As Mollie Hemingway put it earlier today, Democracy isn’t at risk, Democrats are. Democratic candidates across the country have been telling us that “democracy is on the ballot” this November, and President Joe Biden has given not one but two speeches warning that we have a choice between democracy and fascism.
Jonathan Chait writes the day before the midterms that “of course democracy is on the ballot.” We haven’t read his piece yet, but we’re guessing it goes like this. A lot of the Republicans favored to win tomorrow are “election deniers,” and they will be the precursor to the 2024 presidential election, where they will hand the win to the Republican candidate.
Of course democracy is on the ballot https://t.co/gt6200Xkjs
— Jonathan Chait (@jonathanchait) November 7, 2022
Chait writes:
And it is true that democracy is not on the ballot in the sense of the election being a yes-no referendum on democracy versus dictatorship. But this is because the binary construct between democracy and dictatorship is a figment of the popular imagination. These forms of government exist on a continuum. And it seems highly obvious that the Republican Party’s success in the elections will push the country further along the continuum toward authoritarianism — perhaps just a little or, depending on the unpredictable course of events, perhaps decisively.
Chait looks ahead to 2024, as we suspected, and writes that “most obvious is that the 2024 election may again come down to a congressional vote to authorize the results of the Electoral College or to pick between competing slates of electors.” So, yeah, we pretty much nailed it.
As for 2020, don’t forget that CBS News’ Major Garrett called it “the greatest success of American democracy in history.”
It’s really not tho
— DISSIDENT (@philthatremains) November 7, 2022
Point to the word “democracy” on the ballet, so I understand.
— sinclair (@Sanguinuity) November 7, 2022
I didn’t see democracy anywhere on my ballot
— Elden Lord (@TheGreatSuar) November 7, 2022
I looked at my ballot and a Democracy question wasn’t on it. It’s like we are voting for representatives in a democratic process or something.
— l face (@baileytrip9) November 7, 2022
Democracy is only on the ballot if you don’t vote like I do. Is that what you really mean? pic.twitter.com/is8b28YRjq
— kennyb (@pumapulverizer) November 7, 2022
Weren't lockdowns and mask/vaccine mandates authoritarian? Isn't gun control authoritarian? Isn't forcing everyone to pay into public schools authoritarian?
— LK (@LilaVT610) November 7, 2022
Hahah get outside more
— Art Bell’s Ghost (@lookphatt) November 7, 2022
Amazing lack of self-awareness in that article. Another excellent example of "when we do it, it's all right; when they do it, democracy is doomed."
— Grumpy Old Dude (@BvorkaBob) November 7, 2022
Democracy *is* the ballot you charlatan.
— Joseph Diertay (@joseph_diertay) November 7, 2022
Seriously Jon, you're smarter than this, stop repeating your political party's line without any introspection that it might be more detrimental to democracy to suggest that "democracy is on the ballot" when your party is about to lose big time. Focus on the big issues!
— Jeff A 🧙♂️ (@Mithrandir48) November 7, 2022
Narrator: "Jon is not, in fact, smarter than this."
— Urbanite (@Urbanite107) November 7, 2022
Polls (which are all rigged by conservatives, according to Joy Reid) show that the whole “democracy is on the ballot” pitch isn’t moving voters either, which makes it a mystery why they sent out Biden twice to try to sell it.
The Democrat 2022 platform sure is something: “We need more discrimination to end discrimination; we need to act the fascist to prevent fascism; and we need to always be in power to ensure democracy.”
— Elonged Musket (@elonged_musket) November 7, 2022
"VOTE FOR DEMOCRATS OR THE DEMOCRACY DIES"
Leave it to them to make a slogan out of a threat pic.twitter.com/l7rs8kF70u
— Dana Loesch (@DLoesch) November 7, 2022
And now we’re seeing “journalists” getting bold and recoiling at the idea of “both-sidesism.” You can’t just report on the Republicans like they’re a normal political party with different ideas of how to govern. They’re authoritarians through and through, and it’s your job to point that out.
Here again, for your pleasure:
Here’s something Joe Biden DOES NOT want you to see.
WATCH: 10 minutes of Democrats denying election results. pic.twitter.com/bJRbzEcIO2
— RNC Research (@RNCResearch) November 2, 2022
Related:
Mollie Hemingway translates Dem narrative about what’s really at risk tomorrow https://t.co/6DqU5rTF9S
— Twitchy Team (@TwitchyTeam) November 7, 2022
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