Thursday, December 21, 2017

Topline: The Anti-Anti-Trumpers

Life is busy and filled with distractions. We wanted to make sure you saw these articles about the pressing issues facing our country.

Stand Up Republic
 

Life is busy and filled with distractions. We wanted to make sure you saw these articles about the pressing issues facing our country.

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The GOP Civil War 
The Atlantic — Dec. 19, 2017
David Frum confronts what has essentially become an anti-anti-Trump faction of the GOP — those who are unable to defend the president, but are perfectly willing to attack those who attack him. Frum points out that the conservatism these critics see themselves as defending is changing, perhaps irrevocably, and that actions taken by the president must be considered in the context of the overall forest fire that is his presidency.

Citizenship  

Equity by Force 
Quillette — Dec. 18, 2017
An essay in Quillette breaks down some of the factors contributing to recent campus protests at Evergreen State University. The upheavals garnered international headlines, primarily marveling at the consistent capitulation of the administration to increasingly unreasonable student demands. Tribalism and group hatred have no place in a democratic society, regardless of their ideological sources.

Governance  

Hail Caesar? 
Lawfare — Dec. 17, 2017
Lawfare takes a look at the changing relationship between the military and civilian leadership in American democracy. The military is now the most trusted public institution in America, and the president loves to surround himself with generals to use that legitimacy to bolster his own. Yet, as Raphael Cohen warns, we should consider the consequences of increased military visibility in civilian administrative roles.

China’s Senator 
The Washington Post — Dec. 17, 2017
Senator Steve Daines has been particularly cozy with China, and the Washington Post analyzes the rationale behind this odd relationship. This particular example is a good case study for how authoritarian regimes can influence individual legislators in an open society like our own, and how our leadership may be susceptible to manipulation by foreign powers in the future.

The Investigation  

Prepping the Battlefield 
Politico — Dec. 19, 2017
Rumors have been swirling about a possible move against the Mueller investigation, and the president – not exactly known for his honesty - recently sought to head them off by directly denying any intention to fire the special counsel. However, the intent of the campaign to delegitimize the investigation might also be to prime the Trump base to reject its findings entirely, and to put their faith unquestioningly in their leader.











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Monday, December 18, 2017

VIDEO: D'Souza rips apart smug leftist student over "white privilege"

In this recently viral video of Dinesh D'Souza a UMass Amherst, a leftist undergraduate tries his hand at taking on Dinesh D'Souza over "white privilege."




Thursday, December 14, 2017

Topline: Moore Isn’t Always Better

Life is busy and filled with distractions. We wanted to make sure you saw these articles about the pressing issues facing our country.

Stand Up Republic
 

Life is busy and filled with distractions. We wanted to make sure you saw these articles about the pressing issues facing our country.

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The GOP Can’t Take Any Moore 
The Washington Post — Dec. 13, 2017
Jen Rubin runs down the numbers from Tuesday’s Alabama Senate election and draws some conclusions on the future of the GOP. Most importantly: “The tighter they cling to Trump, the worse they will do.” GOP leaders sacrificed their principles for power, but will end up with neither.

Ideas  

Moore Isn’t Always Better 
The Weekly Standard — Dec. 8, 2017
The Weekly Standard reviews the uniquely awful candidacy of Roy Moore. An accused child molester twice removed from his position on the state Supreme Court for defying federal law, a man who believes his personal religious beliefs supersede the Constitution, became the standard bearer for a newly corrupted Republican Party, directly supported by the RNC and the President.

The Investigation  

Obstructing Justice 
The Atlantic — Dec. 11, 2017
Somewhat lost in the Alabama circus this week has been a mounting far-right campaign against Robert Mueller, the Republican and career public servant heading up a nonpartisan investigative probe into the Trump family’s Russia connections. This cynical and partisan ploy reveals an uncomfortable truth: there is very little Trump supporters will not sacrifice to protect their chief, even the very notions of accountability, nonpartisan governance, and the rule of law.

