Thread by @jinpeili

Hong Kong, where things got iffy for a while, has done a complete about-face, and is now a unwavering bulwark of support for the Xi personality cult.

The "democratic" aspect of Xi's mandate, in which he won every vote, has resonated strongly with the hopes and dreams of China's national minorities.
(Tibet, Guizhou, Sichuan, Ningxia)

Not only did Xi Jinping win every vote inside the closeted congress, but according to CCTV's roving camera crews, he got unanimous, glowing, adoring, enthusiastic support of EVERY person interviewed.

What's the magic juice? Why can't Western democracies produce unanimity like this?

And it's not just the hand-picked delegates, actual real people from different walks of life all agree...Chairman Xi is the best, the brightest and the most visionary visionary ever.

Back to the delegates who ardently and unanimously "elected" Xi, they are modest, yet deeply proud to have correctly represented the will of the whole Chinese people. (enthusiasm fueled by spirit of the 20th party congress)

It' s not just men in suits, either. How about that scarf?
Or the Bill Gates look, jacket but no tie?
Fascism is no impediment to fashion.

If you think the political puppets gathered at the Great Hall were effusive in their unanimous praise for Xi, you should hear the military.
(They're ready to kill and die for the paramount leader)

Back to the top of the news and the big story of the day. Suffice to say, the applause was deafening.
As if the thundering cadence of 3000 delegates clapping wasn't enough, Xi clapped for himself.

At least one Tibetan monk, or a man wearing monk's clothing, can be seen in the adoring crowd.
Move over Dalai; Xi is the new wise man.

Time for a little victory strut in the end zone. The choreographed congress has been a red-carpeted cake walk for the one pre-destined to succeed.

The new line-up looks really promising...

...for those enlightened souls infused with the spirit of the 20th party congress.
(Sorry Hu Jintao. You're history)

A recap: the historic moment when Xi Jinping voted for himself--thus making the results unanimous--resulted in resounding applause.

Xi may look dour, sour and unassuming, but he's a big deal in China. The first name in the news, the first in everything really, the characters XI JIN PING get an extra large font, just because.

Dress code for the inclusive puppet theatre of the Great Hall versus everyday casual wear.

CCTV's art of persuasion analyzed:
-Find an attractive, pliant person to repeat fixed phrases of praise for Xi.
-Then edit in random scenes of breath-taking beauty.
-Rinse and repeat
-That's it!
You've just convinced another million TV viewers that Xi Jinping owns China.

Another time-tested technique is the Potemkin interview. Here, a model minority who loves Xi and loves to smile while toiling in the fields.
"When Xi was elected, we were all so excited, so extremely happy! Thanks to the Chairman, we are no longer wearing our "poverty hats."

The military interview is also a public relations bonanza.
First, stage a relaxed, natural conversation with a man in uniform. Praise for Xi and the party follow and flow naturally.

Then run some stock footage to remind viewers that these men so loyal to Xi are professional killers.

Time-permitting, show the men in uniform clapping uniformly every time Xi shows up on TV

After a long round of applause for the pixels on the TV screen, the iron men are often exhausted, but resolutely maintain discipline for the cameras.

The soldiers are but shadow puppets in Xi's big production.

Today's "international" news segment is brief:

Vietnam joins Russia, North Korea, Serbia, Cuba, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan in rejoicing at the thundering unanimous endorsement of Xi Jinping for yet another term.

Let us close today's program with some arty and attractive shots of tractors tilling and plowing the rich, patriotic soil of the motherland.

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