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GOP-led state houses pursuing hard-right agenda

Stevicus

Veteran Member
Staff member
Premium Member
Analysis: Out of power in Washington, Republicans pursue hard-right agenda | Reuters

Republicans have a majority in 30 state legislatures, and 23 states have Republican governors.

Shut out of power in Washington, Republicans are using their dominance in state houses across the country to oppose Democratic President Joe Biden’s agenda and appease the diehard supporters of his Republican predecessor, Donald Trump.

In Texas, Republican lawmakers are pushing for legislation that would allow citizens to carry a handgun without a permit or any training.

In Florida, Oklahoma and Iowa, Republican legislators passed bills granting immunity to drivers who hit protesters, part of a wave of Republican-led legislation aimed at cracking down on public protests of the kind that followed the police killing of George Floyd. Across the country, a bevy of states have passed bills preventing transgender athletes from playing high school sports.

And Florida's Republican Governor Ron DeSantis on Thursday signed a sweeping new reform bill that limits mail-in voting and ballot drop boxes, making the state the latest to restrict voting access in the aftermath of Trump's false claims that he lost the November election due to widespread fraud.

These actions have made for a stark contrast with the first few months of the Biden administration, which has pursued a sweeping liberal agenda on civil rights, police reform, gun control and voting rights.

Although Democrats control the White House and both chambers of Congress, Republicans dominate the nation’s statehouses. After a dismal showing by Democrats on the state level in the 2020 elections, Republicans now control the legislatures of 30 states and also hold the governor’s office in 23 of those states.

But civil rights groups, Democrats and even some Republicans say the party is doubling down on a host of hot-button social and cultural issues to only appeal to the party's activist base.

“It’s a toxic combination of grievance politics and the traditional culture wars,” said David Jolly, a former Republican congressman from Florida who left the party over Trump.

So far this year, Republican state lawmakers have proposed or advanced more than 250 bills regarded by activists as being restrictive of LGBTQ rights, 361 bills with restrictive voting provisions, and passed 35 bills to relax gun regulations, according to advocacy groups tracking the legislation.

Meanwhile, the 83 anti-protest bills introduced so far in 2021 is more than double the number introduced in comparable periods of prior legislative sessions, according to Elly Page, a senior legal adviser at the International Center for Not-for-Profit Law.

The trend signifies that the Republican Party, after its surprising performance on the state level in November's election despite Trump's own loss, continues to believe that it must play to the former president's base in order to win, says Jacob Rubashkin, a nonpartisan elections analyst in Washington.

Duncan contended that voters largely support election reform and anti-protest laws, saying they serve election integrity and public safety. The party also hopes to point to Republican-run states like Texas and Florida, where the economies are swiftly recovering from the pandemic and schools are open to draw a contrast with Democratic states.

“We are proud to run on the things that we have done,” he said.

There's talk of Gov. DeSantis possibly running for president in 2024.

“They want to stoke outrage,” West said. “The side that’s angriest is most likely to show up in the midterms.”

Florida, with DeSantis at the helm, is leading the way in advancing right-wing legislation.

Beyond the election measure, Florida passed bills in the last two weeks prohibiting businesses from requiring proof of COVID-19 vaccination in the state and social media companies from silencing conservatives on their platforms.

Florida’s new anti-riot law, which DeSantis called "the strongest anti-rioting, pro-law enforcement measure in the country", creates new offenses with which authorities can charge protesters, enhances other penalties and immunizes drivers from liability if they drive their car into a crowded street.

The office of DeSantis, a close ally of Trump and who has been mentioned as a possible presidential candidate in 2024, did not respond to a request for comment.

Elsewhere in the country, seven states this year have enacted so-called Second Amendment Sanctuary laws prohibiting local officials from enforcing any new federal gun control regulation, bringing the total number of states with such legislation to 11, said Erich Pratt, Senior Vice President at Gun Owners of America, a gun advocacy group.

Jolly, the former Republican congressman, said the Republican legislative strategy is less concerned with aligning with public opinion and more focused on galvanizing an activist minority of voters.

“They’re doing it so they can have high-profile fights,” he said. “You always have to have an enemy.”

