Columns, Constitutional Law, Courts, Media, Politics

Panic Politics: The Press and Pundits Face Devastating Polls on the Threat to Democracy

Below is my column in the New York Post on the growing hysteria among press and pundits proclaiming the imminent end of democracy if Kamala Harris is not elected. The predictions of mass roundups, disappearances, and tyranny ignore a constitutional system that has survived for over two centuries as the oldest and most stable democracy in the world. More importantly, the public appears to agree that democracy is under threat but appear to hold a very different notion of where that threat is coming from.

Here is the column:

“Democracy dies in darkness” is the Washington Post’s slogan, but can it handle the light?

The Post has been doggedly portraying the election between former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris as a choice between tyranny (Trump) and democracy (Harris). Yet when it commissioned a poll on threats to democracy shortly before the election, it did not quite work out.

Voters in swing states believe that Trump is more likely to protect democracy than Kamala Harris, who is running on a “save democracy” platform.

The poll sampled 5,016 registered voters in Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.

When asked whether Trump or Harris “would do a better job” of “defending against threats to democracy,” 43% picked Trump while 40% picked Harris.

Notably, this was the same result when President Biden was the nominee. While over half said that threats to democracy were important to them, the voters trusted Trump (44%) more than Biden (33%) in protecting democracy.

Even with the slight improvement for Harris, the result was crushing for not just many in the Harris campaign but the press and pundits who have been unrelenting in announcing the end of democracy if Harris is not elected.

Former Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.) has declared with authority that either you vote for Harris, or this “may well be the last real vote you ever get to cast.”

I have long criticized the apocalyptic, democracy-ending predictions of Biden, Harris and others as ignoring the safeguards in our system against authoritarian power.

Nevertheless, Harris supporters have ratcheted up the rhetoric to a level of pure hysteria. Recently, Michael Cohen, a convicted felon and Trump’s disbarred former lawyer, told MSNBC that if Trump wins the election, he will “get rid of the judiciary and get rid of the Congress.”

Recently, MSNBC host Al Sharpton and regular Donny Deutsch warned viewers that they will likely be added to an enemies “list” for some type of roundup after a Trump election.

MSNBC host Rachel Maddow also joined in the theme of a final stand before the gulag: “For that matter, what convinces you that these massive camps he’s planning are only for migrants? So, yes, I’m worried about me — but only as much as I’m worried about all of us.”

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) was quick to add her own name to a list that seems to be constantly updated by the media. She told podcast host Kara Swisher, “I mean, it sounds nuts, but I wouldn’t be surprised if this guy threw me in jail.”

On ABC’s “The View,” the hosts are becoming indistinguishable from tinfoil-hatted subway prophets. Whoopi Goldberg even explained how Trump is already committed to being a dictator who will “put you people away … take all the journalists … take all the gay folks … move you all around and disappear you.”

Of course, assuming that Cohen is wrong that there will be no courts after a Trump victory, this would require federal judges to sign off on the rounding up of MSNBC personalities, all gay people, all reporters, and, of course, Whoopi Goldberg.

All that is required is for over two centuries of constitutional order to fail suddenly, and for virtually every constitutional actor in our system to suddenly embrace tyranny.

Those pushing this hysteria often curiously cite the January 6 riot as proof that the end is near. Yet that horrible day was the vindication, not the expiration, of our constitutional system. The system worked. The riot was put down. Congress, including Republicans, reassembled and certified Biden as the next president.

In the courts, many Trump-appointed judges ruled against challenges to the election.

Our system was put through a Cat 5 stress test and did not even sway for a moment.

Nevertheless, the same voices are being heard on the same media outlets with doomsday scenarios.

Former Acting US Solicitor General Neal Katyal told MSNBC’s “Morning Joe” ominously, “We are looking at a very possible constitutional crisis and one that’s going to make January 6, 2021, look like a dress rehearsal. And this year, the rogues have had four years to go pro and perfect the big lie.”

In other words: Be afraid, very afraid.

Then, in a New York Times column, Katyal lays out scenarios premised on a complete breakdown of the oldest and most stable democratic system in history.

It is like telling passengers on an ocean liner that we will all drown and then whispering that this is “assuming the crew intentionally scuttles the ship, all bulkheads and sealed departments fail, and every lifeboat and life preserver is discarded.”

But then we are all going to die.

The only way to avoid that watery grave (with the death of democracy itself)? Vote Democratic.

