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Thank you so much for another clear analysis of the situation Ukraine is battling while at the same time a similar and just as dangerous a battle is raging in the United States. The January 6 Select Committee has shown exactly what is going on. Unfortunately they cannot say as much as needs to be said. Sadly there is too much being said about "s/heros" on the gop side finally coming out of the dark to actually "testify" to what they were seeing and doing the past 4 years and for some even before that - during 45's campaign. There is a great deal of "historic revision" going on as far as various personalities are concerned. Even Liz Cheney, who has put her "political career" on the line (her father was one of the darkest VP's in the history of the US), supported 45 in her votes 91% of the time, so while she is on the "right side of the issue" today, she is as problematic the gop generally. The reality is: there are Americans who are intent on making sure the next coup is successful and they have started their work in the states. The Conservative Partnership Institute is an organization founded by the Heritage Foundation and one of the head honchos is - Mark Meadows - that founder of the so-called "freedom caucus", which of course, despite its name has nothing to do with freedom unless it is freedom for a very few to do what they wish to the vast majority regardless. This organization makes it possible for folks like MTG, Bobert, Jordan, and other right wing toadies to produce their blogs and visual media for wide distribution. Everything you write is correct. But the danger we face is even greater than most Americans realize. Finally, when I vote I am not voting for a "ruler". I am voting for a representative. That means someone who can possibly represent my views in so far as making decisions is concerned. At the present time my vote can also be used to change a representative. A ruler is what Putin is. A ruler is what DeSantis is. A ruler is Orban. A ruler is Abbott. And in a way a ruler is "mansion". There's plenty to do to change the course the nation is on. But it will take many more people knowing more about who is pulling the levers behind the scenes, and naming names. And for print and all media that will mean not treating the gop as if it were a political movement that supports democracy and democratic principles. It no longer does that, and it has not for more than 40 years.

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Struggling to find a way to say "I hope you are right" that doesn't sound silly, and will do my perhaps-not-certified-heroic part leading up to the softer flavor of coup we expect. Still concerned that values, including courage, will be outgunned by the bastardization of legal process, from SCOTUS (as you mention) on down.

"The people who plan the next coup assume that the United States would survive a transition to open authoritarianism...I think that they are mistaken. Indeed, I think that they are making the same mistake about their fellow Americans that Putin made about Ukrainians...I would anticipate that, no less than in Ukraine, American reporters will take risks to explain what is actually happening, American civil society will mobilize against an existential threat, and unexpected heroes will emerge."

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Added to everything you wrote is the question of how the next president will approach the war in Ukraine. America's Ukraine policy will in large part determine the survival of democracy all over the world. My stomach gets tied into knots just thinking about it.

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As usual, you’re spot on here about similarity of threats to democracy in Russia and in the U.S., something Garry Kasparov has been saying for many years. Interestingly, and frighteningly, I think Matthew Pottinger was saying something very similar in his testimony this week before the Jan. 6 committee when he said: “When you have a Presidential transition, even under the best circumstances it is a — it's a time of vulnerability. It's a time of vulnerability for, you know, when you have a contested election — I was certainly concerned that some of our adversaries would be tempted to probe or test US resolve. … But our national security was harmed in a different way by the 6th of January.

And that is that it — I — I think it emboldened our — our enemies by helping give them ammunition to feed a narrative that our system of government doesn't work, that the United States is in decline. China, the — the Putin regime in Russia, Tehran, they're fond of pushing those kinds of narratives. And by the way, they're wrong. The — you know, we've been hearing, for the entirety of US history from kings and despots, that the United States is — is in decline, and those kings and despots have been proven wrong every single time. But nonetheless, January 6th helped feed a perception that I think emboldens our adversaries. You know, the — the other part I — I think is simply our — our allies.

I heard from a lot of friends in Europe, in Asia, allies, close friends, and supporters of the United States that they were concerned about the health of our democracy. And so, I think it's incumbent upon us to put their minds at ease, to put our own hearts at ease, by investigating what happened on the 6th and making sure that it never happens again. …. You know, this isn't the first time that we've had a close election in this country. And President Trump certainly had every right to challenge in court the results of these various elections. But once you've had due process under the law, you have to conform with the law no matter how bitter the result.

Once you've presented your evidence in court, judges have heard that evidence, judges have ruled, if you continue to contest an election, you're not just contesting an election anymore, you're actually challenging the Constitution itself. You are challenging the societal norms that allow us to remain unified.”

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It's hard to get away from automatic expressions like balls and bitches. But we should. We should use words like courage, fortitude, strength, etc. It would be great if we could come up with new metaphors for adherence to principles. I'm sure someone creative will find a way.

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If the authoritarian coup succeeds, the blue states and Washington, DC may have to secede. This is not as farfetched as it sounds. District attorneys in some red states are already refusing to enforce abortion laws. Whole states could take similar actions and refuse to hand over federal taxes. I read recently that on the whole the blue states taxes subsidize the budgets of the red states. This is a powerful tool. Let the new "confederacy" find out how difficult it will be to sustain their standard of living on their own. On top of that they with probably experience a significant loss of skilled workers and advanced technology companies. People will move to areas that respect their freedoms.

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Exactly. Every. Single. Word.

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I am beginning to think that our only hope for 2024 and beyond (in the medium time range) is for the election of a muscular Republican president committed to democracy. Basically a Liz Cheney or Kinzinger (not as muscular though) or someone of that character. I fear that there are no Dems who have the “balls” to defend democracy at the level of “costs” that may be necessary, and any “muscular” democratic response will be inherently escalators.

