Below is my column in The Hill on the latest calls to protect democracy with distinctly undemocratic measures. Former presidential candidate Hillary Clinton insisted that the 2024 election was our D-Day, suggesting that voters would have to fight the GOP like the Nazis in World War II. Clinton previously called on Europe to censor American citizens when Twitter sought to dismantle its censorship program and called her defeat in the 2016 election “illegitimate.” Yet, for many civil libertarians, the “defenders of democracy” are the very threat to democracy going into the 2024 election.
Here is the column:
In 2024, the greatest test for our Constitution may be whether it can survive the “Defenders of Democracy.”
Ronald Reagan often said, “The nine most terrifying words in the English language are: I’m from the government and I’m here to help.” Today, Reagan’s line cannot compare with the line that sends many of us into a fetal position: “I’m a Democrat and I am here to save democracy.”
The jump scare claim is that unless citizens vote for democrats, the end of democracy will begin shortly. In 2022, House Majority Whip Rep. James Clyburn (D-S.C.) told “Fox News Sunday” that “democracy will be ending” if Democrats lost the midterms.
The rhetoric has continued to ramp up with the upcoming election.
From President Joe Biden to a host of progressive politicians and pundits, the 2024 election is all about saving democracy. The public has been told that if the Democrats lose power, citizens will be living in a tyrannical hellscape. Vice President Kamala Harris stated in one interview that 2024 “genuinely could be” the last democratic election in America’s history. Dozens of Democrats have said that democracy will end if Biden is not reelected.
The Washington Post even ran an op-ed titled, “A Trump dictatorship is increasingly inevitable. We should stop pretending.”
Many Americans have tuned out the overheated rhetoric, as shown by Donald Trump’s continuing lead in many polls even after his conviction in Manhattan. The warnings also ignore that our system has checks and balances that protected democracy for centuries as the world’s oldest and most successful constitutional system. These dire predictions would require all three branches to fail in an unprecedented fashion.
While these figures cite the Capitol riot on Jan 6., 2021 as evidence of the pending collapse of democracy, the system worked as designed on that day. Congress refused to be deterred by the riot and virtually every court (including many presided over by Trump-appointed judges) rejected challenges to the election.
The most obvious threats today to the democratic system are coming from the left, not the right.
Democratic secretaries of state sought to block Trump from the ballot in 2024, and Democratic members sought to bar roughly 120 colleagues from their respective ballots. It seemed that the greatest threat to democracy was its exercise by voters. Fortunately, a unanimous Supreme Court rejected the theory and added, “Nothing in the Constitution requires that we endure such chaos.”
There has also been a push by Democrats to keep third-party candidates off ballots. Again, the last thing democracy needs is for voters to have more democratic choice.
In New York, Democratic congressional candidate Paula Collins even suggested that, after the election, the focus must be on “re-education” of MAGA voters, although she acknowledged that “that sounds like a rather, a re-education camp. I don’t think we really want to call it that. I’m sure we can find another way to phrase it.”
Democratic operatives are using the same rationalization to call for biased reporting to help Biden get reelected.
Democratic strategist James Carville this week demanded more “slanted” media coverage against Donald Trump to save democracy. Carville was triggered by New York Times editor Joe Kahn suggesting that the newspaper report the news in a fair and neutral manner. The suggestion sent many pundits into vapors at the very thought of reembracing objectivity in journalism.
“I don’t have anything against slanted coverage,” Carville insisted. “I really don’t, I would have something against it at most other times in American history, but not right now. F— your objectivity. The real objectivity in this country right now is we’re either going to have a Constitution or we’re not.”
It was particularly galling to hear the call for “slanted coverage” in the same week that the Hunter Biden laptop was authenticated and used as evidence in his Delaware trial. The government has called the widely reported claim that the laptop was “Russian disinformation” a debunked “conspiracy theory.” Carville was making his pitch for more biased reporting to the very media that buried the laptop story before the last election and spent two years in denial of its authenticity.
Yet, many journalists agree with Carville. Some journalism schools have been teaching that reporters need to dump concepts of objectivity and neutrality to achieve political and social reforms.
This week, reporters were irate after Washington Post publisher and CEO William Lewis issued a blunt message that the newspaper could not survive after losing half of its readership and tens of millions of dollars last year. He told the staff: “People are not reading your stuff. Right. I can’t sugarcoat it anymore.”
The fear that these newspapers might cover Biden and Trump in a fair and balanced way was immediately denounced as . . . wait for it . . . a threat to democracy. After Carville’s meltdown, the Washington Post’s Margaret Sullivan warned Kahn and others that “our very democracy is on the brink, and how the Times covers that existential threat is of extraordinary importance.” She then asked whether the paper will “forthrightly identify the problems posed by a radicalized Republican Party that is increasingly dedicated to lies, bad-faith attacks and the destruction of democratic norms.”
