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		<title>The Political Science Blog | Department of Political Science at 91爆料网</title>
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		<description>reflections from the faculty of the political science department at 91爆料网 Univeristy</description>
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			<title>The Political Science Blog | Department of Political Science at 91爆料网</title>
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			<link>http://www.uu.edu/dept/politicalscience/blog.cfm</link>
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	<title>Bona Fide</title>        
        <description><![CDATA[&amp;lt;span style=&quot;font-size:12pt&quot;&amp;rt;&amp;lt;span style=&quot;font-family:Aptos,sans-serif&quot;&amp;rt;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp; If the Tennessee Republican Party used its current bylaws in 2016, Donald Trump would not have qualified as a &amp;ldquo;bona fide&amp;rdquo; Republican. In fact, probably all of the &quot;https://www.local3news.com/local-news/149-republican-candidates-at-risk-of-removal-from-may-2026-tn-ballot/article_ab47b06c-c7e5-4d84-b9b8-5f8bf76ff460.html&quot; style=&quot;color:#467886; text-decoration:underline&quot;&amp;rt;149 county candidates and &quot;https://fox17.com/news/local/tennessee-gop-blocks-cade-cothren-after-trump-pardon-removes-39-others&quot; style=&quot;color:#467886; text-decoration:underline&quot;&amp;rt;40 state candidates for office that the state party declared were not &amp;ldquo;bona fide&amp;rdquo; Republicans this year have greater Republican credentials than Trump did in 2016. &amp;lt;/span&amp;rt;&amp;lt;/span&amp;rt;

&amp;lt;span style=&quot;font-size:12pt&quot;&amp;rt;&amp;lt;span style=&quot;font-family:Aptos,sans-serif&quot;&amp;rt;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp; At one time, all candidates had to do was file a petition for candidacy with the required number of signatures to run for office. But as ideologues took over the state party, the Republican state party executive committee changed party rules because they did not trust Tennessee voters to make the &amp;ldquo;right&amp;rdquo; decisions. &amp;nbsp;&amp;lt;/span&amp;rt;&amp;lt;/span&amp;rt;

&amp;lt;span style=&quot;font-size:12pt&quot;&amp;rt;&amp;lt;span style=&quot;font-family:Aptos,sans-serif&quot;&amp;rt;&amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp;About ten years ago, the party adopted rules that candidates had to vote in two of the last four statewide Republican primaries or have local Republicans vouch for the candidate&amp;rsquo;s bona fides. In 2017, the state party increased the voting threshold to three of the last four statewide primaries. &amp;lt;/span&amp;rt;&amp;lt;/span&amp;rt;

&amp;lt;span style=&quot;font-size:12pt&quot;&amp;rt;&amp;lt;span style=&quot;font-family:Aptos,sans-serif&quot;&amp;rt;&amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; Then, in 2020, Eddie Mannis won a Republican State House primary by 99 votes. His opponent challenged his bona fides because Mannis contributed to Democrats and voted in the 2020 Democratic presidential primary. However, the party chair &quot;https://tennesseestar.com/news/tennessee-gop-chair-allows-democratic-presidential-primary-voter-to-run-as-a-republican/klbaigert/2020/04/07/&quot; style=&quot;color:#467886; text-decoration:underline&quot;&amp;rt;vouched for him based on letters of support from Congressman Tim Burchett, Knox County Mayor Glen Jacobs, and State Senator Richard Briggs. &amp;lt;/span&amp;rt;&amp;lt;/span&amp;rt;

&amp;lt;span style=&quot;font-size:12pt&quot;&amp;rt;&amp;lt;span style=&quot;font-family:Aptos,sans-serif&quot;&amp;rt;&amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp;Since then, the party has added requirements for party involvement, eliminated the vouching provision, banned candidates who voted in Democratic primaries, and placed the appeal of disqualification in the hands of the relevant state executive committee members and state party chair. &amp;lt;/span&amp;rt;&amp;lt;/span&amp;rt;

&amp;lt;span style=&quot;font-size:12pt&quot;&amp;rt;&amp;lt;span style=&quot;font-family:Aptos,sans-serif&quot;&amp;rt;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp; But limiting candidates was not enough. In 2018, the Republican State Executive Committee passed a resolution calling for a closed primary. Yet, Tennessee has a semi-open primary because it lacks formal party registration. Since then, the party has used the requirement that primary voters be &amp;ldquo;bona fide&amp;rdquo; Republicans to challenge the votes of some Tennesseans and threaten them with &quot;https://www.lwv.org/newsroom/press-releases/tennessee-voters-lwvtn-refile-challenge-states-bona-fide-primary-voting-law&quot; style=&quot;color:#467886; text-decoration:underline&quot;&amp;rt;prosecution because they aren&amp;rsquo;t &amp;ldquo;real&amp;rdquo; Republicans. &amp;lt;/span&amp;rt;&amp;lt;/span&amp;rt;

&amp;lt;span style=&quot;font-size:12pt&quot;&amp;rt;&amp;lt;span style=&quot;font-family:Aptos,sans-serif&quot;&amp;rt;&amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; While these actions are legal because political parties have First Amendment rights to freedom of association (&quot;https://firstamendment.mtsu.edu/article/california-democratic-party-v-jones/&quot; style=&quot;color:#467886; text-decoration:underline&quot;&amp;rt;California Democratic Party v Jones, 2000), they are not wise. Politics is about arithmetic. The more voters you add, the more successful the party is. However, the Tennessee Republican Party is discouraging Tennesseans from running for office and voting in GOP primaries. &amp;lt;/span&amp;rt;&amp;lt;/span&amp;rt;

&amp;lt;span style=&quot;font-size:12pt&quot;&amp;rt;&amp;lt;span style=&quot;font-family:Aptos,sans-serif&quot;&amp;rt;&amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp;Many Republican activists fear moderates, Independents, and Democratic voters will vote in Republican primaries because the Republican primary winner is the de facto winner in our one-party state. If they vote in large enough numbers, Tennesseans may nominate someone less conservative than the activists. &amp;lt;/span&amp;rt;&amp;lt;/span&amp;rt;

&amp;lt;span style=&quot;font-size:12pt&quot;&amp;rt;&amp;lt;span style=&quot;font-family:Aptos,sans-serif&quot;&amp;rt;&amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; This argument has multiple problems. First, Republican primary voters have shown no indication of nominating moderates. Since the 2010 elections, Shor and McCarty&amp;rsquo;s &quot;https://www.jstor.org/stable/pdf/41480856.pdf&quot; style=&quot;color:#467886; text-decoration:underline&quot;&amp;rt;state legislative ideological scores show the median Republican state legislator is to the right of members of the House Freedom Caucus, the most conservative, anti-establishment group in the U.S. House. &amp;lt;/span&amp;rt;&amp;lt;/span&amp;rt;

&amp;lt;span style=&quot;font-size:12pt&quot;&amp;rt;&amp;lt;span style=&quot;font-family:Aptos,sans-serif&quot;&amp;rt;&amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp;Second, Independents and Democrats who vote in Republican primaries are in the process of switching parties. The simple process of saying I want a Republican ballot is a major psychological step in this transition. Using Tennessee presidential exit polls from 2000 to 2016, Democrats and Independents who voted in the Republican primary chose the same candidate as self-identified Republicans. These are not voters supporting moderates but voters aligning with the GOP. &amp;lt;/span&amp;rt;&amp;lt;/span&amp;rt;

&amp;lt;span style=&quot;font-size:12pt&quot;&amp;rt;&amp;lt;span style=&quot;font-family:Aptos,sans-serif&quot;&amp;rt;&amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp;Third, Tennessee Democrats dominated Tennessee state and local politics through 2008 because Independents and Republicans voted for the most conservative Democrat in the primary. Consequently, Tennesseans distinguished between state Democrats and the national party, allowing Democrats to win state and local offices and pass Democratic policies into the 2000s. &amp;lt;/span&amp;rt;&amp;lt;/span&amp;rt;

&amp;lt;span style=&quot;font-size:12pt&quot;&amp;rt;&amp;lt;span style=&quot;font-family:Aptos,sans-serif&quot;&amp;rt;&amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; In the early 1970s, state Democrats intentionally rejected the policies Republicans have adopted. If Democrats adopted these policies, liberals would have controlled the party, but Republicans would have taken control of the state decades earlier. Since the Republican state legislature is much more conservative than even Republican primary voters, they are probably shortening their reign in Tennessee. &amp;lt;/span&amp;rt;&amp;lt;/span&amp;rt;

&amp;lt;span style=&quot;font-size:12pt&quot;&amp;rt;&amp;lt;span style=&quot;font-family:Aptos,sans-serif&quot;&amp;rt;&amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; Fourth, new members and prospective officeholders revitalize parties by bringing fresh perspectives, new skills, and new energy. But today, the party sends a clear message of exclusion by creating barriers for citizens to vote and making them wait years to run for office. These hurdles will cause strong potential party members to take their skills and energy elsewhere and lead to weaker future party leaders and candidates.&amp;nbsp; &amp;lt;/span&amp;rt;&amp;lt;/span&amp;rt;

&amp;lt;span style=&quot;font-size:12pt&quot;&amp;rt;&amp;lt;span style=&quot;font-family:Aptos,sans-serif&quot;&amp;rt;&amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; A party that is not growing is dying. The state GOP would be better off with rules that welcome more Trumps instead of placing obstacles in their way. &amp;lt;/span&amp;rt;&amp;lt;/span&amp;rt;

This column was submitted to the Jackson Sun on March 26, 2026
]]></description>
        <link>http://www.uu.edu/dept/politicalscience/blog.cfm?ID=329</link>
		<guid>http://www.uu.edu/dept/politicalscience/blog.cfm?ID=329</guid>
        <author>sevans@uu.edu (Department of Political Science at 91爆料网)</author>
        <pubDate>Thu, 26 Mar 2026 15:45:01 CST</pubDate>
    </item><item>
	<title>The Age of Therapeutic Rage</title>        
        <description><![CDATA[&amp;lt;span style=&quot;font-size:12pt&quot;&amp;rt;&amp;lt;span style=&quot;font-family:Aptos,sans-serif&quot;&amp;rt;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp; After the murder of Charlie Kirk, conservatives were outraged at social media posts celebrating or justifying his death. Many demanded that those who wrote those words be fired. This week, President Trump made a similar outrageous &quot;https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/115724141568860081&quot; style=&quot;color:#467886; text-decoration:underline&quot;&amp;rt;Truth Social post after the murder of Hollywood Director Rob Reiner and his wife. Trump appropriately received bipartisan condemnation. The larger question is: Why do people post such horrible things in the first place? &amp;lt;/span&amp;rt;&amp;lt;/span&amp;rt;

&amp;lt;span style=&quot;font-size:12pt&quot;&amp;rt;&amp;lt;span style=&quot;font-family:Aptos,sans-serif&quot;&amp;rt;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp; I grew up being taught &amp;ldquo;Do not speak ill of the dead.&amp;rdquo; Behind this rule are important virtues, such as charity, self-restraint, empathy, and humility. Charity leads us to give the best possible interpretation of people&amp;rsquo;s actions. We realize that people are imperfect and that God and history will hold them accountable for their lives. Since we can no longer persuade the dead to change, we recognize their humanity and restrain ourselves from seeking verbal vengeance.&amp;nbsp; &amp;lt;/span&amp;rt;&amp;lt;/span&amp;rt;

&amp;lt;span style=&quot;font-size:12pt&quot;&amp;rt;&amp;lt;span style=&quot;font-family:Aptos,sans-serif&quot;&amp;rt;Death promotes empathy because we know what it is like to lose a loved one. Often, family members are in shock and may experience a range of emotions, including sadness, anger, loneliness, and more. Understanding this, we do not want to burden them more by reviewing their loved ones&amp;rsquo; failings. Thus, we extend sympathy to the deceased&amp;rsquo;s family because they deserve our sorrow, especially after a tragic murder, rather than our scorn.&amp;nbsp; &amp;lt;/span&amp;rt;&amp;lt;/span&amp;rt;

&amp;lt;span style=&quot;font-size:12pt&quot;&amp;rt;&amp;lt;span style=&quot;font-family:Aptos,sans-serif&quot;&amp;rt;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp; It promotes humility because we know that we will also die. While we treat others fairly in death because we wish similar treatment, death also leads to self-reflection. We think less about the things we accomplished in life and more about the kinds of people we are. We honor love, integrity, faithfulness, courage, temperance, kindness, justness, and other virtues. When we consider these values, we reflect on our character, recognizing where we may fall short and how we can improve. Death, in short, can bring about renewal. &amp;lt;/span&amp;rt;&amp;lt;/span&amp;rt;

&amp;lt;span style=&quot;font-size:12pt&quot;&amp;rt;&amp;lt;span style=&quot;font-family:Aptos,sans-serif&quot;&amp;rt;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp; However, the moral foundations of this perspective have been challenged. For decades, the left has sought to liberate individuals from the formative institutions of society, such as family, church, and education, that promote a transcendent purpose and morality. They see these institutions as oppressive because they seek to constrain various expressions of our self-conceptions or identities. The result is a therapeutic culture that seeks personal well-being and authenticity instead of virtue or salvation.&amp;nbsp; Now, we see ourselves as the ultimate authority and demand that culture affirm our choices.&amp;lt;/span&amp;rt;&amp;lt;/span&amp;rt;

&amp;lt;span style=&quot;font-size:12pt&quot;&amp;rt;&amp;lt;span style=&quot;font-family:Aptos,sans-serif&quot;&amp;rt;When we remove societal and moral restraints, our emotions dominate our reasoning. When we or our views are attacked, we no longer agree to disagree because the criticism injures our personal identity. Instead, we swiftly express judgment in the form of inappropriate social media posts or comments as a form of what Olga Dietlin calls &amp;ldquo;&quot;https://christianscholars.com/professing-in-an-age-of-therapeutic-rage-a-lamentation/&quot; style=&quot;color:#467886; text-decoration:underline&quot;&amp;rt;Therapeutic Rage.&amp;rdquo; &amp;lt;/span&amp;rt;&amp;lt;/span&amp;rt;

