Saturday, October 26, 2024

"This election presents a critical choice. Do we embrace a hopeful future or retreat to a reactionary past? We’re backing Kamala Harris. She will unlock democracy’s potential, not give in to its flaws". Who are they to "interfere" in "American" politics?

 Yes, Bezos at WaPo and the rich Korean at LATimes have papers that are not endorsing, for whatever reasons, or no reason at all -- while GUARDIAN is endorsing Harris.

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/ng-interactive/2024/oct/23/the-guardian-view-on-the-us-presidential-election-2024-a-democratic-government-is-the-one-we-need

Does it bother you a foreign influence is being asserted? Only a Trumper would object to any paper endorsing anyone in any race, since the source is identified, there is a general history to the outlet, and they got it right instead of liking a throwback jerk.

The headline above is from the item, the link is given, so read it or not. But if RT.com were to endorse, it would be data to process, as in GUARDIAN believing Harris is the choice. For those not reading, an opening quote:

The mood may be one of despair.

But this election is critical to the country’s future?

The best hope lies with Kamala.

Only her government can shape the future we want to see

It is hard to imagine a worse candidate for the American presidency in 2024 than Donald J Trump. His history of dishonesty, hypocrisy and greed makes him wholly unfit for the office. A second Trump term would erode the rule of law, diminish America’s global standing and deepen racial and cultural divides. Even if he loses, Mr Trump has shown that he will undermine the election process, with allies spreading unfounded conspiracy theories to delegitimise the results.

There are prominent Republicans – such as the former vice-president Dick Cheney – who refused to support Mr Trump owing to the threat he poses. Gen Mark Milley, the chairman of the joint chiefs of staff under Mr Trump, calls his former boss a “fascist”. America was founded in opposition to absolute monarchy. The Republican nominee models himself after the leader he most admires: Russia’s autocratic president, Vladimir Putin.

Mr Trump’s authoritarianism may finish US democracy. He has praised and promised to pardon those convicted in the January 6 insurrection. He has suggested bypassing legal norms to use potentially violent methods of repression, blurring the lines between vigilantism, law enforcement and military action, against groups – be they Democrats or undocumented immigrants – he views as enemies.

His team has tried to distance itself from the Heritage Foundation’s Project 2025 and its extreme proposals – such as mass firings of civil servants and erasing women’s rights – that poll poorly. But it is likely that, in office, Mr Trump would adopt many of these intolerant, patriarchal and discriminatory plans. He aims to dismantle the government to enrich himself and evade the law. If Republicans gain control of the Senate, House and White House, he would interpret it as a mandate to silence his critics and entrench his power.

Mr Trump is a transactional and corrupting politician. His supporters see this as an advantage. Christian nationalists want an authoritarian regime to enforce religious edicts on Americans. Elon Musk wants to shape the future without regulatory oversight. Both put self-interest ahead of the American people. Democracy erodes slowly at first, then all at once. In office, Mr Trump appointed three supreme court justices, who this summer blocked efforts to hold him accountable for trying to overturn the 2020 election: their immunity ruling renders the president “a king above the law”, in the words of the liberal justice Sonia Sotomayor.

Yes, all those words, and not mentioning Harris once. Concentration on what a shit Trump is, because he is excruciatingly awful, and it is him, not Vance that is at the top of that ticket, so whether you like JD or not, why do you not fear and loath Trump?

Leaving the JD diversion aside, that far into GUARDIAN's endorsement, they then get to Harris. Initial paragraphs there:

A historic president

Since Kamala Harris stepped into the spotlight following Joe Biden’s exit, her campaign has been a masterclass in political jujitsu, deftly flipping Mr Trump’s perceived strengths into glaring weaknesses. With a focus on joy, the vice-president sharply contrasted with Mr Trump’s grim narrative of US decline. In their sole televised debate, Ms Harris skillfully outmaneuvered Mr Trump, who fell into her traps, appearing angry and incoherent. She is confident and composed. He sounds unhinged.

The Trump agenda threatens to dismantle voting rights, women’s rights and minority rights – not just reversing decades of social progress but burying it. Mr Trump was behind the shredding of reproductive rights. The conservative forces rallying to him are now intent on imposing a national abortion ban, with – should he win – dire implications for IVF and birth control. Republicans have been hurt in the polls by being associated with such unpopular policies – a weak spot that Ms Harris should keep exploiting.

The vice-president has energised Democrats with savvy media appearances while appealing to swing voters. Progressives, determined to defeat Mr Trump, remain committed to freedom and equality. But Ms Harris has disappointed those who have urged her to take a stand on US complicity in Israel’s bombing of civilians in Gaza and Lebanon. Downplaying war crimes, as arms flow to Israel, has already harmed Democratic chances in key swing states like Michigan.

In a political system where style often rivals substance, perception is crucial. While Ms Harris hasn’t made her race and gender central to her campaign, her victory would be historic: she would be the first woman, and the first woman of color, to be president. Symbolism matters to her base. Her candidacy rallied key constituencies – the young, women, African Americans and Hispanics – who were cooling on Mr Biden. This election is a leap of faith in Ms Harris, who offers a sense of possibility for the future, while Mr Trump clings to a reactionary past.

They like her. There's more to the endorsement if you go there. The editorial goes on from there. Check it out. There are no GUARDIAN resignations, as with LATimes for failure to endorse Harris despite the editors wanting to, with the owner putting on the kibosh. Tell the truth. The money there says, don't endorse. The people who had worked there but quit say - Harris.

Early votes are in. Late votes have a deadline. In a handful of days we learn the result. May the best side (Harris) win! 

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I want to note a Republican leaning post. Here: https://libertyprosperityblog.blogspot.com/2024/10/elon-musk-s-campaign-contributions.html

Word search is a helpful tool. Search = Trump -- you get mentions, nothing said positive about him, while the post touts Vance and Elon Musk. Go figure.

Yes, Musk has rang the cash register while innovating in ways that advanced electric auto adoption and safe space efforts years ahead of otherwise. That said, he's not running. Trump is. Trump has none of Elon Musk's virtues. In fact, he has no virtues. Try naming one. You can't.

 Crypto opportunism - if you call that a virtue it is the last thing Trump (and family) has promoted, (not invested, promoted) and crypto burns energy without any merit, or if you don't think so, you are a Trump voter or an idiot, but I repeat myself.