(Thread) Why They Kiss Trump’s Ring
In @ruthbenghiat's excellent article, she addresses (among other things) how people like Lindsay Graham’s abruptly converted from fervent Trump critic to staunch Trump defender.
nybooks.com/daily/2020/08/…
h/t @kenkincc
In @ruthbenghiat's excellent article, she addresses (among other things) how people like Lindsay Graham’s abruptly converted from fervent Trump critic to staunch Trump defender.
nybooks.com/daily/2020/08/…
h/t @kenkincc
1/ She explains that Graham followed the time-honored pattern of how autocrats “co-opt and corrupt.”
Authoritarians wouldn’t get very far if those in power didn’t first lend them credibility, and then support and shield them.
nybooks.com/daily/2020/08/…
Authoritarians wouldn’t get very far if those in power didn’t first lend them credibility, and then support and shield them.
nybooks.com/daily/2020/08/…
2/ From @ruthbenghiat: the aspiring autocrat “needs access and credibility from establishment figures.”
For reasons explained by @stuartpstevens, the GOP was ready for an autocrat and therefore happy to oblige. (See my summaries beginning here: )
For reasons explained by @stuartpstevens, the GOP was ready for an autocrat and therefore happy to oblige. (See my summaries beginning here: )
3/ @ruthbenghiat explains how autocrats “bind individuals and groups to them through buy-offs or intimidation” here⤵️
For those still puzzled about Graham’s conversion, read the whole paragraph:
For those still puzzled about Graham’s conversion, read the whole paragraph:
4/ In other words, Graham didn’t join Trump from fear: It was the lure of absolute power, and the appeal of there being “no bottom.”
As a rule, these “enablers” back the extremist when he most needs it—and he later discards them. (See Jeff Sessions)
nybooks.com/daily/2020/08/…
As a rule, these “enablers” back the extremist when he most needs it—and he later discards them. (See Jeff Sessions)
nybooks.com/daily/2020/08/…
5/ The pattern: “Once those in power sign on to protect the leader, they tend to stick with him until the bitter end.”
This is why nothing moves the needle: including Trump knowing that Putin put bounty on American soldiers, the death of 170,000 Americans, etc.
This is why nothing moves the needle: including Trump knowing that Putin put bounty on American soldiers, the death of 170,000 Americans, etc.
6/ @ruthbenghiat’s article also explains this news that broke this morning⤵️
The pattern with autocrats is that they place their own financial interests and “private relationships with other depots over national interests.
The pattern with autocrats is that they place their own financial interests and “private relationships with other depots over national interests.
7/ In other words, people like McConnell, Graham, and other enablers know that Trump puts his own financial interests and his personal relationship with Putin over the national interest—and they’re fine with that because of the payoff: Absolute power.
8/ What this means is that the GOP leadership will follow Trump right over the cliff.
The fact that 40% still back Trump has more to do with the well-oiled right-wing propaganda machine.
The fact that 40% still back Trump has more to do with the well-oiled right-wing propaganda machine.
9/ A task for a Biden-Harris administration is exposing and dismantling the propaganda machine:
Rule of law (democracy) requires truth, whereas a leadership cult is based on lies.
(Three forms of government, from sociologist Max Weber archive.org/details/weber_…)
Rule of law (democracy) requires truth, whereas a leadership cult is based on lies.
(Three forms of government, from sociologist Max Weber archive.org/details/weber_…)
10/ I will offer a few links to threads where I've argued for what's wrong with the thoery.
In addition to the arguments I've made in the links I will give you, there are two problems with the "they're blackmailed" theory.
In addition to the arguments I've made in the links I will give you, there are two problems with the "they're blackmailed" theory.
11/ The first problem is that there is no evidence to support the theory other than (1) Republican servers were hacked (2) Lindsay Graham did an about face.
To leap from those facts to a blackmail theory (which people insist is true) requires a few leaps.
To leap from those facts to a blackmail theory (which people insist is true) requires a few leaps.
12/ First, there had to be something on those servers worse than what we already know about them. It would have to be so shocking that they'd willingly betray their country all the ideals and beliefs they supposedly held.
13/ The GOP has openly embraced Russia, has closed their eyes law-breaking, and many of them openly flout the law and lie willingly and eagerly.
Now, for a few threads.
@stuartpstevens, a former GOP insider, knows these people well.
terikanefield-blog.com/it-was-all-a-l…
Now, for a few threads.
@stuartpstevens, a former GOP insider, knows these people well.
terikanefield-blog.com/it-was-all-a-l…
14/ Read what he has to say. If you don't have time to read the book, I've summarized the chapter "What are they all afraid of" in which he explains Graham's about-face.
Now read this post (it's also a thread somewhere) :terikanefield-blog.com/no-the-entire-…
Now read this post (it's also a thread somewhere) :terikanefield-blog.com/no-the-entire-…
15/ And this one: terikanefield-blog.com/gop-kompromat-…
Now, the two problems with spreading this theory are:
💠 there is no evidence, only speculation, to back it up.
