Read on Twitter
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BIG MO
The Importance of Momentum in Politics (or What I Learned from President Trump)
a thread
BIG MO
The Importance of Momentum in Politics (or What I Learned from President Trump)
a thread
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One of the more amusing aspects of twitter is that a person gains a modest following and suddenly he/she is qualified to tell Trump what he needs to do to win.
But Trump just received over 73 million votes (and counting) for President of the United States.
One of the more amusing aspects of twitter is that a person gains a modest following and suddenly he/she is qualified to tell Trump what he needs to do to win.
But Trump just received over 73 million votes (and counting) for President of the United States.
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Maybe we should be asking what political lessons can we learn from him.
Personally, what Trump has taught me about electoral politics, more than anything, is the necessity of momentum.
Maybe we should be asking what political lessons can we learn from him.
Personally, what Trump has taught me about electoral politics, more than anything, is the necessity of momentum.
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Even if you believe that Trump lost the race, you have to admit he closed hard. The prestige polls were confidently predicting a Biden landslide.
Even if you believe that Trump lost the race, you have to admit he closed hard. The prestige polls were confidently predicting a Biden landslide.
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Admittedly, I thought Trump was done myself when he was diagnosed with COVID, just after a subpar performance in the 1st debate.
But he emerged from his illness more vigorous than ever, holding rallies at a furious pace in the final weeks.
Admittedly, I thought Trump was done myself when he was diagnosed with COVID, just after a subpar performance in the 1st debate.
But he emerged from his illness more vigorous than ever, holding rallies at a furious pace in the final weeks.
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He built momentum as Biden sat in his basement and avoided questions about Hunter’s laptop.
As election day neared, the pollsters were forced to acknowledge that the “race was tightening.” https://nypost.com/2020/10/31/presidential-race-tightening-as-biden-lead-dips-poll/
He built momentum as Biden sat in his basement and avoided questions about Hunter’s laptop.
As election day neared, the pollsters were forced to acknowledge that the “race was tightening.” https://nypost.com/2020/10/31/presidential-race-tightening-as-biden-lead-dips-poll/
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Indeed, the race turned out to be so tight that both candidates are claiming victory two weeks later.
If you, like me, were up until the wee hours of the morning on election night, you experienced Trump’s momentum carry him to the verge of victory.
Indeed, the race turned out to be so tight that both candidates are claiming victory two weeks later.
If you, like me, were up until the wee hours of the morning on election night, you experienced Trump’s momentum carry him to the verge of victory.
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Around midnight, betting odds favoring Trump began appearing in my timeline.
The Chinese currency began falling in anticipation of a Trump win.
Around midnight, betting odds favoring Trump began appearing in my timeline.
The Chinese currency began falling in anticipation of a Trump win.
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And then, out of nowhere, Fox News Decision Desk called Arizona for Joe Biden. A pivotal state that Trump had won in 2016.
Soon after Fox’s call, the voting suddenly stopped in several key background states.
And then, out of nowhere, Fox News Decision Desk called Arizona for Joe Biden. A pivotal state that Trump had won in 2016.
Soon after Fox’s call, the voting suddenly stopped in several key background states.
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Trump, who was up by 17% in Pennsylvania before the stoppage, would eventually “lose” the state after counting was resumed.
Trump, who was up by 17% in Pennsylvania before the stoppage, would eventually “lose” the state after counting was resumed.
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In the most crude, blatant way possible, the forces aligned against the President had stopped his momentum.
In the most crude, blatant way possible, the forces aligned against the President had stopped his momentum.
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Their only attempt at hiding the steal was to stop the counting at 4am, relying on a compliant corporate media to hide the truth of what had happened while most American were sleeping.
Their only attempt at hiding the steal was to stop the counting at 4am, relying on a compliant corporate media to hide the truth of what had happened while most American were sleeping.
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The MSM then declared Biden the victor the following Saturday (Richard Barris said on his podcast that the other news outlets gave “conservative” Fox News until Saturday to call Biden the winner. If they didn't, then the other news outlets were going ahead without Fox).
The MSM then declared Biden the victor the following Saturday (Richard Barris said on his podcast that the other news outlets gave “conservative” Fox News until Saturday to call Biden the winner. If they didn't, then the other news outlets were going ahead without Fox).
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So on Nov 7th, Biden gave his primetime
"victory speech".
The MSM started referring to him as “President-elect.”
The next day ppl in LA and NY danced in the streets.
Congratulations from world leaders poured in.
So on Nov 7th, Biden gave his primetime
"victory speech".
The MSM started referring to him as “President-elect.”
The next day ppl in LA and NY danced in the streets.
Congratulations from world leaders poured in.
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But that was it for Biden's momentum, to the extent he ever had any. He’s currently putting together a cabinet. If you take a look at progressive twitter, you’ll see very little happiness at the Beltway insiders that Biden is assembling.
But that was it for Biden's momentum, to the extent he ever had any. He’s currently putting together a cabinet. If you take a look at progressive twitter, you’ll see very little happiness at the Beltway insiders that Biden is assembling.
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There is no anticipation for his inauguration either. Indeed, I suspect they will hold the inauguration in a TV studio (with lots of Jeeps!) or in some way limit the outdoor attendance. Some excuse to explain the lack of enthusiasm.
There is no anticipation for his inauguration either. Indeed, I suspect they will hold the inauguration in a TV studio (with lots of Jeeps!) or in some way limit the outdoor attendance. Some excuse to explain the lack of enthusiasm.
