Friends and followers, since early last year I've been warning not to underestimate Trump's uncanny ability to mold reality to his will. History is replete with authoritarian figures who can do this, and it NEVER ends well.
THREAD: Get ready...
The midterms are a chance to build a firewall against encroaching fascism by giving Democrats congressional majorities. It could happen if just a fraction of non-voters showed up. We should do everything possible to make that happen. But...
THREAD: Get ready...
The institutions that can provide a check on unlimited executive power are failing, spectacularly. Let's start with the national media, who tilted the election in Trump's favor by obsessing over emails and giving him BILLIONS worth of free airtime.
THREAD: Get ready...
To this day, as Trump spits on them, mocks them, and threatens them, many mainstream reporters and pundits bend over backwards for access, lauding the "forgotten" Trump voters, pushing both-siderism and false narratives, getting high on ratings. Nauseating.
THREAD: Get ready...
The GOP leadership is WORSE than Trump, abdicating all oversight to ram through an extremist agenda, treating the Constitution like a doormat, violating basic American values, and gloating all the way. History will look on these sycophants with revulsion.
THREAD: Get ready...
So-called "moderate" Republicans are useless, cowering and caving every step of the way, while making feeble noises about being "uncomfortable" or "troubled." There are no Republican heroes who will save the day. NONE. It's a party without a moral compass.
THREAD: Get ready...
While there are many principled Democrats—and we know who they are—in the big picture, the Democratic leadership has failed to muster a UNIFIED voice of opposition, failed to appreciate the gravity of the moment, failed before the election and after it.
THREAD: Get ready...
As Trump consolidates immense power and progressive voices like #Waters and #OcasioCortez take strong stands, the highest profile Dems in America—who should be speaking in bold defiance—are either silent or calling for "civility" and defending Sarah Sanders.
THREAD: Get ready...
Friends, we're on our own. I've always said #Mueller wont take down Trump, and as his probe drags on, the ground has shifted so much that his findings will likely fall with a dead thud. There is no savior, no one to stop this reactionary rightwing takeover.
THREAD: Get ready...
If the midterms don't do it, we will enter a new, terrifying phase, when our strength, solidarity, purpose, and resilience are tested. Within lawful, nonviolent means, we will be called upon to fight desperately for the survival of our values. STAY STRONG.
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THREAD―FAILED STRATEGY: HOW DEM LEADERS BUNGLED #Kavanaugh
I'm seeing a lot of blame going around so I want to provide some clarity on what I believe Dems did wrong. First and foremost, they failed to realize that the GOP would use their majority to seat Kavanaugh AT ALL COSTS.
THREAD―FAILED STRATEGY
Understanding that the GOP would not settle for anything less than Justice Kavanaugh, Democrats should have walked out of what they called a "charade" and a "sham." When you call something a sham and then participate in it, you're legitimizing it.
THREAD―FAILED STRATEGY
Democrats had ample reason to refuse to participate: Kavanaugh was nominated by a president who may have committed federal crimes. His records were being withheld. And so on. Simply applying the #MerrickGarland standard, Kavanaugh didn't merit a hearing.
I'm a proud Democrat, the party that sides WITH sexual assault victims, the party that believes girls and women, the party that trusts them and protects their rights.
To every rightwinger who responds by naming Democrats who have been accused of sexual assault and harassment over the years, YES, I default to believing the accuser.
I REPEAT: I default to believing women whether the accused is a Republican or Democrat. That includes all the "whatabout" names the right is throwing at me like Clinton, Ellison, etc. Bottom line: DEMOCRATS ARE NOT PERFECT BUT THEIR POLICIES ARE BETTER FOR WOMEN.
Dems should refuse to participate in what they've called "sham" #KavanaughHearings. They should release a joint statement that if #MerrickGarland was blocked FOR NO REASON, the #lodestar insurrection bars Trump from making lifetime appointments.
Yes, @KamalaHarris asked good questions. But that only sets up the narrative that #Kavanaugh was confirmed "despite a tough nomination process." He's being legitimized by this process. The GOP is pushing him through no matter what Dems do, so TAKE A STAND. Refuse to play along.
#TakeAKnee is a symbolic gesture, but an important one. #DemWalkout would be equally extraordinary. It would leave a permanent stain of illegitimacy on #Kavanaugh. Trump could be found guilty of obstruction, why are Dems participating in a hearing that could seat his defender?
I said this yesterday and I'll say it again today: Democrats are legitimizing #Kavanaugh by not walking out.
They should release a joint statement that until the #Mueller and #Cohen matters are resolved, Trump cannot appoint a #SCOTUS justice.
The GOP is hellbent on pushing the #KavanaughConfirmation through. If Democrats walked out and he were seated, he'd have far LESS legitimacy on the bench than if they went through the motions of what they called a "sham" proceeding.
No matter how sharp their questions, no matter how much they protest the rules and procedures and document dumps, Dems are ENABLING THE GOP in brazen court-stacking. Republicans STOLE #MerrickGarland's seat and are shoving rightwing justices through. WHY ARE DEMS PLAYING ALONG?
OK, rightwingers you want to talk logic? How about this: If keeping out all immigrants will prevent all immigrant crime, then taking away all guns will prevent all school massacres. Want to go with that argument?
"Most research says crime tends to decrease in areas where immigrants settle, whether they’re in the country legally or illegally." washingtonpost.com/news/fact-chec… My issue is with the right's inordinate focus on crimes by undocumented immigrants, while shrugging at school massacres.
If the right's aim is to protect loved ones, then why not take more drastic measures to stop gun violence by white males? Or is violence by undocumented immigrants somehow more egregious? Saying it's "preventable" is meaningless. So are school shootings, if you banned all guns.