Read on Twitter
There are a number of reasons that officials behave like this. It's very common in autocratic regimes. It's more jarring when a flawed democratic regime performs sycophancy so quickly. https://twitter.com/joshtpm/status/943569022263709696
So let's look at some reasons for the obsequious praise. The first is the most reassuring: careerism and opportunism. They don't want to be fired. They want to take advantage of Trump to pass horrible policies.
If it were only careerism and opportunism, I'd be disgusted but not too concerned. That's a constant of politics. But Trump introduces more troubling possibilities.
Other reasons for the sycophantic praise may be more nefarious. Namely:
1) Blackmail over personal life
2) Threats to family and friends
3) Contamination -- that is, being outed as part of broader ring of Trump admin criminality
1) Blackmail over personal life
2) Threats to family and friends
3) Contamination -- that is, being outed as part of broader ring of Trump admin criminality
Trump has engaged in these tactics his whole life and successfully employed them during the election. He and his lawyers have threatened people for decades. We should also remember the whole RNC was hacked.
There is also the issue of donors and bribery, which overlaps in this case with the issue of contamination. GOP bound by dirty, possibly illegal, possibly foreign, donations. But that's not really new either.
Another possibility is an external threat to the country as a whole, which can be put in play if officials don't conform to Trump, or challenge him too hard
An example of this would be Trump's ability to launch nuclear weapons, or the hacks on infrastructure that could lead to mass blackouts or other humanitarian crises. Here's some documentation: https://twitter.com/sarahkendzior/status/941513819276406784
That's serious leverage that could ostensibly held not only over the obsequious GOP, but over any official. My guess is that all the factors I've listed in this thread are in play, with their respective importance varying as to the individual.
I wrote several articles on why the GOP is enabling autocracy this year.
From last week, on Lindsey Graham: https://amp.fastcompany.com/40507354/with-trump-the-gop-is-playing-a-game-of-diminishing-returns?__twitter_impression=true
From June, on the dangers of capitulation: https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.theglobeandmail.com/amp/opinion/gop-its-time-to-get-off-the-trump-train-you-have-nothing-left-to-lose/article35126640/
From last week, on Lindsey Graham: https://amp.fastcompany.com/40507354/with-trump-the-gop-is-playing-a-game-of-diminishing-returns?__twitter_impression=true
From June, on the dangers of capitulation: https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.theglobeandmail.com/amp/opinion/gop-its-time-to-get-off-the-trump-train-you-have-nothing-left-to-lose/article35126640/
But it's never worth it, @GOP. Not even for the most selfish and scared among you. From September 2016:
GOP sychophancy is disturbing, but it can get a lot worse. What else to look out for:
* Media acting as propaganda or killing stories in fear (already happening)
* Lower-level officials afraid to criticize exec branch
* All officials afraid to state their concerns even privately
* Media acting as propaganda or killing stories in fear (already happening)
* Lower-level officials afraid to criticize exec branch
* All officials afraid to state their concerns even privately
* Fear of criticizing regime in any way, rooted in suspicion of surveillance
* Proof that surveillance exists (this is then denied by officials)
* Self-censorship as a survival mechanism
* Feeling fear after merely criticizing regime in your mind, as if they still can find out
* Proof that surveillance exists (this is then denied by officials)
* Self-censorship as a survival mechanism
* Feeling fear after merely criticizing regime in your mind, as if they still can find out
When it gets to this point -- when you self-censor by instinct, when you're always on guard, when punishment always looms, and accountability is annihilated, you've passed into authoritarianism.
We're not there yet. But we're getting there.
We're not there yet. But we're getting there.
It's important not to let them change your values, your morals, your individuality. Authoritarianism isn't just a matter of external control; it's most insidious aspect is what it does to you inside https://thecorrespondent.com/5696/were-heading-into-dark-times-this-is-how-to-be-your-own-light-in-the-age-of-trump/1611114266432-e23ea1a6
Reupping a few older articles in midst of discussion of blackmail and hacks:
June 2017: "Trump is running America like a crime boss" https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.theglobeandmail.com/amp/opinion/comey-testimony-reveals-trump-is-running-america-like-a-crime-boss/article35252262/
Sept 2016: "Be afraid: Trump may have bought the Fourth Estate" https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.theglobeandmail.com/amp/opinion/be-afraid-trump-may-have-bought-the-fourth-estate/article31789981/
June 2017: "Trump is running America like a crime boss" https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.theglobeandmail.com/amp/opinion/comey-testimony-reveals-trump-is-running-america-like-a-crime-boss/article35252262/
Sept 2016: "Be afraid: Trump may have bought the Fourth Estate" https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.theglobeandmail.com/amp/opinion/be-afraid-trump-may-have-bought-the-fourth-estate/article31789981/
Adding this MSNBC interview on Lindsey Graham's behavior to the thread https://twitter.com/sarahkendzior/status/944065208934387712
And this point as well: https://twitter.com/sarahkendzior/status/941032097770295296
Adding this interview about Graham and blackmail/threats to the thread: https://twitter.com/sarahkendzior/status/950125140192440320
