The redoubtable Fiona Hill says it WAS a coup albeit not sudden
“Trump’s goal was to keep himself in power, and his actions were taken over a period of months and in slow motion.”
I think it was telling that security forces were so ill prepared
politico.com/news/magazine/…
“Trump’s goal was to keep himself in power, and his actions were taken over a period of months and in slow motion.”
I think it was telling that security forces were so ill prepared
politico.com/news/magazine/…
We’re they ill prepared because they didn’t understand the risk?
That seems exceptionally unlikely given retired citizens in the U.K., ordinary people going about their business were appraised of the risks.
So the ABSENCE of the security forces at the ready was telling.
That seems exceptionally unlikely given retired citizens in the U.K., ordinary people going about their business were appraised of the risks.
So the ABSENCE of the security forces at the ready was telling.
*were*
They would have had far better intelligence briefings than ordinary citizens. Examinations of that intelligence and the briefings is critical.
But there are lessons to be learnt not just for the US but the U.K.
Pay attention to Fiona Hill.
They would have had far better intelligence briefings than ordinary citizens. Examinations of that intelligence and the briefings is critical.
But there are lessons to be learnt not just for the US but the U.K.
Pay attention to Fiona Hill.
Trump “normalized his actions so people would accept them. I’ve been studying authoritarian regimes for three decades, and I know the signs of a coup when I see them....Technically, what Trump attempted is what’s known as a “self-coup” and Trump isn’t the first leader to try it” 
Leading up to it Trump tried to “normalise” the alleged conditions leading to it. Allegations of voter fraud..but no supporting evidence.
Erdogan did it.
There is a standard checklist used to evaluate coups.
Erdogan did it.
There is a standard checklist used to evaluate coups.
Control
1/ The military and paramilitary
2/Comms
3/ the Judiciary
4/ Government Institutions
5/. The legislature
6/ Mobilise popular support.
1/ The military and paramilitary
2/Comms
3/ the Judiciary
4/ Government Institutions
5/. The legislature
6/ Mobilise popular support.
Sure. We are looking at a sitting President ...so how is he preparing to keep power despite losing an election..and how are we doing here in the U.K. against the same measures.
1/. Look what Trump did using the military. I hope ours are better prepared...and unwilling.
1/. Look what Trump did using the military. I hope ours are better prepared...and unwilling.
Esper, who was forced out of office knew enough to issue a public reminder to the military of their duty to uphold the constitution.
To what would OUR U.K. military refer in those circumstances?
Any constitutional and military lawyers fancy making a contribution?
To what would OUR U.K. military refer in those circumstances?
Any constitutional and military lawyers fancy making a contribution?
Twitter, Social Media and cable news were Trump’s primary Comms tool...spreading the very “fake news” he purported to deploy.
He used it to lie. All the time. To build false narratives. And what about Murdoch and Fox News?
Then there is Mercers’ Parler
And DLIVE.
He used it to lie. All the time. To build false narratives. And what about Murdoch and Fox News?
Then there is Mercers’ Parler
And DLIVE.
Judiciary : The indecent speed that Trump pushed through appointments of three new Supreme Court Justices, whilst making it clear that his selections would tilt and election verdict in his favour.
That didn’t work so well...but plans can be improved upon.
That didn’t work so well...but plans can be improved upon.
Government institutions. Purging them of the perceived disloyal and installing perceived loyalists in Defence & Homeland Security Secretariats
He wanted officials in place by Jan 2021 who he believed would be loyal to him
Barr and Esper out
Even they were not biddable enough
He wanted officials in place by Jan 2021 who he believed would be loyal to him
Barr and Esper out
Even they were not biddable enough
LEGISLATURE
Finally, Trump usurped the Republican Party
He claimed the more than 74 mill who voted for him in Nov 2020 as his personal base—his popular support
He threatened to destroy the careers of Republican members of Congress who did not favor overturning the election
Finally, Trump usurped the Republican Party
He claimed the more than 74 mill who voted for him in Nov 2020 as his personal base—his popular support
He threatened to destroy the careers of Republican members of Congress who did not favor overturning the election
Trump would not concede and I think it is so scared of what will be revealed when he has lost control of those organs of Government that he will keep trying to pervert it to the bitter end.
HIS BIG LIE has to be refuted.
HIS BIG LIE has to be refuted.
“Congressional Republicans will have to take personal responsibility for their actions in support of Trump’s coup attempt....They must tell the truth”
...They owe it to their constituents to tell them the truth as well as to the country they have sworn to serve.
...They owe it to their constituents to tell them the truth as well as to the country they have sworn to serve.
I think there is another more personal reason why they must do this.
It is to free themselves from the grasp of sheer badness that has led them to be so weak and so dissolute.
Let Trump take the punishment and start again.
Better. Much better.
It is to free themselves from the grasp of sheer badness that has led them to be so weak and so dissolute.
Let Trump take the punishment and start again.
Better. Much better.
As @Turloughc points out...
He’s a desperate man and what will he do in his remaining time...
What does he have on those who have bent to his bidding..
But they would do well to Marshall what do they have on him?
Meanwhile we should pay attention to the U.K.
He’s a desperate man and what will he do in his remaining time...
What does he have on those who have bent to his bidding..
But they would do well to Marshall what do they have on him?
Meanwhile we should pay attention to the U.K.
https://twitter.com/turloughc/status/1347667046088265728
What he REALLY cannot be is Commander in Chief.
Nor have command of the nuclear codes.
And some in the military have some explaining to do why THEIR heads should not be rolling right now.
Nor have command of the nuclear codes.
And some in the military have some explaining to do why THEIR heads should not be rolling right now.
https://twitter.com/fascinatorfun/status/1348756228671995910
• • •
Missing some Tweet in this thread? You can try to
force a refresh
