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See my piece in today's Washington Post
https://www.washingtonpost.com/outlook/2020/09/25/trump-peaceful-transfer-power/?tid=ss_tw
If you are Donald Trump, and your image is based on the claim that you are a winner, what do you do when every recent national poll has you losing?
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https://www.washingtonpost.com/outlook/2020/09/25/trump-peaceful-transfer-power/?tid=ss_tw
If you are Donald Trump, and your image is based on the claim that you are a winner, what do you do when every recent national poll has you losing?
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How do you stop people from talking about your failed pandemic policies, tapes showing that you lied to the American people, an economy in trouble, and polls showing the Republicans are likely to lose their Senate majority?
2/ https://www.washingtonpost.com/outlook/2020/09/25/trump-peaceful-transfer-power/?tid=ss_tw
2/ https://www.washingtonpost.com/outlook/2020/09/25/trump-peaceful-transfer-power/?tid=ss_tw
You create a fiction: You tell the world that you are not losing, the other side is cheating, and you will not allow it.
When Trump says something like, “we can throw away the ballots and avoid having to transfer power,” he triggers outrage.
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When Trump says something like, “we can throw away the ballots and avoid having to transfer power,” he triggers outrage.
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He hijacks the national conversation.
Everyone must now discuss whether Trump can get rid of ballots (he can't) and whether the state governments and the courts will work in tandem to overturn an election and install Trump as a dictator (highly unlikely).
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Everyone must now discuss whether Trump can get rid of ballots (he can't) and whether the state governments and the courts will work in tandem to overturn an election and install Trump as a dictator (highly unlikely).
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People become convinced that Trump absolutely can pull it off.
Thus Trump creates a fantasy world in which he will retain power, and his critics inadvertently lend credence to the fantasy by acting as if it is true.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/outlook/2020/09/25/trump-peaceful-transfer-power/?tid=ss_tw
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Thus Trump creates a fantasy world in which he will retain power, and his critics inadvertently lend credence to the fantasy by acting as if it is true.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/outlook/2020/09/25/trump-peaceful-transfer-power/?tid=ss_tw
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See how Trump transforms himself from a guy who is losing into an unstoppable winner?
I understand how it happens. Trump keeps everyone in such a heightened state of panic and outrage that it's hard to think clearly.
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I understand how it happens. Trump keeps everyone in such a heightened state of panic and outrage that it's hard to think clearly.
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We forget what happened yesterday and can’t think ahead to tomorrow.
This is not to say Trump is not dangerous. He is. Look at how he controls us.
Moreover, he would lie, cheat, steal, and even let more than 200,000 Americans die if he thought it would get him reelected.
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This is not to say Trump is not dangerous. He is. Look at how he controls us.
Moreover, he would lie, cheat, steal, and even let more than 200,000 Americans die if he thought it would get him reelected.
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But cannot get rid of ballots.
It's not up to him to decide who wins the election.
He does not choose when he leaves the White House.
Moreover, he is losing.
More here: https://www.washingtonpost.com/outlook/2020/09/25/trump-peaceful-transfer-power/
It's not up to him to decide who wins the election.
He does not choose when he leaves the White House.
Moreover, he is losing.
More here: https://www.washingtonpost.com/outlook/2020/09/25/trump-peaceful-transfer-power/
