The US 2020 Presidential Election & Attempts To Overturn It

[GVChamp]

The filibuster is already gone for appointments because it was so heavily abused, and reconciliation can be used to pass an annual budget to allow the government to operate business-as-usual.

[GVChamp]

I value this perspective. It gives me insight.

Biden isn't my politics but that doesnt mean you are wrong. Its a very difficult equation to solve for.

I would not take my perspective as the standard American perspective. Politics is extremely unhealthy in the US. People are paranoid, distrustful, uncharitable, and self-righteous. There's a long thread in my community forum started by a woman upset by her Trump signs getting ripped down with a majority of responses being "oh yeah, totally, screw Trump, and screw you too!" A smaller fraction are upset because their signs also have gotten torn down, and they see it as disrespectful, and then there's the "well, what can you do, there are idiots, and they like to tear up signs" group.

The GOP voters I know (and there are always some!) tend to just parrot whatever Fox News and talk radio have to say that day.

OK, so it's obvious you don't like female politicians.

But, what about the Democrats who are providing leadership this year? You know who I mean ...
Harria, Warren, and particularly Pelosi.

Forget their first names.
Forget their genders.

Look at what they've actually done.

I don't have an issue with Pelosi's leadership from a practical perspective. My point is that she is getting pushed out to make room for a gaggle of idiots, not that Pelosi is ineffective. I don't like her ideology or her brand of politics, but she strikes me as quite effective.

Harris ran an ineffective campaign that ultimately flamed out before the contest even started. She is possibly the biggest disappointment since the 2007 Patriots. Even Warren would be a better choice at VP, but there are a number of better VP options than Harris, even if you restrict yourself to just women. Her experience is as a State Attorney General with nothing of note in her Senate history, and her short foray into national politics saw her being outperformed by some random tech guy and an unpopular House representative from Hawaii.

Warren's problem is that she is extremely controversial and extremely Progressive and that she had to be elevated to vice-chair along with Warner shows the divisions in the party. Overall the Democrats are obviously in a transition stage with no clear idea of who should be in charge or what policies should be advanced going forward, with the only real unity right now being "Fuck Trump."

[tbm3fan]

"Fuck Trump" works for me. Right now that is the only thing on my mind is to get that moron so totally devoid of ethics, principles, morals, dignity, and honor out of that office. End of story.

[surfgun]

TBM, Intellectually eloquent.
Do you have any words for the violent and malicious anarchists raging in some cities that appear to be aligned with you politically?

[astralis]

z,

Packing the court is a way to bypass Congress, even FDR ultimately shied away from it.

he did, but only after he got an understanding from the judges to really take a good hard look at what to oppose...because opposition for opposition's sake would result in said packing.

right now, the Roberts court has done a pretty good job of not enflaming liberal opinion to the point where packing the court is a must do. as far as I'm concerned, it's a "nice to do", because of the stupid games that McConnell played with Garland...and it would be sweet revenge. but, for the time being it's not worth the flame of doing so.

The fillibuster is useful in slowing down government and preventing single party authoritarianism. It is a useful tool to force concensus. If the parties are so divided then the one who thinks its just such an important issue should go try and win an election. Ending the fillibuster is a way to disenfranchise voters once removed.

"forcing consensus" my @$$. when was the last time the filibuster -promoted- bipartisanship? when did the filibuster force the parties to come to a moderate consensus?

the filibuster was DESIGNED as an emergency mechanism to force consensus; then it became used as a cudgel against civil rights; and the modern day incarnation is that it's used on a routine basis to stop anything that doesn't have 60 votes, and in this hyper-polarized environment, that's almost never. it forces the US into a Polish Parliament situation where things turn into utter crises before any action can be taken.

i'd much, much rather see the filibuster destroyed and a later Republican Party using 50 votes to say, pass a capital gains tax cut. because if the people don't like it, they can vote that party out of power.

experimentation, instead of paralysis.

The EC protects minority voices. If you really wanted a fairer system then award EC votes based on who won the congressional district with popular vote winner getting the +2 senate votes. It by-passes the winner take all and hamstrings jerry mandering. Won't happen becuase doing that would restore an electoral voice to places like Up State NY, rural California and all of Illinois outside of Chicago. Given voters a voice isn't really whats behind the drive to nix the EC.

the EC is designed to protect small states, but in our environment where Party is king, it protects a certain party, not states. when was the last time anyone gave a damn about Hawaii, or Rhode Island, or Mississippi?

but, I'm not too concerned about the EC given current trends.

as I wrote earlier, North Carolina is 4 years behind Virginia and is on the cusp of flipping blue. Georgia 4 years behind that; Texas, another 4 years. once Texas goes, the GOP will be -desperate- to change the EC.

