This was from the launch of @VanderbiltU ‘s Project on Unity and American Democracy. @jmeacham hosted Q&As with @algore & later @CondoleezzaRice, but this moment was unforgettable given this past week.
If you missed it, you can find the recording here:
vanderbilt.edu/unity/news-eve…

It's still amazing to me given the events of the past couple of weeks that @algore was earnest when he said it didn't occur to him to misuse his power as VP and declare himself president in 2001. \
That would have been unconstitutional, but that's what Trump wanted @VP to do: Misuse his power.

Another interest exchange was between @jmeacham & @CondoleezzaRice when he asked her whether she felt optimistic for democracy. \
Sec. Rice said yes. To paraphrase, she made three points:
1. Our institutions passed the test
2. We can't take our institutions for granted
3. We have find work harder to engage people who have felt ignore or betrayed by our system \
I too am hopeful for democracy and future of civility, which is why I wrote this column. h/t @BriteHeartNow @jimbrownjwb @Samar_Ali81 @SekouFranklin @jmeacham @BillHaslam

tennessean.com/story/opinion/… via @Tennessean \
"It is going to take work and an obligation by citizens and their elected officials to accept truth, fight misinformation and respect the democratic principles that make this nation work." \

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More from @davidplazas

13 Jan
President Donald Trump has been impeached for a second time. The 218-vote threshold has been surpassed.
📸 @cspan
\
Listening to the debate through the day, we heard two very different realities from Democrats (joined by a handful of Republicans) and the GOP: a) Trump incited the angry mob and should be impeached or b) He is not responsible for their actions and shouldn't be held responsible \
.@RepDavidKustoff voted against #Impeachment2 & said in a news release: "Our country is in the middle of a global pandemic & the American people are struggling. We must focus our efforts on unifying our country & supporting a peaceful transition of power on January 20th.”  \
Read 7 tweets
12 Jan
As an aside, @Tennessean held its first #CivilityTennessee event at Vandy in January 2018. I moderated a conversation with @jimbrownjwb who wrote "Ending our Uncivil Wars."
tennessean.com/story/opinion/… \
The Civility Tennessee campaign just started its fourth year. It has not been easy nor without criticism. It can be discouraging to witness events like the Jan. 6 insurrection or to get an email like this. \ Image
I responded with President Lincoln's words from his 1861 Inauguration:
"“We are not enemies, but friends. We must not be enemies. Though passion may have strained it must not break our bonds of affection ... \
Read 6 tweets
7 Jan
This is the editorial from the @USATODAY Network Tennessee on the #insurrection. Our position: @MarshaBlackburn, @BillHagertyTN & TN's GOP House members are complicit in spurring the mob. I want to explain why we wrote it & why we didn't rush it.
tennessean.com/story/opinion/… \
Yes, I know we are in the era of hot takes (which I've been guilty of writing), but I heard you @CarolBAndrews @pfcasey1953 @charlesrbone @Corinne92618609 et al.
First the network represents our multiple publications in TN incl. @Tennessean @knoxnews & @memphisnews \
I write the editorials, but I work with the editors of the publications to discuss, debate, challenge, tweak and edit and re-edit it. There were multiple drafts starting yesterday afternoon. The news cycle was ever-changing & a lot happened. \
Read 13 tweets
7 Jan
ICYMI
@MarshaBlackburn & @BillHagertyTN opted after all not to object to certification of President-elect @JoeBiden & VP-elect @KamalaHarris' victory. On Saturday, they made pronouncements about their role as objectors.
tennessean.com/story/news/pol… via @natalie_allison @Tennessean \
"Backburn, Hagerty and others changed their minds after the U.S. Capitol went into lockdown on Wednesday as supporters of President Donald Trump stormed the building, demanding that Congress reject the results of the election." They condemned the violence, but not the POTUS. \
So, while it appears the attempted swayed them, Tennessee citizens are entitled to know their explanation for why they shifted.

I received more than three dozen letters in the last 12 hours condemning the for helping stoke this fire. They'll be posted in a little while. \
Read 11 tweets
7 Jan
Just watched @LindseyGrahamSC ‘s very compelling remarks on the floor. The gist: you may not agree with the outcome, but you must accept a free and fair election result. That’s the American way. \
.@SenatorRomney shares that he knows it’s painful to lose, but you accept the American tradition of free and fair elections. \
Read 4 tweets
6 Jan
"Self government, my colleagues, requires a shared commitment to the truth and a shared respect for the ground rules of our system." -- @senatemajldr

He reminds Congress that the Founding Fathers created the Senate to defend against the passions of the loudest voices. \
.@timburchett is right: This is wrong.

Remember when politicians ran again the "angry mob." This is it. Please condemn this too, @MarshaBlackburn and @BillHagertyTN

\
.@BillHagertyTN has tweeted his opposition to the chaos and "angry mob" that attacked Congress. It's worth reminding him and others that they were egged on by Donald Trump's reckless and deceitful rhetoric.

\
Read 4 tweets

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