It doesn't appear the moderate Republicans will be able to make a dent against this kind of zeal. It could be good for Democrats at the national level, since a fractured GOP won't be able to compete very well. But some districts and states could be led by some rather hardnosed right-wingers.
 

SA Huguenot

Well-Known Member
Huray!
At last...
Someone is getting backbone to stem the violent terrorist protesters who burns down everything in their path when they feel they are oppressed when offender of the law were shot when not complying to the police's instructions.
Someone has the guts to impose legislation against the terrorist BLM orginasation to force them to adhere to the law!
Someone realises that the majority of people in the USA are sick and tired of the violence spread by the Antifa terrorists, and the Defund the police foolish crack heads and drug dealers.

I see hope for America.
Bring back Law and Order!
 

Stevicus

Veteran Member
Staff member
Premium Member
Huray!
At last...
Someone is getting backbone to stem the violent terrorist protesters who burns down everything in their path when they feel they are oppressed when offender of the law were shot when not complying to the police's instructions.
Someone has the guts to impose legislation against the terrorist BLM orginasation to force them to adhere to the law!
Someone realises that the majority of people in the USA are sick and tired of the violence spread by the Antifa terrorists, and the Defund the police foolish crack heads and drug dealers.

I see hope for America.
Bring back Law and Order!

It could get messy. I see this as an indication that the political rifts in this country are widening. No one can take a moderate or middle-ground viewpoint without getting caught in the crossfire.
 

F1fan

Veteran Member
There's talk of Gov. DeSantis possibly running for president in 2024.
He would be extraordinarily bad for the USA given his priority to help the GOP attain power at the cost of voting access, and policies that are contrary to where the USA needs to go, like climate change, public health, and immigration reform.

It doesn't appear the moderate Republicans will be able to make a dent against this kind of zeal. It could be good for Democrats at the national level, since a fractured GOP won't be able to compete very well. But some districts and states could be led by some rather hardnosed right-wingers.
I don't think we should underestimate republicans. They are very good at lying, along with numerous media sources that disinform their consumers, and a voter base who is not interested in being properly informed, nor understanding policies. The right is going farther to the extreme. They want to cheat out voters, and lie about the 202 presidential election. There are just a few republicans willing to tell the truth about these matters. It's a very dangerous group. If they succeed I'm not sure what the future of the USA will be.
 

F1fan

Veteran Member
It could get messy. I see this as an indication that the political rifts in this country are widening. No one can take a moderate or middle-ground viewpoint without getting caught in the crossfire.
I see the "middle" much like no-man's-land of the battlefields of WW1. I'd be happy if republicans just accepted facts and reality, and disavowed FOX and Newsmax. That would indicate a group that can be reasoned with. As it is most republicans won't even admit that trump lost and Biden won. That is all on the GOP and has nothing to do with Democrats.
 

sun rise

The world is on fire
Premium Member
We also see the growth of open racism, misogyny, bigotry of all kinds, lying/gaslighting, pandering to the worst instincts of people, attacking voting rights, pandering to terrorists, dictator loving, anti-American actions of all kinds and so forth on the right including so-called "christians" who have chosen mammon over GOd.

Hurray for antifi, BLM and all those who are opposed to that evil.
 

RestlessSoul

Well-Known Member
If you want to see a disfunctional political landscape, have a look at the UK. And indeed, most of Europe currently.

It seems that throughout the democratic world, voters are disillusioned with centrist ideas, and in thrall to dangerous concepts like nationalism and identity politics.

Are things any better in India, the world's largest democracy? Or Australia? Perhaps someone could tell us?
 