Sullivan expressed alarm that the media would “try to cut the situation straight down the middle as if we were still in the old days — an era that no longer exists?”
The “era” appears to be the golden age of journalism when most Americans respected and patronized the same media outlets. Now, citizens are fleeing mainstream media, and polls indicate that they view reporters as pursuing the very political agendas embraced by figures like Carville and Sullivan.
Many voters are also responding to what they see as the politicalization of the criminal justice system, particularly with Trump’s recent trial in Manhattan. Again, these cases are being embraced as key to “defending democracy” when many citizens view them as the very antithesis of a nation committed to the rule of law.
This glaring disconnect was evident when President Joe Biden spoke on the top of the Point-du-Hoc in Normandy on the 80th anniversary of D-Day. Biden again used the event to suggest that democracy was in danger in the United States with the upcoming election. Yet, Biden has overseen widespread government censorship with federal agencies targeting those with opposing views on everything from elections and climate change to COVID-19 and transgender policies.
As Democratic secretaries of state sought to bar Trump from ballots, Biden refused to oppose the efforts. When liberal law professors and members demanded to pack the Supreme Court to guarantee a liberal majority, Biden refused to denounce it during the last campaign.
This is why some in the country may view Biden and the Democrats as existential threats not just to democracy, but to themselves. They see a party that is engaged in efforts to cleanse ballots (of Republicans), censor dissenting voices and prosecute political opponents. That is not exactly what propelled those men to climb the cliff of Pointe-du-Hoc in 1944.
Fortunately, our democracy does not depend on any president. It was designed by James Madison to withstand the worst, not the best, motivations of our leaders. After all, Madison wrote in Federalist #51, “If Men were angels, no government would be necessary.”
The system that he designed has withstood political, economic and social crises, including a civil war. It may even protect us from today’s “defenders of democracy.”
Jonathan Turley is the J.B. and Maurice C. Shapiro Professor of Public Interest Law at the George Washington University. He is the author of “The Indispensable Right: Free Speech in an Age of Rage.”
OT.
What happened to the story of the juror misconduct in the Trump trial?
There is no explicit Constitutional prohibition against shitposting, so the Trump hush money case should be declared a mistrial on the basis of the stuff that guy wrote about his cousin on Facebook.
—-Jonathan Turley
Meanwhile the orange god said over the weekend…
“All they were doing is protesting a rigged election. That’s what they were doing,” he continued, repeating his false claims about the 2020 presidential election.
Trump also falsely claimed police officers urged hundreds of his supporters to storm the Capitol by telling them, “Go in, go in, go in, go in.”
What a lying piece of excrement. There is no basis for anything he said.
Yea, don’t look at the guy that provoked an attack on our Capitol building, oooooh, look at the Clintons.
JT, get real.
The Capito Police DID motion people to go into the Capitol. (They also gave the demonstrators directions when they were inside the Capitol.) It is on the tapes shown by Tucker Carlson.
Their definition of democracy seems identical to the one that ruled over various “Peoples’ Democratic Republics” …
I think Alito would issue Supreme Court opinions in Latin if he could get away with it.
CIVILITY RULE VIOLATIONS HERE
BAN FOR LIFE
What a great country where a little black boy can grow up to be a Supreme Court Justice and enjoy the fruits of influence peddling.
As DJT would say, God blesh the United Shtates of America.
Has anyone who gave Thomas gifts personally benefited from any of his rulings?
A President’s private sexual life is absolutely none of our business.
—-Newt Gingrich
DATA: 84% Expect to Be WORSE OFF Under 2nd Biden Term, Most Voters Say Trump Conviction ‘Not a Factor,’ And Most Say ‘No Retribution.’
Excerpt: Such a lack of confidence in the Biden-Harris ticket is also reflected when voters are asked about the main reasons they are voting for their preferred candidate: 54 percent say they’re voting for Biden simply as a negation of Trump, with just 27 percent saying they like Biden himself. That number is almost inverted when Trump voters are polled along the same lines: 52 percent say their decision is based mainly on their admiration of Trump, with 34 percent mainly voting Trump to oppose Biden.
