Thread by @Number10cat

I want to tell you a story about an old man, with a silly name and ridiculous hair, who was born in New York, became a media personality and then a right wing politician. 🧵

He told a lot of lies. So many lies. That many lies that he doesn't actually recognise the truth anymore and nor do many of his supporters. Needless to say he's had multiple failed marriages having had numerous affairs.

His handling of the pandemic meant a lot more people died than should have done. He's not very healthy so ended up in hospital when he caught covid and only then did he seem to realise how serious it was.

He likes to tell people that there are simple solutions to complex problems, which only politicians as brave and clever as him can deliver, but when he was in power he caused more problems than he ever solved.

He relies on division. He wants to pull people apart rather than bring them together. He wants you to blame other people for problems so that you won't blame him.

His party knew he was deeply flawed and would make a terrible leader but they backed him anyway to get into power. When they had chances to punish him for his deceit instead they rewarded him. He rose to the highest elected position in the land.

So what's the point to this story? That actions have consequences, both for politicians and the parties that enable them.

You might be surprised that this thread isn't about Donald Trump. It's about former UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson.

Johnson's political career ended how it was always destined to, in disgrace and failure. His colleagues finally removed him three years after he became Prime Minister. The lies caught up with him.

His party suffered an electoral hammering at the 2024 general election, losing two-thirds of their seats. The electorate punished them for putting Johnson into a position he was entirely unsuited for and for failing to deliver on their promises.

Now he's back to being a media personality, longing to make a comeback but knowing his time has gone and his terrible legacy confirmed. The majority of his obituary is written and won't make happy reading.

The US electorate has already fired Donald Trump once. It's almost certain that he won't win the majority of votes on Tuesday, but he might still win the electoral college with the support of certain states. Or he might lose. Again.

Either way, his behaviour and lies will catch up with him at some point and the Republican Party will ultimately pay the electoral price for choosing to support him.

Like Johnson he'll soon be a bitter ex-politician, blaming anyone but himself for his failures. History will judge them both and it won't be kind.

The moral of this story is that, in democracies, power resides with the people - it is only ever temporarily lent to politicians. There is always another election or a term limit on the horizon. Your vote is powerful - use it and never let them take it for granted.