Shadow Wolf

Certified People sTabber
When someone shows you who they are, believe them.
Letting people carry guns without training, they have shown us they are stark raving mad and most assuredly living in a fantasy world.
It seems that throughout the democratic world, voters are disillusioned with centrist ideas, and in thrall to dangerous concepts like nationalism and identity politics.
The thing with "identity politics," is that has always been the case. In terms of black rights even before 1788 and continues today. Women's suffrage was a thing, as was women entering the workforce, as today it is women's reproductive rights and equality under the law. LGBT, again, this nothing new with LGBT rights gaining momentum and force during the '60s and the Stonewall Riots. Immigrants and their rights and better treatment has always been a thing. And, of course, there are also the Natives, who have had to fight for their lives and dignity ever since a few European nations started colonizing here.
"Identity politics" really is a RW barking point to rally the base. And it's so hypocritical it ignores how conservative Republican Christians force their identity (Christian Identity refers to a specific ideology) upon the nation itself, insisting things like "happy holidays," or gay marriage, or no more public prayer in school is a direct attack on their beliefs. Their identity as Christians is so important they want us all reading the Bible, they want us all praying, they even throw a fit when someone suggests we remove "In God We Trust" from our currency. But the RW media won't mention that, because it's only supposed to be Libs and Dems who are into this identity thing. But, rest assured, Reps and Cons love their white identity so much and want to push it that they are eating up Tucker Carlson and loving his show that does promote white nationalism.
 

RestlessSoul

Well-Known Member
Letting people carry guns without training, they have shown us they are stark raving mad and most assuredly living in a fantasy world.

The thing with "identity politics," is that has always been the case. In terms of black rights even before 1788 and continues today. Women's suffrage was a thing, as was women entering the workforce, as today it is women's reproductive rights and equality under the law. LGBT, again, this nothing new with LGBT rights gaining momentum and force during the '60s and the Stonewall Riots. Immigrants and their rights and better treatment has always been a thing. And, of course, there are also the Natives, who have had to fight for their lives and dignity ever since a few European nations started colonizing here.
"Identity politics" really is a RW barking point to rally the base. And it's so hypocritical it ignores how conservative Republican Christians force their identity (Christian Identity refers to a specific ideology) upon the nation itself, insisting things like "happy holidays," or gay marriage, or no more public prayer in school is a direct attack on their beliefs. Their identity as Christians is so important they want us all reading the Bible, they want us all praying, they even throw a fit when someone suggests we remove "In God We Trust" from our currency. But the RW media won't mention that, because it's only supposed to be Libs and Dems who are into this identity thing. But, rest assured, Reps and Cons love their white identity so much and want to push it that they are eating up Tucker Carlson and loving his show that does promote white nationalism.


When using the term "identity politics", I absolutely include the way the right appeals to the perceived identity of it's target audience. And I was talking really about Europe, where politics is becoming increasingly tribal and fractured.

I've heard people in England say that the left should abandon it's traditional blue collar support in the former industrial towns, because those people are mostly lost to right wing populism. This may be true, but I hope not. There is a way to be inclusive, and that means recognising that a lot of white working class people feel left behind and abandoned by all mainstream politicians.

There is a perception in places like Hartlepool, a Labour stronghold that yesterday returned a Conservative MP for the first time ever, that nobody speaks for them; that the left is happy to talk about race, but almost never talks about class (which is still a real issue in England. Upward social mobility reached it's zenith in the 1970s and has been declining ever since).

Equal rights and opportunities for every minority should be a given in 21st century politics. But you won't build an alliance between socially disadvantaged groups if you alienate one or any of them. Particularly the largest one.

As an aside, Christianity and religion generally, is a different phenomenon altogether in Europe, than is the case in the USA. Evangelism is pretty rare over here, unless you go looking for it.
 

Jose Fly

Fisker of men
Analysis: Out of power in Washington, Republicans pursue hard-right agenda | Reuters

Republicans have a majority in 30 state legislatures, and 23 states have Republican governors.









There's talk of Gov. DeSantis possibly running for president in 2024.





It doesn't appear the moderate Republicans will be able to make a dent against this kind of zeal. It could be good for Democrats at the national level, since a fractured GOP won't be able to compete very well. But some districts and states could be led by some rather hardnosed right-wingers.
The GOP, like most political parties, will do whatever wins elections. If their base is mostly white evangelical Christian nativists who vote primarily on social and identity issues, then that's what the party will focus on. They'll only stop doing that when it costs them elections.

That's the main issue I have with much of the media reporting on the GOP right now. They're acting as if it's the party itself that's the main problem, when in reality it's that there are a rather large number of Republican voters who think they're the "true Americans" and only they are the rightful rulers of the country.

Trumpism didn't arise in a vacuum.
 
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