Bernard Tamas
bernardtamas.bsky.social
Bernard Tamas
@bernardtamas.bsky.social
410 followers 680 following 52 posts
Professor of Politics | Dad & Husband | Author of book on US Third Parties http://amzn.to/3BOXiEu | Coined the term "asymmetrical disproportionality" https://t.co/ZCLSPSUOma | Media commentator on elections | Standard disclaimers (he/him)
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Please register and join us on Tuesday, October 14
Join Georgia SSN for the first webinar in their "Defending U.S. Democracy" webinar series with
@jennifermccoy.bsky.social, moderated by @bernardtamas.bsky.social!

📅 Tues, Oct. 14
🕓 4pm - 5:15pm

🔗 Register for the event now: scholars.my.salesforce-sites.com/event/home/d...
Radio interview with the Australian Broadcasting Corporation: I'm not currently convinced that #ElonMusk is serious about mounting a 3rd party challenge. It could, however, change & this is what to look for: Is he making an organized & visible effort to get on the ballot in all, or a few, states?
Can Elon Musk buy success for his 'America' party? - ABC listen
Tesla CEO Elon Musk has rapidly moved on from his public break-up with President Trump, announcing on X the birth of his own political party, The America Party. But while money certainly talks in Wash...
www.abc.net.au
My interview today on "The Dan Abrams Show": How Elon Musk's third party could succeed, and what might cause it to fail www.siriusxm.com/player/episo... (subscription to SiriusXM is required) #USthirdparties #elonmusk #theamericaparty
Can The America Party Work? | SiriusXM
Elon Musk's Third Party: The America Party
www.siriusxm.com
Therein also lies a fundamental dilemma for any 3rd party that is to be led by Musk. How does Musk distinguish his party's agenda from the GOP's? Eg: if the GOP loses voters owing to Medicare cuts, those voters aren't likely to flock to a billionaire who has called social security a "Ponzi scheme"
Current GOP is more like a movement - unified & moving to the extreme. Current Dems are more a coalition of interest groups. This makes the GOP an easier target for a moderate 3rd party to attack. Bigger-tent Dems are harder for a 3rd party to challenge (e.g. Greens vs Progressives within the Dems)🧵
Reposted by Bernard Tamas
As it turns out, fascism, massive economic uncertainty, & dismantling the federal government is not especially popular with investors
One of these things is not like the others
Reposted by Bernard Tamas
🧵"So this is how liberty dies..."

Trump’s first 3 weeks have been a relentless flood of actions. It's incredibly hard to keep up.

I’ve gone through 69 actions & mapped out the pattern - showing how they fall within 5 broad domains consistent with authoritarian states 1/9
The 3rd party vote in congressional elections peaked in 2016, but then dropped in the the next 3 cycles. Libertarians were in a strong position in 2024 to capitalize on GOP's MAGA shift, but instead appeared to self-destruct from internal conflict, including an attempted takeover by a MAGA faction
Thanks for highlighting this. That was a really engaging podcast w/ @dansally.bsky.social back in 2020 - which described a lot of what we're witnessing right now. And yes, fully agree about the need for third parties to run. Especially a centrist challenge against MAGA at the congressional level
SSN starter pack: Democracy & Governance Experts bsky.app/starter-pack...
Thank you for putting together this initial starter pack of @scholars.org colleagues.
Reposting, and adding @jennifermccoy.bsky.social @mevanspolisci.bsky.social @pamelametz.bsky.social
I made a starter pack of @scholars.org academics across political science, public policy, sociology, etc. Incomplete list but it's limited to 150 people. I feel really lucky to be part of such a great academic community engaged in public-facing intellectual work.
go.bsky.app/4LyHxCA
Reposted by Bernard Tamas
The U.S. is facing political polarization post #2024Election. In this OpEd, @jennifermccoy.bsky.social writes that proportional representation & better incentives for leaders could help break the cycle of political polarization.

Read more in @bloomberg.com: www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
How Political Polarization Ends
History shows that, if left untreated, extreme political and social divisions are a mortal threat to democracy.
www.bloomberg.com
As professors, mentoring students is a big perk of our careers. An even greater perk is when we get to work with diligent students who are equally invested in the mentorship. Alyssa Archer is an impressive researcher with a bright future ahead of her #PoliticalScience #polisciresearch @scholars.org
Reposted by Bernard Tamas
Weak autocracies are far more common than strong autocracies.

They are also often far more dangerous and damaging than strong autocracies.

Never take hope from an autocrat’s weakness. Instead, prepare for the worst.

A 🧵 based on 2 of my books: (1/N)
Reposted by Bernard Tamas
Anti-racism campaigner’s London book events cancelled amid threat of far-right violence Freedom of speech groups alarmed after events to promote book by Hope Not Hate employee are called off
Anti-racism campaigner’s London book events cancelled amid threat of far-right violence
Freedom of speech groups alarmed after events to promote book by Hope Not Hate employee are called off
www.theguardian.com
Besides the potential impact of 3rd party votes in an election likely to have very tight margins, might we also see a "Nikki Haley voter" effect? Brief quotes from me in this Guardian piece, which also carries a good analysis of strategic voting for third parties when it comes to the Gaza crisis
Third parties could take enough votes from Trump or Harris to affect election
In nail-bitingly close race, protest votes for Jill Stein or RFK Jr – who ended his campaign – could be deciding factors
www.theguardian.com
Our amazing team at the Georgia Chapter of @scholars.org co-organized this timely, bipartisan event on "Election Protection in Georgia"

YouTube video segments of the main discussions are posted below #USElection2024

Additional coverage of the event: georgiarecorder.com/2024/10/17/i...
safevotegeorgia.com
"Safeguarding our Democracy: A Bipartisan Discussion on Election Protection in Georgia".

Please attend and/or spread the word about this event in Atlanta, on the work being done to ensure a free, fair and orderly election (co-sponsored by the @scholars.org's Georgia chapter)
About | Safeguard Democracy
safevotegeorgia.com