Thread by @trygveolson

Earlier I provided analysis from yesterday about the illiberal and autocrats' tactics around the Select Hearings on January 6th.
@reedgalen @TheRickWilson @SteveSchmidtSES @ProjectLincoln @JoeTrippi @stuartpstevens @LincolnWatchman

Now I will give you something to feel better. There are Seven Rules for confronting autocratic forces based on my experiences. Here is how each was utilized by those defending our democracy. The Members of Congress on the select committee -- and those who literally did on Jan 6

For the sake of ease, I will take the Rules one at a time with examples. Let's look at how the committee and those who testified did with each of them. First, Rule 1 – Play the Game You Are in Not the One You Wish or Want to Play

The first person to jump out is Officer Hodges. He was strong and, to me, came across as the voice of so many heroes from that day. He lays out the case by contrasting what we saw (zero-sum illiberal acts to create fear) versus his own faith in our nation and each other.

Here is a clip of Officer Hodges testimony. He playing the game we are forced to play not the one we wish we were playing.

https://twitter.com/joshscampbell/status/1420061454254886919?s=20

Next an interview with Officer Fanone. This interview is an amazing example of using the rule. First, he pushed back on @foxnews attempts to marginal & he speaks big truths. Then, he hits directly back @IngrahamAngle & owns her - "real-life consequences" of their illiberal game.

This is a master's class in using Rule #1 and many of those to come.

ttps://twitter.com/joshscampbell/status/1420362073830199302?s=20

Rule 2 – Always Speak Truth to Power Because You Never Know the Tipping Point. Notice how those speaking in Rule 1 all have elements of Truth to Power in what they say.

Speaking Truth to Power is an essential part of playing the game we are in. There were many examples. I will use @adamkinziger's opening as the best. In fact, it was iconic, something history will judge favorably.

https://twitter.com/ABC/status/1420210903358738439?s=20

Rule 3 – Don't Hand the Autocrats Battering Rams with Which to Beat You
The best news out of Day 1 might be they didn't hand the illiberal actors anything to beat them with. In fact, they left them scrambling and on defense. They won the day for American democracy.

That happens when you play the game we are in rather than appease or stand in silence, hoping for the game we know somehow returns when it won't until the extremism and illiberalism are defeated.

Rule 4 -- Understand Authoritarians Must Live in a Truth-Free Present
To that end, watch @BretBaier school @Jim_Jordan because Jordan wants to have it both ways.

@Jim_Jordan is saying, "I talked/talk to President Trump all the time." That plays to who he wants to be for the extremists on the right.

https://twitter.com/ChristopherHahn/status/1420171351789350912?s=20

The problem for Jordan is, it means answering for the past -- He can't because the Dependency Tactic has been turned on its head. @speakerpelosi, @lizcheney & the rest are using zero-sum Judo & Rule 4 to make him talk about the past -- all he can do is try to survive the moment.

As the hearings move forward, you will see this over and over again. The media needs to do what Baier did to Jordan over and over again. Autocrats and their enablers like Jordan have to live in the moment.

The committee is bringing the past into their present and future. They lose if it is about the past or the future in the present.

What is to come that is problematic from the past? Well, for one, @GOPLeader certainly doesn't want to talk about it. He is in a box.

He isn't good at the zero-sum game, either, because he wants the legitimacy only the win-win democracy one provides. So he will have to answer for this:

https://twitter.com/CNN/status/1349431096488960002?s=20

Rule 5 – Practice Zero-Sum Judo
@lizcheney was pushing back the Big Lies with Big Truths. Framing the consequences by creating a point where you seek the truth or are part of the margins of illiberalism and zero-sum.

The simple fact @SpeakerPelosi, @lizcheney @adamkinzinger & the others are working together with the rest of the committee is Zero-Sum Judo at its best. This is where Cheney puts it all in context and frames it up. The GOP is now having its zero-sum tactics turned against itself

mediaite.com/tv/cheney-open…

6 The Stalin Rule: Stand Together with Anyone Whom Will Join You to Disturb, Disrupt and Diminish the Illiberal Structures

All of the committee members deserve credit. They are not working in a partisan way. They are working together as Americans to get at the truth.

They are not making this partisan. They are being the best of the win-win democracy game we all want to play

https://twitter.com/thehill/status/1420380017700130818?s=20

Rule 7 Wake Up Every Day Thinking Where Can the Vertical Power Structure Be Exposed, Confronted, and Destabilized

This last tweet I saw is Rule 7. A way for each of us to think about what we can do to help make a difference in the fight. We each bring what we have to the battle

for team democracy. In this case, @CurtisIngraham1 has a sister who is part of the problem. He took the opportunity to speak the truth to her.

https://twitter.com/CurtisIngraham1/status/1419931650511806477?s=20

All of us have something we can do to help. The size or scale matters far less than being part of the solution, not part of the problem. In the days, weeks, months, and years ahead, remember this. Know there are ways using these Seven Rules you can make a difference.

https://twitter.com/joshscampbell/status/1420362073830199302?s=20

On Rule 1 -- I chopped the link for the interview with Fanone. Here is the correct one -- it is worth watching. Sorry about that.

https://twitter.com/joshscampbell/status/1420362073830199302?s=20