Thread by @tzimmer_history

On the Trumpian Right, where all the energy in the Republican Party is, there can be no moderation, no acceptance of democratic political culture. There can only ever be escalation in what they see as a life-and-death struggle against “Un-American” enemies - without and within.

The notion that these people are just cynical opportunists who will say whatever they think gets them elected is dangerously flawed both analytically and political. Analytically, it ignores the fact that ideology always circumscribes and defines the realm of opportunity.

Of course there is a good measure of opportunism involved, but what’s on display here is also a manifestation of deeply held ideological convictions. It’s white nationalist ideology and opportunism reinforcing each other in dangerous ways.

Politically, focusing solely on opportunism and lust for power is problematic because it can actually benefit people on the Right, at least in terms of media coverage: Better to be seen as a nihilistic genius than a reactionary white nationalist - the Mitch McConnell phenomenon.

More importantly, the notion that these people are just cynical opportunists often comes with the assumption that they aren’t *really* sincere in what they say, that they wouldn’t *really* put into practice what their extremist rhetoric suggests they want to do. That’s dangerous.

All the available evidence suggests that what we see here is not just a mask of white nationalist extremism that is supposed to satisfy the base. On the contrary, the mask has come off, and this is what’s underneath. I think we should believe them: That’s who they are.

We need to take the policy implications of what these people are saying seriously - the implications for what the real-life consequences of them getting to power would be. This isn’t empty rhetoric: It’s a window into the kind of white nationalist America they want going forward.