&amp;lt;span style=&quot;font-size:12pt&quot;&amp;rt;&amp;lt;span style=&quot;font-family:Aptos,sans-serif&quot;&amp;rt;We can see this in President Trump&amp;rsquo;s post. Since Reiner opposed Trump&amp;rsquo;s policies, Trump interpreted opposition personally, attributed it to anger at Trump&amp;rsquo;s success, and claimed Reiner&amp;rsquo;s anger drove people crazy, implicitly suggesting the Reiners&amp;rsquo; political views contributed to their deaths.&amp;nbsp; &amp;lt;/span&amp;rt;&amp;lt;/span&amp;rt;

&amp;lt;span style=&quot;font-size:12pt&quot;&amp;rt;&amp;lt;span style=&quot;font-family:Aptos,sans-serif&quot;&amp;rt;Most people are abhorred by the tragedy of a son allegedly stabbing his parents. Trump, like the Charlie Kirk attackers, allowed emotion to trump reason and posted their views because their opponents did not affirm them. So, they affirmed themselves and their views in their disgusting posts.&amp;lt;/span&amp;rt;&amp;lt;/span&amp;rt;

&amp;lt;span style=&quot;font-size:12pt&quot;&amp;rt;&amp;lt;span style=&quot;font-family:Aptos,sans-serif&quot;&amp;rt;In normal society, we would avoid these individuals and hope they repent. However, we cannot ignore the president, who proved again that he is not a good and decent person. He determines good and evil based on whether someone flatters or criticizes him, not a transcendent source. Since character is destiny, his presidency is unlikely to end well, because his pride and arrogance will cause him to make poor decisions. &amp;lt;/span&amp;rt;&amp;lt;/span&amp;rt;

&amp;lt;span style=&quot;font-size:12pt&quot;&amp;rt;&amp;lt;span style=&quot;font-family:Aptos,sans-serif&quot;&amp;rt;In the meantime, we can start the daily work of repairing our culture by recommitting to our formative institutions, strengthening our families, serving our community, and being good citizens. As J.R.R. Tolkien wrote, &amp;ldquo;Some believe it is only great power that can hold evil in check, but that is not what I have found. It is the small everyday deeds of ordinary folk that keep the darkness at bay.&amp;rdquo;&amp;nbsp;&amp;lt;/span&amp;rt;&amp;lt;/span&amp;rt;

Submitted to The Jackson Sun Dec. 17
]]></description>
        <link>http://www.uu.edu/dept/politicalscience/blog.cfm?ID=327</link>
		<guid>http://www.uu.edu/dept/politicalscience/blog.cfm?ID=327</guid>
        <author>sevans@uu.edu (Department of Political Science at 91爆料网)</author>
        <pubDate>Wed, 24 Dec 2025 11:58:27 CST</pubDate>
    </item><item>
	<title>Politics by Any Means</title>        
        <description><![CDATA[&amp;lt;span style=&quot;font-size:12pt&quot;&amp;rt;&amp;lt;span style=&quot;font-family:Aptos,sans-serif&quot;&amp;rt;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp; Once upon a time, elections decided who would govern. The winning party organized the government and pushed its agenda. The losing party recognized the electoral mandate but used legislative and media tactics to force compromises. The result was policies accepted by most Americans. &amp;lt;/span&amp;rt;&amp;lt;/span&amp;rt;

&amp;lt;span style=&quot;font-size:12pt&quot;&amp;rt;&amp;lt;span style=&quot;font-family:Aptos,sans-serif&quot;&amp;rt;Today, the two parties are so far apart that they cannot risk elections deciding policy. Instead, Benjamin Ginsberg&amp;rsquo;s Politics by Any Means argues that parties use weaponized bureaucracies, lawfare, and violence by proxy to achieve their goals. &amp;lt;/span&amp;rt;&amp;lt;/span&amp;rt;

&amp;lt;span style=&quot;font-size:12pt&quot;&amp;rt;&amp;lt;span style=&quot;font-family:Aptos,sans-serif&quot;&amp;rt;Over the past 50 years, we have shifted from two centrist parties to two ideologically divided parties, also split by race, economics, education, and culture. These stark differences make each party fearful of the other gaining power, raising the stakes of politics. Both rely on different media sources, creating echo chambers that idolize their side and demonize the opposition. Gradually, partisans begin viewing their opponents as extremists, then enemies, and eventually threats. This insular mindset justifies radical political actions. &amp;lt;/span&amp;rt;&amp;lt;/span&amp;rt;

&amp;lt;span style=&quot;font-size:12pt&quot;&amp;rt;&amp;lt;span style=&quot;font-family:Aptos,sans-serif&quot;&amp;rt;The basis for many of these radical actions is Watergate, which created RIP politics (revelations, investigations, and prosecutions). In 1972, Richard Nixon feared Democratic &amp;ldquo;dirty tricks,&amp;rdquo; leading to the &amp;ldquo;plumbers&amp;rdquo; breaking into Democratic headquarters at Watergate. The Washington Post uncovered the break-in and broke new stories using information from &amp;ldquo;Deep Throat,&amp;rdquo; an FBI assistant director. Democrats formed the Senate Watergate Committee, and eventually, a special prosecutor was appointed, which contributed to Nixon&amp;rsquo;s resignation. &amp;lt;/span&amp;rt;&amp;lt;/span&amp;rt;

&amp;lt;span style=&quot;font-size:12pt&quot;&amp;rt;&amp;lt;span style=&quot;font-family:Aptos,sans-serif&quot;&amp;rt;The RIP strategy was later used against Ronald Reagan in the Iran-Contra Affair, Bill Clinton in the Whitewater and Monica Lewinsky investigations, and Donald Trump in the Russian collusion investigation. &amp;lt;/span&amp;rt;&amp;lt;/span&amp;rt;

&amp;lt;span style=&quot;font-size:12pt&quot;&amp;rt;&amp;lt;span style=&quot;font-family:Aptos,sans-serif&quot;&amp;rt;The evolution of these investigations suggests the modern-day goal of RIP is not justice. It is ending the political careers of opponents and delegitimizing them as corrupt. &amp;lt;/span&amp;rt;&amp;lt;/span&amp;rt;

&amp;lt;span style=&quot;font-size:12pt&quot;&amp;rt;&amp;lt;span style=&quot;font-family:Aptos,sans-serif&quot;&amp;rt;Now, RIP has evolved into lawfare, which uses legal means to harm political opponents. Post-January 6th, Democrats labeled Trump an insurrectionist, launched Congressional investigations, pressured Biden&amp;rsquo;s Attorney General to appoint a special counsel who would indict him, and sought to remove him from the ballot. Prosecutors in New York and Atlanta also launched questionable prosecutions to mobilize Democratic voters and disqualify him among Independents.&amp;lt;/span&amp;rt;&amp;lt;/span&amp;rt;

&amp;lt;span style=&quot;font-size:12pt&quot;&amp;rt;&amp;lt;span style=&quot;font-family:Aptos,sans-serif&quot;&amp;rt;Trump is now moving beyond setting priorities for the Justice Department to demand that they indict his political opponents. He dismissed one U.S. Attorney for not indicting James Comey, replaced him with someone who did, has pressured the Department of Justice to target other foes like former National Security Advisor John Bolton, and has accused former Presidents Obama and Biden of being guilty of crimes. &amp;lt;/span&amp;rt;&amp;lt;/span&amp;rt;

&amp;lt;span style=&quot;font-size:12pt&quot;&amp;rt;&amp;lt;span style=&quot;font-family:Aptos,sans-serif&quot;&amp;rt;Regarding weaponized bureaucracies, the Obama-era IRS targeted conservative nonprofits, Operation Chokehold sought to restrict loans to certain groups like gun dealers, and the FBI wiretapped Trump campaign members in 2016 and pressured social media to silence unfavorable reports about Joe Biden in 2020. &amp;lt;/span&amp;rt;&amp;lt;/span&amp;rt;

&amp;lt;span style=&quot;font-size:12pt&quot;&amp;rt;&amp;lt;span style=&quot;font-family:Aptos,sans-serif&quot;&amp;rt;Currently, Bill Pulte, Trump&amp;rsquo;s housing finance chief, is investigating figures such as Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook, Senator Adam Schiff (D-CA), and New York Attorney General Letitia James for potential mortgage fraud. Trump is also providing faster disaster aid to red states, firing bureaucrats, and eliminating or emasculating liberal agencies. Furthermore, state attorneys general file lawsuits to obstruct major political initiatives of presidents of opposing parties. &amp;lt;/span&amp;rt;&amp;lt;/span&amp;rt;

&amp;lt;span style=&quot;font-size:12pt&quot;&amp;rt;&amp;lt;span style=&quot;font-family:Aptos,sans-serif&quot;&amp;rt;Finally, politicians from both parties fuel violence by demonizing opponents&amp;mdash;calling them fascists, threats to democracy, election stealers, evil, or radicals. These labels inspired Antifa-inspired riots in Trump&amp;rsquo;s first term and the January 6&amp;lt;sup&amp;rt;th&amp;lt;/sup&amp;rt; Capitol invasion. Unfortunately, individuals with mental illness and grievances are radicalized by these comments in dark holes of the internet to commit acts of violence, like the recent assassination of Charlie Kirk. &amp;lt;/span&amp;rt;&amp;lt;/span&amp;rt;

&amp;lt;span style=&quot;font-size:12pt&quot;&amp;rt;&amp;lt;span style=&quot;font-family:Aptos,sans-serif&quot;&amp;rt;Many problems plague this style of politics. It undermines democracy by extending political conflict beyond elections, where citizens have limited influence. It undermines trust in government and the rule of law when prosecutions seem politically motivated. Such prosecutions intimidate opponents, suppress debate, and increase the costs of political criticism. Violent rhetoric and the failure to condemn violence erode democratic norms. Finally, this climate discourages good people from running for office or engaging in civic life. &amp;nbsp;&amp;lt;/span&amp;rt;&amp;lt;/span&amp;rt;

&amp;lt;span style=&quot;font-size:12pt&quot;&amp;rt;&amp;lt;span style=&quot;font-family:Aptos,sans-serif&quot;&amp;rt;&amp;ldquo;Politics by any means&amp;rdquo; is a politics without guardrails that will slowly descend into illiberalism. If we don&amp;rsquo;t step back from this style of politics, R.I.P., or &amp;ldquo;rest in peace,&amp;rdquo; might be the epithet of our constitutional government. &amp;lt;/span&amp;rt;&amp;lt;/span&amp;rt;
]]></description>
        <link>http://www.uu.edu/dept/politicalscience/blog.cfm?ID=326</link>
		<guid>http://www.uu.edu/dept/politicalscience/blog.cfm?ID=326</guid>
        <author>sevans@uu.edu (Department of Political Science at 91爆料网)</author>
        <pubDate>Sat, 04 Oct 2025 14:21:44 CST</pubDate>
    </item><item>
	<title>From Bully Pulpit to Bully Presidency</title>        
        <description><![CDATA[&amp;lt;span style=&quot;font-size:12pt&quot;&amp;rt;&amp;lt;span style=&quot;font-family:Aptos,sans-serif&quot;&amp;rt;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp; President Trump has shifted from using the bully pulpit to persuade and bargain with political leaders to being a bully president who coerces and intimidates others to achieve his goals. &amp;lt;/span&amp;rt;&amp;lt;/span&amp;rt;

&amp;lt;span style=&quot;font-size:12pt&quot;&amp;rt;&amp;lt;span style=&quot;font-family:Aptos,sans-serif&quot;&amp;rt;Teddy Roosevelt believed the presidency was a bully pulpit that gave him a platform to advocate his ideas. When Congress refused to cooperate, he traveled around the country giving speeches to get the public to pressure their Congressmen to support his policies. Roosevelt used this approach to bargain with conservatives in Congress to pass his anti-trust and conservation laws. &amp;lt;/span&amp;rt;&amp;lt;/span&amp;rt;

&amp;lt;span style=&quot;font-size:12pt&quot;&amp;rt;&amp;lt;span style=&quot;font-family:Aptos,sans-serif&quot;&amp;rt;Consequently, Richard Neustadt, in his Presidential Power and the Modern Presidents, stated, &amp;ldquo;the power of the president is the power to persuade.&amp;rdquo; Neustadt argued that the president has few formal powers and that the most important powers, such as legislating, confirming officials, and negotiating treaties, are shared with Congress, foreign leaders, and others. &amp;lt;/span&amp;rt;&amp;lt;/span&amp;rt;

&amp;lt;span style=&quot;font-size:12pt&quot;&amp;rt;&amp;lt;span style=&quot;font-family:Aptos,sans-serif&quot;&amp;rt;Since these officials have different interests and rely on others to keep their jobs, the president must convince them that what he wants is also in their best interest. If a president is popular, can mobilize the people, and is skilled at using his power, he increases his bargaining advantage and moves others closer to his preferred position. &amp;lt;/span&amp;rt;&amp;lt;/span&amp;rt;

&amp;lt;span style=&quot;font-size:12pt&quot;&amp;rt;&amp;lt;span style=&quot;font-family:Aptos,sans-serif&quot;&amp;rt;While Donald Trump calls himself a dealmaker, he tends to issue ultimatums to secure concessions and then negotiate the details. He imposes tariffs to open other countries&amp;#39; markets and push them to invest in the U.S. &amp;nbsp;Additionally, he threatens to cut federal money to universities based on their handling of antisemitism and breaking civil rights laws by following Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) policies, to enact broader higher education reform unrelated to these issues. &amp;lt;/span&amp;rt;&amp;lt;/span&amp;rt;

&amp;lt;span style=&quot;font-size:12pt&quot;&amp;rt;&amp;lt;span style=&quot;font-family:Aptos,sans-serif&quot;&amp;rt;He also intimidates opponents. He threatens to stop law firms from getting government work if they hire lawyers who oppose his administration. He threatens media companies with lawsuits and investigations to influence coverage of his administration. &amp;nbsp;He pressures Republican lawmakers with threats of primary challenges to pass bills, silence intra-party opponents, and confirm nominees of questionable competence and character. &amp;lt;/span&amp;rt;&amp;lt;/span&amp;rt;

&amp;lt;span style=&quot;font-size:12pt&quot;&amp;rt;&amp;lt;span style=&quot;font-family:Aptos,sans-serif&quot;&amp;rt;Since his threats are often effective, other leaders try to anticipate his reactions and may give in more easily than they would otherwise. This success can make challenging him seem too risky or pointless, which increases his ability to achieve his policy goals. &amp;lt;/span&amp;rt;&amp;lt;/span&amp;rt;

