Pay attention to what trump is doing here - not to the incendiary/controversial nature of his words.
He is *using* the violence and chaos and injured Americans, to amplify GOP attacks on Dem states.
The same way he has used the *pandemic* to attack Dem states.
For context,
/1
He is *using* the violence and chaos and injured Americans, to amplify GOP attacks on Dem states.
The same way he has used the *pandemic* to attack Dem states.
For context,
/1
For Covid:
Refuse to implement a pandemic plan (can’t have all states being equally effective)
Make it look like states are on their own, but in fact, help key GOP states look good, and leave Dem governors on their own.
Attack Dem governors’ actions.
/2
rawstory.com/2020/03/heres-…
Refuse to implement a pandemic plan (can’t have all states being equally effective)
Make it look like states are on their own, but in fact, help key GOP states look good, and leave Dem governors on their own.
Attack Dem governors’ actions.
/2
rawstory.com/2020/03/heres-…
This may seem like a dumb strategy for a national election, because it isn’t a national strategy - it’s a state strategy. The national strategy is separate.
Remember, the GOP has spent decades slowly taking over governorships. They recently lost some, and that is *key.*
Why?
/3
Remember, the GOP has spent decades slowly taking over governorships. They recently lost some, and that is *key.*
Why?
/3
Because remember the long game.
From Mar 2017:
“Under Article V of the US Constitution, if 34 state legislatures “issue a call” for a constitutional convention, Congress must convene one. By some counts, the right wing only needs six more states.”
/4
billmoyers.com/story/kochs-to…
From Mar 2017:
“Under Article V of the US Constitution, if 34 state legislatures “issue a call” for a constitutional convention, Congress must convene one. By some counts, the right wing only needs six more states.”
/4
billmoyers.com/story/kochs-to…
This isn’t left field stuff.
Nancy Maclean talks about this in Democracy in Chains.
Just last March, ACLU Hawaii was campaigning to make sure they didn’t join the list of states supporting a convention.
If we don’t watch the long game, this is actually on the table:
/5
Nancy Maclean talks about this in Democracy in Chains.
Just last March, ACLU Hawaii was campaigning to make sure they didn’t join the list of states supporting a convention.
If we don’t watch the long game, this is actually on the table:
/5
But it’s also important to understand that, despite what the GOP would have you believe with their aggressive attacks and bluster, they are in a weakened position - they’re throwing punches from the ropes.
No one - *no one* expected trump to win in 2016. Including the GOP.
/6
No one - *no one* expected trump to win in 2016. Including the GOP.
/6
They suffered *massive* losses in the 2018 midterms - and not only in the US House, but across several state legislatures that they were already counting on having under their control.
#ETTD
Look at the scramble that happened after the midterms - is this a winning team?
/7
#ETTD
Look at the scramble that happened after the midterms - is this a winning team?
/7
The 2016 election and the 2018 midterm losses blew up a bridge on the tracks that the trump-GOP-MobCo had drawn on their map.
They now have to backtrack and scramble, to try to make up for lost ground.
And we know they aren’t above exploiting tragedies toward their own ends.
/8
They now have to backtrack and scramble, to try to make up for lost ground.
And we know they aren’t above exploiting tragedies toward their own ends.
/8
The purpose of this thread is not to inspire alarm or despair - quite the opposite.
The point is that we need to take a step back from the anxiety and despair that we might be feeling now - and look at the big picture.
We need to act consciously - and not *react* emotionally
/9
The point is that we need to take a step back from the anxiety and despair that we might be feeling now - and look at the big picture.
We need to act consciously - and not *react* emotionally
/9
Between now and November, #TrumpMobCo will exploit every opportunity to emotionally manipulate the public. They will try to create a perception of chaos and lawlessness, in an attempt to trigger people to vote for a so-called “strongman.”
They will create enemies:
/10
They will create enemies:
/10
They will encourage provocateurs to make those “enemies” appear to be much more dangerous than they are:
/11
/11
And they will use the power of their offices to encourage authoritarian crackdowns on these exaggerated enemies.
/12
/12
These are emotional traps.
This is what manipulative people do.
Survivors of psychological abuse are all too familiar with this; the rest of us have to make an effort to look for the patterns.
Think.
Your opponents are writing a play.
Don’t let yourself be an actor in it.
//
This is what manipulative people do.
Survivors of psychological abuse are all too familiar with this; the rest of us have to make an effort to look for the patterns.
Think.
Your opponents are writing a play.
Don’t let yourself be an actor in it.
//
I am going to add a few videos and other information here, to illustrate some of the manipulative operations that are happening right now.
