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Actually, @NikkiHaley, attacking Baltimore and others is a necessary and vital part of what Trump takes to be his role as president.
Surely you've noticed. He's been doing this for years.
The best explanation of Trump's governing style I know of comes from @TimothyDSnyder
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Surely you've noticed. He's been doing this for years.
The best explanation of Trump's governing style I know of comes from @TimothyDSnyder
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@NikkiHaley @TimothyDSnyder I really suggest you read this book⤵️to help understand the president you've been supporting.
Snyder's credentials are impeccable: A Yale professor who speaks lots of languages, a super smart expert on how Putin (and Trump) govern.
Or I can offer a summary.
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Snyder's credentials are impeccable: A Yale professor who speaks lots of languages, a super smart expert on how Putin (and Trump) govern.
Or I can offer a summary.
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@NikkiHaley @TimothyDSnyder As Timothy Snyder explains, the role of a Putin-style fascist leader is different from the role of a leader in democracy.
In a liberal democracy, a leader (like Obama) looks for ways to improve the lives of the citizens.
But a would-be oligarch can’t do that!
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In a liberal democracy, a leader (like Obama) looks for ways to improve the lives of the citizens.
But a would-be oligarch can’t do that!
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@NikkiHaley @TimothyDSnyder The oligarch needs to concentrate power in the hands of a few rich buddies, so enacting politics that help his constituents is counterproductive to his goals.
So, if he doesn't govern in the usual sense (devising policy to better the lives of the citizens) what does he do?
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So, if he doesn't govern in the usual sense (devising policy to better the lives of the citizens) what does he do?
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@NikkiHaley @TimothyDSnyder He creates crisis and spectacle by identifying enemies and "neutralizing" them.
News becomes reality TV. It's all a show.
It's Us v. Them. His team cheers as he "protects" them from minority communities and immigrants who want to take what they have.
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News becomes reality TV. It's all a show.
It's Us v. Them. His team cheers as he "protects" them from minority communities and immigrants who want to take what they have.
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@NikkiHaley @TimothyDSnyder Let's play a mind game. Just imagine that Putin is the mastermind who selected and helped install Trump as US president.
Putin couldn’t have found a more perfect tool: Trump is a natural at identifying enemies, creating spectacle, and lurching from one crisis to another.
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Putin couldn’t have found a more perfect tool: Trump is a natural at identifying enemies, creating spectacle, and lurching from one crisis to another.
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@NikkiHaley @TimothyDSnyder Without enemies to attack, Trump's followers wouldn't put up with policies that enrich Trump and pals while robbing them blind.
And by the way, Trump could never have happened with those who consider themselves "conservatives" enabling him.
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And by the way, Trump could never have happened with those who consider themselves "conservatives" enabling him.
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@NikkiHaley @TimothyDSnyder Yes, Timothy Snyder also coined the term Sadopopulism to describe how Trump governs by intentionally inflicting pain,
I'll give some links in the next thread.
He also says, chillingly, that global warming is another deliberate way to inflict pain.
I'll give some links in the next thread.
He also says, chillingly, that global warming is another deliberate way to inflict pain.
@NikkiHaley @TimothyDSnyder More on Sadopopulism:
@NikkiHaley @TimothyDSnyder I think everything he does is deliberate, possibly even spelling errors.
People hold two ideas at once that seem to me contradictory: They think he's stupid and they are afraid he will succeed in destroying American democracy.
People hold two ideas at once that seem to me contradictory: They think he's stupid and they are afraid he will succeed in destroying American democracy.
@NikkiHaley @TimothyDSnyder All my threads are also blog posts. You can view this one here: terikanefield-blog.com/responding-to-…