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They also want to prevent Biden’s inauguration from turning into a giant MAGA protest rally.
They also want to prevent Biden’s inauguration from turning into a giant MAGA protest rally.
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But as most ppl reading this know: the race isn’t over until the electoral college votes.
Until then, Trump is attempting to build his momentum back. For him, it all comes back to Big Mo.
But as most ppl reading this know: the race isn’t over until the electoral college votes.
Until then, Trump is attempting to build his momentum back. For him, it all comes back to Big Mo.
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Because, in the end, Trump’s goal is to force state legislatures to decide contested states. His plan, as I see it, is to overwhelm them with his momentum.
But momentum is built incrementally and he had to start over at almost zero.
Because, in the end, Trump’s goal is to force state legislatures to decide contested states. His plan, as I see it, is to overwhelm them with his momentum.
But momentum is built incrementally and he had to start over at almost zero.
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So what is Trump doing to build momentum?
1. He’s rallying his base.
The DC rally on Saturday was the beginning. I know many ppl say, “but the media didn’t report on it.
So what is Trump doing to build momentum?
1. He’s rallying his base.
The DC rally on Saturday was the beginning. I know many ppl say, “but the media didn’t report on it.
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That doesn’t matter. Trump’s persuasion is targeted to his base. He’s completely unencumbered about the need to appear even-handed (never much of a consideration with him anyway).
That doesn’t matter. Trump’s persuasion is targeted to his base. He’s completely unencumbered about the need to appear even-handed (never much of a consideration with him anyway).
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You can sense the difference in tone between Trump’s tweet about the violence last Saturday in DC and Cruz’s more flaccid tweet on the same subject.
You can sense the difference in tone between Trump’s tweet about the violence last Saturday in DC and Cruz’s more flaccid tweet on the same subject.
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2. Trump is looking for court victories.
The courts will not hand Trump a 2nd term. But victories in court build momentum. On the flip side, a loss at the Supreme Court, with all those conservative judges, would be a momentum killer.
2. Trump is looking for court victories.
The courts will not hand Trump a 2nd term. But victories in court build momentum. On the flip side, a loss at the Supreme Court, with all those conservative judges, would be a momentum killer.
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However, until a case gets to the Supreme court, he can take any judicial decision, for or against him, and use it to his advantage. Just fire up the base with the injustice of it all.
However, until a case gets to the Supreme court, he can take any judicial decision, for or against him, and use it to his advantage. Just fire up the base with the injustice of it all.
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3. Release the Kracken.
What is the Kracken -- a deluge of information that undermines confidence in the election results. Again, It’s important to keep in mind that he’s appealing to rank and file Republicans.
3. Release the Kracken.
What is the Kracken -- a deluge of information that undermines confidence in the election results. Again, It’s important to keep in mind that he’s appealing to rank and file Republicans.
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Humorously, in the replies to the Washington Post story about Lindsey Graham allegedly pressuring the GA Secretary of State to disregard legal votes, many are calling for Graham’s race to be recounted.
Humorously, in the replies to the Washington Post story about Lindsey Graham allegedly pressuring the GA Secretary of State to disregard legal votes, many are calling for Graham’s race to be recounted.
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For Dems to be calling for recounts was not the response Bezos and the DNC desired. Any questioning of election integrity is to Trump’s advantage (see the decision to revote in a Clark County Nevada commission race for an example)
For Dems to be calling for recounts was not the response Bezos and the DNC desired. Any questioning of election integrity is to Trump’s advantage (see the decision to revote in a Clark County Nevada commission race for an example)
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3. He’s trying to flip Georgia.
At the very least, he wants to expose as much voting fraud as possible (and it’s there, trust me). You can tell by Trump’s pointed tweets at the governor and secretary of state of Georgia the importance he places on that state.
3. He’s trying to flip Georgia.
At the very least, he wants to expose as much voting fraud as possible (and it’s there, trust me). You can tell by Trump’s pointed tweets at the governor and secretary of state of Georgia the importance he places on that state.
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“But that wouldn’t be enough to swing the election.”
Doesn’t matter. It would be a huge momentum win. The more momentum, the more GOP-controlled legislatures in the Rust Belt and AZ are likely to declare the election fraudulent and send their own electors.
“But that wouldn’t be enough to swing the election.”
Doesn’t matter. It would be a huge momentum win. The more momentum, the more GOP-controlled legislatures in the Rust Belt and AZ are likely to declare the election fraudulent and send their own electors.
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A word of warning: the opposition’s response will be depressing. Literally. They are attempting to depress the nation as a whole with more COVID Doom & Gloom, Dark Winter talk.
A word of warning: the opposition’s response will be depressing. Literally. They are attempting to depress the nation as a whole with more COVID Doom & Gloom, Dark Winter talk.
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I’ve never seen anything like it. And who knows what else they have in store, if COVID hysteria isn’t sufficient. Anything to stop Trump from gaining momentum.
Keep fighting
I’ve never seen anything like it. And who knows what else they have in store, if COVID hysteria isn’t sufficient. Anything to stop Trump from gaining momentum.
Keep fighting
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Stay tuned for Part II
LIE, CHEAT, STEAL (or What I Learned about Politics from Joe Biden)
Stay tuned for Part II
LIE, CHEAT, STEAL (or What I Learned about Politics from Joe Biden)
