Interesting how folks presume that the 70 million people who voted for Trump would do so again. It just shows their idol worship of Trump. I don’t think anywhere near that many people would vote for him again. Not after 1-6. His vocal minority will never abandon him. But I think everyone sees him for what he is now and those who support him don’t care about free and fair elections: just right wing power.
The MSM at its usual principled best. https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2022/09/02/biden-philadelphia-speech-democracy-midterms/ "It is a depressing reflection of the dangerous political situation in which the nation finds itself that President Biden felt compelled to deliver a prime-time address decrying political violence and election denialism and calling on Americans “to unite behind the single purpose of defending our democracy.” Indeed, democracy is under assault in the United States. Rallying to its defense is an urgent task, and it does the nation no service to pretend that this is a problem of bipartisan dimensions. The leader of one party peddled the false belief that the 2020 presidential election was stolen, sought to prevent the peaceful transfer of power, incited his adherents to storm the Capitol, and continues to stir anger and unrest. As Mr. Biden put it in Philadelphia on Thursday night, “Too much of what’s happening in our country today is not normal. Donald Trump and the MAGA Republicans represent an extremism that threatens the very foundations of our Republic.” The difficult, perhaps insurmountable, challenge that Mr. Biden confronted — just eight weeks before midterm elections that will determine the future course of his presidency — was how to convey the message of defending democracy in a way that summons patriotism rather than partisanship. Here, as much as we agree with the president about the urgency of the issue, is where he fell short, too often sounding more like a Democrat than a democrat. You don’t persuade people by scolding or demeaning them, but that’s how the president’s speech landed for many conservatives of goodwill. Mr. Biden was wrong to conflate upholding the rule of law with his own partisan agenda, which he called “the work of democracy.” You can be for democracy but against the president’s policy proposals to use government to lower prescription-drug prices and combat climate change. “MAGA forces are determined to take this country backwards, backwards to an America where there is no right to choose, no right to privacy, no right to contraception, no right to marry who you love,” Mr. Biden proclaimed. But many conservatives — not just “MAGA forces” — agree with the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade. It was disappointing that Mr. Biden chose to omit that the infrastructure, gun-control and burn-pits legislation he praised had passed with Republican votes. Pointing this out would actually have strengthened his effort to draw a contrast between “MAGA Republicans” and “mainstream Republicans.” Moreover, Mr. Biden’s clarion call for democracy would carry more credibility if he were willing to call out his own party for its cynical effort to elevate some of the same “MAGA Republicans” he now warns will destroy democracy if they prevail in the general election. During the primaries, Democrats spent tens of millions helping dangerous election deniers defeat better-funded “mainstream Republicans,” including in Pennsylvania, where Mr. Biden, not coincidentally, chose to speak."
Funny story, Trump called Democrats "fascists" in 2020 in front of two servicemembers in a speech. Does anybody recall Democrats freaking out over it and throwing massive temper tantrums? As they say, a hit dog will holler. Two Years Ago, Trump Called Democratic Party 'Fascists'
Garbage editorial from the same out-of-touch clowns who elevated Trump, provided cover for his lies, and have failed to adequately convey the urgency of the moment. The national media is trash.
Agree with your sentiment but I think we need to come to grips with the fact that no single individual can unite us. I guess we just all have to do our small parts.
There are two elements to this: one is exactly as you said, a hit dog hollers. There is some truth to it in general and people don't like it pointed out when there is some truth to it. The other element is that Trump displayed that people infantalize the Republican Party and have lower standards for them in terms of acting like adults.
As I mentioned earlier in the thread, Biden carving out and calling out MAGA from the rest of the GOP takes away some of the cover they've been enjoying. The MAGAs are now threatened with direct exposure of their anti-democratic ambitions. Time will tell if a fissure develops in the party that can be expanded by more focused attention. I'm hopeful the majority of the party doesn't want civil war and authoritarian rule and they won't want to be lumped in with those that do.
There was nothing sarcastic about my post. It was a terrible editorial. Biden called out a bunch of extremists who either supported or tried overturning an election their cult leader lost. Those extremists tried to claim themselves "patriots" while engaging in that anti-democratic behavior. I'm not interested in hearing the "both sides" bullshit from the national media. They've chosen perceived neutrality over truth. That editorial is a great example of it. Screw them. We're in a battle for the soul of this nation, and they're not rising to the moment. Biden finally did.
The only thing that could unite this country at this point is an attack on American soil from a foreign adversary. A big chunk of the Republican Party has decided that whenever they lose, it must be fraudulent. We can't "unite" with those people. And there's zero chance that Democrats will unite with the politicians (DeSantis, Abbott, Noem, the Trumps, Pence, etc.) who have been elevated in the Trumpublican Party. Unity isn't coming any time soon.
I don't think can save us at this point, tensions are too high, too many MAGA Republicans will see it as proof that Biden needs to be removed to save the country.
We’re in the same boat, but this remark threw me: WAPO has “elevated Trump, provided cover for his lies”. That seemed a bit harsh. BTW, did you read Eugene Robinson’s op-ed in WAPO today? Best one yet!!
Here’s the op-Ed: https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2022/09/02/biden-speech-democracy-independence
Divisive words written for and spoken by an old quasi-progressive suffering from diminished capacity. I wonder if he really understood what he was reading on Thursday. Praying for him and those who think that was a good speech.
You assume Trump, McCarthy and those anti-American extremists are inclined to ameliorate their extremism. Biden was absolutely right to call them out.
Both sides are doing their best . They are achieving their goal. I certainly know Trump-was extreme but Biden is not helping . I wish it was different. If u think deep and long term there is going to be something really bad happen. We are , as a country very angry
Democrats are NOT extreme. THEY are not threatening and committing violence. THEY are not attacking our most sacred norm - a fair and settled election. This is NOT about policy, but about one group of extremists trying to gain total control of the levers of power at every level and ensure that all elections - if any at all - will indeed be rigged. There’s no negotiating with extremists thirsting for total power. So yes, something really bad is going to happen if the MAGA extremists aren’t stopped in November and 2024.