Make an outrageous statement not based on fact.
When people call it out as wrong, double down.
Finally, assert that following statutory procedure appears "weak."
Yes, the "bad guys" scorn people who follow the laws.
Does that mean we shouldn't?
A strongman can get things done quickly by blowing through the rules. A strongman appeals to people who dislike rule of law.
You see, a lot of people don't actually like democracy.
It's hard, slow-moving, grinding work.
I'd like to add that one reason Trump succeeded with his followers is that he entertains them. He provides constant action. He throws punches! He fights with their enemies! This thrills them.
A strongman provides a good show. Lots of action and drama . . .
Rule of law, in contrast, is tedious. Procedures take time.
Trump = an action thriller.
Rule of law = the most boring book assigned in high school.
People in my mentions defending Rick Wilson want action! They are tired of waiting!
Investigations and prosecutions are serious and weighty.
One problem, I think, is the idea that there is some magic bullet, something that can come out of a court that will end the threat of fascism once and for all if only the Democrats would just do it already.
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Reading the Senate Report now on Trump's months-long attempts to subvert the election: cnn.com/2021/10/07/pol…
The attempts involve repeated abuses of presidential power and violations of "longstanding policies" intended to prevent a president from weaponizing the DOJ.
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Finding #1: Trump repeatedly asked DOJ leadership to endorse false claims about the election and to assist his efforts to overturn the election.
I seem to recall @RepAdamSchiff warning Congress that if Trump wasn't impeached and removed he'd keep abusing his power.
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Finding #2: Mark Meadows similarly "violated longstanding restrictions on White House-DOJ communications about specific law enforcement matters."
Why it matters: In an autocracy, the autocrat decides who to prosecute. Independent prosecutors are a safeguard of democracy.
Regulations from this era include the Civil Rights Act, the Voting Rights Act, and our first affirmative action regulations.
"Insane" indeed.
Does anyone remember the economy tanking during the time from JFK to Nixon?
(That would be 1963 until 1968 or 1974, depending on how to count "Nixon.")
I recommend not arguing with such people. They use the firehose of falsehoods method: throw out lots of garbage and wear people out trying correct errors.
I retweeted because I thought the "insane" comment was interesting.
The hatred of regulations is why they hate government.
Not only would he lose, but such a lawsuit would likely backfire on him spectacularly.
(I first wrote about this in a Just Security piece.)
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2/ It's generally accepted that the privilege is held by the sitting president, and the Biden administration already said won't assert executive privilege over this material.