Since the malignancy we are facing was developed and continues to metastasize within the GOP, democracy-committed GOP leaders are in a better position to challenge the authoritarians and do what is necessary to beat them back. ANd the question will be: How far are we willing to go to defend democracy and to put down this reactionary and increasingly dangerous rebellion?

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Excellent and disturbing essay. It shook me to my core. I sent it to my three daughters, one of whom lives abroad and doesn't always take voting seriously. While I think Liz Cheney is doing an excellent job on the Jan. 6th Committee, I hardly see her as a good choice for president because I think her very conservative views hurt women, particularly her views on abortion. which she is completely against, despite the fact it takes women to medieval times. In my youth, this was an issue we marched for, fought for and it's stupefying that we have lost it. Women are already dying because their right to access abortion and their right to self-determination have been stripped away. I don't know what the solution is other than to vote blue. With gerrymandering, I don't know how this will play out. I'm not optimistic, especially if SCOTUS has any say in the matter, as they likely will. If anyone listens to Gaslit Nation, in the words of Andrea Chalupa, "WE HAVE TO FIGHT LIKE HELL!" for the next election. Let's not pass the buck on this one.

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If we don’t protect our fundamental rights to vote, of privacy and civil liberties , we will be the next despotic tinpot nation! Wake up American voters. When your voice is no longer Vote, we are doomed imho

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Crystal clear analysis. I have missed your voice this summer, Prof. Snyder. The political situation in Italy is also alarming, as a far-right coalition appears poised to to win the upcoming election.

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I wonder if America could headline that it stands for the development and maintenance of democracy - rather than city on a hill image. I am writing from NZ. It has been in the recent past - pre Trump - an experience of US 'throwing its weight around', expecting to set rules - eg in trade, in ANZUS. At this time it is strange to realize how vulnerable America is when the bullies turn their sights on their own country. I have family in the US - in Washington State, thank goodness. One of my sons married an American which brought me a whole family. They are good people - Democrats of course, well educated, but knew little about the rest of the world. I acknowledge that they must be fully occupied learning about their own country. Maybe learning about democracy is something that happens there, but that seems to me to be a good attribute to specialize in. To push understanding of democracies throughout time and throughout the world. Better than taking guns and thinking one can shoot people into the system.

This may not make sense. I hope it does. I have to say I felt a tad indignant that our ventures in democracy didn't of course have any place in my American family - even though women had the vote here some years earlier than the US.

I find your work so helpful Tim. When I feel a bit rattled I hunt out your latest writing or videos. Intelligent, compassionate knowledge is real gold. Thank you.

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I have felt since February 24 that the Ukrainian struggle is very much our own. The fact that Putin's Russia has tried repeatedly, and with the Republican party successfully, to influence our elections is definitive. Thank you for saying so out loud.

As for the US, our Supreme Court, unelected and appointed by minority vote presidents, is an existential threat. Six people deciding who has what rights is as un-American as it gets. American democracy will have to bulwark itself in 2022 in order to survive 2024. It is going to be close. We are being torn apart. Diligence is our watch word.

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This analysis has the sober ring of truth... it is coherent and presented in a way that anyone can understand, if they want to understand, of course. Democracy is not a destination, it's a process, and it can side-tracked or hollowed out to the point where it exists in name only, and the popular imagination. Perilous times for democracy, everywhere.

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Dr. Snyder, I just subscribed, and am glad that I did. I found this article quite accurate. I also shared your Twitter thread of today, and even screen shot it to share on Facebook.

By the way, did you get a chance to read “Mine Eyes Have Seen the Glory: Religion and the Politics of Race in the Civil War Era and Beyond”? It is now in production, available for pre order and comes out on 1 October. The publisher Potomac Books an imprint of University of Nebraska Press has now included all the critical reviews on their website and they are appearing on the book selling websites. I thank you for corresponding with me several months ago when you were in Europe and asked my for the PDF of the non-copy edited draft. I ended up with many prominent historians including Dr. James McPherson, Charles Reagan Wilson, Charles Dew, John Fea, and John Thomas Daly, as well as a number of military historians and civil rights leaders and academics. If you would like a copy when it comes out please let me know. I will send one of mine to you. I cannot wait for the book tour and signings. I have copied the Amazon link and posted it here so you can look at the description and see the blurbs. https://www.amazon.com/Mine-Eyes-Have-Seen-Glory/dp/1640124888/ref=sr_1_2?crid=2UOSFT3BEJNHL&keywords=mine+eyes+have+seen+the+glory&qid=1655338810&s=books&sprefix=%2Cstripbooks%2C47&sr=1-2

All the best. I am so happy that you have recovered from all the illnesses you suffered over the past few years. If you like the book please recommend it to your Civil War, Reconstruction, Civil Rights, and Africa American Studies colleagues at Yale and elsewhere.

Keep up your great work of being a voice of truth in these dangerous times.

Sincerely,

Steve Dundas, Norfolk Virginia

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Jul 24, 2022·edited Jul 24, 2022

Vasily Grossman, a Ukrainian author and journalist wrote "Human history is not the battle of good struggling to overcome evil. It is a battle fought by a great evil struggling to crush a small kernel of human kindness." I found Grossman's insight increasingly perspicacious over the years, but I have always found that while hatred can temporarily obstruct human kindness, only cynicism and indifference can truly crush it.

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