A Debilitating Defense of Donald 
Foreign Policy — Dec. 11, 2017
Max Boot warns of a coming constitutional crisis, as the Trump team begins to feel the heat from the Mueller investigation. With the aforementioned smoke from far-right media, it seems as though the ground is being laid for an effort to stymie these efforts at holding the president accountable to the law. The question remains: if Trump does attempt to thwart the investigation, what will the GOP do?

Russia  

The Dictator’s Toolbox 
Meduza — Dec. 13, 2017
Just yesterday, Russia’s federal media regulator demanded Twitter restrict access to “Open Russia,” an account critical of the Kremlin, and threatened to block Twitter if their leadership failed to comply. This is how authoritarians extend their influence globally – private companies are driven by a profit motive, which is often exploited by despots to more broadly enforce censorship rules.

Trump and Russia: A Love Story 
The Daily Beast — Dec. 12, 2017
In news that will shock no one, the president recently went out of his way to object to portions of a bill intended to prepare our national security apparatus for Russia’s ongoing hybrid war against the United States. Meanwhile, the administration has failed to implement congressional sanctions on Russia unimplemented. America First, indeed.











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Wednesday, December 13, 2017

We Did It

Last night, one of the most conservative states in the country rejected a candidate whose character and respect for our Constitution simply failed our most basic standards. GOP leaders assumed that principles were less important than party. They thought they could take voters for granted.

 

Friend,

We did it. Last night, one of the most conservative states in the country rejected a candidate whose character and respect for our Constitution simply failed our most basic standards. GOP leaders assumed that principles were less important than party. They thought they could take voters for granted.

You proved them wrong.

Alabama’s results have stunned the GOP and the national news media, but it hasn’t shocked us. We’ve been warning the country for over a year that the American people could not, and ultimately would not, continue to elect immoral and unprincipled politicians.

Friend, with your support we won a big victory for American values. We spent $500,000 on highly targeted ads in Alabama. The 4 Alabama counties that swung the hardest against Moore were the counties that we blanketed with ads.

I wish I could say that this was the turning point; that our politicians would recommit themselves to the principles of liberty, equality, and truth. Unfortunately, this is only the first salvo in a long and arduous struggle. We cannot rest on our laurels or be content with this one victory.

Will you stand up to help us be prepared for the next fight? Can you donate just $5, $10, or $25 dollars to fund the next campaign for American values?

Thank you for your support. We couldn’t have won in Alabama without it. I know I can count on your continued support in the fights to come.

Sincerely,
Evan McMullin



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Monday, December 11, 2017

VIDEO: Dinesh D'Souza exposes fascism's leftist founding father





Friday, December 8, 2017

[ACTION] No. Moore.

Friend — Roy Moore is still leading in the polls, despite a history of embarrassing misbehavior that includes supporting a religious litmus test for public service, co-authoring a course teaching that women are unfit to hold elected office, and being removed from the Alabama Supreme Court twice for violating our constitution.

 

Friend,

Roy Moore is still leading in the polls, despite a history of embarrassing misbehavior that includes supporting a religious litmus test for public service, co-authoring a course teaching that women are unfit to hold elected office and being removed from the Alabama Supreme Court twice for violating our Constitution.

If these positions weren’t disqualifying enough, Moore has been credibly accused of sexual assault or harassment by multiple women, one as young as 14 at the time of the assault.

We couldn’t stand by and let a man like Roy Moore cruise to an easy victory. That’s why we’ve put our money where our mouth is by actively opposing Roy Moore in Alabama through a digital and tv ad campaign.

Daughters

Robert

Fortunately, Moore’s lead is far from secure, and our ads are already beginning to make a difference.

Friend, will you help us continue this fight by chipping in $25, $50 or $100 to help us defeat dangerous and unacceptable candidate Roy Moore? Your contribution will allow us to reach even more Alabama voters with our message and stop Roy Moore in his tracks.

Thank you for continuing to stand with us!

— Evan and Mindy



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Thursday, December 7, 2017

Topline: The Once and Future GOP

Life is busy and filled with distractions. We wanted to make sure you saw these articles about the pressing issues facing our country.

Stand Up Republic
 

Life is busy and filled with distractions. We wanted to make sure you saw these articles about the pressing issues facing our country.

