A Year in the Life of a Disordered World

It's highly ironic that the featured quote targets and criticizes the Freedom Caucus for their bent toward ideological and political purity and how it's advancing the leftist agenda...

... almost like many of the never-Trumpers at Sharper Iron who helped usher in a true authoritarian regime, but refuse to accept any accountability for it.

I far prefer a different candidate than Trump, but if the practical choice comes down to him v. Biden, it's a "no-brainah."

Again, ironically, the article focuses on progressivism as the root of the problem, not the Freedom Caucus: "Most of the recent problems are a direct result of left-liberal policies. Progressivism, with its tendency to downplay the enforcement of laws (be they against crime or immigration), is a force for chaos."

This was not the own that the original poster thinks it is.

... almost like many of the never-Trumpers at Sharper Iron who helped usher in a true authoritarian regime, but refuse to accept any accountability for it.

It seems to me that the Trump supporters during the 2020 primaries are the one who should accept responsibility for Biden's win. If we had had some other candidate, other than Trump, running for president, the Republicans would likely have won the office.

And how is Biden's presidency a "true authoritarian regime?" In my mind, that characterization is just hyperbole designed to advance an agenda.

Lying about the efficacy of vaccines while mandating them under penalty of financial and job loss.

The angry "red" speech in Philadelphia where he demonized not only his political opponent, but roughly half the country.

The coordination of federal agencies with social media platforms to stifle speech.

The prosecution and jailing of political enemies for exercising political speech.

His DOJ and FBI retaliating against whistleblowers.

Those are a few minor items that come to mind.

Lying about the efficacy of vaccines while mandating them under penalty of financial and job loss.

The angry "red" speech in Philadelphia where he demonized not only his political opponent, but roughly half the country.

The coordination of federal agencies with social media platforms to stifle speech.

The prosecution and jailing of political enemies for exercising political speech.

His DOJ and FBI retaliating against whistleblowers.

Those are a few minor items that come to mind.

If these are the factors for determining a "true authoritarian regime," then I hope you are just as worried about a second Trump term as you are worried about Biden. Trump was responsible for the speed at which the vaccines came out and he praised their effectiveness. Trump's speeches are full of demonization, not just of the other political party, but of any Republican who doesn't fall in line behind him. You can be sure he'll work to make every federal agency express loyalty to him even if it means stifling speech. He ran for president in 2016 threatening to lock up Hillary Clinton, and during his first term, he repeatedly asked for investigations into his critics. Even in his current campaign interviews, he threatens to lock people up who've opposed him.

Out of the five things I listed, four were actions that President Biden and his administration have taken. Only one involved his words, yet that's what you focused on.

You sound like many talking heads on the leftist networks - he's going to stifle speech to confirm loyalty; he's going to end elections; he's going to throw his enemies in jail. The only real clue we have is his past actions as president. Did he do those things before? We DO know that President Biden HAS done and IS doing these things, yet you stipulated that labeling him an authoritarian was "just hyperbole." You seem unfazed - almost oblivious, even - by real, tangible actions and events while clutching pearls about the hypothetical. Why is that? Is that exercising righteous judgment?

I'm not a Trump fan. I will not support him in the primary. I wish he would withdraw from the election. But I understand that actions should carry more weight than words. Don't you agree?

And using that standard, Biden absolutely fits the criteria of an authoritarian. Again, don't you agree?

You sound like many talking heads on the leftist networks - he's going to stifle speech to confirm loyalty; he's going to end elections; he's going to throw his enemies in jail.

Oh, I'm sure the talking heads also engage in some hyperbole. Often though, they just play a clip of one of Trump's speeches and then take him at his word for what he hopes to do.

The only real clue we have is his past actions as president. Did he do those things before?

In his last administration, he had some people in place who were able to talk him down from some of his extreme intentions. I doubt he would let any of those people around him again if he won a second term.

We DO know that President Biden HAS done and IS doing these things, yet you stipulated that labeling him an authoritarian was "just hyperbole."

So which political enemy is Biden supposedly prosecuting and jailing just for exercising political speech and not for actual wrong-doing? I'll have to laugh if you try claiming it's Trump.

You seem unfazed - almost oblivious, even - by real, tangible actions and events while clutching pearls about the hypothetical. Why is that? Is that exercising righteous judgment?

I don't think it's "clutching pearls" to take Trump at his word regarding his intentions. On the other hand, it might not be exercising righteous judgment to take Trump at his word considering all the lies he's been caught telling.

I think the country would be better off if both Trump and Biden withdraw from the race.

What is a primary characteristic of Trump communication? Google Trump and bluster. The way people take him literally, you'd think they were all dispensationalists.

As for Biden prosecuting and jailing his political enemies beside Trump, are you unaware of the DOJ prosecuting Douglass Mackey? Or the case of Mark Houck, whom local officials found no crime was committed, but Biden's DOJ arrested, prosecuted and lost? Or the quid pro quo firing of Ukrainian prosecutor Viktor Shokin, for whom the State Department expressed support up until the point that where he became a threat to Hunter Biden?

Did you have to ask because you were completely unaware of all of this? If so, why were you unaware?

Can you agree now that labeling Biden an authoritarian is not just hyperbole?

