Viernes, 8 de enero de 2021 (Continuación)

MundoAmérica, ,

Durante años, ha existido un mantra que los republicanos recitan para consolarse acerca del presidente Trump, tanto por las cosas que dice como por el apoyo que le ofrecen. Según ellos, Trump debe ser tomado en serio, pero no literalmente. La frase proviene de un artículo de Salena Zito publicado en The Atlantic, en 2016, en el que se quejaba de que la prensa se tomaba a Trump “literalmente, pero no en serio; sus seguidores lo toman en serio, pero no literalmente”.

Para las élites republicanas, se trató de un argumento muy útil. Si las palabras de Trump se entendían como una serie de capas de exageración y estilo folklórico, diseñadas para provocar a los pedantes de los medios de comunicación pero perfectamente comprensibles para sus partidarios comunes y corrientes, entonces, mucho de lo que sería demasiado grotesco o falso como para poder ser aceptado de manera literal podría respaldarse cuidadosamente, en el mejor de los casos, o simplemente ignorarse como un mal chiste en las peores ocasiones.…  Seguir leyendo »

‘In 2019, Carrie Lam called protesters “enemies of the people”. In 2020, she extended that designation to all who opposed the security law.’ Photograph: Lam Yik/Reuters

MundoAsia,

The arrest of 53 activists in Hong Kong on national security charges represents the purge of an entire generation of politicians. Police also demanded documents from three news organisations and for the first time arrested a foreign citizen – the US human rights lawyer John Clancey – on national security charges. These moves represent an assault on civil society the aim of which appears to be the destruction of the system that nurtured the type of political engagement that brought nearly 2 million people – almost a quarter of the population – out on to the streets in 2019.

Those arrested are suspected of subversion, which carries a maximum penalty of life in prison.…  Seguir leyendo »

‘On Wednesday the president incited a mob to descend on Congress with a clear intent to stymie the vote to certify Joe Biden’s election as president of the United States.’ Photograph: Will Oliver/EPA

MundoAmérica, ,

As the nation now focuses on getting through the final two weeks of the presidency of Donald Trump, debate has begun about whether to remove him through the 25th amendment or impeachment. Regardless of what happens in these coming days, it is imperative that Congress ensure that this president never takes power again. The clearest and most constitutionally appropriate way to do this is for the House to impeach, followed by a vote by the Senate to disqualify the president of the United States from future federal public office.

The disqualification vote has received less attention than the power of Congress to remove the president.…  Seguir leyendo »