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(Thread) Get the Fighters Fighting
If you're a would-be fascist and losing, what do you do?
Two of the tricks in Trump's (limited) bag are: "Get the fighters fighting" and "ignite a cultural war."
(Destruction of federal gv't property is already illegal: 18 USC § 1361, so
) https://twitter.com/jpen98/status/1275428149967220737
If you're a would-be fascist and losing, what do you do?
Two of the tricks in Trump's (limited) bag are: "Get the fighters fighting" and "ignite a cultural war."
(Destruction of federal gv't property is already illegal: 18 USC § 1361, so
) https://twitter.com/jpen98/status/1275428149967220737
1/ On the face of it, siding with Confederate-sympathizers is really stupid.
Most presidents seeking reelection try to appeal to a majority of Americans.
With this executive order, Trump is siding with those who want to save Confederate statues.
Most presidents seeking reelection try to appeal to a majority of Americans.
With this executive order, Trump is siding with those who want to save Confederate statues.
2/ While there are more Confederate-sympathizers than we like to think, they are not a majority of Americans.
Against all logic, Trump keeps doubling down on what he calls his “base.” He ignores a pandemic, and indulges (and riles) them.
Some history about Trump’s “base.”
Against all logic, Trump keeps doubling down on what he calls his “base.” He ignores a pandemic, and indulges (and riles) them.
Some history about Trump’s “base.”
3/ During the Civil War, the Democrats were the Party of the Confederacy.
The shift took about 100 years.
During the modern Civil Rights movement, when the Democrats embraced Civil Rights, the KKK was without a party.
The Republicans invited them in. . .
The shift took about 100 years.
During the modern Civil Rights movement, when the Democrats embraced Civil Rights, the KKK was without a party.
The Republicans invited them in. . .
4/ . . . because with the Confederate sympathizers, they could achieve electoral majorities.
The Republicans invited them in quietly, with what we call dog whistles. They used coded language like “law and order” which many knew actually meant “put Black men in jail.”
The Republicans invited them in quietly, with what we call dog whistles. They used coded language like “law and order” which many knew actually meant “put Black men in jail.”
5/ They dressed up the dog whistles in lofty, patriotic language. They talked about "welfare queens."
Some conservatives like @MaxBoot have had moments of awakening when they understood that the Republicans had essentially made a bargain with the devil.
Some conservatives like @MaxBoot have had moments of awakening when they understood that the Republicans had essentially made a bargain with the devil.
6/ The bargain was: We’ll throw you crumbs and we won’t call you names, and you get us elected.
Bargaining with the devil is never a good idea.
As the GOP demographics shrank over the past few decades, the white supremacists became a larger percentage (shrinking) GOP.
Bargaining with the devil is never a good idea.
As the GOP demographics shrank over the past few decades, the white supremacists became a larger percentage (shrinking) GOP.
7/ With the changing demographics (shrinking of the old Confederates and minority vote growing) GOP officials are in a bind.
Republicans can’t win a GOP primary—and probably can’t win a general election—without the support of the KKK and other white supremacists.
Republicans can’t win a GOP primary—and probably can’t win a general election—without the support of the KKK and other white supremacists.
8/ Many GOP elected officials (reportedly) despise Trump personally, but they’re afraid to cross him because he controls the “base.”
It works like this:
GOP elected officials need Trump’s “base”
Trump controls the “base”
Therefore, Trump controls the GOP elected officials.
It works like this:
GOP elected officials need Trump’s “base”Trump controls the “base”Therefore, Trump controls the GOP elected officials.
9/ Trump doubles down on racist Confederate-loving politics to keep his base riled and maintain his power over the GOP.
Fascism needs an enemy.
The paranoid element on the far right believes unseen satanic forces are trying to destroy the American “way of life.” See
Fascism needs an enemy.
The paranoid element on the far right believes unseen satanic forces are trying to destroy the American “way of life.” See
10/ This appeals to that segment
Trump desperately needs to present himself as a strongman to counter the humiliation he suffered in Tulsa, when he looked like a loser.
Fanning the flames of a cultural war makes him look "strong" and excites his "base."
Trump desperately needs to present himself as a strongman to counter the humiliation he suffered in Tulsa, when he looked like a loser.
Fanning the flames of a cultural war makes him look "strong" and excites his "base."
11/ Defacing federal property is already a crime, but here's a fact often ignored on Twitter. Not all crimes are prosecuted. A pillar of democracy is that prosecutors have discretion over which crimes to prosecute.
The Tweet will embolden certain police. https://twitter.com/BIGIRVSATX1/status/1275461336445489152
The Tweet will embolden certain police. https://twitter.com/BIGIRVSATX1/status/1275461336445489152
12/ The Tweet is likely to increase the violence by stoking his "base," angering his opponents, and encouraging the police to fight the protesters.
Yesterday I said people both overestimate and underestimate Trump.
Yesterday I said people both overestimate and underestimate Trump.
13/ People overestimate his ability to be an executive officer and organize.
His campaign is not competent enough to organize a rally in Tulsa.
They are not able to manage a pandemic. They don't know how. They are not equipped.
It's beyond their ability.
His campaign is not competent enough to organize a rally in Tulsa.
They are not able to manage a pandemic. They don't know how. They are not equipped.
It's beyond their ability.
14/ They can manage voter suppression, but not widespread voter fraud. This is partly why voter rights organizers like Stacey Abrams, who knows her stuff, focuses more on voter suppression than machine vulnerability. (I said 'partly')
See
https://twitter.com/ryanbeckwith/status/1275078361119723520
h/t @mjf_dfw
See
https://twitter.com/ryanbeckwith/status/1275078361119723520
h/t @mjf_dfw
15/ On the other hand, people underestimate Trump's ability to control the narrative.
He's also canny enough to know that if he maintains controls of his base, he remains powerful and relevant.
That's why he doubles down on a minority of fearful and hateful Americans.
He's also canny enough to know that if he maintains controls of his base, he remains powerful and relevant.
That's why he doubles down on a minority of fearful and hateful Americans.