💠 holding this theory means that we fail to understand what is really happening.
Now, the two problems with spreading this theory are:
💠 there is no evidence, only speculation, to back it up.
💠 holding this theory means that we fail to understand what is really happening.
16/ If we fail to understand what is really happening, we are not able to figure out a way to prevent this from happening again.
The blackmail theory assumes that 'but for' the blackmail, they'd do the right thing, that only blackmail keeps them on the dark side.
The blackmail theory assumes that 'but for' the blackmail, they'd do the right thing, that only blackmail keeps them on the dark side.
17/ Lindsay Graham and others showed you his true colors.
Go watch some clips of Lindsay Graham and Pence eagerly lynig for Trump and ask yourself honestly: "is this how a blackmailed person would behave?"
Blackmail can keep people silent.
It doesn't create true believers.
Go watch some clips of Lindsay Graham and Pence eagerly lynig for Trump and ask yourself honestly: "is this how a blackmailed person would behave?"
Blackmail can keep people silent.
It doesn't create true believers.
18/ I attribute it to reverse projection.
Good and honorable people cannot imagine anyone willingly embracing Trump and everything he stands for.
They assume that nobody would do that unless they were being blackmailed.
Good and honorable people cannot imagine anyone willingly embracing Trump and everything he stands for.
They assume that nobody would do that unless they were being blackmailed.
19/ So they assume that Graham must be blackmailed.
Facing the truth (pure evil) is just too horrifying, so good and honorable people retreat from it.
They support Trump because they want to. Then once they support him, they're trapped because of their fears.
Facing the truth (pure evil) is just too horrifying, so good and honorable people retreat from it.
They support Trump because they want to. Then once they support him, they're trapped because of their fears.
20/ A person without principles can't be blackmailed.
The blackmail theory is incompatible with this theory, from a scholar on authoritarianism, who has looked at patterns ⤵️
Autocracy appeals to certain people. They like it and want it.
The blackmail theory is incompatible with this theory, from a scholar on authoritarianism, who has looked at patterns ⤵️
Autocracy appeals to certain people. They like it and want it.
21/ It's certainly possible that the servers contained something embarrassing, but the person can always say it was done by an aide.
Again speculating on whether there is blackmail causes not to look at how an autocrat actually does co-opt people.
Again speculating on whether there is blackmail causes not to look at how an autocrat actually does co-opt people.
22/ Precisely
Even if, perhaps, one GOP official is so afraid of whatever embarrassing thing Trump has on him that he'll betray his ideals . . .all of them?
Go back and watch the impeachment hearings.
The GOP grandstanders were true believers.
Even if, perhaps, one GOP official is so afraid of whatever embarrassing thing Trump has on him that he'll betray his ideals . . .all of them?
Go back and watch the impeachment hearings.
The GOP grandstanders were true believers.
23/ Precisely. The Kompromat on Trump is his willingness and eagerness to work with Putin.
People in the comments are still insisting that Graham and others do Trump's bidding because they're blackmailed.
Do that, and you'll never understand the GOP.
People in the comments are still insisting that Graham and others do Trump's bidding because they're blackmailed.
Do that, and you'll never understand the GOP.
The left wing talking points have something else in common with the right wing talking points: They are not based on logic or facts.
Here's the logical fallacy behind the "kompromat" they has to do with causation . . .
Here's the logical fallacy behind the "kompromat" they has to do with causation . . .
. . . Two events occur:
💠Republican servers were hacked.
💠Lindsay Graham does a quick about face.
The fallacy is to assume that one caused the other.
They may not be related. The two events may becaused by a third occurrence.
(It's late. Not sure I explained that well)
💠Republican servers were hacked.
💠Lindsay Graham does a quick about face.
The fallacy is to assume that one caused the other.
They may not be related. The two events may becaused by a third occurrence.
(It's late. Not sure I explained that well)
It may be true that Lindsay Graham behaves the way he does because he's being blackmailed, but at this point,, we really have no evidence (other than speculation) that it is true.
If you leap from this⤵️ to "therefore Graham and others kiss Trump's ring because they are blackmailed" you are making a logical error.
One event is factual (the GOP kiss Trump's ring)
One is speculation (Russians & Epstein have extensive files) . . .
One event is factual (the GOP kiss Trump's ring)
One is speculation (Russians & Epstein have extensive files) . . .
Even if they DO have extensive files, you have to show causation.
💠My husband knows secrets about me that would embarrass me if he told them.
💠I go out of my way to be nice to him.
The first doesn't cause the second.
💠My husband knows secrets about me that would embarrass me if he told them.
💠I go out of my way to be nice to him.
The first doesn't cause the second.
There is in fact extensive evidence that this is the case.⤵️
If you have two theories: One supported by evidence, and one supported by speculation, which is stronger?
If you have two theories: One supported by evidence, and one supported by speculation, which is stronger?
This thread is a blog post: terikanefield-blog.com/why-they-kiss-…
