Politics

May 68 – Wikipedia

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May 68 – Wikipedia

Beginning in May 1968, a period of civil unrest occurred throughout France, lasting some seven weeks and punctuated by demonstrations, general strikes, as well as the occupation of universities and factories. At the height of events, which have since become known as May 68, the economy of France came to a halt. The protests reached such a point that political leaders feared civil war or revolution; the national government briefly ceased to function after President Charles de Gaulle secretly fled France to Germany at one point. The protests spurred movements worldwide, with songs, imaginative graffiti, posters, and slogans.

Protests Halt Congress’ Electoral Count: Live Updates : NPR

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George W. Bush Says He Is ‘Appalled’ By Recklessness Of ‘Some Political Leaders’ : Protests Halt Congress’ Electoral Count: Live Updates : NPR

George W. Bush, the only living former Republican president, said he was "appalled" by the actions of some political leaders since the election, and called the "mayhem" at the U.S. Capitol "a sickening and heartbreaking sight."

"This is how election results are disputed in a banana republic – not our democratic republic," the former president wrote in a statement released Wednesday evening. "I am appalled by the reckless behavior of some political leaders since the election and by the lack of respect shown today for our institutions, our traditions, and our law enforcement."

Protests Halt Congress’ Electoral Count: Live Updates : NPR

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Shots Fired As Far-Right Insurrectionists Storm U.S. Capitol : Protests Halt Congress’ Electoral Count: Live Updates : NPR

The U.S. Capitol was engulfed in chaos on Wednesday, as supporters of President Trump, responding to his call to head there, breached the complex, resulting in violence in the seat of America's federal government.

The surreal and dangerous scene interrupted proceedings in the House and Senate, as members of Congress were taking up President-elect Joe Biden's Electoral College victory.

Hawaii was the ‘Florida’ of 1960 election

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Hawaii was the ‘Florida’ of 1960 election

In 1960, the Electoral College consisted of 537 members, of which Hawaii had three. The majority to win was 269 votes.

The initial results of the Nov. 8 election that year showed Vice President Richard Nixon 141 votes ahead of Sen. John Kennedy in Hawaii, and so the new state's three electoral votes were officially cast with Nixon.

The Hawaii vote, however, was so close that a recount was inevitable. Both parties made charges of voter fraud, although a court investigation later showed no evidence of tampering. Electors nationwide were scheduled to cast their ballots on ec. 19 that year, but the Hawaii recount was still under way when the date approached. Hawaii's Republican electors cast votes that day for Nixon, and one minute later, emocratic electors cast their three votes for Kennedy.

Trump Pressures Pence to Reject Electoral Votes – The New York Times

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Trump Pressures Pence to Reject Electoral Votes – The New York Times

The job has occasionally been unpleasant for vice presidents. In 1961, the state of Hawaii sent two slates of electors and the vice president, Richard M. Nixon, who had just lost the election to John . Kennedy, moved to count the emocratic electors, which expanded his own margin of defeat. orty years later, Al Gore was in a similar spot, burdened with overruling objections from his fellow emocrats and declaring the victory of George W. Bush — and his own defeat — after a drawn-out lorida recount that was ended by the Supreme Court. And in 2017, Mr. Biden, then the vice president, had to reject a emocratic challenge to Mr. Trump’s victory.

NPR

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Trump Urges Georgia’s Raffensberger To Overturn Election : NPR

An angry President Trump pushed Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, a fellow Republican, to overturn the state's presidential results, and appeared to at least partly blame him for what could be lower turnout in Tuesday's runoff elections that will decide control of the U.S. Senate, according to a recording of a phone call obtained by Georgia Public Broadcasting.

"The people of Georgia know that this was a scam, and because of what you've done to the president, a lot of people aren't going out to vote [in the runoffs]," Trump said in the remarkable Saturday call. "A lot of Republicans are going to vote negative because they hate what you did to the president."

Become less of a political junkie 💉

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New Years Resolution: Become less of a political junkie 💉

A junkie is defined on Merriam Websters as a narcotics peddler or addict in the most absolute sense of the world. It’s so easy to consume hours and hours of the latest political news and intrigue by just turning on the radio or following virtually any news channel or politician’s social media feeds. But like a heroin addict’s untimely death, I think it has become a bit overwhelming and bad for my health and well-being.

While I’m not going to stop listening to the news on the radio or visiting NPR’s website, I am no longer going to consume news or politics on social media. I am not going to follow blow by blow every political debate or every controversy. Instead I’m going to spend more time trying to understand the world around me – nature, physics, electricity, farming and conservation.

No longer am I going to consume endless hours of media trash – that talks about the politics of climate change or mask wearing but instead try to understand how the changing climate or COVID is effecting me personally. I don’t want to be – and I’m not going to be – an agent of change so I’d rather focus more on myself and understanding the real world and not the politics around me.