demographic is in control or not. And there are millions of us who think similarly.
7
@Jus' Me, NYT This white male thinks Travis is right. Not all whites, but a decent chunk of supporters of the man who launched his political career trying to delegitimize our first non-lily-white president. The Republican establishment did not renounce Trump then, and now they are following his lead, caring more about their hold on power than anything related to what America stands for.
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@Travis Now wait. I lived for years in Silicon Valley, where smart and talented people from around the world congregated to create things, and we shared each others' celebrations and victories and even defeats. I have nothing in common with grade-school-educated Oxy-chompers living off dubious SSDI checks while flying Confederate flags and shrieking nonstop about their guns while their grotesquely overweight wives, girlfriends, or concubines produce yet more children that they will expect the evil State to medically treat.
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The election of a Republican president and majorities in both houses of Congress, as well as majorities in as many state houses as possible, were always the endgame of the oligarchy.
The only thing in all this that was unexpected was that Donald Trump ended up heading the 2016 ticket. The Kochs would have much preferred the pliable, compliant, and steadier Scott Walker. But that wasn't to be in a lackluster Republican primary in which Trump lied through his teeth, lobbed insults at his fellow contestants and generally stole the show as he entertained his audience.
So, what's left for a party that has been winning by cheating? Why... cheat some more! What we just saw in Wisconsin, we will see in as many places as Republicans feel they can get away with. Cheating in North Carolina? No problem! Do you hear Republicans disavowing anyone? I haven't! Cheating in Wisconsin? No problem!
Just wait. The Republicans in the House of Representatives will try and pull stunts at the last minute of the lame duck session, as well.
This is all Republicans have known to do for decades: lie, cheat, misinform, disinform, and grab.
But don't think they'll stop there. Now that they know which way the winds are blowing, they'll start working on Democrats, through organizations like No Labels and the Blue Dog caucus.
Remember, the house always wins when you bet on both sides. Beware of propaganda. It's everywhere.
---
Things Trump Did While You Weren’t Looking https://wp.me/p2KJ3H-2ZW
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@Rima Regas Thank you Rima, once again, for your clear insight. The oligarchs, for a long time, had to split their money between two parties--a bidding process to determine which could deliver the legislation they wanted.
But, particularly during the Bush II regime (K Street project, if you recall), one party decided to monopolize that market. It became clear to oligarchs that they could buy legislation more reliably and more cheaply if they worked through only one of the parties.
So they bought the Republicans. The Republicans came as a package: they could deliver evangelicals, gun rights advocates, racists, anti-abortionists, and country club wanna be's, and fearful suburbanites, among others. All they had to do was maintain conflict with racial, religious, and sexual minorities to keep all of their 'constituents' in line and fearful.
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@Justin
Divide and conquer politics... MLK explained how Jim crow works. Still holds today:
"it may be said of the Reconstruction era that the southern aristocracy took the world and gave the poor white man Jim Crow. He gave him Jim Crow. And when his wrinkled stomach cried out for the food that his empty pockets could not provide, he ate Jim Crow, a psychological bird that told him that no matter how bad off he was, at least he was a white man, better than the black man. And he ate Jim Crow. And when his undernourished children cried out for the necessities that his low wages could not provide, he showed them the Jim Crow signs on the buses and in the stores, on the streets and in the public buildings. And his children, too, learned to feed upon Jim Crow, their last outpost of psychological oblivion.”
https://www.rimaregas.com/2016/11/22/martin-luther-king-saturating-the-thinking-of-poor-white-masses-racism-white-supremacy-on-blog42/
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@Rima Regas--Well Rima if it will make you feel any better the Times reported the Republican Party barely has a pulse in your home state anymore. Same thing happened in New York where the Republican Party is in a free fall. See??? Republicans have all but conceded California and New York to the Democrats. The Oligarchs aren't winning everywhere.
5
Thank you for highlighting these latest Republican power grabs, I hope that you and your colleagues continue to sound this alarm. I find what is going on in Wisconsin, Michigan and North Carolina far more disturbing that anything Trump has ever done, which says a lot. For the past two years we Democrats have counted on the voting process to recapture our voice in our country. If we can't count on having fair and democratic voting, on the peaceful transfer of power when we are victorious, then the America we have always believed in is truly lost, damaged beyond repair. If there are honorable Republicans left, they should be just as outraged.
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Stop it. Just stop with the Politics of Apocalypse. Beyond the fact that that is EXACTLY what Trump says, one has to wonder just Who is interested in cranking out these messages of hopelessness.
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@Junctionite
I'm not quite hopeless, but.... What do we do in districts and states where a party end-runs the will of the people? We need to end gerrymandering everywhere. We need to remove money (especially dark money) from politics. How? What do we do now and next?
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@Junctionite
I just read, here, that we Dems have now officially picked-up 40 seats in the House. I’m ecstatic with that. The Senate comes next. Very few GOP senate seats were actually up for grabs in 2018. NOT so in 2020. We can really beat the stuffing out of them. When WE actually VOTE, WE WIN. Get to work, Now. The Orange creature WILL implode before 2020, we must punish them ALL. It’s the only way they can learn. Seriously.
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Thank you. I've been trouble by the coverage of a story of this importance for some time. If we'd stop chasing every shiny squirrel that Trump throws out, we'd have the resources to inform this country that it is in more danger than they realize.
Anyone still wondering why the right's aim for the last several decades has been to pack the courts with ideologues who won't do anything to stop the erosion of our voting rights?
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