Thread by @1JoshGreenberg

THREAD

HIGHLIGHTING THE SHORTFALLS OF RESISTANCE STRATEGY

To develop effective resistance strategy, we must first come to understand the adversary we are up against.

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https://twitter.com/1JoshGreenberg/status/1286767494754177024

After understanding the adversary, we can correct our flawed assumptions.

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https://twitter.com/1JoshGreenberg/status/1285668771294842882

If we do not correct those assumptions, our strategic responses are bound to remain largely ineffective.

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https://twitter.com/1JoshGreenberg/status/1285668780551671809

Fundamentally, our responses must aim to delegitimize Trump within his universe. Appeals to rationality and facts often do not work, since Trump is operating under an entirely different paradigm, with supporters who subscribe to an alternate reality.

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https://twitter.com/1JoshGreenberg/status/1285668779716993026

In fact, denunciation alone can even create unintended consequences. Given the pathological loyalty that Trump has cultivated amongst his followers, denunciation and character attacks against the leader only tend to deepen the loyalty of the flock.

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https://twitter.com/1JoshGreenberg/status/1284540316780044288

Moreover, the institutions we would traditionally expect to "reign in" Trump often do not work effectively against him, since he builds power outside of those institutions and in fact seeks to destroy them.

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https://twitter.com/1JoshGreenberg/status/1286767495869849602

Effective strategy must also address Trump’s base. The use of his base for power has been on full display with the recent events surrounding his Covid drama.

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https://twitter.com/1JoshGreenberg/status/1286767496939343872

One key strategy outlined in this series of tweets is to “defang” Trump’s base, even if it may be infeasible to change the core political beliefs of his supporters.

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https://twitter.com/1JoshGreenberg/status/1286767512269529088

Overall, even though the strategies that must be deployed against Trump have been clear, they largely have not been pursued. Perhaps most of all, the resistance movement and the Democrats have never matched Trump with a concerted media strategy.

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https://twitter.com/1JoshGreenberg/status/1290377047487979521

In failing to comprehensively and strategically fight Trump, we risk grave consequences.

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https://twitter.com/1JoshGreenberg/status/1285668781319225351

This thread from July provides an in-depth look at the deficiencies of current resistance strategy.

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https://twitter.com/1JoshGreenberg/status/1285668767599603712

This follow-up thread outlines solutions to those deficiencies.

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https://twitter.com/1JoshGreenberg/status/1286767492145217537

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