Third Party ballot harvesting is only legal in California and has already dubiously swung several elections there. Letting party activists collect votes or letting third parties handle ballots in general is a bad idea. It destroys integrity and opens the door for all sorts of mayhem.

uh, no, in 26 states, a third party collecting ballots is perfectly legal. and the few times where there's actually evidence of fraud...it's been on the GOP, like in North Carolina's 2018 elections.

again, though, this is not a "Democratic" or a "Republican" issue. like mail-in voting, the actual party gain is fairly even.

Making Guam, PR and DC states is only a fad as a way to pack the senate. Especially DC where the concentration of money and power is already so concentrated that the area has more millionaires than even silicon valley.

so what? taxation without representation still applies.

I certainly agree it would benefit the Dems, which is why I'm all for it.

but that's on the GOP. if the GOP refuses to even so much as compete for urban or minority votes, then they deserve what's coming to them.

there's absolutely no reason why the GOP cannot successfully compete in those three areas but for the fact that they refuse to change their own unpopular policies.

They are all schemes that add up to an enabling act to establish 1 party rule by a party that has turned decidedly red.

and REDMAP? and McConnell purposefully holding up confirmation of Obama judges so he could have an empty slate when a GOP President came in, what about that as well?

bottom-line is the GOP has been aggressive about using "hardball" political tactics that smash norms, because the GOP knows their popularity trendline is fundamentally going down. that's precisely why they called 2016 a "flight 93 election".

these things are terrible for a democratic society. I would much rather have Congress be able to negotiate instead of ramming through things on a party-line vote. however, there is NO incentive for the GOP to stop wrecking norms for political gain...until they get a nice big glass of reciprocity.

[zraver]

z,



he did, but only after he got an understanding from the judges to really take a good hard look at what to oppose...because opposition for opposition's sake would result in said packing.

right now, the Roberts court has done a pretty good job of not enflaming liberal opinion to the point where packing the court is a must do. as far as I'm concerned, it's a "nice to do", because of the stupid games that McConnell played with Garland...and it would be sweet revenge. but, for the time being it's not worth the flame of doing so.



"forcing consensus" my @$$. when was the last time the filibuster -promoted- bipartisanship? when did the filibuster force the parties to come to a moderate consensus?

the filibuster was DESIGNED as an emergency mechanism to force consensus; then it became used as a cudgel against civil rights; and the modern day incarnation is that it's used on a routine basis to stop anything that doesn't have 60 votes, and in this hyper-polarized environment, that's almost never. it forces the US into a Polish Parliament situation where things turn into utter crises before any action can be taken.

i'd much, much rather see the filibuster destroyed and a later Republican Party using 50 votes to say, pass a capital gains tax cut. because if the people don't like it, they can vote that party out of power.

experimentation, instead of paralysis.



the EC is designed to protect small states, but in our environment where Party is king, it protects a certain party, not states. when was the last time anyone gave a damn about Hawaii, or Rhode Island, or Mississippi?

but, I'm not too concerned about the EC given current trends.

as I wrote earlier, North Carolina is 4 years behind Virginia and is on the cusp of flipping blue. Georgia 4 years behind that; Texas, another 4 years. once Texas goes, the GOP will be -desperate- to change the EC.



uh, no, in 26 states, a third party collecting ballots is perfectly legal. and the few times where there's actually evidence of fraud...it's been on the GOP, like in North Carolina's 2018 elections.

again, though, this is not a "Democratic" or a "Republican" issue. like mail-in voting, the actual party gain is fairly even.



so what? taxation without representation still applies.

