Is a backlash against right wing/autocratic governance beginning? Poland sends a message

 The Trump-like Law and Justice party in Poland stood for less support of Ukraine and the EU, and a stronger arm government in Poland voted against right-wing incumbents who had attempted to reduce support for Ukraine and connections with the EU . The right-wing isolationists lost. Democracy won and touted the opposition center.   https://apnews.com/article/poland-election-vote-720f7b81838c33ccb2865fb3bc6e0414pear   Poland elections: Tusk, opposition beat conservatives, exit poll shows - The Washington Post  Will coalition politics come to the US to save democracy? 

Europe uses the parliamentary system, requiring coalition building among a variety of political parties. The US depends on the coalitions to be developed within their two-party system. However, there is now talk with a coalition of moderates of both parties to join together and break the roadblock to the stubborn inability of the GOP members of Congress able to agree on a House Speaker.  Their weak position is due to the fact that 4 votes could determine the outcome of a floor vote.  For the first time, the word "coalition" (enough Democrats vote with enough GOP congressmen) is a possibility. In the vote to oust McCarthy, many called depending on some bi-partisan Democrats to be treasonous or worse. McCarthy neither asked for Democrat support and doubled down on a last minute  appeal to the right wing on media.  Jim Himes (D-CT) on Morning Joe (MSNBC) this morning said that the current GOP caucus vote leader who is 50 votes short, Jim Jordan, would not receive any Democratic votes since he was an election denier and Jan. 6 stop-the-count supporter and against more aid to Ukraine. However, if the GOP put forth a more centrist nomination, they would be open to providing Democratic votes to give the moderate the needed votes. However, that was a couple of weeks away if a voterama in the House fails to get Jordon over the finish line.

One of those voting against Scalese and Jordan is Ken Buck (R-CO), both because of election denialism and failure to support Ukraine.   Could he be part of the coalition vote later if the voterama does not break the stalemate? Next speaker must publicly support 2020 election results, Rep. Buck says (axios.com)

US voters still prefer democracy over a dictatorship (autocracy). That should be comforting. The House GOP is sitll controlledd by  Trump and a hard core minority.  Trump has made it clear he is for Jordan .  Jordan represents chaos and discord like his mentors. Jordan's his record as a legislator has been an oral bomb thower and attack dog for the right wing and in January 6 hearings and the Biden "crime family". No wonder he would notget any moderate Democrats to join in a coalition on his behalf.Poll: Majority of Americans endorse democracy, younger generations skeptical | MPR News

Polls are disturbing regarding continuing support for Ukraine, though leaders of both parties in Congress say support for Ukraine remains strong. CNN Poll: Majority of Americans oppose more US aid for Ukraine in war with Russia | CNN Politics   Other analyses of the same poll give support of Ukraine a  thumbs up and still strong. Americans’ support for helping Ukraine remains strong. Just look at the polls. - Atlantic Council

Are Americans more supportive of Ukraine than Congress is? - Atlantic Council

I have not seen a poll that delves into younger voter skepticism of democracy.  My question, what do they want instead? It appears that the skepticism among gen z is that democracy has failed to address their agenda on specific public policy issues, but if anything, they want the government to do more. The issues are liberal. This does not show an anti--democracy bias, just frustration with it reflecting their issues.  Rising political tide of young adults, Gen Z – Harvard Gazette

Why the persistent big lie is still a danger to democracy updated 11/18/2023

 From the 10/12/posting, an extract focusing on how dangerous undermining faith in the election process is to the continuation of democracy.  It also touches on how the anti-democracy MAGA right sees chaos they foment themselves should be cured by their own solution:  government control by a strong man with an "iron fist" who is their great leader, Donald Trump. 

(Update: 11/18/2023  Colorado judge finds Trump engaged in insurrection, but keeps him on ballot : NPR    Thi will be appealed to the Colorado Supreme Court, and then likely onto the US Supreme Court with the conservative majority.  The bad news for Trump is the Colorado judge was the first judicial finding that Trump was an insurrectionist and his First Amendment rights were not jeopardized. The good news left many judicial jaws dropping that Trump was not an officer of the country because his oath of office did not conform to the oath of other officials. This is truly a debatable interpretation of the 14th Amendment. That will certainly be the crux of the appeal)

This persistent belief the 2020 election was stolen is a danger to democracy. Perpetuation of the Big Lie is central to the anti-democracy strategy to destroy faith in the democratic process and then use what they themselves had sabotaged and undermined to replace it with an autocrat who makes sure their MAGAs win by whatever means necessary, including replacing the Department of Justice with loyalists.  

