Thread by @marktavern

This mob literally went to DC as if called up to fight a just war against “liberal” aggressors.

They were radicalized by the lies they were fed, the grievances they held, and the hate they were taught to have.

Republican politicians, fearful of losing power, worried that gerrymandering and voter suppression would no longer be enough to maintain minority rule, spread those lies as a way to indoctrinate their base and inoculate themselves against an election loss.

They railed against the “libs”, turning even the most minor grievance into “proof” of the lawlessness the country would face should Republicans lose.

They nurtured white supremacy, present in the country since its founding, and distilled that hatred into an explosive desire to take up arms against an “illegitimate” government.

There should be no surprise that they marched on the Capitol. They were given orders to, orders that came only after their loyalty to their cause was unquestionable.

I’m no political scholar, but this moment is both fascinating and frightening, and the culmination of so much.

Republicans sold their souls to the devil and got Trump in the bargain. He was never a politician and his shameless behavior, focused solely on himself, gave Republicans things they did not have:

The ability to leave reality behind and use Trump’s lies as a way to spread their own disinformation;

A supremely loyal base willing to say and do exactly as told;

Cover from both to enact policies far more extreme (and often unlawful) than would otherwise be allowed.

But in the bargain they also got Trump and the loyalty demanded (both of GOP politicians and the Republican base) is now going to tear them apart.

Trump was only interested in himself, but GOP politicians cravenly played along, in part because they knew what could be delivered (policy, judges, etc.), but also because of fear of losing.

They knew they could only enact so much without him, they also knew they couldn’t keep the base without him.

It’s a gigantic ponzi scheme.

They needed Trump to deliver the base so they could attain the power to deliver the policies to stay in power, but each link in that chain is built on lies.

Trump doesn’t care about anyone except himself, neither his base, nor his party.

The base supports only Trump, and the politicians who prop him up.

The policies actually hurt the base (to say nothing of anyone who is not white, rich, or Republican).

The power is derived not from the people, or the Constitution, but through racism, sexism, xenophobia, gerrymandering, voter suppression, defunding education, and bad faith, outright lies, and authoritarianism.

The “party of law and order” caused this lawlessness.

And now they have to reckon it;

with an increasingly isolated President, under investigation for an untold number of crimes from before his presidency, through his campaign and even during his time in office, who,

as if that were not enough, incited the insurrection on Wednesday, and through his sedition, put his supporters, our legislators, those sworn to protect them—even his own VP —at risk of death, and our country, our government, at risk of destruction;

with supporters who now realize they were duped, sent into “battle” Wednesday on the false premise that they were “protecting democracy” when in fact they were taking part in an attempted coup, directed by the outgoing President in a desperate ploy to remain in power;

and with an establishment party dithering over how to hold onto their base, and whether it is better to keep their head down and hope some will learn their lessons, or to continue to act aggrieved and push the lies and conspiracy theories that brought us to this day.