&amp;lt;span style=&quot;font-size:12pt&quot;&amp;rt;&amp;lt;span style=&quot;font-family:Aptos,sans-serif&quot;&amp;rt;However, Trump&amp;rsquo;s coercive tactics have drawbacks. These tactics punish those who do not comply but offer no rewards for cooperation. Politics works best when compromise allows all sides to achieve some of their goals. Coercion, however, creates winners and losers and makes future cooperation harder. &amp;lt;/span&amp;rt;&amp;lt;/span&amp;rt;

&amp;lt;span style=&quot;font-size:12pt&quot;&amp;rt;&amp;lt;span style=&quot;font-family:Aptos,sans-serif&quot;&amp;rt;Relying on coercion often leads to short-term gains instead of long-term benefits. For example, while Trump&amp;rsquo;s tariff policies have increased government revenue, spurred promises of foreign investment, and opened some foreign markets, they have undermined international alliances and damaged our global reputation. These developments cause nations to lessen their reliance on American exports and the dollar as a reserve currency, which could harm the U.S. economy over time.&amp;lt;/span&amp;rt;&amp;lt;/span&amp;rt;

&amp;lt;span style=&quot;font-size:12pt&quot;&amp;rt;&amp;lt;span style=&quot;font-family:Aptos,sans-serif&quot;&amp;rt;As we transition to a multipolar world, we are encouraging Europe to emerge as a rival bloc, which may make achieving our foreign policy goals more difficult. It also prompts China to play Europe against the U.S. in trade negotiations instead of the West presenting a united front to open up China. &amp;lt;/span&amp;rt;&amp;lt;/span&amp;rt;

&amp;lt;span style=&quot;font-size:12pt&quot;&amp;rt;&amp;lt;span style=&quot;font-family:Aptos,sans-serif&quot;&amp;rt;Trump&amp;rsquo;s willingness to tear up trade deals he made in his first term with Japan and South Korea undermines trust and our commitments to other nations. Furthermore, our perceived selfishness decreases our soft power, or global cultural appeal, making it easier for foreign leaders to resist or oppose the U.S. &amp;lt;/span&amp;rt;&amp;lt;/span&amp;rt;

&amp;lt;span style=&quot;font-size:12pt&quot;&amp;rt;&amp;lt;span style=&quot;font-family:Aptos,sans-serif&quot;&amp;rt;Domestically, coercing the institutions of civil society weakens democracy. Democracy relies on a strong, independent civil society to hold the government accountable by mobilizing citizens to oppose the government and providing alternative standards to evaluate government actions. Trump&amp;rsquo;s attacks on colleges, law firms, the media, and other institutions increase their dependence on and responsiveness to the government. Future Democratic administrations could leverage this new power to target conservative institutions such as religious organizations. &amp;lt;/span&amp;rt;&amp;lt;/span&amp;rt;

&amp;lt;span style=&quot;font-size:12pt&quot;&amp;rt;&amp;lt;span style=&quot;font-family:Aptos,sans-serif&quot;&amp;rt;Coercive policies also threaten economic and political stability because changes in the presidency can lead to sharp ideological policy shifts. Frequent, large changes in the business regulatory environment create uncertainty and discourage business investment. Frequent policy reversals undermine the rule of law, erode government legitimacy, and diminish public trust. &amp;lt;/span&amp;rt;&amp;lt;/span&amp;rt;

&amp;lt;span style=&quot;font-size:12pt&quot;&amp;rt;&amp;lt;span style=&quot;font-family:Aptos,sans-serif&quot;&amp;rt;Ultimately, persuasion and coercion are very different tools. Persuasion requires seeing things from various perspectives, recognizing the value in others&amp;#39; viewpoints, negotiating with those who disagree, and compromising when you see they may be right. Persuasion can win the person and the argument while leaving everyone else better off. &amp;lt;/span&amp;rt;&amp;lt;/span&amp;rt;

&amp;lt;span style=&quot;font-size:12pt&quot;&amp;rt;&amp;lt;span style=&quot;font-family:Aptos,sans-serif&quot;&amp;rt;Coercion often assumes one is always right, refuses to engage with others, alienates people, and makes cooperation difficult. Sustained political success ultimately depends on more than threats and intimidation; it requires patience, discipline, humility, and persuasion.&amp;nbsp; &amp;lt;/span&amp;rt;&amp;lt;/span&amp;rt;

This column originally appeared in the Sept. 28th edition of The Jackson Sun
]]></description>
        <link>http://www.uu.edu/dept/politicalscience/blog.cfm?ID=325</link>
		<guid>http://www.uu.edu/dept/politicalscience/blog.cfm?ID=325</guid>
        <author>sevans@uu.edu (Department of Political Science at 91爆料网)</author>
        <pubDate>Thu, 02 Oct 2025 12:56:27 CST</pubDate>
    </item><item>
	<title>Politics Without Winners: Why the Two-Party System is Breaking Down</title>        
        <description><![CDATA[&amp;lt;span style=&quot;font-size:12pt&quot;&amp;rt;&amp;lt;span style=&quot;font-family:Aptos,sans-serif&quot;&amp;rt;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp; The American political party system is dysfunctional. Gallup &quot;https://news.gallup.com/poll/651278/support-third-political-party-dips.aspx&quot; style=&quot;color:#467886; text-decoration:underline&quot;&amp;rt;reports that 58% of Americans, including nearly half of Democrats and Republicans, feel that the two parties poorly represent the American people and seek a third-party option. In &quot;https://www.amazon.com/Unstable-Majorities-Polarization-Political-Stalemate/dp/081792115X&quot; style=&quot;color:#467886; text-decoration:underline&quot;&amp;rt;Unstable Majorities, Morris Fiorina argues that Americans are frustrated because we have shifted from two centrist, coalition-based parties to two highly polarized parties.&amp;lt;/span&amp;rt;&amp;lt;/span&amp;rt;

&amp;lt;span style=&quot;font-size:12pt&quot;&amp;rt;&amp;lt;span style=&quot;font-family:Aptos,sans-serif&quot;&amp;rt;Historically, the United States has had two &amp;ldquo;big tent&amp;rdquo; parties that crossed ideological and geographical boundaries in hopes of creating a lasting national majority. Party leaders made internal compromises to adopt policies and nominate candidates acceptable to their broad and diverse memberships. These compromises fostered pragmatic, centrist policies that appealed to most Americans.&amp;lt;/span&amp;rt;&amp;lt;/span&amp;rt;

&amp;lt;span style=&quot;font-size:12pt&quot;&amp;rt;&amp;lt;span style=&quot;font-family:Aptos,sans-serif&quot;&amp;rt;Today, however, we have two minority parties that lack interest in building a national coalition. This change primarily stems from sorting, as formerly conservative Democrats and liberal Republicans have migrated to the party that best reflects their ideological beliefs. This shift means that the average Democrat and Republican now agree on more issues within their own parties and differ more from their partisan opponents.&amp;lt;/span&amp;rt;&amp;lt;/span&amp;rt;

&amp;lt;span style=&quot;font-size:12pt&quot;&amp;rt;&amp;lt;span style=&quot;font-family:Aptos,sans-serif&quot;&amp;rt;More ideologically consistent parties facilitate easier internal compromise but also lead to more extreme policies, such as the Democrats&amp;rsquo; cultural radicalism on immigration, crime, and race, and the Republicans&amp;rsquo; plutocratic tax policies. This trend also produces more extreme candidates, like Democrats nominating democratic socialist Zohran Mamdani for New York City Mayor and Republicans electing Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene, a conspiracy theorist and self-proclaimed White Nationalist.&amp;lt;/span&amp;rt;&amp;lt;/span&amp;rt;

&amp;lt;span style=&quot;font-size:12pt&quot;&amp;rt;&amp;lt;span style=&quot;font-family:Aptos,sans-serif&quot;&amp;rt;The rise of ideological activists within each party has shifted the party&amp;rsquo;s focus from winning elections to advancing ideological causes. These activists prefer being right over winning and often convince themselves that losing now can lead to a future ideological victory. Since candidates need volunteers and donors, they often move toward the extremes to garner activist support. Even &amp;ldquo;moderates&amp;rdquo; are compelled to support extreme positions or face primary challenges, as Senator Thom Tillis (R-NC) discovered when opposing the Big, Beautiful Bill.&amp;lt;/span&amp;rt;&amp;lt;/span&amp;rt;

&amp;lt;span style=&quot;font-size:12pt&quot;&amp;rt;&amp;lt;span style=&quot;font-family:Aptos,sans-serif&quot;&amp;rt;These changes have resulted in close elections, ideological overreach, and more hardball politics. We are in the most electorally competitive era in American history, with each party capable of winning control of Congress and the White House in every election, and both parties closely balanced inside Congress. &amp;lt;/span&amp;rt;&amp;lt;/span&amp;rt;

&amp;lt;span style=&quot;font-size:12pt&quot;&amp;rt;&amp;lt;span style=&quot;font-family:Aptos,sans-serif&quot;&amp;rt;Unfortunately, close elections tend to push parties toward ideological overreach instead of moderation. When a party controls Congress and the presidency, it often imposes its ideological agenda on the country, expecting to lose Congress in the midterms. This overreach leads to buyer&amp;rsquo;s remorse among Independents, who then swing to the other party in midterms or presidential elections. &amp;lt;/span&amp;rt;&amp;lt;/span&amp;rt;

&amp;lt;span style=&quot;font-size:12pt&quot;&amp;rt;&amp;lt;span style=&quot;font-family:Aptos,sans-serif&quot;&amp;rt;Furthermore, overreach can scare the opposing party into escalating political hardball. For example, the Democrats&amp;rsquo; cultural radicalism and politically inspired prosecutions against Trump are fueling his attacks on liberal colleges, law firms, the federal bureaucracy, and the media that supported these actions. The mutual use of aggressive, uncompromising, and sometimes ruthless politics violates democratic norms and threatens constitutional government. &amp;lt;/span&amp;rt;&amp;lt;/span&amp;rt;

&amp;lt;span style=&quot;font-size:12pt&quot;&amp;rt;&amp;lt;span style=&quot;font-family:Aptos,sans-serif&quot;&amp;rt;Regrettably, neither party has a genuine strategy to become an enduring majority. Democrats believe that demography is destiny. They contend that the growing share of minorities, unmarried women, young people, and college-educated voters will create a multi-racial, multicultural Democratic majority&amp;mdash;hence their focus on identity politics.&amp;lt;/span&amp;rt;&amp;lt;/span&amp;rt;

&amp;lt;span style=&quot;font-size:12pt&quot;&amp;rt;&amp;lt;span style=&quot;font-family:Aptos,sans-serif&quot;&amp;rt;This theory faces several difficulties. First, Democrats still need to secure a significant portion of white voters, especially as they are losing working-class whites, the largest white subgroup. Second, Richard Alba&amp;rsquo;s &quot;https://www.amazon.com/Great-Demographic-Illusion-Expanding-Mainstream/dp/0691201633&quot; style=&quot;color:#467886; text-decoration:underline&quot;&amp;rt;The Great Demographic Illusion demonstrates that America is not becoming a white-versus-minority nation but rather a multiracial nation where many minorities have mixed racial heritage due to intermarriage. These Americans sometimes see themselves as White and sometimes as ethnic, making appeals based solely on ethnicity likely to fail.&amp;lt;/span&amp;rt;&amp;lt;/span&amp;rt;

&amp;lt;span style=&quot;font-size:12pt&quot;&amp;rt;&amp;lt;span style=&quot;font-family:Aptos,sans-serif&quot;&amp;rt;Second, Republicans believe culture and educational attainment have overtaken economics as the key political dividing lines. Trump&amp;rsquo;s economic nationalism and cultural conservatism can appeal to working-class voters across racial lines and foster a multi-racial working-class majority.&amp;lt;/span&amp;rt;&amp;lt;/span&amp;rt;

&amp;lt;span style=&quot;font-size:12pt&quot;&amp;rt;&amp;lt;span style=&quot;font-family:Aptos,sans-serif&quot;&amp;rt;However, this theory also faces problems. First, the GOP&amp;rsquo;s growth among minorities mostly involves conservatives aligning with the party that reflects their views. Second, Trump&amp;rsquo;s focus on white identity politics will likely limit gains among other minorities, who may view the party&amp;rsquo;s attacks on their identities with suspicion. Third, party elites tend to be more economically conservative and oppose Trump&amp;rsquo;s nationalist and populist economic policies. &amp;lt;/span&amp;rt;&amp;lt;/span&amp;rt;

&amp;lt;span style=&quot;font-size:12pt&quot;&amp;rt;&amp;lt;span style=&quot;font-family:Aptos,sans-serif&quot;&amp;rt;&amp;nbsp;Our party system is designed to build broad, national coalitions that reflect a majority. However, our current parties exist to serve an ideological minority. This means we have a politics without winners, as parties alternate in power because they fail to represent most Americans. The party that realizes ideological consistency fails and seeks to broaden itself first will be the next big winner in American politics.&amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp;&amp;lt;/span&amp;rt;&amp;lt;/span&amp;rt;

This column originally appeared online in The Jackson Sun on July 18, 2025
]]></description>
        <link>http://www.uu.edu/dept/politicalscience/blog.cfm?ID=323</link>
		<guid>http://www.uu.edu/dept/politicalscience/blog.cfm?ID=323</guid>
        <author>sevans@uu.edu (Department of Political Science at 91爆料网)</author>
        <pubDate>Fri, 18 Jul 2025 10:45:26 CST</pubDate>
    </item><item>
	<title>The Paradox of Presidential Power</title>        
        <description><![CDATA[&amp;lt;span style=&quot;font-size:12pt&quot;&amp;rt;&amp;lt;span style=&quot;font-family:Aptos,sans-serif&quot;&amp;rt;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp; All presidents face a paradox: the public&amp;#39;s expectations for presidents often exceed the scope of their formal powers. This discrepancy compels them to stretch the limits of executive power to fulfill these expectations. &amp;lt;/span&amp;rt;&amp;lt;/span&amp;rt;

&amp;lt;span style=&quot;font-size:12pt&quot;&amp;rt;&amp;lt;span style=&quot;font-family:Aptos,sans-serif&quot;&amp;rt;We expect presidents to stimulate the economy, promote national interests, resolve crises, console us during tragedies, and solve every conceivable economic, social, and international problem. When they fail to meet these expectations, presidential disapproval rises, and we remove them and their party from office. &amp;lt;/span&amp;rt;&amp;lt;/span&amp;rt;

