For the past 6yrs, I’ve helped folks leave the Trump/MAGA cult. And every week, I move a few. Not thousands, just a few. I do it one at a time. I’m not alone. Friday night I got the following message from a follower who’s doing the same. Please read this brief, excited thread: 1/
“OMG! I’m so freaking happy right now. After 5 long yrs of trying to get through to my neighbor Michael about how much of a fuck nut Trump is, the day finally came. He’s out! He listed 2 reasons: 1) Trump’s policies aren’t conservative (he wants too much government power) 2/
and, 2) Trump’s too divisive. Michael longs for the Reagan unifier and is sick of all the culture war divisive bullshit. You said you’re working on people one at a time. I am too, and this was a big one in my life. We would have these long drawn out battles over…3/
A refresher for all those who think Putin never would’ve invaded if Trump were still President. Bullshit. Nobody was softer on Russia than Trump. Trump spent 4 yrs attacking Ukraine. Trump laid the groundwork for this invasion. Putin wanted Trump to win a 2nd term. Thread: 1/
Trump repeatedly praised Putin.
Trump hired a pro Russian criminal to run his campaign.
Trump said it was good Russia invaded Crimea.
Trump made the 2016 GOP platform anti-Ukraine.
Trump repeatedly dismissed Russian hacking.
Trump capitalized on Russian meddling in 2016.
2/
Trump denied Russian interference in 2016.
Trump undermined Russian sanctions.
Trump was open to lifting sanctions.
Trump would never say Putin was a killer.
Trump tried to return spy bases to Russia.
Trump gave Russia classified intel.
Trump repeatedly attacked NATO.
3/
Michael, I appreciate your response, and I didn’t mean to be a jerk with my response. When I said you were wrong, I meant when you said “you can’t be pro life and pro AR-15 at the same time.” I’m pro life AND I’m pro AR-15. Happy to have a longer back & forth, but let me just 1/
respond briefly here with this. I’m fairly high profile, I get a lot of threats, when my wife is home alone, she uses the AR-15 to defend herself. It’s the easiest, most accurate home defense gun for her. I use it for this as well. Also, when it comes to defending & preserving 2/
life, I listen to those who are in the business of doing that: Cops. The AR-15 is THE most popular semi-automatic rifle for law enforcement due to its accuracy, ease of use, safety, & firepower. The same holds true for civilians. 2 final points: The AR-15 is not just a gun, 3/
2020 is about putting country first. Let me explain. People have approached me about an independent/conservative run in the general. I’ve had members of the Libertarian Party approach me about running. I know @justinamash has been approached big time to run as a libertarian. 1/
I know Justin and like Justin. We served in Congress together. But 2020 isn’t about @justinamash and it’s not about Joe Walsh. It’s about saving the country. And the only way that’s going to happen is by beating Donald Trump. Trump is a criminal & an authoritarian. 2/
Trump is everything our Founders feared. The ONLY person who will beat Trump is the Democratic nominee. So everyone must get behind the Democratic nominee. Now a 3rd party run might be good for me or @justinamash personally, but ANY 3rd party run will only help Trump. 3/
A childhood friend asked me today why I ended my primary challenge to Trump. Easy, I said. It’s become impossible to beat Trump in a Republican Primary. The party is HIS party, the party has become a cult. To protect their King, Party bosses in ten states cancelled primaries. 1/
To protect their King, Party bosses in most of the other states made getting on the ballot really tough. To protect their King, Fox News and the rest of the conservative media world refused to have me on. And to protect their King, 2/
Trump’s followers either don’t care or don’t believe that: he lies all the time, he cheats, he solicits foreign interference in our elections, he believes he’s above the law, he abuses the powers of his office, he shits all over the Constitution, he obstructs justice, 3/
I spoke in front of 3,000 Iowa Republicans last night. It was like a MAGA rally. I told them we needed a President who doesn’t lie all the time. The crowd booed me. I told them we needed a President who wasn’t indecent & cruel. The crowd booed me. 1/
I told them we needed a President who doesn’t care only about himself. The crowd booed me. I told them the Republican Party needed to do some real soul searching. The crowd booed me. 2/
I told them that, because of Trump, young people, women, and people of color want nothing to do with the Republican Party. The crowd booed me. I told them I’m a pro life, pro gun, secure the border conservative, but we need a President who is decent and represents everyone. 3/