资料图:美国众议院共和党领袖麦卡锡。中新社记者 沙晗汀 摄
由于两党对立加剧、党派内斗、利益分配不均等因素,众议长选举陷入一场拉锯战。在此次众议长竞选中,美国民主党议员继续抱团,多轮投票中,一票不投麦卡锡,共和党右翼“强硬派”领头的约20人小团体也拒绝投票麦卡锡。
麦卡锡的当选之路一波三折,除了本人的“政治投机派”角色在国会不受欢迎外,与共和党内部政治分歧关系密切。
一方面,共和党党内反对者认为,麦卡锡对民主党态度过于软弱,无力对抗民主党控制的参议院和拜登政府,另一方面,因为共和党的多数优势微弱,党内一些影响力较小的派系的政治力量则被放大,有利于他们巩固自己的选票。
此外,党内反对者也认为,自己的选票没有换取更多利益,希望以此作为筹码换取麦卡锡更大的让步,比如让他们获得众议院重要委员会中的职务。
作为仅次于美国总统、副总统的政坛三号人物,众议院议长通常由众议院多数党领袖担任,选举几乎没有悬念。然而,麦卡锡此次为当选,不得不做出多个关键让步,其中可能包括恢复一项罢黜议长动议机制,使得众议长的权力被削弱,难以掌控众议院。
美国有线电视新闻网CNN称,麦卡锡在这场不合时宜的政治勒索中作出让步,这种绥靖政策只会让极端主义势力更加强大。
这场引发全世界围观的尴尬选举暴露出美国政治存在严重的对立和分化。在权力博弈思维的裹挟下,党派利益凌驾于国家和人民利益之上,美国两党相互拆台,陷入“为反对而反对”的无脑对垒。而即便是一党内,也会因为利益分配问题产生不同的小派系,相互对抗,选票变成了谋利益的工具。
从国会山骚乱到打破记历史记录的15轮众议长选举,“对抗式民主”让美国政治陷入瓶颈,长期对抗势必会让政客们丧失客观公正的判断能力,其政治阶层是否有能力治理国家也会引发质疑。
两党之争和党派内斗进一步放大了美国政治体制弊病,美国所谓的“民主”形象,让全世界大跌眼镜。鼓吹以选民利益为先的美式选举,变成了政客们利益置换的游戏,进一步彰显出美国“民主政治”日渐失能,不断极化的党争已使美国政治制度陷入死循环。
House speaker election reveals deep-rooted problems in U.S. democracy
(ECNS) -- The Republican leader Kevin McCarthy was elected as the 55th speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives after 15 ballots. As the most grueling House speaker election in the past 164 years, the election has highlighted the defects of the country’s "confrontational democracy".
The election once reached a stalemate due to intense partisan strife, inner-party struggle among the Republicans, uneven distribution of interests, and more. Democratic Party members forged a close alliance, refusing to vote for McCarthy, while about 20 Republicans also declined to cast ballots for the GOP leader.
Except for his unpopular role as a "political speculator" in Congress, McCarthy’s hard-won election can be attributed to turmoil within the Republican Party.
On the one hand, opponents in the Republican Party believe that the GOP leader's attitude toward the Democrats is too weak to confront the Senate controlled by Democrats and the Biden administration.
On the other hand, the political power of some less influential factions in the Republican Party has been amplified due to the Party’s weak majority advantage in the House of Representatives, which is conducive to consolidating their ticket warehouses.
Meanwhile, these opponents believe that their votes failed to win them more benefits, hoping to use this as a bargaining chip for McCarthy's further concessions, such as getting them positions in important House Committees.
As the third political figure after the President and Vice President of the U.S., the speaker, by tradition, is the head of the majority party in the House of Representatives.
But McCarthy has made many concessions in order to bring the ultra conservatives along, involving what’s known as the “motion to vacate,” a mechanism by which members can force a vote to depose the speaker. The reported concessions will empower individual members at the expense of McCarthy’s sway as speaker.
CNN thought the concessions he made during this unseemly political shakedown would only make the extremist faction more powerful.
This embarrassing election, which has drawn global attention, exposed the serious opposition and polarization in American politics. Both Democrats and Republicans put their interests before that of the country and its people, attacking and opposing each other irrationally.
Besides, different factions arise within a single party and confront each other because of the distribution of interests. Votes have become a tool to win more benefits.
From Capitol riots to the House Speaker election with record-breaking ballots, "confrontational democracy" has become a bottleneck of American politics. Long-term confrontation will surely impede politicians to think objectively and fairly while their capacity of governing the country will also raise doubts among the public.
Both parties’ struggle and infighting among the Republicans have further amplified the defects of the American political system, with its "democratic" image shocking the world.
The U.S.-style election, which advocates putting voters' interests first, has become a game of interest exchange among politicians. In addition, it further demonstrates the malfunction of American "democratic politics" and the constantly polarized party struggle that has trapped the American political system into an infinite cycle.
