Republicans become Russia Doug and the Democrats, Russia HAWK. How should we think about Vladimir Putin and what to make of the assassination of Russia's ambassador to Turkey plus merry Christmas? Welcome to the Christmas edition of the editors where we will discuss all of this and more on joined by David, french and terrible Tuttle, and the right honorable, Charles Cw Cooke, What should we make of the electoral colleges just do as a step back from the A controversy ends.

Get your thoughts on whether you electoral college should still have a deliberative function, is. Is this really something I was out of date right out of the gate with American found it? yeah, I I'm electoral college fan and the original Hamel Tonia conception of it. You know it's her to function really wine, it prevents some I'll stay serving overwhelmed by large states, anyways the utility of that now, where you know, if, if you that. Just simply a popular vote function have California New York, almost together, overwhelming the rest of the country, in spite of the fact that they have distinct sure that are different from any other parts of the country. They have our daughter, made by one ideology: it's not a formula for national harmony to have the law, your states just overwhelm everyone else. So I like that function of it, and then I like it is an emergency backstop, but but what,

What we're saying here is you with the same thing, republican delegates to the republican convention figured out, pretty quickly when they are trying to stop Donald Trump in the inner publican convention? As you can't stop, some buddy with nobody in the abstract arguments about fitness, Abstract argue: It's about whether or not what's authoritarian are we're gonna fail in front of the concrete choice of this person or that person and so we get all the arguments against the for the electorate for the electors to to become faithless, so to speak, are doomed to failure here, because because almost the alternative, hoo hoo elsewhere, they gonna go for yeah. I think that's almost direct analog to the democratic calls for electoral college to dump tromp was the agitation around the convention, one because it was implausible and was never gonna happen to.

Depended on the idea that there is more republic in opposition to tramp Then there really was and through because John case it was brooded about as the the fail, safe break glass in case of emergency candidate, in both cases, both in July, the Republican Convention and amongst them Democrats now the Charlie you're, much more, a small are public and small de Democrat. So are you. Ok, in theory with a actors having this power are potentially to dump the people's choice. Absolutely I have no issue whatsoever with there being a final check. Against A poor decisions. Made by the policy, but I just don't think that Donald Trump rises to the level. I think that

He is on fit in some ways for office as a value judgment. I think he might be four conservatism. In the long run. I wait and see whether he is I don't think he's a good and moral person but I dont think that this is a crisis I don't think he's out of Hitler. Anything I think he's rather exposed from Peachy Woodhouse. I think, to take such an extreme measure. At this juncture I would be both premature and extraordinarily destructive, and it's not a perfect analogy at the analogy always like to draw, It is with the second amendment which is SAM which is also a final check again journey and a fine check, which needs only to be invoked in extremists. You should not and would not want the

militias across the country to start attacking post offices or government offices each in their three time. Somebody who is bad news is put into office and you shouldn't want the electors to intervene now. because Donald Trump Spin elected that that's not what this is for. So what would it these for the kind of scenario I've been thinking about when try to come up with something that would actually rise to the level would be there are some secret plan was revealed where Trump and Michael Flynn have some scheme to execute a self coup and Parker now for the White House on day one something like that. It would seem too the appropriate, the electors to consider, but not just a real litigate, an election

yeah. I think this is obviously a value judgment, but almost ass with have sanity. You would know when you saw Ed, I think if, as you say, there was a coup uncovered than the electors would have to stand there, and I think if there was evidence, for example, that Donald Trump had knowingly and deliberately works with Vladimir Putin to hack the day and see that would rise to the level I think, if he could be proven to be a foreign agent in another way, if it came out that he had murdered, somebody as if he were, in other words, guilty of the same sort of crimes for what, to president might be impeach but he's not least, there's no evidence that he is. The argument. Is that he's a big risk? What I thought he was too, but whether he was

