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(Thread) The Politics of Paranoia
Trump’s campaign messages
“We need to learn to live with" Covid-19, but don’t worry: Most Americans "have a relatively low risk" of dying from the virus.
Meanwhile, Trump offers protection from “left wing mobs.”
https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/politics-news/we-need-live-it-white-house-readies-new-message-nation-n1232884?cid=sm_npd_nn_tw_np https://twitter.com/IsaacDovere/status/1279156754933301249
Trump’s campaign messages
“We need to learn to live with" Covid-19, but don’t worry: Most Americans "have a relatively low risk" of dying from the virus.
Meanwhile, Trump offers protection from “left wing mobs.”
https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/politics-news/we-need-live-it-white-house-readies-new-message-nation-n1232884?cid=sm_npd_nn_tw_np https://twitter.com/IsaacDovere/status/1279156754933301249
1/ Trump promises to protect his followers from non-existent enemies while he enacts policies that kill them.
Its @TimothyDSnyder's theory of Sadopopulism, explained here https://twitter.com/Teri_Kanefield/status/1224857932828827648
It's the Paranoid Element in American Politics as described by Hofstadter.
Its @TimothyDSnyder's theory of Sadopopulism, explained here
https://twitter.com/Teri_Kanefield/status/1224857932828827648It's the Paranoid Element in American Politics as described by Hofstadter.
2/ Trump didn't want to bring down the "heavy hand" of the government to enact the Defense Production Act to give Americans life-saving PPE. https://npr.org/2020/03/25/821285204/trump-sends-mixed-messages-about-invoking-defense-production-act
But he was happy to bring down the heavy hand of government on protesters.
It's the politics of paranoia.
But he was happy to bring down the heavy hand of government on protesters.
It's the politics of paranoia.
3/ Twitter is persuaded that Trump will do anything to stay in power because he is afraid of prison.
This is not the reality within the Trump crazy chamber, where Stone is an innocent man and the FBI is guilty.
This is not the reality within the Trump crazy chamber, where Stone is an innocent man and the FBI is guilty.
4/ At the same time, we notice that Trump is embracing losing strategies.
The easiest way to stay in power is try to win the election.
But Trump doesn't seem to be trying. He's doubling down on his shrinking base and losing causes. https://twitter.com/darinp2/status/1279220848038014976
The easiest way to stay in power is try to win the election.
But Trump doesn't seem to be trying. He's doubling down on his shrinking base and losing causes. https://twitter.com/darinp2/status/1279220848038014976
5/ As @paulwaldman1 says, there's a winning strategy Trump could embrace to help him win reelection: He could do his job.
But he isn’t even trying to do that.
He’s ignoring Russian bounty on American soldiers. He is making no effort to control the virus.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2020/07/03/how-trump-can-win-reelection/
But he isn’t even trying to do that.
He’s ignoring Russian bounty on American soldiers. He is making no effort to control the virus.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2020/07/03/how-trump-can-win-reelection/
6/ All the big name Republican strategists are imploring Trump to hit ‘reset” or he will lose.
https://www.foxnews.com/media/karl-rove-trump-campaign-reset-republican-convention
Trump can’t hit reset. He can't do anything other than what he’s doing: Play golf and make up lies (that he may or may not believe).
https://www.foxnews.com/media/karl-rove-trump-campaign-reset-republican-convention
Trump can’t hit reset. He can't do anything other than what he’s doing: Play golf and make up lies (that he may or may not believe).
7/ Trump did plot an elaborate cheating strategy to win election: Operation Ukraine Shakedown. It failed.
Now he has no plan.
Let’s consider this possibility: Trump isn’t trying to win.
He’s plotting to be the head of a multi-billion dollar post-presidency media empire.
Now he has no plan.
Let’s consider this possibility: Trump isn’t trying to win.
He’s plotting to be the head of a multi-billion dollar post-presidency media empire.
8/ This would explain why he needs his base and why a group aligned with Trump Jr. is in talks to buy a major stake in OANN.
https://vanityfair.com/news/2020/05/trump-is-really-aiming-to-take-down-fox
Remember when the Tulsa rally was supposed “reenergize” Trump, whose spirits had been sagging?
https://www.cnn.com/2020/06/19/politics/trump-turn-around-losing-campaign/index.html
https://vanityfair.com/news/2020/05/trump-is-really-aiming-to-take-down-fox
Remember when the Tulsa rally was supposed “reenergize” Trump, whose spirits had been sagging?
https://www.cnn.com/2020/06/19/politics/trump-turn-around-losing-campaign/index.html
9/ I don’t think the Tulsa disaster reenergized Trump. Meanwhile, he’s insisting on a convention as if there's no virus.
The GOP idea that grandma and grandpa should be willing to die to save the economy didn’t go over very well with the over 65 crowd https://twitter.com/Politics_Polls/status/1279140227353841667
The GOP idea that grandma and grandpa should be willing to die to save the economy didn’t go over very well with the over 65 crowd
https://twitter.com/Politics_Polls/status/1279140227353841667
10/ The message that “Most Americans” have a “relatively low risk of dying” from Covid-19 isn’t going to comfort sane people.
“Don’t worry about the virus, but worry about the Democrats” is obviously not the way to win the election.
But it is a way to keep his base terrified.
“Don’t worry about the virus, but worry about the Democrats” is obviously not the way to win the election.
But it is a way to keep his base terrified.
11/ From what I've seen of Trump's base:
They are more terrified of Democrats winning than they are of Covid-19
They think Stone is innocent and the FBI is guilty.
Maybe Trump really wants to be rich, play golf, and have a big megaphone.
Maybe he’s planning to out-Fox Fox.
They are more terrified of Democrats winning than they are of Covid-19They think Stone is innocent and the FBI is guilty.Maybe Trump really wants to be rich, play golf, and have a big megaphone.
Maybe he’s planning to out-Fox Fox.
