In light of tomorrow's congressional session to record the electoral votes, and for conservatives and Republicans who claim to look for guidance to the Founders, a short thread from Federalist #68.
2. "It was desirable that the sense of the people should operate in the choice of the person to whom so important a trust was to be confided. This end will be answered by committing the right of making it, not to any pre-established body...
3. "...but to men chosen by the people for the special purpose, and at the particular conjuncture...It was also peculiarly desirable to afford as little opportunity as possible to tumult and disorder...But the precautions which have been so happily concerted...
4. "...in the system under consideration promise an effectual security against this mischief...As the electors, chosen in each state, are to assemble and vote in the state in which they are chosen, this detached and divided situation will expose them much less...
5. "...to heats and ferments, which might be communicated from them to the people, than if they were all to be convened at one time, in one place. Nothing was more to be desired than that every practicable obstacle should be opposed to cabal, intrigue, and corruption...
6. "They have not made the appointment of the president to depend on any pre-existing bodies of men who might be tampered with beforehand to prostitute their votes; but they have referred it in the first instance to the immediate act of the people of America...
7. "...to be exerted in the choice of persons for temporary and sole purpose of making the appointment. And they have excluded from eligibility to this trust all those who from situation might be suspected of too great devotion to the president in office. No senator,...
8. "...representative, or other person holding a place of trust or profit under the United States can be of the number of the electors...Another and no less important desideratum was that the executive should be independent for his continuance in office on all...
9. "...but the people themselves...This advantage will also be secured, by making his re-election to depend on a special body of representatives, deputed by the society for the special purpose of making the important choice."
END
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Two thoughts that slightly cut against each other:
1. On the one hand, this isn't the time to re-litigate everyone's behavior over the past few years. Everyone now willing to step up in defense of democracy and the Constitution should be welcomed. Better late than never.
2. On the other hand, this isn't the time to "turn the page" or "move on." We shouldn't duck responsibility for holding people accountable for what they've done in recent days and weeks--and for what might happen over the next two weeks.
3. We can begin to "turn the page" and "move on" after January 20th. Now, the 25th amendment or impeachment and conviction need to be on the table. McConnell can remove Cruz and Hawley from committees. There should be pressure on Kevin McCarthy to step down as minority leader.
1. A brief thread on why we should not panic but should worry, even be a bit...alarmed.
I've been speaking with former Trump Administration officials and with other former senior national security types who remain plugged in to the Pentagon.
2. They think we'll most likely "be ok;" but they are worried about what one called the three I's:
Iran.
The Insurrection Act.
and (White House and civilian DOD leadership) Insanity.
3. Iran.
January 3 is the anniversary of Suleimani's killing, followed shortly by the end of the 40-day mourning period for Fakhrizadeh. So there is the prospect of Iranian retaliation, to which a U.S. response (or conceivably preemptive action) would certainly be legitimate.
1. A possible additional data point: Derek Lyons is Trump's staff secretary. After working on the Jeb! campaign (!), he joined the Trump White House on day one, working for Rob Porter. Lyons succeeded Porter as staff secretary in Feb. 2018, became part of Trump's inner circle...
2. ...and was going to become domestic policy chief in May of this year, but was stopped by a revolt by America First purists. He got the consolation prize of adding Counselor to the President to his staff secretary job, joining Hope Hicks and Kellyanne Conway who had that title.
3. He's traveled a lot with Trump, and has been in the inner circle (for example, he was at last Friday's meeting in the Oval Office). But at the beginning of last week, he announced he was leaving before the end of the year--surprising for someone who seemed such a loyalist.
1. This thread is based on recent conversations with people whose information and judgment I trust, who in turn have spoken candidly with Trump appointees still on the inside.
Here's a question: Why did Trump and Barr, when they negotiated Barr's departure, settle on Dec. 23?
2. It could, obviously, be kind of random--a date picked last week to allow Barr to get things in order, an accommodation of Barr's family schedule, etc. But it could also be that Barr very much wanted to get out before Dec. 24, and/or that Trump wanted him out by then.
3. One obvious possibility discussed in the White House: Trump has spoken about a bunch of pardons on Christmas Eve. Some of the names may have been too much for Barr--so they agreed on his departure on Dec. 23.
I guess we could call ourselves Democratic-Republicans? 1. We’re Republicans or ex-Republicans who are pro-democracy. 2. We want to advance what’s best in both existing parties. 3. The original Democratic-Republican Party was founded by Jefferson and Madison, and was successful.