gambling on was decided by the but by the electorate, and if he steps over the line. That's what impeachment is for sale. It seems. A direct dialogue to all this is the effort some conserves opponents, the trump to dump him at the convention. Wetted delegates were in the role of the electors exercising their independent judgment, but that didn't go anywhere either, and I think it's because both efforts really lack democratic legitimacy and depend on the idea that there's more or was more republic in opposition to try then, really existed, yeah sure it's happened which a minute you you so they're, just throughout that throughout the primary cycle, but the ever trumpeter brand? You never really. a consolidated around anyone. So you had these very fragmentary efforts. There were these nice by UNICEF,

moral efforts and I think you're right minded, but not necessarily politically effective and, of course, the issue as Charlie hinted at which it is really salient. Is all of these efforts went through the serious pro processes that we have in place. Others this within this idea that you know basically all these people gathered at the ballot, boxes in the primary states or whatever the case might be, and then they voted for trumpet. I was it, of course, that's not what happens? They cast balance and then there are electors bit for lack of better Termer delegates You know that regional level and then they can go to their state conventions, and sometimes there is even a level in between and all of those people are party officials generally or party loyalists. I'm who know other process works in and they are not there.

involved in this or their involved in this in such a way that they want the party to prosper. So they were all of these different sort of levels of checks throughout a checks along the way. I'm so There's not just this, you know sort of them mass Oh and then someone is suddenly elevated course same Processor speaks same processes in effect in the in the electoral college. So if you wanted to make a real effort, the out this was illegitimate. You also have to explain away all of those different mediating. Layers of sort of check? balance in the electoral system, sedated does it matter that the dome Cried seemed to be saying at the moment, or is it just concern? Trolling there always a noise, as was pointed out away, to say. Oh, we really need a decent opposition or work.

Democrats just kind of gradually inevitably come back to earth. Oh, I think it matters a great deal and I don't think anyone coming back to earth anytime soon. If you look at the numbers, the data shows that Americans are far more polarized than they been any time in the last twenty years. It shows that their polarization is built not around affection for their own tribe as much as its built around distaste for the other tribe, though this is negative polarization and there is every major cultural and political trend in the United States. Right now is is fostering greater polarization. Greater divisions are expect anything to really Paul down. The rhetoric will remain hysterical me we're we're talking about a political party that, when Mitt Romney Mitt Romney won the first presidential debate and twenty twelve almost lost it's mine

I mean there was an enormous amount of hand, wringing about the rise of of racism in the United States. Again this was dealing with Mitt Romney, so I don't expect anything to come down any time soon and all the trends show that it won't in the further concluding of american discourse dictates that it won't, because what happens we only tend to see in view is that reinforces the message and right now. The message on the left is basically every single thing that Donald Trump does is furthering his authoritarian, fascist impulses rather than its a mixed bag. Some of the things he does is within the legitimate relevant of american discourse and some things are truly kind. A strange and truly are disturbing, but there's no there's no reasonable, distinguishing between those kinds of Is Charlie, its partisan poxy is always been an extremely strong

Force really makes the world go round by. It just seems as though it's more stark and blatant than ever that a two months ago, literally, what one of the foremost count against down tromp was that he wasn't willing to accept the election outcome. preemptively was law. By the very same people who now say won't, say it was a free and fair election our saying this election was tainted and the result should be overthrown by unelected group of people. Is really extraordinary. I swear. It turns out that there was an escape clause in the left's fearmongering over trumps, I prefer refuse to accept the election results and that is that, if the candidates really really bad in the eyes of the same people, the same rules don't apply cuz. I keep seeing this in conversations I'm having I