I certainly agree it would benefit the Dems, which is why I'm all for it.

but that's on the GOP. if the GOP refuses to even so much as compete for urban or minority votes, then they deserve what's coming to them.

there's absolutely no reason why the GOP cannot successfully compete in those three areas but for the fact that they refuse to change their own unpopular policies.



and REDMAP? and McConnell purposefully holding up confirmation of Obama judges so he could have an empty slate when a GOP President came in, what about that as well?

bottom-line is the GOP has been aggressive about using "hardball" political tactics that smash norms, because the GOP knows their popularity trendline is fundamentally going down. that's precisely why they called 2016 a "flight 93 election".

these things are terrible for a democratic society. I would much rather have Congress be able to negotiate instead of ramming through things on a party-line vote. however, there is NO incentive for the GOP to stop wrecking norms for political gain...until they get a nice big glass of reciprocity.

Is there something off with the forum? I keep getting logged out or getting error messages.

Had a long reply wrote but not interested in doing it again. In short the fact that you ignore Harry Reid's norm breaking and put the blame on the GOP highlights your bias blinders.

[tantalus]

Is there something off with the forum? I keep getting logged out or getting error messages.

It's ill http://www.worldaffairsboard.com/sho...2&goto=newpost

Copy any long posts you make before you hit reply.

[TopHatter]

A Statement By Former Republican National Security Officials

We are former national security officials who served during the administrations of Presidents Ronald Reagan, George H.W. Bush, George W. Bush, and/or Donald Trump, or as Republican Members of Congress. We are profoundly concerned about the course of our nation under the leadership of Donald Trump. Through his actions and his rhetoric, Trump has demonstrated that he lacks the character and competence to lead this nation and has engaged in corrupt behavior that renders him unfit to serve as President.

For the following reasons, we have concluded that Donald Trump has failed our country and that Vice President Joe Biden should be elected the next President of the United States.

1. Donald Trump has gravely damaged America’s role as a world leader. Trump has disgraced America’s global reputation and undermined our nation’s moral and diplomatic influence. He has called NATO “obsolete,” branded Europe a “foe,” mocked the leaders of America’s closest friends, and threatened to terminate longstanding US alliances. Other global leaders, friends and foes alike, view him as unreliable, unstable, and unworthy of respect.

2. Donald Trump has shown that he is unfit to lead during a national crisis. Instead of rallying the American people and the world to confront the coronavirus, Trump has spent the past half year spreading misinformation, undermining public health experts, attacking state and local officials, and wallowing in self-pity. He has demonstrated far greater concern about the fate of his reelection than the health of the American people.

3. Donald Trump has solicited foreign influence and undermined confidence in our presidential elections. Trump publicly asked Russian president Vladimir Putin to assist his 2016 campaign, called on Chinese president Xi Jinping to “start an investigation” into his current political opponent, and pressured the president of Ukraine to act against his opponent. Citing exaggerated claims of voter fraud, he has challenged the integrity of this year’s election, even suggesting that it be postponed.

4. Donald Trump has aligned himself with dictators and failed to stand up for American values. Trump has regularly praised the actions of dictators and human rights abusers. He proclaimed his “love” and “great respect” for North Korean strongman Kim Jong Un, endorsed “brilliant leader” Xi Jinping’s move to serve as China’s president for life, repeatedly sided with Vladimir Putin against our own intelligence community, and pronounced himself a “big fan” of Turkish president Recep Erdogan despite his crackdown on democracy.

5. Donald Trump has disparaged our armed forces, intelligence agencies, and diplomats. Trump has attacked Gold Star families, scoffed at American prisoners of war, interfered in the military justice system, and embroiled our military in domestic politics. He has ridiculed US intelligence agencies and falsely branded our nation’s diplomats as the “deep state.”

6. Donald Trump has undermined the rule of law. Trump has compromised the independence of the Department of Justice, repeatedly attacked federal judges, and punished government officials who have sought to uphold the law. To protect himself from accountability, he has fired officials who launched investigations or testified against him, threatened whistleblowers, dangled pardons as incentives to stay silent, and blocked prison time for a political crony convicted of lying on his behalf. He has impugned journalists investigating his misconduct and has repeatedly denounced the press as the “enemy of the people.”

7. Donald Trump has dishonored the office of the presidency. Trump engages in childish name-calling, mocks the disabled, belittles women, persistently lies, peddles baseless conspiracy theories, and continually embarrasses Americans in the eyes of the world.

8. Donald Trump has divided our nation and preached a dark and pessimistic view of America. Trump consistently seeks to incite political, racial, and ethnic divisions, weakening our nation and delighting our adversaries. In contrast to Reagan’s vision of America as a “shining city on a hill,” Trump speaks of “American carnage,” pits Americans against each other, and stokes fears that “angry mobs” and “anarchists” are destroying our country.