There is, however, some good news in all of this: Despite years of alarmist predictions from Biden, Harris, the press, and pundits, the public is not buying it.

It is not because they particularly like Trump. Many of his supporters seem poised to vote for him despite viewing him as polarizing and, at times, obnoxious.

No, it is because the American voter has a certain innate resistance to being played as a chump. Many of the same figures claiming that democracy is at stake supported ballot cleansing to remove Trump and others from the ballots. They supported the weaponization of the legal process in New York against Trump. Likewise, as Harris insists that she is the only hope for fundamental rights, many cannot fail to notice that she is supporting an unprecedented system of censorship that one court called “Orwellian.”

None of this means that the choice between Trump and Harris is easy. However, Harris’ claim to be the only hope for democracy is proving as tin-eared as running on pure “joy.”

Voters are clearly demanding more than a political pitch of abject fear mixed with illusive joy.

Jonathan Turley is the Shapiro professor of public interest law at George Washington University and the author of “The Indispensable Right: Free Speech in an Age of Rage.”

442 thoughts on “Panic Politics: The Press and Pundits Face Devastating Polls on the Threat to Democracy”

  1. Having the Dems “save democracy” reminds me of an old line from the Viet Nam era: “we had to destroy the village to save it.”

    I do not agree with the recent coup of Biden or the installation of Harris as his replacement — simply not a democratic process. I also don’t agree with leaving the US with no leader for 5 months. Well, he wasn’t much of a leader anyhow; I thought that he looked like a dementia patient before the 2020 election. I was just not clear on who was pulling the strings on the puppet. The immigration and economic policies harmed the US. The rest of the world is less safe and peaceful than it was before Biden, and seems to be more threatening now that it is clear that the US is leaderless.

    To actually comport with democracy, the 25th amendment should have been utilized. Harris still doesn’t seem to think that it was or is necessary. I don’t think that she would be an improvement over Biden’s policies and actions. She can’t seem to articulate how she would be different from Biden. Her lack of ability to think on her feet or give a cogent answer when questioned on policy or plans is surprising given her career as an alleged litigator.

    I’m no Trump fan, but it’s another “lesser of two evils” election.

  2. Dear Prof Turley,

    Well, somebody is going to have to round-up someone at some point. (note. there’s no need to round-up my brother or Rachael Maddow’s ilk and MSNBC .. . these people will cut their noses off to spite their face. :^)

    They could start with Joe Biden – who I believe is both corrupt and *compromised* – and over ’50 top intel officials, including the past five CIA directors’, who claimed Hunter Biden’s damning Laptop from hell was a product of ‘Russian disinformation’ just before the last election. Throw-in Representatives Goldman and Schiff for their seditious cover-up during the 1st impeachment over Ukraine (look where that got us!) and a few other high-level malefactors would be a good start.

    Some heads have to roll.

    *if Trump wins, it was when Biden ‘passed the torch’ to Harris in a big ‘switch-a-roo’ coup.

  3. According to retired General John Kelly, former President Trump often talked about how he kept meaning to find time to be Hitler, but he kept getting distracted by other things. “On several occasions, Trump told me word for word, ‘This is it. This is the week I’m going to go be Hitler.’ But then, Trump would get started doing something like handing out candy to Minions and he would completely forget,” explained Kelly. “This time he has written himself lots of notes telling himself to not forget to turn into literal Hitler. It’s terrifying.”
    https://babylonbee.com/news/democrats-explain-trump-was-going-to-be-hitler-during-his-first-term-but-he-forgot?

  4. I’m concerned about the election. I am praying Trump wins, but I am concerned that if he does the Biden administration has set the stage and will light the fuse for WWIII if Trump wins.

    I fear the Biden admin will do this to keep Trump from taking office. They will use war powers and signing statements (brought to you by the Bush administration) to freeze the govt and keep the Biden Harris admin in office, then use the 25th to instill Harris as Chancello…. er I mean President.

    This is a concern I just can’t shake. I’m serious about it, and I wish more people with more power would be acknowledging this possibility.

    1. I don’t think you give Americans enough credit for enforcing restraints on their elected leaders.

      America will not enter WWIII unless Congress passes War Powers legislation. Won’t get fooled again.

      I just don’t buy into scenarios dreamt up where a President gets away with losing re-election and attempting a coup.
      That it can be TRIED is not in question.