&amp;lt;span style=&quot;font-size:12pt&quot;&amp;rt;&amp;lt;span style=&quot;font-family:Aptos,sans-serif&quot;&amp;rt;The problem is that the president&amp;rsquo;s formal powers are insufficient to accomplish the tasks at hand. The president&amp;rsquo;s power to propose legislation and appoint officials cannot prod domestic and international actors to do the president&amp;rsquo;s bidding. Consequently, the president takes bold, unilateral action and dares adversaries to stop him. &amp;lt;/span&amp;rt;&amp;lt;/span&amp;rt;

&amp;lt;span style=&quot;font-size:12pt&quot;&amp;rt;&amp;lt;span style=&quot;font-family:Aptos,sans-serif&quot;&amp;rt;Like his predecessors, Trump utilizes constitutional, statutory, and emergency powers as a legal foundation for his actions. First, President Trump argues that &quot;https://constitutioncenter.org/the-constitution/articles/article-ii/clauses/347&quot; style=&quot;color:#467886; text-decoration:underline&quot;&amp;rt;Article II&amp;rsquo;s Vesting Clause grants the president exclusive authority over the executive branch. This means every policymaker in the bureaucracy must act according to Trump&amp;rsquo;s directives. Unlike other presidents, Trump believes this authority encompasses independent regulatory agencies that perform quasi-legislative and quasi-judicial functions. As a result, he has dismissed both career officials with civil service protection and independent agency officials serving fixed terms, while mandating that independent agencies submit their regulations for his approval. &amp;lt;/span&amp;rt;&amp;lt;/span&amp;rt;

&amp;lt;span style=&quot;font-size:12pt&quot;&amp;rt;&amp;lt;span style=&quot;font-family:Aptos,sans-serif&quot;&amp;rt;Second, Congress delegates the president authority to undertake specific actions, such as suspending the entry of dangerous individuals. Third, Trump has declared &quot;https://www.npr.org/2025/06/09/nx-s1-5424666/trump-national-emergencies-democracy-supreme-court-constitution&quot; style=&quot;color:#467886; text-decoration:underline&quot;&amp;rt;eight national emergencies to advance fossil fuel production, curb the flow of fentanyl, construct a border wall, and impose sweeping tariffs. Presidents utilize emergency powers because emergencies heighten public tolerance for sweeping executive action. &amp;lt;/span&amp;rt;&amp;lt;/span&amp;rt;

&amp;lt;span style=&quot;font-size:12pt&quot;&amp;rt;&amp;lt;span style=&quot;font-family:Aptos,sans-serif&quot;&amp;rt;Presidents frequently employ unilateral actions to overcome political gridlock and strengthen their position. Trump is reducing government spending, laying off bureaucrats, deporting illegal immigrants, and initiating trade wars that Congress would likely not approve on its own. Even if Congress did agree, he would have to wait a year or more to act. Instead, he is taking quick and decisive actions to fulfill his campaign promises, which excites his political base.&amp;lt;/span&amp;rt;&amp;lt;/span&amp;rt;

&amp;lt;span style=&quot;font-size:12pt&quot;&amp;rt;&amp;lt;span style=&quot;font-family:Aptos,sans-serif&quot;&amp;rt;Trump is also strategically utilizing unilateral action to shift the terms of debate in politically favorable ways. His most aggressive actions are what Republicans refer to as &amp;ldquo;80-20&amp;rdquo; issues, where the majority of the public aligns with his views. When discussions focus on meritocracy versus equity and affirmative action, combating antisemitism versus pro-Hamas protests, deporting illegal immigrants, men competing in women&amp;#39;s sports, or politically correct universities, Republicans tend to come out on top. Even when Trump overreacts &amp;mdash; as evidenced by his pressure on universities &amp;mdash; he inadvertently strengthens the resolve of other players (e.g., administrators, moderate faculty, alumni, and state legislatures) to push for reforms that advance his goals. &amp;lt;/span&amp;rt;&amp;lt;/span&amp;rt;

&amp;lt;span style=&quot;font-size:12pt&quot;&amp;rt;&amp;lt;span style=&quot;font-family:Aptos,sans-serif&quot;&amp;rt;Despite these actions, there are significant Congressional, bureaucratic, and judicial checks on unilateral power. First, President Trump cannot eliminate any &quot;https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/03/improving-education-outcomes-by-empowering-parents-states-and-communities/&quot; style=&quot;color:#467886; text-decoration:underline&quot;&amp;rt;cabinet department or &quot;https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-doge-cfpb-elon-musk-456b747c367fccbcf3b74d2893cd1a35&quot; style=&quot;color:#467886; text-decoration:underline&quot;&amp;rt;agency, as that authority lies with Congress, and Trump lacks the votes to do so. Moreover, appropriations bills require a supermajority to pass the Senate, which leads the parties to support each other&amp;rsquo;s priorities. Consequently, most spending cuts will likely be restored this year. &amp;lt;/span&amp;rt;&amp;lt;/span&amp;rt;

&amp;lt;span style=&quot;font-size:12pt&quot;&amp;rt;&amp;lt;span style=&quot;font-family:Aptos,sans-serif&quot;&amp;rt;Second, bureaucratic resistance checks unilateral action because the president delegates the implementation of orders to bureaucrats and department heads. This resistance helps explain the failures of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). Although DOGE claims to have cut $&quot;https://doge.gov/savings&quot; style=&quot;color:#467886; text-decoration:underline&quot;&amp;rt;180 billion, this amount is less than Elon Musk&amp;rsquo;s promised $2 trillion reduction. Initially, DOGE implemented broad, indiscriminate cuts, but they soon had to reverse many of these decisions. Subsequently, cabinet secretaries intervened to determine cuts within their departments, which limited DOGE&amp;#39;s authority. &amp;lt;/span&amp;rt;&amp;lt;/span&amp;rt;

&amp;lt;span style=&quot;font-size:12pt&quot;&amp;rt;&amp;lt;span style=&quot;font-family:Aptos,sans-serif&quot;&amp;rt;Third, the &quot;https://apnews.com/projects/trump-executive-order-lawsuit-tracker/&quot; style=&quot;color:#467886; text-decoration:underline&quot;&amp;rt;Associated Press has reported that the courts have either partially or fully blocked 89 executive actions while upholding 49 actions, with 78 cases still pending. Recent Supreme Court decisions on presidential immunity (Trump v. US, 2024) and presidential removal (Seila Law LLC v. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, 2020) suggest the Supreme Court may support Trump&amp;rsquo;s claims to direct the bureaucracy. However, the &amp;ldquo;major questions&amp;rdquo; doctrine (West Virginia v. EPA, 2022) and limits on presidential discretion to interpret laws (Loper Bright Enterprises v. Raimondo, 2024) will likely restrict presidential actions unless Congress provides explicit authorization. &amp;lt;/span&amp;rt;&amp;lt;/span&amp;rt;

&amp;lt;span style=&quot;font-size:12pt&quot;&amp;rt;&amp;lt;span style=&quot;font-family:Aptos,sans-serif&quot;&amp;rt;Finally, presidents check each other and cancel extreme orders. Executive actions that are ideologically moderate, popular, or strongly grounded in the law or constitution are likely to persist. For instance, Trump&amp;rsquo;s orders banning affirmative action align with the Civil Rights Act and constitutional law (Students for Fair Admissions v Harvard, 2023), making them unlikely to be reversed. &amp;lt;/span&amp;rt;&amp;lt;/span&amp;rt;

&amp;lt;span style=&quot;font-size:12pt&quot;&amp;rt;&amp;lt;span style=&quot;font-family:Aptos,sans-serif&quot;&amp;rt;The irony of the paradox of presidential power lies in the fact that the democratic desire to meet public expectations can undermine the separation of powers. However, even when a president stretches boundaries like Trump, we should remain hopeful that our institutional checks and balances will safeguard constitutional governance. &amp;lt;/span&amp;rt;&amp;lt;/span&amp;rt;

This column originally appeared in the online Jackson Sun on June 13, 2025
]]></description>
        <link>http://www.uu.edu/dept/politicalscience/blog.cfm?ID=322</link>
		<guid>http://www.uu.edu/dept/politicalscience/blog.cfm?ID=322</guid>
        <author>sevans@uu.edu (Department of Political Science at 91爆料网)</author>
        <pubDate>Fri, 13 Jun 2025 16:35:14 CST</pubDate>
    </item><item>
	<title>Trump's Progressive Presidency</title>        
        <description><![CDATA[&amp;lt;span style=&quot;font-size:12pt&quot;&amp;rt;&amp;lt;span style=&quot;font-family:Aptos,sans-serif&quot;&amp;rt;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp; The irony of the Donald Trump presidency is that he is using the progressive presidency to attack progressivism. As Democrats used executive action to advance liberal ends, &quot;https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2025/04/01/ponnuru-trump-federal-funding-leverage/&quot; style=&quot;color:#467886; text-decoration:underline&quot;&amp;rt;Trump is using executive action to advance conservative ends. As progressives realize the problems with the progressive presidency, hopefully, we can restore our Founders&amp;rsquo; constitutional vision. &amp;lt;/span&amp;rt;&amp;lt;/span&amp;rt;

&amp;lt;span style=&quot;font-size:12pt&quot;&amp;rt;&amp;lt;span style=&quot;font-family:Aptos,sans-serif&quot;&amp;rt;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp; Our Founders created the Constitution to build consensus and prevent tyranny of the majority. In &quot;https://avalon.law.yale.edu/18th_century/fed10.asp&quot; style=&quot;color:#467886; text-decoration:underline&quot;&amp;rt;Federalist #10, James Madison argued that a large republic would create a diversity of interests that would make it difficult for any one group or faction to be large enough to win power and impose its will. &amp;lt;/span&amp;rt;&amp;lt;/span&amp;rt;

&amp;lt;span style=&quot;font-size:12pt&quot;&amp;rt;&amp;lt;span style=&quot;font-family:Aptos,sans-serif&quot;&amp;rt;&amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp;Furthermore, he argued in &quot;https://avalon.law.yale.edu/18th_century/fed51.asp&quot; style=&quot;color:#467886; text-decoration:underline&quot;&amp;rt;Federalist #51&amp;nbsp;that the separation of powers would divide governmental authority among the three branches, and the institutional &amp;ldquo;ambition&amp;rdquo; of each branch would check and restrain the other branches&amp;rsquo; &amp;ldquo;ambition.&amp;rdquo;&amp;nbsp; &amp;lt;/span&amp;rt;&amp;lt;/span&amp;rt;

&amp;lt;span style=&quot;font-size:12pt&quot;&amp;rt;&amp;lt;span style=&quot;font-family:Aptos,sans-serif&quot;&amp;rt;&amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp;This system would also force groups to negotiate and compromise to pass legislation, just as the Founders compromised to create and ratify the Constitution. As Yuval Levin has recently &quot;https://www.amazon.com/American-Covenant-Constitution-Unified-Nation_and/dp/0465040748/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1YFDS6LFV4FEP&amp;amp;dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.ND6S4FNop46EqJnWXKL3aG7MOiNnIMwquxpZK5XFbfTzKR2YHjYL7DqJvlRV0NmpDVR7NkmQ8ieGtc6DlqyXtxyUAcFc9bve4QY-SuGleFPQk3phZtxJOlib0T7ncWjxr47yeosyoRVzqkfKhd9dc2Sh6S6F1zvCYD06qKN_XIP0zAzWo_BROd6hey7aMmKyZaEQAIPzwQX5z2NlREZmjQ.ZC7_wUM5vzHbmiZJbSNXcj_gG6n8iWogf1GjHheUlH0&amp;amp;dib_tag=se&amp;amp;keywords=levin+american+covenant&amp;amp;qid=1744738028&amp;amp;s=books&amp;amp;sprefix=levin+american+covenant%2Cstripbooks%2C77&amp;amp;sr=1-1&quot; style=&quot;color:#467886; text-decoration:underline&quot;&amp;rt;argued in American Covenant, the system requires narrow majorities to broaden themselves before empowering them to act. The more powerful group would be forced to compromise with other groups so that all could &amp;ldquo;win&amp;rdquo; something in the negotiation and broaden the coalition. This incremental policymaking creates stable and enduring bipartisan policy. &amp;lt;/span&amp;rt;&amp;lt;/span&amp;rt;

&amp;lt;span style=&quot;font-size:12pt&quot;&amp;rt;&amp;lt;span style=&quot;font-family:Aptos,sans-serif&quot;&amp;rt;&amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; The president, then, according to Alexander Hamilton in &quot;https://avalon.law.yale.edu/18th_century/fed70.asp&quot; style=&quot;color:#467886; text-decoration:underline&quot;&amp;rt;Federalist #70, would be a force of stability because the president has the &amp;ldquo;energy&amp;rdquo; to protect against injustice and secure liberty from factions. Indirect election via the Electoral College ensures the president would be representative of the people, but not necessarily responsive to them. Thus, the Founders gave the president sufficient constitutional power to withstand public pressure and pursue steady administration. &amp;lt;/span&amp;rt;&amp;lt;/span&amp;rt;

&amp;lt;span style=&quot;font-size:12pt&quot;&amp;rt;&amp;lt;span style=&quot;font-family:Aptos,sans-serif&quot;&amp;rt;&amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp;However, Jeffrey Tullis in &quot;https://www.amazon.com/Rhetorical-Presidency-Princeton-Paperbacks/dp/069102295X&quot; style=&quot;color:#467886; text-decoration:underline&quot;&amp;rt;The Rhetorical Presidency shows that Woodrow Wilson and progressives saw the separated powers system as a threat to progressive policy goals. Wilson wanted to update the Constitution by using parties to overcome Congressional obstacles to promote effective governance. The president would become the leader of his party, integrate the president and Congress, and turn our system into something resembling a parliamentary system. &amp;lt;/span&amp;rt;&amp;lt;/span&amp;rt;

&amp;lt;span style=&quot;font-size:12pt&quot;&amp;rt;&amp;lt;span style=&quot;font-family:Aptos,sans-serif&quot;&amp;rt;&amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; The president would rely on his national mandate as the only nationally elected figure to pursue his policies. In the election, presidential candidates would raise public discussions to the level of major principles to educate the public. The president would then recognize the majority&amp;rsquo;s sentiment and explain the public&amp;rsquo;s desires in a way they could understand. This majority sentiment would be one voice, the public interest, because Wilson saw Madison&amp;rsquo;s diverse interests as favored groups using their position to write their preferences into law. &amp;lt;/span&amp;rt;&amp;lt;/span&amp;rt;