Per reporting by Charlie Sykes of the Bulwark, based upon a prosecution's recent filing regarding Trump's role in January 6, prosecutors will make the case to a jury that Ttump knowingly lied about facts he knew to be false. He used the lies he knew were lies to motivate supporters to overturn the election.    This is in anticipation of the defense argument that Trump actually believed he won so what he said was not intentional and, therefore, not a crime.  They bank on the defense argument that you cannot prove what was in Trump's head.  That politicians lie all the time on the stump and have a First Amendment right of free speech to do it is another Trump defense. The answer is the purpose of his lies was to convince others to commit crimes on his behalf to overturn the election and stay in power. It was his actions, knowingly using lies as a tool to advance his beliefs, sincerely held he won, delusional or not sincerely held,  to overturn the election with violence.   

Some of MAGA will understand that Trump thought they were devoted to him enough to believe whatever he claims as gospel truth. In fact, the majority of the GOP still believes him, he was so effective. Believing that, or repeating whether they still believe it when they don't, is necessary to qualify in his eyes as a bonafide loyal member of the MAGA followers.    That is the only way I can explain that despite three years of trying, no evidence, no court cases, no "forensic audit" could come up with proof there was enough fraud to overturn the 2020 election. It is irrational, but it is a necessary part of swearing allegiance to Trump. 

There are advocates in the MAGA movement, such as Steve Bannon,  who see creating chaos as part of the strategy to replace democracy with a strong leader autocrat he favors that would empower MAGA movement to rule over those they disdain,. Claiming democracy does not work is dependent on their convincing the MAGA movement that it does not work for them at the ballot box. They have been very successful since 70% of Republicans still think the election was stolen. The ability of all citizens to choose their leaders via the ballot is the most central and fundamental characteristic of a democracy.     .https://www.cnn.com/interactive/2022/07/politics/steve-bannon-us-democracy and faith in its integrity is essential. Keeping the Big Lie going is how the MAGA anti-democracy radicals are trying to damage that faith in order to give a rationale for replacing democracy with a form of dictatorship (by Trump) instead..\To achieve this goal, Trump even advocates violence, and his followers are quick to do likewise, threatening violence against any politician or judge or law enforcer who acts against Trump's interest.  

The latest death threats are against Colorado's Republican Congressman, Ken Buck, who has been outspoken against Trump's back House Speaker, Jim Jordan. Ken Buck one of multiple Republicans receiving death threats for voting against Rep. Jim Jordan as House Speaker | Colorado Public Radio (cpr.org) One of Buck's issues is that Jordan  is an election denier and is against more aid to Ukraine.  How right he is about Jordan, who played a role in January 6, supporting the attempt to for Pence to go along with the conspiracy to refuse to certify the 2020 election as late as January 5 and every act supporting the big lie and the refusal to certify the election thereafter.  As head of the judicial committee Jordan was a verbal bomb thrower from impeachment attempts of Trump to refusing ot testify before the January 6 committee after being subpoenaed. He may expect those he throws his political adversaries to turn up when he sobpoenas him but he himself refuses to appear if he gets subpoenaed.  So fixated is he on his role of attack dog, he never passed a piece of serioius legislation  he sponsored in ihe House in his 16 years as a congressman.. Yet, that is is job of a Speaker, to get his party's legislation passed.  He does not subscribe to the legislative process; he has seeked to destroy it if it does not support Trump's ambitions.   What to know about Jim Jordan's role in Jan. 6 - ABC News (go.com)

