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Me.

(35,454 posts)
Thu Feb 23, 2017, 03:41 PM Feb 2017

President Obama Has Started 'United to Protect Democracy'

“United to Protect Democracy, which draws its name from a line in President Barack Obama’s farewell address that urged his supporters to pick up where he was leaving off, has already raised a $1.5 million operating budget, hired five staffers and has plans to double that in the coming months. They’ve incorporated as both a 501(c)(3) and 501(c)(4), allowing them to operate as a nonprofit but participate in some forms of political advocacy as well.”cont…

They started by submitting 50 Freedom of Information Act requests this week that they believe will confirm their suspicions. The plan is to bring what they find to reporters, build it into pressure for congressional oversight with the help of a campaign director they’ll hire, and, as necessary, to file lawsuits.

They’re also hoping to establish themselves as a base for government
employees worried about ethics violations — up to and including becoming whistleblowers — and are hoping that their website, https://unitedtoprotectdemocracy.org/,can become a resource.

Complete story at: http://www.politico.com/story/2017/02/obama-trump-lawyers-worst-case-235280?via=newsletter&source=CSAMedition

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asiliveandbreathe

(8,203 posts)
3. President Obama - so smart -
Thu Feb 23, 2017, 03:50 PM
Feb 2017

50 FOIA requests submitted...this week - excellent news - let the fun begin...

BeckyDem

(8,361 posts)
6. I needed to see good news. OMG, thank you! Look at this, very important to remember.
Thu Feb 23, 2017, 04:09 PM
Feb 2017

“When people hear concerns about democracies declining into authoritarianism, they expect that moment to come in a singular thunderclap where everyone can see that this is the time,” said Ian Bassin, who’s leading the new group. “In reality, often times, democracies decline over a period of years that happen through a series of much smaller steps.”

lunatica

(53,410 posts)
7. There has certainly been a graphable decline since Saint Reagan.
Thu Feb 23, 2017, 06:09 PM
Feb 2017

But it became very obvious during George W Bush's Administration, starting PNAC.

BeckyDem

(8,361 posts)
8. I have been talking about the Reagan era often lately. The Moral Majority, womens rights being
Thu Feb 23, 2017, 06:24 PM
Feb 2017

eroded to name one issue. Christian fundamentalism taking hold and they're so damn stupid. Reagan gave them their preferences with social issues while he deregulated everything but the kitchen sink. Lost jobs, they paid more in taxes under him while the rich paid less. But you are right, under GW it became much worse.

BeckyDem

(8,361 posts)
19. Oh I know, you are so right. Reagan was a virulent racist and he did a lot of damage
Thu Feb 23, 2017, 06:48 PM
Feb 2017

here at home and with his foreign policy.

lunatica

(53,410 posts)
10. they each paved the path for the next set of Republicans.
Thu Feb 23, 2017, 06:27 PM
Feb 2017

The only reason Trump made it is because of everything that's happened since Reagan. Wealth has been going to the 1% and being depleted from the 99% for decades and now they own the White House. What more could they want now? They've got it all. the only thing left is to become a dictatorship where the filthy rich run everything and the rest of us are their slave labor.

Hortensis

(58,785 posts)
13. Yes! Conservative leaders are doing something far more insidious
Thu Feb 23, 2017, 06:37 PM
Feb 2017

than the things most recognize, who uses which bathroom and such.

For years now, every time they get in power, they whittle away at the PROCESSES of our republic, meant to serve the people, to make it unable to function and ultimately serve only a ruling class. Every dismantled process weakens our power to secure our own wellbeing and usually ultimately transfers our wealth to them.

To be clear: They are systematically dismantling the processes of government OF, BY, and FOR the people. Many important processes have been destroyed entirely.

Btw, when the Republican NC legislature passed those laws transferring gubernatorial power to them, crippling the governor's office, that was an attack on the PROCESS of transfer of power by the electorate. They were oversetting democracy by transferring the power of the voters to themselves. They will then use that power to funnel taxpayer money to crony businesses, who in turn will funnel money back to them as "campaign donations."

And they've been doing this for decades at every level when they get in power.

Btw, for those who'll insist our democracy is already gone, nonsense. Comey had to stand up and throw mudballs at Hillary, because the process of electing the people's choice, though damaged, was working. The same for illegal voter suppression, instead of legalized.

Ezior

(505 posts)
14. Cool! I wish them lots of success.
Thu Feb 23, 2017, 06:37 PM
Feb 2017

Ironic how Obama, who was a part of the war against whistleblowers, now supports them.

This is THE MOST IMPORTANT TIME to be a whistleblower I guess.

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