      But, that scheming never got close to succeeding. It was based on fantasy thinking (that the majority of police and military rank and file would break in Trump’s direction if he declared a National Emergency calling off the Inauguration). The “revolt” on J6th collapsed at 4pm. because that’s when Trump finally accepted that the military rank & file and law enforcement would break in the direction of the Constitution.

      The thing that Democrat alarmists are missing is we’re not passive sheep. We’ll stop an unconstitutional overreach of power — no matter who is President.

      1. First of all are you calling me a “democrat alarmist”? Because if you are you’re a moron.

        Second, don’t kid yourself. You apparently are so wrapped up in immigration and lgbtq?? political nonsense that you don’t pay attention to world news.

        Russia is warming up the nukes. They’re parking subs off our shores and flying live nukes to our borders.

        Biden’s moved a US carrier fleet into NATO waters to confront Moscow.

        We are at DEFCON 4. We are there.

        My nephew got called up. They’re moving troops and equipment into position.

        While everyone in America is scrapping and bitting at the chum the govt controlled media tosses out for you guys to chew on, Biden and Putin are stepping up to the line.

        We’re literally one aerial incident away from global thermonuclear war, and no ones paying attention because everyone’s dancing to the tune they’re playing.

        Stop listening to the music, and start looking with your eyes.

        1. Well, if you actually served you would know that your use of DEFCON was more than a tetch faulty.

          I was going to explain how, but 1) you would deny it , 2) you wouldn’t read it because you’d stop as soon as you hit a word with more than four letters that didn’t come from a dystopian movie – oh wait I just lost you with the d-word I see …

          1. I was wondering if some pinhead would stumble in and moan about the use of defcon. And there you are.

            Let me explain something to you son. It was an expression, not meant to be a dissertation. When I worked at the Pentagon in the 1980s and again in 2001, I was well versed in Threatcondition etc.

            I’ve been around pinhead, don’t assume anything. Just because I cut trees for a living now in my 60s doesn’t mean that’s all I know.

            Take your chickensh%t trolling nonsense somewhere else.

            So far you haven’t said a damn thing other than to troll my comment.

        2. * You’re right. They kept them busy with kiddie porn, WH lawn circuses, girls sports, and bathrooms.

          And they laughed …

      2. “But, that scheming never got close to succeeding. It was based on fantasy thinking (that the majority of police and military rank and file would break in Trump’s direction if he declared a National Emergency calling off the Inauguration). The “revolt” on J6th collapsed at 4pm. because that’s when Trump finally accepted that the military rank & file and law enforcement would break in the direction of the Constitution.”

        LMAO wowsa, Pea brain in california has reached a new level of Svelaz syndrome, where reality is substituted with fantasy.

    2. Chris Weber,
      I have had the same concern. The Democrats are so desperate I would not put it past them to do something like that. They will claim it is in order to beat Russia, or save democracy to justify their actions. The question is, what do we do about it if they attempt such a ploy?

      1. “what do we do about it if they attempt such a ploy?”
        Being in Mr. Turley’s comment section all day every day should help.

      2. That’s the real question UpstateFarmer, but one things for sure. Americans can’t allow that to happen.

        That’s why I wish more people of more significance than myself would start seriously discussing it. We’re just over a week away and while everyone’s arguing about immigration and other press fodder the worlds two largest militaries are gearing up for all out global war.

        This is serious. Putin’s not kidding and all Biden has to do to get Putin to light it up is if he hears Trump wins, go ahead and stick nukes in the Ukraine pointed at Moscow.

        That’ll do it, and no amount of negotiation will stop Putin from retaliation on that front the same we we stopped Moscow from doing it to us in Cuba in 1962.

        Biden and Harris are evil, and I believe they would do this to stop Trump from seizing power, and the braindead liberals who support these tyrannical psychopaths will gladly go along with it waving their blue and yellow pom poms right up until they’re melted into the sea of glass with the rest of all living life on the planet.

        We need to work on our priority management skills.

        2. And in the aftermath kicking around the dust they’ll think, good time had by one and all and take off.

          Enjoy the day

      3. UpstateFarmer says: Chris Weber, I have had the same concern. The Democrats are so desperate I would not put it past them to do something like that.

        You and Chris have convinced yourselves/each other that the Democrats are eager for not only themselves to die with all those millions of fraudulently obtained but unspent dollars in their piggy banks, but their families as well?

