Legitimate illegitimacy

American Thinker ^ | Michael Smith

[RoosterRedux]

We have a president who achieved his office though unconventional -- and in some cases, unusual -- electoral means in several key states, of that there is little question among honest people. He won despite a personal lockdown in his basement and socially distanced campaign events where the press made up most of his “crowds,” all while his opponent drew enthusiastic (and often raucous) overflow crowds in the tens of thousands. That Joe Biden, a lifelong politician of little achievement and substance, won the 2020 presidential sweepstakes after living pictures of incongruence played out on our televisions each night for month after month, leaves the rational mind with questions.

Often phrased in this way, “How the Hell did this happen?”, several of the questions are about the same characteristic – legitimacy.

What is legitimacy?

In a 1922 essay titled “The Three Types of Legitimate Rule,” Max Weber, the noted German sociologist and political economist, proposed there are three sources of legitimacy:

Traditional Authority: Legitimacy may rest on an established belief in the sanction of immemorial traditions and on the need to obey leaders who exercise the authority according to the traditions.

Charismatic Authority (Exceptional Personal Qualities): Legitimacy may secondly be based on “devotion to the specific and exceptional sanctity, or exemplary character of an individual person.”

Legal Authority: Legitimacy may rest on the belief that power is wielded in a way that is legal. What is done legally is regarded as legitimate.

If we accept these three aspects as accurate, it seems reasonable that the greatest legitimacy will be achieved by satisfying all three criteria and diminished legitimacy would result if there were failings in one or more. It would also seem logical that, if someone ascends to power during the opposite of these types...

[Lurkinanloomin]

Biden is just as legitimate as the Kenyanesian Usurper......../s

[PGalt]

C’mon man. Chairman Jao was Berrie O Bozo’s VEEP! Don’t be so disrespectful. : )

[sauropod]

Less.

[A Voice]

Is this anything like lawful unlawfulness?

[MikelTackNailer]

We can't even speak our true thoughts on this beloved and trusted forum knowing the swine will come after us at the rate they're destroying Free Speech and Personal Liberties. But I'll speak because Death By Traitors is a good one.

I know they don't have my creepy accuracy and rain of hell tactics. It'll be fun. Speak for freedom that is your right and NEVER live in fear of those unworthy of calling themselves Americans. Almost slapped a Karen yesterday yelling about masks right after surgery but the new hip implant stopped me. Next time, Bee-otch.