It seems to me that these filings serve multiple purposes for Trump:
🔹They keep his base fired up
🔹They help with fundraising
🔹They show that he's a "fighter"
🔹They help seed right-wing talking points
🔹They keep his base fired up
🔹They help with fundraising
🔹They show that he's a "fighter"
🔹They help seed right-wing talking points
https://twitter.com/NickRuggiero10/status/1476700126810935305
I'm arguing against the Twitter Talking Point that these are primarily delay tactics.
These cases are going very quickly and are not holding up the committee.
People said the same thing about the election lawsuits, which delayed nothing.
These cases are going very quickly and are not holding up the committee.
People said the same thing about the election lawsuits, which delayed nothing.
https://twitter.com/OrganLawOffices/status/1476703918461788165
The truth is much more nuanced.
If everyone shouts "DELAY TACTICS" each time Trump files something in court, people miss much of what's happening.
The election lawsuits did not create any delays, but they served their purposes.
If everyone shouts "DELAY TACTICS" each time Trump files something in court, people miss much of what's happening.
The election lawsuits did not create any delays, but they served their purposes.
Here is support for the argument these lawsuits aren't about delay.
(In fact, I suggest that the idea that they are about delay is projecting normalcy onto something not normal.)
This is about how Trump tried to undermine the Georgia election⤵️
ajc.com/politics/elect…
(In fact, I suggest that the idea that they are about delay is projecting normalcy onto something not normal.)
This is about how Trump tried to undermine the Georgia election⤵️
ajc.com/politics/elect…
Even after a lawsuit claiming fraud was dismissed because it wasn't supported by evidence, this didn't stop Republicans from repeating the lie contained in the lawsuit.
Trump and pals continued repeating the lies even after they were debunked.
ajc.com/politics/elect…
Trump and pals continued repeating the lies even after they were debunked.
ajc.com/politics/elect…
"The repetition of false claims convinced many Georgians they were true: By January, three-quarters of Republicans surveyed by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution believed there was substantial fraud in the presidential election."
See what's happening?
See what's happening?
This thread dovetailing with this reading I did⤵️ of the committee's response to Trump's appeal in the Supreme Court.
It's hard to escape the conclusion that Trump doesn't expect this lawsuit to prevent the committee from getting these documents. . .
It's hard to escape the conclusion that Trump doesn't expect this lawsuit to prevent the committee from getting these documents. . .
https://twitter.com/Teri_Kanefield/status/1476697723067781120
He'd have to get really, really, lucky to win because he didn't even bother to make a showing for some of the elements for a preliminary injunction.
Even if the Supreme Court takes cert, it's hard to see this making any difference in terms of keeping the documents secret.
Even if the Supreme Court takes cert, it's hard to see this making any difference in terms of keeping the documents secret.
What Trump does is signal the lie that his supporters are supposed to tell.
It's not a coincidence that in the other lawsuits being filed by Trump supporters against the committee, they, too, are arguing that the committee is illegitimate.
It's not a coincidence that in the other lawsuits being filed by Trump supporters against the committee, they, too, are arguing that the committee is illegitimate.
As with the election fraud lies, repetition persuades people they are true.
ajc.com/politics/elect…
Trump wins by controlling the narrative.
If enough people believe the tree falls in the woods, does it matter if it really didn't fall?
ajc.com/politics/elect…
Trump wins by controlling the narrative.
If enough people believe the tree falls in the woods, does it matter if it really didn't fall?
I suggest that people who say this are assuming that Trump is thinking and behaving like a normal person.
Put another way, normal people are projecting normalcy because it's hard for most of us to grasp the concept of telling outrageous lies as a strategy (or from sickness).
Put another way, normal people are projecting normalcy because it's hard for most of us to grasp the concept of telling outrageous lies as a strategy (or from sickness).
Also, lies are a way of destroying. They destroy democracy. They destroy institutions.
The lie that the committee is illegitimate undermines the democratic government.
That's really the aim, right?
Lies do what an insurrection does without as much blood.
The lie that the committee is illegitimate undermines the democratic government.
That's really the aim, right?
Lies do what an insurrection does without as much blood.
This thread dovetails with a thread I wrote almost at the same time about the purpose of these lawsuits:
It's a Twitter Talking Point that they are delay tactics.
https://twitter.com/Teri_Kanefield/status/1476701241312907264
It's a Twitter Talking Point that they are delay tactics.
Here's how a thread like this happens:
🔹A Twitter talking point shows up dozens of times in my mentions
🔹I try to explain why it's too simple
🔹People keep repeating it
🔹I get very testy (sorry if I got testy with you!)
🔹Then I wonder: "Why does everyone think this?"
🔹A Twitter talking point shows up dozens of times in my mentions
🔹I try to explain why it's too simple
🔹People keep repeating it
🔹I get very testy (sorry if I got testy with you!)
🔹Then I wonder: "Why does everyone think this?"
One more addition to this thread (sorry it's so long).
Kevin McCarthy's statement of the House Republican Creed shows the principles Trump embodies when he files these lawsuits.
He's showing that he won't stop fighting what his base perceives as an illegitimate government.
Kevin McCarthy's statement of the House Republican Creed shows the principles Trump embodies when he files these lawsuits.
He's showing that he won't stop fighting what his base perceives as an illegitimate government.
This also projects normalcy. Did Hitler lose his bravado in jail? Nope. He wrote Mien Kampf. Did his followers disband after he was convicted? Nope, again.
Also, see the research on whether punishment actually works as a deterrent. (It doesn't)
Also, see the research on whether punishment actually works as a deterrent. (It doesn't)
https://twitter.com/theolddelewis/status/1476974908957728768
https://twitter.com/theolddelewis/status/1476976745463136257
We can hope. And no doubt it will deter some of them.
(Elsewhere I've argued that punishment doesn't accomplish what people think it does.)
Now I'm pointing out that this is more projection: Rational people are deterred when others are punished.
https://twitter.com/AnnMB48/status/1477088308941533184
Thank you.
Democracy is based on laws, which require truth and a shared factuality.
Fascism is based on myth. They want to destroy factuality and delegitimize government.
"It's a delay tactic" assumes they accept the authority of law.
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