        Obama and Moochelle are willing to lose a future three or four decades of millionaires living a life of White Privilege in Martha’ Vineyard, to die for what? “the cause”, or something?

        I think it’s sometimes not just the Soviet Democrats who need to come up with a newer/better conspiracy theory.

        The Democrats are similar to the ChiComs in more ways than one.

        One of those ways is a belief that time is on their side. If Trump gets elected, the midterms are just two years away, and there’s no way Trump can accomplish what he’s promised in two short years. After the mid-terms two years away, they could be running the House again and impeaching Trump on a regular schedule.

    3. Do you think Kamala will use her political power to get states to “find” votes for her or she might create fake electors?

      1. To the anonymous moron asking me “Do you think Kamala will use her political power to get states to “find” votes for her or she might create fake electors?” –

        No moron, I think exactly what I wrote. Try reading it instead of running your mouth.

  5. The Deep Deep State is not a qualified mechanic, it is merely a “part changer.”

    It took out demented Biden and installed Kamala “Tax Queen” Harris.

    1. Did you know that Kristin Oren, the manager of the Babylon Bee, also works for Turley as editor/proofreader for this blog.

  7. As a registered voter, I want the next US president to contact his Excellency:

    Glorious Supreme Dear Divine Leader Kim Jong Un, aka rocket man to send in a battalion of North Korean combat commandos to the US main land and massage my stiff neck with an NK combat boot. This will reduce out of pocket Medicare costs.

  8. Dear Jonathan,

    I am eagerly awaiting your coverage of yet another egregious and scandalous example of politically motivated interference with free speech at our institutes of higher learning.

    Ruth Ben-Ghiat, a professor of history at Yale, had been invited to deliver the annual Bancroft Memorial Lecture on October 10 at the Naval Academy in Annapolis. She was to speak about what happens to militaries under authoritarian rule, touching on Fascist Italy, Pinochet’s Chile and the Russian military during the war on Ukraine.

    Subsequently, Vice Adm. Yvette M. Davids, the academy superintendent, was inundated with demands to cancel the lecture. These demands came from the Heritage Foundation and numerous Republican congressmen. Unfortunately, she did indeed yield to this pressure, and cancelled the lecture.

    As we all know, you are dedicated to exposing such assaults on free speech at our institutes of higher learning.

    I trust that you will be covering this scandalous episode with your usual degree of enthusiasm.

      1. lin,

        So when “conservatives” speak on college campuses it is “education”.
        When progressives speak on college campuses it is “indoctrination”.

        Thank you for the clarification.

        By the way, can you tell me if the concept of “free speech” applies to everyone speaking at colleges, or just to conservatives.

        1. That is the type of response expected of a cornered five-year old. The ISSUE was that she presented it as yoto speak about what happens to militaries under authoritarian rule, touching on Fascist Italy, Pinochet’s Chile and the Russian military during the war on Ukraine.” The reality of her intentions was, er, a little different.

          1. So what.
            Even if what you say is true, is it not free speech?
            Is every citizen entitled to exercise the right to free speech?
            Apparently you don’t think that is the case.

            You seem to think that free speech is only allowable when you agree with that speech.

            1. “Is every citizen entitled to exercise the right to free speech?”

              And the “Heritage Foundation” exercised their free speech rights.

              And the Commander of the Naval Academy exercised her free speech right.

              Boo hoo.

              Congress shall make no law. Thats it. That is the only protection in the Constitution. Anything else, you are just making shlt up.

              1. Then explain to me why Turley is constantly posting articles decrying the suppression of free speech on college campuses.

                Turley seems to think it is problematic to suppress any speech on campuses.

                Is he also just making sh!t up ????

  9. The Empty Pantsuit is just channeling Darth Brandon. Calling Trump and his supporters a “threat to democracy” kind of worked for Joe Biden in 2022. I was stunned that a potato head like Joe could be taken so seriously, but here we are.

    There is a very important difference this time. She’s narrowly attacking Trump, while Joe explicitly attacked even Trump’s supporters in 2022. This is a tell. Since 2022, many voters have come to regret voting for Democrats. Vilifying a political minority is politics 101, but attacking what may be most voters as a “threat to democracy?” That’s political suicide.

    Oh, yeah, whether she’s in trouble or not, she believes she’s in trouble.