&amp;lt;span style=&quot;font-size:12pt&quot;&amp;rt;&amp;lt;span style=&quot;font-family:Aptos,sans-serif&quot;&amp;rt;&amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp;The problem is that presidents interpret majority sentiment to be whatever they believe. In this age of elite polarization, it is always something too liberal or conservative. Today, interpretation promotes ideological overreach and the danger of abuse from a demagogue. &amp;lt;/span&amp;rt;&amp;lt;/span&amp;rt;

&amp;lt;span style=&quot;font-size:12pt&quot;&amp;rt;&amp;lt;span style=&quot;font-family:Aptos,sans-serif&quot;&amp;rt;&amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp;The modern innovation of the progressive presidency is expansive executive power because Congressional polarization prevents legislative solutions. Bill Clinton and Barack Obama popularized executive action with their &amp;ldquo;&quot;https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB945818601141853968&quot; style=&quot;color:#467886; text-decoration:underline&quot;&amp;rt;stroke of a pen, law of the land&amp;rdquo; and &amp;ldquo;&quot;https://www.politico.com/story/2014/01/obama-state-of-the-union-2014-strategy-102151&quot; style=&quot;color:#467886; text-decoration:underline&quot;&amp;rt;I have a pen and phone and will use them&amp;rdquo; quotes. We see this recently as Biden imposed a COVID-19 vaccine mandate, tried to forgive $475 billion in student loan debts, and violated the spirit of immigration law with his &amp;ldquo;open borders&amp;rdquo; policy. &amp;lt;/span&amp;rt;&amp;lt;/span&amp;rt;

&amp;lt;span style=&quot;font-size:12pt&quot;&amp;rt;&amp;lt;span style=&quot;font-family:Aptos,sans-serif&quot;&amp;rt;&amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; Trump&amp;rsquo;s populism fits well with the progressive presidency. He sees one interest &amp;ndash; the people&amp;rsquo;s interest &amp;ndash; contrary to the corrupt elite, and he claims his policies reflect that interest. His election victory justifies all of his actions, as Karoline Leavitt, his press secretary, repeatedly claims, &amp;ldquo;The president is doing what the people elected him to do.&amp;rdquo; Congress&amp;rsquo;s acceptance of his executive actions, instead of legislation, validates his actions. &amp;lt;/span&amp;rt;&amp;lt;/span&amp;rt;

&amp;lt;span style=&quot;font-size:12pt&quot;&amp;rt;&amp;lt;span style=&quot;font-family:Aptos,sans-serif&quot;&amp;rt;&amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp;Trump is now using executive action on steroids. He has signed &quot;https://ballotpedia.org/Donald_Trump%27s_executive_orders_and_actions,_2025&quot; style=&quot;color:#467886; text-decoration:underline&quot;&amp;rt;150 executive orders, 39 memoranda, &amp;nbsp;and 50 proclamations, but only five laws. These 150 executive orders in 100 days are almost the same number that Obama signed in his first term. Many of these executive orders are perfectly legal, but others are unconstitutional, constitutionally suspect, and unwise. The unwise are like his attacks on universities. Trump has some legitimate concerns, but uses the wrong means to address them. A president who uses possible &quot;https://www.thefp.com/p/is-donald-trump-breaking-the-law&quot; style=&quot;color:#467886; text-decoration:underline&quot;&amp;rt;extortion to change liberal universities can do the same to conservative ones. &amp;lt;/span&amp;rt;&amp;lt;/span&amp;rt;

&amp;lt;span style=&quot;font-size:12pt&quot;&amp;rt;&amp;lt;span style=&quot;font-family:Aptos,sans-serif&quot;&amp;rt;&amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp;Regardless, one president should never be able to unilaterally launch trade wars, deny due process to deport migrants, bull-DOGE the administrative state, create/eliminate DEI programs in public and private institutions, and force reforms on universities, law firms, corporations, and the media. &amp;lt;/span&amp;rt;&amp;lt;/span&amp;rt;

&amp;lt;span style=&quot;font-size:12pt&quot;&amp;rt;&amp;lt;span style=&quot;font-family:Aptos,sans-serif&quot;&amp;rt;&amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp;This rule by presidential decree strikes at the heart of our constitutional system, which privileges Congress. And it is contrary to steady administration, as policy changes drastically with a change in presidential administrations. &amp;lt;/span&amp;rt;&amp;lt;/span&amp;rt;

&amp;lt;span style=&quot;font-size:12pt&quot;&amp;rt;&amp;lt;span style=&quot;font-family:Aptos,sans-serif&quot;&amp;rt;&amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; In the short term, the courts will restrain Trump&amp;rsquo;s overreach. But in the long term, a restoration of the constitutional system will require Congress to flex its muscles and the parties to compromise with each other, so we can solve our problems. &amp;lt;/span&amp;rt;&amp;lt;/span&amp;rt;

This originally appeared in the May 11th edition of the Jackson Sun
]]></description>
        <link>http://www.uu.edu/dept/politicalscience/blog.cfm?ID=321</link>
		<guid>http://www.uu.edu/dept/politicalscience/blog.cfm?ID=321</guid>
        <author>sevans@uu.edu (Department of Political Science at 91爆料网)</author>
        <pubDate>Mon, 12 May 2025 15:34:09 CST</pubDate>
    </item><item>
	<title>Illiberal But Weak Liberalism</title>        
        <description><![CDATA[One of the major debates between Reagan conservatives and Trump conservatives is whether we live in normal or revolutionary times. Trump conservatives believe the left is using its command of major social institutions to impose totalitarian multiculturalism. This threat demands an immediate and aggressive response to defeat that authoritarianism. While the Trump conservatives&amp;rsquo; assessment of progressive control of institutions is correct, they make a mistake by overestimating the left&amp;rsquo;s power and thus overreact.

First, progressivism clearly exerts disproportionate influence over major social institutions. Federal government bureaucrats, academics, journalists, and the entertainment industry are disproportionately liberal, while corporate America has moved left, especially on social issues.

Second, these institutions advance progressive causes. Progressives, for example, use the government to advance DEI, coerce transgender bathroom policies, prevent schools from telling parents their child is transgender, and teach transgender theory to kindergartners.

Universities teach that U.S. history and institutions are predominantly about racism and oppression. The entertainment industry normalizes LGBTQ+ behavior and portrays religion more negatively and evangelicals as hypocritical and judgmental. The American Bar Association (ABA) supports a broad range of liberal policies and uses accreditation policies to push law schools to the left. Finally, corporate America has adopted progressive racial, environmental, and social policies.

Third, progressives sometimes use illiberal means to advance their cause. Progressives &amp;ldquo;cancel&amp;rdquo; conservative speakers because free speech is a tool of the dominant class, and we need to hear the voices of the disadvantaged. Progressives harass dissenters to the LGBTQ+ agenda and call religious opponents bigots, which makes it easier to punish them. Corporate America has tried to blackmail states into opposing conservative transgender and voting policies through economic boycotts. Progressive presidents selectively enforce drug and immigration laws and use the administrative state to impose major policies Congress will not approve. They challenge the right of parents to raise their children. Progressives try to sideline or override religion, the one major institution they do not control.

From this perspective, the Trump Administration&amp;rsquo;s actions make sense. They are bull-DOGEing the administrative state, repealing DEI mandates, restricting transgenderism, coercing universities to change, punishing liberal law firms, challenging the liberal media, taking over cultural institutions, and deporting illegal immigrants. At a minimum, these actions are designed to force these institutions to become neutral in the culture wars. At best, government action will reshape the culture and promote more conservative ideas.

There are several problems with the conservative assessment. First, the left is not as powerful as some conservatives believe. Progressives compose about 29% of the public and cannot coerce the other 70%. Thus, the nation repeatedly rejects progressive overreach at the ballot box.

History shows the most successful social movements, like the Civil Rights Movement, are based on widely accepted American ideas such as liberty, equality, and&amp;nbsp;

self-government. Those movements that seek to overturn the system run counter to these cultural ideals, are seen as less legitimate, and are likely to fail.

Furthermore, major institutions are less trusted and less powerful than ever before. College students are more ideologically diverse than their professors. They are very adept at recognizing biased professors, writing what they think the professor wants for a grade, and ridiculing the professor and ideas outside of class. Woke entertainment fails at the box office, a &amp;ldquo;high choice&amp;rdquo; media environment allows people to view media that reflects their interests, and more conservative news and entertainment outlets are emerging. A politicized bar association is losing members and influence.

Second, recent history shows progressivism is not inevitable because it repeatedly discredits itself. Progressive criminal justice legislation like defunding the police, bail reform, and not prosecuting certain crimes backfires. Even progressive jurisdictions oust progressive prosecutors. Corporations are rolling back DEI policies due to legal and political pressure. Liberal legal advocacy led to a conservative counterrevolution that mainstreamed originalism and created conservative legal groups to fight the left. Research shows that wokeism rises and falls, does not change many minds, has little substantive impact, and creates a backlash that benefits conservatives.

Third, fighting illiberalism with illiberalism only leads to more illiberalism. Trump&amp;rsquo;s aggressive executive actions are likely to be met by more aggressive actions by the next Democratic president. However, those actions will be aimed at conservative groups. This will not end well for anyone.

Revolutionary times may call for revolutionary actions, but these are not revolutionary times. Trump should follow the lead of conservative states legislating against progressive overreach through innovative reforms that ban DEI, reform higher education, protect girls, empower parents, and expand school choice. By building coalitions to pass legislation, they produce more enduring reforms than executive orders that a new president can revoke.

Submitted to The Jackson Sun&amp;nbsp;on April 24, 2025
]]></description>
        <link>http://www.uu.edu/dept/politicalscience/blog.cfm?ID=328</link>
		<guid>http://www.uu.edu/dept/politicalscience/blog.cfm?ID=328</guid>
        <author>sevans@uu.edu (Department of Political Science at 91爆料网)</author>
        <pubDate>Fri, 25 Apr 2025 17:07:04 CST</pubDate>
    </item><item>
	<title>The Mandate Trap</title>        
        <description><![CDATA[&amp;lt;span style=&quot;font-size:11pt&quot;&amp;rt;&amp;lt;span style=&quot;font-family:Aptos,sans-serif&quot;&amp;rt;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp; On election night, Donald Trump said, &amp;ldquo;America has given us an unprecedented and powerful mandate.&amp;quot; This comment shows Trump, like many presidents before him, is falling prey to the mandate trap. In the mandate trap, the candidate wins because the incumbent is unpopular but thinks his victory is an endorsement of his policies. The win makes him overconfident and leads to ideological overreach which makes him unpopular. &amp;lt;/span&amp;rt;&amp;lt;/span&amp;rt;

&amp;lt;span style=&quot;font-size:11pt&quot;&amp;rt;&amp;lt;span style=&quot;font-family:Aptos,sans-serif&quot;&amp;rt;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp; Presidents claim mandates from the people to justify their actions and persuade Congress to pass their bills. But to claim a mandate, presidents need to clearly communicate their policies, voters must vote based on those policies, and the president must win overwhelmingly and bring many co-partisans to Congress. Trump was only clear on what he would do. He lacks a mandate because of his narrow victory, minimal coattails, and public opposition to many policies. &amp;lt;/span&amp;rt;&amp;lt;/span&amp;rt;

&amp;lt;span style=&quot;font-size:11pt&quot;&amp;rt;&amp;lt;span style=&quot;font-family:Aptos,sans-serif&quot;&amp;rt;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp; Trump&amp;rsquo;s claim to a mandate rests on his winning all seven swing states and the popular vote. The sweep of the swing states is impressive and explains Trump winning 58% of the Electoral College vote. However, while Trump won the popular vote, he did not win a majority (49.9%). His 1.5% margin over Vice President Harris ranks 43&amp;lt;sup&amp;rt;rd&amp;lt;/sup&amp;rt; out of the last fifty presidential elections while his Electoral College vote ranks 35&amp;lt;sup&amp;rt;th&amp;lt;/sup&amp;rt;. No majority vote and a close election is not a mandate. &amp;lt;/span&amp;rt;&amp;lt;/span&amp;rt;

&amp;lt;span style=&quot;font-size:11pt&quot;&amp;rt;&amp;lt;span style=&quot;font-family:Aptos,sans-serif&quot;&amp;rt;Trump also lacks coattails. Republicans gained four Senate seats but three were from red states they should win. Republicans only won one of the five swing state Senate seats (Pennsylvania). House Republicans lost one seat and will have the smallest majority since 1931. &amp;lt;/span&amp;rt;&amp;lt;/span&amp;rt;

&amp;lt;span style=&quot;font-size:11pt&quot;&amp;rt;&amp;lt;span style=&quot;font-family:Aptos,sans-serif&quot;&amp;rt;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp; Fox News Exit Polls &quot;https://www.foxnews.com/elections/2024/general-results/voter-analysis&quot; style=&quot;color:#467886; text-decoration:underline&quot;&amp;rt;suggest that Trump primarily won because 42% of Americans approved of the Biden-Harris Administration and 70% of Americans thought America was headed in the wrong direction. While 52% thought Trump had the right policies, Americans only favored his policies on the economy, immigration, crime, and free speech. Most Americans preferred Democrats on women&amp;rsquo;s rights, abortion, race, health care, vaccines, providing aid to Ukraine, guns, energy, climate change, and the role of government. Yet, even in the areas where Americans trust Trump more, a majority oppose deporting most immigrants, and Americans are split on tariffs. &amp;lt;/span&amp;rt;&amp;lt;/span&amp;rt;

&amp;lt;span style=&quot;font-size:11pt&quot;&amp;rt;&amp;lt;span style=&quot;font-family:Aptos,sans-serif&quot;&amp;rt;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp; Trump&amp;rsquo;s victory was surely personally gratifying after two impeachments, a felony conviction, an assassination attempt, and other indictments. However, he lacks a broad policy mandate. At most, he has a mandate to reduce inflation, secure the border, reform asylum laws, and cut government waste. If he prioritizes these issues and delivers positive results, Trump and the GOP will reap the political benefit. However, if he goes full MAGA, Trump&amp;rsquo;s support will decline because only &quot;https://www.foxnews.com/elections/2024/general-results/voter-analysis&quot; style=&quot;color:#467886; text-decoration:underline&quot;&amp;rt;36% of Americans identify with MAGA. &amp;lt;/span&amp;rt;&amp;lt;/span&amp;rt;

