(Thread) This isn’t the time to panic. It's time to get busy.
What happens in Nov. depends on what people do today.
Nobody expected the GOP to convict and remove Trump. The goal was for the truth to come out.
McConnell is a shrewd political operator, but Pelosi is shrewder.
What happens in Nov. depends on what people do today.
Nobody expected the GOP to convict and remove Trump. The goal was for the truth to come out.
McConnell is a shrewd political operator, but Pelosi is shrewder.
1/ McConnell knows most Americans want witnesses.
He has weighed what he thinks is least damaging to the GOP.
Pelosi put McConnell into a lose-lose situation.
🔹Option 1: Acquit without witnesses and have everyone see he conducted a sham trial. . .
He has weighed what he thinks is least damaging to the GOP.
Pelosi put McConnell into a lose-lose situation.
🔹Option 1: Acquit without witnesses and have everyone see he conducted a sham trial. . .
2/ . . . or🔹Option 2: Allow witnesses and have the public see the depth of corruption in the Republican Party.
Acquitting without witnesses means everything that will comes out between now and November will be (rightly) cast as part of the GOP coverup.
Acquitting without witnesses means everything that will comes out between now and November will be (rightly) cast as part of the GOP coverup.
3/ Obviously, McConnell's assessment was that witnesses would be the most devastating option, or he wouldn’t be working so hard to block them.
He prefers to deal with the devastating drip-drip in the media because the GOP has a well-oiled media-propaganda loop.
He prefers to deal with the devastating drip-drip in the media because the GOP has a well-oiled media-propaganda loop.
4/ McConnell hopes people will forget before November.
Think what was accomplished by this process.
If not for the Whistleblower, Trump’s plan would have worked. Zelensky would have announced an investigation into the Bidens, and Trump would have hammered this. . .
Think what was accomplished by this process.
If not for the Whistleblower, Trump’s plan would have worked. Zelensky would have announced an investigation into the Bidens, and Trump would have hammered this. . .
5/ . . . helped by disinformation campaigns.
As a result of the impeachment process, Trump’s caper, and the full implications, are on full display for everyone to see.
Keep in mind that @SenAlexander said that the House Managers proved its case . . .
As a result of the impeachment process, Trump’s caper, and the full implications, are on full display for everyone to see.
Keep in mind that @SenAlexander said that the House Managers proved its case . . .
@SenAlexander 6/ He accepted the facts given by the House, but called the behavior “inappropriate” and said the offense was not impeachable.
Expect the despair-mongers to be out in droves after the acquittal.
They thrive on opportunities to stir you to rage ⤵️
Expect the despair-mongers to be out in droves after the acquittal.
They thrive on opportunities to stir you to rage ⤵️
@SenAlexander 7/ From @selectedwisdom: One goal of Active Measures is to get people to lose confidence in democratic systems, because when that happens, it’s all over.
pbs.org/newshour/show/…
We still have meaningful elections.
How do you think the Democrats won in 2017, 2018, and 2019?
pbs.org/newshour/show/…
We still have meaningful elections.
How do you think the Democrats won in 2017, 2018, and 2019?
@SenAlexander @selectedwisdom 8/ If Trump thought he could flip a switch and fix the election, he wouldn't have put so much energy and risked so much trying to get that Ukraine investigation.
He knows how to read polls. He saw what happened in the elections since 2016. He knew he needed to do something.
He knows how to read polls. He saw what happened in the elections since 2016. He knew he needed to do something.
@SenAlexander @selectedwisdom 9/ The GOP base is aging and shrinking. I have threads on this.
They're a minority party holding on to a shrinking base. America's past was the time of white male supremacy.
The future (if we work hard) will be democratic and diverse.
They're a minority party holding on to a shrinking base. America's past was the time of white male supremacy.
The future (if we work hard) will be democratic and diverse.
@SenAlexander @selectedwisdom 10/ One accomplishment of the Mueller Report is that we know much more than we did in 2016 about how these tactics work. Really, there are not all that many tricks in the playbook, and we've now seen them all.
Sometimes I think American politics is unfolding as it should. . .
