I worry that this is the real threat to democracy. Not changing laws where it’s too difficult, but giving the go ahead to domestic terrorists to show up armed at polling places to scare “undesirables” away because the government has got their backs. - ThreadSky

figgityfigs.bsky.social • 32 days ago

I worry that this is the real threat to democracy. Not changing laws where it’s too difficult, but giving the go ahead to domestic terrorists to show up armed at polling places to scare “undesirables” away because the government has got their backs.

Reposted from Joyce White Vance

Why pardoning domestic terrorists is a really bad idea: www.brennancenter.org/our-work/ana...

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asfried.bsky.social•32 days ago

You make a good point. Here federalism matters. States could ban those behaviors and prosecute people who engage in them.

figgityfigs.bsky.social•32 days ago

Definitely! Absolutely the case. Though I really do worry that the impunity implied here get people to act anyway.

asfried.bsky.social•32 days ago

Agree with that, too -- and so the January 6 pardons are very dangerous going forward. They are not just about a lack of accountability for past actions.

cstarks.bsky.social•32 days ago

Which is why the states need to crack down hard when they do act in this way. Not all states will, of course, and many states will be selective about what instances of violence and intimidation they choose to prosecute. One thing’s for sure: the DOJ won’t be a backstop.

cstarks.bsky.social•32 days ago

But states _can_ make a difference. These groups are very efficient at communicating internally about what you can and can’t get away with, and where

trexpushups.bsky.social•32 days ago

People keep saying that they won't be able to do X because they won't have the man power or be able to hire more agents etc.

But isn't this a way for him to get around that.

minimallycrazy.bsky.social•32 days ago

1,500 losers is a drop in the bucket compared to the kind of manpower he needs. This country is *big*.

trexpushups.bsky.social•32 days ago

Let us hope they don't succeed in growing and recruiting.

minimallycrazy.bsky.social•32 days ago

They're having trouble staffing CBP and ICE as-is, don't think the whole 'can't get laid in a monkey whorehouse with a sack of bananas' problem is going to _improve_ recruiting.

minimallycrazy.bsky.social•32 days ago

I worry more about gambling, personally. It's usually guys whose lives are already a shitshow who become extremists, not people with their shit together. Worry about fewer people having their shit together creating a pipeline.

figgityfigs.bsky.social•32 days ago

I mean yeah, that’s the worry, that these paramilitary types are hearing the message loud and clear. They can still be pursued and prosecuted at the state level but at the federal level it’s an all clear.

trexpushups.bsky.social•32 days ago

That depends on the states having the will do to do so.

I hope they keep it.

figgityfigs.bsky.social•32 days ago

Issuing a day one executive order overturning 78 Biden EOs, pardoning January 6 terrorists because actually he won in 2020, it’s all of a piece with the federal government acting from the stance that Biden’s presidency was fundamentally illegitimate and needs to be annulled.

equinox55.bsky.social•32 days ago

All about personal ego. Sick sick man.

figgityfigs.bsky.social•32 days ago

Like they’re trying to impound IRA funds because they believe the impoundment control act is unconstitutional, but they also unquestionably believe at root that it is not real law because it was signed by a man who wasn’t really president.

sheepbop.bsky.social•32 days ago

What have the IRA done now?

katanaangel.bsky.social•32 days ago

I honestly don't know if it's an apt comparison, but I keep thinking about what little I've read about The Troubles and if we may be looking at something similar. Or if that's the best case scenario.

publicuniversal.bsky.social•32 days ago

This was basically how the hybrid regime in the pre-Civil Rights Movement south worked, facially semi-neutral laws plus intimidation.

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