&amp;lt;span style=&quot;font-size:11pt&quot;&amp;rt;&amp;lt;span style=&quot;font-family:Aptos,sans-serif&quot;&amp;rt;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp; Trump should learn from President Biden who misread his mandate. Biden won the election due to Trump fatigue and the COVID pandemic. Democrats lost 13 House seats but won the Senate because Trump&amp;rsquo;s lies about stolen votes depressed the Republican vote in Georgia and led Democrats to win two Senate seats in a runoff. With this modest victory, Biden decided to be a transformational president who spent $3.6 trillion on Democratic environmental, health, and social priorities, tried to kill the filibuster to pass progressive legislation, pursued open borders, and pushed very liberal social policy. The resulting backlash was predictable. &amp;lt;/span&amp;rt;&amp;lt;/span&amp;rt;

&amp;lt;span style=&quot;font-size:11pt&quot;&amp;rt;&amp;lt;span style=&quot;font-family:Aptos,sans-serif&quot;&amp;rt;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp; The secret to winning elections is simple. If you deliver on the core economic and social priorities of most Americans, you win. If you focus on the narrow ideological demands of party activists, you lose. If Trump does the former, he can solidify and increase his support and make the GOP the governing majority. If he does the latter, as many of his cabinet appointments suggest, he will fall into the mandate trap, lose popularity, and return Democrats to power. &amp;lt;/span&amp;rt;&amp;lt;/span&amp;rt;

&amp;lt;span style=&quot;font-size:11pt&quot;&amp;rt;&amp;lt;span style=&quot;font-family:Aptos,sans-serif&quot;&amp;rt;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp; &amp;lt;/span&amp;rt;&amp;lt;/span&amp;rt;This column appeared in the December 30th edition of The Jackson Sun
]]></description>
        <link>http://www.uu.edu/dept/politicalscience/blog.cfm?ID=320</link>
		<guid>http://www.uu.edu/dept/politicalscience/blog.cfm?ID=320</guid>
        <author>sevans@uu.edu (Department of Political Science at 91爆料网)</author>
        <pubDate>Mon, 30 Dec 2024 11:01:14 CST</pubDate>
    </item><item>
	<title>Escaping the Partisan Doom Loop</title>        
        <description><![CDATA[&amp;lt;span style=&quot;font-size:11pt&quot;&amp;rt;&amp;lt;span style=&quot;font-family:Aptos,sans-serif&quot;&amp;rt;After the failed assassination attempt on Donald Trump this weekend, many people are highlighting our toxic political discourse as a possible cause. But if we are to successfully lower the political temperature, we need to understand how the political culture became so toxic first. &amp;lt;/span&amp;rt;&amp;lt;/span&amp;rt;

&amp;lt;span style=&quot;font-size:11pt&quot;&amp;rt;&amp;lt;span style=&quot;font-family:Aptos,sans-serif&quot;&amp;rt;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp; In the 1970s, the two major parties began to &quot;https://press.uchicago.edu/ucp/books/book/chicago/P/bo8212972.html&quot; style=&quot;color:#467886; text-decoration:underline&quot;&amp;rt;sort or align with the party that reflected their ideological interests. Liberals moved to the Democratic Party and conservatives moved to the Republican Party. This led the parties to offer more distinct positions on polarizing cultural issues. Voters noticed and began to &quot;https://press.uchicago.edu/ucp/books/book/chicago/U/bo27527354.html&quot; style=&quot;color:#467886; text-decoration:underline&quot;&amp;rt;sort based on race and religion. Democrats became the party of minorities, liberals, and seculars while Republicans became the party of Whites, conservatives, and the religiously observant. &amp;lt;/span&amp;rt;&amp;lt;/span&amp;rt;

&amp;lt;span style=&quot;font-size:11pt&quot;&amp;rt;&amp;lt;span style=&quot;font-family:Aptos,sans-serif&quot;&amp;rt;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp; The result of this sorting is that we have fewer cross-cutting identities. Fifty years ago, one could be conservative and a Democrat. These competing identities muted our political identity because different identities pushed us in different political directions. &amp;nbsp;These cross-pressures also helped us see political opponents as normal people because we interacted with those individuals. &amp;lt;/span&amp;rt;&amp;lt;/span&amp;rt;

&amp;lt;span style=&quot;font-size:11pt&quot;&amp;rt;&amp;lt;span style=&quot;font-family:Aptos,sans-serif&quot;&amp;rt;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp; Today, social sorting means that our ideological, racial, and cultural identity align with our political identity making party affiliation our primary social identity. Instead of cross-cutting pressures, our identities reinforce our partisanship. Moreover, knowing the other groups in our and the other party signals who are our allies and opponents.&amp;nbsp; Naturally, we tend to favor our group and oppose the other group. &amp;lt;/span&amp;rt;&amp;lt;/span&amp;rt;

&amp;lt;span style=&quot;font-size:11pt&quot;&amp;rt;&amp;lt;span style=&quot;font-family:Aptos,sans-serif&quot;&amp;rt;This sorting begins the &quot;https://global.oup.com/academic/product/breaking-the-two-party-doom-loop-9780190913854?cc=us&amp;amp;lang=en&quot; style=&quot;color:#467886; text-decoration:underline&quot;&amp;rt;partisan doom loop of increasingly more extreme language and calls for radical action. As the two parties continue to take opposing positions on issues, the more different the other side appears. This difference makes who wins more important which raises the stakes of politics. Slowly, our &quot;https://www.amazon.com/Righteous-Mind-Divided-Politics-Religion/dp/0307455777&quot; style=&quot;color:#467886; text-decoration:underline&quot;&amp;rt;emotions begin to dominate our rational thinking. We begin viewing our political opponents as extremists but progressively come to see them as enemies and threats which makes it easier to dehumanize them. &amp;lt;/span&amp;rt;&amp;lt;/span&amp;rt;

&amp;lt;p style=&quot;text-align:center&quot;&amp;rt;&amp;lt;span style=&quot;font-size:11pt&quot;&amp;rt;&amp;lt;span style=&quot;font-family:Aptos,sans-serif&quot;&amp;rt;&amp;lt;img alt=&quot;The partisan doom loop that explains how polarization leads partisans to view the other party as a threat which is then used to justify radical political action.
&quot; 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style=&quot;height:342px; width:375px&quot; /&amp;rt;&amp;lt;/span&amp;rt;&amp;lt;/span&amp;rt;

&amp;lt;span style=&quot;font-size:11pt&quot;&amp;rt;&amp;lt;span style=&quot;font-family:Aptos,sans-serif&quot;&amp;rt;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp; Moreover, both sides live in different media echo chambers that provide different political &amp;ldquo;facts&amp;rdquo; and reinforce the insular &amp;ldquo;us-versus-them&amp;rdquo; thinking. We can no longer agree to disagree and compromise because everything is an &amp;ldquo;existential&amp;rdquo; threat. Compromise is weakness and giving in to the enemy. Instead, our side must win. Otherwise, our democracy and nation will radically change. This fear justifies more radical action to enact one&amp;rsquo;s policies and stop the other side from winning. &amp;lt;/span&amp;rt;&amp;lt;/span&amp;rt;

&amp;lt;span style=&quot;font-size:11pt&quot;&amp;rt;&amp;lt;span style=&quot;font-family:Aptos,sans-serif&quot;&amp;rt;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp; Democrats see Trump and MAGA voters as a threat to democracy because Trump lied about winning in 2020 and tried to prevent the transfer of power on January 6&amp;lt;sup&amp;rt;th&amp;lt;/sup&amp;rt;, Republicans are suppressing the vote via photo voter ID, a conservative Supreme Court is taking away rights and protecting Trump, and Project 2025 is an authoritarian roadmap. If you believe this, then it is logical to pack the Supreme Court, nationalize election laws, and end the filibuster to pass a partisan agenda. &amp;lt;/span&amp;rt;&amp;lt;/span&amp;rt;

&amp;lt;span style=&quot;font-size:11pt&quot;&amp;rt;&amp;lt;span style=&quot;font-family:Aptos,sans-serif&quot;&amp;rt;Republicans see Democrats weaponizing government through multiple prosecutions of Trump, changing the voting rules in 2020 to maximize Democratic votes, refusing to enforce laws they oppose, imposing &amp;ldquo;woke&amp;rdquo; ideology on Americans, and using a Deep State to thwart Trump&amp;rsquo;s will. If you believe this, Republicans should fire 10,000 federal employees and replace them with Trump loyalists, prosecute Biden and other Democrats, deport millions of illegal immigrants, and enforce traditional morality. &amp;lt;/span&amp;rt;&amp;lt;/span&amp;rt;

&amp;lt;span style=&quot;font-size:11pt&quot;&amp;rt;&amp;lt;span style=&quot;font-family:Aptos,sans-serif&quot;&amp;rt;While most people reject these hyperbolic claims, the most politically involved are trapped in the doom loop and are more likely to accept them. Unfortunately, these individuals have the most influence in politics. &amp;lt;/span&amp;rt;&amp;lt;/span&amp;rt;

&amp;lt;span style=&quot;font-size:11pt&quot;&amp;rt;&amp;lt;span style=&quot;font-family:Aptos,sans-serif&quot;&amp;rt;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp; The problem is that escalating polarization actually threatens democracy. The two most important &quot;https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/562246/how-democracies-die-by-steven-levitsky-and-daniel-ziblatt/&quot; style=&quot;color:#467886; text-decoration:underline&quot;&amp;rt;norms of democracy are recognizing the legitimacy of one&amp;rsquo;s opponents (mutual toleration) and leaders not abusing their powers, even when it is legal (institutional forbearance). Yet, when the other side is an existential threat, they must be stopped at all costs. Once this mentality takes over, polarization spirals until democracy breaks down. &amp;lt;/span&amp;rt;&amp;lt;/span&amp;rt;

&amp;lt;span style=&quot;font-size:11pt&quot;&amp;rt;&amp;lt;span style=&quot;font-family:Aptos,sans-serif&quot;&amp;rt;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp; So, how do we escape the doom loop? We need to find ways to interact with political opponents in non-competitive environments so we can see them as human. We need to read and watch political news from differing political perspectives to hear other points of view, so &amp;ldquo;facts&amp;rdquo; are not relative. The media needs to stop &amp;ldquo;&quot;https://www.logicallyfallacious.com/logicalfallacies/nutpicking-fallacy.html&quot; style=&quot;color:#467886; text-decoration:underline&quot;&amp;rt;nutpicking&amp;rdquo; by focusing on the most extreme members (e.g., the Squad and Marjorie Taylor Green) as representatives of the party. We need to focus on meta-identities like American so we can see opposing partisans as opponents instead of enemies. We could also consider &quot;https://global.oup.com/academic/product/breaking-the-two-party-doom-loop-9780190913854?cc=us&amp;amp;lang=en&quot; style=&quot;color:#467886; text-decoration:underline&quot;&amp;rt;multi-member legislative districts so a more ideologically diverse group of citizens could represent us instead of extreme partisans. &amp;lt;/span&amp;rt;&amp;lt;/span&amp;rt;

&amp;lt;span style=&quot;font-size:11pt&quot;&amp;rt;&amp;lt;span style=&quot;font-family:Aptos,sans-serif&quot;&amp;rt;One benefit of democracy is that we resolve our conflicts with ballots, not bullets. For all our sakes, we need to escape the partisan doom loop and tone down our political language. &amp;lt;/span&amp;rt;&amp;lt;/span&amp;rt;

&amp;nbsp;
]]></description>
        <link>http://www.uu.edu/dept/politicalscience/blog.cfm?ID=324</link>
		<guid>http://www.uu.edu/dept/politicalscience/blog.cfm?ID=324</guid>
        <author>sevans@uu.edu (Department of Political Science at 91爆料网)</author>
        <pubDate>Tue, 16 Jul 2024 16:35:29 CST</pubDate>
    </item><item>
	<title>The Perils of Partisan Teamsmanship</title>        
        <description><![CDATA[&amp;lt;span style=&quot;font-size:11pt&quot;&amp;rt;&amp;lt;span style=&quot;font-family:Aptos,sans-serif&quot;&amp;rt;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp; Few people were surprised by President Biden&amp;rsquo;s poor debate performance. For four years, Americans have seen Biden visibly age via verbal miscues, feet shuffling, blank stares, and more. Biden&amp;rsquo;s own White House implicitly acknowledged this through a light daily schedule, infrequent public appearances, the overuse of teleprompters and note cards, and restrictions on press interactions. His age is why &quot;https://www.axios.com/2023/09/05/biden-poll-age-economy-concerns-2024-election&quot; style=&quot;color:#467886; text-decoration:underline&quot;&amp;rt;73% of Americans and &quot;https://www.axios.com/2023/09/07/poll-biden-2024-second-term-democrat-voters-cnn&quot; style=&quot;color:#467886; text-decoration:underline&quot;&amp;rt;two-thirds of Democrats did not want him to run for reelection. So, why are Democrats just now publicly discussing replacing Biden in the 2024 campaign? &amp;lt;/span&amp;rt;&amp;lt;/span&amp;rt;

&amp;lt;span style=&quot;font-size:11pt&quot;&amp;rt;&amp;lt;span style=&quot;font-family:Aptos,sans-serif&quot;&amp;rt;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp; The pre-debate rallying around Biden reflects what Princeton&amp;rsquo;s Frances Lee calls &amp;ldquo;&quot;https://press.uchicago.edu/ucp/books/book/chicago/B/bo8158910.html&quot; style=&quot;color:#467886; text-decoration:underline&quot;&amp;rt;teamsmanship.&amp;rdquo;&amp;nbsp; Teamsmanship leads partisans to side with their co-partisans and leaders, even on matters on which they disagree, to bolster the party&amp;rsquo;s collective prospects in the next election. All candidates are concerned about the party brand because most people vote a straight party ticket. This explains why parties pass laws to improve their party brand and the opposition opposes and attacks the governing party to tarnish their brand. &amp;lt;/span&amp;rt;&amp;lt;/span&amp;rt;

