democracy

'Post-9/11 era is over': Mob attack to haunt Biden on world stage

Washington (AFP) - President-elect Joe Biden has vowed to restore a global leadership role for the United States, but he will be haunted by a final act of his predecessor -- inciting a mob to trash the US Capitol. Allied democracies voiced shock, and authoritarian states alleged US hypocrisy after Donald Trump's supporters stormed and defiled the seat of US democracy to disrupt a ceremonial session that certified Biden's victory. A number of lawmakers, scholars and activists said that Biden -- known for his strong interest in foreign affairs -- will be obliged to focus inward and confront the ...

Criminal Rioters, Facing 10 Years, May Walk

Criminal Rioters, Facing 10 Years, May Walk; Five Deaths and Threat to Democracy = Only a Small Fine Q3 2020 hedge fund letters, conferences and more Criminal Rioters May Get Away With Just A Small FineWASHINGTON, D.C. (January 8, 2021) - Even though they potentially face charges which could result in 10-year prison sentences, it appears that most of the rioting insurrectionists will face only minor charges, and may well pay only a small fine without spending any time in prison for their crimes, suggests public interest law professor John Banzhaf. According to D.C.'s Metropolitan Police Depart...

Denying defeat, Trump offers fodder for world's strongmen

Washington (AFP) - The United States has long championed democracy around the world, pushing persistently, if not always consistently, for leaders to give up power when they lose.President Donald Trump is now establishing a new American model -- refusing to concede, making unsubstantiated claims of fraud and seeking the intervention of courts and political allies in hopes of reversing his defeat to Joe Biden.Political figures and experts interviewed in several countries fear that Trump's blueprint will be eagerly embraced in fragile democracies, especially in Africa, letting strongmen point to...

Republicans 'poisoning' US democracy by shunning Biden win: top Democrat

Washington (AFP) - The US Senate's top Democrat warned his Republican colleagues Thursday that they were "poisoning" the country's democracy by continuing to refuse to acknowledge Joe Biden's presidential election victory last week.Only a handful of Republicans have publicly congratulated Biden -- who himself served for decades in the Senate -- an awkward break with political tradition that has heightened the sense of polarization in Washington.Several Republican lawmakers including Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell have stood firm with President Donald Trump by supporting his refusal to ...

In California, the ballot is long... and hard work

San Francisco (AFP) - Voting in California is not just a matter of plumping for Trump or Biden -- residents are confronted with scores of other decisions in a bewildering array of referendums and for officials ranging from judges to school boards.The largest state in America by population holds elections that mix direct local democracy with politics that is heavily influenced by powerful lobby groups.In total, nearly 380 referendums will be held on November 3 across California, in addition to electing the president and all the "down-ballot" officials."Usually I just show up at the voting booth...