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They also have an existential problem.
The strongman myth requires a strongman. COVID was supposed to cull the weak, who would die willingly to save the "economy" for everyone else.
Q: What do you do when the leader himself is stricken with COVID?
A: Embellish the myth. https://twitter.com/RadioFreeTom/status/1312520462786674688
The strongman myth requires a strongman. COVID was supposed to cull the weak, who would die willingly to save the "economy" for everyone else.
Q: What do you do when the leader himself is stricken with COVID?
A: Embellish the myth. https://twitter.com/RadioFreeTom/status/1312520462786674688
Example of embellishing the myth 
(h/t @Judith_FeyJude)
Fascism / leadership cult (what Weber calls charismatic leader source of authority) depends on myth.
They're not going to let facts get in their way.
(h/t @Judith_FeyJude)
Fascism / leadership cult (what Weber calls charismatic leader source of authority) depends on myth.
They're not going to let facts get in their way.
In this evening's episode from the Trump Reality Show: Trump has COVID but he is mighty and strong! Unlike lesser mortals, the Great Leader ignores his symptoms and continues working by signing his name to blank papers while posing for cameras. https://twitter.com/AndrewFeinberg/status/1312587904015835142
This thread from last April by Austrian scholar @Natascha_Strobl explains why the Trump campaign and the GOP is facing an existential crisis now that GOP leadership, including Trump himself, have fallen ill with the disease. https://twitter.com/Natascha_Strobl/status/1247606764914302979
In addition to the obvious: Voting has started, election day is a month away, Trump is down in the polls, doesn't have much time to turn this around--and isn't likely to do so from a hospital room.
But their bigger problem is the way the right-wing has been looking at COVID.
But their bigger problem is the way the right-wing has been looking at COVID.
Right-wing extremists (fascists) despise the weak, the unmanly, and the soft. The idea is that "men are not men anymore, by nervous, urban, over-intellectualized" sickly weaklings.
Weakness is never worthy of protection and has to be cast out. https://twitter.com/Natascha_Strobl/status/1247607526323036161
Weakness is never worthy of protection and has to be cast out. https://twitter.com/Natascha_Strobl/status/1247607526323036161
The weak "pulled the short straw" and should carry their burden with dignity. They claim that should they befall by the virus, they will look death calmly in the eye.
That's what Chris Christie was getting at last May when he said this
h/t @RMilspo
That's what Chris Christie was getting at last May when he said this
h/t @RMilspo
Strobl points out the overlap between herd immunity, the Fox-Trump-GOP idea that the weak should willingly die for the economy, and racial eugenics and anti-semitism.
Now Trump and GOP leadership is getting sick.
See where I'm going with this? https://twitter.com/Natascha_Strobl/status/1247608975169916931
Now Trump and GOP leadership is getting sick.
See where I'm going with this? https://twitter.com/Natascha_Strobl/status/1247608975169916931
The GOP was cool with it when stats showed that the virus disproportionally affected minority communities.
I assumed that the Fox-Trump-GOP protected themselves and their own families while encouraging OTHERS to die for the economy.
Maybe not
I assumed that the Fox-Trump-GOP protected themselves and their own families while encouraging OTHERS to die for the economy.
Maybe not
@claudiamconwayy let us all know that her mother recklessly endangered the family by believing the president.
Here Strobl explains that we'd expect the right-wing to want to protect their own, but they don't. https://twitter.com/Natascha_Strobl/status/1247608109536772097
Here Strobl explains that we'd expect the right-wing to want to protect their own, but they don't. https://twitter.com/Natascha_Strobl/status/1247608109536772097
They view COVID as the great sorter: The weak will succumb. The strong can fight it off an thrive.
Now Trump is sick with this particular disease, along with a rapidly growing list of GOP leaders and White House advisors.
Reality doesn't always follow the script.
Now Trump is sick with this particular disease, along with a rapidly growing list of GOP leaders and White House advisors.
Reality doesn't always follow the script.
Here is this thread as a blog post: https://terikanefield-blog.com/reality-doesnt-always-follow-the-script/
If for some reason Trump is no longer the nominee, his name stays on the ballot. Voting has started. The ballots can't be redone. But the Republican Party leadership (according to their rules) designate the ticket, probably Pence/ Haley. https://twitter.com/DrKCain/status/1312697674341199872
We all know how the GOP would react should Biden get sick.
As @Natascha_Strobl explains, mocking the weak is fascist behavior.
The existential threat to the Trump campaign is that he will be classified with the weak. https://twitter.com/Telegraph/status/1312139978722275328
As @Natascha_Strobl explains, mocking the weak is fascist behavior.
The existential threat to the Trump campaign is that he will be classified with the weak. https://twitter.com/Telegraph/status/1312139978722275328
Given the latest NBC/WSJ poll (Trump 39% and Biden 54%) the guy you quote is right: progressives would be shocked.
The question is: What will he do when that doesn't happen? What will he do when confronted with proof that his Leader isn't invincible? https://twitter.com/shanikom/status/1312663636016496640
The question is: What will he do when that doesn't happen? What will he do when confronted with proof that his Leader isn't invincible? https://twitter.com/shanikom/status/1312663636016496640
