1/ The Republican Party is different now. During the Nixon era, the parties had not completed their platform shift.
For example, much of the GOP was still white and southern.
During the past few decades, the GOP has shifted from a conservative to a reactionary party . . .
For example, much of the GOP was still white and southern.
During the past few decades, the GOP has shifted from a conservative to a reactionary party . . .
https://twitter.com/c_arise/status/1173783783922782210
2/ Here I trace the shift between the parties:
And here I define "reactionary" to better understand the current GOP:
A trial with Nixon era conservatives will pay out differently from a trial with reactionaries.
https://twitter.com/Teri_Kanefield/status/1091755271855075328
And here I define "reactionary" to better understand the current GOP:
https://twitter.com/Teri_Kanefield/status/1169272865113272320
A trial with Nixon era conservatives will pay out differently from a trial with reactionaries.
3/ Consider the timeline with the Nixon impeachment.
In July, 1973, Nixon refused to hand over the tapes.
Nov 1, 1973 Jaworski was appointed as new special prosecutor.
Early in 1974, Nixon folks started pleading guilty to crimes.
April: Jaworski subpoenaed the tapes. . .
In July, 1973, Nixon refused to hand over the tapes.
Nov 1, 1973 Jaworski was appointed as new special prosecutor.
Early in 1974, Nixon folks started pleading guilty to crimes.
April: Jaworski subpoenaed the tapes. . .
4/
June 15: All the President's Men was published.
July , 24: Nixon was ordered to hand over the tapes; House moves too impeach.
August 8: Nixon resigned.
As soon as the truth came out, Nixon was cooked.
Because the truth still mattered to the Republican Party.
June 15: All the President's Men was published.
July , 24: Nixon was ordered to hand over the tapes; House moves too impeach.
August 8: Nixon resigned.
As soon as the truth came out, Nixon was cooked.
Because the truth still mattered to the Republican Party.
5/ John Dean has said that Nixon might have survived if he'd had Fox News. politico.com/magazine/story…
In fact, right wing media was born to protect future Nixons.
Manafort, Roger Stone, etc, were the extremists in the Nixon GOP. They didn't want Nixon to resign.
In fact, right wing media was born to protect future Nixons.
Manafort, Roger Stone, etc, were the extremists in the Nixon GOP. They didn't want Nixon to resign.
6/ The extremists have now taken over the party, and they've boldly adopted fascist techniques to torpedo truth and undermine factuality.
During the Nixon era, everyone basically got their news from the same places.
What sociologists call the "public sphere" was still intact.
During the Nixon era, everyone basically got their news from the same places.
What sociologists call the "public sphere" was still intact.
7/ For more on the public sphere, see: oxfordbibliographies.com/view/document/…
That's why people say polarization is the greatest problem were have and tearing apart democracy.
In the Nixon era, we shared a common truth.
Now there are two separate versions.
That's why people say polarization is the greatest problem were have and tearing apart democracy.
In the Nixon era, we shared a common truth.
Now there are two separate versions.
7/ Trump has never bothered with a traditional legal defense.
You can't devise a legal defense while you're obstructing the proceedings, because you can't devise a legal defense while you are breaking the law.
Trump intends to defend himself by torpedoing truth and factuality.
You can't devise a legal defense while you're obstructing the proceedings, because you can't devise a legal defense while you are breaking the law.
Trump intends to defend himself by torpedoing truth and factuality.
8/ If a jury convicts him, he'll say, "They were Democrats out to get me."
He'll be a victim. He'll be a martyr.
He and the GOP will continue to undermine the results of any investigations. Look at their FISA circus.
I can't see him resigning the way Nixon did.
He'll be a victim. He'll be a martyr.
He and the GOP will continue to undermine the results of any investigations. Look at their FISA circus.
I can't see him resigning the way Nixon did.
9/ For one thing, Nixon could retire to his estate.
Trump can't. His "estate" is under siege from law enforcement.
The Manhattan DA is after him.
nytimes.com/2019/09/16/nyr…
The NY AG is after the Trump Foundation.
And that's just for starters.
Trump can't. His "estate" is under siege from law enforcement.
The Manhattan DA is after him.
nytimes.com/2019/09/16/nyr…
The NY AG is after the Trump Foundation.
https://twitter.com/Teri_Kanefield/status/1007374049066881025
And that's just for starters.
10/ He really has no choice but to hold onto his office and keep swinging.
I have no doubt that in the end, democracy will prevail—because we have numbers on our side.
Even with all the cheating and voter suppression in 2018, the Democrats won by 8 percentage points.
I have no doubt that in the end, democracy will prevail—because we have numbers on our side.
Even with all the cheating and voter suppression in 2018, the Democrats won by 8 percentage points.
11/ A lot of people are working hard now to fight the cheating. Just look at Georgia.
Democracy will prevail if there is an outpouring in 2020 sweeping the corrupt GOP from office.
But I think it's naive to believe that a Trump impeachment will play out the way Nixon's did.
Democracy will prevail if there is an outpouring in 2020 sweeping the corrupt GOP from office.
But I think it's naive to believe that a Trump impeachment will play out the way Nixon's did.
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