Politics 2022

[Buster's Uncle]

They have a fairly high level of legal protection for acts in office that are part of the job.  They have to.

[Geo]

The other day I read in the news that a rather recent political party/project called "Forward" is gaining momentum in the USA? Some sort of centrist party where appearantly both Democrats and Republicans can find common ground? An amalgam of conservative Democrats and progressive Republicans?
Sounds like a weird  combination to me.

[Buster's Uncle]

I saw a headline yesterday - sounds like an attempt at sane Republicans.  Don't hold your breath waiting for it to catch on, and centrists are not what's needed in the first place; the Democrats have that more than covered already.

[Rusty Edge]

You're goin' to be an Independent, Rusty? 

I've never voted, or contributed $ to re-elect a president.

That's (predominantly) out of the citizens' hands here. IIRC, political parties elected in Parliament receive donations from the State respective to the percentage of votes they received in the last ballot. Private citizen gifts are of course possible, but personally I never saw the point of that.

Regardless, I've started labeling myself as an independent in surveys and polls this year.

Any particular reason you wish to participate in such surveys and polls?
My 'political color' isn't something I entrust to such semi-anonymous entities.

Probably the same reason I participate in political discusions on forums - to vent, mostly, but I do find it all fascinating.

That said, you are more likely to be likely to be "polled" with the intent of persuading you by the wording of the questions or adding you to a donor's or volunteers list based on your answers. As it happens, I happen to live in what is probably the key county in a swing state, so sometimes candidates and political action committees actually care what I think.

[Rusty Edge]

Is there a law in the US that an official in office can't be prosecuted as long as he stays in office?
Because I reckon a number of those elected officials are still in Congress or Senate or whatever.

It only applies to the president, to keep him from being tied up in murder trials for everything the USA does, or people think it does. The same reason we don't recognize the authority of the World Court.

As for the rest of them, I quite agree they should be called to account and held responsible. But, because of free speech provisions, and the fact that the Republicans are likely to be petty and vindictive towards the FBI or prosecutors that dare to call them out, and the unlikeliness of getting an entire jury to convict in a polarized environment- they're being pretty cautious. I expect most of them will get away with what they did, but it isn't over yet.

[Geo]

That said, you are more likely to be likely to be "polled" with the intent of persuading you by the wording of the questions or adding you to a donor's or volunteers list based on your answers. As it happens, I happen to live in what is probably the key county in a swing state, so sometimes candidates and political action committees actually care what I think.

Would you say it is likely the world has to thank you and your county for Joe Biden? 
Do you expect an influx of new 'Republican' neighbours in the next years?

Is there a law in the US that an official in office can't be prosecuted as long as he stays in office?
Because I reckon a number of those elected officials are still in Congress or Senate or whatever.

It only applies to the president, to keep him from being tied up in murder trials for everything the USA does, or people think it does. The same reason we don't recognize the authority of the World Court.

As for the rest of them, I quite agree they should be called to account and held responsible. But, because of free speech provisions, and the fact that the Republicans are likely to be petty and vindictive towards the FBI or prosecutors that dare to call them out, and the unlikeliness of getting an entire jury to convict in a polarized environment- they're being pretty cautious. I expect most of them will get away with what they did, but it isn't over yet.

To get back at the president's immunity. I do remember the time Belgian legislation for crimes against humanity (or war crimes) was toned down due to pressure of the United States (it was expanded to include internationally committed atrocities).
At the time, quite soon after it was approved by Parliament and implemented, interest groups for at least the Palestinians started judiciary cases. I guess it was only a matter of time before the head of a certain country would be filed against too. And with NATO HQ and pretty much all the important councils and meetings happening in Brussels, this was simply unacceptable for international leadership.

[Rusty Edge]

"Would you say it is likely the world has to thank you and your county for Joe Biden? 
Do you expect an influx of new 'Republican' neighbours in the next years?"

I'd say they should thank my wife. Life-long Republican and Independent suburban women were the demographic that turned against You Know Who and cost him this state, and probably some others such as Pennsylvania and Virginia.

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