9. Donald Trump has attacked and vilified immigrants to our country. Trump routinely denigrates immigrants and inflames prejudices as he seeks support for his reelection. Despite America’s legacy as a nation of immigrants, he has demonized Americans who come from other countries, even telling members of Congress whose families immigrated to the United States to “go back” to the “crime-infested places” from which they came.

10. Donald Trump has imperiled America’s security by mismanaging his national security team. Trump has dismissed or replaced — often by tweet — the secretaries of State, Defense, and Homeland Security, the Attorney General, the Directors of National Intelligence and the FBI, three National Security Advisors, and other senior officials in critical national security positions, many because they refused to cover for his misdeeds or demonstrate sufficient personal loyalty.
While we – like all Americans – had hoped that Donald Trump would govern wisely, he has disappointed millions of voters who put their faith in him and has demonstrated that he is dangerously unfit to serve another term.

In contrast, we believe Joe Biden has the character, experience, and temperament to lead this nation. We believe he will restore the dignity of the presidency, bring Americans together, reassert America’s role as a global leader, and inspire our nation to live up to its ideals.

While some of us hold policy positions that differ from those of Joe Biden and his party, the time to debate those policy differences will come later. For now, it is imperative that we stop Trump’s assault on our nation’s values and institutions and reinstate the moral foundations of our democracy.

To that end, we are firmly convinced that it is in the best interest of our nation that Vice President Joe Biden be elected as the next President of the United States, and we will vote for him.

Adm. Steve Abbot
Fmr Dep Homeland Security Advisor

Mary Catherine Andrews
Fmr Special Asst to the President

Richard Armitage
Fmr Deputy Secretary of State

Christopher Barton
Fmr Director, NSC Staff

John Bellinger
Fmr Legal Adviser, Dept of State

Adm. Kenneth Bernard
Fmr Special Asst to the President

Amb. Robert Blackwill
Fmr Deputy National Security Advisor

Linton Brooks
Fmr Under Secretary of Energy

Kara Bue
Fmr Dep Asst Secretary of State

Amb. Richard Burt
Fmr US Ambassador to Germany

Victor Cha
Fmr Director, NSC Staff

Thomas Christensen
Fmr Dep Asst Secretary of State

Eliot Cohen
Fmr Counselor of the Dept of State

Joseph Collins
Fmr Dep Asst Secretary of Defense

Heather Conley
Fmr Dep Asst Secretary of State

Chester Crocker
Fmr Asst Secretary of State

Patrick Cronin
Fmr Asst Administrator, USAID

Amb. Sada Cumber
Fmr US Special Envoy to the OIC

Mike Donley
Fmr Secretary of the Air Force

Raymond DuBois
Fmr Acting Under Secretary of the Army

Amb. Eric Edelman
Fmr Under Secretary of Defense

Gary Edson
Fmr Deputy National Security Advisor

Richard Falkenrath
Fmr Dep Asst to the President

Aaron Friedberg
Fmr Dep Asst to the Vice President

Janice Gardner
Fmr Asst Secretary of the Treasury

Amb. James Glassman
Fmr Under Secretary of State

David Gordon
Fmr Director, State Dept, Policy Planning

Colleen Graffy
Fmr Dep Asst Secretary of State

Michael Green
Fmr Senior Director, NSC Staff

Sen. Chuck Hagel
Fmr Secretary of Defense and US Senator

Gen. Michael Hayden
Fmr Director of the CIA and the NSA

Amb. Carla Hills
Fmr US Trade Representative

Ash Jain
Fmr Member, State Dept Policy Planning

James Kelly
Fmr Asst Secretary of State

Rep. Jim Kolbe
Fmr Member of Congress

David Kramer
Fmr Asst Secretary of State

Stephen Krasner
Fmr Director, State Dept Policy Planning

Ken Krieg
Fmr Under Secretary of Defense

Amb. Frank Lavin
Fmr Under Secretary of Commerce

Rep. Jim Leach
Fmr Member of Congress

Bruce Lemkin
Fmr Dep Under Secretary of the Air Force

Michael Leiter
Fmr Director, National Counterterrorism Ctr

Peter Lichtenbaum
Fmr Asst Secretary of Commerce

Amb. Winston Lord
Fmr US Ambassador to China

James Loy
Fmr Dep Secretary of Homeland Security

Peter Madigan
Fmr Dep Asst Secretary State

Bryan McGrath
Former US Navy Officer

David Merkel
Fmr Dep Asst Secretary of State

John Mitnick
Fmr General Counsel, Department of Homeland Security

Holly Morrow
Fmr Director, NSC Staff

Amb. John Negroponte
Fmr Director of National Intelligence, and Fmr Deputy Secretary of State

