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(Thread) The GOP wants a Leadership Cult
Mindy asked me these questions about Trump’s Town Hall yesterday
Her questions assume that the GOP wants the same form of government we want.
Her questions assume that the truth matters to the GOP.
They don't, and it doesn't.
Mindy asked me these questions about Trump’s Town Hall yesterday
Her questions assume that the GOP wants the same form of government we want.Her questions assume that the truth matters to the GOP.They don't, and it doesn't.
1/ Sociologist Max Weber explains why.
In his essay, Politics as Vocation, he describes three sources of authority.
https://archive.org/details/weber_max_1864_1920_politics_as_a_vocation/page/n3/mode/2up
Traditional (monarchy)
Charismatic leader (fascism)
Rule of law (democracy)
For #2, today we’d say cult leader or demagogue.
In his essay, Politics as Vocation, he describes three sources of authority.
https://archive.org/details/weber_max_1864_1920_politics_as_a_vocation/page/n3/mode/2up
Traditional (monarchy)Charismatic leader (fascism)Rule of law (democracy)For #2, today we’d say cult leader or demagogue.
2/ Rule of law requires a shared truth ( @timothydsnyder uses the word ‘factuality.’)
Fascism or demagoguery is based on myth, and can only exist if it destroys factuality.
So fascism (leadership cult) is always trying to destroy truth.
Fascism or demagoguery is based on myth, and can only exist if it destroys factuality.
So fascism (leadership cult) is always trying to destroy truth.
3/ Here’s the part that is hard for people to grasp: The GOP doesn’t want a democracy. They want fascism. They're trying to destroy truth.
That, of course, explains Fox, Trump, and the GOP. They are actively trying to undermine factuality.
They’re not goofing when they lie.
That, of course, explains Fox, Trump, and the GOP. They are actively trying to undermine factuality.
They’re not goofing when they lie.
4/ “But wait!” people say. “Fascism is un-American!"
That depends on how you look at our history.
Yes, the founders set up a democracy based on rule of law. Yes, Hamilton warned against demagogues.
But in the system they created, relatively few white men held all the power.
That depends on how you look at our history.
Yes, the founders set up a democracy based on rule of law. Yes, Hamilton warned against demagogues.
But in the system they created, relatively few white men held all the power.
5/ So you see, we have both in our national DNA.
As democracy has expanded to include minority communities, a lot of people don’t like it. They want to go back to the way things were.
That’s literally what MAGA means. Go backwards.
As democracy has expanded to include minority communities, a lot of people don’t like it. They want to go back to the way things were.
That’s literally what MAGA means. Go backwards.
6/ To go back, they have to destroy dismantle much of the federal government.
Trump promises to do that.
Moreover, democracy is grinding work. A lot of people don’t like it.
Checks and balances and division of power means that change happens slowly.
Trump promises to do that.
Moreover, democracy is grinding work. A lot of people don’t like it.
Checks and balances and division of power means that change happens slowly.
7/ Democracy requires give and take and compromise. Some people hate that, especially when they are compromising with people they don’t think should be in power in the first place.
An autocrat has a lot of appeal: He can bring about swift changes. He doesn't have to compromise.
An autocrat has a lot of appeal: He can bring about swift changes. He doesn't have to compromise.
8/ Dismantling the federal government put in place since the New Deal (largely to create fairness and to allow democracy to expand) can either be done slowly, or with a wrecking ball.
Trump is a human wrecking ball.
Trump is a human wrecking ball.
9/ Answering
I think they might be embarrassed when he can’t answer a simple question and sounds like a moron, but they won’t speak out because the alternative for them is worse.
If you missed the town hall, the transcript is here:
https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/trumps-abc-news-town-hall-full-transcript/story?id=73035489
I think they might be embarrassed when he can’t answer a simple question and sounds like a moron, but they won’t speak out because the alternative for them is worse.
If you missed the town hall, the transcript is here:
https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/trumps-abc-news-town-hall-full-transcript/story?id=73035489
10/ I don’t think he misunderstood He honestly doesn’t think there is a race problem.
In his answer to this question, MAGA people will hear truth.
Barr said the same thing when he said yes, Blacks are treated differently in the criminal justice system, but there is no racism.
He honestly doesn’t think there is a race problem.In his answer to this question, MAGA people will hear truth.
Barr said the same thing when he said yes, Blacks are treated differently in the criminal justice system, but there is no racism.
11/ Here’s how I understand these comments: Trump and Barr believe in a hierarchy. They believe white men naturally inhabit the top and Blacks are naturally inferior.
So, in their view, if Blacks don’t have it as well, that’s because of nature, not racism.
So, in their view, if Blacks don’t have it as well, that’s because of nature, not racism.
12/ On the other hand, in their view, anti-discrimination laws are racist because they focus on race.
Affirmative action singles out race, so they think "racism!"
They think it's unfair to whites, infringes "liberty" and tampers with the natural order.
Affirmative action singles out race, so they think "racism!"
They think it's unfair to whites, infringes "liberty" and tampers with the natural order.
13/ Trump is aware of anti-discrimination laws because he’s gotten in trouble for breaking them.
He avoided talking about making America great "again" for blacks.
Trump essentially answered the question by saying, “Why are Blacks complaining? Look how much better it is now.”
He avoided talking about making America great "again" for blacks.
Trump essentially answered the question by saying, “Why are Blacks complaining? Look how much better it is now.”
14/ Yeah, I know. 
But it makes sense to people who believe nature naturally forms a hierarchy, and white men belong at the top.
This is what the GOP believes, so this town hall will not change their views.
But it makes sense to people who believe nature naturally forms a hierarchy, and white men belong at the top. This is what the GOP believes, so this town hall will not change their views.
15/ Mindy also asked whether anyone believes Trump's blatant lies. I talked about this earlier when commenting on how Kayleigh McEnany repeated Trump's lie about the existence of a new health plan, so I'll just put the link in the next tweet.
I know, right?
https://twitter.com/WendyJoSchmidt/status/1306457834796642304
But I have given up thinking anything is going to cause the GOP leadership to jump ship. If Operation Ukraine Shakedown didn't do it, and the response to COVID, didn't do it, I think they are fully committed.
We have to outvote them.
https://twitter.com/WendyJoSchmidt/status/1306457834796642304
But I have given up thinking anything is going to cause the GOP leadership to jump ship. If Operation Ukraine Shakedown didn't do it, and the response to COVID, didn't do it, I think they are fully committed.
We have to outvote them.
