Thread by @trygveolson

FAITH OR FEAR THREAD
The Vertical Power Structure of the @rnc

Yesterday, presented stunning examples of the Illiberal Vertical Power the @GOP has become. I decided it warrants a thread. @reedgalen @stuartstevens @joetrippi @therickwilson @lincolnwatchman @ProjectLincoln.

Let’s review the differences between democratic & autocratic power. Authority in democracy is a horizontal structure – it spreads across government & society. It flows from citizens through governmental & non-governmental institutions into society's norms & values at the top.

Autocratic power is vertical. It flows from the leader at the top, through a small cadre (usually family or business associates) downward through outrage complexes, connected enablers, wannabes, loyal institutional officials & the self-interested on to the citizens.

The @GOP/@RNC today is a classic illiberal vertical, no different from those where I worked around the world, places like Belarus, Russia, Bruma, or Venezuela.

Autocrats & the vertical power structures they construct are for the purpose of gaining & maintaining power. Strategically they use fear of the vertical’s power to make them perceived as inevitable & invincible.

There are 6 tactics for implementing this strategy. I witnessed them working against autocrats worldwide. They are 1) Big Ideas/Big Lies 2) Marginalization 3) Dependency 4) Disinformation 5) Divide & Conquer 6) Threats, Repression & Violence.

Of course, we have seen all of the tactics of Autocrats used by the Trump vertical power structure both within the @RNC and from the White House during his term in office.

For Examples within the @GOP watch this:

Now let’s examine what we witnessed & how they relate to the illiberal vertical which is the @RNC. There are 3 examples -- 1) @david_bossie’s angling to move up the vertical, his resolution censuring @lizcheney & @adamkinzinger, & @mike_Pence’s speech to @federalist society.

@tomlobianco piece yesterday on @david_Bossie angling for the @RNC Chair at the expense of @GOPchairwoman is on fire – amazing reporting. It is a classic example of how infighting & power works within an illiberal autocratic vertical.

vanityfair.com/news/2022/02/t…

@david_bossie is on a mission – to move up the vertical by solidifying the @RNC into the party of Trump. The fact the resolution passed just reconfirms the long obvious reality the @GOP is now the Trump Party. Bossie wants to solidify the transformation

politico.com/news/2020/01/0…

What I mean is the party’s apparatus (@RNC Members) are controlled no differently than other autocratic verticals control their apparatchiks – think the CCP. Bossie’s move is about eliminating not only decent but appeasement. Transform the @RNC into a wholly-owned Trump Property

@GOPchairwoman, like much of the GOP, is an appeaser. She tries a balancing act within the vertical. How much so? She dropped “Romney” from her name. Yet, those who appease inevitably get pushed out (Marginalized) by more ruthless acolytes to the leader.

sltrib.com/news/politics/…

The angling to please DJT by Bossie is obvious & brazen. He is leading @GOP efforts to pull out of Presidential Debates. Debates are a sore spot with DJT. For Bossie, they are a chance to please him. Big Lies are those willing to repeat & show fealty.

politico.com/news/2021/06/1…

These efforts by @david_bossie have 3 objectives for DJT. 1) Finalize @rnc’s resources under the vertical structure. 2) Create FEAR of his autocratic tactics 3) position @david_bossie in DJT's eyes as the loyalist who can achieve them & thus control of the party for DJT as Chair.

The resolution itself has little to do with @lizcheney or @adamkinzinger – they are already marginalized. Rather it is pandering to send Fear to other Republicans. A symbolization where power lies in the vertical & what happens if you cross that power.

cnn.com/2022/02/04/pol…

To that end, @mike_Pence’s speech was important for those on Team Democracy to consider. In battles between democracy and autocracy, there are lots of appears who fall victim to the leader and are pushed aside when they stand up to power.

https://twitter.com/Mediaite/status/1489701809128198145?s=20&t=6CYJc00eRMJ4Um4aHGMM2g

While I personally would never support Pence for President because of his acquiesces in aiding and abetting Trump and Trumpism, his speech and actions on 1.6 suggest he is one of the potential redeemables who can be part of the fight for democracy.

We must all remember the Stalin Rule – you fight with anyone willing to stand with you to defend our democracy. @mike_pence may end up being one of those people. Today, he is trying to have it both ways within the @GOP. Eventually, he may realize team democracy is his only option

Finally, we must recognize, the efforts of Team Democracy on both sides, and in particular, those like @liz_cheney & @adamkinzinger, & the D’s on the 1.6 Commission are gaining territory. Listen to Steve Bannon's paranoia if you don’t believe me.

https://twitter.com/RonFilipkowski/status/1489778820131475458