So . . . only 27 percent of Biden voters even like Biden? So maybe 12% of Americans like Biden (raising the question: what are they smoking)?
https://thenationalpulse.com/analysis-post/data-84-expect-to-be-worse-off-under-2nd-biden-term-most-voters-say-trump-conviction-not-a-factor-and-most-say-no-retribution/
Is it not by now clear to all that the end of democracy rhetoric has gotten out of hand? Even the most obsessed illiberal progressives still affected by the rant must sense the quagmire that awaits them once they become recognized as noxious scoundrels left hiding in their last refuge.
https://i.imgflip.com/4sfgbs.jpg
When liberals try to police my free luxury travel, they are inserting government into my private life. These are deeply personal decisions, and my wife and I should have the freedom to choose whatever is best for our family.
—- Justice Clarence Thomas
Getting desperate are we? You think you’re clever but you are just plain juvenile.
What a great country where a little black boy can grow up to be a Supreme Court Justice and enjoy the fruits of influence peddling.
You are an ignoramus lying in the street with empty bottles as your bed partner.
State where Clarence Thomas was involved in influence peddling you can’t.
Does anyone seriously believe the Hillarys and Bidens of the world care one whit about “democracy”? They’re only interested in their own power and aggrandizement. They hate the American people, and just want to rule them as tyrants. They can go to hell.
I am so opposed to a Donald Trump presidency that I’m going to spend the next few months criticizing Democrats and then I’m going to write in John McCain in November.
—- Mitt Romney
Romney . . . Biden . . . Hillary . . . all the establishment, old and ossified. Ineffective and incompetent. Miserable failures. Malignant narcissists. Obsolete.
Trump is the rebel against the establishment. He is leading a movement of rebel outlaws, power to the people, with the youth vote breaking his way, the Hispanic vote breaking his way, and even the African American vote breaking his way. As one young Trump supported said recently, the working class couldn’t care less about what foreign enemy we should be fighting in countries most Americans can’t even name. “They care about why I have to work two jobs this summer, why I have no money in my pocket.” Meanwhile, the ossified obsolete failed malignant incompetent old guard is fixated on taking away people’s gas stoves, gas cars, and physical safety what with all the illegal invaders they are flying to our neighborhoods, and bankrupting America. They can go to hell.
The young Trump supporter with no money in his pocket might want to consider not sending his hard earned money to Trump to pay his legal bills.
Or maybe not invest his money in golden sneakers, or MAGA hats, or MAGA shirts, or fake Trump debit cards, or Trump trading cards, or Trump bibles, or Trump flags.
Oh you can bet he won’t be spending it on those things. Under Bidenflation he doesn’t have enough money to do so. But one thing he is doing . . . going door to door in support of Trump, which counts for a lot more.
Trump is a bald, overweight malignant narcissist who is the epitome of a selfish, obnoxious American spoiled brat. According to his niece, he was repeatedly kicked out of private schools for incorrigibility and bullying other students, so he was put in a military school. Reportedly, he loved prancing around in his military uniform, but cheated to avoid conscription during the Viet Nam war–which puts into context his criticism of John McCain, a true American hero and POW–attacked by this creature for refusing to vote abolish Obamacare. General Kelly stands by his report that Trump called our military heroes “suckers and losers”. Always flashy, braggadocious, always lying about his alleged wealth, he is someone who earned a well-deserved reputation for being a cheater in business-racking up thousands of lawsuits for refusal to pay contractors and material suppliers, forcing litigation, driving up costs and then forcing settlement on better terms. Then, he bragged about getting his way. His business ventures were, for the most part, failures, and he took bankruptcy 6 times because he’s no businessman. He settled a race discrimination in housing lawsuit by entering into a consent decree, and then lied about “winning” the case. He is a proven racist, misogynist, xenophobe, homophobe, islamophobe and cheated on all 3 (so far) of his wives. Add to that list “convicted felon”, thief of classified documents, and election loser. He is an ajudicated sexual assaulter, defamer, and fraudster, racking up millions in judgments.
People who view Trump as some kind of “rebel against the establishment” and “power to the people” hero are delusional–Trump’s just a big, fat slob spoiled rich kid with a massive ego who is desperate for attention, praise, and most of all–power–and he’ll tell any lie and do anything to get the power and attention his craven soul requires, including plotting with Russian hackers to spread lies about his opponent and suckering his fans to try to overturn the election in 2020 by lying to them about a stolen election. He cares about no one but himself and he panders to people who, for some reason, are immune to reality and who tune in to MAGA media that constantly feeds them lies. America is not on the brink of collapse–our economy is strong and growing, all because Trump is gone. Biden reversed the damage Trump did to our economy, our public health and our relations with our EU and NATO allies. America is stronger than ever, but if Trump were to somehow cheat his way back to power, all of that would change–economists are in agreement–Trump would make inflation much worse with his tariffs that would cause the cost of goods to rise. He would take away a woman’s right to choose, contraception, IVF, marriage equality, and healthcare for millions. There would be cuts to Social Security and Medicare to pay for tax cuts for the wealthiest people and corporations, which would jack up the national debt; inflation on that debt would push up inflation, too. He would pull the US out of NATO, paving the way for Putin to take over Ukraine and the Baltic countries, and then go after Poland. Anyone who is “working 2 jobs” either doesn’t have enough in the way of skills or education to get a better-paying job or is living beyond their means because unemployment is at a 50-year low. Anyone who wants a job can get one. It’s America that would “go to hell” under a Trump regime.