  Sort By: Importance   

It’s Mueller Time 
Lawfare — Dec. 1, 2017
The Lawfare staff walks us through the Mike Flynn guilty plea, what it means for Mueller’s investigation, and the implications for the Trump team. The upshot: limiting the charges to “lying to the FBI” likely means Flynn is cooperating with the investigation, and Mueller has probably judged he can provide significant help on more high-profile figures.

Citizenship  

Can It Happen Here? 
Slate — Dec. 4, 2017
Yascha Mounk registers some trepidation at what our current political moment says of our ability to reject extremism, should it proceed further. He asks that, if there is so much willingness to go along with Trumpism now when the stakes are relatively low, what happens if the stakes rise?

Ideas  

The Once and Future GOP 
The Washington Post — Dec. 5, 2017
Jen Rubin breaks down the composition of the GOP, and explains the significance of these fractures for the party’s future. There are plenty of Republicans rightly worried about the direction of the party under Trump – what if, Rubin asks, these principled individuals broke off from the GOP and became a voting faction of their own? This could force the GOP to either back away from the extremist ledge to recapture these votes, or face electoral irrelevance.

Governance  

Where’s the Money? 
The Hill — Dec. 4, 2017
Dark money in politics is nearly universally hated by the American public, yet keeps flowing into campaign coffers. The Hill explores the impact of legislation on enabling untraceable and unaccountable funding, and what it might mean for transparency in a representative government.

Still No Tax Returns 
Vanity Fair — Dec. 2017
Vanity Fair does a deep dive into the finances of Trump Tower, questioning how its patrons have shifted from celebrities and high-profile individuals to a variety of shell corporations and assorted cutouts. Given the Trumps’ murky alleged ties to criminal enterprises and swirling accusations of money laundering, this does raise the question of just how Trump Tower is making money for the president and his family.

Rule of Law  

Irony is Dead 
New York Times — Dec. 5, 2017
Sign of the times: Roy Moore, alleged pedophile and child molester, held a rally this week wherein he cited his support for family values as the primary reason Alabamians should support him. He showed his fiery “conservative” opposition to the “wealthy secular elites” in Hollywood and DC by embracing Steve Bannon, a self-described Leninist and wealthy, secular member of the elite in Hollywood and DC.











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Thursday, November 30, 2017

Topline: Tribalism v. Democracy

Life is busy and filled with distractions. We wanted to make sure you saw these articles about the pressing issues facing our country.

Stand Up Republic
 

Life is busy and filled with distractions. We wanted to make sure you saw these articles about the pressing issues facing our country.

  Sort By: Importance   

Tribalism Versus Democracy 
Manhattan Institute — Nov. 15, 2017
Jonathan Haidt, a well-known social psychologist and author, discusses the dangers of tribalism. He warns that the current trend of campus liberalism to divide people based on ethnicity, religion, and gender is ultimately a threat to the fabric of a democratic society, and encourages broader awareness of our responsibilities as citizens.

Citizenship  

The Death of News 
Public Books — Nov. 28, 2017
Victor Pickard argues that news is a public service, yet is treated largely as a private commodity. He explains why this is a dangerous phenomenon, and how it leads to a poor incentive structure that does little to inform voters on the actual issues. In his view, we are primed more for culture war than for maintaining a democratic system.

Governance  

Sabotaging American Influence 
The New York Times — Nov. 27, 2017
As the administration continues its assault on the State Department and the Foreign Service, the NYT reflects on the cost to American soft power around the world. We need a robust State Department to promote and defend democracy around the world, especially when authoritarian movements are on the rise.

Russia  

Tsar Donald I 
The Atlantic — Nov. 27, 2017
Masha Gessen talks about Donald Trump, Vladimir Putin, and the similarities between the two men and their styles of governing. She points out that both rally support through appeals to an “imaginary past,” while trying to dominate their societies by dominating and exploiting that culture.

Technology  

Social Media’s False Promise 
Buzzfeed News — Nov. 28, 2017
Social media promised to be the great equalizer. What we didn’t realize was that it would also enable malicious entities to blend in and influence our public discourse to an unprecedented degree. The format tends to encourage outrage and partisanship, which can only poison our already toxic political environment.











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