Here are local police supervising a woman vandalizing property - and telling her not to forget to add Floyd’s name.
Here are local police supervising a woman vandalizing property - and telling her not to forget to add Floyd’s name.
In MN, stolen cars have been found with plates removed, being used to transport incendiaries and other destructive supplies to areas where violence and vandalism had occurred.
Coordinated.
(FYI, this is also called organized crime)
Coordinated.
(FYI, this is also called organized crime)
Now look at the “strongman” authoritarian dress-up game trump is playing in the Rose Garden today (there are also occasional small explosions being heard in the background):
As trump was about to give his address in the Rose Garden, police appear to have been ordered to use tear gas on nearby protestors - who were being completely peaceful.
Almost seems like it could have been staged for maximum dramatic effect?
Almost seems like it could have been staged for maximum dramatic effect?
This is pure authoritarian theater.
This is the impression that trump wants to give to voters - a nation at war.
But America isn’t at war. This is being inflammed, stoked, orchestrated, and exaggerated.
Don’t allow yourself to be used in this tawdry show.
This is the impression that trump wants to give to voters - a nation at war.
But America isn’t at war. This is being inflammed, stoked, orchestrated, and exaggerated.
Don’t allow yourself to be used in this tawdry show.
It couldn’t be more obvious.
“I will protect YOU. I am the president of law & order.”
All delivered with zero emotion, and he finishes with the phrase “JUSTICE - NOT CHAOS.”
This is the authoritarian appeal.
The press should not be airing this theater.
“I will protect YOU. I am the president of law & order.”
All delivered with zero emotion, and he finishes with the phrase “JUSTICE - NOT CHAOS.”
This is the authoritarian appeal.
The press should not be airing this theater.
Trump says that he will put an end to all this terrible, awful stuff (that his own surrogates have helped inflame), “immediately.”
Says he will ask governors to “dominate” the streets, and if they won’t, then he will deploy the military (unconstitutional)
Says he will ask governors to “dominate” the streets, and if they won’t, then he will deploy the military (unconstitutional)
And to cap off the theater, after his speech, trump performed a show-of-force strongman entourage walk through the area that was badly damaged last night.
This is his dress-up, pretend version of “reclaiming the streets.”
This is his dress-up, pretend version of “reclaiming the streets.”
We don’t need any further evidence of what is happening - it is as plain as day.
To all the peaceful protestors who are demanding justice for George Floyd’s cold, calculated murder: you are doing the right thing.
But also, think hard; don’t be an actor in these rich men’s play.
To all the peaceful protestors who are demanding justice for George Floyd’s cold, calculated murder: you are doing the right thing.
But also, think hard; don’t be an actor in these rich men’s play.
White nationalist group pretending to be antifa, inciting violence.
h/t @sisu_sanity
Anarchists and militia extremists were making plans to try to burn the MN state Capitol.
This isn’t antifa. This isn’t BLM. But they may have been blamed for it, if it had happened.
Anarchists and militia extremists were making plans to try to burn the MN state Capitol.
This isn’t antifa. This isn’t BLM. But they may have been blamed for it, if it had happened.
DHS confirms: Two days after George Floyd was murdered, white supremacist networks started actively calling for members to try to incite the "boogaloo" (their ridiculous term for a 2nd civil war), by shooting into crowds.
h/t @satirehat
h/t @satirehat
Remember that white supremacist group, Identity Evropa, three tweets above 👆that was caught trying to incite violence and pin it on antifa?
Here is the leader of that group at the White House - he’s friends with Stephen Miller:
Here is the leader of that group at the White House - he’s friends with Stephen Miller:
@FBIChicago has charged Timothy O’Donnell for setting fire to a police SUV in Chicago.
credit to @satirehat for finding the above story, forgot to mention 👆- still waiting for FBI to provide official documents, but this has been verified by a couple of outlets already.
Official release from FBI & USAO
On Sun, May 31, trump said he planned to designate Antifa a terrorist organization.
Today we learn that “The FBI Finds ‘No Intel Indicating Antifa Involvement’ in Sunday’s Violence”
Antifa is a scarecrow, for trump to play “strongman.”
h/t @satirehat
thenation.com/article/activi…
Today we learn that “The FBI Finds ‘No Intel Indicating Antifa Involvement’ in Sunday’s Violence”
Antifa is a scarecrow, for trump to play “strongman.”
h/t @satirehat
thenation.com/article/activi…
Facebook removes accounts of white nationalists, and of those falsely claiming to be Antifa.
nytimes.com/reuters/2020/0…
nytimes.com/reuters/2020/0…
