The Trump wannabes are hoiking up their posturing pants whilst we wonder if Biden can achieve an FDR-style presidency (Biden-Trump Thread #127)

[TheNorthWestPawsage]

We're still here.

Previous thread:
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/4173050-Bidens-not-a-dogs-dinner-Champ-Major-and-Snowflake-know-a-President-when-they-sniff-one-Trump-thread-126

From the more recent past, an interesting article from 2018, reviewing Steven Levitsky and Daniel Ziblatt's book How Democracies Die :
www.theguardian.com/books/2018/jan/24/how-democracies-die-review

Sounds fascinating, what is the series?

edition.cnn.com/2021/05/12/politics/cheney-gop-megaphone/index.html

'It took a strong woman and a House Republican conference that threatened her. It took GOP leadership more interested in regaining power than in abiding by the Constitution. And it took a Republican Party devoted to nothing other than Donald Trump.

So finally, Liz Cheney did it. It was clear she was going to be voted out of leadership, so she broke with her fellow leaders. She did it loudly and purposefully, saying the quiet part out loud, taking on the former guy directly inside the room with his defenders.

"We cannot let the former President drag us backward and make us complicit in his efforts to unravel our democracy. Down that path lies our destruction, and potentially the destruction of our country," she told them.

She was booed by some of her colleagues, according to a source in the room.'

It's just called "Watergate". On catch-up, and very watchable:
www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episodes/m000v94s/watergate

I'm struck that when it was made in 1994, the break-ins were a mere 22 years previously. (Tempus fugit!). Many of the key figures were still alive and indeed still working.

Oh yes, and the vindictiveness of Nixon! The presidency as a vehicle for taking revenge on his personal "enemies" – ie anyone who crossed him by simply doing their job. He was so open about it. One contributor described the spectacle of Nixon settling in to battle his two mortal foes: Nikita Khruschev and special prosecutor Archibald Cox.

The way Nixon simply ignored court orders to hand over tapes reminded me of the excellent article linked on these threads, describing the Republicans' norm-busting activities of recent years as encapsulated in: "But what if we... didn't?"

Hah, that and the repeated covert taping of each other by supposed colleagues, Nixon most of all.

Thank you, I will look for it.

CDC:

www.cnbc.com/2021/05/13/cdc-says-fully-vaccinated-people-dont-need-to-wear-face-masks-indoors-or-outdoors-in-most-settings.html?__source=sharebar|twitter&par=sharebar

On that basis quite a lot of Jews I know (including some who live in Israel) are anti-Semitic. It's a bit strange.

@Cacacoisfarraige

I have huge sympathy for Jewish people and their treatment, but I cannot support the actions taken by Israel

Me too.

Sadly, the US, historically, is pro-Israel. The Jewish community is quite strong, including in terms of funding, as far as I'm aware.
Israel is also an important ally.

Funnily enough, the Israeli and Palestinian scientists I know get along just fine, but can't officially collaborate directly.
It's all political.

I did not expect anything else.

www.huffpost.com/entry/gop-set-to-vote-elise-stefanik-house_n_609e5af0e4b014bd0caadf68

Yes, I agrre. There is a very informative thread on Palestine/Israel in AIBU running at the moment, 'You just cannot talk about Palestine on this forum'

Jim Acosta @Acosta
Stefanik: Trump “is a critical part of our Republican team.”

[quote lionheart]www.huffpost.com/entry/gop-set-to-vote-elise-stefanik-house_n_609e5af0e4b014bd0caadf68[/quote]
She got voted in 134-46

This is not how to lure people in to an art gallery after lockdown:

www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/may/14/donald-trump-national-portrait-gallery-photo

It's enough to give me the heebie-jeebies.

They should run a competition and put the winner on display.

The winning entry rather than the winner, I should say.

@lionheart

The winning entry rather than the winner, I should say.

That article on the portrait! I suppose he was President so they have to do this but one person's comment summed it up for me...

“It’s hard to look at. I started to take a picture of it and then decided I don’t want it on my phone. I’m so relieved we don’t have to look at him or listen to him any more. It was a relentless assault on the senses to have him in the 24-hour news cycle.”

Speaking of portraits, is Obama's in the WH yet?

Sorry a really basic question as can’t find an answer online. I know Mitch McConnell/Nancy Pelosi are leaders in Congress and will be in opposition depending upon elections). Is there a post like Shadow President in GOP/Democrats? If not who is the leader of the opposition when President is other party, for example speech/response to an emergency speech by President?

Blowing, the President is Head of State (like, though not like, the Queen). So there’s no Shadow President. Leaders of parties in the Senate and House have their opposite numbers though.

That’s the limit of my knowledge, I’m sure a more clued up person will be along soon.