[cnn] Is American democracy on the brink?

tonyj88 said:

Donald Trump's feud with Congress puts American democracy on the brink - CNNPolitics

"Our forefathers must be turning in their graves," Panetta told CNN's Brianna Keilar. "Our forefathers were really clear that they didn't want power to be centralized in any one branch of government, particularly in a king or a president." ...

Click to expand...

Where was all this doom and gloom during the Obama administration when they did the same thing? Did democracy itself fall? Apparently not because we're still here.

But it's CNN and politics so buyer beware. I might trust a weather report from CNN but only after I verify it with The Weather Channel or that old guy down the street whose bursitis acts up when it's going to rain.

Absolutely. Democracy in the U.S. is already done. Now it's just waiting for the pretending there is one to end.

tonyj88 said:

Donald Trump's feud with Congress puts American democracy on the brink - CNNPolitics

"Our forefathers must be turning in their graves," Panetta told CNN's Brianna Keilar. "Our forefathers were really clear that they didn't want power to be centralized in any one branch of government, particularly in a king or a president." ...

Click to expand...

Humbug. We've seen worse times and gotten through them. Trump wants extra-constitutional power, his base wants him to have it but he hasn't actually gotten it yet.

Yes, close to the end.

We will end up in a one-party state.

There are some judges and officials who are refusing to follow Trumps orders. We just have to pray that God guides our politicians in the right direction.

I'm hardly in the "!!!CNNFAKENEWS!!!" camp, but their analyses have gotten really ridiculous over the last couple years. Everything is breathless and stupid all the time.

iluvatar5150 said:

I'm hardly in the "!!!CNNFAKENEWS!!!" camp, but their analyses have gotten really ridiculous over the last couple years. Everything is breathless and stupid all the time.

Click to expand...

It's not really "news" channel any more. They'll pick one story they like and push it exclusively 24/7 no matter what else is going on in the world.

Speedwell said:

It's not really "news" channel any more. They'll pick one story they like and push it exclusively 24/7 no matter what else is going on in the world.

Click to expand...

I don't watch the channel, I just read the website. It's good for notifications about breaking news, but reading the actual articles is like having my IQ getting punched in the junk.

If there's a branch of government that has assumed too much power these days, it's the judiciary...

tonyj88 said:

"Our forefathers must be turning in their graves," Panetta told CNN's Brianna Keilar. "Our forefathers were really clear that they didn't want power to be centralized in any one branch of government, particularly in a king or a president." ...

Click to expand...

It is possible that our democracy is on some brink, but not because the president is functioning as a president.

Rather, it is the relentless efforts of some in Congress and party leadership, backed by their billionaire handlers, to eliminate the Electoral College, prevent any sort of personal identification to be required before a person votes, allow "vote harvesting," count votes received AFTER election day, require extra qualifications before a candidate can be placed on the ballot, passing "Top Two" laws at the state level that result in the candidates in the general election being all from the same party, and so on.

If all of this continues and succeeds, there will not really be democracy anymore but just the appearance of it.

We are on the brink because the President is exceeding his constitutional powers.

If this trend continues with future presidents, maybe.

If there are future presidents.

HTacianas said:

Where was all this doom and gloom during the Obama administration when they did the same thing? Did democracy itself fall? Apparently not because we're still here.

Click to expand...

Congressman Louie Gohmert has said that the coup has failed now that the Mueller report has come up dry, therefore some people who had a lot invested in it working out have turned to saying that the other side is engaged in one itself. Its an old technique.

There never was a coup. I know Louie and he is a devil in Christian clothing.

JacobKStarkey said:

Yes, close to the end.

We will end up in a one-party state.

Click to expand...

Yes and it will be the Democratic party. When the media is blatantly one sided it can make a difference. Add that to the fact that Trump lost the popular vote it's pretty obvious which direction this country is headed.

Also take a look at the big picture here. Trump has NOT gotten everything he wanted. All the Doom and gloom of Trump taking power and becoming a king or whatever has NOT even come close to happening. He can be voted out just like anyone else. His powers are still subject to Congress and being reviewed by the judiciary just like every other president before him. The republic is not dead, Trump isn't the emperor no matter what the left is afraid of or claimed would happen.

His base doesn't want him to be a king or emperor. His base wants certain things to be accomplished, just like the base of every president before him. But his base wants it done through constitutional means.

rjs330 said:

Yes and it will be the Democratic party. When the media is blatantly one sided it can make a difference. Add that to the fact that Trump lost the popular vote it's pretty obvious which direction this country is headed.

Click to expand...

Nonsense. Trump's "base" would never stand for such a thing. They're the ones who think they have the historical mandate, the moral high ground--and they have all the guns (at least, they think so.)

rjs330 said:

Also take a look at the big picture here. Trump has NOT gotten everything he wanted. All the Doom and gloom of Trump taking power and becoming a king or whatever has NOT even come close to happening. He can be voted out just like anyone else. His powers are still subject to Congress and being reviewed by the judiciary just like every other president before him. The republic is not dead, Trump isn't the emperor no matter what the left is afraid of or claimed would happen.

Click to expand...

Or what Trump himself thinks.

His base doesn't want him to be a king or emperor. His base wants certain things to be accomplished, just like the base of every president before him. But his base wants it done through constitutional means.

Click to expand...

If possible, but accomplished regardless.