2020 US Elections

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I've been thinking about this over the past few days as things panned out. I have just finished a History degree at the University of York, where I mainly specialised in the concept of 'state power' and how there were different visions of that in the Medieval period. Now, this is obviously something that is still relevant to this day.

Conceptually, there are two elements to the sense of 'power' which states use to legitimise themselves. The first is what can be called the common sense "good governance" - in effect this is the semblance that the people in charge are the experts, who are best able to look after me and give me a return for the services I give to them (taxes, obedience). The second, is what I call the magic side of legitimacy. This is through things that do not really exist, but also create a notion of legitimacy. Think back in the day, divine right to rule, or more recently by winning an election. Having the most ballots does not actually give you anything, but it does create a special power that people buy into that you now have the legitimacy to rule.

Now, relating this to the current day. Let's ignore the good governance side of things. The rise of populist movements across the globe has seen another idea added to the 'magic' side of legitimacy - the sense that the leader is representing the views of a forgotten/downtrodden majority that is somehow being ignored or suppressed by one elite (whether that be the media, liberals etc). For populists, this will always be their cornerstone of legitimacy; their most prized possession. They need this part of their legitimacy more than any other, because without it, they are seen to just be a normal politician who does not actually represent this silent majority.

If the idea that the populist leader is leading the downtrodden and surpassed majority begins to falter, then the populist politician has proven themselves quite willing to throw the more traditional 'magic' elements of legitimacy under the bus so to speak. This is where Trump's electoral fraud comes in; it allows him to maintain that there is a liberal, media plot to suppress the majority of Americans, but it also comes with an attack on the bastions of American democracy (the source of magic power). Notice how at times, Trump and notably Ivanka have tried to wrap up his electoral coup as an attempt to conduct a legitimate election (although essentially no one of credit has accepted that). For a comparison to home, look at how Johnson shut down Parliament in order to let the "will of the people" go through.

Of course, the 'magic' elements that populists are willing to destroy should it be in their interest very often form the basis of the modern nation-state. The very institutions and principles that franchise everyone and strive to treat everyone with respect and aim to create unity (with varying degrees of success, evidently, but the basis is there). That is why so many even aligned with the party of the populist are willing to stand-out against the leader (others are happy to advance themselves and their ideals ahead of protecting their state).

The interesting thing that I have noted so far, however, is that Joe Biden has really hammered home a return to the traditional 'magic' legitimacy in all of his rhetoric so far. His talk bringing all Americans together (ie, not pandering to this suppressed majority), but most importantly of abiding my the constitutional, republican norms that the United States was built and founded upon. I know that last night's speech was the more notable, but there was a particular element of the one that he delivered on Wednesday in Delaware that's good out to me:

"Democracy is the heartbeat of this nation, just as it has been the heartbeat of this nation for two centuries. Even in the face of the pandemic, more American voted in this election than ever before in American history. Over 150 million people cast their votes - I think that that is extraordinary. And if we had any doubts, then we shouldn't any longer; about a government of, by, and for the people. It is very much alive; very much alive in America. Here, the people rule. Power can't be taken or asserted; it flows from the people and it is their will that determines who will be the President of the United States and their will alone."

You might think that the rhetoric on display might seem like pretty average stuff for a politican and I think you would be correct. However, we are not living in usual times. Biden's rhetoric is a clear, if a little hidden and nuanced, repudiation of the Trumpist populist rhetoric. It is a clear and hard return to the political power norms that have governed the United States for almost two-hundred and fifty years. I think, for that, we can all sigh a little bit of relief.
 
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$3m to do a recount of ballots I think and there’s no way Trump pays that. He’s currently fundraising in the guise of taking legal action but apparently there was a disclaimer on the begging letters stating funds could be spent on anything

conclusion - he’s juicing every last dime he can out his army of minions before he saunters off into the sunset
 
DrBlueBob said:
Where were these people for the last four years?
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Trying to benefit themselves, same as now.

Beware of the ‘redemption’ narrative that will be pushed by the media for many of his staff over the coming months, it covers all manner of sin.
 
Vic said:
View attachment 5159

Are there still no reasons
For choosing Four Seasons?
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This was so bizarre. I can only imagine someone was told to book a hotel for a press conference and they somehow called the wrong Four Seasons.

"Hi Four Seasons, it's the Trump campaign here. Have you got a space we can use for a press conference in a few hours?"

"Erm, yeah I suppose so."

And by the time they realised their mistake, it was too late. So they just tried to "style it out". Sounds shambolically amateurish, but what a perfectly symbolic way to end his 4 years in office.
 
roman totale said:
On the downside, I’m disappointed that ‘Infrastructure Week’ won’t happen now(!)... I was really looking forward to us getting back a proper inter-city rail network, just like the one we used to have.
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Never mind infrastructure week, what about the healthcare plan* that was going to be delivered in 2 weeks over 2 years ago?

*there was no healthcare plan.
 
Mazzarelli's Swiss Cheese said:
Another big positive is that there seems to be none of the Russian interference that there was in the 2016 Election which shows that Biden has already managed to change the nation for the better even before he's assumed office.
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Russia got what they wanted in Turkey thanks to Trump. They've had a pretty good return on their investment already.
 
DrBlueBob said:
That's a bleaker take than I was hoping for Seb.
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Oh, in that case, I meant...

They’ve been locked in Trump’s distraction playroom in the White House basement, dressed as clowns, circus performers, and golden toilets (and showers). They’ve now broken out and are perpetrating... err, streams of revenge.
 
Elbow beards said:
Can any one list the crimes the orange one is facing after all this? I can't keep up
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Financial fraud (overstating his wealth to obtain loans),
Insurance fraud (understating the value of his assets to lower his insurance costs),
Ignoring the emoluments clause (funnelling US taxpayer dollars into his own personal business),
Obstruction of justice (Muller investigation/Ukraine affair) ,
Failure to maintain Presidential records (numerous conversations with Putin either off the record, or records destroyed),
Potentially complicit in the murder of Jamal Kashoggi......

The list is pretty long. He's more likely to get convicted on the crimes being prosecuted by the States (financial crimes are easier to prosecute as the evidence is usually more clear).
 
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