&amp;lt;span style=&quot;font-size:11pt&quot;&amp;rt;&amp;lt;span style=&quot;font-family:Aptos,sans-serif&quot;&amp;rt;It also means partisans do not challenge the party&amp;rsquo;s president because his performance and approval determine the party&amp;#39;s brand. If co-partisans criticize the president, it signals independents and co-partisans that the president, and thus the party, is divided, incompetent, or ineffective. This signal may depress the vote of co-partisans and encourage independents to vote for the opposing party. &amp;lt;/span&amp;rt;&amp;lt;/span&amp;rt;

&amp;lt;span style=&quot;font-size:11pt&quot;&amp;rt;&amp;lt;span style=&quot;font-family:Aptos,sans-serif&quot;&amp;rt;This teamsmanship is reinforced through several factors. First, intense electorate competition means either party can win the White House or control of Congress at each election which makes criticism electoral risky. Second, partisan ideological polarization means losing may result in unacceptable policy outcomes. &amp;nbsp;Third, candidates rely on ideological activists and donors to win primaries and fear being punished for criticizing the president. Finally, the rise of partisan media reinforces partisan cues and attacks those who criticize the president as apostates which can lead to the candidate&amp;rsquo;s defeat. &amp;lt;/span&amp;rt;&amp;lt;/span&amp;rt;

&amp;lt;span style=&quot;font-size:11pt&quot;&amp;rt;&amp;lt;span style=&quot;font-family:Aptos,sans-serif&quot;&amp;rt;Two years ago, major party leaders could have publicly thanked Biden for his service and then told him it was time to let the next generation take over. This public announcement would have signaled candidates that it was OK to run and for donors and voters to support someone else. This would have pushed Biden out. &amp;lt;/span&amp;rt;&amp;lt;/span&amp;rt;

&amp;lt;span style=&quot;font-size:11pt&quot;&amp;rt;&amp;lt;span style=&quot;font-family:Aptos,sans-serif&quot;&amp;rt;Yet, teamsmanship prevented officials from speaking the obvious. They can only speak the truth off the record and in closed-door settings. But this requires partisans to give up their independent judgment to the needs of the group which is more partisan than wise. Even though their speaking out would encourage others to speak out which could set the party on a better course. Instead, the White House Press Secretary makes unbelievable claims that she &amp;ldquo;can&amp;rsquo;t keep up with [Biden]&amp;rdquo; and that videos of Biden looking confused are &amp;ldquo;deepfakes.&amp;rdquo;&amp;lt;/span&amp;rt;&amp;lt;/span&amp;rt;

&amp;lt;span style=&quot;font-size:11pt&quot;&amp;rt;&amp;lt;span style=&quot;font-family:Aptos,sans-serif&quot;&amp;rt;This Tuesday Congressional Democrats met to discuss whether Biden should step aside. Some members called for Biden to retire. Yet, others argued that those calls undermined the party, it is undemocratic to replace the elected nominee, there is not a good replacement, or the process of choosing a replacement would be chaotic and divisive. Eventually, the pro-retirement members will back down, and an incredibly weakened Biden will remain the nominee. &amp;lt;/span&amp;rt;&amp;lt;/span&amp;rt;

&amp;lt;span style=&quot;font-size:11pt&quot;&amp;rt;&amp;lt;span style=&quot;font-family:Aptos,sans-serif&quot;&amp;rt;Of course, teamsmanship is not limited to Democrats. From then President Trump trying to coerce Ukrainian President Zelensky to investigate Biden by delaying the release of military aid, lying that he won the 2020 election and instigating the January 6&amp;lt;sup&amp;rt;th&amp;lt;/sup&amp;rt; riot, and keeping and obstructing the removal of classified documents, Republicans have defended or ignored Trump&amp;rsquo;s indefensible comments or behavior. &amp;lt;/span&amp;rt;&amp;lt;/span&amp;rt;

&amp;lt;span style=&quot;font-size:11pt&quot;&amp;rt;&amp;lt;span style=&quot;font-family:Aptos,sans-serif&quot;&amp;rt;The problems of teamsmanship for the party and nation are clear. First, parties do not alter failing courses because co-partisans will not criticize the party which, ironically, leads the party to defeat. Second, partisans are more likely to believe falsehoods because trusted partisans do not challenge them. Third, it undermines the separation of powers because officials support or oppose constitutionally dubious acts depending on the president&amp;rsquo;s partisanship. &amp;lt;/span&amp;rt;&amp;lt;/span&amp;rt;

&amp;lt;span style=&quot;font-size:11pt&quot;&amp;rt;&amp;lt;span style=&quot;font-family:Aptos,sans-serif&quot;&amp;rt;Most importantly, partisans place getting or keeping power over principle by compromising the truth for political expediency. These actions teach people that the ends justify the means which makes truth and people expendable. We need a principled politics that is moral or value-based that ultimately benefits oneself, one&amp;rsquo;s party, and the nation. Principled politics requires one to tell one&amp;rsquo;s party and nation truths it does not want to hear. Doing so may cause short-term loss, but the party and country will win in the end. &amp;lt;/span&amp;rt;&amp;lt;/span&amp;rt;

This column appeared in the online version of The Jackson Sun on July 12
]]></description>
        <link>http://www.uu.edu/dept/politicalscience/blog.cfm?ID=319</link>
		<guid>http://www.uu.edu/dept/politicalscience/blog.cfm?ID=319</guid>
        <author>sevans@uu.edu (Department of Political Science at 91爆料网)</author>
        <pubDate>Fri, 12 Jul 2024 13:55:32 CST</pubDate>
    </item><item>
	<title>Republicans need to accept bipartisan border security bill or end up with nothing</title>        
        <description><![CDATA[&amp;lt;span style=&quot;font-size:11pt&quot;&amp;rt;&amp;lt;span style=&quot;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif&quot;&amp;rt;&amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;ldquo;How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time.&amp;rdquo; This proverb is good advice for Republicans who oppose a bipartisan border security bill because it is not strong enough. By seeking everything they want, they are likely to end up with nothing while incremental change can add up to sweeping change over time. &amp;lt;/span&amp;rt;&amp;lt;/span&amp;rt;

&amp;lt;span style=&quot;font-size:11pt&quot;&amp;rt;&amp;lt;span style=&quot;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif&quot;&amp;rt;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp; A good example of pragmatic incrementalism is Governor Bill Lee.&amp;nbsp; Lee came into office committed to universal school choice. His first &quot;https://www.tn.gov/education/esa.html&quot; style=&quot;color:#0563c1; text-decoration:underline&quot;&amp;rt;proposal met fierce opposition which led the legislature to limit the proposal to poor students in Davidson and Shelby County. After the plan survived a &quot;https://www.tncourts.gov/press/2022/05/18/tennessee-supreme-court-holds-education-savings-account-pilot-program-does-not&quot; style=&quot;color:#0563c1; text-decoration:underline&quot;&amp;rt;court challenge, Lee took another bite by transitioning public school funding to a &quot;https://www.tn.gov/education/news/2022/4/28/tennessee-general-assembly-passes-tisa---1-billion-more-for-public-education-in-tennessee-.html&quot; style=&quot;color:#0563c1; text-decoration:underline&quot;&amp;rt;student-based approach establishing the principle that money follows the student. Lee is now taking a third bite by &quot;https://www.tn.gov/governor/news/2023/11/28/gov--lee--legislative-leadership-call-for-statewide-school-choice--unveil-education-freedom-scholarship-act.html&quot; style=&quot;color:#0563c1; text-decoration:underline&quot;&amp;rt;proposing to expand the program to 20,000 students statewide with 10,000 scholarships being reserved for poor students and then making all students eligible by 2025-26. Eventually, Lee&amp;rsquo;s successors will take additional bites until they achieve universal school choice. &amp;lt;/span&amp;rt;&amp;lt;/span&amp;rt;

&amp;lt;span style=&quot;font-size:11pt&quot;&amp;rt;&amp;lt;span style=&quot;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif&quot;&amp;rt;&amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; This brings us to Senator James Lankford&amp;rsquo;s (R-OK) &quot;https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2024/01/28/border-bill-trump-lankford/&quot; style=&quot;color:#0563c1; text-decoration:underline&quot;&amp;rt;bipartisan border security bill. This bill would increase the number of border patrol agents, increase asylum officers to reduce the time necessary to resolve an asylum claim, raise the standards for a migrant to successfully make an asylum claim, and increase detention beds to limit catch and release. Moreover, the bill would allow the president to shut down the border and deport all migrants illegally crossing the border when a daily average of 5,000 illegal border crossings occur. The deportations will continue until the average illegal crossings fall below an average of 3,750 border crossings.&amp;lt;/span&amp;rt;&amp;lt;/span&amp;rt;

&amp;lt;span style=&quot;font-size:11pt&quot;&amp;rt;&amp;lt;span style=&quot;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif&quot;&amp;rt;&amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; Politics have led to this compromise. Democrats recognize the border is a political liability and want to pass a border security bill to show they are responding to the crisis. If not for the impending election, Democrats would not accept these border security provisions nor drop their demand for amnesty for illegal immigrants.&amp;lt;/span&amp;rt;&amp;lt;/span&amp;rt;

&amp;lt;span style=&quot;font-size:11pt&quot;&amp;rt;&amp;lt;span style=&quot;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif&quot;&amp;rt;&amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; Politics also threaten this compromise. Former President Trump and House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) oppose the bill because they believe border security will help them win in November. They also believe the bill will not deter migration because it does not limit the president&amp;rsquo;s humanitarian parole authority, build a wall, restore the Remain in Mexico policy, sets too high a threshold for closing the border, and more. &amp;lt;/span&amp;rt;&amp;lt;/span&amp;rt;

&amp;lt;span style=&quot;font-size:11pt&quot;&amp;rt;&amp;lt;span style=&quot;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif&quot;&amp;rt;&amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; Yet, GOP opposition only makes sense if you accept the risky assumption that Congress will eat the entire border security elephant if President Trump is elected in 2024. Trump&amp;rsquo;s probability of winning is 50-50, at best, due to his &quot;https://www.politico.com/interactives/2023/trump-criminal-investigations-cases-tracker-list/&quot; style=&quot;color:#0563c1; text-decoration:underline&quot;&amp;rt;legal problems and difficulty &quot;https://www.realclearpolling.com/polls/president/general/2024/trump-vs-biden&quot; style=&quot;color:#0563c1; text-decoration:underline&quot;&amp;rt;polling above the 46% he won in 2016 and 2020. House Republicans can&amp;rsquo;t pass anything and are not guaranteed to retain their narrow majority.&amp;nbsp; Senate control is a &quot;https://www.cookpolitical.com/ratings/senate-race-ratings&quot; style=&quot;color:#0563c1; text-decoration:underline&quot;&amp;rt;toss-up right now and Republicans have no chance of winning 60 seats to overcome a Democratic filibuster. Even if Republicans win the White House and Congress, the politics change as Democrats have every incentive to filibuster a border bill to deny Republicans a political victory.&amp;nbsp; &amp;lt;/span&amp;rt;&amp;lt;/span&amp;rt;

&amp;lt;span style=&quot;font-size:11pt&quot;&amp;rt;&amp;lt;span style=&quot;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif&quot;&amp;rt;&amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp;Moreover, Republicans who have argued that the border is a national emergency for the past three years cannot credibly argue that we should now do nothing without looking hypocritical.&amp;nbsp; Finally, the bill will not immunize Democrats from further attack. The bill does nothing to address the underlying reasons why migrants flee to the US which means illegal border crossings will continue. Yet, the bill would be a legislative success that may help Republicans retain the House. &amp;lt;/span&amp;rt;&amp;lt;/span&amp;rt;

&amp;lt;span style=&quot;font-size:11pt&quot;&amp;rt;&amp;lt;span style=&quot;font-family:Calibri,sans-serif&quot;&amp;rt;&amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp;This bill is a first bite toward border security. Republicans can continue to attack Biden for losing control of the border and not supporting other reforms. Republicans should declare a win and then come back for more bites. The border security elephant is most easily eaten one bite at a time. &amp;lt;/span&amp;rt;&amp;lt;/span&amp;rt;

This column appeared in the February 4th edition of The Jackson Sun&amp;nbsp;
]]></description>
        <link>http://www.uu.edu/dept/politicalscience/blog.cfm?ID=318</link>
		<guid>http://www.uu.edu/dept/politicalscience/blog.cfm?ID=318</guid>
        <author>sevans@uu.edu (Department of Political Science at 91爆料网)</author>
        <pubDate>Mon, 05 Feb 2024 09:43:31 CST</pubDate>
    </item><item>
	<title>Ivy League Orthodoxy on Israel is Rotten</title>        
        <description><![CDATA[On Dec. 5, New York Republican Congresswoman Elise Stefanik&amp;nbsp;&quot;https://www.cbsnews.com/boston/news/keller-large-harvard-president-israel-hamas-antisemitism/&quot; rel=&quot;noreferrer noopener&quot; target=&quot;_blank&quot;&amp;rt;confronted the presidents&amp;nbsp;of Harvard, Penn, and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology about their institutional responses to calls by students for intifada against the Jews of Israel and around the world. Her direct questions pushed the three academic executives of some of the nation&amp;rsquo;s most prestigious universities to say whether such genocidal rhetoric should result in sanctions against the students involved for violating policies against harassment and bullying.

The high-profile investor Bill Ackman watched the testimony with other Americans and observed the degree to which the three presidents carefully avoided taking a strong stand against campus antisemitism or expressing a direct commitment to punishing students who employed the language of Jewish genocide.&amp;nbsp;&quot;https://x.com/BillAckman/status/1732179418787783089?s=20&quot; rel=&quot;noreferrer noopener&quot; target=&quot;_blank&quot;&amp;rt;Ackman reacted with outrage. Noting their cautious, nuanced answers saying that such statements and their impact depended on the context, he declared:

They must all resign in disgrace.

If a CEO of one of our companies gave a similar answer, he or she would be toast within the hour.

Why has antisemitism exploded on campus and around the world?

Because of leaders like Presidents Gay, Magill and Kornbluth who believe genocide depends on the context.

Ackman, who has been following the controversy and trying to put pressure on individuals associated with elite institutions who make anti-Semitic statements, went on to offer his opinion that these academic presidents exemplify a failure of ethical leadership and share responsibility for the explosion of anti-Semitism globally.