    I hope this Democrat fear porn has reached its shelf life. If not, America has reached her shelf life. How long has hit been, about 240 years? Yeah, anything is possible at this point. London and Paris have already fallen.

    I guess we’ll find out in a couple of weeks. God help us. Vote GOP or kiss your chains.

  10. OAG: Agree. (“or they do it simply because populist emotional appeals are the only way to effectively campaign against populist emotional appeals.” Good one.)

  12. Dear Mr. Turley, thanks again for a great article. I have to agree with GEB. I would add a couple of more thoughts: the only 2 things the Democrats are running on is January 6th and abortion. That’s a pretty slim platform, yet this is what they are hanging their hat on. It is absurd for a woman, who has never had a child, lecturing the rest of us on abortion. By Mr. Walz showing his support for abortion he is signaling the men to be loose and free with their current girlfriend. There will be no consequences. Planned Parenthood will fix it (kill the baby) for you. We had 3 children, and I am able to tell of the joy of carrying a new life inside of me; each one different and loved as much.

    1. The DNC platform is this. Every day, they wake up, it’s Jan 6th. They get in their electric cars and drive to the abortion clinic. The end.

      KellyAnne Conway

  13. Sometimes I put the computer voice on my laptop to reading magat commentary here aloud. It sounds even more twisted in 2001 Space Oddesy voice and emphasizes the depraved anthem quality of it all.

    2. Sometimes I put the computer voice on my laptop to reading magat commentary here aloud.

      The neighbors in the apartments on each side of yours must appreciate you giving them a break from hearing your laptop continuously playing the Hunter Biden porn channel 24/7

  14. Attn. Professor Turley

    GWU Law Professor Mary Anne Franks argues for “breaking free of the First Amendment”:

    https://x.com/BKCHarvard/status/1849134425776243025

    “The US was built on racial patriarchy. If you want to describe what the First Amendment is, it’s not about consistent or noble principles, it’s about power. it’s about converging with that idea of racial patriarchy and if you are disturbing it.”

  15. The tl;dr version of the original post is “don”t worry about hiting the wall, the seatbelts will save us.” Maybe it would be better to not hit the wall in the first place?

    We have in Trump a man who explicitly wants to imprison his political enemies and wants Hitler’s generals instead of our own. His previous coup attempt failed – why exactly should we give him the opportunity to try again?

    1. Trump Derangement Syndrome is seeing Trump as a poor little victim as scores and scores of people have been lying about him since the mid 1980s. He’s the most successful businessman, the best husband, the best father, a uniter, etc. That’s deranged.

    2. Silly. Trump wants none of the above, and you will see none of the above, after the Trump victory. Everything that the Ds allege about Trump is a complaint about what they are actually doing and planning. Note – we’re not buying it. It is the Ds who have tried to jail their opponents, and rioted throughout the country. Give it a rest.

      1. If you had half a brain cell in your head, you’d read the indictments and the evidence before you mindlessly believe everything Trump says.

        1. Indictments are not evidenece.

          Now, give your mom her phone back and go clean your room.

    3. We have in Trump a man who explicitly wants to imprison his political enemies and wants Hitler’s generals instead of our own.

      In cgerrib we have a Democrat Useful Idiot Birthing Person parroting Kamala Harris’s proclamations again.

      cgerrib, is your Trump Derangement Syndrome causing you sexual dysfunction as well?

  16. I stated a week or so ago, Democrats, MSM will spew more and more wild and crazy accusations about Trump as we get closer to election day. The good professor aptly points them out! The fun part is watching Democrats and MSM in their meltdown trying to tell us all these things when we can clearly see through their propaganda and say, “What is wrong with you?”

    1. True, and the “don’t believe your lying eyes” schtick about the economy isn’t working at all, which largely explains Trump’s historic popularity among minorities who usually vote Dem.

    2. Upstate and NotSoOLd: Ha! Have you noticed how these accusations/commercials are strategically placed every few days, with a rotated rebirth/renewal/recycle of an old one? (see, there’s actually four RRRRs we have to learn, not three)

      What’s for lunch today? Rape” Insurrection? Unhinged? Felon? I’ll have mine with chocolate milk, always goes down smooth.

      1. Lin,
        Sorry cannot say I have seen the commercials. I literally do not watch TV. I read. A lot. However, they are running local campaign commercials on the radio stations. They are all droll.
        As of late, seems like the “Trump is a fascist!” leftover blather again. It was not even good when it was fresh let alone reheated for the upteenth time.

