re: Hypothet. - if someone whose positions align highly with yours seizes authoritarian power

I believe in the American experiment and would resist the dismantling of our democratic republic by an authoritarian/despot/totalitarian. I'd prefer not to be involved in violent conflict, even against those I agree with on the issues, but I've served this country once and my old arse will do it again if I have to. We all deserve a seat at the table, to learn both to compromise and respectfully disagree, ultimately providing us with governance from the middle and excluding the extremes.

And yes, when we have a sitting US president attempting to delegitimize an election less than 90 days away we should ALL be concerned about a peaceful transfer of power...an idea and practice at the very root of our form of government.

is my name magildachunks? the answer is yes, regardless of the situation.

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The thing about authoritarianism is it doesn’t just appear. There’s a gradual abandonment of norms and laws that ushers its arrival, and when it arrives it’s usually too late to speak up against it.

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This is very true, and Trump is indeed an incrementalist in that direction. I hope you will agree that Obama was, too. His governing by executive decree is a step in that direction. Remember his glib “pen and phone” remarks? Remember how they jammed Obamacare through? Wise observers said at the time that these authoritarian techniques would be used against them. And indeed, revocation of the filibuster and widespread use of the Executive Orders are being used by Trump against the party who first wielded them.

As someone else said earlier in the thread, I think every president could be accused of having authoritarian attributes, to varying degrees. I don't really agree that Obama was egregious, though I wasn't a huge fan of his use of EO's.

I also don't think there has been a president that displays those tendencies as frequently, or as egregiously, as the current one does. I listed 6 examples several posts ago, and I could easily list 6 more examples. Prior to 2016, it'd be unheard of for a president to put his thumb on the scales of the election, yet this one does it nearly every day by questioning the integrity of our elections. That's not even to mention the moves the Postmaster General is making, the same Postmaster General that has contributed mightily to the president's campaigns.

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And yes, when we have a sitting US president attempting to delegitimize an election less than 90 days away we should ALL be concerned

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Are you talking about Obama and the Democrats illegally spying on Trump and trying to affect the outcome of the election?

Or the Democrats trying to steal the election via mail-fraud and our President correctly calling them on it.....which one?

So, anybody change their opinion since the original replies?

Finish up my plan to move to 100+ acres in a remote part of West Virginia, do some hunting and fishing, and laugh while the country burns like it deserves after letting that person come to power.