I point out that people quite rightly criticized Trump before the election for saying he couldn't guarantee he'd except the results. the various things that he is said both before and after his victory about the integrity of the system. Weren't it, damaging to american norms, and That is now a real problem that many of the people who, it pointed out, that this was was dangerous, are indulging in some of the same rhetoric themselves and not just on the fringes, we're not just talking about on Twitter or screaming eagle form? Seven here we're talking about the editor of the New Yorker, we're talking about writers in the Washington Post and there sponsor get. Each time is well yes, okay, but we are talking about Donald Trump. Where is your talking about Hillary Clinton while then that special pleading that saying that you have to respect the system any,

refusal to respect the system is tantamount to treason and is damaging to the body politic. Unless the left decisive, the candidate is beyond the pale. That, of course, is not how it works. Now ass, I say there are xx stream circumstances in which that caveat would apply. If, for example, he were a foreign agent. If, for example, it turned out that he had been. evolved in mass ballot stuffing. But that's not what happened here the country he seems to have won the election to all evidence. We have, fairly and the left has now changed his mind. Ass to the sanctity of the american system is seemed, so no one anymore is really going to make any concessions. Stan interest, it just seems to me- is not difficult for Republicans and at the Trump camp, just to say, yeah, Russia hacked the DMZ and John Podesta and That's a very bad thing. You should get to the bottom of it and see what we can do to retaliate and or keep it from

happening ever again. At the same time, the Democrats should be able to say yet hacking really bad, but their lot. Some other reasons that Hillary Clinton lost the election, but neither side seems to be able to do other things right and actually, unfortunately, some worst me, I don't know what would be that sort of converse situation which is Both sides are openly admitting but they willing to do whatever is necessary to take power to take power. I mean Trump at these. Victory. Tour rallies have said no, well you're, u you folks aren't as you're, not as violent is as you were. You know six months ago so saying: while we won, we got our way and not everybody's happy and sort of experts those facto justifying or rationalizing. What.

Happened. What was a very small component of his support, but what was that? What was a real component Likewise, on the left with Donna, Brazil has been completely unrepentant about back to bleed trying to re working behind the scenes to, we give Hilary alike up and then, of course, you gotta re red who was sort of the forest. Other of this sort of politics. With his is slant, Durban Romney on on the second floor, so I think you're, your car right about concessions in the part that might be No more worrisome to me is that there is a really A willingness to serve brazenly admit the its justifying ends a political strategy the data. How much should we fear that that is ignoring reality on this question. He he occasionally tiptoes up to say

admitting, it might have been the Russians, but he is basically been pretty resistance, and I think it's a mistake to myself to draw overly broad. conclusions about Trump. Whenever he's in this mood, because he has made it clear whether as Judge Career was TED Crews- or this just any time he thinks he's being attacked or slighted. Who literally say anything again in response whether he believes it or not, for instance, where we're never gonna hear again about TED Cruises, fathers, wrongly JFK assassination and less

and crews annoy him again right I mean, I think it's I think it's serious. I don't think it's his seriousness as he's not the president knighted stage. Yet there will be congressional investigations of synergy. Mcconnell is to be believed on this, so it's not like we're, not gonna, be taking a look at it. I think so long as we actually end up taking a real look at it with by partisan effort that uncovers that that tries to get to the facts of the matter in a way that is at least satisfactory to some significant segment of the american public and meaningful segmented american public. As long as were able to do that, we're gonna be

paying summit equilibrium here, but you're right. The president knighted states cannot get into this defensive crouch mode when he feels under siege, for he will lash out and say whatever he feels like. He needs to say to get out of it, because you know what there's going to be times. I don't care if he goes in and he turns out to be a successful president. There will be times even in a successful presidency if it happened, or he will experience day after day and week after week of negative news, he will see his approval rating plunge at some point. Everybody does, and it's at that point where he is, I think, the most vulnerable to his worst impulses and I'm sorry, the president can't do that without

stanch or risk. I'm not saying that every time he says whatever comes to his mind or tweets whatever he wants to tweet that at some sort of disaster me, the left is already showing did that's a hollow argument to me. Tweeting about the flag is its it. It's a one day, tiny little minor thing, but there are circumstances in which his defensive crouch can be very destructive, and- and I am hopeful- I hope- and pray that he grows out of that to some extent, but I'm not optimistic that will so truly what to make of this rather astonishing pull that showed Putin approval rating, among Republicans absolutely going through the roof. At the same time have Democrat swinging, the other way were demo