    3. * The stoopid and uneducated CANNOT see it. They are easily fooled. It’s the actual argument against democracy. The remainder are the swindlers lacking their chops for money.

    1. OldManFromKS,
      I read that. Worked less, spent more time for leisure, did not go to school or even exercise. I think there would be a few who would but they would be one offs.

      2. I don’t receive a SS check. I’m gainfully employed and have no plans to retire. I may one day, but only if I’m unable to work. So GFY.

  18. The internet is forever. Did Liz Cheney tell the truth about Kamala Harris in 2020? https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=9pUPxe1Lxcg&pp=ygUebGl6IGNoZW5leSBhdHRhY2tzIEhhcnJpcyAyMDIw. Now Cheney campaigns with someone who she called the most radical member of the Senate in 2020. Trump has called her daddy a war monger and he is right. Dick Cheney convinced us to go to war with Iraq because Iraq had weapons of mass destruction. We should keep these things in mind.

    1. Harris’s decision to bring Liz along on the campaign trail is not going over well with Arab voters in the crucial swing state of Michigan.

  19. So, the Russian hackers slinging disinformation in ’16 targeted that disinfortion by linking on to viagra, liquor and toe fungus ads. A quick perusal of a trump rally ever since has proved that Russian tactic quite effective…

    And, clearly, those tactics have found a home on the Turley blog as well. How accountable should we hold Turley for it?

      1. “Don’t you trolls ever get tired if “Russia Russia Russia”?”

        Why would they? They launched “Russian hackers slinging disinformation” with their Trump Russia dossier.

        Why would they throw away that Russian tactic after they paid $30 million to a Russian spy to write it for them? Just buff it up a bit and bring it back in successive versions.

      2. Hey comrade, good morning.

        To answer your question re Russia…, I’m quite tired of having to address the fact trump is a Russian asset. However he still insists on tongue holing uncle vlad in a really public way. This is problematic.

    2. “And, clearly, those tactics have found a home on the Turley blog as well. How accountable should we hold Turley for it?”

      YOU could hold him accountable for what you allege by boycotting this blog and never coming back again. Think of it as your version of the response to Chick With A Dick On A Beer Can. While taking your little friends with you in doing that.

      1. Nah. I think I’ll continue to hold him accountable here while you focus on chicks with dicks, which appears to be quite the trumpist pastime these days.

        1. Lawn Boy likes it here. It’s the only attention he gets.

          It’s called histrionic personality disorder. It is typically relevant to children, but also a symptom of ARBD in adults, with which we know he is afflicted, from years of day drinking cooking sherry.

        2. “Nah. I think I’ll continue to hold him accountable here while you focus on chicks with dicks,”

          We’re not the ones who slobbered over the Chick With A Dick on A Beer Can. Don’t desert he/her/it when you’re needed most – by a good beta male about it.

          If you think you’re “holding him accountable” here by showing up to be mocked, jeered, ridiculed, and treated like a puppy treats a chew toy, just keep on being you.

          Its quite the Bolshevik Birthing Boy Useful Idiot thing to do.

  20. This election cycle has become one of slogans over substance.
    Repetitive ones at that.
    Gone are the substantive discussions and unveiling of true plans to address real issues. In their place are the media’s dumbing-down of captive audiences, forced to absorb repeated selective-fact scenarios, propaganda, and the employment (more like deployment) of a constant barrage of “threat to democracy,” “unhinged,” “repeated his lies about,” “the BIG LIE,” “dark rhetoric,”
    “without evidence,” “insurrection,” etc.
    Like the old “swear word piggy bank,”– I instead have decided to search for and pull out one gray hair for every time I hear one of these one-sided proclamations. By election day, I may look 20 y.o. again. So that will be my “joy.”

    1. Lin says Gone are the substantive discussions and unveiling of true plans to address real issues.

      Populist politics has practically driven a stake through the heart of having substantive discussions of issues in the hands of elected bodies once you get above the local city council. And when cities get big enough that political parties run candidates, populism runs the show there as well. I don’t know whether politicians do it because they prefer avoiding engaging in analytical discussions, or they do it simply because populist emotional appeals are the only way to effectively campaign against populist emotional appeals.

      I do know that if the mainstream media didn’t encourage emotional populism (with their fingers on the scales) and happily avoid those substantive discussions, we’d have a better political engagement in this country.

Comments are closed.