What is now even more critical at stake in 2024 is the election of Trump, who does not even support the Constitution, evidenced by the claim by his attorneys that Trump is not sworn to defend it. Trump tells court he had no duty to 'support' the Constitution as president (msn.com)  This lawsuit centers on Trump's failure to support the constitution on January 6.  Trump's frightening comment was revealed by the lawsuit against Trump brought by GOP and independent Colorado citizens seeking to disqualify Trump from being on the Colorado ballot in 2024. The 14th Amendment plan to disqualify Trump, explained - BBC News   The Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold, named in the suit, plans to "see the suit through" . Colorado secretary of state calls Trump a ‘liar,’ vows to see ballot lawsuit through | The Hill   A recent Supreme Court action on a similar issue per experts, did not affect the Colorado case because the legal argument on its behalf if stronger.. Trump's refusal to support the Constitution is consistent with earlier statements that he wanted to terminate or suspend the Constitution and his advocacy of political violence instead of ballots. .  Trump calls for the termination of the Constitution in Truth Social post | CNN Politics

MUFTIC FORUM BLOG: America's future, the short and the long, macro and micro, at stake in 2024 updated 9/30/23, 10/2/23

Supreme Court declines to consider longshot bid to disqualify Trump from running for president | CNN Politics

Conspiracy theories like the Big Lie depend on ignorance: Colorado election officials to educate the public

 Rep. Ken Buck (Colorado) was right in his refusal to support the two leading candidates for Speaker of the House today  because both have continued to claim Trump won the election of 2020.  The Big Lie is the unproven, unevidenced BS promoted by epic poor loser Donald Trump and his MAGA movement that the election was stolen. Ken Buck Says He Refused To Vote For GOP Speaker Candidates Due To 2020 Election Lies (yahoo.com)   (Ken Buck, R-CO) 

 Three years have passed since 2020 and in spite of every effort made, no evidence has emerged to support the Big Lie.  All voters need to know where the House Speaker of their party still stands on the issue.  It is a litmus test of who in Congress is the most extreme MAGA supporter or who is not. So far as their constituents are concerned, polls show three years after the 2020 elections, 70% of Republicans still think the election was stolen. CNN Poll: Percentage of Republicans who think Biden's 2020 win was illegitimate ticks back up near 70% | CNN Politics  

Conspiracy theories take root in ignorance, and the best antidote to such political strategies is educating voters on how their vote integrity is protected by the new technology and other measures.  The education campaign by election officials is now being conducted in advance of the 2024 elections in Colorado.. Residents invited to observe election machine  'integrity checks,' new ballot box technology | Election Coverage | gazette.com  It is worth the effort, even if the only educated are those in the media This can be  helpful provided media reports what they learned whenever the Big Lie rears its ugly head again. As a former elections official years ago in Denver, I, too, had to catch up with the intricate use of modern technology and practices in Colorado in 2020, and frankly, I had to dig and dig to find much on the subject. Education of the public  of how the process works is sorely needed. 

One reassuring thing I learned in catching up with the election system was in Colorado, new technology is backed up by old-school paper ballots (dropped off or mailed in) so that any "forensic audit" or recounts have the evidence to give a definitive count. Other states also have their methods.  So far, after every attempt by those who claim the election of 2020 was stolen across the US, after innumerable recounts of stacks of paper ballots, audits, and findings by judges who were appointed by both recent and past ideological and official parties,  no evidence has turned up that would have changed the result of the 2020 election. Period.

 Colorado has become the epicenter of election controversies. Colorado Republicans and independent voters were the ones who  filed  a law suit  that aims to knock Trump off the 2024 ballot . The state has had three years of controversy with an election denier leading the state GOP, one Trump loyal county clerk convicted of a crime of tampering the election machinery, and even a candidate for  county clerk suspected of being an election denier who still got elected and is now occupying the office in charge of counting votes..(Grand County MUFTIC FORUM BLOG: Is an election denier a candidate for county clerk in Colorado? Suspicions validated (Mesa County).Former Colorado county clerk Tina Peters sentenced to home detention and community service in obstruction case (nbcnews.com)  .  Colorado GOP selects combative, election-denying new leader | AP News

This next segment is also reproduced as a separate blog post on 10/13/2023   This persistent belief the 2020 election was stolen is a danger to democracy. Perpetuation of the Big Lie is central to the  anti-democracy strategy to destroy faith in the democratic process and then use what they themselves had  sabotaged and undermined to replace it with an autocrat who makes sure their MAGAs win by whatever means necessary, including replacing the Department of Justice with loyalists.  