My policy for eight years has been no matter. What Putin does it takes Crimea and days? Ukraine intervenes in Syria that it's it's best to be passive and and to always extend an olive branch, except for now when all the sudden every democratic. countries. A latter day called warrior the democratic policy for the last few years has been. ideal approach to Russia and the ideal amount of better capacity to display, in relation to Russia is exactly Obama needs at any given point, and so, if you speak, King to Mitt, Romney and Mitt Romney sounds fears them. That's redeem! he less that's gonna get us all killed, Romney doesn't recognise the cold wars. Over. But if Obama wants to look like General Patten, then hey look at the Rockies, her ruining everything where Wars Keith Album and said I have two views on this poles

wanted one is less worrying I think than the other I'm skeptical as a rule of poles, that port to show particular view points at moments of. The parties ends in it, and I think most people. listen to the average pole and think well there asking whether I like you don't like my party or my president I am most of the time these sorts of Poles Don't irritate me support for free trade is historic, going up and down depending on who is in the White House, because people down here do you like free trade. They hit. You trust the president. On this. One, though, on the scale of the shift Republicans really saying they approve of Putin's. Almost much as much Mcconnell and a hell of a lot more than President Obama and Democrats now sounding like Ronald Reagan. When this is

what hyper partisanship does this is a corrupting influence and really this is part of the same trend that I was describing when used got to subordinate all political questions. To one question, do you like the other side, you approve of the other side then you lose perspective and often it doesnt worry me because it's a heat of the moment think this one. This could have some some food, are consequences, so that's it few days before Christmas, so we're gonna shift into unaccustomed warm and fuzzy mode. the errors podcast and go around The circle here and just ask everyone what their favorite Chris, this memory or Chris Christmas tradition is David. Was yours

Well, you know I mean I grew up in. I was blessed group and one of these, almost Norman Rockwell S family. So I have. I have countless Christmas memories of eating up at five. Thirty six in the morning, at the crack of dawn pulling by exhausted parents out of bed and air bring under the tree to see that to the sea, the presence of mean we're a family where, in a week you just didn't get stuff here in the ear. The only time you got stuff was at Christmas it. So it was eight at a time of peak excitement in I've always had just this incredible war that my heart towards those those kinds of embryos that like what you see on television,

you know, my modern love for Christmas actually revolves around as like role there and I began to understand Christmas or in full revolves around our church. I we go to a two hundred and nine year old, presbyterian church here and World Tennessee, and every Christmas eve. We have in a way the most beautiful Christmas services. I've ever been to anywhere and it always grounds the sea than in the advent. And it is it something that I think that my kids have grown up with and it's a greater memory for my children than even the present opening in a lot of ways. So that's the modern tradition and that's a better tradition, I view that by my joy at getting the latest model airplanes, try what we have to concede in my family that is obtain, since we children, and that is that father, Christmas

that leaves US presence in the morning and that these presence must be separated from the family presence. and eternal youth, you think this is just a cook family tradition that there's this father Christmas suit. Your comes at least choice, but I put that really tell us. What we can see is that thought christmases is real and has delivered his presence, but but I guess you can come to the chimney, it does it as a joke. The joke is we still do it. Is that all you ve, when there are no children around in there? Always there always items that are exciting at all that just the universe, socks, audiovisual Council comes a tuna fish or whatever, and the big jerk, as we pretend to be extraordinarily excited by these, when the real presence come later on I think this would have been I've had people for Christmas want used to this. They think we were quietly mad, but I wouldn't I wouldn t thank you for the world

