Thread by @FreedomFriesInc

(1) This will go down in history as a major Presidential Address from Biden.

I look fwd to reading the transcript and commenting here. Meantime, watch this short, factual video about voting rights & why they matter so much. To everyone.

Video:

https://twitter.com/FreedomFriesInc/status/1413794625500844033

https://twitter.com/cspan/status/1415022709529055237

(2) ICYMI somehow, I am (proudly) #ExMAGA and #ExGOP because 1/6 and its aftermath was the last straw.

During my time inside the cult, I learned the talking points on voting rights that are used by both sides.

(3) So, when I make time to read Biden's transcript I can show you what each side will be saying about it, and why.

The other day I found out that VP Harris supports both voter ID and competent policy analysis (my profession) work being done about it.

https://twitter.com/FreedomFriesInc/status/1414038159646625795

(4) Here's my 140 char *summary* of how I can tell VP Harris supports voter ID.

https://twitter.com/FreedomFriesInc/status/1414037720855302145

(5) From the start, former guy Trump worked to undermine public trust & confidence in America's institutions, including the mere concept of college education, & disciplines like political science, science, history, foreign affairs, law enforcement, law, medicine, human rights...

(5) Like me, and unlike TFG & his core followers, VP Harris has actual experience in government. Policy analysis and implementation are a "complicated business," as he often said at his rallies.

That's why it's best to employ people trained and experienced in it.

(6) If you are buying a house, you don't say to your realtor "just find me a house with a red door." That is, you don't limit your idea of what you want to buy in a narrow sense that shuts out all discussion of other details that are relevant, and essential to consider.

(7) MAGA adherents and most Republicans in general talk about "voter ID" in black and white terms aka dichotomous reasoning. This method is appropriate for children under about age 8.

It's not all or nothing. Not by a long shot.

(8) In fact, at this stage my assessment is that voter ID is the issue (out of dozens) that Ds and Rs are actually the closest on.

Mature, sane, adults know that the US needs more cross-aisle cooperation aka bipartisanship on at least some issues. As opposed to none. Ever.

(9) I view voter ID as necessary but not sufficient.

And (my whole point): "The devil is in the detail."

Some Americans do still have genuine barriers to voting, often caused by distance &/or disability. Then there is the racial disparity in the stats.

(10) I can clearly see now that the (wide) range of current and proposed barriers to voting in the US tend to impact POC more than they impact non-POC.

My hunch, also, is that black voters were an essential bloc in getting TFG out of the WH.

THANK YOU FOR THAT.

(11) I've started saying that until #BlackLivesMatter then none of our lives matter. I'll defend this view anywhere, anytime, provided folk are civil. (Accordingly I have few opportunities to do so.)

Y'all should read about the case of #ElijahMcClain.

(12) Then compare how Elijah McClain was treated with how certain white people are treated if they display similar behaviors. It's not an isolated incident. It's part of a long term trend.

That's why IMO voting rights are in the top 2-3 priorities for the US right now.

(13) I think this would be necessary even if there weren't clear signs that Republicans in every state are now trying to make major, untested, changes to state electoral laws.

You have to understand how the mind of an NPD sociopath works.

(14) As I've admitted before recently, I knew a bit about NPD before TFG ran for office. For a bunch of reasons I settled on a view that he did not have NPD. Then events in 2020-21 made me reconsider that, with the new evidence I was seeing. It's hard to understand him w/out it.

(15) But, it gets worse. Because some of the Republicans who are enabling his ongoing unconscionable behavior also have NPD. Or another form of sociopathy/PD that has similar effects.

Given this, I think the need to fight for even the existing voter rights laws is urgent.

(16) And yes, NPD is an equal opportunity disorder among politicians. Several Democrats have it too. The difference is that y'all have kept them relatively contained.

The GOP failed at that. And they must be held accountable.

(17) One other voting rights issue I want to mention here.

(There will be a series of threads of mine about the Biden address today. I will link them up.)

Election to federal office is regulated by both federal, and state law. That's an important first step to note.

(18) This issue comes up all the time in the talking points of either side concerning voting rights.

Constitutional and legal scholars are best placed to provide the details about this complex area of the law. IMO it is appropriate that both state & federal laws are involved.

(19) Here is Biden's speech transcript. Now you can find the exact words he said, & discuss them, iso believing whatever flavor of secondary source works for you.

He mentions 1/6. If you wanna claim it was a tourist visit, have at it.🤪 I can't wait.

whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/…