Thread by @StefSimanowitz

“That was a shitshow!”

CNN’s chief political correspondent, @DanaBashCNN, manages to succinctly sum up the #BidenTrumpDebate In 5 words.
#Debates2020  #PresidentialDebate

https://twitter.com/nowthisnews/status/1311143161788596224

The most important take away

“The commander-in-chief refused to condemn white supremacy.”

@VanJones68 says Trump “gave a wink & a nod to a racist, Nazi, murderous organization that is now celebrating online.” #Debates2020 #debate #PresidentialDebate2020

“Proud boys, stand back & stand by”

Trump’s after being asked to condemn white supremacists

“Stand by”

@realDonaldTrump is no longer talking about “bad people on both sides”

He has chosen his side
#ThisIsNotADrill #ProudBoys #StandBackAndStandBy #Trump

The #ProudBoys are a far-right neo-fascist organisation

They played a key role in organizing the Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville

Neo-Nazis are feeling emboldened

A month ago, a British Union of Fascist flag was unfurled in London for the first time since the 1930’s.

“Open confession of dictatorship is far less dangerous than sham democracy. One can defend oneself against the former; the latter is like a creeper attached to the body of a drowning man.” (Wilhelm Reich, The Mass Psychology of Fascism) #ThisIsNotADrill

https://twitter.com/stefsimanowitz/status/1125022414860095490?s=21

https://t.co/yXMk8PIxps

“The most sophisticated tyrannies are ones that have a showman as their frontman. Clown or blowhard. Jester or villain. The type of showman doesn’t matter. Their audience will love them just the same."
(Emerson Warner, 1949) #Debate2020 #Trump #Trump #PresidentialDebate2020

The world has been watching #Trump's increasingly autocratic behaviour for 4 years with mounting disbelief & horror

This week, he refused to commit to peaceful transfer of power

Last night, he refused to condemn white supremacists
#Debates2020 #Debate

https://twitter.com/StefSimanowitz/status/1253588719711420417

Four days ago, #Trump’s son @DonaldJTrumpJr, posted this message:

“We need every able-bodied man and woman to join Army for Trump’s election security operation. We need you to help us watch them.”

Last night, @realDonaldTrump put that army on “stand-by”.

or four words..."shitshow" or "shit show"?

"What Twitter was made for." @stuartcantrill

With thanks to @EbolaPhone, @darth & @meriamwebster

Any comment @OED or @susie_dent?

By putting the far-right on "stand by", #Trump has also all put all right-thinking people on stand by too

We can no longer pretend that what is happening is just empty rhetoric

We need to set aside our differences & come together to against a very real & very imminent threat.

The Reichstag fire in 1933 shows how quickly a modern republic can be hijacked & transformed into an authoritarian regime

Beneath the chaotic headlines generated each day by #Trump & @BorisJohnson, are other forces - with links to the far-right - at work?

https://twitter.com/StefSimanowitz/status/1310738195622121472

Here one of the leaders of the Proud Boys talks to @joerogan about their initiation:

LEVEL 3: Agree not to masturbate more than once a month; get a tattoo

LEVEL 4: Get into some sort of serious violent fight for the cause
#standdownandstandby #Trump

TRIGGER WARNING

* This video contains violent language & disturbing content *

“We will kill you. That's the Proud Boys"

“Fighting solves everything. We need more violence from #Trump supporters.”
#Debates2020 #standdownandstandby #ProudBoys #Trump

Congressman @WhipClyburn says he is “not surprised” by @Channel4News report that shows the #Trump campaign wanted to deter black voters in 2016

He also called Trump's message to the far-right Proud Boys group to "stand back and stand by" a "clarion call".