Elizabeth Neumann
Fmr Asst Secretary of Homeland Security

Sean O’Keefe
Fmr Secretary of the Navy and NASA Administrator

Daniel Price
Fmr Dep National Security Advisor

Paul Rosenzweig
Fmr Dep Asst Secretary of Homeland Security

Nicholas Rostow
Fmr NSC Legal Adviser

Kori Schake
Fmr Prin Dep Director, State Dept Policy Planning

Wayne Schroeder
Fmr Dep Under Secretary of Defense

Robert Shanks
Fmr Dep Asst Attorney General

Rep. Christopher Shays
Fmr Member of Congress

John Simon
Fmr Senior Director, NSC Staff

Stephen Slick
Fmr Senior Director, NSC Staff

Amb. William Taft
Fmr Deputy Secretary of Defense

Shirin Tahir-Kheli
Fmr Special Asst to the President

Miles Taylor
Fmr Chief of Staff, Dept of Homeland Security

William Tobey
Fmr Dep Administrator, Nat Nuclear Security Admin

Amb. Robert Tuttle
Fmr US Ambassador to the United Kingdom

John Veroneau
Fmr Dep US Trade Representative

Michael Vickers
Fmr Under Secretary of Defense

Ken Wainstein
Fmr Homeland Security Advisor

Sen. John Warner
Fmr US Senator

Matthew Waxman
Fmr Prin Dep Director, State Dept Policy Planning

William Webster
Fmr Director of the CIA and FBI

Dov Zakheim
Fmr Under Secretary of Defense

Philip Zelikow
Fmr Counselor of the Dept of State

[TopHatter]

Is there something off with the forum? I keep getting logged out or getting error messages.

Yes, the forum has been slowly dying for the past 5 years. We're on borrowed time.

[tbm3fan]

TBM, Intellectually eloquent.
Do you have any words for the violent and malicious anarchists raging in some cities that appear to be aligned with you politically?

Well thank you but I am surprised you understand the words ethics, principles, dignity and honor. Study or a dictionary? I know you didn't look into a mirror.

As for eloquent there are many forms. I could be face to face with Trump and explain my dislike of him in very eloquent and sophisticated terms. Most all of which would go right over his head. Rather than have that happen I would need to dumb down my approach and make it more basic if he is to understand. Sometimes the quick and short approach using just two words can accomplish far more in getting a thought across. Getting a thought across in just two words? Now that is eloquent!

Being a centrist I do get to look both left and right. The anarchists on the left are out in the open and don't worry me much outside of property damage. The anarchists on the right are far more sinister and hidden so consequently they concern me more because they want to cause Constitutional damage. The ones on the left are amateurs while those of the right are more professional, dangerous and in larger numbers. Do you not agree since you are a libertarian, so you say...

[surfgun]

The anarchists on the the left have caused $100’s of millions of damage to US Cities, but probably into the $billions now. Some inner cities are to become urban deserts again. This is a plight that was essentially corrected in the 90’s after the damages incurred from the riots of the late 1960’s.
Please list the infrastructural damage that the large “insidious” damage cause by the the alleged right anarchists? Are they operating gyms? Championing the 2nd Amendment?
I’m sure you are aware that Biden only believes the use of single shot or double barreled shotguns.
He does not want citizens to own pump shotguns, any semi automatics or handguns of any kind.

[zraver]

Yes, the forum has been slowly dying for the past 5 years. We're on borrowed time.

Ahh, well all things must come to an end.


I've missed some of you (Colonel) but many of those I miss most are no longer with us.