Sometimes I think American politics is unfolding as it should. . .
@SenAlexander @selectedwisdom 11/ How many more people are like Timmy⤵️
The panic and despair we are comes partly from a mistake in thinking.
I get it. I made the mistake myself . . .
The panic and despair we are comes partly from a mistake in thinking.
I get it. I made the mistake myself . . .
@SenAlexander @selectedwisdom 12/ I thought history was on certain trajectory, and after the breakthroughs of the previous generations, our culture would naturally keep growing more inclusive.
I thought the story was written.
Timothy Snyder talks about the story what happens when such a story "breaks."
I thought the story was written.
Timothy Snyder talks about the story what happens when such a story "breaks."
@SenAlexander @selectedwisdom 13/ People panic when the story breaks because they leap from thinking this: We don't have to do anything! The future will keep getting better! Heroes like MLK, Jr., Thurgood Marshall, Susan B. Anthony paved the road!
To thinking this: We're doomed! There's nothing we can do!
To thinking this: We're doomed! There's nothing we can do!
@SenAlexander @selectedwisdom 14/ We leap from "We don't have to do anything!" to "There is nothing we can do! This is all new!"
Nope. What happens tomorrow is the result of what real people today.
People born after the Civil Rights and women's rights movement inherited an expanding democracy . . .
Nope. What happens tomorrow is the result of what real people today.
People born after the Civil Rights and women's rights movement inherited an expanding democracy . . .
@SenAlexander @selectedwisdom 15/ . . .for the first time in America's history, we were moving toward a true liberal democracy⤵️
People who inherit something often think they're entitled, and don't have to work for it.
Nope. We have to work for it. Every day, every year, every generation.
People who inherit something often think they're entitled, and don't have to work for it.
Nope. We have to work for it. Every day, every year, every generation.
@SenAlexander @selectedwisdom See my list for ideas⤵️
(I practice what I preach. I passed up an opportunity from my publisher this year to write another book Instead, when not writing Twitter threads, I do voter protection work. I’m on the Voter Protection Committee in Georgia.)
terikanefield-blog.com/things-to-do/
(I practice what I preach. I passed up an opportunity from my publisher this year to write another book Instead, when not writing Twitter threads, I do voter protection work. I’m on the Voter Protection Committee in Georgia.)
terikanefield-blog.com/things-to-do/
@SenAlexander @selectedwisdom Sad, but true.
Also, he's now totally transparent.
I talked to a friend last night who had just spoken to a few "Trumpsters." He used the word "programed." He said, "They're programed." I thought it was an interesting word choice. Very Orwellian.
Also, he's now totally transparent.
I talked to a friend last night who had just spoken to a few "Trumpsters." He used the word "programed." He said, "They're programed." I thought it was an interesting word choice. Very Orwellian.
@SenAlexander @selectedwisdom Also adding this to the thread.
Think what would happen if every one of my followers registered 20 new voters.
That's like what, more than 2 million?
Is registering 20 new voters too much to do to save democracy. (Answer: no.)
Think what would happen if every one of my followers registered 20 new voters.
That's like what, more than 2 million?
Is registering 20 new voters too much to do to save democracy. (Answer: no.)
@SenAlexander @selectedwisdom Adding one more to this long thread (it deserved to come earlier)
Ukraine still hasn't gotten the White House visit, but look how much Ukraine benefited from this impeachment.
Operation Ukraine Shakedown failed
More Americans are aware of Ukraine's history and plight . . .
Ukraine still hasn't gotten the White House visit, but look how much Ukraine benefited from this impeachment.
Operation Ukraine Shakedown failed
More Americans are aware of Ukraine's history and plight . . .
@SenAlexander @selectedwisdom Much of the testimony and arguments during the impeachment—broadcast nationally—was about Ukraine's vulnerability, and how Trump taking Russia's side hurts a vulnerable country struggling to become a rule of law democracy.
@SenAlexander @selectedwisdom @isawthesethings Apparently some people can't see one of the Tweets in this thread. I think this is the one being hidden ⤵️