What is a primary characteristic of Trump communication? Google Trump and bluster. The way people take him literally, you'd think they were all dispensationalists.

If you can't believe most of what a man says because his primary communication technique is "bluster," then that man isn't qualified to be president.

As for Biden prosecuting and jailing his political enemies beside Trump, are you unaware of the DOJ prosecuting Douglass Mackey?

I take it then that you are okay with election interference as long as "our side" is doing it. Is that right?

Can you agree now that labeling Biden an authoritarian is not just hyperbole?

You haven't presented anything that would change my mind that calling Biden's presidency a "true authoritarian regime" is just hyperbole.

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I take it then that you are okay with election interference as long as "our side" is doing it. Is that right?

Why would you assume that?

Does the DOJ really consider what he did as election interference? Did they apply the same standard to someone who attempted to trick Republicans into texting their vote or casting it on "Super Wednesday"?

I guess you really are more concerned with words than actions. That's discouraging.

Why would you assume that?

Because of the example you used. You used the example of a man who was convicted of election interference for tricking Hillary voters, You made it seem that that conviction was an unacceptable authoritarian regime tactic, so I assumed you were okay with what the man was doing.

Does the DOJ really consider what he did as election interference?

Why would you assume they didn't? That's what he was convicted of.

Did they apply the same standard to someone who attempted to trick Republicans into texting their vote or casting it on "Super Wednesday"?

What person was this that did that?

Somehow I don't expect this will help, but please check this out. Also, this.

Biden's DOJ clearly doesn't consider Douglass Mackey's meme as election interference. If they did, they would have applied the same standard to Kristina Wong. This is partisan application of the law, not justice. The DOJ is clearly OK with certain kinds of "election interference," as long as it's conducted against the right candidate.

How are you unaware of this? Why do you support the partisan application of the law?

And how is Biden's presidency a "true authoritarian regime?"

I am concerned that he is ignoring immigration law and aiding in violations of immigration law.

I am concerned that his administration is shutting down agricultural exports across the Mexican border while letting individuals illegally cross the border.

I am concerned that he decided to just declare student debt forgiven.

I am concerned that his administration is directing the FBI to classify as terrorists, parents who go to school board meetings and express concerns about pornography and boys in girls rest rooms.

I am concerned about FBI raids on pro life activists.

I am concerned when I read the USA Today headline that says, "Biden administration coerced social media giants into possible free speech violations" White House coerced tech giants, violated free speech, court rules (usatoday.com) or this from Business Insider: Washington Post Publisher Accuses Biden DOJ of Media 'Assault' (businessinsider.com) or this from NPR: 5th circuit rules against Biden administration for social media contact : NPR This one is not quite as damning, but still interesting: Reporters Used To Crucify Trump For Insulting Journalists, But Biden Keeps Doing The Same Thing (forbes.com)

"Lying about the efficacy of vaccines while mandating them under penalty of financial and job loss.

The angry "red" speech in Philadelphia where he demonized not only his political opponent, but roughly half the country.

The coordination of federal agencies with social media platforms to stifle speech.

The prosecution and jailing of political enemies for exercising political speech.

His DOJ and FBI retaliating against whistleblowers."

This is funny because Trump:

1. Trump administration fasttracked vaccine development and pushed the vaccine.
2. Trump holds angry "blue" speeches every week where he demonizes his political opponents, and half the country. All while trying to boost his personal wealth.
3. Trump pushed federal agencies to go after social media platforms.
4. Trump tried to use the DOJ and FBI to overturn the election results despite no evidence and his own cabinet members telling him he was wrong, all to feed his "never loose" mentality.
5. All of Trump using all at his disposal not for what is best for the country but to feed his narcisim and increase his wealth.

I am surprised that people do not understand the difference between pushing something and forcing something. I do not drink alcohol, but I am not offended by beer commercials. I would be offended if I was told I had to drink beer or lose my job. I do not know of anyone who is upset that a new vaccine exists or that it was developed. What they are upset about is that people were forced to take it before it had been tested while people were also told they should not take drugs that had been used and tested for years. Many of us believe that is a sign of propaganda, not science.

If what happened to our military and federal workers with vaccines was not authoritarian, I don't know what is. Thank you for reminding me of yet another thing that could be added to my above list of concerns.

The military has mandated vaccines since the very beginning of the country. George Washington required the US military to get smallpox inoculation. Something much more dangerous than the actual vaccine created 19 years later. Today the military is required to get 9 vaccines. Some which have been shown to be more dangerous than the COVID vaccines. Depending on your type of service you could be required to get 8 more vaccines. Soldiers could request exemption from the COVID vaccine, just as they do with the other 17 vaccines that they need to take. Not sure how this is an over reach of the Biden administration.

As someone who has worked in development of vaccines, safety is not the same as in a drug. Over 40,000 people were used in testing of the COVID vaccine first used in the military, and it was shown to be very safe. Safety outcomes are measured in days and a few months at most when it comes to vaccines, not years like in drugs. The concerns were always unfounded by anti-vaxxers or those who just resist any government mandate, as well as Sovereign citizen groups. After billions of doses of COVID vaccine, the side effects are exceedingly rare and treatable, compared to the side effects of catching COVID which are thousands of times more likely than a vaccine side effect and in many cases untreatable, and some people are left with long term chronic conditions, including death.