That time of the month?
You mean there’s a time of the month when she/he’s sane?
Good point.
Without getting too far into your rant, and to set the record straight, Biden’s had thousands of hair plugs put in (he was already balding the 70’s), he molested his own daughter to the point she wrote extensively about it in her diary. He received the same number of draft deferments as Trump, except he claimed he had asthma, that apparently wasn’t severe enough to keep him off the football field or even from considering playing for the Naval Academy, if only it wasn’t for that pesky Roger Staubach (insert laughter here).
“Trump is bald” says the Biden supporter. Biden-fake hair, fake teeth, fake nose, fake eyes, fake empathy, fake intelligence, fake toughness and fake life story.
Gigi – You say: “Trump’s just a big, fat slob” For purposes of comparison, could you kindly post one of your recent photos?
LMAO
We have already established that Gigi is a solid 3.
But yes Gigi, please put a pic, neck down, on Vimeo and post the link here.
I have a grand that says you are morbidly obese. And smelly.
Poll: With all of the rage, lawfare, anti-Democracy Dems, censorship…
Who do you think Mr. Turley will vote for this election?
Biden, Trump, RFK Jr., Other.
The absence of Democrats attacking, harassing, or doxxing the judge in the Hunter Biden trial shows Joe Biden’s weakness with his base.
Yep. They are too busy protesting for terrorists.
One track minds
It takes a pillage to raze a “Sieg Heil”! ………..or somethin’ like that 🙂
Every Black female probation officer in NYC is begging for the opportunity to participate in the rehabilitation of convicted felon Trump.
In other words Hillary Clinton who won 3 million more votes than Trump received is a threat to democracy?
Such a threat she respected the results of the election, even though she won 3 million more votes.
By contrast, Trump loses by a narrower margin and 60 independent judges (in a mostly conservative judiciary) declare Trump lost. Trump throws a tantrum and refuses to leave, but Hillary is the threat to democracy?
Turley has a paycheck to worry about, of course he feeds the rage for the MAGA crowd.
Fishwings is doing this for free, because he just can’t help feeding the TDS rage crowd.
He’s doing this for free because he has no life beyond this blog.
Fishstick the good professor does not have to worry about a paycheck.
He is a tenured law professor.
He is a sought after source for Constitutional law and has appeared before Congress on many occasions.
He writes columns for several news outlets.
He has done several speaking engagements.
He has a book coming out.
He does not have to worry about a paycheck.
The only MAGA crowd you see is the one in your head.
All those people at Trump rallies, are normal Americans.
Thanks for the laughs!
When did Trump “refuse to leave”? How many extra days did he stick around? “…she respected the results of the election”, sure she did, by going on a two and half year tantrum/nervous breakdown telling anyone who would listen that the election was stolen from her and that Trump was an illegitimate president.
The Democratic/dictatorial duality. #HateLovesAbortion
If you really love your country, you should view contrary views on any topic.
Yes, watch Fox News but also watch “Morning Joe” on MSNBC (hosted by Republican Joe Scarborough) or watch CNN once in a while. Scarborough is more fiscally conservative than most Republican leaders today ignoring issues like the national debt (about $100,000 share for a 2024 newborn infant).
Fox has some valuable points but remember Fox News was run by Roger Ailes for almost 30 years. Good points but biased.
Ailes was essentially the television consultant to Richard Nixon and Ronald Reagan. Fox is heavily biased but can provide a contrary view to other news networks.
I’m not certain which frightens me more: the cynical, amoral and power-hungry ghouls who advance this theory, or the foolish and unquestioning myrmidons who believe actually believe it.
While I certainly cannot grant credit to Joe Biden, I’m here to report that the economy is better than ever.
Incomes are way, way, WAY up!
—- Justice Clarence Thomas
The fastest-growing sectors in the new economic reports include healthcare, hospitality, and bribing Supreme Court justices.
If wealthy conservatives hate black people as much as liberals say we do, then why do we give so much money to Clarence Thomas?