@LBArmijo Underestimate Trump at your own peril.
If I were trying to seize absolute power, I'd want people to underestimate me.
People say both of these things:
🔹OMG Trump is turning the nation into an autocracy
🔹Trump is a bumbling imbecile with advanced dementia
If I were trying to seize absolute power, I'd want people to underestimate me.
People say both of these things:
🔹OMG Trump is turning the nation into an autocracy
🔹Trump is a bumbling imbecile with advanced dementia
@LBArmijo I know, I know. I've heard all the theories reconciling these things.
I've also read the books of people who have worked with him and accounts of how he directed the Ukraine matter.
He's in the driver's seat. He calls the shots.
I've also read the books of people who have worked with him and accounts of how he directed the Ukraine matter.
He's in the driver's seat. He calls the shots.
@LBArmijo Beware of sentences like "it cannot be an act," particularly when you are talking about someone who is a consummate actor.
Actually, beware of absolutes.
I'm just pointing out a flaw in the logic of the 'there is no doubt he is losing his marbles' crowd.
Actually, beware of absolutes.
I'm just pointing out a flaw in the logic of the 'there is no doubt he is losing his marbles' crowd.
@LBArmijo There are large, popular account that started saying in 2016 that Trump was losing it and any moment (literally, like now or tomorrow) at all he'd be incapacitated.
It's 4 years later.
Some of those accounts have ulterior motives.
It's 4 years later.
Some of those accounts have ulterior motives.
@LBArmijo I'm not saying he's mentally well.
He's obviously not.
But it's dangerous to think that he's not fully capable of steering this country into autocracy.
He's obviously not.
But it's dangerous to think that he's not fully capable of steering this country into autocracy.
@LBArmijo I didn't realize that such a hope was behind this.
If you consider that his mission is to seize absolute power, he hasn't taken a misstep.
Things aren't going his way, but not because of his mental limitations. Institutions and people are pushing back.
If you consider that his mission is to seize absolute power, he hasn't taken a misstep.
Things aren't going his way, but not because of his mental limitations. Institutions and people are pushing back.
@LBArmijo This, too.
I find political psychology immensely helpful. Political psychologists illuminate the authoritarian disposition, and differences in outlook between the liberal and conservative mind.
But I don't see a benefit in assessing Trump's dementia.
I find political psychology immensely helpful. Political psychologists illuminate the authoritarian disposition, and differences in outlook between the liberal and conservative mind.
But I don't see a benefit in assessing Trump's dementia.
@LBArmijo . . . particularly now that I know people pin their hopes on this.
For people who read this far: Some of the large accounts pushing his mental instability are long time Republicans who want to save the GOP. They are Never Trumpers who want the GOP minus Trump.
Thus. . .
For people who read this far: Some of the large accounts pushing his mental instability are long time Republicans who want to save the GOP. They are Never Trumpers who want the GOP minus Trump.
Thus. . .
@LBArmijo . . . pointing to Trump's mental state as the problem implies that if we remove Trump, the GOP can sail merrily along.
Trump (and his mental state) are not the problem.
The problem is that the GOP is a full on reactionary authoritarian party, even without Trump.
Trump (and his mental state) are not the problem.
The problem is that the GOP is a full on reactionary authoritarian party, even without Trump.