There are advocates in the MAGA movement, such as Steve Bannon,  who see creating chaos as part of the strategy to replace democracy with a strong leader autocrat he favors that would empower MAGA movement to rule over those they disdain,. Claiming democracy does not work is dependent on their convincing the MAGA movement that it does not work for them at the ballot box. They have been very successful since 70% of Republicans still think the election was stolen. The ability of all citizens to choose their leaders via the ballot is the most central and fundamental characteristic of a democracy.     .https://www.cnn.com/interactive/2022/07/politics/steve-bannon-us-democracy and faith in its integrity is essential. Keeping the Big Lie going is how the MAGA anti democracy radicals are trying to damage that faith in order to give a rationale for replacing democracy with  a form of dictatorship (by Trump) instead..

What is now even more critical at stake in 2024 is an election of Trump who does not even support the Constitution, evidenced by the claim by his attorneys that Trump is not sworn to defend it. Trump tells court he had no duty to 'support' the Constitution as president (msn.com)  This lawsuit centers on Trump's failure to support the constitution on January 6.  Trump's frightening comment was revealed by the lawsuit against Trump brought by GOP and independent Colorado citizens seeking to disqualify Trump from being on the Colorado ballot in 2024. The 14th Amendment plan to disqualify Trump, explained - BBC News   The Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold, named in the suit, plans to "see the suit through" . Colorado secretary of state calls Trump a ‘liar,’ vows to see ballot lawsuit through | The Hill    Trump's refusal to support the Constitution is consistent with earlier statements that he wanted to terminate or suspend the Constitution and his advocacy of political violence instead of ballots. .  Trump calls for the termination of the Constitution in Truth Social post | CNN Politics

MUFTIC FORUM BLOG: America's future, the short and the long, macro and micro, at stake in 2024 updated 9/30/23, 10/2/23

 This persistent belief the 2020 election was stolen is a danger to democracy. Perpetuation of the Big Lie is central to the anti-democracy strategy to destroy faith in the democratic process and then use what they themselves had sabotaged and undermined to replace it with an autocrat who makes sure their MAGAs win by whatever means necessary, including replacing the Department of Justice with loyalists.  

There are advocates in the MAGA movement, such as Steve Bannon,  who see creating chaos as part of the strategy to replace democracy with a strong leader autocrat he favors that would empower MAGA movement to rule over those they disdain,. Claiming democracy does not work is dependent on their convincing the MAGA movement that it does not work for them at the ballot box. They have been very successful since 70% of Republicans still think the election was stolen. The ability of all citizens to choose their leaders via the ballot is the most central and fundamental characteristic of a democracy.     .https://www.cnn.com/interactive/2022/07/politics/steve-bannon-us-democracy and faith in its integrity is essential. Keeping the Big Lie going is how the MAGA anti democracy radicals are trying to damage that faith in order to give a rationale for replacing democracy with  a form of dictatorship (by Trump) instead..

What is now even more critical at stake in 2024 is an election of Trump who does not even support the Constitution, evidenced by the claim by his attorneys that Trump is not sworn to defend it. Trump tells court he had no duty to 'support' the Constitution as president (msn.com)  This lawsuit centers on Trump's failure to support the constitution on January 6.  Trump's frightening comment was revealed by the lawsuit against Trump brought by GOP and independent Colorado citizens seeking to disqualify Trump from being on the Colorado ballot in 2024. The 14th Amendment plan to disqualify Trump, explained - BBC News   The Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold, named in the suit, plans to "see the suit through" . Colorado secretary of state calls Trump a ‘liar,’ vows to see ballot lawsuit through | The Hill    Trump's refusal to support the Constitution is consistent with earlier statements that he wanted to terminate or suspend the Constitution and his advocacy of political violence instead of ballots. .  Trump calls for the termination of the Constitution in Truth Social post | CNN Politics

MUFTIC FORUM BLOG: America's future, the short and the long, macro and micro, at stake in 2024 updated 9/30/23, 10/2/23