文化和旅游部:丰富元旦春节期间群众精神文化生活****** 2023年两节临近,有关部门已为广大群众准备好丰盛的文化大餐。日前,文化和旅游部在京举办新闻发布会,介绍元旦春节期间将要举办的群众文化活动、非遗宣传展示活动情况。 乡村“村晚”将开启全国百姓“新春大联欢” 文化和旅游部公共服务司副司长朱渤介绍,元旦春节期间,各地将因地制宜组织开展丰富多彩的“村晚”系列活动。今年“村晚”大幕12月30日拉开。广大农民群众将自编、自导、自演各类节目,展示家乡独具特色的风俗年景;承载乡音、凝聚乡情,传承优秀乡土文化;展现新时代新农村的新面貌,进一步助力乡村振兴和文明乡风建设。考虑到疫情影响,各地届时也会根据本地实际情况,统筹线下活动的规模和参与人数。 除了线下“村晚”活动,云上“村晚”也将精彩纷呈。国家公共文化云、央视频等多媒体平台将持续打造云上“村晚”专题,让广大群众在关注身边“村晚”的同时,可以足不出户一站式全景式欣赏各地的“村晚”,云游各地乡村,随时随地欢聚“云村”。其中,2023年1月14日,《我的“村晚”我的年》融媒体直播节目将以“主会场+各地联动接力展播”的方式,汇聚全国多个地区特色“村晚”,将“村晚”舞台从演播室延展到大江南北,带领广大观众云上看“村晚”、云上游乡村。 线上线下共享“非遗年夜饭” 春节也是各地广泛开展非遗传承实践活动的重要时间节点。文化和旅游部非物质文化遗产司副司长李晓松介绍,与春节相关的龙舞、狮舞、年画、剪纸、灯会、庙会等国家级非遗代表性项目共有200多项。文旅部将鼓励各地利用剪纸、年画、灯彩等非遗项目,营造浓厚的节日氛围,鼓励群众参加舞龙、舞狮、灯会、庙会等节日活动。 另外,2023年1月14日(腊月廿三)至2月5日(正月十六),文旅部将举办“文化进万家——视频直播家乡年”活动,支持网络平台集中展播非遗年俗视频,并在小年、除夕、大年初一、元宵节等重要时间节点推出“赶大集买年货”“晒团圆年夜饭”“舞动中国龙”“点亮中国灯”等话题讨论、直播活动;发动年俗非遗项目所在地的非遗保护机构、保护单位和非遗传承人,用镜头记录年俗非遗传承活动,在网络平台直播或视频展播,让人民群众“云端”感受欢乐、喜庆、祥和的中国年氛围。 其中,抖音将发起“非遗过年dou来播”话题活动,设置“舞动中国龙、欢度家乡年”板块,通过主题直播、科普短视频、特效贴纸、知识问答以及新年许愿寄语等方式,提升活动丰富性;快手把民间闹新春活动中的舞龙、舞狮、社火等民俗庆典表演作为主体,将通过短视频、直播、用户互动等方式,在春节期间展示各地的特色文化;哔哩哔哩将发起“金狮献舞迎万家——祥瑞直播家乡年”话题,邀请站内up主围绕活动主题制作优质视频内容;微博将设置“非遗盘点”等栏目,通过科普年俗非遗、征集非遗作品、发起特色活动投票的形式开展年俗宣传;酷狗音乐将上线主题歌单,开展国风音乐和春节音乐直播等,以专区、直播、歌单等作为传统年俗的创新表达和传播方式。 将优秀群众文艺作品送到群众身边 两节期间,文化和旅游部公共服务司将会同有关部门开展以“赏年画过大年”为主题的新年画联展活动。目前,主办方共征集到农民画、木版年画等新年画作品1068件,将从中遴选部分优秀作品,在元旦春节期间组织线上线下展览展示活动。各级文化馆(站)、中国民间文化艺术之乡、新时代文明实践中心等,将结合当地实际情况,举办系列优秀新年画作品的线下展览、公益讲座、互动体验、交流展示等文化活动。国家公共文化云等线上平台将举办“赏年画 过大年——云上年画展”,通过“赏年画”“讲年画”“绘年画”“寻年画”“乐年画”等栏目,展示优秀新年画作品,开展丰富多彩的线上互动交流活动。 今年第十三届中国艺术节上开展的第十九届群星奖评奖工作,共评选出30多个群众文艺获奖作品。朱渤介绍,文旅部将在全国开展“大地情深——全国优秀群众文艺作品巡演活动”,让广大群众共享群众文化发展成果。同时,文旅部将组织协调各省以“大地情深”为品牌,组织当地优秀群众文艺作品进行基层巡演,将优秀群众文艺作品送到群众身边。其中,春节期间,江西将结合“百姓大舞台”开展“千乡万村闹新年”“百馆千万场 服务来共享”等文化惠民活动,海南将在全省开展“春风村雨”文化惠民活动。(光明日报 记者 韩业庭) (文图:赵筱尘 巫邓炎) [责编:天天中] 阅读剩余全文() |