Well, like David Maya, my Christmas, this voice been defined by the. The sequence, services, church services and the rest are growing up in. and when it was very closely tied to the church, but one one Christmas in particular stands out surfer the lodestone stone. I suppose, Sir, when I was twelve, Oh, I think growing up in South South Texas in just a couple hours north of the border, we had a white Christmas. For the first time. In hundred ten years and that was this time I had really seen snow and it actually stuck for a cup today's, and so, as we were going home from a late midnight service, driving very, very slowly, because no one in Texas knows how to drive, and now you just look down

each street and everyone, was out the whole city It was just out on the sidewalk since in the streets, certain marvelling then there was really a certain magic that sir, returns to mind every every Christmas. Couple Christmas memories and thoughts, one I don't know how old I was, but also of small kid still very much believed in Santa Claus, and I was absolutely convinced that he was outside my window it at any moment. This night couldn't sleep so excited by us, so afraid that if I moved at all Santa. Would see- and I get no gifts I spent this- does not just miserably stressed trying to stay still so that with that sort of Asia, the p level of my innocent credulous credulous in life and

now that there is also a bitter sweet aspect to Christmas, because it really It is one of the times of year that brings home, The real lesson that nothing is quite as disappointing as getting what you really think you want, because so many of those Christmas gifts that are that are trendy and you're so desperate to get as a child you're sick of you know, bye bye The time evening, rules around and like David in and in churches relate important part of her. And Christmas, we go to a presbyterian church that, with gone too far, a couple decades now, and it also has a really beautiful Christmas Eve Service and ends with the singing of silent night. With said, the lights a dimmed and candles passed around it's always beautiful and really brings home at the true sense of the of the occasion.

So let's go around one more time and do our editors picks and that that will be it for us Dave what yours? Well, I'm gonna go with Kevin Williamson. I loved his piece of good from a couple of days that was condemning this. This practice of cops pulling people over to surprise, surprise them with something with a good year, something nice that's strikes me as a dangerous and unlawful use of the police power, and I don't want to be a girl and I don't want to be a person that Sir condemning spoke surprise appearances of Santa Claus, but I think there is a better way to do that, it's not the most burning issue around, but man. This quest for some sort of viral video niceness unkindness. Yet what are we just be nice and kind without using the power of the state to terrify somebody furs?

Charlie. I my choice is Jonah, go books, G file, he join me on the barricades last Friday in fighting back against this idea that, because those of us who criticized Trump strongly the jury the election have been circumspect in the interregnum that with somehow given up that we won't hold them to account that we have jumped on from train just put most ridiculous by Jonathan shaped, who suggested it was because rural secret, I ran devotees. I really have no idea where they came from. You must read it it. It's puts in the correct context. What the role of the Kurds! effective, who keep his value. Straight is in the age of what is now a fact and a fact being Trump is going to be president in I'm gone

bring back? One issue that the new the latest issue is out the final issue of the year, but their issue prior with David benches cover story of millennials. Panicking has a review in it by Sarah Rudin Classicist of a new book by Noguchi. What a young girl, who is a canyon novelist- and but he was just a dazzling Sarah manage is the sort of give a sweeping using idiosyncratic with sweeping view of african literature, and it's just maybe something you wouldn't expect and not a national review by something. That's well worth your time. My pants

is one of real one line. Corner post, pointing to a Bloomberg column is done. So many of these is about time that someone made one of them his editor pack, in my mind- and this is Russia's called limber account talking about the problems with Obamacare repeal which Republicans or pursue right at the beginning, of the year, and one of them is that their appeal is only going to be partial. They won't be able to effect the regulations at all and two there's not going to be a replace they'd. They say, they'll do up a peaceful, a piecemeal replaced, as as time goes on, but this could be a real political problem. where the C o says there in effect cutting nine million people off of health insurance. With the ability to make any further changes in the law or to pay has anything better,

Republicans can of this is as early when Quantum quote, but it I'd be the beginning of a political quagmire? That's for us. Thank you. So much in Charlie David Merry Christmas. Everyone thanks so much for listening is always and we'll see excellent.