[astralis]

z,

Had a long reply wrote but not interested in doing it again. In short the fact that you ignore Harry Reid's norm breaking and put the blame on the GOP highlights your bias blinders.

of course i'm biased -- everyone has their own blinders.

but let's take your example here, of Harry Reid. yeah, he broke the judicial filibuster and the executive branch nomination norm -- because the GOP was blocking all of Obama's picked judges for lower court, and his own staff.

i know what the riposte will be; but Robert Bork! etc, etc.

again, and i'm being as NON-partisan as I can be in this analysis -- the GOP has been at the forefront, and much more systematically aggressive, about norm-breaking, precisely because they know that their long-term prospects are poor. this is an enormous incentive for them to act first while they still have political power, rather than later.

this is reflected in the WAY both parties act towards norm-breaking. REDMAP was celebrated by the GOP as being innovative and bringing scentific, statistical vigor in gerrymandering to screw over Democrats in a legal way. Mitch McConnell literally laughed when a reporter asked if he would wait until the election was over if a Supreme Court vacancy came up this year.

meanwhile, Dems are wringing their hands over blowing up the legislative filibuster if they win the Senate, with Manchin, Tester, Sinema saying they were opposed (for that matter, Biden himself).

in any case, at this point in time, trying to assign blame is all but meaningless. what's clear is that unspoken norms, understandings, "this just isn't done, old chap" isn't sustainable for the Senate/Congress any more. if we can't get compromise, i'd rather have single-party legislative efficiency; ie, if one political party can actually win both the executive and the legislative branch, then let them execute their POLICY vision.

this would actually lower the overall political temperature, because that means not every political fight needs to be a war to the knife anymore.

[DOR]

A list of things that would die if the Donkey Party would win?
F-15EX
F/A-XX, F-35C will do, despite the Navy wants an Aircraft with long legs.
Any Columbia class SSGN’s
SSNX, just get by with new build Virginia’s
A dumbed down Bradley replacement
6.5mm small arms may or may not survive?
Get by with new build Blackhawks and kill off the high speed successor?
Kill the Ch-53K.
That is off the top of my head.

Shit.
Now I'm even agreeing with surfgun ...

[zraver]

z,



of course i'm biased -- everyone has their own blinders.

but let's take your example here, of Harry Reid. yeah, he broke the judicial filibuster and the executive branch nomination norm -- because the GOP was blocking all of Obama's picked judges for lower court, and his own staff.

i know what the riposte will be; but Robert Bork! etc, etc./quote]

Actually Reid v Bush.... Harry Reid fillibustered the hell out of Bush nominees and then torched the fillibuster when the shoe was on the other foot. If you want a root cause villian there he is.

again, and i'm being as NON-partisan as I can be in this analysis -- the GOP has been at the forefront, and much more systematically aggressive, about norm-breaking, precisely because they know that their long-term prospects are poor. this is an enormous incentive for them to act first while they still have political power, rather than later.

this is reflected in the WAY both parties act towards norm-breaking. REDMAP was celebrated by the GOP as being innovative and bringing scentific, statistical vigor in gerrymandering to screw over Democrats in a legal way. Mitch McConnell literally laughed when a reporter asked if he would wait until the election was over if a Supreme Court vacancy came up this year.

Again this goes back to broken norms

quote]meanwhile, Dems are wringing their hands over blowing up the legislative filibuster if they win the Senate, with Manchin, Tester, Sinema saying they were opposed (for that matter, Biden himself).

in any case, at this point in time, trying to assign blame is all but meaningless. what's clear is that unspoken norms, understandings, "this just isn't done, old chap" isn't sustainable for the Senate/Congress any more. if we can't get compromise, i'd rather have single-party legislative efficiency; ie, if one political party can actually win both the executive and the legislative branch, then let them execute their POLICY vision.

Single party systems trash individual rights. The Dems don't just want single party between an election, they are actively trying to create the conditions where they are the only party (that matters) in an election. The ballot harvesting, court packing etc is all part of the effort there is a reason they were running around saying demographics is destiny. I don't think it is, but you and they do.

quote]this would actually lower the overall political temperature, because that means not every political fight needs to be a war to the knife anymore.[/QUOTE]

I though you had a better grasp of history than that. Have you seen whats been going on? Political violence in the streets is becoming the norm. Your black shirts are actively pursuing direct action against their political enemies. They are not even pretending anymore. A couple of nights ago in Portland they were dragging a guillotine through residential streets while the burned American flags. Those are your boys, aided and encouraged by the bulk of the American Left.