The billionaire investor lives an atypical life as a Wall Street celebrity, but his surprise at the calumny heaped upon both Israel and the Jewish people makes him more like the many millions of Americans who have been shocked by the level of support many young people (and especially young people influenced by higher education) have expressed for Hamas. Opinion polling shows Americans generally share a deep support of the nation of Israel, but it is also true that in the 18-24 demographic views&amp;nbsp;&quot;https://www.nationalreview.com/corner/why-do-so-many-young-people-support-hamas/&quot; rel=&quot;noreferrer noopener&quot; target=&quot;_blank&quot;&amp;rt;are almost split&amp;nbsp;with a big group viewing the surprise attack on Israel as justified by Palestinian grievances.

Why the change? First, there is little question that supporters of Hamas and critics of Israel have made savvy use of social media. Many parents have heard narratives shaped largely by TikTok and YouTube that sound unfamiliar to them, but which have become normal among the younger age group. Second, we are now more than 75 years away from the Holocaust that went beyond calls for Jewish genocide to a systematic attempt to achieve it. Some six million Jews died in concentration camps and via related means during Hitler&amp;rsquo;s rule of Germany.

In order to understand the scale of the atrocity, it is important to know that there are only about 15 million Jews on the planet today. They constitute a mere 0.2 percent of the entire world population. Few young people understand that the successful attempt to found a modern Jewish state (Israel) was a specific goal formed in response to the frightening anti-Semitism in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. This anti-Semitism ultimately expressed itself in the largest, most sustained, and determined genocide ever attempted. Is Israel resolute and aggressive in its own defense? Yes, but it has had to be both because of the tragic history of the Jewish people and because of the deadly attacks it has repeatedly had to fight off in its short history.

So, there is the matter of social media&amp;rsquo;s capacity to shape opinion and the diminishing cultural memory of the Holocaust, but what about the point at which we started, which is the tremendous reluctance of premier American academic leaders to take on anti-Semitism on their campuses? Why is that such a problem? The answer that is the same left-wing orthodoxy that tends to enshrine collectivism, secularism, and critical theory also typically includes partisanship on the side of Muslims and Palestinians over against the modern state of Israel.

The Jews of Israel end up being characterized as white, capitalist oppressors imposing an Apartheid-like state upon Palestinians. Given that highly unfavorable narrative, grievances applied to the United States or &amp;ldquo;the West&amp;rdquo; more broadly also apply to the most western state in the region. It surely does not help that evangelicals&amp;mdash;high on the list of disfavored groups in the view of the academic left&amp;mdash;are among the state of Israel&amp;rsquo;s greatest supporters.

Will Bill Ackman&amp;rsquo;s outrage have any impact? Will Elise Stefanik&amp;rsquo;s direct questioning prompt a re-evaluation of the left&amp;rsquo;s antagonism toward Israel based on the poisoned fruit it is producing on American campuses? Right now, the money flows toward prestige without many restrictions. We&amp;rsquo;ll see if the major supporters of the Ivy Leagues, such as America&amp;rsquo;s billionaires and multi-millionaires, start to ask more questions about what their support is producing.

This column first appeared in World Opinion on Dec. 5th&amp;nbsp;
]]></description>
        <link>http://www.uu.edu/dept/politicalscience/blog.cfm?ID=317</link>
		<guid>http://www.uu.edu/dept/politicalscience/blog.cfm?ID=317</guid>
        <author>hbaker@uu.edu (Department of Political Science at 91爆料网)</author>
        <pubDate>Thu, 07 Dec 2023 09:19:44 CST</pubDate>
    </item><item>
	<title>The Senate's Turn to Act</title>        
        <description><![CDATA[Last Friday, the U.S. House of Representatives delivered the two-thirds majority necessary&amp;nbsp;&quot;https://wng.org/sift/u-s-house-expels-rep-george-santos-1701449092&quot; rel=&quot;noreferrer noopener&quot; target=&quot;_blank&quot;&amp;rt;to expel&amp;nbsp;one of its members. George Santos, Republican from New York&amp;rsquo;s 3rd Congressional District. Santos had a high profile early on as one of a handful of New York Republicans who flipped seats in the 2022 midterm elections. His brief term in office was beset with controversy almost from the beginning as questions&amp;nbsp;&quot;https://www.wsj.com/politics/george-santos-faces-house-expulsion-vote-after-a-year-of-mounting-allegations-0803d7db?mod=hp_lead_pos1#:~:text=a%20New%20York%20Times%20report&quot; rel=&quot;noreferrer noopener&quot; target=&quot;_blank&quot;&amp;rt;immediately emerged&amp;nbsp;about his resume, which looks to have largely been manufactured. In fairly short order, a case of resum&amp;eacute; inflation expanded into a&amp;nbsp;&quot;https://www.wsj.com/us-news/rep-george-santos-is-hit-with-new-indictment-alleging-credit-card-fraud-249a1f1e?mod=article_inline&quot; rel=&quot;noreferrer noopener&quot; target=&quot;_blank&quot;&amp;rt;more serious investigation&amp;nbsp;into mismanagement and personal appropriation of campaign funds.

Based on reporting, Santos appears to have pretended to loan his campaign money and then used contributions to pay himself back for the nonexistent loan. As a result, he was able to use campaign money &amp;ldquo;repayment&amp;rdquo; for Botox, gambling, travel, entertainment, rent, and fashion. Thus, the House ethics committee alleges that the congressman defrauded individuals and/or organizations who thought they were financing his campaign by diverting their funds for personal use and lying about it in official documents.

The case sounds like an easy call, but some Republicans, including House Speaker Mike Johnson, voted with the minority against expulsion. They were concerned that the action would set a bad precedent. How so? Isn&amp;rsquo;t the corruption and abuse of office obvious? The answer is that in the past only five members of Congress were ever expelled from their seat. Of that five, three joined the Confederate rebellion against the United States. Two others were convicted of crimes such as bribery. One of those two was actually swept up in an FBI sting operation.

As attention-getting as George Santos&amp;rsquo; actions have been, the fact remains that he has been charged but not yet convicted. Removing an elected official on the basis of charges without full process of law could potentially open up a new level of political warfare, especially in narrowly divided bodies such as the current Congress where charges and accusations could potentially shift the balance of power.

Adding fuel to the fire of concern over the potentially premature nature of the expulsion is that there is a member of the other major American political party, the Democrats, who remains in office despite similarly laboring beneath a cloud of suspicion. There is substantial evidence that Sen. Robert Menendez of New Jersey has&amp;nbsp;&quot;https://www.latimes.com/opinion/story/2023-11-28/congress-constitution-george-santos-bob-menedez-expel-censure&quot; rel=&quot;noreferrer noopener&quot; target=&quot;_blank&quot;&amp;rt;acted improperly&amp;nbsp;by working to advance the interests of Egypt for his own gain.

Perhaps anticipating an outcry at the fact that the Republican Santos of the House has been expelled while the Democrat Menendez of the Senate continues to hold office, the&amp;nbsp;Los Angeles Times&amp;nbsp;&quot;https://www.latimes.com/opinion/story/2023-11-28/congress-constitution-george-santos-bob-menedez-expel-censure&quot; rel=&quot;noreferrer noopener&quot; target=&quot;_blank&quot;&amp;rt;advanced the argument&amp;nbsp;that Menendez&amp;rsquo;s different fate is justified because he has not had the due process of an ethics committee investigation while Santos has. By that logic, of course, the Republicans of the House could have simply retained Santos and his vote by delaying committee action.

On one hand, the two cases look quite similar. You have a member of the lower body and one of the upper chamber who have both been accused of unethical conduct. One of them has been expelled, while the other continues to enjoy the power and perquisites of office. One of them is from the party typically preferred by the national media and happens to be the one managing to brazen out the scandal so far. The different fates of the two is notable, but we might just admit that politics are politics and the advantages are the advantages.

There is something else significant that really needs to be said, though. It is certainly the stuff of headlines to hear that Rep. Santos used campaign money on Botox and Las Vegas. However, it is little remarked that the charges against Sen. Menendez are more serious not only in degree, but in kind. While Santos used campaign contributions improperly, the complaint against Menendez is that he derived personal benefit while arguably working for the interests of another country and giving it sensitive information. The gravity of that charge vastly outweighs Santos&amp;rsquo; shifty games.

It is true that while the House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate are separate institutions and have their own way of operating, it is also the case that they together constitute the legislative branch of the nation. There is something unseemly about a rush by one body to expel the man who appears to be guilty of the lesser crime while the parallel authority drags its feet. By all means, justice should be done. The codes of ethics that apply to lawmakers must be vigorously enforced. But let justice be equally applied so as to build the confidence of the people in our commitment to it regardless of the advantages.

This column originally appeared in World Opinion on Dec. 4
]]></description>
        <link>http://www.uu.edu/dept/politicalscience/blog.cfm?ID=316</link>
		<guid>http://www.uu.edu/dept/politicalscience/blog.cfm?ID=316</guid>
        <author>hbaker@uu.edu (Department of Political Science at 91爆料网)</author>
        <pubDate>Mon, 04 Dec 2023 12:00:56 CST</pubDate>
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	<title>Wolverine Meets Milton Friedman</title>        
        <description><![CDATA[Argentina&amp;rsquo;s newly elected president, Javier Milei,&amp;nbsp;&quot;https://wng.org/podcasts/the-time-of-the-outsider-1700688692&quot; rel=&quot;noreferrer noopener&quot; target=&quot;_blank&quot;&amp;rt;triumphed&amp;nbsp;with 56 percent of the vote in his nation&amp;rsquo;s electoral contest. He is, to put it mildly, unique. Milei is an economist, soccer player, and member of a rock band who entered his nation&amp;rsquo;s Congress and then rapidly ascended to its presidency. He is a self-described &amp;ldquo;anarcho-capitalist,&amp;rdquo; which is to say he believes a free economy can do almost everything with minimal interference from the government.

The 53-year-old president has a bizarre hairstyle he refers to as being shaped by &amp;ldquo;the invisible hand&amp;rdquo; of Adam Smith. The hair is accompanied by sideburns often described as being in the style of Wolverine, the character played by Hugh Jackman in the popular X-Men film series. Piercing blue eyes gaze out from under the untamed mane. In a very real sense, he is not far from being a comic book character himself, as&amp;nbsp;&quot;https://time.com/6337474/javier-milei-argentina-president-cloned-dogs-advice/&quot; rel=&quot;noreferrer noopener&quot; target=&quot;_blank&quot;&amp;rt;he lives&amp;nbsp;with five English mastiffs&amp;mdash;the original and four clones. Together, his four-legged family weighs close to half a ton. One of them is named Milton, almost certainly a nod to the American free-market economist Milton Friedman, author of&amp;nbsp;Capitalism and Freedom.

When Americans hear or read the name of Argentina, we tend to have thoughts of Juan and Evita Peron. Peron, even now many decades after his time leading the nation, continues to provide a frame for Argentina&amp;rsquo;s politics. Peron was a dominant political figure who, in his later years in power, brought a strong left-wing cast to the politics of his country. Those policies led in large part to the economic struggles that have beset the people for decades. During the past quarter century, Argentina has become one of the world&amp;rsquo;s financial basket cases, a mascot for profligate fiscal policy.

Milei ha? proposed a radical change of course for the Argentinian economy. He poses with a chainsaw and plans to cut half of the federal agencies. In addition, he intends to reduce ties with China, and to&amp;nbsp;&quot;https://www.wsj.com/world/americas/argentinas-new-president-wants-to-adopt-the-u-s-dollar-as-national-currency-86da3444?mod=americas_news_article_pos1&quot; rel=&quot;noreferrer noopener&quot; target=&quot;_blank&quot;&amp;rt;dispense&amp;nbsp;with the severely devalued peso in favor of building a new foundation on the U.S. dollar. This last choice is not as novel as it sounds. A number of other nations, such as El Salvador and Ecuador, have done so as well. By conducting the country&amp;rsquo;s business in dollars, Milei hopes to escape the uncontrolled printing of pesos to pay national obligations, which creates runaway inflation. During the past year, Argentines have dealt with the extraordinarily destabilizing effects of a 143 percent inflation rate. In order to comprehend how difficult such high levels of inflation would be, Americans need only consider how painful we have found years in which inflation hovered closer to ten percent. Imagine that challenge magnified by a factor of 14 or 15. Fortunately, such an experience is alien to U.S. citizens.

In addition to his libertarian economic theory, Milei is an outlier in other ways, as well. He argues that the idea of man-made climate change is a myth. He has also&amp;nbsp;&quot;https://www.wral.com/story/the-lion-the-wig-and-the-warrior-who-is-javier-milei-argentinas-president-elect/21159117/&quot; rel=&quot;noreferrer noopener&quot; target=&quot;_blank&quot;&amp;rt;called&amp;nbsp;for a repeal of the country&amp;rsquo;s law legalizing abortion. The new president believes the public education system should be replaced with vouchers. Finally, the iconoclastic new head of state has said he is studying Judaism and plans to convert.

Milei&amp;rsquo;s election is important because Argentina is the world&amp;rsquo;s 22nd largest economy. That means that much attention will be paid to the public policy he manages to implement. Social science can&amp;rsquo;t really be conducted in a lab. Even pilot experiments in a local community can prove quite challenging. But here we will have a major country to observe. Will Milei&amp;rsquo;s strong medicine of budget cuts, privatization of public agencies, and the dollarization of the Argentinian currency prove effective?

If he is able to enact his agenda, the results could lend support to those dedicated to abandoning the financially unsustainable path the United States appears to be on as it rolls out yearly trillion-dollar deficits. The economist John Kenneth Galbraith argued that governments needed the courage to turn affluence into more public goods via greater taxation. Milei could show that relying too heavily on government spending ends up eliminating affluence or greatly reducing it.

But will this eccentric man be able to govern? Many politicians figure out the electoral code without necessarily solving the kinds of problems that persist after the campaign. As a new politician, he doesn&amp;rsquo;t have an existing party structure in place ready to mobilize as he encourages the legislature to act. What he does have, however, is a mandate. He prevailed with approximately 56 percent of the vote in a contest against the finance minister of the previous elected government. If the representatives of the people listen to the voters, they&amp;rsquo;ll give Javier Milei a chance to lead.

This column appeared in World Opinion on Nov. 27&amp;nbsp;
]]></description>
        <link>http://www.uu.edu/dept/politicalscience/blog.cfm?ID=315</link>
		<guid>http://www.uu.edu/dept/politicalscience/blog.cfm?ID=315</guid>
        <author>hbaker@uu.edu (Department of Political Science at 91爆料网)</author>
        <pubDate>Mon, 27 Nov 2023 08:51:57 CST</pubDate>
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